Patent Publication Number: US-2005134876-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or a composite machine thereof (hereinafter referred to as “image forming apparatus”).  
      Recent years have seen the development of a system that allows remote control of an image forming apparatus from such a remote operation apparatus as a personal computer via the communications network (e.g. Patent Documents 1 and 2).  
      In such a system, an operator operates the remote operation apparatus and selects the data to be printed (including image data, text data; hereinafter referred to as “print data”) and the print conditions. Then a print job is created by the remote operation apparatus, and is sent to the image forming apparatus. The print job includes the selected print data and attribute information (hereinafter referred to as “job ticket”) with the print conditions described thereon. When the print job is sent from the remote operation apparatus, the image forming apparatus associates it with the print data, and the job ticket thereof is stored and placed under management. Further, the print job created according to the print instruction inputted through the operation section arranged on the main body of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “main-body operation section”) is stored and placed under management, and the image forming apparatus starts printing operation in the order in which the print jobs have been inputted. 
          [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,652     [Patent Document 2] U.S. Pat. No. 6,466,327        

      In the aforementioned prior art system, when there is a change in print conditions such as the number of prints, editing of the job ticket (attribute information) is possible through the remote operation apparatus, however, there is nothing disclosed whether editing by the image forming apparatus main body is possible or not.  
      The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that ensures stable editing when the job ticket of the same job is edited by different ways.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The aforementioned object of the present invention is achieved by the following configurations: 
          (1) An image forming apparatus for forming an image according to attribute information of a print job, the image forming apparatus being connected to a remote apparatus and comprising: a memory section for memorizing the attribute information for each print job; an operation section through which an editing operation is capable for the attribute information; and a control section configured to enable editing operations for the attribute information memorized in the memory section through the operation section and through the remote apparatus, and to control the editing operation through the operation section and the editing operation through the remote apparatus for the attribute information of one and the same print job.     (2) An image forming apparatus for forming an image according to attribute information of a print job, the image forming apparatus being connected to a remote apparatus and comprising: a memory section for memorizing the attribute information for each print job; an operation section through which an editing operation is capable for the attribute information; and a control section configured to enable editing operations for the attribute information memorized in the memory section through the operation section and through the remote apparatus; wherein the control section is capable of operation in plural different modes, and the control section restricts either one of editing operations through the control section or through the remote apparatus in case of editing operation for the attribute information of one and the same print job.     (3) An image forming apparatus for forming an image according to attribute information of a print job, the image forming apparatus being connected to a remote apparatus and comprising: a memory section for memorizing the attribute information for each print job; and a control section configured to enable editing operations for the attribute information memorized in the memory section by a first way and by a second way different from the first way; wherein in the editing operation for the attribute information of one and the same print job, the control section controls to give priority to either one of the editing operations by the first way or by the second way.        

    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a drawing representing the configuration of an image forming system  100  as an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a drawing representing the internal configuration of a remote operation apparatus  10 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a drawing representing the internal configuration of an image forming apparatus  50 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart representing the processing of remote-priority editing to be applied in the remote-priority editing mode;  
       FIG. 5  is a drawing showing an example of a job list sent from the image forming apparatus  50  to the remote operation apparatus  10 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a drawing showing an exampled of a warning message displayed on the image forming apparatus  50  during the process of editing the job ticket by the remote operation apparatus  10 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a drawing showing an example of the message notifying the result of editing the job ticket, displayed on the image forming apparatus  50 , where (a) represents a message for reporting successful editing, while (b) represents a message for reporting an editing failure;  
       FIG. 8  is a drawing showing the processing of remote-priority editing to be applied in the main-body-priority editing mode; and  
       FIG. 9  is a drawing showing an exampled of a warning message displayed on the image forming apparatus  50  during the process of editing the job ticket by the remote operation apparatus  10 ; and  
       FIG. 10  is a drawing showing an example of editing screen of the job ticket. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The aforementioned object of the present invention is further achieved by the following configurations: 
