JP2002297327A - Device/method for managing printing and storing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device/method for managing printing and storage medium capable of reducing the wait time for using the equipment by managing the use of the equipment including a printer regardlessly of whether a printing operation device (server) is in operation. SOLUTION: Since the server 110 obtains a job log 80 from a copying machine on a network 150 to update a upper limit value for use of the machine 120 based on the log 80, printing can be performed without inquiry to the server 110 from the machine 120 and the time of using the machine 120 is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print management apparatus and method, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to a print management apparatus and a print management apparatus for managing the use of devices such as printers, copiers, and scanners connected to each other via a network. A method and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional print management system including a print management device (hereinafter referred to as a "server") and devices such as a copying machine and a printer, the use of the device is determined in advance by an administrator of the print management system. The management is performed based on the set upper limit of use (for example, the upper limit of the number of printed sheets, the upper limit of the number of prints, and the like). FIG. 11 shows the overall configuration of a conventional print management system.

[0003] In FIG. 11, the print management system includes:
Server 1101 and network 1
And copiers 1102 to 1104 connected via In this print management system, the user (user)
A number for each department to which it belongs (hereinafter referred to as “department ID”).
Are assigned, and copying machines 1102 to 110 are assigned for each department ID.
4 are set, and the copying machines 1102 to 110 are set.
The use of No. 4 is restricted based on the comparison result between the user's actual usage value and the usage upper limit.

[0004] For example, when copying is performed using the copying machine 1102, first, a user inputs a department ID assigned by an administrator to the copying machine 1102. Copier 1102
Transmits the input department ID to the server 1101, and inquires whether the user can use the department ID. Server 1101
Determines whether or not the actual use value based on the received department ID exceeds a preset upper limit of use, and
A reply is sent to 102 regarding the availability. Server 1101
Indicates that the usage of the copying machine 1102 is permitted when the actual usage value does not exceed the usage upper limit value, while the usage of the copying machine 1102 is not permitted when the usage result value exceeds the usage upper limit value.

When a copying process is performed by a user, the actual usage value of the copying process is transmitted to the server 1101 and added to the actual usage value of the copying machine 1102 stored in the server 1101. As a result, the usage result value is updated. At this time, when the actual usage value reaches the usage upper limit,
Subsequent copying is rejected by the server 1101, and the user cannot perform copying.

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional example, when the server 1101 is not operating, the actual use value cannot be transmitted to the server 1101 even if the copying machines 1102 to 1104 are used. There is a problem that all use of the copying machines 1102 to 1104 must be prohibited because the use result value is not updated.

Further, before using an arbitrary copying machine, the copying machine to be used needs to communicate with the server 1101, so that the user has to wait for the use of the copying machine during the communication. .

According to the present invention, the use of a device including a printing device can be managed regardless of whether or not a print management device (server) is operating, and the waiting time for using the device can be reduced. It is an object to provide a print management device and method, and a storage medium.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management apparatus including a storage unit for storing a print history at the time of printing, and managing printing based on a use upper limit value. Acquiring means for acquiring the print history from the storage means, and updating means for updating the use upper limit value based on the acquired print history. And a transmission unit for transmitting the updated upper limit of use to the printing apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management apparatus.
In the print management device described above, the storage unit further stores the use upper limit value and the use result value of the printing device, and the printing device compares the use result value with the use upper limit value. Means for updating the use result value based on the print history when the use result value does not exceed the use upper limit value.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing management apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a printing apparatus and storage means for storing a printing history at the time of printing, and performs printing based on the upper limit of the printing apparatus. A print management device connected via a network to an information processing device to be managed, the acquisition device acquiring the print history from the storage device, and updating the use upper limit value based on the acquired print history. And a transmitting unit that transmits the updated use upper limit value to the information processing apparatus.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management apparatus.
In the print management device described above, the storage unit further stores the use upper limit value and a use result value of the printing device, and the information processing device compares the use result value with the use upper limit value. It is characterized by comprising a comparing means and another updating means for updating the use result value based on the print history when the use result value does not exceed the use upper limit value.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management apparatus.
The print management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The upper limit of use is the number of prints.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management apparatus.
The print management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The upper limit of use is the number of times of printing.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management apparatus.
7. The print management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The print management device includes a host computer, and the print device includes one of a copier and a printer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management method, comprising: a storage unit for storing a print history at the time of printing; A print management method of a print management device connected via a storage unit, wherein the acquisition step of acquiring the print history from the storage unit, and the update step of updating the use upper limit value based on the acquired print history, Transmitting the updated upper limit of use to the printing apparatus.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management method according to the ninth aspect.
In the print management method described, the storage unit further stores the use upper limit value, and a use result value of the printing device, and the printing device compares the use result value with the use upper limit value, When the use result value does not exceed the use upper limit value, the use result value is updated based on the print history.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management method including a printing apparatus and a storage unit for storing a print history at the time of printing, and performing printing based on a use upper limit value of the printing apparatus. A print management method for a print management device connected to an information processing device to be managed via a network,
An acquisition step of acquiring the print history from the storage unit;
An update step of updating the upper limit of use based on the acquired print history and a transmitting step of transmitting the updated upper limit of use to the information processing apparatus are provided.

