Patent Application
20060007487
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scheme of setting the time for a printer.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, the printer that uses E-mail for various notifications to the outside or the printer that records the log with time appended is well known.
The apparatus having a printer function that is connected to the network has usually a simple clock function installed, because the clock function is indispensable. However, the apparatus having the printer function of low price often mounts a clock not backed up with the battery while the power is turned off to reduce the costs. In this case, though the almost correct time is obtained since the clock is put right till the power is turned off, the correct time will not be obtained once the power is turned off, as long as the clock is put right again.
And as a method for the apparatus connected to the network to acquire the time, a method for notifying the time from a host computer at higher rank has been proposed. For instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-105694 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-260851 are well known.
A technology as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-105694 involves setting the time of an internal clock of the apparatus having the printer function, using the time included in registered data from the host computer.
Moreover, a technology as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-260851 involves setting the time of the host computer that firstly sent the print data to an internal clock of the printer by including the time information in the print data.
However, according to the conventional technologies, when the time of the host computer is not accurate, the inaccurate time may be set to the printer, whereby it is desired to provide a scheme for setting more accurate time.
Moreover, if the printer itself acquires the time from a time server, and is set to the acquired time, the accurate time can be set to the printer. However, there was a problem that the time could not be set when the time server was down by some causes.
Moreover, it is possible to prevent the situation where the time itself cannot be set when the time server is down by some causes.
Accordingly, the present invention is conceived as a response to the above-described-disadvantages of the conventional art.
According to one aspect of the present invention, preferably, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising determination device for determining the priority of the time externally input, and setting device for setting the time based on the time of which the priority is determined to be higher by the determination device.
With the above configuration, when the time of the host computer is wrong or incorrect, the wrong or incorrect time is prevented from being set to the printer, whereby the more correct time is set up.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures there.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the relative arrangement of the components, the numerical expressions and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention unless it is specifically stated otherwise.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawing.
The image processing system of this embodiment is constituted of an image forming apparatus 150 comprising a plurality of host computers 110/111 connected to a network, various kinds of servers 112/113, a controller (image processing apparatus) 120 for performing a predetermined image processing for image data transmitted through an interface (local I/F 121-1 or network I/F 121-2) from the host computers or the servers, and an engine 130 such as a copying machine connected to the controller 120 to print out the digital image in color or gray scale.
The controller 120 has an external interface 121 connected via an interface 121 (121-1, 121-2) to the host computer 110, the external interface being connected to a CPU bus 123. The CPU bus has connected to a CPU 124 for controlling the operation of the whole apparatus, a ROM 125 storing a control program (including a flow as will be described later), a RAM 126 (126-1, 126-2) for use as a work area, an HDD controller 127 for controlling an internal hard disk (HDD) 128 storing the font data, temporary stored data, and print image data, and an FIFO 129. Herein, the RAM comprises a frame memory 126-1 storing the raster image data, and a PDL buffer 126-2 holding the PDL image data. The raster image data is not stored in the frame memory 126-1, but may be stored in the internal HDD 128. Also, plural pieces of image data stored in the internal HDD 128 may be printed out in the order according to an edit mode designated on an operation part 132 of the printer.
In this controller 120, the PDL (Page Description Language) image data transmitted through the local interface 121-1 or the network interface 121-2 from the host computer 110 is once stored via the CPU bus 123 in a PDL buffer 126-2. The CPU 124 expands the PDL image data saved in the PDL buffer 126-2 into raster image data, using the font data in the ROM 125 or internal HDD 128, and writes it into the frame memory 126-1.
From this controller 120, the raster image data is sent via the CPU bus 123 and the FIFO 129 on a forming signal 141 to the print engine 130, whereby the image is formed based on that signal. Also, the controller 120 and the printer engine 130 communicate via an interface 142 in various ways.
The printer engine 130 comprises an image forming part 131, an operation part 132, and a control part 133. The image forming part 131 has a function of outputting the image data sent from the host computer 110 onto a recording medium, in color or gray scale, at a resolution of 400 dpi for the image processing apparatus. The control part 133 controls the printer 130 to perform a printing function in accordance with the communication substance between the operation part 132 and the image processing apparatus 120. The operation part 132 is used to make various settings of the printer or instruct various operations.
The controller 120 can communicate via the network interface 121-2 to the device on the network, and communicate not only the print data but also the device control data, device status and management information.
