JP2007087048A - Print system, control method and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a print system adapted to perform upper limit management of printing by assigning a quota (usable usage) to each user, in which at the time of cancellation of user registration, an unused quota by a user can be assigned to another user, and if a quota possessed by a user whose registration is to be canceled is one transferred before from another user, this quota can be returned to a user that is a transfer source at the time of cancellation of user registration. <P>SOLUTION: This system comprises a user management means for registering information of printer using users and a quota of each user (usable printer usage) and managing the users and the printer usages of the users; a quota moving means capable of moving an optional quota between users; and a quota return means returning, when an unused quota by a user is present at the time of cancellation of user registration, the quota to a user of the moving source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system such as a printer, a copier, a FAX, a multifunction peripheral (multifunction peripheral device) and the like, which are generally used in offices, etc., and a printing system and a terminal connected to a network.

  Printers used in conventional office environments include printers, copiers, fax machines, and multifunction machines. A printer or copier compatible with a network is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) and can print from a terminal on the network.

  Generally, copying machines are counted by the number of printed sheets, and it is necessary to pay a counter fee to a company that manages the copying machines, which is expensive. Expenses are also incurred for paper and toner used in copiers. These expenses are generally managed for each department, and the copying machine is generally managed for each department.

  The copying machine is managed using a user ID and a password, and can be used only when the user ID and password are input at the time of use. This mechanism prevents employees from other departments who do not know the user ID / password from using this copier.

  Further, the copying machine has a function of setting a quota (usable usage) for each user. The quota decreases each time the user uses the copying machine, and when the allocated quota is consumed, the user can no longer use the copying machine. In the office environment, in order to manage expenses for each department, it is possible to assign a quota to each employee in the department and restrict the employee from using the printer and the copying machine beyond the assigned quota. The quota may be reassigned every month.

  In general, quotas are allowed to be operated only by an administrator of the copier in order to prevent a general user from illegally operating quotas of other users.

  The proponent of the present invention has previously been given the degree of freedom to transfer the remaining quota between users to a new user at the time of transfer of surplus quota between users, new user registration, or new user registration with general user authority. Proposed a high printing system.

For example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3 can be cited as conventional examples.
JP 2001-251464 A JP 2004-70708 A JP 2004-280803 A

  However, the proposal previously made by the proposer of the present invention did not make a proposal about the quota left over by the user when the user registration was deleted.

  In general, when a user is deregistered, unless the administrator reassigns quotas, the quotas that the user had are not automatically reassigned, and the quotas remain in the department. However, there is a problem that other users cannot use the quota.

  If the quota of the user whose registration is to be deleted has been previously transferred from another user, it is generally desired that the quota be returned to the user who is the transfer source after the user registration is deleted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a printing system capable of assigning a user's unused quota to another user when deleting the user registration, and a user who deletes the registration. It is an object of the present invention to propose a printing system in which a quota is returned to a user who is a transfer source when a user registration is deleted if the quota has been previously transferred from another user.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a printing system according to claim 1 comprises:
Comprising user management means for registering information about printing device users, quotas for each user (available printing device usage) and managing the printing device usage of users and users;
It has quota movement means that can move any quota between users,
When the user registration is deleted, if there is a quota that the user has left, there is provided a quota returning means for returning the quota to the user at the movement source.

In order to solve the above problem, a printing system according to claim 2 comprises:
Comprising user management means for registering information about printing device users, quotas for each user (available printing device usage) and managing the printing device usage of users and users;
When deleting a user's registration, if there is a quota left by the user, a quota transfer unit is provided which designates a user to whom the quota is transferred and transfers the quota to another user.

  By implementing the present invention, in a printing system that assigns a quota (usable usage amount) to each user and manages the upper limit of printing, when the user registration is deleted, the user's remaining quota is given to other users. If the printing system that can be assigned and the quota of the user who deletes the registration was previously transferred from another user, the quota is returned to the user who transferred it when the user registration is deleted A system can be realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, a multifunction device compatible with a network is assumed as a printing apparatus. However, the same applies to all devices connected to the network and is not limited to the multifunction device. As other printing apparatuses, printers, FAX machines, copiers, and the like can be considered.

  The first embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1.

  Below, the environment of Example 1 is demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network in the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a client PC (C101, C103, C103) and a multifunction peripheral (M104) can communicate with each other via a network (N105). The network (N105) is assumed to be a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The multifunction machine (M104) has functions of a printer, a copier (copier), and a scanner, and can also be used as a printer from a client PC on the network.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the client PC (C101). The configurations of the client PC, C102, and C103 are the same.

