Information Processing Apparatus, Image Forming Apparatus, and Information Processing Method

Abstract

To reduce the occurrence of re-setting for execution of a job.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus comprises: a display operation unit that displays a screen for receiving registration of a job and receives operations; a use amount management unit that manages a use amount while breaking it down into one that is actually used, one for a job in an execution standby state, and one for temporary reservation for the use amount, and determines if the total of the one that is actually used, the one for the job in the execution standby state, and the one for the temporary reservation for the use amount exceeds the upper limit of the use amount; a job execution screen generation unit that, in generating the screen in response to a request from the display operation unit, changes the screen to be generated in accordance with whether receiving the temporary reservation for the use amount to the use amount management unit results in exceeding the upper limit; a job list management unit that manages jobs received from the job execution screen generation unit on a job list; and a job execution unit that instructs an image forming unit to execute jobs based on information on the job list.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in order to reduce the running costs of copiers and printers, companies have set upper limits on running costs for each individual, department, or device, and have prohibited the use of the copier or printer when the upper limit is exceeded.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses an upper limit management system that determines the upper limit of usage when the number of submitted jobs is determined after the user makes various settings for job execution and performs a job execution operation (such as pressing the start key), with the aim of enabling changes to printing conditions for waiting jobs using a reservation function. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with conventional upper limit management systems, after a user makes various settings for job execution and performs a job execution operation (such as pressing the start key), the upper limit is determined when the count number of submitted jobs is determined, which creates the problem that the settings for job execution may be wasted.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to reduce the need to redo settings for job execution. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes a display operation unit that displays a screen for accepting job registration and accepts operations; a usage amount management unit that manages a usage amount by dividing it into an amount actually used, an amount for jobs waiting to be executed, and a provisionally reserved amount of usage, and determines whether a sum of the amount actually used, the amount for jobs waiting to be executed, and the provisionally reserved amount of usage exceeds an upper limit of the usage amount; a job execution screen generation unit that changes the generated screen depending on whether the upper limit of the usage amount is exceeded as a result of accepting the provisional reservation of the usage amount for the usage amount management unit when generating the screen in response to a request from the display operation unit; a job list management unit that manages jobs received from the job execution screen generation unit in a job list; and a job execution unit that instructs an image forming unit to execute a job based on information in the job list. The job list management unit holds a past usage amount for each user, and the usage amount management unit sets the usage amount to be provisionally reserved to an average value of the past usage amounts for each user. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the need to reset settings for job execution. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an aspect in which a job is registered in the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of an operation panel. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a client PC. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a job list. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a job execution screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an operation procedure of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the effects of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing method will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration including an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of client PCs (Personal Computers) 200 and the image forming apparatus 100 are connected via a network 300. The network 300 may be a small-scale LAN within a company, a VLAN (Virtual LAN) configured via a layer 3 switch, a WAN, or the Internet.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 100 is mainly an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) that integrates a printer, a copier, a scanner, and a FAX machine, but if it has a printer function, it can perform reserved printing. In the embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 will be described as a copier.

[0012] When a user directly operates image forming apparatus 100 to copy an original, printing conditions are input from operation panel 70, and image forming apparatus 100 generates associated bibliographic information.

[0013] Furthermore, a user can execute application software on client PC 200 and request image forming apparatus 100 to print an electronic document generated by the application software. In this case, printing conditions and bibliographic information are transmitted to image forming apparatus 100 together with the electronic document.

[0014] <Registering a job for scheduled printing> Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining the manner in which a job is registered in the image forming apparatus 100. Fig. 2 describes the manner in which a job is registered according to the manner in which image data is generated. Note that jobs in this embodiment are mainly classified into a printing job, a waiting job, and a new job (a new job becomes a waiting job after passing through a reading job) from the viewpoint of the execution stage, and are collectively called a reserved job. Regardless of the original application, all of them have a printing stage.

