JP2007041939A - Print system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operation property of a job account system and to improve the working efficiency of a user under control. <P>SOLUTION: This print system comprises a first information processor for applying data processing to one job, an image forming device for receiving the one job and performing print processing, and a second information processor capable of receiving job information created in a plurality of processings related to the one job from the image forming device. The first information processor has a recording means for recording application identification information for performing the data processing and the version on the job. The second information processor comprises a setting means for setting a condition for the job, a determining means for determining whether to fulfil the condition, and an executing means for performing a fixed processing in response to the result of the determining means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, facsimiles, copiers, and the like connected to a network, and multifunction devices (MFPs) that integrate them, computers that manage these devices, and network systems. .

  Conventionally, a job management system related to an image processing system that acquires and manages job information has been developed. In order to perform appropriate job management (job account), it is necessary to acquire job information executed by a peripheral device. Conventionally, there are the following two methods for acquiring job information. A block diagram is shown in FIG.

<Method 1>
1) The application requests GDI to print.

  2) The log collection client hooks 1 call and analyzes the parameters to analyze the user name, computer name, printer name, port name, document name, application name, number of printed pages, paper size, color information (monochrome)・ Acquire information such as color), double-sided / single-sided information, and number of copies.

  3) The log collection client transmits the information acquired in 2 to the log collection server.

<Method 2>
1) The log collection client calls an API provided by the OS to be called back to the spooler when the state changes.

  2) The application requests GDI to print.

  3) The GDI calls the printer driver.

  4) The printer driver converts the OS drawing command into a printer-specific command and writes it to the spooler.

  5) The spooler notifies the log collection client that the job has been submitted.

  6) The log collection client receives a job submission notification.

  7) The log collection client calls the API provided by the OS, and the user name, computer name, printer name, port name, document name, application name, number of printed pages, paper size of the job that is currently submitted to the spooler Information such as color information (monochrome / color), double-sided / single-sided information, and number of copies is acquired.

  8) The log collection client transmits the information acquired in 2 to the log collection server.

  9) The spooler sends job data to the printer.

  The log collection server receives job information from the log collection client by the method 1 or method 2 and stores it in the database. The device manager refers to the database via the database access program, and performs job analysis such as totaling the number of output pages for each user by month and totaling the number of output pages for each day of the week for each application.

As a conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 can be cited.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-5629

  However, in the above-described conventional job management method, it is necessary to install the log collection program on each PC on which printing is performed.

  Further, even if the names of applications used by the user can be totaled, it has not been possible to provide further functions that are useful for improving user convenience, for example. In addition, although the name of the application used can be grasped, there is no method for knowing the detailed version of the application and for promoting the unification of the versions.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and aims to improve the operability of the job account system and the work efficiency of the managed user.

  In order to achieve at least one of these objects, the present application provides the following means.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first information processing apparatus that performs data processing on one job, an image forming apparatus that receives the one job and performs print processing, and the image forming apparatus that receives the one information processing apparatus. In a printing system including a second information processing apparatus capable of receiving job information generated in a plurality of processes related to a job,
The first information processing apparatus includes a recording unit that records application identification information for data processing in a job,
It is characterized by providing.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the first information processing apparatus records version information of an application for performing data processing in a job,
It is characterized by providing.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the second information processing apparatus is configured to determine whether the job information received from the image forming apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition; The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising execution means for performing processing.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the printing system according to claim 3, wherein the second information processing apparatus includes setting means for setting a condition for the job.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the printing system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the setting unit includes an application designating unit, a finishing method designating unit, and a threshold designating unit.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the printing system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the setting unit includes an application designation unit and an application version designation unit.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the printing system according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, wherein the execution unit is a notification unit for a user.

  As described above, according to the invention described in the present application, it is possible to improve the operability of the job account system and the work efficiency of the managed user.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an apparatus and module configuration of a job account system showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is achieved in a system composed of a plurality of devices. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention is also applied when the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus.

  The job account server 101 periodically accesses devices stored in the registered printer database 102, acquires a job log from the printer, and records it in the job log database 103. The job account server receives a processing command through a UI (user interface) control unit 105 and performs necessary processing. For example, the job log database 103 is searched using the totaling unit 104 to perform a process of calculating the total number of jobs within a specified period of a certain user. The setting storage unit stores setting information designated through the UI control unit 105.

