Abstract:
An input and output environment suited for more various input originals and recording mediums is provided by enabling a plurality of jobs having totally different input conditions and output conditions to be connected. This invention relates to an image forming apparatus including at least one image input section that fetches image data on an original, and at least one image output section printing out the image data. The image forming apparatus includes a job information fetching section for fetching set values as a plurality of different jobs whenever input and output conditions for the image data differ, and for connecting the plurality of different jobs as a series of jobs, and a printout control section for controlling the image output section to execute a series of printout processings according to the output conditions for the respective plurality of jobs connected as the series of jobs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a compound machine that functions as a copying machine and a printer. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention enables integrating individual output results and outputting the integrated output result as one job for print jobs such as a copying job for which a plurality of original types, original sizes, input method, output media types, and output formats are present.  
         [0002]     Conventionally, several techniques for allowing setting another job while one job operates are proposed.  
         [0003]     According to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-235976, when a manual feed job is set while a certain job is being executed, a setting of media types (an original type and an original size) in a manual feed tray can be made. According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-169685, a technique for integrating a plurality of jobs, and partially performing duplex print is disclosed. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-108845, a screen display method for clarifying a mutual relation among a plurality of electronic documents when integrating them with one another is disclosed. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-252290, a technique for integrating a plurality of pieces of document data and input image data and outputting the integrated data is disclosed. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-156984, a technique for integrating a plurality of print documents and displaying contradictory points is disclosed.  
         [0004]     According to each of these conventional techniques, however, during a series of processings, a user often continuously uses one input device. No technique for switching various input conditions and various input methods and for handling the processings as a series of jobs, and that for improving image quality and operativity for a print operation for which a media type is switched over to another media type during the operation or for a copying operation for which color/monochrome types, original types, output formats, and output mediums are present have been proposed yet.  
         [0005]     Further, even though a technique for integrating jobs having different input conditions is proposed, a technique for dividing jobs to processings including an output processing, and then re-integrating the divided jobs even including switchover of an image processing according to the media type or the original type has not been proposed yet.  
         [0006]     Meanwhile, with spread of full-color copying machines, a demand for improving the image quality of the copying machine increasingly expands. At present, therefore, the number of requirements for image attribute parameters and those for output processing formats to be designated for an input original rapidly increases. In one copying operation, it is difficult to provide the copying operation that can satisfy all input image attributes and input method conditions. For instance, if photography-base originals and character-base originals or one-sided originals and double-sided originals are mixed in a series of documents, or originals having dark grounds and originals having white grounds are mixed such as a newspaper, it is difficult to perform an image input operation that satisfy these conditions by one operation.  
         [0007]     Furthermore, as output mediums, it is difficult to designate a medium to an OHP sheet, a paperboard, or the like only for output pages of a designated original. Actually, with an increase in the number of color originals and an improvement in image quality, a demand for using a color-dedicated output medium in a designated portion so as to partially incorporate a color picture, or for partially using a paperboard so as to prevent both-sided off-set is increasing.  
         [0008]     Moreover, as the output method, it is difficult to perform duplex output or rotating output only for a designated range of the original.  
         [0009]     To solve these disadvantages, there is known a method for classifying input images according to input means, output medium, or output modes, performing a copying operation according to their respective attributes, and manually integrating the resultant images after all the operations are finished. This method, however, involves quite complicated labor and long time, so that a throughput of the apparatus is disadvantageously, considerably deteriorated by this method.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention provides an input and output environment suited for more various input originals and recording mediums by enabling a plurality of jobs totally different in input conditions and output conditions to be integrated.  
         [0011]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including at least one image input section that fetches image data on an original, and at least one image output section printing out the image data, comprising: job information fetching means for fetching set values as a plurality of different jobs whenever input and output conditions for the image data differ, and for connecting the plurality of different jobs as a series of jobs; and printout control means for controlling the image output section to execute a series of printout processings according to the output conditions for the respective plurality of jobs connected as the series of jobs.  
         [0012]     According to the one aspect of the present invention, one user intended job can be divided and output into a plurality of types of input jobs, print conditions during output can be designated, and the integrated print processing can be carried out during output. Therefore, for one job intended by the user for which various originals are mixed, the high-quality printout throughput of the apparatus for the job for which the various originals are mixed can be considerably reduced.  
         [0013]     Furthermore, another invention according to the present invention has been achieved in view of a need for an output side to integrate pieces of image data from various inputs, which arises with an improvement in flexibility of an input side, and a need of output processings according to image attributes of the image data, and proposes a control method that satisfies the needs.  
         [0014]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including at least one image input section that fetches image data of an original, and at least one image output section printing out the image data, comprising: job information fetching means for fetching set values as a plurality of different jobs whenever input and output conditions for the image data differ, and for connecting the plurality of different jobs as a series of jobs; inter-job output condition monitoring means for limiting, among the respective plurality of jobs connected as the series of jobs, the set values of the other jobs contradicting set values of the output conditions for the standard job; and printout control means for controlling the image output section to execute a series of printout processings according to the output conditions for the respective plurality of jobs connected as the series of jobs.  
         [0015]     According to another aspect of the present invention, the high-quality printout throughput of the apparatus for the job for which various originals are mixed can be considerably reduced. In addition, by prohibiting settings of the setting conditions contradicting the output conditions designated for the standard job from being changed for the other jobs, the number of output failures caused by print attribute setting errors can be decreased. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view which shows an external appearance of a color image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows an example of internal configuration of the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram which shows system configuration of the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows an operation panel in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram which shows configuration of a touch panel display in the operation panel shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram which shows functional configuration of control sections in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart which shows a flow of overall control related to job connection of the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  shows one example of a menu screen displayed when a job integration processing is selected in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart which shows procedures for setting jobs related to original input in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart which shows procedures for setting jobs related to original input in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  shows a menu screen when the job setting is made in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  shows one example of a restriction of functions of another job according to a setting content of a leading job in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  show one example of management tables for integrally managing connected job data in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart which shows control procedures when the connected jobs are printed out in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0030]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  are explanatory views for a method for calculating the total converted number of sheets to be compared with the number of limited sheets related to a finishing function in the color image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]     An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The present invention will be described hereinafter assuming that the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment is a multifunction color copying apparatus.  
