Image formation system

Abstract

To allow proxy execution of a print job which is more beneficial for a user when a printing error occurs in an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An image formation system comprises a processing unit which requests, when an error notification from an image formation apparatus in which a printing error occurs is received in a terminal (such as a personal computer) which transmits the print job to an image formation apparatus, requests transmission of state information (having information showing estimated required time required to completion of execution of the print job under execution and execution standby) of the image formation apparatus to an image formation apparatus in which no error occurs to be acquired and displays the acquired state information. Thus, provision of information beneficial for selecting a proxy execution device of the print job is allowed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a terminal device that transmits print jobs to the image forming apparatuses. [Background technology]

[0002] When a printing error occurs in an image forming device that prevents a print job from being executed (e.g., a paper jam, a paper shortage, or a toner shortage), the print job being executed is stopped, and print jobs waiting to be executed are not started until the printing error is resolved.

[0003] The following Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a method in which, when a print error occurs in an image forming device, a print job waiting to be executed is executed by another image forming device instead.Furthermore, the following Patent Document 3 describes a method in which a user can recognize, on a terminal device (personal computer) that transmits a print job to an image forming device, image forming devices that can execute a print job and image forming devices that cannot execute a print job (image forming devices where a print error has occurred). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 0996055 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 8,014,007 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 7,426,046 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe that when a printing error occurs in an image forming device, another image forming device that is not experiencing a printing error executes the print job instead, but such substitution is not necessarily beneficial to the user. For example, if the image forming device that substitutes for the execution of a print job has many print jobs waiting to be executed, it may take a long time for the substitute print job to be completed.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to enable substitute execution of a print job in a manner that is more beneficial to a user when a print error occurs in an image forming apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a terminal device that transmits a print job to the image forming apparatuses, the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the terminal device being capable of communicating with each other via a network, the image forming apparatuses including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming unit to execute the print job transmitted from the terminal device, an error detection unit that detects the occurrence of a print error that makes it impossible to execute the print job, a first communication unit that communicates with the other image forming apparatuses and the terminal device, and a control unit that, when the error detection unit detects the occurrence of the print error, sends an error notification to the terminal device that is the sender of the print job waiting to be executed, to notify the occurrence of the print error. and an error notification unit that causes the terminal device to send an error notification from a first communication unit, the terminal device comprising a display unit, a second communication unit that communicates with a plurality of the image forming devices, and a processing unit that, upon receiving the error notification from the image forming device via the second communication unit, requests an image forming device in which the printing error has not occurred to send status information of the image forming device and acquires the acquired status information on the display unit, the image forming device further comprising a calculation unit that calculates an estimated required time for completion of execution of the print job that is being executed and waiting to be executed, and a response unit that, upon receiving the request from the terminal device via the first communication unit, transmits the status information to the terminal device that is the request source, and the status information includes information indicating the estimated required time calculated by the calculation unit. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, when a print error occurs in an image forming device, status information (including information indicating the estimated time required for the execution of a print job being executed or waiting to be executed) of an image forming device where a print error does not occur is displayed on the display unit of a terminal device. If the estimated time is known, it becomes easy for a user to predict the time required for the execution of a print job to be completed if the print job is executed on behalf of another user.

[0009] Therefore, information useful for the user to select a substitute execution device for the print job is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device, and the user can appropriately select a substitute execution device for the print job by referring to the status information, thereby realizing substitute execution of the print job that is more useful to the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an entire image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an outline of a main internal configuration of a terminal device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the state of an image forming apparatus and the state of a print job transmitted from a terminal device to the image forming apparatus; [Diagram 5] 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the state of an image forming apparatus and the state of a print job transmitted from a terminal device to the image forming apparatus; [Figure 6] 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by a control unit in the image forming apparatus. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the entire image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The image forming system 11 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A to 1C (hereinafter collectively referred to as "image forming apparatuses 1") and a plurality of terminal apparatuses 2A to 2E (hereinafter collectively referred to as "terminal apparatuses 2") that exist on a network such as the Internet. The image forming apparatuses 1A to 1C and the terminal apparatuses 2A to 2E are configured to be able to communicate with each other through the network.