  The print client 110 performs the following processing. The application 111 requests the GDI 112 to print. GDI calls the printer driver 113. The printer driver 113 converts the GDI call into a PDL (Page Description Language) suitable for the printer 120. Further, the PDL is wrapped with JL (Job Language). JL is a language for managing jobs. A typical example is PJL (Printer Job Language) of Hewlett-Packard Company. In the JL portion, a job name, user name, application name, application version, name of the computer that performed printing, an IP address, and the like are recorded as job attributes. An example of job data is shown in FIG. The printer driver 113 sends the JL data to the spooler 114. The spooler queues job data and sequentially sends received jobs to the 115 port monitor. The 115 port monitor monitors the printer 120, establishes a connection for job transmission such as TCP, and transmits job data to the printer 120 by LPR defined by RFC1179.

  The operation of the printer 120 will be described. The communication control unit 121 receives job data from the port monitor 115 and sends it to the interpreter 122. The interpreter 122 converts the job data into a format that can be interpreted by the printer engine 123 and sends the job data. The printer engine 123 performs print processing and records the result in the job log 125 via the job log recording unit 124.

  When a job log data request is received from the job account server, the job log 125 is accessed through the communication control unit 121 and necessary information is returned to the job account server.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the client computer and the server computer constituting the job account system shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the entire computer device and performs arithmetic processing. Reference numeral 202 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which is a storage area for information such as system startup programs. Reference numeral 203 denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is a data storage area with no usage restrictions. Software modules such as an operating system, an application 102, a hook unit 103, a GDI 104, a printer driver 105, a transmission unit 107, and a job account client 118 are provided. This is an area in which programs such as communication control are loaded from the HD unit 205 and the ROM 202 and executed by the CPU 201. Reference numeral 204 denotes a KBC, that is, a keyboard control unit, which receives input data from the keyboard and transmits it to the CPU. Reference numeral 205 denotes a CRT, that is, a display control unit (display control means), which controls display on the display device. 206 is an external storage device such as an FD, a flexible disk device, or an HD, a hard disk device, an SRAM, a nonvolatile storage device, etc., which stores and stores programs and data, and refers to them or loads them into RAM as needed during execution To do. A communication unit 207 performs network communication control and can communicate with other computers and peripheral devices connected to the network as described with reference to FIG. 1, and includes a transmission unit 107, a job log transmission unit, and the like. 117 is controlled. A system bus 208 is to be a data path between the above-described components.

  In principle, the job account server 1001 can have the same configuration in terms of hardware. The job account server 1001 stores a job log merging unit 123, a job log recording unit 124, a job log receiving unit 122, and a job log totaling unit 125 in the HDD. Further, the job log receiving unit 122 controls the communication unit 207.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the printer that constitutes the job account system shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 305 denotes a controller unit that controls the entire printer. As an internal configuration of the controller, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the controller and performs arithmetic processing. Reference numeral 302 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which is a storage area for information such as system startup programs. Reference numeral 303 denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is a data storage area having no use restriction, and 304 denotes a HD, that is, a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk or SRAM.

  The RAM 303 is an area where programs such as an operating system, communication control, and engine control are loaded and executed. Reference numeral 306 denotes an engine unit of this apparatus, which performs a printing operation and an image reading operation under the control of the controller. A communication unit 307 performs network communication control and can communicate with a client computer or a server computer as described with reference to FIG. A user operation input / output unit 308 performs an interactive setting operation with the user. Reference numeral 309 denotes a system bus, which should serve as a data path between the above-described components.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the job account server 121 illustrated in FIG. Reference numeral 41 denotes a basic I / O program. Reference numeral 42 denotes a memory map in a state where an operating system such as a window system is loaded into the RAM 203 and becomes executable. Reference numeral 43 denotes a memory map in a state where the program of the present invention is loaded into the RAM 3 and becomes executable. Reference numeral 44 denotes a memory map in a state where related data is loaded into the RAM 3 and becomes executable. Reference numeral 45 denotes a memory map of work memory used by each program.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration content of the FD in which a job account program and related data are stored as an example of the embodiment of the present invention. A job account program and related data, which are an example of an embodiment of the present invention, are recorded on a flexible disk (FD). In the recording area 50 of the flexible disk (FD), volume information 51, directory information 52, an application execution file 53, and a job account program related data file 54 are recorded. The recording area 50 may be a DVD or an HDD (not shown) in an external server connected to the computer 62 via a network, and the job account program of the present invention (in the client computer shown in FIG. 1). It goes without saying that each module, and each module in the job Akan and the server 121) may be downloaded and introduced via a network. The computer 62 is equivalent to the computer shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example of loading a job account program and related data recorded in an FD into a computer system. The job account program and related data recorded on the flexible disk (FD) 60 can be loaded into the computer 62 via the FD drive (DKC) 61. When the flexible disk (FD) 60 is set in the FD drive (DKC) 61, program modules and related data for realizing the job account program and related data are controlled under the control of the operating system 42 and the basic I / O program 41. The data is read from the flexible disk (FD) 60 and loaded into the RAM 203 to be usable. The computer 62 can be used to implement the computer shown in FIG. 18 and the client computer 101 and the job account server 121 shown in FIG. Also, the program module for realizing the job account program corresponds to each software module in the client computer 101 or the job account server 121 described in FIG. Needless to say, the storage medium is not limited to the FD and includes a DVD, a CD-ROM, and the like.

