Imaging forming apparatus with a priority order determining device for a plurality of jobs

An image forming apparatus has therein an input device for inputting plural jobs relating to image forming, a specifying device which specifies degree of urgency relating to at least a part of the inputted job, a priority order determining device which determines the priority order of the inputted job based on the specified degree of urgency, and an execution device which executes the inputted job, based on the determined priority order.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to a technology which can determine the order
 of execution for jobs in an image forming apparatus such as, for example,
 a copying machine and a printer.
 There has been developed a digital copying machine which reads a document
 to store it as image data, and can make hard copies based on the image
 data. In the so-called multi-job copying machine which is one type of the
 digital copying machine stated above, plural documents are read at a time,
 then, they are recognized as hard copy jobs for each document, and hard
 copies are made in accordance with the order of execution.
 Incidentally, one of merits of the multi-job copying machine is a point
 that a user can change the order of execution for jobs freely. For
 example, in a multi-job copying machine, hard copies are made usually in
 the order of reading documents. However, when there is a job which
 requires a hard copy urgently, a user can operate a reservation list of
 jobs so that the job requiring a hard copy urgently may be moved to the
 forefront of the reservation list. By doing the operation of this kind, it
 is possible to execute the specific job only on priority basis.
 However, operations of the reservation list have the following problems. A
 multi-job copying machine is usually used by plural users, and each user
 does not know the degree of urgency for hard copies desired by other users
 in many cases. Therefore, there is a fear that a job whose degree of
 urgency is higher is put off when a certain user gives a priority to his
 job through operations of the reservation list.
 Further, since procedures of the operations of the reservation list are
 complicated, operations require a certain level of experience. A user who
 is inexperienced in the operations, therefore, needs to be told by other
 users who are skilled in the operations about procedures to give priority
 to the job. However, in many cases, execution of the job is undesirably
 finished while the operations for the job are told, and the operation
 procedures told are sometimes forgotten before they become necessary again
 next time.
 Further, for a user who thinks it very troublesome to learn operation
 procedures, it is presumed that the user can not give priority to its own
 job and the job is put off by operations of other users, even when a hard
 copy is needed urgently, resulting in a considerable period of time for
 which the user must wait.
 On the other hand, in the multi-job copying machine of this kind, it is
 also possible to use an interruption job function to stop the active job
 by force and to execute the specific job antecedently. However, in the
 active job, when the specific finishing such as stapling is executed,
 there is provided a mechanical restriction to prohibit the same finishing
 for the job of interruption, for preventing confusion.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 In view of the problems in the prior art mentioned above, an object of the
 invention is to provide an image forming apparatus wherein it is possible
 to execute easily, on priority basis, the job which requires a hard copy
 urgently.
 To attain the object stated above, the image forming apparatus of the
 invention has therein an input means for inputting plural jobs relating to
 image forming, a specifying means which specifies degree of urgency
 relating to at least a part of the inputted job stated above, a priority
 order determining means which determines the priority order of the
 inputted job stated above based on the aforesaid specified degree of
 urgency, and an execution means which executes the inputted job stated
 above, based on the determined priority order.
 In the image forming apparatus of the invention wherein there are provided
 an input means for inputting plural jobs relating to image forming, a
 specifying means which specifies degree of urgency relating to at least a
 part of the inputted job stated above, a priority order determining means
 which determines the priority order of the inputted job stated above based
 on the aforesaid specified degree of urgency, and an execution means which
 executes the inputted job stated above based on the determined priority
 order, it is possible even for a user who is inexperienced in the
 apparatus to execute his own job on priority basis, only by specifying
 either one of plural urgency steps, for example, because the priority
 order is determined automatically and the job is executed in accordance
 with that priority order.
 Incidentally, it is preferable that the degree of urgency is graded to be
 in two or three steps.
