Image processor

An image processor for executing an image-related process includes a portion for storing first usage situation information that indicates a usage situation of the image processor, a portion for obtaining second usage situation information that indicates a usage situation of a second image processor for executing the image-related process, a portion for determining a second image processor that can execute the image-related process more suitably than the image processor in accordance with the first usage situation information and the second usage situation information when an execution instruction of the image-related process is given by a user, a portion for controlling so that the execution of the image-related process is suspended in the image processor if it is determined that there is a second image processor that can execute the image-related process of the execution instruction more suitably than the image processor and that the image-related process is executed in the image processor if it is not determined that there is a second image processor that can execute the image-related process of the execution instruction more suitably than the image processor, a portion for delivering a message to the user who issued the execution instruction if it is determined that there is a second image processor that can execute the image-related process of the execution instruction more suitably than the image processor, the message indicating that it is better to execute the image-related process by the second image processor.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-304474 filed on Oct. 19, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system including a plurality of image processors such as MFPs and a method for controlling these image processors.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Recently, an image processor such as a copying machine or a printer has become equipped with various functions. For example, an image processor is proposed, which is equipped with the conventional functions including a copier and a network printer as well as other functions including a scanner, a fax and a document server (a box). Such an image processor is called a multifunction device or an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals).

In addition, the image processor such as the MFP can be connected to a plurality of terminal devices via a network, so that plural users can share the image processor. Therefore, if one image processor is installed in a small office, all the members can use a copier, a fax, a scanner, a printer and a data storage. However, in an office of a middle scale or a larger scale, a plurality of image processors is usually installed so that each member can use them smoothly without a waiting time.

A method of using a plurality of image processors efficiently in such an environment is proposed. According to a method described in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2003-330665, a plurality of printers is connected to a PC, which controls all performances of the printers and calculates an inclusion relationship of performances of the printers. Then, if a predetermined printer is in a state of being unable to print, the PC searches a printer having functions equal to or higher than the registered functions and notifies the user of the search result.

In an environment where a plurality of image processors is installed, each of most users has tendency to use a specific image processor to which the user is accustomed to use. Therefore, there is a case where a user does not notice that there is an image processor that is more suitable for a process desired by the user than the image processor to which the user is accustomed to use.

However, in the conventional method as described in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2003-330665, the user usually cannot know a more suitable image processor for him or her although he or she can know a substitute device when the image processor to which the user is accustomed to use cannot execute the process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to realize more convenient system and method so that a user can use more suitable image processor more readily than before in an environment where a plurality of image processors is installed.

The image processor according to an aspect of the present invention is an image processor for executing an image-related process that is a process related to an image. The image processor comprises a usage situation storing portion for storing first usage situation information that indicates a usage situation of the image processor, a usage situation information obtaining portion for obtaining second usage situation information that indicates a usage situation of a second image processor for executing the image-related process, a suitable image processor determining portion for determining a second image processor that can execute the image-related process more suitably than the image processor in accordance with the first usage situation information and the second usage situation information when an execution instruction of the image-related process is given by a user, a process execution control portion for controlling so that the execution of the image-related process is suspended in the image processor if it is determined that there is a second image processor that can execute the image-related process of the execution instruction more suitably than the image processor and that the image-related process is executed in the image processor if it is not determined that there is a second image processor that can execute the image-related process of the execution instruction more suitably than the image processor, and a message output portion for delivering a message to the user who issued the execution instruction if it is determined that there is a second image processor that can execute the image-related process of the execution instruction more suitably than the image processor, the message indicating that it is better to execute the image-related process by the second image processor.

According to the present invention, an image processor that is suitable for a user can be used more easily than before in an environment where a plurality of image processors is installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained more in detail with reference to embodiments and drawings.

FIG. 1shows an example of an overall structure of an image-related process system SY according to the present invention,FIG. 2shows an example of a platform of an image forming device1,FIG. 3shows an example of a structure of an operation panel5h.

The image-related process system SY according to the present invention includes a plurality of image forming devices1A,1B, . . . , a plurality of terminal devices2A,2B, . . . and a communication line3as shown inFIG. 1. These devices are connected to each other via the communication line3. As the communication line3, a LAN, the Internet, a public telephone line or a private line can be used. In the following description, the image forming devices1A,1B, . . . may be referred to as an “image forming device1” in general, and the terminal device2A,2B, . . . may be referred to as a “terminal device2” in general.

In the terminal device2, there is installed a driver for controlling the image forming device1as well as a program for performing a process linking with the image forming device1. As the terminal device2, a personal computer or a workstation can be used.

The image forming device1is a device that has integrated functions including a copier, a network printer, a scanner, a fax and a document server. It may be called a multifunction device or an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals). A function of the document server may be called a “box function” or a “personal box function” because it provides a storage area that is called a “box” or a “personal box” for each user. By this function, each user can store files in his or her box.