          (11) An image forming apparatus linked for communication with a remote operation apparatus for printing print data according to the job ticket indicating the print conditions, wherein the aforementioned image forming apparatus comprises: a memory section for storing the job ticket corresponding to the print data; a main-body operation section, arranged on the main body of the image forming apparatus, for editing the job ticket stored in the aforementioned memory section; a control section for controlling editing of one and the same job ticket by the aforementioned remote operation apparatus and the aforementioned main-body operation section.     (12) The image forming apparatus described in (11) wherein an instruction is possible to be provided to place priority on either editing by the aforementioned remote operation apparatus or editing by the aforementioned main-body operation section.     (13) The image forming apparatus described in (12) wherein, when an instruction is provided to place priority on editing by the aforementioned remote operation apparatus, and the main-body operation section has applied processing of editing to the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the remote operation apparatus, then the aforementioned control section issues a warning to notify that the job ticket is being edited by the remote operation apparatus.     (14) The image forming apparatus described in (13) wherein the aforementioned control section issues a warning to notify that the job ticket is being edited by the remote operation apparatus, and editing of this job ticket by the main-body operation section is disabled.     (15) The image forming apparatus described in (12) wherein, when an instruction is provided to place priority on editing by the aforementioned main-body operation section, and the remote operation apparatus has applied processing of editing to the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the main-body operation section, the aforementioned control section disables that editing.     (16) The image forming apparatus described in one of (11) through (15) wherein the aforementioned control section reports the result of editing the job ticket to the aforementioned remote operation apparatus.     (17) The image forming apparatus described in one of (11) through (16) wherein, when editing of a job ticket is requested by the remote operation apparatus, the information on the list of job tickets that can be edited by the remote operation apparatus is reported to the remote operation apparatus by the aforementioned control section.        

      According to the invention described in (11), editing of one and the same job ticket is placed under control in such a way as to avoid a mutual interference of editing of one and the same job ticket by the remote operation apparatus and that by the main-body operation section, thereby ensuring stable editing.  
      According to the invention described in (12), an instruction can be provided to place priority on either editing by the aforementioned remote operation apparatus or editing by the aforementioned main-body operation section. This arrangement permits a desired selection between the two modes in conformity to the operation status of an image forming apparatus.  
      According to the invention described in (13), when priority is placed on editing by the remote operation apparatus and the main-body operation section has applied processing of editing to the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the remote operation apparatus, then a warning is issued to notify that the job ticket is being edited by the remote operation apparatus. This allows the operator of the image forming apparatus to know that editing has been performed by an operator of the remote operation apparatus.  
      According to the invention described in (14), control is so provided that a warning is issued, and at the same time, editing by the remote operation apparatus alone is enabled. This arrangement prevents the edit operations of one and the same job ticket from interfering with each other.  
      According to the invention described in (15), when an instruction is provided to place priority on editing by the main-body operation section, and the remote operation apparatus has applied processing of editing to the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the main-body operation section, control is made in such a way that editing by the remote operation apparatus is disabled, and only editing by the main-body operation section is enabled. This arrangement prevents the edit operations of one and the same job ticket from interfering with each other.  
      According to the invention described in (16), the result of editing the job ticket is reported to the remote operation apparatus. This arrangement allows the operator of the remote operation apparatus to check if the editing of the job ticket performed on the remote operation apparatus has been successful or not. This prevents printing from being carried out under the print conditions not intended by the operator.  
      According to the invention described in (17), the information on the list of job tickets that can be edited by the remote operation apparatus is reported to the remote operation apparatus. A list eliminating the job ticket currently being printed or other job tickets that cannot be edited is sent to the remote operation apparatus. This arrangement avoids the cases where, even if an attempt is made to edit the job ticket that cannot be edited by the remote operation apparatus, editing is not performed in conformity to edit operation on the image forming apparatus; and prevents printing from being carried out under the print conditions not intended by the operator.  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT  
      The image forming apparatus in the present embodiment is arranged to provide two alternative modes; a remote-priority editing mode where priority is given to the editing by a remote operation apparatus, and a main-body-priority editing mode where priority is given to the editing by a main-body operation section of an image forming apparatus. Either of these modes can be selected. The following describes an example of controlling the editing of one and the same job ticket in conformity to the selected mode. To put it another way, the following arrangement will be described: When the remote-priority editing mode has been selected, editing by the main-body operation section of the image forming apparatus is disabled if it is applied to the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the remote operation apparatus. By contrast, when the main-body-priority editing mode has been selected, editing by the remote operation apparatus is disabled if it is applied to the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the main-body operation section, whereby edit operations are adjusted.  
