Patent Application
20170034383
Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus and a display method of the image forming apparatus.
Conventionally, an MFP (multi-functional peripheral) incorporates a plurality of devices that can carry out compound control operations.
The MFP cannot process a “print” job and a “copy” job through a network at the same time.
On the other hand, the MFP is possible to process a “scan” job and a “print” job at the same time. The MFP can enable the user to use a “FAX transmission” operation as well as the “print” operation. Further, the MFP can enable the user to use a “mail transmission” operation as well as the “copy” operation.
However, the MFP doesn't inform that the user can use other operations different from the “print” operation during the “print” operation.
The user waits for print output after activating print jobs respectively.
Other users come to the MFP for operations such as “scan”, “FAX” and the like different from the “print” operation.
During the execution of print operation, it is possible for the MFP to execute the “scan” operation and the “FAX” operation as well as the “print” operation.
However, the user needs to wait for his/her turn. The user waits for an operation chance until the print operation that is being executed is ended.
The MFP cannot run the plurality of devices efficiently, which hinders the improvement of operation efficiency of devices.
Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of devices configured to carry out compound control action; a job management section configured to store identification information of a job registered user using more than one of the plurality of devices in association with a job category; an authentication section configured to identify a user in the vicinity of the apparatus through a personal authentication separately from the job management section; a determination section configured to determine user identification information different from the identification information of the registrant among the user identification information of a plurality of users identified by the authentication section and other job categories that can be used in the execution of the job; and a display section configured to display the user identification information and the other job categories.
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and a display method of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further, same components in each figure are applied with the same reference numerals, and therefore the description thereof is not provided.
An MFP 10 comprises a plurality of devices including a scanner 11, a network interface 12, a print section 13, a storage 14, a FAX device 15 and the like.
The scanner 11, the network interface 12, the print section 13, the storage 14, and the FAX device 15 are devices.
For example, the scanner 11 and the print section 13 are capable of carrying out compound control operations.
The “capable of carrying out compound control operations” refers to capable of executing jobs such as the print job, the copy job and the like simultaneously.
The MFP 10 comprises a job management section 16, an authentication section 17, a determination section 18, a display section 19, a control panel 20, a main controller 21 and a camera 22.
The job management section 16 stores identification information of a job registered user using more than one of the devices such as the scanner 11, the print section 13 and the like in association with a job category.
The MFP 10 may use, for example, a staff ID (identification) as the identification information.
The authentication section 17 identifies a user in the vicinity of the MFB 10 through a face authentication separately from the job management section 16. The authentication section 17 authenticates an individual through the face authentication with the camera 22.
The “in the vicinity of the MFB 10” refers to a space in a range in which an authentication success rate of the authentication section 17 higher than a desired threshold value can be obtained among all the spaces around the MFB 10.
The determination section 18 determines user identification information different from the identification information of the job registrant among the plurality of user identification information identified by the authentication section 17 and other job category that can be used during the execution of job.
The other job category is, for example, a FAX transmission job of a user B during a period of time a user A is carrying out a print job of a large number of pages.
The display section 19 displays the user identification information and the other job category.
The scanner 11 scans documents from an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) 33. The ADF 33 presses a document against a glass plate 32.
The scanner 11 reflects light from a light source 27 on the glass plate 32. The reflected light is received by a CCD (charge coupled device) sensor 201 through mirrors 28, 29 and 30 and a lens 31.
The network interface 12 receives print request from a PC (personal computer) 24 through a network 23. The network interface 12 is an LAN (local area network) card.
The print section 13 is a print engine which prints and outputs an image with four print colors (C, M, Y and K).
The print section 13 comprises four exposure devices 129, image forming sections 131C, 131M, 131Y and 131K, and a belt 130.
The exposure device 129 modulates a laser light of a semiconductor laser of each color through an image signal. The belt 130 travels endlessly in an anticlockwise direction V.
The image forming section 131Y for forming a yellow image is provided with a drum 132, a charger 133, a developing device 134 and a transfer device 135.
