JP2017226166A - Image forming system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the possibility that a printed matter is left in an image forming apparatus. A terminal tracking unit 43 repeatedly specifies a current position of a mobile terminal device 1 that has transmitted a job request. The job management unit 42 (a) predicts the time required for printing a print job based on the job request, and (b) forms an image from the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 based on the current position of the mobile terminal device 1. The travel time to the apparatus 2 is specified, (c) it is determined whether or not the specified travel time is less than the required print time, and (d1) if the specified travel time is not less than the required print time, the print job is If it is determined that the specified movement time is equal to or shorter than the time required for printing (d2), the print job is executed. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus identifies a printable startable range according to the number of printouts, and starts printing when it is determined that the mobile terminal has moved to the printable startable range (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2015-166152A

  However, in the above-described technique, even if the user carrying the mobile terminal moves within the print startable range, the user does not always move directly toward the image forming apparatus 2, for example, when an operation occurs during the movement. In some cases, the user does not immediately go to the installation site of the image forming apparatus to collect the printed matter. In addition, even if the linear distance from the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus is short, the movement path from the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus may be long, and the above-described technique may not start printing at an appropriate timing. In that case, the printed material is left in the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an image forming system and an image forming apparatus that reduce the possibility that a printed matter is left in the image forming apparatus.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes a mobile terminal device that transmits a job request, and an image forming device that receives the job request from the mobile terminal device and executes a print job according to the received job request. The image forming apparatus includes a job management unit and a terminal tracking unit. The terminal tracking unit repeatedly specifies the current position of the mobile terminal device that has transmitted the job request. The job management unit (a) predicts a time required for printing the print job based on the job request, and (b) based on a current position of the mobile terminal device based on a current position of the mobile terminal device. The moving time to the image forming apparatus is specified, (c) it is determined whether or not the specified moving time is equal to or shorter than the required printing time, and (d1) the specified moving time is not equal to or shorter than the required printing time. In this case, the print job is not immediately executed and is put into a standby state. (D2) When it is determined that the specified movement time is equal to or shorter than the required print time, the print job is executed.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that receives a job request from a portable terminal device and executes a print job in accordance with the received job request, and includes a job management unit and a terminal tracking unit. The terminal tracking unit repeatedly specifies the current position of the mobile terminal device that has transmitted the job request. The job management unit (a) predicts a time required for printing the print job based on the job request, and (b) based on a current position of the mobile terminal device based on a current position of the mobile terminal device. The moving time to the image forming apparatus is specified, (c) it is determined whether or not the specified moving time is equal to or shorter than the required printing time, and (d1) the specified moving time is not equal to or shorter than the required printing time. In this case, the print job is not immediately executed and is put into a standby state. (D2) When it is determined that the specified movement time is equal to or shorter than the required print time, the print job is executed.

  According to the present invention, the possibility that the printed material is left in the image forming apparatus is reduced.

  These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configurations of the mobile terminal device 1 and the image forming apparatus 2 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of users each carry a mobile terminal device 1 such as a smartphone, and an image forming apparatus 2 (such as a multifunction device or a copy machine) is also a base of those users (such as an office). ). In the system shown in FIG. 1, a print job request can be transmitted from the portable terminal device 1 to the image forming apparatus 2.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configurations of the mobile terminal device 1 and the image forming apparatus 2 in FIG.

  The portable terminal device 1 is a portable device such as a smartphone, and includes a wireless communication device 11, a position detection device 12, a display device 13, an input device 14, a storage device 15, an arithmetic processing device 16, and the like.

  The wireless communication device 11 is an internal device that performs data communication according to a predetermined wireless communication standard such as a wireless local area network (LAN) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

  The position detection device 12 is an internal device that detects the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 using, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System).

  The display device 13 is an internal device such as a liquid crystal display that displays an operation screen or the like to the user. The input device 14 is an internal device such as a touch panel that detects a user operation.

  The storage device 15 is a nonvolatile storage device such as a flash memory or a hard disk. The storage device 15 stores a program 21 and the like.

  The arithmetic processing unit 16 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. Realize.

