JP6819065B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

Conventionally, there is known a printing device that registers a print job input from the outside in a job queue and executes the print jobs registered in the job queue in the order of registration.

Further, there is known a printing device that accepts a cancel instruction of a print job registered in a job queue and cancels the print job that has received the cancel instruction.

Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for registering a new print job in a job queue as an alternative to a print job that has received a cancellation instruction. Specifically, in the technique according to this proposal, when a print job that has received a cancellation instruction is deleted from the job queue, the registered position of the deleted print job in the job queue is stored. In addition, the user name and file name of the print job to be deleted from the job queue are stored. Then, when a new print job is input after receiving the cancel instruction, the input new print job is stored. If the user name and file name of the print job that received the cancel instruction are the same, a new print job is created. The print job is moved up to the registered position of the deleted print job and registered in the job queue.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-104636

However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, when a new print job is input after the cancellation instruction is received, the user name and file name of the new print job and the stored user name of the print job that received the cancel instruction are stored. And since it is determined whether or not the file names are the same, the print job that has already been registered before the cancellation instruction is accepted is not subject to the determination. Therefore, even if the user name and file name of the print job registered before the cancellation instruction is accepted match the user name and file name of the print job that received the cancel instruction, the cancellation instruction is given. The registration position of the print job registered before the reception is not advanced.

If the input new print job user name and file name and the stored print job user name and file name are the same, the print job registration position is uniformly advanced. Is done. Therefore, the input required printing time, paper usage, toner / ink usage, etc. of the new print job are the execution of the printing required time, paper usage, toner / ink usage, etc. of the print job that received the cancellation instruction. If it is larger than the amount, the risk of waiting time for other users, running out of paper, and running out of toner / ink increases, which may give a feeling of unfairness to other users.

An object of the present invention is to store another print job of the user who has input the cancel instruction in the order of the print job subject to the cancel instruction so as to be fair to the user who has input the cancel instruction of the print job and other users. Is to provide a printing apparatus that can be re-registered with.

In order to achieve the above object, the printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a reception unit for receiving a print job, a printing unit, an input unit, a storage unit, and a control unit, and the control unit is the reception unit. A job registration process for registering print jobs accepted by a unit in the storage unit in the order received, and a print job for executing print jobs registered in the storage unit in the order of the print jobs using the print unit. Execution processing and job cancellation processing to cancel the print job to be canceled and execution of the print job to be canceled when a cancel instruction for canceling the execution of the print job registered in the storage unit is input to the input unit. The amount of execution due to the cancellation job execution amount determination process for determining the execution amount by the print job to be canceled and the execution amount of the print jobs registered in the order after the print job subject to the cancellation instruction are printed. Among the print job execution amount determination process determined from the job and the print jobs registered in the order after the print job subject to the cancel instruction, the print job has the same identification information as the print job subject to the cancel instruction. In addition, a print job determination process for determining one print job that meets the condition that the execution amount determined in the print job execution amount determination process is equal to or less than the execution amount determined in the cancel job execution amount determination process. The job re-registration process of re-registering the print jobs determined by the print job determination process in the storage unit in the order of the print jobs to be canceled is executed.

According to this configuration, when a print job is accepted by the reception unit, the print job is registered in the storage unit in the order of acceptance. The print jobs registered in the storage unit are executed in their own order. When a cancel instruction for canceling the execution of the print job registered in the storage unit is input, the amount of print execution of the print job subject to the cancel instruction is determined. In addition, the amount of print jobs executed by printing is determined for the print jobs in the order after the print job to be canceled. Then, a print job that has the same identification information as the print job that is the target of the cancel instruction and whose execution amount is equal to or less than the execution amount of the print job that is the target of the cancel instruction is determined. Then, the determined print jobs are re-registered in the storage unit in the order of the print jobs to be canceled. Therefore, another print job of the user who input the cancel instruction is re-registered in the storage unit in the order of the print job subject to the cancel instruction so as to be fair to the user who input the cancel instruction of the print job and other users. be able to.

According to the present invention, another print job of the user who input the cancel instruction is stored in the order of the print job to be the target of the cancel instruction so as to be fair to the user who input the cancel instruction of the print job and other users. You can re-register with.

It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the MFP which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. This is the main flowchart for job execution. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a job cancellation process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 1st order change job determination process. It is a figure which shows an example of the registration state of a job in a job queue. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of execution job cancellation processing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 2nd order change job determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a job registration process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 3rd order change job determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 1st order change job determination process which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows another example of the registration state of a job in a job queue.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Electrical configuration of MFP>
The MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) 1 which is an example of the printing apparatus is a multifunction device having a printer function and a scanner function. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes an image forming unit 11 (an example of a printing unit), an image reading unit 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, and a control unit 16.

The image forming unit 11 forms an image (color image or monochrome image) related to the image data on the sheet. The image forming method may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. In the following, the case where the image forming unit 11 adopts the electrophotographic method will be taken as an example.

The image reading unit 12 includes an image sensor, an AFE (Analog Front End), and the like. In the image reading unit 12, the image of the original is read by the image sensor, an analog image signal is output from the image sensor, and the analog image signal is converted into digital image data by AFE.

