JP2000071577A - Printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer system capable of calculating a used amount of paper on the basis of a set number of sheets and a printing method and of being flexibly managed. SOLUTION: This printer system comprises a workstation 1, a print server device 2 having a toll charge managing section 24, and a printer 3 including a contraction printing function. The printer 3 is installed in a toll charging system wherein it is managed such that a toll is varied in accordance with a used printed size and when the toll exceeds a reference value, a using right for the printer is invalidated. In the case where a printing job request is generated, when it is predicted that the toll exceeds the reference value during the printing after the request is accepted, the printing is performed on a paper having a small size whereby the toll thereto is lower than the original by using the contraction printing function. As a result, when the reserved money for the toll is deficient at the printing, the printing is executed such that the toll is automatically made to be less than that corresponding to the maximum using amount so that it is possible to prevent invalidation of printing due to the deficiency of the reserved money.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer system, and more particularly, to a printer system having a charge management function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printer system is constructed as, for example, a pay system under charge management. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-110857 discloses a printer system in which a charge management system of a copying machine is controlled so that a copying operation is automatically stopped when the number of copies that can be made becomes "0".

[0003]

However, in the printer system shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, the number of remaining copies may be "0" due to the printing conditions. Therefore, the system does not cause a shortage of the charged balance, but there is a problem that the copy operation may be automatically stopped due to the insufficient number of copies before reaching the number of copies requested by the user. is there.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer system capable of calculating the used amount based on a set number of prints and a printing method, and performing more flexible accounting management.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a work station, a print server device, and a printer device are connected via a network. In a printer system provided with a charging system in which the charging amount is managed so that the charging amount changes and the right to use the printer device is lost when the usage fee exceeds a certain reference value, the printer device has a reduced printing function, If it is predicted that the usage fee will exceed the reference value by executing the print job at the time of the print job request from the station, use the reduced print function to reduce the paper size to a smaller billing amount paper size. And printing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a workstation, a print server device, and a printer device are connected via a network, charge management is performed so that a charge amount changes according to a used print size, and a usage fee is used. In a printer system having a charging system in which the right to use the printer device is lost when a certain reference value is exceeded, the printer device has an aggregate print function, and when a print job request is received from a workstation, the print job is Is executed, if the usage fee is expected to exceed the reference value, the printing is performed so as to reduce the number of sheets used by using the aggregate printing function.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a workstation, a print server device, and a printer device are connected via a network, charge management is performed so that a charge amount changes according to a used print size, and a usage fee is used. In a printer system having a billing system in which the right to use the printer device is lost when a certain reference value is exceeded, the printer device has a two-sided printing function, and when a print job is requested from a workstation, the print job is If the usage fee is expected to exceed the reference value by executing the above, printing is performed using the double-sided printing function so as to reduce the number of sheets used.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 to 4 show an embodiment of the printer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1, the printer system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a workstation 1, a print server device 2, and a printer device 3.

The workstation 1 further includes a print application unit 11, a print sub unit 12, and a printer driver 13.

The print server device 2 further includes a job management unit 21, a print server unit 22, a printer input / output control unit 23, and a charge management unit 24.

Referring to FIG. 1, a printer system capable of calculating the amount of use of a printer based on the number of prints and the printing method and managing the charge will be described.

When a print instruction is issued at the workstation 1, a print request is notified to the print server device 2. In the print server device 2, the job management unit 21 accepts the notified print request as a print job. The print job has the attribute and is accompanied by the following information.

“Attribute” “Value” Job ID 1 Printer number 1 User name Taro Request date and time 98/01/30 10:15:30 Data size 297646 bytes Paper used 1 number of pages 10 Duplex designation None Color mode Monochrome

The job management unit 21 holds the attribute information and the print data in pairs, and adds and stores the attribute information and print data in response to a print request.
Reference and delete. At the time when printing is completed, the accounting management unit 24 calculates the amount of accounting for the printing. Here, it is assumed that the charge amount for one job is calculated as in the following equation.

