JP2009053791A - Print management apparatus and print management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve an adverse effect of a reception restriction on a print instruction resulting from a failure in a printer for executing the print instruction. <P>SOLUTION: A print management apparatus S uses a reception restriction means 5 to compare each user's cumulative number of copies calculated by a cumulative calculation means 7 with an upper limit retained in an upper limit retention means 6 and restrict the reception by a print instruction reception means 1 of the print instruction that will make each user's cumulative number of copies exceed the upper limit. A failure determination means 8 determines whether or not the printer P is in a failed state by acquiring failure information from the printer P. If there is a failed printer P, a print instruction identification means 10 identifies the print instruction queued in the failed printer P, and a relaxation means 9 excludes the number of copies by the identified queued print instruction with respect to the upper limit for the print instruction reception restriction by the reception restriction means 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print management apparatus and a print management program for restricting acceptance of print commands.

A technique is known in which an upper limit value of the number of print sheets allowed for each user is specified, and printing performed exceeding the upper limit value is restricted.
For example, there is a system that collects the actual number of printed sheets by each user from the printing apparatus, and restricts the acceptance of subsequent printing commands when the cumulative value of the actual number of printed sheets reaches an upper limit. Here, since the printing process in the printing apparatus requires a certain time, there is a case where the print command is waiting to be executed at the time of collecting the actual number of sheets, and these print commands are not reflected in the actual number of sheets. Therefore, depending on the timing of receiving a new print command, there is a possibility that printing exceeding the upper limit value is performed.
In order to solve the above problem, an invention has been proposed in which print restriction is performed using the predicted number of prints (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-163977 A

According to the above invention, even when a failure occurs in the printing apparatus after a printing command is input to the printing apparatus, printing is limited by adding the estimated number of sheets related to the printing command to the cumulative value.
Here, when a failure occurs in a printing apparatus that is scheduled to execute a print command, if the user who has input the print command is already subject to printing restrictions, the printed matter related to the print command is immediately displayed. Even if necessary, the printing command cannot be re-inputted to another printing apparatus, and there is a problem that there is no choice but to wait for recovery of the printing apparatus that is scheduled to execute the printing command. In particular, when such a situation occurs, for example, during class hours or working hours, smooth progress of classes, work, etc. is hindered. In addition, for example, when a printing command waiting for execution disappears from the printing device due to a failure of the printing device, an unreasonable situation in which printing is restricted even though the number of printed results does not reach the upper limit value. Occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the adverse effects caused by the occurrence of a failure in a printing apparatus that executes a print command when restricting the acceptance of a print command.

  The present invention according to claim 1 is an acquisition means for acquiring identification information and the number of printed sheets of the user based on a printing command input by the user to the printing apparatus, and the acquired identification information of the user. And calculating means for calculating a cumulative value of the number of printed sheets for each user based on the number of printed sheets, and comparing the calculated cumulative value of the number of printed sheets for each user with a predetermined upper limit value of the number of printed sheets. Limiting means for restricting acceptance of a print command in which the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets for each user exceeds an upper limit value, and determining whether the printing apparatus is in a failure state by acquiring failure information from the printing apparatus Determining means for specifying, a specifying means for specifying a print command waiting for execution by the printing device in a faulty state, and OLE_LINK1 an upper limit relating to the limit on acceptance of a print command by the limiting means, the number of prints by the specified print command waiting for execution value And relieving means for relieving with a print management apparatus, comprising the OLE_LINK1.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the print management apparatus according to the first aspect, the mitigation unit calculates the number of prints according to a print command waiting for execution by the printing apparatus in a fault state in a predetermined time zone, It is characterized in that the upper limit value relating to the restriction on acceptance of the print command by the restriction means is relaxed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the print management apparatus according to the first or second aspect, printing by a print command waiting for execution by the printing device in a fault state among print commands by a user defined in advance. The number of sheets is relaxed with respect to an upper limit value related to the restriction on acceptance of a print command by the restriction means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the print management apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, a print command for a predetermined printing apparatus is awaiting execution by the printing apparatus in a fault state. The number of printed sheets according to the print command is relaxed with respect to the upper limit value relating to the limit on acceptance of the print command by the restricting means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the print management device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the determination unit is configured such that the failure type of the printing device is a predetermined type. In addition, the printing apparatus is determined to be in a failure state.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the print management apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the specified printing command waiting for execution is executed by the printing apparatus that has recovered from the failure state. An execution means is further provided.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the print management apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the printing management apparatus further includes a canceling unit that cancels the specified print command waiting for execution. To do.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the print management apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, an upper limit value of the number of printed sheets is defined in advance for each user.

