JP2010000731A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer connectable to a network, capable of counting figures for print history and reducible in storage capacity. <P>SOLUTION: The printer connectable to the network and capable of counting figures for print history transmits the print history after determining whether to transmit the print history to a device of a print data transmission source or to a device of a transmission destination stored in a print history transmission destination storage means according to the print data transmission source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a printing history management method for each user of a printing apparatus connectable to a network and for each group to which the user belongs.

  In recent years, with the spread of networks in offices and the like, copying apparatuses and printing apparatuses having a network connection function are widely used.

  In general, a plurality of printing apparatuses, copying apparatuses, and user terminals are connected to the network, and the printing apparatus and the copying apparatus are shared and used by a plurality of users and a plurality of departments. Therefore, it is desired to realize detailed printing history management for the purpose of calculating the printing operation cost for each user / department and the planning for the arrangement of the printing apparatus and copying apparatus according to the printing load.

  A billing management device connected to the network is provided between the network and the printing device, manages user information for each group, and manages billing information according to print output for each group information of the group user management means. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In an image forming apparatus connected to a network, an image forming apparatus that requests billing information from an arbitrary image forming apparatus other than its own and responds to billing information requesting means from any image forming apparatus is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 10-055222 A JP 2000-276310 A

  As described above, it is desirable to implement detailed print history management for the deployment plan according to the print load of multiple printing devices / copying devices connected to the network and the calculation of printing operation costs for each user / department. ing.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a charge management apparatus connected between a network and a charge management apparatus provided between the network and a printing apparatus is proposed. The billing management apparatus has the following configuration. That is, a group user management unit that manages user information for each group and a billing management unit that manages billing information according to print output for each group information of the group user management unit are provided. With the above configuration, the efficiency of billing management for each group is realized.

  The invention described in Patent Document 2 is an image forming apparatus connected to a network, and an image forming apparatus having the following configuration has been proposed. That is, for an arbitrary image forming apparatus other than the own apparatus, a charging information requesting unit that requests charging information and a display unit that displays a response from the arbitrary image forming apparatus to the charging information requesting unit are provided.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, the charging information of other image forming apparatuses can be grasped in any one image forming apparatus, and a smoother meter reading operation is realized.

  However, the technique described in the above prior art document has a problem that a printing history is held in each printing apparatus and a storage device for storing the printing history is required.

  In addition, in so-called duplicate copying and remote copying (hereinafter referred to as “cooperative copying” collectively) in which an input image from a copying apparatus or the like is printed by another apparatus, management of a print history is complicated. is there.

  Specifically, in general, when cooperating copying from a copying apparatus, it is possible to designate an arbitrary printing apparatus from a plurality of connected printing apparatuses as the transmission destination of the print data and perform cooperating copying. it can. Also, in a printing apparatus that executes linked copy printing processing, there are a plurality of connected copying apparatuses, and execution of printing requests from a plurality of copying apparatuses is permitted. For this reason, when copying by the copying apparatus itself, the printing history is stored by the copying apparatus itself, and at the time of linked copying, it is stored in the linked copying destination printing apparatus. There is a problem that printing histories are scattered in a plurality of apparatuses.

  Also, during cooperative copying, print history information related to user information is stored on the input device side such as a copying machine, and print history information related to the amount of consumables used and whether printing has succeeded is stored on the output device side such as a printing apparatus. Since it is stored, there is a problem that the management of the print history is complicated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that can be connected to a network and can reduce the storage capacity of the printing apparatus in a printing apparatus that can count printing histories.

According to the present invention, in a printing apparatus that can be connected to a network and can count a print history, the print history is transmitted to a print data transmission source apparatus or a print history transmission destination storage unit according to the print data transmission source The printing apparatus determines whether or not to transmit the print history to the transmission destination apparatus stored in the printer, and transmits the print history.