  The driver 22 transmits a job request for a print job to the image forming apparatus 2 using the wireless communication apparatus 11 or the like.

  In addition, the driver 22 notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 obtained from the position detection device 12 using the wireless communication device 11 or the like. In response to a request from the image forming apparatus 2, the driver 22 notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of the current position, or after transmitting a job request, periodically and autonomously until the job request print job is completed. The current position is notified to the image forming apparatus 2.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 2, an image forming apparatus 2 is a multifunction machine or the like used by a plurality of registered users, and includes a printing apparatus 31, an image reading apparatus 32, an operation panel 33, a wireless communication apparatus 34, and a wired communication apparatus. 35, a storage device 36, and a controller 37.

  The printing device 31 is an internal device that prints an image page by page on a print sheet in an electrophotographic manner based on print image data.

  The image reading device 32 is an internal device that reads a document image from a document and generates image data (that is, scan data).

  The operation panel 33 is disposed on the housing surface of the image forming apparatus 2 and includes a display device that displays various types of information to the user, and an input device that receives user operations. For example, a liquid crystal display is used as the display device. A key switch, a touch panel, or the like is used as the input device.

  The wireless communication device 34 is an internal device that performs data communication according to a predetermined wireless communication standard such as a wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The wired communication device 35 is a circuit that is connected to a network such as a wired LAN and performs data communication with other devices connected to the network. When the image forming apparatus 2 communicates with the mobile terminal apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 2 may directly communicate with the mobile terminal apparatus 1 and the wireless communication apparatus 34, or via a relay device (not shown). The communication may be performed by the wireless communication device 34 or the wired communication device 35.

  The storage device 36 is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory or a hard disk. The storage device 36 stores a program 41 and the like.

  The controller 37 includes a computer, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like, and controls internal devices in the image forming apparatus 2 and executes various data processing. The controller 37 operates as a job management unit 42, a terminal tracking unit 43, and a warning unit 44 by executing the program 41 with a computer.

  The job management unit 42 receives a job request using the wireless communication device 34 or the wired communication device 35, and is instructed by the received job request using an internal device such as the printing device 31 or the image reading device 32. Run a job (such as a print job).

  The job management unit 42 (a) predicts the time required for printing the print job based on the received job request, and (b) the current mobile terminal device based on the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 that transmitted the job request. 1 specifies the travel time from the current position to the image forming apparatus 2, (c) repeatedly determines whether or not the identified travel time is equal to or shorter than the required print time, and (d1) requires the specified travel time to be printed. If it is not less than the time, the print job is not immediately executed and is placed in a standby state. (D2) If it is determined that the specified movement time is less than the required print time, the print job is executed.

  Note that the job management unit 42 identifies a movement path using map information indicating a passage in a base (such as an office floor) and the arrangement position of the image forming apparatus 2 and moves along the movement path. The travel time may be predicted. In that case, the map information is stored in the storage device 36.

  Further, the job management unit 42 stores each user's past travel route and travel time as a log in the storage device 36 and the like, and predicts the travel time based on the past travel route and travel time. Also good.

  In the first embodiment, when the job management unit 42 determines that the specified movement time is equal to or shorter than the required print time, and there is a print job being executed, the specified movement time is determined as the print job being executed. If it is shorter than the movement time from the current position of the portable terminal device 1 that transmitted the job request to the image forming apparatus 2, the print job being executed is interrupted and the print job is immediately executed according to the received job request. In this case, the job management unit 42 resumes the interrupted print job after the print job based on the received job request is completed.

  However, if the current movement time for the print job being executed is less than the predetermined value, the job management unit 42 does not interrupt the print job being executed and does not interrupt the print job being executed. A print job based on the received job request may be executed after the job is completed.

  The terminal tracking unit 43 repeatedly specifies the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 that has transmitted the job request received by the job management unit 42. That is, the terminal tracking unit 43 communicates with the driver 22 of the mobile terminal device 1 using the wireless communication device 34 or the wired communication device 35, repeatedly receives a notification indicating the current position of the mobile terminal device 1, and The current position of the terminal device 1 is continuously specified.

