Image forming device and method for controlling the same

Abstract

To provide an image forming device capable of presenting a printing job of a printing object to a user.SOLUTION: This image forming device comprises: a display unit; and a control unit that executes control as to whether a first confirmation screen containing information indicating one or more printing jobs other than some of printing jobs on the display unit on the basis of whether printing history information corresponding to user identification information of a log-in user who has logged in to the image forming device has the printing history of some of the printing jobs referring to first information associating the user identification information identifying the user with he printing history information indicating the presence of the printing history regarding the printing job held by the image forming device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control method for an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] For example, an image forming apparatus holds a print job based on a user's operation, and after the user logs in to the image forming apparatus, the held print job is executed. As a related technique, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique of displaying an all-print button for executing all print jobs associated with the logged-in user at the top of the home screen.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For example, assume that an image forming apparatus holds a plurality of print jobs associated with a user based on the user's operation. Here, the user may log in to the image forming apparatus intending to execute some, rather than all, of the plurality of print jobs. In this case, in Patent Document 1, all print jobs associated with the logged-in user are executed based on an operation on the all-print button, so that the user cannot execute some of the print jobs as intended.

[0005] When not using the above all-print button, the user needs to search for and select one by one some of the print jobs to be printed from among the plurality of print jobs associated with the logged-in user in order to execute some of the print jobs intended for printing. In this case, the selection operation for selecting the print target becomes complicated.

[0006] As one aspect, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an image forming apparatus or the like that can present a print job to be printed to a user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure refers to first information associating user identification information for identifying a user with print history information indicating the presence or absence of a print history related to a print job held by the image forming apparatus, and based on whether the print history information corresponding to the user identification information of the logged-in user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus indicates that there is a print history for some print jobs, controls whether to display a first confirmation screen including information indicating one or more print jobs other than the some print jobs on the display unit.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus or the like that can present a print job to be printed to a user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 101 includes a control unit 111, a display unit 112, an operation unit 113, a storage unit 114, a paper feeding unit 115, an image forming unit 116, a paper discharging unit 117, and a communication unit 118. The configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 is not limited to the example of Figure 1.

[0011] The control unit 111 controls the entire image forming apparatus 101. Details of each process executed by the control unit 111 will be described later. The control unit 111 has one or more processors and one or more memories. By the processor of the control unit 111 executing a plurality of instruction sets (programs) stored in the memory, various controls of this embodiment can be realized. Any processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) can be applied to the processor.

[0012] The above-described program is stored in a non-transitory recording medium such as a semiconductor medium, an optical recording medium, or a magneto-optical recording medium, for example. Then, by the processor of the control unit 111 executing the program stored in the recording medium, various controls of this embodiment can be realized. Also, the above-described program may be acquired by the image forming apparatus 101 from an external server via a network.

[0013] The display unit 112 displays various types of information based on the control of the control unit 111. The information is, for example, each screen described later. The operation unit 113 receives operations from the user. The user is a user who logs in to the image forming apparatus 101. The display unit 112 and the operation unit 113 may be, for example, an integrated touch panel display.

[0014] The storage unit 114 stores various types of information. The storage unit 114 stores, for example, a hold job table described later. The paper feeding unit 115 is a paper feeding mechanism for feeding paper and operates based on the control of the control unit 111. The image forming unit 116 forms an image on the fed paper based on the control of the control unit 111. The paper discharging unit 117 discharges the paper on which the image has been formed.

[0015] The communication unit 118 communicates with external devices. For example, when an external computer used by the user is connected to the image forming apparatus 101, the communication unit 118 communicates with the external computer. The number of external computers may be one or plural. For example, when each user performs a printing operation using a corresponding external computer, the external computer transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus 101. The communication unit 118 receives the print job transmitted by the external computer.

[0016] In the present embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 101 receives a print job based on a user operation, the received print job is stored in, for example, the storage unit 114. Thereby, the print job based on the user operation is held by the image forming apparatus 101. The print job held by the image forming apparatus 101 may be hereinafter referred to as a hold job.

[0017] For example, when a user performs a printing operation using an external computer, the external computer transmits a print job associated with a user name for identifying the user to the image forming apparatus 101. The image forming apparatus 101 receives print jobs from a plurality of users. In this case, the image forming apparatus 101 holds the print jobs of the plurality of users. In the present embodiment, the control unit 111 of the image forming apparatus 101 refers to the hold job table stored in the storage unit 114 and performs execution control of the print jobs of each user. Details of the hold job table will be described later.

[0018] The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table and recognizes each print job corresponding to the logged-in user among the hold jobs. When it is shown that some of the print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user have been executed in the past, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a first confirmation screen including information indicating one or more print jobs other than the above-mentioned some print jobs. Some of the print jobs that have been executed in the past are, for example, resident jobs. Also, one or more print jobs other than the above-mentioned some print jobs are, for example, print jobs such as tables and documents.

