Printing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage

Abstract

The user is notified that the current state of the printing apparatus is a state in which a print job is automatically and immediately canceled by this function when the print job is newly input.SOLUTION: To display information indicating that the current state of a printer in which a specific factor hindering printing is not eliminated is a state in which a newly received print job is automatically canceled.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In an office environment, multiple users submit (send) print jobs to a printer using printer drivers from their respective host computers, and the printer then prints the submitted print jobs. When a printer installed in such an office environment encounters a specific factor (interruption factor) that prevents printing, such as a paper jam or lack of toner, it will not print the accepted print job and will wait until the interruption factor is resolved. Once the interruption factor is resolved, the printer will continue printing.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a printing device that automatically cancels printing of print jobs that have been accepted up to that point when a set time has elapsed without the cause of the interruption being resolved. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-87591 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, if a new print job is accepted after a print job has been automatically canceled due to the lapse of a set time, the new print job is automatically canceled after the set time has elapsed if the cause of the interruption has not yet been resolved. On the other hand, if the cause of the interruption is resolved before the set time has elapsed again, the new print job is automatically printed.

[0006] However, it is sometimes desirable to cancel a newly accepted print job when the cause of the interruption has not been resolved, in the same way as a previously submitted and canceled print job. Therefore, when a new print job is accepted after a print job has been automatically canceled after a set time has elapsed, if the cause of the interruption has not yet been resolved, a function is required to immediately cancel the print job before the set time elapses again.

[0007] Furthermore, when implementing such a function in a printing device, it is desirable to inform the user that the current state of the printing device is such that if a new print job is submitted, the print job will be automatically and immediately canceled by this function. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The printing device of the present invention is a printing device having an acceptance means for accepting print jobs, and an execution means capable of executing printing of print jobs accepted by the acceptance means, the execution means having a function of automatically canceling printing of print jobs accepted by the acceptance means when a set time or more has passed without a specific factor preventing the printing of the print job being resolved, and is characterized in that it further has a notification means for at least notifying a user or notifying an external device communicating with the printing device of information indicating that the current state of the printing device, in which the specific factor has not been resolved, is a state in which a print job newly accepted by the acceptance means will be automatically canceled by the cancellation function. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to notify the user that the current state of the printing device is such that if a new print job is submitted, the print job will be automatically and immediately canceled by this function. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software module configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a setting screen for automatically canceling a print job. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an execution control process for automatically canceling a print job. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for setting the automatic cancellation state to an execution state. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for setting the automatic cancellation state to a non-execution state. [Figure 7] 10 is an example of a main menu screen displayed on an operation unit. [Figure 8] 10 is an example of a copy setting screen displayed on the operation unit. [Figure 9] 10 is an example of a warning screen displayed on the operation unit. [Figure 10] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit when a print job is canceled by the automatic print job cancellation function. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The following describes in detail the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0012] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, image forming apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus that integrates multiple functions, such as a scanning function and a printing function. Image forming apparatus 1 includes a controller unit 100 that controls the entire apparatus, a scanner 113, a printer 114, and an operation unit 106. Scanner 113 is an image input device that optically reads an image on a set document. Printer 114 is an image output device that prints an image on a recording medium such as printing paper based on image data.

[0013] The operation unit 106 includes hard keys such as a numeric keypad and a touch sensor for receiving input of instructions such as job execution from the user, and also includes a display panel for displaying device information, job progress information, etc. to the user, or a setting screen for functions that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 106 of this embodiment is a user interface that includes a touch screen, and the touch screen displays (notifies) the user of information such as status information and setting screens of the image forming apparatus 1, and accepts operations on the displayed screen.

[0014] The scanner 113 and the printer 114 are connected to a scanner processing unit 111 and a printer processing unit 112, respectively, included in the controller unit 100. The operation unit 106 is connected to an operation unit interface (I / F) included in the controller unit 100. With such a configuration, the scanner 113, the printer 114, and the operation unit 106 each operate under the control of the controller unit 100.