  According to the present invention, according to the print data transmission source, the print history is transmitted to the print data transmission source device or the print history is transmitted to the transmission destination device stored in the print history transmission destination storage unit. As a result, it is possible to reduce the storage capacity of the printing apparatus.

Further, according to the print data transmission source, it is determined whether to transmit the print history to the print data transmission source device or to the transmission destination device stored in the print history transmission destination storage unit. As a result, the print history can be efficiently managed.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus PR1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The printing apparatus PR1 is an example of a printing apparatus that can be connected to a network and can count printing histories. The printing apparatus PR1 receives image data generated by the host computer H1 via the external bus B1, and performs print output processing. . The printing apparatus PR1 includes a printer controller 10 and a printer engine 20.

  The printer controller 10 performs IF control with the external bus B1 used for communication with the host computer H1, interpretation of a printer control command (converted image data) transferred from the host computer H1, and image data generation. In addition, the printer controller 10 receives image data compression / decompression processing, various image processing at the time of image data generation, and user operations, and transmits commands to the printer engine 20.

  The printer engine 20 receives the bitmap data generated by the printer controller 10, generates ejection timing data of the inkjet head, and executes a printing process. The printer engine 20 executes ink supply / recovery processing to the inkjet head, and performs motor control in paper conveyance and head operation.

  Next, the configuration and schematic operation of the printer controller 10 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printer controller 10 used in the first embodiment.

  The printer controller 10 includes a CPU 1, a bus bridge 2, a memory controller 3, a USB device controller 4, an IEEE 1394 interface 5, a RAM 8, a ROM 9, an EEPROM 9 a, and an operation panel interface 11. The printer controller 10 also includes an operation panel 12, an image data processing block 13, an SDRAM 14, an expansion interface 15, and a network interface 16.

  The CPU 1 is connected to the host computers H1, H2, and H3 via the USB device controller 4 or the IEEE1394 interface 5 and the network interface 16, respectively.

  The CPU 1 is connected to the ROM 9, the EEPROM 9 a, and the RAM 8, accesses the CPU 1, and controls the recording operation based on information stored in these memories. The ROM 9 stores a control program, and the EEPROM 9a stores the ROM 9, an updatable control program, a processing program, various constant data, and the like. The RAM 8 stores command signals and image information received from the host computer H1.

  Instruction information input from the keys of the operation panel 12 is transmitted to the CPU 1 through the operation panel interface 11, and the LED of the operation panel 12 is turned on through the operation panel interface 11 in the same manner according to a command from the CPU 1. And LCD display are controlled. The expansion interface 15 is an interface that performs function expansion by connecting an expansion card such as an interface of another type of host computer H1.

  The image information is converted into dot data of each ink color by the image data processing block 13 and output to the engine (not shown). In addition, transmission / reception of various commands and status information between the printer controller 10 and the printer engine 20 is executed via the image data processing block 13 as described above. Further, power management control of the printer controller 10 and each interface control means indicated by dotted lines is performed by each power management control means (not shown).

  That is, the RAM 8 is an example of a print history transmission destination storage unit that stores a print history transmission destination. The network interface 16 is an example of a print history transmission unit that transmits a print history. The CPU 1 is an example of a print data transmission source determination unit that determines a transmission source of print data. Further, the CPU 1 transmits the print history transmission destination to the print data transmission source device according to the print data transmission source, or prints to the transmission destination device stored in the print history transmission destination storage unit. It is an example of the determination means which determines whether a log | history is transmitted.

  In the above case, the determining means is means for determining whether to transmit a print history or a part of the print history according to the print data transmission source apparatus determined by the print data transmission source determination means. .

  Further, the CPU 1 determines whether to transmit the print history to the transmission destination apparatus stored in the print history transmission destination storage unit or not to transmit the print history according to the transmission source of the print data. It is an example.

  The print data transmission source determination unit is a unit that determines the transmission source according to whether or not there is a specific code in the received print data.

