JP2010009541A - Printing management system, printing management device, printing management method, and printing management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently carry out printing business, even when a printing request assigned with an output address requiring a consumable to be replaced or replenished is issued from a print requesting side. <P>SOLUTION: This printing management system or the like includes print requesting devices A-D for outputting a printing data to request printing, a printing management device E for managing the output address of the printing data, and printers a-c for printing the printing data from the printing management device E. The printing management device E manages consumable residual amounts in the printers a-c and printing request frequencies in the print requesting devices A-D. The printing management device E analyzes the printing request frequencies from the print requesting devices A-D and predicted use amounts of the consumables required for printing the printing data, and outputs change display information of stimulating a change to the other printer a-c, to the print requesting devices A-D, when a frequency of the printing request is low not to exceed the prescribed printing request frequency, and when an amount of the consumable required in the printing by the assigned printer a-c is lower than a prescribed threshold value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print management system, a print management apparatus, a print management method, and a print management program, and a print management system that manages an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multi-function peripheral (MFP) as a plurality of print output destinations. The present invention relates to improvements in a print management apparatus, a print management method, and a print management program.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a printing system in which print data such as a document is individually created by a plurality of terminals, is transmitted to a plurality of printers via a printer server, is transmitted, and a plurality of users share a plurality of printers. Is provided.

As such a printing system, the following conventional techniques are known.
That is, they are Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2006-227794 (patent document 1), Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2001-147790 (patent document 2), Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 11-134139 (patent document 3), etc.

  Patent Document 1 is a system that divides a print job into a plurality of print jobs according to page characteristics and outputs them to a plurality of printers. In a system that can be arranged in page order, it is possible to reduce the risk of damaging the recording medium when the processing time is shortened or the recording medium is moved.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that when a personal computer prints video data of a recording / reproducing apparatus with a printer, the setting values included in the print data, the size of each page, the number of colors used, the resolution, and the like, and the printer Compared with the setting value set in, if there is a discrepancy, the print data is re-edited so that it can be printed by the printer, and the printing conditions included in the print data are set in the printer. Printing can be performed even if the conditions are different.

Patent Document 3 is a printing system in which a plurality of clients are managed by a print server. When print data is simultaneously supplied from a plurality of clients to the print server, the print server performs print processing according to the priority order and prints urgently. Even when it is necessary, printing processing can be performed without waiting time.
JP 2006-227794 A JP 2001-147790 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-134139

  However, each of Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above is a technique for reducing the printing waiting time, improving the throughput, and improving the processing time efficiency such as selecting an optimal printing output destination. It does not increase the efficiency of the printing work in consideration of consumables such as agents and printing paper.

  On the other hand, if a printer with fewer consumables such as toner and printing paper is selected as the output destination during use of the printing system, operations such as replacement or replenishment of consumables during printing are likely to occur. There may be cases where consumables are replaced or replenished by accidental printing after printing.

  In such a case, if the user is accustomed to replacement or replenishment of consumables in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, the work is unlikely to be disturbed. However, for users who are unfamiliar with such work and use less frequently Therefore, smooth replacement and replenishment operations tend to be difficult, and improvements are desired from the viewpoint of efficient use of image forming apparatuses such as printers.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to replace consumables and reduce replenishment work for printing requests from users and terminals with low use frequency, and to perform efficient printing work. An object of the present invention is to provide a print management system, a print management apparatus, a print management method, and a print management program that are easy to perform.

  In order to solve such a problem, a print management system according to the present invention includes a print request apparatus that outputs print data to be printed and requests printing, a print management apparatus that manages an output destination of the print data, and the print management apparatus. And a plurality of printing apparatuses that print print data under an instruction from the management apparatus.

  The print requesting device has a function of designating one of the printing devices as an output destination and requesting print data to be printed to the print management device. The print management device receives a print request from each of the printing devices. Manages the remaining amount of consumables based on the remaining amount information of consumables and the frequency of printing requests from the print requesting device. When there is a printing request from the printing requesting device, the frequency of printing requests from the printing requesting device and the printing Analyzing the expected consumption of consumables required for printing data, the print request is from a print request device that does not exceed the predetermined print request frequency, and is required for printing the print data in the designated printing device When it is determined that the consumables are lower than a predetermined threshold based on the predicted use amount, the printer has a function of outputting change display information for prompting a change to another printing apparatus to the print requesting apparatus. It consumables remaining amount information of consumables required for the printing and to output to the print management device.