[0015] The controller unit 100 includes a CPU 101 that controls each block of the controller unit 100. The CPU 101 is connected to a RAM 102, a ROM 103, a hardware disk drive (HDD) 104, an operation unit I / F 105, and a network I / F 107 via a system bus 108. The RAM 102 is a general-purpose RAM that provides a working area for the CPU 101. The RAM 102 is also used as a memory for temporarily storing parameters, setting values, etc., and as an image memory for storing image data in predetermined units such as pages. The RAM 102 also stores image data (information) scanned by a scanner 113 as a print job to be printed by a printer 114, and stores image data (information) received by a network I / F 107 as a print job to be printed by the printer 114. In this embodiment, deleting a print job from the RAM 102 is referred to as canceling the print job or canceling printing of the print job. ROM 103 is a general-purpose ROM, and stores, for example, a system boot program as a boot ROM. HDD 104 stores system software programs, history data, image data, tables, etc. The functions of image forming apparatus 1 are realized, for example, by CPU 101 reading the programs stored in ROM 103 into RAM 102 and executing them.

[0016] The operation unit I / F 105 is an interface for inputting and outputting information to and from the operation unit 106. In response to an instruction from the CPU 101, the operation unit I / F 105 outputs display data to the operation unit 106, and also transmits information input by the user on the operation unit 106 to the CPU 101.

[0017] The network I / F 107 is connected to a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) 115, and enables input and output of information between the image forming apparatus 1 and devices on the LAN 115. The network I / F 107 has a configuration compatible with the LAN 115, and may have a configuration compatible with near field communication, for example, with a wireless distance of approximately several tens of centimeters. In this case, mutual communication is performed with a portable wireless terminal.

[0018] The image processing unit 109 is a hardware module that performs general-purpose image processing, such as enlarging / reducing, rotating, and converting image data acquired from an external device via the LAN 115. The image processing unit 109 also performs processing to convert PDL code received via the LAN 115 into a bitmap image. When outputting the image data to the printer 114 via the printer processing unit 112, the image processing unit 109 also performs processing to convert the image data compressed and encoded and stored in the HDD 104 into a format that can be processed by the printer processing unit 112. The device I / F 110 is connected to the scanner 113 and the printer 114 via the scanner processing unit 111 and the printer processing unit 112, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data and transmits setting values, adjustment values, and the like. The device I / F 110 also transmits status information of the scanner 113 and the printer 114 to the CPU 101. The status information includes, for example, error information such as a jam (paper jam) that has occurred in the scanner 113 or the printer 114, or the toner (developer) used for printing by the printer 114 being empty.

[0019] The scanner processing unit 111 is a hardware module that performs various processes corresponding to the scanning function, such as correction, processing, image area separation, magnification, and binarization, on read data (image data) read and input by the scanner 113. The scanner 113 includes an automatic continuous document feeder and a pressure plate reader (not shown), and is capable of reading a document placed on a glass document table and double-sided scanning of multiple documents. The scanner 113 is also provided with sensors (not shown) that detect the opening and closing of a document cover, the presence or absence of a document, the document size, etc. Detection signals from these sensors and status information of the scanner 113 are sent to the CPU 101 via the scanner processing unit 111 and the device I / F 110, and the CPU 101 recognizes the status of the scanner 113, such as the occurrence and resolution of an error, of an error.

[0020] The printer processing unit 112 is a hardware module that performs processing corresponding to the print function, such as output correction, resolution conversion, and image print position adjustment, on image data to be printed, in accordance with the output characteristics of the printer 114. The printer 114 includes at least one paper feed cassette for storing print paper. The printer 114 is equipped with sensors that detect the amount of paper remaining in each paper feed cassette, the presence or absence of toner, and paper jams in the paper transport path. Detection signals from the sensors and status information about the printer 114 are sent to the CPU 101 via the printer processing unit 112 and device I / F 110, and the CPU 101 recognizes the occurrence and resolution of errors in the printer 114. That is, the CPU 101 detects the occurrence and resolution of specific factors that prevent the printing of a print job (e.g., lack of paper, lack of toner, paper jam, etc.) based on information from the sensors, and controls whether or not to execute printing based on that detection. In the following description, specific factors that prevent the printing of a print job will be referred to as errors. In this embodiment, a paper shortage error is an error associated with a print job, and is resolved by canceling the print job that caused the paper shortage or by replenishing paper. A toner shortage error is an error associated with the image forming apparatus 1, and is resolved by replenishing toner, but is not resolved even if the print job that caused the toner shortage is canceled. A paper jam error is an error associated with the image forming apparatus 1, and is resolved by clearing the paper jam, but is not resolved even if the print job that caused the paper jam is canceled.

[0021] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the software module configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. Each module in Fig. 2 is realized by the CPU 101 executing a program. A job control processing unit 201 controls the other modules and comprehensively controls the execution of each job that occurs within the image forming apparatus 1, such as copying, printing, scanning, and user interface (UI) processing.

