JP2000075981A - Job state display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make easily findable a job without causing a job expected to be executed to disappear from a screen suddenly even if it enters an in-execution state by displaying the state of the job according to job display classifications. SOLUTION: Various buttons, etc., and a liquid crystal display device are provided in the front of an operation display part 11. When a job state confirmation button is pressed, a display job management part 30 displays a job state confirmation picture on the liquid crystal display device. In the job state confirmation picture, prepared lists are displayed selectively according to the job display classifications. The job display classifications are determined according to the device that a job uses mainly. For example, since a copy job and a printer job use an image formation part 15 mainly, they are put together in one list. Since a job which is being executed and a job expected to be executed are also displayed using the same list, a job in printing and a job expected to be printed are displayed at the same time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a job status display device suitable for use in a document processing apparatus capable of executing a plurality of types of jobs in parallel, such as a digital copy job, a print job, an image file job, and a facsimile job.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, a conventional document processing apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 shows a conventional document processing apparatus 10 as a whole. In FIG. 1, an operation display unit 11, an image reading unit 12, an image storage unit 13, an image processing unit 14, an image forming unit 15, and an image discharging unit 16 are shown. , A nonvolatile memory 18, a network control unit 19, and a communication control unit 20 are connected to a bus 21. A main control unit 22 is also connected to the bus 21, and each unit is controlled by the main control unit 22. The non-volatile memory 18 stores a job management table 23.

[0003] The operation display section 11 receives input operations from the user and performs various displays.
The image reading section 12 optically scans a document to generate electronic image data. The image storage unit 13 stores image data to be processed. The image processing unit 14 performs synthesis, conversion, and the like of image data. The image forming unit 15 creates a hard copy from image data by, for example, electrostatic recording (xerography) technology. The image discharging section 16 guides and discharges the hard copy generated by the image forming section 15 to a tray or the like. If necessary, functions such as sorting can be added. The network control unit 19
It connects to the network. The communication control unit 20 connects to a telephone line.

This document processing apparatus is designed to perform four types of jobs: copy, printer, scanner, and fax.

[0005] The copy job is a process for optically reading a document and creating a copy thereof, and is a well-known process. The job of the printer is a process for printing document data sent via a network. The fax job is a process for printing facsimile data transmitted via a telephone line and transmitting predetermined image data as facsimile data to the outside via the telephone line. These are also well-known jobs.

[0006] The job of the scanner is a process of storing image data generated by optically reading a document in a file (scan-to-file). The file is stored in a predetermined storage location of the document processing apparatus main body (scan-to-mail box) or stored in an external computer (scan-to-server).
Which external computer stores the file can be specified by the job template. In the former case, the user accesses the file in the document processing apparatus main body. In the latter case, the user of the external computer accesses the external computer to use the file.

In a document processing apparatus that performs such various jobs, when a user requests a job status display, the job status is displayed on the operation display unit 11. This display shows the job management table 2
3 is used. The job management table 23 manages jobs by separately storing them in a running queue and a running queue. Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a job status is displayed by switching between a screen displaying the job being executed (FIG. 2) and a screen displaying the job waiting to be executed (FIG. 3). I have. 2 and 3
In the example, the screen for displaying the job whose execution has been completed is also switched and displayed.

FIG. 2 shows a screen displaying a job being executed. The screen displays a document number,
The job type, destination / content, the page being executed, and the like are displayed. In this state, when the user operates the tag of “waiting for execution” or “completion of execution”, a screen for a job waiting for execution or a screen for a job completed is displayed. FIG. 3 shows a screen for a job waiting to be executed, on which information about a job waiting to be executed is displayed.

However, such a job status display mode has the following problems. First, on the screen for displaying a job waiting to be executed (FIG. 3), when a state of a job is to be checked and a predetermined job transits from a state waiting for execution to a state being executed, the job disappears from the screen. This gives the user the illusion that the job is gone. In addition, since the user does not know whether the job to be confirmed is being executed or is waiting for execution, the user does not know which screen to open, and must open the screen one by one to check. Therefore, the operation was complicated.

In this specification, a document processing apparatus is not limited to a stand-alone document processing apparatus, but a network (LA) for providing a document processing environment.
N, WAN) may operate in cooperation. The job status of the document processing apparatus may be displayed by using a personal computer, a workstation, or another computer system connected to the document processing apparatus via a network or a cable.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and does not suddenly disappear from the screen even if a job waiting for execution transitions to a running state. It is an object of the present invention to provide a job status display method that does not require much trouble to find a job.

[0012]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a storage means for storing data relating to a job status in a job status display device, and receiving a job status display instruction from a user. Means for storing, in response to the job status display instruction, data relating to the status of a job included in a corresponding one of the job display categories according to a plurality of job display categories predetermined in relation to the job type; And display means for taking out and displaying the information.