[0019] Basically, after executing a print job, the image forming apparatus 101 of the present embodiment deletes the executed print job. However, the image forming apparatus 101 of the present embodiment does not delete some of the print jobs (for example, resident jobs) among the hold jobs after the execution of printing.

[0020] Resident jobs are not deleted after the execution of printing. For this reason, resident jobs become print jobs for which printing has been executed in the past. Since resident jobs are, for example, executed periodically and automatically, it can be estimated that there is a low possibility that the logged-in user will perform a login operation and execute printing. That is, it is highly estimated that resident jobs are print jobs that the logged-in user does not intend to print.

[0021] On the other hand, among the hold jobs, print jobs other than some of the print jobs that have been executed in the past (print jobs that have not been executed in the past) are print jobs newly added by the logged-in user. As described above, the newly added print jobs are, for example, print jobs for tables, documents, etc.

[0022] It can be presumed that the newly added print jobs other than such resident jobs are highly likely to be print jobs for which the logged-in user has performed a login operation and will execute printing. That is, it can be presumed that the newly added print jobs are highly likely to be print jobs that the logged-in user intends to print.

[0023] The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table and causes the display unit 112 to display a first confirmation screen including information indicating one or more print jobs other than some of the print jobs that have been executed in the past among the hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user. Thereby, it is possible to present print jobs (for example, newly added print jobs) that are highly likely to be intended for printing by the logged-in user. Hereinafter, each process of the present embodiment using the hold job table will be described.

[0024] The hold job table T will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hold job table T. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the hold job table T is stored in the storage unit 114. However, the hold job table T may be stored in a computer (for example, a server) different from the image forming apparatus 101. In this case, the image forming apparatus 101 acquires the hold job table T stored in the server from the server and performs the processing of the present embodiment.

[0025] The hold job table T is first information including items of job ID, user name, job name, registration date and time, size, and presence or absence of a print history. The configuration of the hold job table T is not limited to the example of FIG. 2.

[0026] Each piece of information such as job ID, user name, job name, registration date and time, size, and presence or absence of print history is associated with each other. The job ID is an ID that identifies a print job. For example, the control unit 111 may assign different job IDs to each print job in the order in which the image forming apparatus 101 receives them.

[0027] The user name is user identification information that identifies the user included in the print job. The user identification information may be, for example, a user ID or the like. For example, when the user performs a print operation using an external computer, the user identification information is input to the external computer. Thereby, the external computer may include the user identification information (user name information) in the print job. The control unit 111 may record information in the user name item of the hold job table T based on the user name information included in the print job.

[0028] The job name represents the name of the print job. Information on the job name is also included in the print job. The information on the job name may be assigned by the external computer based on the print operation by the user. The control unit 111 records the information on the job name included in the print job in the job name item of the hold job table T.

[0029] The registration date and time represents the date and time when the image forming apparatus 101 received and registered the print job. For example, the control unit 111 records the information on the date and time when the image forming apparatus 101 received and registered the print job in the registration date and time item of the hold job table T.

[0030] The size represents the file size (size) of the print job. The print job is a job for printing a file instructed to be printed by the user. Information on the file size is included in the print job. For example, the control unit 111 may record the information on the file size included in the print job received by the image forming apparatus 101 in the size item of the hold job table T.

[0031] The presence or absence of a print history is information indicating whether each hold job held by the image forming apparatus 101 has been executed in the past. As described above, the control unit 111 basically deletes the executed print job after executing the print. In this case, the control unit 111 deletes the information (each information corresponding to the job ID) indicating the print job corresponding to the executed print job among the hold jobs T.

[0032] On the other hand, as described above, among the hold jobs, there are some print jobs (for example, resident jobs) that are not deleted after the print is executed. The resident jobs are, for example, print jobs that are periodically executed (periodic execution jobs) or print jobs that are set not to be deleted after the execution of the print (non-deletion target jobs). For example, assume that the user (user name "user01") performs a print operation using an external computer and performs an operation to set not to delete after the execution of the print job. In this case, the print job includes information indicating the setting.

[0033] The control unit 111 recognizes a print job set not to be deleted after the execution of the print, such as a periodic execution job or a non-deletion target job, as a resident job. When the control unit 111 executes a resident job, it changes the item of the presence or absence of the print history in the hold job table T from "absent" to "present" without deleting the information of the executed resident job. The print job corresponding to the item of the presence or absence of the print history being "present" indicates that it has been executed in the past.

[0034] For example, assume that when the user (user name "user01") performs a print operation using an external computer, an operation to set not to delete after the execution of the print job is performed. In this case, the print job includes information indicating the setting.

[0035] Based on the information indicating the setting, the control unit 111 recognizes that the print job is a resident job. Even if the resident job is executed, it is not deleted. Here, in the hold job table T shown in the example of FIG. 2, the print job corresponding to the user name "user01" is the print job with job ID "001".

