JP2008077492A - Printing system and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system and a printing method capable of executing automatically transfer processing for the number of printing sheets between users, when the number of printing sheets is requested exceeding an upper limit value of the number of print permitted number of sheets. <P>SOLUTION: This printing system/method is provided with a plurality of user terminals, a plurality of printers, a manager terminal and a print control server connected respectively to a network, and the upper limit value of the number of print permitted sheets is set in each of the users in the printing system/method. The print control server 5 is provided with a transfer processing means 14 for transferring a part of a residual number of printable sheets in the user with the print permitted number of sheets not reaching the upper limit value, for the user requiring the print permitted number of sheets exceeding the upper limit value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and printing method including a user terminal connected to a network, a printing apparatus, and a management server.

  Recently, multiple users can use printing devices connected to the network to reduce the installation cost of the printing devices, and use multiple printing devices to reduce printing time through distributed printing and simultaneous printing. Work to improve the efficiency of office work. On the other hand, the use of color printers has been increased, and its use has been expanded. On the other hand, the number of prints and copies used has increased, and the printing cost has increased. For this reason, for example, in Patent Document 1, a management server that manages both printing and copying is connected to a network, printing restriction information and the like are collectively managed, and printing permission / inhibition is instructed. Restrictions are being made.

Further, in Patent Document 2, the upper limit value of the print permission number is set for each user, and it is necessary to change the upper limit value of the print permission number from the situation of the print permission number and the number of printed sheets set for the user. And a setting change inquiry unit that predicts whether or not to allow the administrator to change the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints. A printing system is disclosed that enables a printing process based on the changed printing restriction when the administrator has given permission to change the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints.
JP 2002-215373 A JP 2005-349704 A

  When the upper limit for the number of prints allowed is set for each user or for each group of multiple users, the number of prints that exceeds the upper limit for the number of prints allowed due to a sudden event or response to a customer. May require. Normally, in such a case, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, the user requests the administrator who manages the setting of the permitted number of prints to change the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints. In some cases, the manager is absent or busy, and cannot be handled immediately. In such a case, there arises a problem that the printing process is interrupted and the business process is stagnant.

  In addition, the management of the number of printed pages of users in the same group is usually managed by the same administrator, and the administrator generally thinks that the total number of printed pages in the group should be properly managed. Is. Individual handling of printing restrictions for each user is a heavy burden on the administrator, and it is often desired that the users be processed in a flexible manner. However, even if users interchange with each other, it is often unclear how many other users are allowed to print and how many remaining prints are possible, and adjustments between users are easy. There is a problem that is not.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and when there is a request for the number of printed sheets exceeding the upper limit value of the permitted number of printed sheets, the transfer process of the number of printed sheets is automatically performed between users. The purpose is to provide a printing system and printing method.

  A printing system or method according to the present invention includes a user terminal connected to a network, a printing apparatus, and a print management server, and is a printing system and method in which an upper limit value of the permitted number of prints is set for each user. Includes transfer processing means for transferring a part of the remaining printable number of the user whose print permission number does not reach the upper limit value to a user who needs the print permission number exceeding the upper limit value.

  The printing system according to the present invention further includes communication means for notifying the user of the transfer of the remaining printable number through the user terminals of both users before the transfer of the remaining printable number is executed. After the notification by the communication means, after the reply from the user terminal or after a lapse of a predetermined time, the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints for both users is changed to execute the printing process. Transfer of the remaining printable number is performed between users in the same group, and is performed in descending order of the absolute number or the remaining number ratio of the remaining printable number among the users in the group. The user terminal of the user who has changed the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints is notified of the upper limit value change result.

  Further, in the printing system according to the present invention, when a plurality of printing apparatuses are connected on the network, the upper limit value of the number of prints allowed for each user is set in each printing apparatus, and the above printing is possible for each printing apparatus. The remaining number can be transferred. Further, it is desirable to manage the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints including the number of copies to be directly copied by the printing apparatus, in addition to printing from the user terminal via the network.

