JP2001034428A - Composite image processing system, image processing device, management device, load distribution method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To improve the operation rate of an image processing apparatus, reduce the waiting time of image processing, comprehensively judge the load of each image processing apparatus constituting a system, and balance the overall load. Provided are a composite image processing system, an image processing device, a management device, a load distribution method, and a storage medium that can be used. SOLUTION: A condition in which transfer source image processing devices 4 to 20 transfer a job waiting for processing to a transfer destination image processing device depends on the state of copying machines 1 to 17,
It is determined whether each of the cases depending on the load 20 is satisfied or not, and when the transfer condition is satisfied, the fact is notified to the monitor server 25, and the monitor server 25 polls each of the image processing apparatuses 4 to 20. Then, a management table is created internally based on the obtained information, and information of each image processing system is managed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite image processing system, an image processing apparatus, a management apparatus, a load distribution method, and a storage medium, and more particularly to a PDL (Page Discrr) as a job from a host computer connected via a network.
In a processing system that develops and processes a job for an image output sent as a vector image in a language format, a document in a PDL format, or a raster image, and then sends the image to a copying machine for printing. ,
Depending on the load distribution of the image processing devices that make up the system and the status of the copier, which is an output device connected to the image processing devices, transfer of unprocessed and queued jobs between image processing systems connected to each other can be performed. The present invention relates to a composite image processing system, an image processing device, a management device, a load distribution method, and a storage medium suitable for performing image processing and print load distribution and improving processing efficiency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, with respect to each application example described in the technical field to which the above-mentioned invention belongs, a method of realizing the related art will be described below. An image processing system is assumed in which a plurality of output devices are connected to one image processing device, and each output device can be recognized as an independent device from a network. In the case of this processing system, there is one rasterizer, and bitmapping of an actual image sent to each output device by this rasterizer is performed by serial processing.

However, once a job is entered from the host computer into the queue of the image processing apparatus, the printing is completed by the number of jobs in the queue before the job is subjected to bitmap expansion processing. Time is decided. Further, there is a case where the output device has a failure in the previous job and the actual printing operation is not performed, and the subsequent job is kept waiting. As a countermeasure for this, utility software for job management is prepared, and a mechanism for changing the priority of bitmap development processing and notifying the status of the output device is included.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, in the conventional image processing system method, there is a mechanism for distributing the load and improving the processing efficiency with respect to the image processing and printing. However, the load of each image processing apparatus constituting the system is comprehensively determined, and the load distribution is reduced. There is a problem that a mechanism for performing job transfer is not provided. Further, when the load distribution processing is performed under the conditions set for the individual image processing apparatuses connected to the network, there is a problem that it is difficult to balance the load of the entire system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and improves the operating rate of an image processing apparatus, reduces the waiting time for image processing, and reduces the load on each image processing apparatus constituting a system. Composite image processing system, image processing device,
It is an object to provide a management device, a load distribution method, and a storage medium.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing system including an output device for printing and outputting an image and an image processing device for controlling the output device. A composite image processing system connected to a plurality of networks, having a function of attaching a link capable of transferring a job waiting to be processed by the plurality of image processing systems to each other in one direction or another, and The apparatus determines whether a transfer condition for transferring the waiting job to the transfer destination image processing apparatus is satisfied depending on a case of the output apparatus and a case of depending on a load of the image processing apparatus. And a control unit for periodically notifying the management device connected to the network when the transfer condition is satisfied.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 2, wherein the transfer condition depending on the state of the output device is that the number of prints per unit time of the output device is equal to the set number of prints. If it exceeds, if an operator error occurs in the output device and printing cannot be continued, if a serviceman error occurs in the output device and printing cannot be continued, accessories necessary for performing a print job are provided in the output device. When not attached, when the management key of the output device is not input, when a management card is not inserted in the output device, when the ID code is not input to the output device, I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the transfer condition when the load of the image processing apparatus is dependent on the condition that the processing time of the immediately preceding job exceeds a certain time. When the number of pages of the previous job exceeds a certain number of pages, when the number of copies of the previous job exceeds a certain number of copies, when the queue contains more than a certain number of jobs, a job for color print processing and monochrome print processing It is characterized in that it is a case where an erroneous transmission of a job has occurred.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the management device includes: a centralized management of a load distribution of the image processing devices; a monitoring of a load between the image processing devices; It sets / permits the transfer conditions of jobs between image processing devices and manages the status of each output device. If the job processing load is concentrated on a specific image processing system or printing is not possible with a specific image processing system If a failure occurs, the unprocessed job is distributed to other linked image processing apparatuses, and the fact is notified to the client that transmitted the job transferred to the other image processing apparatus for load distribution. It is characterized by having management control means.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 5 further comprises a higher-level device on which control application software operates, connected to the network, and each of the output devices controls the higher-level device. An image reading function of reading an image from a document based on the read image data, and an image forming function of forming an image on a recording sheet based on the read image data. Interface function, print queue function,
Spool function, function to develop vector image into raster image by page description language, image processing function, control function of the output device, management function of number of prints per unit time of the output device, processing time prediction function of received job, load It has a determination function, and the management apparatus permits / manages the load distribution processing of the entire system based on the notification from each of the image processing apparatuses.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the management control means of the management device polls each of the image processing devices of each of the image processing systems, It is characterized in that the status of each component is obtained from the processing system, a management table is created inside, and the information of each image processing system is managed.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the transfer condition and the transfer destination can be set in advance in the management device, and the management control means of the management device Is characterized in that when the transfer condition is satisfied based on the load state notified from the transfer source image processing device, the transfer condition is compared with a preset condition to determine whether transfer is possible, and the transfer condition is notified to the transfer source image processing device. .

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the image processing apparatus measures the time from the execution of a job to immediately before the start of printing and recursively uses past measured data. A function to increase the measurement accuracy, a function to detect the number of pages of a job in the waiting state, a function to detect the number of copies of the job in the waiting state, a function to manage the total number of jobs in the print queue in the waiting state,
A function for recognizing whether a job waiting to be processed is for color printing or monochrome printing. If the number of jobs waiting for processing in the print queue is less than a certain amount, the fact is notified by the management device or a certain time in the past. A function of notifying another image processing apparatus that has requested transfer, and the management of how long the number of jobs waiting to be processed in the print queue in response to an inquiry from the management apparatus falls below a certain amount. It has a function of notifying a device or another image processing device that has requested a transfer within the fixed time period in the past, and a function of notifying the management device of the configuration of the image processing system to which the device belongs.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the present invention, the management control means of the management apparatus includes a step of determining whether a specific image processing apparatus designated as a job transfer destination from a transfer source image processing apparatus is used. The transfer source image processing apparatus is notified of whether or not a transfer job can be accepted.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the present invention, the management control means of the management device includes an image processing device selected as a job transfer destination from the transfer source image processing device and satisfying the condition. The transfer source image processing apparatus is notified.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the management control means of the management apparatus records the setting information of the transfer condition, and the setting of the transfer condition is based on the network connection. It can be performed by selecting one of the following: after the password is input from any given client, and after the password is input from the operation unit of the management device.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the transfer condition comprises a plurality of components, and the management device satisfies any one of the plurality of components. It is possible to select a case where the transfer operation is started when the plurality of components are satisfied, and a case where the transfer operation is started when the plurality of components are satisfied. If the destination is not specified, a search is made for an image processing system that meets the transfer conditions, and it is checked whether or not a job is to be transferred to the image processing system to the host device that issued the job, and then transferred. I do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the control means of the image processing apparatus monitors the traffic volume of the network and makes the traffic volume of any unit time arbitrarily constant. If the amount is equal to or less than the amount, the job transfer is performed, and the unit time and the traffic amount can be set in advance by the system administrator to the management device and can be notified to the image processing devices in addition to the transfer conditions of the job. It is characterized by being.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the job to be transferred includes a raster image after bitmap development and a job including a printing method or a vector image before bitmap conversion. The job includes the printing method.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 15 is characterized in that the job to be transferred is a job including a vector image before bitmapping and a printing method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, each image processing system in a composite image processing system having a plurality of image processing systems connected to a network is output to an image printing output device. An image processing apparatus configured together with an image processing apparatus, wherein whether or not a transfer condition for transferring a job waiting to be processed to a transfer destination image processing apparatus is satisfied depends on an output device state and a case where the transfer condition depends on an image processing apparatus load. It is characterized in that it has a control means for judging and, when the transfer condition is satisfied, periodically notifying the management device connected to the network when the transfer condition is satisfied.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: the output device; the management device; an interface function with a host device connected to the network and running control application software; Function, spool function, function to develop vector image into raster image by page description language, image processing function, control function of the output device, management function of the number of prints per unit time of the output device, processing time prediction function of received job ,
It has a load determination function.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 18 is a function for measuring the time from the execution of a job to immediately before the start of printing, and for improving the measurement accuracy by using past measured data recursively. , A function to detect the number of pages of a job in the waiting state, a function to detect the number of copies of the job in the waiting state, a function to manage the total number of jobs in the print queue in the waiting state, A function for recognizing the purpose or monochrome printing purpose, and when the number of jobs waiting to be processed in the print queue becomes less than a certain amount, the management device or a transfer request within a certain time in the past. The number of jobs waiting to be processed in the print queue in response to an inquiry from the management device. The function of notifying the management apparatus or another image processing apparatus that has requested a transfer within the fixed time in the past, or the function of notifying the management apparatus of the configuration of the image processing system to which it belongs. It is characterized by having.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention as set forth in claim 19, wherein the control means monitors the traffic volume of the network and determines that the traffic volume per unit time is equal to or less than a certain fixed amount. The job transfer is performed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 20 is connected to a network together with an output device for printing out an image and a plurality of image processing systems each including an image processing device for controlling the output device. A centralized management of load distribution of the image processing apparatuses, monitoring of a load between the image processing apparatuses, setting / permission of a job transfer condition between the image processing apparatuses, and each of the output apparatuses. If the job processing load is concentrated on a specific image processing system or if a failure that makes printing impossible in a specific image processing system occurs, the unprocessed job can be managed by another linked image processing device. And a management control unit for notifying the client that transmitted the job to be transferred to another image processing apparatus for load distribution to that effect. That.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 21 is characterized in that permission / management of load distribution processing of the entire system is performed based on a notification from each of the image processing apparatuses.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, the management control means polls each of the image processing devices of each of the image processing systems,
It is characterized in that the status of each component is obtained from each of the image processing systems, a management table is created therein, and information on each of the image processing systems is managed.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the management control means determines whether the preset condition is satisfied when the transfer condition is satisfied based on the load state notified from the transfer source image processing apparatus. It is characterized in that whether or not the transfer is possible is determined by collation, and the transfer source image processing apparatus is notified.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the management control means allows a specific image processing apparatus designated as a job transfer destination from a transfer source image processing apparatus to receive a transfer job. It is characterized by notifying the transfer source image processing apparatus whether or not this is the case.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, the management control means selects an image processing apparatus selected as a job transfer destination from the transfer source image processing apparatus and satisfying the conditions. It is characterized in that it notifies the image processing device.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the twenty-sixth aspect, said management control means records setting information of said transfer condition, and said setting of said transfer condition is performed by any of said network-connected devices. It is characterized in that it can be carried out by selecting one of a case after the password is input from the client and a case after the password is input from the operation means of the management device.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the management control means may be arranged such that, if the transfer destination is not specified by the pre-registration in the management apparatus main body, the image matching the transfer condition is obtained. The method is characterized in that a processing system is searched to determine whether or not to transfer a job to the image processing system to a higher-level apparatus that has issued the job, and then transfer the job.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of image processing systems having an output device for printing and outputting an image and an image processing device for controlling the output device are connected on a network. A load distribution method applied to a composite image processing system, wherein the plurality of image processing systems have a function of attaching a link capable of transferring jobs waiting for processing to each other in one direction or another, and a transfer source image The processing device determines whether or not a transfer condition for transferring the waiting job to the transfer destination image processing device is satisfied depending on a state of the output device and a case depending on a load of the image processing device. A control step of determining and, when the transfer condition is satisfied, periodically notifying the management device connected to the network that the transfer condition is satisfied. .

