Image forming apparatus and event notification system that reduces load of server for helping event notification

An image forming apparatus includes an event notification data preparing unit, an event notification data transmitting unit, an information-processor count calculating unit, and an information-processor count determining unit. The information-processor count calculating unit calculates a count of the at least one information processor to which the event notification data is transmitted. The information-processor count determining unit determines whether the information-processor count is equal to or less than an upper limit value for the event notification count. The event notification data transmitting unit directly transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is equal to or less than the upper limit value for the event notification count, and via the server transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is more than the upper limit value for the event notification count.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based upon, and claims the benefit of priority from, corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-029094 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Feb. 19, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

An image forming apparatus, which is a printer, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP), notifies an event to a personal computer (PC) using an event notification system (WS-Eventing) on the network when a state change (hereinafter referred to as, an “event”), such as a start of job, an abort of job, a termination of job, an out of paper sheet, an out of toner, a paper jam, or a similar event occurs. The event notification system of WS-Eventing (hereinafter referred to as “event notification system”) notifies an event to a preliminarily registered PC only, from the image forming apparatus. For example, in a typical event notification system, the network connects an information processor to a plurality of image forming apparatuses. This event notification system notifies an event, which occurs on the image forming apparatus, to the information processor based on kinds of registered event in response to a request from the information processor to the image forming apparatus and a notifying address.

SUMMARY

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is connectable to a server and at least one information processors via a network. The image forming apparatus includes an event notification data preparing unit, an event notification data transmitting unit, an information-processor count calculating unit, and an information-processor count determining unit. The event notification data preparing unit prepares event notification data of a generated event. The event notification data transmitting unit transmits the event notification data to the information processor. The information-processor count calculating unit calculates a count of the at least one information processors to which the event notification data is to be transmitted. The information-processor count determining unit determines whether the information-processor count is equal to or less than an upper limit value of the event notification count. The event notification data transmitting unit: directly transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processors if the information-processor count is equal to or less than the upper limit value of the event notification count; and transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processors via the server if the information-processor count is more than the upper limit value of the event notification count.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An event notification system according to the embodiment determines whether the image forming apparatus can directly notify PCs of an event, considering a count of the information processors (PCs) to be notified an event by the image forming apparatus and a performance of the image forming apparatus. Then, the image forming apparatus directly notifies the PCs of the event only when possible. When not possible, the image forming apparatus notifies the PCs of the event via a server that helps to notify the event (hereinafter referred to as “event notification support server”). This distributes the load to the image forming apparatus and the event notification support server.

FIG. 1illustrates a schematic diagram of a configuration of an event notification system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The event notification system10includes an image forming apparatus100, a plurality of PCs200, an event notification support server300, and a network400.

The image forming apparatus100is a printer or a multifunction peripheral. The image forming apparatus100prints image data directly read from an original document on a platen or image data transmitted from the PC200. The image forming apparatus100notifies the preliminarily registered PC200of the event when an event occurs.

The PC200includes a printer driver installed for the image forming apparatus100. The PC200transmits print request data, which stores image data of an original document to be printed and similar data, to the image forming apparatus100. The PC200stores event notification data received from the image forming apparatus100, and displays the event notification data on an operation display panel.

The event notification support server300is a computer such as PC. When the event notification support server300receives event notification data transmitted from the image forming apparatus100, the event notification support server300transmits the event notification data to the PC200whose destination address is set on the event notification data.

The network400is a network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN). The network400connects the image forming apparatus100, the plurality of PCs200, and the event notification support server300. Then, the network400transmits and receives various kinds of data.

FIG. 2illustrates a schematic diagram of functional block configurations of an image forming apparatus and an information processor which are included in the event notification system. The image forming apparatus100includes a control unit101, an auxiliary storage unit102, a storage unit103, an operation panel104, an operation panel processor105, a document reading unit106, an image forming unit107, a printing unit108, and a network communication unit109. These units are connected via a bus or a similar connection.

The control unit101includes control units such as a Micro Processing Unit (MPU) and a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The control unit101controls the overall image forming apparatus100including an interface such as various kinds of I/Os and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and a bus controller, and similar devices. The control unit101includes an event notification transmission processing unit101a. The event notification transmission processing unit101anotifies the preliminarily registered PC200of an event when the event occurs in the image forming apparatus100. The details of an event notification transmitting process performed by the event notification transmission processing unit101awill be described later.