In a printing management method according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing management method according to the tenth aspect, the storage unit further stores the use upper limit value and the actual use value of the printing apparatus, and The apparatus compares the use result value with the use upper limit value, and when the use result value does not exceed the use upper limit value, updates the use result value based on the print history. I do.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the print management method according to any one of the eighth to eleventh aspects, the upper limit of use is the number of prints.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the print management method according to any one of the eighth to eleventh aspects, the upper limit of use is the number of times of printing.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the print management method according to any one of the eighth to thirteenth aspects, the print management device comprises a host computer.
The printing apparatus comprises one of a copier and a printer.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to a fifteenth aspect has a storage means for storing a print history at the time of printing, and a printing apparatus which manages printing based on a use upper limit value via a network. A readable storage medium storing a program for executing a print management method of a print management device connected to the storage device, the program comprising: an acquisition module configured to acquire the print history from the storage unit; An update module that updates the upper limit of use based on history and a transmission module that sends the updated upper limit of use to the printing apparatus are provided.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to a sixteenth aspect has a printing device and storage means for storing a print history at the time of printing, and manages printing based on a use upper limit value of the printing device. A readable storage medium storing a program for executing a print management method of a print management apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus to be connected via a network, wherein the program acquires the print history from the storage unit It is characterized by comprising an acquisition module, an update module that updates the upper limit of use based on the acquired print history, and a transmission module that sends the updated upper limit of use to the information processing apparatus.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a print management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a print management system including a print management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the print management system includes a server 110 (print management device) including a server computer and the like, and copying machines 120, 130, and 140 connected to the server 110 via a network 150.

The server 110 communicates with each of the copying machines 120, 130, and 140 via the network 150, and performs various processing for managing copying, printing, image reading, and the like in the copying machines 120, 130, and 140. I do. The copying machines 120, 130, and 140 have a copying function,
It is composed of a multi-function device (MFP) having a printing function and an image reading function, and performs copying of an image or the like read by an image reading unit (not shown). The apparatus further includes an input unit for inputting a number (hereinafter, referred to as “department ID”) assigned to each department to which the user (user) belongs, and performs processes such as copying and printing based on the input department ID. Do. The network 150 is formed of Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like, and includes the server 110 and each of the copiers 1.
It is a transmission medium connecting 20, 130, and 140.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of server 110 in FIG.

In FIG. 2, a server 110 includes a CPU 201 as a central processing unit, a ROM 202 as a read-only memory, and an R as a random access memory.
AM 203, a keyboard control unit (KBC) 204 connected to a keyboard 209, and a display (CRT)
A CRT control unit 205 connected to the network 210; a hard disk (HD) 206 as a storage device;
The communication unit 207 includes a communication unit 207 connected to the communication unit 50 and a system bus 208 that connects the communication units 207 to each other.

The CPU 201 controls the entire server 110 and performs a plurality of arithmetic processes including a print management process shown in FIG. The ROM 202 has a predetermined storage area, and stores a startup program for starting the server 110 in the storage area. The RAM 203 includes a storage area (memory map) shown in FIG. 6 described later, and the storage area includes an operating system (OS), an application, a device driver,
And a communication control program are loaded.