 Further, if the priority order determining means selects the medium
 priority order for the job having no specification of degree of urgency
 when the degree of urgency is graded to be in three steps, or selects the
 lowest priority order when the degree of urgency is graded to be in two or
 three steps, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus which
 requires less time for a user to input, for example, and is more
 user-friendly.
 When the urgency is the same for all jobs, if the jobs are executed in the
 order wherein the job having the least number of sheets for image forming
 comes first, it is possible to reduce the number of reservation jobs in a
 short period of time, which is convenient.
 If there are provided a measuring means which measures waiting time and an
 alarm device which gives an alarm when a prescribed period of time is
 measured by the measuring means, with regard to the job postponed in terms
 of execution due to the input of a new job having high degree of urgency,
 the attention is called by the alarm even in the case of a job which has
 not been executed for a long time due to its degree of urgency which is
 relatively low. Owing to this, a user who wishes to have a hard copy
 urgently can take necessary actions such as a change of the degree of
 urgency of the job in a proper manner, which is convenient.
 Further, if there are provided a measuring means which measures waiting
 time and a means for enhancing precedence of a job postponed in terms of
 execution when a prescribed period of time is measured by the measuring
 means, with regard to the job postponed in terms of execution due to the
 input of a new job having high degree of urgency, even in the case of a
 job which has not been executed for a long time due to its degree of
 urgency which is relatively low, the priority order of the job can be
 enhanced automatically by the means stated above, thus the inconvenience
 that the job is not executed for a long time can be brought under control
 to the utmost.
 In addition, if the image forming apparatus is a copying machine which
 copies a document, and the specifying means has a means which reads a
 character or a symbol described on the document, and if an arrangement is
 made so that degree of urgency for copying the document is specified based
 on the character or the symbol read by the reading means, it is possible
 to provide an image forming apparatus which requires no time for a user to
 input degree of urgency by himself, for example, and is more
 user-friendly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 An embodiment of the invention will be explained as follows, referring to
 the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a multi-job copying
 machine representing an image forming apparatus related to the present
 embodiment.
 In FIG. 1, CPU 1 is connected with scanner 2, memory 3, printer 4, display
 device 5 and with input means 6 so that they can be controlled by CPU 1.
 To be more concrete, under the control of CPU 1, scanner 2 serving as an
 input means reads a document and converts it into digital image data,
 then, converted digital image data are stored in memory 3, and a hard copy
 corresponding to a document is made by printer 4 representing an execution
 means based on the stored digital image data.
 Since storage capacity of memory 3 is great in a multi-job copying machine
 in the present embodiment, a plurality of image data corresponding to the
 document read can be stored. In this case, there are produced jobs for
 hard copy in the quantity which is the same as that of documents read. The
 jobs of this kind attain their objects and are eliminated, or erased from
 a reservation job list, when hard copies are made by the printer 4.
 Further, under the control of CPU 1, display device 5 displays various
 pieces of information necessary for copying documents, and a user can
 input information necessary for copying through input means 6 representing
 a specifying means while observing the aforesaid display. Incidentally, in
 the present embodiment, a liquid crystal display of a touch type is used,
 and therefore, the display device 5 and the input means 6 are united
 integrally.
 Each of FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) is a diagram showing a display screen of liquid
 crystal display 56 in the present embodiment. As stated above, the
 multi-job copying machine can read documents continuously through scanner
 2 even before hard copies for documents read precedently are completed.
 FIG. 2(a) is an image screen for the so-called "reservation job" wherein
 new documents are read through scanner 2 while printer 4 is in process of
 making hard copies, and thereby, reservation for hard copy is made.
 At the center portion in FIG. 2(a), there are provided button group B1
 which can display and specify the types of double-sided copy, button group
 B2 which can display and specify density, button group B3 which can
 display and specify image quality and button B4 which can display and
 specify magnification. Since the liquid crystal display 56 is of a touch
 type as stated above, when a user presses corresponding one in button
 groups B1-4, display of the pressed button, for example, is reversed to
 show that the input has been accepted. There are further provided buttons
 B5 and B6 which can specify degree of urgency and button B7 which requests
 display of a reservation list, on the right side of the image screen.