[0022] The UI processing unit 202 performs processing related to the operation unit 106 and operation unit I / F 105. The UI processing unit 202 transmits information about operations performed by the user on the operation unit 106 to the job control processing unit 201, and displays a display screen on the operation unit 106 in response to instructions from the job control processing unit 201. The UI processing unit 202 receives a copy instruction from the user to read image data using the scanner 113 and print it using the printer 114, and transmits the copy instruction to the job control processing unit 201. The UI processing unit 202 also performs editing of drawing data to be displayed on the operation unit 106.

[0023] The network processing unit 203 performs communication processing with devices (e.g., a host computer) on the LAN 115 via the network I / F 107. When the network processing unit 203 receives control commands and data (e.g., print data or image data written in a page description language) from devices on the LAN 115, it transmits the information to the job control processing unit 201. That is, the network processing unit 203 receives image data (information) and a print instruction to print the image data on the printer 114 from an external device on the LAN 115, and transmits the instruction and image data to the job control processing unit 201. The network processing unit 203 also transmits control commands and data to devices on the LAN 115 in response to an instruction from the job control processing unit 201.

[0024] The scan processing unit 204 controls the scanner 113 and the scanner processing unit 111 in response to instructions from the job control processing unit 201 to execute a read process on a document placed on the scanner 113. The scan processing unit 204 controls the scanner processing unit 111 to execute image processing on the read image data. The scan processing unit 204 also acquires status information of the scanner processing unit 111 and the scanner 113 (such as error information indicating the presence or absence of an error) and transmits it to the job control processing unit 201.

[0025] The print processing unit 205 controls the image processing unit 109, printer processing unit 112, and printer 114 in response to instructions from the job control processing unit 201 to execute print processing for the print job. The print processing unit 205 receives information from the job control processing unit 201, such as image data to be printed, image information (image data size, color mode, resolution, etc.), and output paper information (size, print orientation, etc.). The print processing unit 205 then controls the image processing unit 109 and printer processing unit 112 to execute appropriate image processing for the image data, and controls the printer processing unit 112 and printer 114 to execute print processing of the image data onto print paper (sheets). The print processing unit 205 also acquires status information from the printer processing unit 112 and printer 114 (for example, error information indicating whether an error such as a paper shortage, a toner shortage, or a paper jam has occurred) and sends it to the job control processing unit 201.

[0026] The job control processing unit 201 accepts information transmitted from the UI processing unit 202 and the network processing unit 203 as a print job and registers the print job in a job list managed on the RAM 102. That is, the job control processing unit 201 accepts a print job when it receives print data from an external device via the network I / F 107 or when it accepts a copy instruction from a user via the operation unit 106 and the operation unit I / F 105. The job control processing unit 201 then stores the print job in the RAM 102. As will be described later, the job control processing unit 201 cancels the printing of a print job by deleting the print job from the RAM 102. The job control processing unit 201 can also prevent printing from being automatically executed even if the cause of the interruption is resolved by changing the print job to a print standby state on the job list without deleting it from the RAM 102. The job control processing unit 201 also issues instructions to each module for job processing. Furthermore, the job control processing unit 201 defines an automatic cancellation state with at least two states, an execution state and a non-execution state, as states related to the automatic job cancellation function performed by the image forming apparatus 1, and stores the current automatic cancellation state in the RAM 102. The execution state, as described below, is a state in which, if a set time or more has passed without an error being resolved and the image forming apparatus 1 accepts a print job, the print job is automatically canceled before the set time has passed. The non-execution state is a state in which the print job is not automatically canceled but is held in the image forming apparatus 1. In the non-execution state, the print job is canceled in accordance with a cancellation instruction from the user. The job control processing unit 201 causes the UI processing unit 202 to display a screen corresponding to the current automatic cancellation state on the operation unit 106.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a setting screen for automatically canceling a job when print processing is interrupted due to the occurrence of an error in this embodiment. Setting item 301 is an item for accepting a setting for whether to enable a function for automatically canceling an interrupted job when a set time has elapsed after the occurrence of an error. An interrupted job is a print job whose printing is prevented by an error. If "ON" is specified by the user, the interrupted job is canceled when a predetermined time has elapsed after the occurrence of the error. If "OFF" is specified by the user, the interrupted job is not canceled. Automatically canceling a job means that the job is canceled after it is received, even if there is no cancellation instruction from the user.