The drum 132 is a photoconductor drum which rotates in a clockwise direction T.
The charger 133 charges the surface of the drum 132.
The developing device 134 develops an electrostatic latent image on the drum 132 with toner.
The transfer device 135 primarily transfers a toner image on the drum 132 to the belt 130.
Each of the constitutions of the image forming section 131M for forming a magenta image, the image forming section 131C for forming a cyan image and the image forming section 131K for forming a black image are substantially identical to the constitution of the image forming section 131Y.
Further, the print section 13 is provided with a sheet conveyer 136, a secondary transfer device 137, and a fixing device 138.
The sheet conveyer 136 guides a sheet P from a tray 139 to the print section 13.
The secondary transfer device 137 transfers a four-color toner image formed by the image forming sections 131C, 131M, 131Y and 131K to the sheet P secondarily.
The fixing device 138 fixes the toner image that has not been fixed yet on the sheet P.
The FAX device 15 serving as a device sends an image through a FAX. The FAX device 15 also receives an image through a FAX.
The control system 50 includes an ROM (read only memory) 212, an RAM (random access memory) 213, and a CPU (central processing unit) 219 on a bus 218 and a bus 223.
The buses 218 and 223 are common data buses.
The ROM 212 stores programs.
The CPU 219 controls the RAM 213 according to the programs. The CPU 219 outputs signals indicating setting and instruction to each device (the print section 13 and the like) through the buses 218 and 223.
The CPU 219 reads out a processing result of each device. The CPU 219 executes the functions of the main controller 21. The CPU 219 collectively controls the whole control system 50 of the MFP 10.
The RAM 213 provided a storage area for operation to the CPU 219. The RAM 213 generates a memory table for managing jobs of the OS.
The job management section 16 stores a list of processing operations such as the print job registered through the PC 24 via the network 23. The job management section 16 manages the processing operations according to the job categories.
The job management section 16 uses a job management table 25 of the OS.
The job categories refers to a copy job, a print job, a scan job, an FAX transmission job, an FAX reception job, a mail transmission job and a mail reception job.
The copy job is a job printing the data scanned through the scanner 11 with the print section 13.
The print job is a job printing a print spool data from the PC 24 with the print section 13.
The scan job is a job sending the scanned data to a remote server through the network 23.
The scan job includes a job mailing the scanned data to an address. The scan job also includes a job storing the scanned data in the storage 14.
The FAX transmission job is a job transmitting the scanned data through a FAX.
The FAX reception job is a job printing the image data received by the FAX device 15 with the print section 13.
The mail transmission job is a job mailing the file stored in the storage 14 to an address. The mail transmission job also includes a job mailing a scanned image to an address.
The mail reception job is a job receiving a mail.
Further, in
The HDD 216 stores various kinds of files generated when the MFP 10 carries out processing. For example, the HDD 216 stores a scanned file.
The HDD 217 may store a database 215 for authentication. The database 215 stores a plurality of face images and corresponding user identification information in an associated manner.
The database 215 stores the face image, the user identification information and user feature information in an associated manner.
Any of the HDDs 216 and 217 stores an OS (operating system) and a plurality of pieces of application software.
The OS manages the generation of jobs through a plurality of devices (the scanner 11 and the print section 13).
The FAX device 15 may store the image data received through a FAX in the storage 14.
The authentication section 17 authenticates an individual through the face authentication with the camera 22.
The camera 22 acquires an image including a user in the vicinity of the MFB 10. The camera 22 has a wide field of view (angle of view).
For example, a CMOS (complementary MOS) image sensor is used in the camera 22.
The authentication section 17 comprises an image extraction section 214 and an authentication control section 204.
The image extraction section 214 detects a person according to the image data from the camera 22. The image extraction section 214 extracts feature information for identifying a face from the image data.
The authentication control section 204 may output an image capturing timing signal to the camera 22.
The authentication control section 204 outputs user identification information through the face authentication according to the captured image from the camera 22 and the face image of the database 215.