  In the print management system of the present invention, the print requesting device has a change reception function for displaying the change display information and receiving any change designation device information of another printing device. A configuration having a function of switching and outputting print data to the printing device based on the change designation device information from the print requesting device is also possible.

  In the print management system of the present invention, the print management device has a function of outputting, to the print request device, device information of the printing device in which the consumables required for printing the print data does not fall below the threshold value, together with the change display information. The print requesting apparatus may have a change reception function for displaying the apparatus information and receiving any change designation apparatus information of the printing apparatus based on the apparatus information.

  In the print management system of the present invention, the print management device is from a print request device whose print request exceeds the predetermined threshold value, and a consumable used for printing print data in the designated printing device is used. A configuration having a function of outputting print data as it is to a printing apparatus designated together with the print data when it is determined that the value falls below a predetermined threshold based on the predicted amount is also possible.

  A print management apparatus according to the present invention is a print management apparatus that connects a print request apparatus that outputs print data to be printed and requests printing, and a plurality of printing apparatuses that print the print data, and manages an output destination of the print data. A data management unit for managing the remaining amount of consumables based on the remaining amount information of consumables from each of the printing devices and the frequency of print requests from the print requesting device; and from the printing requesting device to the printing device When a print request is made by specifying any of the above, the frequency of the print request from the print request device and the estimated use amount of consumables required for printing the print data are analyzed, and the print request is determined as a predetermined print request. When the consumables required for printing the print data in the designated printing device fall below a predetermined threshold based on the predicted usage amount, from the printing request device that does not exceed the frequency, And it includes a determination unit, the outputs change display information prompting further to print requesting the print request device.

  The print management apparatus according to the present invention may be configured to include an output change unit that switches and outputs the print data to the printing apparatus based on the change designation apparatus information from the print requesting apparatus.

  In the print management apparatus of the present invention, the determination unit has a function of outputting, to the print requesting apparatus, the apparatus information of the printing apparatus in which the consumable required for printing the print data does not fall below the threshold value, together with the change display information. Is possible.

  In the print management apparatus of the present invention, the determination unit is from a print request apparatus whose print request exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and a consumable required for printing of print data in the designated printing apparatus is predicted to be used. A configuration having a function of outputting print data as it is to a printing apparatus designated together with the print data when it is determined that the value falls below a predetermined threshold based on the amount is also possible.

  The print management method according to the present invention is a print requesting device that requests printing by outputting consumables remaining amount based on consumables remaining amount information from each of the printing devices, and specifying any of the printing devices for printing. A data management process for managing the frequency of print requests from the print request process, a print request process for requesting a print from the print request apparatus to the print management apparatus, and a print request from the print request apparatus when there is a print request from the print request apparatus Analyzing the request frequency and the expected consumption of consumables required for printing the print data, the print request from the print request device that does not exceed the predetermined print request frequency, and the designated printing device When it is determined that the consumables required for printing the print data are lower than the predetermined threshold based on the predicted use value, the change display information for prompting the change to another printing apparatus is displayed. It is anda determination step of outputting to.

  The print management method of the present invention may be configured to include an output change step of switching and outputting the print data to the printing device based on the change designation device information from the print requesting device.

  In the print management method of the present invention, there is also a configuration in which the determination step has a function of outputting, to the print requesting device, device information of the printing device in which consumables required for printing the print data does not fall below the threshold value, together with the change display information. Is possible.

  In the print management method of the present invention, the determination step is from the print request device whose print request exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and the consumables required for printing the print data in the designated printing device are predicted to be used. When it is determined that the value falls below a predetermined threshold based on the amount, it is possible to output the print data as it is together with the print data to the designated printing apparatus.