The auxiliary storage unit102is an auxiliary storage device including a flash memory and similar storages. The auxiliary storage unit102stores programs and data to be executed by the control unit101. The auxiliary storage unit102includes an event notification registration data storage area102aand an event notification data storage area102b. The event notification registration data storage area102astores event notification registration data received from the PC200that requests an event notification. In the event notification registration data, a destination of address of the PC200is set. The event notification data storage area102bstores data (hereinafter referred to as “event notification data”) prepared by the image forming apparatus100so as to notify the PCs200of an event that has occurred in the image forming apparatus100.

The storage unit103is a hard disk drive that stores data and programs. The storage unit103includes an image data storage area103a. The image data storage area103astores image data image formed by the image forming unit107from an original document read by the document reading unit106, and image data received from the PC200via the network communication unit109.

The operation panel104displays an operating menu and accepts an operation by a finger of a user. The user can enter various kinds of information to be set to the image forming apparatus100from the operation panel104.

The operation panel processor105displays functional operation items of the image forming apparatus100on the operation panel104. The operation panel processor105receives operation data according to an operation of the user and setting data to the image forming apparatus100via the operation panel104.

The document reading unit106reads an original document set on the platen of the image forming apparatus100. In response to a read request from the operation panel104by the user, the document reading unit106reads an original document set on the platen of the image forming apparatus100.

The image forming unit107converts the original document, which is read by the document reading unit106in response to a read request by the user, into image data in a data format that ensures printing by the printing unit108or sending by FAX or E-mail.

The printing unit108prints image data corresponding to the print request by the user.

The network communication unit109includes an attachable/detachable LAN interface connectable to the network400. The LAN interface includes a network unit that intelligently transmits and receives by various kinds of network protocols such as a TCP/IP, an AppleTalk, and a SMB

Next, the following describes a functional configuration of the PC200with reference toFIG. 2. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the PC200includes a control unit201, an auxiliary storage unit202, a network communication unit203, and an operation display unit204, which are connected via a bus or a similar connection.

The control unit201includes a main storage unit such as a RAM and a ROM and a control unit such as a CPU. The control unit201controls the overall PC200including an interface such as various kinds of I/Os and a Universal Serial Bus (USB), and a bus controller, and similar device. The control unit201includes a printer driver processing unit201aand an event notification reception processing unit201b. The printer driver processing unit201atransmits print request data, which includes image data and similar data stored by a user, via the network communication unit203to the image forming apparatus100. When the event notification reception processing unit201breceives event notification data from the image forming apparatus100, this event notification reception processing unit201bpreliminarily transmits event notification request data, where a destination address of the PC200of this event notification reception processing unit201bis set, via the network communication unit203to the image forming apparatus100. The event notification reception processing unit201breceives event notification data transmitted from the image forming apparatus100via the network communication unit203. Thus, the event notification reception processing unit201bfunctions as an event notification data receiving unit.

The auxiliary storage unit202is an auxiliary storage device including a flash memory and similar storages. The auxiliary storage unit202stores programs and data to be executed by control unit201. The auxiliary storage unit202includes an image data storage area202aand an event notification data storage area202b. The image data storage area202astores image data and similar data read by a scanner or similar input device. The image data is taken out when the image forming apparatus100is requested to print. The event notification data storage area202bstores the event notification data transmitted from the image forming apparatus100. The event notification data is taken out when the event notification data is displayed on the operation display unit204.

The network communication unit203includes an attachable/detachable LAN interface connectable to the network400. The LAN interface includes a network unit that intelligently transmits and receives by various kinds of network protocols such as a TCP/IP, an AppleTalk, and a SMB.

The operation display unit204includes an operation display panel. The operation display unit204receives a user operation through the operation display panel and displays a user operation result and the event notification data received from the image forming apparatus100.

Next, the event notification transmission processing unit101alocated at the control unit101in the image forming apparatus100executes event notification transmitting process.FIG. 3illustrates a flowchart of the event notification transmitting process by the image forming apparatus.

To receive the event notification data from the image forming apparatus100, the user preliminarily transmits the event notification registration data to the image forming apparatus100. When the image forming apparatus100receives the event notification registration data from the PC200, the event notification registration data storage area102ain the auxiliary storage unit102stores the event notification registration data. Next, when the control unit101in the image forming apparatus100detects an event occurrence, the image forming apparatus100activates the event notification transmission processing unit101a, and then the event notification transmission processing unit101astarts the event notification transmitting process. Thus, the PC200functions as an event notification registration data transmitting unit, and the image forming apparatus100functions as an event notification registration data receiving unit.

