JP2006277264A - Printing processing management system, printing processing management program, printing processing management method, and printing processing management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing processing management system which is suitable for helping a manager determine the contents of restriction on printing processing, and also to provide a printing processing management program and a printing processing management method therefor. <P>SOLUTION: A printing system 100 includes; a plurality of information processing devices 10 which generate printing jobs, transmit the printing jobs thus generated to a printing device 30 via a printing processing management device 20, and execute processing for confirming the contents of the printing jobs to users; the printing processing management device 20 which executes processing for displaying support information which supports processing for determining the contents of restriction on printing, processing for determining the contents of the restriction on printing, and processing for controlling printing based on the contents of the restriction on printing; a printing device 30 which executes printing processing based on the printing jobs; and a network 40 such as a known LAN, WAN and so on. In addition, the plurality of information processing devices 10, the printing processing management device 20 and the printing device 30 are connected to one another, via the network 40, allowing for their data communication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for managing print processing of a print system, and more particularly, to a print processing management system, a print processing management program, and a print processing management method suitable for assisting an administrator in determining restrictions on print processing. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer and an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) that gives a print instruction to the printer are connected via a network such as a LAN, and the printer responds to the print instruction from the information processing apparatus. There is a printing system that performs printing on a print medium. In this printing system, system users and departments composed of a plurality of system users are provided with usage allowances for consumables such as paper and ink, and printing is limited. There is a technology that supports printing cost management by making the user aware of the cost for printing.

  However, in such a technology, although the user has performed the necessary printing, the problem that the necessary printing cannot be performed because the limit is exceeded, or the limitation is too loose, and there is no cost reduction effect. It was difficult to set appropriate restrictions such as. In addition, the setter who sets the content of the print restriction is usually left to the system administrator or accounting staff, and the setter is the number of users, the contents of the printing process in the predetermined period, the number of printed sheets In addition, it is necessary to determine the contents of the restriction while grasping the status of each item such as the amount of ink used and determining an appropriate restriction value capable of reducing the printing cost.

In order to solve the above problems, there are a printing system described in Patent Document 1, a print management system described in Patent Document 2, and the like.
The printing system described in Patent Document 1 can execute printing with reduced costs in a printing format set for a user without completely stopping printing even after the printing limit is exceeded. .

Also, the print management system described in Patent Document 2 allows an authenticated user to change the contents of printing restrictions (upper limit number of restrictions etc.).
JP 2005-025562 A JP 2003-50692 A

However, the prior arts of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above are merely workarounds when appropriate print restrictions are not made, and do not solve the difficulty of setting appropriate print restrictions.
Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to such an unsolved problem of the conventional technology, and is a print processing management system suitable for assisting the administrator in determining the restriction content of the print processing. An object of the present invention is to provide a print processing management program and a print processing management method.

[Mode 1] In order to achieve the above object, a print processing management system according to mode 1 includes:
Print job acquisition means for acquiring a print job;
Print job analysis means for analyzing the contents of the acquired print job;
Analysis result holding means for holding the analysis result;
Restriction information input means for inputting information related to print restriction contents for restricting the print processing contents of the print job;
Print restriction content determination means for determining the print restriction content based on the information input by the restriction information input means;
Support information generating means for generating support information for supporting the determination processing of the print restriction content based on the analysis result held in the analysis result holding means;
Support information display means for displaying the generated support information;
Printing process restriction means for restricting print processing of the print job based on the determined print restriction content.

  With such a configuration, the print job can be acquired by the print job acquisition unit, the contents of the acquired print job can be analyzed by the print job analysis unit, and the analysis result is retained. It is possible to hold the analysis result by means, and it is possible to input information related to the print restriction content for restricting the print processing content of the print job by the restriction information input means. The print restriction content can be determined based on the information input by the restriction information input unit, and the print information can be determined based on the analysis result held in the analysis result holding unit by the support information generation unit. It is possible to generate support information that supports the determination process of the restriction content, and the generation is performed by the support information display means The it is possible to display the support information, the printing process limitation means, based on the print contents of limitation the determined, it is possible to limit the printing process of the print job.

Therefore, support information generated from the analysis result of the print job is displayed. Therefore, the administrator who determines the print restriction contents inputs appropriate restriction information while viewing the display contents, and determines the appropriate print restriction contents. It is possible to reduce the load of the administrator in determining the print restriction content.
Here, the print job includes a variety of information related to print processing. For example, information on a system user who gives an instruction for printing, print processing such as color printing, monochrome printing, and high-quality printing. Information including the setting information relating to the contents of the image data, image data actually printed on a print medium such as print paper, and print data bodies such as document data. The same applies to each form of the following print processing management program and print processing management method.

The print restriction content includes an upper limit value of items to be restricted, such as an upper limit value of the number of printed sheets and an upper limit value of the ink use amount. The same applies to each form of the following print processing management program and print processing management method.
The support information is information that can be referred to when the administrator determines the contents of printing restrictions. For example, the total number of prints, the total ink use amount, and the like for each user or group during a predetermined period. Information such as cost for each item. The same applies to each form of the following print processing management program and print processing management method.

  Further, the process for restricting the print process includes, in addition to the process according to the print restriction content, permission to execute or prohibit execution of the print process for a special print job. The same applies to each form of the following print processing management program and print processing management method.

[Mode 2] Furthermore, the print processing management system of mode 2 is the same as the print processing management system of mode 1,
The support information generating means automatically generates recommended print restriction content as a recommended reference for the print restriction content based on the content held by the analysis result holding means as the support information.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to automatically generate and display the recommended print restriction content that is the recommended standard for the print restriction content, so that the administrator can use the recommended print restriction content as it is. Since the recommended print restriction content can be used as a model and the print restriction content can be determined by making some changes, the effect of further reducing the burden on determining the print restriction content can be obtained.

[Mode 3] Furthermore, the print processing management system of mode 3 is the same as the print processing management system of mode 2,
The analysis unit is configured based on an evaluation value that is set in advance for each component that configures the print job and that is effective for the print restriction content when executing print processing on each component, and the acquired print job. , Calculating the print effectiveness representing the effectiveness of the print restriction content when executing the print processing of the print job by a numerical value,
The support information generation means automatically generates the recommended print restriction content based on the calculated print effectiveness.

  With such a configuration, the administrator can easily know whether the print setting contents of the print job are valid settings for the print restriction contents by the size of the print validity level. Each user or group instructing printing can easily grasp whether or not printing that leads to cost reduction is performed. Therefore, more appropriate printing restriction content is determined using this printing effectiveness as an index. The effect that it can be obtained.

  Here, the above-mentioned print effectiveness is based on whether the print setting performs printing that leads to cost reduction such as double-sided printing and layout printing, or whether the content of the text to be printed is highly necessary to print. The evaluation value determined by For example, when the printing cost is set to be lower as the printing validity level is higher, the administrator determines the limit value of each item so that the printing validity level is higher. Settings can be made. The same applies to each form of the following print processing management program and print processing management method.

  Further, the evaluation value related to the validity is a value used when calculating the printing validity, and includes user information, the number of printed sheets, the number of copies, double-sided / single-sided, color / monochrome, allocation, etc. constituting the print job. Print setting information for each component, such as the print setting information, the total number of characters per page, specific words included in the document, information about print data such as specific text, etc. In addition to what is represented by a predetermined numerical value for each, the components that have a great influence on the effectiveness include calculation contents such as a predetermined magnification that doubles the overall printing effectiveness.

[Mode 4] Furthermore, the print processing management system of mode 4 is the same as the print processing management system of mode 2,
The analysis unit performs print processing of the print job based on an evaluation value that is preset for each component that configures the print job and that is related to damage that occurs during execution of print processing on each component and the print job. Calculate the degree of printing damage by numerically expressing the amount of damage that occurs when
The support information generation means automatically generates the recommended printing restriction content based on the calculated printing damage level.

  With such a configuration, the administrator can easily know the magnitude of damage that may be caused by performing the print processing of the print job based on the magnitude of the printing damage degree, and Since the user or each group can easily grasp how much printing that may lead to an increase in cost, it is possible to determine more appropriate printing restrictions using this degree of printing damage as an index. The effect that it can be obtained.

  Here, the above-mentioned printing damage degree means a printing error that occurs because various setting contents in printing processing such as the number of copies, print quality, front / back paper, paper size, and print layout are incorrect. Security related settings such as grammatical errors in the document, improper text expression, etc. caused by the contents of the print data itself, confidential documents that should not be printed by normal printing devices, etc. For example, when there is a financial error caused by a printing error caused by a mistake, such as financial damage due to waste of printing resources such as printing paper, ink, etc., waste of power due to execution of wasteful printing processing, etc. This is an evaluation value that is determined based on the cost of discarding paper, monetary damage (including loss of credit), etc. due to confidential leaks to rival companies. For example, when the printing damage level is set higher so that the cost is higher, the administrator determines the limit value of each item so that the printing damage degree is lower, thereby setting an appropriate printing restriction content. Can be performed. The same applies to each form of the following print processing management program and print processing management method.

  The evaluation value relating to damage is a value used when calculating the degree of printing damage, such as user information, number of copies, number of copies, duplex / single-sided, color / monochrome, assignment, etc., constituting a print job. Occurs when there is a printing error for each component, such as print setting information, total number of characters per page, specific words included in a document, information about print data such as specific text, etc. In addition to what expresses the magnitude of the damage that may be caused by each of the predetermined numerical values, in particular, in the component that increases the damage, the contents of calculation such as a predetermined magnification that doubles the overall degree of printing damage are included.

[Mode 5] Furthermore, the print processing management system according to mode 5 is the print processing management system according to any one of modes 1 to 4,
The support information generation unit generates execution information representing the execution status of the printing process in a predetermined period based on the content held by the analysis result holding unit as the support information.

  With such a configuration, the administrator can easily know the execution status of the printing process such as how many color printings have been performed and how many duplex printings have been performed. It is possible to easily determine appropriate print restriction contents.

[Mode 6] Furthermore, the print processing management system according to mode 6 is the print processing management system according to any one of modes 1 to 5,
The support information generating unit calculates a printing cost for each period based on the analysis result for each predetermined period held in the analysis result holding unit, and each time based on the calculated printing cost as the support information. Cost comparison information indicating a comparison result of printing costs for a period is generated.

  With such a configuration, the administrator can easily know the comparison value of the printing cost at two periods (for example, last month and this month), the transition of the printing cost at a plurality of periods, and the like. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine the details of printing restrictions.

[Mode 7] Furthermore, the print processing management system according to mode 7 is the print processing management system according to any one of modes 1 to 6,
A confirmation presence / absence determining means for determining whether or not to confirm a print processing content of the print job with respect to a system user related to the print job based on the print job and the print restriction content;
Content determination processing execution means for executing the processing content confirmation processing for the system user when it is determined to perform the content confirmation;
And print processing control means for controlling the print processing of the print job based on a confirmation result obtained by executing the content confirmation processing.

  With such a configuration, whether or not to confirm the print processing content of the print job to the system user related to the print job based on the print job and the print restriction content by the confirmation presence / absence determination unit. Can be determined, and when it is determined by the content confirmation processing execution means that the content confirmation is to be performed, the processing content confirmation processing for the system user can be performed, and printing can be performed. The processing control means can control the print processing of the print job based on the confirmation result obtained by executing the content confirmation processing.

  Therefore, for example, when the system user is going to perform printing that exceeds the upper limit of the set printing limit, it is determined whether or not to confirm the content of the printing process for the system user. When it is determined that the print processing is to be performed, the print processing content is confirmed, and the print processing is controlled based on the confirmation result. Therefore, before executing the print processing, the print processing of the wrong print job is stopped. It is possible to perform control such as performing print processing of a print job corrected by a system user, and it is possible to reduce printing costs such as waste of printing resources and waste of power due to wasteful printing processing. can get.

  Here, the content confirmation process allows the system user to confirm the content of a print job that has a large damage to the printing cost. For example, if there is an error, it is determined to correct the content or cancel the printing. For example, an information processing apparatus to which a system user has sent a print job, or the like, which causes the system user to perform an operation for issuing a print instruction. is there. The same applies to each form of the following print processing management program and print processing management method.

[Mode 8] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, a print processing management program according to mode 8
A print job acquisition step for acquiring a print job;
A print job analysis step of analyzing the content of the acquired print job;
An analysis result holding step for holding the analysis result;
A restriction information input step for inputting information related to print restriction contents for restricting print processing contents of the print job;
A printing restriction content determination step for determining the printing restriction content based on the information input in the restriction information input step;
A support information generating step for generating support information for supporting the determination processing of the print restriction content based on the analysis result held through the analysis result holding step;
A support information display step for displaying the generated support information;
A program used for causing a computer to execute a process including a print process restriction step for restricting a print process of the print job based on the determined print restriction content is included.