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 29, wherein the transfer condition depending on the state of the output device is that the number of prints per unit time of the output device is equal to the set number of prints. If it exceeds, if an operator error occurs in the output device and printing cannot be continued, if a serviceman error occurs in the output device and printing cannot be continued, accessories necessary for performing a print job are provided in the output device. When not attached, when the management key of the output device is not input, when a management card is not inserted in the output device, when the ID code is not input to the output device, I do.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 30 is characterized in that the transfer condition when the load depends on the image processing apparatus is the transfer condition when the processing time of the immediately preceding job exceeds a certain time. If the number of pages of the previous job exceeds a certain number of pages, if the number of copies of the previous job exceeds a certain number of copies, if the queue contains more than a certain number of jobs, color print jobs and monochrome print processes It is characterized in that it is a case where an erroneous transmission of a job has occurred.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the thirty-first aspect of the present invention, the management device includes: a centralized management of a load distribution of the image processing devices; a monitoring of a load between the image processing devices; It sets / permits the transfer conditions of jobs between image processing devices and manages the status of each output device. If the job processing load is concentrated on a specific image processing system or printing is not possible with a specific image processing system If a failure occurs, the unprocessed job is distributed to other linked image processing apparatuses, and the fact is notified to the client that transmitted the job transferred to the other image processing apparatus for load distribution. It is characterized by having management control means.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 32, further comprises: a higher-level device on which control application software operates, connected to the network;
Each of the output devices has an image reading function of reading an image from a document under the control of the higher-level device, and an image forming function of forming an image on a recording sheet based on the read image data. An output device, the upper device, an interface function with the management device, a print queue function, a spool function, a function of developing a vector image in a page description language into a raster image, an image processing function, a control function of the output device, and the output device Has a function of managing the number of prints per unit time, a function of estimating the processing time of a received job, and a function of determining a load.
It is characterized by performing management.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the management control step of the management apparatus, polling is performed on each image processing apparatus of each image processing system, and It is characterized in that the status of each component is obtained from the processing system, a management table is created inside, and the information of each image processing system is managed.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the transfer condition and the transfer destination can be set in the management device in advance, and the management control step of the management device can be performed. When the transfer condition is satisfied based on the load state notified from the transfer source image processing apparatus, the transfer condition is compared with a preset condition to determine whether transfer is possible and to notify the transfer source image processing apparatus. .

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the image processing apparatus measures the time from the execution of a job to immediately before the start of printing and recursively uses past measured data. Function to improve measurement accuracy, detect the number of pages in a job waiting for processing, detect the number of print copies of a job waiting for processing, manage the total number of jobs in the print queue waiting for processing, processing A function for recognizing whether a waiting job is for color printing or monochrome printing.When the number of waiting jobs in the print queue becomes less than a certain amount, the fact is notified to the management device or a certain time in the past. A function to notify another image processing apparatus that has requested transfer, a job waiting to be processed in a print queue in response to an inquiry from the management apparatus The function of notifying to the management apparatus or another image processing apparatus that has requested a transfer within the predetermined time in the past how long is the predetermined amount or less, the configuration of the image processing system to which the self belongs It has a function of notifying the management device.

According to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the management control step of the management device, a specific image processing device designated as a job transfer destination from a transfer source image processing device is provided. The transfer source image processing apparatus is notified of whether or not a transfer job can be accepted.

According to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the management control step of the management device, an image processing device that is selected as a job transfer destination from a transfer source image processing device and satisfies a condition is provided. The transfer source image processing apparatus is notified.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the management control step of the management apparatus, the setting information of the transfer condition is recorded, and the setting of the transfer condition is based on the network connection. It can be performed by selecting one of the following: after the password is input from any given client, and after the password is input from the operation unit of the management device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 39, wherein the transfer condition comprises a plurality of components, and the management device satisfies any one of the plurality of components. In the management control step of the management device, it is possible to select a case in which the transfer operation is started when the transfer operation is started and a case in which the transfer operation is started when the plurality of components are satisfied. If the destination is not specified, an image processing system that meets the transfer conditions is searched for, and it is checked whether or not a job is to be transferred to the image processing system to the higher-level device that issued the job, and then transferred. I do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the control step of the image processing apparatus, the traffic amount of the network is monitored and the traffic amount of an arbitrary unit time is arbitrarily constant. If the amount is equal to or less than the amount, the job transfer is performed, and the unit time and the traffic amount can be set in advance by the system administrator to the management device and can be notified to the image processing devices in addition to the transfer conditions of the job. It is characterized by being.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention as set forth in claim 41, wherein the job to be transferred includes a raster image after bitmap expansion and a job including a printing method or a vector image before bitmapping. The job includes the printing method.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the job to be transferred is a job including a vector image before bitmapping and a printing method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of image processing systems including an output device for printing out an image and an image processing device for controlling the output device are connected on a network. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a load distribution method applied to a complex image processing system, wherein the load distribution method is configured to mutually exchange jobs waiting for processing by the plurality of image processing systems. A function of attaching a link that can be transferred in one direction or one direction, and the image processing apparatus of the transfer source determines whether or not a transfer condition for transferring the waiting job to the image processing apparatus of the transfer destination is satisfied. And the case depending on the load of the image processing apparatus, and when the transfer condition is satisfied, The characterized as having a regularly inform control step to the networked management device.

[0049]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a load distribution type image processing system according to the embodiment and a second embodiment described later. The load distribution type image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of image processing systems A, B, and C, and a host computer 1.
02 and the monitor server 103 are connected to a general-purpose network 104.
It has a configuration connected above. In the figure, the arrow indicated by a broken line indicates a job transfer route, and the arrow indicated by a solid line indicates notification of load information. The configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 is an example, and the configuration is not limited to the illustrated configuration.

More specifically, the image processing system A includes a digital copying machine 100A and an image processing apparatus 101A having an operation unit and a memory. The image processing system B includes a digital copier 10 having a monitor.
Image processing apparatus 101 having an operation unit and a memory
B is provided. The image processing system C includes a digital copying machine 100C and an image processing device 101C having an operation unit and a memory. The memory of the image processing apparatus corresponds to a spooler 101nF in a diagram described later. The host computer 102 is installed at a system administrator and performs various controls described below. The monitor server 103
A server that monitors the load on the image processing system.

In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, a digital copying machine n (n represents an individual image processing system constituting this system. The same applies hereinafter. In the example of FIG. 1, the digital copying machine 100A, 100B, 100C), the present invention is applied to an image processing system including an image processing apparatus 101n, a plurality of host computers 102, and a monitor server 103 connected to the respective apparatuses. The digital copier 100n and the image processing apparatus 101n are connected via a dedicated interface, and the host computer 102, the image processing apparatus 101n, and the monitor server 103 are connected via a network such as Ethernet or a general-purpose interface. The transfer of images, text data, computer graphics data, and the like between the digital copying machine 102 and the digital copying machine 100n, and the instruction of various functions are performed through the image processing apparatus 101n.

In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the digital copying machine 100n has various copy functions such as a full-color copy function, a monochrome color copy function, a three-color copy function, and a twin-color copy function. , Enlargement / reduction ratio setting, brightness adjustment, CRD selection, color mode (4 colors, monochrome) selection, image mode / text mode selection, sharpness setting, toner amount adjustment, number of sheets designation, double-sided printing function, sort function , Staple function,
It has various extended functions such as a paper deck feeding function, a preview function, a scanning function from a platen, and a color area designation function. These functions are also provided from the host computer 102 via the image processing apparatus 101n. It is configured so that it can be specified.

The full-color copying function has a function of realizing full-color copying using Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (sian), and K (black).
The monochrome color copy function is a function for realizing a monochrome color copy using only K, the three color copy function is a function for realizing a color copy using Y and M, and the twin color copy function is a function for R (red). This is a function for implementing a pseudo color copy using only K. The preview function is a function of displaying an expected image on a display of the host computer 102 or a previewer connected to the image processing apparatus 101n to perform color adjustment, editing, layout, and the like, before printing out by the digital copying machine 100n. The copy mode area designation function is a function for arbitrarily designating a print mode such as color printing, twin color printing, or monochrome printing for each document area.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration centering on an image processing apparatus 101n according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a second embodiment to be described later. As shown in FIG. 13, the image processing apparatus 101n according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a communication interface 101nA, a communication interface 101nB, a rasterizer PDL processing unit 101
nC, image processing unit 101nD, timer unit 101nE, spooler 101nF, CV software counter 101nG, control unit (central processing unit) 101nH, memory (frame buffer) 101nI, image processing device load information storage area 10
1 nJ and a job log memory 101 nK.