As an example, the consumables information, including toner residual amount, residual number of sheets for every size in every cassette, and residual amount of staples, may be communicated. Also, the status information (door open, paper jam) of the printer, and the presence or absence of mounting various kinds of optional devices (paper ejector (sorter), Z folder, paper deck) may be communicated. The device set values may be also communicated.
In the forgoing explanation, the image forming apparatus 150 is the type of receiving the PDL data from the host computer, and making the rendering of image and the print control for the image within the printing apparatus, but may be the type of making the rendering of print image and the print control in a PrinterDriver (printer driver) 202 or a LanguageMonitor (language monitor) 203 operating on the host computer 110 as shown in
Various kinds of control commands are interpreted and performed by the printer. If it is required to reply to the host computer, a reply process is performed. As an example, there are various kinds of status information in the printing apparatus. This returned status is received through a connection port by the language monitor, whereby the printing process is further performed in accordance with its substance, and the status is notified to a StatusWindow (status window) 204, which then displays the printing situation and the status of the printing apparatus on the host computer.
Also, the status window 204 as shown in
In this setting environment, the printer 370 makes an inquiry for the time to the server and sets the time.
In the case where the SNTP server does not exist on the network, the host computer 1 (351) of local connection or the host computer 2 (352) of network connection may set the time information for the printer 370. In the present situation, the host computer has normally a real time timer to hold the time information.
In the setting environment, the printer does not inquire the time, but the host computer makes a compulsory instruction of setting the time.
The time information of the host computer acquired by receiving a setting instruction on the printer side includes the time and the attribute of time correctness. When a time setting instruction is issued to the printer 370, the time, its the attribute and the host name are included. Time correctness comparison means compares the substance of the time setting instruction received from the host computer and the set substance of the already set time and determines which time should be set up.
When the time setting instruction from the host computer is accepted (step S513 in
When the time setting instruction from the host computer is not accepted, time setting instruction interrupting means 377 may instruct the time setting instruction means of the host computer not to make the time setting instruction anymore. On the host computer side, the following time setting instruction is not issued by the time setting instruction means, if instructed.
The communicated time information is all GMT. On the time receiving side, the time information is obtained by converting the time in terms of a time difference and calculating the local time.
However, needless to say, the time difference information may be appended to the “time information”.
In this embodiment, the time is communicated in the GMT, and on the time receiving side, the local time is calculated by converting the time in terms of the time difference.
[Operation on the Host Side]
The flowchart of
The transmission program uses the time information, the attribute of time and the status in a work area. The time information holds the time information of the host, and the initial value is the time when the transmission program is started. Among the attributes of the time, the attributes classified in 1 and 2 and beyond indicate how and via which route the time in the host computer is set up, in which the initial value is 1. The attribute takes the values of 0, 1, and 2 and beyond.
The attribute of 0 indicates the unset time in the printer, and is used as the attribute of the time in the printer. The attribute of 1 indicates the time of using a local real time clock, in other words, the time in the host computer not connected to the network for access to the NTP server. In this embodiment, 2 and beyond indicate the time acquired by an NTP (Network Time Protocol) or an SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol). The time acquired by the NTP is based on the time acquired by an atomic clock or the GPS, and more accurate than the time acquired from the local real time clock.
Also, the NTP server can transfer the time information to another NTP server. When the time information is transferred, the time is delayed by a transfer processing time, and the originality (correctness) of the time information may be degraded. Hence, this value is incremented by +1 every time the time information is transferred. And the time of any originality is acquired by the host computer or SNTP server. Also, the status holds the time setting information, and the time setting information includes the host name that sets up the time, and the attribute of the time.
First of all, an instance where the time of the printer is autonomously set up from the host side will be described below. If started, the transmission program operating on the host side acquires the time setting method of the host as to whether or not the NTP is set up from the OS at step S401. If it is set up, the attribute of the time is set to 2 or beyond, or if not, the attribute is set to 1.
At step 402, it is judged whether or not a predetermined time has passed in terms of the time of the host computer. This is because the time setting to the device is made at certain intervals.
At step S403, the time information within the host computer is processed for the time setting command. This processing is performed by the PrinterDriver (printer driver) or the LanguageMonitor (language monitor) in
At step S405, it is discriminated whether or not the time attribute of the time setting information of the received status is 0. If it is 0, it is discriminated that the time information is unset, and the procedure goes to step S407, or otherwise, goes to step S406.