  The print data transmission source determination unit is a unit that determines the transmission source depending on whether the transmission source device of the received print data is included in the cooperation device list. A part of the print history is a history including a transmission source apparatus identification code, a print execution apparatus identification code, and a code indicating whether printing has succeeded or failed.

  Further, the print history is a history including a transmission source device identification code, a print execution device identification code, a print user identification code, and a code indicating whether printing has succeeded or failed.

  Further, the CPU 1 is an example of a transmission success determination unit that determines whether or not the transmission is successful when at least a part of the print history is transmitted to the transmission destination stored in the print history transmission destination storage unit. The RAM 8 is an example of a print history temporary storage unit that temporarily stores at least a part of the print history.

  Further, when the CPU 1 determines that the transmission completion determination means is a transmission failure, the CPU 1 stores the print history in the print history temporary storage means, and after a certain period, stores it in the transmission destination stored in the print history transmission destination storage means. It is an example of the means which tries transmission again. In addition, if the capacity of the print history temporary storage means is not sufficient to store the print history, a warning message is displayed. After the predetermined period, the next print data is received.

  Next, an outline of functions and operations of the printer engine 20 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the printer engine 20.

  The printer engine 20 is connected to the printer controller 10 (not shown) via the band memory control block 32. The CPU 21 accesses a ROM 23 storing a control program, an updatable control program, an EEPROM 24 storing a processing program, various constant data, and the like. Further, the RAM 22 that stores the command signal and image information received from the printer controller 10 is accessed.

  The CPU 21 controls the recording operation based on the information stored in these memories. The carriage 31 is moved by operating the carriage motor 29 via the output port 25 and the carriage motor control circuit 27. Further, by operating the paper feed motor 28 via the output port 25 and the paper transport motor control circuit 26, the paper transport mechanism 30 such as a transport roller is operated.

  Further, the CPU 21 controls the band memory control block 32 and the print head control block 34 based on various information stored in the RAM 22 and drives the print head 35 to record a desired image on the recording medium. To do.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a network system NW1 to which the present invention can be applied.

  The printing apparatus PR1 is a printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. The host computer H1 is a host computer capable of transmitting print data to the printing apparatus PR1. The copying apparatus 43 is a digital color copying apparatus including a scanner unit that reads an image of an original by a CCD image sensor and a printer unit that forms and outputs an image by applying laser technology. This is a copier capable of cooperating with PR1.

  The print server 44 is a print server that can receive and manage the print history stored in the print history transmission destination storage unit of the printing apparatus PR1. The host computer H1, the copying apparatus 43, the print server 44, and the printing apparatus PR1 are interconnected via a network.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation in the printing apparatus PR1.

  A case where printing is performed from the host computer H1 using the printing apparatus PR1 will be described as an example.

  When a print job is received from the host computer H1 in S1, it is checked in S2 whether a print history is stored in the print history temporary storage means. If the print history is stored in the print history temporary storage unit, the print history is transmitted to the apparatus (print history transmission destination) stored in the print history transmission destination storage unit in S3. Here, the print server 44 is stored in the print history transmission destination storage means, and the print history is transmitted to the print server 44.

  Here, if the print server 44 is in a state where the print history cannot be received due to the power OFF state, the sleep state, or the like, the print history is tried after the remote return is attempted by magic packet transmission or the like. In S4, it is determined whether transmission of the print history has succeeded or failed. If the transmission of the printing history is successful, the printing history information is deleted from the printing history temporary storage means in S5, and the printing process is executed in S8.

  If transmission of the print history fails, it is checked in S6 whether there is an empty print history storage means. If there is no free space in the print history temporary storage means, a warning message is displayed in the print history temporary storage means in S7, and the process is terminated without printing the received print job. As the warning message, a warning message may be displayed on a display panel provided in the printing apparatus PR1, or a warning message may be displayed on the host computer H1 that is the transmission source of the print job. But you can.