  A print management program according to the present invention manages print data obtained from a print requesting device, and switches the print data to a plurality of printing devices that print the print data. Data management processing for managing the remaining amount of consumables based on the remaining amount information of consumables and the frequency of print requests from the print requesting device, and printing the print request for print data specifying one of the printing devices Analyzing the print request processing received from the requesting device, and the print request frequency from the print requesting device and the expected consumption of consumables required for printing the print data when there is a print request from the print requesting device, The print request is a print request from a print request device that does not exceed a predetermined print request frequency, and the print request is erased in the designated print device. When goods drops below a predetermined threshold value based on the predicted use amount is intended to execute the determination process of outputting the change display information prompting a change to another printing apparatus to print requesting the print request apparatus.

  In such a print management system according to the present invention, a print request apparatus that outputs print data to be printed and requests printing, a print management apparatus that manages an output destination of the print data, and instructions from the print management apparatus And a plurality of printing devices for printing the print data.

  The print requesting device has a function of designating one of the printing devices as an output destination and requesting print data to be printed to the print management device. The print management device receives a print request from each of the printing devices. Manages the remaining amount of consumables based on the remaining amount information of consumables and the frequency of printing requests from the print requesting device. When there is a printing request from the printing requesting device, the frequency of printing requests from the printing requesting device and the printing Analyzing the expected consumption of consumables required for printing data, the print request is from a print request device that does not exceed the predetermined print request frequency, and is required for printing the print data in the designated printing device When it is determined that the consumables are lower than a predetermined threshold based on the predicted use amount, the printer has a function of outputting change display information for prompting a change to another printing apparatus to the print requesting apparatus. It consumables remaining amount information of consumables required for the printing and to output to the print management device.

  Therefore, it is possible to exchange consumables and reduce replenishment work for a print request from a print requesting device that is not frequently used, and there is an advantage that it is easy to perform an efficient printing job.

  In the present invention, the print requesting device has a change accepting function for displaying the change display information and receiving any change designation device information of another printing device, and the print management device receives the change requesting information from the print requesting device. In the configuration having the function of switching and outputting print data to the printing device based on the change designation device information, it is easy to change the selection to another printing device, and to secure an efficient printing job.

  In the present invention, the print management device has a function of outputting, to the print requesting device, device information of the printing device in which the consumables required for printing the print data does not fall below the threshold, together with the change display information, In a configuration in which the print requesting device has a change accepting function for displaying the device information and receiving any change designation device information of the printing device based on the device information, the print requesting device does not need to be replaced or replenished. It is easy to change the selection, and from this point of view, it is easy to ensure an efficient printing job.

  In the present invention, the print management apparatus is from a print request apparatus whose print request exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the consumables required for printing the print data in the designated printing apparatus are determined based on the predicted usage amount. When it is determined that the print data is lower than the threshold value, the print data is output to the designated printing apparatus as it is together with the print data, and the print request from the frequently used print request apparatus is printed as specified. The device can perform efficient printing work as usual.

  Embodiments of a print management system, a print management apparatus, a print management method, and a print management program according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The print management apparatus, print management method, and print management program according to the present invention will be described in the course of describing the print management system of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a print management system according to the present invention.
In FIG. 1, personal computers A, B, C and D as a plurality of print requesting devices (terminals) are connected to a server E as a print management device via a network 1 such as a LAN (local area network). A plurality of printers a, b, and c serving as printing apparatuses are connected to E via another network 3. The networks 1 and 3 can have the same configuration.

  The personal computers A to D, the server E, and the printers a to c have configurations as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, for example.

First, the personal computers A to D will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the personal computers A to D have a personal computer body 5, an input unit 7 such as a keyboard, and a display unit 9 such as a display. For example, document creation software installed in the personal computer body 5. 11 is operated from the input unit 7 to create print data such as a document, and also has a function of transmitting print data designating any one of the printers a to c to the server E via the network 1.

  The print data is attached with identification information for identifying and identifying that the print data is transmitted from any of the personal computers A to D.

  The personal computer main body 5 displays change display information, caution display information, and device information, which will be described later, from the server E on the display unit 9, and a change designation in which the printers a to c are designated to be changed from the input unit 7 based on the change display information. It has a function of outputting device information to the server E.