  According to the present invention, when the upper limit value of the print permitted number of sheets is set, when a change to increase the upper limit value of the user's permitted number of prints is necessary, without obtaining the change permission by the administrator, It is possible to automatically perform transfer from a user who has room automatically between users. As a result, it is possible to avoid the stagnation of the printing process and reduce the labor of the administrator.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the printing system of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a printing system, 2 is a user terminal, 3 is an administrator terminal, 4 is a printing apparatus, 5 is a print management server, and 6 is a communication network.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 according to the present invention includes, for example, a plurality of user terminals 2, an administrator terminal 3, a plurality of printing apparatuses 4, and a print management server 5 via a communication network 6. Connected to be communicable.

The user terminal 2 is a terminal operated by a user, and data relating to printing such as input of image data, color printing and monochrome printing, setting of printing paper, number of prints, necessity of management image addition, and the like are created. The The header information of the print data is notified to the print management server 5 via the printing apparatus 4 that has requested the print processing of the print job, or directly to the print management server 5. One user terminal may be used by a plurality of users.
The administrator terminal 3 is a terminal similar to the user terminal 2, but is a terminal operated by a person who manages the printing process, such as assigning an upper limit value of the permitted number of prints to each user via the terminal for printing. Are shown separately from other user terminals. Note that only one administrator terminal 3 is required, but a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of units have different management contents and work is distributed.

  As the printing apparatus 4, a plurality of image forming apparatuses of various forms such as a digital multi-function peripheral and a printer are used. In addition, a printing apparatus having specific functions such as color printing, monochrome printing, high image quality, and high-speed printing can also be used. Furthermore, one printing apparatus may be provided with a plurality of the specific functions, and these functions can be selected and used.

  In the printing system according to the present invention, the print management server 5 manages the upper limit of the permitted number of prints for each user or group, performs print processing permission, and transfers the number of prints to manage the number of prints. In addition, the printing status of each printing apparatus may be monitored, and the management operation may be performed so that each user can execute a print job with an appropriate printing schedule. The print management server 5 may be omitted by, for example, providing one or several of the plurality of printing apparatuses with a management server function equivalent to the print management server.

  The user terminal 2, the administrator terminal 3, the printing device 4, and the print management server 5 can communicate with each other via the communication network 6. For example, the upper limit of the permitted number of prints and the permitted number of copies for each user (hereinafter collectively referred to as the permitted number of prints) is notified from the administrator terminal 3 to the respective users through the user terminal 2. At the same time, the print permission number is also notified to the print management server 5, and the print permission number is set in the print number management table. Note that the permitted number of prints may be set as an amount in a budget or the like by converting the number of sheets into an amount.

The upper limit value of the permitted number of prints can be set in individual units, business group units, workplace units, or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as users). In addition, the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints means the number of printable sheets in a predetermined period. For example, it is set in units of one year or six months, monthly units, weekly units, or daily units according to budgeting. Can do.
The administrator in the administrator terminal 3 is a person who has the authority to set the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints or to approve the change of the setting for the user. For example, a person who is in a managerial position in a company organization or a manager who is entrusted with management of office supplies or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the print management server. In the figure, 10 is a control unit, 11 is a print job receiving unit, 12 is a print number management unit, 13 is a print number calculation unit, 14 is a transfer processing unit, 15 Indicates a print job instruction section, and 16 indicates a transfer notification section.

  As shown in the figure, the schematic configuration of the print management server 5 includes a print job receiving unit 11 that accepts an inquiry about execution of a print job from each printing device 4, and the number of prints that can be managed and the number of prints that can be managed for each user. Management unit 12, print number calculation unit 13 for calculating the number of printable sheets for a user's print job, transfer for transferring the number of prints from another user when the requested print job exceeds the upper limit of the number of prints allowed A processing unit 14, a print job instruction unit 15 that issues a print execution instruction to the printing apparatus, a transfer communication unit 16 that notifies transfer of the number of printed sheets, and a control unit 10 that performs these controls are provided.