The KBC 204 is a keyboard (KB) 20
9 to control the KB 209 and
The instruction input from B209 is transmitted to the CPU 201. The display (CRT) control unit 205 is connected to the display (CRT) 210 and controls display on the CRT 210. HD 206 is a hard disk (H
D) and the like, and stores predetermined programs and data in a storage area (memory map) of FIG. 7 described later. The predetermined program is loaded into the RAM 203 when the program is executed, and data is referred to as needed. Communication unit 207
Are the copiers 120, 130, 1 on the network 150.
40, control communication with a computer, peripheral equipment, and the like (not shown). The system bus 208 is connected to the CPU 20 described above.
1. Data paths between units such as the ROM 202. Note that the HD 206 may be a nonvolatile storage device such as an SRAM (Static RAM).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the copying machine 120 in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, a copying machine 120 includes a controller unit 305 for controlling the whole,
An input / output engine unit 306 for performing copying, printing, and the like, a communication unit 307 connected to the network 150, a user operation input / output unit 308, and a system bus 309 connecting these components to each other are provided.

The controller unit 305 includes a CPU 301
, A ROM 302, a RAM 303, and an HD 304 including a hard disk (HD). CPU301
Performs a control process of the entire copying machine 120 and performs a plurality of arithmetic processes including a control process at the time of copying in FIG. 5 described later. The ROM 302 has a predetermined storage area, and stores a boot program for starting the copier 120, an OS, and the like in the storage area. The RAM 303 has a storage area into which an OS, a communication control program, an engine control program, and the like are loaded from the HD 304, the ROM 302, and the like. The HD 304, together with print data and image data,
The copying (printing) history (job log) when the user uses the copying machine 120 and the upper limit of use such as the upper limit of the number of copies and the upper limit of the number of times of copying for restricting the use of the user are stored.

The input / output engine unit 306 performs copying, printing operation and image reading operation based on a control signal from the controller unit 305. The communication unit 307 controls communication with the network 150. User operation input / output unit 308
The (input means) includes operation keys and a display device (not shown),
The user inputs a department ID and the like, displays information to the user, and the like. Further, the user operation input / output unit 308 may include a touch panel having a character string display function and an operation function, and a display having an image display function, and may display information to a user by using them. System bus 309
Is a data path between each unit such as the CPU 301 and the input / output engine unit 306 described above. In addition, HD304 is SR
It may be a nonvolatile storage device such as an AM.

The copiers 130 and 140 have the same configuration as described above.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the job log stored in the HD 304 in FIG.

In FIG. 4, a job log 80 is a copy history when a user uses the copy machine 120. The job log 80 stores the job number, department ID, processing type, sheet size, number of sheets, number of sheets, sheet type, used amount, and contents of the processed flag. The job number stores a number assigned in the order of use by the user, and the department ID stores a department ID input by the user. The processing type stores an operation that has been used (processed) such as copying, printing, or image reading. The number of paper sheets stores the number of paper sheets used for copying, etc., the number of paper sheets stores the number of paper sheets counted on the front and back sides, and the paper type stores plain paper and glossy paper. , OHP paper, etc., are stored. The number of sheets, the number of sheets, and the like are directly stored in the usage amount. The numerical value stored in the usage amount may be a value obtained by multiplying the coefficient by the paper size or paper type. For example, when A4 paper is used, 2 is stored for A3 paper, and when used for plain paper, 2 is stored for glossy paper. The processed flag indicates whether or not the job log 80 has been updated by the print management process of FIG. 8 described later, and “not yet processed” means not processed.

In the print management system shown in FIG.
When the printer 10 is in operation, it executes the copy control process shown in FIG. 5 described below and also executes the print management process shown in FIG.
When the server 110 is not operating, only the copy control process of FIG. 5 is executed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control process at the time of copying executed by the CPU 301 in FIG.

In FIG. 5, a department ID input by the user from the user operation input / output unit 308 is received (step S701). Next, the usage record value stored in the HD 304 is read based on the received department ID (step S702). The usage result value is a total sum of the usage amounts calculated based on the job log 80. Then, Department I
The use upper limit value stored in the HD 304 is read based on D (step S703). The upper limit of usage is
This is the number of copies (prints) that can be copied at 0, and is updated periodically while the server 110 is operating. The upper limit of use may be the number of times of copying (printing).