  With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing system according to mode 1 can be obtained.

[Mode 9] Furthermore, the print processing management program of mode 9 is the same as the print processing management program of mode 8,
In the support information generation step, as the support information, a recommended print restriction content that is a recommended criterion for the print restriction content is automatically generated based on the content held in the analysis result holding step.

  With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing system according to mode 2 can be obtained.

[Mode 10] Furthermore, the print processing management program of mode 10 is the same as the print processing management program of mode 9,
In the analyzing step, an evaluation value that is preset for each component that constitutes the print job and that is effective for the print restriction content when executing print processing for each component, and the acquired print job Based on this, the print effectiveness representing the effectiveness of the print restriction content when the print processing of the print job is executed is expressed as a numerical value,
In the support information generation step, the recommended print restriction content is automatically generated based on the calculated print effectiveness.

  With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing system according to mode 3 can be obtained.

[Mode 11] Furthermore, the print processing management program of mode 11 is the same as the print processing management program of mode 9,
In the analysis step, print processing of the print job based on an evaluation value set in advance for each component constituting the print job and the damage caused when executing the print processing on each component and the print job Calculate the degree of printing damage that represents the amount of damage that occurs when
In the support information generating step, the recommended printing restriction content is automatically generated based on the calculated printing damage degree.

  With this configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing system according to mode 4 are obtained.

[Mode 12] Furthermore, the print processing management program according to mode 12 is the print processing management program according to any one of modes 8 to 11,
In the support information generation step, execution information representing the execution status of the printing process in a predetermined period is generated as the support information based on the contents held in the analysis result holding step.

  With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing system according to mode 5 can be obtained.

[Mode 13] Furthermore, the print processing management program of mode 13 is the print processing management program of any one of modes 8 to 12,
In the support information generation step, a printing cost for each period is calculated based on the analysis result for each predetermined period in the analysis result held in the analysis result holding step, and the calculated printing cost is calculated as the support information. Based on this, cost comparison information indicating a comparison result of printing costs between the respective periods is generated.

  With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing system according to mode 6 can be obtained.

[Mode 14] Further, the print processing management program of mode 14 is the print processing management program of any one of modes 8 to 13,
A confirmation presence / absence determination step for determining whether or not to confirm a print processing content of the print job for a system user related to the print job based on the print job and the print restriction content;
A content confirmation processing execution step for executing the processing content confirmation processing for the system user when it is determined to perform the content confirmation;
The program further includes a program used for causing a computer to execute a process including a print process control step for controlling a print process of the print job based on a confirmation result obtained by executing the content confirmation process.

  With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing system according to mode 7 can be obtained.

[Mode 15] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, a computer-readable recording medium storing the print processing management program according to mode 15 is provided.
A print processing management program according to any one of Forms 8 to 14 is recorded.

  As a result, the same operation and effect as the print processing management program of any one of forms 8 to 14 can be obtained, and the print processing management program can be executed via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or MO. It can be easily exchanged.

[Mode 16] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, a print processing management method according to mode 16 includes:
A print job acquisition step for acquiring a print job;
A print job analysis step of analyzing the content of the acquired print job;
An analysis result holding step for holding the analysis result;
A restriction information input step for inputting information related to print restriction contents for restricting print processing contents of the print job;
A printing restriction content determination step for determining the printing restriction content based on the information input in the restriction information input step;
A support information generating step for generating support information for supporting the determination processing of the print restriction content based on the analysis result held through the analysis result holding step;
A support information display step for displaying the generated support information;
And a print processing restriction step for restricting print processing of the print job based on the determined print restriction content.
Thereby, the same operation effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 1 can be obtained.

[Mode 17] Furthermore, the print processing management method of mode 17 is the same as the print processing management method of mode 16,
In the support information generation step, as the support information, a recommended print restriction content that is a recommended criterion for the print restriction content is automatically generated based on the content held in the analysis result holding step.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 2 can be obtained.

[Mode 18] Furthermore, the print processing management method of mode 18 is the same as the print processing management method of mode 17,
In the analyzing step, an evaluation value that is preset for each component that constitutes the print job and that is effective for the print restriction content when executing print processing for each component, and the acquired print job Based on this, the print effectiveness representing the effectiveness of the print restriction content when the print processing of the print job is executed is expressed as a numerical value,
In the support information generation step, the recommended print restriction content is automatically generated based on the calculated print effectiveness.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 3 can be obtained.

[Mode 19] Furthermore, the print processing management method of mode 19 is the same as the print processing management method of mode 17,
In the analysis step, print processing of the print job based on an evaluation value set in advance for each component constituting the print job and the damage caused when executing the print processing on each component and the print job Calculate the degree of printing damage that represents the amount of damage that occurs when
In the support information generating step, the recommended printing restriction content is automatically generated based on the calculated printing damage degree.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 4 can be obtained.

[Mode 20] Furthermore, the print processing management method according to mode 20 is the print processing management method according to any one of modes 16 to 19,
In the support information generation step, execution information representing the execution status of the printing process in a predetermined period is generated as the support information based on the contents held in the analysis result holding step.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 5 can be obtained.

[Mode 21] Furthermore, the print processing management method of mode 21 is the print processing management method of any one of modes 16 to 20,
In the support information generation step, a printing cost for each period is calculated based on the analysis result for each predetermined period in the analysis result held in the analysis result holding step, and the calculated printing cost is calculated as the support information. Based on this, cost comparison information indicating a comparison result of printing costs between the respective periods is generated.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 6 can be obtained.

[Mode 22] Furthermore, the print processing management method according to mode 22 is the print processing management method according to any one of modes 16 to 21,
A confirmation presence / absence determination step for determining whether or not to confirm a print processing content of the print job for a system user related to the print job based on the print job and the print restriction content;
A content confirmation processing execution step for executing the processing content confirmation processing for the system user when it is determined to perform the content confirmation;
And a print processing control step for controlling the print processing of the print job based on a confirmation result obtained by executing the content confirmation processing.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 7 can be obtained.

[Mode 23] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the print processing management apparatus according to mode 23
Print job acquisition means for acquiring a print job;
Print job analysis means for analyzing the contents of the acquired print job;
Analysis result holding means for holding the analysis result;
Restriction information input means for inputting information related to print restriction contents for restricting the print processing contents of the print job;
A print restriction content determination means for determining the print restriction content based on the information input by the restriction information input means;
Support information generating means for generating support information for supporting the determination processing of the print restriction content based on the analysis result held in the analysis result holding means;
Support information display means for displaying the generated support information;
Printing process restriction means for restricting print processing of the print job based on the determined print restriction content.
Thereby, the same operation effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 1 can be obtained.

[Mode 24] Furthermore, the print processing management apparatus of mode 24 is the same as the print processing management apparatus of mode 23,
The support information generating means automatically generates recommended print restriction content as a recommended reference for the print restriction content based on the content held by the analysis result holding means as the support information.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 2 can be obtained.

[Mode 25] Furthermore, the print processing management apparatus of mode 25 is the same as the print processing management apparatus of mode 24,
The analysis unit is configured based on an evaluation value that is set in advance for each component that configures the print job and that is effective for the print restriction content when executing print processing on each component, and the acquired print job. , Calculating the print effectiveness representing the effectiveness of the print restriction content when executing the print processing of the print job by a numerical value,
The support information generation means automatically generates the recommended print restriction content based on the calculated print effectiveness.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 3 can be obtained.

[Mode 26] Furthermore, the print processing management apparatus of mode 26 is the same as the print processing management apparatus of mode 24,
The analysis unit performs print processing of the print job based on an evaluation value that is preset for each component that configures the print job and that is related to damage that occurs during execution of print processing on each component and the print job. Calculate the degree of printing damage by numerically expressing the amount of damage that occurs when
The support information generation means automatically generates the recommended printing restriction content based on the calculated printing damage level.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 4 can be obtained.

[Mode 27] Further, the print processing management apparatus according to mode 27 is the print processing management apparatus according to any one of modes 23 to 26.
The support information generation unit generates execution information representing the execution status of the printing process in a predetermined period based on the content held by the analysis result holding unit as the support information.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 5 can be obtained.

[Mode 28] Furthermore, the print processing management apparatus according to mode 28 is the print processing management apparatus according to any one of modes 23 to 27.
The support information generating unit calculates a printing cost for each period based on the analysis result for each predetermined period held in the analysis result holding unit, and each time based on the calculated printing cost as the support information. Cost comparison information indicating a comparison result of printing costs for a period is generated.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 6 can be obtained.

[Mode 29] Furthermore, the print processing management apparatus according to mode 29 is the print processing management apparatus according to any one of modes 23 to 28.
A confirmation presence / absence determining means for determining whether or not to confirm a print processing content of the print job with respect to a system user related to the print job based on the print job and the print restriction content;
Content determination processing execution means for executing the processing content confirmation processing for the system user when it is determined to perform the content confirmation;
And print processing control means for controlling the print processing of the print job based on a confirmation result obtained by executing the content confirmation processing.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the print processing management system of aspect 7 can be obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 32 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a printing process management system, a printing process management program, a printing process management method, and a printing process management apparatus according to the present invention.
First, the configuration of a printing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an overview diagram showing a configuration of a printing system 100 to which a printing processing management system of the present invention is applied.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printing system 100 generates a print job, transmits the generated print job to the printing apparatus 30 via the print processing management apparatus 20, and performs print job content confirmation processing for the user. A plurality of (in the figure, three) information processing apparatuses 10 that execute the print restriction information, support information that supports the print restriction content determination process, and a print processing management apparatus 20 that executes the print restriction content determination process, A printing apparatus 30 that executes a printing process based on a print job and a network 40 such as a well-known LAN or WAN include a plurality of information processing apparatuses 10, a print processing management apparatus 20, and a printing apparatus 30 via the network 40. They are configured to be connected to each other so that data communication is possible.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 100 includes three information processing apparatuses 10, but is not limited to three, and may include two or less, or four. You may comprise above. Similarly, the print processing management apparatus 20 and the printing apparatus 30 are not limited to one, and may be composed of two or more.
Further, a detailed configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the information processing apparatus 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 10 includes a data communication unit 10a, a data control unit 10b, a data storage unit 10c, a print job generation unit 10d, a first confirmation processing execution unit 10e, and an operation unit. 10f and the display part 10g are comprised.
The data communication unit 10a performs print processing via the network 40, such as transmitting a print job generated in the own device to the print processing management device 20 or receiving confirmation information from the print processing management device 20. It has a function of transmitting / receiving data to / from the management apparatus 20.

  The data control unit 10b stores data acquired from the print processing management apparatus 20 via the data communication unit 10a in the data storage unit 10c, and transmits various data stored in the data storage unit 10c to each component. , Control data transmission / reception between components, send a print job generated by the print job generation unit 10d to the print processing management device 20 via the data communication unit 10a, and confirm from the print processing management device 20 Based on the information, the confirmation screen is displayed on the display unit 10f, the confirmation process is controlled, and the input information input by the operation of the operation unit 10e in the confirmation process is input to the print processing management apparatus 20 via the data communication unit 10a. It has a function of controlling the flow of data and each process in the information processing apparatus 10 such as transmission.

The data storage unit 10c includes document data and image data generated by an editor or the like, data necessary for print job generation processing such as user information and setting information for generating a print job, and a print processing management apparatus 20 In accordance with the confirmation information from the storage device, it has a function of storing various data necessary for executing the confirmation process.
The print job generation unit 10d generates print data by reading data corresponding to the print instruction from the data storage unit 10c in response to a print instruction from the user via an editor or the like that generates document data or image data (page description Information generated by the user (for example, user name, department, job title (general, manager), etc.), and print processing set by the user. The setting content information is added to generate a print job. When the print job is generated, the print job is transmitted to the print processing management apparatus 20 via the data control unit 10b and the data communication unit 10a.

The confirmation processing execution unit 10e prints the contents of the printing process accompanied by displaying a message or the like on the display unit 10g based on the confirmation information for the print job transmitted from the own apparatus received from the print processing management apparatus 20 via the data communication unit 10a. Has a function of executing the confirmation process.
The operation unit 10f includes an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and has a function of inputting information corresponding to a user's operation of the input device to the data control unit 10b via a predetermined interface.