 Next, operations in the present embodiment will be explained. A user who
 wishes to make a job reservation presses a proper one of button groups
 B1-B4 shown on the image screen in FIG. 2(a) after setting a document on
 scanner 2, and selects a copy mode. Further, the user selects the degree
 of urgency as occasion demands, by pressing button B5 when he wishes to
 make copies urgently, or by pressing button B6 when copying is not urgent.
 Then, after the user presses an unillustrated start button, CPU 1 makes
 scanner 2 to read a document, and stores in memory 3 after converting into
 corresponding digital image data. Incidentally, a copy mode specified by
 the user through button groups B1-B4 so that the copy mode may correspond
 to the digital image data stated above, and the degree of urgency
 specified through buttons B5 or B6 are stored in memory 3.
 In this case, a user who wishes to confirm the reservation list presses
 button B7, upon which the image screen is switched to one shown in FIG.
 2(b) which is a diagram showing an image screen indicating the reservation
 list. In FIG. 2(b), "job number" is assigned automatically in the order of
 reservation made by a user, "state" shows the current state of the job
 (namely, in process of execution (RUN) or in process of waiting (WAIT)),
 "priority" indicates what is specified in accordance with buttons 5 and 6
 pressed in the course of making reservation of the job, and "remaining
 quantity of sheets" shows the number of sheets which have not yet been
 made to be hard copies in the job.
 Due to the state indication shown in FIG. 2(b), it is understood that
 printer 4 is making hard copies for the job with job number 2 currently,
 and output is waited for jobs with job numbers 3-6. In this case, CPU 1
 representing a priority order determining means determines the execution
 order of the job whose degree of urgency is "urgent" to be higher in terms
 of priority order than that of the job whose degree of urgency is
 "regular", and controls the printer 4 so that it may make hard copies in
 accordance with the execution order. Therefore, when the job reserved this
 time is one having the number 6 and when button B5 is pressed in the case
 of the reservation and "urgent" is specified, its order for waiting is
 immediately after the last job having the degree of urgency of "urgent"
 which is after the job number 2 in an example of FIG. 2(b).
 Further, with regard to CPU 1, when the degree of urgency is the same for
 jobs, the execution order is determined so that the job with number 5
 having 8 sheets of hard copy may be executed in preference to the job with
 number 4 having 10 sheets of hard copy so that the priority order of the
 job having less hard copies may be enhanced. Due to this, the number of
 reservation jobs can be reduced in a short period of time.
 Incidentally, the job with number 6 having 6 sheets of hard copy must have
 priority over the job with number 2 having 20 sheets of hard copy
 naturally. However, the job with number 2 was already in process of
 execution when the reservation for the job with number 6 was made. So,
 hard copies for the job with number 6 are made after completion of the job
 with number 2. Namely, there is not carried out the so-called interruption
 job for executing the job with number 6 precedently after stopping the job
 with number 2. Accordingly, even in the case where specific finishing such
 as stapling is conducted in the job with number 20, for example, it does
 not cause any restriction of functions on the job with number 6.
 When many jobs ranked to be "urgent" in terms of degree of urgency are
 reserved, there is a possibility that the jobs reserved already as
 "regular" in terms of degree of urgency are lowered relatively in terms of
 priority order and are sidetracked to wait for a long time until hard
 copies are made. In that case, it is possible to arrange so that
 measurement is made by a timer built in CPU 1, and for the job which is
 not executed even after the lapse of 10 minutes, for example, the
 corresponding job number flickers on liquid crystal display 56
 representing an alarm means to let a user know that execution of the job
 is delayed.
 As a variation thereof to be considered, it is also possible to move up the
 order of execution for the job which is not executed even after the lapse
 of 10 minutes by making CPU 1 to change the degree of urgency from
 "regular" to "urgent" automatically and thereby to enhance the priority
 order. Incidentally, the waiting time which is responded by CPU 1 is not
 limited to 10 minutes, and it may be either longer or shorter than that,
 or it may be changed by a user freely.