The image forming device1has hardware that includes a CPU5a, a RAM5b, a ROM5c, a hard disk drive5d, a scanner5e, a printer device (engine)5f, a communication device5g, an operation panel5h, a nonvolatile memory5jand various control circuit as shown inFIG. 2.

The scanner5eis a device that reads images such as photographs, characters, pictures or charts on a sheet of paper of an original (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as an “original” in an optical manner and produces an image data. The printer device5fis a device that prints images read by the scanner5eor images of image data that are received from the terminal device2or the like.

The operation panel5hincludes a display device5h1and an operation button unit5h2having a plurality of operation buttons as shown inFIG. 3.

The operation button unit5h2includes a plurality of keys for entering numbers, characters, symbols or the like, a sensor for recognizing a pressed key and a transmission circuit for sending a signal indicating a recognized key to the CPU5a.

The display device5h1displays a screen for giving a message or an instruction to a user who operates this image forming device1, a screen for the user to enter setting information and process information, and a screen for showing an image produced by the image forming device1and a result of a process, etc. In this embodiment, a touch panel is used as the display device5h1. Therefore, the display device5h1has a function of detecting a position on the touch panel where the user touched with finger and sending a signal that indicates the detection result to the CPU5a.

In this way, the operation panel5hplays a role as a user interface for a user who operates the image forming device1directly.

The communication device5gshown inFIG. 2is a device for communicating with the terminal device2. As the communication device5g, an NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem or a TA (Terminal Adapter) can be used.

The nonvolatile memory5jis a memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory in which data can be rewritten and are nonvolatile. The ROM5cis a read only memory. Although a ROM is one type of the nonvolatile memory in general, the EEPROM or the flash memory is distinguished from the ROM in this embodiment, so that the former is referred to as a “nonvolatile memory5j” and the latter is referred to as a “ROM5c”.

In the hard disk drive5d, there is installed a program as well as data for realizing functions of a core portion10, an authentication control portion13, an application control portion14and a profile memory portion15as shown inFIG. 2. It is possible to store a part or the entire of the program or the data in the nonvolatile memory5jor the ROM5c. The program is executed by the CPU5a. Alternatively, it is possible to realize a part or the entire of the functions not by software but by hardware such as a processor (a control circuit).

FIG. 4shows an example of MFP specification information70that is stored in the specification database DB0,FIG. 5shows an example of job type usage situation information71that is stored in a job type usage situation database DB1,FIG. 6shows an example of usage result information that72is stored in a usage result database DB2.

Hereinafter, processes of the portions shown inFIG. 2will be described in detail. The core portion10includes an external communication control portion101, a hard disk drive control portion102, an engine control portion103, a scanner control portion104, an operation panel control portion105, a memory control portion106, a nonvolatile memory control portion107, a print processing portion121, a scanning processing portion122, a fax processing portion123, a box processing portion124, a screen display processing portion125, a most suitable MFP determining portion126, a job control portion127and an MFP state notifying portion128.

The external communication control portion101through the nonvolatile memory control portion107control hardware of the image forming device1directly. Namely, it plays a role as a hardware controller. The external communication control portion101controls the communication device5g, the hard disk drive control portion102controls the hard disk drive5d, the engine control portion103controls the engine of the printer device5f, the scanner control portion104controls the scanner5e, the operation panel control portion105controls the operation panel5h, the memory control portion106controls the RAM5b, and the nonvolatile memory control portion107controls the nonvolatile memory5j.

The print processing portion121through the screen display processing portion125control the external communication control portion101through the nonvolatile memory control portion107so as to realize a basic function of the image forming device1.

The print processing portion121controls the external communication control portion101, the memory control portion106and the engine control portion103so as to receive print data from the terminal device2and to perform the printing process. The scanning processing portion122controls the scanner control portion104and the memory control portion106so as to read images of an original that is set on an original glass plate of the scanner5eand to produce image data.

The fax processing portion123controls the external communication control portion101, the scanner control portion104and the memory control portion106so as to call a designated fax number and to send image data by fax of an image of an original that is set on the original glass plate of the scanner5eif the user wants the fax transmission. When receiving a fax signal from other device, it controls the external communication control portion101, the engine control portion103and the memory control portion106so as to start receiving fax data and to print the image on a sheet of paper.

The box processing portion124controls the hard disk drive control portion102and the memory control portion106so as to store a file in the box, change a name or other attribution of a file that is stored in the box, retrieve a file that is stored in the box to the RAM5b, revising the same or erasing the same. The screen display processing portion125controls the operation panel control portion105so as to display a screen that corresponds to an operation by the user or a current process situation in the image forming device1.