      In the first place, the configuration will be described:  
       FIG. 1  is a drawing representing the configuration of an image forming system  100  in the present embodiment.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image forming system  100  has a remote operation apparatus  10  and an image forming apparatus  50 . These apparatuses are connected via the communications network to exchange information.  FIG. 1  shows an example of three remote operation apparatuses  10  and one image forming apparatus  50  connected with each other. However, there is no restriction to the number of the apparatuses.  
      Each apparatus will be explained below:  
      The remote operation apparatus  10  transmits information on print job and operation instructions such as an edit instruction of the job ticket contained in the print job to the image forming apparatus  50 , thereby remote-controlling the image forming apparatus  50 . For example, such an information processing apparatus as a general-purpose personal computer is applicable.  
       FIG. 2  shows the internal configuration of a remote operation apparatus  10 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the remote operation apparatus  10  includes a control section  11 , an operation section  12 , a display section  13 , a communication section  14 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  15  and a memory section  16 .  
      The control section  11  contains a CPU (Central Processor Unit) and others. In addition to the system program stored in the memory section  16 , remote-priority editing program ( FIG. 4 ) related to the present invention and main-body-priority editing program ( FIG. 8 ) are unfolded on the RAM  15 . Thus, the control section  11  controls the processing operation in a comprehensive manner in collaboration with these programs.  
      The control section  11  creates the print job in response to the operation instruction inputted through the operation section  12 . The print job contains print data and a job ticket. The created print job are sent to the image forming apparatus  50  through the communication section  14 , and the printing operation of the image forming apparatus  50  is remote-controlled.  
      Further, in the remote-priority editing and main-body-priority editing, a request is issued to edit the job ticket stored in the image forming apparatus  50 . To put it more specifically, request information for requesting the job ticket to be edited and various pieces of control information are generated and are sent to the image forming apparatus  50  through the communication section  14 .  
      The operation section  12  consists of a keyboard and mouse for inputting operation instructions, and supplies the control section  11  with the operation signal corresponding to the key having been operated.  
      The display section  13  contains an LCD (liquid crystal display) and others. In conformity to the instruction from the control section  11 , it shows various display screens such as a selection screen for selecting the print data and print conditions, an edit screen for editing the job ticket, and a communication screen for reporting the result of editing of the job ticket having been notified by the image forming apparatus  50 .  
      The communication section  14  consists of a communications interface such as a Network Interface Card (hereinafter referred to as “NIC”) and a modem, and exchanges information with the external equipment on the communications network N. For example, it sends the job ticket edit request information to the image forming apparatus  50  and receives the information on the result of editing the job ticket from the image forming apparatus  50 .  
      The RAM  15  provides a work area for temporary storage of various programs to be run by the control section  11  and the data related to these programs.  
      The memory section  16  stores a remote-priority editing program, main-body-priority editing program and data processed by various programs, in addition to the system program.  
      The following describes the image forming apparatus  50 :  
      The image forming apparatus  50  stores the print job created in conformity to the operation instruction from the operation section of the main body of the image forming apparatus, or the print job sent from the remote operation apparatus  10 , and performs printing of the stored print job.  
       FIG. 3  shows the internal configuration of an image forming apparatus  50 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the image forming apparatus  50  consists of a control section  51 , a main-body operation section  52 , a display section  53 , a RAM  54 , a memory section  55 , an image reading section  56 , a print data memory  57 , a printing section  58  and a communicating section  59 .  
