JP2001092620A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system for suppressing the centralized use of consumable goods by a specific user. SOLUTION: This printing system is provided with a consumable good maximum quantity regulating means 31 for regulating the maximum quantity of consumable goods available in a prescribed period by each user who uses terminal equipment, a user identifying means 20 for identifying each user, a consumable good usage storing means 32 for storing the usage of the consumable goods for each user, and a print request rejecting means for rejecting the print request of the user when the usage of the consumable goods stored by the consumable good usage storing means reaches the maximum quantity of the consumable goods of the user normalized by the consumable good maximum quality normalizing means 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly to a printing system that suppresses the concentrated use of consumables such as printing paper and toner by a specific user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of an example of a conventional printing system PSO. Conventional printing system PS
O connects the server PC 110 to the network 101,
Client personal computers (terminal devices) 121 and 122;
It is configured by connecting to a toner type printer 130. The server personal computer 110 manages the printer 130,
A plurality of users A, B, and C execute various types of information processing using the client personal computers 121 and 122, instruct output via the client personal computer in use, and obtain a processing result as a document from the printer 130. . The users A, B, and C can use any of the client personal computers by arbitrarily selecting them.

In recent years, in order to prevent waste of consumables such as printing paper and toner, there has been proposed a printing system having a function of notifying the remaining amount of the consumables in the entire printing system (eg, a printing system). JP-A-10-319
797). By doing so, it is possible to reduce waste of printing paper and the like, and it is possible to reduce the running cost of the printer.

[0004]

However, although the notification of the remaining amount of consumables is effective in reducing running costs, it is effective for a specific user (for example, A in FIG. 3).
Mr.) consumes a large amount of consumables, and as a result the consumables are reduced or exhausted, which may cause a situation in which another user cannot perform desired printing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system that suppresses the concentrated use of consumables by a specific user.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a printing system in which a printer and a terminal device for issuing a print instruction to the printer are connected to a network. Means for specifying the maximum amount of consumables that can be used by a given user for a predetermined period of time, user identification means for identifying the individual user, and accumulating the amount of consumables used for each individual user The consumables usage accumulating means, and if the consumables usage amount accumulated by the consumables usage accumulating means reaches the user's maximum consumables amount specified by the consumables maximum amount specifying means, the user Print request rejecting means for rejecting the print request.

In this way, the maximum amount of consumables that can be used by each user (for example, Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C) is specified in the consumables maximum amount specifying means in advance. When a certain user (for example, Mr. A) prints a document, the user identification unit first identifies that the user is A, and the amount of consumables used by Mr. A is sequentially stored in the consumables amount accumulating unit. Accumulate. When the consumption amount of the consumables of Mr. A reaches the maximum amount, the print request rejection unit rejects the print request of Mr. A. Therefore,
Mr. A can use consumables only up to the predetermined amount of consumables used, and the maximum amount of consumables of Mr. A is specified to a value that does not bother other users. C
Mr.) does not become unprintable due to lack of consumables.
Further, the amount of consumables used in the entire printing system can be suppressed.

[0008] Further, a rejection notifying means for notifying the user rejected by the print request rejecting means of the rejection is provided. In this way, when the print request is rejected, the user is notified of the rejection by the rejection notifying means, so that the user can take the next best measure.

Further, there is provided a maximum amount correcting means for correcting the maximum amount specified by the consumable maximum amount specifying means. In this way, for example, when a certain user reaches the maximum amount within a short period of time and is practically inconvenient, the setting of the maximum amount can be corrected.

[0010] The present invention is also characterized in that there is provided automatic correction means for automatically correcting the maximum amount correction means in accordance with predetermined setting items. In this way, the maximum amount is automatically corrected, for example, every month, so that no manual operation (for example, an administrator of the printing system) is required, which is convenient.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the already described portions, and redundant description is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system PS according to the present embodiment
Is obtained by adding a server personal computer SPC to a conventional printing system PSO (see FIG. 3). The new server personal computer SPC is different from the conventional server personal computer 110 in that a print request control unit 10, a user identification unit 20,
A print request determining unit 30, a print request output unit 40, and the like are additionally provided.

The print request control unit 10 includes a user identification unit 20 for identifying each user, a print request determination unit 30 for determining whether or not to receive a print request from a user, A print request output unit 40 that issues a document output instruction according to the determination result, a print request rejection unit 50 that rejects the output of the document according to the determination result of the print request determination unit 30, and rejects the user's print request. The information presenting unit 60 or the like, which is a “rejection notifying unit” for presenting the message, is connected.

As the user identification means 20, for example, there are means for individually assigning a personal identification code and a password to Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C, and for discriminating each of Mr. A, Mr. C, and Mr.

The print request judging section 30 includes a maximum consumable amount defining means 3 for defining the maximum amount of consumables used by each user.
1, a consumable use amount accumulating unit 32 for accumulating and storing the consumption amount of the consumables of each user, a maximum amount correcting unit 33 for correcting the maximum amount set by the consumable maximum amount defining unit 31, and the following description. The automatic correction means 34 is connected.

The consumable maximum amount specifying means 31 stores a specified amount storage unit 31a for storing the upper limit (specified amount) of the used amount of consumables.
And a specified amount setting unit (for example, a keyboard, a floppy connected externally) 31b for setting the specified amount.