At step S406, the value of a time setting refusal flag is evaluated. If it is 0, the procedure goes to step S407, because the time setting is not refused, or if it is 1, the procedure gets back to step S302 to suppress the transmission of the time setting command because the time setting is refused. The default value of the refusal flag stored beforehand in the memory of the host computer is “0”.
At step S407, the time setting command prepared is transmitted via the PrinterDriver (printer driver) 202 and the LanguageMonitor (language monitor) 203 of
At step S408, it is discriminated whether or not the time setting command is refused from the response of the time setting command. If it is refused, the procedure goes to step S409, or if it is accepted, to step S410.
At step S409, the refusal flag is set to 1, and the procedure returns to step S402. At step S410, the refusal flag is set to 0, and the procedure gets back to step S402.
If the time information is not acquired at step S301, the time setting is not made.
[Operation on the Printer Side]
The control circuit uses the time, the attribute of time, the host name and the elapsed time in a work area. The time holds the set-up time, and the initial value is 0. The attribute of the time indicates the method for acquiring the set-up time. The meaning has been explained in the operation on the host side. The host name holds the host name making the time setting, and no initial value is written. The elapsed time holds the time elapsed since the last time setting, and the initial value is 0. Also, an internal clock measures the elapsed time.
First of all, if the control circuit is initiated, the network time information is inquired to the SNTP server on the network at step S501.
If there is a response to this inquiry at step S502, the time information within the printer device is set using the responded time at step S503.
At step S504, it is discriminated whether or not a command from any one of the host computers is received via any one of the interfaces 211 and 212. If the command is received, the procedure goes to step S507, of if not, to step S505.
At step S505, it is discriminated whether or not the elapsed time is more than the preset time (e.g., one hour). If the preset time has not passed, the procedure gets back to step S504, or if it has passed, proceeds to step S506.
At step S506, there is possibility that the host is down because no time setting instruction is made for a certain period of time. Therefore, the attribute of the time is initialized to 0 of the unset state, enabling the time setting to be accepted from any other external time originator, and the procedure returns to step S501. Herein, the time is set by making an inquiry to the SNTP server again. The processing at steps S505 and S506 is effective especially when the precision of the clock function of the printer is so bad as to shift the time.
At step S507, it is discriminated whether or not the command is the time setting command. In case of the time setting command, the procedure proceeds to step S509, or otherwise, goes to step S508.
At step S508, the relevant command process is performed, and the procedure gets back to step S504.
At step S509, it is discriminated whether or not the attribute of the set-up time is 0. If it is 0, it is discriminated that the attribute is unset, and the procedure goes to step S513. Otherwise, it is discriminated that the attribute is set, and the procedure proceeds to step S510.
At step S510, it is discriminated whether or not the time setting command is from the host name of the currently set time by comparing the host name included in the time setting command received at step S504 and the host name in the work area.
If the host names are matched, it is discriminated that the command is from the currently setting host, and the procedure proceeds to step S511. If unmatched, the procedure goes to step S511 because the setting command is from another host.
At step S511, the attribute (originality) of the time of the time setting command received at step S504 and the attribute (originality) of the currently set time are compared to discriminate which of them is correct. The time discriminated to be correct is considered the time with high priority. That is, the time has higher priority in the order in which the attribute of the command is 2, 2 or beyond, 1 and 0. If the time with high priority is determined, namely, the time indicating more correct attribute is received, the procedure proceeds to step S513.
If it is determined that the currently set time has higher priority, the procedure goes to step S512.
At step S512, the refusal of the time setting command is notified to the host, and the procedure gets back to step S504.
At step S513, the time setting is made based on the time included in the time setting command, in which the host name and attribute of the originator of the time setting command are saved in the work area. Since the time is set at step S411, the elapsed time is reset to 0, and the procedure proceeds to step S515. At step S515, it is notified to the host that the time setting command is accepted, and the procedure gets back to step S504.
In accordance with the flowchart of
Herein, the time originator, for example, may be another device like those 110 to 113 of
Though the flowchart of
Reference is made to
A determination process at step S601 may be made by including the attribute of the time in the time setting command and determining this attribute in the same manner as step S511. In this case, the time setting command may include the attribute of 1 for the local interface or the attribute of 2 or 2 and beyond for the network interface in accordance with the kind of interface used for data communication in the host computer of originator of the time setting command.
Turning back to
At step S603 following step S602, the time notified with the time setting command is stored in an allocated area on the RAM. Finally, at step S604, a response command indicating that the time is normally set is returned to the command originator, and the time setting command process is ended.