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view which shows an external appearance of a color image forming apparatus (multifunction copying apparatus) according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]     An automatic original feeder (“ADF”)  207  that also serves as an original cover, and that automatically feeds sheet-like originals one by one is provided on the upper portion of an apparatus main body  200  to be freely opened and closed. An operation panel  202  that includes various operation keys, various display units, and the like for designating copying conditions and start of copying is provided in the front portion on an upper surface of the apparatus main body  200 . This operation panel  202  will be described later in detail.  
         [0034]     A paper feed cassette  257  that can contain a small volume of paper, and a paper feed cassette for a large volume of paper  255  that can contain a large volume of paper are detachably attached respectively at the right side portion of the apparatus main body  200 . Incidentally, the paper feed cassette  257  includes a manual feed tray  256  for manually supplying the paper.  
         [0035]     Paper feed cassettes  252 ,  253 , and  254  is detachably attached in the lower portion of the apparatus main body  200 . Each paper feed cassette  252 ,  253 , and  254  contain the same size paper placed in landscape or portrait orientation, and the paper is selected according to need. A paper discharge tray  362  that receives copied paper is provided at the left side portion of the apparatus main body  200 .  
         [0036]     An insertion port  204  for inserting a magneto-optical disk serving as a storage medium that stores image data and the like is provided below the operation panel  202  on the front surface of the apparatus main body  200 . A magneto-optical disk apparatus (not shown) is provided within the main body  200 .  
         [0037]     A parallel port (not shown), a serial port (not shown), an SCSI (see  FIG. 3 ), and the like are provided on a rear surface of the apparatus main body  200 . The parallel port connects the apparatus to an external apparatus such as a personal computer (“PC”) when the apparatus operates as a printer. The serial port connects the apparatus to the external apparatus such as the PC for reading internal management information on the apparatus and setting functions of the apparatus during maintenance of the apparatus. The SCSI enables holding command/data communication between the apparatus and an external controller that operates as a master.  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram structurally showing an example of internal configuration of the multifunction image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0039]     A scanner section  50  that serves as acquisition means for acquiring image data and a printer section  52  that serves as image forming means if a copying function and a facsimile function are to be realized are provided within the apparatus main body  200 .  
         [0040]     An original mount  212  on which a read target, that is, an original D is mounted, and which consists of transparent glass, and the ADF  207  that automatically feeds the original on the original mount  212  are provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body  200 . This ADF  207  is provided to be freely opened and closed relative to the original mount  212 , and also functions as an original presser that closely attaches the original D mounted on the original mount  212  to the original mount  212 .  
         [0041]     The ADF  207  includes an original tray  208  in which the original D is set, an empty sensor  209  that detects whether the original is present, a pickup roller  214  that takes out the originals from the original tray  208  one by one, a paper feed roller  215  that carries the originals thus taken out, an aligning roller pair  216  that align tip ends of the respective originals to one another, an aligning sensor  286  that is provided upstream of the aligning roller pair  216  and that detects whether an original arrives, a size sensor  287  that detects a size of the originals D, and a transport belt  218  that is arranged to cover substantially entirely the original mount  212 . A plurality of originals set upward in the original tray  208  are taken out in a descending order of pages, that is, taken out sequentially from a final page, aligned by the aligning roller pair  216 , and transported to a predetermined position of the original mount  212  by the transport belt  218 .  
         [0042]     In the ADF  207 , a reverse roller  220 , a non-reversal sensor  221 , a flapper  222 , and a paper discharge roller  223  are provided on the end portion opposite to the aligning roller pair  216  across the transport belt  218 . The original D image information on which is read by the scanner section  50 , to be described later is fed out from onto the original mount  212  by the transport belt  218 , and discharged onto an original discharge section  224  provided on the upper surface of the ADF  207  through the reverse roller  220 , the flapper  221 , and the paper discharge roller  222 .  
         [0043]     If a rear surface of the original D is to be read, the flapper  222  is switched, whereby the original D transported by the transport belt  218  is reversed by the reverse roller  220  and then fed to the predetermined position on the original mount  212  by the transport belt  218  again.  
         [0044]     The ADF  207  includes a paper feed motor (not shown) that drives the pickup roller  214 , the paper feed roller  215 , and the aligning roller pair  216 , and a transport motor (not shown) that drives the transport belt  218 , the reverse roller  220 , and the paper discharge roller  223 .  
         [0045]     The scanner section  50  provided within the apparatus main body  200  includes a light source  225 , such as a fluorescent lamp, for illuminating the original D mounted on the original mount  212 , and a first mirror  226  that deflects a reflected light from the original D in a predetermined direction. The light source  225  and the first mirror  226  are attached to a first carriage  227  provided below the original mount  212 . A size sensor  217  that detects the size of the original mounted on the original mount  212  is attached onto this first carriage  227 . The first carriage  227  is provided to be movable in parallel to the original mount  212 , and is reciprocated downward of the original mount  212  by the drive motor through a toothed belt or the like which is not shown.  
         [0046]     Further, a second carriage  228  that can be moved in parallel to the original mount  212  is provided below the original mount  212 . A second mirror  230  and a third mirror  231  that sequentially deflect the reflected light from the original D that has been deflected by the first mirror  226  are attached to the second carriage  228  so that deflection angles of the second and the third mirrors  230  and  231  are at a right angle against each other. The second carriage  228  is driven relative to the first carriage  227  by the toothed belt or the like that drives the first carriage  227 , and moved in parallel and along the original mount  212  at half a speed of that of the first carriage  227 .  