[0036] After the control unit 111 executes the print job (resident job) with the above job ID "001", it changes the item indicating the presence or absence of the print history corresponding to the executed resident job in the hold job table T from "none" to "yes".

[0037] Next, the case where a user (user name "user02") performs a print operation for three print jobs using an external computer will be described. Assume that when the user performs a print operation for one of the three print jobs, a setting for periodically executing printing (for example, executing printing every Monday) is made.

[0038] In the example of FIG. 2, the print job with job ID "002" (job name is "periodically executed job") is a job for which a setting for periodically executing printing has been made by the user with the user name "user02". After the control unit 111 executes the print job with job ID "002", it changes the presence or absence of the print history corresponding to job ID "002" from "none" to "yes" without deleting the print job.

[0039] Also, assume that a user (user name "user02") performs print operations for "Table 1" and "Table 2" using an external computer. The print jobs for "Table 1" and "Table 2" are the remaining two of the above three print jobs. Assume that these two print jobs are not set to be not deleted after printing.

[0040] After the control unit 111 receives two print jobs, namely "Table 1" and "Table 2", from the image forming apparatus 101, it holds the two print jobs. The control unit 111 assigns the job ID "003" to the print job of "Table 1" and records each piece of information of the print job in the hold job table T. Further, the control unit 111 assigns the job ID "004" to the print job of "Table 2" and records each piece of information of the print job in the hold job table T.

[0041] After the user name "user02" logs in to the image forming apparatus 101, information indicating the print jobs of "Table 1" and "Table 2" is displayed on the display unit 112. When a printing operation is performed on each of the screens described later, the control unit 111 executes the print jobs of "Table 1" and "Table 2". Further, the control unit 111 deletes the information of the job IDs "003" and "004" from the hold job table T.

[0042] Next, an example of the processing flow of the present embodiment will be described using various screen examples. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow of the present embodiment. The control unit 111 determines whether a user has logged in to the image forming apparatus 101 (step S101). For example, based on whether the user has performed a login operation on the operation unit 113 and whether the login has been successful, the control unit 111 may make the determination in step S101.

[0043] If the user has not logged in to the image forming apparatus 101, the control unit 111 determines No in step S101 and returns the process to step S101. In this case, the control unit 111 waits until a user logs in to the image forming apparatus 101.

[0044] If the user has logged in to the image forming apparatus 101, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S101 and advances the process to step S102. The control unit 111 recognizes the logged-in user (login user) (step S102).

[0045] For example, when a user logs in to the image forming apparatus 101 and inputs information about the user (such as the user name) using the operation unit 113, the login user may be recognized based on the input information about the user. Also, when the image forming apparatus 101 has a function of performing short-range wireless communication, the control unit 111 may recognize the login user by the image forming apparatus 101 and a terminal or the like held by the user performing short-range wireless communication. In this case, an input operation by the user is not required.

[0046] The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table T (step S103). At this time, the control unit 111 refers to each piece of information corresponding to the user name of the login user recognized in step S102 in the hold job table T.

[0047] The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table T to determine whether there is a hold job corresponding to the login user (step S104). The control unit 111 makes the determination in step S104 based on, for example, whether the user name of the login user exists in the user name item of the hold job table T.

[0048] When there is no hold job corresponding to the login user in the hold job table T, the control unit 111 determines No in step S104 and advances the process to step S105. For example, when the user name of the login user is "user10", there is no hold job corresponding to the login user in the hold job table T of FIG. 2. In this case, the control unit 111 determines No in step S104.

[0049] When the control unit 111 determines No in step S104, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display the basic screen (step S105). After the process of step S105 is completed, the control unit 111 ends the flowchart of FIG. 3.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a basic screen. The basic screen 201 is, for example, an initial screen (home screen) including a copy button, a FAX button, and a scan button. When any one of the buttons is selected, a setting screen for performing settings related to the function corresponding to the selected button is displayed. The setting screen may include an execution button (start button) for instructing the execution of the function corresponding to the selected button.

[0051] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S104, the process proceeds to step S106. The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table T and determines whether all print jobs (all hold jobs) corresponding to the logged-in user have been executed (step S106). The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table T and determines Yes in step S106 when the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history for all print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user shows "Yes".

[0052] For example, assume that the user name of the logged-in user is "user01". Among the hold job tables T in FIG. 2, the print job corresponding to the user name "user01" is only the print job with job ID "001", and the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history for the print job shows "Yes".

[0053] In the above example, when the user name of the logged-in user is "user01", the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history for all print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user shows "Yes". Therefore, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S106. In this case, the control unit 111 proceeds with the process to step S105.

[0054] When all the print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user are resident jobs such as regularly executed jobs or non-target deletion jobs, etc., there is little need to prompt the logged-in user to confirm the execution of the resident job. For this reason, the control unit 111 proceeds to step S105 without causing the display unit 112 to display various confirmation screens described later. In this case, the basic screen 201 is displayed on the display unit 112.