  The present invention according to claim 9 is an acquisition function for acquiring identification information and the number of prints of a user based on a print command input to the printing apparatus by the user, and the acquired user. Based on the identification information and the number of printed sheets, a calculation function for calculating the total number of printed sheets for each user, the calculated total number of printed sheets for each user, and a predetermined upper limit value for the number of printed sheets In comparison, a restriction function for restricting acceptance of a print command in which the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets for each user exceeds the upper limit value, and whether or not the printing apparatus is in a troubled state by obtaining trouble information from the printing apparatus A determination function for determining whether or not a print command waiting for execution by the printing apparatus in a faulty state, and the number of prints based on the specified print command waiting for execution are used as a restriction on acceptance of a print command by the restriction unit. A relaxation function of reducing the upper limit value that is a print management program for realizing.

According to the print management apparatus of the first aspect, since the number of prints of a print command waiting to be executed by the troubled printing apparatus is relaxed with respect to the upper limit value related to the acceptance of the print command, the printing apparatus that executes the print command The bad effects caused by the failure can be solved.
That is, for example, even when a print command waiting for execution disappears from the printing device due to a failure of the printing device, the upper limit of the number of prints due to the printing command is relaxed, so the printing command is restored to the printing device. It can be re-entered and executed later. Further, for example, when another printing apparatus is operating normally, a print command waiting for execution by the printing apparatus in the fault state can be input to the other printing apparatus and executed.

  According to the print management apparatus of the second aspect, the upper limit of the print command acceptance limit can be relaxed only in a predetermined time zone. In other words, for example, when there is a situation where it is not possible to wait for recovery of the printing device, such as during class time, while the printing command is restricted regardless of the occurrence of the printing device failure, Sometimes the upper limit on the acceptance of printing commands can be relaxed.

  According to the print management apparatus of the third aspect, the upper limit of the limit for accepting print commands can be relaxed only for a predetermined user. That is, for example, for general students, the limit for accepting a print command is restricted regardless of the occurrence of a failure in the printing apparatus, while for professors, the limit for accepting a print command can be relaxed when the trouble occurs in the printing apparatus.

  According to the print management apparatus of the fourth aspect, the upper limit of the limit for accepting a print command can be relaxed only for a predetermined printing apparatus. That is, for example, a printing apparatus that performs color printing restricts acceptance of a print command regardless of the occurrence of a trouble from the viewpoint of reducing printing costs, while a printing apparatus that performs monochrome printing restricts acceptance of a print instruction when a trouble occurs. The upper limit can be relaxed.

  According to the printing management apparatus according to claim 5, even when a failure that can be dealt with by the user such as a lack of consumables such as paper and toner or a paper jam occurs and can be recovered in a short time, the print command is accepted. Since the upper limit cannot be relaxed, excessive upper limit relaxation can be prevented.

  According to the print management apparatus of the sixth aspect, it is possible to execute a print command waiting for execution by the troubled printing apparatus after the trouble is recovered. For this reason, for example, it is possible to prevent a problem that a printing command related to a one-time printed matter is canceled and printing cannot be performed.

  According to the print management apparatus of the seventh aspect, it is possible to cancel the print command waiting for execution by the troubled printing apparatus. For this reason, for example, after a print command waiting for execution is input to another printing device and executed by a printing device in a faulty state, the printing command is also executed by the printing device that has recovered from the failure, thereby double Problems such as printing can be prevented.

  According to the print management apparatus of the eighth aspect, the upper limit number can be defined for each user. That is, for example, a student who takes a course that uses a large amount of printed matter can define a higher upper limit number than other students.

  According to the print management program of the ninth aspect, the computer can function as the print management apparatus.