The authentication control section 204 compares the feature information extracted by the image feature section 214 with feature information of the user registered in the second HDD 217 in advance. The authentication control section 204 identifies a user according to the comparison result to authenticate the user.
Further, the determination section 18 determines identification information representing a non-registered user who has not been registered in the job management section 16 yet among the plurality of users identified by the authentication section 17 as the user identification information.
The determination section 18 may rank orders for user identification information of a plurality of users obtained as the determination results.
The determination section 18 selects other job category that can be used by the non-registered user when a job is being executed.
The determination section 18 selects a job category that can be processed in parallel to a job category that has been registered in the job management section 16 as the other job category.
The determination section 18 may be arranged in a compound control section determination section 222.
The functions required to determine compound control operations other than the functions of the determination section 18 are executed by the compound control section determination section 222.
The compound control section determination section 222 is executed through cooperation of the CPU 219, the ROM 212 and the RAM 213.
The MFP 10 includes the display section 19 on the control panel 20. The display section 19 displays, for example, a user name and information such as “scan is available”.
The MFP 10 may include a speaker 26 in the control panel 20. The speaker 26 outputs the user identification information and the job category through sound with an amplifier.
The control panel 20 includes an input section 210. The input section 210 includes buttons and numeric keys for receiving operations of users.
The control system 50 is provided with a control panel control section 209.
The control panel control section 209 controls the input section 210 and a display section 211. The control panel control section 209 controls a display of screen, a switch of screen on the control panel 20 and an input of operations of the user.
The control system 50 includes a network control section 220 for controlling a network communication.
The control system 50 includes a printer image processing section 207.
The printer image processing section 207 executes a filtering processing and a gradation processing on the image data to be sent to the print section 13.
The printer control section 208 controls a printing operation of the print section 13.
The control system 50 includes a CCD sensor 201, a CCD pre-processing section 202, a scanner image processing section 203, a page memory 205, and a page memory control section 206.
The CCD sensor 201 is a four-line CCD in the scanner 11. The CCD sensor 201 reads a document in the horizontal scanning direction through CCD elements. The CCD sensor 201 converts the read document into image data through a scanning in the vertical scanning direction.
The CCD pre-processing section 202 converts an analog signal of four-color from the CCD sensor 201 into a digital signal.
The CCD pre-processing section 202 generates a driving signal of the CCD elements.
The scanner image processing section 203 corrects the bending of a curve representing characteristics of the CCD elements. The scanner image processing section 203 carries out an image processing required in next stage processing. For example, the processing is a correction of the lens 31 and the like, a range correction, a filter processing and the like.
The page memory 205 stores page data of one page or more than one page of the document.
The page memory control section 206 controls read access and write access to the page memory 205.
A part of components shown in
Each component of the control system 50 is realized through a semiconductor circuit such as an LSI (large scale integration) and the like. The control system 50 may be realized through software partially or wholly.
Further, a display method of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a method notifying a user from the MFP 10.
The main controller 21 enables the job management section 16 to register a job using the print section 13, the scanner 11 and the like.
The main controller 21 enables the authentication section 17 to execute a face authentication for a user in the vicinity of the MFP 10.
The main controller 21 enables the determination section 18 to determine whether or not the user identified through the face authentication has been registered in the job management section 16.
The main controller 21 sends a control signal to the control panel 20.
The main controller 21 enables the display section 19 to display user identification information and other job category that can be used in the execution of the job for a non-registered user who has not been registered in the job management section 16 yet.
In the determination, in a case in which it is determined that user identification information of a plurality of users is obtained, the determination section may rank orders for the user identification information of the plurality of users.
In the determination, the determination section 18 assigns a job category processed in parallel to the job category from the job management section 16 to user identification information.
In the execution of the face authentication, the authentication section 17 photographs the user through the camera 22.
The authentication section 17 obtains a face image from the photographed image and retrieves the database 215.
The authentication section 17 lists the user identification information of the plurality of users through a face authentication of the face image.
Next, the operation actions of the MFP 10 with the constitution described above are described.