Next, the server E will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the server E has a first communication unit 15, a second communication unit 17, a first storage unit 19, a data analysis unit 21, data connected to the main control unit 13. A management unit 23, a determination unit 25, an output change unit 27, and the like are included.
The first communication unit 15 inputs print data designating one of the printers a to c with the personal computers A to D via the network 1 according to a predetermined protocol under the control of the main control unit 13. And an interface for inputting / outputting change display information, device information and change designation information.

  The second communication unit 17 outputs print data to the printers a to c via the network 1 according to a predetermined protocol under the control of the main control unit 13, and the consumables described later from the printers a to c. An interface for inputting information.

  The first and second communication units 15 and 17 can be formed by the same interface board or the like.

  The first storage unit 19 stores print data from the first communication unit 15, a use frequency management table and a consumable management table to be described later, an operation program of the main control unit 13, and the like under the control of the main control unit 13. For example, it is a readable / writable hard disk (HDD).

  Under the control of the main control unit 13, the data analysis unit 21 analyzes the print data including the designated printers a to c input from the first communication unit 15, and determines the personal computers A to D that are print request sources. The designated printers a to c are discriminated, the number of print sheets used when printing is performed by the designated printers a to c and the estimated usage amount of the toner agent are calculated, and these are calculated via the main control unit 13. A function of outputting to the data management unit 23 or the determination unit 25.

  The data analysis unit 21 has a function of analyzing the print request frequency from the number of times print data is received from the requesting personal computers A to D and outputting it to the main control unit 13 as described above. This print request frequency is preferably re-counted every predetermined period such as daily, weekly, monthly.

  The data management unit 23 manages the accumulated usage based on the print data for each of the personal computers A to D obtained from the first communication unit 15 in the usage frequency management table under the control of the main control unit 13. Function, requests the remaining amount information of consumables to each printer a to c via the second communication unit 17, and supplies the remaining amount information of consumables for each printer a to c obtained from the second communication unit 17. A data management function for managing the remaining amount of consumables based on a graph in the form of a consumables management table, and a function for reading and writing the usage frequency management table and the consumables management table to, for example, the first storage unit 19 Have.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the usage frequency management table includes the number of printed sheets, the toner consumption amount K (black), the toner consumption amount C (cyan), the toner consumption amount Y (yellow), and the toner consumption amount M (magenta). The cumulative use amount is associated with the reference value and the personal computer (abbreviated as PC in FIG. 5) A to D with respect to items such as high frequency determination. Here, the reference value is a criterion for determining whether or not the personal computer A to D corresponds to a high frequency.

  That is, in each of the personal computers A to D, when the reference value is exceeded by one, two, or two or more, it is determined as high frequency (O), and when not applicable, it is not determined as high frequency (X). .

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the consumable management table displays the remaining amount of toner consumption K, toner consumption C, toner consumption Y, and toner consumption M in a horizontal bar graph for each of the printers a to c. In addition, the remaining number of sheets, a threshold value as a necessary number of sheets to be replaced or replenished, and a threshold value of toner consumption are displayed in association with each other.

  The determination unit 25 in FIG. 3 determines whether or not a predetermined print request frequency is exceeded with reference to the use frequency management table when there is a print request from the personal computers A to D under the control of the main control unit 13. In addition, it has a function of determining whether or not the consumables required for printing are lower than a predetermined threshold for each of the printers a to c designated for printing with reference to the consumable management table.

  The determination unit 25 determines that the print request does not correspond to the high frequency but is from the low frequency personal computers A to D, and the consumables required for printing in the designated printers a to c are lower than the threshold value. When it is determined, the printer has a function of determining the presence or absence of other printers a to c whose remaining amount of consumables does not drop below the threshold even when printing is performed.