The operation unit 13 includes operation buttons (for example, a start key, a numeric keypad, and a cursor key). By operating the operation buttons, various instructions and the like can be input to the operation unit 13.

The display unit 14 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display. Various types of information are displayed on the display unit 14.

The communication unit 15 includes a circuit for network communication via LAN2 and the like. The LAN 2 may be composed of a wired LAN or a wireless LAN, or may be composed of both a wired LAN and a wireless LAN. An external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) 3 is connected to the LAN 2. Bidirectional communication is possible between the MFP1 and the PC3 via the LAN2. The communication unit 15 may include a modem or the like with a built-in NCU (Network Control Unit) for facsimile communication via a telephone network.

The control unit 16 includes an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23 (an example of a storage unit), and the like.

The ASIC 21 has a built-in CPU 24 (an example of a control unit). The image data acquired by the image reading unit 12, the operation signal representing the operation content of the operation unit 13, and the like are input to the ASIC 21. The CPU 24 controls the image forming unit 11, the image reading unit 12, and the display unit 14 by executing the program stored in the ROM 22 based on the signal input to the ASIC 21, and communicates with the communication unit 15. Control for. The RAM 23 is used as a work area when the control (program) by the CPU 24 is executed. The RAM 23 may include a non-volatile memory such as an NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM).

<Main flowchart>
In the MFP 1, the CPU 24 of the ASIC 21 executes the main flowchart shown in FIG.

By executing the main flowchart, the CPU 24 determines whether or not a print job (hereinafter, simply referred to as “job”) is registered in the job queue 231 (see FIG. 1) provided in the RAM 23, in other words, in the job queue 231. Check if there is a registered job (S1).

The job is accepted by the communication unit 15 (an example of the reception unit) from the external device via LAN2. In addition to the image data, the job includes job information such as the user name to which the job was sent, the size of the job (data amount), the size of the sheet (paper) used to execute the job, and the number of pages. In the following, a user name will be used as an example of the identification information, but instead of the user name, for example, a user ID assigned to a user who uses the MFP1 may be used, or an IP address of an external device may be used. It may be identification information such as. The job accepted by the communication unit 15 is input from the communication unit 15 to the CPU 24 and registered in the job queue 231.

At the time of this registration, a job ID for identifying each job is assigned to the job. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the job IDs are serial numbers (001,002, ...) Different for each job, and are usually assigned in ascending order in the order received by the communication unit 15. As a result, the job ID represents the order of the jobs. By registering the job in the job queue 231, the job reception date and time, the job information, and the image data of the job are stored in the job queue 231 in association with the job ID assigned to the job. A file name is attached to the image data.

The job registration process executed when the job is registered in the job queue 231 will be described later.

If no job is registered in the job queue 231 (S1: NO), the CPU 24 cannot proceed with the process.

When a job is registered in the job queue 231 (S1: YES), the CPU 24 executes the job having the smallest order among the jobs registered (stored) in the job queue 231 (S2). Along with the execution of the job, the CPU 24 instructs the image forming unit 11 to form an image of the image data of the job, and starts printing (image forming) by the image forming unit 11.

After that, when the job is completed, that is, when the image formation by executing the job is completed (S3: YES), the CPU 24 deletes the job whose execution has been completed from the job queue 231 (S4), and the process shown in FIG. To finish.

If a cancel instruction for the running job is input between the execution and the end of the job (S5: YES), the CPU 24 executes the running job cancellation process (S6), and then FIG. Ends the process shown in. The cancel instruction may be input from the operation unit 13 to the CPU 24 by the operation of the operation unit 13, or may be received by the communication unit 15 from the external device and input from the communication unit 15 to the CPU 24. When the cancel instruction is input from the operation unit 13 to the CPU 24, the operation unit 13 is an example of the input unit, and when the cancel instruction is input from the communication unit 15 to the CPU 24, the communication unit 15 is an example of the input unit. The job cancellation process during execution will be described later.

<Job cancellation process>
In addition to the running job, the MFP1 can cancel the job registered in the job queue 231 by a cancel instruction.

When a cancel instruction for a job other than the running job is input among the jobs registered in the job queue 231, the CPU 24 of the ASIC 21 executes the job cancel process shown in FIG.

In the job cancellation process, the CPU 24 first moves (stores) the job information of the job subject to the cancellation instruction (hereinafter, referred to as “cancellation target job”) from the job queue 231 to an area other than the job queue 231 in the RAM 23 (storing). S31).

Further, the CPU 24 stores the job ID of the job to be canceled in the RAM 23 in association with the job information of the job to be canceled (hereinafter, referred to as “cancellation job information”) (S32).

Next, the CPU 24 deletes the job to be canceled from the job queue 231 (S33).

After that, the CPU 24 executes the first order change job determination process (S34). In the first order change job determination process, when a job satisfying a predetermined condition is registered in the job queue 231, the job is determined as the order change job. On the other hand, when a job satisfying a predetermined condition is not registered in the job queue 231, none of the jobs registered in the job queue 231 is determined as a reordering job, and there is no reordering job. The details of the first order change job determination process will be described later.