Next, it is determined whether or not the read actual use value exceeds the upper limit of use (actual use value> upper limit of use) (step S704), and when the actual use value exceeds the upper limit of use. (YES in step S704), the process proceeds to step S705, while if it does not exceed (NO in step S704), the copying process is performed according to the operation of the user (step S706). At this time, a job log 80 for the copying process is created. Next, the job log 80 and the actual usage value updated based on the job log 80 are stored in the HD.
In step S707, the process is terminated.

In step S 705, the user operation input / output unit 308 displays a message that “the actual value exceeds the upper limit and cannot be used” to notify the user, and prohibits the use of the user (step S 705). S705), the process ends. In step S705, the use of the user who intends to use the copying machine 120 is prohibited. However, the use of the entire department to which the user belongs may be prohibited.

According to the processing of FIG. 5, the actual use value and the use upper limit value stored in the HD 304 are read out based on the department ID input by the user (steps S702 and S702).
703) If the read actual usage value does not exceed the upper limit of use (NO in step S704), a copy process is performed in accordance with the operation of the user (step S706), and the job log 80 is copied together with the job log 80 in the copy process. Blog 80
Is stored in the HD 304, so that the usage record value in the copying machine 120 can be managed regardless of whether the server 110 is operating.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a memory map set in the RAM 203 in FIG.

In FIG. 6, the memory map 40 includes a basic I / O program 41, an operating system (OS) 42, an application 43, related data 44, and a work area 45. The basic I / O program 41 stores a basic I / O program.
The OS 42 is loaded from the HD 206 and stored in an executable state. The application 43 stores an application program for the print management process of FIG. The related data 44 includes the related data in the HD 206.
And is stored in an executable state. The work area 45 temporarily stores data used by these programs.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a memory map set in the HD 206 in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 7, the HD 206 includes a print management process shown in FIG. 8, which will be described later, and a recording area 50 in which related data is recorded. The recording area 50 includes volume information 51, directory information 52, an application execution file 53, and a print management device related data file 5.
4 are recorded.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a print management process executed by the CPU 201 in FIG.

In FIG. 8, the CPU 201 has all the copying machines 120, 130, 140 on the network 150.
Is scanned and stored in the RAM 203 (step S90).
1). Next, it is determined whether or not the update processing of all the copying machines 120, 130, and 140 has been completed (step S90).
2) If the update processing has not been completed (step S9)
02 (NO at step S903), the latest processed job number is acquired from the copying machine (for example, copying machine 120) for which the updating process has not been completed, and is set to M (step S903). Whether the job log 80 has been processed is determined by referring to the processed flag in the job log 80. Next, the latest job number is acquired from the copying machine 120, and is set to N (step S904).

In step S905, job logs 80 corresponding to job numbers (M + 1) to N are obtained from the copying machine 120. Next, the total of the used amount is calculated based on the acquired job log 80 (step S906). Next, H
From the upper limit of use of the copying machine 120 stored in D206,
The sum of the used amounts calculated in step S906 is subtracted (step S907), and the subtracted upper limit of use is updated as a new upper limit of use of the copying machine 120 (step S908). Then, the updated upper-limit value is used for copying machine 1
20 and updates the upper limit of use stored in the HD 304 (step S909), and ends this processing. This process is periodically executed at regular intervals while the server 110 is operating.

According to the processing of FIG.
The job logs 80 are periodically acquired from the above copying machines 120, 130, and 140 (steps S903 to S905), and the copying machines 120, 13 are determined based on the acquired job logs 80.
The use upper limit value of 0,140 is updated (step S90)
8) Therefore, printing can be performed without making an inquiry from the copying machine 120 to the server 110.
0 can reduce the use waiting time.

According to the first embodiment, the server 1
When the copier 10 is in operation, the copier 12 on the network 150 is
0 based on the job log 80 acquired from
Is updated (step S908), printing can be performed without making an inquiry from the copier 120 to the server 110, and the
0 can be reduced, and when the server 110 is not operating, only the control process at the time of copying shown in FIG. 5 is executed. 120 can be managed.

(Second Embodiment) The second embodiment has the same basic configuration as that of the first embodiment, and only differs from the first embodiment. explain.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a print management system including an information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the print management system includes a server 1001 (print management device) including a server computer and the like, and a personal computer equipped with an HD (not shown).
Clients 1002 to 100 connected through the network 06
4 (information processing device) and a copier 1005 connected to the server 1001 via a network 150.