  In the present embodiment, the user who has given the print instruction looks at the information displayed on the display unit, checks whether or not there is a need to correct the print processing content, and operates the operation unit 10f, When there is a correction, an instruction to cancel printing is given, and when there is no correction, an instruction to execute printing is given. The instruction information is transmitted to the print processing management apparatus 20 via the data control unit 10b and the data communication unit 10a.

The display unit 10g includes a known video adapter and a display device such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT. The display unit 10g displays a message at the time of executing the confirmation process according to an instruction from the data control unit 10b, and other instructions from the data control unit 10b. In response to this, a function of displaying a screen corresponding to the OS, each application, or the like executed in the information processing apparatus 10 is provided.
Here, the information processing apparatus 10 includes a processor (not shown), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a dedicated program is stored, and the processor executes the dedicated program. In this way, the functions of the above-described parts are achieved. In addition, the above-described units include a combination of a dedicated program that fulfills its function and a dedicated program that controls the hardware to fulfill its function.

Further, a detailed configuration of the print processing management apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the print processing management apparatus 20.
As shown in FIG. 3, the print processing management apparatus 20 includes a data communication unit 20 a for performing data communication between the information processing apparatus 10 and the printing apparatus 30, and data for comprehensively controlling the flow of various data in the own apparatus. The control unit 20b includes a data storage unit 20c that stores data necessary for each process in addition to the print job and analysis data.

The data communication unit 20 a receives a print job and confirmation result information from the information processing apparatus 10, transmits confirmation information generated in the own apparatus to the information processing apparatus 10, and transmits a print job to the printing apparatus 30. For example, it has a function of transmitting and receiving data between the information processing apparatus 10 and the printing apparatus 30 via the network 40.
The data control unit 20b stores data acquired from the information processing apparatus 10 and the printing apparatus 30 via the data communication unit 20a in the data storage unit 20e, and stores various data stored in the data storage unit 20e in each device. Printing such as transmission to the constituent elements, control of data exchange between the constituent elements, and transmission of the confirmation information generated in the confirmation presence / absence determination section 20d to the information processing apparatus 10 via the data communication section 20a The processing management device 20 has a function of controlling the data flow.

In addition to the print job acquired from the information processing apparatus 10, the data storage unit 20c is used to calculate analysis data of a print job analysis unit 20d described later, print validity calculation information used to calculate print effectiveness, and print loss degree calculation. It has a function of storing various data such as information for calculating the printing loss level and information for comparison necessary for processing such as determination of presence / absence of confirmation.
The print processing management apparatus 20 further supports a print job analysis unit 20d that analyzes the print job, and support information that generates support information for determining the print restriction content based on the analysis data that is analysis result data of the print job analysis unit 20d. An information generation unit 20e, a display unit 20f that displays a screen at the time of support information and print restriction content determination processing, an operation unit 20g for a user (administrator) to input information, and support information and print restrictions This includes a content display process and a print restriction content determination unit 20h that performs a print restriction content determination process based on information input via the operation unit 20g. Here, the administrator is an administrator of the printing system and has authority to determine the printing restriction contents for each user or group.

  The print job analysis unit 20d extracts user information, print setting information, and print data from the print job, or based on the extracted user information, print setting information, and print data, and print effectiveness calculation information prepared in advance. , Calculate the print effectiveness by quantifying the print effectiveness of the print job, or print the print job based on the extracted user information, print setting information and print data, and pre-prepared print damage degree calculation information It has a function of calculating the degree of printing damage by quantifying the magnitude of damage that may occur.

Here, the print validity calculation information is obtained when print processing is performed on each component (user information, each item of print setting information, each item constituting print data, etc.) of the print job. It includes various threshold values for evaluating how effective the item is with respect to the print restriction content, various correction information on the print effectiveness, and the like.
In addition, the print damage level calculation information is obtained when print processing is performed on each component of the print job (items of user information and print setting information and items constituting print data). This includes various threshold values for evaluating the magnitude of damage caused by a printing error caused by the cause, various correction information on the degree of printing damage, and the like.

  The support information generating unit 20e uses the usage status information, recommended print restriction contents, cost comparison information, etc. to assist the administrator of the own apparatus to determine the print restriction contents based on the analysis data that is the analysis result of the print job. It has the function to generate. Here, the printing restriction content is determined for each user or each group according to a predetermined printing cost, and is based on the upper limit value of the number of print sheets used, the upper limit value of the ink use amount, or the like. It is composed.

  The display unit 20f includes a known video adapter and a display device such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT. The display unit 20f displays various screens in the print restriction content determination process according to instructions from the data control unit 20b, and other data control units. 10b has a function of displaying a screen corresponding to the OS, each application, etc. executed in the print processing management apparatus 20 in accordance with the instruction 10b.

The operation unit 20g includes input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and has a function of inputting information according to the operation of the administrator's input device to the data control unit 20b via a predetermined interface.
In the present embodiment, the administrator looks at information displayed on the display unit in the print restriction content determination process, checks whether the current print restriction content is appropriate, and the like, and needs to correct it. The user operates the operation unit 20f to adjust various limit values, or to give an instruction to continue the current print limit contents when correction is not necessary. The instruction information is transmitted to the print restriction content determination unit 20h via the data control unit 20f.

  The print restriction content determination unit 20h displays a support screen including the support information on the display unit 20f based on various support information corresponding to the specified period of the specified user or the specified group generated by the support information generation unit 20e. In response to pressing of various operation buttons on the support screen, detailed information on each display item, cost comparison information, current print restriction content, recommended print restriction content, and the like are displayed on the display unit 20f or via the operation unit 20f. Based on the input information, it has a function of executing a print restriction content determination process such as correcting the print restriction content or setting the corrected print restriction content in response to pressing of an operation button.

The print processing management apparatus 20 further includes a print processing control unit 20i.
The print processing control unit 20i determines whether it is necessary for the user to execute a print setting content confirmation process for a print job that does not satisfy the upper limit values of the print restriction content, and needs to execute it. When the determination is made, confirmation information is generated, and the generated confirmation information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 10 that is the transmission source of the corresponding print job via the data control unit 20b and the data communication unit 20a. 10 has a function of canceling the print processing of the corresponding print job or transmitting the corresponding print job to the information processing apparatus 10 based on the response to the confirmation information from 10. If it is determined that it is not necessary to execute the confirmation process, the print job is transmitted to the printing apparatus 30 via the data control unit 20b and the data communication unit 20a.

Here, the confirmation information is information according to the content of the print job, and is information for causing the user to confirm whether or not there is print processing content for the print job.
Here, the print processing management apparatus 20 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a dedicated program is stored (not shown), and the processor executes the dedicated program. By doing so, the function of each of the above parts is achieved. In addition, the above-described units include a combination of a dedicated program that fulfills its function and a dedicated program that controls the hardware to fulfill its function.

Further, a detailed configuration of the printing apparatus 30 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the printing apparatus 30.
As shown in FIG. 4, the printing apparatus 30 includes a data communication unit 30a, a data control unit 30b, a data storage unit 30c, and a print processing unit 30d.
The data communication unit 30a receives various data such as a print job from the print processing management apparatus 20 and transmits response information of the print processing result to the print processing management apparatus 20 through the network 40, for example. It has a function of transmitting / receiving data to / from the management apparatus 20.

  The data control unit 30b stores various data such as a print job acquired from the print processing management apparatus 20 via the data communication unit 30a in the data storage unit 30c, or configures various data stored in the data storage unit 30c. Printing apparatus, such as transmitting to the element, controlling data exchange between each component, sending response information generated in the print processing section 30d to the print processing management apparatus 20 via the data communication section 30a, etc. 30 has a function of controlling the data flow in 30.

The data storage unit 30c has a function of storing data necessary for each process such as a print job acquired from the print process management apparatus 20 and information for executing the print process.
The print processing unit 30d has a function of performing print processing based on each setting information, print data, and the like included in the print job. In the present embodiment, the printing process is not limited to the process of printing characters and pictures on a print medium (paper, CD, DVD media surface, etc.) based on the print data and outputting them. Warm-up processing that is performed when returning from a document, rendering processing that converts a document file or image file (print data body) converted into an intermediate language description into image data for printing (for example, bitmap data), and image data And rasterizing processing for converting character data and the like into dot pattern data for printout.

  Here, the printing apparatus 30 includes a processor (not shown), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a dedicated program is stored, and the processor executes the dedicated program. By fulfilling the functions of the above-mentioned parts. In addition, the above-described units include a mixture of a unit that fulfills its function with only a dedicated program, a unit that performs hardware control by a dedicated program, and the like.

Further, the information processing apparatus 10 is configured to start a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM by the CPU and execute a print job transmission process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 according to the program.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing print job transmission processing in the information processing apparatus 10.
The print job transmission process is a process of generating a print job in response to a print instruction from the user and transmitting the print job to the print process management apparatus 20, and when executed by the CPU, as shown in FIG. First, the process proceeds to step S100.

In step S100, the data control unit 10b determines whether there is a print instruction from the user via the input device or the like. If it is determined that there is a print instruction (Yes), the process proceeds to step S102; In case (No), the determination process is continued until a print instruction is issued.
When the process proceeds to step S102, in the print job generation unit 10c, from the data storage unit 10e via the data control unit 10b, the main body of the print data such as user information, image data, document data, the setting contents of the print processing, etc. Is read out, and the process proceeds to step S104. Here, the print processing setting information includes information on the printing request destination printing apparatus (IP address, model number, etc.), if the printing medium is printing paper, paper size (A4, B4, etc.), number of copies, number of copies, It shall include information such as margin information, page number, print quality, and color printing. In the present embodiment, the information on the printing request destination printing apparatus is information on the printing apparatus 30 because there is only one printing apparatus 30 in the system 100.

In step S104, the print job generation unit 10c generates a print job based on the print data read in step S102, and proceeds to step S106.
In step S106, the print job generated in step S104 is transmitted to the print processing management apparatus 20 via the data control unit 10b and the data communication unit 10a, and the process proceeds to step S100.

Further, the information processing apparatus 10 is configured to activate a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM by the CPU and execute the setting content confirmation process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 according to the program.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a setting content confirmation process in the information processing apparatus 10.
The setting content confirmation process is a process for allowing the user to confirm the setting contents of the print job with the print instruction based on the confirmation information from the print processing management apparatus 20, and when executed by the CPU, it is shown in FIG. Thus, first, the process proceeds to step S200.

In step S200, the data control unit 10b determines whether confirmation information from the print processing management apparatus 20 has been received via the data communication unit 10a. If it is determined that the confirmation information has been received (Yes), the process proceeds to step S202. If not (No), the determination process is continued until it is received.
When the process proceeds to step S202, the confirmation process execution unit 10d displays the print process content, an example of an incorrect print process, and the like on the display unit 10g, and allows the user to confirm the print process content. To move to step S204.

In step S204, the confirmation processing execution unit 10d determines whether confirmation result information from the user is input via an input device or the like. If it is determined that the information is input (Yes), the process proceeds to step S206. If not (No), the determination process is continued until confirmation result information is input.
When the process proceeds to step S206, the confirmation process execution unit 10d transmits the confirmation result information input in step S204 to the print processing management apparatus 20 via the data control unit 10b and the data communication unit 10a, and then proceeds to step S200. Transition.

Further, the print processing management apparatus 20 is configured to activate a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM by the CPU and execute the print management process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 according to the program.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing print management processing in the print processing management apparatus 20.
The print management process analyzes the print job acquired from the information processing apparatus 10 and generates and displays support information based on the analysis result, or generates and displays recommended print restriction information. Is a process for controlling the printing process based on the determined printing restriction content, and when executed by the CPU, first, as shown in FIG. 7, the process proceeds to step S300. Yes.

In step S300, the data control unit 20b determines whether or not there has been a request for shifting to the print restriction content determination support mode from the user via the operation unit 20g. If it is determined (Yes), step S300 is performed. The process proceeds to S302, and if not (No), the process proceeds to step S304.
When the process proceeds to step S302, the support information generation unit 20e and the print restriction content determination unit 20h execute the print restriction content determination support process, and the process proceeds to step S304.

In step S304, the data control unit 20b determines whether or not the print restriction information setting process has ended. If it is determined that the process has ended (Yes), the process proceeds to step S300; otherwise (No). Continues the determination process until the print restriction content determination support process ends.
On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S306, the data control unit 20b determines whether or not a print job from the information processing apparatus 10 has been received via the data communication unit 20a, and when it is determined that the print job has been received ( If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S308. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S300.