  The warning unit 44 measures the actual travel time from the position of the mobile terminal device 1 to the image forming apparatus 2 when the job request is received, and the measured travel time is a predetermined time from the standard time based on the shortest path. If it is longer, a warning is output to the operation panel 33 and the mobile terminal device 1. The warning is output to the user from the operation panel 33 or the mobile terminal device 1 as a voice message or a display message. The warning unit 44 may output a warning to the operation panel 33 or the mobile terminal device 1 when the average value of the measured travel times is longer than the standard time based on the shortest path by a predetermined time or more. The standard time is set in consideration of the average number of printed sheets of each user, the distance of the shortest path from each user's seat to the image forming apparatus 2, and the like. Further, when the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 is stopped and does not change for a predetermined time or more near a predetermined location (for example, the boss's seat) on the route, the warning unit 44 does not output the above warning. Also good.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 2 in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, the job management unit 42 monitors whether or not a job request from the mobile terminal device 1 is received (step S <b> 1). When the job request is received from the mobile terminal device 1, according to the job request. The required printing time for executing the print job is predicted (step S2). For example, the job management unit 42 calculates the required time until the start of printing of the first page and the product of the number of prints specified from the job request and the print time per sheet as the required print time.

  Further, the job management unit 42 specifies the mobile terminal device 1 that is the transmission source of the job request, uses the terminal tracking unit 43 to specify the current position of the specified mobile terminal device 1, and the mobile terminal device 1. The moving time from the current position to the installation position of the image forming apparatus 2 is predicted (step S3). For example, the job management unit 42 calculates the travel time described above based on the distance between the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 and the installation position of the image forming apparatus 2 and a predetermined travel speed. In addition, as this moving speed, a default value may be used or an actually measured average moving speed may be used. In addition, the installation position of the image forming apparatus 2 is stored in advance in the storage device 36 as map information or the like, and the job management unit 42 reads information on the installation position of the image forming apparatus 2 from the storage device 36, and the image forming apparatus 2. Specify the installation position of 2.

  Then, the job management unit 42 determines whether or not the current moving time is equal to or shorter than the required printing time (step S4).

  If the current moving time is not less than the required printing time, the job management unit 42 returns to step S3, identifies the current position of the portable terminal device 1 again, and determines the current position of the portable terminal device 1 from the current position of the portable terminal device 1. The travel time to the installation position is predicted, and it is determined again whether or not the current travel time is less than the required print time.

  On the other hand, if the current moving time is equal to or shorter than the required printing time, the job management unit 42 determines whether there is a job being executed (step S5).

  If the current moving time is equal to or shorter than the time required for printing and there is no job being executed, the job management unit 42 immediately executes the print job for the received job request (step S6).

  On the other hand, when there is a job being executed when the current movement time is less than the required printing time, the job management unit 42 determines that the movement time for the mobile terminal device 1 that has transmitted the received job request is being executed. It is determined whether or not the mobile terminal device 1 that has transmitted the job request for the job is shorter than the travel time (step S7).

  If the travel time for the mobile terminal device 1 that transmitted the received job request is shorter than the travel time for the mobile terminal device 1 that transmitted the job request for the job being executed, the job management unit 42 executes the print job being executed Is interrupted (step S8), and the received job request print job is immediately executed (step S6).

  On the other hand, if the travel time for the mobile terminal device 1 that transmitted the received job request is not shorter than the travel time for the mobile terminal device 1 that transmitted the job request for the job being executed, the job management unit 42 The print job of the received job request is put into a standby state without interrupting the print job (step S9). After the print job being executed is completed, the print job of the received job request is immediately executed (step S6).

  When the received job request print job is completed, the job management unit 42 determines whether there is an interrupted print job (step S8) (step S10), and if there is an interrupted print job, The print job is resumed (step S11).

