JP2008165725A - Image formation management system, image formation management program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation management system achieving appropriate print restriction control with high availability and responsiveness, an image formation management program, and a storage medium. <P>SOLUTION: In a printing system 1, use limiting servers RSa, RSb, and RSc in printing networks PNa, PNb, and PNc set authentication information relating to users permitted to use printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... and the maximum numbers of printed pages for respective users, to the printing apparatus used by the users use, and each of printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... limits the use on the basis of authentication information and limits the number of printed pages on the basis of the current number of printed pages for the user permitted to use the printing apparatus and the maximum number of printed pages, and respective use limiting servers RSa, RSb, and RSc obtain the current numbers of printed pages for respective users from respective printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... and calculate the sum and calculate the maximum numbers of printed pages per user in accordance with the sum and the numbers of printed pages and set the maximum numbers of printable pages to the printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium, and in particular, appropriately controls whether or not an image can be formed and the number of images to be formed with good responsiveness and good usability. The present invention relates to an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a composite machine, and a printer, the number of images formed is limited for each image forming apparatus in order to save paper resources.

  However, in recent years, reduction of TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) has been regarded as important in general offices, etc., and as a measure for reducing the amount of paper used and the amount of printing, each image forming apparatus An appropriate restriction cannot be performed only by performing the upper limit.

  The applicant first connects a client terminal, a printer device, a print restriction server for restricting printing, and an authentication server via a network, and the authentication information for each user, the number of print results, and the print upper limit are connected to the authentication server. When the user uses the client terminal, the authentication server obtains the authentication information of the user and determines whether or not the authentication is possible. If the authentication is possible, the print restriction server sends the information via the network. The authentication information of the user, the number of print results and the upper limit number of prints are acquired from the authentication server, and if a print job is input from the user, it is determined whether printing is possible based on the acquired authentication information and the upper limit number of prints. When printing is possible, every time a certain number of prints are executed, the obtained print result number is updated according to the print result number, and the update result is transmitted to the authentication server. Proposes Ttowaku corresponding printing system (see Patent document 1).

  Conventionally, there has been proposed an image forming system that monitors the use status of an image forming apparatus for each group of users via a network with a management apparatus and controls whether or not the image forming apparatus can be used for each group ( Patent Document 2).

JP 2004-102356 A JP 2005-271317 A

  However, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, when using the printer device from the client terminal, the printer device is used after confirming that the upper limit is exceeded by the authentication server and the restriction server connected on the network. Therefore, every time the printer device is used from the client terminal, it is necessary to access the authentication server or the restriction server via the network, the responsiveness is poor, the processing speed is improved, and the usability is improved. Above, there was a need for improvement. In addition, the authentication server and limit server are accessed in units of print jobs or in units of a predetermined number of sheets. However, if the upper limit is exceeded in units of jobs or pages, a strict upper limit is set such as immediately stopping the print job. Whether or not there is a need to do so is a problem.

  In addition, because the usage status of the image forming apparatus is managed and restricted for each group of users for each group described in Patent Document 2, it is not possible to restrict the usage of individual users who use a large amount. In order to limit the use of such an image forming apparatus, there is a need for improvement.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium that appropriately control whether or not an image can be formed and the number of images to be formed with good responsiveness and good usability. The purpose is to provide.

  An image forming restriction control system according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image in which an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an image forming job and a management apparatus that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network. In the formation restriction control system, the image forming apparatus includes user information storage means for storing user information relating to a user permitted to use, a current number of image formations and an upper limit number of remaining image formations for each user. Use restriction information storage means for storing the image, and restricting the use based on the user information, and the image by the user based on the current image forming number of the authorized user and the remaining image forming upper limit number Control means for performing image formation restriction control processing for restricting formation, and the management device associates the user information of each image forming device with the image forming device. User information storage means for storing, usage restriction information storage means for storing the total number of current image formations in each image forming apparatus for each user and a predetermined image formation upper limit number, and the user information Performs user information provision processing to be provided to the image forming apparatus used by the user, obtains the current image forming number from each image forming apparatus at a predetermined timing, and obtains an image obtained from each image forming apparatus The sum of the number of sheets to be formed is calculated for each user, the upper limit number of remaining image formations is calculated from the sum and the upper limit number of image formations for each user, and the calculated remaining upper limit number of image formations is used. Control means for executing information management processing to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by a user, and the image forming apparatus receives the upper limit number of remaining image formations from the management apparatus. But said imaging remaining upper limit number registered in the usage restriction information storing section, by performing the image forming restriction control process based on the image forming remaining upper limit number, have achieved the above objects.

  In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, in the image formation restriction control system, each of the management devices is connected to the integrated management device via a predetermined network, and the integrated management device Integrated user information storage means for storing user information relating to a user who is permitted to use the image forming apparatus in association with the image forming apparatus, and the current number of images formed in each image forming apparatus for each user Integrated use restriction information storage means for storing the total and a predetermined integrated image formation upper limit number of sheets; and integrated user information provision processing for providing the user information to the management apparatus that manages the image forming apparatus used by the user And obtaining the current number of image formations from each management device at a predetermined timing, calculating the sum of the number of image formations obtained from each management device for each user, For each user, the upper limit print image forming number is calculated from the total and the integrated image forming upper limit number, and the calculated image forming upper limit number is transmitted to the management apparatus that manages the image forming apparatus used by the user. And an integrated control unit that performs integrated information management processing. When the image forming upper limit number is sent from the integrated management device, the control unit uses the image forming upper limit number of sheets. The information management processing may be performed based on the upper limit number of image formations registered in the restriction information storage unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming restriction control program in which an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an image forming job and a management apparatus that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network. An image formation restriction control program for restricting image formation in a forming apparatus, wherein user information relating to a user who is permitted to use the image forming apparatus by the management apparatus is provided to the image forming apparatus used by the user. A user information provision processing step, a management information setting processing step for setting an upper limit number of remaining images formed by each user by the management device in the image forming device used by the user, and the management by each image forming device While restricting the use based on the user information sent from the apparatus, the current number of image formations of the authorized user and An image formation restriction control processing step for restricting image formation by the user based on the upper limit number of remaining image formations sent from the management device, and each user from each image forming device at a predetermined timing by the management device For each user, the sum of the number of image formations acquired from each image forming apparatus is calculated for each user, and the sum and the predetermined maximum number of image formations are calculated for each user. The above object is achieved by including an information management processing step of calculating an upper limit number of remaining image formations and transmitting the calculated remaining upper limit number of image formations to the image forming apparatus used by the user. .

  In this case, for example, as described in claim 4, the image formation restriction control program is configured such that the management devices are connected to the integrated management device via a predetermined network, and the integrated management device Integrated user information provision processing step of providing user information related to a user who is permitted to use the image forming apparatus to each management apparatus in a state associated with the image forming apparatus, and each management apparatus at each predetermined timing. The current number of image formations for each user is acquired, the sum of the current number of image formations acquired from each management device is calculated for each user, and the total and predetermined integrated image formation for each user An integrated information management process step of calculating the upper limit number of image formations from the upper limit number and transmitting the calculated upper limit number of image formations to the management device that manages the image forming device used by the user. And-flops, may have.

  In each of the above cases, for example, as described in claim 5, the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program stores the image when the image forming apparatus completes the processing of the image formation job. The current image forming number of the user of the image forming job is updated based on the image forming number of the forming job, and the image forming number of the image forming job is transmitted to the management device. The current image forming number of the user to be held may be updated based on the transmitted image forming number.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 6, the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program is executed by the management apparatus as the information management process from each of the image formation apparatuses. The total number of image formations acquired from each image forming apparatus is calculated for each user, and the image by the user is calculated based on the total and the upper limit number of image formations for each user. Judgment is made on whether or not image formation is possible, and information on whether or not image formation is possible is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by the user, and each image forming apparatus sends the image forming restriction control process from the management apparatus. Whether or not each user can form an image may be controlled based on the image formation availability information.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 7, the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program is configured such that the management device performs the predetermined timing or other based on the user information held by itself. The user information of each of the image forming apparatuses is updated at the timing, or the integrated management apparatus has the management information of each management apparatus at the predetermined timing or other timing based on the user information held by itself. The user information may be updated.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium in which an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an image forming job and a management apparatus that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network. 8. A recording medium for recording an image formation restriction control program for restricting image formation, wherein the image formation restriction control program according to claim 3 is recorded as the image formation restriction control program. Has achieved the above objectives.

  In the image forming restriction control system according to the ninth aspect, an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least an image forming job and a management apparatus that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network. In the image forming restriction control system, the image forming apparatus stores an image forming sheet number storage unit for storing a current image forming sheet number for each user who uses the image forming apparatus, and availability information for each user. The use permission / inhibition information storage means for storing and the use restriction control processing for restricting the use based on the use permission / inhibition information are performed, and the number of image formations of the user permitted to use is counted and stored in the image formation number storage means. Control means for performing a process for counting the number of image formations to be performed, and the management device includes a use restriction information storage means for storing a predetermined use upper limit number of image formations A group in which the current image forming number for each user is acquired from each image forming apparatus at a predetermined timing, and the image forming number of all users acquired from each image forming apparatus is assigned to the user. The group is calculated for each group, and for each group, it is determined whether or not the group can be used based on the total and the use upper limit number of the use restriction information storage means, and the sum exceeds the use upper limit number. Control means for executing use restriction management processing for transmitting availability information that disables use of all users belonging to the user to the image forming apparatus used by all users, and the image forming apparatus When the availability information is sent from the management device, the control means registers the availability information in the availability information storage means, and the usage restriction control process is performed based on the availability information. By performing, it has achieved the above objects.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming restriction control program in which an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least an image forming job and a management apparatus that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network. An image formation restriction control program for restricting image formation in the image forming apparatus, wherein the image formation number count processing step of storing a current image formation number for each user by the image formation apparatus in an image formation number storage unit; The current number of image formations for each user is acquired from each image forming apparatus at a predetermined timing by the management apparatus, and the number of image formations of all users acquired from each image forming apparatus is assigned to the user. For each group, and for each group, the total and the predetermined image formation stored in the use restriction information storage means. It is determined whether or not the group can be used from the upper limit number of use, and the use availability information that disables use of all users belonging to the group whose total exceeds the upper limit number of use is used by all the users. Use restriction management processing step transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and use of the image forming apparatus by the user based on the availability information for each user sent from the management apparatus by the image forming apparatus. The above-mentioned object is achieved by including a use restriction control processing step to restrict.

  In the case of claim 9 or claim 10, for example, as described in claim 11, the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program has a plurality of the groups and belongs to the plurality of groups. There may be a plurality of users who use the image forming apparatus, and one management apparatus may perform the use restriction management process.

  Further, for example, the image formation restriction control system includes a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile function as the function of the image formation restriction control program. An operation mode, and in the control means or the use restriction control processing step, as the use restriction control process, the use of the functional operation mode is restricted based on availability information for each functional operation mode, and The number of image formations in the functional operation mode of the user permitted to use is counted and stored in the image formation number storage unit, and the management device uses the usage restriction information storage unit in each functional operation mode. An upper limit number is stored, and the total is calculated for each functional operation mode in the control means or the use restriction management processing step, For each group and each functional operation mode, whether or not to use is determined from the total sum and the usage upper limit number for each functional operation mode of the usage restriction information storage means, and the total exceeds the upper usage limit number Use restriction management processing may be executed in which use permission / prohibition information for disabling use of the functional operation mode of all users belonging to the group is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by all the users.

  Furthermore, for example, as described in claim 13, the image forming restriction control system or the image forming restriction control program has a processing function such as image formation in color including black and white as the function of the image forming apparatus. And using the control means or the use restriction control processing step to restrict the use of the operation processing for that color based on the use availability information for each color, and the color of the user permitted to use the color The number of image formations is counted and stored in the image formation number storage means, and the management device stores the use upper limit number for each color in the use restriction information storage means, and the control means or the use restriction In the management processing step, the sum is calculated for each color, and for each group and for each color, the total is calculated from the use upper limit number of sheets for each color in the use restriction information storage means. The availability information that disables the use of the operation processing in the color of all the users belonging to the group whose total exceeds the usage upper limit number is used by all the users. Usage restriction management processing transmitted to the image forming apparatus may be executed.

  For example, as described in claim 14, the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program includes a frequency storage unit in which the management device stores a predetermined unit frequency for each color; Use restriction frequency information storage means for storing a predetermined upper limit number for each, and the number of image formations for each color obtained from the image forming apparatus for each user in the control means or the use restriction management processing step. Is multiplied by the unit frequency of the color of the frequency storage means to calculate the total frequency for each group and for each color, and for each group and for each color, from the total frequency and the upper limit frequency, By determining whether or not the color can be used, use information indicating that all the users belonging to the group whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit frequency cannot be used in the color is used by all the users. The picture to be Use restriction management process to be transmitted to the forming apparatus may be implemented.

  Furthermore, for example, as described in claim 15, the image forming restriction control system or the image forming restriction control program is configured so that the management device stores the unit frequency for each color in the frequency storage unit. And storing the upper limit number for each color for each group in the usage limit frequency information storage means, and the total frequency of the color for each group and for each color in the control means or the usage limit management processing step. And determining whether or not the color can be used from the upper limit number of the color in the use limit frequency information storage means, and the total frequency of all users belonging to the group exceeding the upper limit number of the color Use restriction management processing may be executed in which use permission / prohibition information that disables use of the color is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by all the users.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 16, the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program is stored in the frequency storage unit by the management device in a unit frequency for each color for each user. And the unit frequency of the color for each user of the frequency storage means in the number of image formations for each color acquired from the image forming apparatus for each user in the control means or the use restriction management processing step. May be multiplied to calculate the total frequency for each group and for each color.

  Furthermore, for example, as described in claim 17, the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program stores the number of image formations acquired by the management apparatus for each user from the image formation apparatus. The number of image formation sheets to be stored, and the number of image formations acquired this time from the image forming apparatus for each user in the control means or the use restriction management processing step and the previous number stored in the image formation number storage means The sum or the total frequency may be calculated based on the difference from the acquired number of image formations, and the availability may be determined based on the calculated total or total frequency.

  Further, for example, the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program stores the number of image formations acquired by the management apparatus for each user from the image formation apparatus. An image forming sheet number storage means for acquiring the image forming sheet number for each user at a predetermined usage situation investigation timing in the control means or the use restriction management processing step. The image formation that is stored and used by the user for the use status information that enables the use of the user for the user who cannot use the use status information at the usage status check timing. It may be sent to the device.

  Furthermore, for example, as described in claim 19, the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program includes a predetermined input means for the management device to input the use upper limit number of sheets, and the control means Alternatively, in the use restriction management processing step, whether or not use is possible may be determined based on the upper limit use number input from the input means.

  In the case of claims 9 to 19, for example, as described in claim 20, the management apparatus associates each image forming apparatus with a user who uses the image forming apparatus and uses the image forming apparatus. Group information storage means for storing the identification information of the group to which the user belongs and the identification information of the parent group in association with the user as group information when the group has a parent group, the control means or the use In the restriction control processing step, when the current number of image formations for each user is acquired from each image forming apparatus, all the usages acquired from each image forming apparatus based on the group information in the group information storage unit The total number of images formed by the user may be calculated for each group to which the user belongs.