If the process proceeds to step S308, the print job analysis unit 20d executes the analysis process for the print job received in step S306, and the process proceeds to step S310.
In step S310, the data storage unit 20b determines whether or not the analysis process is completed. If it is determined that the analysis process is completed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S312. If not (No), the analysis process is completed. Continue the judgment process until is completed.

When the process proceeds to step S312, the data control unit 20b stores the analysis data as the analysis result in the data storage unit 20c, and the process proceeds to step S314.
In step S314, the print control processing unit 20i executes print control processing for the print job received in step S306, and the process proceeds to step S316.
In step S316, the data control unit 20b determines whether or not the print control process has been completed. If it is determined that the print control process has been completed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S300. If not (No), printing is performed. The determination process is continued until the control process is completed.

Next, the print job analysis process in step S308 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing print job analysis processing in the print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20.
The print job analysis process is a process of extracting print setting information included in the print job and calculating a print validity level and a print loss degree based on the extracted print setting information. When executed in step S308, As shown in FIG. 8, first, the process proceeds to step S400.

In step S400, print setting content information is extracted from the print job acquired via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S402.
In step S402, a print validity calculation process is executed to calculate the print validity, and the process proceeds to step S404.
In step S404, a printing damage degree calculation process is executed to calculate the printing damage degree, and the process proceeds to step S406.

In step S406, the printing cost is calculated based on the color / monochrome information and the number of printed sheets, the series of processes is terminated, and the process returns to the original process.
Next, based on FIG. 9, the print effectiveness calculation processing in step S402 will be described in detail.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing print validity calculation processing in the print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20.

The print validity calculation process quantifies the effectiveness of the print restriction contents when printing the print job based on the print setting information, print data, and print validity calculation information corresponding to the print job. When it is a process for calculating the printing effectiveness and is executed in step S402, as shown in FIG. 9, first, the process proceeds to step S500.
In step S500, the print effectiveness calculation information is acquired from the data storage unit 20c via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S502.

In step S502, the value of the print effectiveness calculation variable is initialized to 0, and the process proceeds to step S502.
In step S504, the number of print copies included in the print setting information is compared with the threshold for evaluating the number of prints included in the print validity calculation information, and it is determined whether the number of print copies is larger than the threshold. If determined (Yes), the process proceeds to step S506, and if not (No), the process proceeds to step S508.

When the process proceeds to step S506, the numerical value corresponding to the number of copies is subtracted from the numerical value of the printing effectiveness calculation variable, and the process proceeds to step S508.
In step S508, an unprocessed page is selected from the print data, and the process proceeds to step S510.
In step S510, the total number of characters of the selected page is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S512.

In step S512, it is determined whether or not the total number of characters is smaller than the total character number comparison threshold included in the print effectiveness calculation information. If it is determined that the total number is smaller (Yes), the process proceeds to step S514, otherwise. In the case (No), the process proceeds to step S516.
When the process proceeds to step S514, the numerical value corresponding to the number of characters is subtracted from the numerical value of the printing effectiveness calculation variable, and the process proceeds to step S516.

In step S516, it is determined whether or not all the pages of the print data have been selected. If it is determined that the pages have been selected (Yes), the process proceeds to step S518. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S508. .
In step S518, it is determined whether double-sided printing is used based on the print setting information. If it is determined that it is used (Yes), the process proceeds to step S520, and if not (No), The process proceeds to step S522.

When the process proceeds to step S520, a predetermined numerical value set in advance is added to the value of the print effectiveness calculation variable, and the process proceeds to step S522.
In step S522, it is determined whether layout printing is used based on the print setting information. If it is determined that it is used (Yes), the process proceeds to step S524, and if not (No), it is determined. Then, the numerical value of the current print validity calculation variable is determined as the print validity, and a series of processes is terminated and the process returns to the original process.

When the process proceeds to step S524, the numerical value of “predetermined predetermined numerical value × number of assigned surfaces” is added to the numerical value of the printing validity calculation variable, and the numerical value of the printing validity calculation variable after the addition is printed. The validity is determined, and a series of processes is terminated and the process returns to the original process.
Next, based on FIG. 10, the printing damage degree calculation processing in step S404 will be described in detail.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the print loss degree calculation process in the print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20.

  The print loss degree calculation process calculates print loss degree including information such as print setting information and print data contents corresponding to the corresponding print job, and threshold values, evaluation numerical values, magnifications, etc. set in advance for these pieces of information. This is a process for calculating a printing damage degree by quantifying the amount of damage that may occur when the printing process of the printing apparatus 30 is executed using the printing information, and is executed in step S404. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, first, the process proceeds to step S600.

In step S600, the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable is initialized to 0, and the process proceeds to step S602.
In step S602, user information included in the print job is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S604.
In step S604, a numerical value corresponding to preset user information is added to the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable, and the process proceeds to step S606.

In step S606, various setting information of the printing process other than the user information included in the print job is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S608.
In step S608, based on the acquired content in step S606, it is determined whether or not the print layout is double-sided / upper binding. If double-sided / upper binding (Yes), the process proceeds to step S610; otherwise (No). The process proceeds to step S616.

When the process proceeds to step S610, a numerical value set in advance for both-side / upper binding of the print layout is added to the current numerical value of the variable for damage degree calculation, and the process proceeds to step S612.
In step S612, it is determined from the analysis result in step S606 whether or not the number of pages of the print layout and the print data body is double-sided, copy unit, and the total number of pages is an odd number. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S616.

When the process proceeds to step S614, the numerical value set in advance for the double-sided, copy-unit, and odd-numbered pages of the total number of pages of the print layout and the print data body is added to the current value of the variable for damage degree calculation. The process proceeds to step S616.
In step S616, it is determined whether the file constituting the print data included in the print job is a document file. If it is determined that the file is a document file (Yes), the process proceeds to step S618; otherwise (No). Proceeds to step S626.

In step S618, a process of correcting the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable according to the number of characters protruding from the layout frame is executed, and the process proceeds to step S620.
In step S620, a process of correcting the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable according to the number of errors in the text included in the print data body is executed, and the process proceeds to step S622.
In step S622, processing for correcting the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable is executed in accordance with whether or not the document file of the print data is a confidential document, and the process proceeds to step S624.

In step S624, the numerical value of the current damage degree calculation variable is doubled by a preset multiple of the print mode information which is one of the setting information from the analysis result of step S606, and the process proceeds to step S626.
In step S626, from the analysis result in step S606, in accordance with the number of printed sheets, which is one of the setting information, the current value of the damage degree calculation variable is doubled with the number of printed sheets, and the process proceeds to step S628.

In step S628, from the analysis result in step S606, according to the number-of-prints information which is one of the setting information, the current value of the damage degree calculation variable is doubled by the number of copies, and the series of processes is terminated, and the original processing is completed. Return to processing.
Next, based on FIG. 11, the damage level correction processing in step S618 will be described in detail.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process of correcting the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable in accordance with the number of protruding characters in the print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20.

  The process for correcting the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable according to the number of protruding characters is performed when the characters in the document file that constitutes the print data body included in the print job are printed according to the setting contents of the setting information. FIG. 11 shows a process of counting the number of protrusions out of the layout frame and correcting the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable according to the counted number, and when executed in step S618, as shown in FIG. First, the process proceeds to step S700.

In step S700, the value of the protruding number counting variable is initialized to 0, and the process proceeds to step S702.
In step S702, a page that has not been processed for counting the number of protrusions is selected from the document file, and the process proceeds to step S704.
In step S704, it is determined whether or not there is a layout frame in the page selected in step S702. If it is determined (Yes), the process proceeds to step S706. If not (No), step S722 is performed. Migrate to

When the process proceeds to step S706, an unprocessed layout frame is selected from the page selected in step S704, and the process proceeds to step S708.
In step S708, area information (for example, coordinate information) of the layout frame selected in step S706 is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S710.
In step S710, an unprocessed sentence is selected from the layout frame selected in step S706, and the process proceeds to step S712.

In step S712, information (for example, coordinate information) of the text selected in step S710 is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S714.
In step S714, it is determined from the information acquired in step S712 whether or not the text selected in step S710 protrudes from the layout frame selected in step S706. The process proceeds to S716, and if not (No), the process proceeds to Step S718.

When the process proceeds to step S716, 1 is added to the value of the current protrusion number counting variable, and the process proceeds to step S718.
In step S718, it is determined whether or not the processing in steps S712 to S716 has been completed for all the sentences corresponding to the layout frame selected in step S706. If it is determined that the processing has been completed (Yes), step S720 is performed. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S724.

In step S720, it is determined whether or not the processing in steps S708 to S718 has been completed for all layout frames included in the page selected in step S702. If it is determined that the processing has ended (Yes), step S722 is performed. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S706.
When the process proceeds to step S722, it is determined whether or not the processing of steps S704 to S720 has been completed for all pages of the document file. When it is determined that the process has been completed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S724. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S702.

When the process proceeds to step S724, the result obtained by doubling the value of the current protrusion number counting variable by a preset value with respect to the protrusion from the layout frame is added to the current value of the damage degree calculation variable. Then, the series of processing is finished and the processing returns to the original processing.
Next, the damage level correction process in step S620 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process of correcting the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable in accordance with the number of grammatical errors in the print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20.

  The process of correcting the numerical value of the damage calculation variable according to the number of grammatical errors counts the number of sentences with incorrect grammar in the document file included in the print data included in the print job. Thus, according to the counted number, the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable is corrected. When executed in step S620, as shown in FIG. 12, first, the process proceeds to step S800. It has become.

In step S800, the numerical value of the grammatical error count counting variable is initialized to 0, and the process proceeds to step S802.
In step S802, a page that has not been processed for counting the number of errors is selected from the document file, and the process proceeds to step S804.
In step S804, an unprocessed sentence is selected from the page selected in step S802, and the process proceeds to step S806.

In step S806, the sentence selected in step S804 is divided into clauses, a grammar list is generated by arranging the parts of speech of the words constituting each clause, and the grammar is checked from the order of parts of speech based on the grammar list. Then, the process proceeds to step S808.
In step S808, it is determined whether or not there is a grammatical error in the sentence selected in step S802 by the grammar check in step S806. If it is determined (Yes), the process proceeds to step S810; ) Proceeds to step S812.

When the process proceeds to step S810, 1 is added to the current grammatical error count variable, and the process proceeds to step S812.
In step S812, it is determined whether or not the processing in steps S806 to S810 has been completed for all sentences on the page selected in step S802. If it is determined that the processing has ended (Yes), the process proceeds to step S814. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S804.

When the process proceeds to step S814, it is determined whether or not the processing of steps S802 to S812 has been completed for all pages included in the document file. If it is determined that the process has been completed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S816. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S802.
When the process proceeds to step S816, the result of doubling the current numerical value of the grammatical error count variable by the numerical value set in advance for the grammatical error is added to the current numerical value of the variable for calculating the degree of damage. End the process and return to the original process.

Next, the damage level correction process in step S622 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing for correcting the numerical value of the variable for calculating the degree of damage according to whether or not the document is a confidential document in the print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20.
The processing for correcting the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable according to whether or not the document is a confidential document is a confidential document by determining whether or not the document file included in the print job and constituting the print data body is a confidential document. If it is determined, the process of correcting the numerical value of the damage degree calculation variable, and when executed in step S622, the process first proceeds to step S900 as shown in FIG.

In step S900, the confidential document flag is initialized to “false” (for example, numerical value 0), and the process proceeds to step S902.
In step S902, an unprocessed page is selected from the document file, and the process proceeds to step S904.
In step S904, an unprocessed sentence is selected from the page selected in step S902, and the process proceeds to step S906.

In step S906, the word / phrase included in the sentence selected in step S904 is compared with the word / phrase set in advance as a confidential term to determine whether or not there is a match. If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S908. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S916.
When the process proceeds to step S908, the confidential document flag is changed to “true (for example, numerical value 1)”, and the process proceeds to step S910.

In step S910, the confidential document flag is confirmed with the current value, and the process proceeds to step S912.
In step S912, it is determined whether or not the confidential document flag is “true”. If it is determined to be “true” (Yes), the process proceeds to step S914. If not (No), a series of processing is performed. End and return to the original process.

When the process proceeds to step S914, the numerical value set in advance for the confidential document is added to the numerical value of the current variable for calculating the damage level to correct the damage level, and the series of processing ends to return to the original processing. Return.
On the other hand, if the secret term is not included in step S906 and the process proceeds to step S916, it is determined whether or not the process of step S906 has been completed for all sentences on the page selected in step S902. If it is determined that the process has been completed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S918. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S904.