  A procedure for creating job data to be transmitted to the printer by the printer driver 113 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S701, a JL job start command is issued. “Issuing” indicates sending data to the spooler.

  In step S702, a user name is acquired. The user name may be acquired from parameters of a call from GDI, or may be acquired by issuing an API that acquires the user name to the OS.

  In step S703, a JL user name set command is issued.

  In step S704, an API for acquiring a computer name is issued to the OS to acquire a computer name.

  In step S705, a JL computer name set command is issued.

  In step S706, the document name is acquired. The document name may be acquired from parameters of a call from GDI, or may be acquired by issuing an API that acquires job information to the OS.

  In step S707, a JL document name set command is issued.

  In step S708, the application name is acquired. The application name may be acquired from parameters of a call from GDI, or may be acquired by issuing an API that acquires job information to the OS. Alternatively, it may be acquired by issuing an API that acquires the process or file name that called the printer driver. If you get a process, get the file name associated with it.

  In step S709, the version of the application is acquired. Here, from the application file name acquired in step S708, an API for issuing a file version to the OS is issued to obtain the file version, which is set as the application version.

  In step S710, a JL application name set command is issued.

  In step S711, the finishing method designated at the time of printing is acquired. The finishing method is specified by the user interface of the printer driver. Finishing includes bookbinding, punching, and stapling.

  In step S712, a JL finishing method set instruction is issued.

  In step S713, a JL PDL start command is issued.

  In step S714, it is determined whether all the GDI has been processed. If all the GDIs have been processed, the process proceeds to step S716, and if there are remaining GDI calls to be processed, the process proceeds to step S715, where GDI is converted into PDL.

  In step S716, a JL PDL end instruction is issued.

  In step S717, a JL job end command is issued.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of job data created by the printer driver 113 according to the flow of FIG. JL instructions are indicated by *, and their parameters are indicated by <>.

  FIG. 9 is an example of a job log recorded in the job log 125 in the printer 120. The job attribute information, which is the attribute designated by the job data in FIG. 8, and the following information relating to paper discharge are stored.

Color mode: Indicates whether it was black-and-white printing or color printing Number of paper pages: Number of printed pages
Number of sheets: Number of ejected sheets Paper type: Type of ejected sheets. Plain paper, recycled paper, OHP, etc.

Double-sided / single-sided information: duplex printing or single-sided printing Job start / end time Job log identification number: Serial number for uniquely identifying the job log
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation for acquiring a job log from the printer of the job account server 101. This process operates periodically, and the operation interval can be changed by setting the server.

  In step S1001, the job log identification number of the job log acquired when acquiring the previous job log is acquired.

  In step S1002, the latest job log identification number is acquired from the printer 120. It is assumed that a unique protocol is defined between the job account server and the printer, and information can be exchanged using transfer means such as TCP / IP.

  In step S1003, it is determined whether the previous job log identification number and the latest job log number are equal. If they are equal, the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to S1004.

  In step S1004, a value obtained by subtracting the previous job log number from the latest job log number is obtained. This is the number of new logs.

  In step S1005, job logs are acquired from the printer for the number of new logs from the previous job log identification number plus one.

  In step S1006, the job log acquired in step S1005 is registered in the job log DB 103.

  In step S1008, an application check process described later is performed.

  The application check process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S1101, the application name is extracted from the job log.

  In step S1102, it is determined whether the application name acquired in step S1101 is the same as the application name in FIG. If they are the same, it is not necessary to notify the user, and the process ends. If they are different, the process proceeds to S1103.

  In step S1103, the user name is extracted from the job log.

  In step S1104, it is determined by searching the job log DB whether there is an application name of S1102 in the previous job log of the user of S1103. If there is, there is no need to notify the user, and the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to S1105.

  In step S1105, the finishing information is extracted from the job log to determine whether the book is bookbinding. If bookbinding printing is to be performed, the process proceeds to step S1106; otherwise, the process is terminated.

  In step S1107, the number of bookbinding jobs of the user in the past is extracted.

  In step S1108, the number of all jobs of the user in the past is extracted.

  In step S1109, the ratio of the bookbinding job to all jobs is calculated.

  In step S1110, the set notification threshold is extracted. The threshold setting procedure will be described later.