  Client PC is CPU (C201), ROM (C202), external memory (C203), keyboard (C204), communication unit (C205), RAM (C206), HD (hard disk) (C207), display (C208), system A bus (B209) is provided.

  The CPU (C201) is a central processing unit that comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus (B209). The CPU (C201) executes application programs, printer drivers, OS, network printer control programs, communication programs, etc. stored in the HD (C207), and information (files, etc.) required for executing the programs in the RAM (C206) Control to temporarily store. The ROM (C202) stores a program such as a basic I / O program. External memory (C203) includes FD (flexible disk), CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, HD, flash memory, non-volatile memory card, magnetic tape, etc., and programs from various storage media And data can be loaded into the computer system. The keyboard (C204) instructs input from the user to the client PC, and the display (C208) performs input from the keyboard (C204), display of an application program GUI (graphic user interface), and the like. When printing using a multifunction device, the user can open a window relating to print settings and set the print processing method for the printer driver, including settings for the multifunction device and selection of a print mode. The communication unit includes a NIC and communicates with other client PCs and multifunction peripherals (M104) via a network.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the multifunction peripheral (M104).

  The MFP (M104) has a CPU (C301), ROM (C302), RAM (C303), HD (C304), communication unit (C305), printing unit (C306), scanner unit (C307), and operation panel (C308). A display panel (C309) and a system bus (C310).

  The CPU (C301) is a central processing unit that comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus (C310), and outputs an image as output information to the printing unit (C306) (printer engine) based on the control program. Output a signal. The CPU (C301) reads a document from the scanner unit based on the control program, and stores the data in the RAM (C303) and HD (C304). Furthermore, the CPU (C301) can communicate with the client PC via the communication unit (C305). The ROM (C302) and HD (C307) store basic I / O programs, multifunction machine control programs, communication programs, application programs, font data, print data, scanning data, user information, and the like. The RAM (C303) is used for an input / output information expansion area, an environment data storage area, and the like. The operation panel (C308) includes switches for various operations and can perform environment setting, print setting, print execution, scanning execution, and the like. The display panel (C308) displays user input information, information set in the multifunction peripheral, status, and the like. The communication unit (C305) includes a NIC and the like, and receives print jobs and various setting commands from other terminals via the network, and transmits information to other terminals.

  The multifunction peripheral (M104) has a user management function, and can manage information (user ID / password, group, access right, etc.), quotas, and the like of users who use the multifunction peripheral. For example, the multifunction peripheral (M104) has a user management table as shown in FIG. 4 on an internal recording medium (such as HD). Each time the user performs copying or printing, the quota occurs according to the number of copies to be printed. For example, color printing consumes quota 3 per sheet, and monochrome printing consumes quota 1 per sheet. The multifunction peripheral (M104) supports various protocols such as SNMP, and can communicate with application software and a printer driver of a client PC.

  The client PC (C101, C103, C103) is installed with a printer driver and utility software corresponding to the multifunction peripheral (M104), and can perform environment setting for the multifunction peripheral, acquisition of information from the multifunction peripheral, and the like. For example, the utility software issues a command for obtaining information on the user and quota set in the multifunction device to the multifunction device, and the multifunction device that has received the command returns information on the user and quota. The utility software displays the acquired information using a GUI as shown in FIG. Thereby, the user can confirm the current quota amount of the user himself / herself and other users. Further, the user inputs his / her user ID, password, transfer destination user ID, and quota amount to be transferred on the utility software screen as shown in FIG. You can transfer your quotas to other users. The MFP (M104) that has received the request to transfer the quota, after the quota transfer process, displays information related to the quota transfer (source user ID, destination user ID, amount of quota moved, processing time, etc.) in FIG. Such history information is recorded on the internal recording medium.

  Next, the operation of the portion according to claim 1 of the present invention will be described.

  The user issues a user deletion request packet to the multi function device (M104) using the utility software of the client PC. The user deletion request packet includes information such as the user ID and password of the user who has made the user deletion request, and the user ID to be registered and deleted. The operation of the multifunction device when receiving the user deletion request packet will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The multifunction peripheral (M104) starts operation upon receiving the user deletion request packet in step S801.