(A) A Case in which a User B and a User C Use the MFP 10 after a Job of a User A is Registered
A visual field range F of the camera 22 is a stereo range. A user positioned in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is contained in the range. The camera 22 outputs a planar image area from the stereo visual field range F. The image area is a still image or a moving image.
The image extraction section 214 detects an area of a moving target in the image area. The image extraction section 214 extracts the head of a person according to the size of a target in a changed area.
Further, in ACT A1 in
If the authentication section 17 detects a user in ACT A1 (YES in ACT A1), the authentication section 17 and the job management section 16 refer to the job management table 25 in ACT A2.
It is assumed that the job management section 16 has registered the print jobs in the OS through the reception of a print request from the PC 24 of the user A in the network interface 12 prior to ACT A1.
In ACT A2, the job management section 16 detects a print job of the user A (registrant identification information and notation).
On the other hand, the user B approaches the MFP 10 for a copy operation.
The user C approaches the MFP 10 for a FAX transmission operation.
In ACT A3, the authentication section 17 adds the number of users in the vicinity of the MFP 10 and the number of the job registered users.
In ACT A4, the authentication section 17 determines whether or not the number of users is more than one according to the addition result.
In ACT A4, the authentication section 17 determines that the number of users is 2 or more than 2.
Herein, if it is determined in ACT A4 that the number of users is 1 (NO in ACT A4), the authentication section 17 terminates the processing.
If the number of the users is 1, the MFP 10 is not occupied by a job of other people.
If the authentication section 17 detects that the number of the users is 2 in ACT A4 (YES in ACT A4), the authentication section 17 identifies two users respectively through a face authentication in ACT A5.
In ACT A5, the image extraction section 214 extracts, for example, a contour line, and elements such as eyes, mouth, nose, ears, hairstyle, ornaments, color and the like within the contour line, and converts the feature points of the elements into numerical values.
In ACT A5, the authentication section 17 detects the user B and the user C. It is detected that the user B and the user C are positioned in the vicinity of the MFP 10.
In ACT A5, the main controller 21 or the OS calls the determination section 18 through an interruption to the bus 218 from the authentication section 17.
Sequentially, the determination section 18 determines whether or not the user B and the user C are respectively a registrant of which the job has been registered in ACT A6.
In ACT A6, the determination section 18 compares a registrant of a registration job such as a print job with the identified users B and C.
In ACT A7, the determination section 18 determines whether or not both the user B and the user C are registrant of jobs.
In ACT A7, the determination section 18 refers to the job management table 25. Alternatively, the determination section 18 enables the job management section 16 to determine whether or not the users B and C are registrants.
The determination section 18 determines whether or not all the identified users are users waiting for print output.
If the determination section 18 determines that neither of the users B and C is a registrant of job in ACT A7 (NO in ACT A7), the determination section 18 proceeds to the processing in ACT A8.
It is determined by the determination section 18 that the users B and C are persons who approach the MFP 10 for some unknown purposes.
In ACT A8, the determination section 18 determines whether or not there is a compound control operation that can be processed in parallel to a print operation.
In ACT A8, the determination section 18 determines that there is a compound control operation in which a scan, a FAX transmission/reception and a mail transmission/reception of the scanner 11 can be carried out simultaneously in parallel to the print operation.
Next, the determination section 18 confirms that the obtained operation category is available in ACT A9.
If the confirmation result is yes (YES in ACT A9), the main controller 21 displays a target user name and an operation name that can be used by the users B and C on the display section 19 in ACT A10.
The determination section 18 may replace the orders according to the result in which orders are ranked before and after the identification time between the users B and C.
In ACT A10, the main controller 21 may output the target user name and the operation name from the speaker 26 through a sound.
The user B sends a FAX when the user A is printing.
The user C checks a mail reception after the user B.
In this way, in a case in which a user of which the job has not been registered in the MFP 10 is positioned in the vicinity of the MFP 10, the MFP 10 can inform the user of other operations that are available.
It is always possible to promote a plurality of users to use available compound control operations.
