JP2001092617A - Server device and information processor and data processing method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage print history data for facilitating a countermeasure to a print processing management task by precisely calculating print costs based on history information in which a print target or the other history items are combined. SOLUTION: A print target item list is transmitted each time log-in is performed by each client PC1-3, and when a print job attached with the selected print purpose is received, print history data including the print purpose attached to the print job are stored and managed by a data base 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to communication between a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium and to any one of the plurality of printing apparatuses based on a print request from each information processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a server device, an information processing device, a data processing method, and a storage medium that can manage the transfer of print data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are at least one or more users of this kind, at least one or more client computers, and at least one or more printing devices, and one server computer for managing the overall printing process related to these devices. It is possible to construct a printing system that exists and is connected by a network capable of exchanging data such as a network.

In this case, print history data managed by the server computer is print history data combining only "print date and time", "print device", and "user attribute".

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional printing system, there is no means for realizing print history management for items other than "print date", "print device", and "user attribute". Was.

Specifically, it is impossible to collect print history data for "printing purpose" or the like. For this reason, for example, in spite of the necessity for cross-organizational projects, etc., in recent years, the exact printing cost for each project cannot be determined, or the direct and indirect costs related to the cost of the printing process cannot be determined. There was a problem that cannot be distinguished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to communicate with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium and to perform printing from each information processing apparatus. In a server device capable of managing the transfer of print data to any one of a plurality of printing devices based on a request, the server device manages a plurality of print history item data including a printing target item, and A print target item list is transmitted every time a print request is sent from the processing device, and when a print job to which the selected print purpose is attached is received, print history data including the print purpose attached to the print job is stored. Management, it is possible to verify the detailed print history data including the print purpose that differs for each information processing device to be logged in at any time, and the network administrator can check the detailed print history for each print purpose. By grasping, even for the same user, the cost is calculated for each printing purpose related to each printing process, and the exact printing cost based on the history information combining the printing purpose or other history items is determined in detail, and the printing is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a server apparatus, an information processing apparatus, a data processing method, and a storage medium that can freely construct a print processing management environment capable of managing print history data that can be used for processing management work.

[0007]

A first invention according to the present invention communicates with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium (network) and transmits a plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a print request from each information processing apparatus. Is a server device (server PC 5 shown in FIG. 1) capable of managing the transfer of print data to any one of the printing devices, and includes at least a printing purpose item in response to a print request from each information processing device. A storage unit (database 6 shown in FIG. 1) for storing print history data including a plurality of history items, and printing according to the plurality of print purpose items in the print history data when a print request is made by a user from each information processing apparatus. A print purpose transmitting unit (the server PC 5 shown in FIG. 1 and the network control device 16 shown in FIG. 6) for transmitting the list of target items to the information processing apparatus that has issued the print request.
After transmission of the list of print target items by the print target transmission unit, each time a print job including a print target item selected by the information processing apparatus of the print request source is received,
Management means for registering and managing the print history data in the print job in the storage means (the server PC 5 shown in FIG. 1, which analyzes the print job received via the network control device 16 shown in FIG. 6) The print history data including the extracted print purpose items is managed, for example, on the database 6).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the print history data including the plurality of history items includes a user name, an affiliation, a print date and time, a device name used, and the number of prints (print history data shown in FIG. 5). It is a thing.

A third invention according to the present invention is such that the printing target item can simultaneously manage a plurality of different printing target items.

[0010] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the management means stores a combination of an arbitrary history item in a user name, an affiliation, a print date and time, a device name to be used, the number of prints, and the print target item with print history data. It is managed as.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus (client PC1 to PC3 shown in FIG. 1) capable of requesting a print job from a server managing a plurality of printing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium. An acquisition unit (a network control device 26 shown in FIG. 7) for acquiring a list of print purpose items transmitted from the server device at the time of a connection request to the server device; Display means for displaying an item list (display device 25 shown in FIG. 7); and selection means for selecting a desired print purpose item from the print purpose item list displayed by the display means (user command shown in FIG. 7). Input device 24), a sender who attaches login information including the desired print target item selected by the selection means to a print job and transmits the print job to the server device. Those having a (network control device 26 shown in FIG. 7).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system which communicates with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium and prints one of the plurality of printing apparatuses based on a print request from each information processing apparatus. What is claimed is: 1. A data processing method in a server device capable of managing transfer of print data to a device. A print purpose transmitting step (Steps SD01 to SD04 shown in FIG. 16) for transmitting to the information processing apparatus of the print request source, and after transmitting the list of print target items in the print purpose transmitting step, the information processing apparatus of the print request source transmits the list. Each time a print job including the selected print purpose item is received, a management step of registering and managing print history data in the print job in the storage unit (step shown in FIG. 15). SC02) and those having a.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the storage means can store print history data including a plurality of history items including at least a print target item in response to a print request from each information processing apparatus. It is.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the print history data including the plurality of history items includes a user name, an affiliation, a print date and time, a device name to be used, and the number of prints.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the print target item enables a plurality of different print target items to be managed simultaneously.