The most suitable MFP determining portion126performs a process for determining a most suitable image forming device1for performing a process (a job) designated by the user among the image forming devices1that are provided to the image-related process system SY.

The job control portion127controls the print processing portion121through the screen display processing portion125so as to retrieve jobs waiting in a queue one by one and to execute the jobs. Note that a job history (a log) of the job is saved after performing the job. The job history includes a type of the job, contents of the process, a result of the execution (success or fail), ID information (a user ID) of the user who issued the instruction and information about a cause of fail if it happened.

The MFP state notifying portion128notifies an administrator or a person who is in charge of maintenance of information about a state of the image forming device1so that users can use the image forming device1more efficiently.

The authentication control portion13performs authentication about whether or not the user who wants to use the image forming device1is a regular user. The application control portion14performs a process for controlling the application program, which includes retrieving an application program that is necessary for performing the job from the hard disk drive5dto the RAM5band activating the application program, or removing an unnecessary application program from the RAM5bafter closing the same.

The profile memory portion15stores the specification database DB0, the job type usage situation database DB1and the usage result database DB2, so as to manage a profile that is information about a specification and a usage situation of each image forming device1.

The specification database DB0stores the MFP specification information70a,70b, . . . of the image forming devices1A,1B, . . . as shown inFIG. 4. Hereinafter, the MFP specification information70a,70b, . . . may be referred to as “MFP specification information 70” in general. The MFP specification information70indicates of the specification of the image forming device1such as a type of the CPU5a, a storage capacity of the RAM5b, an available protocol, functions and a running cost.

The job type usage situation database DB1stores the job type usage situation information71a,71b, . . . of the image forming devices1A,1B, . . . as shown inFIG. 5. Hereinafter, the job type usage situation information71a,71b, . . . may be referred to as “job type usage situation information71” in general. The job type usage situation information71indicates what type of job was performed how many times during a predetermined period (for example, during a period since a month before until the present) by the image forming device1in accordance with instructions of each user.

A job type of “PRINT” indicates a job for printing a document in accordance with document data sent from the terminal device2(a network printing job). A job type of “SCAN TO FTP” indicates a job for sending image data of an image of an original read by the scanner5eto any one of the terminal devices2by FTP (File Transfer Protocol). A job type of “SCAN TO SMB” indicates a job for sending image data of an image of an original read by the scanner5eto any one of the terminal devices2by SMB (Server Message Block) protocol. A job type of “SCAN TO BOX” indicates a job for storing image data of an image of an original read by the scanner5ein any one of boxes in the same image forming device1.

A job type of “copy” indicates a job for printing an image of an original read by the scanner5eon a sheet of paper. A job type of “fax” indicates a job for sending data of an image of an original read by the scanner5eas fax data to a fax terminal or other MFP. A job type of “box” indicates a job for using data (such as an image file) stored in the box for printing or file transmission.

The usage result database DB2stores the usage result information72a,72b, . . . of the image forming devices1A,1B, . . . as shown inFIG. 6. Hereinafter, the usage result information72a,72b, . . . may be referred to as “usage result information 72” in general. The usage result information72indicates what type of trouble such as an error or a malfunction (hereinafter simply referred to as an “error”) has happened in the image forming device1when the job was executed, and what state resources of the image forming device1have become when the job was executed.

A table of “ADF error state” indicates information about a rate of errors that have occurred in an automatic document feeder (ADF) of the scanner5eduring a predetermined period (for example, a period since a month ago until the present). An “error content” indicates a specific state of the error. For example, a “plain paper single-sided jam” indicates a jam (a paper jam) that occurred when feeding a plain-paper and single-sided original (an original on a single side of a sheet of paper) to an original glass of an original reading portion, while a “thick paper double-sided jam” indicates a jam that occurred when feeding a double-sided original (an original on both sides of a sheet of paper) of a thick paper.

A table of an “engine error state” indicates information about a rate of errors that have occurred in the engine of the printer device5fduring a predetermined period. Similarly to the ADF error state, the “error content” indicates a specific state of the error. For example, “plain paper single-sided jam” indicates a jam that occurred in the paper feeding portion when performing single-sided printing on a sheet of plain paper (printing an image on a single side of a sheet of paper).

A table of a “hard disk drive usage situation” indicates information about a specification and a usage situation of the hard disk drive5dof the image forming device1. A “total capacity” indicates a total storage capacity of the entire hard disk drive5dthat is provided to the image forming device1. A “personal box assigned capacity” is a capacity that is assigned to the box of each user. A “personal box free space” indicates a ratio of a free space of the personal box to the total storage capacity. A “system box assigned capacity” indicates a storage capacity assigned to a system box in the hard disk drive5d. A “system box free space” indicates a ratio of a free space of the system box to the total storage capacity.

