JP5193638B2 - Motion control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation control program, and more particularly to a technique for executing a plurality of types of jobs such as copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile transmission.

  A multifunction device, which is a type of image forming device, uses a common hardware resource to execute multiple types of jobs such as copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile transmission, so each job is realized using separate hardware. The cost can be reduced and the space can be saved as compared with the case of doing so.

As such a multi-function device, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a general-purpose operating system (general-purpose OS) such as UNIX (registered trademark) is used, and each job for copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile is used. Image formation that reduces the number of program steps for each application and increases program development efficiency by configuring a platform that is shared by the applications that are commonly used in the application and the general-purpose OS when operating by each application. An apparatus is disclosed.
JP 2002-84383 A

  However, although the technology employed in the image forming apparatus reduces the number of program steps for each application and increases the program development efficiency, it still has a separate application for each job. Since the platform only summarizes the common functions of the application for each job, when the contents of each job are changed, the design changeability of the application that realizes the job is not sufficient. As the number of job types increases and applications increase and become complex due to multifunctional image forming apparatuses, it is desirable to further improve the ease of design change of applications that realize each job. Note that a job here is a unit of work that a user originally causes a computer to execute.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and it is possible to change the design of an application that realizes a job at the time of job change while maintaining the concept of a job, which is a unit of work that a user executes on a computer. It aims at improving.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an operation control program stores a computer incorporated in an image forming apparatus,
The operation for which a service is requested by the user is determined, a job corresponding to the operation is selected as one or a plurality of job scenarios prepared in advance as components of the job, and the selected job scenario is used. A service department to build,
A job execution unit that sequentially executes the processing indicated by each job scenario constituting the job constructed by the service unit ;
A storage unit in which a plurality of the job scenarios are stored together with an identifier associated with each job scenario,
Resource management unit that allocates and releases resources
Function as
The service department
The operation requested to be executed by the user is determined, and one or a plurality of the job scenarios necessary for configuring a job corresponding to the operation are selected from the job scenarios stored in the storage unit by the identifier. A job scenario selection section to
Using the job scenario selected by the job scenario selection unit and the identifier received from the job scenario selection unit, function as a job construction unit that constructs a job composed of the job scenario,
The job execution unit
A job management unit that sequentially outputs an execution instruction of processing indicated by each job scenario corresponding to the identifier constituting the job constructed by the job construction unit;
A job execution unit that sequentially executes the processes indicated by the instructions output from the job management unit;
A job control unit that instructs the job execution unit to execute a job scenario;
To function as
Operate a computer built in the image forming apparatus,
The job management unit causes the resource management unit to acquire hardware resources necessary for executing a job scenario constituting the job, and then causes the job control unit to execute, change the execution order, suspend, and resume the job scenario. Alternatively, the computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated so as to issue a cancel job control instruction.
It is characterized by that .

The operation control method according to the present invention includes an instruction input unit, an image input unit, an image output unit, an image processing unit that processes an image input from the image input unit and sends the processed image to the image output unit. An operation control method for operating an image forming apparatus comprising:
Determining an operation that requires a service input by the user to the instruction input unit, selecting a job corresponding to the operation as one or more job scenarios prepared in advance as a component of the job, A service processing step constructed using the selected job scenario;
A job execution step for sequentially executing the processing indicated by each job scenario constituting the job constructed by the service processing step .

In the operation control method described above, the service processing step includes:
A job scenario for determining an operation requested to be executed by a user and selecting one or a plurality of the job scenarios necessary for configuring a job corresponding to the operation from the job scenarios stored in the storage unit A selection step;
Using the job scenario selected in the job scenario selection step, and a job construction step for constructing a job composed of the job scenario,
The job execution step includes:
A job management step for sequentially outputting execution instructions for processing indicated by each job scenario constituting the job constructed by the job construction step;
It is preferable that a job execution step for sequentially executing the processes indicated by the instructions output from the job management step is provided.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an instruction input unit, an image input unit, an image output unit, an image processing unit that processes an image input from the image input unit and sends the processed image to the image output unit. An image forming apparatus comprising a control unit for controlling the operation of the apparatus,
The controller is
Determining an operation that requires a service input by the user to the instruction input unit, selecting a job corresponding to the operation as one or more job scenarios prepared in advance as a component of the job, A service department built using the selected job scenario;
A job execution unit that sequentially executes the processes indicated by the job scenarios forming the job constructed by the service unit .

Further, an image forming apparatus described above, further comprising a storage unit in which a plurality of the job scenario is stored,
The service department
A job scenario for determining an operation requested to be executed by a user and selecting one or a plurality of the job scenarios necessary for configuring a job corresponding to the operation from the job scenarios stored in the storage unit A selection department;
Using a job scenario selected by the job scenario selection unit, and a job construction unit that constructs a job composed of the job scenario,
The job execution unit
A job management unit that sequentially outputs an execution instruction of processing indicated by each job scenario constituting the job constructed by the job construction unit;
It is preferable that a job execution unit that sequentially executes processes indicated by instructions output from the job management unit.

Further, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the job execution unit is configured to input an image by the image input unit in response to a job execution instruction from the service unit, and to input the input image in the image processing unit. It is preferable to instruct execution of each operation of image processing and supply of the image processed image to the image output unit.

  According to these inventions, a job corresponding to an operation for which a service is requested by a user is constructed using one or a plurality of job scenarios prepared in advance as job components. It can be effectively used as a functionally common program used in an application for realizing a plurality of jobs.

  In the present invention, a job is constructed using the above job scenario, so that a new job (service) can be realized by combining a plurality of job scenarios without changing the design of the program of the job scenario itself. . Therefore, it becomes easy to change the design of an application that realizes the job when the job is changed. Further, by adding the job scenario, an application customized to the contents desired by the user can be easily created.

  Furthermore, since the service unit accepts a service request from a user and the job execution unit executes a job based on the job scenario, even if the service unit is provided in the upper layer of the job execution unit, services such as changing the service execution order There is no need to provide a management unit in the service unit, and it is possible to change or add a job simply by changing or adding a job scenario. As a result, it is possible to easily change the design of an application that realizes a job while avoiding a complicated program configuration.

The invention according to claim 2 is the operation control program according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of job scenarios stored in the storage unit are commonly used to construct a plurality of types of jobs. The job scenario as a basic job to be included,
The job scenario selection unit selects the basic job or a combination of the basic job and another job scenario when selecting the job scenario,
The job construction unit uses the basic job selected by the job scenario selection unit or a combination of the basic job and another job scenario so as to construct the job.
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

  According to the present invention, since the basic job is commonly used for constructing a plurality of jobs, if the basic job is changed, two or more jobs including the basic job can be changed. It is possible to easily change the design of the corresponding application.

  Further, since various jobs can be easily created simply by combining a plurality of basic jobs, program development and design change can be easily performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the operation control program according to the second aspect, when the basic job is executed, the operation control of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus is performed according to an instruction from the job execution unit. As an element part to perform
Further, the computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

Further, in the operation control method described above, the plurality of job scenarios include the job scenario as a basic job that is commonly used to construct a plurality of types of jobs,
The job scenario selection step selects the basic job or a combination of the basic job and another job scenario when selecting the job scenario,
The job construction step, the basic job is selected by the job scenario selecting step, or using a combination of the basic job and other job scenario, it is preferable to construct the job.

Further, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the plurality of job scenarios stored in the storage unit include the job scenario as a basic job that is commonly used to construct a plurality of types of jobs. ,
The job scenario selection unit selects the basic job or a combination of the basic job and another job scenario when selecting the job scenario,
The job construction part, basic job is selected by the job scenario selecting step, or using a combination of the basic job and other job scenario, it is preferable to construct the job.

  According to these inventions, in the upper layer job execution unit, the processing indicated by the basic job corresponding to the service request is sequentially instructed to execute, so that the element portion below the job execution unit performs the processing indicated by the basic job. Accordingly, a new job can be realized by combining a plurality of basic jobs without changing the design of the element unit, despite having the function of controlling the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus. This makes it possible to easily change the design of an application that realizes a job without complicating the program configuration.

Further, an image forming apparatus described above, further comprising an image data storage unit for storing data of the image inputted by the image input means,
In one of the basic jobs, it is preferable that an image is input by the image input unit, and the input image data is stored in the image data storage unit as a file.

  In the present invention, there is a basic job for inputting an image by the image input unit and storing the input image data as a file in the image data storage unit. (1) This basic job and, for example, the image data storage unit Create a job to send the input image data by email by combining the basic job to send the stored file by email. (2) The basic job and, for example, stored in the image data storage unit It is easy to create a job that prints the input image data in combination with the basic job that prints the file that is being printed, so it is possible to easily develop or change the design of an application that realizes a new job. It becomes possible.

The invention according to claim 4 is the operation control program according to claim 3 , wherein the basic job or job scenario is composed of one or a plurality of job steps,
The job management unit is a parameter necessary for executing a job constructed by using the job scenario by the job construction unit, and generates job information having a data structure common to each job corresponding to the operation. Store in the storage unit, and output to the job execution unit the execution instruction of the process indicated by the basic job or job scenario constituting the constructed job,
The job execution unit, when executing the basic job or job scenario based on the execution instruction, each instruction read from the execution instruction of each job step constituting the basic job or job scenario and the parameters included in the job information To output information necessary for execution of the job step to the element part,
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the operation control program according to claim 4 , wherein as the basic job, the job step inputs an image from an image input unit of the image forming apparatus; As what is stored in the storage unit includes the step of image processing the input image and the step of supplying the image processed image to the image output unit of the image forming apparatus.
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

The above-described operation control method may further include an element step for performing operation control of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to an instruction from the job execution step when executing the basic job.
The basic job or job scenario is composed of one or a plurality of job steps,
The job management step is a parameter necessary for execution of a job constructed using a job scenario in the job construction step, and generates job information having a data structure common to each job corresponding to the operation, An execution instruction for processing indicated by a basic job or a job scenario constituting the constructed job is output to the job execution step,
When executing the basic job or job scenario based on the execution instruction, the job execution step includes the execution instruction of each job step constituting the basic job or job scenario and each of the parameters read from the parameters included in the job information. Information necessary for executing the job step is preferably output to the element step.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the basic job or job scenario includes one or a plurality of job steps,
The job management unit is a parameter necessary for executing a job constructed by using the job scenario by the job construction unit, and generates job information having a data structure common to each job corresponding to the operation. Store in the storage unit, and output to the job execution unit the execution instruction of the process indicated by the basic job or job scenario constituting the constructed job,
The job execution unit, when executing the basic job or job scenario based on the execution instruction, each instruction read from the execution instruction of each job step constituting the basic job or job scenario and the parameters included in the job information It is preferable to output information necessary for executing the job step to the element section.

  According to these inventions, when executing the basic job or job scenario based on the execution instruction, the job execution unit or job execution step is included in the execution instruction and job information of each job step constituting the basic job or job scenario. The information necessary for execution of each job step read from the parameters to be output is output to the element section or element step, so that the service described above can be performed without changing the design of the element section or the configuration necessary for performing the element step. By simply adding or changing a job step included in a job scenario constructed by a section or service step, the design of the function that is easily executed by the job execution section can be changed.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided the operation control program according to the fifth aspect , wherein each operation control placed under the control of the element unit in order to control the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus. Further functions as a middleware part having a part,
The element unit outputs an operation control instruction for each mechanism based on the job step to each operation control unit based on a status notification of each mechanism received from each operation control unit. Operate the built-in computer.