         [0047]     An imaging lens  232  that converges the reflected light from the third mirror  231  on the second carriage  228  and a CCD sensor  234  that receives the reflected light converged by the imaging lens  232 , and that performs photoelectric conversion are provided below the original mount  212 . The imaging lens  232  is provided to be movable into a plane including a light axis of the light deflected by the third mirror  231  through a drive mechanism. The imaging lens  232  images the reflected light at a desired magnification by its movement. The CCD sensor  234  converts the incident reflected light into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal corresponding to the read original D.  
         [0048]     The printer section  52  includes a laser exposure apparatus  240  that functions as exposure means. The laser exposure apparatus  240  includes a semiconductor laser  241  serving as a laser light source, a polygon mirror  236  serving as a scanning member that continuously deflects laser lights emitted from the semiconductor laser  241 , a polygon motor  237  serving as a scanning motor that drives the polygon mirror  236  to rotate at a predetermined number of revolutions to be described later, and an optical system  242  that deflects the laser lights from the polygon mirror  236 , and that introduces the deflected laser lights to a photosensitive drum to be described later. The laser exposure apparatus  240  thus constituted is fixed to and supported by a support frame, to be described later, of the apparatus main body  200 .  
         [0049]     The semiconductor laser  241  is controlled to be turned on and off according to the image information on the original D read by the scanner section  50 . The laser lights emitted from the semiconductor laser  241  are directed to photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d , respectively, through the polygon mirror  236  and the optical system  242 . Peripheral surfaces of the respective photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d  are scanned relative to the laser lights, thereby forming electrostatic latent images on the peripheral surfaces of the respective photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d . In  FIG. 2 , the laser exposure apparatus  240  common to respective color components is shown. Alternatively, laser exposure apparatuses  240  may be provided separately for the respective color components.  
         [0050]     The image forming section  52  includes the photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d  that are provided substantially at a center of the apparatus main body  200 , and that are rotatable as image carriers. Desired electrostatic latent images exposed by the laser lights from the laser exposure apparatus  240  are formed on the peripheral surfaces of the respective photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d.    
         [0051]     An electrostatic charge charger  245  that charges the peripheral surface with predetermined charges, a developer  246  that supplies a toner serving as a developing agent to the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface and that develops the electrostatic latent image at a desired image density, a separation charger  247  that separates a transfer target material fed from a paper feed cassette  252 ,  253 ,  254 ,  255 ,  257 , or the like, that is, a copy paper P from the photosensitive drum, a transfer charger  248  that transfers a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum to the copy paper P, a separation claw  249  that separates the copy paper P from the peripheral surface, a cleaner  250  that cleans up a residual toner on the peripheral surface, and a charge neutralizer (not shown) that neutralizes the peripheral surface are arranged on the peripheral surface of each of the photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d  in this order.  
         [0052]     The paper feed cassettes  252 ,  253 , and  254  that can be drawn out from the apparatus main body  200  are arranged in the lower portion within the apparatus main body in a stacked state. Sheets of copy paper having different sizes are contained in the respective cassettes  252 ,  253 , and  254 . A paper feed cassette for a large volume of paper  255  is provided sideways of these cassettes  252 ,  253 , and  254 . Sheets of copy paper having a frequently used size, e.g., about 3,000 sheets of A4-size copy paper are contained in the paper feed cassette for a large volume of paper  255 . Further, a paper feed cassette  257  also serving as a manual feed tray  256  is detachably attached upward of the paper feed cassette for a large volume of paper  255 .  
         [0053]     A transport pathway  258  that extends from each cassette through a transfer section located between the photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d  and the transfer charger  248  is formed within the apparatus main body  200 . A fixing device  260  is provided on a terminal end of the transport pathway  258 . A discharge port  261  is formed on a sidewall of the apparatus main body  200  opposed to the fixing device  260 , and a finisher  300  is attached to the discharge port  261 .  
         [0054]     Pickup rollers  263  each of which takes out sheets from the paper feed cassettes  252 ,  253 ,  254 ,  255 , and  257  one by one are provided near the cassettes  252 ,  253 ,  254 ,  255 , and  257 , respectively. Many paper feed roller pairs  264  for transporting the sheets of copy paper P taken out by the pickup rollers  263  via the transport pathway  258  are provided on the transport pathway  258 .  
         [0055]     On the transport pathway  258 , a resist roller pair  265  are provided upstream of the photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d . The resist roller pair  265  corrects an inclination of each taken-out copy paper P, aligns tip ends of the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d  to a tip end of the each copy paper P, and feed the copy paper P to the transfer section at a same speed as a moving speed of the peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d . An aligning sensor  266  that detects whether the copy paper P arrives is provided in front of the resist roller pair  265 , that is, on a paper feed roller  264  side.  
         [0056]     The sheets of copy paper P taken out from the respective cassettes one by one by the pickup roller  263  is fed to the resist roller pair  265  from the paper feed roller pair  264 . The tip end of each copy paper P is aligned by the resist roller pair  265 , and then the copy paper P is fed to the transfer section.  
         [0057]     In the transfer section, the developing agent images, i.e., the toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d  are transferred onto the paper P by the transfer charger  248 . The copy paper P onto which the toner images are transferred is separated from the peripheral surface of each of the photosensitive drums  244   a  to  244   d  by functions of the separation charger  247  and the separation claw  249 , and transported to the fixing device  260  through a transport belt  267  that constitutes a part of the transport pathway  258 . After the developed image is fused and fixed onto the copy paper P by the fixing device  260 , the copy paper P is discharged to a discharge tray  362  provided in the finisher  300  through the discharge port  261  by the paper feed roller pair  268  and a paper discharge roller pair  269 .  