  In step S802, the multifunction peripheral (M104) analyzes the received packet, and acquires information (user ID, password, deletion user ID (user ID to be deleted)).

  In step S803, the multifunction peripheral (M104) takes out the user information stored in the internal recording medium.

  In step S804, the multifunction peripheral (M104) performs user authentication using the user ID / password acquired in step S802 and the user information acquired in step S803. As a result, if it is determined that the user is a legitimate user having the user deletion authority, the process proceeds to step S805. An error occurs if authentication fails.

  In step S805, it is confirmed that the acquired deletion user ID is registered in the user information of the multifunction peripheral. If it is confirmed that it is registered, the process proceeds to step S806. If it is not registered, an error occurs.

  In step S806, it is checked whether the quota of the user to be deleted remains. When the quota remains (when the quota amount is not 0), the process proceeds to step S807. If no quota remains (if the quota amount is 0), the process proceeds to step S810 and normal user deletion processing is performed.

  In step S807, a history regarding the movement of the quota stored in the internal recording medium is acquired.

  In step S808, the history related to the user ID to be deleted is checked from the history acquired in step S807, and it is checked whether there is a history in which the user ID to be deleted has a quota transferred from another user in the past. If there is a history, the process proceeds to step S808. If there is no history, the process proceeds to step S810 and normal user deletion processing is performed.

  In step S809, processing is performed to return the quota to the user who is the transfer source based on the history. As a process in the case of having a history of transfer from a plurality of users, 1) the transfer time is returned preferentially from the latest one. 2) Distribute and return quotas according to the ratio of assigned quotas. And so on. After the return process, the process proceeds to step S810.

  In step S810, the deletion target user ID registration cancellation process is performed. The deletion target user ID is deleted from the user management table.

  Finally, in step S811, the above processing result is notified to the client PC, and the processing ends.

  For example, in the situation of the user management table in FIG. 4, if there is a user deletion request with the user ID: bbbbb, the quota of the user ID: bbbbb is returned using the quota movement history information in FIG. It will be like 13.

  The second embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2.

  The environment in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  The operation of the portion according to claim 2 of the present invention will be described.

  The user uses the utility software of the client PC to unregister the registered user with respect to the multifunction peripheral (M104). FIG. 9 is a screen for designating the user ID of the user to be deleted in the utility software. The user enters the user ID of the user to be deleted on the screen as shown in FIG. 9, and presses the OK button. The utility software that has received the input issues a request for acquiring the quota amount of the user to be deleted to the multifunction peripheral (M104), and acquires the user quota amount from the multifunction peripheral (M104). When the quota of the user to be deleted remains (when the quota amount is not 0), the utility software displays a GUI screen as shown in FIG. 10 and inputs whether or not to transfer the remaining quota to another user. Ask for. When the user selects to transfer the remaining quota to another user, a GUI screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed, and input of the transfer destination user ID and the quota amount to be transferred is requested. In the lower diagram of the user to be transferred, when the user completes input of the user ID of the transfer destination and the quota amount to be transferred, the utility software issues a user deletion request packet to the multifunction peripheral (M104). The user deletion request packet includes information such as the user ID and password of the user who made the user deletion request, the user ID to be registered and deleted, the user ID of the quota transfer destination, and the quota amount to be transferred. The operation of the multifunction device when receiving the user deletion request packet will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The multifunction peripheral (M104) starts operation by receiving the user deletion request packet in step S1201.

  In step S1202, the multi function device (M104) analyzes the received packet, and information (user ID, password, deletion user ID (user ID to be deleted), user ID of the quota transfer destination, quota amount to be transferred) Etc.).

  In step S1203, the multifunction peripheral (M104) takes out the user information stored in the internal recording medium.

  In step S1204, the multifunction peripheral (M104) performs user authentication using the user ID / password acquired in step S1202 and the user information acquired in step S1203. As a result, if it is determined that the user is a legitimate user having user deletion authority, the process proceeds to step S1205. An error occurs if authentication fails.

  In step S1205, it is confirmed that the acquired deletion user ID is registered in the user information of the multifunction peripheral. If it is confirmed that it is registered, the process proceeds to step S1206. If it is not registered, an error occurs.

  In step S1206, it is checked whether the quota of the user to be deleted remains. When the quota remains (when the quota amount is not 0), the process proceeds to step S1207. If no quota remains (when the quota amount is 0), the process proceeds to step S1210 and normal user deletion processing is performed.