The invention according to claim 7 is the operation control program according to any one of claims 4 to 6 , wherein the storage unit associates the basic job or the job scenario with each job scenario. Stored together with the identifier
The job scenario selection unit specifies the basic job or job scenario necessary for configuring the job corresponding to the operation by the identifier,
The job construction unit constructs a job based on the identifier received from the job scenario selection unit,
The job management unit sequentially outputs an execution instruction of processing indicated by the basic job or job scenario corresponding to each identifier constituting the job,
The job information includes an identifier that identifies the basic job or job step constituting the job indicated by the job information,
Based on the identifier, the job execution unit reads the parameter corresponding to the job step constituting the basic job or job scenario indicated by the identifier from the job information.
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

  According to these inventions, the element unit outputs the operation control instruction of each mechanism based on the job step based on the state notification of each mechanism received from each operation control unit. Of the program parts incorporated as job common parts in the operation control unit (for example, middleware layer), the upper program part independent of the model of the image forming apparatus is incorporated and handled in the operation control program according to the present invention. This makes it possible to change the design of an application that realizes a job more easily.

The invention according to claim 8 is the operation control program according to claim 2 , wherein the job is selected by the job scenario selection unit and the job scenario construction unit so that the job is at least a first basic job and a second basic job. And including
The first basic job causes an image to be input from an image input unit of the image forming apparatus, stores the input image as image data in an image data storage unit of the image forming apparatus,
The second basic job causes the fax transmission unit of the image forming apparatus to call the facsimile transmission destination, and the image stored in the image data storage unit after the facsimile transmission destination is successfully called. A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated so as to transmit data.

The invention according to claim 9 is the operation control program according to claim 8 , wherein the first basic job and the second basic job are a plurality of jobs by the job scenario selection unit and the job scenario construction unit. Commonly used for the construction of the job.

Further, in the operation control method described above, the job is constructed including at least a first basic job and a second basic job by the job scenario selection step and the job scenario construction step.
The first basic job causes an image to be input from an image input unit of the image forming apparatus, stores the input image as image data in an image data storage unit of the image forming apparatus,
The second basic job, the fax transmission of the image forming apparatus, that call of facsimile transmission destination is assumed to transmit the image data stored in the image data storing unit after a successful preferred.

Also provided is a method of controlling operation described above, the first basic job and the second basic job, it is preferably used in common in the construction of a plurality of the job by the job scenario selecting section and the job scenario constructing section .

Further, in the image forming apparatus described above, the job is constructed including at least a first basic job and a second basic job by the job scenario selection unit and the job scenario construction unit,
The first basic job causes an image to be input from an image input unit of the image forming apparatus, stores the input image as image data in an image data storage unit of the image forming apparatus,
The second basic job, the fax transmission of the image forming apparatus, that call of facsimile transmission destination is assumed to transmit the image data stored in the image data storing unit after a successful preferred.

In the image forming apparatus described above, the image input unit is preferably a communication unit that communicates with an external device connected to the image forming apparatus to transmit and receive data.

  According to these inventions, a fax job that has been programmed as a single job is separated into a first basic job and a second basic job, and a combination of these is constructed as a single job. It is easy to grasp the configuration, the program portion corresponding to each basic job is simplified, and the program relating to the first basic job and the program relating to the second basic job can be easily developed and changed in design.

  Further, when a jam occurs in the first basic job due to the combination of the first basic job and the second basic job separated in time series, the subsequent execution of the second basic job is executed. Since this is not started, it is possible to prevent useless processing from occurring and to save use of resources (each mechanism of the image forming apparatus).

The invention according to claim 10 is the operation control program according to claim 1 , wherein the job management unit is a parameter necessary for executing a job constructed by using the job scenario by the job construction unit. And generating job information having a data structure common to each job corresponding to the operation, storing the job information in the storage unit, and executing an instruction to execute a process indicated by a job scenario constituting the constructed job. Output to the execution part,
The job execution unit receives an execution instruction from the job management unit, refers to job information stored in the storage unit, and uses the parameters to output the execution instruction output from the job management unit. To perform the processing shown in order,
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

Further, in the above-described operation control method, the job management step is a parameter necessary for execution of the job constructed by the job construction step, and has a data structure common to each job corresponding to the operation. Generate job information
Said job execution step, said with reference to the job information, it is preferable to perform the execution instruction indicates processing output from the job management step in order.

Further, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the job management unit is a parameter necessary for execution of the job constructed by the job construction unit, and has a data structure common to each job corresponding to the operation. Job information is generated and stored in the storage unit, and an execution instruction of a process indicated by a job scenario constituting the constructed job is output to the job execution unit,
The job execution unit receives an execution instruction from the job management unit, refers to job information stored in the storage unit, and uses the parameters to output the execution instruction output from the job management unit Are preferably executed in order.

  Conventionally, the job information format has been created individually for each job type. In these inventions, the information is combined into one data structure and used in common for each job type. Since it has a data structure, job information may be transferred between programs (for example, between a job management unit and a job execution unit) regardless of the type of job. As a result, it is possible to avoid complication of the program configuration and to facilitate the development and design change of the program related to the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 11 is the operation control program according to claim 10 , wherein the job management unit issues an instruction to execute a process indicated by a job scenario constituting the constructed job. Output the generated job information identifier together,
The job execution unit operates a computer built in the image forming apparatus so as to read and refer to the generated job information from the storage unit based on the identifier of the job information.

  According to the present invention, as described above, even when each unit is multi-layered to execute the job and the job information is transmitted between the layers, the job information content is used instead of the argument. Since the job execution unit acquires the contents of the job information based on the identifier, it is possible to reduce the arguments used between the units (between programs). Thereby, it is possible to facilitate development and design change of a program related to the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 12 is the operation control program according to claim 1 , wherein the job scenario selection unit determines whether or not execution of the operation is requested by a user. And functioning as a service specifying unit for selecting the job scenario necessary for configuring a job corresponding to an operation in which a request from a user is received by the service request receiving unit,
Further, whether or not the computer is permitted to execute the operation based on an authentication request from the service request receiving unit when the computer receives a request from the user at the service request receiving unit. Functions as a system management department to determine
The service request receiving unit causes the service specifying unit to select the job scenario when the system management unit determines that the user is a user permitted to perform the operation. like,
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

In the operation control method described above, the job scenario selection step includes a service request reception step for determining whether or not execution of the operation is requested by the user, and a request from the user to the service request reception unit. A service specifying step for selecting the job scenario necessary for configuring a job corresponding to the accepted operation;
Further, when a request from a user is received in the service request receiving step, an authentication step of determining whether the user is a user permitted to perform the operation based on an authentication request from the service request receiving unit With
The service specifying step preferably selects the job scenario when it is determined in the authentication step that the user is a user permitted to execute the operation.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the job scenario selection unit includes a service request reception unit that determines whether or not the user has requested execution of the operation, and a request from the user to the service request reception unit. A service specifying unit that selects the job scenario necessary to configure a job corresponding to the accepted operation;
Further, when the service request receiving unit receives a request from a user, the system management determines whether the user is permitted to perform the operation based on an authentication request from the service request receiving unit. Part
The service request receiving unit causes the service specifying unit to select the job scenario when the system management unit determines that the user is a user permitted to perform the operation. It is preferable .

  According to this invention, since the system management unit is in charge of the user authentication function, the number of functional blocks and the number of layers in the application for realizing the job is reduced, and each unit (function that executes each function as described above) Even if the blocks are multi-layered, it is possible to avoid a complicated relationship between the parts (between programs that realize them), and to facilitate program development and design change.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the operation control program according to the first aspect, wherein the program functions as an element unit that controls the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to an instruction output from the job execution unit. And
When the execution of the operation is requested by the user, the service unit analyzes the content of the request, and when the request requires the job to be constructed, the service execution unit sends the constructed job to the job execution unit. An instruction to be executed is output, or when the request is to operate the mechanism of the image forming apparatus without requiring construction of the job, an operation control instruction for the mechanism is issued to the element unit. Output,
The element unit controls the operation of the mechanism based on an operation control instruction from the job execution unit or an operation control instruction from the service unit.
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

Further, a operation control method described above, in accordance with an instruction outputted from the job executing unit, further comprising an element step of operation control of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus,
In the service processing step, when execution of the operation is requested by a user, the content of the request is analyzed,
The job execution step executes the constructed job when the request requires construction of the job,
The element step controls operation of the mechanism when the request does not require construction of the job and operates the mechanism of the image forming apparatus, or based on an operation control instruction from the job execution step. It is preferable to control the operation of the mechanism.

Further, an image forming apparatus described above, in accordance with an instruction outputted from the job executing unit, further comprising an element portion which controls the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus,
When the execution of the operation is requested by the user, the service unit analyzes the content of the request, and when the request requires the job to be constructed, the service execution unit sends the constructed job to the job execution unit. An instruction to be executed is output, or when the request is to operate the mechanism of the image forming apparatus without requiring construction of the job, an operation control instruction for the mechanism is issued to the element unit. Output,
The element unit preferably controls the operation of the mechanism based on an operation control instruction from the job execution unit or an operation control instruction from the service unit.

  Conventionally, when the functional blocks are multi-layered, the lower functional blocks are normally called from the upper functional blocks through the intermediate functional blocks. However, according to these inventions, for example, a job such as data access In the case of control that can operate the mechanism of the image forming apparatus without having to construct a job, a lower layer functional block is directly called from an upper layer functional block without going through an intermediate layer functional block, thereby realizing a job. Therefore, it is possible to avoid complication of the application, and in particular, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the intermediate layer functional block. This simplification has the effect of facilitating the development and design changes of applications that implement jobs.

The invention according to claim 14 is the operation control program according to claim 1 ,
The job execution unit, before performing the processing of the job scenario shown, the job management unit, to the resource management unit, the use request of the mechanisms necessary for the execution of the processing indicated by each job scenario The resource management unit executes the process indicated by the job scenario after the mechanism is secured to execute the process indicated by the job scenario.
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

The invention according to claim 15 is the operation control program according to claim 1 , wherein the job management unit outputs an instruction to execute the process indicated by the job scenario to the job execution unit. to the resource manager, said the use request of the mechanisms necessary for the execution of the processing indicated by each job scenario, by the resource management unit, said mechanism to perform the processes indicated by the respective job scenario secured So that the execution instruction of the process indicated by the job scenario is output to the job execution unit,
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

Further, a operation control method described above, further comprising a resource management step for managing the mechanisms of the image forming apparatus,
In the job execution step, the process indicated by the job scenario is performed after the mechanism is secured to execute the process indicated by each job scenario in the resource management step before executing the process indicated by the job scenario. Is preferably performed .

Further, in the image forming apparatus described above, the job management unit is positioned below the job execution unit and outputs the image formation before outputting the execution instruction of the process indicated by the job scenario to the job execution unit. The resource management unit that manages each mechanism of the device is requested to use the mechanism necessary for executing the process indicated by each job scenario, and the resource management unit performs the process indicated by each job scenario. After the mechanism is secured for execution, it is preferable that an execution instruction for processing indicated by the job scenario is output to the job execution unit.

  The conventional operation control program secures a mechanism (hardware resource) necessary for each execution of each process constituting the job. Therefore, when executing an intermediate process, If the job is canceled while the hardware resources necessary for execution cannot be secured, and the job is canceled, the processing executed until then is wasted. Since the basic job is executed after all the hardware resources necessary for the execution of each process are secured, even if the job is canceled during the waiting state as described above, a plurality of processes constituting the basic job Are not executed, and execution of useless processing is avoided, and memory resources for storing jobs and processes are not occupied for storage of the useless processing. Efficient memory resource can be used.