When the process proceeds to step S918, it is determined whether or not the processing of steps S904 to S906 has been completed for all pages of the document file. When it is determined that the process has been completed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S910. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S902.
Further, the print processing management apparatus 20 starts a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM by the CPU and executes the print restriction content determination support process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14 according to the program. ing.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a print restriction content determination support process in the print process management apparatus 20.
The print restriction content determination support process analyzes a print job acquired from the information processing apparatus 10 and generates and displays support information based on the analysis result, or generates and displays recommended print restriction information. The process of supporting the determination of the print restriction contents, such as correcting the print restriction contents based on the above, and when executed by the CPU, first proceeds to step S1000 as shown in FIG. Yes.

In step S1000, the support information generation unit 20e acquires the designation information designated in advance by the administrator from the data storage unit 20c via the data control unit 20b, and proceeds to step S1002.
In step S1002, the support information generation unit 20e determines whether the designation destination designated in the designation information is a group. If it is determined that the designation destination is a group (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1004. For (No), the process proceeds to step S1030.

When the process proceeds to step S1004, the support information generation unit 20e acquires analysis data of all users belonging to the specified group in the specified period specified in the specified information from the data control unit 20c via the data control unit 20b. Then, the process proceeds to step S1006.
In step S1006, the support information generation unit 20e generates usage status information based on the analysis data for the corresponding user, and the process proceeds to step S1008. Here, the usage status information includes information on each item such as the total number of printed sheets, the total printing effectiveness, the total printing damage level, the color printing rate, and the total printing cost in the specified period. The ratio information of each user is also included.

In step S1008, the support information generation unit 20e executes cost comparison information generation processing based on the usage status information and analysis data generated in step S1006, and the process proceeds to step S1010.
In step S1010, the print control content determination unit 20h determines whether the cost comparison information generation process in the support information generation unit 20e is completed. If it is determined that the process is completed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1012. If not (No), the determination process is continued until completion.

In step S1012, the print control content determination unit 20h displays the usage status information generated in step S1006 on the display unit 20f via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S1014.
In step S1014, the print control content determination unit 20h determines whether or not the detail display button has been pressed based on information input via the operation unit 20g. If it is determined that the button has been pressed (Yes), The process proceeds to step S1016. Otherwise (No), the process proceeds to step S1020.

When the process proceeds to step S1016, the printing control content determination unit 20h displays the participation ratio of the corresponding user with respect to the corresponding item on the display unit 20f via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S1018.
In step S1018, the print control content determination unit 20h determines whether or not the OK button has been pressed based on information input through the operation unit 20g. If it is determined that the OK button has been pressed (Yes), The process proceeds to S1020. If not (No), the determination process is continued until the button is pressed.

When the process proceeds to step S1020, the print control content determination unit 20h determines whether or not the “comparison with previous period” button has been pressed based on the information input via the operation unit 20g. If yes (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1022, and if not (No), the process proceeds to step S1026.
When the process proceeds to step S1022, the print control content determination unit 20h displays the cost comparison information on the display unit 20f via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S1024.

In step S1024, the print control content determination unit 20h determines whether or not the OK button has been pressed based on information input via the operation unit 20g. If it is determined that the OK button has been pressed (Yes), step S1024 is performed. The process proceeds to S1026. If not (No), the determination process is continued until the button is pressed.
When the process proceeds to step S1026, the print control content determination unit 20h determines whether or not the reference correction button has been pressed based on the information input via the operation unit 20g. If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S1028; otherwise (No), the process proceeds to step S1032.

When the process proceeds to step S1028, the print control content determination unit 20h executes a print restriction content correction process, and the process proceeds to step S1030.
In step S1030, the print control content determination unit 20h determines whether or not the print restriction content correction processing has ended. If it is determined that the print control content determination processing has ended (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1032, and if not (No ) Continues the determination process until it ends.

When the process proceeds to step S1032, the print control content determination unit 20h determines whether or not the “continue current reference” button has been pressed based on information input via the operation unit 20g. If it is determined (Yes), the series of processes is terminated and the process returns to the original process. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S1014.
On the other hand, if the designation destination is not a group but an individual user in step S1002, and the process proceeds to step S1034, the support information generation unit 20e displays the analysis data of the designated user in the designated period designated in the designation information as the data control unit. It acquires from the data control part 20c via 20b, and transfers to step S1006.

Next, based on FIG. 15, the printing restriction content correction processing in step S1028 will be described in detail.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a print restriction content correction process in the print restriction content determination unit 20h of the print processing management apparatus 20.
This print restriction content correction process is a process for displaying the recommended print restriction content of the designated item or correcting the currently set print restriction content according to the input information from the administrator via the operation unit 20g. If executed in step S1028, as shown in FIG. 15, first, the process proceeds to step S1100.

In step S1100, the currently set print restriction content is displayed on the display unit 20f via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S1102.
In step S1102, it is determined whether or not the recommended standard setting button has been pressed based on information input via the operation unit 20g. If it is determined that the button has been pressed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1104. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S1114.

If the process proceeds to step S1104, it is determined whether or not the check box for setting the recommended standard is checked. If it is determined that the check is checked (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1106; For (No), the process proceeds to step S1114 without proceeding to the recommended standard setting process.
When the process proceeds to step S1106, various analysis data of the corresponding user for each check item is acquired from the data storage unit 20c via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S1108.

In step S1108, the target value information table for each preset item is acquired from the data storage unit 20c via the data control unit 20b, and the target value of the corresponding user corresponding to the check item is acquired from the target value information table. Then, the process proceeds to step S1110.
In step S1110, a recommended reference value for each check item is calculated based on the analysis data acquired in step S1106 and the target value acquired in step S1108, and the process proceeds to step S1112.

In step S1112, the recommended reference value calculated in step S1110 is displayed on the display unit 20f via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S1114.
In step S1114, it is determined whether there has been a setting correction input based on information input via the operation unit 20g. If it is determined that there is (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1116, and if not (No ) Proceeds to step S1118.

When the process proceeds to step S1116, the display content of the print restriction content displayed on the display unit 20f is corrected based on the correction input content, and the process proceeds to step S1118.
In step S1118, it is determined whether or not the “cancel setting” button has been pressed based on information input via the operation unit 20g. If it is determined that the button has been pressed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1120. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S1122.

If the process proceeds to step S1120, the currently displayed print restriction content is corrected to the initially displayed print restriction content, and the process proceeds to step S1122.
In step S1122, it is determined whether or not the “reflect setting” button has been pressed based on information input via the operation unit 20g. If it is determined that the button has been pressed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1124. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S1126.

When the process proceeds to step S1124, the setting corresponding to the current display content is held in the data storage unit 20c, and the process proceeds to step S1126.
In step S1126, based on the information input via the operation unit 20g, it is determined whether or not the “return” button has been pressed. If it is determined that the button has been pressed (Yes), the series of processing ends, Returning to the usage status information display screen, if not (No), the process proceeds to step S1102.

Next, the cost comparison information generation process in step S1008 will be described in detail based on FIG.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a cost comparison information generation process in the support information generation unit 20e of the print processing management apparatus 20.
This cost comparison information generation process is a process for generating the comparison data of the analysis data and usage status information of both periods based on the analysis data of the specified period and the analysis data of the period corresponding to the first half of the specified period. When executed in S1008, as shown in FIG. 16, first, the process proceeds to step S1200.

In step S1200, various analysis data of the corresponding user for the specified period is acquired from the data storage unit 20c via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S1202.
In step S1202, the user's various analysis data for the previous period of the specified period is acquired from the data storage unit 20c via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S1204.

In step S1204, various analysis data are compared between both periods, or usage status information of each period generated from the analysis data is compared, and the process proceeds to step S1206.
In step S1206, cost comparison information is generated based on the comparison result in step S1204, a series of processes are terminated, and the process returns to the original process.
Next, based on FIG. 17, the print control processing in step S314 will be described in detail.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing print control processing in the print control processing unit 20 i of the print processing management apparatus 20.
The print control process is a process for controlling the print process of the print job based on the print job and the print restriction content. When the print control process is executed in step S314, as shown in FIG. 17, first, the process proceeds to step S1300. It is supposed to be.

In step S1300, analysis data corresponding to the print job to be printed is acquired from the data storage unit 20c via the data control unit 20b, and the process proceeds to step S1302.
In step S1302, the analysis data is compared with the print restriction content, and the process proceeds to step S1304.
In step S1304, based on the comparison result in step S1302, it is determined whether or not user confirmation processing is necessary. If it is determined that it is necessary (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1306. If not (No), step S1306 is performed. The process proceeds to S1324.

When the process proceeds to step S1306, confirmation information for the print job to be printed is generated, and the process proceeds to step S1308.
Here, the confirmation information includes notes on the print restriction contents of the corresponding print job, information that the user wants to confirm, such as print setting contents and print data contents, and setting contents that have been subjected to confirmation processing in the past. Thus, the user can confirm whether or not the content of the print job is appropriate while viewing past information.

In step S1308, the confirmation information generated in step S1306 is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 10 that is the transmission source of the print job via the data control unit 20b and the data communication unit 20a, and the process proceeds to step S1310.
In step S1310, it is determined whether or not a confirmation response is received from the information processing apparatus 10 that is the transmission destination of confirmation information via the data control unit 20b. If it is determined that the confirmation response is received (Yes), step S1310 is performed. The process proceeds to S1312, and if not (No), the determination process is continued until reception.

When the process proceeds to step S1312, it is determined based on the confirmation response received at step S1312, whether or not the print setting content has been modified. If it is determined that the print setting has been modified (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1314. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S1320.
When the process proceeds to step S1314, it is determined whether or not the correction content is applicable based on the correction content and the print restriction content. When it is determined that the correction content is applicable (Yes), the process proceeds to step S1316. When that is not right (No), it transfers to step S1306.

When the process proceeds to step S1316, a print job in which the print setting content of the print job to be printed is set to the print setting content reflecting the correction is transferred to the printing apparatus 30 via the data control unit 20b and the data communication unit 20a. Then, the process proceeds to step S1318.
In step S1318, the data control unit 20b is notified that the print control process has been completed, the series of processes is terminated, and the process returns to the original process.

On the other hand, in step S1312, if the setting content has not been modified and the process proceeds to step S1320, it is determined based on the confirmation response whether or not there has been a print cancel instruction. The process proceeds to S1322, and if not (No), the process proceeds to Step S1324.
If the process proceeds to step S1322, the printing process is stopped and the process proceeds to step S1318.

On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S1324, it is determined whether or not the print setting content is applicable based on the print setting content and the print restriction content. If it is determined that the print setting content is applicable (Yes), step S1326 is determined. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S1306.
When the process proceeds to step S1326, the print job to be printed is transmitted to the printing apparatus 30 via the data control unit 20b and the data communication unit 20a with the original print setting contents, and the process proceeds to step S1318.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Here, FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of items for which the degree of damage is calculated and the content of the calculation. FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating an example of frame information, and FIG. 20B is a diagram illustrating an example of character data information. FIG. 21 (a) is a diagram showing an example of a vocabulary database used when correcting the degree of damage according to the number of grammatical errors, and FIG. 21 (b) is a diagram showing an example of a grammar database. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a specific configuration of grammar data. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a confidential vocabulary database used when correcting the degree of damage depending on whether the document is a confidential document. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of an analysis data table including various analysis data generated by the analysis data generation unit 20d. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for usage status information in units of groups. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of usage status information for each user. FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the ratio information of the user with respect to the printing damage level. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for cost comparison information. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for print restriction content. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of the target management table. FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a user confirmation screen (notes). FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a user confirmation screen (print setting error confirmation).

  First, in the information processing apparatus 10, when a user issues a print instruction on an application program such as a document editor or an image editor (step S100), the print job generation unit 10c uses an editor from the data storage unit 10c. Data to be printed such as created documents and images, user information (for example, general, managerial positions, etc.), print data such as print setting information are read (step S102), and a print job is executed based on the read print data. Generate (step S104). Then, the generated print job is transmitted to the print processing management apparatus 20 connected to the network 40 via the data control unit 10b and the data communication unit 10a (step S106).