         [0058]     An automatic duplex device (“ADD”)  270  that reverses the copy paper P passed through the fixing device  260  and that feeds the copy paper P to the resist roller pair  265  again is provided below the transport pathway  258 . The ADD  270  includes a temporary collecting section  271  that temporarily collects the sheets of copy paper P, a reversal pathway  272  that is branched from the transport pathway  258 , reverses the copy paper P passed through the fixing device  260  and introduces the copy paper P to the temporary collecting section  271 , a pickup roller  273  that takes out the sheets of copy paper P collected in the temporary collecting section  271  one by one, and a paper feed roller  275  that feeds the sheets thus taken out to the resist roller pair  265  through the transport pathway  274 . Further, a sorting gate  276  that selectively sorts the sheets of copy paper P to the discharge port  261  or the reversal path  272  is provided in a branch portion between the transport pathway  258  and the reversal pathway  272 .  
         [0059]     If duplex copying is performed, the copy paper P passed through the fixing device  260  is introduced to the reversal pathway  272  by the sorting gate  276 , temporarily collected in the temporary collecting section  271  in a reversal state, and then fed to the resist roller pair  265  through the transport pathway  274  by the pickup roller  273  and the paper feed roller pair  275 . The tip end of the copy paper P is aligned by the resist roller pair  265 , the copy paper P is fed again to the transfer section, and a toner image is transferred onto the rear surface of the copy paper P. Thereafter, the copy paper P is discharged into the paper discharge tray  362  in the finisher  300  through the transport pathway  258 , the fixing device  260 , and the paper discharge roller  269 .  
         [0060]     In addition, using this ADD  270 , the paper can be discharged with the image-printed surface put downward. Namely, similarly to the duplex copying, an image is transferred and fixed onto the surface of the paper, the paper is temporarily collected in the temporary collecting section  271 , and passed through the pickup roller  273  and the paper feed roller pair  275  through the transport pathway  274 , the tip end of the paper is aligned by the resist roller pair  265 , and the paper is discharged into the paper discharge tray  362  through the transport pathway  258 , the fixing device  260 , and the paper discharge roller  269 .  
         [0061]     The finisher  300  includes a roller  305  that abuts a rear end of the discharged paper P against a back wall to thereby align the paper P, a paper presser  30  that presses a plurality of discharged sheets of paper P, and an execution mechanism  302  that executes finishing items such as stapling, saddle stitching, or hole punching.  
         [0062]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram which shows configuration of a control system in the multifunction image forming apparatus according to this embodiment.  
         [0063]     The image forming apparatus includes a system CPU  400 , a flash ROM  401  for storing programs and fixed data, a font ROM  402  for converting text data into font data, a nonvolatile RAM (“NVRAM”)  403  for operation and data storage, and a DRAM  404 .  
         [0064]     The CPU  400  controls entirety of the present apparatus. In this embodiment, the CPU  400  controls respective functions in accordance with an instruction signal from the operation panel  202 , a signal input from a communication line, and signals input from various external interfaces.  
         [0065]     A scanner interface (“SIF”)  405  receives image data from the scanner section  50 . An image processing circuit  406  carries out image editing processings such as an image quality improving processing, an enlargement/reduction processing, a pixel thinning processing, and a transposition reverse processing to a designate region by marker detection. A printer interface (“PIF”)  407  transmits the image data to the printer section  52 . A page memory (PM)  408  stores the image data processed by the image processing circuit  406  and waiting for output in units of pages, and includes therein a codec that performs compression and expansion.  
         [0066]     The respective devices related to these image signal processings are connected to one another through an image bus  412 , and control signals are exchanged between the CPU  400  and the respective devices by a system bus  411  at a high speed.  
         [0067]     The image bus  412  is a characteristic bus provided so that the apparatus operates as the copying machine. In order to guarantee a real-time operation of the copying machine, operations for allowing the image data input from the scanner section  50  to be received by the SIF  405 , subjected to various editing processings such as the image quality improving processing and the enlargement/reduction processing by the image processing circuit  406 , and output to the printer section  52  by the PIF  407 , are carried out in parallel (which operations will be generically referred to as “basic copying”). Among boards connected to the image bus  412 , boards unnecessary for the respective operations are set in passed states.  
         [0068]     Amass storage device (e.g., HDD)  409  stores the image data applied from external apparatuses, image data on printing of a plurality of sheets of paper from the scanner section  50 , and the like.  
         [0069]     A printer network controller (“PRNC”)  410  includes an interface with the printer section  52  for controlling the copying operation and the image forming function when the apparatus operates as the printer. In addition, the PRNC  410 , which is connected to a LAN through a built-in device such as a network interface card, exercises a protocol control and data transfer/compression/expansion controls for receiving print data from a device such as an external PC through the LAN, buffering the data, and transferring the data toward the printer  52 .  
         [0070]      FIG. 4  shows a configuration example of the operation panel  202 .  
         [0071]     The operation panel  202  includes a touch panel display  500 , a start key  501 , a stop key  502 , a clear key  503 , ten keys  504  for setting numbers, a key  505  including therein an light emitting device (LED) for selecting the original size and the cassette, a key  506  including therein an LED for selecting the paper size, a copy magnification setting key  507 , a print density setting key  508 , an image mode select key  509 , a color/monochrome setting key  510 , and the like.  
         [0072]     The ten keys  504  are arranged similarly to ten keys arranged on a push-button telephone so as to be able to be shared between the copying function and the facsimile function.  
         [0073]     For example, if five copies are to be produced, a menu on the touch panel display  500  is switched to ‘COPY’, a desired processing (e.g., duplex copying) is selected, and key “5”, in the ten keys is depressed. If so, this number is displayed in a specific area on the touch panel display  500 . After a user&#39;s confirmation of the display, the user sets the original and depresses the start key  501 , thereby starting the copying operation.  
         [0074]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram which shows configuration of the touch panel display  500 .  
         [0075]     The touch panel display  500  is constituted so that a touch panel  520  is superposed on a liquid crystal display  521 . In the touch panel  520 , a transparent resistor is uniformly coated on a transparent substrate, and transparent electrodes are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals in both X and Y directions. Under control of a touch panel control section  522 , the respective transparent electrodes in the X and Y directions of the touch panel  520  are sequentially applied with voltages in constant directions. A position instruction operation to the touch panel  520  is carried out using a dedicated conductive pen or a user&#39;s finger. The touch panel control section  522  monitors resistances between the electrodes in the X and Y directions, and detects a position at which the resistance is locally reduced in accordance with the instruction using the conductive pen or the user&#39;s finger by calculation based on resistances between the electrodes.  