After the completion of the first order change job determination process, the CPU 24 confirms the presence or absence of the order change job (S35).

If there is no order change job (S35: NO), the CPU 24 ends the job cancel process.

When there is an order change job (S35: YES), the CPU 24 assigns the job ID of the job to be canceled stored in the RAM 23 to the order change job, associates it with the job ID, and associates it with the order change job (job information). Etc.) are re-registered in the job queue 231 (S36).

After re-registering the order change job, the CPU 24 deletes unnecessary cancel job information from the RAM 23 (S37), and ends the job cancel process.

<First order change job determination process>
The flow of the first order change job determination process executed in step S34 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG.

In the first order change job determination process, the CPU 24 acquires the user name, job size, and number of pages from the canceled job information, and prints required when the job to be canceled is executed from the job size, number of pages, and the like. The time (first), the number of printed sheets (first), and the amount of toner used (first) are determined (S3401).

Next, the CPU 24 adds 1 to the job ID (number representing the order) of the job to be canceled, and sets the added value as the reference number M (S3402). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the job with the job ID “003” is the job to be canceled, the addition value “004” obtained by adding 1 to the job ID “003” is set as the reference number M.

After that, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S3403).

When the reference number M exceeds the maximum value (S3403: YES), the CPU 24 does not execute the subsequent processing and ends the first order change job processing.

When the reference number M is equal to or less than the maximum value (S3403: NO), the CPU 24 determines whether or not a job whose job ID is the reference number M (hereinafter, referred to as “reference job”) is registered in the job queue 231. Confirm (S3404).

When the reference job is not registered in the job queue 231 (S3404: NO), the CPU 24 adds 1 to the current reference number M, and sets the added value “M + 1” as the new reference number M (S3405).

Then, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the new reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S3403). If the reference number M does not exceed the maximum value (S3403: NO), it is confirmed whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the new reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S3404).

When the reference job is registered in the job queue 231 (S3404: YES), the CPU 24 acquires the user name from the job information of the reference job (S3406).

Next, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job match (S3407).

When the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job do not match (S3407: NO), the CPU 24 adds 1 to the current reference number M, and sets the added value "M + 1" as the new reference number M. (S3405).

After that, the CPU 24 again determines whether or not the new reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S3403), and if the reference number M does not exceed the maximum value. (S3403: NO), it is reconfirmed whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the new reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S3404). Then, when the reference job is registered in the job queue 231 (S3404: YES), the CPU 24 determines whether or not the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job match (S3407).

In this way, among the jobs registered in the job queue 231 whether the job with a job ID larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled includes a reference job with a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled. Whether or not it is confirmed in ascending order of job ID.

When the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job match (S3407: YES), the CPU 24 uses the job information of the reference job to determine the required printing time (second), the number of prints (second), and the toner. The amount used (second) is determined (S3408).

After that, the CPU 24 compares the size of the print required time (first) of the cancel target job and the print required time (second) of the reference job (S3409). Further, the size of the number of prints of the job to be canceled (first) and the number of prints of the reference job (second) are compared (S3409). Further, the magnitude of the toner usage amount of the job to be canceled (first) and the toner usage amount of the reference job (second) are compared (S3409).

From the comparison result of each value of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount, the CPU 24 determines that at least one value of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the reference job is equal to or less than the corresponding value of the job to be canceled. It is determined whether or not it is (S3410).

When the print time required, the number of prints, and the toner usage of the reference job are larger than the print time, the number of prints, and the toner usage of the job to be canceled, respectively (S3410: NO), the CPU 24 refers to the file name of the job to be canceled. It is determined whether or not the file name of the job matches (S3411).

In step S3410, it may be determined whether or not at least one of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the amount of toner used in the reference job is smaller than the corresponding value of the job to be canceled. Then, when the print required time, the number of prints, and the toner usage of the reference job are equal to or larger than the print required time, the number of prints, and the toner usage of the job to be canceled, the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the reference job are used. May be determined whether or not they match.

If the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the reference job do not match (S3411: NO), the CPU 24 adds 1 to the current reference number M, and adds the added value "M + 1" to the new reference number. Let it be M (S3412).

After that, the CPU 24 again determines whether or not the new reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S3403), and if the reference number M does not exceed the maximum value. (S3403: NO), it is confirmed whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the new reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S3404). When the reference job is registered in the job queue 231 (S3404: YES), the CPU 24 is included in the jobs whose job ID is larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled among the jobs registered in the job queue 231. Check in ascending order of job ID whether or not a job with a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled is included.

Then, the CPU 24 has a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled (S3407: YES) in the job with a job ID larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled, and the required printing time, the number of prints, and the toner. When a reference job is found in which at least one value of the usage is equal to or less than the corresponding value of the job to be canceled (S3410: YES), the reference job is determined as the reordering job (S3413), and the first order is obtained. Ends the change job determination process.