  In addition, since the job is composed of a basic job or a combination thereof, if an error occurs during execution of the basic job, the basic job after the basic job in which the error has occurred is not executed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary processing from occurring due to the start of the basic job after the basic job in which an error has occurred.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the operation control program according to the first aspect, wherein the element controls the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus in accordance with an instruction output from the job execution unit as an upper layer. Further function as a part,
When the operation of the mechanism is controlled based on an operation control instruction from the job execution unit, if an operation error occurs in the mechanism, the element unit notifies the job execution unit of an error,
When the job execution unit receives the error notification, the job execution unit outputs a job interruption instruction to the element unit.
A computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated.

Further, in the operation control method described above , an element step for controlling the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to an instruction output from the job execution step as an upper layer is provided.
The element step performs an error notification to the job execution unit when an operation error occurs in the mechanism when controlling the operation of the mechanism based on an operation control instruction from the job execution step.
The job execution step preferably outputs a job interruption instruction to the element step when the error notification is received.

Further, an image forming apparatus described above, in accordance with an instruction outputted from the job performing unit as the upper layer, anda element unit controls the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus,
When the operation of the mechanism is controlled based on an operation control instruction from the job execution unit, if an operation error occurs in the mechanism, the element unit notifies the job execution unit of an error,
When the job execution unit receives the error notification, the job execution unit preferably outputs a job interruption instruction to the element unit.

  According to the present invention, even if each unit (functional block) that executes each function is multi-layered as described above, the direction of instructions between the multi-layered units changes from the upper layer side to the lower layer side regardless of whether there is an error. Since it is possible to avoid complication of the relationship between the multi-layered parts, program development and design change can be facilitated.

  According to the present invention, a job corresponding to an operation for which a service is requested by the user is constructed using one or a plurality of job scenarios prepared in advance as job components. It can be effectively used as a functionally common program used in an application for realizing the job.

  In the present invention, a job is constructed using the above job scenario, so that a new job (service) can be realized by combining a plurality of job scenarios without changing the design of the program of the job scenario itself. . Accordingly, it is possible to easily change the design of an application that realizes the job when the job is changed while maintaining the concept of the job that is a unit of work that the user executes on the computer. Further, by adding the job scenario, an application customized to the contents desired by the user can be easily created.

Hereinafter, an operation control program, an operation control method, and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1] Hardware Configuration FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is configured by combining an MPU 11 with an EEPROM 13E1, an EEPROM 13E2, a DRAM 13D, an HDD 14, an operation panel 15, a scanner 16S, a printer 16P, a NIC 17, a facsimile modem 18, and a compression / decompression ASIC 19 via an interface 12. . In FIG. 1, a plurality of interfaces are shown as one block for simplification.

  The EEPROMs 13E1 and 13E2 are, for example, flash memories. The EEPROM 13E1 stores BIOS (Basic Input Output System). The EEPROM 13E2 stores an operation control program according to the embodiment of the present invention. The MPU 11 functions as each unit shown in FIG. 3 to be described later in accordance with the operation control program stored in the EEPROM 13E2. The DRAM 13D is for a work area. The HDD 14 as an image data storage unit is for data storage. Note that the operation control program according to the embodiment of the present invention may be stored in the HDD 14, and the MPU 11 may function as each unit illustrated in FIG. 3 to be described later according to the operation control program stored in the HDD 14.

  When the operation control program is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a flexible disk, the operation control program is stored in the HDD 14 by installing the recording medium in a recording medium driving device (not shown). When the operation control program is stored in a WEB server on the Internet, the operation control program may be stored in the HDD 14 by downloading the display control program from the WEB server.

  The operation panel 15 includes, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and is used for inputting setting values or instructions and displaying setting screens and states. In the present embodiment, the operation panel 15 is configured by a combination of a touch panel provided on the LCD and hardware keys.

  The scanner 16S as an image input unit is used for image input in scanning, copying, and fax transmission. The printer 16P as an image output unit includes a print engine, a fixing device, a paper feeding unit, a conveyance unit, and a paper discharge unit, and a photosensitive drum of the print engine based on bitmap data obtained by performing image processing on print target data. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the toner, developed with toner, transferred onto a sheet, fixed, and then discharged.

  A network interface card (NIC) 17 as a part of the image input unit and the image output unit is coupled to the host computer 20 via a cable or a wireless communication medium, and is used for print jobs, e-mail transmission / reception, Internet facsimile transmission, and browsers. Used for remote control of the operation panel 15. The facsimile modem 18 is for facsimile transmission / reception.

The compression / decompression ASIC 19 is used as a coprocessor of the MPU 11 and has, for example, two ports for image compression and decompression, and can execute a maximum of four parallel processes.
[2] Software design concept First, the software design concept will be described.

  In a multi-function peripheral, which is one of the conventional image forming apparatuses, applications for executing operations corresponding to user services such as a print operation, a copy operation, and a fax operation are provided separately. That is, one application corresponds to one of the user services described above, and the multifunction peripheral executes a job using one application to provide the user service. However, since there is partially common management and control among applications, it is useless for each application to have the common management and control. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a job for an operation that the user wants the MFP to execute is planned by combining each part (job scenario described later) that is a component of the job, and the job is executed. The user's desired operation is performed. A job is a unit of work that a user causes a computer to execute.

  In the present embodiment, a job is divided into parts (a job scenario or basic job described later) and expressed by a combination of the parts. That is, in the present embodiment, (1) a combination of parts and (2) a job is represented in the execution order thereof, and one or a plurality of parts are sequentially executed according to (1) + (2). Execute the job. This avoids complication of the contents of each application by creating an application for each job. In addition, when the number of job types is increased or functions need to be added or changed with the increase in functionality, program design can be easily changed.

  In addition, the operation control program according to the present embodiment is more easily changed in design by being multilayered for each function. The operation control program according to this embodiment is divided into a service layer, a job layer, and an element layer.

  The operation control program according to the present embodiment is further easily changed in design by layering the service layer and the job layer more specifically by function.

  Furthermore, a middleware layer is provided below the element layer of the operation control program according to the present embodiment. The middleware layer is a basic program that allows the operation control program to control hardware (referred to as “operation”) relatively easily without depending on the model depending on its state. Prepare. The presence of this middleware layer simplifies the operation control program according to the present embodiment and facilitates design changes.

  However, when the operation control program according to the present embodiment is multi-layered in order to facilitate the design change of the program corresponding to the job, the exchange of instructions and signals between the layers becomes complicated. Therefore, as described below, the operation control program according to the present embodiment executes the service without passing through the job layer (simplifies instruction transmission) depending on the type of service requested to be executed by the user. The program design can be easily changed by simplifying the transmission of job information and unifying the direction of transmission of instructions and notifications.

Hereinafter, the function of the MPU 11 realized by the operation according to the operation control program according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[3] Hierarchical Structure of Operation Control Program According to Embodiment of the Present Invention FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the operation control program according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the hierarchical structure is realized by the operation control of the MPU 11 according to the operation control program according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the hierarchical structure realized by the operation control of the MPU 11 will be described as a software hierarchical structure.

  The software hierarchical structure includes an application layer 50, a middleware layer 40, and an OS (Operating System) layer 30. The OS layer 30 is the lowest layer, and the application layer 50 exists above the OS layer 30 via the middleware layer 40. The application layer 50, the middleware layer 40, and the OS layer 30 are each unit realized by the operation control program according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The application layer 50 includes a common unit 51, a system management unit 52, a lower element layer 60, an intermediate job layer 70, and an upper service layer 80.

  The service layer (service unit) 80 receives a service request from a user and provides a service to the user via the job layer 70 and the element layer 60. As described above, since some services received by the service layer 80 are executed by the element layer 60 or the system management unit 52 without going through the job layer 70, in order to distinguish these services from “jobs”. This is called “work”. Each service corresponds to a job or a work, and the job is executed by the job layer 70. The job is composed of one or a plurality of job scenarios (basic jobs). Furthermore, the job scenario (basic job) is composed of one or a plurality of job steps. The job step is executed by the job layer 70 using the element layer 60 as needed.

FIG. 3 shows functional units included in each layer. Each functional unit is realized by the operation of the MPU 11 according to the operation control program. A line with an arrow in FIG. 2 shows a main processing flow.
[4] OS Layer The OS layer 30 includes a hardware-dependent device driver 31 and an OS 32. The device driver 31 is located below the OS 32 and is registered in the OS 32. The OS 32 is general-purpose and its kernel is, for example, Linux (registered trademark).
[5] Middleware Layer The middleware layer 40 includes a device control unit 41, an image processing unit 42, and a resource management unit 43.

  The device control unit 41 controls the operation panel 15, the scanner 16S, the printer 16P, the NIC 17 and the facsimile modem 18 via the device driver 31, and receives status notifications of these devices from each device.

  The image processing unit 42 performs processing such as control of the compression / decompression ASIC 19, image enlargement / reduction, rotation processing, and RIP (Raster Image Processor).

The resource management unit 43 allocates resources according to the resource request queue for each resource, and releases the resources when the allocated resources are used.
[6] Application Layer The application layer 50 will be described below.

The application layer 50 includes a common unit 51, a system management unit 52, a service layer 80, a job layer 70, and an element layer 60.
[6-1] Common part 51
The common unit 51 is a combination of a program commonly used in the system management unit 52, the element layer 60, the job layer 70, and the service layer 80 and a setting value depending on the model (for example, a function in scanner setting or paper supply / discharge setting) And a program for determining whether or not the prohibition setting (algorithm)) satisfies the condition. The common unit 51 simplifies the programs of the system management unit 52, the element layer 60, the job layer 70, and the service layer 80, and does not depend on the model, thereby facilitating design changes.
[6-2] System management unit 52
The system management unit 52 manages the state of the system and performs user authentication / authorization processing. That is, the system management unit 52 is responsible for the login process and the service request permission / denial process after login. In addition, when an error occurs in each system included in the image forming apparatus 10, the system management unit 52 distributes the notification to necessary places.
[7] Element Layer The element layer (element unit) 60 includes functional units of a device operation unit 61, an image processing operation unit 62, and an entity unit 63.

  The device operation unit 61 corresponds to the device control unit 41 of the middleware layer 40. The device operation unit 61 operates the device control unit 41 according to the state of each device (each device) notified from the device control unit 41.

  The image processing operation unit 62 corresponds to the image processing unit 42 of the middleware layer 40. The image processing operation unit 62 performs processing such as generation of intermediate data, and also causes the image processing unit 42 to perform processing such as image compression, expansion, enlargement, reduction, rotation, and RIP.

  Note that both the device operation unit 61 and the entity unit 63 are for controlling or operating the image input unit and the image output unit.

The entity unit 63 holds and manages data.
[8] Job Layer The job layer (job execution unit) 70 manages job execution. The job layer 70 executes a job by starting a program in one function unit of the element layer 60 or sequentially starting programs in a plurality of function units of the element layer 60.

  The job layer 70 is accessed by and from each step execution unit of a job management unit 71, job control unit 72, basic job execution unit 73, input step execution unit 74, edit step execution unit 75, and output step execution unit 76. A possible job information storage unit (storage unit) 77 is provided. For convenience of explanation, the job management unit 71 and the job control unit 72 including the job management unit 71 are referred to as an “application job layer”, and a basic job execution unit 73, an input step execution unit 74, an edit step execution unit 75, and an output step. What includes the execution unit 76 is referred to as a “basic job layer”.

  In response to a job start request from the service layer 80, the job management unit 71 sets the job setting information (parameters necessary for job execution at the time of the job start request, and is used in common for each job). The job information is generated by copying the structure information). However, the setting information copied by the job management unit 71 may be only the part corresponding to the job requested by the user and executed. This job information includes a job ID, a job scenario identifier, and job setting information. FIG. 4 shows each element constituting the job information. The job management unit 71 causes the resource management unit 43 to acquire hardware resources necessary for executing the job scenario (basic job) constituting the job, and then causes the job control unit 72 to execute the job, change the execution order, A job control instruction such as interruption, restart or cancellation is performed.