In a tenth aspect according to the present invention, the management step includes the step of storing a combination of an arbitrary history item in a user name, an affiliation, a print date and time, a device name to be used, and the number of prints with the print target item in print history data. It is managed as.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is a data processing method in an information processing device capable of requesting a print job to a server device managing a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium. Acquisition Step of Acquiring a List of Printing Object Items Sent from the Server Device at the Time of a Connection Request to the Server (Steps S108 and S109 in FIG. 9)
A display step (step S110 shown in FIG. 9) of displaying the list of print target items acquired by the acquisition step on a display unit; and a desired print objective from the list of print target items displayed by the display unit. A selection step of selecting an item (step S111 shown in FIG. 9), and a transmission step of attaching login information including the desired print target item selected in the selection step to a print job and transmitting the login information to the server device (FIG. Steps S115 and S116 shown in FIG. 9)
And

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for communicating with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium, and executing any one of the plurality of printing apparatuses based on a print request from each information processing apparatus. When a user makes a print request from each information processing device, the server device capable of managing the transfer of print data to the device transmits a list of print target items according to the plurality of print target items in the print history data to the information processing of the print request source. A printing purpose transmitting step for transmitting to the apparatus (step SD0 shown in FIG. 16)
1 to SD04), and after transmitting the print target item list in the print target transmission step, every time a print job including a print target item selected by the information processing apparatus of the print request source is received, printing in the print job is performed. A management step of registering and managing history data in the storage means (step SC shown in FIG. 15)
02) is recorded on a recording medium in a computer-readable manner.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the storage means can store print history data including a plurality of history items including at least a print purpose item in response to a print request from each information processing apparatus. It is.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the print history data including the plurality of history items includes a user name, an affiliation,
It includes the date and time of printing, the name of the device used, and the number of prints.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the print target item can manage a plurality of different print target items simultaneously.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the management step, the combination of an arbitrary history item in a user name, an affiliation, a printing date and time, a device name to be used, and the number of prints with the printing target item is performed by printing history data. It is managed as.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus capable of requesting a print job from a server device managing a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium is provided when a connection request to the server device is requested. An acquisition step (steps S108 and S109 shown in FIG. 9) for acquiring the print target item list transmitted from the server device, and a display step for displaying the print target item list acquired in the acquisition step on a display unit (FIG. 9 and a selection step of selecting a desired print target item from the print target item list displayed in the display step (step S11 shown in FIG. 9).
1) and a transmission step (steps S115 and S116 shown in FIG. 9) of attaching the login information including the desired print target item selected in the selection step to a print job and transmitting the login information to the server device. Computer-readable program is stored in a recording medium in a computer-readable manner.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 to 3 denote client devices each composed of a personal computer, each of which includes a control board including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, not shown, and a pointing device such as a hard disk, a floppy disk drive, a display device, a keyboard, and a mouse. And an input device. Note that the RAM capacity, C
The data processing speed of the PU may be different.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a LAN constituting a network path.
Communication between the server device 5 and the client devices 1 to 3 can be performed using a predetermined protocol.

The server device 5 is also equipped with a CPU having a higher processing capacity than the client device, a control board having a large memory capacity, and an input device including a hard disk, a floppy disk drive, a display device, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse. It is composed of devices and the like.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a database, which is composed of, for example, a hard disk, but may be provided externally or internally to the server device 5.

Reference numerals 7 to 9 denote printing devices, each having a different processing capacity. The printing device 7 is configured to carry a copying process by mounting a scanner, and the printing device 8 is a paper feeding device capable of feeding a plurality of paper sizes. The printing device 9 is configured to be capable of mounting a unit, and capable of feeding paper of a single paper size.

The throughput of each of the printing devices 7 to 9 differs depending on the configuration of the printer engine, the data processing / analysis ability, the expansion processing ability, and the memory capacity. Needless to say, a case where a paper discharge unit constituting a stapler or a sorter unit (not shown) can be mounted is also included in the printing device.

In the present invention, it is assumed that there is a target network PC and at least one or more client PCs. However, these server PCs and client PCs are not necessarily required to be separate PCs.
Needless to say, the present invention is also applied to a case where the printing process is performed directly from the server PC or a case where only the server PC and the printing device exist on the network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a list of printing devices managed by the server device in the printing system shown in FIG. 1. The server device (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, may be abbreviated as server PC) 2) is an example of a list of print devices managed by the printer. It is assumed that a printing device not shown in FIG. 1 is also included.

In FIG. 2, the print device list is stored in the database 6 in the server PC 5, and the system administrator can add / delete a print device.

In the present embodiment, the printing unit price (charging information) corresponding to the printing device can be registered in the device list, and the administrator (or the user) can record past printing histories not only in the number of sheets but also in the form of charging information. However, it is a specification that can be referenced.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the printing purpose items managed by the server device 5 in the printing system shown in FIG. 1. As one example of the printing purpose items stored in the database 6 of the server device 5, FIG. Corresponding.

In the figure, (A) corresponds to the first printing purpose example, (B) corresponds to the second printing purpose example, and (C) is an example in which the first and second printing purposes are combined. Corresponding to

As a result, in (A) and (B), the printing purpose can be set independently of the purpose 1 and the purpose 2, and one type can be selected from each of the purpose 1 and the purpose 2. Further, (C) shows an example in which if “Private” is selected in the purpose 1, the purpose 2 cannot be selected. The setting example of the printing purpose includes a format having a hierarchical structure. A wide variety of methods are conceivable, such as a format selected from a list of items.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the user information managed by the server device 5 in the printing system shown in FIG. 1, wherein (A) and (B) are stored in the database 6 of the server device 5. It is an example of registered user information.