[0013] The image forming device 1 is a multifunction device having multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The terminal device 2 is a personal computer, for example, and has a function of creating a print job and transmitting the created print job to the image forming device 1.

[0014] 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic diagram of the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, an original feeding section 6, an original reading section 5, an image forming section 12, a fixing section 13, a paper feeding section 14, a recording paper transport sensor 15, a remaining recording paper amount sensor 16, a remaining toner amount sensor 17, an operation section 47, a network interface section 91, and a storage section 8.

[0015] The document feeder 6 is configured to be openable and closable by a hinge or the like (not shown) on the top surface of the document reading unit 5, and functions as a document pressing cover when reading a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feeder 6 is an automatic document feeder called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and includes a document placement tray (not shown), which supplies documents placed on the document placement tray to the document reading unit 5 one by one.

[0016] A description will be given of a case where a document reading operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of a document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory or the like (not shown).

[0017] A description will be given of an image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1. Based on image data generated by a document reading operation and a print job received from a computer serving as an external device (for example, terminal device 2) connected via a network, the image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on a recording paper serving as a recording medium fed from a paper feed unit 14. The image forming unit 12 includes a photoconductor drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer device, and the like.

[0018] The recording paper on which the toner image has been formed by the image forming unit 12 is subjected to a fixing process in the fixing unit 13, and the recording paper after the fixing process is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown). The paper supply unit 14 includes a paper supply cassette and a multipurpose tray (not shown).

[0019] The recording paper transport sensor 15 is provided in a transport path that transports the recording paper from the paper feed unit 14 to the image forming unit 12, and is an optical sensor that detects the presence or absence of the recording paper in the transport path.

[0020] The remaining recording paper sensor 16 is a sensor that detects the remaining amount of recording paper contained in the paper feed cassette and the remaining amount of recording paper placed on the multipurpose tray. The remaining recording paper sensor 16 that detects the remaining amount of recording paper contained in the paper feed cassette is, for example, a distance sensor that is provided at the top of the paper feed cassette and measures the distance to the top surface of the recording paper contained in the paper feed cassette and detects the remaining amount of recording paper from the measurement value. The remaining recording paper sensor 16 that detects the remaining amount of recording paper placed on the multipurpose tray is, for example, a load sensor that measures the force applied to the multipurpose tray and detects the remaining amount of recording paper from the measurement value.

[0021] The remaining toner amount sensor 17 is, for example, a magnetic permeability sensor, and detects the magnetic permeability of the toner in a toner container that contains the toner, thereby detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner container.

[0022] The operation unit 47 receives instructions, such as an instruction to execute an image forming operation, from an operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guides and the like for the operator. The operation unit 47 also receives input of instructions from the user via a touch panel included in the display unit 473, based on the user's operation (touch operation) on an operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 or the user's operation on physical keys.

[0023] The display unit 473 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. The display unit 473 is equipped with a touch panel. When the operator touches a button or key displayed on the screen, the touch panel receives an instruction associated with the touched position.

[0024] The network interface unit 91 is a communication interface that transmits and receives various data to and from external devices (e.g., the terminal device 2) within a local area or on the Internet. In the image forming apparatus 1, communication with other image forming apparatuses and the terminal device 2 is performed via the network interface unit 91. The network interface unit 91 is an example of a first communication unit in the claims.

[0025] The storage unit 8 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various control programs and the like.

[0026] The control unit 10 includes a processor, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a micro processing unit (MPU). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, an error detection unit 101, an error notification unit 102, a calculation unit 103, and a response unit 104.

[0027] The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, an error detection unit 101, an error notification unit 102, a calculation unit 103, and a response unit 104 by the operation of the processor in accordance with the control program stored in the storage unit 8. However, the control unit 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits, regardless of the operation in accordance with the control program by the control unit 10. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise stated.