[0015] Image data to be printed by plotter engine 182 (see FIG. 4), which functions as an image forming unit provided in image forming apparatus 100, is generated in the following cases: when scanner engine 181 (see FIG. 4) provided in image forming apparatus 100 scans an original, when an electronic document (which is also converted into image data) is transmitted from client PC 200, and when FAX engine 184 (see FIG. 4) provided in image forming apparatus 100 receives image data transmitted by facsimile. In addition, a job for printing such image data by plotter engine 182 is registered mainly in two cases: when a user operates operation panel 70 and when a user operates client PC 200.

[0016] When image forming apparatus 100 scans an original and generates image data, a typical job registration operation is a "copy operation," and when client PC 200 transmits image data, a typical job registration operation is a "print request." Also, when image data is generated by receiving a FAX, the job is registered without the user operating either operation panel 70 or client PC 200.

[0017] Furthermore, regardless of how the image data is generated, image forming apparatus 100 can spool the image data in storage device 179 (see FIG. 4) (can also be set not to spool). "After spooling" in FIG. 2 refers to the image data being spooled by a typical job registration operation. The spooled image data can be used to register a job by the user operating operation panel 70 or client PC 200.

[0018] For example, the user can operate the operation panel 70 to display a list of spooled image data (regardless of how they have been generated), and select image data to register a job.

[0019] Also, a printer utility that communicates with image forming apparatus 100 and displays a list of image data is installed in client PC 200. A user can operate the printer utility to display a list of spooled image data (however generated) on the display of client PC 200, and register a job by selecting image data.

[0020] When the plotter engine 182 is printing, a job registered in the image forming apparatus 100 automatically becomes a reserved job (how to handle a new job will be described later).

[0021] It should be noted that the user can consciously register image data and printing conditions in the image forming apparatus 100. This is a function known as "reserved printing." In this case, the image data can be handled in the same way as spooled image data.

[0022] Further, the location where the image data is physically stored may not necessarily be the image forming device 100, but the image forming device 100 and the client PC 200 have registered therein the storage locations of the image data, the printing location, and the bibliographic information.

[0023] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the user operates the image forming apparatus 100 to change the printing conditions, but the user can also operate the client PC 200 to change the printing conditions.

[0024] <Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 100> 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus 100. When making copies, a user first places a stack of documents with the image side of the documents facing up on document table 2 of automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 1. After setting copy conditions, the user presses start key 74 (see FIG. 5) on operation panel 70, and the stack of documents is fed, starting from the bottom document, to a predetermined position on contact glass 6 by feed roller 3 and feed belt 4.

[0025] The ADF 1 has a counting function that counts up the number of documents when one document has been fed. The document fed onto the contact glass 6 is read by the reading unit 50 and converted into image data.

[0026] After reading, the document is discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. Furthermore, when the ADF 1 detects by the document set detection sensor 7 that there is a next document on the document table 2, the bottom document is similarly fed onto the contact glass 6. The feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a transport motor.

[0027] Transfer papers are stacked on a first tray 8, a second tray 9, and a third tray 10. The transfer papers are fed by a first paper feeder 11, a second paper feeder 12, and a third paper feeder 13, respectively, and transported by a vertical transport unit 14 to a position where the transfer papers abut against a photoconductor 15.

[0028] The writing unit 57 modulates a laser according to the image data read by the reading unit 50, and writes a latent image of the image data onto the photoconductor 15. The latent image is developed into a toner image by passing through the developing unit 27.

[0029] The transfer paper is then transported by a transport belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15, and the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper by being transported in synchronization with the toner image on the photoconductor 15. Thereafter, the image is fixed onto the transfer paper by a fixing unit 17, and the transfer paper is discharged by a paper discharge unit 18 to a finisher 99 of a post-processing device.

[0030] When images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper on which an image has been formed and fed from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is not guided to the paper discharge tray 104 side, but is temporarily stored in the duplex paper feed unit 111 by setting the branch claw 112 for switching paths to the upper side. After that, the transfer paper stored in the duplex paper feed unit 111 is fed again from the duplex paper feed unit 111 in order to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 15 again, and the branch claw 112 for switching paths is set to the lower side and the paper is guided to the paper discharge tray 104. In this manner, the duplex paper feed unit 111 is used when images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper.