  Further, in the case of claim 20, for example, as described in claim 21, the management apparatus stores identification information of the one or more groups to which the image forming apparatus belongs in association with the image forming apparatus. Device information storage means, and in the control means or the use restriction control processing step, based on the identification information of the group to which each image forming apparatus belongs in the device information storage means, The user may acquire the current number of image formations and calculate the total number of image formations for each group.

  Further, in the case of claim 20 or claim 21, for example, as described in claim 22, when the user belongs to a plurality of groups, the group information storage unit The identification information of all the groups to which the user belongs is stored in association with the user as group information, and the control unit or the use restriction control processing step is performed for each user from each image forming apparatus. When the current number of image formations is acquired, based on the group information stored in the group information storage unit, the number of image formations of all users acquired from each image forming apparatus is all groups to which the user belongs. For each group, the sum is calculated, and the availability information that disables the use of all users belonging to the group for which the sum exceeds the upper limit number of usage is obtained. All the users belonging to all groups other than the group in which the sum exceeds the upper limit number of use among the groups to which the user belongs. Use permission / prohibition information for disabling use may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by all the users.

  Further, in the case of claim 20 or claim 21, for example, as described in claim 23, when the user belongs to a plurality of groups, the group information storage unit The identification information of all the groups to which the user belongs is stored in association with the user as group information, and the control unit or the use restriction control processing step is performed for each user from each image forming apparatus. When the current number of image formations is acquired, based on the group information stored in the group information storage unit, the number of image formations of all users acquired from each image forming apparatus is all groups to which the user belongs. For each group, the sum is calculated, and the availability information for disabling the use of all users belonging to the group whose sum exceeds the upper limit number of use. The total information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by the user, and the total is included in the group information among all the groups other than the group in which the total to which the user belongs exceeds the maximum usage number. The image in which all the users use the availability information that disables the use of all the users belonging to the child group in which the identification information of the group exceeding the upper limit number of usages is registered as the identification information of the parent group It may be sent to the forming device.

  Further, in the case of claim 20 or claim 21, for example, as described in claim 24, when the user belongs to a plurality of groups, the group information storage unit Storing identification information of all groups to which the user belongs in association with the user as group information, and in the control means or the usage restriction control processing step, when the sum exceeds the usage upper limit number of sheets, Based on the group information in the group information storage means, the availability information that disables the use of all users belonging to all groups to which the user whose total exceeds the upper limit number of uses belongs. All-group unusable control processing to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by the user, and the use among all the groups to which the user belongs whose total exceeds the maximum usage number The child group in which the identification information of the group in which the total sum exceeds the usage upper limit number and the group information in which the total exceeds the usage upper limit number is registered as the parent group identification information in the group information of the group information storage means Child group unusable control processing for transmitting to the image forming apparatus used by all the users availability information that prohibits the use of all users belonging to the user, and the sum exceeds the upper limit number of use Depending on the selection, one of the limited group use disabling control processes for transmitting the use permission / prohibition information for disabling use of all users belonging only to the group to which the user belongs to the image forming apparatus used by all the users. May be executed.

  According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least an image forming job and a management device that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network, and the image forming apparatus 25. A recording medium for recording an image formation restriction control program for restricting image formation in the recording medium, wherein the image formation restriction control program according to any one of claims 10 to 24 is recorded as the image formation restriction control program. The above-mentioned purpose is achieved.

  According to the present invention, a management device that restricts the use of an image forming apparatus connected to a network provides user information related to a user permitted to use to the image forming apparatus used by the user, and The upper limit number of remaining image formations by each user is set in the image forming apparatus used by the user, and each image forming apparatus restricts the use based on the user information and the user who has permitted the use. The user restricts image formation based on the current number of image formations and the remaining maximum number of image formations, and the management device acquires the current number of image formations of each user from each image formation device at a predetermined timing. Calculating the sum of the number of image formations acquired from each image forming apparatus for each user, calculating the upper limit number of remaining image formations from the total and a predetermined upper limit number of image formations for each user, Calculated image Since the upper limit of the number of images remaining is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by the user, if there is an image formation request from the user, a determination process as to whether or not the user is permitted to form an image and a restriction on the number of image formation Processing can be performed by the image forming apparatus, and image formation restriction control can be appropriately performed in a state where the responsiveness is good and the usability is good.

  Further, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus counts the current number of image formations for each user, and the management apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via the network transmits each image forming apparatus at a predetermined timing. The current number of image formations for each user is obtained from each of the image forming apparatuses, and the total number of image formations of all users obtained from each image forming apparatus is calculated for each group to which the user belongs, For each group, the use of the group is determined based on the total sum and the upper limit number of images used for image formation, and all users who belong to the group whose total exceeds the upper limit number of uses cannot be used. The availability information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by all users, and the image forming apparatus uses the image forming apparatus by the user based on the availability information for each user sent from the management apparatus. To limit It is possible to restrict the use by appropriately managing the use of the image forming apparatus in the group unit and the user unit, and restrict the image formation in a state where the responsiveness is good and the usability is good. Control can be performed appropriately.

  Further, according to the present invention, the management apparatus associates each image forming apparatus with the user who uses the image forming apparatus, and the identification information of the group to which the user belongs and the parent group in the group. In some cases, the identification information of the parent group is stored as group information in association with the user, and when the current number of image formations for each user is obtained from each image forming apparatus, each image formation is based on the group information. The total number of images formed by all users acquired from the apparatus is calculated for each group to which the user belongs, and the use of the image forming apparatus by the user is restricted based on the total. Can be divided into a plurality of groups, the use of image forming apparatuses can be managed more appropriately in groups and users, and the use can be restricted, and the response is good And, an image can be formed limit controlled more appropriately in good condition utility.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 11 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an image formation restriction control system and image formation according to the present invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system 1 to which a first embodiment of a restriction control program and a recording medium is applied. FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a plurality of printing systems 1 are connected to an integrated server (integrated management apparatus) TS via a network NWt. In FIG. 1, three printing networks PNa, PNb, and PNc are connected. , PNc, as shown for the print network PNa, a plurality of (two in FIG. 1) client terminals CLa1, CLa2 and a plurality (two in FIG. 1) on a network NWa such as a LAN (Local Area Network) Printing apparatuses (image forming apparatuses) Pa1 and Pa2 and a use restriction server (management apparatus) RSa are connected. Although the other print networks PNb and PNc are not shown in the drawing, the number of client terminals and printing apparatuses may be different, but the configuration is the same as the configuration of the print network PNa, and the print networks PNb and PNc are also the same. Although not shown in the drawings, the description will be made with reference to the codes of the print networks PNb and PNc, such as the use restriction servers RSb and RSc, if necessary.

  Hereinafter, each configuration of the print network PNa will be described, but the same applies to the other print networks PNb and PNc.

  The client terminals CLa1 and CLa2 are ordinary personal computers, and when a user issues a print request for a document created using the client terminals CLa1 and CLa2, the print job of the document is designated via the network NWa. To the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2. In the printing system 1, when a user transmits a print job to the printing apparatuses Pa <b> 1 and Pa <b> 2 using the client terminals CLa <b> 1 and CLa <b> 2, the user authentication information (a combination of a user name and a password, or a user is changed). A user ID to be specified) is added to the print job and transmitted.

  As the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a printer, a composite apparatus (MFP) or the like is used, and each unit necessary for executing print processing as each printing apparatus Pa1 and Pa2, for example, a control unit , A paper feeding unit, a printing unit (image forming unit), a paper discharge unit, an operation display unit, and the like. As shown in FIG. A printability determination unit 13, a print execution unit 14, an authentication information management unit 15, a storage unit 16, and the like are provided.

  The network transmitting / receiving unit 11 is connected to the network NWa and communicates with the client terminals CLa1 and CLa2 and the usage restriction server RSa connected to the network NW to exchange various information such as reception of print jobs and transmission / reception of authentication information. I do.

  The authentication information management unit 15 manages the registration, update, and deletion of the authentication / management information of the users who use the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 in the authentication information table of the storage unit 16, and the authentication / management information of the authentication information table. Is sent to the authentication execution unit 12 and the printability determination unit 13, and information such as the number of prints is exchanged with the print execution unit 14.

  The authentication information table includes authentication information (user information) that identifies users who are permitted to use the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2, and management information (authentication / management information) necessary for printing restrictions. For example, FIG. 3 and FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, each user is composed of authentication information for a card user ID, a login user name and a login password, and management information for the number of printed sheets and the upper limit number of remaining prints. 3 shows authentication / management information registered in the authentication information table of the storage unit 16 of the printing apparatus Pa1, and FIG. 4 shows the authentication information table of the storage unit 16 of the printing apparatus Pa2. The registered authentication / management information is shown.

  The authentication execution unit 12 receives the authentication information of the user who made the print request sent from the client terminals CLa1 and CLa2 received by the network transmission / reception unit 11 and the authentication / management information of the authentication information table received from the authentication information management unit 15 Based on the authentication information, it is determined whether the user is a permitted user, and if it is a permitted user, the fact is passed to the printability determination unit 13.

  In addition, the print permission determination unit 13 receives the management information of the user in the authentication information table from the authentication information management unit 15, and determines whether or not the number of prints of the user has reached the upper limit print remaining number based on the management information. To determine whether or not printing is possible, and notify the print execution unit 14 of the determination.

  The print execution unit 14 controls the printing process based on the determination result of the print permission determination unit 13 and notifies the authentication information management unit 15 of the number of printed sheets (number of printed sheets).

  The use restriction server RSa uses a computer or the like, has a normal hardware configuration as a server, and, as shown in FIG. 2, a network transmission / reception unit 21, an authentication information management unit 22, and a storage unit 23. Etc.

  The network transmission / reception unit 21 communicates with the client terminals CLa1 and CLa2 through the network NWa, communicates with the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2, exchanges authentication information and management information, and further through the network NWt. Communication with the integrated server TS is performed to exchange authentication information and management information.

  The authentication information management unit 22 registers and manages authentication / management information of users who use the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 connected to the network NW in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23. That is, the authentication information management unit 22 registers, changes, and deletes authentication information and management information input from the input unit in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23, and also performs authentication and management on the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2. Information is provided, and authentication information and management information are exchanged with the integrated server TS via the network transmission / reception unit 21 to manage authentication / management information.

  The storage unit 23 stores, as an authentication information table, authentication information and management information of users who use the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... Of their own print networks PNa, PNb, PNc under the control of the authentication information management unit 22. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the authentication information table includes a card user ID and a login user name for each user of the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... And login password authentication information and management information on the number of prints up to now and the upper limit number of prints (upper limit number of image formations). 5 is an authentication information table of the use restriction server RSa of the print network PNa, FIG. 6 is an authentication information table of the use restriction server RSb of the print network PNb, and FIG. 7 is an authentication of the use restriction server RSc of the print network PNc. It is an information table.

  The integrated server TS uses a computer or the like, has a normal hardware configuration as a server, and includes a network transmission / reception unit 31, an authentication information management unit 32, a storage unit 33, and the like as shown in FIG. I have.

  The network transmitting / receiving unit 31 communicates with the use restriction servers RSa of the print networks PNa, PNb, and PNc via the network NWt, and uses the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... Of the print networks PNa, PNb, PNc. Exchange of user authentication information and management information.

  The authentication information management unit 32 receives, from the input unit, authentication information and management information of a user who uses the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... Of each print network PNa, PNb, PNc connected to the network NWt. The registration / change / deletion of the authentication / management information in the authentication information table of the storage unit 33 is managed. That is, the authentication information management unit 32 registers, changes, and deletes authentication information and management information input from the input unit in the authentication information table of the storage unit 33, and also uses the use restriction server via the network transmission / reception unit 31. Authentication information and management information are exchanged with RSa, RSb, and RSc to manage authentication / management information.

  The storage unit 33 stores, as an authentication information table, authentication information and management information of users who use the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... Of each printing network PNa, PNb, PNc under the control of the authentication information management unit 32. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the authentication information table includes a card user ID, a login user name, and a login password for each user of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Of their own printing networks PNa, PNb, PNc. It consists of authentication information, management information on the number of prints up to now and the integrated print upper limit (integrated image formation upper limit).

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing system 1 of the present embodiment is based on authentication / management information in an authentication information table owned by the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Of each of the printing networks PNa, PNb, PNc. In addition to restricting the number of users, the number of printed sheets is restricted, and the authentication / management information in the authentication information table of each printing device Pa1, Pa2,... Is restricted to use each printing network PNa, PNb, PNc. The server RSa,... Manages and updates based on its own authentication information table, and the integrated server TS stores the authentication / management information of the use restriction servers RSa... Of each print network PNa, PNb, PNc. Management is performed based on authentication / management information in the authentication information table.

  That is, the administrator of the printing system 1 provides the integrated print upper limit as the authentication information and management information of the user who uses the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... Of each print network PNa, PNb, PNc to the integrated server TS. Enter the number of copies.

  In the integrated server TS, when the authentication information and the integrated printing upper limit number of sheets are set and input, the authentication information management unit 32 stores the input authentication information and the integrated printing upper limit number of sheets in the authentication information table of the storage unit 33, and At the timing, the authentication information and management information (authentication / management information) of the authentication table are transmitted to the use restriction servers RSa... Of the respective print networks PNa, PNb, PNc via the network transmitting / receiving unit 31 and the network NWt and integrated. User information provision processing and integrated management information setting processing are performed.

  When the authentication / management information is sent from the integrated server TS, each use restriction server RSa... Is received by the network transmission / reception unit 21, and the authentication information management unit 22 performs as shown in FIGS. In addition, user information provision processing and management information setting processing are stored in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23 and transmitted to each printing device Pa1, Pa2,... Via the network transmission / reception unit 21 and the network NWa at a predetermined timing. Do.

  Each of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Receives the authentication / management information sent from the usage restriction server RSa... By the network transmission / reception 11, and the authentication information management unit 15 has shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG.

  That is, each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... Has limited resources that can be normally used, and is limited to the size of the storage unit 16 included in each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,. Therefore, the number of authentication / management information to be distributed for each of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,.

  The integrated server TS manages the authentication / management information of each printing device Pa1, Pa2,... Of each printing network PNa, PNb, PNc that has been set and registered, and each printing network PNa, PNb, PNc. Is sent to the use restriction server RSa..., And the use restriction servers RSa... Of each print network PNa, PNb, PNc are connected to the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,. Authentication / management information is received via the network transmission / reception unit 21, and the authentication information management unit 22 registers the authentication / management information in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23, and stores the authentication information table for each of the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2. Send the corresponding authentication / management information. When the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Receive authentication / management information from the usage restriction server RSa ... via the network transmission / reception unit 11, the authentication information management unit 15 receives the received authentication / management information. Are registered in the authentication information table of the storage unit 16 and the user is restricted based on the authentication / management information of the authentication information table, and the print number restriction control process is performed, and each of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. The information management process of managing / updating the authentication / management information in the authentication information table of each print network PNa, PNb, PNc... By the use restriction server RSa,. , Based on the authentication / management information of the authentication information table stored in the integrated server TS itself, the authentication / management information of the use restriction server RSa. It has carried out an integrated information management process to manage.