  The job control unit 72 responds to the job control instruction from the job management unit 71. If the instruction is execution of a job, the job control unit 72 sequentially executes the processing of the job scenario constituting the job to the basic job execution unit 73. Instruct.

  Here, the job scenario is a series of processes necessary for performing an operation by the image forming apparatus 10 including a combination of job steps and an execution order of the job steps. For example, when the unit of operation in which an original is read by the scanner 16S and stored in the HDD 14 is referred to as “Scan To Box”, the job scenario includes a combination of job steps necessary for executing the Scan To Box, It consists of the execution order of steps. In the present embodiment, various jobs are constructed by combining one or a plurality of job scenarios. A job scenario for executing basic operations that are commonly performed by a plurality of types of jobs and that is commonly used to construct a plurality of types of jobs is referred to as a basic job. This job scenario may include a conditional branch instruction for selecting a job step to be executed according to a condition. For example, when a job scenario is waiting for an output resource, the output is rushed, so another output resource that can be output may be changed to an output resource that performs the output.

  The basic job execution unit 73 executes a basic job. The basic job execution unit 73 includes an image job execution unit 73a and an access job execution unit 73b. In response to the basic job execution instruction output from the job control unit 72, the basic job execution unit 73 activates the image job execution unit 73a when the basic job is related to image processing. Is not related to image processing, the access job execution unit 73b is activated.

  The image job execution unit 73a activates the input step execution unit 74, the edit step execution unit 75, or the output step execution unit 76 for each page to be processed according to the contents of the job scenario (basic job), and the job Each job step constituting the scenario (basic job) is sequentially executed.

  The access job execution unit 73b causes the device operation unit 61 or the entity unit 63 in the element layer 60 to execute a basic job that does not involve image processing. For example, the access job execution unit 73b causes the device operation unit 61, the device control unit 41, the device driver 31, and the NIC 17 to execute processing for notifying a specific state change by e-mail.

  The input step execution unit 74 executes a job step related to image input via the device operation unit 61 or the entity unit 63 based on an instruction from the image job execution unit 73a. The input step execution unit 74 performs processing for causing the scanner 16S to read document image data via the device operation unit 61, the device control unit 41, and the device driver 31, for example. For example, when the print file held by the entity unit 63 is transmitted by the facsimile modem 18, the input step execution unit 74 also performs processing for obtaining the print file from the entity unit 63 as an input step. Run.

  The edit step execution unit 75 executes job steps related to image editing performed via the image processing operation unit 62. The edit step execution unit 75 performs, for example, processing for enlarging, reducing, rotating, and the like on unedited print data via the image processing operation unit 62 and the image processing unit 42.

The output step execution unit 76 causes the device operation unit 61 or the entity unit 63 to execute a job step related to image output. The output step execution unit 76 performs processing for causing the printer 16P to print print data via the device operation unit 61, the device control unit 41, and the device driver 31, for example.
[9] Service Layer The service layer 80 includes an upper layer user service reception unit 81, a lower layer user service execution unit 82, and a system service execution unit 83.

  A user service reception unit (service request reception unit, service identification unit, job scenario selection unit) 81 receives an execution request for each operation of the image forming apparatus 10 from a user, for example, by an event notification, and determines what the user request is. to decide. In order to respond to the request, the user service reception unit 81 instructs the user service execution unit 82 to execute the service indicated by the request.

  Specifically, first, the user service reception unit 81 receives a request from the user via the device driver 31, the device control unit 41, and the device operation unit 61 from the operation panel 15, the NIC 17, the facsimile modem 18, or the like. Then, the user service reception unit 81 analyzes the received request, determines a job corresponding to the operation indicated by the request, and stores a job scenario necessary for configuring the job in the job information storage unit 77. Select from the job scenarios that are available. The job information storage unit 77 stores job scenarios corresponding to basic operations performed in the image forming apparatus 10. In the job information storage unit 77, an identifier (for example, “Scan To Box”) for identifying each job scenario is attached to each job scenario and stored. The user service reception unit 81 reads out the identifier of each selected job scenario from the job information storage unit 77 and delivers the identifier to the user service execution unit 82 to instruct the user service execution unit 82 to execute the service.

  The operation of the image forming apparatus 10 requested by the user, that is, the requested service includes copying, fax transmission / reception, e-mail transmission / reception, maintenance, software update, and the like. However, a simple service request such as display or change of data such as setting information (for example, job log information, department management information, document box information, status information, address book information, model information, etc.) held by the entity unit 63 is made. If accepted, in order to avoid complication of the application, the execution is not instructed to the user service execution unit 82, but the execution of the service is instructed directly to the entity unit 63.

  In response to the service execution instruction from the user service reception unit 81, the user service execution unit (job scenario selection unit) 82 passes the identifier of each job scenario received as the service execution instruction to the job management unit 71, and By instructing the job management unit 71 to start a job, processing for service execution is performed. The user service execution unit 82 constructs the job by determining the execution order of each job scenario selected by the user service reception unit 81.

  The system service execution unit 83 receives a use request for each mechanism of the image forming apparatus 10 via the system management unit 52 and executes the service by calling the job management unit 71. In this embodiment, the system service execution unit 83 accepts only a notification service described later as a request from the system, but accepts other service requests, for example, a service that automatically performs FAX transmission or maintenance at a predetermined time. You may design it.

  When the system service execution unit 83 receives a notification of a state change of each mechanism or job of the image forming apparatus 10 from the system management unit 52, the system service execution unit 83 notifies the job management unit 71 based on the setting information stored in the entity unit 63. Instruct the execution of the job. The notification job is an independent and separate job that is a normal job described above. When a user-set event occurs, for example, when an error occurs or a fax transmission is completed in the job being executed, Is notified of the occurrence of the event. This setting information includes the necessity of notification to the user, events to be notified, notification means such as print and email, and notification destination in the case of email, and can be changed from the operation panel 15.

Hereinafter, a flow of processing by the operation control program according to the embodiment of the present invention, particularly processing performed by the application layer 50 in response to various service requests will be described.
[10] Print Service Execution Flow FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow when executing the print service. A line with an arrow connecting each functional unit in FIG. 5 indicates a transmission / reception state of an instruction between the functional units. Hereinafter, the numbers in parentheses indicate the execution instruction identification codes shown in FIG.

  (A01, A02) By the event driven, the print target data from the host computer 20 is stored in the buffer area of the DRAM 13D secured by the resource management unit 43 via the NIC 17 and the device driver 31. On the other hand, a user service reception unit 81 receives a print service execution request and data identification information for specifying the print data stored in the buffer area of the DRAM 13D via the device control unit 41 and the device operation unit 61. Will be notified.

  (A03) Since the current notification is a print service execution request, the user service reception unit 81 selects one or a plurality of job scenarios necessary for configuring a print service job. The user service reception unit 81 delivers the identifier of each selected job scenario and the above-described setting information (see FIG. 4 for illustration) for performing a job corresponding to the service to the user service execution unit 82, thereby The service execution unit 82 is instructed to execute the print service (the user service execution unit 82 is activated). This setting information includes the data identification information and the current setting value set in the EEPROM 13E2 as data necessary for performing the print job.

  In response to the print service execution instruction from the user service reception unit 81, the user service execution unit 82 executes the print service by performing the operation shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. Hereinafter, this operation will be specifically described.

  (A04) The user service execution unit 82 determines the execution order of each job scenario indicated by the identifier received from the user service reception unit 81. Thereby, a job scenario constituting the print job is constructed. Subsequently, the user service execution unit 82 activates the job management unit 71, and performs job management on the print job including the job scenario identifier and job scenario execution order information received from the user service reception unit 81. It is handed over to the unit 71 to instruct the start of the print job.

  (A05) In response to this, the job management unit 71 generates an instance of the initialized job information for the print job in the job information storage unit 77. This instance has a default value for job information. Next, the job management unit 71 assigns a job ID to the received print job, and writes the job ID, job scenario identifier, and job scenario execution order in the job information.

  (A06) When the job management unit 71 completes generation and writing of the job information, it notifies the user service execution unit 82 of the job ID.

  (A07, A08) The user service execution unit 82 writes the setting information received from the user service reception unit 81 into the job information having the job ID received from the job management unit 71. Next, the user service execution unit 82 instructs the job management unit 71 to start a print job.

  (A09 to A11) In response, the job management unit 71 notifies the system management unit 52 of the job start together with the job ID. Further, the job management unit 71 reads out job information having the job ID from the job information storage unit 77, thereby acquiring the identifier of the job scenario constituting the print job, and analyzes the content of the job scenario indicated by the identifier. Then, specify various resources necessary to execute the job scenario. The job management unit 71 then requests the resource management unit 43 to acquire a resource identified as necessary for execution of the job scenario, that is, a hardware resource acquisition request such as a memory or compression / decompression ASIC 19. . After acquiring the hardware resources, the job management unit 71 hands over the job ID to the job control unit 72 and instructs control of the print job.

  (A12) In response to this, the job control unit 72 reads the identifier of the job scenario written in the job information having the received job ID from the job information storage unit 77, and sends the identifier to the basic job execution unit 73. In addition, the execution of the job scenario indicated by the identifier is instructed. Here, in the present embodiment, the print job requested to be executed by the user is composed of a job scenario consisting of one basic job, so the job control unit 72 instructs only this basic job to be executed. However, for example, when a job requested to be executed by the user is composed of a plurality of basic jobs and job scenarios, the job control unit 72 executes the basic jobs and job scenarios determined by the user service execution unit 82. In accordance with the order, one basic job or job scenario is instructed to be executed, and after the execution is completed, the next basic job is instructed to be executed in order.

  In the prior art, when the job is executed, since the job execution instruction has descended to the middleware layer 40 in the program hierarchy in order, the hardware resources necessary for the job such as the memory are acquired, so the hardware resources cannot be acquired. If the job is canceled while waiting, the processing up to that point is wasted, but in this embodiment, after the job management unit 71 causes the resource management unit 43 to acquire hardware resources, Since the job control unit 72 is instructed to execute the basic job, there is an effect of eliminating waste of the processing.

  Subsequently, in response to the basic job execution instruction, the basic job execution unit 73 transmits the identifier indicating the job scenario received from the job control unit 72 to the image job execution unit 73a, thereby indicating the basic job indicated by the identifier. Is executed, and the image job execution unit 73a is activated. In response to this, the image job execution unit 73a refers to the job information storage unit 77 to analyze the contents of the basic job instructed to be executed, and in accordance with this, the step execution units 74 to 76 are as follows. The sequence control of the job step is performed.

  That is, the image job execution unit 73a includes a plurality of job steps (for example, image input, image processing (may be omitted), and image output job steps) constituting the basic job instructed to be executed by the basic job execution unit 73. Are sequentially instructed to be executed by the step execution units 74 to 76 in accordance with the job scenario that is the basic job. Here, a case has been described in which the job control unit 72 instructs the basic job execution unit 73 to execute, and the basic job execution unit 73 activates the image job execution unit 73a to issue a job step execution instruction. The unit 72 may directly start the image job execution unit 73a to instruct job step execution.

  (A13) In the sequence control, the image job execution unit 73a first delivers the execution instruction of each job step and the job ID to the input step execution unit 74 according to the execution order indicated by the instructed basic job, The step execution unit 74 is activated.

  (A14) In response to this, the input step execution unit 74 reads the setting information corresponding to the job type (print job in this case) written in the job information from the job information having the received job ID. Based on this, the data identification information (information for specifying print target data) included in the setting information is passed to the image processing operation unit 62 and the image processing operation unit 62 is activated.