[0028] The control unit 100 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feeding unit 14, the recording paper transport sensor 15, the recording paper remaining amount sensor 16, the toner remaining amount sensor 17, the operation unit 47, the network interface unit 91, and the storage unit 8, and performs drive control of each of these units.

[0029] For example, the control unit 100 executes various processes necessary for image formation by the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 controls the operation of the image forming unit 12 and the like, and executes a print job transmitted from the terminal device 2 via the network interface unit 91. Furthermore, when the control unit 100 receives a new print job while a print job is being executed, it stores the received new print job in the storage unit 8 as a print job waiting to be executed.

[0030] The error detection unit 101 detects the occurrence of a print error that makes it impossible to execute a print job. The error detection unit 101 detects, for example, a paper jam of recording paper used in image formation by the image forming unit 12, a paper shortage, or a toner shortage as a print error.

[0031] Error detection unit 101 determines that a paper jam has occurred if a signal indicating the presence of recording paper output from recording paper transport sensor 15 continues for a certain period of time or more. Error detection unit 101 also determines whether there is a paper shortage or a toner shortage based on detection signals output from remaining recording paper sensor 16 and remaining toner sensor 17.

[0032] When the error detection unit 101 detects the occurrence of a print error, the error notification unit 102 transmits an error notification to the terminal device 2, which is the sender of the print job waiting to be executed, to notify the occurrence of the print error. For example, the error notification unit 102 transmits the error notification to the terminal device 2 together with information indicating the preregistered device name, IP address, host name, and installation location of the own device (image forming device 1), as well as information indicating the remaining amount of recording paper and toner of the own device, and the number of print jobs waiting to be executed.

[0033] The calculation unit 103 calculates an estimated time required until the execution of the print jobs being executed and waiting to be executed is completed. For example, the calculation unit 103 calculates the estimated time based on the total number of print sheets, which is the remaining number of print sheets in the print job being executed and the number of print sheets in the print job waiting to be executed, and the print speed (ppm: paper per minute) of the own device. For example, if the total number of print sheets is 170 sheets and the print speed is 60 sheets per minute, the estimated time is about 2.8 minutes (2 minutes 50 seconds).

[0034] When the response unit 104 receives a request from the terminal device 2 to transmit the status information of the image forming device 1, the response unit 104 transmits the status information of the image forming device 1 to the requesting terminal device 2. The status information includes information indicating the estimated required time calculated by the calculation unit 103, and further includes information indicating the remaining amount of recording paper and toner of the image forming device itself, and the number of print jobs waiting to be executed.

[0035] For example, when the response unit 104 receives the above request from the terminal device 2, it transmits the above status information to the terminal device 2 along with information indicating the device name, IP address, host name, and installation location of the image forming device 1 that have been registered in advance.

[0036] 3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic diagram of the main internal configuration of the terminal device 2 according to the first embodiment. The terminal device 2 includes a control unit 21, an operation section 22, a display section 23, a communication section 24, and a storage section 25. These components are capable of transmitting and receiving data or signals to and from each other via a communication bus.

[0037] The operation unit 22 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and is used to input commands and characters to the control unit 21, and further to operate a pointer on the screen of the display unit 23. The operation unit 22 accepts input of instructions from a user based on operations by the user. The display unit 23 is composed of an LCD, etc., and displays responses and data results from the control unit 21.

[0038] The communication unit 24 is a communication interface that transmits and receives various data to and from external devices such as the image forming apparatus 1 within a local area or on the Internet. In the terminal device 2, communication with the image forming apparatuses 1A to 1C and other terminal devices 2 is performed via the network interface unit 91. The communication unit 24 is an example of a second communication unit in the claims.

[0039] The storage unit 25 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD or SSD, and stores various control programs. The storage unit 25 also stores a printer driver 250.