[0031] The photoconductor 15, the conveyor belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharge unit 18, and the developing unit 27 are driven by a main motor, and the paper feeders 11 to 13 are driven by the driving force of the main motor transmitted through respective paper feed clutches. The vertical conveying unit 14 is driven by the driving force of the main motor transmitted through an intermediate clutch.

[0032] The finisher 99 of the post-processing device can guide the transfer paper conveyed by the paper discharge unit 18 of the main body in the direction of a normal paper discharge roller 102 and in the direction of a staple table 108 .

[0033] The finisher 99 of the post-processing device can discharge the paper to a normal paper discharge tray 104 side via a transport roller 103 by switching a switching plate 101 upward. Also, by switching the switching plate 101 downward, the paper can be transported to a staple table 108 via transport rollers 105 and 107.

[0034] The transfer papers stacked on the stapler table 108 have their edges aligned by a paper jogger 109 each time they are discharged, and when some copies are completed, they are stapled by the stapler 106. The group of transfer papers stapled by the stapler 106 is stored in a staple-completed paper discharge tray by its own weight.

[0035] Furthermore, when saddle stitch stapling is designated as the binding method, the transfer papers are transported via transport rollers 115, 116, 117, 118, and 122, and saddle stitch stapling is performed by a saddle stitch stapler 121. The transfer papers closed by the saddle stitch stapler 121 are transported by transport rollers 122 to a cutter 123, where cutting processing is performed. The transfer papers cut by the cutter 123 are discharged to a saddle stitch staple / cutting completed paper output tray 110.

[0036] On the other hand, the normal paper discharge tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can move back and forth. The paper discharge tray 104 that can move back and forth moves back and forth for each document or for each part sorted by the image memory, and sorts the copy paper discharged in a simple manner.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG.

[0038] Image forming apparatus 100 has a CPU 171, a ROM 172, a RAM 173, an external I / F 174, a communication card 175, a panel control unit 176, a scanner engine control unit 177, a plotter engine control unit 178, a FAX engine control unit 183, and a storage device 179, which are connected via an internal bus.

[0039] CPU 171 executes programs stored in storage device 179 or ROM 172 using RAM 173 as a working memory to control the entire image forming apparatus 100. External I / F 174 is an interface for connecting a cable such as a USB or storage medium 160. Storage medium 160 is a flash memory such as a USB memory, an optical storage medium such as a CD-ROM, or the like.

[0040] The communication card 175 is called a LAN card or an Ethernet (registered trademark) card, and transmits packet data to the client PC 200 in response to an instruction from the CPU 171, and receives packet data from the client PC 200.

[0041] Panel control unit 176 displays a UI, which will be described later, on operation panel 70, and accepts operations of soft keys and hardware keys of the UI.

[0042] Scanner engine control unit 177 receives reading conditions such as resolution set by the user from operation panel 70, and controls scanner engine 181 based on the reading conditions. Scanner engine 181 optically scans an original placed on contact glass 6, A / D converts the reflected light, performs image processing, and generates digital data (hereinafter referred to as image data) with a predetermined resolution.

[0043] The plotter engine control unit 178 accepts printing conditions, such as the number of copies, set by the user from the operation panel 70, and controls the plotter engine 182 based on the printing conditions. The plotter engine 182 has, for example, a photoconductor 15, and forms a latent image by modulating a laser beam and scanning the photoconductor 15 based on the image data and the electronic document received from the client PC 200. The image for each page, which is developed by attaching toner to the latent image, is transferred to transfer paper by heat and pressure.

[0044] The storage device 179 is a rewritable non-volatile memory such as a HDD, a flash memory, etc. The storage device 179 stores application programs executed by the CPU 171, font data, and image data.

[0045] Furthermore, a printing condition proposal program 190 is stored in the storage device 179. The printing condition proposal program 190 modifies the printing conditions of a waiting job when the number of printed sheets of the image forming device 100 reaches an upper limit number. The printing condition proposal program 190 may be stored in the storage device 179 at the time of shipment of the image forming device 100, or may be distributed after shipment of the image forming device 100 in a state where it is stored in the storage medium 160, or may be distributed from a server (not shown) on the network 300.