         [0076]     A display control section  523  that drives the liquid crystal display  521  to display is connected to the liquid crystal display  521 . A video RAM (“VRAM”)  524  that stores display data in units of display pixels is connected to the display control section  522 .  
         [0077]     In the touch panel display  500  constituted as stated above, the CPU  400  (see  FIG. 3 ) included in a main control section reads position data obtained by the touch panel control section  522 , and executes a processing corresponding to this position data. If manuscript input is to be carried out, for example, the CPU  400  executes a keyboard display processing. Specifically, the data in the VRAM  524  corresponding to the position indicated on the touch panel  520  is reversed from a non-display state to a display state, and the data is displayed on the liquid crystal display  521 . Further, an operation parameter is input by selecting a key board display displayed on the liquid crystal display  521  and one button from among various setting buttons. As can be seen, this touch panel display  500  can be used for purposes in a wide range.  
         [0078]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram which shows functional configuration of control sections in the color image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. The control sections correspond to the control sections and the like such as the programs and fixed data stored in the ROM  401 , the CPU  400  that execute the programs and the like, and the touch panel control section  522 . Functionally, the control sections can be showed by  FIG. 6 .  
         [0079]     A scanner control section  530  corresponds to a scanner control ASIC, scanner control firmware that conducts a scanner drive control and an ADF control when an image is input, and an image processing unit for preprocessing that conducts a shading correction, that are mounted in the scanner section  50  and the like.  
         [0080]     A printer control section  531  corresponds to a printer control ASIC, an output-side image processing ASIC, a printer operation control firmware that conducts a printer control and a paper transport control during printing, and a printer-side image processing firmware, that are mounted in the printer section  52 . The printer control section  531  includes an interface between the apparatus and a printer driver such as the PC. Using the interface, the printer control section  531  holds a command-status communication with the printer driver for receiving and transmitting a control command and a status signal, respectively, and control a print data communication. The printer control section  531  also controls execution of both printout of the image data input from the scanner section  50  and output of the image data transmitted from the printer driver.  
         [0081]     Each of the scanner control section  530  and the printer control section  531  includes its own control CPU and realizes high-speed control. Each of the control CPU&#39;s holds a command-status communication with the system CPU  400  shown in  FIG. 3 , controls synchronized operations of the display, the scanner, and the printer, or the like, and realizes the copying operation and the printout operation to be carried out by the overall apparatus.  
         [0082]     An input and output operation control section  532  includes an image processing unit and an interface with the scanner control section  530  and the printer control section  531 . an operation start instruction received by an overall control section  33  and the like triggers the input and output operation control section  532 , to exercise a timing control for driving the scanner section  50  and the printer section  52 . At the same time, the input and output operation control section  532  calculates image processing parameters, set the parameters to the image processing circuit  406 , and controls the copying function. The timing control means, for example, designation of an ADF driving timing, a scanner driving timing, a timing of a processing for modifying an image expanded in the memory, and designation of a print start timing, and a next original input start timing, and the like. A secure/release command received from a display control section  534  and related to printer resources or the like is notified to the printer control section  531 .  
         [0083]     The display control section  534  is composed of a display control software for controlling the operation panel  202  described with respect to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The display control section  534  transmits operation information on the operation panel  202  to the overall control section  533 , receives various state changes that occur to the apparatus from a machine state management section  535  as information and reflects the received information in the display. Further, the display control section  534  receives information on a processing result and a progress of the processing such as a copying result, the number of copies, and size information from the overall control section  533 , and displays the received information in the display. A display method specifically means that an LED on the operation panel  202  is turned on and that a message is displayed on the liquid crystal display  521 .  
         [0084]     The overall control section  533  always monitors an operation state of the overall apparatus, and executes an exclusive control over resources shared among a plurality of functions such as the scanner section  50  and the printer section  52 , a preferential operation for copying and print data printing, a screen switching operation, and the other operations. For example, if a copying screen is being operated or the copying is set preferentially executable, then the overall control section  533  prohibits the print data printing for a predetermined period of time. Conversely, if the print date printing is started, the overall control section  533  switches the screen to now-printing display, and limits execution of the copying operation. Furthermore, the overall control section  533  exercises a time control such as timer monitoring, and appropriately exercises a menu switching control over the display control section  534  and the like depending on situations.  
         [0085]     The machine state management section  535  monitors a machine state notified from the scanner control section  530  and the printer control section  531 , specifically monitors information on paper clogging, jam release, and opening and closing of a front cover, and notifies the monitored state to the overall control section  533  and the display control section  534 , thereby reflecting an error state in display or in a determination as to whether the copying operation is executable.  
         [0086]     Further, the machine state management section  535  manages a machine recovery operation when an error is released or a job is finished in accordance with an instruction from the overall control section  533 . The recovery operation means herein a preparation operation for the next copying operation such as initialization of a position of an indicator in the scanner section  50  and a warming up operation for a heat roller section.  
         [0087]     An apparatus-external apparatus data transfer control section  536  includes the PRNC  410  shown in  FIG. 3 , and the scanner and printer connected to the apparatus through the LAN, or communication control software for communicating a control signal and image data with a digital copying machine. The PRNC  410  is composed of a network interface card (“NIC”), a buffer memory, and the like.  
         [0088]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart which shows a flow of overall control related to job connection of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment.  
         [0089]     On an initial menu screen for copying operation (not shown), options of a job-connected print operation or a normal copying operation are displayed. At the beginning of the copying operation, the image forming apparatus determines which option is selected by the user (in a step S 600 ). If the user selects the normal copying operation, the apparatus executes the normal copying processing (in a step S 601 ) and returns to an operation waiting state.  