On the other hand, if the time setting command is received through the local interface, the already set flag stored in the RAM at step S605 is checked. If the already set flag is not set, namely, if the time setting command is not received through the network interface, the procedure goes to step S603 to perform the time setting process. On the other hand, if the already set flag is set, namely, if the time setting command is already received through the network interface, the time setting command from the local PC is ignored and the procedure goes to step S606, where the response data indicating ignorance is returned to the command originator. Thereby, the time setting command process is ended.
In the flowchart of
With the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment of the invention as described above, of the time setting commands from the local host computer, the time setting command through the network interface is preferentially dealt with in the controller part, whereby the time information of high reliability can be held within the printer.
In the actual network environment, the time is periodically acquired from the host computer. Only if the time service is not provided because the host computer is abnormal, the time is inquired to another host computer, to which the invention is also applicable.
Only one time information that the printer driver acquires from the outside is saved in this embodiment. However, there are multiple functional parts needing the time information, the time information for use may be preferably controlled for each function.
As an example, there are a device error log and a job log.
For the error log of device, the network time is stored in its log contents. Because the log is created in an error occurrence event for the device simplex.
For the job log, opposed to the error log, the operation time (creation time of the job) of the host computer generating the job and the print time of the job are stored in the log. That is, the job log is not configured only by time within the printer device. The creation time of this job is recorded in the job, and the log is created by its information.
Though the time information of “final update” is displayed in
It is the time information held in the network interface that is displayed in the “device held time”. And by pressing a “update at once” button, it is possible to remotely issue an instruction of enabling the printer to make an inquiry for the time to the server on the network. The log of the access is displayed on a list box thereon.
The time displayed in the “final update” at the top is the time of the host PC.
When the time information is acquired from the server by pressing the “update at once” button, needless to say, the time is notified to the print device.
Only one SNTP address can be set. Since the time received from the server is the GMT, the time zone and the summer time can be set up as the setting information for calculating the local time. Multiple addresses may be assigned to the server. Also, the time may be inquired by broadcasting.
Referring to a flowchart of
First of all, at step S701, the status information of the printer device is acquired. Then, an error state is detected based on its information (step S702).
If the error state is detected, the error detailed information is acquired from the device side (step S703).
And the status information (status code) substance and the error detailed information are processed to produce the information required for the error log (jam log included in the error log) (step S704).
At this time, the time information for use is acquired (step S705). In this case, because of the jam log, the time within the network I/F (the time set up at step S513 or step S603) is acquired and recorded on the log at step S711. And the service of error log is suspended (step S706), and the newly created log information is additionally registered into the database of error log (step S707). Finally, the service of error log is resumed (step S708).
Though the above explanation is made in the case of error log, when the jam state is detected by determining the substance of status code, the jam log may be created. This jam log may be also created based on the time information within the network I/F.
Also, when the job end state is detected, the job log is created. In the case of the job log as previously described, the time information of the log contents is the job creation time included in the job.
Referring to
First of all, the substance of the log acquisition command is judged (step S801).
Since the log functions has plural kinds of log, it is determined to which log access is made (step S802), and the process is subsequently performed for the designated log (step S802 and beyond). The log acquisition command includes the detailed information for access, such as number designation in the log, whereby the relevant log information is drawn out of the database for log in accordance with its information (step S802). The necessary information is further processed from the relevant log information to create the information required for reply (step S803). And the created reply information is returned to a functional part requesting the log acquisition command process (step S804).
As previously described, the time in the data of one item of this error log is the time within the network I/F.
An object of the invention may be achieved in such a manner that a recording medium recording the program code of the software for implementing the functions of this embodiment is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) in the system or the apparatus reads and execute the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium may implement new functions of the invention, whereby the recording medium recording the program code and the program constitute this invention.
The recording medium for supplying the program code may be a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, an optical magnetic disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic disk, a non-volatile memory card or a ROM.
Also, the functions of this embodiment may be implemented not only by executing the program code read by the computer, but also by an OS (operating system) operating on the computer performing a part or all of the processing in accordance with an instruction of the program code.
Moreover, the program code read from the recording medium is written into a memory provided in a function extension board inserted into the computer or a function extension unit connected to the computer, and then the CPU provided in the function extension board or function extension unit performs a part or all of the actual processing in accordance with an instruction of the program code, whereby the functions of this embodiment may be implemented.
This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-203397 filed Jul. 9, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-203397 | Jul 2004 | JP | national |