  Even if the determination unit 25 determines that the consumables required for printing are lower than the threshold, if there are no other printers a to c whose remaining amount of consumables does not decrease below the threshold, replacement or replenishment of the consumables occurs. Is generated and output to the first communication unit 15 with respect to the personal computers A to D requesting printing, while there are other printers a to c whose remaining amount of consumables does not fall below the threshold value. The change display information that prompts other printers a to c that do not fall below the threshold value and the device information of the corresponding printers a to c are attached to the change display information, and the first request is sent to the personal computers A to D that are print requests. It has a function of outputting to the communication unit 15.

  FIG. 7A shows an example in which caution display information indicating that consumables are replaced or replenished is displayed on the display unit 9 of the personal computers A to D, and FIG. 7B shows a change display for prompting a change to another printer a to c. The example which displayed information and its attention display information is shown. FIG. 7C is a display selection screen for device information of the changeable printers a to c on the display units 9 of the personal computers A to D.

  Further, when the determination unit 25 determines that the print request is from the high-frequency personal computers A to D, regardless of whether or not the consumables required for printing in the designated printers a to c are lower than the threshold value. The print data is output to the second communication unit 17 as it is to the printers a to c specified by the print data, and when it is determined that the consumables resulting from the printing are lower than the threshold value, replacement or replenishment of the consumables occurs. It has a function of creating warning display information to the effect and outputting it to the first communication unit 15 with respect to the personal computers A to D requesting printing.

  When the change specifying device information for changing and selecting the printers a to c is obtained from the first communication unit 15, the output changing unit 27 receives another printer a corresponding as an output destination of print data based on the change specifying device information. To c, and the print data is output from the second communication unit 17.

  For example, in FIG. 5, if a print request such as 20 prints and each toner consumption color 2 is a print request specifying the printer a from the personal computer b that does not make the high frequency determination, the printer b is specified. Although printing is possible without problems, the output destination printer a determines that the number of sheets is insufficient, and displays information indicating that consumables must be replaced or replenished and information prompting the change to the printer b to the personal computer b. Is done.

Further, the printers a to c will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4 described above, the printers a to c include the image reading unit 31, the second storage unit 33, the operation panel unit 35, the printing unit 37, and the third unit connected to the control unit 29. For example, an image forming apparatus (multifunction machine) as a printing apparatus configured to include the communication unit 39.

  The image reading unit 31 is a known scanner that optically reads an image from a document under the control of the control unit 29 and generates electronic image data subjected to filter processing or the like as print data. Each page is sequentially stored in the second storage unit 33.

  Under the control of the control unit 29, the second storage unit 33 prints data from the image reading unit 31 or the third communication unit 39, an operation program for the control unit 29, and an operation screen for operating the printers a to c. It is a readable / writable hard disk (HDD) that stores information and the like.

  The operation panel unit 35 is a known input / output unit that also serves as, for example, a liquid crystal display and a touch switch arranged in the main body case (not shown). Under the control of the control unit 29, the operation state and various data are stored. It has a function to display and receive an operation instruction input.

  Under the control of the control unit 29, the printing unit 37 develops the print data from the second storage unit 33 into image image data, and attaches cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner agents to the latent image based on the print data. This is a well-known print engine that forms toner images and prints them in full color or monochrome by superimposing and transferring these toner images onto a printing paper.

  In response to the inquiry from the server E, the printing unit 37 detects the remaining amount of consumables such as the remaining number of sheets of printing paper in the printing unit 37 and the remaining amount of cyan, magenta, yellow and black toner agents. A consumable item detection unit 41 that outputs detection information from the third communication unit 39 to the server E is provided.

  The third communication unit 39 is an interface that transmits and receives print data, inquiry information, and consumable information to and from the server E via the network 3 under the control of the control unit 29.

  The control unit 29 includes a CPU, a ROM that stores a startup program for the CPU, and the like. The image reading unit 31, the second storage unit 33, and the operation panel unit 35 are operated by an operation program stored in the second storage unit 33. The printing unit 37 (consumables detection unit 41) and the control computer for controlling the third communication unit 39 have the following functions.

  The control unit 29 stores and controls image data from the image reading unit 31 and the third communication unit 39 in the second storage unit 33, and passes the print data to the printing unit 37 to perform print control (image formation control). And a function of performing data communication with an external server E.