         [0090]     If the user selects the job-connected print operation, the apparatus displays a menu screen shown in  FIG. 8  (in a step S 602 ). This menu screen includes an “original input” key (icon)  550  for instructing information on jobs to be connected to be fetched by inputting the original (reading the original), a “file select” key  551  for instructing the information on the jobs to be connected to be fetched from a file already registered as the information on the jobs to be connected, a “cancel” key  552  for invalidating a job connection mode, and a “complete” key  553  for instructing completion of selection of the jobs to be connected.  
         [0091]     The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment displays the menu screen shown in  FIG. 8 , and then determines which of the display keys  550  to  553  is operated (in steps S 603  to S 605  and S 609 ).  
         [0092]     If the “cancel” key  552  is operated, the apparatus returns to the determination processing for determining whether the job connection function is selected (in the step S 600 ).  
         [0093]     If the “file select” key  551  is operated, the apparatus executes a file data select processing, to be described later in detail, for selecting one of the file data stored in the memory (in a step S 607 ), and returns to the key operation waiting state while the information connection function is being selected (in the step S 602 ).  
         [0094]     If the “original input” key  550  is operated, the apparatus acquires data, mainly reading of the original, to be described later in detail (in a step S 608 ), and returns to the key operation waiting state while the information connection function is being selected (in the step S 602 ).  
         [0095]     If the “complete” key  553  is operated, the apparatus executes a selected job-integrated print processing, to be described later in detail (in a step S 610 ), and then returns to an operation waiting state.  
         [0096]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart which shows in detail procedures (in a step S 608  of  FIG. 7 ) for controlling job connection by the input of the original when the “original input” key  550  shown in  FIG. 7  is operated.  
         [0097]     If the processing enters this sub-routine, the image forming apparatus determines whether a job to be set this time is a leading job of jobs to be integrated (in a step S 620 ).  
         [0098]     If the job is the leading job, the apparatus reads a default set values for job parameters from the ROM  401 , the mass storage device  409 , the NVRAM  403 , or the like (in a step S 621 ). If the job is not the leading job, the apparatus reads master set values for the job parameters from the mass storage device  409 , the NVRAM  403 , or DRAM 404  or the like (in a step S 622 ). The master set values are, for example, set values for the leading job.  
         [0099]     Thereafter, the apparatus compares the parameters with the master set values (basic set values), and prohibits selection of the parameters if the parameters contradict the master set values, and prohibits selection of the functions or the like which contradicts the original size or the like of the originals contained in the cassettes (see  FIG. 11  to be described later), displays a job function setting menu screen, and the user sets the parameters (in steps S 623  and S 624 ). The job function setting screen includes a “complete” key and a “cancel” key. When the user sets parameters, the apparatus also monitors an operation of the “complete” key and the “cancel” key (in steps S 625  and S 626 ).  
         [0100]     If the user operates the “cancel” key, the apparatus returns to a main routine (see  FIG. 7 ).  
         [0101]     If the user operates the “complete” key, the apparatus stores the parameters or the like thus set in a management table (see  FIG. 13  to be described later) (in a step S 627 ). This management table may be provided in the NVRAM  403  or the DRAM  404 , or may be provided in the mass storage device  409 .  
         [0102]     Next, even if a setting of executing an original reading processing and a print processing in parallel is made to the apparatus, then the apparatus designates a so-called completion type operation for always executing only the original reading processing, and executes the original reading processing. When the original reading processing is finished, the apparatus stores obtained image data in the mass storage device  409  (in steps S 628  to S 630 ), and backs to the main routine ( FIG. 7 ).  
         [0103]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart which shows control procedures for adding a selected file to the job-integrated print data (the step S 607  shown in  FIG. 7 ).  
         [0104]     First, the apparatus displays a file list retained in the mass storage device  409  or the like on the operation panel  202  (in a step S 640 ). At this time, the apparatus checks parameters for the respective files, and compares the parameters with the master set values (for the leading job, for example). If the parameters have file attributes with which the job cannot be added to the job-integrated print data, the apparatus prohibits selection of the file and displays the result (or does not display the file) (in a step S 641 ). It is noted that the image data files to be included in the jobs are required to be stored in the mass storage device  409  in advance prior to the start of the processing procedures shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0105]     On a file list display screen, a cursor that represents that one of the files is a job candidate is displayed, and an execution key for instructing the file to be selected and the like are also displayed. If the user selects one of the files (“Yes” in a step S 642 ), the apparatus displays a job function setting menu screen similar to an ordinary input screen and appropriately including the parameters for the selected file as initial values (in a step S 643 ). At this time, the apparatus may display the parameters for the selected job while deleting a predetermined parameter.  
         [0106]     On a function select screen when the file is selected, a setting of an additional parameter, a correction of partial set parameters, and the like can be made. If the user makes the additional parameter setting, the correction of the partial set parameters, or the like, and operates the “complete” key or the like (“Yes” in a step S 644 ), then the apparatus adds the parameters or the like to the management table (in a step S 645 ) and returns to the main routine (FIG. 7)  
         [0107]     In the additional parameter setting, for example, an original mode and a paper type during output are designated. The image data used for file selection, for example, is applied as file data from the external apparatus or read for file registration using the scanner section  52  in advance, an insufficient parameter is appropriately set in the additional parameter setting.  
         [0108]     On a display screen for the processing procedures shown in  FIG. 10 , the “cancel” key is appropriately displayed. If the user operates the “cancel key” (“Yes” in a step S 646  or S 647 ), then the apparatus stops the file select processing and returns to the main routine ( FIG. 7 ).  
         [0109]      FIG. 11  shows one example of the job function setting menu screen displayed in the step S 624  shown in  FIG. 9  or the step S 643  shown in  FIG. 10 . The job function setting menu screen is composed of a plurality of screens such as a “basic setting” screen, an “editing” screen, a “detailed setting” screen, and a “check” screen. On the “basic setting” screen among these screens, the parameters for main items can be set.  
