Printing apparatus and its control method, program

Abstract

This function informs the user that the current state of the printer is such that any new print job submitted will be automatically canceled immediately. [Solution] The system displays information indicating that the current state of the printing device, where specific factors interfering with printing have not been resolved, is such that newly accepted print jobs will be automatically canceled.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In an office environment, a plurality of users input (transmit) print jobs to a printer from their respective host computers using a printer driver or the like, and the printer executes printing of the input print jobs. When a specific factor that hinders printing (interruption factor), such as paper jam or toner shortage, occurs in a printer installed in such an office environment, the printer does not execute printing on the accepted print job and waits for the interruption factor to be eliminated. Once the interruption factor is eliminated, the printer executes printing.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a printing apparatus that automatically cancels printing of print jobs accepted up to that point when a set time elapses without the interruption factor being eliminated. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

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

[0005] In Patent Document 1, a new print job accepted after a print job is automatically canceled upon elapse of a set time is automatically canceled after the set time elapses again if the interruption factor has not been eliminated yet. On the other hand, if the interruption factor is eliminated before the set time elapses again, printing of the new print job is automatically executed.

[0006] However, it is sometimes desirable that newly accepted print jobs be canceled in the same way as previously submitted and canceled print jobs, even if the cause of the interruption has not been resolved. Therefore, if a new print job is accepted after an automatic cancellation of a print job according to the set time elapsed, and the cause of the interruption has not yet been resolved, a function is needed to immediately cancel the new 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 present invention relates to a printing apparatus comprising: a receiving means for receiving print jobs; and an execution means capable of printing the print jobs received by the receiving means, which has a function to automatically cancel the printing of a print job received by the receiving means if a set time or longer has elapsed without a specific factor preventing the printing of the print job being resolved, wherein the printing apparatus further comprises notification means for notifying at least the user or an external device communicating with the printing apparatus of information indicating that the current state of the printing apparatus, in which the specific factor has not been resolved, is such that a print job newly received by the receiving means will be automatically canceled by the cancellation function. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the user can be informed that the current state of the printing device is such that if a new print job is submitted, this function will automatically cancel the print job immediately. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the software module configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the settings screen for automatically canceling print jobs. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows the process for controlling the execution of automatic cancellation of print jobs. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows the process of setting the automatic cancellation state to the execution state. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows the process of setting the automatic cancellation state to the non-execution state. [Figure 7] This is an example of the main menu screen displayed on the control panel. [Figure 8] This is an example of the copy settings screen displayed on the control panel. [Figure 9] This is an example of a warning screen displayed on the control panel. [Figure 10] This is an example of the screen displayed on the control panel when a print job is canceled by the automatic print job cancellation function. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as defined in the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0012] <First Embodiment> Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus that integrates multiple functions, such as a scanning function and a printing function. The 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. The scanner 113 is an image input device that optically reads an image on a set document. The printer 114 is an image output device that prints an image onto 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 touch sensors for receiving input from the user, such as instructions for job execution, and also includes a display panel that displays to the user device information, job progress information, or a setting screen for functions that the image forming apparatus 1 can perform. The operation unit 106 in this embodiment is a user interface including a touch screen, which displays (notifies) the user of information such as status information and setting screens for the image forming apparatus 1, and accepts operations on the displayed screen.

[0014] The scanner 113 and printer 114 are connected to the scanner processing unit 111 and printer processing unit 112, respectively, which are included in the controller unit 100. The operation unit 106 is connected to the operation unit interface (I / F) included in the controller unit 100. With this configuration, the scanner 113, printer 114, and operation unit 106 are each controlled and operated from the controller unit 100.

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

[0016] The operation unit I / F 105 is an interface for inputting and outputting information to and from the operation unit 106. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101, the operation unit I / F 105 outputs display data to the operation unit 106, and transmits information input by a 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 for example, may have a configuration compatible with Near Field Communication, which has a wireless communication range of about 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 executes general-purpose image processing, and performs processing such as enlargement / reduction, rotation, and conversion on image data externally acquired via the LAN 115, for example. The image processing unit 109 also executes processing for expanding PDL codes received via the LAN 115 into a bitmap image. Furthermore, when outputting data via the printer processing unit 112 by the printer 114, the image processing unit 109 executes processing for converting image data compressed and encoded and stored in the HDD 104 into a format processable 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 for 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 error information such as, for example, a jam (paper jam) that occurred in the scanner 113 or the printer 114, and that the toner (developer) used for printing by the printer 114 is empty.