(B) A Case in which there is a Time Difference Between the Arriving Timings of the Users B and C after the Print Job of the User A is Registered
In ACT A3 described above, the authentication section is not limited to detect a plurality of users simultaneously. A processing in a case in which the users B and C approach the MFP 10 with a time difference is described.
After the user B for a copy operation is detected by the authentication section 17 during the execution of the print job of the user A, the user C approaches the MFP 10 for a FAX transmission operation.
The authentication section 17 starts the processing in ACT A1 through a detection of the user B.
The authentication section 17 executes processing from ACT A2 to ACT A10.
The display section 19 displays the user B and an available operation name.
The authentication section 17 authenticates the user C after the user B.
During the execution of the print job of the user A, and during the execution of the processing of the user B, the authentication section 17 starts the processing in ACT A1 through a detection of the user C.
The authentication section 17 and the determination section 18 execute processing from ACT A2 to ACT A9 without carrying out branching processing in each processing.
In ACT A10, the display section 19 updates display content (
For example, the user B sends a FAX when the User A is carrying out the print operation. The user C sends a FAX after the user B.
(C) A Case in which the User C Carries Out a Print Job when the User A is Carrying Out a Print Job and the User B is Transmitting/Receiving a FAX
The user A generates a print job.
The user B approaches the MFP 10 for a copy operation.
The user C generates a print job.
The job management section 16′registers print jobs of the users A and C before the processing in
If the authentication section 17 detects the user B through a detection processing, the authentication section 17 refers to the job management table 25 (ACT A2).
The authentication section 17 adds the detected number of users and the number of job registered users (ACT A3).
The authentication section 17 determines that the number of all the users is 3 (YES in ACT A4).
The authentication section 17 identifies the user B through the face authentication (ACT A5).
The determination section 18 determines whether or not the user B is a registrant (ACT A6 and ACT A7).
The determination section 18 determines whether or not there is other operation with respect to the print operation according to the negative result in ACT A7 (ACT A8).
The determination section 18 determines a scan, a FAX transmission/reception and a mail transmission/reception (YES in ACT A9).
The display section 19 displays the user B and an available operation name as shown in
The authentication section 17 carries out processing from ACT A1 to ACT A6 for the user C. In ACT A7, the authentication section 17 determines the user C not to be an authentication target. Then, the authentication section 17 terminates the processing.
The user B sends a FAX when the user A is carrying out a print job.
The user B doesn't carry out a print job. A display is guided for the user B.
The user C carries out a print job. No display is guided for the user C.
The MFP 10 can control the display according to whether or not there is a user who carries out a print job.
(D) A case in which the user A carries out a print job, the user B carries out a FAX job, and the user C carries out a scan mail job
Instead of the print job of the user C in the case (C), there is also a case in which the user C approaches the MFP 10 for a scan mail (mail transmission of a scan image).
The user A generates a print job.
The user B approaches the MFP 10 for a copy job.
The job management section 16 registers a print job of the user A before the processing in
If the authentication section 17 detects the user B, the authentication section 17 refers to a registration of job (ACT A2). The authentication section 17 calculates the addition of the number of users (ACT A3), and determines that the number of users is 3 (ACT A4).
The authentication section 17 determines whether or not the user B is registered through the face authentication (ACT A5, ACT A6 and ACT A7).
The determination section 18 determines whether or not there is other operation different from the print operation (ACT A8).
The determination section 18 determines a scan, a FAX transmission/reception and a mail transmission/reception (YES in ACT A9).
The display section 19 displays the user B and an available operation name (ACT A10,
The user C approaches the MFP 10 for a scan mail.
During the execution of the print job of the user A, and during the execution of the processing of the user B, the authentication section 17 starts the processing in ACT A1 for the user C through a detection of the user C.
The authentication section 17 executes processing from ACT A2 to ACT A9 without carrying out branching processing in each processing. The display section 19 updates display content as shown in
For example, the user B sends a FAX when the User A is carrying out the print operation. The user C sends a FAX after the user B.