(Charge amount) = (Number of sheets used) × (Paper size coefficient)

Here, it is assumed that each sheet coefficient is defined as follows. (Paper size coefficient) “Paper number” “Paper size” “Charging coefficient” 1 A3 4 2 B4 3 3 A4 2

For example, if the sheet number is 3 (A4 size), 1
When printing 0 pages, the charge amount is 20. The charge management unit 24 of the print server device 2 adds and manages the charge amount for each job for each user who has requested the job. On the other hand, reference values that can be used are set in advance for each user, and these can be managed together and information can be passed as required.

The print server section 22 performs print processing by extracting print data stored in the job management section 21 and actually transferring the print data to the printer device 3.
At this time, the user name “U” of the job is acquired from the job management information of the job management unit 21, and the data of the charge balance of the user U is acquired from the charge management unit 24.

An embodiment in which the present invention is actually realized using these systems will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a printer system according to the embodiment. The printer device according to the first embodiment is configured to have a reduced printing function.

In FIG. 2, a print request is notified from the print application unit 11 operating on the work station 1 to the print server device 2 (step S1).

The print sub-unit 12 operating on the workstation 1 creates print data and printer conditions via the printer driver 13 and sends it as a print job J to the print server device 2 (step S2).

The attributes of the print data at this time are as follows. "Attribute""Value" Job ID 1 Printer number 1 User name Taro Request date and time 98/01/30 10:15:30 Data size 297646 bytes Paper used 1 (A3) Number of pages 10 Double-sided printing OFF Aggregated printing OFF Color mode MONO

The job management section 21 sequentially accumulates the requested print jobs J in pairs of the attributes and the print data (step S3).

According to the scheduling, the print server unit 22 inquires of the job management unit 21 whether or not there is a print request (step S4), and confirms whether or not there is a print job (step S5). In step S5,
If there is no print job, the process returns to step S4 again,
Check the print request.

First, the job attribute A is taken out, and the required billing amount T1 for the job is calculated from the paper size and the number of pages to be used by the following equation.

For example, if the used paper size is A3 and the number of printed sheets is 10, T1 = 10 (used number) × 4 (paper size coefficient) = 4
The charge amount T1 is calculated as 0.

On the other hand, the user name U is acquired from the same job attribute A (step S6), and the user U's accounting balance T2 is acquired.
Is acquired from the charging management unit 24 (step S7).

Further, the paper type KO to be used and the number P of printed pages are obtained from the job attribute A (step S8).

In step S8, a billing amount T1 is calculated from the obtained paper type KO and the number P of printed pages (step S9).

The charging balance T2 obtained in step S7 is compared with the charging amount T1 calculated in step S9, and T1 is calculated.
If .ltoreq.T2, the print data is received from the job management unit 21 and transferred to the printer 3 via the printer input / output control unit 23 (step S10 / N).
o).

If T1> T2 (step S1
0 / Yes), to change the printing conditions so that T1 ≦ T2, a printing paper size K1 capable of printing the number of pages P with respect to the balance T2 is calculated (step S11).

Next, it is checked whether or not the printing paper K1 calculated in step S11 exists in the printer device 3 (step S12). If it is determined that there is no paper, the printing process is stopped (step S13). ).

In step S12, the printer 3
If it is determined that the printing paper K1 is present in the sheet K, a reduction ratio R for printing on the paper K1 is obtained (step S).
14). Step S is performed for the printing paper K1 in the printing condition.
A setting is made so that reduced printing is performed at the reduced rate R obtained in step 14 (step S15). The printing process is executed based on the set printing conditions (step S16).

For example, if the balance is T2 = 23 and the number of sheets is 1
With respect to the number of pages P and the billing amount T1 when printing 0 sheets, the printable paper size can be checked by the following formula.

23 (charge balance T 2) ÷ 10 (number of pages P) = 2.3

Therefore, based on the above equation, "2.3"
Paper having a charging coefficient of? That is, A4 size paper may be used.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the paper size is changed from A3 to A4 in the printing condition of the job J, the reduction is designated according to the paper size, and the printer input / output control is performed. The data is transferred to the printer device 3 via the unit 23.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a printer system according to the embodiment. The printer device according to the second embodiment is configured to have an aggregate printing function.

In FIG. 3, a print request is notified from the print application unit 11 operating on the work station 1 to the print server device 2 (step S1).

The print sub-unit 12 operating on the workstation 1 creates print data and printer conditions via the printer driver 13 and sends it as a print job J to the print server device 2 (step S2).