[0019] The scanner processing unit 111 is a hardware module that performs various processing corresponding to scanning functions, such as correction, processing, image range separation, scaling, and binarization, on the scanned 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 can read documents placed on a document glass table, as well as perform double-sided scanning of multiple documents. The scanner 113 is also equipped with sensors (not shown) that detect the opening and closing of a document cover, the presence or absence of a document, and the size of the document. Detection signals from these sensors and status information of the scanner 113 are transmitted 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 of an error or the resolution of an error.

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

[0021] Figure 2 shows the software module configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. Each module in Figure 2 is realized by the CPU 101 executing a program. The 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 the 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 based on instructions from the job control processing unit 201. The UI processing unit 202 receives a copy instruction from the user to read image data with the scanner 113 and print it with the printer 114, and transmits this 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 on the LAN 115 (e.g., a host computer) via the network interface 107. When the network processing unit 203 receives control commands and data (e.g., print data and image data described in a page description language) from devices on the LAN 115, it transmits this information to the job control processing unit 201. In other words, the network processing unit 203 receives image data (information) and print instructions to print the image data on the printer 114 from external devices on the LAN 115, and transmits the instructions 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 based on instructions from the job control processing unit 201.

[0024] The scan processing unit 204 controls the scanner 113 and scanner processing unit 111 based on instructions from the job control processing unit 201 to perform the scanning process of the document placed on the scanner 113. The scan processing unit 204 controls the scanner processing unit 111 to perform image processing on the scanned image data. The scan processing unit 204 also acquires status information (such as error information indicating the presence or absence of errors) of the scanner processing unit 111 and the scanner 113 and sends 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 based on instructions from the job control processing unit 201 to execute the printing process of the print job. The print processing unit 205 receives information from the job control processing unit 201, such as the 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 perform appropriate image processing on the image data, and controls the printer processing unit 112 and printer 114 to print the image data onto the printing paper (sheet). The print processing unit 205 also acquires status information from the printer processing unit 112 and printer 114 (for example, error information indicating whether or not errors such as insufficient paper, insufficient toner, or paper jam have occurred) and sends it to the job control processing unit 201.

[0026] The job control processing unit 201 receives information transmitted from the UI processing unit 202 and the network processing unit 203 as a print job and registers the print job in the job list managed on RAM 102. In other words, when the job control processing unit 201 receives print data from an external device via the network I / F 107, or receives a copy instruction from the user via the operation unit 106 and the operation unit I / F 105, it accepts a print job. It then stores the print job in RAM 102. As will be described later, the job control processing unit 201 cancels the printing of a print job by deleting it from RAM 102. Alternatively, the job control processing unit 201 can change the print job to a print waiting state on the job list without deleting it from RAM 102, so that printing is not automatically executed even if the interruption cause is resolved. It also issues instructions to each module for job processing. Furthermore, the job control processing unit 201 defines an automatic cancellation state, which has at least two states: an execution state and a non-execution state, as a state 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 is a state in which, as will be described later, if an error is not resolved and more than a set time has elapsed, and the image forming apparatus 1 accepts a print job, the print job is automatically canceled before the set time has elapsed further. The non-execution state is a state in which the print job is held in the image forming apparatus 1 without being automatically canceled. In the non-execution state, the print job will be canceled according to the user's cancellation instruction. The job control processing unit 201 displays a screen corresponding to the current automatic cancellation state on the operation unit 106 via the UI processing unit 202.

[0027] Figure 3 shows the settings screen for automatic job cancellation when printing is interrupted due to an error in this embodiment. Setting item 301 is an item for accepting a setting of whether or not to enable the function to automatically cancel interrupted jobs after a set time has elapsed after an error occurs. An interrupted job is a print job whose printing is being prevented by an error. If "ON" is specified by the user, the interrupted job will be canceled after a predetermined time has elapsed after the error occurs. If "OFF" is specified by the user, the above-mentioned cancellation of the interrupted job will not be performed. Automatically canceling a job means that the job will be canceled even if there is no cancellation instruction from the user after the job has been received.