 Since printer 4 can be connected with external printer controller 7 as
 shown with dotted lines in FIG. 1, it is also considered to conduct hard
 copy work based on image data inputted from the printer controller 7. In
 that case, CPU 1 treats a job to conduct hard copy work based on image
 data coming from a print controller as one whose degree of urgency is
 specified to be "regular". The reason of the foregoing is that hard copies
 based on image data from external print controller 7 are used privately in
 many cases, and their degree of urgency is considered to be relatively
 lower, compared with copying which is conducted to make many materials to
 be distributed.
 In the embodiment stated above, a user is supposed to specify the degree of
 urgency either of "urgent" or "regular". However, if an arrangement is
 made so that the degree of urgency of a job is "regular" unless a button
 is pressed as default, and the degree of urgency is specified as "urgent"
 only when "urgent" specification button B5 is pressed, time for inputting
 is reduced, resulting in further convenience. Incidentally, it is also
 possible to make an arrangement so that the degree of priority can be
 changed later with regard to the job waiting for execution.
 On the contrary, in another variation, the degree of urgency can be
 inputted automatically. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a
 document which is read by a multi-job copying machine in the present
 variation example.
 In FIG. 3, character C of "urgent" is marked on the upper left of document
 G. CPU 1 has OCR functions, and when digital image data from scanner 2
 which has read document G are analyzed, and when character C of "urgent"
 is judged to be present on the upper left, the degree of urgency of the
 job for the hard copy is treated to be specified as "urgent". On the other
 hand, when character C of "urgent" is judged not to be present on the
 upper left, the degree of urgency of the job for the hard copy is treated
 by CPU 1 to be specified as "regular". Further, CPU 1 determines the
 priority order based on its degree of urgency in the same way as in the
 aforesaid embodiment, and controls the order of execution for hard copies.
 As in the foregoing, in the variation stated above, the degree of urgency
 is established automatically depending on whether or not a character of
 "urgent" is marked on the upper left of a document through a word
 processor or a rubber stamp (handwriting is acceptable according to
 circumstances), even when a user does not input information of degree of
 urgency in a multi-job copying machine. Therefore, even a person who is
 inexperienced in such multi-job copying machine can give priority easily
 to its own job. Incidentally, the degree of urgency to be marked on a
 document may also be expressed not only by characters but also by
 alphanumeric characters and symbols.
 Though the invention has been explained as in the foregoing, referring to
 the embodiment, the invention should not be construed to be limited to the
 embodiment, but it can naturally be changed or improved. For example, in
 the embodiment stated above, the degree of urgency can be specified into
 two steps. However, it is also possible to specify into three steps of
 "urgent", "regular" and "background" in the order wherein the highest
 degree of urgency comes first. In this case, when default of the degree of
 urgency specified by force when a user does not input the degree of
 urgency is made to be "regular", it is not necessary to input the degree
 of urgency for the job of "regular" considered to be of the highest
 frequency in use, and time for inputting can be saved in total.
 On the other hand, a person who wishes urgent copying specifies "urgent",
 while, a person who wishes copies in a large amount that are not so urgent
 has only to specify "background", and thereby, the jobs can be scheduled
 efficiently. However, default of degree of urgency can also be made to be
 "background".
 Since the image forming apparatus of the invention has therein an input
 means which inputs plural jobs relating to image forming, a specifying
 means which specifies degree of urgency with regard to at least a part of
 the job inputted, a priority order determining means which determines
 priority order of the job inputted based on the degree of urgency
 specified, and an execution means which executes the job inputted based on
 the priority order determined, the priority order can be determined
 automatically when a user just specifies either one of plural steps of
 degree of urgency, and the job is executed in accordance with the priority
 order, which therefore makes it possible that even a user who is
 inexperienced in the apparatus can execute its own job on priority basis.