  The control unit 10 has a CPU and includes a program for controlling communication with an external terminal or a printing apparatus, and controls overall management functions related to printing. The print job receiving unit 11 receives a large number of print jobs including print reservations from a plurality of user terminals connected to the communication network 6 via the printing apparatus 4, and executes, waits, etc. for the print job in the job management table. Managed. In the header information attached to the print job, color / monochrome, print paper size, number of printed sheets, and the like are presented, so whether or not this print job is possible and the number of printable sheets are confirmed.

The number-of-prints management unit 12 prints, for example, a printable remaining number or the like calculated from the difference between the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints for each user transmitted from the administrator terminal 3, the number of used prints, and the number of prints. A number management table is stored.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the print number management table. In each user (or group), an e-mail address for sending various notifications to the user, the upper limit value of the print permission number set initially, The number of print processed sheets, the remaining number of printable items in the future, and the like are managed. This print count management table stores and accumulates the used print count for each user acquired through a print job, so that the remaining printable count for each user is sequentially updated and managed with the latest information.

  The print number calculation unit 13 is a means for calculating whether or not the requested print job of the user is within the range of the print permission number, that is, the number of printable sheets. The printable number of sheets is calculated by referring to the remaining number obtained by subtracting the number of sheets already used from the upper limit value of the number of sheets permitted for printing in the number-of-prints-management table managed by the number-of-prints manager 12. It is calculated by calculating the difference from the number of printed sheets. If the same user reserves (or is waiting for) multiple print jobs, is it possible to calculate the total number of prints required for multiple print jobs and print all the print jobs? It may be determined whether or not.

  In the transfer processing unit 14, when the print job requested by the user (or a plurality of print jobs by the same user) exceeds the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints, for example, the permitted number of prints in the same group to which the user belongs. It is checked whether or not there are users who have not reached the upper limit value, and the printable remaining number of these users is checked. As a result, if there is a surplus in the printable remaining number of other users in the group, a process of transferring a part of the remaining printable remaining number of the user having a surplus to a user who has insufficient printable remaining number. Do. This transfer is based on, for example, whether the number of remaining printable pages of a user who has a margin is large in the group, or whether the ratio of the remaining printable number to the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints is large. The transfer should be done in the order of the largest users.

The print job instruction unit 15 instructs each printing apparatus to execute or disable the print processing based on the transfer processing result by the transfer processing unit 14. However, it is desirable to execute these transfer processes after obtaining the user's consent.
As described above, the transfer communication unit 16 provides a part of the remaining printable number of a user who has a margin in which the permitted number of prints does not reach the upper limit for the user who needs the permitted number of prints exceeding the upper limit. This is a means for notifying each user when transferring. This notification can be made by automatic transmission using, for example, the mail address in the print number management table of FIG.

  Here, for example, it is assumed that the user A requests a print job for 600 print sheets even though his / her remaining printable number is 100 sheets. The number-of-prints calculation unit 13 determines that the print job of user A exceeds the remaining printable number, and the transfer processing unit 14 automatically performs the transfer process. In the transfer processing unit 14, for example, a process of transferring 500 print sheets from the user B having the largest printable remaining number (1350 printable remaining number) to the user A according to the transfer standard is selected. Prior to the execution of the transfer process, it is desirable that the transfer communication unit 16 notifies the transfer contents to both users A and B via the user terminal and obtains consent.