[0046] FAX engine control unit 183 accepts transmission conditions such as a destination (fax number, e-mail address, etc.) set by the user, and controls FAX engine 184 based on the transmission conditions. FAX engine 184 connects to network 300 via communication card 105 and transmits and receives image data in accordance with a communication procedure corresponding to the T.37 or T.38 standard, for example, or connects to a public communication network via an NCU (Network Control Unit) and transmits and receives image data in accordance with a communication procedure corresponding to the G3 or G4 standard, for example. Even if image data is received when image forming apparatus 100 is powered off, plotter engine 182 can be started to print the image data on paper.

[0047] 5 is a front view showing an example of the operation panel 70. The operation panel 70 is provided with a liquid crystal touch panel 71, a numeric keypad 72, a clear / stop key 73, a start key 74, a preheat key 75, a reset key 76, an initial setting key 77, and a function selection key 78. The function selection key 78 is a key for selecting one of the functions of the image forming apparatus 100, namely, printer, copy, fax, and scan.

[0048] On the liquid crystal touch panel 71, function keys (called buttons or soft keys) for accepting user operations, the number of copies, messages indicating the status of the image forming apparatus 100, and the like are displayed.

[0049] By pressing the initial setting key 77, the user can arbitrarily customize the initial state of the image forming apparatus 100. By pressing the initial setting key 77, it is possible to set the paper size of the transfer paper loaded in the paper feed trays 8 to 10, and arbitrarily set the state to be set when the mode clear key of the copy function is pressed. It is also possible to select an application that is selected preferentially when there is no operation for a certain period of time, set the time to switch to low power consumption according to the International Energy Star Program, and set the time to switch to auto-off / sleep mode.

[0050] <Client PC 200 configuration> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the client PC 200. As shown in FIG.

[0051] The client PC 200 includes a CPU 211, a ROM 212, a RAM 213, an external I / F 214, a communication device 215, an input device 216, a display control unit 217, and a storage device 218, which are connected to each other via a bus. Descriptions of the blocks that are the same as those in the image forming apparatus 100 will be omitted.

[0052] The communication device 215 transmits electronic documents, printing conditions, and bibliographic information to the image forming apparatus 100 in response to an instruction from the CPU 211. The input device 216 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like that accepts user operations. The display control unit 217 displays a GUI or the like on the display 219 in response to an instruction from the application software 131.

[0053] The storage device 218 of the client PC 200 stores application software (word processing software, browser, etc.) 131 executed by the CPU 211, printer utility 132, printer driver, etc. These programs may be stored in the storage device 218 when the client PC 200 is shipped, or may be distributed after the client PC 200 is shipped in a state where they are stored in the storage medium 220, or may be distributed from a server (not shown) on the network 300.

[0054] The printer utility 132 is a program that serves as a user interface when a print request is made from the client PC 200 to the image forming apparatus 100. A user can specify image data via the printer utility 132 and print it.

[0055] <Functions of Image Forming Apparatus 100> 7 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the image forming apparatus 100. Each functional block in FIG.

[0056] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a usage amount management unit 201 , a display operation unit 202 , a job execution screen generation unit 203 , a job list management unit 204 , and a job execution unit 205 .

[0057] The display operation unit 202 is assumed to be a Web browser or the like. The display operation unit 202 displays a screen for a user to operate on the operation panel 70 via the panel control unit 176. Specifically, the display operation unit 202 displays content generated by the job execution screen generation unit 203 on the operation panel 70.

[0058] The usage amount management unit 201 judges whether the usage amount exceeds the upper limit. More specifically, the usage amount management unit 201 has the following data. Current usage Tentative reservation value Printing limit

[0059] The usage amount management unit 201 manages the current usage amount by dividing it into an amount that has actually been used, an amount for jobs waiting to be executed, and an amount that has been provisionally reserved.

[0060] The amount of actually used jobs is updated based on the execution result by the job execution unit 205. The amount of jobs waiting to be executed is updated based on the job information held by the job list management unit 204. The amount of provisionally reserved jobs is updated based on a request from the job execution screen generation unit 203.