[0040] The control unit 21 includes a processor, a RAM, a ROM, and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU, an ASIC, or an MPU. The control unit 21 includes a control unit 210 and a processing unit 211.

[0041] The control unit 21 functions as a control unit 210 and a processing unit 211 by the operation of the above-mentioned processor according to a control program stored in the storage unit 25. However, the control unit 210 and the processing unit 211 can also be configured by hardware circuits, respectively, without relying on the operation of the control unit 21 according to a control program. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise stated.

[0042] The control unit 210 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the terminal device 2. The control unit 210 is connected to the operation unit 22, the display unit 23, the communication unit 24, and the storage unit 25, and performs drive control of each of these units.

[0043] When the processing unit 211 receives an error notification from the image forming device 1, it requests the image forming device 1 that is not experiencing a printing error to send status information of the image forming device 1, acquires the status information, and displays the acquired status information on the display unit 23 to provide it to the user.

[0044] 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the states of the image forming devices 1A to 1C and the states of print jobs sent to the image forming devices 1A and 1B from the terminal device 2. Fig. 4 shows a case where no print error occurs in any of the image forming devices 1A to 1C. Fig. 5 shows a case where a print error (shortage of paper) occurs in the image forming device 1A.

[0045] 4 and 5 show the device names and installation locations (Locations) of image forming devices 1A to 1C, as well as status information of image forming devices 1A to 1C, such as the remaining toner level (Toner Level), the remaining recording paper level (Paper Level), the number of print jobs being executed and waiting to be executed (Jobs in Queue), and the estimated completion time (EC Time: Estimated Completion Time) calculated by calculation unit 103.

[0046] 4 shows that the device name of image forming device 1A is "Device 1" and that it is installed in the Sales Department (SD) on the 17th floor. Furthermore, the status information of image forming device 1A shows that the remaining toner amounts are 80% for cyan (C), 70% for magenta (M), 75% for yellow (Y), and 90% for black (K), that the remaining recording paper amounts are 10% for the paper feed cassette (Cassette 1) and 0% for the multipurpose tray (MP Tray), that there are three print jobs being executed and waiting to be executed, and that the estimated required time is one minute and 30 seconds.

[0047] FIG. 4 also shows that print job J1 from terminal device 2A (user U1), print job J2 from terminal device 2B (user U2), and print job J3 from terminal device 2C (user U3) have been sent to image forming device 1A (device name: Device1), and that print job J1 is being executed and print jobs J2 and J3 are waiting to be executed.

[0048] Fig. 4 also shows that print job J4 from terminal device 2D (user U4) has been sent to image forming device 1B (device name: Device2) and that print job J4 is currently being executed. Fig. 5 shows that a printing error (shortage of paper) has occurred in image forming device 1A and execution of print job J1 has stopped.

[0049] Next, each process executed by the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal device 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

[0050] When the error detection unit 101 of the image forming apparatus 1 detects a print error, the image forming apparatus 1 starts process A shown in Fig. 6(A), and the control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 473 to display a pop-up screen P1 as shown in Fig. 7 on the display unit 473 (S1). The pop-up screen P1 displays the messages "Error" and "Add paper to cassette or MP tray."

[0051] Next, the error notification unit 102 determines whether or not there is a print job waiting to be executed (S2), and if it determines that there is a print job waiting to be executed (YES in S2), it identifies the terminal device 2 that is the sender of the print job waiting to be executed (S3), and obtains status information of its own device (e.g., the amount of remaining recording paper, the amount of remaining toner, and the number of print jobs waiting to be executed) (S4).

[0052] On the other hand, if the error notification unit 102 determines that there is no print job waiting to be executed (NO in S2), the process A ends.

[0053] Thereafter, the error notification unit 102 transmits an error notification to the terminal device 2, which is the sender of the print job waiting to be executed, via the network interface unit 91, along with information indicating the device name, IP address, host name, and installation location that have been registered in advance for the device, together with the status information of the device (S5). After this, process A ends.