      The control section  51  unfolds the printing program stored in the memory section  55 , on the RAM  54  and controls the printing operation in a comprehensive manner in collaboration with the program. For example, when a newly created print job has been inputted, the print data contained in the print job is stored in the print data memory  57 , and the job ticket is stored in the memory section  55 . In response to the instruction from the main-body operation section  52 , the control section  51  selects the copy mode, printer mode or scanner mode, and controls the print data processing, copying, printing and reading of image data.  
      The control section  51  controls the editing of one and the same job ticket, and edits the job ticket in response to the edit operation by the main-body operation section  52  or editing by the remote operation apparatus  10 . When the remote-priority editing mode is selected as a job ticket edit mode, the remote-priority editing program stored in the memory section  55  is read out and is unfolded on the RAM  14 . The control section  51  controls the processing operation in a comprehensive manner in collaboration with the related program. On the other hand, when the main-body-priority editing mode is selected, the main-body-priority editing program is read out and is unfolded on the RAM  14 . The control section  51  controls the processing operation in a comprehensive manner in collaboration with the related program.  
      In response to a job ticket editing request issued from the remote operation apparatus  10 , the control section  51  creates a list of job tickets that can be edited by the remote operation apparatus  10  and sends it to the remote operation apparatus  10  through the communicating section  59 , whereby the list information is reported.  
      In the remote-priority editing mode, in response to the request for editing the job ticket (including the one not yet edited or already edited) stored in the memory section  55  from the remote operation apparatus  10 , editing is applied to the job ticket for which editing has been requested. When a request is issued through the main-body operation section  52  to edit the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the remote operation apparatus  10 , a warning message is displayed on the display section  53  to warn that the job ticket is being edited or having been edited by the remote operation apparatus  10 . Then editing by the main-body operation section  52  is disabled. The job ticket is edited in response to the editing by the remote operation apparatus  10  and the edited job ticket is stored in the memory section  55  as updated data. When a request is issued to use the remote operation apparatus  10  to edit the job ticket currently being edited by the main-body operation section  52 , editing by the main-body operation section  52  is disabled. Then the job ticket is edited in response to the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10  and is stored into the memory section  55  as updated data.  
      In the main-body-priority editing mode, in response to the request for editing the job ticket (including the one not yet edited or already edited) stored in the memory section  55  from the main-body operation section  52 , editing is applied to the job ticket for which editing has been requested. When a request is issued through the remote operation apparatus  10  to edit the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the main-body operation section  52 , editing by the remote operation apparatus  10  is disabled. A message is created to report editing failure and is sent to the remote operation apparatus  10  through the communicating section  59 . When a request is issued to use the main-body operation section  52  to edit the job ticket currently being edited by the remote operation apparatus  10 , a message is created to report editing failure and is sent to the remote operation apparatus  10 , wherein the job ticket edited in response to the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10  is not stored into the memory section  55 .  
      The main-body operation section  52  contains a group of keys such as function keys and numeric keys and the touch panel arranged integrally with the display section  53 , for setting the print-conditions such as number of prints, type of paper, duplex/simplex printing mode and magnification factor, and sends the operation signal corresponding to the operated key to the control section  51 .  
      The display section  53  is composed of an LCD and others, and a setting screen for setting the print conditions in conformity to the instruction from the control section  51 , a job ticket edit screen and a communication screen for reporting the result of editing of the job ticket.  
      The RAM  54  provides a work area for temporary storage of various programs to be run by the control section  51  and the data related to these programs.  
      Further, the RAM  54  contains the job list where information on the stored print job is formulated in the form of a list in such a manner that the list can be updated. In the job list, for example, the following information is stored in the order of printing in the associated form; the print job name, the name of a user as a source of sending the print job, print data file name, data file name of the job ticket showing the print conditions of the print data, and the current status of the print job (e.g. “Waiting for print” if print data is being received; “Finished the edition” if the job ticket has been edited).  