In detail, the communication interface 101nA exchanges data with the host computer 102 via the network 104. The communication interface 101nB exchanges data with the digital copying machine 100n via a dedicated line. The rasterizer PDL processing unit 101nC performs expansion and conversion processing of PDL data. The image processing unit 101nD performs gamma processing and color conversion processing on the bitmap image. Timer unit 101nE
Manages a series of work times in the image processing apparatus 101n. The spooler 101 nF is connected to the host computer 10.
The PDL data sent from the second side is temporarily stored before processing starts. The CV software counter 101nG measures and manages the number of prints in communication with the digital copying machine 100n.

The control unit (central processing unit) 101nH performs overall control of the above-described spool, expansion, image processing operation, communication, and the like. The memory (frame buffer) 101nI performs image finishing. The image processing device load information storage area 101nJ stores load information of the image processing device 101n. The job log memory 101nK is a memory for recording a record of the system operation. The job log memory 101nK causes the digital copier 100n to execute various functions specified by the host computer 102, and executes the job and image processing apparatus 101n itself based on the specified functions. (Log) of the job specified in.

On the other hand, the host computer 102
Image data and text data captured from a connected document scanner or a digital camera (not shown), various data distributed via the network 104, CD-R
Various data reproduced from various media such as the OM are transferred to the image processing apparatus 101n and the digital copying machine 100n.
Can be used for copying (printing).

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration in which a load distribution type image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a second embodiment described later correspond to the claims. The load distribution type image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a second embodiment described later includes a plurality of image processing systems A, B, and C, and image processing systems A, B, and The configuration is such that a monitor server 25 for monitoring the load of C and a host computer 30 are connected on a network 35.

The copying machine 1 of the image processing system A includes an image reading unit 2 and an image forming unit 3.
An operation unit 5, a storage unit 6, a control unit 7, and a communication unit 8 are provided. Similarly, the copying machine 9 of the image processing system B
The image processing apparatus 12 includes an image reading unit 10, an image forming unit 11, and an operation unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 1.
5. The communication device 16 is provided. Similarly, the copying machine 17 of the image processing system C includes an image reading unit 18 and an image forming unit 19, and the image processing apparatus 20 includes an operation unit 21, a storage unit 22, a control unit 23, and a communication unit 24. . The monitor server 25 includes an operation unit 26, a storage unit 27, a control unit 28, and a communication unit 29. The host computer 30 includes an operation unit 31, a storage unit 32, a control unit 33, and a communication unit 34.

More specifically, in the copying machine 1 of the image processing system A, the image reading means 2 reads an image from a document. The image forming means 3 forms an image on a recording sheet based on the read image data. In the image processing apparatus 4 of the image processing system A, the operation unit 5 includes an input unit for performing various instructions and a display unit for performing various displays. The storage unit 6 stores various data. The control means 7 controls the entire image processing system A. The communication unit 8 performs data communication with communication units of other devices on the network 35. The image processing systems B and C are the same as the image processing system A.

In the monitor server 25, the operation means 26
Has an input unit for performing various instructions and a display unit for performing various displays. The storage unit 27 stores various data. The control means 28 controls the entire monitor server 25. The communication unit 29 performs data communication with communication units of other devices on the network 35. In the host computer 30, the operation unit 31 includes an input unit for performing various instructions and a display unit for performing various displays. The storage means 32 stores various data. The control unit 33 controls the entire host computer 30. The communication means 34 performs data communication with communication means of another device on the network 35.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing a conceptual example in which the program and related data of the present invention are supplied from a storage medium to the apparatus. The program and related data of the present invention are stored in a storage medium 201 such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM in the device 2.
The information is supplied by inserting it into the storage medium drive insertion slot 203 provided in the device 02. Thereafter, the program and related data of the present invention are temporarily installed on the hard disk from the storage medium 201 and loaded into the RAM from the storage medium 201, or are directly loaded into the RAM without being installed on the hard disk, thereby obtaining the program and the related data of the present invention. Can be executed.

In this case, when the program of the present invention is executed in the system according to the first or second embodiment of the present invention, the program is executed via a device such as a computer as shown in FIG. System digital copier 1
00n, image processing apparatus 101n, host computer 1
02: Supply the program and related data of the present invention to the monitor server 103, or store the program and related data of the present invention in advance in the digital copying machine 100n, the image processing apparatus 101n, the host computer 102, and the monitor server 103 of the present system By doing so, the program can be executed.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the storage contents of a storage medium storing the program and related data of the present invention. The storage medium of the present invention is, for example, volume information 1
91, directory information 192, a program execution file 193, a program-related data file 194, and the like. The program of the present invention is program-coded based on flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 to 12, FIGS. 14 to 15, and FIG.

The correspondence between the constituent elements in the claims of the present invention and the respective units of the system according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention is as follows. The control means of the image processing apparatus corresponds to the control means 7, 15, and 23 of the image processing apparatuses 4, 12, and 20 (corresponding to functions other than the memory of the internal block of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 13). Corresponds to the control means 28 of the monitor server 25, and the operation means of the management device corresponds to the operation means 26 of the monitor server 25. Further, the image processing apparatuses are the image processing apparatuses 4, 1
2, the output device corresponds to the copying machine 1, 9, 17; the image reading function of the output device corresponds to the image reading means 2, 10, 18 of the copying machine 1, 9, 17; The image forming function of the copiers 1, 9, 17
1 and 19, the management device corresponds to the monitor server 25, and the host device corresponds to the host computer 30.

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is described.
The operation of the load distribution type image processing system according to the embodiment and the operation of load distribution will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

When the power is turned on, the monitor server 103 of the load distribution type image processing system performs an initial polling of the image processing apparatus 101n existing in the same network 104, and performs each digital copier 100n.
The information of the accessories attached to the digital copier 100n is collected, and a database of the accessories attached to each digital copying machine 100n is created. The monitor server 103 periodically polls the image processing apparatus 101n, dynamically monitors the connection status of accessories attached to each digital copier 100n, and stores therein each image processing system management table (FIG. 18). (File content update) (FIGS. 17 and 18).

In FIG. 17, when the monitor server 103 is started, a search for an image processing apparatus of an image processing system in the same network is performed (step S1701).
An image processing system management table corresponding to the number of found image processing systems is created (step S170).
2) Polling is started from the image processing system having a small IP (Internet Protocol) address (step S1).
703) Until the polling of all the image processing systems is completed (Yes in step S1704), the attachment of the digital copying machine of the image processing system, the remaining amount of paper in the paper feed stage, and the like are checked (step S170).
5).

First, FIG. 1 shows a procedure for specifying a source and a destination image processing system from the host computer 102 to the monitor server 103 and setting the transfer specification.
4. An explanation will be given based on FIG. Host computer 10
2 transmits the user password to the monitor server 103, the monitor server 103 confirms this, determines whether to permit the setting, and notifies the host computer 102 of the result. The host computer 102 is the monitor server 1
After the setting is permitted to 03, the following setting operation is started. The setting items at this time are notified to the host computer 102 via the network 104 as a menu.

In FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, when setting the transfer from the image processing system A to another image processing system, the monitor server 103 inputs the user password from the host computer 102 (step S1401), and the user password is changed. It is determined whether it is correct (step S140)
2). If the user password is correct, monitor server 1
03 notifies the network client of a list of transfer source image processing systems (in this example, the image processing apparatus A is selected) (step S14013), and the image processing apparatus A notifies the monitor server 103 of a transfer destination available list (step S14013). In this example, up to two transfer destinations can be set.) (Step S14)
04), transfer conditions are set (step S1405), and the maximum amount of network traffic that can be transferred is set (step S1406). If the user password is incorrect, the transfer destination cannot be set (step S140).
7).

Next, display of a list of transfer conditions will be described. Conditions are set when a job is transferred from the image processing system A to B and C. The monitor server 103 notifies the host computer 102 of accessory mounting information of the digital copier 100A of the image processing system A together with other transfer condition setting information in advance (FIG. 16). The setting information menu displayed on the host computer 102 by the monitor server 103 is the setting of the maximum value per day, week, or month of the copy volume of the digital copying machine 100A of the image processing system A, and when an operator error occurs. The presence or absence of the transfer, the presence or absence of the transfer when a serviceman error occurs, and the use permission of the accessory in executing the job are permitted.

For the copy volume, a specific numerical value of the volume is set, and whether or not transfer is permitted when the numerical value is exceeded is set. As for the operator error, a code of an error to be detected is input, and whether or not transfer is permitted when the error is detected is set. If the specific error code to be detected is not input, that is, if the code is 0 input, all operator errors are to be detected, and whether or not transfer is permitted when any operator error occurs is set. . The serviceman error is the same as the setting of the operator error. The permission to use the accessory is subject to the setting conditions. However, as for the accessory that is not attached to the target digital copying machine 100A, the monitor server 1
03 does not notify the host computer 102. Therefore, the permission to use the accessory not attached to the digital copying machine 100A does not appear on the setting menu of the host computer 102.

Next, as a setting information menu displayed on the host computer 102 by the monitor server 103, there is a transfer condition depending on the image processing apparatus 101A. These include, when an arbitrary job enters an arbitrary queue of the image processing apparatus 101A, the number of pages, the number of copies, the presence or absence of transfer when the processing time satisfies a certain condition, the arbitrary presence of an When a job enters the queue of the image processing apparatus 101A, there is a presence or absence of transfer when a certain number of jobs have been spooled earlier than that.