[0028] Setting item 302 accepts the user's specification of the time until automatic cancellation of an interrupted job is executed, and sets 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 and cannot be settable when "OFF" is specified. The set time can be specified in minutes in the range of 0 minutes to 999 minutes. In Figure 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 in Figure 3 are confirmed and saved to 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 in Figure 3 are canceled. If the user sets the time until automatic cancellation to 0 minutes, in this embodiment, all print jobs registered in the job list at the time the error occurs will be canceled immediately at the time the error occurs. On the other hand, if a time other than 0 minutes is set, the print jobs registered in the job list will not be canceled for the set time from the time the error occurs. However, if the error persists for a set time or longer without being resolved, in this embodiment, all print jobs registered in the job list at that time will be canceled. However, as will be described later, if a print job is accepted while the error persists for longer than the set time without being resolved (i.e., the error continues for longer than the set time), that print job will be canceled immediately. In other words, a new print job will be canceled before the set time has elapsed from the time it is registered in the job list. In this embodiment, only users with administrator privileges for the image forming apparatus 1 can configure each of the setting items 301 and 302. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 has a function to authenticate administrators, and 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 privileges.

[0029] Figure 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 registered in the job list at that time after the time set in setting item 302 has elapsed. This function corresponds to the processing in S406YES to S408 described later. In addition, for print jobs that are newly accepted while the error has not been resolved and more than the set time has elapsed, a function is also executed to automatically cancel the print job before the set time has elapsed from the time of acceptance. This function corresponds to the processing in S409YES, S405NO, S406YES to S408 described later.

[0030] The processing in this flowchart is achieved, for example, by the CPU 101 reading a program stored in the HDD 104 into the RAM 102 and executing it. The flowchart starts when the job control processing unit 201 registers it in the job list. Hereafter, when we refer to a job, we are referring to a print job. Note that the registration of jobs received by the image forming apparatus 1 in the job list is performed in parallel with the processing in this flowchart.

[0031] The job control processing unit 201 checks in S401 whether a job is registered in the job list. If a job is registered, it proceeds to S402. If a job is not registered in the job list, it 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 the print processing unit 205. If the content of this error information indicates that a specific factor has occurred that is preventing the execution (continuation) of printing, it is determined that the above error has occurred. Based on the occurrence of this error, the job control processing unit 201 starts measuring time using the timer described later.

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

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

[0035] If an error is determined to have occurred in S402, the job control processing unit 201 displays an error screen (error screen) on the operation unit 106 via the UI processing unit 202, and the process proceeds to S403. If no error is determined to have occurred, the process proceeds to S411.

[0036] In S403, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether setting item 301 in Figure 3 is ON or OFF. If setting item 301 is determined to be ON, the process proceeds to S404; otherwise, the process proceeds to S411.

[0037] In S404, the job control processing unit 201 sets the timer for the time until the automatic cancellation received in setting item 302 in Figure 3 is executed (also called the grace period, set time, or timer time), and starts this timer. The timer in this embodiment 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 in predetermined time units (for example, in units of 1 minute). For example, if the set time is set to "5 minutes", the job control processing unit 201 counts down the countdown timer from "5 (minutes)" by "1" every time 1 minute has passed.

[0038] In S405, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether the error has been resolved (whether 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; 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 set in S404 has expired. That is, it determines whether more than the set time has elapsed without the error being resolved. Here, if the countdown timer is 0 (zero), it is determined that the timer has expired. If it is determined that the timer has expired, the process proceeds to S407 to execute automatic job cancellation. On the other hand, if it is determined that the timer has not expired, the process returns to S405. Note that even after the timer has expired, the countdown timer remains at 0, so if the determination of whether the timer has expired is made again in S406, the process proceeds to S407. The job control processing unit 201 may also change (set) the automatic cancellation state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the non-execution state to the execution state in response to the countdown timer becoming 0. In this case, the job control processing unit 201 may determine in S406 whether the current automatic cancellation state of the image forming apparatus 1 is the execution state, and if it is determined to be the execution state, the process proceeds to S407.

[0040] Next, in the S407-S409 processing loop, when the timer expires, 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 obtains a list of jobs that have been accepted up to that point (i.e., up to the time the timer expired). Then, the job control processing unit 201 selects the first job in 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 removes the information of the selected print job from the job list (i.e., RAM 102) to prevent the selected print job from being executed in the future. At this time, the job control processing unit 201 also deletes the print data of the print job. This prevents the print job from being automatically printed even if the interruption cause is resolved after the timer time has elapsed. In S408, the job control processing unit 201 may record information (message or identification number) indicating that the job was canceled because the error was not resolved for a certain period of time as history information for the print job canceled in S408. This information can be referenced by the user later.