      The memory section  55  stores the remote-priority editing program, main-body-priority editing program and data processed by various programs, in addition to the printing program.  
      Further, the memory section  55  has a memory area for storing the job ticket data file.  
      The image reading section  56  comprises a light source and a photoelectric conversion device such as a CCD (charge coupled device) on the lower portion of the contact glass, and provides optical scanning of the document placed on the contact glass. After the reflected light has undergone photoelectric conversion by the CCD, it is converted into digital form, whereby the document image data is obtained. The document image data is stored in the print data memory  57  as print data.  
      The print data memory  57  is a memory for storing the print data to be outputted, such as the image data scanned by the image reading section  56  and print data received through the communicating section  59  from the remote operation apparatus  10 . The print data need not always be so configured as to be sent from the remote operation apparatus  10  together with the job ticket; it can be the print data obtained from the storage location specified by the job ticket (e.g. data stored in the server).  
      The printing section  58  has a sheet feed section (not illustrated) for feeding the various kinds of printing paper. Based on the print data specified by the control section  51  to be printed, the specified printing paper is printed. Printing can be performed by any method—electrophotographic or inkjet method.  
      The communicating section  59  has a communications interface such as NIC and modem, and exchanges information with the external equipment on the communications network N. For example, it receives the job ticket edit request information from the remote operation apparatus  10 , and sends the information on the result of editing the job ticket to the remote operation apparatus  10 .  
      The operation in the present embodiment will be described below:  
      In the present embodiment, editing of the job ticket is controlled in two methods; control of editing for the remote-priority editing mode, and control of editing for the main-body-priority editing mode. These two control methods will be described: The following description is based on the assumption that either the remote-priority editing mode or main-body-priority editing mode is set in advance as a default mode.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , let us assume that remote-priority editing mode is preset.  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart representing the processing of remote-priority editing to be applied by the image forming apparatus  50  and remote operation apparatus  10 . In the following description, the remote operation apparatus  10  may be called the remote operation section, while the main-body operation section  52  of the image forming apparatus  50  may be termed the main-body operation section.  
      In the remote-priority editing shown in  FIG. 4 , the job ticket edit instruction is inputted through the operation section  12  in the remote operation apparatus  10 . The job list request information is created by the control section  11  and is sent to the image forming apparatus  50  (Step S 1 ). When the job list request information has been received from the remote operation apparatus  10  in the image forming apparatus  50 , the job list is read from the RAM  54  by the control section  51 . The job list consisting of only the print jobs having job tickets that can be edited by the remote operation apparatus  10  is re-edited, and this re-edited job list is sent to the remote operation apparatus  10  (Step S 2 ). For example, the job ticket of the print job currently being printed cannot be edited, and therefore such a print job is eliminated from the job list.  
      In the present embodiment, an example of requesting the job list of the print job containing the job ticket has been described above. It is also possible to make such arrangements that a list consisting of only the job tickets—not the entire print job—is requested.  
      In the remote operation apparatus  10 , based on the job list sent from the image forming apparatus  50 , the list screen d 1  is indicated on the display section  13 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The print job for editing the job ticket is selected from the job list displayed by the operator. When editing has been specified by the edit key, the job ticket edit screen (shown in  FIG. 10 ) appears. On this edit screen, the operator changes the settings for such items as the number of prints and print method, and edits the job ticket. In the remote operation apparatus  10 , the control section  11  generates the job ticket request information for every edit operation for one item through the operation section  12 , and this information is sent to the image forming apparatus  50  (Step S 3 ).  
      In the image forming apparatus  50 , when the job ticket request information has been received from the remote operation apparatus  10 , the relevant job list is read from the memory section  55 , and is stored in the RAM  54  on a temporary basis. Based on the edit request information having been received, the setting of the job ticket stored in the RAM  54  on a temporary basis is changed by the control section  51 , and editing is carried out. Upon completion of editing for one item, a message is generated to report that editing has been done by the control section  51  and is sent to the remote operation apparatus  10  (Step S 4 ).  