  In response to an inquiry about the remaining amount of consumables from the server E, the control unit 29 outputs and controls the third communication unit 39 to output the remaining amount detection information such as the remaining amount of printing paper and toner in the printing unit 37. have.

Next, the operation of the print management system according to the present invention, particularly the server E, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The server E periodically inquires the printers a to c about the remaining amount of consumables in advance, and updates and creates consumables management data based on the remaining amount of consumables obtained from the printers a to c.

  When the program is started, print data from the personal computers A to D is received by the first communication unit 15 in step S1 and sent to the data analysis unit 23. In step S2, the data analysis unit 23 requests the personal computers A to D. The print frequency of D and the print data analysis based on the received print data are used to predict and calculate the number of prints and the amount of toner used, and in step S3, it is determined whether or not the user is a high frequency user.

  If the personal computer A is not a high-frequency user and step S3 is NO, the process proceeds to step S4, and the determination unit 25 determines whether replacement (or replenishment) of consumables occurs.

  If it is not necessary to replace the consumables and step S4 is NO, in step S5, the determination unit 25 controls transmission of print data from the second communication unit 17 to the output destination designated, for example, the printer a. In S6, the printing process is performed by the printer a.

  On the other hand, if the replacement of consumables is necessary and step S4 is YES, the determination unit 25 determines the presence or absence of another output destination printers ac in step S7, and the other output destination printers ac are determined. If NO in step S7, in step S8, the determination unit 25 creates caution display information indicating that the replacement of the consumable item occurs, and transmits it from the first communication unit 15 to the personal computers A to D. On the personal computers A to D side, the fact is displayed on the display unit 9 (see FIG. 7A).

  Thereafter, the print data is transmitted to the output destination printer a designated in step S5, and the printer a performs print processing in step S.

  If there are other output destination printers a to c, and if step S7 is YES, in step S9, the determination unit 25 changes the warning display information that consumables will be replaced, and changes to another output destination. The change display information and device information to be urged are created and transmitted from the first communication unit 15 to the personal computers A to D.

  On the personal computers A to D side, the fact is displayed on the display unit 9 and change designation device information for changing the printers a to c from the input unit 7 is inputted and transmitted to the server E side (FIGS. 7B and C). reference).

  Then, in step S10 following step S9, the determination unit 25 determines whether or not change designation device information for changing the printers a to c is received. If the change designation device information is not received and step S10 is NO. For example, the print data is transmitted to the output destination designated in step S5, and the printing process is performed in step S6.

  If the change designation device information is received and step S10 is YES, in step S11, the determination unit 25 designates the changed printers a to c and transmits the print data from the second communication unit 17, and step A printing process is performed in S6.

  Further, if the personal computer A that has output the print data is a high-frequency user and the above-described step S3 is YES, the process proceeds to step S12, and the determination unit 25 determines whether or not replacement of consumables occurs.

  If it is not necessary to replace the consumables and step S12 is NO, the printing process is performed in steps S5 and S6. If the consumables need to be replaced and step S12 is YES, the process proceeds to step S8. Then, the determination unit 25 creates caution display information indicating that the replacement of the consumables occurs, and transmits it from the first communication unit 15 to the personal computers A to D, and print processing is performed in steps S5 and S6.

  These processes correspond to the main part of the print management method of the present invention and are executed by the print management program of the present invention. The processing program is stored in the first storage unit 19 at the time of manufacture, or stored and supplied in an external storage medium such as a USB memory or a CD-ROM.

  As described above, the print management system of the present invention includes the personal computers (print request apparatuses) A to D that output print data to be printed and request printing, and the server (print management apparatus) E that manages the output destination of the print data. And a plurality of printers (printing apparatuses) a to c that print the print data under the instruction from the server E.

  The personal computers A to D have a function of designating any one of the printers a to c as an output destination and requesting print data to be printed to the server E. The server E is provided for each of the printers a to c. Manages the remaining amount of consumables based on the remaining amount information of the consumables and the printing request frequency from the personal computers A to D, and when there is a printing request from the personal computers A to D, the printing from the personal computers A to D Analyzing the request frequency and the predicted usage amount of the consumables required for printing the print data, the print request is from the personal computers A to D that do not exceed the predetermined print request frequency, and the designated printers a to a function of outputting change display information for prompting a change to the other printers a to D to the personal computers A to D when it is determined in c that the consumables required for printing the print data are lower than a predetermined threshold based on the predicted use amount A, the printer a~c has a function of outputting the consumables remaining amount information of consumables required for the printing to the server E.