  In step S1207, it is checked whether or not the received user deletion request packet includes information on a user whose quota is to be transferred. If it is possible to acquire information about the user to whom the quota is transferred, the process proceeds to step S1208. If the information of the user to whom the quota is transferred is not included, the process proceeds to step S1210 and normal user deletion processing is performed.

  In step S1208, it is checked whether or not the quota transfer destination user ID included in the received user deletion request packet is registered as a user of the MFP (M104). When there are a plurality of quota transfer destinations, the registration of all the users is checked. If registered, the process advances to step S1209. If not registered, the process advances to step S1210 to perform normal user deletion processing.

  In step S1209, quota transfer processing is performed according to the user ID of the quota transfer destination and the quota amount to be transferred included in the user deletion request packet. As a result, the quota amount designated for the transfer destination user is moved from the quota of the user to be deleted.

  In step S1210, the deletion target user ID registration cancellation process is performed. The deletion target user ID is deleted from the user management table.

  Finally, in step S1211, the processing result is notified to the client PC, and the process is terminated.

(Other examples)
The first and second embodiments are examples in which the printing apparatus has a function for performing user management. However, the function for performing user management may be performed by another terminal (server) connected to the network.

  In the first and second embodiments, the multifunction peripheral is compatible with the network, and input / output of information is performed via the network from the client PC. However, input / output of information is an operation provided in the multifunction peripheral main body. A panel or a display panel may be used.

It is a block diagram showing the network environment in Example 1 and Example 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram in which a configuration of a client PC in the first embodiment and the second embodiment is simplified. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a simplified configuration of a multifunction machine according to the first and second embodiments. 10 is a table showing user information managed by the multifunction machine in the first and second embodiments. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a user print quota list display screen displayed on a display of a client PC in the first and second embodiments. In Example 1, it is a quota transfer information input screen displayed on the display of the client PC. 3 is a table showing a quota movement history possessed by the multifunction machine in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction machine when the multifunction machine receives a user deletion request in the first embodiment. In Example 2, it is the figure showing the screen which inputs the user ID used as the registration deletion object displayed on the display of a client PC. In Example 2, it is a figure showing the screen which inputs whether the quota which the registration deletion target user displayed on the display of a client PC left over is transferred to another user. In Example 2, it is a figure showing the screen which inputs the transfer destination user ID which transfers the quota which the registration deletion target user left over displayed on the display of a client PC, and the amount of quota to transfer. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a multifunction machine when the multifunction machine receives a user deletion request in the second embodiment. 6 is a table showing user information managed by the multifunction peripheral.

Claims (6)

Comprising user management means for registering information about printing device users, quotas for each user (available printing device usage) and managing the printing device usage of users and users;
It has quota movement means that can move any quota between users,
What is claimed is: 1. A printing system comprising quota return means for returning a quota to a transfer source user if there is a quota left by the user when the user registration is deleted. Comprising user management means for registering information about printing device users, quotas for each user (available printing device usage) and managing the printing device usage of users and users;
What is claimed is: 1. A printing system comprising: quota transfer means for designating a user to whom a quota is to be transferred and transferring the quota to another user if there is a quota that the user has left over when deleting the user registration. A user management function for registering information on printing device users and quotas (usable printing device usage amounts) for each user and managing the printing device usage amounts of users and users;
A quota transfer function that allows you to move any quota between users,
A printing system control method, comprising: a quota return step for returning a quota to a user at a movement source if there is a quota left by the user when the user registration is deleted. A user management function for registering information on printing device users and quotas (usable printing device usage amounts) for each user and managing the printing device usage amounts of users and users;
A printing system control method comprising: a quota transfer step of designating a user to whom a quota is to be transferred and transferring the quota to another user if there is a quota left by the user when the user registration is deleted . A user management function for registering information on printing device users and quotas (usable printing device usage amounts) for each user and managing the printing device usage amounts of users and users;
A quota transfer function that allows you to move any quota between users,
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for realizing a quota return function for returning a quota to a user at a transfer source if there is a quota left by the user when the user registration is deleted. A user management function for registering information on printing device users and quotas (usable printing device usage amounts) for each user and managing the printing device usage amounts of users and users;
When deleting a user registration, if there is a quota left by the user, a computer-readable program storing a program for realizing a quota transfer function for specifying a user to transfer the quota and transferring the quota to another user is stored. recoding media.

Images