[0028] Setting item 302 is an item for accepting a user's designation of the time until automatic cancellation of an interrupted job is executed and setting the specified time as the set time. This setting item 302 is settable when "ON" is specified in setting item 301, and is grayed out when "OFF" is specified. The set time can be set in minutes from 0 to 999 minutes. In FIG. 3, the user can adjust the set time from the default value of "5 minutes" using the plus and minus buttons. When the user presses the confirm button, the settings accepted on the setting screen of FIG. 3 are confirmed and saved in the HDD 104 or RAM 102 by the job control processing unit 201 and the UI processing unit 202. When the user presses the cancel button, the settings accepted on the setting screen of FIG. 3 are canceled. If the user sets 0 minutes as the time until automatic cancellation, in this embodiment, all print jobs registered in the job list at the time an error occurs are immediately canceled at the time the error occurs. On the other hand, if a time other than 0 minutes is set, print jobs registered in the job list are not canceled during the set time from the time the error occurs. However, in this embodiment, if the set time or more has passed without the error being resolved, all print jobs registered in the job list at that time are canceled. However, as will be described later, if a print job is accepted when the set time or more has passed without the error being resolved (the error continues for the set time or more), the print job is immediately canceled. In other words, the new print job is canceled before the set time has passed since the new print job was registered in the job list. Note that in this embodiment, only users with administrator authority for the image forming apparatus 1 can set the setting items 301 and 302. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 has a function for authenticating the administrator. The user enters the administrator's ID and password into the operation unit 106. If the ID and password are correct, the image forming apparatus 1 authenticates the user as a user with administrator authority.

[0029] 4 is a flowchart showing the execution control process for job cancellation. In this embodiment, for jobs that have not been completed due to an error, a function is executed to automatically cancel all print jobs currently registered in the job list after the time set in setting item 302 has elapsed. This function corresponds to the processes of S406 YES to S408, which will be described later. Also, for a print job that is newly accepted when the error has not been resolved and more than the set time has elapsed, a function is executed to automatically cancel the print job before the set time has elapsed from the time of acceptance. This function corresponds to the processes of S409 YES, S405 NO, and S406 YES to S408, which will be described later.

[0030] The processing of this flowchart is realized, for example, by CPU 101 reading a program stored in HDD 104 into RAM 102 and executing it. The flowchart starts when job control processing unit 201 registers a job in a job list. Hereinafter, the term "job" refers to a print job. Note that the registration of a job accepted by image forming apparatus 1 in the job list is performed in parallel with the processing of this flowchart.

[0031] In S401, the job control processing unit 201 checks whether the job is registered in the job list. If the job is registered, the process proceeds to S402. If the job is not registered in the job list, the process returns to S401.

[0032] In S402, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether an error has occurred. The job control processing unit 201 receives error information from the scan processing unit 204 or print processing unit 205. If the content of this error information indicates that a specific factor has occurred that prevents printing from being executed (continued), it is determined that the error has occurred. Based on the occurrence of this error, the job control processing unit 201 starts measuring time using a timer, which will be described later.

[0033] Errors caused by the printer 114 (specific factors that prevent printing, factors that cause interruption) include the following: a paper shortage when the paper cassette runs out of paper, a paper mismatch when the specified paper is not in the paper cassette, a paper jam on the paper transport path, a toner shortage, etc. When the print processing unit 205 notifies the job control processing unit 201 of error information, the job control processing unit 201 registers in the job list that the target job is an interrupted job. The job control processing unit 201 then instructs the scan processing unit 204 and print processing unit 205 to stop printing the job.

[0034] An example of an error caused by the scanner 115 is a paper jam in an automatic continuous document feeder (not shown). When the scan processing unit 204 notifies the job control processing unit 201 of error information, the job control processing unit 201 registers the fact that the target job is an interrupted job in the job list. The job control processing unit 201 then instructs the scan processing unit 204 and print processing unit 205 to stop printing the job.

[0035] If it is determined in S402 that an error has occurred, the job control processing unit 201 causes the UI processing unit 202 to display a screen (error screen) indicating that an error has occurred on the operation unit 106, and the process proceeds to S403. If it is determined that no error has occurred, the process proceeds to S411.

[0036] In S403, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether the setting item 301 in Fig. 3 is ON. If it is determined that the setting item 301 is ON, the process proceeds to S404, and if it is determined that the setting item 301 is not ON, the process proceeds to S411.