[0043] If the printing of a print job is canceled in S408, the job control processing unit 201 instructs the UI processing unit 202 to display the screen shown in Figure 10 on the operation unit 106. The display screen 1101 shown in Figure 10 includes, for example, information indicating that the print job has been canceled. The display screen 1101 also includes, for example, information indicating that "the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where printing of newly received print jobs is automatically canceled." The display screen 1101 also includes an OK button 1104, and when this 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] Furthermore, in S408, the job control processing unit 201 sets the automatic cancellation state stored in RAM 102 to the execution state. When the automatic cancellation state is set to the "execution state," the UI processing unit 202 causes the operation unit 106 to display information as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. That is, the operation unit 106 notifies the user that "the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where printing of newly received print jobs is automatically canceled." Details of this process will be described later with reference to Figure 5.

[0045] Alternatively, 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 state of waiting for a print command. As a result, the print job is waiting for a print command from the user, so even if the interruption factor is resolved after the timer time has elapsed, the print job will not be printed automatically. After the interruption factor is resolved, the user issues a print command to the print job via the list of incomplete print jobs (not shown), and the print job in the state of waiting for a print command will be printed.

[0046] In S409, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether it has scanned to the last job in the job list, i.e., the most recent job in the job list. If it is determined that it has not scanned 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 cancels it in S408. On the other hand, if it is determined in S409 that it has scanned to the last job in the job list, it returns to S405.

[0047] One of the features of this embodiment is that after the processing in S409, the process returns to S405. That is, since the process returns to S405 without canceling the timer after the processing in S409, if the error has not yet been resolved, the timer remains expired, and after the determinations in S405 and S406, the processes in S407 to S409 are executed. As a result, print jobs that have been received after the timer has expired and before the error has been resolved, and that have been newly registered in the job list, are promptly canceled without waiting for further timer elapsed time. Alternatively, instead of the cancellation process here, a process to change the print job to a print instruction waiting state may be executed. Print jobs in the print instruction waiting state are held within the image forming apparatus 1 and are not printed until the image forming apparatus 1 receives 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 releases the timer set in S404. The job control processing unit 201 instructs the UI processing unit 202 to clear the error screen displayed on the operation unit 106 and return to the normal screen (standby screen). Alternatively, after clearing the error screen, it displays a screen indicating that the error has been resolved on the operation unit 106 for a predetermined time before displaying the normal screen (standby screen). Then, the job control processing unit 201 instructs the scan processing unit 204 and the print processing unit 205 to automatically resume printing the interrupted print jobs. This resumption of printing is performed without any additional print instructions 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 process of the interrupted print job and subsequent print jobs is automatically resumed. After processing in S410, the process returns to S402.

[0049] Furthermore, in S410, the job control processing unit 201 sets the automatic cancellation state stored in RAM 102 to the non-execution state. When the automatic cancellation state is set to "non-execution state," the operation unit 106 stops displaying information as illustrated in Figure 8. That is, the operation unit 106 stops displaying information that informs the user that "the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where printing of newly received print jobs is automatically canceled." Details of this process will be explained using Figure 6.

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

[0051] In this embodiment, a countdown timer was used, but it is not limited to that; any means of measuring the time an error persists (i.e., the elapsed time while the error is not resolved) is acceptable. 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 the set time.

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

[0053] Figure 5 shows the processing flow for displaying information on the operation unit 106 to inform the user that the image forming apparatus is in a state where automatic job cancellation is to be performed, 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 RAM 102 and determines whether it is in the "execution state". If it is in the "execution state", the process proceeds to S502; otherwise, the process in 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 it will automatically cancel printing of newly received print jobs. This information is, for example, the information on the status display unit 904 in Figure 8 (the message "Automatic job cancellation in progress"). The information on the status display unit 904 in Figure 8 indicates that the timer has expired without the error being resolved (YES in S406), and therefore the printing of newly received print jobs will be automatically canceled.

[0056] This information is, for example, the information in the pop-up display 1002 in Figure 9. This information in the pop-up display 1002 is displayed when the user instructs the image forming apparatus 1 to perform a copy, and indicates that the copy print job will be automatically canceled if the error is not resolved.

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

[0058] Figure 6 shows the processing flow for stopping the display of information on the operation unit 106 that informs the user that the image forming apparatus is in a state where automatic job cancellation is to be performed, depending on 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 status stored in 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; otherwise, the process in S601 is executed again after a predetermined time (for example, 100 milliseconds).