  As described above, the authentication information and the management information are registered in the storage unit 33 of the integrated server TS, the storage unit 23 of the use restriction server RSa, and the storage unit 16 of each printing device Pa1, Pa2,. , The client terminals CLa1, CLa2,..., When printing from the client terminals CLa1, CLa2,..., Authentication information for identifying the user in the print job (a combination of a user name, a password, and a user is specified). Number (user ID, etc.)) is added and transmitted to the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,.

  In addition, when copying with the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,..., For example, the printing apparatus Pa2 that is an MFP, the user reads an ID card (employee card, etc.) with a card reading apparatus connected to the printing apparatus Pa2. Then, authentication information (card ID or the like) for specifying the user is input.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Receive a print job from a client terminal CLa1, CLa2,. Is started (step S101), and the authentication information management unit 15 acquires the authentication information and management information (the remaining print upper limit number and the current print number) of the authentication information table in the storage unit 16 and passes them to the authentication execution unit 12. Depending on whether or not the authentication information input to the print job is registered in the authentication information of the authentication information table, the authentication execution unit 12 uses the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. Authentication processing is performed to determine whether the user is permitted to print. Further, when the printability determination unit 13 determines that the user is an authorized user, the printability determination unit 13 checks whether or not the current print number in the authentication information table has reached the remaining print limit (step S102). When the number of printed sheets does not reach the maximum remaining number of prints, a print permission is given to the print job, and the print execution unit 14 executes the print job to print the print data on paper. A control process is performed (step S103).

  As described above, since the authentication process and the confirmation process (print restriction control process) of the restriction on the upper limit of the remaining number of prints are all performed in the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,..., The print restriction is performed with good responsiveness. Can be done appropriately.

  When the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Complete the printing process, the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. Update and record (step S104).

  In step S102, the authentication information input to the print job is not registered in the authentication information of the authentication information table, or is input to the print job in the authentication information of the authentication information table. Even if the authentication information is registered, if the current number of prints in the authentication information table has reached the upper limit print remaining number, printing is rejected, and a message to that effect is displayed on the operation display unit of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. The message is displayed on the display, or a message to that effect is transmitted and notified to the client terminals CLa1, CLa2,... That have transmitted the print job via the network NW, and the print job processing is terminated (step S105).

  Then, the printing system 1 updates each authentication information table of the integrated server TS, the use restriction server RSa... And the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. Process.

  That is, the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc of the respective print networks PNa, PNb, and PNc are set in advance by the authentication information management unit 22 via the network transmission / reception unit 21 as shown in FIG. The printers Pa1, Pa2,... That are managed at every time interval (periodically) are circulated, and the authentication information that has changed among the authentication information of the printers Pa1, Pa2,. Update processing is performed for each printing device Pa1 and Pa2, in which the sum of the current number of prints for each user is collected from the printing devices Pa1 and Pa2 and registered in the authentication information table of its own storage unit 23. This is performed by patrol (step S201).

  When each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc collects the current number of prints from each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... To be managed, each user is registered for each user registered in the authentication table of the storage unit 23. The current print number (used number) is subtracted from the upper limit print number, and the subtraction result is used as the remaining print number (step S202).

  Each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc calculates the remaining number of prints for each user, and adds the calculated number of remaining prints to the current number of users used by each printing device Pa1, Pa2,. The maximum remaining number of prints is calculated, the user is specified, and the calculation result is transmitted to each printing device Pa1, Pa2,..., And each printing device Pa1, Pa2,. When the remaining print limit for each user is transmitted, it is registered in the user field of the authentication information table in the storage unit 16 (step S203).

  In this way, the upper limit number of remaining prints in the storage unit 16 of each printing device Pa1, Pa2,... Is periodically updated, so that the upper limit number of printable pages for each user can be appropriately limited.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the usage restriction server RSa now manages two printing devices Pa1 and Pa2, and each printing device Pa1 and Pa2 has a management target as shown in FIGS. User authentication information of two people Ua and Ub is registered, and the two user authentication information is the same in the printing apparatus Pa1 and the printing apparatus Pa2.

  Now, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the user Ua is printing 300 sheets with the printing apparatus Pa1 and 250 sheets with the printing apparatus Pa2.

  Here, the usage restriction server RSa circulates the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 and collects the current number of prints, and collects the current print number of the user Ua stored in the authentication information table 23 of the usage restriction server RSa. The total number of current print sheets in the two printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 is 550 sheets of 300 sheets + 250 sheets, and 550 sheets are currently printed as the user Ua. As shown in FIG.

  The usage restriction server RSa calculates the remaining number of prints by subtracting the current number of prints and the upper limit number of prints of 1350 as 800 since the current number of prints of the updated user Ua is 550. For the apparatus Pa1, 1100 sheets obtained by adding the remaining number of printed sheets 800 to the current number of printed sheets 300 of the user Ua is calculated as the upper limit number of remaining prints of the user Ua, and is transmitted to the printing apparatus Pa1. As shown in FIG. 3, recording is performed, and for the printing apparatus Pa2, 1050 sheets obtained by adding the remaining number of printed sheets 800 to the current number of printed sheets 250 of the user Ua is set as the remaining print upper limit number of the user Ua. The data is transmitted to the printing apparatus Pa2 and recorded as shown in FIG.

  In the printing system 1 of this embodiment, a plurality of printing networks PNa, PNb, and PNc are connected by a network NWt, and the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. Client terminals CLa1, CLa2,... That use devices Pa1, Pa2,... And usage restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc are arranged, and each printing device Pa1 is provided via each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc. , Pa2... Are passed and managed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 11, each use restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc circulates each printing device Pa1, Pa2,... To be managed, and the authentication information of the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,. Among them, the authentication information that has been changed is updated, and the total number of current prints for each user is collected from the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 and registered in the authentication information table of its own storage unit 23. The printing apparatus Pa1 and Pa2 are sequentially cycled (step S301).

  The integrated server TS circulates a plurality of use restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc that are managed, collects the total number of current prints for each user, and records it in the authentication information table of the storage unit 33. The timing at which this integrated server TS circulates each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc is set in advance in the integrated server TS by the administrator, and the integrated server TS determines each usage restriction server RSa, Integrated information that circulates through RSb and RSc to perform integrated user information provision processing for providing authentication information, and updates the authentication information and collects the sum of the current print number of each user to update the upper limit print number. Execute management processing.

  And each use restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc collects each user's current print number from each printing device Pa1, Pa2,. An inquiry is made about the current number of prints (number of used sheets) and the integrated print upper limit number for each, and the remaining print number is calculated by subtracting the acquired current print number from the upper limit number of integrated prints acquired by the inquiry. Then, each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc adds the calculated remaining print number to the current print number (used number) for each user in the authentication information table of its own storage unit 23, and Is calculated for each user and stored in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23 (step S302).

  Further, each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc is calculated for the current number of prints (number of sheets used) of the user of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... For each user of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2. The remaining number of prints is calculated by adding the number of prints, and the upper limit number of remaining prints of each user of each printing device Pa1, Pa2,... Is transmitted to the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,. (Step S303).

  For example, in FIG. 3 to FIG. 8, there are two devices that are managed by the usage restriction server RSa, that is, the printing device Pa1 and the printing device Pa2, and two pieces of user authentication information are stored in each of the printing devices Pa1 and Pa2. The registered user authentication information is the same in the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2.

  Now, the user Ua is printing 300 sheets with the printing apparatus Pa1 and 250 sheets with the printing apparatus Pa2.

  In this state, the usage restriction server RSa circulates the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 to collect the current number of prints, and the “current” of the user Ua stored in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23 of the usage restriction server RSa. Update “Number of prints”. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23 of the usage restriction server RSa, 550 sheets, which is the sum of the printing amounts of the two printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2, are stored in the user Ua. It is recorded as “current number of printed sheets” of Ua.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, the integrated server TS indicates that the user Ua is printing 700 sheets as a whole from the authentication information table of the usage restriction server RSa to the usage restriction server RSc. It is recorded in 33 authentication information tables.

  Then, each use restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc makes an inquiry to the integrated server TS, and calculates the remaining print number from the difference between the integrated print upper limit number of the user Ua in the authentication information table of the integrated server TS and the current print number. . Now, as shown in FIG. 8, the user Ua has preset an integrated upper limit number of sheets that can be used up to 1500 sheets, and the total number of currently printed sheets is 700, and the difference between them is the remaining number of printed sheets. Is calculated to be 800 sheets. Each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc calculates the sum of the remaining number of prints and the number of prints up to the present in its own authentication information table as the upper limit print number of the user Ua, and is shown in FIGS. As described above, it is recorded in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23.

  For example, in the usage restriction server RSa, the current number of prints of the user Ua is 550, so the current print number of 550 and the remaining print number of 800 are added to obtain 1350 as the upper limit print number. 23 is recorded in the authentication information table.

  In the above description, each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc makes an inquiry about the current print number to each printing device Pa1, Pa2,... At a predetermined timing. The present invention is not limited to the above method. For example, each time the printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... Finishes the print job, the current printing of the authentication information table in the storage unit 16 is performed based on the number of prints in the print job. The number of prints in the print job is specified and transmitted to the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc that manage the self, and the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc Based on the number of printed sheets sent from each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,..., The current number of printed sheets of the user in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23 is updated. It may be.

  As described above, in the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc that restrict the use of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. Information (user information) is provided to the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Used by the user, and the upper limit number of remaining prints (the remaining upper limit number of image formation) by each user is the printing apparatus Pa1, used by the user. Is set to Pa2... And each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2... Restricts the use based on the authentication information, and the current print number (image formation number) of the user permitted to use and the print. The use restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc restricts printing by the user based on the remaining upper limit number of sheets, and each of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. The current print number of the user is acquired and the sum is calculated, and the remaining print upper limit number is calculated for each user from the total and a predetermined upper limit print number (image formation upper limit number). The remaining upper limit number is transmitted to the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... Used by the user.

  Therefore, when there is a print request from the user, the use restriction control process for determining whether or not to allow printing by the user and the print number restriction control process are performed by the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. The print restriction control can be appropriately performed in a state where the responsiveness is good and the usability is good.

  In the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc are connected to the integrated server TS via the network NWt, and the integrated server TS includes the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. Recognizing information related to users permitted to be used is provided to the usage restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc in a state associated with the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... The current number of prints for each user is acquired, the sum of the current number of prints acquired from each of the usage restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc is calculated for each user, and the total and the maximum number of integrated prints are calculated for each user. The use restriction server R that calculates the print upper limit number of sheets from the printer and manages the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... a, RSb, doing integrated information management process of transmitting the RSc.

  Therefore, the printing device Pa1, Pa2,... Of the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... Configured in the network over a wide area are subjected to the burden on the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,. The print restriction control can be appropriately performed in a state where the reduction can be performed, the responsiveness is good, and the usability is good.

  Further, in the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Have completed the processing of the print job, the current print number of the user of the print job is determined based on the number of prints in the print job. And the number of prints in the print job are transmitted to the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc, and the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc authenticate the storage means 23 based on the sent print number. The current print number of the user held in the information table is updated.

  Therefore, management by the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc can be simplified.

  Further, the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc have predetermined timings or other timings based on authentication information (user information) held in the authentication information table of the own storage unit 23. The authentication information of each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... Is updated, and the integrated server TS is updated at a predetermined timing or other timing based on the authentication information held in the authentication information table of its own storage unit 33. The authentication information of the usage restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc is updated.

  Therefore, user management can be performed uniformly and efficiently, and more appropriate management can be performed.

  12 to 15 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the image formation restriction control system, the image formation restriction control program, and the recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows the image formation restriction control system and the image formation of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the management process by the use restriction server of the printing system to which the 2nd Example of a restriction control program and a recording medium is applied.

  This embodiment is applied to a printing system similar to the printing system 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of this embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is used as necessary. The description will be made using the reference numerals as they are.

  In the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc of the printing networks PNa, PNb, PNc indicate the current number of prints of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. Collected and checked whether the current number of prints exceeds the upper limit number of prints of the user in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23. If the upper limit number of prints is exceeded, each printing device Pa1, Pa2,. The printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... That have received the printing prohibition information and set the printing permission flag in the user's printing permission flag column of the authentication information table of the storage unit 16 as the printing prohibition flag. The setting is changed, and execution control of the print job is performed with reference to the print enable / disable flag.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the usage restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc circulate through the respective printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... To obtain the authentication information and the current print number information, and the storage unit. The authentication information of the user who has changed the authentication information table 23 is updated, and the current information of each user in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23 is updated based on the current number of prints acquired from the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. The number of printed sheets is updated (step S401).

  The usage restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc determine for each user whether the current number of prints in the updated authentication information table of the storage unit 23 exceeds the upper limit number of prints, and the current number of prints is the upper limit number of prints. If it exceeds, print impossible information specifying the user is transmitted to the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... Used by the user.

  When printing impossible information is transmitted, each printing device Pa1, Pa2,... Displays a user's printing permission flag corresponding to the printing impossible information in the authentication information table of the storage unit 16 as shown in FIG. It is set to “impossible” (step S402).

  As shown in FIG. 14, each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... Receives a print job from the client terminal CLa1, CLa2,. Processing for the print job is started (step S501), the authentication information management unit 15 acquires the authentication information in the authentication information table 16 and the printability flag of the management information, passes them to the authentication execution unit 12, and the authentication execution unit 12 Depending on whether the authentication information input to the print job is registered in the authentication information of the authentication information table, the user of the print job is permitted to print with the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. An authentication process is performed to determine whether the user is a user. Further, when the printability determination unit 13 determines that the user is an authorized user, the printability determination unit 13 checks whether printability is set in the user's printability flag column of the authentication information table (step S502). When “permitted” is set, printing permission is given to the print job, and the print execution unit 14 executes the print job to print the print data on a sheet (step S503).

  In this way, the print propriety flag is confirmed to determine whether printing is possible, and the print feasibility flag confirmation processing is all performed in the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. In a good state, it is possible to appropriately limit printing.

  Upon completion of the printing process, the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Record the number of printed sheets in the printing process for the user in the authentication information table 16 of the storage unit 16 (step S504).

  In step S502, the authentication information input to the print job is not registered in the authentication information table, or the authentication information input to the print job is included in the authentication information of the authentication information table. Even if registered, if the print disable flag is set in the print enable / disable flag field of the authentication information table, printing is rejected, and a message to that effect is displayed on the display of the operation display unit of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. Or a message to that effect is transmitted and notified to the client terminals CLa1, CLa2,... That have transmitted the print job via the network NW, and the processing of the print job is terminated (step S505).