[0037] In S404, the job control processing unit 201 sets the time (also called grace time, set time, or timer time) until automatic cancellation is executed, which is accepted in the setting item 302 in FIG. 3, in a timer and starts this timer. In this embodiment, the timer is a countdown timer, and when the job control processing unit 201 starts the timer, it counts down the set time. This countdown timer counts down the time in predetermined time units (for example, in one-minute units). For example, if the set time is set to "5 minutes," the job control processing unit 201 counts down the countdown timer by "1" every time one minute has elapsed from "5 (minutes)."

[0038] In S405, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether the error has been resolved (the cause of the interruption has been resolved). Specifically, the job control processing unit 201 receives error information from the scan processing unit 204 or the print processing unit 205. If the content of this error information indicates that a specific error has not occurred, it is determined that the error has been resolved. If it is determined that the error has been resolved, the process proceeds to S410, and if it is determined that the error has not been resolved, the process proceeds to S406.

[0039] In S406, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether the timer time set in S404 has expired. That is, it determines whether the set time or more has elapsed without the error being resolved. Here, if the countdown timer is 0 (zero), it is determined that the timer time has expired. If it is determined that the timer time has expired, the process proceeds to S407 to execute automatic cancellation of the job. On the other hand, if it is determined that the timer time has not expired, the process returns to S405. Note that since the countdown timer remains 0 even after the timer time has expired, even if it is determined again in S406 whether the timer time has expired, the process also proceeds to S407. Note that the job control processing unit 201 may change (set) the automatic cancellation status of the image forming apparatus 1 from a non-execution status to an execution status in response to the countdown timer reaching 0. In this case, the job control processing unit 201 may determine in S406 whether the current automatic cancellation status of the image forming apparatus 1 is an execution status, and if it is determined that the automatic cancellation status is an execution status, the process proceeds to S407.

[0040] Next, in the process loop of S407 to S409, when the timer expires, the printing of all print jobs registered in the job list is canceled. The specific process is as follows.

[0041] In S407, when the job control processing unit 201 detects that the time until automatic cancellation (timer time) has expired, it acquires a list (job list) of jobs that have been accepted up to the present time (i.e., until the timer expires).Then, the job control processing unit 201 selects the job at the top of the job list.

[0042] In S408, the job control processing unit 201 cancels the job selected in S407. That is, printing of the selected print job is canceled. As a specific example, the job control processing unit 201 deletes information about the selected print job from the job list (i.e., RAM 102), thereby preventing future printing of the selected print job. At this time, the job control processing unit 201 also deletes the print data of the print job. As a result, even if the cause of the interruption is resolved after the timer time has elapsed, the print job will not be automatically printed. In S408, the job control processing unit 201 may record information (a message or an identification number) indicating that the print job was canceled because the error was not resolved for a certain period of time as history information of the print job canceled in S408. This information can be referenced by the user later.

[0043] When the printing of the print job is canceled in S408, the job control processing unit 201 causes the UI processing unit 202 to display a screen shown in Fig. 10 on the operation unit 106. The display screen 1101 shown in Fig. 10 includes, for example, information indicating that the print job has been canceled. Also, for example, the display screen 1101 includes information indicating that "the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is such that printing of a newly accepted print job will be automatically canceled." The display screen 1101 also includes an OK button 1104, and when the OK button 1104 is pressed by the user, the UI processing unit 202 displays the screen that was displayed immediately before the display screen 1101 was displayed.

[0044] Also, in S408, the job control processing unit 201 sets the automatic cancellation status stored in the RAM 102 to the "executing status." When the automatic cancellation status is set to the "executing status," the UI processing unit 202 causes the operation unit 106 to display information such as that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. That is, the operation unit 106 notifies the user that "the status of the image forming apparatus 1 is such that printing of a newly accepted print job will be automatically canceled." Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

[0045] Note that instead of the cancellation process in S408, the following process may be performed. That is, the job control processing unit 201 does not delete the print job selected in S407 from RAM 102 (i.e., does not cancel the print job), but changes the print job to a print instruction waiting state. As a result, the print job is in a state waiting for a print instruction from the user, so even if the interruption factor is resolved after the timer has elapsed, the print job will not be automatically printed. After the interruption factor is resolved, the user can issue a print instruction for the print job via a list of uncompleted jobs (not shown), and the print job in a print instruction waiting state will be printed.

[0046] In S409, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether scanning has been completed up to the last job in the job list, i.e., the latest job in the job list. If it is determined that scanning has not been completed up to the last job in the job list, the job control processing unit 201 selects the next job in the job list in S407 and executes cancellation in S408. On the other hand, if it is determined in S409 that scanning has been completed up to the last job in the job list, the process returns to S405.