  Moreover, the personal computers A to D have a change reception function for displaying the change display information and receiving the change designation device information of any of the other printers a to c, and the server E has the personal computers A to D. Has a function of switching and outputting print data to the printers a to c based on the change designation device information from the printer.

  Therefore, it is possible to manage the frequency of use for each print request source such as the personal computers A to D and the remaining amount of consumables at the printing destination such as the printers a to c, and replacement or replenishment of consumables when a print request occurs. Since the required output destination is changed according to the frequency of use, it is possible to replace consumables and reduce replenishment work for printing requests from infrequently used personal computers A to D for efficient printing operations. There is an advantage that is easy to do.

  Further, the apparatus information of the printers a to c in which the consumables required for printing the print data does not fall below the threshold value is output to the personal computers A to D together with the change display information. The personal computers A to D receive the device information. , And any change designation device information of the printers a to c is received based on the device information, so that it is not necessary from the output destination that requires replacement or replenishment of consumables when a print request occurs. It is easy to change the selection to the printers a to c, and from this viewpoint, it is easy to ensure an efficient printing job.

  Further, when the print request is from the personal computers A to D exceeding the predetermined threshold value, and the consumables required for printing the print data in the designated printers a to c fall below the predetermined threshold value based on the predicted usage amount. When the determination is made, the print data is output as it is to the designated printers a to c together with the print data, so that the selection change is not urged even if the frequent requester needs to be replaced or supplemented. Therefore, for printing requests from the frequently used personal computers A to D, an efficient printing operation can be performed as usual with the printers a to c that are used as specified.

  The present invention is not limited to the print management system as described above, but the server E itself as a print management apparatus, the print management method, and the print management program can achieve the same effects as the above-described print management system. .

  In the present invention, the high frequency user includes both the configuration of the usage frequency of the personal computers A to D itself and the configuration of the usage frequency of the user who uses the personal computers A to D.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the printing request apparatus in this invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print management apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the use frequency management table in this invention. It is a figure which shows the consumables management table in this invention. It is a figure which shows the display form in the printing request apparatus in this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing system apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 3 Network 5 PC body 7 Input section (keyboard)
9 Display (display)
11 Document creation software 13 Main control unit 15 First communication unit 17 Second communication unit 19 First storage unit 21 Data analysis unit 23 Data management unit 25 Determination unit 27 Output change unit 29 Control unit 31 Image reading unit 33 2 storage unit 35 operation panel unit 37 printing unit 39 third communication unit 41 consumables detection unit A, B, C, D personal computer (terminal: print request device)
a, b, c Printer (multifunction machine: printing device, image forming device)
E server (print management device)

Claims (13)