FIG. 6 shows an example of notification automatically sent to the user from the print number management table, and FIG. 6A is an example of notification to the user A that requires a print permission number exceeding the upper limit. This is a “non-permission notification” for a print job. In this notification, a message such as “The amount of printable sheets for Mr. A is insufficient. Do you want to transfer the following number of copies to execute the printing process? Send to.
FIG. 6B is an example of notification to the user B who has not reached the upper limit value for the number of print permission sheets, and is “transfer request notification”. In this notification, for example, a message such as “I received a request to transfer the following number of sheets from Mr. A. Do you want to transfer? B → A 500 sheets” is transmitted to the terminal of user B.

  In response to the notifications shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, if the users A and B respond OK within a predetermined time, the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints is changed according to the notified contents. And instructing the corresponding printing apparatus to execute the printing process in the print job. Also, if there is no response from the user A or B within a predetermined time, the corresponding printing apparatus is instructed to execute the printing process in the print job, assuming that the notified content is OK. In addition, when there is an answer of NO from the user B, the same notification can be given to the user in the next rank.

  The change of the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints is also notified to the administrator terminal from the print number management table. FIG. 6C shows a notification example of notification to the administrator terminal when there is a transfer OK response from the user B, which is a “change request notification” for the permitted number of prints. In this notification, for example, a message such as “We received a request to change the following number of sheets from Mr. B. B → A 500 sheets” is transmitted to the administrator terminal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the printing apparatus 4 described above. For example, an image forming apparatus (eg, a digital multifunction peripheral) having a plurality of functions as a copying apparatus, a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a scanner apparatus, and the like. It is a figure explaining the example applied to ().
A digital multi-function peripheral (hereinafter referred to as multi-function peripheral) 20 shown as an example of an image forming apparatus is connected to a user terminal 2 or another printing apparatus 4 via a communication network 6 such as an in-house LAN by a communication unit 21 and mutually connected. Information exchange is possible. Further, it is also connected to a wide area communication network such as the Internet, and information is transmitted / received to / from an external FAX of an external device or an external PC. Further, the FAX modem 22 can communicate with other facsimile apparatuses through a telephone line network.

  The multi-function device 20 includes a CPU that performs arithmetic processing and a RAM that temporarily stores processing information, controls the overall device, and includes a device control unit 23 that is loaded with programs that execute various functions. Yes. The device control unit 23 is connected to a management unit 24 that stores management control information (various control information) for managing processing performed by the multifunction machine 20, and reads an image or the like recorded on a recording sheet to generate an image. An image reading unit 25 that generates data is connected. The image reading unit 25 includes a scanner (CCD or the like) for capturing image data of a document and a document detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of the document. Further, a hard disk device (HD) 26 is connected to the device control unit 23, and the HD 26 can store and hold data related to image processing such as image data generated by the image reading unit 25.

  The device control unit 23 is connected to an operation unit 27 that is input by a user. This operation unit 27 has an input unit such as a touch panel or a numeric keypad for inputting information such as a control command, and a display unit such as a liquid crystal display for displaying information for operation. In the operation unit 27, an authentication code or the like for authenticating the administrator or user of the multifunction device 20 is also input. Note that the authentication code may be input from the outside via the FAX modem 22 or the communication unit 21.

  The image forming unit 28 temporarily stores the read image data in the memory 29, and the image processing unit 30 reads the image data stored in the memory 29 to detect or add a shading correction or a specific image. To do. Further, the image forming unit 28 includes a printing unit 31 that forms an image and prints it on a recording sheet. As a result, the multifunction device 20 functions as a copier that stores the image data generated by the image reading unit 25 in the memory 29 and then forms an image by the printing unit 31. Further, the image data formed by the image forming unit 28 can be transmitted to the outside, or the image forming unit 28 can form an image by receiving image data from the outside, and also functions as a printing apparatus.

  4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of the flow of the printing system according to the present invention. The outline of the operation of this system will be described with reference to this flowchart. First, in the flow on the printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) side in FIG. 4A, for example, in step S10, the printing apparatus receives a print job (hereinafter simply referred to as a job) from the user A via the user terminal (A). (S10 Yes). In step S11, the contents of the received job (user ID, color / monochrome, printing paper, number of printed sheets, etc.) are analyzed, and in the next step S12, a print management server (hereinafter simply referred to as a management server) is analyzed. Inquires whether the job can be executed including the confirmation of the user ID (to step S20 in FIG. 4B).