  If the print history temporary storage means is free in S6, print processing is executed in S8 without deleting the print history information. After executing the printing process, in S9, it is determined whether or not the transmission source of the print job is a PC or cooperative copying from the copying apparatus 43. A method for determining whether the transmission source of the print job is a PC or a linked copy from the copying apparatus 43 will be described later.

  Here, in order to explain the case where a print job is transmitted from the PC, the print history information is transmitted to the print server 44 in S11. If the print server 44 is in a state where the print history cannot be received due to a power-off state or a sleep state, the print server 44 attempts to return from a remote location by magic packet transmission or the like, and then tries to transmit the print history. In step S12, it is determined whether the print server 44 has received the print history information. If the print server 44 has failed, the print history information is stored in the print history temporary storage unit in step S13.

  Next, a case where cooperative copying is performed from the copying apparatus 43 using the printing apparatus PR1 will be described.

  When a print job is received from the copying apparatus 43 in S1, it is checked in S2 whether the print history is stored in the print history temporary storage means. If the print history is stored in the print history temporary storage means, the print history is transmitted to the apparatus stored in the print history transmission destination storage means in S3. Here, the print server 44 is stored in the print history transmission destination storage means, and the print history is transmitted to the print server 44.

  Here, if the print server 44 is in a state where the print history cannot be received due to a power-off state, a sleep state, or the like, the print server 44 tries to return from a remote location by magic packet transmission or the like, and then tries to transmit the print history. In S4, it is determined whether transmission of the print history has succeeded or failed. If the transmission of the printing history is successful, the printing history information is deleted from the printing history temporary storage unit in S5, and the printing process is executed in S8. If transmission of the print history fails, it is checked in S6 whether or not there is a free space in the print history temporary storage means.

  If there is no free space in the print history temporary storage means, in S7, a warning message is displayed in the print history temporary storage means, and the received print job is terminated without printing. The warning message may be displayed on a display panel provided in the printing apparatus PR1, or may be displayed on the host computer H1 that is the transmission source of the print job. Both may be used.

  If the print history temporary storage means is free in S6, print processing is executed in S8 without deleting the print history information. After executing the printing process, in S9, it is determined whether the transmission source of the print job is a PC or a linked copy from a copying apparatus. Here, since the case of performing cooperative copying from the copying apparatus 43 is described, a part of the print history information is transmitted to the copying apparatus 43 that is the transmission source of the print job in S10. Here, it is a cooperative copy from the copying apparatus 43, and the copying apparatus 43 stands by in a state where a part of the print history information can be received after transmitting the print job.

  Next, the print history information will be described.

  The print history information transmitted to the print server 44 includes a code such as an IP address that can identify the host computer H1 of the transmission source apparatus and a code such as an IP address that can identify the printing apparatus PR1 that has performed printing. The print history information includes a code such as a user ID for specifying a user who has instructed printing, and a code indicating whether printing has succeeded or failed.

  Further, the usage amount of consumables (ink, printing paper type, printing paper size) used at the time of printing, the printing date and time, the department ID of the user who instructed printing, the name of the printed document, and the like are also included.

  The user ID and department ID of the user who has instructed printing during cooperative copying can be managed by the copying apparatus 43 that is an input device. For this reason, the print history information transmitted to the copying apparatus 43 may not include the user ID of the print user and the department ID of the print user. For this reason, a part of the print history information may be transmitted at the time of cooperative copying.

  Next, a method for determining whether the print job transmission source is a PC or a linked copy from a copying apparatus will be described.

  To determine whether the print job is sent from a PC or a copier, a code indicating that the print job to be transmitted is a cooperating copy is added to the print job from the copier 43. Send. When the printing apparatus PR1 detects a code indicating linked copying in the received print job, it may be determined that the printing is linked printing.

In addition, a code such as an IP address that can identify a copying apparatus to which cooperative copying is performed is held as a cooperative apparatus storage list, and determination is made based on whether or not the transmission source of the received print job is included in the cooperative apparatus storage list. You may do it.