Further, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the reference job match, and if they match (S3411: YES), the print time required for the reference job and printing Even if the number of sheets and the amount of toner used are larger than the print time required for the job to be canceled, the number of sheets to be printed, and the amount of toner used, the reference job is determined as the order change job (S3413), and the first order change job determination process is performed. finish.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the registration status of the job in the job queue 231. In the first order change job determination process, when the job with the job ID "003" is the job to be canceled, the reference jobs having the job ID "004" or more have the job ID "003" in ascending order of the job ID. A reference job with the same user name "User C" as the job to be canceled is searched for. As a result of this search, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the reference job with the job ID "005" is found. Then, the print required time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the job to be canceled are compared with the print required time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the reference job of the job ID "005", respectively. From the result of this comparison, since the print number "10" of the reference job of the job ID "005" is equal to or less than the print number "60" of the job to be canceled, the reference job of the job ID "005" is determined as the order change job. To.

When the reference job of the job ID "005" is determined to be the order change job, in the job cancel process shown in FIG. 3, it is determined that there is an order change job (step S35: YES), and the reference of the job ID "005" is made. The job is re-registered in the job queue 231 as a job with job ID "003".

<Running job cancellation process>
If a cancellation instruction for the running job is input during the execution of the job, the running job cancellation process is executed in step S6 of FIG. The flow of the job canceling process during execution is shown in FIG.

In the executing job canceling process, the CPU 24 moves (stores) the canceling job information of the job to be canceled (running job) from the job queue 231 to an area other than the job queue 231 in the RAM 23 (S61).

Further, the CPU 24 stores the job ID of the job to be canceled in the RAM 23 in association with the cancel job information (S62).

Next, the CPU 24 deletes the job to be canceled from the job queue 231 (S63).

After that, the CPU 24 executes the second order change job determination process (S64). In the second order change job determination process, when a job satisfying a predetermined condition is registered in the job queue 231, the job is determined as the order change job. On the other hand, when a job satisfying a predetermined condition is not registered in the job queue 231, none of the jobs registered in the job queue 231 is determined as a reordering job, and there is no reordering job. The predetermined conditions may be the same as or different from the "predetermined conditions" in the first order change job determination process. The details of the second order change job determination process will be described later.

After the completion of the second order change job determination process, the CPU 24 confirms the presence or absence of the order change job (S65).

If there is no order change job (S65: NO), the CPU 24 ends the executing job cancel process.

When there is an order change job (S65: YES), the CPU 24 assigns the job ID of the job to be canceled stored in the RAM 23 to the order change job, associates it with the job ID, and associates it with the order change job (job information). Etc.) are re-registered in the job queue 231 (S66).

After re-registering the order change job, the CPU 24 deletes unnecessary cancel job information from the RAM 23 (S67), and ends the executing job cancel process.

<Second order change job determination process>
The flow of the second order change job determination process executed in step S64 of FIG. 6 is shown in FIG.

In the second order change job determination process, the CPU 24 determines the print required time (third) and the number of prints (third) required when the unexecuted portion of the job is executed based on the cancel job information and the progress status of the job to be canceled. 3) and the amount of toner used (third) are determined (S6401).

Next, the CPU 24 adds 1 to the job ID of the job to be canceled, and sets the added value as the reference number M (S6402).

After that, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S6403).

When the reference number M exceeds the maximum value (S6403: YES), the CPU 24 does not execute the subsequent processing and ends the first order change job processing.

When the reference number M is equal to or less than the maximum value (S6403: NO), the CPU 24 confirms whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S6404).

When the reference job is not registered in the job queue 231 (S6404: NO), the CPU 24 adds 1 to the current reference number M, and sets the added value “M + 1” as the new reference number M (S6405).

Then, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the new reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S6403). If the reference number M does not exceed the maximum value (S6403: NO), it is confirmed whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the new reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S6404).

When the reference job is registered in the job queue 231 (S6404: YES), the CPU 24 acquires the user name from the job information of the reference job (S6406).

Next, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job match (S6407).

When the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job do not match (S6407: NO), the CPU 24 adds 1 to the current reference number M, and sets the added value "M + 1" as the new reference number M. (S6405).

After that, the CPU 24 again determines whether or not the new reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S6403), and if the reference number M does not exceed the maximum value. (S6403: NO), it is reconfirmed whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the new reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S6404). Then, when the reference job is registered in the job queue 231 (S6404: YES), the CPU 24 determines whether or not the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job match (S6407).

In this way, among the jobs registered in the job queue 231 whether the job with a job ID larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled includes a reference job with a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled. Whether or not it is confirmed in ascending order of job ID.

When the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job match (S6407: YES), the CPU 24 uses the job information of the reference job to determine the required printing time (second), the number of prints (second), and the toner. The amount used (second) is determined (S6408).

After that, the CPU 24 compares the size of the print required time (third) of the job to be canceled and the print required time (second) of the reference job (S6409). Further, the size of the number of prints of the job to be canceled (third) and the number of prints of the reference job (second) are compared (S6409). Further, the magnitude of the toner usage amount of the job to be canceled (third) and the toner usage amount of the reference job (second) are compared (S6409).

From the comparison result of each value of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount, the CPU 24 determines whether all the values of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the reference job are equal to or less than the corresponding values of the job to be canceled. It is determined whether or not (S6410).