[0061] In response to a tentative reservation request from the job execution screen generating unit 203, the usage amount management unit 201 adds the tentative reservation value that provisionally reserves the usage amount to the tentative reservation amount. The tentative reservation value may be a fixed value determined in advance, or may be dynamically generated from an average value of past job executions. That is, the job list management unit 204 holds the past usage amount for each user, and the usage amount management unit 201 sets the usage amount to be provisionally reserved as the average value of the past usage amount for each user. This is expected to improve the accuracy of the tentative reservation amount. Alternatively, the tentative reservation value may reflect data during setting changes (before job execution) from the display operation unit 202, and the tentative scheduled value may be corrected in real time in response to UI operations on the operation panel 70. This can improve the accuracy of the tentative reservation amount before job execution.

[0062] The usage amount management unit 201 refers to the upper limit number of pages for a target user set by an administrator, etc., and sets the print upper limit value. The usage amount management unit 201 provides an upper limit number setting screen for the administrator, etc., and also provides a screen for each user or the administrator to input information regarding the upper limit number.

[0063] The job list management unit 204 uses a job list (reservation management table) that is a list of jobs to manage jobs that are being executed and jobs that are waiting. The job list management unit 204 obtains, for example, job information of jobs that are being executed and jobs that are waiting, and provides the necessary information to the usage amount management unit 201.

[0064] Here, Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a job list. As shown in Fig. 8, the job list manages a job ID for identifying a job, an executing user, a type, a status, an executing device, a total usage amount, and a flag indicating whether the usage amount is a tentative value or not.

[0065] The actual user is the name of the user who logged in to the image forming apparatus 100, or the like.

[0066] The type indicates the type of the job. For example, if the job registration operation is a "copy operation", the type is "copy", and if the job registration operation is a "print request", the type is "print".

[0067] The status indicates the status of the job: "Waiting" indicates a waiting job, and "Running" indicates a job that is being printed.

[0068] The execution device is the device name of each image forming device 100 that is to process the job.

[0069] The total usage amount is the current usage amount (actual usage amount, amount of jobs waiting to be executed, and amount of provisional reservation) managed by the usage amount management unit 201.

[0070] The flag indicating whether the usage amount is a provisional value or not is provided to determine whether the total usage amount is a provisional value or not, because in the case of copying, for example, the usage amount is not determined until the job is executed (until reading is completed).

[0071] The job list management unit 204 updates the job list when the provisional total usage amount is finalized. For example, the job list management unit 204 finalizes the job list after the reading operation by the job execution unit 205 is finalized in the case of copying, or after an image for printing is generated in the case of printing.

[0072] Furthermore, when a job is completed by the job execution unit 205, the job list management unit 204 deletes the completed job from the list.

[0073] In response to a request from the display operation unit 202, the job execution screen generation unit 203 generates a job execution screen for job submission that accepts job registration (for example, generates HTML if the display operation unit 202 is a Web browser). The job execution screen generation unit 203 also adds job information to a job list managed by the job list management unit 204. At that time, the job execution screen generation unit 203 also notifies the job list management unit 204 of the provisional value data acquired from the usage amount management unit 201, and causes the job list management unit 204 to adopt it as the total usage amount.

[0074] Here, Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a job execution screen 301 displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 71. The job execution screen 301 in Fig. 9 is a screen of a copy application. This job execution screen 301 has a tab field 302, an information display field 303, a reading setting field 304, and a print setting field 305. The tab field 302 has a "New" tab for setting copy conditions, a "Printing" tab, and a "Standby 1-3" tab. The information display field 303 displays a message indicating the status of the image forming apparatus 100 ("Ready to print"), the number of original pages, the number of printed pages set by the user, and the number of copies made.

[0075] The reading setting field 304 also has an “original type” button 3041, a “density setting” button 3042, and an “original feed” button 3043. The user sets the type of original (text, photo, text and photo, etc.) using the “original type” button 3041, sets the reading density of the original using the “density setting” button 3042, and sets the method of feeding the original using the “original feed” button 3043.

[0076] In the print setting field 305, the user can set the paper size of the transfer paper, the magnification specification, the finishing setting (punching, stapling finishing method), and the print mode (duplex / combining / bookbinding mode, etc.). The conditions set in this field are the print conditions.