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

[0061] Figure 7 shows an example of the 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 it is a screen for the user to select various functions.

[0062] The operation icon group 703 is displayed according to the user's purpose. Figure 7 shows eight operation icons, including a "Menu" icon for setting menus, a "Copy" icon for making copies, and a "Secure Print" icon for setting a password and printing. The content displayed in the status display unit 702 is changed by the UI processing unit 202 according to the setting 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 will be displayed. In the example in Figure 7, the error is insufficient A4 size plain paper. If no error has occurred, neither the error details nor information indicating that the image forming apparatus 1 is in the process of executing automatic job cancellation (the image forming apparatus is in a state where it automatically cancels printing of newly received print jobs) will be displayed. If the automatic cancellation state is set to "Executing," information indicating the error and information indicating that the image forming apparatus 1 is in the process of executing automatic job cancellation will be displayed alternately.

[0063] Figure 8 shows an example of the copy settings screen displayed on the operation unit 106 when the user presses the "COPY" icon shown in Figure 7 while the automatic cancellation state is set to "execution state" by the job control processing unit 201. This is an example of the display screen when the copy settings screen 901 exemplified in Figure 8 is displayed. The status display unit 904 displays information corresponding to the current automatic cancellation state. The UI processing unit 202 receives operations from the user on the operation unit 106 and sends the received information to the job control processing unit 201. For example, the UI processing unit 202 receives the user's press of the copy settings button 902. That is, the UI processing unit 202 receives the settings for copy settings, such as whether to scan only one side (front) of the original document or both sides (front and back), and whether to print the scanned original image on only one side (front) of the sheet or both sides (front and back). The UI processing unit 202 then receives the user's press of the copy execution button 903. The press of button 903 corresponds to receiving an instruction to execute the print job (copy). 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 state of the image forming apparatus 1 is set to "execution state", the job control processing unit 20 causes the UI processing unit 202 to display the warning screen 1001, as illustrated in Figure 9.

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

[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. If the back button 1003 is pressed, the copy print job is not executed and the screen transitions to the previous screen (for example, Figure 8). If the OK button 1004 is pressed, a new copy print job is accepted. If the error is resolved before the new copy print job is accepted, the job control processing unit 201 executes the process shown in Figure 4 for the newly accepted print job, starting from process S401 or S411. Before the new copy print job is accepted is the period while the warning screen 1001 in Figure 9 is displayed. On the other hand, if the error is not resolved, the job control processing unit 201 executes the process shown in Figure 4 for the newly accepted print job, starting from process S407. In other words, the job control processing unit 201 automatically cancels this new print job immediately. If a new print job is immediately canceled in this manner, the UI processing unit 202 displays the screen shown in Figure 10 on the operation unit 106.

[0066] According to the embodiment described above, the user can understand that the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where it automatically cancels any new print jobs it accepts. Therefore, by resolving any errors before submitting a print job to the image forming apparatus 1, the user can more easily avoid the situation where a new print job is immediately canceled after being submitted.

[0067] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, the operating unit 106 displayed the screens shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10 to notify the user that the current state of the image forming apparatus 1, which still had an error, was such that it would immediately and automatically cancel printing any newly accepted print jobs. However, the present invention is not limited to these screen displays. That is, the current state of the image forming apparatus 1, which is such that it would immediately and automatically cancel printing any newly accepted print jobs, may also be notified to the user of the image forming apparatus by an audible notification from a buzzer (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 1. Alternatively, instead of a screen display, the current state of the image forming apparatus may be notified to the user of the image forming apparatus by a lighting or flashing pattern of an LED (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 1.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the operating unit 106 of the image forming apparatus 1 notified the user in front of the image forming apparatus 1 of the current state of the image forming apparatus 1, in which an error had not yet been resolved. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 may also notify (transmit) to an external device capable of sending 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 it is in a state where it will immediately and automatically cancel the printing of any newly accepted print jobs. By notifying the external device in this way, the user of the external device can know that when they send print data, the printing of the print data will be immediately and automatically canceled. In other words, according to this disclosure, the image forming apparatus notifies at least the user, or an external device communicating with the image forming apparatus, that the current state of the image forming apparatus is such that it will immediately and automatically cancel any newly accepted print jobs.