  For example, in the case of the print network PNa, the usage restriction server RSa manages two printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2, and the authentication / management information of two users is stored as an authentication information table in each printing apparatus Pa1 and Pa2. It is registered and the authentication information of the two people is the same. In this case, the “current number of printed sheets” of the user Ua is 300 sheets as shown in FIG. 3 in the printing apparatus Pa1, and 250 sheets as shown in FIG. 4 in the printing apparatus Pa2. The usage restriction server RSa circulates the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2, collects the current number of printed sheets, and updates the current number of printed sheets in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23.

  Now, since the total number of printed sheets of the user Ua of the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 is 550 sheets, the 550 sheets are recorded as the current number of printed sheets of the user Ua.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the usage restriction server RSa has a current printing number of 550 sheets for the user Ua and a printing upper limit number of 1350. When subtracting from the sheet, if printing is still possible, nothing is done, and if the upper limit number of prints has been reached, it is determined that printing is not possible, and all the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2 are circulated to print impossible information. To cause the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 to set the printing permission flag of the user Ua in the authentication information table of the storage unit 16 of the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 to OFF (impossible).

  Then, if each printing device Pa1, Pa2 sets the printing permission flag to disabled, as shown in FIG. 14, the printing job from the user Ua is processed as being unprintable, and all the printing devices Pa1 are processed. , Printing is disabled at Pa2.

  Then, the printing system 1 updates the authentication information tables of the integrated server TS, the usage restriction server RSa... And the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,.

  That is, the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc of the respective print networks PNa, PNb, and PNc are set in advance by the authentication information management unit 22 via the network transmission / reception unit 21 as shown in FIG. The printers Pa1, Pa2,... That are managed at every time interval (periodically) are circulated, and the authentication information that has changed among the authentication information of the printers Pa1, Pa2,. Update processing is performed, and a process of collecting the sum of the current number of prints for each user from the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... And registering them in the authentication information table of the own storage unit 23 is performed for each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2. ... Sequentially circulates every time (step S601).

  The integrated server TS circulates a plurality of usage restriction servers RSa, RSb, RSc that are managed, collects the total number of current prints for each user, and records it in the authentication information table of the storage unit 33. The timing at which this integrated server TS circulates each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc is set in advance in the integrated server TS by the administrator, and the integrated server TS determines each usage restriction server RSa, It circulates through RSb and RSc, and updates the authentication information and collects the total number of current prints of each user.

  And each use restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc collects each user's current print number from each printing device Pa1, Pa2,. An inquiry is made for the current number of printed sheets (the number of used sheets) and the upper limit value (upper limit number of printed sheets) for each time, and the remaining number of printed sheets is calculated by subtracting the acquired current number of printed sheets from the upper limit number of sheets acquired by the inquiry. Then, each use restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc adds the calculated remaining print number to the current print number (used number) for each user in the authentication information table of its own storage unit 23, and adds the calculated remaining print number. A process for calculating an upper limit (upper limit number of prints) is performed for each user (step S602).

  Each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc determines whether the current number of prints exceeds the upper limit number of prints for each user of each printing device Pa1, Pa2, and the current number of prints exceeds the upper limit number of prints. To the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,... Used by the user. When printing impossible information is transmitted, each printing device Pa1, Pa2,..., In the authentication information table of the storage unit 16 as shown in FIG. Is set to “impossible” (step S603).

  As shown in FIG. 14, each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... Is either printable or not printable in the printability flag column of the authentication information table of the storage unit 16 for the user who has requested printing. Whether or not to execute a print job is controlled based on whether or not is set.

  For example, in the case of the printing network PNa, the usage restriction server RSa manages two printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2, and authentication / management information of two users Ua and Ub is authenticated for each printing apparatus Pa1 and Pa2. It is registered as an information table, and the authentication information of the two people is the same. In this case, assuming that the current number of printed sheets of the user Ua is 300 sheets as shown in FIG. 3 in the printing apparatus Pa1, and 250 sheets as shown in FIG. The restriction server RSa circulates through each of the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2, collects the current number of printed sheets, and updates the current number of printed sheets in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23.

  Now, since the total number of printed sheets of the user Ua of the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2 is 550 sheets, the 550 sheets are recorded as the current number of printed sheets of the user Ua.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the integrated server TS stores that 700 sheets are being printed as the current print number of the entire user Ua from the information in the authentication information table of the use restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc. Recorded in the authentication information table of the unit 33.

  Then, each usage restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc inquires the integrated server TS, acquires the upper limit number of prints and the current print number of the user Ua from the authentication information table of the integrated server TS, The remaining number of printed sheets is calculated from the current number of printed sheets Sa. Now, in the authentication information table of the integrated server TS, 1500 is set as the upper limit number of prints for the user Ua, and the total number of prints at present is 700, so the remaining number of prints is 800 from these differences. It becomes a sheet.

  Each use restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc adds the remaining number of prints and the number of prints to date of user Ua in the authentication information table stored in the storage unit 23 of each use restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc. Then, the upper limit number of prints of the user Ua is calculated.

  For example, since the user Ua currently prints 550 sheets, the usage restriction server RSa adds the current number of printed sheets (used number) and the remaining number of printed sheets 800, and sets the upper limit number of sheets to 1350. As shown in FIG. 5, the calculation is stored in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23, and the remaining 800 sheets are transmitted to the printing apparatuses Pa1 and Pa2.

  Then, each use restriction server RSa, RSb, RSc compares the current printing number 550 sheets of the user Ua with the upper printing limit number 1350, and if the current printing number has reached the upper printing limit number, the printing impossibility information Is transmitted to the printing devices Pa1 and Pa2 used by the user Ua, the print propriety flag is set to “impossible”, and when the current print number does not reach the upper limit print number as described above, the print propriety flag Remains in the “OK” state.

  As described above, in the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the usage restriction servers RSa, RSb, and RSc acquire the current print number from each of the printing apparatuses Pa1, Pa2,. The total number of prints acquired from the devices Pa1, Pa2,... Is calculated for each user, and whether or not printing by the user is determined based on the total and the maximum number of prints in the authentication information table of the storage unit 23 for each user. Then, the print permission information of the determination result is transmitted to the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,... Used by the user, and each of the printing devices Pa1, Pa2,. Based on the printability information sent from RSb and RSc, the printability of each user is controlled.

  Therefore, each printing apparatus Pa1, Pa2,... Can control the number of prints of each user more promptly and appropriately based on the print propriety flag that is the print propriety information.

  16 to 26 are diagrams showing a third embodiment of the image formation restriction control system, the image formation restriction control program, and the recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 16 shows the image formation restriction control system and the image formation according to the present invention. It is a system configuration figure of printing system 40 to which a 3rd example of a restriction control program and a recording medium is applied.

  In the printing system 40, a plurality of client terminals CL1, CLn,..., A plurality of printing devices Pr1 to Prm and a management device KS are connected to a network NW such as a LAN, and the client terminals CL1 to CLn and the printing devices are connected. The number of Pr1-Prm is not limited at all.

  For the client terminals CL1 to CLn, an ordinary personal computer or the like is used. When a user makes a print request for a document or the like created using the client terminals CL1 to CLn, a print job for the document is designated via the network NW. To the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm. In addition, when the user uses the client terminals CL1 to CLn to send a print job to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, the printing system 1 uses the user authentication information (a combination of a user name and a password, or a user name). The user ID to be specified) is input, and the authentication information (user authentication information) input in response to the request is added to the print job and transmitted.

  As the printing apparatuses (image forming apparatuses) Pr1 to Prm, for example, a laser printer (LP), a composite apparatus (MFP), or the like is used, and each unit necessary for executing printing processing as the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, for example, control , A paper feed unit, a printing unit (image forming unit), a paper discharge unit, an operation display unit, and the like. As shown in FIG. Analysis unit 52, user ID inquiry unit 53, input unit 54, printability setting unit 55, printability storage unit 56, printability determination unit 57, print number information acquisition unit 58, print number storage unit 59, print number count unit 60 , A display unit 61, a print control unit 62, a printer unit 63, an image data processing unit 64, a scanner unit 65, and the like.

  The communication I / F unit 51 is connected to the network NW, has an interface conforming to the communication standard of the network NW, and communicates with the client terminals CL1 to CLn and the management device KS connected to the network NW. Various information such as reception of print jobs and transmission / reception of authentication information is exchanged.

  The print job analysis unit 52 analyzes the print job from the client terminals CL1 to CLn received via the communication I / F unit 51, and performs user authentication such as image data and user ID given to the print job. Recognize the information, pass the image data to the image data processing unit 64, and pass the user authentication information to the user ID inquiry unit 53.

  The input unit 54 performs various command operations for causing the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to execute functions included therein, such as setting operations such as copy processing and print processing, and includes user authentication information such as a user ID at the time of copying. An input operation is performed.

  The user ID inquiry unit 53 prints user authentication information such as a user ID input from the input unit 54, user information such as a user ID passed from the print job analysis unit 52, and print setting information such as copy color and print color. The result is passed to the determination unit 57.

  The scanner unit 65 performs main scanning and sub-scanning on the document in the copy mode or the scanner mode, reads an image of the document with a predetermined resolution, and outputs the image to the image data processing unit 64.

  The image data processing unit 64 temporarily stores the image data read by the scanner unit 65 and the image data passed from the print job analysis unit 52 in the internal memory, and then performs necessary image processing according to the control of the print control unit 62. And output to the printer unit 63.

  Under the control of the print control unit 63, the printer unit 63 prints and outputs an image on paper by a printing method such as an electrophotographic method based on the image data passed from the image data processing unit 64.

  The printed sheet count unit 60 counts the number of printed sheets actually printed in the copying process or the printing process, and passes it to the printed sheet storage unit 59 for storage.

  The print number storage unit (image formation number storage unit) 59 is configured by a non-volatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and stores the print number passed from the print number count unit 60 and also from the print number information acquisition unit 58. The number of prints of the stored contents is read. The number-of-prints storage unit 59 stores information on the number of copies for each operation for each user. For example, the user ID, the number of black and white copies, the number of single color copies, the number of two color copies, the number of full color copies, the number of black and white prints, and the single color The number-of-prints information such as the number of printed sheets, the number of two-color printed sheets, and the number of full-color printed sheets is stored in a list format, for example.

  In response to a request from the management apparatus KS via the communication I / F unit 51, the print number information acquisition unit 58 reads the number of prints stored in the print number storage unit 59, and communicates with the communication I / F unit 51 and the network NW. To the management apparatus KS.

  The print propriety setting unit 55 receives the print propriety information from the management device KS via the communication I / F unit 51, passes it to the print propriety storage unit 56, and stores the print propriety information.

  The printability storage unit (usability information storage unit) 56 is configured by a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and stores the printability information passed from the printability setting unit 55 and is stored by the printability determination unit 57. The content printability information is read. This printability storage unit 56 stores information on the availability of each printing operation (image formation mode) for each user. For example, the user ID, black-and-white copy availability (True / False), monochrome color copy availability (True / False), 2 color copy enable / disable (True / False), full color copy enable / disable (True / False), black and white print enable / disable (True / False), single color color print enable / disable (True / False), 2 color print enable / disable (True / False), Print enable / disable information such as full color print enable / disable (True / False) is stored in a list format, for example.

  In response to a request from the print control unit 62, the print propriety determination unit 57 performs a print operation to be performed by the user of the user authentication information based on the user authentication information such as the user ID passed from the print ID inquiry unit 53. Is determined based on the print propriety information in the print propriety storage unit 56, the print propriety determination result is displayed on the display unit 61, and the determination result is passed to the print control unit 62.

  The print control unit (control unit) 62 controls whether to cause the printer 63 to perform the printing requested by the user in accordance with the printability determination result of the printability determination unit 57.

  The management apparatus KS is configured in a block form as shown in FIG. 18, and includes a communication I / F unit 71, a frequency setting unit 72, a frequency storage unit 73, a group upper limit setting unit 74, and a group upper limit storage unit 75. , Print control setting unit 76, print control storage unit 77, user information search unit 78, user information storage unit 79, print availability control unit 80, device information search unit 81, device information storage unit 82, print number setting unit 83, print A sheet number storage unit 84, a print number acquisition unit 85, a group information search unit 86, a group information storage unit 87, and the like are provided.

  The communication I / F unit 71 is connected to the network NW, has an interface conforming to the communication standard of the network NW, and communicates with the client terminals CL1 to CLn and the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm connected to the network NW. To respond to various data reception and various data acquisition requests.

  The frequency setting unit 72 registers a setting value related to the frequency in the frequency storage unit 73 in response to a request from the client terminal CL1 to CLn of the administrator via the network NW and the communication I / F unit 71.

  The frequency storage unit (frequency storage means) 73 is configured by a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, stores the frequency passed from the frequency setting unit 72, and reads the frequency of the stored content by the printability control unit 80. It is done. The frequency storage unit 73 includes, as the frequency information, for example, black and white copy frequency, single color copy frequency, two color copy frequency, full color copy frequency, black and white print frequency, single color print frequency, two color color print frequency, and full color print frequency. Memorize etc. Further, the frequency storage unit 73 stores the frequency information in a list format for each user ID.

  The group upper limit setting unit 74 registers setting values related to the group upper limit in the group upper limit storage unit 75 in response to requests from the client terminals CL1 to CLn of the administrator via the network NW and the communication I / F unit 71. This group upper limit is the upper limit of the number of copies (number of copies) for each operation or the upper limit of the total frequency.

  The group upper limit storage unit (usage restriction information storage means, usage restriction frequency information storage means) 75 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and information (group upper limit information) passed from the group upper limit setting part 74. ) Is stored, and the group upper limit information of the stored content is read by the print permission control unit 80. The group upper limit storage unit 75 stores, for example, a group ID and group upper limit information (each number of printed sheets or total frequency) in the form of a list as the group upper limit information.

  In response to a request from the client terminal CL1 to CLn of the administrator via the network NW and the communication I / F unit 71, the print control setting unit 76 sets a setting value related to print control (information on whether to execute printing or not). ) Is registered in the print control storage unit 77.

  The print control storage unit 77 is configured by a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and stores the print control information (information on whether or not to execute printing) passed from the print control setting unit 76, and also whether or not printing is possible. The control unit 80 reads the print control information of the stored content. The print control storage unit 77 includes, for example, black and white copy availability, single color copy availability, two color copy availability, full color copy availability, black and white printing availability, monochrome color printing availability, two color printing availability, full color printing as print control information. Memorize the availability.

  The user information storage unit 78 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and includes a group for classifying the users of the client terminals CL1 to CLn that use the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, and a list of users belonging to the group. Is registered as user information by the user information search unit 79 under the control of the printability control unit 80. The user information storage unit 78 stores, for example, a user ID, a user name, a group ID, and the like as the user information in a list format.

  The user information search unit 79 searches the user information stored in the user information storage unit 78 under the control of the print permission control unit 80 and passes the search result to the print permission control unit 80.

  The device information storage unit 82 is configured by a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and the device information is controlled by the print permission control unit 80 as a list of managed printing devices Pr1 to Prm managed by the management device KS. Registered by the search unit 81. The device information storage unit 82 stores, for example, a group ID, device ID, device IP address (IP Address), and the like as the device information in a list format.