[0077] The button selected by the user's touch is displayed inverted so that the user can visually distinguish it from other buttons. When the user operates the tab, the printing conditions of the jobs "Printing" and "Waiting 1-3" are displayed, not the copy conditions of a new job.

[0078] In addition, the job execution screen 301 has a provisional reservation field 306 for making a provisional reservation of a usage amount. In the provisional reservation field 306, the user can set a provisional reservation of a usage amount.

[0079] That is, when generating the above-mentioned job execution screen 301, the job execution screen generation unit 203 provisionally reserves the usage amount to the usage amount management unit 201. The job execution screen generation unit 203 changes the screen to be generated depending on whether the provisional reservation results in the upper limit number being exceeded. If the provisional reservation results in the upper limit number not being exceeded, the job execution screen generation unit 203 generates a normal job execution screen.

[0080] On the other hand, if the provisional reservation results in the upper limit number being exceeded, the job execution screen generating unit 203 generates display content as shown below. As one example, if the provisional reservation results in the upper limit number being exceeded, the job execution screen generating unit 203 generates a warning screen notifying the possibility of exceeding the upper limit. As another example, if the provisional reservation results in the upper limit number being exceeded, the job execution screen generating unit 203 presents a recommended setting value that will not exceed the usage upper limit in order to prevent the upper limit from being exceeded.

[0081] When a job is set and a request for job execution is received from the display operation unit 202 , the job execution screen generating unit 203 registers the job in the job list management unit 204 .

[0082] The job execution unit 205 instructs the image forming unit (plotter engine) 182 to execute a job based on the information in the job list. The job execution unit 205 determines the number of output sheets based on the number of original pages, the number of copies, the number of copies, and whether or not double-sided printing is performed. More specifically, the job execution unit 205 refers to the number of original pages of the electronic document or paper original, and items related to the number of output sheets from the printing conditions of each job (e.g., the number of copies and double-sided / combining mode, etc.), and calculates the count of the output sheets.

[0083] Number of manuscript pages: In the case of electronic documents, this is included in the bibliographic information attached to the electronic document. In the case of paper manuscripts, the number of manuscript pages counted by the ADF1 is used (when scanning a manuscript with text written on both sides, the ADF1 counts each manuscript page twice). In the case of a waiting job for which the job has already been registered, one of these manuscript page numbers is included in the job information.

[0084] Number of pages per sheet, double-sided printing: If the number of pages per sheet is 2, the number of pages per sheet is set to 1 / 2 the constant, and if the number of pages per sheet is 4, the number of pages per sheet is set to 1 / 4 the constant. For double-sided printing, the number of pages per sheet is set to 1 / 2 the constant. If both are set, multiply the two constants together. Note that any value less than the decimal point is rounded up.

[0085] Booklet printing: In the case of booklet printing, the number of pages is 2 and it is equivalent to double-sided printing, so multiply it by the constant 1 / 4.

[0086] Number of copies: Multiply the number of manuscript pages by the constant above, and multiply the result by an integer number to the number of copies.

[0087] Other: If the paper size is A3 or larger, one A3 sheet is counted as two sheets (double count). Taking color mode into account, it is also possible to count monochrome prints as one sheet and color prints as 2 to 5 sheets.

[0088] An image forming unit (plotter engine) 182 executes a job based on an instruction from a job execution unit 205 .

[0089] <Operation procedure> The operation procedure of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described below.

[0090] 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation procedure of the image forming apparatus 100. Note that the user has already logged in to the image forming apparatus 100, and the image forming apparatus 100 has identified the user name and the like.

[0091] This procedure starts, for example, when the number of output sheets for the reading job is determined, i.e., immediately after the user presses the function selection key 78 (for example, copy) on the operation panel 70.

[0092] For example, when a user presses a function selection key 78 (e.g., copy) on the operation panel 70, a screen display request is made (S1), and the display operation unit 202 requests the job execution screen generation unit 203 to generate display content (job execution screen 301) (S2).