The consumable use amount accumulating means 32 includes a use amount calculating section 32b for calculating a consumable use amount for each user identified by the user identifying means 20, and the use amount calculating section 3.
A storage unit 32a for cumulatively storing the consumption amount of the consumables of each user calculated in 2b.

The maximum-amount correcting means 33 is to accumulate the consumption amount of the consumables every time it is used, so that any user will eventually reach the maximum specified amount and the print request will not be accepted. This is provided for avoidance. Specifically, a change instructing unit (for example, a keyboard or a floppy) 33b for instructing to change the prescribed amount, and a use amount changing unit 33a for changing the maximum use amount specified by the consumable maximum amount specifying means 31 for each user. Prepare.

The automatic correcting means 34 automatically corrects a specified value of the consumable maximum amount specifying means 31, which will be described later, according to the setting items. As setting items, for example, the maximum amount is automatically reset to the same value as the previous month every month, or when a certain user reaches the maximum amount, the maximum amount of other users is automatically set. Resetting is conceivable.

The print request output unit 40 includes a print request determination unit 3
When it is determined that “0” is “print”, a print request signal is issued to the printer 130. Print request rejection means 50
Generates a signal indicating that printing is not to be performed to the printer 130 when the print request determination unit 30 determines that “not to print”.

The rejection notifying means (information presenting unit) 60 receives the rejected client personal computer (for example, 12
For example, a signal is generated on the display 121a of 1), stating that "Your consumption of consumables has reached a specified value, so that a print request cannot be accepted".

Next, the basic operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the user (for example, Mr. A in FIG. 3) selects, for example, the client personal computer 121 (step S1), executes text creation and the like, and eventually issues a print request (step S2). Then
The user identification means 20 of the server personal computer SPC identifies that the user is Mr. A (step S3), refers to the consumables usage accumulating means 32, and determines that the consumables usage amount of Mr. A is the maximum consumables amount specifying means 31. (Step S4). If it is less than the maximum value (step S4: YES), a message indicating that printing is to be performed is output to the print request output unit 40, and printing is performed by the printer 130. During this printing, the consumption amount of the consumables is sequentially accumulated in the consumables consumption amount accumulating means 32 (step S5).

If the used amount is not less than the maximum value in step S4 (step S4: NO), the print request rejecting unit 50 notifies the printer 130 that the print request is rejected, and does not execute the printing (step S6). . in this case,
The rejection notification means (information presentation unit) 60 generates a signal indicating, for example, "Your consumption of consumables has reached the specified value, so we cannot accept the print request." Display 12 of client personal computer 121
The wording is displayed on 1a (step S7). Upon seeing this display, Mr. A can know that his or her print request is not possible, and so the next best measure (for example, asks the consumables manager and corrects the specified amount by the maximum amount correcting means 33). Print).

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the printer is of the toner type has been described. However, in the case of the ink jet type, the printing paper and the ink are consumables, and in the case of the thermal transfer type, the printing paper and the ink ribbon are consumables. Subject to. Further, in the above embodiment, the server printer SPC is provided with the function of the print request control unit 10 and the like.
It goes without saying that the device other than C may be provided. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the information is presented on the display as the presentation method of the information presentation unit 60 has been described. However, the user can be notified by voice.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the concentration of consumables by a certain user can be suppressed, so that the consumables of the entire printing system can be prevented from being wasted and the other users can be prevented from being consumable. Does not become unprintable during printing. Further, when the print request is rejected, the user is notified of the rejection by the rejection notifying means, so that the user can take the next best measure. Further, for example, when a certain user frequently reaches the maximum amount within a short period of time and it is practically inconvenient, the setting of the maximum amount can be corrected. In addition, since the maximum amount is automatically corrected, for example, every month by the maximum amount correcting means, it is convenient without requiring a human (for example, an administrator of the printing system).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional printing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 PS Printing system SPC Server personal computer of the embodiment 10 Print request control unit 20 User identification unit 31 Consumable maximum amount specifying unit 31a Specified amount storage unit 31b Specified amount setting unit 32 Consumable use amount accumulating unit 32a Usage amount storage unit 32b Use Amount calculation unit 33 Maximum amount correction unit 33a Usage amount change unit 33b Change instructing unit 34 Automatic correction unit 40 Print request output unit 50 Print request rejection unit 60 Information presentation unit 110 Conventional server personal computers 121, 122 Conventional client personal computers 121a Conventional Client PC display 130 Printer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing system in which a printer and a terminal device for issuing a print instruction to the printer are connected to a network, wherein each user using the terminal device determines the maximum amount of consumables that can be used in a predetermined period. Consumable maximum amount defining means for defining, user identifying means for identifying the individual user, consumable use amount accumulating means for accumulating the consumable amount used for each user, and consumable use amount accumulating means Print request rejecting means for rejecting the user's print request when the accumulated consumables usage amount reaches the user's maximum consumables amount specified by the consumables maximum amount specifying means. A printing system characterized by the following. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a rejection notifying unit that notifies the user rejected by the print request rejecting unit of the rejection. 3. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a maximum amount correcting unit that corrects the maximum amount specified by the consumable maximum amount specifying unit. 4. The printing system according to claim 3, further comprising an automatic correcting unit that automatically corrects the maximum amount correcting unit according to a predetermined setting item.