The present invention will be specifically described based on the embodiments exemplified below.
FIG. 1 shows an overview of a print management system according to this example.
The print management system of this example includes a user terminal (client) C that is operated by a user, a printing device (printer) P that performs printing based on a print command from the user terminal C, and print command acceptance restrictions. A print management apparatus (print service) S to be performed is connected via a network N. Note that the print management system of this example includes a plurality of user terminals C and print management apparatuses S, but in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the print management apparatus S according to this example.
The print management apparatus S of this example transmits a print command receiving means 1 that receives a print command from the user terminal C, a print command holding means 2 that holds history data of the received print command, and transmits the print command to the printing apparatus P. Execution control means 3 for executing printing, achievement collection means 4 for collecting printing results by the printing apparatus P, acceptance restriction means 5 for restricting acceptance of printing commands, failure determination means for judging whether or not the printing apparatus P is in a trouble state 8 and a restriction alleviating unit 9 that alleviates restrictions on accepting print commands.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the print command history data includes a “job ID” for identifying the print command, a “user ID” for identifying the user who has performed the print command, and the execution destination of the print command. A set of “printer ID” for identifying the designated printing device, “number of prints” designated by the printing command, “execution status” indicating whether the printing command has been executed by the printing device, etc. is doing.

  This history data is generated by acquiring the “user ID”, “printer ID”, and “number of printed sheets” from the print command received by the print command receiving means 1 and automatically assigning the “job ID”. . In the “execution state”, a value indicating an execution waiting state is set as an initial value, and a value indicating an executed state on condition that the execution of the printing command by the printing apparatus P is confirmed by the result collecting unit 4 Is set. In this example, the record collecting means 4 periodically sends a print record request instruction to the printing apparatus P, collects the print record, and updates the “execution state”. However, the printing apparatus P executes printing. The printing result may be transmitted every time it is finished, and this may be collected by the result collecting unit 4 to update the “execution state”.

  The reception restriction unit 5 calculates the cumulative number for each user by adding the upper limit number holding unit 6 (FIG. 4) for holding the upper limit number preliminarily defined for each user, and accumulating the print number of history data for each user ID. And a cumulative calculation means 7. The upper limit number holding means 6 of this example defines an upper limit number for each user, but may be a uniform upper limit number for each user.

The reception restriction unit 5 compares the cumulative number calculated by the cumulative number calculation unit 7 with the upper limit number held by the upper limit number holding unit 6, and prints a print command in which the cumulative number for each user exceeds the upper limit number. The reception by the instruction receiving unit 1 is limited.
With the acceptance restriction in this example, acceptance is restricted in units of print commands by disabling print commands that cause the cumulative total number of users to exceed the upper limit (such as discarding print commands or adding invalid flags). However, it is also possible to perform partial reception restrictions such as partially accepting printing within the range of the upper limit number of print commands and invalidating the rest.

  The failure determination unit 8 acquires failure information from the printing device P and determines whether the printing device P is in a failure state. In this example, when the printing device P detects its own failure, the failure information automatically transmitted from the printing device P is acquired. However, the failure determination means 8 periodically issues a failure information request instruction. You may make it acquire by transmitting.

Here, there are various types of failures of the printing apparatus P, such as lack of consumables such as paper and toner, paper jam, drum life, gear breakage, etc. When the type of failure (hardware failure such as drum life or gear breakage) deserving to relax the acceptance limit is specified in advance, and failure information corresponding to the specified type is acquired from the printing apparatus P Therefore, it is determined that the printing apparatus P is in a failure state.
In addition, the type of failure that is not determined to be a failure state may be specified, and a failure that can be dealt with by the user such as a lack of consumables or a paper jam and that can be recovered in a short time is specified. A failure state may be determined when a failure other than a failure occurs.

The restriction relaxation unit 9 preliminarily sets, for each printing device P, a print command specifying unit 10 that specifies a print command waiting for execution by the printing device P in a faulty state and a time zone (restriction relaxation time) for relaxing the restriction on acceptance of the print command. And relaxation condition holding means 11 (FIG. 5) for holding specified relaxation condition data.
Then, the restriction relaxation unit 9 determines when the execution waiting print command specified by the print command specifying unit 10 matches the relaxation condition data held by the relaxation condition holding unit 11, that is, the time specified for the faulty printing device P. In the case of waiting for execution in the band, the number of printed sheets according to the print command is relaxed with respect to the upper limit number of sheets related to the restriction on acceptance of the print instruction by the acceptance restriction unit 5.

In this example, the print command waiting for execution by the troubled printing apparatus P is specified based on the “printer ID” and “execution state” of the history data. The information may be specified by requesting transmission of command information.
Further, in this example, the upper limit is reduced by calculating the cumulative number by excluding the execution waiting print command. For example, the upper limit number is obtained by subtracting the print number of the execution waiting print command from the cumulative number. The upper limit may be relaxed by adding the number of prints of the print command waiting for execution.