A print requesting device that outputs print data to be printed and requests printing, a print management device that manages an output destination of the print data, and a plurality of printing devices that print the print data under instructions from the print management device And
The print requesting device has a function of designating one of the printing devices as the output destination and requesting the print management device to print the print data;
The print management device manages the remaining amount of consumables based on the remaining amount information of consumables from each of the printing devices and the frequency of print requests from the print request device, and when there is a print request from the print request device Analyzing the frequency of print requests from the print requesting device and the expected amount of consumables used for printing the print data, and determining that the print request is from the print requesting device that does not exceed the predetermined print request frequency. When it is determined that the consumables required for printing the print data in the specified printing apparatus are lower than a predetermined threshold based on the predicted use amount, the change display information that prompts the change to the other printing apparatus is It has a function to output to the print request device,
The printing apparatus has a function of outputting the remaining amount information of consumables required for the printing to the print management apparatus.
A print management system characterized by that. The print requesting device has a change acceptance function for displaying the change display information and accepting any change designation device information of the other printing device, and the print management device receives the change from the print requesting device. The print management system according to claim 1, wherein the print management system has a function of switching and outputting the print data to the printing device based on designated device information. The print management device has a function of outputting device information of the printing device that the consumables required for printing of the print data does not fall below the threshold, together with the change display information, to the print requesting device;
The print management system according to claim 2, wherein the print request apparatus has the change reception function for displaying the apparatus information and receiving the change designation apparatus information of any of the printing apparatuses based on the apparatus information. The print management device is from the print request device in which the print request exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and a consumable required for printing the print data in the designated printing device is based on the predicted usage amount. The print management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a function of outputting the print data as it is to the printing apparatus designated together with the print data when it is determined that the value falls below a predetermined threshold. A print management apparatus that connects a print request apparatus that outputs print data to be printed and requests printing and a plurality of printing apparatuses that print the print data, and manages an output destination of the print data,
A data management unit for managing the remaining amount of consumables according to the remaining amount information of consumables from each of the printing devices and the frequency of print requests from the print requesting device;
When the print request is made by designating one of the print devices from the print request device, the frequency of the print request from the print request device and the predicted use amount of the consumables required for printing the print data are analyzed. , The print request is from the print request device that does not exceed a predetermined print request frequency, and a consumable required for printing the print data in the specified print device is based on the predicted usage amount A determination unit that outputs change display information that prompts a change to the other printing device to the print requesting device that is a print request source when the output is further reduced
A print management apparatus comprising: The print management apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an output change unit that switches and outputs the print data to the printing apparatus based on the change designation apparatus information from the print requesting apparatus. The print management according to claim 6, wherein the determination unit has a function of outputting, to the print requesting device, device information of the printing device in which the consumable required for printing the print data does not fall below the threshold value, together with the change display information. apparatus. The determination unit is from the print requesting device in which the print request exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and a consumable required for printing the print data in the specified printing device is determined based on the predicted usage amount. The print management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the print management apparatus has a function of outputting the print data as it is to the printing apparatus designated together with the print data when it is determined that the print data falls below the threshold value. The remaining amount of consumables based on the remaining amount information of consumables from each of the printing devices, and the frequency of print requests from the print requesting device that outputs the print data to be printed by designating any of the printing devices. A data management process to manage;
A print requesting step for requesting printing from the print requesting device to the print management device;
When the print request is received from the print request device, the print request frequency from the print request device and the predicted use amount of consumables required for printing the print data are analyzed, and the print request is a predetermined print request frequency. A print request from the print request device that does not exceed the print request, and when it is determined that the consumables required for printing the print data in the designated print device are lower than a predetermined threshold based on the predicted use value, etc. A determination step of outputting change display information that prompts a change to the printing device to the print requesting device of the print request source,
A print management method comprising: The print management method according to claim 9, further comprising an output change step of switching and outputting the print data to a printing device based on change designation device information from the print requesting device. The print management according to claim 9, wherein the determination step has a function of outputting, to the print requesting device, device information of the printing device in which the consumable necessary for printing the print data does not fall below the threshold value, together with the change display information. Method. The determination step is from the print requesting device in which the print request exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and a consumable required for printing the print data in the specified printing device is determined based on the predicted use amount. The print management method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein when it is determined that the print data falls below the threshold value, the print data is output as it is to the printing apparatus designated together with the print data. While managing the print data obtained from the print requesting device, to the control computer for switching output control of the print data to a plurality of printing devices for printing the print data,
A data management process for managing the remaining amount of consumables according to the remaining amount information of consumables from each of the printing devices and the frequency of print requests from the print requesting device;
A print request process for receiving a print request for the print data designating any of the printing devices from the print requesting device;
When there is a print request from the print request device, the print request frequency from the print request device and the predicted use amount of consumables required for printing the print data are analyzed, and the print request has a predetermined print request frequency. A print request from the print request device that does not exceed the print request, and when the consumables required for printing the print data in the designated print device falls below a predetermined threshold based on the predicted use amount, the other print A determination process for outputting change display information that prompts the apparatus to change to the print requesting apparatus that is a print request source; and
A print management program.

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