The number of pages, the number of copies,
As for the processing time, the setting of each maximum value and the setting of the enhancement of the transfer when each measured value notified by the image processing apparatus 101A to the monitor server 103 exceeds the maximum value are performed. Detecting the number of pages and number of copies of an arbitrary job
This is performed by a preprocessor in the image processing apparatus 101A in the image processing system A. Further, the setting can be made such that the monitor server 103 enters the transfer operation when any one of the elements constituting the transfer condition satisfies the condition or when a plurality of components satisfy the transfer condition. The above-described series of transfer condition settings are performed between the host computer 102 and the monitor server 103.

Next, display of a list of transfer source and transfer destination image processing systems will be described. Source list, destination list,
Set the maximum traffic volume / unit time for job transfer. The image processing systems targeted for the transfer source image processing device and the transfer destination image processing device list are limited to image processing devices existing in the same network. At this time, the transfer condition is that the monitor server 103 also exists in the same network. Job transfer across different networks via gateways is not performed.
Therefore, when configuring the present load-distributed image processing system, the IP address setting and the subnet mask (address mask for specifying the subnet in the IP address) of the image processing apparatus 101n, the monitor server 103, and the host computer 102 are: It is assumed that an appropriate numerical value is set in advance.

The specific same network referred to here is the same network in which each network node constituting the load balancing type image processing system is determined from an IP address and a subnet mask. Up to two destinations can be set for one source. Further, the maximum traffic amount that can be transferred is also set here. The job transfer is performed at a timing equal to or less than the traffic amount set here. The designation of the transfer destination image processing system can be omitted. In this case, the monitor server 103 searches for the image processing system of the transfer destination satisfying the conditions, inquires of the network client about the transfer destination candidate and whether or not each job can be transferred, and obtains permission to transfer.

Next, the flow of actual job transfer will be described. The determination depending on the load of the image processing device is as follows. First, a determination depending on the load of the image processing apparatus is performed. The image processing apparatus 101A stores the received job in a spooler 101AF (101 nF in FIG. 13, the same applies hereinafter), detects the number of pages and the number of copies of the job by a preprocessor, and determines whether the job is spooled in a queue first. Determine whether or not. If no job has been spooled first, the transfer condition depending on the state of the digital copying machine is satisfied, and normal processing is performed until the monitor server 103 permits the transfer of the job (FIGS. 3 and 4). ).

In FIGS. 3 and 4, it is determined whether the transfer condition depends on the digital copying machine or the job processing in the image processing apparatus (step S301). In step S302, the image processing system A notifies the monitor server 103 of the state of the digital copying machine (step S302), and performs processing depending on the digital copying machine to be printed (step S303). If it depends on the load on the image processing apparatus, the image processing system A notifies the monitor server 103 of the load on the image processing apparatus (step S304), and performs processing depending on the load on the transfer source image processing apparatus (step S305). ).

Next, a case where one or more jobs exist in the queue to which the jobs have been sent will be described. The total number of existing jobs is notified to the monitor server 103 at the time of polling response from the monitor server 103. Monitor server 10
3 is a management table of this job newly inside (FIG. 16)
Is created, and the total number of jobs is registered in the total number of jobs field in the queue. Further, the number of pages and the number of copies of the job immediately before the queued job are detected in advance by the preprocessor, and at the same time, the fields of the number of pages and the number of copies of the immediately preceding job in the job management table (FIG. Registered in.

The processing time field of the immediately preceding job in the job management table (FIG. 16) in the monitor server 103 indicates that processing is started by the image processing apparatus 101A of the immediately preceding job of the job to be managed. Elapsed time from the monitor server 103 to the image processing apparatus 10
The image processing apparatus 101A notifies the monitor server 103 every time polling is performed on 1A, and the information is registered. Each time the image processing apparatus 101A polls, the monitor server 103 uses a job management table (FIG.
6), a configuration factor management table of the image processing system (FIG. 1)
8) is updated and the transfer conditions are set (FIGS. 14 and 1).
When the transfer condition determined in 5) is satisfied, the host computer 102 is notified of that fact (FIG. 13).

When the transfer permission is given by the host computer 102 and it is further confirmed that the traffic volume of the network is equal to or less than a certain amount, the job is sent from the image processing system A to the image processing system B in accordance with the instruction of the monitor server 103. And the image processing system A leaves that fact in the internal job log memory 101AK (FIG. 11).
-Figures 12, 14 and 15). On the other hand, the monitor server 10
Reference numeral 3 denotes an internal job management table when the host computer 102 permits transfer of an arbitrary job (FIG. 16).
The ID of the image processing apparatus B to which the job has been transferred is registered in the ID field of the image processing apparatus in.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, it is determined whether or not to start the transfer operation (step S1101). If the transfer operation is to be started, the image processing system C transfers the job to the image processing system A, and C records in the job log memory (step S1102), and the monitor server 103
Notifies the client of the job transfer and the reason for the transfer, and records the transfer destination in the job management table (step S1103). If the transfer operation does not start, the image processing system C performs processing (step S1104), the monitor server 103 notifies the client of the job result, and the image processing apparatus of the image processing system C records the job result in the job log memory (step S1105). ). Thereafter, when the image processing system A determines that the job is to be transferred again, the job is saved in the HDD (hard disk) of the monitor server 103 (step S1107).

Next, the determination depending on the state of the digital copying machine will be described. If the job is not transferred in the above-described determination depending on the image processing apparatus, a determination depending on the state of the digital copying machine is performed next (FIGS. 3 and 4). When the order of expansion processing of an arbitrary job stored in the queue comes, the control unit 101AH of the image processing apparatus 101A communicates with the digital copying machine via the interface 101AB, and the image processing unit 101AD adds a predetermined job to the expanded job. Perform image processing. In the case of a deployment job that cannot be processed as a result of the control unit 101AH, the monitor server 103 is notified to that effect.

Here, it is determined that the image processing apparatus 1 cannot perform processing.
01A, when the number of prints per unit time in the digital copier 100A exceeds a preset number of prints, when a specific or unspecified operator error occurs in the digital copier 100A, When a specific or unspecified serviceman error occurs in the digital copying machine 100A, when the management key is not turned on in the digital copying machine 100A, when the management card is not inserted in the digital copying machine 100A, the digital copying machine 100A This is a case where the ID code has not been input in the device 100A.

When the above-mentioned processing impossible state occurs in the digital copying machine 100A, the image processing apparatus 101A notifies the monitor server 103 of the fact when polling from the monitor server 103. The monitor server 103 updates the job management table (FIG. 16) with information depending on the image processing apparatus every time the image processing apparatus 101A polls, and sets the transfer conditions set in the transfer condition settings (FIGS. 14 and 15). Is satisfied, the fact is notified to the host computer 102 (FIG. 13). When the transfer permission is granted by the host computer 102, the job is transferred from the image processing system A to the image processing system B, and the image processing system A notifies the internal job log memory 101A.
K (FIGS. 11 and 12, FIGS. 14 and 15). on the other hand,
When the host computer 102 permits the transfer of the job, the monitor server 103 registers the ID of the image processing apparatus B to which the job has been transferred to the ID field of the image processing apparatus in the internal job management table (FIG. 16). .

Next, determinations other than those depending on the load of the image processing apparatus and determinations other than the determination depending on the state of the digital copying machine will be described. In any of the above cases, for a job that does not satisfy the transfer condition, the matching between the job and the image processing system that executes the job is determined next. To determine the matching between the job and the image processing system that executes the job, the preprocessor in the image processing apparatus 101A checks the characteristics of the spooled job and checks the following inconsistency.

That is, although the job is designated for double-sided printing, the digital copier 100 of the image processing system A
A does not have the function, the job is designated for stapling, but the digital copying machine 1 of the image processing system A
00A does not have the function, the job is specified to be sorted, but the digital copier 1 of the image processing system A
If the function is not provided in 00A, the job is designated for paper deck feeding, but if the digital copier 100A of the image processing system A is not provided with the function, the job is designated for color output, but image processing is performed. This is a case where the digital copying machine 100A of the system A does not have the function.

When the above inconsistency state occurs in the image processing system A, the image processing apparatus 101A notifies the monitor server 1 of the fact when polling from the monitor server 103.
Notify 03. The monitor server 103 is the image processing device 1
The job management table (FIG. 16) is updated with information depending on the image processing apparatus at each polling of 01A,
When the transfer condition set in the transfer condition setting (FIGS. 14 and 15) is satisfied, the host computer 102
(FIG. 13).

When the transfer permission is given by the host computer 102, the job is transferred from the image processing system A to the image processing system B, and the image processing system A leaves the fact in the internal job log memory 101AK (FIG. 11 and FIG. 11). 12, FIGS. 14 and 15). On the other hand, when the host computer 102 permits the transfer of the job, the monitor server 103 sets the ID of the image processing apparatus B to which the job has been transferred to the ID field of the image processing apparatus in the internal job management table (FIG. 16). register.

The above determination and transfer are repeated, and the job is transferred from the image processing system A to the image processing system B and further to the image processing system C depending on conditions. If the job is determined to be transferred even in the image processing system C, the job is transferred to the HDD inside the monitor server 103 and stored therein (FIGS. 7, 8, 11 and 12).

In FIGS. 7 and 8, it is determined whether or not to start the transfer operation (step S701). If the transfer operation is to be started, the image processing system C transfers the job to the image processing system A, and C records the job in the job log memory (step S702), the monitor server 103 notifies the client of the job transfer and the reason why the transfer has occurred, and records the transfer destination in the job management table (step S70).
3). If the transfer operation does not start, the image processing system C
(Step S704), and the monitor server 10
3 notifies the client of the job result, and the image processing apparatus of the image processing system C records the result in the job log memory (step S705). Thereafter, if the image processing system A determines that the job is to be transferred again, the monitor server 103
Is saved in the HDD (step S707).

When the job is transferred from the final transfer destination to the HDD inside the monitor server 103 and stored, the monitor server 103 notifies the host computer 102 of the transfer. Also, the job stored in the HDD inside the monitor server 103 is moved to a specific queue in the image processing system A or sent to an arbitrary output device to be forcibly copied / printed, or The setting of whether or not to be transferred to another image processing system may be made by the setting of the load-balanced image processing system administrator.

