JP2000259291A - Last user information system, last user informing method and power control method for peripheral equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a last user information system to inform a user of a fact that he/she is the last user in the case of log off of a terminal and to simultaneously control a power source of peripheral equipment. SOLUTION: This system is a server system in the last user information system to informs the last user of a client system of the fact that she/he is the last user in a server client system consisting of one server system and at least one client system and the server system 2 is provided with a state management data base 22 in which the number of clients being connected with the server systems 2 and connecting information of the client are stored and a various states requests managing part 21 to judge whether the user of the client system connected based on the data stored in the state management data base 22 is the last user or not and to inform its result.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an end user notification system for notifying an operator of the last user at the time of terminal logoff in a computer network domain constructed by a LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer power management system according to the prior art is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 6-183102 and 10-2.
The technology described in Japanese Patent No. 7043 is known. This conventional printer power management system is a system capable of turning on / off the printer power based on a set time and turning on / off the system by remote operation via a network.

[0003]

By the way, even if the power can be turned on and off by remote control of the network, it can only be used after the power source is turned on by the operator who performs the remote control. Further, in a workplace where the daily work end time is not constant, it is not practical to turn on / off the printer power according to the set time because the set time needs to be changed each time.

[0004] Therefore, it is realistic to operate a peripheral device such as a printer in a server client system by turning on the power at the beginning of each day and turning off the power at the last user of the day.

However, when a plurality of users share a peripheral device such as a printer via a network, it is necessary to confirm whether or not the user is the last user. When the peripheral devices and the client terminals are scattered and installed, there is a problem that it is difficult to check whether the peripheral devices and the client terminals are turned on and in a usable state.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and notifies a user of the last user when logging off the client terminal, and notifies the last user of controlling the power supply of peripheral devices to the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system, a method of notifying a final user, and a method of controlling peripheral device power.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server client system comprising one server system and at least one client system, wherein the final user of the client system is the final user. The client system in the end user notification system that notifies the server that the reception of the notification of the last user notified from the server system and the state of the client system to the server. Various status request management units,
A status display unit for displaying the end user notification received by the various status request management units.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a server client system including one server system and at least one client system, a final user of the client system is notified of the last user. A server system in an end-user notification system, wherein the server system is configured to store a number of clients connected to the server system and connection information of the clients, and a state management database stored in the state management database. And a status request management unit that determines whether or not the connected client system is the end user based on the data and notifies the result of the determination.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the server system further includes a peripheral device bidirectional communication unit that receives an operation state of the peripheral device and transmits control information of the peripheral device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a server client system including one server system and at least one client system, the last user of the client system is notified of the last user. A method of notifying the end user, wherein the method of notifying the end user includes a process of subtracting the number of clients connected to the server each time the use of the client system is terminated, and determining whether the number of clients has become zero. Processing to determine whether or not the number of clients is 0
, A process of notifying the client system, which is about to end use of the client system at this time, of the end user, is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power supply control method for a peripheral device connected to the server client system in a server client system including one server system and at least one client system. The peripheral device power control method includes: a process of adding the number of clients connected to the server each time the client system is connected to the server system; and a process of determining whether the number of clients is one. And turning on the power of the peripheral device when the number of clients is one as a result of the determination.

The invention according to claim 6 is a power control method for a peripheral device connected to the server client system in a server client system including one server system and at least one client system, The peripheral device power control method includes: a process of subtracting the number of clients connected to the server each time the use of the client system is terminated; a process of determining whether the number of clients has become 0; And if the number of clients is 0 as a result, the power of the peripheral device is turned off.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the peripheral device power control method, the operation state of the peripheral device is detected.
The method further includes a step of changing a power-off method of the peripheral device based on the detection result.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An end user notification system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are block diagrams showing the configuration of the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration on the client side of an end user notification system composed of a server / client system, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration on the server side. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a client system, which includes a status display unit 11, a various status request management unit 12,
It comprises a print spooler 13 and a printer bidirectional communication unit 14 and is connected to the network 4. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 2 denotes a server system, which includes a various status request management unit 21, a status management database 22, a print spooler 23, and a printer bidirectional communication unit 24.
It is connected to the network 4. In addition, a power control unit 31 capable of externally controlling power ON / OFF is connected to the network 4, and a printer 32 is connected to the power control unit 31.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data flow. First, the operation when the client system 1 is started will be described. First, when the client system 1 is started while the server system 2 is running, when the client system is loaded at the time of starting the computer, the various status request management units 12 of the client system 1 transmit the start notification information through the network 4 to the server. The information is sent to the various information request management unit 21 of the system 2 (FIG. 3A). The various information request management unit 21 of the server system 2 that has received the start notification information stores the status management database 2
“1” is added to the number of connected clients stored in No. 2 (FIG. 3B). By this operation, the client system 1 has been started.