The server 1001 is connected to the network 1006
And communicates with each of the clients 1002 to 1004 via the client, and performs various processes for managing print data and the like transmitted from the clients 1002 to 1004 to the copying machine 1005. Clients 1002-100
Reference numeral 4 creates print data and image data, and transmits the print data and the like to the copier 1005. Copier 1005
Receives print data and the like transmitted from the clients 1002 to 1004, and performs printing, copying, and the like based on the print data.

In this embodiment, the client 1002
1004 to 1004 are the copiers 100 on the network 1006.
The use result value and the use upper limit value for No. 5 are stored in the HD (not shown), and the control process at the time of copying in FIG. 5 is executed based on the use result value and the use upper limit value.

In the processing of FIG. 5, the actual use value and the use upper limit value stored in the HD (not shown) are read out based on the department ID input by the user (steps S702 and S7).
03), if the use result value does not exceed the use upper limit value (NO in step S704), print data is transmitted to copier 1005 in accordance with a user operation (step S70).
6). Subsequently, when transmitting print data or the like to the copying machine 1005, the print data is analyzed and the job log 80 shown in FIG.
Is created, and the job log 80 and the usage record updated based on the job log 80 are stored in the HD (step S707).

In this embodiment, the server 1001
8 periodically obtains the job logs 80 of the clients 1002 to 1004 on the network 1006 by the print management process of FIG.
The use result value stored in No. 4 is updated.

According to the second embodiment, the server 1
001 is the client 10 on the network 1006
02 (steps S903 to S903).
In step S905, the upper limit of use of the client 1002 is updated based on the acquired job log 80 (step S908).
Printing can be performed without making an inquiry to 001, and the print waiting time in the client 1002 can be reduced.

When the server 1001 is not operating, only the copy control process shown in FIG. 5 is executed. Therefore, regardless of whether the server 1001 is operating or not, the client 1002
You can manage the use of

The copying machines 120, 130, 140, and 1005 in the first and second embodiments include a printer,
A peripheral device such as a scanner may be used.

In the first and second embodiments, FIG.
Is stored in the HD 206 with the contents shown in FIG.
This is also achieved by supplying a predetermined storage medium to the servers 110 and 1001 from the outside instead of the HD 206, reading the application program stored in the storage medium by the CPU 201, and executing the function. Not even.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a server that executes the application program for the print management process of FIG. 8 stored in a floppy (registered trademark) disk.

In FIG. 10, a floppy disk (FD) 60 as a storage medium stores an application program for the print management processing of FIG. 8 and its related data. These are read out to a server 62 composed of a computer or the like via an FD drive (DKC) 61. In the server 62, when the FD 60 is set in the DKC 61, the application program for print management processing and its related data are read out from the FD 60 under the control of the OS 42 and the basic I / O program 41 in FIG. You.

In this case, the application program itself read from the storage medium such as the FD 60 realizes the above-described functions, and the storage medium storing the application program constitutes the present invention.
As a storage medium for supplying the application program, for example, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and the like can be used in addition to the FD.

[0069]

As described above in detail, according to the apparatus according to the first aspect and the method according to the eighth aspect, the upper limit of use is updated based on the print history acquired from the storage means of the printing apparatus. Since the updated use upper limit value is transmitted to the printing apparatus, printing can be performed without making an inquiry from the printing apparatus to the print management apparatus, and the waiting time for using the printing apparatus can be reduced.

According to the apparatus of the second aspect and the method of the ninth aspect, the printing apparatus compares the actual use value with the upper limit value, and when the actual use value does not exceed the upper limit value, Since the actual use value is updated based on the print history, the upper limit of use can be updated by the printing apparatus, and the use of the printing apparatus can be managed regardless of whether the print management apparatus is operating. .