In this example, user names, passwords, and departments (in this example, affiliation 1, affiliation 2, and affiliation 3 are classified hierarchically, affiliation 1 is department, affiliation 2 is section, affiliation 3 is team Is used to manage the usage rights of the printing device, and the administrator of the printing system as shown in FIG. 1 needs to perform user registration in advance. The server PC refers to the user information when a client computer (hereinafter, abbreviated as a client PC unless otherwise noted) asks for permission of Login or a right to use a device, thereby making a determination of permission / non-permission. Can be done. FIG. 4B is an example in which the user information shown in FIG. 5A is represented by a binary number.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of print history data managed by the server device 5 in the printing system shown in FIG. 1. (A) and (B) are stored in the database 6 of the server device 5. It is an example of the print history data that is displayed.

In this example, the user name, department, printing date and time, printing device, number of prints, and printing purpose are described. Each time the printing process ends, the print history data is additionally updated. FIG. 5B is a representation of the information shown in FIG. 5A in a binary number. However, in FIG. 5B, spaces are provided at various places for easy viewing).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the internal configuration of server PC 5 shown in FIG.

In the figure, a CPU 11 controls access of each device connected to the main bus 18 based on a control program stored in an auxiliary storage device 13 described later.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a RAM whose capacity can be expanded.
The provision of the work area 11 and print information (user name, printing purpose, used printing device name, etc.) are temporarily stored.
Reference numeral 13 denotes an auxiliary storage device constituted by, for example, a hard disk, a floppy disk, or the like, which provides a control program described later, temporarily stores print data, and stores a database 6 such as print history data.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a user command input device, which is used by a server administrator to perform various settings, for example, user registration, setting of print target items, and setting of billing information. Reference numeral 15 denotes a display device specifically composed of a display or the like, which displays a menu or the like when the administrator performs the various settings.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a network control unit which executes data transmission / reception with the client PCs 1 to 3 and the printing device via a predetermined protocol. In FIG. 6, in the case of a system in which processing of administrator authority (for example, user registration or the like) can be performed from the client PCs 1 to 3, the user command input device 14 and the display device 15 are not necessarily required.

FIG. 7 shows the client PC 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the first to third embodiments.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU, which controls access of each device connected to the main bus 28 based on a control program stored in an auxiliary storage device 23 described later.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a RAM capable of storing a capacity, and a CPU
21 and temporarily store Login information (user name, password, printing purpose, used printing device name, client PC name). Reference numeral 23 denotes an auxiliary storage device constituted by a hard disk, a CD-ROM, or the like, which provides a control program described later.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a user command input device composed of a keyboard or the like, for inputting a user command. Reference numeral 25 denotes a display device composed of a display or the like, and shows a message from a control program described later to the user. Reference numeral 26 denotes a network control device which transmits and receives data to and from the server PC 5 according to a predetermined protocol.

FIG. 8 shows the printing devices 7 and 9 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration of the device.

In the figure, a CPU 31 loads a control program stored in an auxiliary storage device 33 into a RAM 32 and controls access to each device connected to a main bus 38. Note that the RAM 32 is configured to be capable of expanding its capacity.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a network controller, which is a server P
Data transmission / reception with C5 is performed. A printing control device 37 executes printing on printing paper in the printing device 7 or inside the printing device 9. It is assumed that the printing device 7 or the printing device 9 includes a printer engine that performs a printing process on a recording medium.

In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified.
In the server PC 5, the CPU 11 controls the RAM 12, the auxiliary storage device 13, the user command input device 14, the display device 15, and the network control device 16 via the main bus 18. In the client PCs 1 to 3, the CPU 21 controls the RAM 22 via the main bus 28. , The auxiliary storage device 23, the user command input device 24, the display device 25, and the network control device 26. In the printing device, the CPU 31 controls the RAM 32 and the auxiliary storage device 3 via the main bus 38.
3. It is assumed that the network controller 36 and the print controller 37 are controlled.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
It corresponds to the print processing procedure of 1-3. In addition, S101-
S132, S201 to S208 show each step.

When this processing is started in step S101,
In step S102, when the user presses a print execution button from various arbitrary applications, the program displays a dialog box for designating a user name, a password, and a print destination device on the display device 25.

Next, in step S103, the user operates the user command input device 24 to input a personal name, a password, a print destination device, and the like. In step S104,
The user name, password, print destination device, and client PC name are stored in the RAM 22 of FIG. 3 as Login information, and in step S105, a Login request is sent to the server PC 5 and the Login information is transmitted.
At 106, a state of waiting for a message from the server PC is entered.

Here, when one of the client PCs 1 to 3 receives a message from the server PC 5,
In step S107, the content of the received message is checked, and if it is determined that the received message is a Login permission message, a data request in which an item for printing is written is transmitted to the server PC 5 in step S108.

On the other hand, if the received message contains an error in the password or the like in step S107, the process returns to step S103, and the user name, password, and printing destination device are input.

Next, in step S109, the server PC 5
Waits to receive the data of the printing target item from, and when the data of the printing target item is obtained, in step S110,
A print purpose selection screen is displayed on the display device 25, and step S
At 111, the user operates the user command input device 24 to input an arbitrary printing purpose.

Then, in step S112, Login
In addition to storing the printing purpose in the information, step S11
In 3, the printing purpose and the printing destination device designated by the user are displayed on the display device 25.

Next, in step S114, it is determined whether the printing is to be executed or the device is to be changed. If the printing destination device is to be changed at this stage, the printing destination device changing process is performed. (S12
1 to S125, which will be described later), and proceeds to step S115.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S114 that the device is not to be changed, in step S115, Login information (personal name, password, printing purpose, printing destination device, client PC name) is directly used as the header information in the print job. Attach the print job together with the print request to the server PC 5 in step S116.