Next, the operation at the time of termination of the client system 1 will be described. Upon receiving the end notification from the operating system, the various status request management units 12 of the client system 1 transmit the client end notification information to the various status information request management units 21 of the server system 2 via the network 4 (FIG. 3A). . The various status request management units 21 of the server system 2 receiving the end notification information perform a final user check.

Here, the process of the final user check is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, "1" is subtracted from the number of connected clients stored in the state management database 22 on the server system 2 (step S).
1, FIG. 3 (b)). As a result of the subtraction of the number of clients, it is checked whether or not the number of connected clients is "0" (step S2). (The last user) is returned (step S3), and the last user check is terminated.
If the number of connected clients is "0" in step S2, the printer status is checked (step S2).
4).

This printer status check is performed by the printer bidirectional communication unit 24 acquiring the status of the printer 32 (FIG. 3).
(C)), the printer status is returned to the various status request management unit 21 (FIG. 3D). The various status request management unit 21 determines the acquired printer status (step S5), and if the status is “power OFF”, sets an identification code indicating power OFF in the status (step S6). If the printer state is "standby", an identification code indicating that the printer is on standby is set in the status (step S).
7). Further, if the printer status is "operating", an identification code indicating the operating status is set in the status (step S8). Then, an identification code indicating the last user (the last user in FIG. 4) is returned (Step S9), and the last user check is completed.

The return value and status of the final user check are sent to various status request management units 12 of the client system 1 through the network 4 (FIG. 3E). The status request management unit 12 of the client system 1 determines the return value of the last user check, and if the return value is “no last user”, performs the end processing of the client system 1 as it is, and the client ends.

When the return value of the last user check is the last user, a notice of the last user and the printer status are sent to the status display section 11 (FIG. 3 (f)). If the printer status is “power off”, the status display unit 11 displays a message to the user using this client system 1 to the effect that he is the last user. FIG. 7A shows an example of a message displayed at this time. Subsequently, the client system 1 performs termination processing and terminates the client.

If the printer status is "standby", a message to the effect that the user is the last user is displayed and the user is prompted to turn off the power of the printer. FIG. 7B shows an example of a message displayed at this time. Subsequently, when receiving an instruction from the user to turn off the printer, the status display unit 11 sends a request to the various status request management units 12 to turn off the power without waiting (see FIG. 3).
(G)).

Further, the printer status is "operating".
If so, a message to the effect that the user is the end user is displayed, and the user is made to select whether to immediately turn off the power of the printer or to finish printing. FIG. 7C shows an example of a message displayed at this time. Subsequently, upon receiving an instruction from the user to immediately turn off the power of the printer, the status display unit 11 sends a request to the various status request management units 12 to turn off the power without waiting. On the other hand, when receiving an instruction to turn off the power after the printing is completed, a request to turn off the power is sent to the various state request management unit 12 after waiting (FIG. 3 (g)).

Upon receiving the power-off request, the various status request management unit 12 sends the request to the server system 2 via the network 4.
A power-off request is sent to the above various status request management unit 21 (FIG. 3A), and a termination process of the client system 1 is performed to terminate the client. Further, the various status request management unit 21 of the server system 2 does not wait, and
When a request to perform F is made, a power OFF request is sent to the printer bidirectional communication unit 24 (FIG. 3 (h)). When a request is made to turn off the power after waiting, the status of the printer 32 is monitored through the printer bidirectional communication unit 24. (Figure 3
(H)). The printer bidirectional communication unit 24 sends a power OFF command to the power control unit 31 built in or external to the printer 32 (FIG. 3 (i)). The power control unit 31 that has received the power-off command turns off the power of the printer 32.

Next, another embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The process of the final user check will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the number of connected clients in the state management database 22 on the server system 2 is subtracted (step S11). As a result of the subtraction of the number of clients, it is checked whether or not the number of connected clients is "0" (step S12). If not, the last user check is ended.

In step S2, if the number of connected clients is "0", the last remaining client is set as the destination by referring to the connected client information stored in the state management database 22 on the server system 2 (step S13). ), Set the identification code indicating the end user in the return value, and terminate.

Various status request management unit 2 of server system 2
1 is a network 4 based on the client information.
, The final user display request is sent to the various status request management unit 12 of the client system 1. The various status request management unit 12 of the client system 1 sends a final user notification to the status display unit 11. The status display unit 11 displays a message to the effect that the user who uses the client system 1 is the final user as described above.

As described above, it is determined whether or not the number of connected clients is one, and based on the result, the last client connected to the server system 2 is the last user. Can be notified.

Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The processing when the client system is activated when the server system 1 is activated will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the client system is loaded at the time of starting the computer, the various status request management units 12 of the client system 1 send startup notification information to the various information request management units 21 of the server system 2 via the network 4. The various information request management unit 21 of the server system 2 that has received the start notification information adds “1” to the number of connected clients stored in the state management database 22 in the client addition process (step S21). Next, it is checked whether the number of clients is "1", that is, whether it is the first client (step S22).

If the number of clients is not "1", the process ends. On the other hand, if the number of clients is "1", a process of turning on the power of the printer is performed (step S23), and the client activation process ends. The various status request management unit 21 of the server system 2 sends a power ON request to the printer bidirectional communication unit 24. The printer bidirectional communication unit 24 sends a power ON command to a power control unit 31 built in or external to the printer 32. The power control unit 31 that has received the power ON command turns on the power of the printer 32.

As described above, when the client is started, it is determined whether or not this client is the first client, and if it is the first client, the power of the printer can be automatically turned on. This is effective when the user wants to put the printer 32 in a standby state without operating the printer 32 when the client system 1 operates on the network 4.

The variable CL shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 is a variable indicating the number of clients. Also, here, the printer has been described as an example, but devices that are turned on / off based on the number of clients are connected to the network 4.
Any device can be used as long as it is connected to the power supply and has the power control unit 31.

In this way, when the client computer is terminated, it is possible to notify the end user when no other client computer is connected in the network domain. Further, according to the number of connected clients, it becomes possible to turn on / off the power of peripheral devices such as a network shared printer from the client computer.

A program for realizing the steps shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer system and executed. Thus, the final user notification process may be performed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” is a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-R
It refers to a portable medium such as an OM or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system.

Further, a "computer-readable recording medium" is a program for dynamically transmitting a program for a short time, such as a communication line for transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a program that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case, is also included. Further, the above-mentioned program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions, or may be for realizing the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, each time the client system disconnects from the server system, the number of clients connected to the server system is subtracted, and the number of clients is reduced to zero. When the client system becomes, the last remaining client system is notified that it is the last user, so that the user using this client system can take appropriate actions such as turning off the power of peripheral devices. Thus, an effect that a proper treatment can be performed is obtained.

Further, the end user is notified of the end user, and at the same time, the status of the peripheral device is obtained.
Since the power supply is automatically turned off in accordance with the state, it is possible to obtain the effect that the user does not need to turn off the power supply of the peripheral device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data flow in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a final user check process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of a final user check in another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a client system according to another embodiment is activated.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a message displayed on the status display unit 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Client system, 11 ... Status display part, 12 ... Various state request management parts, 13 ... Print spooler, 14 ... Printer bidirectional communication part, 2 ... Server system, 21 ... various state request management units, 22 ... state management database, 23 ... print spooler, 24 ... printer bidirectional communication unit, 31 ... power supply control unit, 32 ... printer.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A client in an end user notification system for notifying an end user of a client system of an end user in a server client system including one server system and at least one client system. A system, wherein the client system is configured to receive a final user notification from the server system and transmit a status of the client system to the server; And a status display unit for displaying the end user notification received in the client system. 2. A server in an end user notification system for notifying an end user of a client system of a server client system comprising one server system and at least one client system. The server system, wherein the server system is connected based on data stored in the state management database, the state management database storing the number of clients connected to the server system and connection information of the clients. And a status request management unit that determines whether or not the client system is an end user and notifies the result of the determination. 3. The server system according to claim 2, wherein the server system further includes a peripheral device bidirectional communication unit that receives an operation state of the peripheral device and transmits control information of the peripheral device. . 4. A method for notifying a final user of a client system of a last user in a server client system comprising one server system and at least one client system. The end-user notification method includes: a process of subtracting the number of clients connected to the server each time the use of the client system is terminated; and a process of determining whether the number of clients has become zero. When the number of clients is 0 as a result of the determination, a process of notifying the client system that is about to end use of the client system at this time that the user is the end user, End user notification method to do. 5. A power control method for a peripheral device connected to the server client system in a server client system including one server system and at least one client system, wherein the peripheral device power control method comprises: A process of adding the number of clients connected to the server each time the client system is connected to the server system; a process of determining whether the number of clients is 1; A process for turning on the power of the peripheral device when is 1. 6. A power control method for a peripheral device connected to the server client system in a server client system including one server system and at least one client system, wherein the peripheral device power control method comprises: Each time the use of the client system is finished, a process of subtracting the number of clients connected to the server, a process of determining whether or not the number of clients has become zero, and a result of the determination that the number of clients is zero A method for turning off the power of the peripheral device in a certain case. 7. The peripheral device power control method further includes a process of detecting an operating state of the peripheral device, and a process of changing a power-off method of the peripheral device based on the detection result. A method for controlling a peripheral device power supply according to claim 6.