[0069] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, after the timer expires, a screen display as shown in Figures 8-10 was shown to notify the user that the current state of the image forming apparatus 1, where the error has not been resolved, is such that it will immediately and automatically cancel printing of any newly accepted print jobs. However, the present invention does not limit the timing of the notification to this. That is, the above notification may be made at the time the error occurs, or before the timer expires after the timer has started to be measured (during the period in which the processes of S405 and S406 are repeatedly looped).

[0070] In the above embodiment, the UI processing unit 202 displayed the copy execution button 903 as pressable even when the automatic cancellation state was set to "execution state". However, as a modification, the UI processing unit 202 may display the copy execution button 903 as unpressable when the automatic cancellation state is set to "executable".

[0071] In the above embodiment, when it was detected that the timer had expired, the system was configured to continuously cancel all jobs in the list of jobs received up to that point (until the timer expired), from the beginning to the end. That is, when the timer expired, all print jobs in the list were canceled. However, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration that checks whether an error has been resolved after canceling one job. In other words, in the flowchart of Figure 4, the process in S409 may be omitted, and the process may proceed from S408 to S405. In the flowchart of Figure 5, the process in S511 may be omitted, and the process may proceed from S510 to S512. In this way, since the print job is canceled in S408, for example, if a print job that has run out of paper is canceled, the error is resolved, and the process proceeds to S410 based on the judgment in S405. Then, the next print job starts with the error resolved and the timer released, so if an error occurs during the printing of this print job, the countdown timer runs again. If the set time has elapsed without the error being resolved, the printing of that print job is canceled.

[0072] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, all jobs were subject to cancellation, but jobs may be excluded from cancellation depending on their type. For example, jobs such as facsimile, 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 for printing (storage prints, memory reception of facsimile) may also be excluded from cancellation.

[0073] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the print jobs that had been accepted up to that point, as well as any print jobs accepted afterward, were canceled once the timer time had elapsed. However, as mentioned above, instead of cancellation, the print jobs may be prevented from being automatically executed after the interruption cause has been resolved. For example, the print jobs may be kept in the printing device so that they can be executed upon user instruction after the interruption cause has been resolved.

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

Claims

1. A printing apparatus, A means of receiving print jobs via a network, A printing means that transports paper and prints an image on the transported paper, The system includes a control means which cancels a new print job received by the receiving means via the network after the execution of a print job received by the receiving means via the network has stopped due to a paper jam, and which displays on the display means a button indicating that the new print job has been canceled. The cancellation of the new print job and the display of the cancellation and the button are performed automatically without user intervention after the new print job is accepted, based on the fact that the paper jam that occurred has not been resolved. The control means is A printing apparatus characterized in that, when the user selects the button, the display means displays the screen that was displayed immediately before the message indicating that the new print job has been canceled and the button was displayed.

2. The control means is Based on the fact that the aforementioned paper jam has not been resolved, the display will automatically transition from a screen that does not include the message that the new print job has been canceled and the aforementioned button to a screen that includes the message that the new print job has been canceled and the aforementioned button. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that when the button is selected by the user, the display automatically transitions to the screen that was displayed immediately before, which does not include the message that the new print job has been canceled or the button.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cancellation of the new print job and the display of the cancellation and the button are performed automatically without user operation after the new print job is accepted, based on the fact that the paper jam that occurred has not been resolved for a predetermined time.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means automatically cancels any new print jobs received while the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time without user operation, and does not automatically cancel any other print jobs received before the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time until the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time.

5. Having a registration means for registering a print job in a job list, The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the new print job is automatically canceled without user intervention after being registered in the job list, based on the fact that the paper jam that occurred has not been resolved.

6. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising setting means for setting, based on user instructions, whether to enable or disable a function that automatically cancels a new print job and displays a message indicating that the job has been canceled and the button after accepting the new print job, based on the fact that the paper jam has not been resolved.

7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the setting of the function by the setting means is set before the occurrence of the paper jam.

8. The printing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control means cancels the new print job when the function is enabled.

9. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control means does not cancel the facsimile job without receiving an instruction from the user to cancel the facsimile job, even if the paper jam that has occurred has not been resolved.

10. A printing apparatus, A means of receiving print jobs via a network, A printing means that transports paper and prints an image on the transported paper, The control means automatically displays a button on the display means indicating that the new print job has been canceled when the receiving means cancels a new print job received via the network while the execution of a print job received by the receiving means via the network has stopped due to a paper jam, and the paper jam has not yet been resolved. The control means is A printing apparatus characterized in that, when the user selects the button, the display means displays the screen that was displayed immediately before the message indicating that the new print job has been canceled and the button was displayed.