  On the other hand, when the print processing management apparatus 20 receives a print job from the information processing apparatus 10 (step S306), the print job analysis unit 20d executes an analysis process for the received print job. The print job analysis process includes the user information that issued the print instruction, the number of copies, the number of copies, print setting information such as color / monochrome, duplex / single-sided, normal / allocation, and the document to be printed. Various information such as print data such as data and image data is extracted (step S400).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 18, the data structure of the print job is described in XML, and the entire structure is sandwiched between <print job> and </ print job> of tags. Between the two tags, <print option> and </ print option> of the tag are described, and between these two tags, the user name, title (general user in the figure), and file name (ABC.doc in the figure) ), Monochrome / color settings (set to color in the figure), print mode settings (set to clean mode in the figure), duplex printing (enabled in the figure), group printing (enabled in the figure), close settings (Set up in the figure), layout setting (set up on the 2nd page in the figure), number of copies (5 in the figure) and number of pages (3 in the figure) are described. Yes.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the data structure of the print job includes a tag <document content PDL> in addition to the description of the print option between the two tags <print job> and </ print job>. And </ document content PDL> are described, and the contents of the print target data are described in the page description language between the two tags.
Therefore, in the analysis process, the contents of the XML file are analyzed, and the contents of the print option and the data to be printed are extracted.

Next, based on the extracted various pieces of information, a process for calculating the print effectiveness of the received print job is executed (step S402).
For calculating the print validity, first, the print validity calculation information is read from the data storage unit 20c and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM (step S500). Then, the value of the variable for calculating print effectiveness is initialized to “0” (step S502).

When the print validity calculation variable is initialized, in the present embodiment, the number of print copies extracted from the print job is compared with a threshold value for evaluating the validity of the print copy number. If it is greater than (the branch of “Yes” in step S504), a numerical value corresponding to the number of copies is subtracted from the numerical value of the current print effectiveness calculation variable (step S506).
For example, if the threshold value is 3 (copy) and the number of print copies of the print job is 5, the threshold value is exceeded by 2 copies. For example, assuming that the subtraction value per copy is 100, “2 × 100 = 200 "is subtracted from the numerical value" 0 "of the current print effectiveness calculation variable. Therefore, the numerical value of the current print effectiveness calculation variable is “−200”.

  Next, a page that has not been processed for calculating the total number of characters is selected from the print data extracted from the print job (step S508), and the total number of characters for the selected page is calculated (step S510). Then, the calculated total number of characters is compared with a threshold value for evaluating the effectiveness of the page character number.If the total number of characters is smaller than the threshold value, a preset subtraction value is set for the number of pages smaller than the threshold value. Subtract from the numerical value of the current print effectiveness calculation variable.

For example, when the threshold value is 800 (characters) and the total number of characters is 3 pages smaller than the threshold value 800, for example, assuming that the subtraction value per page is 50, “3 × 50 = 150” Subtraction is made from the current numerical value “−200” of the variable for calculating print effectiveness. Therefore, the numerical value of the current variable for calculating print effectiveness is “−350”.
Further, based on the duplex / single-side setting value extracted from the print job, it is determined whether duplex printing is used (step S518). Here, assuming that double-sided printing is being used (“Yes” branch of step S518), the preset addition value when using double-sided printing is added to the current value of the variable for calculating print effectiveness (step). S520). Accordingly, the current numerical value of the variable for calculating print validity is “+650”.

  Furthermore, it is determined whether or not layout printing is used based on the layout printing setting value extracted from the print job (step S522). Here, assuming that two-sided layout printing is used (“Yes” branch of step S522), a value obtained by multiplying a preset addition value when using layout printing by the number of assigned planes is used as the current print effectiveness level. It adds to the numerical value of the variable for calculation (step S524). Accordingly, the final numerical value of the print validity calculation variable is “+1650”, and this numerical value is determined as the print validity of the corresponding print job.

Further, when the calculation process of the print effectiveness is completed, the calculation process of the print damage level of the received print job is executed based on the extracted various information (step S404).
In this embodiment, by calculating the damage level based on information for calculating the damage level prepared in advance, the magnitude of damage that occurs when the print processing of the print job is incorrect is obtained as a numerical value.

  Here, as the information for calculating the degree of damage, as shown in FIG. 19, there are calculated contents corresponding to the contents of the print options, the contents of the document data (the presence or absence of confidential terms, the number of grammatical errors, etc.), and the like. Is set. Moreover, as calculation contents, there are a case where a setting value corresponding to each option setting content is simply added, and a case where the degree of damage is doubled by a predetermined magnification. In particular, in the present embodiment, the calculated contents for the number of printed sheets and the number of printed copies are such that the degree of damage is simply doubled by the set number, so that the degree of damage increases as the set number increases. Become bigger. This is a setting based on the premise that all pages are reprinted after correction.When considering the case where only the page of the corrected part is reprinted, do not simply double the number of settings. For example, only pages that may cause errors are counted, and the count value is doubled.

  When the print job degree calculation process is started in the print job analysis unit 20d, first, the numerical value of the print damage degree calculation variable is initialized to “0” (step S600). When the printing damage degree calculation variable is initialized, user information is acquired from the extraction result (step S602), and the acquired user information is compared with each item shown in FIG. For example, when “general user” is acquired as user information, the calculation content corresponding to “general user” is “+50” from FIG. "50" is added to "" (step S604). Therefore, the current numerical value of the printing damage degree calculation variable is “50”.

  Next, each setting information other than the user information is acquired from the extraction result (step S606), and first, it is determined whether or not the duplex printing setting and the binding margin are the upper binding setting (step S608). In the case of the upper binding setting, as shown in FIG. 19, since the calculation content for double-sided / upper binding is “+10”, “10” is set to the current printing loss degree calculation variable “50”. Add (step S610). Therefore, the current numerical value of the variable for calculating the printing damage level is “60”.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the total number of pages to be printed on both sides, duplex printing, and printing is an odd page (step S612). In addition, since the calculation content for the double-sided, copy-unit, and odd-numbered pages is “+20”, “20” is added to the numerical value “60” of the current printing loss calculation variable (step S614). Accordingly, the current numerical value of the printing damage degree calculation variable is “80”.

Further, it is determined whether or not the data to be printed is a document file (step S616). For example, when the print target is a document file, the number of characters that make up the frame set in the print document protrudes from the frame. And the numerical value of the variable for calculating printing loss is corrected according to the calculation content corresponding to the count number (step S618).
When the printing damage degree correction process corresponding to the number of protrusions is started, first, the value of the protrusion number counting variable is initialized to “0” (step S700), and then the number of protrusions is counted from the document file. Selects an unprocessed page (step S702), and determines whether a layout frame exists in the page (step S704). For example, if there is a layout frame, an unprocessed layout frame is further selected from the page (step S706), and area information of the selected layout frame is acquired (step S708). Here, in the present embodiment, the area information is, for example, coordinates (X, Y) on the document image, a size (number of dots) such as a width and a height, as shown in FIG. It consists of information indicating the page number.

  Further, an unprocessed text is selected from the selected layout frame based on the area information (step S710), and information on the selected text (hereinafter referred to as text information) is acquired (step S712). Here, in the present embodiment, the sentence information is, as shown in FIG. 20 (b), the font type (for example, Mincho, Gothic, etc.) of the characters constituting each sentence, and the font size (point). , And information indicating the width and height (number of dots).

When the sentence information is acquired, it is determined whether or not the selected sentence protrudes from the layout frame based on the acquired sentence information and the area information of the acquired layout frame (step S714). For example, when it protrudes, “1” is added to the numerical value of the current protrusion number counting variable.
Then, by performing the above-described series of processing for all the pages of the document file, the value of the protruding number counting variable at the end of processing becomes the sum of the protruding numbers of the entire document file. As shown in FIG. 19, the calculation content corresponding to the protrusion from the frame is “+20” per protrusion number. For example, when the total number of protrusions is “3”, By adding “3 × 20 = 60” to the current print damage degree calculation variable value “80”, the print damage degree calculation variable value is corrected (step S724). Therefore, the current value of the variable for calculating the printing damage level is “140”.

When the correction of the printing damage level based on the number of protrusions from the frame is completed, the number of grammatical errors in the text that composes the document file is counted, and the numerical value of the variable for calculating the printing damage level is calculated according to the calculation content corresponding to the count number. The process which correct | amends is performed (step S620).
When the correction process of the printing damage level according to the number of grammatical errors is started, first, the numerical value of the grammatical error number counting variable is initialized to “0” (step S800), and then the grammatical error is read from the document file. A page that has not yet been counted is selected (step S802), and a sentence that has not been processed for counting the number of grammatical errors is selected from the selected page (step S804). Grammar check processing is performed (step S806).

  In this grammar check process, sentences are first segmented into phrases, and the phrases for each segmented phrase are compared with the phrases in the lexical database shown in FIG. By doing so, the part of speech of each word is analyzed, and a grammar list is created by converting each word constituting the sentence into a part of speech. When the grammar list is generated, the grammar list is compared with the grammar list for correct / wrong comparison registered in the grammar database shown in FIG. 21B, and whether or not there is a grammatical error in the selected sentence. Is determined (step S808).

  Here, the correct / wrong grammar list stored in the grammar database shown in FIG. 21 (b) has a configuration in which correct parts of speech are arranged in a tree form, as shown in FIG. As a rule, a noun or pronoun, and a particle or case particle are always selected for comparison. That is, if the part-of-speech sequence in the grammar list of the selected sentence is different from any part-of-speech sequence in the grammar list for correct / wrong comparison, it is determined that there is an error in the grammar.

If it is determined by this comparison processing that there is a grammatical error, for example, “1” is added to the current numerical value of the grammatical error count variable (step S810).
Then, by performing the above-described series of processing on all pages of the document file, the numerical value of the grammatical error count counting variable at the end of the processing becomes the total number of grammatical errors of the entire document file. As shown in FIG. 19, the calculation content for grammatical errors is “+10” per grammatical error number. For example, when the total number of grammatical errors is “5”, By adding “5 × 10 = 50” to the current numerical value “140” of the printing damage degree calculation variable, the numerical value of the printing damage degree calculation variable is corrected (step S816). Therefore, the current numerical value of the variable for calculating the printing damage level is “190”.

When the correction of the printing damage level based on the number of grammatical errors is completed, it is next determined whether or not the confidential words are included in the text that makes up the document file. Processing for correcting the numerical value of the variable is performed (step S622).
When the correction process of the degree of printing damage according to the presence / absence of a confidential term is started, first, the value of the confidential document flag is initialized to false (step S900), and then the presence / absence confirmation process of the confidential document from the document file is performed. An unprocessed page is selected (step S902), and a sentence that has not been processed in the same confidential document presence / absence confirmation process is selected from the selected page (step S904). The presence or absence of a confidential term is determined by comparing the confidential term registered in the confidential vocabulary database, which is one of the data for use, and determining whether or not there is a matching confidential term (step S906).

  For example, if it is determined that there is a confidential term, the value of the confidential document flag is changed to true (step S908), and the value of the confidential document flag is fixed to the current value (step S910). In the present embodiment, when the value of the confidential document flag is determined, the process for confirming whether or not there is a confidential term is terminated. Since the value of the confidential document flag determined in this way is true as described above, the current printing loss degree calculation variable value “190” is set according to the calculation content “+30” for the confidential document shown in FIG. By adding “30”, the numerical value of the printing damage degree calculation variable is corrected (step S914). Accordingly, the current numerical value of the printing damage degree calculation variable is “220”.

  When the printing damage level correction process according to the presence or absence of the confidential document is completed, the damage level correction process is performed according to the print mode information (clean / fast) (step S624). As shown in FIG. 19, for the print mode information, when the print mode is “clean”, the calculation content is “× 2”, while when the print mode is “fast”, the calculation is calculated. The content is “× 1”. For example, assuming that the print mode is “beautiful”, the numerical value “220” for the current printing damage calculation variable is doubled to correct the numerical value for the printing damage calculation variable. Therefore, the current numerical value of the printing damage degree calculation variable is “440”.

  When the printing damage level correction process corresponding to the print mode information is completed, the printing damage level correction process corresponding to the page number information is performed (step S626). As shown in FIG. 19, for the page number information, the calculation content is “× number of sheets”. For example, assuming that the number of pages is 5, the current numerical value “440” of the printing damage degree calculation variable is doubled to correct the numerical value of the printing damage degree calculation variable. Therefore, the current numerical value of the printing damage degree calculation variable is “4400”.

  When the printing damage degree correction process corresponding to the page number information is completed, the printing damage degree correction process corresponding to the copy number information is finally performed (step S628). As shown in FIG. 19, for the number of copies information, the calculation content is “× number of copies”. For example, if the number of copies is five, the current value of the printing damage degree calculation variable “4400” is doubled to correct the value of the printing damage degree calculation variable. Therefore, the final value of the variable for calculating the printing damage level is “22000”, and this value is determined as the printing damage level of the corresponding print job.