[0054] The error notification unit 102 detects other image forming apparatuses 1 connected to the same network (for example, the same LAN) by using a known technique. For example, when a print error occurs in the image forming apparatus 1A and the image forming apparatus 1A is in a state (short of paper) as shown in Fig. 5, the error notification unit 102 of the image forming apparatus 1A identifies the terminal apparatuses 2B and 2C as the senders of the print jobs J2 and J3 waiting to be executed.

[0055] The error notification unit 102 acquires status information of its own device, indicating the amount of remaining recording paper (paper feed cassette 0%, multipurpose tray 0%), the amount of remaining toner (cyan 80%, magenta 70%, yellow 75%, black 90%), and the number of print jobs waiting to be executed (3), and sends an error notification to terminal devices 2B and 2C via network interface unit 91, together with the status information of its own device, including the device name (Device 1), IP address, host name, and installation location.

[0056] When the terminal device 2 receives the error notification from the image forming device 1 via the communication unit 24, it starts a process B shown in FIG. 6(B).

[0057] The processing unit 211 stores the status information of the image forming device 1 transmitted together with the error notification in the storage unit 25 (S11), and requests the image forming device 1 in which no printing error has occurred to transmit the status information of the image forming device 1 (S12). The processing unit 211 detects a plurality of image forming devices 1A to 1C connected to the same network (for example, the same LAN) by using a known technique.

[0058] For example, when the processor 211 of the terminal devices 2B and 2C receives an error notification from the image forming device 1A via the communication unit 24, it makes the above-mentioned request to the image forming devices 1B and 1C in which no print error has occurred.

[0059] When the image forming apparatus 1 receives the request from the terminal device 2 via the network interface unit 91, it starts a process C shown in FIG.

[0060] The calculation unit 103 calculates an estimated time required until the execution of the print jobs currently being executed and those waiting to be executed is completed (S21).

[0061] The response unit 104 acquires status information of the device itself (for example, the remaining amount of recording paper and toner, and the number of print jobs waiting to be executed) (S22), and transmits the acquired status information of the device itself and information indicating the estimated required time calculated by the calculation unit 103 together with information indicating the device name, IP address, host name, and installation location that are registered in advance of the device itself to the terminal device 2 that has issued the request via the network interface unit 91 (S23). After this, process C ends.

[0062] For example, the image forming apparatuses 1B and 1C transmit their own status information (including information indicating the estimated required time) from the response unit 104 via the network interface unit 91 to the terminal apparatuses 2B and 2C.

[0063] When the processing unit 211 of the terminal device 2 receives the status information, etc. transmitted from the image forming device 1 in response to the request via the communication unit 24, it stores the received status information, etc. in the storage unit 25 (S13) and controls the display of the display unit 23 to display the status information, etc. of the image forming device 1 on the display unit 23 (S14), as shown in the example of Fig. 8. This provides the content indicated by the status information to the user, and also presents the user with a choice of alternative execution devices for the print job.

[0064] 8 displays status information and the like for each of the image forming devices 1A to 1C (device names "Device 1," "Device 2," and "Device 3"). Also, in the display field for the image forming device 1A (device name "Device 1") in which a print error has occurred, a mark M1 indicating an "exclamation point" is displayed, allowing the user to easily recognize that a print error has occurred in the image forming device 1A.

[0065] Furthermore, the device names "Device 2" and "Device 3" of image forming devices 1B and 1C in which no printing errors have occurred are displayed as operation keys K1 and K2, respectively, to indicate to the user that they can be selected as alternative execution devices for the print job. If the user wants image forming device 1B to execute the print job sent to image forming device 1 on his / her behalf, he / she selects operation key K1, and if the user wants image forming device 1C to execute the print job on his / her behalf, he / she selects operation key K2. This selection causes operation unit 22 to receive an instruction to designate image forming device 1 associated with the selected operation key as the alternative execution device.