In this configuration, since the jobs are not displayed separately with the attributes of waiting for execution and being executed, even if the job transits from the waiting state to the executing state, the display position of the job does not basically differ. As a result, there is no illusion that the job has run out. Also, since the job status is displayed in a job display category predetermined in relation to the job type, a target job can be easily found by using the job type as a clue.

In this configuration, the data relating to the status of the job may be classified and stored according to a predetermined classification.

[0015] The type of job may include at least a copy job and a print job.
Further, each of the job display categories can be defined to include at least one job type.

Further, each of the job display categories may be defined based on a device to be used.
In this case, the device may include a device that optically reads a document to generate image data and a device that generates a print image on paper based on the image data. Further, a device for connecting to a telephone line may be included.

Further, the job display classification defined based on a device that optically reads the original to generate image data may include a job for storing a read image. In addition, the job display classification defined based on a device that generates a print image on a sheet based on the image data may include a copy job and a print job. Further, the job display classification defined based on the device connected to the telephone line may include a facsimile transmission job.

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a storage means for storing data relating to a job state in a job execution control device using a job execution wait queue and a job execution queue. Means for receiving a job status display instruction from a user, and according to the job status display instruction, included in one corresponding job display classification according to a plurality of job display classifications predetermined in relation to the type of job. Means for extracting data relating to the status of a job from the job execution waiting queue and the job executing queue of the storage means;
Display means for displaying data relating to the status of a job included in one job display category.

Also in this configuration, since the jobs are not displayed separately according to the attributes of "waiting for execution" and "executing", even if the job transits from the waiting state to the executing state, the display position of the job does not basically differ. As a result, there is no illusion that the job has run out. In addition, since the job status is displayed in a predetermined job display category in association with the job type, a target job can be easily found based on the job type.

In the above arrangement, when the attribute of the job displayed by the display means changes, the display content may be changed according to the changed attribute.

Further, the executed jobs may be displayed together with the job display classification.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 4 shows the document processing apparatus of the embodiment as a whole. In FIG. 4, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by corresponding reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted. In FIG. 4, a job management unit 31 corresponds to the job management table 23 in FIG. The display job management unit 30
The control for displaying the job according to the job display classification adopted in the present embodiment is performed. The job display classification will be described later with reference to FIGS. The display job management unit 30 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

Here, in order to facilitate understanding, details of the operation display unit 11 will be described. FIG. 5 shows the appearance of the operation display unit 11. In this figure, various buttons and the like are provided on the front right side of the operation display unit 11. A liquid crystal display device 50 with a touch panel function is provided mainly on the left side of the front surface.

Buttons include a start button 51, a stop button 52, a reset button 53, a power saving button 5
4, a clear button 55, an interrupt button 56, a numeric key button / symbol key button 57, a specification setting button 58, a job status confirmation button 59, a menu button 60, and the like.

The start button 51 is for starting a job specified by the user. Stop button 52
Is to stop the job. Reset button 53
Resets all set values in the mode to the default values. The power saving button 54 switches the document processing apparatus to the power saving mode or returns from the power saving mode. The clear button 55 is for canceling the input value in the numerical value input mode. The interrupt button 56 is for executing an interrupt job or returning from the interrupt job to the immediately preceding job. The interruption state is indicated by the light emitting diode 56a. Numeric key buttons / symbol key buttons 57 are used to input numerical values and the like. The specification setting button 58 is for setting the configuration of the document processing apparatus. The job status confirmation button 59 is used to display a job status confirmation screen on the liquid crystal display 5.
This is a button that is displayed at 0, and is particularly important in this embodiment. The menu button 60 is for displaying a menu screen on the liquid crystal display device.

The user presses the menu button 60 to display a menu screen, sets the job type and job parameters using the menu screen and ten keys, and then presses the start key 51 to execute the job on the document processing apparatus. To instruct. Job information is generated for the instructed job, and the job management unit 3 uses this job information.
1 manages the job. This will be described later.

In the document processing apparatus of this embodiment, a plurality of jobs such as digital copy processing, print processing, image file processing, and facsimile transmission / reception processing are executed in parallel.
The user can know the status of a plurality of jobs by pressing the job status confirmation button 59. If necessary, the user can select a job and instruct to cancel it.

Next, the job display classification on the job status confirmation screen will be described. 6 and 7 show the appearance of an example of the job status confirmation screen. In this example, the job display classification is determined based on a device (resource) mainly used by the job or a device that becomes a bottleneck of the job. That is, since the copy job and the printer job mainly use the image forming unit 15,
In one list. Jobs of image files (scanners) are collected in one list because they mainly use the scanner. In addition, the fax job mainly uses the communication control unit 20, so that the fax job is collected into one list.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the job status confirmation screen is configured to selectively display a plurality of lists prepared according to the job display classification. In the example shown, copy / printer list, scanner list,
A list of faxes is provided. In addition, a list for displaying the communication result is provided separately from the list of these jobs. Each list is provided with a corresponding tag display, and by selecting this tag display, the corresponding list is displayed so as to appear in the foreground. The list includes a page corresponding to the entry, and the page is switched by selecting a page switching button display. By operating the "close" button display, the window of the job status confirmation screen can be closed.