In this way, the job type usage situation information71of each image forming device1that is stored in the job type usage situation database DB1indicates a usage situation of each type of job for each user in the image forming device1. In addition, the usage result information72of each image forming device1stored in the usage result database DB2indicates a state of an error that occurred when the image forming device1is used and a state after the use.

The job type usage situation information71and the usage result information72of each image forming device1can be generated by summarizing each job history, the MFP specification information70and information about a state of the hard disk drive5dobtained from the hard disk drive control portion102. In addition, they are updated if necessary every time when the job is executed. For example, the job type usage situation information71aand the usage result information72aof the image forming device1A are generated or updated in accordance with the job history of the image forming device1A, the MFP specification information70and the information about the state of the hard disk drive5d. In the image forming device1A, the job type usage situation information71and the usage result information72of other image forming device1are received from the other image forming device1if necessary.

Furthermore, the profile memory portion15includes a database that stores information of a user profile about a user ID and a password of each user.

FIG. 7is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process in the image forming device1when it performs a copy job,FIG. 8shows an example of a instruction screen HG1,FIG. 9is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process in a terminal device2when it instructs a print job,FIG. 10is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process in the image forming device1when it determines a subject that is suitable for performing a print job,FIG. 11shows an example of a driver screen HG2,FIG. 12shows an example of a change confirmation screen HG3, andFIG. 13is a flowchart showing a variation of a flow of a process in the terminal device2when it performs a “SCAN TO BOX” job.

Next, flows of processes in the image forming device1and the terminal device2when performing various types of jobs will be described with reference to flowcharts and so on.

When a user wants the image forming device1to perform a job, the user operates the operation panel5hor the terminal device2so as to instruct the image forming device1in accordance with a type of the job. When receiving the instruction, the image forming device1executes the job if it is determined that executing the job of the instruction by itself is most suitable.

When the copy job of an original is executed, a process for the job is executed in the procedure as shown in the flowchart inFIG. 7.

The user decides the image forming device1to be used for copying the original and visits the place where the image forming device1is placed. For example, it is supposed that the user decided to use the image forming device1A. The screen display processing portion125of the image forming device1A displays a screen for entering a user ID and a password as a waiting screen on the display device1h1if nobody is operating the image forming device1A directly (#101). The user operates the operation button unit1h2for entering his or her user ID and password.

Then, the authentication control portion13performs the authentication process in accordance with the entered user ID and password (#102). Namely, the entered user ID is used as a search key for searching a user profile of the user. When the user profile is found, the entered password is verified with a password indicated in the user profile. Then, if they are identical to one another, an authentication indicating that the user is a regular user is issued (Yes in #103). Thus, the user has logged in the image forming device1. If the user profile corresponding to the entered user ID is not found or if the passwords are not identical to one another (No in #103), the user cannot log in the image forming device1.

When the log-in process is finished, the screen display processing portion125displays the instruction screen HG1as shown inFIG. 8(#104). A message box MSB1on the screen is an area for notifying the user of a caution or an advice. When the instruction screen HG1has just been displayed, no special message is displayed in this message box MSB1.

Here, the user designates a condition for the copy job (namely, what type of original should be copied in what way) by pressing a button or by other method. Although a “double-sided/single-sided” tab is selected in the example shown inFIG. 8, here the user designates that the original to be processed is a double-sided original or a single-sided original, and that it is printed on a single side or double sides of a sheet of copying paper. If the user wants to designate a type of paper of the original and a type of copying paper of, the user presses a “paper” tab to switch the screen for designating them. After designating the condition, the user presses the “OK” button.

Then, the most suitable MFP determining portion126accepts the designated condition (#105) and starts the process for determining the image forming device1that is most suitable for performing the copying process under the condition. First, the most suitable MFP determining portion126retrieves the usage result information72a(seeFIG. 6) of the image forming device1A (#106) and accesses other image forming devices1(1B, . . . ) that are provided to the image-related process system SY so as to obtain the usage result information72(72B, . . . ) of each of them (#107). Namely, the most suitable MFP determining portion126inquires them about situations of the usage results.

The most suitable MFP determining portion126extracts a result of the job that was executed before under the same condition as the designated condition from the usage result information72(71a,71B, . . . ). For example, it is supposed that the user designated to copy a plain paper and double-sided original on both sides of a sheet of plain paper. In this case, the most suitable MFP determining portion126extracts a rate of occurrence of the “plain paper double-sided jam” in the ADF error state in each of the usage result information72, and it also extracts a rate of occurrence of the “plain paper double-sided jam” in the engine error state.