  Next, the operation of the printing apparatus PR1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 as Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printing apparatus PR2 that is Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  Here, an example will be described in which the usage amount of consumables used in the printing apparatus PR2 can be calculated by the copying apparatus 43.

  When a print job is received from the host computer H1 in S1, it is checked in S2 whether the print history is stored in the print history temporary storage means. If the print history is stored in the print history temporary storage unit, in step S3, the print history is transmitted to the apparatus stored in the print history transmission destination storage unit. Here, the print server 44 is stored in the print history transmission destination storage means, and the print history is transmitted to the print server 44. Here, if the print server 44 is in a state where the print history cannot be received due to a power-off state, a sleep state, or the like, the print history is attempted after a remote return is attempted by magic packet transmission or the like. In S4, it is determined whether transmission of the print history has succeeded or failed. If the transmission of the printing history is successful, the printing history information is deleted from the printing history temporary storage means in S5, and the printing process is executed in S8.

  If transmission of the print history fails, it is checked in S6 whether or not the print history temporary storage means is free. If there is no free space in the print history temporary storage means, a warning message is displayed in the print history temporary storage means in S7, and the process is terminated without printing the received print job. The warning message may be displayed on a display panel provided in the printing apparatus PR2, or may be displayed on the host computer H1 that is the transmission source of the print job, or both. But you can.

  If the print history temporary storage means is free in S6, print processing is executed in S8 without deleting the print history information. After executing the printing process, it is determined in S9a whether the transmission source of the print job is a PC or a linked copy from a copying apparatus.

  The method for determining whether the transmission source of the print job is a PC or cooperative copying from the copying apparatus is the same as in the first embodiment. When a print job is transmitted from the PC, print history information is transmitted to the print server 44 in S11. Here, when the print server 44 is in a state where the print history cannot be received due to the power OFF state, the sleep state, or the like, the print history is tried after the remote resume is attempted by magic packet transmission or the like.

  In the case of cooperative copying from the copying apparatus, the copying apparatus 43 can calculate the amount of consumables used in the printing apparatus PR2, and therefore the printing apparatus PR2 transmits print history information to the copying apparatus 43. Even without this, the printing history information can be managed by the copying apparatus 43. In step S12, the print server 44 determines whether the print history information has been received. If the print server 44 fails, the print history information is stored in the print history temporary storage unit in step S13.

  As described in the first and second embodiments, the print history information is sent to the print server 44 when a print job is received from the host computer H1. This makes it possible to manage print history information such as print cost and print volume for each print user and print user department. Since a code indicating whether printing has succeeded is also included, it is possible to realize flexible printing cost management such as management of printing failure costs due to errors in the printing apparatus PR2 and not accounting printing costs for users who have failed printing.

  Even when there are a plurality of printing apparatuses PR2, the print server 44 can realize efficient management of print history information. In the case of linked copying, the copying apparatus 43 also transmits a part of print history information to the copying apparatus 43 so that the amount of consumables used for printing by the printing apparatus PR2 cannot be grasped by the copying apparatus 43. Print history information during linked copying can be managed. In addition, since the copying apparatus 43 can manage the printing history information in the cooperating copy with the printing apparatus PR2 together with the printing history information of the copying operation in the copying apparatus 43 itself, the printing history information can be managed efficiently.

Further, if the means in the above embodiment is replaced with a process, the above embodiment can be grasped as a control method of the printing apparatus.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various applications are possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet printer has been described as an example of the printing apparatus PR2, but the present invention can also be applied to, for example, LBP.

  In the above embodiment, the print server has been described as an example of the print history transmission destination. However, the present invention can also be applied to, for example, a copying machine and a PC.