Further, when the printing loss degree calculation process is completed, the printing cost of the corresponding print job is calculated based on the extracted number of printed sheets and color / monochrome setting information (step S406).
For example, assuming that the printing paper cost is 10 yen / sheet, the ink cost for monochrome printing is 10 yen / sheet, and the ink cost for color printing is 40 yen / sheet, for example, printing for color printing of 5 pages The cost is “5 × (10 + 40) = 250”, and printing of the print job costs 250 yen.

  In the present embodiment, when user information, print setting information, and print data are extracted by the print job analysis process in the print job analysis unit 20d described above, and the print effectiveness, print loss degree, and print cost are calculated, These pieces of information (analysis data) are stored in the data storage unit 20c in the form of an analysis data table in association with each job ID (given on the print processing management apparatus 20 side) as shown in FIG. Step S312).

Here, every time a print job is received, the print processing management apparatus 20 analyzes the print job to generate the analysis data, and the generated analysis data is stored in the data storage unit 20c in the form of an analysis data table. Accumulate.
When the print job analysis process is completed, the print control processing unit 20i acquires the analysis data of the corresponding print job, and acquires the acquired analysis data, the currently set print restriction contents, and the usage status information so far. Compare (step S1302). As a result of the comparison, if the corresponding print job has a content that exceeds the upper limit of the print limit value, or is close to the upper limit, it is determined that the user needs to confirm the print setting content ( (Yes in step S1304), confirmation information is generated (step S1306), and the generated confirmation information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 10 that is the transmission source of the print job (step S1308). Here, the confirmation information is generated for each setting item from, for example, a warning message for a setting item that is likely to exceed the upper limit of the print limit value, the confirmation processing of the setting contents of the corresponding print setting item, and the history of past confirmation processing. This is information for causing the information processing apparatus 10 to perform display processing such as easy error contents. Therefore, in the present embodiment, confirmation information generated for each print job is accumulated in the data storage unit 20c as a history of past confirmation processing.

  On the other hand, when the information processing apparatus 10 receives the confirmation information from the print processing management apparatus 20 (step S200), the confirmation processing execution unit 10e executes confirmation processing of the print processing content for the user based on the received confirmation information. (Step S202). As shown in Fig. 31, for example, the confirmation process is for a print job with a large number of prints or a print job that is set to perform color printing. Is displayed on the display unit 10g. At the top of this display screen, a “print as it is” button, a “change print settings” button, and a “cancel print” button are displayed, and a “next page” button is displayed at the bottom right of the screen for printing instructions. When the user who performed the above operation presses these buttons via the operation unit 10f, processing corresponding to each button is executed. That is, by displaying a warning message, the user can determine whether to perform printing with the current settings or to correct the settings.

On the other hand, when the “next page” button is pressed, as shown in FIG. 32, for the setting items for double-sided and up-closed, and for the setting items for double-sided, copy-unit, and odd-numbered pages, An error-prone example is displayed for each of these setting items, and the user is caused to determine whether to print with the current settings or to correct the settings.
The determination for the confirmation process is performed by the user pressing various buttons at the top of the confirmation screen illustrated in FIG. 31 or 32 by operating the operation unit 10f.

For example, when the user determines that there is no need to change the setting item and presses the “print as it is” button via the operation unit 10f (step S204), the print job is printed with the current print setting contents unchanged. Processing for transmitting an instruction to execute processing as a confirmation response to the print processing management apparatus 20 is executed (step S206).
Further, when the user determines that it is better not to print the print job and presses the “print cancel” button via the operation unit 10f (step S204), an instruction to stop the print processing of the print job Is transmitted as a confirmation response to the print processing management apparatus 20 (step S206).

  If the user determines that he / she wants to perform print processing even after changing the print setting contents of the print job, and presses the “change print setting” button via the operation unit 10f (step S204), a setting change (not shown) is performed. A screen is displayed on the display unit 10g, and the user reduces the number of copies, changes color printing to monochrome printing, and confirms document contents via the operation unit 10f. Then, after the setting is changed, by pressing an OK button on the setting change screen, the print setting information after the change and an instruction to execute the printing process according to the setting content are transmitted to the print processing management apparatus 20 as a confirmation response. Processing is executed (step S206).

  When the print processing management apparatus 20 receives the confirmation response from the information processing apparatus 10 (step S1310), the print control processing unit 20i corrects the print processing execution instruction with the corrected print setting contents. It is determined whether or not the content can be applied (step S1314). If the content is applicable, a print job with the corrected print setting content is transmitted to the printing apparatus 30 (step S1316). Further, when the print control processing unit 20i receives the print end response information from the printing apparatus 30 after transmitting the print job, the print control processing unit 20i transmits a print control processing completion notification to the data control unit 20b (step S1318).

On the other hand, when the data control unit 30b receives a print job from the print processing management apparatus 20, the printing apparatus 30 executes print processing based on the print job in the print processing unit 30d. When the print process is executed, the print end response information is transmitted to the print process management apparatus 20 via the data control unit 30b and the data communication unit 30a.
On the other hand, in the print processing management apparatus 20, if there is a request for switching to the print restriction content determination support mode from the administrator via the operation unit 20g ("Yes" branch in step S300), support information generation is performed. The unit 20e and the print restriction content determination unit 20h shift to the print restriction content determination support mode and execute the print restriction content determination support process (step S302).

  When the print restriction content determination support process is executed, first, the support information generation unit 20e acquires specified information including a specified user, a specified period, and the like specified by the administrator via the operation unit 20g. Then, based on the specified information, analysis data for the specified period of the specified user is acquired from the data storage unit 20c (step S1004). Based on the acquired analysis data, usage status information for the specified period is generated (step S1006), and cost comparison information for the specified period and the period immediately preceding the specified period is generated (step S1008). . First, the generated usage status information is displayed on the display unit 20f (step S1010). In the present embodiment, the usage status information displays the total printing effectiveness, total printing damage level, total number of printed sheets, color printing rate, and total printing cost of the specified user in the specified period.

  For example, when the designated period is “2004/12/27 to 2005/1/15” and the designated user is a group X composed of users A to C, for example, analysis data shown in FIG. 24 is used. As a result, the total printing effectiveness is “200 + 2000 + 800 = 3000”. Similarly, the total printing damage level is “73000”, the total printing cost is “2240 yen”, the total number of printed sheets is “32”, and the color printing rate is “2/3”.

  As shown in FIG. 25, the print usage status information generated in this way is displayed on the display unit 20f together with each item name, each numerical bar graph, a determination message for the usage status information, target information, and the like. In addition, as shown in FIG. 25, various buttons such as a “detail display” button, a “comparison with previous period” button, a “continue current standard” button, a “correct standard” button, and the like are displayed on the display screen. By pressing various buttons by the user's operation of the operation unit 20g, detailed information display, cost comparison information display, print restriction content correction screen display, and the like are executed. Also, by pressing the ▽ button next to the group name in the upper right of the screen and selecting the users A to C belonging to the group X, the display screen is switched to the usage status information of each user A to C. It is possible. For example, when user A is selected, usage status information for a specified period of user A is displayed as shown in FIG.

  Further, when the detail display button next to the item name of the printing damage level on the usage status information display screen shown in FIG. 25 is pressed (“Yes” branch in step S1014), as shown in FIG. A graph indicating the ratio of the users A to C with respect to the degree, a comparison graph of the average print damage degrees of the users A to C, and a message for each of these graphs are displayed on the display unit 20f (step S1016). In the example of FIG. 27, since the printing damage level of the user B is extremely high, a message that recommends changing the printing restriction content for the user B is displayed. Thereby, it is possible to easily grasp how many users are involved in the printing damage degree. Although only a display example of detailed information for the printing damage level is shown here, the same display can be performed by calculating the ratio of each user to other items. Further, by pressing the “OK” button at the lower right of the screen (“Yes” branch in step S1018), the screen can return to the usage status information display screen for the group X.

  In addition, when the “comparison with previous period” button on the usage status information display screen shown in FIG. 25 is pressed (“Yes” branch in step S1020), usage status information for the specified period for group X as shown in FIG. Comparison information with the previous usage status information is displayed (step S1022). For example, compared to the previous period, this year, the number of prints increased by 20 sheets, and the printing cost increased by 2000 yen. This makes it easier to understand how much each usage status value has increased or decreased. Is possible. Further, by pressing the “OK” button at the lower right of the screen (“Yes” branch in step S1024), for example, the display screen of the usage status information for the group X can be returned.

  Further, when the administrator determines that the current print restriction content needs to be corrected and user B is selected, the administrator presses the “comparison with previous period” button on the usage status information display screen shown in FIG. 25 ( In step S1026, “Yes” branch), the printing restriction content determination unit 20h executes the printing restriction content correction process (step S1028), and the currently set printing restriction content is displayed on the display unit 20f as shown in FIG. (Step S1100). As shown in FIG. 29, the print restriction content display screen includes the same items as the above-described print usage status information, a limit value setting bar corresponding to each of these items, and the X period (for example, the third period). It consists of a goal and various buttons. In the present embodiment, the administrator can operate the position of “Δ” in the limit value setting bar on the display screen by operating the operation unit 20g. It is possible to set a limit value corresponding to it. Here, the limit value setting bar has a looser limit value as the position of “Δ” is on the left side, and conversely, the limit value is more severe as it is on the right side. That is, for example, if the total number of printed sheets is lower, the upper limit value of the total number of printed sheets is larger as the limit value is looser, while the upper limit value of the total number of printed sheets is smaller as the limit value is more severe.

  In addition, various buttons displayed on the print setting content display screen shown in FIG. 29 include a “return” button for returning to the usage status information display screen, usage status information for a specified period, and a target value. A “recommended standard setting” button for setting a recommended standard for printing restriction content, a “cancel setting” button for canceling the setting content changed by operating the operation unit 20 g, and a setting content changed by operating the operation unit 20 g There is a “Reflect Settings” button to reflect actual restrictions. The check box to the left of each item in the usage status information is used to select an item for setting recommended criteria. When the “Recommended criteria setting” button is pressed, this check box is checked. Recommended criteria are automatically generated for selected items.

  For example, when the administrator checks the check boxes to the left of the print validity level and the print damage level on the print setting content display screen shown in FIG. 29 and presses the “recommended standard setting” button (“ “Yes” branch), analysis data for the check items (here, the printing validity level and the printing damage level) of the corresponding user (here, user B) are acquired (step S1106), and each group and each user are previously registered. The target values of the print validity level and the print damage level preset for the user B are acquired from the target management table shown in FIG. 30, which is set and stored in the data storage unit 20c (step S1108). A recommended reference value for the printing validity level and the printing damage level is calculated (step S1110).

For example, if the period specified by the user is 2004/12/1 to 2005/2/28 and the current period is 2005/1/20, the analysis data shown in FIG. The calculation process of the recommended reference value will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 24, the user B performs printing twice in 51 days from 12/1 to 1/20. The total print damage degree of the print job in the two printings is “40000 + 50000 = 90000”, and the average print damage degree is “90000/2 (times) = 45000”. Furthermore, since there are 39 days until the last day of the designated period, here, the number of printings estimated to be performed in the future is simplified, considering that the number of printings is 2 times in 51 days. Calculate by probability calculation. As a result, the estimated number of printings is calculated as “39 / (51/2) = 1.5 (times)”. Since the target value of the average print damage degree of the user B is “30000” as shown in FIG. 30, the average print damage degree of the print job during the period is equal to or less than “30000”. A recommended printing damage level for a print job for an estimated number of printing times of 1.5 is determined. In other words, as shown in the following equation (1), the recommended standard value of the printing damage level is x, the multiplication value of the estimated number of printing times and the recommended standard value (x), and the printing damage level of the print job that has already been printed. A formula is set up so that the sum of the total value and the product value of the print damage degree target value and the total number of times of printing are equal.

1.5x + 90000 = 30000 × (2 + 1.5) (1)

By solving the above equation (1), “x = 10000” is obtained as a recommended reference value for the degree of printing damage. In other words, in the remaining days, a print job is generated and printed so that the total printing damage level is 10000 or less, so that it is possible to perform printing processing that satisfies the target average printing damage level of 30000. It becomes.

Note that the recommended reference value of the printing effectiveness can be calculated in the same way as the printing damage degree, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted here.
When the recommended standard values for the printing effectiveness level and the printing damage level are calculated in this way, the calculated recommended standard values correspond to the items of printing probability and printing damage level as shown in FIG. It is displayed on the limit value setting bar (step S1112).