Then, the most suitable MFP determining portion126determines the image forming device1that is most suitable for executing the job in accordance with the extracted rate of occurrence as follows (#108). Namely, the most suitable MFP determining portion126compares the rates of occurrence between the ADF errors of the usage result information72so as to extract the image forming device1in which the rate of occurrence of the ADF error is lowest. At the same time, the most suitable MFP determining portion126compares the rates of occurrence between the engine errors so as to extract the image forming device1in which the rate of occurrence of the engine error is the lowest. If the both results are identical to one another, the most suitable MFP determining portion126determines that the image forming device1is most suitable for executing the job this time. If the both results are not identical to one another, the most suitable MFP determining portion126determines that the image forming device1in which a sum value of the rate of occurrence of the ADF error and the rate of occurrence of the engine error is lowest is the most suitable image forming device1, for example.

If the most suitable MFP determining portion126determines that the most suitable image forming device1is the image forming device1A it self (Yes in #109), it generates job data of the job for copying under the condition designated by the user and registers the job data in the queue of the image forming device1A itself (#113). Thus, the job of the instruction is executed by the image forming device1A.

On the other hand, if the most suitable MFP determining portion126determines that another image forming device1is most suitable (No in #109), it suspends the registration of the job (#110) and displays a message that indicates the result of the determination in the message box MSB1for notifying the user as shown inFIG. 8(#111).

If the user wants to the other image forming device1that was determined to be most suitable to perform the job, the user cancels the instruction. Then (Yes in #112), registration of the job in the queue is stopped (#114).

Furthermore, in the case of a job for printing a document of a text or an image that was created by the terminal device2, the process for executing the job is performed in the procedure as shown in the flowcharts inFIGS. 9 and 10.

The user operates the terminal device2for designating the document to be printed and the image forming device1that prints the document and enters a printing command. On this occasion, the user designates the image forming device1for printing. For example, it is supposed that the image forming device1A is designated for printing.

Then, the terminal device2activates a driver of the image forming device1A so as to display the driver screen HG2as shown inFIG. 11(#201). However, if the user has not logged in the image forming device1A, the screen for entering a user ID and a password is displayed prior to the display of the driver screen HG2, and input of them is required. The terminal device2sends the entered user ID and password to the image forming device1A and requests for the user authentication. Then, the terminal device2displays the driver screen HG2if the user authentication is obtained, but it refuses the user to use the image forming device1A if the user authentication is not obtained. Note that when the driver screen HG2has just been displayed, no special message is displayed in the message box MSB2.

Here, user designates a condition for printing (namely, what type of paper should be used and in what way the document should be printed). Although a “setup” tab is selected in the example shown inFIG. 11, here the user designates that the document should be printed on both sides or on a single side of a sheet of paper. If the user wants to designate a type of paper to be used for printing, the user presses a “paper” tab to switch the screen, where the designation can be made. After designating the condition, the user clicks the “OK” button.

Then, the terminal device2accepts the designated condition (#202) and instructs the image forming device1A to determine the image forming device1that is most suitable for executing the printing process under the condition (#203).

When the most suitable MFP determining portion126of the image forming device1A receives the instruction from terminal device2(#121inFIG. 10), it retrieves the usage result information72a(seeFIG. 6) of the image forming device1A itself (#122) and obtains the usage result information72(72B, . . . ) of other image forming devices1(1B, . . . ) (#123). Namely, the most suitable MFP determining portion126inquires about the situation of the usage result.

Although the most suitable MFP determining portion126determines the most suitable image forming device1by checking both the rate of occurrence of the ADF error and the rate of occurrence of the engine error in the case of the copy job described above with reference toFIG. 7, it determines the most suitable image forming device1by checking the rate of occurrence of the engine error of each of the image forming devices1in the print job this time because the ADF is not used (#124). Namely, the most suitable MFP determining portion126determines that the image forming device1in which the rate of occurrence of the engine error is lowest is most suitable. Then, the result of determination is sent to the terminal device2that issued the instruction (#125).

When the terminal device2received the determination result (#204inFIG. 9), it checks whether or not the image forming device1A is included in the determination result (#205). If the image forming device1A is indicated in the determination result, i.e., if it is determined that the image forming device1A is most suitable (Yes in #205), the terminal device2instructs the image forming device1A to execute the job that was received in Step #202(#208).

On the other hand, if the other image forming device1is indicated (No in #205), the terminal device2displays and notifies the user that the other image forming device1is most suitable in the message box MSB1as shown inFIG. 11(#206). Here, when the user clicks the “OK” button again, the terminal device2displays the change confirmation screen HG3as shown inFIG. 12. If the user clicks a “No” button (No in #207), the terminal device2instructs the image forming device1A to execute the job as the user selected first (#208). If the user clicks a “Yes” button (Yes in #207), the terminal device2instructs the image forming device1that was determined to be most suitable instead of the image forming device1A in the determination process shown inFIG. 10to execute the job (#209).