11. The control means is In the state after the execution of the print job has stopped due to a paper jam and the paper jam has not been resolved, the display automatically transitions from a screen that does not include a message indicating that the new print job has been canceled and the button to a screen that includes a message indicating that the new print job has been canceled and the button. The printing apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that when the button is selected by the user, the display automatically transitions to the screen that was displayed immediately before, which does not include the message that the new print job has been canceled or the button.

12. The printing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the cancellation of the new print job and the display of the cancellation and the button are performed automatically without user operation after the new print job is accepted, based on the state after the execution of the print job has stopped due to the occurrence of a paper jam, and the state that the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time.

13. The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control means automatically cancels any new print jobs received while the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time without user operation, and does not automatically cancel any other print jobs received before the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time until the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time.

14. Having a registration means for registering a print job in a job list, The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the new print job is registered in the job list and then automatically canceled without user intervention after the execution of the print job has stopped due to a paper jam and the paper jam has not been resolved.

15. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 14, further comprising setting means for setting whether to enable or disable, based on user instructions, a function that automatically cancels a new print job and displays a message indicating that it has been canceled and the button after the execution of the print job has stopped due to a paper jam and the paper jam has not been resolved, after receiving a new print job, without user operation.

16. The printing apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the setting of the function to be enabled or disabled by the setting means is set before the occurrence of the paper jam.

17. The printing apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the control means cancels the new print job when the function is enabled.

18. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the control means does not cancel the facsimile job without receiving an instruction from the user to cancel the facsimile job when the execution of the print job has stopped due to the occurrence of a paper jam and the paper jam has not been resolved.

19. A printing apparatus, A means of receiving print jobs via a network, A printing means configured to transport paper and print an image on the transported paper, If the execution of a print job received by the receiving means is stopped due to a paper jam, and the paper jam has not been resolved, and conditions arise that cause a new print job received by the receiving means via the network to be canceled, then (i) the new print job is automatically canceled, and (ii) a button indicating that the new print job has been automatically canceled is displayed, and further, When the aforementioned button is selected by the user, a control means displays a message indicating that the new print job has been canceled and the screen that was displayed immediately before the button was displayed. A printing apparatus characterized by having the following features.

20. The control means is If the conditions for canceling the new print job received by the receiving means via the network occur while the aforementioned paper jam has not been resolved, the display will automatically transition from a screen that does not include the message that the new print job has been canceled and the button to a screen that includes the message that the new print job has been canceled and the button. The printing apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that when the button is selected by the user, the display automatically transitions to the screen that was displayed immediately before, which does not include the message that the new print job has been canceled or the button.

21. The printing apparatus according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the cancellation of the new print job and the display of the cancellation and the button are performed automatically without user operation after the new print job is accepted, based on the condition that the paper jam that occurred has not been resolved for a predetermined time.

22. The printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the control means automatically cancels any new print jobs received while the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time without user operation, and does not automatically cancel any other print jobs received before the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time until the paper jam has not been resolved for a predetermined time.

23. Having a registration means for registering a print job in a job list, The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the new print job is automatically canceled without user operation after being registered in the job list when the conditions for canceling the new print job received by the receiving means via the network occur while the paper jam has not been resolved.

24. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 23, further comprising setting means for setting whether to enable or disable a function that automatically cancels a new print job and displays a message indicating that it has been canceled and the button, when the conditions for canceling a new print job received by the receiving means via the network while the paper jam has not been resolved occur, without user operation after receiving the new print job.

25. The printing apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the setting of the function to be enabled or disabled by the setting means is set before the occurrence of the paper jam.

26. The printing apparatus according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the control means cancels the new print job when the function is enabled.

27. ​​The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 26, characterized in that the control means does not cancel the facsimile job even when the conditions for canceling the new print job received by the receiving means via the network occur while the paper jam has not been resolved, without receiving an instruction from the user to cancel the facsimile job.

28. The new print job is further stored as historical information, The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that the control means can display the history information to the user separately from the screen which includes a message indicating that the new print job has been canceled and the button.

29. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that the screen including the message that the new print job has been canceled and the button is a screen that includes part of a home screen on which multiple functions can be selected.

30. Further comprising a reading means for reading a document, The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that the reading means does not read the original document when the paper jam that has occurred has not been resolved.

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