  The device information search unit 81 registers the device information in the device information storage unit 82 under the control of the print permission control unit 80, and among the device information registered in the device information storage unit 82, the print permission control unit. The device information of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm belonging to the group designated by 80 is retrieved and passed to the print permission / inhibition control unit 80.

  The print number setting unit 83 collectively registers the print number information collected from each of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm in the print number storage unit 84 in response to an instruction from the print permission control unit 80.

  The print number storage unit 84 is configured by a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk. The print number setting unit 83 collectively registers the print number information for all the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, and the print number acquisition unit 85. Thus, the print number information is acquired. The number-of-prints storage unit 84 includes, for example, the device ID, the number of black and white copies, the number of single color copies, the number of two color copies, the number of full color copies, the number of black and white prints, the number of single color prints, and the two color prints The number of sheets, the number of full-color prints, etc. are stored in a list format.

  In response to an instruction from the printability control unit 80, the print number acquisition unit 85 acquires the print number information registered in the print number storage unit 84 and passes it to the printability control unit 80.

  The group information storage unit 87 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and relates to a group for classifying the users of the client terminals CL1 to CLn that use the management target printing devices Pr1 to Prm managed by the management device KS. Information (group information) is registered by the group information search unit 86 under the control of the printability control unit 80. The group information storage unit 87 stores, for example, a group ID and a group name in the form of a list as the group information.

  The group information retrieval unit 86 retrieves information on users belonging to the group from the group information stored in the group information storage unit 87 under the control of the print permission / non-permission control unit 80, and prints the search result. Pass to part 80.

  The printability control unit (control unit) 80 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and is supplied from each search unit 75, 79, 81, 86, storage unit 73, 75, 77 and print number acquisition unit 85. The information and the number of printed sheets from the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm are acquired, the printability is determined, and the printability is set for the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm periodically.

  The printing system 40 according to the present embodiment stores an image formation restriction control program recorded on a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), a DVD (Digital Video Disk), or a flexible disk. By reading and introducing them into the management device KS and the printing devices Pr1 to Prm, image formation in which the printing devices Pr1 to Prm that perform usage restriction control processing, which will be described later, and the management device KS that executes usage restriction management processing are connected via the network NW. It is constructed as a printing system 40 as a restriction control system.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing system 40 according to the present embodiment manages the users of the client terminals CL1 to CLn that use the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to be managed for each group and manages the use of each user, for each group and each user. Restrict usage of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm.

  First, a copy restriction control processing sequence in the printing system 40 when copying is possible will be described with reference to FIG.

  When a user who uses the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm causes the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to perform a copy operation, when the user sets a document on the scanner unit 65, the input unit 54 of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm waits for input. In this state, when the user inputs a user ID and a copy color to be copied from the input unit 54, the input unit 54 passes the input user ID and copy color to the user ID inquiry unit 53.

  The user ID inquiry unit 53 requests the print propriety determination unit 57 to determine whether or not a copy operation can be performed based on the passed user ID and copy color (print control information), and the print propriety determination unit 57 prints in the print propriety storage unit 56. With reference to the availability information, it is determined whether copying is possible. Now, since the print permission / prohibition information corresponding to the user ID is registered in the print permission / non-permission storage unit 56, the print permission / non-permission determination unit 57 determines whether or not copying is possible, and the result of this determination is copy permission ( A request to display “Copy OK” is sent to the display unit 61, and the display unit 61 displays that copying is possible. In addition, the printability determination unit 57 notifies the print control unit 62 of the copy permission that is the determination result of the printability.

  When the print control unit 62 is notified of the result of determination of whether or not printing is possible, the scanner unit 65 reads the document, temporarily stores it in the memory of the image data processing unit 64, and is necessary for the image data processing unit 64. After the image processing is performed, the image data is transferred to the printer unit 63, and the printer unit 63 performs a copy process for printing out an image on a sheet based on the image data.

  The print control unit 62 sequentially performs the above processing for each original, counts the number of copies every time one original is copied, and completes the copy processing for all originals, and completes the copy processing for the user ID. (The number of printed sheets) is passed to the printed sheet count unit 60, and the printed sheet count unit 60 adds the number of printed sheets (the number of copies) of the user ID in the printed sheet number storage unit 59 for update registration, and prints an update completion notification. It is passed to the control unit 62.

  When there is an update completion notification from the printed sheet count unit 60, the print control unit 62 requests the display unit 61 to display the copy end, the display unit 61 displays the copy end, and the print control unit 62 receives the input. The copy process is notified to the unit 54 and the copy process is terminated.

  Next, a copy restriction control processing sequence in the printing system 40 when copying is impossible will be described with reference to FIG.

  When a user who uses the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm causes the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to perform a copy operation, when the user sets a document on the scanner unit 65, the input unit 54 of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm waits for input. In this state, when the user inputs a user ID and a copy color to be copied from the input unit 54, the input unit 54 passes the input user ID and copy color to the user ID inquiry unit 53.

  The user ID inquiry unit 53 requests the print propriety determination unit 57 to determine whether or not a copy operation can be performed based on the passed user ID and copy color, and the print propriety determination unit 57 refers to the print propriety information in the print propriety storage unit 56. To determine whether copying is possible. Now, since information indicating that printing is not possible is registered in the printing availability storage unit 56 as printing availability information corresponding to the user ID, the printing availability determination unit 57 determines whether copying is possible, and the determination result is a copy. A display request of “impossible (copy NG)” is sent to the display unit 61, the display unit 61 displays that copying is not possible, and the process ends.

  Next, a printing restriction control processing sequence in the printing system 40 when printing (printing) is possible will be described with reference to FIG.

  When a user who uses the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm causes the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to perform print processing, first, the user sends a print job including print data and print control information from the client terminals CL1 to CLn. Send to Prm. When the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm receive a print job via the communication I / F unit 51, the print job analysis unit 52 extracts a user ID and printing color information from the print job, and a user ID inquiry unit 53 To pass.

  The user ID inquiry unit 53 requests the print propriety determination unit 57 to determine whether the print operation can be performed based on the passed user ID and print color, and the print propriety determination unit 57 determines whether the user ID in the print propriety storage unit 56 can be printed. With reference to the information, it is determined whether printing is possible. Since the print permission information is registered in the print permission information of the user, the print permission / non-permission storage unit 56 determines whether or not printing is possible and displays a display request for print permission (print OK) as a result of this determination. Then, the display unit 61 displays that printing is possible. Further, the print propriety determination unit 57 notifies the print control unit 62 of the print permission that is the determination result of the print propriety.

  When the print control unit 62 is notified of the print availability determination result, the print job analysis unit 52 passes the print data to the image data processing unit 64 and stores the print data stored in the memory of the image data processing unit 64. After the image data processing unit 64 performs necessary image processing on the image data of the job, the image data is transferred to the printer unit 63, and the printer unit 63 prints an image on a sheet based on the image data. Print processing (print processing) to be performed.

  The print control unit 62 sequentially performs the above-described print processing, counts the number of prints every time one page print processing is performed, and when the print processing of all image data is completed, the user ID and the counted number of prints (print The number of copies) is passed to the print count counter 60, and the print count counter 60 updates and registers the number of copies of the user ID in the print count storage 59 by adding the number of copies, and an update completion notification is sent to the print controller. Pass to 62.

  When there is an update completion notification from the print number counting unit 60, the print control unit 62 requests the display unit 61 to display the print end, the display unit 61 displays the print end, and the print control unit 62 prints. The job analysis unit 52 is notified of the completion of the print process, and the print process (print process) is terminated.

  Next, a printing restriction control processing sequence in the printing system 40 when printing is impossible will be described with reference to FIG.

  When a user using the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm causes the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to perform printing processing, first, the user sends a print job including print data and print control information from the client terminals CL1 to CLn to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm. Send to. When the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm receive a print job via the communication I / F unit 51, the print job analysis unit 52 extracts a user ID and printing color information from the print job, and a user ID inquiry unit 53 To pass.

  The user ID inquiry unit 53 requests the print propriety determination unit 57 to determine whether the print operation can be performed based on the passed user ID and print color, and the print propriety determination unit 57 determines whether the user ID in the print propriety storage unit 56 can be printed. With reference to the information, it is determined whether printing is possible. Since the print prohibition information is currently registered in the print permission information of the user, the print permission / prohibition storage unit 56 determines whether or not printing is possible, and displays a request for displaying the print prohibition (print NG) as the determination result. Then, the display unit 61 displays that printing is possible and ends the process.

  In this case, the print job analysis unit 52 transmits information indicating that printing is not possible to the client terminals CL1 to CLn that have transmitted the print job via the communication I / F unit 51, and the client terminal CT1. It is also possible to notify the users of .about.CTn that printing is impossible.

  Next, usage restriction management processing by the management apparatus KS will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the management apparatus KS, as shown in FIG. 23, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 waits for a preset use restriction management process, and when the use restriction management process timing comes, the group information search unit 86 receives a group list. In response to the request, the group information search unit 86 acquires group list information from the group information storage unit 87 and passes it to the print permission control unit 80. Note that the processing timing of the usage restriction management processing is generally set to a regular timing such as every predetermined period.

  When acquiring the group list information, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 executes the following processing for each group based on the group list information. That is, the print permission control unit 80 requests the device information search unit 81 to obtain a list (device list) of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm belonging to the group, and the device information search unit 81 The device list of the specified group is acquired from the device information storage unit 82 and passed to the print permission / inhibition control unit 80.

  The print permission control unit 80 requests the print devices Pr1 to Prm, which are all the devices in the acquired device list, to obtain the number of prints of the print devices Pr1 to Prm via the network NW. As shown in FIG. 24, each of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm that has received the print number acquisition request from the management apparatus KS acquires the number of prints from the print number storage unit 59, and It transmits to the management apparatus KS via NW.

  When the print permission control unit 80 makes a print number acquisition request to all the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm in the acquired device list of the group and acquires the print number, the print number of the group is obtained for all devices. The print control information is acquired from the print control storage unit 77 in total (for all the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 23, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 requests the print number acquisition unit 85 to acquire the previous print number of the group, and the print number acquisition unit 85 receives the print number storage unit 84 from the print number storage unit 84. The previous print number of the group is acquired and passed to the print permission control unit 80.

  The print permission / inhibition control unit 80 requests the group information search unit 86 to acquire the upper limit value (group upper limit information) of the group, and the group information search unit 86 acquires from the group upper limit storage unit 75 to obtain the print permission / inhibition control unit. Pass to 80.

  Further, the printability control unit 80 acquires the frequency of users belonging to the group from the frequency storage unit 73, calculates a total frequency based on the acquired number information, print control information, and frequency information, and calculates the total Determine if the frequency exceeds the upper limit.

  If the total frequency exceeds the upper limit value, the printability control unit 80 requests the user information search unit 79 to acquire a list of users belonging to the group, as shown in FIG. 79 acquires user information belonging to the group from the user information storage unit 78 and passes the user information to the print permission control unit 80 as a user list.

  The print permission control unit 80 sends a print reject setting request for requesting to set the print permission for the users of all user IDs in the acquired user list to the print rejects (all printing devices Pr1 to Pr1). Prm) via the network NW.

  As shown in FIG. 24, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm that have received the print reject setting request have all the user IDs of the groups requested by the print enable / disable setting unit 55 in the print enable / disable storage unit 56. The printing permission / prohibition information of the user is set to printing rejection.

  The print permission control unit 80 ends the use restriction management process when the print permission setting process is performed for the users of all the groups whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit value.

  As described above, in the printing system 40 of this embodiment, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm count the current number of image formations for each user (user) and are connected to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm via the network NW. The management device KS acquires the current number of image formations for each user from each of the printing devices Pr1 to Prm at a predetermined timing, and the user belongs to the number of image formations of all the users acquired from each of the printing devices Pr1 to Prm. For each group, the total sum is calculated, and for each group, whether or not the group can be used is determined from the total sum and a predetermined upper limit value of image formation (usage upper limit number of sheets), and the total exceeds the upper limit value. The availability information that prohibits the use of all users belonging to the group is transmitted to the printing devices Pr1 to Prm used by all the users, and the printing devices Pr1 to Prm Sent from the device KS based on availability information for each user has limited the use of the printing apparatus Pr1~Prm by the user.

  Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately manage the use of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm in the group unit and the user unit to restrict the use, and in a state where the responsiveness is good and the usability is good. Formation restriction control can be appropriately performed.

  In the printing system 40 according to the present exemplary embodiment, one management apparatus KS performs a use restriction management process in a usage mode in which a plurality of groups to which a plurality of users who use the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm belong exist. Yes.

  Therefore, it is possible to manage the use of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm while further efficiently and reducing costs.

  Furthermore, in the printing system 40 of the present embodiment, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm have a plurality of function operation modes such as a copy function, a printing function, and a facsimile function as their functions. The use of the functional operation mode is restricted based on the availability information for each operation mode, and the number of images formed in the functional operation mode of the user who has permitted the use is counted and stored in the print number storage unit 59. The management device KS stores the upper limit usage number for each functional operation mode in the group upper limit storage unit 75, calculates the sum for each functional operation mode, and for each functional operation mode for each group. It is determined whether or not use is possible from the total sum and the use upper limit number (upper limit value) for each functional operation mode of the group upper limit storage unit 75, and all belonging to the group whose total exceeds the upper limit value The availability information for improper use of the user of the functional operation mode is performed utilizing restriction management processing for transmitting to the printing apparatus Pr1~Prm utilizing of the all users.

  Therefore, the usage restriction can be appropriately performed for each of the plurality of functional operation modes of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, and the further appropriate usage restriction can be performed.

  Further, the printing system 40 according to the present exemplary embodiment acquires each color as the print count print control information, stores the print control information (color type or the like) in the print control storage unit 77, and further stores the print control information in the frequency storage unit 73 for each color. By storing the frequency information and calculating the total frequency for each color, it is determined whether the total frequency exceeds the upper limit for each color, and if the upper limit is exceeded, the printability setting unit of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is determined. In 55, the printability information for each color is set to print reject.

  Accordingly, usage control can be appropriately performed for each print control information (color, etc.), and usage restriction management can be performed more appropriately.

  Furthermore, when calculating the total frequency in the management apparatus KS, the printing system 40 according to the present embodiment calculates the total frequency by multiplying the number of printed sheets for each color and the frequency based on the number of printed sheets for each color and the frequency information. is doing.

  For example, when the number of printed sheets is 15 for black and white copies, the number of full color copies: 5, and the frequency information is black and white copy frequency: 1 and full color copy frequency: 4, the total frequency is 15 × 1 + 5 × 4 = 35. Become. In this case, when the frequency, which is the weighting value, is matched to the actual running cost ratio, the use can be set to be restricted when a certain running cost is reached.

  Therefore, the usage limit number can be adjusted according to the usage mode and usage cost of the user, and more appropriate usage limitation can be performed according to the usage mode and cost.

  Furthermore, the printing system 40 according to the present embodiment stores frequency information for each group ID in the frequency storage unit 73 in the usage restriction management process in the management apparatus KS, and the frequency information from the frequency storage unit 73 based on the group ID. And the total frequency is calculated.