Next, in step S117, the client PC holds the message waiting state until a message is returned from the server PC5, and upon receiving the message from the server PC5, in step S118, determines whether the content is a normal printing end. Or if an error has occurred, and if it is determined that the message is a normal printing end message, in step S119, the Login information stored in the RAM 22 is deleted, and in step S120,
The printing process ends.

On the other hand, in step S118, server PC 5
If it is determined that an error message has been received, the user can select printing restart, change of the printing destination device, or printing interruption in step S126, determine which is selected, and restart printing. If it is determined that the printing has been performed, the error of the printing destination device (here, the printing device 8 shown in FIG. 1) is removed, and step S1 is performed.
At 27, a print resumption request is transmitted to the server PC, the process proceeds to step S117, and returns to the message waiting state again.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S126 that the user has selected to change the print destination device (here, change to the printer B), the process proceeds to step S128.
From step S201 to step S201 shown in FIG.
In step 202, a print change destination device is designated, and step S2
At 03, it is inquired whether or not the server PC 5 has the right to use the device. At step S204, the state of waiting for a message from the server PC 5 is held.

Then, the client PC is connected to the server PC 5
When the message is received from the printer, in step S205, it is checked whether or not the message has the right to use the device. If it is determined that the right to use the printing device is not found, the process returns to step S202 to specify another print device. cure.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S205 that the user has the right to use, then in step S206 the RAM 22
Is changed, and in step S207, the server PC 5 is instructed to change the print device to the print device 9, and the process proceeds to step S207.
From step 208, the process returns to step S117 shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S126 that printing is to be interrupted, then in step S129, the server P
A request is issued to C5 to interrupt the printing, and in step S130, it waits for the reception of a print interruption end message from the server PC 5, and upon receiving the print interruption end message, deletes the Login information stored in the RAM 22 in step S131. Then, in step S132, the printing process ends.

Here, the print destination device change processing (S121 to S125) in the client PC will be described.

Hereinafter, in step S114 shown in FIG.
Client P when device change is selected
The print destination device change processing procedure in C will be described.

If it is determined in step S114 that the device change has been selected, then in step S121,
By operating the user command input device 24, the print destination device is designated to be changed, and in step S122, the server PC 5 is requested to grant the right to use the device.

Then, in step S123, the client PC keeps waiting to receive a message from server PC5. In step S124, when the message is received from the server PC5, it is determined whether or not the right to use the printing device is given to the user by the message, and the server PC5 notifies that the right to use the printing device is not given to the user. If you decide that
Returning to step S121, a print destination change designation process is executed.

On the other hand, in step S124, the server PC 5
If it is determined that the use right of the device has been notified by
The print destination device of the Login information stored in 22 is changed, the process proceeds to step S115, and after the Login information is attached as a header to the print job, the above-described processing is executed.

Next, the flow of the printing process in the server PC 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 11 to 21 are flowcharts showing an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention. S301 to S3 in FIGS.
10 and SA01 to SA12, SB01 to SB07, S
C01-SC04, SD01-SD04, SE01-S
E05, SF01 to SF09, SG01 to SG07, S
H01 to SH08 and SI01 to SI04 indicate respective steps. In the figures, the steps indicated by A to I or A 'to I' without adding steps will be described in detail later.

First, when the processing is started in step S301, in step S302, the server PC holds a state of waiting for a message from each of the client PCs 1 to 3 and the printing devices 7 to 9 by the control program used in the present embodiment.

When the message is received from each of the client PCs 1 to 3 and the printing devices 7 to 9 in step S302, it is determined in step S303 whether the message is from the client PC or the message from the printing device. If it is determined that the message is from the PC, it is determined in step S304 whether or not the message is a login request. If NO, in step S305, it is determined whether or not the request is a confirmation request for the right to use the printing device. Judge, if NO, step S3
In step 06, it is determined whether the request is a print start request. If NO, it is determined in step S307 whether the request is for item data for printing. If NO, step S308 is performed.
Then, it is determined whether the request is a print resumption request. If NO, it is determined in step S309 whether the request is a print interruption request. If NO, it is determined in step S310 whether the request is a change of a print destination device. If NO, the process returns to step S302.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that the message is from a printing device, the process proceeds to step S303.
In 311, it is determined whether or not it is a print end message. If NO, it is determined in step S 312 whether or not it is an abnormal notification (error occurrence notification). If NO, the process returns to step S 302, and the message waits again. Keep state. Hereinafter, in steps S304 to S312, Y
Each process in the server PC when it is determined as ES will be described.

When it is determined in step S304 shown in FIG. 12 that the request is a Login request from any of the client PCs 1 to 3, that is, the login information (user name, password, print destination device) is transmitted from the client PC. Upon receiving the Login request together with the client PC name), Lo is received in step SA01 shown in FIG.
In response to the gin request, the process returns to step SA
02, it is confirmed whether the user name described in the Login information exists in the user information of the database 6,
If it is determined that the user name does not exist due to an error, at step SA07, it is notified that the user name is not registered in “Client PC described in Login information” (hereinafter simply referred to as “client PC”). Step S
From A08, the process returns to step S302 shown in FIG. 11, and the message waiting state is maintained.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step SA02 that the user name exists, it is checked in step SA03 whether the password is correct. If it is determined that the password is incorrect, in step SA09, the client is determined. The PC is notified that the password is incorrect, and the process returns from step SA10 to step S302 shown in FIG. 11 to maintain the message waiting state.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step SA03 that the password is correct, it is checked in step SA04 whether or not the user has the right to use the device. SA1
In step 1, the client PC is notified that there is no right to use the print device, and the process returns from step SA11 to step S302 shown in FIG. 11 to maintain the message waiting state.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step SA04 that the user has the right to use the device, in step SA05,
The login permission is notified to the client PC, and the process returns from step SA06 to step S302 shown in FIG. 11 to hold the message waiting state.