[0047] One of the features of this embodiment is that the process returns to S405 after S409. That is, since the process returns to S405 without canceling the timer after S409, if the error is still not resolved, the timer remains expired, and the processes of S407 to S409 are executed after the determinations of S405 and S406. As a result, a print job that was accepted after the timer expired but before the error was resolved and newly registered in the job list is quickly canceled without waiting for the timer to expire any further. Note that instead of the cancellation process here, a process may be executed to change the print job to a state waiting for a print instruction. A print job in a state waiting for a print instruction is not printed and is held in the image forming device 1 until the image forming device 1 accepts a print instruction from the user.

[0048] If it is determined in S405 that the error has been resolved, in S410 the job control processing unit 201 cancels the timer set in S404. The job control processing unit 201 instructs the UI processing unit 202 to erase the error screen displayed on the operation unit 106 and return to the normal screen (standby screen). Alternatively, after erasing the error screen, the job control processing unit 201 causes the operation unit 106 to display a screen indicating that the error has been resolved for a predetermined period of time, and then displays the normal screen (standby screen). The job control processing unit 201 then causes the scan processing unit 204 and print processing unit 205 to automatically resume printing of the interrupted print job. This printing resume is performed without any additional print instruction from the user after the error resolution operation. In this way, if the interruption cause (error) is resolved before the grace period (set time) has elapsed since the interruption cause occurred, the printing of the interrupted print job and any subsequent print jobs is automatically resumed. After processing in S410, the process returns to S402.

[0049] Also, in S410, the job control processing unit 201 sets the automatic cancellation status stored in the RAM 102 to a non-execution status. When the automatic cancellation status is set to the "non-execution status," the operation unit 106 stops displaying information such as that shown in FIG. 8. That is, the operation unit 106 stops displaying information informing the user that "the status of the image forming apparatus 1 is such that printing of a newly accepted print job will be automatically canceled." Details of this processing will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0050] If it is determined in S402 that no error has occurred, or if it is determined in S403 that the setting item 301 is not ON, the job control processing unit 201 determines in S411 whether or not a job is registered in the job list. If it is determined that a job is registered in the job list, the process returns to S402. If it is determined that a job is not registered in the job list, the process of this flow ends. This flow ends when printing of the job is completed. After this flow ends, if a new job is registered in the accepted job list, this flow starts again.

[0051] Note that, although a countdown timer is used in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and any means capable of measuring the time that an error has occurred and is continuing (i.e., the time that has passed without the error being resolved) may be used. For example, in S404, the job control processing unit 201 may start a count-up timer from 0 (zero), and in S406, the job control processing unit 201 may determine whether the count-up timer has reached a set time.

[0052] Alternatively, for example, in S404, the job control processing unit 201 acquires and stores the current time from the RTC, and in S406, the job control processing unit 201 acquires the current time from the RTC. The job control processing unit 201 may then determine whether the difference in time between the acquired time and the time stored in S404 has reached a set time.

[0053] 5 shows a processing flow for displaying information informing the user that the image forming apparatus is in a state where automatic job cancellation is to be executed, on the operation unit 106, depending on the automatic cancellation status. This flow is performed by the UI processing unit 202.

[0054] In step S501, the UI processing unit 202 refers to the automatic cancellation status stored in the RAM 102 and determines whether it is in the "execution state." If it is in the "execution state," the process proceeds to S502; if not, the process of S501 is executed again after a predetermined time (for example, 100 milliseconds).

[0055] In step S502, the UI processing unit 202 displays information on the operation unit 106 to inform the user that the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where printing of a newly accepted print job will be automatically canceled. This information is, for example, the information in the status display unit 904 in Fig. 8 (a message saying "automatic job cancellation in progress"). The information in the status display unit 904 in Fig. 8 indicates that the timer expired without the error being resolved (YES in S406), and therefore the newly accepted print job will be automatically canceled.

[0056] This information is, for example, the information in the pop-up display 1002 in Fig. 9. The information in the pop-up display 1002 is displayed when the user instructs the image forming apparatus 1 to execute a copy, and indicates that the copy print job will be automatically canceled unless the error is resolved.

[0057] The display in S502 may be performed when the operation unit 106 displays a specific screen such as a main menu screen or a copy setting screen.

