Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-19
2003-12-23
Coles, Edward (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
C358S003140, C358S003150, C358S003160, C358S003170, C399S080000, C399S081000, C399S411000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06667816
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a digital image reproduction apparatus including a digital image processing apparatus for use by a plurality of users. More particularly, the invention relates to a digital image reproduction apparatus including an image conversion unit; a local memory; a local operator control unit, integrated in the apparatus, provided with inputting device and a display, for a user to give operating commands to the apparatus; and a management unit connected to the memory, for controlling image conversion jobs to be performed for a user by the image processing apparatus, the management unit maintaining a plurality of logic storage spaces in the memory, each allocated to a respective user, and the management unit being capable of storing data relating to an image conversion job for a user, in the logic storage space allocated to the user, from which logic storage space the data can exclusively be retrieved upon a command from a user, the command specifying the relevant job.
2. Description of Related Art
A related apparatus is known from Applicants' European Patent Application EP 0 814 424 A. This known apparatus is a digital copier/printer connected to a network, to which also a plurality of user workstations is connected.
Digital data files sent from a user's workstation for printing by this known apparatus are either of a first type or of a second type. The first type is formed by files which must be printed automatically, and the second type is formed by files which must be stored in the logic storage space of the user (sender) in the memory without any further action. A user wishing to have a file of the second type printed must select the relevant job and give a print command, using the buttons on the operator control panel of the device.
In this publication, the processing of a data file of the second type for printing is referred to as “deferred printing”, the term “command-controlled mode” also being used. In the following description, this method of processing will be referred to as “interactive printing”. The publication also refers to the processing of a data file of the first type as being a “(remote-started) print job”, and the term “autonomous mode”, while this method will be referred to in the following description as “automatic printing”.
It sometimes occurs that a print job of the first type cannot be processed, for instance because:
the sender of the print job is not authorized to have jobs printed on the particular device
there is no print paper available of the kind specified in the job
the job is broken off by a stop command given by an operator at the device
a non-recoverable machine error takes place.
In many of these cases, the print file is then lost, or it may remain in the memory, waiting till the conditions for printing are met, but blocks the print queue, so that other jobs cannot be printed either.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to remedy these disadvantages. To this end, the management unit, when handling an image conversion job, checks whether the job can be performed completely, and in the case that the job cannot be performed completely, enters the data relating to the job in the logic storage space of the relevant user.
As a result, the file is not lost but remains available. On a command from the apparatus operator control panel, it can be retrieved and resumed. Also, the job is automatically removed from the automatic print queue and therefore cannot block other jobs that might be perfectly fit for printing.
A first embodiment of the invention is directed to authorization of users. Printing machines are frequently equipped with a system which counts the number of prints made per person for the purpose of calculating the costs, the system preventing non-authorised users from making use of the apparatus. Non-authorised users may, for example, be users who have exceeded a permissible maximum number of prints.
If a user is found to be non-authorised when his data file for printing (of the first type, i.e. for automatic printing) arrives in the apparatus, the latter refuses to handle the print job and the file is usually lost. The user must then first bring his authorisation into order and can then re-send a print order with a copy of the data file to the apparatus. The user, who probably does not know that his authorisation has expired, does not find this out until he has walked to the apparatus, and then has to walk back to his workstation to re-send the print order.
According to the present invention, the management unit also maintains a list of authorised users, and when the management unit receives from a user's workstation a file of the first type for printing, the management unit checks whether the relevant user is registered in the list of authorised users, and if so, prints the file, and if not, converts the file to a file of the second type, if necessary creates a logic storage space for the relevant user and stores the file in the logic storage space of the relevant user.
Consequently, although the file for printing (of the first type) is not printed, it nevertheless remains available for printing on a command from the apparatus operator control panel, so that the user does not have to go back to his workstation in order to start the print job again.
The same approach is applied in cases in which printing of a data file is not possible for other reasons. This is the case, for example, if the apparatus manager does not wish to accept any automatic print jobs because they interfere with his handling copy jobs or interactive print jobs. In that case, all the incoming files of the first type for printing are automatically converted to files of the second type, so that at least they are not lost, but can still be processed interactively.
Another case in which a print job cannot be executed is when not all the conditions have been met for printing at the actual start of the printing operation. This is the case, for example, if the print paper specified in the print order is not in stock in the apparatus. Another example is that the print job is programmed for printing on receiving sheets introduced by manual input. If there is no paper present in the manual input when the job is started, the print job cannot be executed. In another embodiment of the present invention, the management unit therefore checks, when a print process is started up for a print file of any of the first or second types, whether all the conditions for the printing are met. If this is not the case, it brings the file into the condition of a file of the second type for printing and stores the file in the logic storage space of the relevant user. This is convenient for a user, who, when he arrives at the apparatus for collecting his prints, discovers that the paper is used up, and his job is not printed at all. Now, he can fill the paper reservoir and can restart the print job without going back to his workstation.
In a further embodiment, the invention is applied to cases in which execution of a job is broken off due to a fatal interruption. By a fatal interruption, an interruption is meant that leads to abortion of the running process.
A first example of a fatal interruption is, when a second user at the device stops the execution of a running print job of a first user who is not present at that moment.
When a running print job is broken off by a user command, the print data are normally deleted, based on a philosophy, that jobs are only broken off if the prints are not desired at all. However, it may well happen that a job is broken-off inadvertently, because another user simply tries to make an interrupt copy job, but uses the wrong buttons. According to the invention, the job data are still preserved, and the job may be printed by the owner at a later time.
Another form of a fatal interruption of a print process may be a fatal error in the print process, more particularly, a mechanical breakdown of the process engine. In those cases, it may take a
Geelen Johannes F. M. E.
Van Buren Antonius C. M.
Volleberg Wilhelmus G. J.
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Coles Edward
Mitchell Monica
Oce--Technologies B.V.
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