[0055] When the control unit 111 determines that not all of the hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user have been executed, it determines No in step S106 and proceeds to step S107. The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table T to determine whether some of the print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user have been executed (step S107).

[0056] When the control unit 111 determines that some of the print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user have been executed, it determines Yes in step S107 and proceeds with the processing from "A" to step S111 in FIG. 5. The processing after step S111 will be described later.

[0057] For example, assume that the user name of the logged-in user is "user02". Among the hold job tables T in FIG. 2, the print jobs corresponding to the user name "user02" are the three print jobs with job IDs "002", "003", and "004".

[0058] The item indicating the presence or absence of a print history corresponding to the print job with job ID "002" is "Yes", indicating that it has been executed in the past. On the other hand, the items indicating the presence or absence of a print history corresponding to the two print jobs with job IDs "003" and "004" are "No", indicating that the two print jobs have not been executed in the past. That is, for the three print jobs corresponding to the user name "user02", not all of the print jobs have been executed, indicating that some of the print jobs have been executed in the past. In this case, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S107.

[0059] When the control unit 111 determines that some of the print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user have not been executed, it determines No in step S107 and advances the process to step S108. When it is determined No in step S106 and also determined No in step S107, all the hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user will not have been executed in the past.

[0060] For example, assume that the user name of the logged-in user is "user03". Among the hold job tables T in FIG. 2, the print jobs corresponding to the user name "user03" are a plurality of print jobs with job IDs "005" to "025".

[0061] The items indicating the presence or absence of print history corresponding to each of the print jobs with job IDs "005" to "025" are all "none", indicating that they are print jobs other than those executed in the past. That is, it indicates that all of the print jobs with job IDs "005" to "025" have not been executed in the past. In this case, the control unit 111 determines No in step S107.

[0062] When the control unit 111 determines No in step S107, it advances the process to step S108. The control unit 111 determines whether the number of hold jobs is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (step S108).

[0063] As described above, the process of step S108 is executed when it is determined No in step S106 and also determined No in step S107. Therefore, the items indicating the presence or absence of print history corresponding to all the hold jobs to be determined whether they are equal to or greater than the predetermined number in step S108 are "none".

[0064] When the number of hold jobs to be determined in step S108 is less than the predetermined number, the control unit 111 determines No in step S108 and advances the process from "B" to step S211 in FIG. 9. The predetermined number used as the criterion for the determination in step S108 may be an arbitrary number, and the user can set an arbitrary number.

[0065] When the number of hold jobs to be determined in step S108 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S108 and advances the process from "C" to step S311 in FIG. 12. The processes after step S211 and the process of step S311 will be described later.

[0066] Next, an example in the case where the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S107 and advances the process from "A" to step S111 in FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 5 is a first flowchart following FIG. 3.

[0067] The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table T (step S111). The control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a first confirmation screen including information on one or more print jobs other than the print jobs executed in the past among the hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user (step S112).

[0068] For example, assume that the user name of the logged-in user is "user02". Among the three print jobs corresponding to the user name "user02" in the hold job table T of FIG. 2, the print jobs in which the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history shows "none" are the two print jobs with job IDs "003" and "004".

[0069] As described above, the print jobs in which the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history shows "none" are print jobs that can be presumed to be highly likely to be intended for printing by the logged-in user. The control unit 111 acquires the job name "Table 1" corresponding to the job ID "003" and the job name "Table 2" corresponding to the job ID "004" from the hold job table T. The control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a first confirmation screen including the acquired job names "Table 1" and "Table 2".

[0070] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a first confirmation screen. The first confirmation screen 211 includes an item of a print target file indicating information of a print job to be printed. Further, the first confirmation screen 211 includes a print target file deletion button, a cancel button, and an OK button. The configuration of the first confirmation screen 211 is not limited to the example of FIG. 6.

[0071] The first confirmation screen 211 in FIG. 6 is a screen displayed when the user name of the logged-in user is "user02". Among the first confirmation screens 211, the print target files indicate "Table 1" and "Table 2". The "Table 1" and "Table 2" are job names of print jobs corresponding to the above-described job ID "003" and job ID "004". The job name represents the file name of the print job.

[0072] As the print target files, the job names displayed in the first confirmation screen 211 are print jobs that can be presumably highly likely that the logged-in user intends to print as described above. Therefore, it is possible to present print jobs that are highly likely to be printed to the logged-in user.

[0073] The print target file deletion button in the first confirmation screen 211 is a button for instructing deletion of the print target file. For example, when the print target file deletion button is selected, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a deletion confirmation screen described later, and then deletes two print jobs with job IDs "003" and "004" corresponding to the print target files "Table 1" and "Table 2".

[0074] The cancel button on the first confirmation screen 211 is a button for instructing cancellation of the execution of the print job corresponding to the file to be printed. For example, when the cancel button is selected, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a hold job screen, which will be described later. The OK button on the first confirmation screen 211 is a button for instructing execution of the print job corresponding to the file to be printed. For example, when the OK button is selected, the control unit 111 executes two print jobs with job IDs "003" and "004" corresponding to the files to be printed, "Table 1" and "Table 2". As a result, "Table 1" and "Table 2" are printed.

