# US 5,774,356 A · Image forming apparatus with job priority management of output processing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,774,356 A - Document ID: US5774356A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/449,100 - Filed: 1995-05-24 - Granted: 1998-06-30 - Earliest claimed: 1994-05-25 - Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Masayuki Hisatake; Yoshihiko Nemoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5774356A ## CPC - H04N 1/00915: {Assigning priority to, or interrupting, a particular operation} - G06F 3/1212: {achieving reduced delay between job submission and print start} - G06F 3/1263: {based on job priority, e.g. re-arranging the order of jobs, e.g. the printing sequence} - G06F 3/1285: {Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server} - G06F 3/1296: {Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling} - H04N 1/0092: {Assigning priority according to size job or task, e.g. small jobs first} - H04N 1/32358: {using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter (H04N1/17 takes precedence)} - H04N 2201/0081: Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/0082: Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/0086: Image transceiver (H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/3288: Storage of two or more complete document pages or image frames - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Image data is input through an image data input means, and stored into an image data storage means on a job basis. The volumes of the respective stored jobs are recognized by a job volume recognition means. A processing priority determination means determines an output processing priority order of the stored jobs based on the recognized job volumes. An interrupt can be generated for a priority job even during output processing of another job according to the output processing priority order. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: image data input means for inputting image data; image data storage means for storing the input image data in units of a job that requires image formation; job volume recognition means for recognizing volumes of the respective jobs stored in the image data storage means; and processing priority determination means for determining a processing priority order of the jobs stored in the image data storage means based on the job volumes recognized by the job volume recognition means and for prohibiting a job from being skipped that has been skipped a predetermined number of times. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data input means has a plurality of interfaces for receiving print data from respective external devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job volume recognition means recognizes the job volumes by estimating processing times of the respective jobs based on the image data stored in the image data storage means. ### Claim 4 An image forming apparatus comprising: image data input means for inputting image data; image data storage means for storing the input image data in units of a job that requires image formation; job volume recognition means for recognizing volumes of the respective jobs stored in the image data storage means; and processing priority determination means for determining a processing priority order of the jobs stored in the image data storage means based on the job volumes recognized by the job volume recognition means, wherein the processing priority determination means sets new volumes for jobs whose processing priorities have been changed and determines the processing priority order based on the new job volumes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising function data recognition means for recognizing function data of the respective jobs of the input image data, wherein the processing priority determination means determines the processing priority order further based on the function data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: output processing means for performing output processing in accordance with the processing priority order; and interrupt control means for generating an interrupt for a priority job to a job being subjected to the output processing by the output processing means. ### Claim 7 An image forming apparatus comprising: image data input means for inputting image data; image data storage means for storing the input image data in units of a job that requires image formation; job volume recognition means for recognizing volumes of the respective jobs stored in the image data storage means; processing priority determination means for determining a processing priority order of the jobs stored in the image data storage means based on the job volumes recognized by the job volume recognition means; output processing means for performing output processing in accordance with the processing priority order; interrupt control means for generating an interrupt for a priority job to a job being subjected to the output processing by the output processing means; and job volume measuring means for measuring a volume of an output-processed portion of the job being subjected to the output processing, wherein the interrupt control means determines whether to generate the interrupt for the priority job based on the measured volume of the output-processed portion. ### Claim 8 An image forming apparatus comprising: image data input means for inputting image data; image data storage means for storing the input image data in units of a job that requires image formation; job volume recognition means for recognizing volumes of the respective jobs stored in the image data storage means; processing priority determination means for determining a processing priority order of the jobs stored in the image data storage means based on the job volumes recognized by the job volume recognition means; output processing means for performing output processing in accordance with the processing priority order; interrupt control means for generating an interrupt for a priority job to a job being subjected to the output processing by the output processing means; and unprocessed job volume measuring means for measuring a volume of an unprocessed portion of the job being subjected to the output processing, wherein the interrupt control means determines whether to generate the interrupt of the priority job based on the measured volume of the unprocessed portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a sorting device for sorting output recording sheets of the priority job for which the interrupt control means generated the interrupt from output recording sheets of the interrupted job. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the priority job for which the interrupt control means generates the interrupt is selected based on a volume of the priority job. ### Claim 11 An image forming apparatus comprising: image data input means for inputting image data; image data storage means for storing the input image data in units of a job that requires image formation; job volume recognition means for recognizing volumes of the respective jobs stored in the image data storage means; processing priority determination means for determining a processing priority order of the jobs stored in the image data storage means based on the job volumes recognized by the job volume recognition means; output processing means for performing output processing in accordance with the processing priority order; interrupt control means for generating an interrupt for a priority job to a job being subjected to the output processing by the output processing means; and an unprocessed job volume measuring means for measuring a volume of an unprocessed portion of the job being subjected to the output processing, wherein the priority job for which the interrupt control means generates the interrupt is selected by comparing a volume of the priority job and the measured volume of the unprocessed portion of the job being subjected to the output processing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising function data recognition means for recognizing function data of the jobs of the input image data, wherein the priority job for which the interrupt control means generates the interrupt is determined based on the function data of the jobs recognized by the function data recognition means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processing priority determination means includes means for prohibiting a job from being skipped if the new job volume is smaller than a predetermined value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the job volumes are job volumes of priority-lowered jobs minus a job volume of a priority job, respectively.