  In step S13, the system waits for an answer from the management server and maintains a standby state. Next, when there is a response from the management server, if the job from the user is not permitted (No in S14) in step S14 (step S22 in FIG. 4B), the process proceeds to step S15 and the job is stopped and finished. Note that the fact that the job is not permitted is notified to the user from the management server side in the flow of the management server described later. If execution of the printing process is permitted (Yes in S14) (from step S31 in FIG. 4B), the process proceeds to step S16, and the job printing process is executed. When the job printing process is completed in the next step S17, the process proceeds to step S18 to notify the management server of the end of the job and the flow ends.

  Next, the flow on the management server side in FIG. 4B will be described. If there is an inquiry about the user ID or the like to the management server in step S12 on the printing apparatus side (S20 Yes), it is first determined whether or not the user is registered in the next step S21. If the user A who has requested printing is not registered as a user in the user management table of the management server (No in S21), it is determined in step S22 that the printing process of the job cannot be performed in the standby state or the printing apparatus that is executing another job. Is notified (to step S13 in FIG. 4A). At the same time, the user A is notified via the user terminal (A).

  If the user registration is confirmed in step S21 (S21 Yes), the process proceeds to step S23, where the printable remaining number of user A is checked and received by the print number management table of FIG. 5 managed by the management server. It is determined whether the job content can be processed within the range of the remaining printable number of user A. If processing is possible (Yes in S23), the process proceeds to step S30, the job is reserved in the job management table, and a printing permission notice is issued to the printing apparatus in step S31. If the print processing of the received job exceeds the printable remaining number of the user A (No in S23), the total remaining printable number in the group to which the user A belongs is checked in the next step S24. In step S25, it is determined whether the number of prints of the job of user A can be processed by the remaining printable number in the group.

  If the number of prints of the job of user A exceeds the printable remaining number in the group (No in S25), the process proceeds to step S22, and the job is transferred to the printing apparatus that is in a standby state or executing another job. A notification that the printing process is disabled is issued (to step S13 in FIG. 4A). If the number of prints of user A's job is within the printable remaining number in the group (S25 Yes), according to the transfer standard, for example, out of the remaining printable number of user B of 1350, according to the print number management table of FIG. The process of transferring 500 sheets to user A is automatically performed. Thereafter, in step S26, for the user A who receives the transfer, for example, a notification as illustrated in FIG. 5A is transmitted to the user terminal A, and for the user B to be transferred, for example, FIG. A notification as shown in FIG. 5 (B) is transmitted to the user terminal B.

  After this transfer notification, there are replies from the user A and the user B, and it is determined whether or not the transfer from the user BB to the A is approved in step S27. If the transfer is not accepted (No in S27), it is determined in step S28 whether the printing process is possible with the remaining printable number of other users C in the same group. If the process can be performed with the remaining number of users C (Yes in S28), the process returns to step S26, and a transfer notification is sent again to the user terminal A of user A and the user terminal C of user C. If there is no other transferable user (No in S28), the process proceeds to step S22, and a notification that the job printing process is disabled is issued to the printing apparatus that is in a standby state or executing another job (FIG. 4A to step S13).

  Note that the transfer notification in step S26 may be that the user who has received the notification is out of his / her seat or cannot respond to the notification from the management server due to other tasks. On the other hand, if there is no answer within a predetermined time, it is set so that the transfer process is automatically performed assuming that the transfer is approved. This can prevent the job printing process from being interrupted for a long time.