On the other hand, in step S305 shown in FIG.
When it is determined that the request is a request for the right to use the printing device together with the designation of the printing device, in step SB01 shown in FIG. In step SB02, the server PC 5 compares the user information (for example, personal name, password, affiliation, device use right) of the database 6 with the user information in the received print information, and in step SB03, the user obtains the device use right. It is determined whether or not there is, and if NO, that is, if there is no right to use the printing device, in step SB06, the client PC notifying that there is no right to use the printing device is notified to the requesting client PC. Then, the process returns to step S302, and the message waiting state is maintained.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step SB03 that there is a user device use right,
If the user has the right to use the print device, the client PC is granted the right to use the print device, and the client PC is informed that the right to use the print device is available, and step SB0 is executed.
5 returns to step S302 shown in FIG. 11, and holds the message waiting state.

On the other hand, in step S306 shown in FIG.
If it is determined that the received content is a print start request, that is, if the print job is received from the client PC together with the print start request, the process proceeds to step S shown in FIG.
In C01, the processing when a print start request is received from the client PC is started, and in step SC02, the print J
Ob, the header portion is separated, and the user name, password, printing purpose, printing device, and client PC name are stored in the RAM 12 as print information, and a copy of the print data is stored in the auxiliary storage device 13.

Next, in step SC03, the print data is transmitted to the print device described in the print information and a print execution request is issued, and the process returns from step SC04 to step S302 shown in FIG. 11 to hold the message waiting state. I do.

On the other hand, in step S307 shown in FIG.
When it is determined that the received message is a request for the item data for printing, that is, when a request for transmitting item data for printing is received from the client PC, the process shown in FIG.
In step SD01 shown in the figure, the process starts when a request for transmission of an item for printing is received from the client PC. In step SD02, the data of the print item is obtained from the database in the auxiliary storage device 13. The data of the print target item is transmitted to the PC, and the process returns from step SD04 to step S302 shown in FIG. 11 to hold the message waiting state.

On the other hand, in step S308 shown in FIG.
If it is determined that the received message is a print resumption request, that is, if a print resumption request is received from the client PC, the processing in the case where the print resumption request is received from the client PC is started in SE01 shown in FIG. ,
In step SE02, print information (user name, password, print purpose, print destination device, client PC name)
Is inquired as to whether the error has been removed from the printing device described in (1). In step SE03, a message waiting state from the printing device is held, and a recovery message is received from the printing device. Is received, step SE04
To instruct the printing device to resume printing, and step SE0
5 returns to step S302 shown in FIG. 11, and holds the message waiting state.

On the other hand, in step S309 shown in FIG.
If it is determined that the received message is a print suspension request, that is, if a print suspension request is received from the client PC, the process starts when a print suspension request is received from the client PC in step SF01 shown in FIG. Then, in step SF02, the print information (personal name, password, print purpose, print destination device, client PC
Is requested to interrupt printing to the printing device stored in the print device (including the name).

Then, in step SF03, the number of prints and the print date and time stored in the print history up to the time of occurrence of the error are printed together with the print information (user name, print purpose, name of print device used, number of prints, print date and time, affiliation). The data is additionally stored in the print history data of the database stored in the auxiliary storage device 13, and in step SF04, the print device is requested to suspend the print processing. In step SF05, the message waiting state from the print device is held, Receives the print interruption end message from
06, the print interruption processing end message is sent to the client P
C, the print job stored in the auxiliary storage device is deleted in step SF07, and in step SF08,
The print information and print history in the RAM 12 are deleted, and the message waiting state is maintained. Then, the process returns from step SF09 to step S302 shown in FIG. 11, and holds the message waiting state.

On the other hand, in step S310 shown in FIG.
If it is determined that the received message is a print destination change request, that is, if a print change destination device name is received from the client PC together with a print destination change procedure request, the client P is determined in step SG01 shown in FIG.
Start processing when a print destination change request is received from C,
In step SG02, the print information (user name, affiliation, print purpose, print destination device) together with the print history information (number of successfully printed sheets, print date and time) stored in the RAM 12 is printed in the database in the auxiliary storage device 13. Save it in the history data.

Next, in step SG03, a request is issued to the printing device in which the error has occurred (the printing device described in the printing information) for canceling the job printing. In step SG04, a message from the printing device is sent. When a print cancel end message is received from the printing device while holding the standby state, step SG05 is performed.
Then, the print destination device described in the print information in the RAM 12 is changed / updated.

Next, in step SG06, a copy of the print data stored in the auxiliary storage device 13 is transmitted to the destination print device together with the page information (that is, the number of pages from which to start printing), and the printing is executed. Request,
From step SG07 to step S302 shown in FIG.
Return to and keep the message waiting state.