In the above embodiment, the copying apparatus has been described as an example of the cooperative copying source apparatus. However, the present invention can also be applied to, for example, a scanner.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus PR1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer controller 10 used in Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of a printer engine 20. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of network system NW1 which can apply this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the printing apparatus PR1. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a printing apparatus PR2 that is Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

H1 ... Host computer,
PR1 ... Printing device,
B1 ... External bus,
10 ... Printer controller,
1 ... CPU,
2 ... Bus bridge,
3 ... Memory controller,
4 USB device controller,
5 ... IEEE 1394 interface,
H2 ... Host computer,
H3 ... Host computer,
8 ... RAM,
9 ... ROM,
9a… EEPROM,
11: Operation panel interface,
12 ... Control panel,
14 ... SDRAM,
15 ... Extended interface,
16: Network interface,
20 ... Printer engine,
21 ... CPU,
22 ... RAM,
23 ... ROM,
24 ... EEPROM,
25 ... Output port,
26: Paper transport motor control circuit,
27. Carriage motor control circuit,
28 ... motor,
29 ... motor,
30 ... paper transport mechanism,
31 ... carriage,
32. Band memory control block,
33 ... Memory,
34 ... print head control block,
35 ... Print head.

Claims (11)

In a printing device that can be connected to a network and can count printing histories,
Print history transmission destination storage means for storing the transmission destination of the print history;
A print history transmitting means for transmitting the print history;
Print data transmission source determination means for determining the transmission source of the print data;
Whether the print history transmission destination is transmitted to the print data transmission source device or the print history is transmitted to the transmission destination device stored in the print history transmission destination storage unit according to the print data transmission source. Determining means for determining;
A printing apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The determining means is means for determining whether to transmit a print history or a part of the print history according to the print data transmission source apparatus determined by the print data transmission source determination means. Printing device to do. In a printing device that can be connected to a network and can count printing histories,
Print history transmission destination storage means for storing the transmission destination of the print history;
A print history transmitting means for transmitting the print history;
Print data transmission source determination means for determining the transmission source of the print data;
Determining means for deciding whether to send a print history to a transmission destination apparatus stored in the print history transmission destination storage means or not according to a print data transmission source;
A printing apparatus comprising: In any one of Claims 1-3,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data transmission source determination means is a means for determining a transmission source according to whether or not a specific code is present in the received print data. In any one of Claims 1-3,
The print data transmission source determination unit is a unit that determines the transmission source depending on whether the device that has transmitted the received print data is included in the linked device list or not. Printing device. In claim 2,
A part of the print history is a history including a transmission source device identification code, a print execution device identification code, and a code indicating whether printing is successful or unsuccessful. In any one of Claims 1-5,
The printing apparatus, wherein the printing history is a history including a transmission source apparatus identification code, a printing execution apparatus identification code, a printing user identification code, and a code indicating whether printing has succeeded or failed. In any one of Claims 1-7,
A transmission success judging means for judging whether or not the transmission is successful when at least a part of the print history is sent to the transmission destination stored in the print history transmission destination storage means;
A print history temporary storage means for temporarily storing at least a part of the print history;
When the transmission completion determining means determines that the transmission has failed, the print history is stored in the print history temporary storage means, and after a certain period, the transmission history is stored again in the transmission history stored in the print history transmission destination storage means. When;
A printing apparatus comprising: In claim 8,
A printing apparatus that displays a warning message if the capacity of the temporary printing history storage means is insufficient to store the printing history. In claim 8,
A printing apparatus, characterized in that the next print data is received after the predetermined period. In a control method of a printing apparatus that can be connected to a network and can count printing histories,
A print history transmission destination storing step for storing a print history transmission destination;
A print history sending step for sending a print history;
A print data transmission source determination step of determining a transmission source of the print data;
Whether the print history transmission destination is transmitted to the print data transmission source device or the print history is transmitted to the transmission destination device stored in the print history transmission destination storage step according to the print data transmission source. A decision step to decide;
A control method for a printing apparatus, comprising:

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