When at least one value of the print time required for the reference job, the number of prints, and the toner usage is larger than the corresponding value of the cancellation target job (S6410: NO), the CPU 24 determines the file name of the cancellation target job and the reference job. It is determined whether or not the file name matches with that of (S6411).

In step S6410, it may be determined whether or not all the values of the print time required for the reference job, the number of prints, and the toner usage amount are smaller than the corresponding values of the job to be canceled. Then, when at least one value of the print time required, the number of prints, and the toner usage of the reference job is equal to or greater than the corresponding value of the cancellation target job, the file name of the cancellation target job and the file name of the reference job are changed. It may be determined whether or not they match.

If the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the reference job do not match (S6411: NO), the CPU 24 adds 1 to the current reference number M, and adds the added value "M + 1" to the new reference number. Let it be M (S6412).

After that, the CPU 24 again determines whether or not the new reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S6403), and if the reference number M does not exceed the maximum value. (S6403: NO), it is confirmed whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the new reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S6404). When the reference job is registered in the job queue 231 (S6404: YES), the CPU 24 is included in the jobs whose job ID is larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled among the jobs registered in the job queue 231. Check in ascending order of job ID whether or not a job with a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled is included.

Then, the CPU 24 has a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled (S6407: YES) in the job with a job ID larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled, and the required printing time, the number of prints, and the toner. When a reference job is found in which all the values of the usage amount are equal to or less than the printing time, the number of prints, and the toner usage amount of the job to be canceled (S6410: YES), the reference job is determined as the order change job (S6413). , The second order change job determination process is terminated.

Further, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the reference job match, and if they match (S6411: YES), the print time required for the reference job and printing Even if at least one value of the number of sheets and the amount of toner used is larger than the corresponding value of the job to be canceled, the reference job is determined as the order change job (S6413), and the second order change job determination process is completed. To do.

<Job registration process>
In the MFP1, when a new job is received by the communication unit 15 from the external device via the LAN 2, the CPU 24 of the ASIC 21 executes the job registration process. The flow of the job registration process is shown in FIG.

In the job registration process, the CPU 24 determines whether or not a new job has been input from the communication unit 15 (S81).

The CPU 24 does not execute the subsequent processing until a new job is input from the communication unit 15.

When a new job is input from the communication unit 15 to the CPU 24 (S81: YES), the CPU 24 determines whether or not the cancel job information is stored in the RAM 23 (S82). As described above, the canceled job information is stored in the RAM 23 in step S11 of the job canceling process shown in FIG. 3 or step S61 of the executing job canceling process shown in FIG.

When the cancel job information is not stored in the RAM 23 (S82: NO), the CPU 24 registers a new job in the last job ID of the job queue 231 (S83), and ends the job registration process. That is, when the cancel instruction is not input to any of the jobs registered in the job queue 231, the CPU 24 sets the value obtained by adding 1 to the maximum value of the used job ID as the job ID and sets the job. An ID is assigned to a new job, associated with the job ID, and the reception date and time of the new job, job information, and image data of the job are registered in the job queue 231.

On the other hand, when the cancel job information is stored in the RAM 23 (S82: YES), the CPU 24 executes the third order change job determination process (S84). In the third order change job determination process, when a job satisfying a predetermined condition is registered in the job queue 231, the job is determined as the order change job. On the other hand, when a job satisfying a predetermined condition is not registered in the job queue 231, none of the jobs registered in the job queue 231 is determined as a reordering job, and there is no reordering job. The predetermined conditions may be the same as or different from the "predetermined conditions" in the first order change job determination process or the second order change job determination process. The details of the third order change job determination process will be described later.

After the completion of the third order change job determination process, the CPU 24 confirms the presence or absence of the order change job (S85).

When there is no order change job (S85: NO), the CPU 24 registers a new job in the last job ID of the job queue 231 (S83), and ends the job registration process.

When there is an order change job (S85: YES), the CPU 24 assigns the job ID of the job to be canceled stored in the RAM 23 to the order change job, associates it with the job ID, and assigns the order change job to the job queue. Register with 231 (S86).

After registering the order change job, the CPU 24 deletes unnecessary canceled job information from the RAM 23 (S87), and ends the job registration process.

<Third order change job determination process>
The flow of the third order change job determination process executed in step S84 of FIG. 8 is shown in FIG.

In the third order change job determination process, the CPU 24 acquires the user name, job size, and number of pages from the canceled job information, and prints required when the job to be canceled is executed from the job size, number of pages, and the like. The time (first), the number of prints (first), and the amount of toner used (first) are determined (S841).

Next, the CPU 24 acquires the user name from the job information of the new job (S842).

Then, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the new job match (S843).

If the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the new job do not match (S843: NO), the CPU 24 ends the third order change job determination process.

When the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the new job match (S843: YES), the CPU 24 uses the job information of the new job to determine the time required for printing (second), the number of prints (second), and the number of prints (second). The amount of toner used (second) is determined (S844).