If there is a job to be canceled among the jobs displayed on the job status confirmation screen, it is selected by a touch operation or the like, and the job status confirmation button 5
9 (FIG. 5) to cancel the job. A plurality of jobs to be canceled can be selected at the same time, and the cancel selection can be canceled by touching the job record for which cancellation has been selected again.

FIG. 6 shows a mode of displaying a list of copy / printer jobs, and FIG. 7 shows a mode of displaying a list of jobs of an image file (scanner). The same applies to a fax.

It should be noted that in the examples of FIGS. 6 and 7, both the running job and the waiting job are displayed using the same list. For example, in FIG. 6, a job being printed and a job waiting to be printed are simultaneously displayed. Also, in FIG. 7, the job being transferred and the job waiting to be transferred are simultaneously displayed.
Therefore, even if the job changes from the execution waiting state to the executing state, the job is continuously displayed on the display screen, and the target job is not lost.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the list is divided according to the job display classification of the device (resource) used by the job, so that it is possible to easily cope with the device used by the job whose job status is to be known. You can get to the list of jobs. In this case, the job is serialized by the device to be used, so whether the job is executed immediately or not based on the number of preceding jobs waiting to be executed in this list or based on the parameters. , Information on the waiting time until execution can be obtained. If necessary, it is also possible to operate the preceding job which is likely to be a bottleneck (stop or change the order) and execute the job smoothly.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show other appearance designs of the job status confirmation screen. In this example, a list is prepared based on the type of job. 8 and 9
And FIG. 10 show a list of copy jobs, a list of printer jobs, and a list of scanner jobs, respectively. A list of fax jobs is displayed as well. Also in this example, the same effect as the examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be obtained.

FIG. 11 shows job information. In FIG. 11, the job information includes, for example, a job ID, a file number, a job type, a job parameter (a destination, a running page, a total page, etc.), and the next Has a pointer to the job. The job management unit 31 manages jobs using the job information.

FIG. 12 shows that job information is stored in the job management unit 31.
2 shows a state managed by the executing queue and the execution waiting queue. The job information is basically processed on a first-in first-out basis in the executing queue and the execution queue. Of course, the priority may be set according to the job type. The job management unit 31 can perform an operation on each job.
The contents of these queues are changed accordingly. The job management unit 31 itself is a normal one, and is not directly related to the present invention, so that detailed description thereof will not be given.

FIG. 13 shows the display job management queue 30a. The display job management queue 30a stores the job I
A record including D and a pointer to the next job is held as a list. The job display management unit 31 acquires the corresponding job information using the job ID included in the display job management queue 30a, and displays the job status on the job status confirmation screen.

FIGS. 14 to 18 show the display job management queue 3.
0a is generated. In this embodiment, when the user instructs a job status confirmation screen display request using the operation display unit 11, a list of default job display categories (for example, print jobs) is displayed. Further, when the user specifies a specific job display category, a specified list is displayed. When the job status confirmation screen display request is displayed and each time a new job display classification is designated, the operation of FIGS. 14 to 18 or its subroutine is executed.

The contents of the processing shown in FIGS.
Since it can be easily understood from the drawings, detailed description is omitted, and only the outline of each routine is described.

FIG. 14 shows a process performed when the user presses the confirmation button. In this example, the copy job list is set as a default, and after the confirmation button is operated, a job status confirmation window is opened and the copy job list (FIG. 8) is displayed. In the routine of FIG. 14, a job status confirmation window is created, and processing using a copy job as a search key is performed. In the routine of FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the executing key 31a and the execution waiting key 31b are searched using the copy job as a search key, and job information on the copy job is obtained.

FIG. 15 shows a process of searching the executing queue 31a using a predetermined search key (for example, a copy job) and incorporating a hit job into the display job management queue 30a. The variable S1 indicates that there is no job to be listed when it is zero, and indicates that there is a job to be listed when it is one. In the first step of FIG. 15, this is reset to zero (because the display job management queue 30a is empty), and is set to 1 when the job is incorporated into the display job management queue 30a.

FIG. 16 shows a process of searching the execution queue 31b using the above-described predetermined search key and incorporating a hit job into the display job management queue 30a. By the routines of FIGS. 15 and 16, all the running and waiting jobs that match the search key can be incorporated into the display job management queue 30a.

FIG. 17 shows an operation for displaying a list of jobs. If the variable S1 is 1, the display job management queue 30a
To display the job in a list. When the variable S1 is zero, a message "no job" is displayed.