[0093] In response to the request to generate display content, the job execution screen generating unit 203 makes a request for provisional reservation to the usage amount management unit 201 (S3). Specifically, the job execution screen generating unit 203 displays a provisional reservation field 306 on the job execution screen 301 for provisional reservation of the usage amount.

[0094] The usage amount management unit 201 performs a tentative reservation process to calculate the tentative reservation amount (S4). The usage amount management unit 201 adds the usage amount of the tentative reservation input in the tentative reservation field 306 of the job execution screen 301 to the total usage amount. After completing the tentative reservation process, the usage amount management unit 201 returns the tentative reservation result to the job execution screen generation unit 203 (S5).

[0095] Here, the job execution screen generating section 203 changes the display content to be generated depending on whether the provisional reservation results in exceeding the upper limit.

[0096] If the upper limit is not exceeded, the job execution screen generating unit 203 executes a display content generating process to generate display content that is a normal job execution screen (S6). The job execution screen generating unit 203 sends the generated display content to the display operation unit 202 (S7).

[0097] The display operation unit 202 displays the display content generated by the job execution screen generating unit 203 on the screen (S8). After that, when the user sets job conditions for the display content (S9), the display operation unit 202 notifies the job execution screen generating unit 203 of the changes as they occur (S10).

[0098] The job execution screen generating unit 203 notifies the usage amount managing unit 201 of the changes as they occur (S11).

[0099] The usage amount management unit 201 performs a tentative reservation process to recalculate the tentative reservation amount (S12). The usage amount management unit 201 adds the usage amount of the tentative reservation input in the tentative reservation field 306 of the job execution screen 301 to the total usage amount. After completing the tentative reservation process, the usage amount management unit 201 returns the tentative reservation result to the job execution screen generation unit 203 (S13).

[0100] Here, the job execution screen generating section 203 changes the display content to be generated depending on whether the provisional reservation results in exceeding the upper limit.

[0101] If the upper limit is exceeded, the job execution screen generating unit 203 generates one or a combination of the following display contents (S14). - Generate a warning screen to inform you that the limit may be exceeded. To prevent the upper limit from being exceeded, job settings that contribute to usage (such as the number of copies or color / monochrome selection) are suggested or settings are restricted.

[0102] As one example, if the provisional reservation results in the number of sheets exceeding the upper limit, the job execution screen generating unit 203 generates a warning screen indicating that the number of sheets may be exceeded. This allows the user to know that the upper limit will be exceeded before the job is executed, and reduces the effort required to perform unnecessary work (job setting and job execution). As another example, if the provisional reservation results in the number of sheets exceeding the upper limit, the job execution screen generating unit 203 presents recommended settings that will not exceed the upper limit of the usage amount in order to prevent the number of sheets from being exceeded. Specifically, the job execution screen generating unit 203 suggests job setting items that contribute to the usage amount (such as the number of copies and selection of color / monochrome) or limits the settings. For example, a suggested job setting item that contributes to the usage amount is, "If you use double-sided printing, the usage amount will be within the limit." This makes it easier to understand settings to avoid exceeding the upper limit.

[0103] The job execution screen generating unit 203 sends the generated display content to the display operation unit 202 (S15).

[0104] Thereafter, when the user sets a job for the display content and requests job execution by pressing the start key 74 on the operation panel 70 (S16), the display operation unit 202 instructs the job execution screen generation unit 203 to execute the job (S17).

[0105] When the job execution screen generating unit 203 receives a request for job execution from the display operation unit 202, it registers the job in the job list management unit 204 (S18).

[0106] The job list management unit 204 adds the job to the job list (S19) and sends a job execution request to the job execution unit 205 (S20).

[0107] When the job execution unit 205 receives a request for job execution from the job list management unit 204, it instructs the image forming unit (plotter engine) 182 to execute the job based on the information in the job list (S21).

[0108] The image forming unit (plotter engine) 182 executes a job based on an instruction from the job execution unit 205. When the image forming unit (plotter engine) 182 completes the execution of the job, it notifies the job execution unit 205 of the completion of the job execution (S22).

[0109] When the job execution unit 205 receives a notification of the completion of job execution from the image forming unit (plotter engine) 182, it notifies the job list management unit 204 of the completion of job execution (S23).