On the other hand, in step S302 shown in FIG.
If it is determined that a message has been received from the printing device and that the received message is a printing end message in step S311, that is, if a printing end message has been received from the printing device, FIG.
In step SH01 shown in FIG. 0, the processing when a print end message is received from the printing device is started, and in step SH02, the number of prints and the date and time are obtained.
In step 3, the acquired number of prints and the date and time are stored in the RAM 12 as a print history.

Next, in step SH04, the copy of the print data stored in the auxiliary storage device 13 is deleted, and in step SH05, the print history information together with the print information is stored in the database of the print history data in the auxiliary storage device 13. In step SH06, the print information and print history stored in the RAM 12 are deleted. In step SH07, the client PC is notified of the end of printing, and the process returns from step SH08 to step S302 shown in FIG. Hold the message waiting state.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S312 that the message received from the printing device is an error notification message, that is, if a message indicating a printing error (error) has been received from the printing device, the process proceeds to step S312. In step SI01 shown in FIG. 19, the processing when a printing error occurs is started, and in step SI02, the printing date and time when the error occurred and the number of normally printed sheets are set as print histories.
In step SI03, an error is notified to the client PC.
Returning to step S302 shown in FIG. 1, the message waiting state is maintained.

Hereinafter, the flow of the printing process in the printing device will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention. The CP of each of the printing devices 7 to 9 shown in FIG.
It is assumed that U31 is realized by executing a control program stored in the auxiliary storage device 33. Note that S
401 to S414 indicate each step.

In the printing system (FIG. 1) targeted in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the printing device holds the message waiting state when the power is turned on. In this example, there are at least one or more printing devices (in the printing devices 7 to 9), each of which is managed by the server PC5.

First, when the printing process is started in step S401, a message is received from the server PC 5 in step S402. When the message is received, it is determined in step S403 whether the content of the message is a print start request. Is determined, and if NO, it is determined in step S408 whether or not the content of the message is an inquiry as to whether or not the printing error has been removed. If NO, step S41 is performed.
In step 2, it is determined whether the content of the message is a request to stop printing. If NO, the process returns to step S402.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S403 that the content of the message is a print start request, that is, if a print start request has been received from the server PC, in step S403, printing is started from the server PC5. Upon receiving the print data together with the request, step S404
Then, the printing process is started. Then, step S405
Then, it is determined whether the printing has been completed normally or a printing error has occurred, and if it is determined that the printing has been completed normally, a print normal message is sent to the server PC in step S406. With the number of prints,
Returning to step S402, the message waiting state is maintained.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S405 that an error has occurred during printing, the process proceeds to step S407.
Then, the number of normally printed sheets is transmitted to the server PC together with the abnormal situation occurrence message, and the process returns to step S402 to hold the message standby state.

On the other hand, in step S408, the server PC 5
If it is determined that a confirmation request has been received from the server PC 5 as to whether or not the error has been removed, that is, if a confirmation request has been received from the server PC 5 as to whether or not the error has been removed, it is determined in step S409 whether or not the error occurrence location has returned to a normal state It is checked whether it is in the printable state, and if it is determined that it is in the printable state, a printable message is transmitted to the server PC 5 in step S410), and the process returns to step S402 to hold the message standby state.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 409 that the error has not been removed yet, in step S 411, the server PC 5 is notified to that effect,
Returning to 402, the message waiting state is maintained.

On the other hand, in step S412, the server PC 5
If it is determined that a print stop request has been received from the server PC 5, that is, if the message from the server PC 5 is a print stop request, a print cancel process is executed in step S 413, and printing is terminated in the server PC in step S 414. The fact that the processing has been performed is notified, the process returns to step S402, and the message waiting state is maintained.

According to the first embodiment, the purpose of use of the printing device can be stored in the print history of the server PC, and the administrator of the system (see FIG. 1) and each user can print the server PC. By referring to the history, it is possible to realize print history management using the “print purpose” item in addition to the “print device” and “user attribute” items.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
An example of a method of adding “print purpose” to the print history data as a method of using the database of the server PC 5 has been described. However, as a specific method of using the print history data, it is possible to clarify the printing cost in a cross-organizational project. You may comprise. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described. The details of the system configuration, the internal block configuration, and the operation are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus will not be described. Here, only the method of utilizing the database will be described.

As described above, when the print processing is performed by the processing of the first embodiment, the print history data of the server PC is added and updated every time the print processing is performed. FIG. 5 shows an example of the print history data.

FIG. 5 shows print history data processed in, for example, December 1998 in an environment using the printing system shown in FIG. 1. Each item is a user name, an affiliation (affiliation 1: copy, Affiliation 2: division, affiliation 3: team), printing date and time, printing device to be used, number of prints, and printing purpose (in the present embodiment, the printing purposes of FIGS. 3A and 3B are used as examples). .

In FIG. 5A, P is used for printing.
It can be seen that users belonging to a plurality of departments are printing on projectA and projectB. A method of referring to a print history for each Project from the print history will be described.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention, and corresponds to a print history reference processing procedure in the server PC 5. In addition, S501 to S511 indicate each step.

In the printing system shown in FIG. 1, when an administrator and each user try to refer to the print history information in the database 6 in the server PC 5, first, step S is executed.
In step S502, the server PC 5 creates a 63-bit filter F corresponding to the print history information (see FIG. 5B).

In this example, each element of 63 bits has a user ID of 4 bits and an affiliation of 12 bits (affiliation of 1: 4
bit, affiliation 2: 4 bit, affiliation 3: 4 bit, total 12b
it), date and time of printing: 27 bits, device used: 4 bi
t, number of prints: 8 bits, print purpose: 8 bits (purpose 1: 4 bits, purpose 2: 4 bits, total 8 bits).
At this stage, all the elements of the initial filter F are filled with "1".