FIG. 18 shows a state in which the default copy job is displayed after the job status confirmation window is opened.
The operation when the user operates the “close” button, the copy tab, the printer tab, and the scanner tab is shown. When the copy tab, printer tab, and scanner tab are operated, the search in FIGS. 15 and 16 is performed using the corresponding job type as a key, and a list of corresponding jobs is displayed. Although a fax job is omitted in FIG. 18 for convenience, a fax can be set as a search key. Further, the same processing can be performed on the communication result.

This is the end of the description of the embodiment.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made. For example, an execution result (communication result) list is provided in the job management window to display the completed jobs. However, a button display for opening the execution result window is provided in each job list, and this is operated. At that time, an execution result corresponding to the list may be displayed.
Further, the execution results may be displayed collectively irrespective of the list.

Further, the executed jobs may be left in the list within an allowable range.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the operation display unit for displaying the job status is provided in the document processing apparatus itself. The job status of the document processing apparatus may be displayed by using a personal computer, a workstation, or another computer system connected via the PC.

It is to be noted that, if the job is continuously displayed within the allowable range even after shifting to the running status on the conventional job status confirmation screen waiting for execution, the problem that the job disappears suddenly can be avoided. Of course, in this case, a display indicating that the operation is being performed must be performed. The executed job status confirmation screen may also continue to display the executed jobs within an acceptable range. In this case as well, it is preferable to display that execution has been completed.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a job changes from waiting for execution to being executed while checking the status of the job, the job is not lost and the job disappears. No illusion. Also, a job can be easily found.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional document processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of a conventional job status confirmation screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another appearance of a conventional job status confirmation screen.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a document processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an operation display unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a job status confirmation screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another appearance of the job status confirmation screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the appearance of another job status confirmation screen of the above embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another appearance of the other job status confirmation screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing still another appearance of the other job status confirmation screen described above.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating job information according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an in-execution queue and an execution queue of the job management unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display job management queue of the job display management unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an operation in the above embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation in the above embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the operation in the above embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the operation in the above embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the operation in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Document processing device 11 Operation display unit 12 Image reading unit 13 Image storage unit 14 Image processing unit 15 Image forming unit 16 Image discharging unit 18 Non-volatile memory 19 Network control unit 20 Communication control unit 21 Bus 22 Main control unit 30 Display job management Unit 30a Display job management queue 31 Job management unit 31a Running queue 31b Execution queue 50 Liquid crystal display device 51 Start button 52 Stop button 53 Reset button 54 Power saving button 55 Clear button 56 Interrupt button 57 Numeric keypad / symbol key button 58 Specification setting Button 59 Job status confirmation button 60 Menu button

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 BB10 CQ34 2H027 DA50 EJ11 EJ13 EJ15 GB02 GB05 GB11 ZA07 5B021 AA05 AA19 CC04 DD18 PP05 QQ04 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA30 AB02 AB08 AB20 AB22 AB23 AC35 AB42 AC42

Claims (13)

[Claims] A storage unit configured to store data relating to a job status; a unit configured to receive a job status display instruction from a user; and a plurality of predetermined job type related to the job type in response to the job status display instruction. A display unit that retrieves, from the storage unit, data relating to the status of a job included in one corresponding job display classification according to the job display classification and displays the data. 2. The job status display device according to claim 1, wherein the data relating to the status of the job is classified and stored according to a predetermined classification. 3. The job type includes at least a copy job and a print job.
Described job status display device. 4. The job status display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the job display categories is defined to include at least one job type. 5. The job status display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the job display categories is defined based on a device to be used. 6. The job status display device according to claim 5, wherein the device includes a device that optically reads a document to generate image data and a device that generates a print image on paper based on the image data. 7. The job status display device according to claim 6, wherein said device further includes a device for connecting to a telephone line. 8. The job status according to claim 6, wherein the job display classification defined based on a device that optically reads the original to generate image data includes a job for storing a read image. Display device. 9. The job according to claim 6, wherein the job display classification defined based on a device that generates a print image on paper based on the image data includes a copy job and a print job. Status display device. 10. The job status display device according to claim 7, wherein the job display classification defined based on the device connected to the telephone line includes a facsimile transmission job. 11. A storage unit for storing data relating to a job status using a job execution queue and a job execution queue, a unit for receiving a job status display instruction from a user, In accordance with a plurality of job display categories predetermined in relation to the job type, data relating to the status of the job included in the corresponding one job display category is stored in the storage means in the job execution waiting queue and the job execution queue. And a display unit for displaying data relating to the status of a job included in the one job display category extracted. 12. When the attribute of a job displayed by the display means changes, the display content is changed according to the changed attribute.
7. The job status display device according to 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11. 13. A method according to claim 1, wherein executed jobs are collectively displayed separately from said job display classification.
6. The job status display device according to 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12.