  (A15 to A18) In response, the image processing operation unit 62 first passes the data identification information to the device operation unit 61, and among the print data in the buffer area secured by the resource management unit 43, The device operating unit 61 acquires the print data indicated by the data identification information, sequentially analyzes the print data, and executes predetermined information included in the print data (print services such as image processing and printout processing for the print data) Information required for processing) is written in the job information. Thereafter, the image processing operation unit 62 causes the image processing unit 42 to sequentially create unedited print output page data. Each time the print output page data for one page is created, the image processing operation unit 62 notifies the input step execution unit 74 of the completion of the creation and executes an input step with an identifier indicating the page data for which the creation has been completed. Delivered to part 74.

  (A19) Upon receiving the identifier of the page data for which the creation has been completed from the image processing operation unit 62, the input step execution unit 74 responds to the image job execution unit 73a in the basic job execution unit 73 in response to the identifier. Notifying completion of creation of page data and delivering an identifier of page data that has been created.

  (A20) When the image job execution unit 73a receives the identifier of the page data for which the creation has been completed from the input step execution unit 74, in response to this, the identifier for the page data for which the creation has been completed according to the basic job, The job ID is handed over to the edit step execution unit 75 and activated. The basic job constituting the print job described here performs the process A20. However, in other job scenarios, the edit step execution unit 75 may not be activated. In this case, the processes A20 to A23 are not performed. Without processing, the process proceeds to step A24.

  (A21 to A23) When the edit step execution unit 75 receives the identifier and job ID of the page data for which the creation has been completed from the image job execution unit 73a, the edit step execution unit 75 responds to the predetermined information from the job information indicated by the job ID. Setting information (information necessary for executing print services such as image processing and print-out processing for the print data) is output, and based on this, an image processing execution instruction is output to the image processing operation unit 62. Then, the image processing operation unit 62 is caused to call a corresponding method of the image processing unit 42 to perform image editing such as enlargement, reduction, and rotation on the page data. When the image processing operation unit 62 and the image processing unit 42 complete the image editing, and the edit step execution unit 75 receives an image editing completion notification of the page data from the image processing operation unit 62, the editing step execution unit 75 The image job execution unit 73a is notified of the identifier of the page data that has been created and the completion of image editing of the page data.

  (A24) Upon receiving the image data editing completion notification of the page data, the image job execution unit 73a outputs an identifier indicating the page data for which the image editing has been completed and the job ID of the job according to the basic job. While delivering to the execution part 76, the output step execution part 76 is started.

  (A25) Upon receiving the identifier indicating the page data for which the image editing has been completed and the job ID from the image job execution unit 73a, the output step execution unit 76 responds to the job information having the job ID. From the above, the predetermined setting information is read, and based on this, the device operation unit 61 is activated.

  (A26 to A28) In response to the instruction from the output step execution unit 76, the device operation unit 61 calls the common unit 51 to determine whether the predetermined setting information satisfies a condition depending on the model. If the common unit 51 makes an affirmative determination, print processing on a sheet is performed via the device control unit 41 based on the setting information. When the common unit 51 makes a negative determination, the device operation unit 61 finishes its own processing without performing the printing process or based on the substitute information of the setting information acquired from the common unit 51. The printing process is performed.

  (A29) The output step execution unit 76, when the print processing by the device operation unit 61 and the device control unit 41 for all pages is completed and receives the completion notification from the device operation unit 61, the basic job execution unit 73. The image job execution unit 73a is notified of the completion.

  (A30) When the image job execution unit 73a receives a print completion notification for all the pages from the output step execution unit 76, the image job execution unit 73a refers to the basic job and determines whether or not all the job steps have been executed. When it is determined that execution of all job steps is completed, that is, when it is determined that execution of the basic job is completed, the job control unit 72 is notified of completion of the basic job.

  (A31) In response to this, the job control unit 72 notifies the job management unit 71 of the completion of the basic job together with the job ID for the basic job.

  (A32-34) In response, the job management unit 71 causes the resource management unit 43 to release the hardware resources acquired at the start of the job. The job management unit 71 deletes the job information indicated by the received job ID from the job information storage unit 77 and notifies the system management unit 52 and the user service execution unit 82 of the completion of the job together with the job ID. To do.

  In this way, job information having a data structure common to all job types is provided, and in the programs in the input step execution unit 74, the edit step execution unit 75, and the output step execution unit 76 that use the job information, the job information Since the predetermined setting information corresponding to the job type held by the client is acquired from the job information, the program configuration is simplified and the design can be easily changed.

Further, the image job execution unit 73a instructs the step execution units 74 to 76 to execute based on the basic job (job scenario) constituting the job requested to be executed by the user. Even if the details of the program are not changed, it is possible to easily create a new job type simply by changing the contents of the basic job (job scenario), and the job design can be easily changed.
[11] Fax Transmission Service Execution Flow FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow when the fax transmission service is executed by connecting the functional units with arrows.

  (B01, B02) When a fax transmission service is requested, the user operates the operation panel 15 to set a fax transmission destination and the like, and presses a start button on the operation panel 15. The device driver 31 detects a key press by the user on the operation panel 15 and supplies a code corresponding to the key press to the device control unit 41. The device control unit 41 tokenizes the input information by performing state transition based on the state and the input key code, and supplies the tokenized input information to the device operation unit 61.

  (B03) Based on the tokenized input information, the device operation unit 61 interprets a request or a set value from here and supplies it to the user service reception unit 81.

  (B04) In response to this, the user service reception unit 81 selects a job scenario constituting a fax transmission job, and sends the selected job scenario identifier and the fax transmission service job to the user service execution unit 82. The above-described setting information (illustrated in FIG. 4) to be performed is passed to instruct execution of the fax transmission service.

  (B05) In response to this, the user service execution unit 82 determines the execution order of each job scenario indicated by the identifier received from the user service reception unit 81. Thereby, a job scenario constituting the fax transmission job is constructed. Subsequently, the user service execution unit 82 activates the job management unit 71, and transmits the fax transmission job including the job scenario identifier and job scenario execution order information received from the user service reception unit 81 to the job It is handed over to the management unit 71 to instruct to start a fax transmission job.

  (B06, B07) In response to this, the job management unit 71 generates an instance of the initialized job information in the job information storage unit 77. Next, the job management unit 71 assigns a job ID to the received fax transmission job, and writes the job ID and the identifier of each job scenario constituting the fax transmission job in the job information. When the job management unit 71 completes generation and writing of the job information, the job management unit 71 notifies the user service execution unit 82 of the job ID.

  (B08, B09) The user service execution unit 82 writes the setting information (see FIG. 4 for illustration) received from the user service reception unit 81 into the job information having the job ID received from the job management unit 71. Next, the user service execution unit 82 instructs the job management unit 71 to start a fax transmission job.

  (B10 to B12) In response, the job management unit 71 notifies the system management unit 52 of the job start together with the job ID, and the job management unit 71 stores job information having the job ID in the job information storage The identifier of each job scenario is obtained by reading from the unit 77, the contents of each job scenario indicated by the identifier are analyzed, and various resources necessary for executing the job scenario are specified. The job management unit 71 is necessary for executing, for the resource management unit 43, a job scenario that constitutes the fax transmission job and that is executed first (a ScanToBox basic job described later). A hardware resource acquisition request is made for a resource (such as an area in the DRAM 13D or the scanner 16S) identified as being present. After acquiring the hardware resources, the job management unit 71 hands over the job ID to the job control unit 72 and instructs the fax transmission job to start control.

  (B13) In response to this, the job control unit 72 sets the identifier of the basic job to be executed first (here, the ScanToBox basic job) among the identifiers written in the job information having the received job ID. The information is read from the information storage unit 77, the identifier is transferred to the basic job execution unit 73, and a job scenario (in this case, a ScanToBox basic job) indicated by the identifier is instructed to be executed.

  Here, the fax transmission job is composed of a ScanToBox basic job and a BoxToFax basic job, and is executed in the execution order of performing the BoxToFax basic job after performing the ScanToBox basic job. In other words, the fax transmission job includes a ScanToBox basic job from reading a document image from the scanner 16S to placing the file in a box (directory), a BoxToFax basic job for calling a transmission destination, extracting a file from the box, and transmitting the fax. It is a combination.

  In response to the basic job execution instruction, the basic job execution unit 73 transmits the identifier indicating the basic job received from the job control unit 72 to the image job execution unit 73a, thereby executing the basic job indicated by the identifier. To start the image job execution unit 73a. In response to this, the image job execution unit 73a refers to the job information storage unit 77, analyzes the content of the basic job (job scenario) instructed to be executed, and in accordance with this, the step execution unit is as follows: Sequence control of job steps for 74 to 76 is performed.

  That is, the image job execution unit 73a includes a plurality of job steps (for example, image input, image processing (may be omitted), and image output job steps) constituting the basic job instructed to be executed by the basic job execution unit 73. Are sequentially executed in accordance with the job scenario which is a basic job.

  (B14) In the sequence control, the image job execution unit 73a first delivers the execution instruction of each job step and the job ID to the input step execution unit 74 in accordance with the execution order indicated by the instructed basic job, and at the input step The execution unit 74 is activated. The job information ID is transferred to the input step execution unit 74 and activated.

  (B15-17) In response, the input step execution unit 74 reads the setting information from the job information having the received job ID, and based on this, the device operation unit 61 and the device control unit 41 send the scanner information to the scanner. One page of document image data is read from 16S. At this time, the device operation unit 61 operates the device control unit 41 in response to a status notification from the device control unit 41.

  (B18) Upon receiving page information such as the storage address and range of the document image data in the above-described processing from the device operation unit 61, the input step execution unit 74 receives a job corresponding to the fax transmission processing in the job information storage unit 77. After page information such as the storage address and range of the original image data is written in the information, the completion is notified to the image job execution unit 73a in the basic job execution unit 73.

  (B19) In response to this, the image job execution unit 73a hands over the job ID of the fax transmission job to the output step execution unit 76 and activates the output step execution unit 76 in accordance with the basic job.

  (B20, B21) In response to this, the output step execution unit 76 reads the setting information including the page information from the job information having the job ID, and based on this, directly reads the document image data. Alternatively, the file is stored in the entity unit 63 as a file, and the completion is notified to the image job execution unit 73 a in the basic job execution unit 73.

  (B22) In response to this, the image job execution unit 73a refers to the basic job (ScanToBox job scenario) to determine whether all the job steps have been executed, that is, the execution of the ScanToBox basic job is completed. If it is determined that it has been completed, the job control unit 72 is notified of the completion.

  (B23) In response to this, the job control unit 72 notifies the job management unit 71 of the completion of the basic job (ScanToBox) together with the job ID.

  (B24) In response to this, the job management unit 71 causes the resource management unit 43 to release the hardware resource acquired at the start of the basic job. Further, the job management unit 71 refers to the job information in the job information storage unit 77 indicated by the job ID, reads out that there is a next basic job (BoxToFax), and sends the next basic job to the resource management unit 43. Requests acquisition of hardware resources such as the facsimile modem 18 necessary for execution of (BoxToFax).

  (B25 to B27) After acquiring the resource, the job management unit 71 reads the transmission destination FAX number from the job information, and causes the device control unit 41 to directly execute destination call control via the device operation unit 61. At this time, the device operation unit 61 operates the device control unit 41 in response to a status notification from the device control unit 41.

  This control is similar to securing resources in the sense that if this call control fails, the process cannot proceed to the next process. By making both the responsibilities of the job management unit 71, the program structure is organized and the design can be easily changed. Contribute to.

  Note that the area in the DRAM 13D necessary for executing the basic job of the BoxToFax is secured in advance by the initialization process when the image forming apparatus 10 is started up, and it is not necessary to acquire hardware resources at this time.