Then, the administrator modifies the print restriction content by referring to the recommended reference value and presses the “Reflect setting” button on the print setting content display screen shown in FIG. 29 (“Yes” in step S1122). ), The corrected print restriction content is stored in the data storage unit 20c as the print restriction content to be applied to the user B in the future (step S1124).
As described above, the print processing management apparatus 20 can analyze the print job from the information processing apparatus 10 by the print job analysis unit 20d, generate analysis data, and accumulate the analysis data in the data storage unit 20c. is there.

In addition, the print processing management apparatus 20 uses the print job analysis unit 20d as analysis data to obtain, as analysis data, the print effectiveness obtained by quantifying the magnitude of the effectiveness of the print restriction content when the print job is printed, and the print job It is possible to calculate the degree of printing damage by quantifying the magnitude of damage that occurs when printing is missed.
In addition, the print processing management apparatus 20 uses the support information generation unit 20e and the print restriction content determination unit 20h based on the analysis data accumulated in the data storage unit 20c, usage status information for a specified user (or group) for a specified period, It is possible to display support information that is helpful when determining details of printing restrictions, such as detailed information, cost comparison information, and recommended reference values.

Thereby, the administrator needs to correct whether or not the currently set printing restriction contents need to be corrected while viewing the support information such as usage status information, detailed information, and cost comparison information. In this case, it is possible to appropriately determine what correction is necessary.
Furthermore, the administrator can modify the print restriction contents with reference to the displayed recommended standard values when modifying the print restriction contents. It is possible to easily set an appropriate limit value with respect to the target value, such as setting a slightly loosened (tight) value.

  In addition, the print processing management apparatus 20 determines whether or not the print job satisfies each restriction value in the print restriction content in the print control process of the print job, and the print job setting content confirmation process is performed. It is possible to determine whether it is necessary. When it is determined that the confirmation process is necessary, the information processing apparatus 10 displays confirmation information for performing a display process such as a warning message based on the print restriction content and the content of an error that easily occurs for each setting item. It can be generated and transmitted to the information processing apparatus 10.

  Further, the information processing apparatus 10 displays a warning message based on the contents of the print restriction based on the confirmation information from the print processing management apparatus 20, an error content that is likely to occur for each setting item, and the like to display the print setting content etc. Confirmation processing can be executed. Therefore, the warning message prompts the user to perform printing processing in consideration of the printing cost before printing processing, and displays the content of mistakes that are likely to occur in the setting content related to printing processing, etc. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of printing mistakes in advance.

  In the above embodiment, the reception processing of the print job from the information processing apparatus 10 in the data communication unit 20a and the data control unit 20b corresponds to the print job acquisition unit of the form 1 or 23, and the print job analysis unit 20d Corresponding to the print job analysis means of the form 1 or 23, the analysis data storage processing by the print job analysis unit 20d, the data control unit 20b, and the data storage unit 20c is the form 1, 2, 5, 6, 23, 24, 27. Corresponding to the analysis result holding means of any one of No. 28 and No. 28, the correction processing of the print restriction content via the operation unit 20g corresponds to the restriction information input means of the form 1 or 23, and the support information generation part 20e Corresponding to any one of the support information generation means 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, the print restriction content determination unit 20h has the form 1 or The support information display processing by the print restriction content determination unit 20i, the data control unit 20b, and the display unit 20f corresponds to the support information display unit of the form 1 or 23. The print processing restriction process based on the print restriction contents in the unit 20i corresponds to the print process restriction unit in the form 1 or 23, and the print control processing part 20i determines whether or not the confirmation process is executed in the form 7 or 29. The confirmation information generation process and the confirmation information transmission process in the print control processing unit 20i correspond to the content confirmation process execution unit in the form 1 or 23, and The control process of the print process in response to the confirmation response corresponds to the print process control means of the form 7 or 29.

  Further, in the above embodiment, step S306 corresponds to the print job acquisition step of form 8 or 16, step S308 corresponds to the print job analysis step of form 8 or 16, and step S312 corresponds to form 8, 9 , 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, and 21 corresponds to the analysis result holding step, step S314 corresponds to the print processing restriction step of form 8 or 16, and step S302 corresponds to form 8 or 16. This corresponds to the print restriction content determination step.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, step S1006, S1008, and step S1110 are the support information generation steps of any one of forms 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. Steps S1012, S1016, S1022, and S1112 correspond to the support information display step of form 8 or 16.
In the above embodiment, the print processing management device 20 and the printing device 30 are configured as separate devices. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the printing device 30 has the functions of the print processing management device 20. It is good also as a structure to have.

  In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which print processing content confirmation processing is executed for a user based on the corresponding print job, print restriction content, and usage status information. Without confirming the contents of the printing process, for example, control is performed such that if the corresponding print job does not satisfy each setting value of the printing restriction contents, the printing process is stopped, and if the setting value is satisfied, the printing process is executed. You may make it do.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the calculation contents are set so that the degree of printing damage is increased particularly when printing paper, ink, or the like is wasted due to an erroneous printing process such as the number of printed sheets or the number of printed copies. Although it is set, but not limited to this, the setting contents of the calculation contents can be set such that, for example, the degree of damage is high for items with a high degree of risk such as a large amount of damage, leakage of confidential information, etc. Depending on the system implementation environment, the calculation content of the print damage level may be set to the content necessary for the environment, such as preventing the damage level from increasing for items with low values.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the control program stored in advance in the ROM is executed in executing the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 17 has been described. The program may be read from the storage medium storing the program indicating the above into the RAM and executed.
Here, the storage medium is a semiconductor storage medium such as RAM or ROM, a magnetic storage type storage medium such as FD or HD, an optical reading type storage medium such as CD, CDV, LD, or DVD, or a magnetic storage type such as MO. / Optical reading type storage media, including any storage media that can be read by a computer regardless of electronic, magnetic, optical, or other reading methods.

1 is an overview diagram showing a configuration of a printing system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the information processing apparatus 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a print processing management apparatus 20. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the printing apparatus 30. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print job transmission processing in the information processing apparatus 10. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a setting content confirmation process in the information processing apparatus 10. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print management processing in the print processing management apparatus 20. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print job analysis processing in a print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print validity calculation processing in a print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print loss degree calculation process in a print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20. 10 is a flowchart showing processing for correcting a numerical value of a damage degree calculation variable in accordance with the number of protruding characters in the print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20. 10 is a flowchart showing processing for correcting a numerical value of a damage degree calculation variable in accordance with the number of grammatical errors in the print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing for correcting a numerical value of a damage degree calculation variable according to whether or not the document is a confidential document in the print job analysis unit 20d of the print processing management apparatus 20. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print restriction content determination support process in the print processing management apparatus 20. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a print restriction content correction process in a print restriction content determination unit 20h of the print processing management apparatus 20. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a cost comparison information generation process in the support information generation unit 20e of the print processing management apparatus 20. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing in a print control processing unit 20i of the print processing management apparatus 20. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a print job. It is a figure which shows an example of the item used as the calculation object of a damage degree, and the calculation content. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the information of a frame, (b) is a figure which shows an example of the information of character data. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the vocabulary database used when correcting the damage degree according to the number of grammatical errors, (b) is a figure which similarly shows an example of a grammar database. It is a figure which shows an example of the specific structure of grammar data. It is a figure which shows an example of the confidential vocabulary database used when correcting a damage degree according to whether it is a confidential document. It is a figure which shows an example of the analysis data table comprised from the various analysis data produced | generated in the analysis data production | generation part 20d. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the utilization status information of a group unit. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the usage condition information per user. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the ratio information of a user with respect to a printing damage degree. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of cost comparison information. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a printing restriction content. It is a figure which shows an example of a target management table. It is a figure which shows an example of a user confirmation screen (notes). It is a figure which shows an example of a user confirmation screen (print setting mistake confirmation).

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Printing system, 10 ... Information processing apparatus, 20 ... Print processing management apparatus, 30 ... Printing apparatus, 40 ... Network, 10a ... Data communication part, 10b ... Data control part, 10c ... Data storage part, 10d ... Print job generation , 10e ... confirmation processing execution part, 10f ... operation part, 10g ... display part, 20a ... data communication part, 20b ... data control part, 20c ... data storage part, 20d ... print job analysis part, 20e ... support information generation part , 20f ... display unit, 20g ... operation unit, 20h ... print control content determination unit, 20i ... print control processing unit, 30a ... data communication unit, 30b ... data control unit, 30c ... data storage unit, 30d ... print processing unit

Claims (10)

Print job acquisition means for acquiring a print job;
Print job analysis means for analyzing the contents of the acquired print job;
Analysis result holding means for holding the analysis result;
Restriction information input means for inputting information related to print restriction contents for restricting the print processing contents of the print job;
A print restriction content determination means for determining the print restriction content based on the information input by the restriction information input means;
Support information generating means for generating support information for supporting the determination processing of the print restriction content based on the analysis result held in the analysis result holding means;
Support information display means for displaying the generated support information;
A print processing management system comprising: a print processing restriction unit that restricts print processing of the print job based on the determined print restriction content.   2. The support information generation unit automatically generates recommended print restriction content as a recommended reference for the print restriction content based on the content held by the analysis result holding unit as the support information. The print processing management system described. The analysis unit is configured based on an evaluation value that is set in advance for each component that configures the print job and that is effective for the print restriction content when executing print processing on each component, and the acquired print job. , Calculating the print effectiveness representing the effectiveness of the print restriction content when executing the print processing of the print job by a numerical value,
The print processing management system according to claim 2, wherein the support information generation unit automatically generates the recommended print restriction content based on the calculated print effectiveness. The analysis unit performs print processing of the print job based on an evaluation value that is preset for each component that configures the print job and that is related to damage that occurs during execution of print processing on each component and the print job. Calculate the degree of printing damage by numerically expressing the amount of damage that occurs when
The print processing management system according to claim 2, wherein the support information generation unit automatically generates the recommended print restriction content based on the calculated print damage level.   The said support information generation means produces | generates the execution information showing the execution condition of the said printing process in a predetermined period based on the content held by the said analysis result holding means as said support information. 5. The print processing management system according to any one of 4 above.   The support information generating unit calculates a printing cost for each period based on the analysis result for each predetermined period held in the analysis result holding unit, and each time based on the calculated printing cost as the support information. The print processing management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein cost comparison information indicating a comparison result of printing costs for a period is generated. A confirmation presence / absence determining means for determining whether or not to confirm a print processing content of the print job with respect to a system user related to the print job based on the print job and the print restriction content;
Content determination processing execution means for executing the processing content confirmation processing for the system user when it is determined to perform the content confirmation;
7. The printing according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing process control unit configured to control a printing process of the print job based on a confirmation result obtained by executing the content confirmation process. Processing management system. A print job acquisition step for acquiring a print job;
A print job analysis step of analyzing the content of the acquired print job;
An analysis result holding step for holding the analysis result;
A restriction information input step for inputting information related to print restriction contents for restricting print processing contents of the print job;
A printing restriction content determination step for determining the printing restriction content based on the information input in the restriction information input step;
A support information generating step for generating support information for supporting the determination processing of the print restriction content based on the analysis result held through the analysis result holding step;
A support information display step for displaying the generated support information;
A print processing management program, comprising: a program used to cause a computer to execute processing including a print processing restriction step for restricting print processing of the print job based on the determined print restriction content. A print job acquisition step for acquiring a print job;
A print job analysis step of analyzing the content of the acquired print job;
An analysis result holding step for holding the analysis result;
A restriction information input step for inputting information related to print restriction contents for restricting print processing contents of the print job;
A printing restriction content determination step for determining the printing restriction content based on the information input in the restriction information input step;
A support information generating step for generating support information for supporting the determination processing of the print restriction content based on the analysis result held through the analysis result holding step;
A support information display step for displaying the generated support information;
And a print processing restriction step for restricting print processing of the print job based on the determined print restriction content. Print job acquisition means for acquiring a print job;
Print job analysis means for analyzing the contents of the acquired print job;
Analysis result holding means for holding the analysis result;
Restriction information input means for inputting information related to print restriction contents for restricting the print processing contents of the print job;
A print restriction content determination means for determining the print restriction content based on the information input by the restriction information input means;
Support information generating means for generating support information for supporting the determination processing of the print restriction content based on the analysis result held in the analysis result holding means;
Support information display means for displaying the generated support information;
A print processing management apparatus comprising: a print processing restriction unit that restricts print processing of the print job based on the determined print restriction content.

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