The attributes of the print data at this time are as follows. “Attribute” “Value” Job ID 1 Printer number 1 User name Taro Request date and time 98/01/30 10:15:30 Data size 297646 bytes Paper used 1 (A3) Number of pages 10 Double-sided printing OFF Aggregated printing ON Color mode MONO

The job management section 21 sequentially accumulates the requested print jobs J in pairs of the attributes and the print data (step S3).

According to the scheduling, the print server unit 22 inquires of the job management unit 21 whether or not there is a print request (step S4), and confirms whether or not there is a print job (step S5). In step S5,
If there is no print job, the process returns to step S4 again,
Check the print request.

First, the job attribute A is taken out, and the required billing amount T1 for the job is calculated from the paper size and the number of pages to be used by the following equation.

For example, when the used paper size is A3 and the number of printed sheets is 10, T1 = 10 sheets (number of used sheets) × 4 (paper size coefficient) = 4
The charge amount T1 is calculated as 0.

On the other hand, the user name U is acquired from the same job attribute A (step S6), and the charging balance T2 of the user U is obtained.
Is acquired from the charging management unit 24 (step S7).

Further, the type of paper KO to be used and the number of printed pages P are obtained from the job attribute A (step S8).

In step S8, a billing amount T1 is calculated from the obtained paper type KO and the number P of printed pages (step S9).

The charging balance T2 obtained in step S7 is compared with the charging amount T1 calculated in step S9, and T1 is calculated.
If .ltoreq.T2, the print data is received from the job management unit 21 and transferred to the printer device 3 via the printer input / output control unit 23 (step S10 / N).
o), a printing process is executed (step S25).

If T1> T2 (step S1
0 / Yes), an aggregate printing method capable of printing the number of pages P with respect to the balance T2 is checked to change the printing conditions so that T1 ≦ T2, and the number of aggregations N is calculated (step S2).
1).

Aggregate printing is a method in which one page of data is reduced to 1 / N in area ratio, and printing of N pages is printed on one sheet of paper. Generally, there are two-page and four-page aggregate printing.

If the balance is T2 = 23, A3
Since the billing coefficient of the paper is 4, it suffices to satisfy the condition of the following equation.

(Number of pages 10 / number of aggregations N) × 4 (charging coefficient) ≦ T2 Therefore, the number of aggregations N ≧ 2 is sufficient.

It is confirmed whether or not the integrated printing is possible under the above conditions (step S22). In step S22,
If aggregate printing is not possible, the printing process is stopped (step S23).

If it is determined in step S22 that the integrated printing is possible, the print server unit 22 sets the printing condition to 1 / N of the integrated printing designation (step S2).
4).

For example, after using the aggregate printing function for two pages in the printing conditions of job J, the job J is transferred to the printer device 3 via the printer input / output control unit 23, and the printing process is executed (step S25). ).

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a printer system according to the embodiment. The printer device according to the third embodiment has a double-sided printing function.

In FIG. 4, a print request is notified from the print application unit 11 operating on the work station 1 to the print server device 2 (step S1).

The print sub-unit 12 operating on the workstation 1 creates print data and printer conditions via the printer driver 13 and sends it to the print server device 2 as a print job J (step S2).

The printing attributes at this time are as follows. "Attribute" "Value" Job ID 1 Printer number 1 User name Taro Request date and time 98/01/30 10:15:30 Data size 297646 bytes Paper used 1 (A3) Number of pages 10 Double-sided printing ON Aggregated printing OFF Color mode MONO

The job management section 21 sequentially accumulates the requested print jobs J in pairs of the attributes and the print data (step S3).

The print server unit 22 makes an inquiry about the presence or absence of a print request to the job management unit 21 based on the scheduling (step S4), and confirms the presence or absence of a print job (step S5). In step S5,
If there is no print job, the process returns to step S4 again,
Check the print request.

First, the job attribute A is taken out, and the required billing amount T1 for the job is calculated from the paper size and the number of pages to be used by the following equation.

For example, when the used paper size is A3 and the number of printed sheets is 10, T1 = 10 sheets (number of used sheets) × 4 (paper size coefficient) = 4
The charge amount T1 is calculated as 0.