Here, the job entered into the HDD of the monitor server 103 is a job including the vector image before bitmapping and the printing method, and when transferred in accordance with the condition of claim 2, the attribute relating to the printing method is used. By making the change by the monitor server administrator or the person who issued the job from the client, the job can be easily reprocessed. In the case of the condition including the raster image after bitmap development transferred according to the condition of claim 2 and its printing method, the time required for the development processing is zero because the raster image has already been developed, but the flexibility as a job Become scarce.

The processing of a job that is not a job transfer target or a job settled at a certain transfer destination is sent from the host computer 102 to a spooler 101AF in the image processing apparatus 101A. When the processing order comes, the image processing apparatus 101A
Converts the job into bitmap data in the rasterizer PDL processing unit 101AC, and
The bitmap data is stored in the internal frame buffer 101AI. Thereafter, according to the print parameter information included in the previous job, the digital copying machine 10
Printed from 0A.

Here, the image processing apparatus 101A issues a print request to the digital copying machine 100A. At this time, if the file developed by the image processing apparatus 101A spans a plurality of pages, the image processing apparatus 101A writes image data to the image storage area of the digital copying machine 100A for each page. When the image data is written in the image storage area, the digital copying machine 100A starts printing. When the printing of the required number of images per page is completed, the digital copying machine 100A notifies the image processing apparatus 101A of the completion. If a paper jam occurs during printing of one page, the host computer 10
2 to that effect. Subsequently, the image processing apparatus 101A transmits the image data of the next page to the digital copying machine 10A.
Send to 0A. This operation is repeated until the last page where the job is developed.

The image processing apparatus 101A instructs the start of printing and, at the same time, starts counting copy / print processing time. The digital copying machine 100A executes a job, that is, executes a function designated as copy / print in a predetermined mode, and notifies the image processing apparatus 101A of a report indicating completion and normal termination. . The image processing apparatus 101A that has received the notification copies /
The timing of the print processing time is stopped, and it is confirmed that a normal operation has been performed. The job log is left in the job log memory 101AK. Here, as a condition of the job log, a record is left even when a normal operation is not performed.
A series of processing steps of a job that has not been transferred is the same in the image processing systems B and C.

The job management table (FIG. 16) created in the monitor server 103 is stored in the monitor server 103 for a certain period of time after the end of the job. Whether the job is kept for a certain period of time, keeps a certain number of jobs retroactively from the latest job, or deletes the job immediately upon completion of the job depends on the setting conditions of the load distribution type image processing system administrator on the monitor server 103. I do.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a flow in which the conditions for transferring a job from the image processing system A to the image processing system B depend on the printing engine. That is, it is determined whether or not to start the transfer operation (step S501). If the transfer operation is to be started, the monitor server 103 notifies the client of the job transfer and the reason for the transfer (step S5).
02) If the client permits the transfer (Yes in step S503), the image processing system A transfers the job to the image processing system B, and the image processing apparatus A records the job in the job log memory (step S504). 103 records the transfer destination in the job management table (step S505). If the transfer operation does not start, the image processing system A performs the processing (step S506), the monitor server 103 notifies the client of the job result, and the image processing apparatus A records the job result in the job log memory (step S506).
507).

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an image processing system A.
This is a flow in which the conditions for transferring the job from to the image processing system B depend on the load on the image processing apparatus. That is, it is determined whether or not the transfer operation is to be started (step S901). If the transfer operation is to be started, the monitor server 103 notifies the client of the job transfer and the reason for the transfer (step S901).
902), if the client permits the transfer (Yes in step S903), the image processing system A transfers the job to the image processing system B, and the image processing apparatus A records the job in the job log memory (step S904). 103 records the transfer destination in the job management table (step S905). If the transfer operation does not start, the image processing system A performs the processing (step S906), the monitor server 103 notifies the client of the job result, and the image processing apparatus A records it in the job log memory (step S907).

As described above, according to the load-balanced image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the transfer source image processing apparatus 101n transfers a job waiting for processing to the transfer destination image processing apparatus 101n. To transfer to copier 10
0n and the load of the image processing apparatus 101n, and determines whether or not the condition is satisfied. If the transfer condition is satisfied, the monitor server 1 determines that the transfer condition is satisfied.
03, and the monitor server 103 notifies each image processing apparatus 1
Since polling is performed on the information processing system 01n and a management table is internally created based on the obtained information and information on each image processing system is managed, the following operations and effects are achieved.

Although the distributed processing in the solid state of the device has been performed for a long time, the concept of the distributed processing between the image processing systems has not been developed. That is, the determination of the load distribution is not centrally managed, and the transfer is performed according to the judgment of each image processing system and the user who sent the job to an arbitrary image processing system. When a system is networked and distributed processing such as a client-server system or the Web is performed, load distribution between interconnected systems becomes possible.

In the above embodiment of the present invention, each image processing system notifies the monitor server 103 that monitors the state of the load of each image processing apparatus 101n connected to the network, and the actual transfer is performed by the monitor server. 103
Or the permission of the job issuer who makes the transfer determination of the job via the monitor server 103. Further, the system administrator is characterized in that the transfer conditions of each image processing apparatus managed by the monitor server 103 can be registered in the monitor server 103 in advance. As a result, the load of the specific image processing apparatus 101n can be prevented from increasing or decreasing, and the load of each image processing system connected to the network and managed by the monitor server 103 can be comprehensively distributed.

In the prior art, a method of designating a transfer destination is adopted. However, in the above embodiment of the present invention, a job transfer can be performed to any transfer destination that satisfies a transfer condition without specifying a transfer destination. . In the above embodiment of the present invention, the monitor server 103 plays a central role in measuring the load between the image processing apparatuses 101n and accumulating the measured data to determine the transfer of the job and to introduce the destination of the job transfer. Improve operation rate and distribute load.

Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the operating rate of the image processing apparatus is improved, the waiting time for image processing is reduced, and the load on each image processing apparatus constituting the system is comprehensively reduced. There is an effect that the entire load can be balanced by the judgment.

[Second Embodiment] The load distribution type image processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention
As in the embodiment, a plurality of image processing systems A, B, and C, a host computer 102, and a monitor server 103 are connected on a general-purpose network 104 (see FIG. 2 described above). reference).

The image processing apparatus 101n according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a communication interface 101nA, a communication interface 101nB, a rasterizer PDL processing unit 101nC, and a communication interface 101nA, as in the first embodiment.
Image processing unit 101nD, timer unit 101nE, spooler 101nF, CV software counter 101nG, control unit 1
01nH, frame buffer 101nI, image processing apparatus load information storage area 101nJ, job log memory 101
nK (see FIG. 13). The configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment, including FIG. 2 and FIG.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is described.
A procedure in which an arbitrary transfer request source image processing system in the load distribution type image processing system according to the embodiment transfers a job to an image processing system of a transfer destination that specifies an unspecified job and satisfies job processing conditions This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, FIGS. 7 to 8, and FIGS.

When the power is turned on, the monitor server 103 of the load distribution type image processing system performs an initial polling of the image processing apparatus 101n existing in the same network 104, and performs each digital copier 100n.
The information of the accessories attached to the digital copier 100n is collected, and a database of the accessories attached to each digital copying machine 100n is created. Further, the monitor server 103 periodically polls the image processing apparatus 101n to dynamically monitor the connection status of the accessories attached to each digital copying machine 100n. The image processing system capable of accepting the transfer of a job is provided by the monitor server 103.
To that effect.

The monitor server 103 manages the image processing apparatuses to be managed by grouping them by function and performance.
The image processing apparatus that has issued a transfer request in the same group is notified of which image processing apparatus in the same group is possible as a transfer destination. When the host computer 102 transmits the user password to the monitor server 103, the monitor server 103 confirms this and determines whether to permit the setting, and notifies the host computer 102 of the result. The host computer 102 starts the following setting operation after the monitor server 103 allows the setting. The setting items at this time are notified to the host computer 102 via the network 104 as a menu.

Next, display of a list of transfer conditions will be described. Conditions are set when a job is transferred from the image processing system A to B and C. The monitor server 103 notifies the host computer 102 of accessory mounting information of the digital copier 100A of the image processing system A together with other transfer condition setting information in advance (FIG. 16). The setting information menu displayed on the host computer 102 by the monitor server 103 is the setting of the maximum value per day, week, or month of the copy volume of the digital copying machine 100A of the image processing system A, and when an operator error occurs. The presence or absence of the transfer, the presence or absence of the transfer when a serviceman error occurs, and the use permission of the accessory in executing the job are permitted.

For the copy volume, a specific numerical value of the volume is set, and whether or not the transfer is permitted when the numerical value is exceeded is set. As for the operator error, a code of an error to be detected is input, and whether or not transfer is permitted when the error is detected is set. If the specific error code to be detected is not input, that is, if the code is 0 input, all operator errors are to be detected, and whether or not transfer is permitted when any operator error occurs is set. . The serviceman error is the same as the setting of the operator error. The permission to use the accessory is subject to the setting conditions. However, as for the accessory that is not attached to the target digital copying machine 100A, the monitor server 1
03 does not notify the host computer 102. Therefore, the permission to use the accessory not attached to the digital copying machine 100A does not appear on the setting menu of the host computer 102.

Next, as a setting information menu displayed on the host computer 102 by the monitor server 103, there is a transfer condition depending on the image processing apparatus 101A. These include, when an arbitrary job enters an arbitrary queue of the image processing apparatus 101A, the number of pages, the number of copies, the presence or absence of transfer when the processing time satisfies a certain condition, the arbitrary presence of an When a job enters the queue of the image processing apparatus 101A, there is a presence or absence of transfer when a certain number of jobs have been spooled earlier than that.

The number of pages, the number of copies,
As for the processing time, the setting of each maximum value and the setting of the enhancement of the transfer when each measured value notified by the image processing apparatus 101A to the monitor server 103 exceeds the maximum value are performed. Detecting the number of pages and number of copies of an arbitrary job
This is performed by a preprocessor in the image processing apparatus 101A in the image processing system A. Further, the setting can be made such that the monitor server 103 enters the transfer operation when any one of the elements constituting the transfer condition satisfies the condition or when a plurality of components satisfy the transfer condition. The above-described series of transfer condition settings are performed between the host computer 102 and the monitor server 103.