[0075] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the control unit 111 determines which button among the print target file deletion button, the cancel button, and the OK button has been selected (step S113).

[0076] When the print target file deletion button is selected, the control unit 111 advances the process to step S114. In this case, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a deletion confirmation screen (step S114).

[0077] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a deletion confirmation screen. The deletion confirmation screen 221 in FIG. 7 includes a message for confirming whether to delete the file to be printed. The deletion confirmation screen 221 also includes a cancel button and an OK button. The cancel button on the deletion confirmation screen 221 is a button for instructing cancellation of the deletion of the print job (print job other than the print job executed in the past) corresponding to the file to be printed, and the OK button on the deletion confirmation screen 221 is a button for instructing execution of the deletion of the print job (print job other than the print job executed in the past) corresponding to the file to be printed. The control unit 111 determines which button among the cancel button and the OK button has been selected (step S115).

[0078] When the control unit 111 determines in step S115 that the cancel button has been selected, it returns the process to step S113. On the other hand, when the control unit 111 determines in step S115 that the OK button has been selected, it deletes all print jobs other than the print jobs executed in the past (step S116). The print jobs other than the print jobs executed in the past are print jobs in which the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history indicates "none" among the print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user. As described above, the two print jobs with job IDs "003" and "004" are print jobs other than the print jobs executed in the past and are print jobs to be deleted after execution.

[0079] In step S113, when the control unit 111 determines that the cancel button has been selected, it refers to the hold job table T and causes the display unit 112 to display the hold job screen (step S117). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the hold job screen.

[0080] For example, when a logged-in user with the user name "user02" selects the cancel button, there is a possibility that not only "Table 1" and "Table 2" are printed but also a separate operation is performed. Therefore, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a hold job screen 231 including all hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user.

[0081] The control unit 111 acquires the job names of all hold jobs corresponding to the user name of the logged-in user from the hold job table T. At this time, the control unit 111 acquires the job names of all hold jobs corresponding to the user name of the logged-in user regardless of whether the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history is "yes" or "no". As a result, all hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user are acquired.

[0082] The hold job screen 231 in FIG. 8 is a screen that is displayed when the logged-in user is the user with the user name "user02". In the hold job table T in FIG. 2, information on three print jobs with job IDs "002" to "004" is recorded corresponding to the user name "user02". The job names of the three print jobs are "periodic execution job", "Table 1", and "Table 2".

[0083] The control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a hold job screen 231 including the job names of the three print jobs with job IDs "002" to "004". The logged-in user can operate the operation unit 113 to perform an operation of selecting printing or deletion for each of the three print jobs included in the hold job screen 231. On the hold job screen 231, the logged-in user can perform an operation of selecting printing or deletion including the periodic execution job.

[0084] The hold job screen 231 includes a select all button, a delete button, and a print button. For example, on the hold job screen 231, assume that the logged-in user selects the "Table 1" and then selects the print button. In this case, after executing the print job corresponding to "Table 1", the control unit 111 deletes the print job.

[0085] Also, on the hold job screen 231, assume that the logged-in user selects the "Table 1" and then selects the delete button. In this case, the control unit 111 deletes the print job of "Table 1" and deletes the information on the print job corresponding to "Table 1" from the hold job table T. The select all button is a button for collectively selecting all the print jobs displayed on the hold job screen 231.

[0086] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, after executing the process of step S117, the control unit 111 executes a job process according to the selected operation on the hold job screen 231 (step S118). The job process according to the selected operation is the above-described printing or deletion process.

[0087] In step S113, when the control unit 111 determines that the OK button has been selected, the process proceeds to step S119. The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table T and executes one or more print jobs other than the print jobs executed in the past corresponding to the logged-in user (step S119).

[0088] One or more print jobs other than the print jobs executed in the past are print jobs in which the item of presence or absence of print history indicates "none". The control unit 111 refers to the hold job table T and executes the print jobs in which the item of presence or absence of print history indicates "none" among the respective print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user.

[0089] The control unit 111 deletes the print job executed in step S119 (step S120). Further, the control unit 111 deletes the information of the executed print job from the hold job table T.

[0090] After executing the process of step S116, S118 or S120, the control unit 111 advances the process from "D" to step S105 in FIG. 3. As a result, the basic screen 201 is displayed on the display unit 112.

[0091] Next, the case where it is determined as No in step S108 of FIG. 3 will be described. When the control unit 111 determines as No in step S108, the process proceeds from "B" to step S211 in FIG. 9. In this case, the number of hold jobs in which the item of presence or absence of print history corresponding to the logged-in user is "none" is less than a predetermined number, and the number is small.

[0092] FIG. 9 is a second flowchart following FIG. 3. The control unit 111 executes a job extraction process (step S211). The job extraction process is a process for narrowing down the print jobs (target files) that are the targets of the processes in the flowchart of FIG. 9.