Then, the image forming device1A or the other image forming device1that was instructed to execute the job generates job data of the job and registers the job in the queue. The job is executed when it comes the job's turn.

It is possible to determine the image forming device1that is most suitable for executing the print job by the terminal device2instead of the image forming device1that the user designated first (in the above example, the image forming device1A). In this case, the function corresponding to the most suitable MFP determining portion126shown inFIG. 2may be provided to the terminal device2, and the process may be executed in the procedure as shown inFIG. 13.

Namely, when the terminal device2accepts the designated job on the driver screen HG2as shown inFIG. 11(#211, #212), it accesses the image forming device1A as well as the other image forming device1so as to obtain usage result information72of them (#213). Then, the terminal device2checks the rate of occurrence of the engine error indicated in the obtained usage result information72and determines that the image forming device1having the lowest value of the rate of occurrence of the engine error is lowest is most suitable (#214). The process of steps #215-#219is the same as the Steps #205-#209as shown inFIG. 9, so the description is omitted.

According to the example described above, the image forming device1that has higher reliability and is suitable for executing the job instructed by the user can be introduced, it is convenient for the user.

FIG. 14is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process in the image forming device1when it performs a “SCAN TO BOX” job,FIG. 15is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process for determining a suitable MFP,FIG. 16is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process in the image forming device1when it performs a “SCAN TO FTP” job, andFIG. 17is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process for determining a suitable MFP.

In the example described above, it is determined whether or not there is another image forming device1that is more suitable for performing a copy or a print job than the image forming device1that was designated by the user first. And if there is such another image forming device1, it is introduced to the user. It is also possible to introduce another image forming device1that is suitable for other job.

When the user stores image data of an original image that was scanned by the canner5ein the personal box of the user (when performing the “SCAN TO BOX”), it is possible to introduce another image forming device1that is more suitable than the image forming device1designated by the user first by the process as shown inFIG. 14.

For example, the user who logged in the image forming device1A sets the original to be processed on the original glass plate of the scanner5eof the image forming device1A and operates the operation panel5hfor instructing the “SCAN TO BOX”. When the image forming device1A receives the instruction (#131inFIG. 14), it retrieves the job type usage situation information71aand the usage result information72aof the image forming device1A itself (seeFIGS. 5 and 6) (#132) and accesses other image forming devices1so as to obtain the job type usage situation information71and the usage result information72of each of them as well as the user profile of the user (#133).

In accordance with the obtained job type usage situation information71, usage result information72and user profile, the image forming device1A determines which is more suitable to store the image data in a box that is provided to the image forming device1A or to store them in a box that is provided to another image forming device1in a manner as shown inFIG. 15(#134).

If the free space in the hard disk drive of the image forming device1A is larger than a threshold level al, i.e., if there is still a margin in the free space (No in #151shown inFIG. 15), it is decided that storing in a box of the image forming device1A itself is suitable (#154).

If the free space in the hard disk drive of the image forming device1A is less than or equal to the threshold level al, i.e., if there is no margin in the free space (Yes in #151), another image forming device1that includes the hard disk drive having a free space more than or equal to a threshold level a2and that the user has right to use is searched (#152, #153). Namely, another image forming device1that the user can use and that includes the hard disk drive having a margin of a free space is searched. When such another image forming device1is found (Yes in #152and Yes in #153), it is determined that storing in a box of the image forming device1would be suitable (#155). If such another image forming device1is not found (No in #152or No in #153), it is determined that storing in a box of the image forming device1A would be suitable (#154).

With reference toFIG. 14again, if it is determined that storing in a box of the image forming device1A is suitable (No in #135), a job for executing the process for scanning an original and storing image data of the original in a user's box in the image forming device1A (namely, the “SCAN TO BOX” job) is generated, and the job is registered in the queue of the image forming device1A (#138). Then, the job is executed when its turn comes.

If it is determined that storing in a box of another image forming device1is suitable (Yes in #135), the user is notified of it (#136). Then, the user instructs to change the storage destination to a box of the other image forming device1(Yes in #137), the process for storing the image data in the image forming device1A is stopped (#139). In this case, it is possible to instruct to send the image data to the other image forming device1and to store them in the user's box (#140). If the user does not want to change the storage destination (No in #137), the “SCAN TO BOX” job is generated and is stored in the queue of the image forming device1A (#138).