  Note that the warning unit 44 starts timing when a job request is received in step S1, and until the moving time is less than a predetermined value (that is, the moving time is substantially zero, and the user collects the printed matter). Time) (until it can be regarded as a thing) is measured as a measured value of the travel time, and the measured value of the travel time is stored in association with the mobile terminal device 1. And as above-mentioned, the warning part 44 outputs a warning to the operation panel 33 or the portable terminal device 1 when the measured value (or the average value) of the movement time is longer than the standard time by a predetermined time or more.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the terminal tracking unit 43 repeatedly specifies the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 that has transmitted the job request. The job management unit 42 (a) predicts the time required for printing a print job based on the job request, and (b) forms an image from the current position of the mobile terminal device 1 based on the current position of the mobile terminal device 1. The travel time to the apparatus 2 is specified, (c) it is determined whether or not the specified travel time is less than the required print time, and (d1) if the specified travel time is not less than the required print time, the print job is If it is determined that the specified movement time is equal to or shorter than the time required for printing (d2), the print job is executed.

  Accordingly, since the print job is started so that the print job is just completed when the user arrives at the installation place of the image forming apparatus 2, the waiting time of the printed material is small, and the printed material is left in the image forming apparatus. Less likely.

Embodiment 2. FIG.

  In the second embodiment, when there are a plurality of standby print jobs, the job management unit 42 changes the moving time by a predetermined fluctuation range (for example, 2 meters) or more for a certain print job among the plurality of standby print jobs. When the period during which the print job has not been performed continues for a predetermined time or longer, the print job is not executed even if the travel time for the print job falls below the required print time, and the travel time for the job has changed by a predetermined fluctuation range or more Execute the print job.

  Since the other configuration and operation of the image forming system according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, a print job of another user is preferentially executed over a print job of a user who has not moved toward the image forming apparatus 2 for some reason. That is, even if a user's print job that has not moved toward the image forming apparatus 2 is executed for some reason, the printed material is highly likely not to be collected immediately. Is likely to be recovered immediately. Therefore, the print job of the user moving toward the image forming apparatus 2 is preferentially executed.

Embodiment 3 FIG.

  In the third embodiment, when the required print time is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the job management unit 42 executes printing immediately for the predetermined number of sheets in the print job, and specifies the required print time for the remaining unprinted print number. Thereafter, when the above moving time becomes equal to or shorter than the time required for printing the remaining number of prints in the print job, the remaining printing is started.

  For example, the predetermined value is set based on the standard time described above. When the required printing time is longer than the standard time described above, the predetermined number of preceding prints are executed.

  Note that other configurations and operations of the image forming system according to the third embodiment are the same as those in the first or second embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, since a predetermined number of sheets are printed in advance, the time required for printing the remaining number of printed sheets is shorter than the time required for printing all the printed sheets, and the user can The print job is easily started so that the print job is completed in accordance with the time of arrival at the installation location 2.

Embodiment 4 FIG.

  In the fourth embodiment, the job management unit 42 monitors the current travel time and the remaining print time for a print job being executed. Then, the job management unit 42 is executing when there is another print job in the standby state when the movement time of the print job being executed increases and the movement time becomes longer than the remaining print time. Is interrupted, and another print job in the standby state is executed.

  Since the other configuration and operation of the image forming system according to the fourth embodiment are the same as those of any of the first to third embodiments, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, when another user or the like occurs while the user is moving toward the image forming apparatus 2, the user moves away from the image forming apparatus 2. Another print job is preferentially executed. That is, since a user who moves away from the image forming apparatus 2 is not likely to collect the printed matter immediately, a user's print job different from the user's print job is preferentially executed.

Embodiment 5 FIG.

  In the fifth embodiment, when there is a single print output destination (e.g., output tray), the job management unit 42, after the printing is completed, until the above moving time becomes less than a predetermined value (that is, the moving time is substantially omitted). Even if another job request is accepted, the execution of the print job by another job request is delayed until it becomes zero and it can be assumed that the user has collected the printed matter.

  In this case, the warning unit 44 may output a warning indicating the execution delay of the print job to the mobile terminal device 1 or the operation panel 33 that has transmitted another job request.

  Note that the other configurations and operations of the image forming system according to the fifth embodiment are the same as those in any of the first to fourth embodiments, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, printed materials of a plurality of users are not mixedly loaded at the discharge destination.