Next, in step S503, the server PC 5
Displays a condition setting screen on the display device 15 (specifically, a display or the like). In step S504, the user operates the user command input device 14 to select an item (condition) to be referred to with respect to the print history. In S505,
The 63-bit filter F is changed / updated according to the selected condition.

Next, in step S506, it is determined whether or not the conditions can be narrowed down. If it is determined that the conditions can be narrowed down (user attribute element of filter: 4 bits, belonging element:
12 bit, print date and time element: 27 ht, device element to be used: 4 bit, print number element: 8 bit, print target element: when any of the elements is not filled with 1), and the condition is further set in step S507. If it is determined that the user wants to narrow down, the process returns to step S503 to perform the condition setting process.
If NO is determined in S507, that is, if it is not desired to narrow down, in step S508, the logical product of each of the print history data in the database 6 and the filter F is obtained and compared with the original print history data. By extracting only the print history data, the print history data to be referred to is picked up. In step S509, the billing information is created based on the device list (see FIG. 2) stored in the database 6, and in step S510, the billing information is picked up. The total number of sheets (or billing information) is calculated for the print history information, and the calculation result is displayed on the display device.
At 11, the process ends.

Hereinafter, a specific method for extracting only the print history made for Project A as the purpose of use from the print history data will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

First, in step S502 shown in FIG. 23, a 63-bit initial filter F “11 11 1111 1111 1111 1111111 1111 111 11 11111 111111 1111 11111111 111 1 1111” is created.

Next, a filter “1111 1111 1111 111 1 1111111 1111 11111 11111 111111 1111 11111111 0001 1111” related to development is created, and the filter F is changed / updated by a logical product with the initial filter F. FIG. In step S505 shown, the filter F becomes like “1111 1111 1111 1111 11 11111 1111 11111 11111 111111 1111 11111111 0001 1111”. Using this filter, the print history data of the database 6 is logically ANDed with each of the print history data and the filter F and compared with the original print history data to extract only those equal to each other. It is possible to pick up only print history data for which “ProjectA” is selected for printing from the history data.

In this embodiment, only the print history reference method for Project A has been described. However, print history data for “Project B” can be similarly picked up. Also, as reference examples of other print history data, Project A, Project
A usage method of simultaneously picking up tB data and comparing them is also conceivable.

Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the billing is set only for the printing device. However, it is also conceivable that the billing unit can be set for each printing purpose.

According to the second embodiment, the administrator of the printing system (see FIG. 1) and each user can refer to the print history of the server PC to change the “print device” and “user attribute” items. In addition, print history management using the “print purpose” item can be realized.

More specifically, the server PC includes at least one member extending from at least one or more departments among print history data stored in an auxiliary storage device (specifically, a hard disk or the like) of the server PC. Project (ProjectA in the case of the second embodiment)
This makes it possible to clarify the printing costs in, and strict allocation of budgets and expenses for cross-organizational projects, etc., which has been difficult until now.

[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
An example of the method of adding “print purpose” to the print history data as a method of using the database 6 of the server PC 5 has been described. However, as a specific method of using the print history data, the print cost used for the development purpose and the paperwork A method of calculating direct costs and indirect costs by clarifying the printing costs used for the purpose will be described.

Note that the system configuration, internal block configuration,
The details of the operation are the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
The method of referring to the data from the print history data in the server PC 5 is the same as in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. Here, only a method of referring to a print history used for development from the print history will be described.

First, in step S502 shown in FIG. 23, a 63-bit initial filter F “1 111 1111 1111 1111 1111111 1111 11 111 11111 111111 1111 11111111 11 11 1111” is created.

Next, a filter “1111 1111 1111 111 1 1111111 1111 11111 11111 111111 1111 11111111 1111 0001” relating to development is created, and the filter F is changed / updated by the logical product with the initial filter F in step S505. , And the filter F becomes like “1111 1111 1111 1111 1111111 1111 11111 11111 111111 1111 111 11111 1111 0001”. Using this filter, the print history data of the database 6 is logically ANDed with each of the print history data and the filter F, and compared with the original print history data to extract only those which are equal to each other. It is possible to pick up only print history data for which “development related” is selected for printing from print history data.

In the present embodiment, only the print history reference method relating to “development related” has been described. However, it is also possible to similarly pick up print history data relating to “business related”.

Further, as a reference example of other print history data, a use method of simultaneously picking up development-related and office-related data and comparing them may be considered.

According to the third embodiment, the administrator of the system (see FIG. 1) and each user can refer to the print history of the server PC to add the “print device” and “user attribute” items. Print history management using the "print purpose" item can be realized.

More specifically, the printing cost used for development and the printing used for office work are selected from the print history data stored in the auxiliary storage device (specifically, a hard disk or the like) of the server PC. Costs can be clearly distinguished, and printing costs that have been applied as indirect costs can be applied as direct costs, so tax payments can be reduced and budgets can be reduced. Can do things.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the server device, the information processing device, and the printing device according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium storing various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the server device, the information processing device, and the printing device according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 9 to 23 in this embodiment are executed by a program installed from the outside.
It may be performed by a host computer. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0142]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the seventeenth aspect, communication is performed with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium, and printing is performed on any one of the plurality of printing apparatuses based on a print request from each information processing apparatus. In a server device capable of managing data transfer, the server device manages a plurality of print history item data including a print target item, and transmits a print target item list for each print request from each information processing device, When a print job to which the selected print purpose is attached is received, print history data including the print purpose attached to the print job is stored and managed. The detailed print history data can be verified at any time, and the network administrator can grasp the detailed print history for each printing purpose, and even if the same user is using each printing process, Able to calculate the cost.