  In step S1111, it is determined whether the bookbinding job ratio has exceeded the notification threshold. If it exceeds, the process proceeds to step S1112, and if not, the process ends.

  In step S1112, an email including the set content is transmitted to the user.

  A method for setting the application name, the finishing method, the notification threshold, and the contents of the mail notification, which are parameters of the determination condition in the application check process, will be described with reference to FIG.

  When there is a request from the UI control unit 105, the job account server 101 issues a dialog shown in FIG. 1201 is an edit box for designating a recommended application name, and the administrator designates an arbitrary application. An arbitrary character string can be input in the edit box.

  Reference numeral 1202 denotes a list box for selecting a finishing type. The list box provides a function for selecting one of the default items. Here, one of bookbinding, punching, and stapling is selected.

  Reference numeral 1203 denotes an edit box for designating a threshold value at 100 minutes.

  Reference numeral 1204 denotes an edit box for setting contents to be notified by mail.

  A button 1205 stores the contents in the setting information storage unit 107 when pressed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to grasp the application used by the user and the finishing method and promote the use of the optimum application, so that the user's work efficiency can be improved.

(Second embodiment)
Hereinafter, a description will be given centering on differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 13 shows another method for realizing the application check shown in FIG.

  In step S1301, the application name is extracted from the job log.

  In step S1302, the application version is extracted from the job log.

  In step S1303, the set reference version is extracted from the setting storage unit 107. The setting contents will be described later.

  In step S1304, it is determined whether the version in S1302 is the same as the reference version in S1303.

  In step S1305, an email including the set content is transmitted to the user.

  FIG. 14 shows a method for setting the application name, version, and contents of the mail notification, which are parameters of the determination condition in the application check process.

  When there is a request from the UI control unit 105, the job account server 101 issues a dialog shown in FIG. Reference numeral 1401 denotes an edit box for designating a recommended application name. The administrator designates an arbitrary application. An arbitrary character string can be input in the edit box.

  Reference numeral 1402 denotes an edit box for designating a reference version.

  Reference numeral 1403 denotes an edit box for setting contents to be notified by mail.

  Reference numeral 1404 denotes a button which, when pressed, stores the contents in the setting information storage unit 107.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the application used by the user and its version can be acquired and notified to a user different from the reference version, so the version of the application used by the user can be unified. Can be promoted. As a result, the occurrence pattern of trouble and the like is reduced, and the operation cost can be expected to be reduced.

  The processing shown in the flowcharts shown in the drawings (FIG. 7 and the like) in this embodiment and the modules shown in FIG. 1 are performed by each computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to a client computer from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, the system or apparatus can be obtained by supplying the storage medium storing the program code of the software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments to the system or apparatus, or downloading the storage medium from an external server (not shown). It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself such as the job account server or the job account client program read from the storage medium realizes the new function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Will do. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, DVD, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included. Further, a function expansion board in which a program code transmitted from a predetermined external server device (not shown) or read from a storage medium is inserted into a computer or a function expansion connected to the computer After being written in the memory provided in the unit, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the function is realized is also included.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the job account system which shows an example of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the client computer and server computer which comprise the job account system shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printer that configures the job account system illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure showing an example of the memory map of the job account system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure content of FD in which the job account program which is an example of embodiment of this invention, and related data are stored. It is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing an example of loading a job account program and related data recorded in an FD into a computer system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the printer driver according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the job data in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the print log in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure of the job account server in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure of the job account server in embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a UI for setting an operation parameter when acquiring a job log of a job account server according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure of the job account server in embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a UI for setting an operation parameter when acquiring a job log of a job account server according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the conventional job information acquisition.

Explanation of symbols

102 registered printer database 103 job log database 105 UI control unit 107 setting storage unit

Claims (7)

A first information processing apparatus that performs data processing on one job, an image forming apparatus that receives the one job and performs print processing, and a plurality of processes related to the one job from the image forming apparatus. In a printing system including a second information processing apparatus capable of receiving job information
The first information processing apparatus includes a recording unit that records application identification information for data processing in a job,
A printing system comprising: The first information processing apparatus includes a recording unit that records version information of an application for performing data processing in a job,
The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising:   The second information processing apparatus includes: a determination unit that determines whether job information received from the image forming apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition; and an execution unit that performs a default process according to a result of the determination unit. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is characterized by the following.   The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the second information processing apparatus includes a setting unit that sets conditions for a job.   The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit includes an application designation unit, a finishing method designation unit, and a threshold designation unit.   The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit includes an application specifying unit and an application version specifying unit.   The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the execution unit is a notification unit for a user.

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