  If transfer of the number of prints is approved in step S27 (S27 Yes), the process proceeds to step S29, and the upper limit value of the print permission number is changed. This change is notified to the administrator through the administrator terminal of the change in the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints on the print number management table. Next, as a result of changing the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints, the user A can execute the job, and is registered as a reserved job in the job management table in step S30. Thereafter, in step S31, printing permission is notified to the waiting printing apparatus. Upon receiving this notification (step S13), the printing apparatus executes the printing process according to the flow of step S14 and subsequent steps.

  After notifying the printing apparatus of the print permission, the management server side waits for the job in the printing apparatus to end in step 32. When the job on the printing apparatus side is completed (step S18), the management server side is notified of the completion of the job (S32 Yes). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S33 to update the print number management table of FIG.

  The above-described printing apparatus may be in a form in which only one printer is connected to the network, but a form in which a plurality of printing apparatuses are connected is common. Multiple printing devices, such as color printers, monochrome printers, high-quality printers, high-speed printers, and multifunction printers, can be freely connected, and the print management server manages these printers. Can do. As described above, when a plurality of types of printing apparatuses are connected, an upper limit value of the number of prints permitted by the user may be set for each printing apparatus. For example, for color printer (a), user A has 300 sheets, user B has 200 sheets, user C has 100 sheets, and monochrome printer (b) has user A 400 sheets, user B Is 600 sheets, user C is 500 sheets, and for the multi-function peripheral (c)... You may do it.

  In addition, some of the printing apparatuses described above have a copy function such as a multifunction peripheral, and the user may directly copy using the printing apparatus in addition to printing via the terminal. Both the print and the copy are printed using the image forming means and output, and are handled in the same manner in terms of cost management. Therefore, it is desirable to manage the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints as a total number including the number of prints and the number of copies. However, when copying, it is necessary to identify the user by ID and manage the number of copies by the print management server.

It is a figure explaining the outline of the printing system of the present invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the printing management server in this invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) used by this invention. It is a figure explaining the example of a flow by the side of the printing apparatus of the printing system by this invention. It is a figure explaining the example of a flow by the side of the management server of the printing system by this invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the printing number management table used by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a notification accompanying the transfer process in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 2 ... User terminal, 3 ... Manager terminal, 4 ... Printing apparatus, 5 ... Print management server, 6 ... Communication network, 10 ... Control part, 11 ... Print job receiving part, 12 ... Print number management part , 13 ... Number of printed sheets calculation part, 14 ... Assignment processing part, 15 ... Print job instruction part, 16 ... Assignment communication part.

Claims (9)

A printing system including a user terminal connected to a network, a printing apparatus, and a print management server, wherein an upper limit value of the permitted number of prints is set for each user,
The print management server includes a transfer processing unit that transfers a part of the remaining printable number of a user whose print permission number has not reached the upper limit value to a user who needs a print permission number exceeding the upper limit value. A printing system comprising:   2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a communication unit configured to notify the user terminals of both users of the transfer of the printable remaining number before the transfer of the remaining printable number is executed. Printing system.   3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein after the notification by the communication unit, after an answer from the user terminal or after a predetermined time has elapsed, the upper limit value of the print permission number of both users is changed.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer of the remaining printable number is performed between users in the same group.   5. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the transfer of the remaining printable number is performed in descending order of the absolute number or the remaining number ratio of the remaining printable number among users in the group.   The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the change result of the upper limit value is notified to a user terminal of the user who has changed the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints.   7. A plurality of printing apparatuses are connected on a network, and an upper limit value of the permitted number of prints for each user is set in each printing apparatus. Printing system.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints includes a number of copies that are directly copied by the printing apparatus. A printing method including a user terminal connected to a network, a printing apparatus, and a print management server, wherein an upper limit value of the number of allowed prints is set for each user,
A transfer process for automatically transferring a part of the remaining printable remaining number of a user whose print permission number has not reached the upper limit value to a user who needs a print permission number exceeding the upper limit value is performed. Printing method.

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