[0058] 6 shows a processing flow for stopping the display of information informing the user that the image forming apparatus is in a state where automatic job cancellation is to be executed, on the operation unit 106, in accordance with the automatic cancellation status. This flow is performed by the UI processing unit 202.

[0059] In step S601, the UI processing unit 202 refers to the automatic cancellation state stored in the RAM 102 and determines whether it is in a "non-execution state." If it is in a "non-execution state," the process proceeds to S602; if not, the process of S601 is executed again after a predetermined time (for example, 100 milliseconds).

[0060] In step S602, the UI processing unit 202 stops the display that was displayed on the operation unit 106 by the processing of S502. As a result of this display stop, for example, the main menu screen becomes as shown in Fig. 7, and the copy setting screen becomes a state in which the information in the status display section 904 of Fig. 8 is not displayed.

[0061] 7 shows an example of a main menu screen 701 of the UI display screen that the UI processing unit 202 displays on the operation unit 106. The main menu screen is a screen that is displayed on the operation unit 106 immediately after the image forming apparatus 1 is started up, and is a screen that allows the user to select various functions.

[0062] The operation icon group 703 is displayed according to the purpose of the user's operation. FIG. 7 shows eight operation icons, including a "Menu" icon for menu settings, a "Copy" icon for copying, and a "Secure Print" icon for setting a password and printing. The content displayed in the status display section 702 is changed by the UI processing unit 202 depending on the setting state of the automatic cancellation state. For example, if an error has occurred and the automatic cancellation state is set to "Not Executing," information indicating the error content is displayed. In the example of FIG. 7, the error content is a shortage of A4-sized plain paper. If no error has occurred, neither the error content nor information indicating that the image forming apparatus 1 is currently executing automatic job cancellation (the image forming apparatus is currently automatically canceling the printing of a newly accepted print job) is displayed. If the automatic cancellation state is set to "Executing," information indicating the error content and information indicating that the image forming apparatus 1 is currently executing automatic job cancellation are displayed alternately.

[0063] FIG. 8 shows an example of a copy setting screen displayed on the operation unit 106 when the user presses the "COPY" icon shown in FIG. 7 when the job control processing unit 201 has set the automatic cancellation status to "executing status." This is an example of a display screen when the copy setting screen 901 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. A status display area 904 displays information corresponding to the current automatic cancellation status. The UI processing unit 202 accepts an operation performed by the user on the operation unit 106 and transmits the accepted information to the job control processing unit 201. For example, the UI processing unit 202 accepts a user pressing a copy setting button 902. That is, the UI processing unit 202 accepts, as copy settings, a setting of whether to read only one side (front side) of the document or both sides (front and back sides) and a setting of whether to print the scanned document image on only one side (front side) of the sheet or both sides (front and back sides). The UI processing unit 202 then accepts a user pressing a copy execution button 903. Receiving the pressing of this button 903 corresponds to receiving an instruction to print a copy (print job). If no error occurs, the job control processing unit 201 prints the copy (print job) based on the received settings. On the other hand, if the automatic cancellation status of the image forming apparatus 1 is set to "execution status," the job control processing unit 20 causes the UI processing unit 202 to display a warning screen 1001, exemplified in FIG. 9.

[0064] The warning pop-up display 1002 shown in Fig. 9 is displayed when the user presses the copy execution button 903 while the automatic cancellation status of the image forming apparatus 1 is set to "execution status" as shown in Fig. 8. This display notifies the user in advance that if the user instructs to execute a copy without resolving the error, the copy print job will be automatically and immediately canceled.

[0065] This warning pop-up display 1002 includes a back button 1003 and an OK button 1004, both of which can be pressed by the user. When the back button 1003 is pressed, the copy print job is not executed and the screen transitions to the previous screen (e.g., FIG. 8). When the OK button 1004 is pressed, the copy print job is newly accepted. If the error is resolved before the copy print job is newly accepted, the job control processing unit 201 executes the processing shown in FIG. 4 for the newly accepted print job, starting from the processing of S401 or S411. The period before the copy print job is newly accepted refers to the period while the warning screen 1001 in FIG. 9 is displayed. On the other hand, if the error is not resolved, the job control processing unit 201 executes the processing shown in FIG. 4 for the newly accepted print job, starting from the processing of S407. In other words, the job control processing unit 201 automatically and immediately cancels the new print job. When the new print job is immediately canceled in this manner, the UI processing unit 202 displays a screen such as that shown in FIG. 10 on the operation unit 106.