After that, the CPU 24 compares the size of the print required time (first) of the job to be canceled and the print required time (second) of the new job (S845). Further, the size of the number of prints of the job to be canceled (first) and the number of prints of the new job (second) are compared (S845). Further, the magnitude of the toner usage amount of the job to be canceled (first) and the toner usage amount of the new job (second) are compared (S845).

From the comparison result of each value of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount, the CPU 24 determines that at least one value of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the new job corresponds to the value of the job to be canceled. It is determined whether or not it is as follows (S846).

When the print time required for a new job, the number of prints, and the toner usage are larger than the print time, the number of prints, and the toner usage of the job to be canceled, respectively (S846: NO), the CPU 24 determines the file name of the job to be canceled. It is determined whether or not the file name of the new job matches (S847).

In step S846, it may be determined whether or not at least one of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the amount of toner used for the new job is smaller than the corresponding value of the job to be canceled. Then, when the print required time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the new job are equal to or larger than the print required time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the job to be canceled, the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the reference job are used. It may be determined whether or not matches with.

If the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the new job do not match (S847: NO), the CPU 24 ends the third order change job determination process.

On the other hand, when the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the new job match (S847: YES), the time required to print the new job, the number of prints, and the amount of toner used are the print requirements of the job to be canceled. Even if it exceeds the time, the number of prints, and the amount of toner used, the reference job is determined as the order change job (S848), and the third order change job determination process is completed.

Further, in the job with a job ID larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled, the CPU 24 has a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled (S843: YES), and the required printing time, the number of prints, and the toner. When a new job is found in which at least one value of the usage is equal to or less than the corresponding value of the job to be canceled (S846: YES), the new job is determined as the reordering job (S848), and the third Ends the job determination process for changing the order of.

<Other example of the first order change job determination process>
In step S1 of FIG. 3, the first order change job determination process shown in FIG. 10 may be executed instead of the first order change job determination process shown in FIG.

In the first order change job determination process shown in FIG. 10, when the CPU 24 acquires the user name, job size, and number of pages from the canceled job information, and executes the job to be canceled from the job size, number of pages, and the like. The required printing time (first), the number of printed sheets (first), and the amount of toner used (first) required for printing are determined (S101).

Next, the CPU 24 adds 1 to the job ID (number representing the order) of the job to be canceled, and sets the added value as the reference number M (S102). For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the job with the job ID “003” is the job to be canceled, the addition value “004” obtained by adding 1 to the job ID “003” is set as the reference number M.

After that, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S103).

When the reference number M is equal to or less than the maximum value (S103: NO), the CPU 24 confirms whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S104).

When the reference job is not registered in the job queue 231 (S104: NO), the CPU 24 adds 1 to the current reference number M, and sets the added value “M + 1” as the new reference number M (S105).

Then, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the new reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S103). If the reference number M does not exceed the maximum value (S103: NO), it is confirmed whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the new reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S104).

When the reference job is registered in the job queue 231 (S104: YES), the CPU 24 acquires the user name from the job information of the reference job (S106).

Next, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job match (S107).

When the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job do not match (S107: NO), the CPU 24 adds 1 to the current reference number M, and sets the added value "M + 1" as the new reference number M. (S105).

After that, the CPU 24 again determines whether or not the new reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S103), and if the reference number M does not exceed the maximum value. (S103: NO), it is reconfirmed whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the new reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S104). Then, when the reference job is registered in the job queue 231 (S104: YES), the CPU 24 determines whether or not the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job match (S107).

In this way, among the jobs registered in the job queue 231 whether the job with a job ID larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled includes a reference job with a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled. Whether or not it is confirmed in ascending order of job ID.

When the user name of the job to be canceled and the user name of the reference job match (S107: YES), the CPU 24 uses the job information of the reference job to determine the required printing time (second), the number of prints (second), and the toner. The amount used (second) is determined (S108).

After that, the CPU 24 compares the size of the print time required for the job to be canceled (first) and the print time required for the reference job (second) (S108). Further, the size of the number of prints of the job to be canceled (first) and the number of prints of the reference job (second) are compared (S108). Further, the magnitude of the toner usage amount of the job to be canceled (first) and the toner usage amount of the reference job (second) are compared (S109).

From the comparison result of each value of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount, the CPU 24 determines that at least one value of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the reference job is equal to or less than the corresponding value of the job to be canceled. It is determined whether or not it is (S110).

When the print time required for the reference job, the number of prints, and the toner usage are larger than the print time, the number of prints, and the toner usage of the job to be canceled, respectively (S110: NO), the CPU 24 refers to the file name of the job to be canceled. It is determined whether or not the file name of the job matches (S111).

In step S110, it may be determined whether or not at least one of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the amount of toner used in the reference job is smaller than the corresponding value of the job to be canceled. Then, when the print required time, the number of prints, and the toner usage of the reference job are equal to or larger than the print required time, the number of prints, and the toner usage of the job to be canceled, the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the reference job are used. May be determined whether or not they match.

If the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the reference job do not match (S111: NO), the CPU 24 adds 1 to the current reference number M, and adds the added value "M + 1" to the new reference number. Let it be M (S105).