[0066] Furthermore, the operation screen SC1 displays an operation key K3 marked "Continue Waiting" and an operation key K4 marked "Cancel Job." When the user wants to wait for the printing error to be resolved and have the print job transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1A executed by the image forming apparatus 1A, the user selects the operation key K3. With this selection, the operation unit 22 receives an instruction to continue executing the print job associated with the operation key K3. On the other hand, when the user wants to cancel the execution of the print job, the user selects the operation key K4. With this selection, the operation unit 22 receives an instruction to cancel the execution of the print job associated with the operation key K4.

[0067] The processing unit 211 of the terminal device 2 executes processing based on the instruction received by the operation unit 22 (S15). After this, the process B ends.

[0068] For example, when operation unit 22 receives a selection instruction corresponding to a user operation on either operation key K1 or K2, processing unit 211 transmits a print job via communication unit 24 to either image forming device 1B or 1C selected as the alternate execution device, and notifies image forming device 1A to cancel the execution of the print job.

[0069] When the operation unit 22 receives an instruction to continue the execution of the print job using the operation key K3, the processing unit 211 does not need to perform any new process and therefore ends the process B. On the other hand, when the operation unit 22 receives an instruction to stop the execution of the print job using the operation key K4, the processing unit 211 notifies the image forming apparatus 1A via the communication unit 24 of the stop of the execution of the print job.

[0070] According to the first embodiment, when a print error occurs in the image forming device 1, status information of the image forming device 1 where no print error has occurred (including information indicating the estimated time required for the execution of a print job that is being executed and that is waiting to be executed) is displayed on the display unit 23 of the terminal device 2. If the estimated time is known, it becomes easy for the user to predict the time required for the execution of the print job to be completed when the print job is executed on behalf of the user.

[0071] Therefore, the user is provided with information that is useful for selecting a substitute execution device for the print job. This allows the user to appropriately select a substitute execution device for the print job by referring to the content displayed on the display unit 23 of the terminal device 2, thereby realizing substitute execution of the print job that is more useful to the user.

[0072] Next, a case will be described in which a print job is sent from the terminal device 2 to the image forming device 1 in which a print error has not been resolved. As shown in Fig. 5, a case will be described in which a print job J5 is sent from the terminal device 2E (user U5) to the image forming device 1A when a print error has occurred in the image forming device 1A.

[0073] When the error notification unit 102 of the image forming apparatus 1A receives a new print job J5 from the terminal device 2E via the network interface unit 91 while the print error has not been resolved, the error notification unit 102 transmits an error notification to the terminal device 2E, which is the sender of the print job J5, to notify the occurrence of the print error via the network interface unit 91. Specifically, the error notification unit 102 performs the same processes as those shown in S4 and S5 of FIG. 6(A).

[0074] Like terminal devices 2B and 2C, terminal device 2E receives an error notification from image forming device 1A in which a print error has occurred via communication unit 24, and performs the same process as process B shown in Fig. 6(B). As a result, terminal device 2E can provide user U5 of terminal device 2E with status information about image forming device 1A and present options for alternative execution devices for the print job, just like users U2 and U3 of terminal devices 2B and 2C.

[0075] If a user wants to complete a print job quickly, the user can select an alternate device based on the estimated time required. For example, if there is an image forming device 1 that takes 5 minutes to complete a print job and another image forming device 1 that takes 2 minutes to complete a print job, the user will often choose the latter, which has the shorter estimated time required, as the alternate device.

[0076] However, the user needs to go to the image forming device 1 that executed the print job to pick up the printed product. Therefore, when the time required to travel to the former image forming device 1 is one minute while the time required to travel to the latter image forming device 1 is eight minutes, it is more efficient for the user to select the former image forming device 1, which requires a shorter travel time, as the substitute execution device rather than the latter image forming device 1, which requires a longer estimated time.