  (B28 to B30) When the device control unit 41 detects on-hook of the transmission destination fax, the device control unit 41 notifies the job management unit 71 of this via the device operation unit 61.

  (B31) In response to this, the job management unit 71 instructs the job control unit 72 to perform next control of the job.

  (B32) In response to this, the job control unit 72 refers to the job information, and in accordance with this, hands over the identifier of BoxToFax, which is the next basic job to be executed, to the basic job execution unit 73, and the basic job ( Instructs execution of (BoxToFax).

  In response to this, the basic job execution unit 73 transmits the job ID and the identifier of the basic job (BoxToFax) to the image job execution unit 73a and activates the image job execution unit 73a. In response to this, the image job execution unit 73a analyzes the contents of the basic job indicated by the received identifier, and in accordance with this, image input and image processing (omitted in the step execution units 74 to 76) are performed as follows. Sequence control) and image output job steps. That is, the step execution units 74 to 76 are sequentially instructed to execute a plurality of job steps constituting the instructed basic job according to the basic job scenario.

  (B33) In this sequence control, the image job execution unit 73a first delivers the execution instruction of each job step and the job ID to the input step execution unit 74 in accordance with the execution order indicated by the instructed basic job. The input step execution unit 74 is activated.

  (B34, B35) In response to this, the input step execution unit 74 writes the setting information (the page information) according to the job type (fax transmission job) written in the job information having the received job ID. And the file is read from the entity unit 63, and the image job execution unit 73a is notified of the completion of the job step.

  (B36) In response to this, the image job execution unit 73a passes the job ID to the output step execution unit 76 and starts it to execute the next job step in accordance with the basic job (Box To Fax). To do. In the present embodiment, since the image processing is omitted, the edit step execution unit 75 is not called. However, when the edit step execution unit 75 is called, the edit step execution unit 75 performs image processing according to the performance of the calling FAX device. Do.

  (B37 to B41) In response to this, the output step execution unit 76 reads the setting information from the job information indicated by the job ID, and based on this, reads the image data or file stored in the entity unit 63. The acquired image data or the data in the file is faxed to the device control unit 41 via the device operation unit 61, and the completion of the job step is notified to the image job execution unit 73a.

  (B42) In response to this, the image job execution unit 73a refers to the contents of the basic job and can determine that all the job steps have been executed. That is, the execution of all the job steps constituting the basic job is completed. If it is determined that the job has been completed, the job control unit 72 is notified of the completion of the basic job (Box To Fax).

  (B43) In response to this, the job control unit 72 notifies the job management unit 71 of this basic job completion (Box To Fax) together with the job ID.

  (B44-B46) In response to this, the job management unit 71 causes the resource management unit 43 to release the hardware resources acquired for executing the BoxToFax basic job, and then refers to the job information to send a fax transmission job. Is executed, the job information assigned with the job ID is deleted from the job information storage unit 77, and the job completion is executed together with the job ID by the system management unit 52 and the user service execution. Notification to the unit 82.

  According to the present embodiment, since one or more basic jobs are executed based on the job scenario in the application job layer, it is possible to add or change jobs by combining basic jobs without changing the basic job layer and below. This makes it possible to easily change the job design.

In this embodiment, the process from image input to saving the file is defined as one basic job (ScanToBox). Therefore, according to the control described above (this is the basic job (ScanToBox)) and other basic jobs. Multiple jobs can be realized by combining with jobs. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, by defining four basic jobs: (1) ScanToBox, (2) BoxToPrint, (3) BoxToFax, and (4) BoxToE-mail, Three jobs that are combined:
(5) ScanToBox + BoxToPrint = ScanToPrint
(6) ScanToBox + BoxToFax = ScanToFax
(7) ScanToBox + BoxToE-mail = ScanToE-mail
Each job can be further defined. Further, if one basic job is changed, the contents of the job including the basic job can be changed. Therefore, the effect of facilitating the design change when changing the job is enhanced, and each of the image forming apparatuses 10 is changed. There is an effect that the configuration of the application for executing the operation is further simplified.

Further, since the fax transmission job is a combination of the ScanToBox basic job and the BoxToFax basic job, for example, when a jam occurs in the ScanToBox basic job, the execution of the BoxToFax basic job is not started unless the jam in the ScanToBox basic job is resolved. For this reason, it is possible to avoid a situation in which useless processing occurs due to the start of execution of the next BoxToFax basic job even though the processing execution is stagnant due to the occurrence of a jam in the ScanToBox basic job. There is an effect.
[12] Scan Service Execution Flow FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow when executing the scan service. This service is realized by the same processing procedure as that of the ScanToBox basic job. However, in FIG. 9, an image editing process is included between scan input and file output.
[13] In-Box File Printing Service Execution Flow FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow when the in-box file printing service is executed by connecting the functional units with arrows. This service (a basic job of BoxToPrint) can be performed in the same manner as the basic job of BoxToFax by replacing the process related to fax control in the basic job of BoxToFax with the process related to print control. However, the basic job of BoxToPrint includes image editing processing necessary for print processing between file reading and print output.
[14] Flow when a jam occurs when the scan service is executed FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a flow when a jam occurs when the scan service is executed. In FIG. 11, a line with an arrow connecting each functional unit indicates a transmission / reception state of an instruction between the functional units.

  This scan service job is composed of one ScanToBox basic job. Hereinafter, the processing by the image job execution unit 73a in the basic job execution unit 73 will be described.

  (E01) First, the image job execution unit 73a delivers the execution instruction of each job step and the job ID to the input step execution unit 74 according to the execution order indicated by the instructed basic job (ScanToBox), and executes the input step. The unit 74 is activated.

  (E02 to E04) In response to this, the input step execution unit 74 reads the setting information from the job information having the received job ID, and based on this, reads the setting information via the device operation unit 61, the device control unit 41, and the like. An attempt is made to read one page of document image data from 16S.

  (E05, E06) At this time, when a jam occurs in the auto sheet feeder of the scanner 16S, the device control unit 41 notifies the device operation unit 61 of the occurrence of the jam.

  Here, since the notification from the device control unit 41 is an error occurrence, the device operation unit 61 notifies the system management unit 52 of the notification indicating the occurrence of the error with an identifier indicating the device that is the target of the error occurrence. And a job ID indicating the job currently being executed. On the other hand, when the notification from the device control unit 41 is not an error, the device operation unit 61 is responsible for notifying the input step execution unit 74 of the notification together with the job ID.

  (E07) Therefore, the device operation unit 61 notifies the start source (that is, the system management unit 52 in this case) of the occurrence of the jam together with the identifier and job ID of the device.

  (E08, E09) Upon receiving the notification of the error occurrence, the system management unit 52 notifies the operation panel program of the device operation unit 61 together with the device identifier, and notifies the job management unit 71 together with the job ID. Have

  (E10, E11) In response to this, the device operation unit 61 indicates that an error has occurred in the device corresponding to the device identifier on the operation panel 15 via the device control unit 41 and the device driver 31 (a jam has occurred). Display).

  (E12) On the other hand, in response to the notification, the job management unit 71 notifies the job control unit 72 of the jam error. The job control unit 72 determines whether the error corresponds to a predetermined interruption reason.

  (E13) Here, it is assumed that a jam error is defined as an interruption reason. Therefore, the job control unit 72 instructs the image job execution unit 73a in the basic job execution unit 73 to interrupt the job.

  (E14 to E17) In response to this, the image job execution unit 73a causes the device control unit 41 to interrupt the operation of the scanner 16S via the currently executed input step execution unit 74 and the device operation unit 61.

  (E18, E19) When the operation of the scanner 16S is interrupted, the device control unit 41 notifies the device operation unit 61 of the operation stop of the scanner 16S.

  (E20) The device operation unit 61 notifies the input step execution unit 74 of the stop.

  (E21 to E23) The input step execution unit 74 notifies the job management unit 71 of this stop via the image job execution unit 73a and the job control unit 72.

  (E24) Since the notification is a job status change, the job management unit 71 notifies the system management unit 52 of this.

  (E25 to E27) Since this notification is a job status change, the system management unit 52 displays an operation stop on the operation panel 15 by notifying the stop via the device operation unit 61 and the device control unit 41. Let The user cancels the jam by looking at the display of the scan cancellation due to the occurrence of the jam error.

  (E28, E29) When the scanner 16S detects the jam release by the user, this is notified to the device operation unit 61 via the device control unit 41.

  (E30) The device operation unit 61 notifies the system management unit 52 of jam error cancellation.

  (E31, E32) The system management unit 52 notifies this cancellation to the operation panel program of the device operation unit 61 on the one hand together with the device identifier, and notifies the job management unit 71 together with the job ID on the other hand to accept job resumption. to enable.

  (E33, E34) In response to the release notification, the device operation unit 61 erases the jam error display on the operation panel 15 via the device control unit 41 and the device driver 31.

  (E35 to E37) When the user presses the start key on the operation panel 15 in order to resume the job, the job resumption instruction by the user is given together with the job ID, the device driver 31, the device control unit 41, and the device operation unit 61. Is supplied to the user service reception unit 81.

  (E38 to E47) In response to this, the user service accepting unit 81 causes the job control unit 72 to restart the ScanToBox basic job via the user service execution unit 82 and the job management unit 71. The job control unit 72 instructs the image job execution unit 73a in the basic job execution unit 73 to restart the basic job. In response to this, the image job execution unit 73a restarts the currently interrupted job step execution unit, in this case, the input step execution unit 74. In response to this, the input step execution unit 74 operates the device control unit 41 via the device operation unit 61. Thereby, the document image reading operation by the scanner 16S is resumed.

According to the present embodiment, when an error occurs or an error is canceled, this is notified from the device operation unit 61 to the job management unit 71 via the system management unit 52, and the operation is sequentially interrupted from the job management unit 71 to the lower layer side. Since the restart instruction is performed, the direction of the instruction between the modules is changed from the upper layer side to the lower layer side regardless of whether there is an error. Thereby, the configuration of the program of the job layer 70 becomes simple, and the design change of the program is easy. It becomes.
[15] Notification Service Execution Flow FIG. 12 shows that when a failure occurs, for example, when printing cannot be performed from the paper cassette 1 of the printer 16P during printing, the system actively requests a notification service and fails. It is a figure which shows the flow which performs generation | occurrence | production notification service.

  In the following, the operation during printing by the device control unit 41 will be described.

  (F01 to F03) When this failure (failure of the paper feed cassette 1 of the printer 16P) is detected, the device control unit 41 notifies the device operation unit 61 of this failure. The device operation unit 61 enters an identifier (error identifier) indicating the content of the error in the entity unit 63 and notifies the system management unit 52 of the occurrence of an error event.

  (F04 to F06) Upon receiving the notification of the occurrence of this error event, the system management unit 52 analyzes the error event in response to this, and the paper cassette 1 is invalidated, that is, the paper cassette 1 When it is determined that the separation has been performed, this is displayed on the operation panel 15 via the device operation unit 61 and the device control unit 41.

  (F07) Here, the entity unit 63 includes a notification necessity / unnecessity to the user, an event to be notified (change in device or job status), a notification means such as print or email, and a notification destination in the case of email. Are described as a plurality of executable notification processes. When the system management unit 52 refers to the entity unit 63 and determines that it is necessary to notify the user of the error, the system management unit 52 requests the system service execution unit 83 to notify it with an identifier indicating a notification process to be executed. Here, it is assumed that the system management unit 52 refers to the entity unit 63 and determines that it is necessary to notify the user of an error.

  (F08) Upon receiving the notification request, the system service execution unit 83 delivers the notification processing identifier to the job management unit 71 and sends an instruction to generate a notification job to execute the notification service.