Next, display of a list of image processing systems that can be specified as a transfer source will be described. Set the transfer source list and the maximum traffic volume / unit time when performing job transfer. The image processing systems that are targets of the transfer source list are limited to image processing apparatuses that exist in the same network.
At this time, the transfer condition is that the monitor server 103 also exists in the same network. Job transfer across different networks via gateways is not performed. Therefore, when configuring the present load-distributed image processing system, it is assumed that the IP address setting and the subnet mask of the image processing apparatus 101n, the monitor server 103, and the host computer 102 are set to appropriate numerical values in advance. The specific same network referred to here is the same network in which each network node configuring the load balancing image processing system is determined from an IP address and a subnet mask.

Next, the flow of actual job transfer will be described. The determination depending on the load of the image processing device is as follows. First, a determination depending on the load of the image processing apparatus is performed. The image processing apparatus 101A stores the received job in the spooler 101AF, and after detecting the number of pages and the number of copies of the job by the preprocessor, determines whether the job is spooled in the queue first. If no job is spooled first, the transfer condition depending on the state of the digital copier is satisfied, and the monitor server 10
Normal processing is performed until the transfer of the job comes from step 3 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

Next, a case where one or more previous jobs exist in the queue will be described. The total number of existing jobs is notified to the monitor server 103 at the time of polling response from the monitor server 103. The monitor server 103 internally creates a new management table (FIG. 16) for this job, and registers the total number of this job in the field of the total number of jobs in the queue. Further, the number of pages and the number of copies of the job immediately before the queued job are detected in advance by the preprocessor, and at the same time, the fields of the number of pages and the number of copies of the immediately preceding job in the job management table (FIG. Registered in.

In the processing time field of the immediately preceding job in the job management table (FIG. 16) in the monitor server 103, the processing is started by the image processing apparatus 101A of the job immediately before the job to be managed. Elapsed time from the monitor server 103 to the image processing apparatus 10
The image processing apparatus 101A notifies the monitor server 103 every time polling is performed on 1A, and the information is registered. Each time the image processing apparatus 101A polls, the monitor server 103 uses a job management table (FIG.
6) is updated and the transfer conditions are set (FIGS. 14 and 1).
When the transfer condition performed in 5) is satisfied, the host computer 102 is notified of that fact (FIG. 13).

When the transfer permission is granted by the host computer 102, the job is transferred from the image processing system A to the image processing system B, and the image processing system A leaves that fact in the internal job log memory 101AK (FIG. 11 / FIG. 12, FIGS. 14 and 15). On the other hand, when the host computer 102 permits the transfer of an arbitrary job, the monitor server 103 determines the ID of the image processing apparatus B to which the job has been transferred in the ID field of the image processing apparatus in the internal job management table (FIG. 16). Register ID.

Next, the determination depending on the state of the digital copying machine will be described. If the job is not transferred in the above-described determination depending on the image processing apparatus, a determination depending on the state of the digital copying machine is performed next (FIGS. 3 and 4). When the order of expansion processing of an arbitrary job stored in the queue comes, the control unit 101AH of the image processing apparatus 101A communicates with the digital copying machine via the interface 101AB, and the image processing unit 101AD adds a predetermined job to the expanded job. Perform image processing. In the case of a deployment job that cannot be processed as a result of the control unit 101AH, the monitor server 103 is notified to that effect.

Here, it is determined that the image processing apparatus 1 cannot perform processing.
01A, when the number of prints per unit time in the digital copier 100A exceeds a preset number of prints, when a specific or unspecified operator error occurs in the digital copier 100A, When a specific or unspecified serviceman error occurs in the digital copying machine 100A, when the management key is not turned on in the digital copying machine 100A, when the management card is not inserted in the digital copying machine 100A, the digital copying machine 100A This is a case where the ID code has not been input in the device 100A.

When the above-mentioned processing impossible state occurs in the digital copying machine 100A, the image processing apparatus 101A notifies the monitor server 103 of the fact when polling from the monitor server 103. The monitor server 103 updates the job management table (FIG. 16) with information depending on the image processing apparatus every time the image processing apparatus 101A polls, and sets the transfer conditions set in the transfer condition settings (FIGS. 14 and 15). Is satisfied, the fact is notified to the host computer 102 (FIG. 13). When the transfer permission is granted by the host computer 102, the job is transferred from the image processing system A to the image processing system B, and the image processing system A notifies the internal job log memory 101A.
K (FIGS. 11 and 12, FIGS. 14 and 15). on the other hand,
When the host computer 102 permits the transfer of the job, the monitor server 103 registers the ID of the image processing apparatus B to which the job has been transferred to the ID field of the image processing apparatus in the internal job management table (FIG. 16). .

Next, the determination depending on the load of the image processing apparatus and the determination depending on the state of the digital copying machine will be described. In any of the above cases, for a job that does not satisfy the transfer condition, the matching between the job and the image processing system that executes the job is determined next. The determination of consistency between a job and an image processing system that executes the job is performed by the image processing apparatus 101A.
The internal preprocessor examines the job characteristics for the spooled job and checks for the following inconsistencies:

That is, although the job is designated for double-sided printing, the digital copier 100 of the image processing system A
A does not have the function, the job is designated for stapling, but the digital copying machine 1 of the image processing system A
00A does not have the function, the job is specified to be sorted, but the digital copier 1 of the image processing system A
If the function is not provided in 00A, the job is designated for paper deck feeding, but if the digital copier 100A of the image processing system A is not provided with the function, the job is designated for color output, but image processing is performed. This is a case where the digital copying machine 100A of the system A does not have the function.

When the above-described inconsistency state occurs in the image processing system A, the image processing apparatus 101A notifies the monitor server 1 of the fact when polling from the monitor server 103.
Notify 03. The monitor server 103 is the image processing device 1
The job management table (FIG. 16) is updated with information depending on the image processing apparatus at each polling of 01A,
When the transfer condition set in the transfer condition setting (FIGS. 14 and 15) is satisfied, the host computer 102
(FIG. 13).

When the transfer permission is given by the host computer 102, the job is transferred from the image processing system A to the image processing system B, and the image processing system A leaves that fact in the internal job log memory 101AK (FIG. 11 and FIG. 11). 12, FIGS. 14 and 15). On the other hand, when the host computer 102 permits the transfer of the job, the monitor server 103 sets the ID of the image processing apparatus B to which the job has been transferred to the ID field of the image processing apparatus in the internal job management table (FIG. 16). register.

The above determination and transfer are repeated, and the job is transferred from the image processing system A to the image processing system B, and further to the image processing system C depending on the conditions. If the job is determined to be transferred even in the image processing system C, the job is transferred to the HDD inside the monitor server 103 and stored therein (FIGS. 7, 8, 11 and 12).

When the job is transferred from the final transfer destination to the HDD inside the monitor server 103 and stored, the monitor server 103 notifies the host computer 102 of the fact. Also, the job stored in the HDD inside the monitor server 103 is moved to a specific queue in the image processing system A or sent to an arbitrary output device to be forcibly copied / printed, or The setting of whether or not to be transferred to another image processing system may be made by the setting of the load-balanced image processing system administrator.

The processing of a job which has not become a job transfer target or a job settled at a certain transfer destination is sent from the host computer 102 to a spooler 101AF in the image processing apparatus 101A from a processing waiting state. When the processing order comes, the image processing apparatus 101A
Converts the job into bitmap data in the rasterizer PDL processing unit 101AC, and
The bitmap data is stored in the internal frame buffer 101AI. Thereafter, according to the print parameter information included in the previous job, the digital copying machine 10
Print from 0A.

Here, the image processing apparatus 101A issues a print request to the digital copying machine 100A. At this time, if the file developed by the image processing apparatus 101A spans a plurality of pages, the image processing apparatus 101A writes image data to the image storage area of the digital copying machine 100A for each page. When the image data is written in the image storage area, the digital copying machine 100A starts printing. When the printing of the required number of images per page is completed, the digital copying machine 100A notifies the image processing apparatus 101A of the completion. If a paper jam occurs during printing of one page, the host computer 10
2 to that effect. Subsequently, the image processing apparatus 101A transmits the image data of the next page to the digital copying machine 10A.
Send to 0A. This operation is repeated until the last page where the job is developed.

The image processing apparatus 101A instructs the start of printing and, at the same time, starts counting copy / print processing time. The digital copying machine 100A executes a job, that is, executes a function designated as copy / print in a predetermined mode, and notifies the image processing apparatus 101A of a report indicating completion and normal termination. . The image processing apparatus 101A that has received the notification copies /
The timing of the print processing time is stopped, and it is confirmed that a normal operation has been performed. The job log is left in the job log memory 101AK. Here, as a condition of the job log, a record is left even when a normal operation is not performed.
A series of processing steps of a job that has not been transferred is the same in the image processing systems B and C.

The job management table (FIG. 16) created in the monitor server 103 is stored in the monitor server 103 for a certain period of time even after the job is completed. Whether the job is kept for a certain period of time, keeps a certain number of jobs retroactively from the latest job, or deletes the job immediately upon completion of the job depends on the setting conditions of the load distribution type image processing system administrator on the monitor server 103. I do.

As described above, according to the load distribution type image processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the transfer source image processing apparatus 101n transfers the job waiting for processing to the transfer destination image processing apparatus 101n. To transfer to the copier 10
0n and the load of the image processing apparatus 101n, and determines whether or not the condition is satisfied. If the transfer condition is satisfied, the monitor server 1 determines that the transfer condition is satisfied.
03, and the monitor server 103 notifies each image processing apparatus 1
Since polling is performed on the information processing system 01n and a management table is created internally based on the obtained information and information on each image processing system is managed, the following effects are obtained.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment, the operation rate of the image processing apparatus is improved, the waiting time for image processing is reduced, and There is an effect that the load on the image processing apparatus can be comprehensively determined and the overall load can be balanced.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus constituted by a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus executes the program code stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by executing the reading.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS and the like running on the computer are actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0140]

As described above, claims 1 to 15 are provided.
According to the described composite image processing system, the state of the load of each image processing system connected to the network is notified to the management device, and the job can be transferred to any destination that satisfies the transfer conditions. To measure the load between each image processing device, accumulate the measurement data, determine the job transfer, introduce the job transfer destination, and operate the image processing device to improve the system operation rate and distribute the load. This has the effect of improving the rate, reducing the waiting time for image processing, and comprehensively judging the load on each image processing device constituting the system to balance the overall load.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, a composite image processing system is constructed by connecting a plurality of image processing systems configured by connecting an image processing apparatus and an output device on a network. As described above, in the same manner as described above, the operation rate of the image processing apparatus is improved, the waiting time of the image processing is reduced, the load of each image processing apparatus constituting the system is comprehensively determined, and the entire load is balanced. It has the effect of being able to do so.