After that, the CPU 24 again determines whether or not the new reference number M exceeds the maximum value of the job ID of the job registered in the job queue 231 (S103), and if the reference number M does not exceed the maximum value. (S103: NO), it is reconfirmed whether or not the reference job (the job whose job ID is the new reference number M) is registered in the job queue 231 (S104). When the reference job is registered in the job queue 231 (S104: YES), the CPU 24 is included in the jobs whose job ID is larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled among the jobs registered in the job queue 231. Check in ascending order of job ID whether or not a job with a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled is included.

Then, the CPU 24 has a user name that matches the user name of the job to be canceled (S107: YES) in the job with a job ID larger than the job ID of the job to be canceled, and the required printing time, the number of prints, and the toner. When a reference job is found in which at least one value of the usage amount is equal to or less than the corresponding value of the job to be canceled (S110: YES), the reference job is determined as a pending job (S112).

Further, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the file name of the job to be canceled and the file name of the reference job match, and if they match (S111: YES), the print time required for the reference job and printing Even if the number of sheets and the amount of toner used are larger than the required printing time, the number of sheets of print, and the amount of toner used for the job to be canceled, the reference job is determined as the pending job (S112).

Then, when the reference number M exceeds the maximum value (S103: YES), the CPU 24 confirms the presence or absence of the pending job (S113).

When there is a hold job (S113: YES), the hold job of the job information most similar to the cancel job information is determined as the order change job (S114), and the first order change job determination process is terminated.

On the other hand, when there is no pending job (S113: NO), the CPU 24 ends the first reordering job without determining the reordering job.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the state of job registration in the job queue 231. In the first order change job determination process, when the job with the job ID "003" is the job to be canceled, the reference jobs having the job ID "004" or more have the job ID "003" in ascending order of the job ID. A reference job with the same user name "User C" as the job to be canceled is searched for. As a result of this search, in the example shown in FIG. 11, a reference job with job ID "005" and a reference job with job ID "007" are found. Then, the print required time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the job to be canceled are compared with the print required time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the reference job of the job ID "005", respectively. Further, the printing required time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the job to be canceled are compared with the printing required time, the number of printed sheets, and the toner usage amount of the reference job of the job ID "007", respectively. From the results of these comparisons, the number of prints "40" of the reference job of job ID "007" is closer to the number of prints "60" of the job to be canceled than the number of prints "10" of the reference job of job ID "007". , The reference job of the job ID "007" is determined as the order change job.

When the reference job of the job ID "007" is determined to be the order change job, in the job cancel process shown in FIG. 3, it is determined that there is an order change job (step S35: YES), and the reference of the job ID "007" is made. The job is re-registered in the job queue 231 as a job with job ID "003".

<Effect>
As described above, when a job is accepted by the communication unit 15, the jobs are registered in the job queue 231 provided in the RAM 23 in the order of acceptance. The jobs registered in the job queue 231 are executed in their own order. When a cancel instruction for canceling the execution of the job registered in the job queue 231 is input, the amount of execution of the job to be canceled, which is the target of the cancel instruction, is determined. Further, for jobs in the order after the job to be canceled, the amount of execution by printing the job, that is, the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the amount of toner used are determined. Then, a job having the same user name as the job to be canceled and having at least one of the required printing time, the number of printed sheets, and the amount of toner used is equal to or less than the job to be canceled is determined. Then, the determined jobs are re-registered in the job queue 231 in the order of the jobs to be canceled. Therefore, another job of the user who input the cancel instruction can be re-registered in the job queue 231 in the order of the job to be canceled so as to be fair to the user who input the job cancel instruction and other users.

In the first order change job determination process shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 10, jobs are jobs in the order of the jobs to be canceled from the jobs (reference jobs) already registered in the job queue 231 when the cancel instruction is input. The job to be re-registered in the queue 231 is determined. As a result, the jobs registered in the job queue 231 before the input of the cancel instruction can be advanced in the order of the jobs to be canceled.

In the first order change job determination process shown in FIG. 4, the reference jobs registered in the job queue 231 have the same user name as the job to be canceled in ascending order of job ID, and the printing time required. It is determined whether or not the condition that at least one of the number of prints and the amount of toner used is equal to or less than the job to be canceled is satisfied. Therefore, when the reference job corresponding to the condition is found, the first order change job determination process can be terminated. As a result, the time required for the first order change job determination process can be shortened.

On the other hand, in the first order change job determination process shown in FIG. 10, all the reference jobs registered in the job queue 231 have the same user name as the job to be canceled, and the required printing time and the number of prints are printed. And, it is determined whether or not at least one of the toner usages is less than or equal to the job to be canceled. Then, from among the reference jobs that meet the conditions, the reference job of the job information most similar to the cancel job information of the cancellation target job is determined as the order change job that advances in the order of the cancellation target job. Therefore, the fairness to the user who has input the job cancellation instruction and other users can be further increased.

Further, in the third order change job determination process shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not to re-register the jobs newly accepted after the cancellation instruction is input to the job queue 231 in the order of the jobs to be canceled. Will be done. As a result, new jobs can be registered in the order of jobs to be canceled.