On the other hand, the user name U is acquired from the same job attribute A (step S6), and the charging balance T2 of the user U is acquired.
Is acquired from the charging management unit 24 (step S7).

Further, the type of paper KO to be used and the number of print pages P are obtained from the job attribute A (step S8).

In step S8, a billing amount T1 is calculated from the obtained paper type KO and the number P of printed pages (step S9).

The charging balance T2 obtained in step S7 is compared with the charging amount T1 calculated in step S9, and T1 is calculated.
If .ltoreq.T2, the print data is received from the job management unit 21 and transferred to the printer device 3 via the printer input / output control unit 23 (step S10 / N).
o), a print process is executed (step S35).

If T1> T2 (step S1
0 / Yes), an attempt is made to change the printing conditions. It is checked whether or not printing is possible with the balance T2 by performing double-sided printing (step S31). If double-sided printing is not possible in step S31, the printing process is stopped (step S33).

In step S31, if double-sided printing is possible, double-sided printing reduces the number of pages to be printed by half, so that the following condition should be satisfied.

(T1 ÷ 2) ≦ T2

For example, when the type of paper to be used is A3 size and the number of printed pages is 10, the charge amount T1
When this is applied to the above equation, (10 ÷ 2) × 4 ≦ T2 If the balance is T2 = 23, this condition is satisfied.

If the conditions shown in step S32 are satisfied, the print server unit 22 sets the double-sided printing designation as the printing condition of the job J (step S34), and sends it to the printer 3 via the printer input / output control unit 23. Then, the print process is performed (step S35).

[0076]

As is clear from the above description, claim 1
According to the invention described above, when a print job request is executed at the time of occurrence of the request and it is expected that the reference value will be exceeded during execution, the reduced print function is used to reduce the amount of paper charged. Print to size. Therefore, even when the billing balance is insufficient at the time of printing, the printing conditions are automatically changed so as to be within the billing maximum usage amount, and it is possible to prevent printing from being disabled due to the lack of the billing balance. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a print job request is generated and the request is executed,
If it is predicted that the reference value will be exceeded during the execution, the printing is performed using the aggregate print function so as to reduce the number of prints used and to reduce the billing amount. Therefore, even when the billing balance is insufficient at the time of printing, the printing conditions are automatically changed so as to be within the billing maximum usage amount, and it is possible to prevent printing from being disabled due to the lack of the billing balance. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a print job request is issued, the request is executed,
If it is predicted that the reference value will be exceeded during execution, the number of prints to be used is reduced using the double-sided printing function, and printing is performed so as to reduce the billing amount. Therefore, even when the billing balance is insufficient at the time of printing, the printing conditions are automatically changed so as to be within the billing maximum usage amount, and it is possible to prevent printing from being disabled due to the lack of the billing balance. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 workstation 2 print server device 3 printer device 11 print application unit 12 print sub unit 13 printer driver 21 job management unit 22 print server unit 23 printer input / output control unit 24 charging management unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] A workstation, a print server device, and a printer device are connected via a network,
In a printer system that manages charging so that the charging amount changes in accordance with the print size used in the print server device, and controls to eliminate the right to use the printer device when the usage fee exceeds a certain reference value. The printer device has a reduced printing function, and when a print job request is received from the workstation, it is predicted that the usage fee will exceed the reference value by executing the print job. A printing system that reduces the size of the paper to a smaller paper size by using the reduced printing function and prints the paper. 2. A workstation, a print server device, and a printer device are connected via a network.
In a printer system that manages charging so that the charging amount changes in accordance with the print size used in the print server device, and controls to eliminate the right to use the printer device when the usage fee exceeds a certain reference value. The printer device has an aggregate printing function, and when a print job request is received from the workstation, it is predicted that the usage fee will exceed the reference value by executing the print job. A printer system for performing printing so as to reduce the number of sheets used by using the aggregate printing function. 3. A workstation, a print server device, and a printer device are connected via a network,
In a printer system that manages charging so that the charging amount changes in accordance with the print size used in the print server device, and controls to eliminate the right to use the printer device when the usage fee exceeds a certain reference value. The printer device has a double-sided printing function, and when a print job is requested from the workstation, it is predicted that the usage fee will exceed the reference value by executing the print job. A printer system for performing printing so as to reduce the number of sheets used by using the double-sided printing function.