  Therefore, it is possible to adjust the usage limit number according to the usage mode for each group, and it is possible to perform more appropriate usage limitation according to the usage mode in the group such as a department.

  The printing system 40 of this embodiment stores frequency information for each user ID in the frequency storage unit 73 in the usage restriction management process in the management apparatus KS, and the frequency information from the guide number storage unit 73 based on the user ID. And the total frequency is calculated by multiplying the frequency acquired for each user ID.

  Therefore, for example, executives and general affairs users can adjust the usage limit number according to the usage form for each user (user) and appropriately limit the use of users with a large usage number. Therefore, it is possible to perform more appropriate usage restrictions according to the usage mode for each user, such as not performing usage restrictions.

  In the above-described use restriction management process, the group list of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is acquired and the use restriction management process for the number of printed sheets is performed for each group of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm. For example, the above-described usage restriction management process for the number of prints may be performed on specific printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm.

  In this way, it is possible to perform use restriction management processing such as specially concentrating management on specific printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, such as printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm that are particularly frequently used. Appropriate and even more efficient use restrictions can be made.

  In the use restriction management process, the number information, print control information, and frequency information are acquired and the total frequency is calculated. When the total frequency is calculated, whether or not printing is possible based on the print control information. Is added to the total frequency of only the items that are permitted, and it is determined whether or not the upper limit value is exceeded. If the upper limit value is exceeded, printing is performed on the print permission / prohibition setting unit 55 of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm. The availability information may be set to “no print”.

  In this way, it is possible to limit use more appropriately and more efficiently.

  Further, in the use restriction management process, the previous print number information is acquired from the print number acquisition unit 85, the number of differences from the number of prints acquired from the current printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is calculated, and based on the number of differences. Thus, the total frequency may be calculated.

  In this way, even after the management of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is once started, it is possible to appropriately grasp the usage status and appropriately limit the usage.

  Next, periodic printing number clearing processing by the management apparatus KS will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26. FIG.

  When the management device KS periodically, for example, as shown in FIG. 25, at the beginning of each month, the printability control unit 80 requests the group information search unit 86 to obtain a group list, and the group information search unit 86 In response to the request, group list information is acquired from the group information storage unit 87 and passed to the printability control unit 80.

  When acquiring the group list information, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 executes the following processing for each group based on the group list information. That is, the print permission control unit 80 requests the device information search unit 81 to obtain a list (device list) of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm belonging to the group, and the device information search unit 81 The device list of the specified group is acquired from the device information storage unit 82 and passed to the print permission / inhibition control unit 80.

  The print permission control unit 80 requests the print devices Pr1 to Prm, which are all the devices in the acquired device list, to obtain the number of prints of the print devices Pr1 to Prm via the network NW. As shown in FIG. 26, each of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm that has received the print number acquisition request from the management apparatus KS acquires the number of prints from the print number storage unit 59, and It transmits to the management apparatus KS via NW.

  When the print permission control unit 80 makes a print number acquisition request to all the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm in the acquired device list of the group and acquires the print number, the print number of the group is obtained for all devices. As shown in FIG. 26, the total number of printing devices Pr1 to Prm is totaled, and the total number of printed sheets is transferred to the number-of-printing-sheet setting unit 83 to request registration (setting) in the number-of-printing-sheet storage unit 84.

  When there is a print number setting request, the print number setting unit 83 registers the transferred total print number in the print number storage unit 84. The total number of prints registered in the print number storage unit 84 is used as described above in the next use restriction management process.

  Thereafter, the printability control unit 80 requests the user information search unit 79 to obtain a list of users belonging to the group, and the user information search unit 79 stores the user information belonging to the group as a user information storage unit. 78, and is passed to the print permission control unit 80 as a user list.

  The print permission / prohibition control unit 80 sends a print permission setting request for requesting to set the print permission for the users of all user IDs in the acquired user list to all printable devices (all printing devices Pr1 to Pr1). Prm) via the network NW.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm that have received the print reject setting request have all the user IDs of the groups requested by the print enable / disable setting unit 55 in the print enable / disable storage unit 56. The printability information of the user is set to printable. In other words, when there is a user who is not allowed to print, the user can copy or print (print) again.

  When the print permission control unit 80 performs the print permission setting process for the users of all the groups, the print number clear process ends.

  As described above, when the print count clear process is executed at the beginning of the month or at the end of the month as described above, for example, copying and printing can be performed up to a predetermined upper limit in units of one month. When the value is exceeded, all users in the group cannot perform copy or print operations on the devices (printing devices Pr1 to Prm), and return to the beginning of the month or the end of the month to copy or print. It is possible to perform the operation of device management such as making it possible without bothering the administrator.

  In the present embodiment, the above upper limit value is input as the use upper limit number of sheets from the input means (keyboard or the like) of the management apparatus KS, or the upper limit value is input at the client terminals CL1 to CLn and managed via the network NW. The management device KS registers the input upper limit value in the group upper limit storage unit 75 and determines whether or not it can be used based on the upper limit value registered in the group upper limit storage unit 75. Also good.

  In this way, an appropriate upper limit value can be set according to the usage mode of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, the usage mode of the group, and the like, thereby further appropriately limiting the usage.

  27 to 34 are diagrams showing a fourth embodiment of the image formation restriction control system, the image formation restriction control program, and the recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 27 shows the image formation restriction control system and the image formation of the present invention. It is a system configuration figure of printing system 100 to which a restriction control program and a 4th example of a recording medium are applied.

  The printing system 100 of the present embodiment is applied to a printing system similar to the printing system 40 of the third embodiment, and in the description of the present embodiment, the same components as those of the third embodiment are described. Are given the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

  In the printing system 100, a plurality of client terminals CL1, CLn,... And a plurality of printing devices Pr1 to Prm similar to the third embodiment are connected to a network NW such as a LAN, and a management device KSb. Are connected, and the number of client terminals CL1 to CLn and the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is not limited at all.

  The client terminals CL1 to CLn are the same as in the third embodiment, and a normal personal computer or the like is used. When a user makes a print request for a document or the like created using the client terminals CL1 to CLn, the client terminals CL1 to CLn The print job is transmitted to the designated printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm via the network NW. In addition, when the user uses the client terminals CL1 to CLn to send a print job to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, the printing system 1 uses the user authentication information (a combination of a user name and a password, or a user name). The user ID to be specified) is input, and the authentication information (user authentication information) input in response to the request is added to the print job and transmitted.

  The printing apparatuses (image forming apparatuses) Pr1 to Prm are the same as in the third embodiment. For example, a laser printer (LP), a composite apparatus (MFP), or the like is used, and print processing is executed as the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm. For example, a control unit, a paper feed unit, a printing unit (image forming unit), a paper discharge unit, an operation display unit, and the like, as shown in FIG. I / F unit 51, print job analysis unit 52, user ID inquiry unit 53, input unit 54, printability setting unit 55, printability storage unit 56, printability determination unit 57, print number information acquisition unit 58, print number storage A unit 59, a print number counting unit 60, a display unit 61, a print control unit 62, a printer unit 63, an image data processing unit 64, a scanner unit 65, and the like. The description of each part of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is the same as that in the third embodiment, and will be omitted.

  The main part of the management device KSb has a block configuration as shown in FIG. 28. The communication I / F unit 71, the frequency setting unit 72, the frequency storage unit 73, and the group are the same as those of the management device KS of the third embodiment. Upper limit setting unit 74, group upper limit storage unit 75, print control setting unit 76, print control storage unit 77, user information search unit 78, user information storage unit 79, print availability control unit 80, device information search unit 81, device information storage A unit 82, a print number setting unit 83, a print number storage unit 84, and a print number acquisition unit 85, as well as a system information storage unit 101, a system information setting unit 102, a group information storage unit 103, a group information search unit 104, A user information storage unit 105, a user information search unit 106, a user / group related information storage unit 107, a group information reverse lookup unit 108, and the like are provided.

  The communication I / F unit 71 includes a frequency setting unit 72, a frequency storage unit 73, a group upper limit setting unit 74, a group upper limit storage unit 75, a print control setting unit 76, a print control storage unit 77, a print availability control unit 80, and an apparatus. Since the information search unit 81, the device information storage unit 82, the print number setting unit 83, the print number storage unit 84, and the print number acquisition unit 85 are basically the same as those in the third embodiment, detailed description thereof will be given. Omitted.

  The system information storage unit 101 is composed of, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and stores an operation mode that is system information. The system information setting unit 102 obtains the system operation mode acquired from the communication I / F unit 71, for example, black and white copy, single color copy, two color copy, full color copy, black and white print, single color print, and two color color. Printing, full-color printing, and the like are set in the system information storage unit 101.

  The group information storage unit (group information storage means) 103 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and information about groups for classifying the users of the client terminals CL1 to CLn that use the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm. (Group information) is registered and stored under the control of the printability control unit 80. The group information storage unit 103 stores, as group information, a group name, a group ID (group identification information), a group ID (parent group identification information) of the parent group when the group has a parent group, and the like in a list format. To do. Therefore, the groups are linked over a plurality of layers in a parent-child relationship, and the parent group ID is not stored in the group information of the uppermost parent group, and is blank.

  For example, when there is a group structure as shown in FIG. 29, the group information storage unit 103 stores group information as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 29, there are Folder 11 and Folder 21 as child folders (child groups) of the folder (group) Folder 1, and Folder 12 is present as a child folder of Folder 11. In the case of such a folder (group) structure, as shown in FIG. 30, Folder1, Folder11, Folder12, and Folder21 are registered as group names from group ID1 to group ID4, respectively, and the parent group ID of Folder21 of group ID4 is registered. , “1” which is the group ID of Folder 1 which is the parent folder (group) is parent group ID of Folder 12 which is Group ID 3, and “2” which is the group ID of Folder 2 which is the parent folder is Folder 11 of Group ID 2. In the parent group ID, “1” that is the group ID of Folder 1 that is the parent folder is registered. However, since there is no parent folder in the parent group ID of Folder 1 that is the group ID 1, it is blank (null). It has become.

  The group information search unit 104 registers group information in the group information storage unit 103 under the control of the print permission control unit (control unit) 80, and also lists groups and parent group IDs from the group information storage unit 103. And the like, and the search result is passed to the printability control unit 80.

  The user information storage unit 105 is configured by, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and lists user information such as user IDs and user names of users of the client terminals CL1 to CLn that use the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm in a list format. And so on.

  The user / group related information storage unit 107 is configured by, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and the user / group information to which the user belongs is registered and stored by the group information search unit 106. The user / group related information storage unit 107 stores, for example, a user ID and a group ID (group identification information) in association with each other as user / group information in a list format or the like. Since one user can belong to a plurality of groups, the user / group related information storage unit 107 is separated from the user information identification storage unit 105 so that one user can be associated with a plurality of groups. The user / group information associated with is registered. Therefore, the user / group related information storage unit 107 functions as a group information storage unit together with the group information storage unit 103.

  The user information search unit 106 registers user information in the user information storage unit 101 and user / group information in the user / group list information storage unit 107 under the control of the print permission control unit 80. The user information stored in the user information storage unit 101 is searched, the search result is passed to the printability control unit 80, and the user / group information of the search target user is retrieved from the user / group related information storage unit 107. The search is performed, and the search result is passed to the printability control unit 80.

  The group information reverse lookup unit 108 reverses the user information to which the user belongs, and obtains a list of groups to which the user belongs based on the user ID from the user / group related information storage unit 107. Then, it is passed to the printability control unit 80.

  The printing system 100 according to the present embodiment stores an image formation restriction control program recorded on a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), a DVD (Digital Video Disk), or a flexible disk. By reading and introducing them into the management device KSb and the printing devices Pr1 to Prm, image formation in which the printing devices Pr1 to Prm that perform usage restriction control processing to be described later and the management device KSb that executes usage restriction management processing are connected via the network NW It is constructed as a printing system 100 as a restriction control system.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing system 100 according to the present embodiment manages the users of the client terminals CL1 to CLn that use the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to be managed for each group, and manages the use of each user by linking the groups according to a parent-child relationship. Then, the use of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is restricted for each group and each user.

  Then, the printing system 100 executes a copy restriction control process sequence operation similar to that of FIG. 19 of the third embodiment as a copy restriction control process sequence when copying is possible, and copy restriction control when copying is impossible. As a processing sequence, the same copy restriction control processing sequence operation as in FIG. 20 of the third embodiment is executed. The printing system 100 executes the same print restriction control process sequence operation as that in FIG. 21 of the third embodiment as a print restriction control process sequence when printing (printing) is possible. As the print restriction control process sequence, the same print restriction control process sequence operation as that in FIG. 22 of the third embodiment is executed.

  Then, in the printing system 100, the management apparatus KSb executes a periodic restriction check process (use restriction management process) sequence operation shown in FIGS.

  That is, in the management apparatus KSb, as shown in FIG. 31, when the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 waits for a preset use restriction management process (periodic restriction check process) and reaches the use restriction management process timing, The group information search unit 104 makes a group list acquisition request, and the group information search unit 104 acquires group list information from the group information storage unit 103 in response to the request and passes it to the print permission control unit 80. Note that the processing timing of the usage restriction management processing is generally set to a regular timing such as every predetermined period.

  When acquiring the group list information, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 executes the following processing for each group based on the group list information. That is, the print permission control unit 80 requests the device information search unit 81 to obtain a list (device list) of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm belonging to the group, and the device information search unit 81 The device list of the specified group is acquired from the device information storage unit 82 and passed to the print permission / inhibition control unit 80.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 32, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 requests the user information search unit 106 to acquire a user list belonging to the group for each group, as shown in FIG. The information search unit 106 searches the user information storage unit 105 and the user / group related information storage unit 107, acquires a user list of the specified group, and passes it to the printability control unit 80.

  The print permission control unit 80 requests the print devices Pr1 to Prm, which are all the devices in the acquired device list, to obtain the number of prints of the print devices Pr1 to Prm via the network NW. As shown in FIG. 32, each of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm that has received the print number acquisition request from the management apparatus KSb acquires the number of prints from the print number storage unit 59, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 31 and FIG. 32, the data is transmitted to the management device KSb via the network NW.

  When the print permission control unit 80 makes a print number acquisition request to all the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm in the acquired device list of the group and acquires the print number, as shown in FIG. 31, the acquired group The print control information is acquired from the print control storage unit 77 by adding up the total number of prints for all devices (for all the printing devices Pr1 to Prm).

  Next, the printability control unit 80 requests the print number acquisition unit 85 to acquire the previous print number of the group, and the print number acquisition unit 85 obtains the previous print number of the group from the print number storage unit 84. Acquired and passed to the printability control unit 80.

  The print permission / inhibition control unit 80 requests the group information search unit 104 to acquire the upper limit value (group upper limit information) of the group, and the group information search unit 104 acquires from the group upper limit storage unit 75 to obtain the print permission / inhibition control unit. Pass to 80.

  Further, the printability control unit 80 acquires the frequency of users belonging to the group from the frequency storage unit 73, calculates a total frequency based on the acquired number information, print control information, and frequency information, and calculates the total Determine if the frequency exceeds the upper limit.