[0066] According to the present embodiment described above, the user can understand that the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where a new print job will be automatically and immediately canceled upon acceptance. Therefore, by resolving the error before submitting a print job to the image forming apparatus 1, the user can more easily avoid a situation where a new print job is submitted and then immediately canceled.

[0067] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, the screens shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10 are displayed on the operation unit 106 to notify the user that the current state of the image forming apparatus 1, in which an error has not been resolved, is such that printing of newly accepted print jobs will be immediately and automatically canceled. However, the present invention is not limited to these screen displays. That is, the user of the image forming apparatus 1 may be notified by audio, such as by a buzzer (not shown) provided on the image forming apparatus 1, that the current state of the image forming apparatus 1 is such that printing of newly accepted print jobs will be immediately and automatically canceled. Furthermore, instead of a screen display, the user of the image forming apparatus 1 may be notified of the current state of the image forming apparatus by a lighting or blinking pattern of an LED (not shown) provided on the image forming apparatus 1.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the operation unit 106 of the image forming apparatus 1 notifies the user in front of the image forming apparatus 1 of the current state of the image forming apparatus 1, in which an error has not been resolved. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 may notify (transmit) to an external device capable of transmitting print data to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network I / F 107 that the current state of the image forming apparatus 1 is such that printing of a newly accepted print job will be immediately and automatically canceled. By notifying the external device in this manner, the user of the external device can know that printing of the print data will be immediately and automatically canceled when the external device transmits the print data. That is, according to the present disclosure, the image forming apparatus at least notifies the user or notifies an external device communicating with the image forming apparatus that the current state of the image forming apparatus is such that printing of a newly accepted print job will be immediately and automatically canceled.

[0069] In the above embodiment, after the timer expires, the screens shown in Figures 8 to 10 are displayed to notify the user that the current state of image forming apparatus 1, in which the error has not been resolved, means that printing of newly accepted print jobs will be immediately and automatically canceled. However, the present invention is not limited to this notification timing. In other words, the notification may be made before the timer expires after it starts measuring, such as when an error occurs (the period during which the processes of S405 and S406 are repeatedly looped).

[0070] In the above embodiment, the UI processing unit 202 displays the copy execution button 903 as being in a pressable state even when the automatic cancellation status is set to "execution status." However, as a modified example, the UI processing unit 202 may display the copy execution button 903 as being in a non-pressable state when the automatic cancellation status is set to "execution enabled."

[0071] In the above embodiment, when the timer expiration is detected, the system continues canceling jobs from the top to the bottom of the list of jobs accepted up to the current time (until the timer expires). In other words, when the timer expires, all print jobs in the list are canceled. However, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which, after canceling a job, a check is made to see if the error has been resolved. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, processing step S409 may be omitted, and the process may proceed from S408 to S405. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, processing step S511 may be omitted, and the process may proceed from S510 to S512. Because print jobs are canceled in this way in S408, for example, if a print job that ran out of paper is canceled, the error is resolved, and the process proceeds to S410 based on the determination in S405. The next print job is then started with the error resolved and the timer canceled. If an error occurs during printing of this print job, the countdown timer starts again. If the error remains unresolved for more than the set time, the print job is canceled.

[0072] In the above embodiment, all jobs are subject to cancellation, but some types of jobs may be excluded from cancellation. For example, jobs such as facsimiles, where it is difficult to identify the sender and resubmit the job, may be excluded from cancellation. Jobs that are stored in memory and require user operation to print (such as reserved printing and memory reception of facsimiles) may be excluded from cancellation.

[0073] In the above embodiment, when the timer expires, the print jobs that had been accepted up to that point and any print jobs accepted thereafter are canceled. However, as described above, instead of canceling the print jobs, it is also possible to prevent the print jobs from being automatically executed after the interruption factor is resolved. For example, the print jobs may be held in the printing device so that they can be executed upon user instruction after the interruption factor is resolved.

[0074] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Claims

[Claim 1] Acceptance means for accepting a print job; an execution means capable of executing printing of the print job accepted by the acceptance means, the execution means having a function of automatically canceling printing of the print job accepted by the acceptance means when a specific factor that prevents printing of the print job has not been resolved for a set time or more; A printing device having: A printing device characterized by further having a notification means for at least notifying a user or an external device communicating with the printing device of information indicating that the current state of the printing device, in which the specific cause has not been resolved, is a state in which a new print job accepted by the acceptance means will be automatically canceled by the cancellation function.

Images