In this way, it is possible to provide a user with an environment where an efficient work can be realized using the plural image forming devices1in accordance with purpose, by introducing the image forming device1that is suitable from the viewpoint of a margin of free space in the hard disk drive. Namely, even if a size of image data to be saved becomes large due to an image size, the number of sheets or a compression mode for example, occurrence of a memory overflow error can be avoided when the user changes the storage destination in accordance with the introduction in advance. Thus, time and effort for executing the job again can be reduced.

Note that it is possible not only to determine the image forming device1that is suitable for the storage destination of the image data of the original but also to determine the image forming device1that is suitable for scanning the original. Namely, similarly to the copy job described above, it is possible to retrieve the usage result information72of each of the image forming device1A and the other image forming device1and to determine the image forming device1that is suitable for scanning the original in accordance with the condition for reading the original (including a type of paper of the original to be scanned (plain paper or recycled paper, as well as A4 size or A3 size) and a single-sided original or a double-sided original). Then, the determination result is introduced to the user together with the determination result of the image forming device1that is suitable for storing the image data. Thus, the “SCAN TO BOX” job can be executed more suitably. There is a case where the former image forming device1is different from the latter image forming device1. In this case, the image data may be transmitted from the former to the latter.

Furthermore, in the case of the job for transmitting the image data of the image of the original scanned by the scanner5eto the terminal device2by FTP (when performing the “SCAN TO FTP” job), it is possible to perform the process in the procedure as shown inFIG. 16so as to introduce another image forming device1that is more suitable than the image forming device1that the user designated first.

For example, the user who logged in the image forming device1A sets an original to be processed on the original glass plate of the scanner5eof the image forming device1A and operates the operation panel5hso as to give the instruction of the “SCAN TO FTP” job. When the image forming device1A receives the instruction (#161inFIG. 16), it retrieves the job type usage situation information71aand the usage result information72aof the image forming device1A itself (seeFIGS. 5 and 6) (#162) and accesses other image forming devices1so as to obtain the job type usage situation information71and the usage result information72of each of them as well as the user profile of the user (#163).

In accordance with the obtained job type usage situation information71, usage result information72and user profile, it is determined which is more suitable that the image forming device1A performs the process for transmitting the image data or that the other image forming device1perform the process as shown inFIG. 17(#164).

The number of times that the user has ever used the “SCAN TO FTP” job is checked (#171). If the number of times is less than the threshold level β1(No in #171), it is determined that the image forming device1A is suitable (#175). If the number of times is more than or equal to the threshold level β1(Yes in #171), another image forming device1that supports the SMB protocol is searched, and it is checked whether or not the usage right of the image forming device1is given to the user (#172and #173).

If the image forming device1that supports the SMB protocol and its usage right is given to the user is found (Yes in #172and Yes in #173), the number of times that the user has used the “SCAN TO SMB” job in the image forming device1is checked (#174). Then, if the number of times is less than or equal to the threshold level β2(Yes in #174), it is determined that the image forming device1is suitable (#176). If there is no image forming device1that supports the SMB, or if the user does not have the right to use the image forming device1, or if the number of times that the user has used the “SCAN TO SMB” job is more than the threshold level β2(No in #172or No in #173or No in #174), it is determined that the image forming device1A is suitable (#175).

Namely, the determination process shown inFIG. 17is aimed at checking whether or not the user has rarely used the function for transmitting data by the SMB protocol even though the user can use the image forming device1that is equipped with the function.

With reference toFIG. 16again, if it is determined that it is suitable to perform the process for transmitting the image data by the image forming device1A (No in #165), the “SCAN TO FTP” job is generated and is registered in the queue in the image forming device1A (#168). Then, the job is executed when its turn comes.

On the other hand, if it is determined that it is suitable to perform the process by another image forming device1(Yes in #165), a message that indicates that the user can use the “SCAN TO SMB” job in the other image forming device1is displayed for introduction (#166). Then, if the user changes the subject of the process for transmitting the image data of the original from the image forming device1A to the introduced image forming device1(Yes in #167), the instruction to the image forming device1A accepted in Step #161is canceled, and the transmission process is stopped (#169). If the user does not want to change the subject of the process (No in #167), the “SCAN TO FTP” job is registered in the queue in the image forming device1A as designated by the user first (#168).

As descried above, when the user often uses the function for transmitting image data obtained by scanning an original to a server or the like, the data transmission function according to the SMB protocol can be introduced to the user effectively in accordance with the method described above. Namely, if the user rarely uses or does not use completely the data transmission function by the SMB protocol, which has an advantage that a folder as a destination of transmission of the image data can be designated directly, even though the function is provided, this function is introduced to the user according to the method described above. It can be guessed that the user performs data transmission using another function without knowing the data transmission function by the SMB protocol. Therefore, it is very useful and effective to introduce the data transmission function by the SMB protocol to the user.