      In the remote operation apparatus  10 , editing by the operation terminates. On the edit screen, evaluation is made to determine whether or not editing has been terminated for each item, according to whether or not an instruction has been given to store the job ticket (Step S 5 ). If no instruction has been given to store the job ticket, and editing has not yet terminated (Step S 5 ; N), the system goes back to the processing in S 3 , and editing is started for the next item. In the meantime, if an instruction has been given store the job ticket and editing has been terminated (Step S 5 ; Y), a message for reporting the termination of editing the job ticket is generated by the control section  11  and is sent to the image forming apparatus  50  through the communication section  14  (Step S 6 ).  
      In the image forming apparatus  50 , in response to the request from the remote operation apparatus  10 , job ticket edit menu is selected from the print menu through the main-body operation section  52  during editing of the job ticket. Then evaluation is made to determine whether or not editing of the job ticket currently being edited has been requested (Step S 7 ). If there is a request for edited through the main-body operation section  52  (Step S 7 ; Y), priority is given to the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10 , since the remote-priority editing mode has been set. As shown in  FIG. 6 , a warning message ml appears on the display section  53  to notify that editing is currently in progress by the remote operation apparatus  10  (remote operation section) and editing by the main-body operation section  52  (main-body operation section) is disabled (Step S 8 ). Thus, the editing by the main-body operation section  52  is disabled. After the message has been displayed, the system proceeds to the Step S 9 .  
      On the other hand, when editing is required through the control section  51  (Step S 7 ; N), evaluation is made to determine whether editing is to be terminated or not, based on whether a job ticket edit termination message has been received from the remote operation apparatus  10  or not (Step S 9 ). If the message for reporting termination of editing has not yet received and editing does not terminate (Step S 9 ; N), the system goes back to the processing of Step S 4 , and editing is repeated based on the job ticket editing request information sent from the remote operation apparatus  10 . On the other hand, when the message reporting the termination of editing has been received and editing is to be terminated (Step S 9 ; Y), the edited job ticket is read from the RAM  54  and is stored in the memory section  55  as updated data. Then a message reporting the result of editing the job ticket is generated and is sent to the remote operation apparatus  10  (Step S 10 ).  
      In the remote operation apparatus  10 , based on the message reporting the result of editing the job ticket sent from the image forming apparatus  50 , the result screen for showing the result of editing the job ticket is displayed on the display section  13  (Step S 11 ).  
      For example, when editing has been carried out correctly based on the edit operation on the remote operation apparatus  10 , a message m 2  is displayed on the result screen to notify that job ticket has been successfully edited, as shown in  FIG. 7 ( a ). If correct editing cannot be performed and an editing error has occurred due to a communications error or the edit operation having been performed on the image forming apparatus  50 , then a message is displayed to the effect that the job ticket edit failure has occurred.  
      In the image forming apparatus  50 , when the message showing the result of editing the job ticket has been sent, editing of any one of job tickets stored in the memory section  55  is selected from the print menu through the main-body operation section  52 . Evaluation is made to determine whether editing of the job ticket has been requested or not (Step S 12 ). When editing is not requested through the main-body operation section  52  (Step S 13 ; N), this processing terminates. When editing is requested through the main-body operation section  52  (Step S 12 ; Y), evaluation is made to determine whether or not the job ticket for which editing is requested has been edited by the edit operation of the remote operation apparatus  10  (Step S 13 ).  
      If the job ticket has already been editing by the operation of the remote operation apparatus  10  (Step S 13 ; Y), priority is given to the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10 , since the remote-priority editing mode has been set. A warning message (not illustrated) appears on the display section  13  to notify that editing has already been performed by the remote operation apparatus  10  and editing by the image forming apparatus  50  (Step S 14 ); then the processing terminates.  
      If editing by the remote operation apparatus  10  is not started (Step S 13 ; N), the job ticket selected in response to the edit operation by the main-body operation section  52  is edited (Step S 15 ), and the processing terminates.  