Further, according to the management device of the present invention, by managing a plurality of image processing systems by the management device, the operation rate of the image processing device can be improved and the image processing can be performed. This has the effect of shortening the waiting time and comprehensively determining the load on each image processing device constituting the system to balance the overall load.

According to the load distribution method of the present invention, by applying the load distribution method to the composite image processing system, the operating rate of the image processing apparatus can be improved and the image processing method can be improved. The waiting time is reduced, and the load on each image processing apparatus constituting the system is comprehensively determined, so that the overall load can be balanced.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, the load distribution method is read out from the storage medium and executed by the composite image processing system, so that the operation rate of the image processing apparatus can be improved as described above. This has the effect of shortening the waiting time for image processing, making it possible to comprehensively judge the load on each image processing device constituting the system, and balance the overall load.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration in which a composite image processing system according to first and second embodiments of the present invention corresponds to claims.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a composite image processing system according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for roughly dividing transfer occurrence conditions into two according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for roughly dividing transfer occurrence conditions into two according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart in the transfer source image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention when a job transfer condition depends on a digital copier connected to the image processing system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart in the transfer source image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the conditions for transferring a job depend on the digital copier connected to the image processing system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart in the image processing system of a final transfer destination when a condition for transferring a job according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention depends on an engine connected to the image processing system.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart in the image processing system of the final transfer destination when a condition for transferring a job according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention depends on an engine connected to the image processing system.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart in the transfer source image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention when a condition for transferring a job depends on a load of an image processing apparatus connected to the image processing system.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart in the transfer source image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention when a condition for transferring a job depends on a load of an image processing apparatus connected to the image processing system.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart in the image processing system of the final transfer destination when the condition for transferring the job according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention depends on the load of the image processing apparatus connected to the image processing system. It is.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart in the image processing system of the final transfer destination when the condition for transferring the job according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention depends on the load of the image processing apparatus connected to the image processing system. It is.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image processing system according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention and an example of transmission and reception of internal communication.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example in which a system administrator designates a transfer destination from a host computer for a job transfer source image processing apparatus according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example in which a system administrator designates a transfer destination from a host computer for a job transfer source image processing apparatus according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a job management table of the monitor server according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart at the time of starting the monitor server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image processing system management table of the monitor server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of storage contents of a storage medium storing a program and related data of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual example in which a program and related data of the present invention are supplied from a storage medium to an apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

2, 10, 18 Image reading means 3, 11, 19 Image forming means 7, 15, 23, 28, 33 Control means 8, 16, 24, 29, 34 Communication means 1, 9, 17, 100A, 100B, 100C Copy Machine 4, 12, 20, 101A, 101B, 101C Image processing device 25, 103 Monitor server 30, 102 Host computer 35, 104 Network 101nA, 101nB Communication interface 101nC Rasterizer PDL processing unit 101nD Image processing unit 101nF Spooler 101nH Control unit 101nI frame Buffer 101nJ Load information storage area 101nK Job log memory

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 15/177 672 G06F 15/177 672B 9A001 674 674A F term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 AR01 AR03 HJ06 HJ08 HK06 HK11 HQ01 HQ17 2H027 DA28 DA42 EJ03 EJ11 EJ13 2H078 EE27 EE30 EE35 EE37 5B021 AA01 AA19 BB01 CC05 EE04 NN06 NN16 5B045 AA01 BB47 GG02 GG04 GG09 JJ08 9A001 CC08 JJ35 KK42 L

Claims (43)