[0093] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an example of job extraction processing. The control unit 111 acquires information on target jobs corresponding to print jobs for which the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history corresponding to the logged-in user is "none" from the hold job table T (step S251). For example, the control unit 111 acquires one by one a plurality of print jobs for which the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history corresponding to the logged-in user is "none", and executes job extraction processing for all the print jobs.

[0094] The control unit 111 determines whether the target job acquired in step S251 is the latest file (step S252). The control unit 111 makes the determination in step S252 by referring to the item of registration date and time in the hold job table T.

[0095] If the target job is the latest file, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S252 and advances the process to step S253. The control unit 111 extracts the latest file (step S253). The latest file is a file of a print job that is highly likely to be intended for printing by the user.

[0096] If the target job is not the latest file, the control unit 111 determines No in step S252 and advances the process to step S254. The control unit 111 determines whether the registration time of the file of the target job is within a certain period from the current time (step S254). The certain period may be an arbitrary period, and may be settable by the user for an arbitrary period.

[0097] If the registration date and time of the file of the target job has passed a certain period from the current time, the target job is an old print job, and it can be presumed that the logged-in user is unlikely to intend to print. When the control unit 111 determines No in step S254, the above target job is not extracted.

[0098] On the one hand, when the registration time of the file of the target job is within a certain period from the current time, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S254 and advances the process to step S255. The control unit 111 determines whether there is a file among the plurality of target jobs whose job name similarity is within a predetermined range (step S255). The predetermined range may be an arbitrary range and may be set by the user within an arbitrary range.

[0099] In step S255, for example, the control unit 111 may compare each print job for which the item of the presence or absence of the print history corresponding to the logged-in user is "none", and make the determination in step S255 based on whether there is a print job whose similarity is within a predetermined range.

[0100] When making the determination in step S255, the control unit 111 may calculate the similarity using, for example, an arbitrary pattern matching method for the character string of the job name. When there is a file whose calculated similarity is within a predetermined range, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S255. In this case, the control unit 111 extracts the file of the target job with the latest registration date and time among the plurality of target jobs whose similarity is within a predetermined range (step S256).

[0101] When it is determined Yes in step S255, there will be a plurality of print jobs with the same or similar job names among the plurality of print jobs for which the item of the presence or absence of the print history corresponding to the logged-in user is "none". Also, in step S256, the latest print job among the plurality of print jobs with the same or similar job names is extracted. It can be presumed that the extracted latest print job is highly likely to be what the user intends.

[0102] When there is no file whose calculated similarity is within a predetermined range, the control unit 111 determines No in step S255 and advances the process to step S257. The control unit 111 determines whether there is a file (print job) among the plurality of target jobs whose difference in file size (data volume of the target job) is below a predetermined amount (step S257).

[0103] The control unit 111 may obtain information on the sizes of a plurality of target jobs that are the subject of the determination in step S257 from the hold job table T, and make the determination in step S257 based on whether there are a plurality of print jobs in which the difference in the sizes indicated by the obtained size information is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. The above-mentioned predetermined amount may be set to an arbitrary amount, and may be set to an arbitrary amount by the user.

[0104] When there is a file among the plurality of target jobs in which the difference in size is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S257 and advances the process to step S258. In this case, the control unit 111 extracts the file of the target job with the latest registration date and time among the plurality of files in which the difference in size is equal to or less than a predetermined amount (step S258). The above-mentioned predetermined amount may be set to an arbitrary amount.

[0105] As described above, when the registration time of the file of the target job is within a certain period from the current time, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S254. On the other hand, even if the registration time of the file of the target job is within a certain period from the current time, if there are no print jobs with the same or similar job names and there are no files in which the difference in size is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the control unit 111 does not extract the target job obtained in step S251. In this case, the control unit 111 determines No in step S257 and ends the job execution process.

[0106] For example, assume that a user with the user name "user02" logs in to the image forming apparatus 101. Also, assume that a print job with the job ID "026" corresponding to the user name "user02" is recorded in the hold job table T, and the registration date and time of the print job is "2023 / 7 / 31 12:00". Also, assume that the job name corresponding to the print job with the job ID "026" is "Table 3", and the item of the presence or absence of a print history is "None".

[0107] The control unit 111 obtains, as target jobs, three print jobs from the hold job table T for which the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history among the print jobs corresponding to the user name "user02" shows "none". The three print jobs are the print jobs with job IDs "003", "004", and "026".

[0108] As described above, in step S253, the control unit 111 extracts the latest print job "004" among the three print jobs. Also, assume that the fixed period serving as the criterion determined in step S254 is, for example, two days, and the current time is "2023 / 8 / 1 13:00". In this case, the control unit 111 determines Yes for the two print jobs with job IDs "003" and "026" in step S254.