  The execution control means 3 of this example immediately sends the print command received from the user terminal C to the printing apparatus P for execution, and also restores the print command waiting for execution specified by the print command specifying means 10 from the failure state. It has a function to be executed by the printing apparatus P. Instead of this function, a function of canceling the print command waiting for execution specified by the print command specifying means 10 may be provided.

The upper limit relaxation processing of the print command acceptance restriction according to this example will be described with reference to the processing flow shown in FIG.
When the print command receiving means 1 receives a print command from the user terminal C, the user ID, printer ID, and number of prints are acquired from the print command. Then, the failure determination unit 8 acquires failure information from each printing device P under the management of the printing management device S, and determines whether or not the printing device P is in a failure state (step S1).

If all the printing apparatuses P are not in a failure state, the reception restriction unit 5 calculates the cumulative number of prints of the history data corresponding to the acquired user ID and the acquired print number (step S2). ), And compares the calculated cumulative number with the upper limit number defined for the acquired user ID (step S5).
As a result, when the cumulative number does not reach the upper limit number, the received print command is accepted, new history data relating to the print command is generated and stored in the print command holding means 2, and the print command Is transmitted to the printing apparatus P corresponding to the acquired printer ID to execute printing (step S6). On the other hand, if the cumulative number exceeds the upper limit number, the received print command is invalidated (step S7).

  If any one of the printing apparatuses P is in a failure state, the restriction mitigation unit 9 specifies a print command waiting for execution by the printing apparatus P in the failure state that matches the relaxation condition data (step S3). The cumulative number of prints is calculated excluding the specified execution waiting print command (step S4). Thereafter, the calculated cumulative number is compared with the upper limit number defined for the acquired user ID (step S5), and a print command is accepted (step S6) or invalidated (step S7).

FIG. 7 shows an outline of the upper limit relaxation processing of the print command acceptance restriction according to this example.
User A inputs 10 print commands (Job 1) and 5 print commands (Job 3) to the printer 1 (printing apparatus P), and inputs 10 print commands (Job 2) to the printer 2. While Job1 has already been printed, Job2 and Job3 are waiting to be executed. In this case, although Jobs 2 and 3 have not been printed yet, the cumulative number of printed sheets of Jobs 1 to 3 that have already been received is 25 sheets, and when a new print command is received, the upper limit sheet number of User A is 25 sheets. Therefore, acceptance of a new print command is limited.

  Here, the printer 2 has stopped without executing Job 2 due to a failure that has occurred after receiving Job 2, and cannot perform printing. At this time, if the print service (print management apparatus S) determines that the printer 2 is in a predetermined failure state (for example, hardware failure), the current time is within the restriction alleviation time defined for the printer 2. If (for example, during a class in a classroom where the printer 2 is installed), the printer 2 identifies the job 2 that is waiting to be executed, and excludes the number of prints (10) from the job 2 from the cumulative value. As a result, the user A can input a new job 4 related to the document to be printed to the printer 1 by using the job 2 and can immediately obtain a desired printed matter.

  In this example, as described above, the print management apparatus S collects the print command information through the transmission of the print command from the user terminal C to the printing apparatus P. A printing command is directly transmitted from the terminal C to the printing device P, information on the printing command received by the printing device P is transmitted to the printing management device S, and an inquiry is made as to whether or not to accept the printing command. Also good.

Further, in this example, in the upper limit relaxation of the print command acceptance limit, the scene where the upper limit relaxation is performed is limited by using relaxation condition data that defines the target time zone for the upper limit relaxation for each printing device P. Other relaxation condition data may be used.
That is, for example, using relaxation condition data that defines only the time zone subject to upper limit relaxation, upper limit relaxation is performed when the specified execution waiting print command is waiting to be executed in the specified time zone. Further, for example, the relaxation condition data that defines only the user whose upper limit is to be relaxed is used, and the upper limit relaxation is performed when the specified execution waiting print command is a print command from the defined user. Further, for example, relaxation condition data that defines only the printing device P that is subject to upper limit relaxation is used, and upper limit relaxation is performed when the specified execution waiting print command is a print command for the specified printing device P. Also, relaxation condition data combining the time zone subject to the upper limit relaxation, the user, and the printing apparatus P can be used.

FIG. 8 shows a hardware configuration of the print management apparatus S of this example.
That is, the print management apparatus S of this example includes a CPU 21 that performs various arithmetic processes, a RAM 22 that is a work area of the CPU 21, a ROM 23 that stores a basic control program, and a print management program for realizing each function according to the present invention. Are configured by a computer having hardware resources such as an HDD 24 for storing the network, a network I / F 25 for performing communication via the network, and the like.