Therefore, it is possible to precisely determine the strict printing cost based on the history information in which the printing purpose or other history items are combined, and to manage the printing history data which can be used for the print processing management work. This has the advantage that the processing management environment can be freely constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of printing devices managed by a server device in the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing purpose item managed by a server device in the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information managed by a server device in the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of print history data managed by a server device in the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration of a server PC shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the client PC shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration of the printing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which a server device, an information processing device, and a printing device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-3 client PC 4 LAN 5 server PC 6 database 7-9 printing device

Claims (17)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus communicates with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium to manage transfer of print data to any one of the plurality of printing apparatuses based on a print request from each information processing apparatus. A storage device for storing print history data including a plurality of history items including at least a print target item in response to a print request from each information processing device, and printing by a user from each information processing device. At the time of a request, a printing purpose transmitting unit for transmitting a printing purpose item list according to the plurality of printing purpose items in the printing history data to an information processing apparatus of a printing request source; and transmitting the printing purpose item list by the printing purpose transmitting unit. Thereafter, each time a print job including a print target item selected by the information processing apparatus of the print request is received, the print history data in the print job is registered in the storage unit and managed. And a management means for managing the server. 2. The print history data including the plurality of history items includes a user name, an affiliation, a print date and time, a device name used,
2. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the server device includes the number of prints. 3. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the print target item is capable of simultaneously managing a plurality of different print target items. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit manages a combination of an arbitrary history item in a user name, an affiliation, a printing date and time, a device name used, and the number of prints and the printing target item as print history data. The server device according to claim 1. 5. An information processing device capable of requesting a print job to a server device managing a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the information processing device transmits the print job to the server device when the connection request is made to the server device. Acquisition means for acquiring a list of print purpose items, display means for displaying the list of print purpose items acquired by the acquisition means, and a desired print purpose item from the list of print purpose items displayed by the display means And a transmission unit that transmits login information including the desired print target item selected by the selection unit to a print job and transmits the login information to the server device. apparatus. 6. A method for communicating with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium to manage transfer of print data to any one of the plurality of printing apparatuses based on a print request from each information processing apparatus. A data processing method in a server device, wherein a list of print target items according to the plurality of print target items in the print history data is transmitted to a print request source information processing device when a user makes a print request from each information processing device. After transmitting the print target item list in the print purpose transmission step, the print request transmission step transmits the print target item list. And a management step of registering and managing the print history data in the storage means. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the storage unit is capable of storing print history data including a plurality of history items including at least a print purpose item in response to a print request from each information processing apparatus. Data processing method. 8. The print history data including the plurality of history items includes a user name, an affiliation, a print date and time, a device name to be used,
7. The data processing method according to claim 6, further comprising the number of prints. 9. The data processing method according to claim 6, wherein the print target item can simultaneously manage a plurality of different print target items. 10. The management step manages, as print history data, a combination of a user name, an affiliation, a print date and time, a device name to be used, and an arbitrary history item in the number of prints and the print target item. The data processing method according to claim 6. 11. A data processing method in an information processing device capable of requesting a print job from a server device that manages a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium, the server processing the server device when a connection request to the server device is requested. An acquisition step of acquiring a list of print target items transmitted from the apparatus; a display step of displaying the list of print objective items acquired in the acquisition step on a display unit; and the list of print objective items displayed by the display step A selecting step of selecting a desired printing purpose item from among the above, and a transmitting step of attaching login information including the desired printing purpose item selected in the selecting step to a print job and transmitting the login information to the server device. A data processing method comprising: 12. A communication device that communicates with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium and manages transfer of print data to any one of the plurality of printing apparatuses based on a print request from each information processing apparatus. A print target transmission step of transmitting, to a possible server device, a list of print target items according to the plurality of print target items in the print history data to a print request source information processing device when a user makes a print request from each information processing device; After transmitting the list of print target items in the print target transmission step, every time a print job including a print target item selected by the information processing apparatus of the print request source is received, print history data in the print job is A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a management step of performing registration and management in a storage unit. 13. The storage unit according to claim 12, wherein the storage unit is capable of storing print history data including a plurality of history items including at least a print purpose item in response to a print request from each information processing apparatus. Storage media. 14. The storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the print history data including the plurality of history items includes a user name, an affiliation, a print date and time, a device name used, and the number of prints. 15. The storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the print target item can simultaneously manage a plurality of different print target items. 16. The management step manages, as print history data, a combination of a user name, an affiliation, a print date and time, a device name to be used, an arbitrary history item in the number of prints, and the print target item. The storage medium according to claim 12. 17. A printing device, which transmits a print job to a server device that manages a plurality of printing devices via a predetermined communication medium and that is capable of requesting a print job. An obtaining step of obtaining a list of target items; a displaying step of displaying the list of printing target items obtained in the obtaining step on a display unit; and a desired printing purpose from the list of printing target items displayed by the displaying step. A program for executing a selecting step of selecting an item, and a transmitting step of attaching login information including the desired print target item selected in the selecting step to a print job and transmitting the login information to the server device are recorded. Computer readable storage medium.