Further, for a job having the same file name as the job to be canceled, the condition is that the job has the same user name as the job to be canceled and at least one of the required printing time, the number of prints, and the amount of toner used is equal to or less than the job to be canceled. Even if it does not correspond to, it is determined as an order change job that advances in the order of the job to be canceled. As a result, when a job with the same image data as the job to be canceled is accepted with the print settings changed, the job can be advanced to the order of the job to be canceled as a job for changing the order.

<Modification example>
Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can also be implemented in other embodiments.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the CPU 24 executes each process has been described. However, the ASIC 21 may include a plurality of CPUs, and the plurality of CPUs may cooperate to execute each process.

In addition, various design changes can be made to the above-mentioned configuration within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

1 MFP
11 Image forming unit 13 Operation unit 15 Communication unit 16 Control unit 21 ASIC
23 RAM
24 CPU
231 Job queue

Claims (5)

The reception department that accepts print jobs and
With the printing department
Input section and
Memory and
Control unit and
With
The control unit
A job registration process for registering print jobs sent by a user and received by the reception unit in the storage unit in the order in which they are received,
A print job execution process for executing the print jobs registered in the storage unit in the order of the print jobs using the print unit, and
When a cancel instruction for canceling the execution of the print job registered in the storage unit is input to the input unit, a job cancel process for canceling the print job to be canceled and a job cancel process.
The cancel job execution amount determination process for determining the execution amount due to the execution of the print job to be canceled from the print job to be canceled, and
By executing the print jobs registered in the order after the print job subject to the cancel instruction from the print jobs already stored in the storage unit when the cancel instruction is input to the input unit. The print job execution amount determination process for determining the execution amount from the print job, and
Among the print jobs registered in the order after the print job subject to the cancel instruction, the print job has the same identification information as the print job subject to the cancel instruction, and is determined by the print job execution amount determination process. A print job determination process for determining one print job that meets the condition that the execution amount is less than or equal to the execution amount determined in the cancel job execution amount determination process.
A job re-registration process for re-registering the print jobs determined by the print job determination process in the storage unit in the order of the print jobs subject to the cancellation instruction, and
The execution,
The identification information is information that can identify the user who sent the print job or the source of the print job . The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
The control unit
In the cancel job execution amount determination process
Determine the number of prints by executing the print job subject to the cancellation instruction,
In the print job execution amount determination process
The number of prints by executing the registered print jobs in the order after the print job subject to the cancellation instruction is determined.
In the print job determination process
Print jobs that have the same identification information as the print job that is the target of the cancel instruction and whose number of prints is less than the number of prints of the print job that is the target of the cancel instruction are described in the order of the print jobs that are the target of the cancel instruction. Determine the print job to be re-registered in the storage
Printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
The control unit
In the print job determination process
According to the order of the print jobs, the execution amount determined by the cancel job execution amount determination process is compared with the execution amount determined by the print job execution amount determination process, and the print job that first meets the above conditions is selected. The print jobs to be re-registered in the storage unit are determined in the order of the print jobs to be canceled.
Printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
The control unit
In the cancel job execution amount determination process
A plurality of execution amounts by executing the print job to be canceled are determined, and
In the print job execution amount determination process
A plurality of execution amounts by executing the print jobs registered in the order after the print job subject to the cancellation instruction are determined.
In the print job determination process
For all print jobs having the same identification information as the print job subject to the cancel instruction, a plurality of execution amounts determined by the print job execution amount determination process and a plurality of executions determined by the cancel job execution amount determination process. The amount is compared for each type of execution amount, and for at least one type, the execution amount determined by the print job execution amount determination process is smaller than the execution amount determined by the cancel job execution amount determination process, and , The print job in which the plurality of execution amounts determined in the print job execution amount determination process most closely resembles the plurality of execution amounts determined in the cancel job execution amount determination process is the order of the print jobs subject to the cancellation instruction. Determines the print job to be re-registered in the storage unit.
Printing device. The reception department that accepts print jobs and
With the printing department
Input section and
Memory and
Control unit and
With
The control unit
A job registration process for registering print jobs sent by a user and received by the reception unit in the storage unit in the order in which they are received,
A print job execution process for executing the print jobs registered in the storage unit in the order of the print jobs using the print unit, and
When a cancel instruction for canceling the execution of the print job registered in the storage unit is input to the input unit, a job cancel process for canceling the print job to be canceled and a job cancel process.
The cancel job execution amount determination process for determining the execution amount due to the execution of the print job to be canceled from the print job to be canceled, and
By executing the print jobs registered in the order after the print job subject to the cancel instruction from the print jobs already stored in the storage unit when the cancel instruction is input to the input unit. The print job execution amount determination process for determining the execution amount from the print job, and
Among the print jobs registered in the order after the print job subject to the cancel instruction, the print job has the same identification information as the print job subject to the cancel instruction, and is determined by the print job execution amount determination process. A print job determination process for determining one print job that meets the condition that the execution amount is less than or equal to the execution amount determined in the cancel job execution amount determination process.
And run
In the print job execution process
The print jobs determined in the print job determination process are executed in the order of the print jobs subject to the cancellation instruction .
The identification information is information that can identify the user who sent the print job or the source of the print job .
Printing device.

Images