  If the total frequency exceeds the upper limit value, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80, as shown in FIG. 31 and FIG. 32, a group of users whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit value based on the acquired user list. A print rejection setting request for requesting to set whether or not printing is permitted to all users is made to all devices (all printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm) belonging to the group via the network NW.

  The printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm that have received the print rejection setting request, as shown in FIG. 32, all the user IDs of the groups requested by the print permission / rejection setting unit 55 to the print permission / rejection storage unit 56 in the print rejection setting request. The printing permission / prohibition information of the user is set to printing rejection.

  The print permission control unit 80 ends the use restriction management process when the print permission setting process is performed for the users of all the groups whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit value.

  When the user belongs to a plurality of groups and a situation requiring use restriction occurs in one group, as shown in FIG. The use restriction management process for disabling the use of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is also performed for all users belonging to this group.

  That is, in the management device KSb, as shown in FIG. 33, when the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 waits for a preset use restriction management process (periodic restriction check process) and reaches the use restriction management process timing, The group information search unit 104 makes a group list acquisition request, and the group information search unit 104 acquires group list information from the group information storage unit 103 in response to the request and passes it to the print permission control unit 80.

  Upon obtaining the group list information, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 performs the same processing as the processing shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 for each group based on the group list information, and the total frequency of users belonging to the group is determined. Judge whether the upper limit is exceeded.

  When the total frequency exceeds the upper limit value, the print permission control unit 80 requests all the devices belonging to the group to request a print permission setting request to set the print permission for the user with the user ID to the print permission. (All printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm) via the network NW and based on the already acquired user list, the group currently being processed to which the user belongs (group whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit) ) Is made to all devices (all printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm) belonging to the group via the network NW to request to set whether or not printing is possible for all users.

  Next, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 sends the group information reverse lookup unit 108 an acquisition request for the group list to which the user whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit value is passed, and passes the user ID of the user. The information reverse lookup unit 108 searches the user / group related information storage unit 107 based on the user ID of the user, acquires a list of all groups to which the user belongs, and passes the list to the print permission control unit 80. .

  The print permission control unit 80 checks whether there is a group other than the group currently being processed in the acquired group list. If there is another group, the other group is also included in the other group. A print rejection setting request for requesting to set whether or not printing is permitted to all users belonging to all user IDs is made to all devices (all printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm) belonging to the group via the network NW. .

  As described above, in the printing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm count the current number of images formed for each user (user) and are connected to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm via the network NW. When the managing device KSb acquires the current image forming number for each user from each printing device Pr1 to Prm at a predetermined timing and acquires the image forming number from each printing device Pr1 to Prm, the group to which the managing device KSb belongs has a parent-child relationship. The total number of images formed by all users linked in the above is calculated for each group to which the user belongs, and for each group, the total and the predetermined upper limit value (the maximum number of images used) for image formation are calculated. It is determined whether or not the group can be used, and the availability information that disables the use of all users belonging to the group whose total exceeds the upper limit value is used. The printing devices Pr1 to Prm restrict the use of the printing devices Pr1 to Prm by the user based on the availability information for each user sent from the management device KSB. Yes.

  Accordingly, the users (users) of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm are divided into detailed and appropriate groups such as departments, departments and sections in the department, and are linked in a parent-child relationship, and are linked in the parent-child relationship. The use of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm in the group unit and the user unit can be more appropriately managed to limit the use, and the image can be displayed in a state where the responsiveness is good and the usability is good. The formation restriction control can be performed more appropriately.

  In the printing system 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the management apparatus KSb stores the group IDs (identification information) of one or more groups to which the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm belong in association with the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm. The number of current image formations of all users from each of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm is acquired based on the group ID of the group to which the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm of the device information storage unit 82 belong. The total sum of the number of image formations for each group is calculated.

  Accordingly, the management units of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm can be set as appropriate according to the group, and the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm can be managed, and management according to the management purpose can be performed more appropriately.

  In the printing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the management apparatus KSb stores group IDs of all groups to which the user belongs in the group information storage unit 103 in association with the user as group information. When the current number of image formations for each user is acquired from Pr1 to Prm, based on the group information in the group information storage unit 103, the number of image formations of all users acquired from each printing device Pr1 to Prm is obtained. The total sum is calculated for all the groups to which the user belongs, and the printability of all users who belong to the group whose total exceeds the upper limit value (the upper limit number of use) is set to “no print”. A print rejection setting request (usability information) requested to the user is transmitted to the printing devices Pr1 to Prm used by all the users, and the user's affiliation A print reject setting request for requesting to set the print permission of all users belonging to all other groups other than the group whose sum exceeds the upper limit among the existing groups. Are transmitted to the printing devices Pr1 to Prm used.

  Therefore, regardless of the number of groups to which the user belongs, the use of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm of the user can be more appropriately managed, the use can be restricted, the responsiveness is good, and the usability The image formation restriction control can be performed more appropriately in a good state.

  In FIG. 33, the printing system 100 performs a process of restricting the use of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm to the users of all other groups to which the user belongs as the use restriction management process. As shown in FIG. 34, use of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm only for a group having a child relationship with a group (group being processed) whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit value of the user whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit value. Restriction may be performed, and processing that does not restrict use may be performed on a group having a parent relationship with the group being processed.

  That is, in the management apparatus KSb, as shown in FIG. 34, when the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 waits for a preset use restriction management process (periodic restriction check process) and reaches the use restriction management process timing, The group information search unit 104 makes a group list acquisition request, and the group information search unit 104 acquires group list information from the group information storage unit 103 in response to the request and passes it to the print permission control unit 80.

  Upon obtaining the group list information, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 performs the same processing as the processing shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 for each group based on the group list information, and the total frequency of users belonging to the group is determined. Judge whether the upper limit is exceeded.

  When the total frequency exceeds the upper limit value, the print permission control unit 80 sends a print permission setting request for requesting the user to set the print permission for the user to all devices belonging to the group (all print The group currently being processed to which the user belongs (group of users whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit value) based on the already acquired user list, while performing the processing for the devices Pr1 to Prm) via the network NW A print rejection setting request for requesting to set whether or not printing is permitted to all users is made to all devices (all printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm) belonging to the group via the network NW.

  Next, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 sends the group information reverse lookup unit 108 an acquisition request for the group list to which the user whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit value is passed, and passes the user ID of the user. The information reverse lookup unit 108 searches the user / group related information storage unit 107 based on the user ID, acquires a list of all groups to which the user belongs, and passes the list to the printability control unit 80.

  The printability control unit 80 checks whether there is a group other than the currently processed group (the group whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit) in the acquired group list, and if there is another group, All group IDs of parent groups (parent group IDs) are requested and acquired from the group information search unit 104. When acquiring the parent group ID of the other group, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 checks whether the group currently being processed is a parent group of the other group. That is, check whether the parent group ID is registered in the other group, the parent group ID is the group ID of the group currently being processed, and the other group is a child group of the group currently being processed. To do.

  If the other group is a child group of the group currently being processed, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 determines whether or not printing is permitted for the users of all user IDs belonging to the other group. A print rejection setting request for requesting to be set to is made to all devices belonging to the group (all printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm) via the network NW. However, if the other group is a parent group that is currently being processed, the print permission / inhibition control unit 80 does not perform a use restriction that denies printing for the other group that is the parent group.

  As described above, in the printing system 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the management apparatus KSb stores the group IDs of all the groups to which the user belongs in the group information storage unit 103 in association with the user as group information and the group. When there is a group, the group ID of the parent group is stored, and when the current number of image formations for each user is acquired from each of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, each printing apparatus is based on the group information in the group information storage unit 103. The total number of images formed for all users acquired from Pr1 to Prm is calculated for each group for all groups to which the user belongs, and the total exceeds the upper limit (upper limit usage number). All the print rejection setting requests (usability information) for requesting to set the print permission of all users belonging to the group to the print rejection The group information is transmitted to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm used by the user, and the sum is included in the group information among all the groups other than the group in which the sum belongs to the upper limit. Use a print rejection setting request for requesting to set the print permission of all users belonging to the child group whose group ID is registered as the group ID of the parent group. To the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm.

  Therefore, for example, when a parent group is an organization and a child group below it is a team of the organization, the use restriction of the device in the group as an organization is applied to the team. Restricting usage to an organization affects the entire business of the organization, so if you do not want to restrict the device usage of the team to the organization, etc. The use can be restricted only for the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm, the use of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm can be more appropriately managed by the user, the use can be restricted, and the responsiveness is good In addition, the image formation restriction control can be performed more appropriately in a state where the usability is good.

  In addition, you may make it perform each usage restriction mentioned above according to selection. That is, when the total exceeds the upper limit, the management device KSb, based on the group information in the group information storage unit 103, determines all users belonging to all groups to which the user whose total exceeds the upper limit. All group unavailability control processing for sending a print refusal setting request for requesting to set possiblity to print refusal to the printing devices Pr1 to Prm used by all the users, and a user whose sum exceeds the upper limit value Among the groups to which the user belongs, the group ID of the group in which the sum of the users exceeds the upper limit and the group ID of the group in which the sum exceeds the upper limit is the parent group in the group information of the group information storage unit 103 A print rejection setting request for requesting that all users belonging to a child group registered as a group ID be set to the print reject status. The child group unusable control process transmitted to the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm used by the user, and the print permission of all users belonging only to the group to which the user whose total exceeds the upper limit value is set as print reject. Depending on the selection, one of the limited group unavailable control processes for transmitting the print rejection setting request requested to the printers Pr1 to Prm used by all the users may be executed.

  If it does in this way, according to the utilization form of the printing system 100, management of a user's printing apparatus Pr1-Prm can be performed more appropriately, utilization can be restrict | limited, and a responsiveness is in a favorable state, In addition, the image formation restriction control can be performed more appropriately in a state where the usability is good.

  Also in the fourth embodiment, the usage management of the printing apparatuses Pr1 to Prm may be performed for each functional operation mode as described in the third embodiment.

  If it does in this way, use restrictions of printing devices Pr1-Prm can be performed appropriately, and more appropriate use restrictions can be performed.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be applied to an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium that appropriately perform use restriction of devices for each user or group with good responsiveness and good usability. it can.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system to which an image forming restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium according to a first embodiment of the present invention are applied. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the main parts of the printing apparatus, usage restriction server, and integrated server in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an authentication information table included in the printing apparatus Pa1 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an authentication information table included in the printing apparatus Pa2 of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the authentication information table which the use restriction server RSa of FIG. 2 has. The figure which shows an example of the authentication information table which the use restriction server RSb of FIG. 1 has. The figure which shows an example of the authentication information table which the use restriction server RSc of FIG. 1 has. The figure which shows an example of the authentication information table which the integrated server of FIG. 1 has. 3 is a flowchart showing use restriction control processing by the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart showing information management processing with the printing apparatus by the use restriction server in FIG. 1. The flowchart which shows the information management process between the integrated servers by the use restriction server of FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing information management processing by a use restriction server of a printing system to which a second embodiment of the image formation restriction control system, the image formation restriction control program, and the recording medium of the present invention is applied. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an authentication information table included in a printing apparatus of a printing system to which a second embodiment of an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium according to the invention is applied. 9 is a flowchart illustrating use restriction control processing by a printing apparatus of a printing system to which a second embodiment of an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium according to the invention is applied. 9 is a flowchart showing information management processing with an integrated server by a use restriction server of a printing system to which a second embodiment of an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium of the present invention is applied. FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system to which a third embodiment of an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium according to the invention is applied. The principal part block block diagram of the printing apparatus of FIG. The principal part block block diagram of the management apparatus of FIG. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing copy restriction control processing when copying by the printing apparatus of FIG. 17 is possible. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing copy restriction control processing when copying by the printing apparatus of FIG. 17 is impossible. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing print restriction control processing when printing by the printing apparatus of FIG. 17 is possible. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing print restriction control processing when printing by the printing apparatus of FIG. 17 is impossible. FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing use restriction management processing by the management apparatus of FIG. 18. FIG. 24 is a sequence diagram showing processing subsequent to the usage restriction management processing of FIG. FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing a print number clear process by the management apparatus of FIG. 18. FIG. 26 is a sequence diagram showing processing subsequent to the print number clearing processing of FIG. 25. FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system to which a fourth embodiment of an image formation restriction control system, an image formation restriction control program, and a recording medium according to the invention is applied. The principal part block block diagram of the management apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the group structure stored in the group information storage part of FIG. The data example at the time of storing in the group information storage part of the group structure of FIG. FIG. 28 is a sequence diagram showing use restriction management processing by the management apparatus of FIG. 27. FIG. 32 is a sequence diagram showing processing subsequent to the use restriction management processing of FIG. 31. FIG. 28 is a sequence diagram showing a use restriction management process when use restriction is performed on all groups to which a user belongs by the management apparatus of FIG. 27. FIG. 28 is a sequence diagram illustrating a use restriction management process in the case where use restriction is performed on all groups other than a parent-related group to which a user belongs by the management apparatus of FIG. 27.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system TS integrated server NWt network PNa, PNb, PNc Printing network NWa network CLa1, CLa2 ... Client terminal Pa1, Pa2 ... Printing device RSa, RSb, RSc Usage restriction server 11 Network transmission / reception unit 12 Authentication execution unit 13 Print availability determination unit 14 Print execution unit 15 Authentication information management unit 16 Storage unit 21 Network transmission / reception unit 22 Authentication information management unit 23 Storage unit 31 Network transmission / reception unit 32 Authentication information management unit 33 Storage unit 40 Printing system NW network CL1, CLn,. Client terminals Pr1 to Prm Printing device KS management device 51 Communication I / F unit 52 Print job analysis unit 53 User ID inquiry unit 54 Input unit 55 Printability setting unit 56 Printability storage unit 57 Printability Fixed part 58 Printed sheet number information obtaining part 59 Printed sheet number storage part 60 Printed sheet number counting part 61 Display part 62 Print control part 63 Printer part 64 Image data processing part 65 Scanner part 71 Communication I / F part 72 Frequency setting part 73 Frequency storage part 74 Group upper limit setting unit 75 Group upper limit storage unit 76 Print control setting unit 77 Print control storage unit 78 User information search unit 79 User information storage unit 80 Print availability control unit 81 Device information search unit 82 Device information storage unit 83 Print number setting unit 84 Print number storage unit 85 Print number acquisition unit 86 Group information search unit 87 Group information storage unit 100 Printing system KSb management device 101 System information storage unit 102 System information setting unit 103 Group information storage unit 104 Group information search unit 105 User information storage Part 106 User information Search unit 107 user / group relation information storage unit 108 groups the information reverse unit

Claims (25)