         [0110]     In  FIG. 11 , halftone dot portions correspond to the items which are prohibited from being set for subsequent input jobs. For example, information of the number of sheets is prohibited from being changed when a sorting function is set. A staple/sort condition is an item related to overall output jobs. Therefore once the staple/sort condition is selected, the item cannot be selected/changed in the subsequent jobs.  
         [0111]      FIG. 12  is an explanatory view for functions restricted in the subsequent jobs in accordance with contents of the setting of the master job (e.g., the leading job). Such function restriction information is stored in the ROM  401 , the NVRAM  403 , or the like.  
         [0112]     The example of  FIG. 12  indicates that if the sort function is selected in the leading job, the number of sheets and the finishing function cannot be changed in subsequent jobs. Further, a group function and a non-sort function for outputting the number of sheets already set per page are not influenced by the change of the number of sheets. Due to this, the number of sheets is permitted to be changed for the group function and the non-sort function. Further, the example of  FIG. 12  indicates that once a saddle stitching function or a stapling function among the finishing functions is set for the leading job, the saddle stitching or stapling function cannot be changed at all for subsequent jobs. This is because if the function related to overall integrated output is changed afterwards, the setting contents before change may possibly contradict those after change. For example, an case in which the change or addition of the setting cannot be made corresponds to B4-size data if the stapling function is selected in input conditions for inputting data having a width of A4. In addition, if a hole punching function is selected, the finishing functions cannot be changed during setting of the subsequent jobs. However, for the hole punching function that can be executed irrespective of the size or the number of sheets, the size and the number of sheets can be changed.  
         [0113]     Alternatively, if the function is set for the subsequent jobs, the parameters for the leading job may be changed although this differs from the present embodiment.  
         [0114]     Referring to such function control information, setting-prohibited items are displayed while discriminating these items from the other items (e.g., the setting-prohibited items are displayed by halftone dots) when the job function setting menu screen shown in  FIG. 11  is displayed. By doing so, an erroneous operation by the user can be prevented.  
         [0115]     Further, the function restriction information shown in  FIG. 12  is also referred to in the connected-job integrated print processing to be described later.  
         [0116]      FIG. 13  shows one example of the management table for integrally managing the data on the connected jobs obtained in the procedures shown in  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 13 , “−” denotes a default and “−1” denotes non-setting.  
         [0117]     The integrated job data is subjected to integrated management by an input job management table shown in  FIG. 13A  and a file information management table shown in  FIG. 13B .  
         [0118]     The input job management table stores the total number of pages for each job and a generation source (whether image input or file selection) while making them correspond to a file ID (a job ID) related to the job. The example of  FIG. 13A  indicates that five jobs (image input jobs and file image data) are integrated and output. Arrangement of file IDs represent an output order. Alternatively, output order data may be input when the job data is input, and the jobs may be rearranged in the output order when connection completion is indicated.  
         [0119]     Further, by fixing a storage capacity allocated to the input job management table, an upper limit may be set for the number of possible connectable jobs. Further, an upper limit may not be set for the number of jobs as long as the storage capacity includes an empty capacity.  
         [0120]     The file information management table stores detailed parameters for each job corresponding to the file ID stored in the input job management table. A file name (or a file ID) indicates a path to the file to be stored (image data). That is, a file name (or a file ID) indicates correspondence to the image data stored in the mass storage device  409 . As for a format, format information on a designated file is indicated.  
         [0121]     As shown in  FIG. 13B , items (parameters) that can be set differently according to jobs include “original size”, “magnification”, “color or monochrome”, “format”, “print medium”, “input method”, “paper size”, “original mode”, “duplex or one-sided”, “whether rotating output is necessary or unnecessary”, “number of originals arranged on one surface (Nin1)”, “whether frame erasure is valid or invalid”, “finishing”, “density”, “editing”, “coordinates”, “whether center erasure is necessary or unnecessary”, “centering” and the like.  
         [0122]     In  FIG. 13A , “number of files” is an item that can be set differently according to jobs. “number of files” is stored not in the file information management table but in the input job management table. This is because this item serves as a parameter for determining whether the finishing function, to be described later, is executable.  
         [0123]     The input job management table and the file information management table are invalidated, for example, when a connected-job integrated print processing, to be described later, is finished.  
         [0124]      FIG. 14  is a flow chart which shows processing procedures for the connected-job integrated print processing (the step S 610  shown in  FIG. 7 ).  
         [0125]     First, the apparatus acquires all setting information on connected jobs from the management tables shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B  (in a step S 660 ).  
         [0126]     If a certain finishing function is selected (in steps S 661  and S 667 ), the apparatus calculates the total number of sheets used to determine whether the finishing function is executable (in steps S 662  and S 668 ). A method for calculating the number of sheets will be described later. If the total number of sheets exceeds an upper limit (“No” in steps S 663  and S 669 ), then the apparatus displays an alarm (in steps S 664  and S 670 ) and inquires the user whether the finishing function can be released (in steps S 665  and S 671 ). In the example of  FIG. 14 , a stapling function and saddle stitching function are shown as the finishing functions.  
         [0127]     If the user instructs cancellation of the processing, the apparatus finishes the processing. If the user instructs continuation of the processing, the apparatus invalidates the finishing function and continuously carries out the processing (in steps S 666  and S 672 ).  
         [0128]     Thereafter, the apparatus sets a parameter K at an initial value of zero (in a step S 673 ), the apparatus sequentially reads parameters for and image data on a K th  (where K=0 to N−1) print file (in steps S 674  and S 675 ), and executes a printout processing (in a step S 676 ) while confirming that the print files for all jobs are not completely printed (in a step S 674 ). When the printout processing is finished, the apparatus executes the printout processing to (K+1) th  data similarly (in a step S 678 ).  
         [0129]     When the printout processings are completed for all pieces of image data, the apparatus checks whether the finishing function is valid (in steps S 679  and S 681 ). If the finishing function is valid, the apparatus executes the function (in steps S 680  and S 682 ).  