For example, 1000 pieces of documents are set in the ADF 33. The ADF 33 conveys the document one by one. The ADF 33 stops a document at a given position temporarily.
The scanner 11 images the reflected light on the CCD sensor 201. The CCD sensor 201 accumulates charge for each color. The scanner 11 generates a color signal for each pixel.
The page memory 205 stores an image. An image scanned through an operation on the control panel 20 is mailed to an address.
(E) A Case in which the Users a, B and C Only Carry Out Print Jobs
The job management section 16 registers three print jobs in the OS through the reception of a print request.
The MFP 10 doesn't start the user detection processing in
The print section 13 forms electrostatic latent images of four colors respectively on the corresponding drum 132. The print section 13 develops the electrostatic latent images of four colors respectively with corresponding toner.
Each of the image forming sections 131C, 131M, 131Y and 131K transfers a corresponding toner image to the belt 30.
The print section 13 forms monochrome toner images on the belt 130 sequentially from the upstream side to the downstream side in the anticlockwise direction V of the belt 130.
The secondary transfer device 137 transfers a four-color toner image to the sheet P. The fixing device 138 fixes the four-color toner image on the sheet P.
The MFP 10 prints and outputs a sheet for each user.
(F) A Case in which the User A Carries Out a FAX Job, the User B Carries Out a FAX Job, and the User C Carries Out a Mail Reception Job
The user A approaches the MFP 10 for a fax transmission job.
The user B approaches the MFP 10 for a fax transmission job.
The user C approaches the MFP 10 for a mail check.
If the authentication section 17 detects the user A (ACT A1), the authentication section 17 refers to a registration of job (ACT A2).
The job management section 16 doesn't register any one print job.
In a case in which the authentication section 17 detects that 3 persons are in the visual field range F simultaneously, the authentication section 17 determines that the number of the users is 3.
According to a determination on whether or not the user A is registered through the face authentication, the authentication section 17 displays a guide of print, scan, FAX and mail as well as the user name A.
The user A operates a FAX transmission button. After completion, the user B operates the FAX transmission button.
Both the FAX transmission of the user A and the FAX transmission of the user B are buffered.
During a period of time the users A and B are waiting for the transmission, the user C checks a mail reception.
As stated above in detail, the MFP 10 promotes the users waiting for operations to access a FAX, a mail and a file inside the MFP 10 and the like, and in this way, the waiting user and a user who carries out a print job or a scan job can carry out operations simultaneously.
In this way, it is possible to run the plurality of devices that can carry out compound control operations efficiently.
The user can use a scan, FAX, and mail job during a print job without waiting for orders. The user doesn't wait operations until the print job that is being executed is ended.
The operation efficiency of devices is improved.
The processing as shown in
In the embodiment described above, the MFP 10 may control a tilt and a pan of the camera 22 to rotate.
The camera 22 may be arranged separately from the MFP 10. The MFP 10 may obtain users who approach the vicinity of the MFP 10 through a reception of an image from the separated camera 22.
The MFP 10 may execute the personal authentication through an RFID (radio frequency identification) or a wireless medium such as a wireless tag.
The display section 19 and the speaker 26 may be arranged independently from the control panel 20.
A piece of communication software in accordance with a communication protocol on the network 23 may be installed in the storage 14. A mailer for transmitting and receiving mails may be installed in the storage 14.
An SSD (solid state drive) may be used in the storage 14.
The storage 14 may includes a memory interface 224.
A piece of browser software on the window 140 of the control panel 20 may be installed in the storage 14. The job management section 16 may register and manage a browsing job.
The MFP 10 may connect a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory with the memory interface 224.
The job management section 16 may manage a job printing a file from the memory interface 224. The job management section 16 may store scanned data file in the USB memory.
In the embodiment described above, the MFP 10 may be provided with a finisher and may be connected with the finisher. The MFP 10 may contain and display a finisher processing in a candidate of a job category.
The priorities of the image forming apparatus, the image forming method and the recording medium according to the embodiment are not damaged for the implementations which are only performed with these changes.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