  An image forming restriction control system in which an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an image forming job and a management apparatus that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network, and the image forming apparatus includes: User information storage means for storing user information relating to users permitted to use, usage restriction information storage means for storing the current number of image formations and the remaining upper limit number of image formations for each user, and the user information Control means for performing image formation restriction control processing for restricting image formation by the user based on the current number of image formations of the user who has permitted use and the upper limit number of remaining image formations. The management device includes user information storage means for storing the user information of each image forming device in association with the image forming device, and each image for each user. Use restriction information storage means for storing the total number of current image formations in the forming apparatus and a predetermined upper limit number of image formations, and providing user information for providing the user information to the image forming apparatus used by the user Processing, acquiring the current number of image forming sheets from each image forming apparatus at a predetermined timing, calculating the sum of the number of image forming sheets acquired from each image forming apparatus for each user, and An information management process is performed in which the image formation remaining upper limit number is calculated from the sum and the image formation upper limit number for each user, and the calculated image formation remaining upper limit number is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by the user. And when the image forming apparatus receives the upper limit number of remaining image formations from the management apparatus, the control unit sets the remaining upper limit number of image formations in the usage restriction information recording. Register the unit, the image forming restriction control system characterized by performing the image forming restriction control process based on the image forming remainder upper limit number.   In the image forming restriction control system, each management device is connected to an integrated management device via a predetermined network, and the integrated management device is user information relating to a user who is permitted to use each image forming device. Integrated user information storage means for storing the image in association with the image forming apparatus, and integrated use for storing the total sum of the number of current image formation in each of the image forming apparatuses for each user and a predetermined integrated image formation upper limit number Performs integrated user information provision processing for providing restriction information storage means and the user information to the management apparatus that manages the image forming apparatus used by the user, and from each management apparatus at a predetermined timing, the current information The total number of image formations obtained from each management device, the sum of the number of image formations obtained from each management device is calculated for each user, and the total sum and the maximum number of integrated image formations for each user. And an integrated control means for performing integrated information management processing for calculating the upper limit print image formation number from the image and transmitting the calculated upper limit image formation number to the management apparatus that manages the image forming apparatus used by the user. When the image forming upper limit number is sent from the integrated management device, the control unit registers the image forming upper limit number in the use restriction information storage unit, and the image forming upper limit number is stored. An image formation restriction control system that performs the information management processing based on   An image forming restriction control program for connecting an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an image forming job and a management apparatus that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus to a predetermined network and restricting image formation in the image forming apparatus. A user information provision processing step of providing user information relating to a user permitted to use the image forming apparatus by the management apparatus to the image forming apparatus used by the user; A management information setting processing step for setting an upper limit number of remaining image formations by the user in the image forming apparatus used by the user, and use based on the user information sent from the management apparatus by each image forming apparatus And the current number of image formations of the user permitted to use and the upper limit number of remaining image formations sent from the management device An image formation restriction control processing step for restricting image formation by the user on the basis of the above, and acquiring the current number of images formed by each user from each of the image forming apparatuses at a predetermined timing by the management apparatus; For each user, the sum of the number of image formations acquired from each image forming apparatus is calculated, and the remaining image formation upper limit number is calculated from the total and the predetermined image formation upper limit number for each user. And an information management processing step of transmitting an upper limit number of remaining sheets to the image forming apparatus used by the user.   In the image formation restriction control program, each management device is connected to an integrated management device via a predetermined network, and user information relating to a user who is permitted to use each image forming device by the integrated management device. Integrated user information provision processing step for providing each management device in a state associated with the image forming device, and at a predetermined timing, obtaining the current number of image formations for each user from each management device, For each user, the sum of the current number of image formations acquired from each management device is calculated, and for each user, the upper limit number of image formations is calculated from the total sum and a predetermined upper limit number of integrated image formations. 4. The integrated information management processing step of transmitting the calculated upper limit number of image forming sheets to the management apparatus that manages the image forming apparatus used by the user. Image forming restriction control program.   The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program stores the image formation job by the user of the image formation job based on the number of image formations in the image formation job when the image formation apparatus completes the processing of the image formation job. The current image forming number is updated, and the image forming number in the image forming job is transmitted to the management device, and the management device stores the user based on the transmitted image forming number. 5. The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program according to claim 1, wherein the current number of image formations is updated.   The image forming restriction control system or the image forming restriction control program is acquired from the image forming apparatus by the management apparatus acquiring the current number of image forming sheets from the image forming apparatuses as the information management process. The sum of the number of formed images is calculated for each user, and whether or not the user can form an image is determined based on the total and the upper limit number of image formation for each user, and the image formation of the determination result Permit information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by the user, and each image forming apparatus, as the image forming restriction control process, transmits each user based on the image forming permission information sent from the management apparatus. 6. The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program according to claim 1, wherein whether or not image formation is possible is controlled.   The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program stores the user information of each image forming apparatus at the predetermined timing or other timing based on the user information held by the management apparatus. Or the integrated management device updates the user information of each management device at the predetermined timing or other timing based on the user information held by the integrated management device. The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   An image forming restriction control program for restricting image formation in an image forming apparatus in which an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an image forming job and a management apparatus that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network. A recording medium for recording, wherein the image formation restriction control program according to any one of claims 3 to 7 is recorded as the image formation restriction control program.   An image forming restriction control system in which an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least an image forming job and a management apparatus that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network. An image formation number storage means for storing a current image formation number for each user who uses the image forming apparatus, a use availability information storage means for storing availability information for each user, and the availability information. Control means for performing use restriction control processing for restricting use based on the image formation count processing for counting the number of image formations of a user who is permitted to use and storing it in the image formation number storage means. The management device stores usage restriction information storage means for storing a predetermined upper limit number of images used for image formation, and the usage from each image forming device at a predetermined timing. The current number of image formations for each user is acquired, and the total number of image formations of all users acquired from each image forming apparatus is calculated for each group to which the user belongs, and for each group. And determining whether or not the group can be used based on the total sum and the use upper limit number of the use restriction information storage means, and prohibiting use of all users belonging to the group whose total exceeds the use upper limit number. Control means for executing usage restriction management processing for transmitting the availability information to be used to the image forming apparatus used by all users, and the image forming apparatus sends the availability information from the management apparatus. Then, the control means registers the availability information in the availability information storage means and performs the usage restriction control process based on the availability information. .   An image forming restriction control program for restricting image formation in an image forming apparatus in which an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least an image forming job and a management device that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network An image forming sheet count processing step of storing a current image forming sheet number for each user by the image forming apparatus in an image forming sheet number storing unit, and the use from each image forming apparatus at a predetermined timing by the management apparatus The current number of image formations for each user is acquired, and the total number of image formations of all users acquired from each image forming apparatus is calculated for each group to which the user belongs, for each group. And determining whether or not the group can be used from the total number and a predetermined upper limit number of image formations stored in the use restriction information storage unit, A use restriction management processing step for transmitting, to the image forming apparatus used by all users, use restriction information that disables use of all users belonging to a group whose total exceeds the use upper limit number of sheets; and A use restriction control processing step for restricting the use of the image forming apparatus by the user based on the availability information for each of the users sent from the management apparatus by the image forming apparatus. Image formation restriction control program.   The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program includes a plurality of the groups and a plurality of users who belong to the plurality of groups and use the image forming apparatus. 11. The image formation restriction control system according to claim 9, or the image formation restriction control program according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus performs the use restriction management process.   The image formation restriction control system includes a plurality of functional operation modes such as a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile function as the function of the image forming apparatus. In the restriction control processing step, as the use restriction control process, the use of the function operation mode is restricted based on the availability information for each function operation mode, and the user permitted to use the function operation mode in the function operation mode The number of image formations is counted and stored in the image formation number storage unit, and the management apparatus stores the upper limit use number for each functional operation mode in the use restriction information storage unit, and the control unit or the use restriction In the management processing step, the sum is calculated for each functional operation mode, and for each functional operation mode for each group and for each functional operation mode. The function operation of all users who belong to the group whose total sum exceeds the usage upper limit number is determined from the sum and the usage upper limit number for each functional operation mode of the usage limit information storage means. 12. The use restriction management process for transmitting use permission / prohibition information that disables use of a mode to the image forming apparatus used by all users is executed. Image formation restriction control system or image formation restriction control program.   In the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program, the image forming apparatus has a processing function such as image formation in color including black and white as its function, and the control means or the use restriction control In the processing step, based on the availability information for each color, the use of operation processing for that color is restricted, and the number of image formations for the color of the user who has permitted the use is counted to determine the number of image formations Storing in the storage means, the management device stores the use upper limit number of sheets for each color in the use restriction information storage means, and calculates the sum for each color in the control means or the use restriction management processing step. Then, for each group and for each color, it is determined whether or not the use is possible from the total sum and the use upper limit number for each color of the use restriction information storage means, and the sum determines the use upper limit number of sheets. Executing use restriction management processing for transmitting to the image forming apparatus used by all the users permission / prohibition information that prohibits use of the operation processing in the color of all users belonging to the selected group. The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program according to any one of claims 9 to 12.   In the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program, the management device stores frequency storage means for storing a predetermined unit frequency for each color and usage limit frequency information for storing a predetermined upper limit for each color. Storage means, and in the control means or the use restriction management processing step, multiply the number of image formations for each color obtained from the image forming apparatus for each user by the unit frequency of the color of the frequency storage means Then, the total frequency is calculated for each group and for each color, and whether or not the color of the group can be used is determined from the total frequency and the upper limit frequency for each group and for each color. A use restriction management process for transmitting, to the image forming apparatus used by all users, availability information that disables use of the colors by all users belonging to the group whose frequency exceeds the upper limit frequency. Execution The image forming limits according to claim 13, wherein Rukoto control system or the image forming restriction control program.   In the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program, the management device stores the unit frequency for each color for each group in the frequency storage unit, and the usage limit frequency information storage unit stores the unit frequency The upper limit number for each color is stored for each group, and in the control means or the use restriction management processing step, the total frequency of the color and the upper limit of the color in the use restriction degree information storage means for each group and for each color Whether to use the color of the group is determined from the frequency, and availability information that disables the use of the color by all users belonging to the group whose total frequency exceeds the upper limit of the color. 15. The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program according to claim 14, wherein a use restriction management process is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by all users.   In the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program, the management device stores the unit frequency for each color for each user in the frequency storage means, and the control means or the use restriction management process. In step, the number of image formations for each color acquired from the image forming apparatus for each user is multiplied by the unit frequency of the color for each user of the frequency storage means, and for each group and for each color. 16. The image formation restriction control system or image formation restriction control program according to claim 13, wherein the total frequency is calculated.   The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program includes an image formation number storage unit that stores the number of image formations acquired by the management apparatus for each user from the image formation apparatus. In the use restriction management processing step, based on a difference between the image formation number acquired this time from the image forming apparatus for each user and the image formation number acquired last time stored in the image formation number storage unit The image formation restriction control system or image according to any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein a sum or the total frequency is calculated, and the availability is determined based on the calculated total or total frequency. Formation restriction control program.   The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program includes an image formation number storage unit that stores the number of image formations acquired by the management apparatus for each user from the image formation apparatus. In the use restriction management processing step, the number of image formations for each user is acquired and stored in the image formation number storage unit for each predetermined use situation investigation timing, and the availability is determined at the use situation investigation timing. 2. The information on whether or not the information is usable is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by the user, to the user who uses the information. The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program according to claim 17.   In the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program, the management device includes a predetermined input unit that inputs the use upper limit number of sheets, and the control unit or the use restriction management processing step includes the input unit. 19. The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein whether or not use is possible is determined based on an input use upper limit number of sheets.   The management apparatus associates each image forming apparatus with a user who uses the image forming apparatus, and also identifies identification information of a group to which the user belongs and a parent group of the group. Group information storage means for storing identification information in association with the user as group information is provided, and in the control means or the use restriction control processing step, a current image forming number for each user is obtained from each image forming apparatus. Upon acquisition, based on the group information stored in the group information storage means, the total number of images formed by all users acquired from each image forming apparatus is calculated for each group to which the user belongs. The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program according to any one of claims 9 to 19.   The management apparatus includes device information storage means for storing identification information of the one or more groups to which the image forming apparatus belongs in association with each image forming apparatus, and the control means or the use restriction control processing step Then, based on the identification information of the group to which each image forming apparatus belongs in the device information storage means, the current image forming number of all users is acquired from each image forming apparatus, and the image formation for each group is performed. 21. The image formation control system or the image formation restriction control program according to claim 20, wherein the total number of sheets is calculated.   In the management apparatus, when the user belongs to a plurality of groups, the group information storage means associates the user with the group information as identification information of all groups to which the user belongs. And the current number of image formation for each user is acquired from each image forming apparatus in the control means or the use restriction control processing step, based on the group information in the group information storage means, The total number of images formed by all users acquired from each image forming apparatus is calculated for each group for all groups to which the user belongs, and the total exceeds the upper limit number of usage. Information indicating whether or not all users belonging to the group cannot be used is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by all the users, and the group to which the user belongs is also transmitted. The image forming apparatus that uses all of the users to determine whether or not to use all users belonging to all groups other than the group whose total exceeds the upper limit number of use 22. The image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program according to claim 20, wherein the image formation restriction control system or the image formation restriction control program is transmitted.   In the management apparatus, when the user belongs to a plurality of groups, the group information storage means associates the user with the group information as identification information of all groups to which the user belongs. And the current number of image formation for each user is acquired from each image forming apparatus in the control means or the use restriction control processing step, based on the group information in the group information storage means, The total number of images formed by all users acquired from each image forming apparatus is calculated for each group for all the groups to which the user belongs, and the total exceeds the maximum usage number. The availability information for disabling the use of all users belonging to the group is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by all the users, and the total of the users belonging to the user is also sent. Among all other groups other than the group that has exceeded the usage upper limit number of sheets, the identification information of the group whose sum exceeds the usage upper limit number of sheets is registered in the child group registered as the parent group identification information. The image formation restriction control system according to claim 20 or 21, wherein use permission / prohibition information for disabling use of all belonging users is transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by all the users. Or an image formation restriction control program.   In the management apparatus, when the user belongs to a plurality of groups, the group information storage means associates the user with the group information as identification information of all groups to which the user belongs. And when the total exceeds the upper limit number of uses in the control means or the use restriction control processing step, the total exceeds the upper limit number of uses based on the group information of the group information storage means. All-group unavailability control processing for transmitting unavailability information that precludes the use of all users belonging to all groups to which the user belongs to the image forming apparatus used by all users; and Of all the groups to which the user exceeding the usage limit number belongs, the group in which the total of the user exceeds the usage limit number and the group in which the total exceeds the usage limit number The group identification information is set to all the users to determine whether or not all the users belonging to the child group registered as the parent group identification information in the group information of the group information storage means cannot be used. Child group unusable control processing to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus used by the user, and usability information that prohibits the use of all users belonging only to the group to which the user whose total exceeds the use upper limit number of sheets. 22. The image forming control system according to claim 20 or 21, wherein any one of the limited group unusable control processes transmitted to the image forming apparatuses used by all users is executed according to selection. Image formation restriction control program.   An image forming restriction control program for restricting image formation in an image forming apparatus in which an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on at least an image forming job and a management device that manages use restrictions of the image forming apparatus are connected to a predetermined network 25. A recording medium for recording an image formation restriction control program according to any one of claims 10 to 24 as the image formation restriction control program.

Images