[0109] The job name of the job with job ID "003" is "Table 1", and the job name of the job with job ID "026" is "Table 3". For example, assume that in the determination of step S255, the predetermined range serving as the criterion for determining the similarity of job names is a difference of two or more characters. That is, print jobs with the same job name or a difference of one character are determined to have a similarity within the predetermined range. In the above case, since the job name of the job with job ID "003" and the job name of the job with job ID "026" differ by one character, the control unit 111 determines Yes in step S255.

[0110] The registration date and time of the job with job ID "003" indicated by the hold job table T is "2023 / 8 / 1 12:00". The registration date and time of the print job with job ID "026" is "2023 / 7 / 31 12:00". Therefore, in step S256, the control unit 111 extracts the file of the latest job ID "003" among the two print jobs. In the above case, as print jobs corresponding to the user with the user name "user02", the two print jobs with job IDs "003" and "004" are extracted.

[0111] After the control unit 111 executes the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 10 for all print jobs for which the item indicating the presence or absence of a print history corresponding to the logged-in user is "none", the job extraction process ends, and the process proceeds to the process of step S212 in FIG. 9. After executing the job extraction process, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a second confirmation screen including information on the extracted print job (step S212).

[0112] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the second confirmation screen. The second confirmation screen 241 includes an item of a print target file indicating the print job to be printed. The second confirmation screen 241 also includes a full delete button, a cancel button, and an OK button. The configuration of the second confirmation screen 241 is not limited to the example in FIG. 11.

[0113] The second confirmation screen 241 in FIG. 11 is an example of a screen displayed when the user name of the logged-in user is "user02". Among the second confirmation screens 241, the print target files indicate "Table 1" and "Table 2". The "Table 1" and "Table 2" are the job names of the two print jobs with job IDs "003" and "004" extracted by the above-described job extraction process.

[0114] The print jobs extracted by the job extraction process are new print jobs. The new print jobs are print jobs that are presumably highly likely to be intended for printing by the logged-in user. Therefore, the print jobs to be printed can be presented to the user.

[0115] In addition, each print job extracted by the job extraction process is a print job corresponding to the item of the presence or absence of a print history being "none". Therefore, the second confirmation screen 241 includes a message indicating that all print jobs (data) will be deleted after printing is executed.

[0116] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, after executing the process of step S212, the control unit 111 proceeds with the process to step S213. The control unit 111 determines which button among the full delete button, the cancel button, and the OK button has been selected (step S213).

[0117] The all-delete button in the second confirmation screen 241 is a button for instructing deletion of all hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user. For example, when the all-delete button is selected, the control unit 111 advances the process to step S214. In this case, the control unit 111 causes the deletion confirmation screen 221 of FIG. 7 to be displayed on the display unit 112 (step S214).

[0118] When the control unit 111 determines that the cancel button has been selected on the deletion confirmation screen 221, the process returns to step S213. On the other hand, when the control unit 111 determines that the OK button has been selected on the deletion confirmation screen 221, it deletes all hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user (step S216).

[0119] The cancel button in the second confirmation screen 241 is a button for instructing cancellation of execution of the print job corresponding to the file to be printed and cancellation of deletion of all hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user. In step S213, when the control unit 111 determines that the cancel button in the second confirmation screen 241 has been selected, it refers to the hold job table T and causes the hold job screen 231 of FIG. 8 to be displayed on the display unit 112 (step S217).

[0120] After executing the process of step S217, the control unit 111 executes job processing according to the operation selected for the hold job screen 231 (step S218). The OK button in the second confirmation screen 241 is a button for instructing execution of the print job corresponding to the file to be printed and deletion of all hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user. In step S213, when the control unit 111 determines that the OK button in the second confirmation screen 241 has been selected, it refers to the hold job table T and executes all the extracted print jobs among all hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user (step S219).

[0121] The control unit 111 deletes all the hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user (step S220). After executing the process of step S216, S218, or S220, the control unit 111 advances the process from "D" to step S105 in FIG. 3. As a result, the basic screen 201 is displayed on the display unit 112.

[0122] Next, the case where it is determined as Yes in the determination of step S108 in FIG. 3 will be described. In this case, the number of hold jobs is equal to or more than a predetermined number, and the number is large. When the number of hold jobs is large, it is necessary for the logged-in user to perform an operation of printing or deleting while checking each print job one by one, and the operation becomes complicated. In this case, it is assumed that the possibility that the logged-in user selects to execute or delete the hold job and operates is low. Also, when the number of hold jobs is large, it may become difficult to display the information of all the print jobs on the display unit 112.

[0123] Therefore, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a third confirmation screen including a message simply asking for confirmation of whether to execute the hold job and each button to be operated. The third confirmation screen will be described later.

[0124] When the control unit 111 determines as Yes in step S108 in FIG. 3, the process advances from "C" to step S311 in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a third flowchart following FIG. 3.

[0125] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a third confirmation screen for executing all the print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user (step S311).