FIG. 18is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process in the image forming device1when it notifies information about a saving mode, andFIG. 19is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process in the image forming device1when it notifies a difference of the usage situation between image forming devices1.

The MFP state notifying portion128shown inFIG. 2performs the process for notifying an administrator or a person who is in charge of maintenance of information about a state of the image forming device1in the procedure as shown inFIG. 18or19.

For example, it is supposed that the administrator of the image-related process system SY issued an instruction for switching a mode so as to set a saving mode to the image forming device1A (#181inFIG. 18). Note that the “saving mode” is a mode for executing a process such as printing with saving a running cost by setting a use of recycled paper as paper for output in default or by setting the double-sided print mode.

When the saving mode is set, the image forming device1A retrieves the MFP specification information70of the image forming device1A itself (#182) and accesses other image forming devices1that are provided to the image-related process system SY so as to obtain the MFP specification information70of each of them as well as information that indicates a current default process condition (hereinafter, referred to as “default process condition information”) (#183).

It is determined whether or not the image forming devices1satisfy the following condition (#184). (a) It is possible to set the saving mode. (b) The saving mode is not set at present. (c) A running cost for performing a process in the saving mode is less than or equal to that of the image forming device1A.

Whether or not the condition (a) is satisfied can be determined by checking whether or not the MFP specification information70of the image forming device1indicates that the image forming device1is equipped with the function of using recycled paper or the function of the double-sided print. Whether or not the condition (b) is satisfied can be determined by checking whether or not the current default paper for output is set to use paper except recycled paper or whether or not the default process condition information of the image forming device1indicates that the single-sided printing mode is set (namely, that a process condition except the saving mode is set). Whether or not the condition (c) is satisfied can be determined by comparing the running cost indicated in the MFP specification information70of the image forming device1with that indicated in the MFP specification information70of the image forming device1A.

Then, if the image forming device1that satisfies all the conditions of (a)-(c) is found (Yes in #185), a message for notifying of it is sent to the administrator by electronic mail or the like (#186). Thus, it is possible to appeal the administrator about the other image forming device1that can be expected more effect of the saving mode than the image forming device1A.

Alternatively, information about difference of usage situation between image forming devices1is transmitted to an administrator or a person who is in charge of maintenance regularly (for example, every month). For example, as shown inFIG. 19, the image forming device1A retrieves the job type usage situation information71and the usage result information72of the image forming device1A itself (#191) and accesses other image forming devices1that are provided to the image-related process system SY so as to obtain the job type usage situation information71and the usage result information72of each of them (#192).

In accordance with the obtained job type usage situation information71a,71b, . . . , the number of usage times of each job type in the image forming device1A and the other image forming devices1during a predetermined period (for example, during the past one month) are summarized so as to calculate a difference between the summed value of the image forming device1A and the summed value of each of the other image forming devices1for each job type (#193).

Then, if there is a job type of which the difference between the summed value of the image forming device1A and the summed value of the other image forming device1is more than or equal to a predetermined value (Yes in #194), information that indicates the job type and how large the difference is, the usage result information72of the image forming device1A and the usage result information72of the other image forming device1are sent to the administrator so as to notify that the state of the image forming device1A is checked (#195). Thus, it is possible to advise the administrator to check a cause of difference of the usage situations. The administrator may study about a bad point or a poor point in the hardware or the software structure and remove the cause of the difference of the usage situation by updating, by adding a function or by repairing so that each of the image forming devices1can be used efficiently by the maintenance.

According to this embodiment, in the image-related process system SY that includes a plurality of image forming devices1, the image forming device1that is suitable for the user can be determined and introduced more effectively than before.

In addition, if there is a large difference of usage situation among the plural image forming devices1, an administrator is notified of the fact as well as the MFP specification information70of each of the image forming devices1. Thus, the administrator can know quickly that there is a malfunction in the image forming device1, so that processes can be performed effectively as a whole of the image-related process system SY by maintenance. In addition, the if a saving mode is set to any one of image forming devices1, the administrator can be notified of the other image forming device1that can perform the process at lower cost than the image forming device1. Thus, a running cost can be reduced effectively.

Although it is determined whether or not a job such as copying, network printing or scanning is performed suitably, and a suitable image forming device1is introduced to a user in this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to other types of jobs. For example, it is possible to determine and introduce the image forming device1that is most suitable for the fax transmission job. Alternatively, it is possible to determine and introduce the image forming device1that is most suitable for a special print job such as 2 in 1 printing or booklet printing.

Furthermore, the structure of the entire or each part of the image-related process system SY, the image forming device1or the terminal device2, the contents of the processes, the order of the processed, the structure of the profile and the job types can be modified if necessary in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

The present invention can be used eligibly particularly in an environment such as a middle or larger scale of office where a plurality of image forming devices1are installed.