  Various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. That is, such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in any of the first to fifth embodiments, when a print job is interrupted and another print job is executed, if there are a plurality of output destinations such as a sorter, the output destination of the print job to be interrupted A different discharge destination may be designated as the discharge destination of the printed matter of another print job.

  Further, in any of the first to fifth embodiments, when a print job is interrupted and another print job is executed, the warning unit 44 has only one discharge destination, and the printed material of the print job to be interrupted, When it is determined that a printed matter of another print job is mixed at the discharge destination, a warning may be output to the operation panel 33 or the mobile terminal device 1.

  Further, in any of the first to fifth embodiments, even if the above-described movement time becomes less than a predetermined value (that is, even if the movement time becomes substantially zero and the user can assume that the printed material has been collected), printing is performed. If the job is not completed, the warning unit 44 identifies the remaining time required for printing of the print job. If the remaining time required for printing exceeds a predetermined value, the operation panel 33 or the mobile terminal device 1 is used. A warning may be output.

  The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image forming apparatus that can be used by a plurality of users.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal device 2 Image forming apparatus 42 Job management part 43 Terminal tracking part 44 Warning part

Claims (9)

A mobile terminal device that transmits a job request;
An image forming apparatus that receives the job request from the portable terminal device and executes a print job according to the received job request;
The image forming apparatus includes a job management unit and a terminal tracking unit,
The terminal tracking unit repeatedly identifies the current position of the mobile terminal device that transmitted the job request,
The job management unit (a) predicts a time required for printing the print job based on the job request, and (b) based on a current position of the mobile terminal device based on a current position of the mobile terminal device. The moving time to the image forming apparatus is specified, (c) it is determined whether or not the specified moving time is equal to or shorter than the required printing time, and (d1) the specified moving time is not equal to or shorter than the required printing time. In this case, the print job is not immediately executed and is put into a standby state, and (d2) when it is determined that the specified movement time is equal to or shorter than the required print time, the print job is executed.
An image forming system. In an image forming apparatus that receives a job request from a mobile terminal device and executes a print job according to the received job request,
A job management unit;
A terminal tracking unit,
The terminal tracking unit repeatedly identifies the current position of the mobile terminal device that transmitted the job request,
The job management unit (a) predicts a time required for printing the print job based on the job request, and (b) based on a current position of the mobile terminal device based on a current position of the mobile terminal device. The moving time to the image forming apparatus is specified, (c) it is determined whether or not the specified moving time is equal to or shorter than the required printing time, and (d1) the specified moving time is not equal to or shorter than the required printing time. In this case, the print job is not immediately executed and is put into a standby state, and (d2) when it is determined that the specified movement time is equal to or shorter than the required print time, the print job is executed.
An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the job management unit predicts the movement time based on a movement route and a movement time of the mobile terminal device specified in the past.   When the job management unit determines that the specified travel time is equal to or shorter than the required print time, and there is a print job being executed, the specified travel time is a job request for the print job being executed. The print job being executed is interrupted and the print job is immediately executed according to the received job request if it is shorter than the travel time from the current position of the transmitted portable terminal device to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.   When there are a plurality of standby print jobs, the job management unit continues a period during which the movement time has not changed by a predetermined fluctuation range or more for a certain print job among the plurality of standby print jobs. The print job is not executed even when the movement time becomes less than the required printing time, and the print job is executed when the movement time changes by more than the predetermined fluctuation range. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2.   If the required time for printing is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the job management unit immediately executes printing for a predetermined number of sheets in the print job, and the moving time is equal to or less than the required time for printing the remaining number of prints in the print job. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the remaining printing is started when the time is reached.   The job management unit may execute an active print job when there is another print job in a standby state when the travel time of the print job being executed increases and the travel time becomes longer than the remaining print time. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print job is interrupted and another print job in a standby state is executed.   When the job management unit accepts another job request until the movement time is less than a predetermined value after printing is completed when there is only one print output destination, the job management unit executes the print job according to the other job request. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is delayed.   When the actual travel time from the position of the portable terminal device to the image forming apparatus when the job request is received is measured, and the measured travel time is longer than a standard time based on the shortest path by a predetermined time or more The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a warning unit that outputs a warning.

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