Image processing apparatus, image processing method for the same, and recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9491325-B2
Application number	US-201514842861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2015
Priority date	Sep 3, 2014
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

An image processing apparatus having functions installed thereon includes a job input portion that inputs a first job, a job storage that stores the first job, a job output portion that outputs the first job, a memory that allows allocating memory areas to the functions and reallocating the memory areas, a first judgment portion that judges whether or not the memory areas were reallocated after input but before output of the first job, a second judgment portion that judges whether or not output of the first job requires any unavailable function, a third judgment portion that judges whether or not the unavailable function will be available by restricting operations related to a second job and by adjusting the memory areas, and an operation restriction portion restricts operations related to the second job and adjusts the memory areas, wherein the first job is output while restrictions on the operations are effective.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image processing apparatus having functions installed thereon, the image processing apparatus includes:
a job input portion that inputs a first job;
a job storage that stores the first job input by the job input portion;
a job output portion that outputs the first job stored on the job storage;
a memory that allows allocating memory areas to the functions installed on the image processing apparatus and reallocating the memory areas;
a first judgment portion that judges whether or not the memory areas were reallocated after the job input portion inputs the first job but before the job output portion outputs the first job stored on the job storage;
a second judgment portion that judges whether or not output of the first job requires any unavailable function, after the first judgment portion judges that the memory areas were reallocated after input of the first job but before output of the first job;
a third judgment portion that judges whether or not the unavailable function will be available by restricting operations related to a second job and by adjusting the memory areas, after the second judgment portion judges that output of the first job requires any unavailable function; and
an operation restriction portion restricts operations related to the second job and adjusts the memory areas, after the third judgment portion judges that the unavailable function will be available by restricting operations related to the second job and by adjusting the memory areas,

wherein the job output portion outputs the first job while the operation restriction portion keeps restrictions on the operations related to the second job.

2. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein output of the first job requires an image-related conversion function.

3. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the operation restriction portion restricts operations related to the second job by prohibiting input or output of the second job.

4. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein, when a number of second jobs is not in compliance with a restriction for being executed in parallel with the first job, the operation restriction portion prohibits input or output of the second job.

5. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein, when the number of the second jobs is not in compliance with a restriction for being executed in parallel with the first job, the operation restriction portion disables a manipulation portion of the image processing apparatus or an external apparatus, the manipulation portion allowing a user to give an instruction for executing the second job.

6. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein, when at least one of a compression ratio, a size, and number of pages of image data of the second job is not in compliance with a restriction for being input, the operation restriction portion prohibits input of the second job.

7. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein, when a compression ratio of the image data is not in compliance with a restriction for being input, the operation restriction portion discards the second job.

8. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein, when the size of the image data is not in compliance with a restriction for being input or when the image data is set to a size not being compliance with a restriction for being input, the operation restriction portion disables a manipulation portion of the image processing apparatus or an external apparatus, the manipulation portion allowing a user to give an instruction for executing the second job.

9. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein, when the number of pages of the image data is not in compliance with a restriction for being input, the operation restriction portion discards the second job.

10. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the operation restriction portion adjusts the memory areas by extending a memory area for output of the first job and by reducing a memory area for execution of the second job.

11. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a first table storage that stores a first table containing available and unavailable functions depending on a size of a memory area, wherein, with reference to the first table stored on the first table storage, the second judgment portion judges whether or not output of the first job requires any unavailable function.

12. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second table storage that stores a second table containing, depending on a size of memory area, unavailable functions and restrictions on operations related to the second job, the restrictions to make the unavailable functions available, wherein, with reference to the second table stored on the second table storage, the third judgment portion judges whether or not the unavailable functions will be available by restricting the operations related to the second job.

13. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein a user can configure the availability of the functions with the second table, the second table containing, depending on the size of memory area, unavailable functions and restrictions on the operations related to the second job, the restrictions to make the unavailable functions available.

14. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a job discarding portion that discards the first job after the third judgment portion judges that the unavailable function will not be available even by restricting operations related to the second job and by adjusting the memory areas.

15. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the operation restriction portion adjusts the memory areas by switching transfer of image data of the second job from page by page to band by band.

16. An image processing method to be implemented by an image processing apparatus having functions installed thereon, the image processing method comprising:
inputting a first job;
storing the first job on a job storage, the first job being input;
outputting the first job stored on the job storage;
allocating memory areas to the functions installed on the image processing apparatus and reallocating the memory areas;
judging whether or not the memory areas were reallocated after input of the first job but before output of the first job stored on the job storage;
judging whether or not output of the first job requires any unavailable function, after it is judged that the memory areas were reallocated after input of the first job but before output of the first job;
judging whether or not the unavailable function will be available by restricting operations related to a second job and by adjusting the memory areas, after it is judged that output of the first job requires any unavailable function; and
restricting operations related to the second job and adjusting the memory areas, after it is judged that the unavailable function will be available by restricting operations related to the second job and by adjusting the memory areas,

wherein the first job is output while restrictions on the operations related to the second job are effective.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing an image processing program for a computer of an image processing apparatus having functions installed thereon, the image processing program to make the computer execute:
inputting a first jo

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Oikawa Takashi
• Atsumi Tomoyuki
• Sugiyama Takanobu
• Kitaguchi Tatsuya
• Osako Satoshi

Classifications

• H04N1/00954 Primary

  Scheduling operations or managing resources (H04N1/0096 takes precedence; program initiating or switching G06F9/48; allocation of computer resources G06F9/50) · CPC title

• H04N2201/3298

  Checking or indicating the storage space · CPC title

• H04N1/00411

  the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen · CPC title

• H04N2201/3242

  of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording (H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence) · CPC title

• H04N2201/214

  Checking or indicating the storage space · CPC title