According to the apparatus of the third aspect and the method of the tenth aspect, the print history is acquired from the storage means of the information processing apparatus, and the upper limit of use is updated based on the acquired print history. Since the used upper limit value is transmitted to the information processing apparatus, printing can be performed without making an inquiry from the information processing apparatus to the print management apparatus, and the use waiting time of the printing apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a print management system including a print management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a server 110 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the copying machine 120 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a job log stored in an HD 304 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control process at the time of copying executed by a CPU 301 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a memory map set in a RAM 203 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a memory map set in an HD 206 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a print management process executed by a CPU 201 in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a print management system including an information processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a server that executes an application program of the print management process of FIG. 8 stored in a floppy disk.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a conventional print management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

80 Job log 110, 1001 Server (print management device) 120, 130, 140, 1005 Copy machine 201, 301 CPU 203, 303 RAM 206, 304 HD 1002, 1003, 1004 Client (information processing device)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 HQ01 HR07 5B021 AA01 AA19 BB00 BB10 CC06 KK01 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AA35 AB38 AB42 AC34 AF00 BA00

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A print management apparatus, comprising: a storage unit for storing a print history at the time of printing; and a print management apparatus connected via a network to a printing apparatus that manages printing based on a use upper limit value. Acquiring means for acquiring from the storage means, updating means for updating the upper limit of use based on the acquired print history, and transmitting means for transmitting the updated upper limit of use to the printing apparatus. A print management device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The storage device further stores the use upper limit value and a use result value of the printing device, wherein the printing device compares the use result value with the use upper limit value. 2. The printing management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising another updating unit that updates the usage result value based on the print history when the usage result value does not exceed the usage upper limit value. . 3. A print management apparatus, comprising a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus having a storage unit for storing a print history at the time of printing and managing printing based on a use upper limit value of the printing apparatus, via a network. An acquisition unit that acquires the print history from the storage unit; an update unit that updates the upper limit of use based on the acquired print history; and the information processing of the updated upper limit of use. A print management apparatus, comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the print management information to the apparatus. 4. The storage unit further stores the use upper limit value and the use result value of the printing device, and the information processing device compares the use result value with the use upper limit value. 4. The print management system according to claim 3, further comprising: another update unit that updates the use result value based on the print history when the use result value does not exceed the use upper limit value. apparatus. 5. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper limit of use is the number of prints. 6. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper limit of use is a number of times of printing. 7. The print management device according to claim 1, wherein the print management device comprises a host computer, and the printing device comprises one of a copier and a printer. apparatus. 8. A print management method for a print management apparatus, which has a storage unit for storing a print history at the time of printing and is connected via a network to a printing apparatus that manages printing based on an upper limit of use, An acquisition step of acquiring the print history from the storage unit; an update step of updating the use upper limit value based on the acquired print history; and a transmission step of transmitting the updated use upper limit value to the printing device. And a print management method. 9. The storage device further stores the use upper limit value and a use result value of the printing device, wherein the printing device compares the use result value with the use upper limit value,
9. The print management method according to claim 8, wherein when the use result value does not exceed the use upper limit value, the use result value is updated based on the print history. 10. A print management apparatus, comprising a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus having a storage unit for storing a printing history at the time of printing and managing printing based on a use upper limit value of the printing apparatus via a network. An print management method for an apparatus, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring the print history from the storage unit; an update step of updating the use upper limit value based on the acquired print history; and the updated use upper limit value. And transmitting to the information processing apparatus. 11. The storage unit further stores the use upper limit value and the use result value of the printing device, and the information processing device compares the use result value with the use upper limit value, 11. The print management method according to claim 10, wherein when the use result value does not exceed the use upper limit value, the use result value is updated based on the print history. 12. The print management method according to claim 8, wherein the upper limit of use is the number of prints. 13. The print management method according to claim 8, wherein the upper limit of use is the number of times of printing. 14. The print management device according to claim 8, wherein the print management device comprises a host computer, and the printing device comprises any one of a copying machine and a printer. Method. 15. A program for executing a print management method of a print management apparatus connected via a network to a printing apparatus having a storage unit for storing a print history at the time of printing and managing printing based on an upper limit of use. Is a readable storage medium storing the program, wherein the program is an acquisition module that acquires the print history from the storage unit, and an update module that updates the use upper limit value based on the acquired print history, A transmission module for transmitting the updated upper limit of use to the printing apparatus. 16. A print management apparatus having a printing apparatus and a storage means for storing a print history at the time of printing, the print management apparatus being connected via a network to an information processing apparatus which manages printing based on a use upper limit value of the printing apparatus. A readable storage medium storing a program for executing a print management method of an apparatus, the program comprising: an acquisition module configured to acquire the print history from the storage unit; and a storage module configured to execute the use based on the acquired print history. A storage medium comprising: an update module that updates an upper limit value; and a transmission module that transmits the updated use upper limit value to the information processing device.