  (F09, F10) In response to this, the job management unit 71 generates a notification job in the same manner as the job generation using the job scenario (basic job) by the user service reception unit 81 and the user service execution unit 82. Then, the resource management unit 43 acquires hardware resources such as a memory and NIC 17 necessary for executing the notification job. After the acquisition, the resource management unit 43 hands over the job ID of the notification job to the job control unit 72 and gives a job control instruction. Here, it is assumed that a job scenario (basic job) necessary for constructing a notification job is prepared in the job information storage unit 77, for example.

  (F11) In response to this, the job control unit 72 reads the identifier of the job scenario (basic job) written in the job information having the received job ID from the job information storage unit 77, and uses the identifier as the basic job. In addition to handing over to the execution unit 73, the execution of the job scenario (basic job) indicated by the identifier is instructed.

  In response, the basic job execution unit 73 transmits the identifier indicating the job scenario (basic job) received from the job control unit 72 to the access job execution unit 73b, thereby indicating the job scenario (basic job) indicated by the identifier. Is executed, and the access job execution unit 73b is activated.

  (F12 to F14) The access job execution unit 73b transmits an e-mail notifying that the cassette 1 is detached to the device operation unit 61, the device control unit 41, the device driver 31, and the NIC 17 in accordance with the job scenario (basic job). .

Conventionally, such a notification is integrated with a print job. However, in this embodiment, this notification is defined as a notification job independently of a normal job, and responds to a notification service in the same way as a normal job. Since the notification job is executed, the configuration of a program for executing a normal job is simplified, and a new job or an existing job is easily defined by combining the basic job constituting the notification job with other basic jobs. This makes it easy to change the application design.
[16] Address Book Editing Flow FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow when editing the address book from the operation panel 15. If the application layer 50 is multi-layered in order to facilitate the application design change, the relationship between the layers and each functional unit increases and the configuration becomes complicated. In order to avoid this and simplify the configuration, the address book editing flow performs the following processing. Note that description of processing similar to the flow described so far is omitted.

  (G01 to G03) When the user operates the operation panel 15 to input an address book editing service request instruction, the instruction is sent via the device driver 31, the device control unit 41, and the device operation unit 61 to the user service reception unit 81. Is transmitted to.

  (G04) Since the instruction is an address book editing service request, the user service accepting unit 81 directly executes the address book editing program in the entity unit 63 without using the user service execution unit 82 and the job layer 70. Start as.

  (G05-G08) Thereby, the entity part 63 makes the user service reception part 81 supply the identifier which shows the display data of the operation screen of address book edit to the device operation part 61. FIG. Based on this identifier, the device control unit 41 and the device driver 31 display display data of the operation screen on the operation panel 15. Thereafter, the user edits the address book interactively.

In the present embodiment, for access to the entity unit 63, the service request is received by the user service receiving unit 81 to unify the service request receiving process, while the user service receiving unit 81 does not go through the job layer 70. Since the entity unit 63 is directly accessed, the application layer 50 can be prevented from becoming complicated, and the job layer 70 and the user service execution unit 82 can be simplified. This simplification brings about an effect that the design change of the application layer 50 becomes easy.
[17] Login Execution Flow Whether or not to enable login processing (processing for determining whether or not to allow user login) can be set by the user, and data for that is stored in the entity unit 63 . In the following description, a case where this process is enabled will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a flow when executing login.

  (H01 to H03) When a request to execute a login process accompanied by a password input is transmitted from the operation panel 15 to the user service reception unit 81 via the device driver 31, the device control unit 41, and the device operation unit 61. The user service reception unit 81 interprets the service request.

  (H04) If the service request is interpreted as a login request, the user service reception unit 81 directly starts the login program in the system management unit 52 as a work without using the job layer 70.

(H05 to H10) In response, the system management unit 52 determines whether or not the password input from the operation panel 15 matches that registered in the entity unit 63. The system management unit 52 displays the result on the operation panel 15 via the user service reception unit 81, the device operation unit 61, the device control unit 41, and the device driver 31.
[18] Authorization Execution Flow FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a flow during normal service execution when authorization is set to be valid and login is in progress. A description of processes similar to those performed in the above-described flow is omitted.

  (I01 to I03) When a request for executing an authorization process is transmitted from the operation panel 15 to the user service reception unit 81 via the device driver 31, the device control unit 41, and the device operation unit 61, the user service reception unit 81 interprets the service request.

  (I04) If the user service reception unit 81 determines that the service request is a service request for authorization processing, the user service reception unit 81 instructs the system management unit 52 to perform authorization processing as a work before instructing the user service execution unit 82 to perform service execution. To do.

  (I05-I07) In response to this, the system management unit 52 refers to the data of the entity unit 63 to determine whether the logged-in user can receive this service, and receives the result as a user service reception. Notification to the unit 81.

  (I08-I11) When this is a positive determination notification, the user service reception unit 81 causes the user service execution unit 82 to execute the service and the job scenario identifier of the service requested to be executed by the user. The necessary setting information described above is passed, and the user service execution unit 82 is instructed to execute the service. In the case of a negative determination notification, the service request is not accepted, and a display indicating that is displayed on the operation panel 15 via the device operation unit 61, the device control unit 41, and the device driver 31.

  Conventionally, the authorization process is not defined as one of the services, and the authorization process is performed in the upper layer of the service layer 80. However, in this embodiment, the authorization process is also handled as one of the services. The configuration of the user service execution unit 82 and the job layer 70 is achieved by unifying the processing and starting the system management unit 52 directly from the user service reception unit 81 without using the user service execution unit 82 and the job layer 70. This makes it possible to avoid the complication of the design and to facilitate these design changes.

  Next, a data area securing process in the DRAM 13D will be described. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a memory map in the DRAM 13D when a plurality of types of basic jobs requiring a data area are executed in parallel processing.

  In a multi-function peripheral such as the image forming apparatus 10 described above, a plurality of types of jobs commonly use one memory resource as a data area. Therefore, as shown in FIG. In order to execute a new job that requires a data area in such a case, it is necessary to wait until a sufficient free area is secured in the memory.

  Therefore, a method capable of immediately using the data area will be described below. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of processing when power is turned on. In the following, the step identification codes in the figure are shown in parentheses. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a memory map of the DRAM 13D after securing the data area.

  (S1) When the power is turned on, the BIOS stored in the EEPROM 13E1 is activated.

  (S2) The BIOS performs hardware initialization processing, software initialization processing, and the like of the image forming apparatus 10.

  (S3) Next, the BIOS activates the OS 32 stored in the EEPROM 13E2.

  (S4) As shown in FIG. 18, the OS 32 divides the empty area of the DRAM 13D into blocks and reserves it as a data area. This one block is an area where image data for one page can be stored, for example. In FIG. 18, an area in the DRAM 13D used by the OS 32 is omitted.

  (S5) After securing this, the OS 32 activates the above-described operation control program according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the OS 32 and the application are activated on the EEPROM 13E2, but these may be loaded into an SDRAM or the like and activated from there.

  Thereafter, when the user service execution unit 82 instructs to start the job, the resource management unit 43 performs, for example, the following processing in step A10 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a flowchart of processing of the resource management unit 43 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a part of this flowchart. In parentheses are step identification codes in FIG.

  (S10) The resource management unit (resource securing unit) 43 acquires one of the free blocks secured as a data area in the DRAM 13D shown in FIG. 18 for basic job execution (see FIG. 20).

  (S11) The resource management unit 43 determines whether there is still an empty block in the DRAM 13D. The resource management unit 43 ends the process when an affirmative determination is made, and proceeds to the next step S12 when a negative determination is made. Note that the print basic job and the ScanToBox basic job shown in FIG. 20 use one block for one page of data.

  (S12) The resource management unit 43 determines a save block based on the rule. Here, the resource management unit 43 finds, for example, a basic job that uses the largest number of blocks, and saves blocks based on a rule that sets a block to be processed most recently among these blocks as a save block. Is identified. In addition, when there are a plurality of basic jobs using the same number of blocks, the resource management unit 43 identifies one basic job according to a preset priority order, and among these, processing is performed most later. The block to be saved is determined as a save block. Further, the resource management unit 43 replaces the block that is processed most recently among the basic jobs that use the most blocks as a save block, and is waiting among the plurality of basic jobs. The save block may be specified based on a rule in which a block that is most recently processed in the basic job is a save block.

  (S13) As shown in FIG. 20, the resource management unit 43 temporarily stores the data in the save block determined as described above in an auxiliary storage device such as an external flash memory (not shown in FIG. 1). Evacuate. For example, when two or more empty blocks are secured in the DRAM 13D, the resource management unit 43 returns the data in the saved block to the empty block.

  In this way, when the resource management unit 43 secures a data area next time, there is always an empty block in the DRAM 13D, so that memory resources are insufficient at the start of job execution. As a result, the empty block can be used as a data area immediately.

  If the resource management unit 43 performs the above processing so that a data area is reserved in the DRAM 13D in advance when the power is turned on, a part of the area in the DRAM 13D is used for other purposes by the OS 32 or an application when the power is turned on. Even if used, the data area that can be used by the resource management unit 43 is always secured.

  The present invention includes various other modified embodiments.

  For example, in FIG. 3, the job information storage unit 77 is included in the job layer 70 for storing job information for each job. However, the job information storage unit 77 can be arranged outside the job layer 70, for example, an entity You may include in the part 63, the common part 51 grade | etc.,.

  In addition, there is an arbitrary place where the division boundary between the device operation unit 61 and the device control unit 41 in FIG. 3 is set, and the device operation unit 61 uses the device control unit 41 to control the device without depending on the model. Anything to do.

  Furthermore, a plurality of functional units shown in FIG. For example, (1) the user service reception unit 81 and the user service execution unit 82 are used as one user service providing unit, and (2) the job control unit 72, the image job execution unit 73a, and the access job execution unit 73b are executed as one job. (3) Further, the input step execution unit 74, the edit step execution unit 75, and the output step execution unit 76 may be configured as one step execution unit.

  Furthermore, the layer 60 to 80 in which each functional unit shown in FIG. 3 is arranged can be appropriately changed. For example, the job control unit 72 for sequentially instructing execution of job scenarios constituting a job may be arranged in the user service execution unit 82 in the service layer 80 above the job layer 70 or in a lower level. In this case, the job management unit 71 receives a basic job execution instruction from the job control unit 72, causes the resource management unit 43 to secure hardware resources necessary for the basic job, and then causes the basic job execution unit 73 to execute the above-described operation. Communicate execution instructions. According to this configuration, it is possible to give arbitraryness to the arrangement of the functional units shown in FIG.

  Also, the system management unit 52 shown in FIG. 3 performs both the system state management and the user management by the authentication process, but manages only one of them, and the system management unit 52 Another functional unit may be configured to manage the other. Further, in the user management that is the responsibility of the system management unit 52, the login process shown in FIG. 14 or the authorization process shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, some or all of the functional units 41 to 43 of the middleware layer 40 shown in FIG. 3 are included in the application layer 50, and the middleware layer as a part of the operation control program according to the embodiment of the present invention. Forty functional units 41 to 43 may function.

  The basic job (job scenario) only needs to include information on a plurality of job steps and their execution order, for example, a set of arguments (inputKind, editKind, outputKind) of a function fnc (inputKind, editKind, outputKind) Also good. Here, inputKind, editKind, and outputKind correspond to the types of image input means, image processing, and image output means, respectively, and processing is performed in this order in the function fnc, and the order of arguments indicates the job step execution order. .

  Similarly, a job only needs to include one or more job scenarios (basic jobs) and execution order information, for example, a set of arguments (jobKind1, jobKind2) of a function fnc (jobKind1, jobKind2) Also good. Here, jobKind1 and jobKind2 indicate the first and second job scenarios (basic jobs), respectively, and the order of arguments indicates the job execution order.