[0077] Therefore, in the second embodiment, the processing unit 211 of the terminal device 2 provides the user with installation location information of the image forming device 1 selected as the proxy execution device, and performs user confirmation of the above selection. When the operation unit 22 receives a response of approval from the user, the processing unit 211 transmits a print job to the image forming device 1 selected as the proxy execution device.

[0078] For example, the processing unit 211 causes the display unit 23 to display a pop-up screen P2 as shown in Fig. 9. This provides the user with information on the installation location of the image forming device 1 selected as the alternate execution device. The operation screen P2 displays a message saying "The multifunction device you selected is installed in the Personnel Department on the 17th floor. Are you sure you want to print using this multifunction device?" along with an operation key K11 marked with "OK" and an operation key K12 marked with "NO".

[0079] The operation unit 22 receives an approval instruction from the user based on the user's operation of the operation key K11 marked "OK." At this time, the processing unit 211 transmits a print job to the image forming device 1 selected as the alternate execution device. This gives the user an opportunity to consider the positional relationship between the user's current location and the installation location of the image forming device 1, making it possible to avoid an image forming device 1 that is inefficient for obtaining printed materials being selected as the alternate execution device.

[0080] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In addition, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using Figures 1 to 9 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1. Image forming device 2 Terminal Equipment 11 Image forming system 12 Image forming section 22 Control section 23 Display section 47 Control section 100 Control section 101 Error detection unit 102 Error notification section 103 Calculation section 104 Response section 211 Processing section

Claims

1. An image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a terminal device that transmits a print job to the image forming apparatuses, the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the terminal device being capable of communicating with each other through a network, The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a control unit that controls an operation of the image forming unit to execute the print job transmitted from the terminal device; an error detection unit that detects the occurrence of a print error that makes it impossible to execute the print job; a first communication unit that communicates with the other image forming apparatuses and the terminal device; an error notification unit that, when the error detection unit detects the occurrence of the print error, causes the first communication unit to transmit an error notification to the terminal device that is a sender of the print job that is waiting to be executed, to notify the terminal device of the occurrence of the print error; The terminal device A display unit; a second communication unit that communicates with the plurality of image forming apparatuses; a processing unit that, when receiving the error notification from the image forming device via the second communication unit, requests the image forming device in which the print error has not occurred to transmit status information of the image forming device, and acquires the status information, and displays the acquired status information on the display unit; The image forming apparatus further comprises: a calculation unit that calculates an estimated time required until the execution of the print job that is being executed or waiting to be executed is completed; a response unit that, when receiving the request from the terminal device via the first communication unit, transmits the state information to the terminal device that is a request source; The image forming system, wherein the status information includes information indicating the estimated required time calculated by the calculation unit.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein when the error notification unit of the image forming device receives a new print job from the terminal device while the printing error has not been resolved, the error notification unit sends the error notification to the terminal device that is the sender of the print job.

3. when the error detection unit of the image forming apparatus detects the occurrence of the print error, it identifies an image forming apparatus in which the print error has not occurred as an alternative execution apparatus from among the other image forming apparatuses connected to the same network, and transmits an error notification to notify the occurrence of the print error together with the status information to the terminal apparatus which is the sender of the print job waiting to be executed; The terminal device further comprises: An operation unit is provided for receiving input of instructions; The processing unit includes: An image forming system as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the image forming device in which the printing error has not occurred is displayed on the display unit as an alternative execution device together with the status information from the image forming device, and when the operation unit accepts selection of the alternative execution device, the print job is sent to the alternative execution device.

4. 4. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit of the terminal device transmits the print job to the substitute execution device, and notifies the image forming device in which the print error has occurred of a suspension of execution of the print job.

5. the response unit of the image forming apparatus transmits the status information to the terminal device and also transmits installation location information of the image forming apparatus; The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit of the terminal device causes the display unit to display the installation location information of the alternate execution device together with the alternate execution device, and when the operation unit accepts the selection of the alternate execution device, transmits the print job to the alternate execution device.

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