First, the event notification transmission processing unit101aprepares event notification data of an event that has occurred, and stores the event notification data at the event notification data storage area102bin the auxiliary storage unit102. Thus, the event notification transmission processing unit101afunctions as an event notification data preparing unit.

Next, the event notification transmission processing unit101atakes out event notification registration data from the event notification registration data storage area102ain the auxiliary storage unit102, and then takes out a destination address of the PC200that is set on the event notification registration data for notifying an event.

Then, the event notification transmission processing unit101acalculates a count of the PCs200, to which the event notification data is to be transmitted, using the event notification registration data taken out at Step S102. Thus, the event notification transmission processing unit101afunctions as an information-processor count calculating unit.

Furthermore, the event notification transmission processing unit101atakes out event notification data of an event that has newly occurred from the event notification data storage area102bin the auxiliary storage unit102.

Next, the event notification transmission processing unit101adetermines whether the count of the PCs200, to which the event notification data is to be transmitted and calculated at Step S103, is equal to or less than the upper limit value of an event notification count or not. When a count of the PCs200to which the event notification data is to be transmitted is equal to or less than the upper limit value of an event notification count (Yes at Step S105), the process proceeds to Step S106. When a count of the PCs200to which the event notification data is to be transmitted is more than the upper limit value of an event notification count (No at Step S105), the process proceeds to Step S107. Thus, the event notification transmission processing unit101afunctions as an information-processor count determining unit.

When determined to be Yes at step S105, the event notification transmission processing unit101adirectly transmits the event notification data to the PC200specified by the destination address that is taken out at Step S102, and terminates the event notification transmitting process. Thus, the event notification transmission processing unit101afunctions as an event notification data transmitting unit.

When determined to be No at step S105, the event notification transmission processing unit101atransmits the event notification data, where the destination address of the PC200taken out at Step S102is set, to the event notification support server300, and terminates the event notification transmitting process. When the event notification support server300receives the event notification data, the event notification support server300transmits the event notification data to the PC200at the destination address.

Next, the event notification reception processing unit201blocated at the control unit201in the PC200executes an event notification receiving process.FIG. 4illustrates a flowchart of the event notification receiving process by the information processor.

When the PC200receives the event notification data from the image forming apparatus100or the event notification support server300by the network communication unit203, the control unit201activates the event notification reception processing unit201b, and then the event notification reception processing unit201bstarts the event notification receiving process.

First, the event notification reception processing unit201bstores the received event notification data at the event notification data storage area202bin the auxiliary storage unit202.

Next, the event notification reception processing unit201bdisplays the received event notification data on the operation display panel in the operation display unit204, and then terminates the event notification receiving process.

In the above-described event notification system, when the image forming apparatus100has the upper limit of an event notification count depending on the performance of the image forming apparatus100, it is determined whether the count of the PCs200to be notified of the event is equal to or less than the upper limit of an event notification count or not. This determines whether the image forming apparatus100can directly notify the PC200of the event or not. Thus, when it is determined whether the image forming apparatus100cannot directly notify the PC200of the event, the PC200is notified of the event via the event notification support server300. This distributes the load to the image forming apparatus100and the event notification support server300, thus ensuring the reduced load of the event notification support server300.

While in the embodiments, when requesting an event notification to the image forming apparatus100, the event request data where the destination address of the PC200is set is transmitted to the image forming apparatus100, it is also possible to set specific kinds of events on the event notification request data for limiting the kinds of events. For example, the kind of events is event categorization, such as an event related to a job processing, a soft error processing, and a hard error processing. When the image forming apparatus100receives the event notification request data where a kind of event is set from the PC200, only if an event belonging to the set kind of event occurs, the image forming apparatus100can transmit the event notification request data to the PC200where the kind of events to notify is set. The network400connects to the one image forming apparatus100. This, however, should not be construed in a limiting sense. The network400can also connect to a plurality of image forming apparatuses100including the function of the disclosure. The PC200can connect to the network400, and be an information processor, such as a smart phone, a mobile phone, or a tablet terminal that can have the function of the event notification reception processing unit201b.

The image forming apparatus and the event notification system according to the disclosure can reduce the load of the server that helps to notify an event.

The disclosure is appropriate for an image forming apparatus and an event notification system; however, this should not be limited to the image forming apparatus and the event notification system. The disclosure is applicable to general apparatuses and systems that notify an event.