  In the above embodiment, the job construction is mainly described by the user service reception unit 81 and the user service execution unit 82 by selecting a job scenario (basic job) and determining the execution order. The control unit 72 constructs a job by selecting a job scenario (basic job) and determining the execution order, and passes the identifier of the job scenario (basic job) to the basic job execution unit 73, and also indicates the job indicated by the identifier. It may be configured to instruct execution of a scenario (basic job).

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the identifier of the job scenario constituting the job is determined by the user service accepting unit 81, and the execution order of each job scenario is determined by the user service executing unit 82, and passed to the lower layer. However, instead of the user service reception unit 81 and the user service execution unit 82, the job management unit 71 may determine the identifier of the job scenario and the execution order of each job scenario, and pass it from here to the lower layer.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the notification job is generated by the job management unit 71. Instead, the user service reception unit 81 and the user service execution unit 82 notify using a job scenario (basic job). A job may be generated.

  Further, the case where the OS 32 and the application are stored in the EEPROM 13E2 has been described. However, all or part of the OS 32 and the application may be stored in a separate storage unit. For example, the OS 32 and the application may be stored in the HDD 14. There may be.

  Further, the BIOS may include a boot loader. In this case, in step S3 shown in FIG. 17, the BIOS activates the boot loader, which activates the OS 32.

  Further, in FIG. 17, the OS 32 has been configured to secure the data area in step S4. However, after performing step S5, the data area securing process of S4 may be performed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the resource management unit 43 has described the configuration in which the save block is always determined when there is no empty block, and this block is saved. However, the basic configuration uses a plurality of blocks. If there is no job, it may be determined that there is no save block, and the process is terminated without performing the processing of S12 and S13.

  Furthermore, in the above description using FIG. 19, the resource management unit 43 has determined the configuration to determine one save block and save it, but the resource management unit 43 determines a plurality of save blocks. The configuration may be such that these are retracted.

  Furthermore, in the above description using FIG. 19, the configuration in which the resource management unit 43 secures the data area in units of blocks has been described. However, the data area in which discontinuous free areas are concatenated is secured instead of in units of blocks. It may be configured to. In this case, “empty block” shown in FIG. 19 is “empty data area”, and “evacuation block” is “evacuation area”.

1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the hierarchical structure of the operation control program which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows each function part contained in each layer of the operation control program which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows each element which comprises job information. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow when executing a print service. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of a user service execution part. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow when executing a fax transmission service. It is explanatory drawing of the some service obtained by a basic job and its combination. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of scan service execution. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of the file printing service in a box execution. It is a figure which shows a flow when jam generate | occur | produces at the time of scan service execution. It is a figure which shows the flow which performs an error notification service. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of an address book edit. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of login execution. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of normal service execution in case authorization is set to effective and it is logging in. It is a figure which shows the memory map in DRAM when the multiple types of basic job which requires a data area is performed by parallel processing. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the process at the time of power activation. It is a figure which shows the memory map in DRAM after data area ensuring. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of a process of a resource management part. It is a figure which further demonstrates the process shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Interface 15 Operation panel 16S Scanner 16P Printer 18 Facsimile modem 20 Host computer 30 OS layer 31 Device driver 40 Middleware layer 41 Device control part 42 Image processing part 43 Resource management part 50 Application layer 51 Common part 52 System management part 60 Element layer 61 Device operation unit 62 Image processing operation unit 63 Entity unit 70 Job layer 71 Job management unit 72 Job control unit 73b Access job execution unit 73a Image job execution unit 73 Basic job execution unit 74 Input step execution unit 75 Edit step execution Unit 76 Output step execution unit 77 Job information storage unit 80 Service layer 81 User service reception unit 82 User service execution unit 83 System service Execution part

Claims (16)

A computer built in the image forming apparatus
The operation for which a service is requested by the user is determined, a job corresponding to the operation is selected as one or a plurality of job scenarios prepared in advance as components of the job, and the selected job scenario is used. A service department to build,
A job execution unit that sequentially executes the processing indicated by each job scenario constituting the job constructed by the service unit ;
A storage unit in which a plurality of the job scenarios are stored together with an identifier associated with each job scenario ,
Resource management unit that allocates and releases resources
Function as
The service department
The operation requested to be executed by the user is determined, and one or a plurality of the job scenarios necessary for configuring a job corresponding to the operation are selected from the job scenarios stored in the storage unit by the identifier. A job scenario selection section to
Using the job scenario selected by the job scenario selection unit and the identifier received from the job scenario selection unit, function as a job construction unit that constructs a job composed of the job scenario,
The job execution unit
A job management unit that sequentially outputs an execution instruction of processing indicated by each job scenario corresponding to the identifier constituting the job constructed by the job construction unit;
A job execution unit that sequentially executes the processes indicated by the instructions output from the job management unit ;
In order to function as a job control unit that instructs the job execution unit to execute a job scenario ,
Operate a computer built in the image forming apparatus ,
The job management unit causes the resource management unit to acquire hardware resources necessary for executing a job scenario constituting the job, and then causes the job control unit to execute, change the execution order, suspend, and resume the job scenario. Alternatively, the computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated so as to issue a cancel job control instruction.
An operation control program characterized by that . The plurality of job scenarios stored in the storage unit include the job scenario as a basic job that is commonly used to construct a plurality of types of jobs,
The job scenario selection unit selects the basic job or a combination of the basic job and another job scenario when selecting the job scenario,
The job construction unit uses the basic job selected by the job scenario selection unit or a combination of the basic job and another job scenario so as to construct the job.
The operation control program according to claim 1 , wherein the computer controls the computer built in the image forming apparatus. When executing the basic job, in accordance with an instruction from the job execution unit, as an element unit that controls the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus,
The operation control program according to claim 2 , further operating a computer incorporated in the image forming apparatus. The basic job or job scenario is composed of one or a plurality of job steps,
The job management unit is a parameter necessary for executing a job constructed by using the job scenario by the job construction unit, and generates job information having a data structure common to each job corresponding to the operation. Store in the storage unit, and output to the job execution unit the execution instruction of the process indicated by the basic job or job scenario constituting the constructed job,
The job execution unit, when executing the basic job or job scenario based on the execution instruction, each instruction read from the execution instruction of each job step constituting the basic job or job scenario and the parameters included in the job information To output information necessary for execution of the job step to the element part,
The operation control program according to claim 3 , which causes a computer built in the image forming apparatus to operate. As the basic job, the job step includes a step of inputting an image from an image input unit of the image forming apparatus, a step of image processing the input image, and an image output of the image processed image of the image forming apparatus So as to be stored in the storage unit.
The operation control program according to claim 4 , which causes a computer built in the image forming apparatus to operate. It further functions as a middleware unit having each operation control unit placed under the control of the element unit in order to control the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus,
The element unit outputs an operation control instruction for each mechanism based on the job step to each operation control unit based on a status notification of each mechanism received from each operation control unit. The operation control program according to claim 5 , which causes a built-in computer to operate. The storage unit stores the basic job or job scenario together with an identifier associated with each job scenario,
The job scenario selection unit specifies the basic job or job scenario necessary for configuring the job corresponding to the operation by the identifier,
The job construction unit constructs a job based on the identifier received from the job scenario selection unit,
The job management unit sequentially outputs an execution instruction of processing indicated by the basic job or job scenario corresponding to each identifier constituting the job,
The job information includes an identifier that identifies the basic job or job step constituting the job indicated by the job information,
Based on the identifier, the job execution unit reads the parameter corresponding to the job step constituting the basic job or job scenario indicated by the identifier from the job information.
The operation control program according to any one of claims 4 to 6, which causes a computer built in the image forming apparatus to operate. The job is constructed including at least a first basic job and a second basic job by the job scenario selection unit and the job scenario construction unit,
The first basic job causes an image to be input from an image input unit of the image forming apparatus, stores the input image as image data in an image data storage unit of the image forming apparatus,
The second basic job causes the fax transmission unit of the image forming apparatus to call the facsimile transmission destination, and the image stored in the image data storage unit after the facsimile transmission destination is successfully called. The operation control program according to claim 2 , wherein a computer built in the image forming apparatus is operated so as to transmit data. The operation control program according to claim 8 , wherein the first basic job and the second basic job are commonly used for constructing a plurality of the jobs by the job scenario selecting unit and the job scenario constructing unit. The job management unit is a parameter necessary for executing a job constructed by using the job scenario by the job construction unit, and generates job information having a data structure common to each job corresponding to the operation. Storing in the storage unit, and outputting to the job execution unit an execution instruction of a process indicated by a job scenario constituting the constructed job;
The job execution unit receives an execution instruction from the job management unit, refers to job information stored in the storage unit, and uses the parameters to output the execution instruction output from the job management unit. To perform the processing shown in order,
The operation control program according to claim 1 , wherein the computer controls the computer built in the image forming apparatus. When the job management unit outputs an execution instruction of processing indicated by a job scenario constituting the constructed job to the job execution unit, the job management unit also outputs an identifier of the generated job information,
The operation according to claim 10 , wherein the job execution unit operates a computer built in the image forming apparatus so as to read and refer to the generated job information from the storage unit based on the identifier of the job information. Control program. The job scenario selection unit configures a service request reception unit that determines whether or not the execution of the operation is requested by the user, and a job corresponding to the operation for which the request from the user is received by the service request reception unit. Functions as a service identification unit that selects the job scenario required for
Further, whether or not the computer is permitted to execute the operation based on an authentication request from the service request receiving unit when the computer receives a request from the user at the service request receiving unit. Functions as a system management department to determine
The service request receiving unit causes the service specifying unit to select the job scenario when the system management unit determines that the user is a user permitted to perform the operation. like,
The operation control program according to claim 1 , wherein the computer controls the computer built in the image forming apparatus. In accordance with an instruction output from the job execution unit, it functions as an element unit that controls the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus.
When the execution of the operation is requested by the user, the service unit analyzes the content of the request, and when the request requires the job to be constructed, the service execution unit sends the constructed job to the job execution unit. An instruction to be executed is output, or when the request is to operate the mechanism of the image forming apparatus without requiring construction of the job, an operation control instruction for the mechanism is issued to the element unit. Output,
The element unit controls the operation of the mechanism based on an operation control instruction from the job execution unit or an operation control instruction from the service unit.
The operation control program according to claim 1, wherein the computer controls the computer built in the image forming apparatus. The job execution unit, before performing the processing of the job scenario shown, the job management unit, to the resource management unit, the use request of the mechanisms necessary for the execution of the processing indicated by each job scenario The resource management unit executes the process indicated by the job scenario after the mechanism is secured to execute the process indicated by the job scenario.
The operation control program according to claim 1, wherein the computer controls the computer built in the image forming apparatus. Before the job management unit outputs an instruction to execute the process indicated by the job scenario to the job execution unit, the resource management unit uses the mechanism necessary for executing the process indicated by each job scenario. Requesting the resource management unit to output the execution instruction of the process indicated by the job scenario to the job execution unit after the mechanism is secured to execute the process indicated by the job scenario.
The operation control program according to claim 1 , wherein the computer controls the computer built in the image forming apparatus. Further function as an element unit for controlling the operation of each mechanism of the image forming apparatus in accordance with an instruction output from the upper job execution unit.
When the operation of the mechanism is controlled based on an operation control instruction from the job execution unit, if an operation error occurs in the mechanism, the element unit notifies the job execution unit of an error,
When the job execution unit receives the error notification, the job execution unit outputs a job interruption instruction to the element unit.
The operation control program according to claim 1, wherein the computer controls the computer built in the image forming apparatus.

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