      The aforementioned description refers to the case where a request is issued through the main-body operation section  52  to edit the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the remote operation apparatus  10 . Conversely, when a request is issued through the remote operation apparatus  10  to edit the job ticket having been edited by the main-body operation section  52 , priority is given to the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10 , and editing is performed in response to the request for editing from the remote operation apparatus  10 . The edited job ticket is stored in the memory section  55  as new data.  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , the following describes the control of the job ticket edit operation when the main-body-priority editing mode has been set.  
       FIG. 8  is a drawing showing the processing of main-body-priority editing to be applied by the image forming apparatus  50  and remote operation apparatus  10 .  
      In the operation of main-body-priority editing shown in  FIG. 8 , processing from Steps S 1  through S 6  is carried out in the first place. Processing from Steps S 1  through S 6  will not be described since it is the same as the processing from Steps S 1  through S 6  described with reference to the remote-priority editing mode shown in  FIG. 7 . Accordingly, the following description will start from Step S 107 . In Steps S 1  through S 6 , the job ticket is edited in response to the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10 .  
      In Step S 107 , in the image forming apparatus  50 , the job ticket edit menu is selected from the print menu through the main-body operation section  52  during editing of the job ticket in response to the request from the remote operation apparatus  10 , and evaluation is made to determine whether or not there is any request to edit the job ticket currently being edited. If there is no request for editing issued through the main-body operation section  52  (Step S 107 ; N), the system goes to the processing in Step S 110  to be described later.  
      If there is a request for editing through the main-body operation section  52  (Step S 107 ; Y), the job ticket for which editing has been requested is currently being edited by the remote operation apparatus  10  (remote operation section), as shown in  FIG. 9 . A selection screen d 2  appears on the display section  53  to select whether or not edit operation from the image forming apparatus  50  (main-body operation section) should be performed. On this selection screen d 2 , evaluation is made to determine whether or not the instruction has been inputted to perform editing (Step S 108 ).  
      If there is an instruction to perform editing (Step S 108 ; Y), priority is given to the edit operation by the main-body operation section  52  since the main-body-priority editing mode is set. Editing by the remote operation apparatus  10  is disabled and a job ticket edit screen appears on the display section  53 . If an instruction for edit operation has been inputted through the main-body operation section  52  by the operator for each of the items such as the number of prints and printing method on this edit screen, the job ticket is edited by the control section  11  for every input of the instruction for edit operation for one item (Step S 109 ).  
      When edit operation by the main-body operation section  52  terminates on the edit screen and an instruction is given to store the job ticket, then the job ticket edit operation terminates. The job ticket edited by the main-body operation section  52  is stored in the memory section  55  as new data. In this case, the job ticket having been edited by the remote operation apparatus  10  is removed from the RAM  54 , without being stored. The information for reporting the result of editing the job ticket is generated by the control section  51  and is sent to the remote operation apparatus  10  (Step S 111 ).  
      In the remote operation apparatus  10 , a result screen showing the result of editing the job ticket appears on the display section  13  (Step S 112 ), according to the message, showing the result of editing the job ticket, sent from the remote operation apparatus  10 . For example, when the edit operation by the main-body operation section  52  of the image forming apparatus  50  is not performed and normal editing cannot be performed in response to the edit operation of the remote operation apparatus  10 , then a message m 2  appears to indicate that the job ticket edit operation has been successful, as shown in  FIG. 7 ( a ). If the job ticket being edited or having been edited in the remote operation apparatus  10  is edited by the main-body operation section  52  and editing in response to the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10  has not been performed, then a message m 3  appears to notify that a job ticket edit failure has occurred, as shown in  FIG. 7 ( b ), and at the same time, its error code m 3  and reason message m 5  indicating the cause of that error are displayed. When the result of editing has appeared, the processing terminates.  
      The aforementioned description refers to the case where a request is issued through the main-body operation section  52  to edit the job ticket being edited by the remote operation apparatus  10 . When a request is issued from the image forming apparatus  50  to edit the job ticket having been edited by the remote operation apparatus  10 , the job ticket is edited in response to the edit operation of the image forming apparatus  50  and the edited job ticket is stored in the memory section  55  as updated data.  