[Claims] 1. A composite image processing system comprising: a plurality of image processing systems each including an output device that prints out an image and an image processing device that controls the output device connected to a network; It has a function of attaching a link that can transfer jobs waiting for processing to each other in one direction or another, and the transfer source image processing apparatus establishes a transfer condition for transferring the job waiting for processing to the transfer destination image processing apparatus. Whether to perform is determined depending on the case of depending on the state of the output device and the case of depending on the load of the image processing device, and when the transfer condition is satisfied, the fact is determined by the network-connected management device. A composite image processing system, comprising: a control unit for periodically notifying a user. 2. The transfer condition depending on the state of the output device is that if the number of prints per unit time of the output device exceeds a set number, an operator error occurs in the output device. If printing cannot be continued, if a serviceman error occurs in the output device and printing cannot be continued, if the accessory required for performing the print job is not attached to the output device, the management key of the output device is input. 2. The composite image processing system according to claim 1, wherein when no management card is inserted into the output device, no ID code is input to the output device. 3. The transfer condition depending on the load of the image processing apparatus includes: when the processing time of the immediately preceding job exceeds a certain time, when the number of pages of the immediately preceding job exceeds a certain number, It is characterized in that when the number of copies of the immediately preceding job exceeds a certain number of copies, when there are more than a certain number of jobs in the queue, and when erroneous transmission of color print jobs and monochrome print jobs occurs. The composite image processing system according to claim 1. 4. The management device includes: a centralized management of a load distribution of the image processing devices; a monitoring of a load between the image processing devices; a setting / permission of the transfer condition of a job between the image processing devices; The status of each output device is managed, and when the load of job processing is concentrated on a specific image processing system or when a failure that cannot be printed on a specific image processing system occurs, the unprocessed job is linked to another link. And a management control unit for notifying a client that has transmitted a job transferred to another image processing apparatus for load distribution to distribute the load to the other image processing apparatuses. The composite image processing system according to any one of the above. 5. A host device on which control application software operates is connected to the network,
Each of the output devices has an image reading function of reading an image from a document under the control of the higher-level device, and an image forming function of forming an image on a recording sheet based on the read image data. An output device, the upper device, an interface function with the management device, a print queue function, a spool function, a function of developing a vector image in a page description language into a raster image, an image processing function, a control function of the output device, and the output device Has a function of managing the number of prints per unit time, a function of estimating the processing time of a received job, and a function of determining a load.
The composite image processing system according to claim 1, wherein management is performed. 6. The management control means of the management device polls each image processing device of each image processing system, obtains the status of each component from each image processing system, and obtains a management table. 6. The composite image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing system manages information of each of the image processing systems. 7. The transfer condition and the transfer destination can be set in the management device in advance, and the management control unit of the management device changes the load state notified from the transfer source image processing device. 7. The composite image processing system according to claim 1, wherein when the transfer condition is satisfied, the transfer condition is determined by comparing the preset condition with a preset condition, and the determination is made to the transfer source image processing apparatus. . 8. The image processing apparatus measures the time from the execution of a job to immediately before the start of printing, and recursively uses past measured data to improve measurement accuracy. A function to detect, a function to detect the number of print copies of a job waiting to be processed, a function to manage the total number of jobs in a print queue waiting to be processed, and a recognition of whether the job waiting to be processed is for color printing or monochrome printing. Function, a function of notifying the management apparatus or another image processing apparatus that has requested a transfer within a predetermined time in the past when the number of jobs waiting to be processed in the print queue becomes equal to or less than a certain amount, In response to an inquiry from the management device, the management device also determines how long the number of jobs waiting to be processed in the print queue becomes a certain amount or less. Or a function of notifying another image processing apparatus that has requested the transfer within the predetermined time in the past, and a function of notifying the management apparatus of the configuration of the image processing system to which the apparatus belongs. 8. The composite image processing system according to any one of 1 to 7. 9. The image processing apparatus of the transfer source, wherein the management control unit of the management apparatus determines whether or not a specific image processing apparatus designated as a job transfer destination from the image processing apparatus of the transfer source can receive a transfer job. The composite image processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a notification is sent to the system. 10. The management control means of the management device,
10. The composite image processing system according to claim 1, wherein an image processing apparatus selected from the transfer source image processing apparatus as a job transfer destination and satisfying the condition is notified to the transfer source image processing apparatus. . 11. The management control means of the management device,
The setting information of the transfer condition is recorded, and the setting of the transfer condition is performed by selecting one of a case where the setting is performed after a password is input from an arbitrary client connected to the network and a case where the setting is performed after a password is input from the operation unit of the management device. The composite image processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the composite image processing system can perform the processing. 12. The transfer condition includes a plurality of components, and the management apparatus sends a transfer operation when any one of the plurality of components is satisfied, and determines whether the plurality of components are to be transferred. If the transfer condition is satisfied, it is possible to select whether to start the transfer operation, and the management control means of the management device, if the transfer destination is not specified by pre-registration in the management device, the image matching the transfer condition 12. The composite image processing according to claim 1, wherein a search is made for a processing system to determine whether or not a job is to be transferred to the image processing system to the higher-level device that issued the job, and then the job is transferred. system. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:
The network traffic is monitored and job transfer is performed when the traffic volume in any unit time is equal to or less than a certain fixed amount, and the unit time and the traffic volume are set in advance by the system administrator in the management device. 13. The composite image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is capable of notifying the image processing apparatus in addition to the transfer condition of a job. 14. The job to be transferred is a job including a raster image after bitmap development and a printing method thereof, or a job including a vector image before bitmapping and a printing method thereof. 3. The composite image processing system according to 2. 15. The composite image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the job to be transferred is a job including a vector image before bitmapping and a printing method thereof. 16. An image processing apparatus in which each image processing system in a composite image processing system having a plurality of image processing systems connected to a network is configured together with an output device for image print output, wherein a job waiting to be processed is transferred. It is determined whether or not the transfer condition to be transferred to the destination image processing device is satisfied depending on the output device state and the case depending on the image processing device load, and when the transfer condition is satisfied, the fact is determined. An image processing apparatus comprising a control unit for periodically notifying the management device connected to the network. 17. A raster image of a vector image in an interface function, a print queue function, a spool function, and a page description language with each of the output devices, the management device, the host device connected to the network and running control application software. Deployment function, image processing function,
17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a control function of the output device, a function of managing the number of prints per unit time of the output device, a function of predicting a processing time of a received job, and a function of determining a load.
An image processing apparatus as described in the above. 18. A function for measuring the time from the execution of a job to immediately before the start of printing, improving the measurement accuracy by using past measurement data recursively, a function for detecting the number of pages of a job in a waiting state, and a processing wait state. A function to detect the number of copies of status jobs, a function to manage the total number of jobs in the print queue waiting to be processed, a function to recognize whether jobs waiting to be processed are for color printing or monochrome printing, A function of notifying the management apparatus or another image processing apparatus that has requested a transfer within a predetermined period of time in the past when the number of jobs waiting to be processed becomes a certain amount or less, and an inquiry from the management apparatus The management device or the past one determines how long the number of waiting jobs in the print queue becomes equal to or less than a certain amount. 18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a function of notifying another image processing apparatus that has requested transfer within a fixed time, and a function of notifying the management apparatus of the configuration of the image processing system to which the image processing system belongs. Image processing device. 19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said control means monitors a traffic amount of said network and transfers a job when a traffic amount in an arbitrary unit time is equal to or less than an arbitrary fixed amount. The image processing device according to any one of the above. 20. A management device connected to a network together with an output device for printing and outputting an image and a plurality of image processing systems each including an image processing device for controlling the output device, wherein a load distribution of the image processing devices is performed. Centralized management, monitoring of loads between the image processing apparatuses, setting / permission of job transfer conditions between the image processing apparatuses, and state management of the output apparatuses. If the load is concentrated or a failure that makes printing impossible in a specific image processing system occurs, the unprocessed job is distributed to other linked image processing devices, and that effect is distributed to other A management device for notifying a client that has transmitted a job to be transferred to the image processing device. 21. The management apparatus according to claim 20, wherein permission / management of load distribution processing of the entire system is performed based on a notification from each of the image processing apparatuses. 22. The management control means polls each image processing device of each image processing system, obtains the status of each component from each image processing system, and creates a management table inside. And managing information of each of the image processing systems.
22. The management device according to 0 or 21. 23. When the transfer condition is satisfied based on the load state notified from the transfer source image processing device, the management control unit determines whether transfer is possible by comparing with a preset condition, and determines whether transfer is possible. The management device according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the management device is notified. 24. The management control unit notifies the transfer source image processing device whether a specific image processing device designated as a job transfer destination from the transfer source image processing device can accept a transfer job. The management device according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that: 25. The image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the management control unit notifies the image processing apparatus that is selected as a job transfer destination from the image processing apparatus of the transfer source and satisfies the condition to the image processing apparatus of the transfer source. 24. The management device according to any one of 24. 26. The management control means records setting information of the transfer condition, and sets the transfer condition after inputting a password from an arbitrary client connected to the network, or from an operating means equipped with a management device. 26. The management device according to claim 20, wherein the management device can be performed by any selection when the password is input. 27. The management control means searches for an image processing system that satisfies the transfer conditions when a transfer destination is not specified by advance registration in the management apparatus main body, and determines whether to transfer a job to the image processing system. 27. The management apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the transfer is performed after confirming the status to a higher-level apparatus that has issued the job. 28. A load distribution method applied to a composite image processing system in which an output device for printing and outputting an image and an image processing system including an image processing device for controlling the output device are connected on a network. The image processing apparatus has a function of attaching a link capable of transferring a job waiting to be processed by the plurality of image processing systems to each other in one direction or the other. It is determined whether or not the transfer condition for transferring to the output device depends on the state of the output device and the case of depending on the load of the image processing device, and when the transfer condition is satisfied, the fact is determined. A load distribution method, comprising a control step of periodically notifying the management device connected to the network. 29. The transfer condition depending on the state of the output device is that if the number of prints per unit time of the output device exceeds a set number, an operator error occurs in the output device. If printing cannot be continued, if a serviceman error occurs in the output device and printing cannot be continued, if the accessory required for performing the print job is not attached to the output device, the management key of the output device is input. 29. The load distribution method according to claim 28, wherein a case where no management card is inserted into the output device, a case where an ID code is not input to the output device, and a case where no management card is inserted into the output device. 30. The transfer condition when depending on the load of the image processing apparatus includes: when the processing time of the immediately preceding job exceeds a certain time, when the number of pages of the immediately preceding job exceeds a certain number, It is characterized in that when the number of copies of the previous job exceeds a certain number of copies, when there are more than a certain number of jobs in the queue, and when a color print job and a monochrome print job are erroneously transmitted. 29. The load distribution method according to claim 28, wherein: 31. The management apparatus, comprising: centralized management of load distribution of the image processing apparatuses; monitoring of a load between the image processing apparatuses; setting / permission of the transfer condition of a job between the image processing apparatuses; The status of each output device is managed, and when the load of job processing is concentrated on a specific image processing system or when a failure that cannot be printed on a specific image processing system occurs, the unprocessed job is linked to another link. 31. The image processing apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a management control unit that distributes the job to another image processing apparatus and notifies a client that has transmitted a job transferred to another image processing apparatus for load distribution. The load distribution method according to any one of the above. 32. A higher-level device on which control application software operates is connected to the network, and each of the output devices has an image reading function of reading an image from a document under the control of the higher-level device, and has a function of reading image data based on the read image data. It has an image forming function of forming an image on recording paper, and each of the image processing devices includes the output device, the host device,
An interface function with the management device, a print queue function, a spool function, a function of developing a vector image into a raster image in a page description language, an image processing function, a control function of the output device, and the number of prints per unit time of the output device It has a management function, a reception job processing time prediction function, and a load determination function, and the management device performs permission / management of load distribution processing of the entire system based on the notification from each of the image processing devices. The load distribution method according to any one of claims 28 to 31, wherein 33. In the management control step of the management device, polling is performed on each of the image processing devices of each of the image processing systems, and the state of each component is obtained from each of the image processing systems to obtain a management table. 33. The load distribution method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of: internally generating information and managing information of each image processing system. 34. The transfer condition and the transfer destination can be set in the management device in advance, and in the management control step of the management device, the load state notified from the transfer source image processing device is set. 34. The load distribution method according to claim 28, wherein, when the transfer condition is satisfied, the transfer condition is determined by comparing the preset condition with the preset condition, and the determination is made to the transfer source image processing apparatus. 35. The image processing apparatus measures the time from execution of a job to immediately before the start of printing, and recursively uses past measured data to improve measurement accuracy. A function to detect, a function to detect the number of print copies of a job waiting to be processed, a function to manage the total number of jobs in a print queue waiting to be processed, and a recognition of whether the job waiting to be processed is for color printing or monochrome printing. Function, a function of notifying the management apparatus or another image processing apparatus that has requested a transfer within a predetermined time in the past when the number of jobs waiting to be processed in the print queue becomes equal to or less than a certain amount, The management apparatus determines how long the number of processing waiting jobs in the print queue in response to an inquiry from the management apparatus falls below a certain amount. 29. The image processing apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising: a function of notifying another image processing apparatus that has requested the transfer within the predetermined time in the past, and a function of notifying the configuration of the image processing system to which the image processing apparatus belongs to the management apparatus. To 3
4. The load distribution method according to any one of 4. 36. The management control step of the management apparatus, wherein the transfer source image processing apparatus determines whether a specific image processing apparatus designated as a job transfer destination from the transfer source image processing apparatus can accept a transfer job. The load balancing method according to any one of claims 28 to 35, wherein the load balancing method is notified. 37. The management control step of the management apparatus, wherein an image processing apparatus selected as a job transfer destination from the transfer source image processing apparatus and meeting the conditions is notified to the transfer source image processing apparatus. Claims 28 to 36
The load distribution method according to any one of the above. 38. In the management control step of the management device, setting information of the transfer condition is recorded, and the setting of the transfer condition is performed after inputting a password from any client connected to the network, and The method according to any one of claims 28 to 37, wherein the method can be performed by selecting one of the following methods after inputting a password from the operation means. 39. The transfer condition is composed of a plurality of components, and the management apparatus sends a transfer operation when any one of the plurality of components is satisfied and a transfer condition when the one of the plurality of components is satisfied. If the transfer destination is not specified by the pre-registration with the management device, it is possible to select the case where the transfer operation is started when the transfer condition is satisfied. 39. The load distribution method according to claim 28, wherein a processing system is searched to determine whether or not to transfer a job to the image processing system to the higher-level device that issued the job, and then transfer the job. . 40. The control step of the image processing apparatus, wherein the traffic of the network is monitored, and a job transfer is performed when the traffic of an arbitrary unit time is equal to or less than an arbitrary fixed amount. 40. The image processing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the traffic amount can be set in advance by the system administrator to the management apparatus and can be notified to the image processing apparatuses in addition to the transfer conditions of the job. 3. The load distribution method according to 1. 41. The job to be transferred is a job including a raster image after bitmap development and a printing method thereof, or a job including a vector image before bitmapping and a printing method thereof. 30. The load balancing method according to 29. 42. The load distribution method according to claim 30, wherein the job to be transferred is a job including a vector image before bitmapping and a printing method thereof. 43. A program for executing a load distribution method applied to a composite image processing system in which an output device for printing and outputting an image and an image processing system having an image processing device for controlling the output device are connected on a network. Is a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the load distribution method has a function of attaching a link that can transfer a job waiting to be processed by the plurality of image processing systems to each other in one direction or one direction. The transfer source image processing device depends on whether the transfer condition for transferring the waiting job to the transfer destination image processing device is satisfied or not depending on the state of the output device and on the load of the image processing device. In each case, and when the transfer condition is satisfied, the fact is periodically sent to the management device connected to the network. Storage medium characterized by comprising a control step of knowledge.