[0126] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the third confirmation screen. The third confirmation screen 251 does not include information on the file to be printed and includes only a message asking for confirmation of whether to execute the hold job. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, the control unit 111 determines which button among the all-delete button, the cancel button, and the OK button is selected (step S313).

[0127] When the all-delete button is selected, the control unit 111 advances the process to step S314. In this case, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display the deletion confirmation screen 221 in FIG. 7 (step S315).

[0128] When the control unit 111 determines that the cancel button has been selected on the deletion confirmation screen 221, it returns the process to step S313. On the other hand, when the control unit 111 determines that the OK button has been selected on the deletion confirmation screen 221, it deletes all print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user (step S316).

[0129] The cancel button in the third confirmation screen 251 is a button for instructing cancellation of the execution of the print job and the deletion of data after printing. In step S313, when the control unit 111 determines that the cancel button in the third confirmation screen 251 has been selected, it refers to the hold job table T and causes the display unit 112 to display the hold job screen 231 in FIG. 8 (step S317). After executing the process of step S317, the control unit 111 executes job processing according to the operation selected for the hold job screen 231 (step S318).

[0130] The OK button in the third confirmation screen 251 is a button for instructing the execution of the print job and the deletion of data after printing. In step S313, when the control unit 111 determines that the OK button in the third confirmation screen 251 has been selected, it refers to the hold job table T and executes all hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user (step S319).

[0131] The control unit 111 deletes all the hold jobs executed in step S319 (step S320). After executing the processes of steps S316, S318, or S320, the control unit 111 advances the process from "D" to step S105 in FIG. 3. As a result, the basic screen 201 is displayed on the display unit 112.

[0132] As described above, in the present embodiment, when the control unit 111 has executed some of the hold jobs corresponding to the logged-in user in the past, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 112 to display a first confirmation screen 211 including information indicating one or more hold jobs other than the some hold jobs. A hold job that has not been executed in the past is likely not a resident job but a print job intended for printing by the logged-in user. In the present embodiment, by displaying the hold job that has not been executed in the past on the display unit 112, it is possible to present to the logged-in user a print job that is likely a print job intended for printing by the logged-in user. <Others>

[0133] The above embodiments can be modified as appropriate. Also, the configurations of the embodiments can be replaced with configurations that have substantially similar configurations, configurations that exhibit similar operational effects, or configurations that can achieve similar purposes. Furthermore, the order of the processes in the flowcharts described in the embodiments can be swapped as much as possible.

[0134] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope indicated in the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, by combining the technical means disclosed in the embodiments, new technical features can be formed.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0135] 101 Image forming apparatus, 111 Control unit, 112 Display unit, 113 Operation unit, 114 Storage unit, 115 Paper feeding unit, 116 Image forming unit, 117 Paper discharging unit, 118 Communication unit, 201 Basic screen, 211 First confirmation screen, 221 Deletion confirmation screen, 231 Hold job screen, 241 Second confirmation screen, 251 Third confirmation screen, T Hold job table

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, a display unit, referring to first information associating user identification information for identifying a user with print history information indicating the presence or absence of a print history related to a print job held by the image forming apparatus, and based on whether the print history information corresponding to the user identification information of the logged-in user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus indicates that there is a print history for some print jobs, controls whether to display on the display unit a first confirmation screen including information indicating one or more print jobs other than the some print jobs; An image forming apparatus comprising the above.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the some print jobs are resident jobs resident in the image forming apparatus.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the resident job is a print job for which printing is periodically executed or a print job for which a setting not to be deleted is made.

4. The control unit refers to the first information, and when the print history information corresponding to the user identification information of the logged-in user indicates that there is no print history for all print jobs and the number of print jobs corresponding to the user identification information of the logged-in user held by the image forming apparatus is less than a predetermined number, causes the display unit to display a second confirmation screen including information indicating one or more print jobs among the print jobs less than the predetermined number that satisfy a predetermined condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined condition is the latest print job among the print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user held by the image forming apparatus.

6. The control unit excludes, from the printing target, print jobs for which a certain period has elapsed from the current time among the print jobs corresponding to the logged-in user held by the image forming apparatus on the grounds that they do not satisfy the predetermined condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when there are a plurality of print jobs among the print jobs less than the predetermined number whose name similarity is within a predetermined range, the predetermined condition is the latest print job among the plurality of print jobs within the predetermined range.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when there are a plurality of print jobs among the print jobs less than the predetermined number whose size difference is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the predetermined condition is the latest print job among the plurality of print jobs equal to or less than the predetermined amount.

9. A control method for an image forming apparatus having a display unit, referring to first information associating user identification information for identifying a user with print history information indicating the presence or absence of a print history related to a print job held by the image forming apparatus, and based on whether the print history information corresponding to the user identification information of the logged-in user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus indicates that there is a print history for some of the print jobs, controlling whether to display a first confirmation screen including information indicating one or more print jobs other than the some of the print jobs on the display unit. A control method for an image forming apparatus.

Images