      When a request is issued from the remote operation apparatus  10  to edit the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the image forming apparatus  50 , the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10  is disabled so that editing is not performed. A message is sent to the remote operation apparatus  10  to notify the edit failure, since the job ticket is being edited or has been edited by the main-body operation section  52 .  
      As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the remote-priority editing mode is selected, priority is given to the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10 . If a request is issued from the main-body operation section  52  of the image forming apparatus  50 , control is provided in such a manner that a warning message appears to disable edit operation by the main-body operation section  52 . This arrangement avoids interference between the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10  and that by the image forming apparatus  50 . Further, the warning message allows the operator of the image forming apparatus  50  to recognize that editing has been done by the remote operation apparatus  10 .  
      Further, when the main-body-priority editing mode is selected, priority is given to the edit operation by the main-body operation section  52 . If the remote operation apparatus  10  starts to edit the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the main-body operation section  52  of the image forming apparatus  50 , control is provided in such a manner that the edit operation is disabled by the image forming apparatus  50 , or the job ticket having been edited by the remote operation apparatus  10  is not stored. This arrangement avoids interference between the edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10  and that by the image forming apparatus  50 .  
      Thus, the system provides control the edit operation of one and the same job ticket by the main-body operation section  52  and that by the remote operation apparatus  10  so that the job ticket is edited in conformity to the preferred edit mode, whereby stable job ticket editing is ensured.  
      Further, if there is an increase in the number of the edit operations by the main-body operation section  52 , printing operation is restricted between edit operations. This will reduce the productivity by the image forming apparatus  50 . To solve this problem, the remote-priority editing mode is specified to restrict the edit operation by the main-body operation section  52 , whereby the productivity of the image forming apparatus  50  is maintained. In the meantime, the job ticket of the image forming apparatus  50  can be edited through the remote operation apparatus  10 . Thus, if there are many operators of the remote operation apparatus  10 , there will be an increase in the frequency of job ticket edit operation. In this case, the remote-priority editing mode is specified to reduce the frequency of edit operation by the remote operation apparatus  10 , whereby the abuse of job tickets can be avoided. As described above, the present embodiment is arranged to allow either the remote-priority editing mode or main-body-priority editing mode to be specified. This arrangement permits a desired selection between the two modes in conformity to the operation status of the image forming apparatus  50 , thereby enhancing convenience for uses.  
      The result of editing the job ticket is reported to the remote operation apparatus  10 . Thus, the operator is informed of whether the job ticket edit operation has succeeded or failed. If it has failed, he or she is notified of the causes of the failure. This arrangement avoids the unfortunate cases where the operator does not know the result of editing the job ticket and unintended printing operation is performed.  
      The aforementioned description of the present embodiment refers to a preferred example of the image forming apparatus  50  according to the present invention, without being restricted thereto.  
      For example, in the aforementioned description, when the remote-priority editing mode is selected and a request is issued from the main-body operation section  52  to edit the job ticket being edited or having been edited by the remote operation apparatus  10 , a message is issued to warn that the job ticket is being edited or has been edited by the remote operation apparatus  10 , and the edit operation is disabled. However, it is also possible to make such arrangements that only a warning message is sent in conformity to the operation environment of the image forming apparatus  50 . This arrangement will allows the operator to perform editing by the main-body operation section  52  if required, after confirming the warning message.  
      Further, the detailed configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus  50  in the present embodiment can be modified as required, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
      In the above-mentioned embodiments, described is the image forming apparatus provided with the main-body-priority editing mode and the remote-priority editing mode, however, the present invention is applicable to the image forming apparatus being not provided with these priority modes. For example, when the job ticket is edited by either one of the remote operation apparatus  10  and the main-body operation section  52 , priority may be controlled to be set thereon. Further, when is is structured such that the job ticket is capable to be edited by different ways from the main-body operation section  52 , it is possible to control one of the ways to be prioritized to the other.