[0110] When the job list management unit 204 receives a notification of job execution completion from the job list management unit 204, the job list management unit 204 updates the status of the job list (S24). Specifically, when a job is completed by the job execution unit 205, the job list management unit 204 deletes the job from the job list.

[0111] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the effect of the image forming apparatus 100 of the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 11(a), in the past, the determination of whether the usage limit has been reached was made at the time when the usage amount after the job was submitted was confirmed, so there was a risk that the settings would have to be redone when multiple people tried to execute jobs at the same time. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 11(b), in the image forming apparatus 100 of the embodiment, the usage amount is provisionally reserved when the job execution screen for job submission is opened, so it is possible to prevent the usage limit from being reached at a stage before the actual job submission (start button is pressed).

[0112] Thus, according to this embodiment, when opening the job execution screen for submitting a job, the usage amount is provisionally reserved, thereby preventing the usage amount from reaching the upper limit before the actual job is submitted (the start button is pressed), thereby reducing the need to redo settings for job execution.

[0113] In the above embodiment, the usage amount for one image forming apparatus 100 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be the combined usage amount for a plurality of image forming apparatuses 100.

[0114] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is described as being applied to a multifunction peripheral having at least two of the functions of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. However, the image forming apparatus can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a scanner device, or a facsimile device.

[0115] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 is applied as an information processing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the information processing apparatus may be configured with one or more servers connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network. An example of an information processing apparatus configured with multiple servers is a cloud server created in a cloud environment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] 100 Information processing device, image forming device 182 Image forming section 201 Usage Management Department 202 Display operation section 203 Job execution screen generation unit 204 Job List Management Department 205 Job Execution Unit [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0117] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-027266 A

Claims

1. a display operation unit that displays a screen for accepting job registration and accepts operations; a usage amount management unit that manages the usage amount by dividing it into an amount actually used, an amount for jobs waiting to be executed, and a provisionally reserved amount for usage, and judges whether the sum of the amount actually used, the amount for jobs waiting to be executed, and the provisionally reserved amount for usage exceeds an upper limit of the usage amount; a job execution screen generating unit that changes the screen to be generated depending on whether or not an upper limit of the usage amount is exceeded as a result of accepting a tentative reservation of the usage amount for the usage amount management unit when generating the screen in response to a request from the display operation unit; a job list management unit that manages the jobs received from the job execution screen generation unit in a job list; a job execution unit that instructs an image forming unit to execute a job based on information in the job list; Equipped with The job list management unit holds a past usage amount for each user, the usage amount management unit sets the usage amount to be provisionally reserved as an average value of the past usage amounts for each user; 23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

2. the usage amount management unit reflects the job setting status from the display operation unit in real time with respect to the usage amount to be provisionally reserved.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

3. the job execution screen generating unit generates a screen notifying the user that there is a possibility of exceeding the upper limit of the usage amount when a result of accepting the tentative reservation of the usage amount exceeds the upper limit of the usage amount.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

4. when a result of accepting the tentative reservation of the usage amount exceeds the upper limit of the usage amount, the job execution screen generating unit presents a setting recommendation value that does not exceed the upper limit of the usage amount.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

5. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4; an image forming unit that executes a job based on an instruction from the information processing device; 1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

6. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus for controlling an image forming unit, comprising: displaying a screen for accepting job registration and accepting operations; a usage amount management step of managing the usage amount by dividing it into an amount actually used, an amount for jobs waiting to be executed, and a provisionally reserved amount for usage, and determining whether the sum of the amount actually used, the amount for jobs waiting to be executed, and the provisionally reserved amount for usage exceeds an upper limit of the usage amount; changing the screen to be generated depending on whether or not the upper limit of the usage amount is exceeded as a result of accepting the provisional reservation of the usage amount when generating the screen; A management step for managing jobs in a job list; instructing an image forming unit to execute a job based on information in the job list; Including, The management step includes storing a past usage amount for each user, The usage amount management step sets the usage amount to be provisionally reserved as an average value of the past usage amounts for each user.

23. An information processing method comprising:

Images