  Then, the print management program according to the present invention is read from the HDD 24, expanded in the RAM 22, and executed by the CPU 21, thereby obtaining the acquisition means (print command receiving means 1) and the calculation means (cumulative calculation means 7) according to the present invention. , Restricting means (reception restricting means 5), determining means (failure determining means 8), specifying means (print command specifying means 10), relaxing means (restriction relaxing means 10), execution means (execution control means 3), etc. This is realized in the computer of the management apparatus S.

The print management program according to the present invention is provided to the practitioner of the present invention, for example, in a format for distributing an external storage medium such as a CD-ROM storing the program, or a format for distributing via a network. .
Each functional unit according to the present invention is not limited to a mode realized by a software configuration as in the present example, and may be configured by a dedicated hardware module.
In addition, each functional unit according to the present invention is not limited to an aspect provided in one computer as in this example, and may be provided in a distributed manner in a plurality of computers.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a print management system according to an example of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a print management apparatus according to an example of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the historical data of the printing command which concerns on an example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the upper limit sheet number data which concerns on an example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the relaxation condition data based on an example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the upper limit relaxation process which concerns on an example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the upper limit relaxation process which concerns on an example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a print management apparatus according to an example of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

C: User terminal (client),
S: Print management device (print service),
P: Printing device (printer)
1: Print command receiving means,
2: Print command holding means,
3: execution control means,
4: Achievement collection means,
5: Reception restriction means,
6: Upper limit sheet holding means,
7: Cumulative calculation means,
8: Restriction relaxation means,
9: Print command specifying means,
10: Relaxation condition holding means,
11: Failure determination means

Claims (9)

An acquisition means for acquiring identification information and the number of prints of the user based on a print command input by the user to the printing apparatus;
Calculation means for calculating a cumulative value of the number of printed sheets for each user based on the acquired identification information of the user and the number of printed sheets;
Comparing the calculated cumulative number of printed sheets for each user with a predetermined maximum number of printed sheets, and accepting a print command that causes the cumulative number of printed sheets for each user to exceed the upper limit value Limiting means to limit;
Determination means for acquiring failure information from the printing device and determining whether the printing device is in a failure state;
Specifying means for specifying a print command waiting for execution by the printing apparatus in a fault state;
Relaxing means for relaxing the number of prints by the specified print command waiting to be executed with respect to an upper limit value related to acceptance of print command by the restriction unit;
A print management apparatus comprising:   The relaxation means relaxes the number of prints due to a print command waiting to be executed by the printing apparatus in a trouble state in a predetermined time zone with respect to an upper limit value related to the limit on acceptance of the print command by the restriction unit. The print management apparatus according to claim 1.   The mitigation means relaxes the number of prints due to a print command waiting to be executed by the printing apparatus in a faulty state among print commands by a predetermined user, with respect to an upper limit value relating to a print command acceptance restriction by the restriction unit. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print management apparatus is a print management apparatus.   The relaxing means relaxes the number of prints due to a print command waiting for execution by the printing apparatus in a faulty state among printing commands for a predetermined printing apparatus, with respect to an upper limit value related to the restriction on acceptance of the printing command by the limiting means. The printing management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing management apparatus is a printing management apparatus according to claim 1.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the printing apparatus is in a failure state when a type of failure of the printing apparatus is a predefined type. 6. Print management device.   The print management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising execution means for causing the printing apparatus that has recovered from the failure state to execute the specified print command waiting for execution.   6. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising canceling means for canceling the specified print command waiting for execution.   8. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upper limit value for the number of prints is defined in advance for each user. On the computer,
An acquisition function for acquiring the identification information of the user and the number of prints based on a print command input by the user to the printing apparatus;
A calculation function for calculating a cumulative value of the number of printed sheets for each user based on the acquired identification information of the user and the number of printed sheets;
Comparing the calculated cumulative number of printed sheets for each user with a predetermined maximum number of printed sheets, and accepting a print command that causes the cumulative number of printed sheets for each user to exceed the upper limit value Restriction function to restrict,
A determination function for acquiring failure information from the printing device and determining whether the printing device is in a failure state;
A specific function for identifying a print command waiting for execution by the printing apparatus in a fault state;
A relaxation function that relaxes the number of prints by the specified print command waiting to be executed with respect to an upper limit value related to the limit on acceptance of a print command by the restriction unit;
A print management program for realizing

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