         [0130]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  are explanatory views for the method for calculating the total number of sheets for the finishing function in the step S 662  or S 668  shown in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0131]      FIG. 15A  shows limited numbers of sheets for the respective finishing functions (the stapling function and the saddle stitching function in  FIG. 15A ) in an ideal case in which all the jobs are the same in original type.  FIG. 15B  shows the number of prints and the original type for each job of certain connected jobs.  
         [0132]     In the example shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B , for the connected jobs using a single original type, the limited number of sheets is 45 for plain paper, 30 for paperboard 1, 20 for paperboard 2, 10 for paperboard 3, and 60 for flimsy. For the paper types other than the plain paper type, the number of sheets is converted into the number of sheets of plain paper when calculating the total number of sheets for the connected jobs. The conversion maybe performed for the other print medium.  
         [0133]     Consequently, if the stapling function is selected in the example of  FIG. 15B , then the calculated total number of sheets (total number of sheets obtained by converting the number of sheets into that of plain paper) is 44.75 smaller than an actual total number of 46 as expressed by Equation (1), and smaller than the limited number of sheets of plain paper. 
 
2×(45/30)+20+13×(45/60)+10×(45/60)+1×(45/10)=44.75  (1) 
 
         [0134]     According to this embodiment, one user intended job is divided into a plurality of types of input jobs according to the conditions, print conditions during output can be designated, and the integrated print processing can be carried out during output. Therefore, for one job intended by the user for which various originals are mixed, the throughput of the apparatus can be considerably reduced, and realize high-quality output.  
         [0135]     Namely, when a document for which different original types (photograph and character) and different original sizes are mixed is to be input and output, inputs according to the types and attributes can be executed as a series of jobs (connected jobs). At that time, print mediums and print formats can be individually designated for the respective jobs. Besides, by enabling integrated output of the jobs as one job, the throughput of the apparatus for the high-quality printout for one job intended by the user for which various originals are mixed can be considerably, advantageously reduced.  
         [0136]     More specifically, for a document for which various original types such as a photographic original, a character original, a map original, a one-sided original, a duplex original, an A4-size original, an A3-size original, as well as a film photo and a paperboard original which are too large to be fed to the ADF, the job can be divided into a plurality of jobs according to types and attributes, and can be input. At that time, by enabling designating print output paper such as paperboard or flimsy, output formats such as one-sided output/duplex output and rotating output, the image processing for characters or print, the output finishing processing such as stapling, the throughput of the apparatus for the high-quality printout for the job for which various originals are mixed can be considerably, advantageously reduced.  
         [0137]     Furthermore, by prohibiting the change of the setting of the setting conditions contradicting the output conditions designated for the leading input job for the subsequent input jobs, and prohibiting the setting contradicting realization of the setting conditions, the number of failures caused by setting errors can be advantageously reduced.  
         [0138]     By prohibiting the change of the settings related to the all jobs such as the output finishing processing set for the leading input job in the subsequent jobs, and by prohibiting the original type and the output mode that inhibit the setting conditions, the number of failures caused by setting errors can be advantageously reduced.  
         [0139]     By prohibiting the change of the setting of the finishing function such as the stapling or regular binding set for the leading input job in the subsequent jobs, and prohibiting the settings of the original type, the paper size, and the output processing such as Nin1 or rotation that may possibly inhibit the setting conditions, the number of failures caused by setting errors can be advantageously reduced.  
         [0140]     In this embodiment, the respective jobs are input in the printout order. Alternatively, after inputting the respective jobs, a printout order of each job may be input. In this alternative, the job (master job) that gives restrictions to the setting items for the other jobs may be the leading input job or the first printed-out job.  
         [0141]     In this embodiment, the case of applying the present invention to the color image forming apparatus has been described. The present invention can be also applied to a monochrome image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a copy-dedicated apparatus, and a system having an image scanner and a printer connected to the PC. An arbitrary application target can be used as long as the target conforms to the technical concept of the present invention.  
         [0142]     Moreover, in the embodiment, the image forming apparatus including one printer section is described. Alternatively, the number of printers may be two or more. If the finishing item such as stapling is not set, output processings of a plurality of jobs (divided jobs) may be carried out in parallel.  
         [0143]     Further, in this embodiment, when each job to be connected are selected, the case in which both the image read input and the file selection are allowed has been described. However, it may be the case in which the only image read input is recognized as well as the only file selection is recognized.  
         [0144]     Furthermore, in this embodiment, the case in which the apparatus fixedly holds the setting items for the other jobs restricted by those for the master job has been described. In addition, the user may arbitrarily set the items.  
         [0145]     In this embodiment, the case in which the management tables related to the connected jobs are automatically invalidated when the integrated print processings are finished. Alternatively, the management tables may be invalidated only by user&#39;s operation.  
         [0146]     In this embodiment, the case in which the apparatus determines whether the number of converted prints exceeds the limited number for the selected finishing item in the integrated print processing phase has been described. Alternatively, the apparatus may make this determination whenever the input of the parameters for each job is finished.  
         [0147]     Further, when the connected jobs are input, the finishing items of the finishing functions may be excluded from the setting items for the respective jobs, and the finishing items of the finishing functions may be input before starting the input of each job or after finishing the input of all jobs. For the other setting items, the common settings as stated above may be permitted.  
         [0148]     For the settings of the parameters for the subsequent jobs, the settings of the parameters for already-set jobs may be permitted to be copied by the user (note, however, that the image reading and the file selection should be set for each job). For example, if three jobs are connected, and only a second job differs from the other jobs, this modification is effective.  
         [0149]     Moreover, in this embodiment, the case in which the integrated print processing is executed soon after the settings of the parameters for all the jobs to be connected and the like are finished has been described. Alternatively, when the settings of the parameters for all the jobs to be connected and the like are finished, a check screen (e.g., a screen on which the contents of the management tables shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B  are converted into formats understandable to the user) may be displayed, and the integrated print processing may be started after a print start instruction is given on this screen. Further, the user may move to the correction processing for correcting the parameters for partial jobs, or the job deletion, addition, and moving processings from this check screen.