JP2010137381A - Image forming apparatus, and control method and control program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can maintain a time conformity and consistency of hysteresis information even when a date of an incorporated clock that provides date information added to the hysteresis information is changed, and to provide control method and control program thereof. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has a clock part which measures the date, a memory part which stores the date information obtained from the clock part adding to the hysteresis information related to the action of the image forming apparatus, a change receiving part which receives a change by a user of the present date in the clock part, and a changing part which changes the date information stored in the memory part in response to the change of the present date received by the change receiving part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a control program. The present invention particularly relates to an image forming apparatus in which date and time information obtained from a built-in clock is added to history information, and a control method and control program therefor.

  In the printer, print history information is recorded as the print job is executed. Date information indicating the date and time when the print job was executed is added to the print history information. The date / time information is generated based on the date / time measured by the internal clock of the printer. The built-in clock is operated by a power source different from the power source of the printer, and the date and time can be measured even when the printer power is off.

  However, in a printer in which the date and time information obtained from the internal clock is added to the print history information, when the current date and time setting in the internal clock is changed by the user, the temporal consistency of the print history information recorded in the printer And there is a problem of inconsistency. For example, if the date / time of the internal clock is two months ahead of the actual date / time due to a setting error of the internal clock and the user changes the date / time of the internal clock so that the date / time of the internal clock matches the actual date / time Although the actual time difference between the print job executed immediately before and the print job executed immediately after the change is slight, print history information having a time difference of two months is recorded. In addition, the relationship between the date and time when two print jobs are executed is reversed.

  On the other hand, the administrator of the printer carries out processing such as billing management for users and print restriction based on the print history information to which date / time information is added. Generally, these processes are performed regularly (for example, every month) by a printer administrator. Therefore, when the date and time of the built-in clock is changed by the user, the printer administrator may perform an incorrect process based on the print history information to which date and time information different from the actual date is added.

As a technique for managing the event occurrence date and time, a technique for grasping the event occurrence date and time based on a highly accurate counter provided in the apparatus and accurate date and time information acquired from an external server is known. (See Patent Document 1). However, this technology acquires date / time information from an external server, and date / time information obtained from a built-in clock is not added to the history information.
JP 2004-187040 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to maintain temporal consistency and consistency of history information even when the date and time of a built-in clock that provides date and time information added to history information is changed. An image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a control program are provided.

  The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

  (1) An image forming apparatus, a clock unit for measuring date and time, a storage unit for storing date and time information obtained from the clock unit in addition to history information relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus, and the clock A change accepting unit that accepts a change by the user of the current date and time in the unit, and a change unit that changes the date and time information stored in the storage unit in response to a change in the current date and time accepted by the change accepting unit; And an image forming apparatus.

  (2) A first change method for changing the date and time information so as to correct a time lag caused by a measurement error of the date and time by the clock unit, and a time caused by an error in setting the current date and time in the clock unit A selection receiving unit that receives selection of one of the change methods by the user from the second change method of changing the date and time information so as to correct a shift, and the change unit includes the selection The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein the date information is changed according to the changed method.

  (3) It further includes a calculation unit that calculates a difference time before and after the change of the current date and time in the clock unit, and when the first change method is selected, the change unit When the date and time information is changed based on the difference time and the second change method is selected so that the correction amount increases as the elapsed time from the time when the date and time was last changed is longer, the change The image forming apparatus according to (2), wherein the unit uniformly changes the date and time information by the difference time.

  (4) When the change of the current date and time is received by the change receiving unit, a determination unit that determines whether or not the user has an authority to change the date and time information; and the user has the authority. If it is determined that the user does not have the authority, the change unit changes the date information. The image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), further including a control unit that is prohibited.

  (5) The image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the history information includes information related to a printing process executed by the image forming apparatus.

  (6) The image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the history information includes information regarding an error that occurs in the image forming apparatus.

  (7) A control method for controlling the image forming apparatus, the step of adding date / time information obtained from a clock unit for measuring the date / time to history information relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus and storing it in the storage unit (a) And (b) receiving a change by the user of the current date and time in the clock unit, and the date and time information stored in the storage unit in response to the change in the current date and time received in the step (b) And (c) changing the control method.

  (8) A control program for controlling the image forming apparatus, the date and time information obtained from the clock unit for measuring the date and time being added to the history information regarding the operation of the image forming apparatus and stored in the storage unit (a) And a procedure (b) for accepting a change by the user of the current date and time in the clock unit, and the date and time information stored in the storage unit according to the change in the current date and time accepted in the procedure (b) A control program for causing the image forming apparatus to execute a procedure (c) for changing the image quality.

  (9) A computer-readable recording medium on which the control program according to (8) is recorded.

  According to the present invention, since the date and time information stored in the storage unit is changed according to the change of the current date and time in the clock unit, the history is changed even when the current date and time in the clock unit is changed. The temporal consistency and consistency of information can be maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system according to the present embodiment includes a client PC 1, a management server 2, and a printer 3. The client PC 1, the management server 2, and the printer 3 are connected via a network 4 so that they can communicate with each other.

  The network 4 includes various networks such as a LAN in which computers and network devices are connected according to standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), token ring, and FDDI, or a WAN in which LANs are connected by a dedicated line. The type and number of devices connected to the network 4 are not limited to the example shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client PC shown in FIG. The client PC 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk 14, a display 15, an input device 16, and a communication interface 17, which are connected to each other via a bus 18 for exchanging signals.

  The CPU 11 executes control of each part and various arithmetic processes according to a program. The ROM 12 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 13 temporarily stores programs and data as a work area. The hard disk 14 stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

  Here, the hard disk 14 includes an application for creating a document file, and a printer driver for converting the document file into print data described in a page description language (PDL) that can be interpreted by the printer 3. And are installed.

  The display 15 is a CRT or LCD, for example, and displays various information. The input device 16 is a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used for performing various inputs.

  The communication interface 17 is an interface for communicating with other devices such as the printer 3 via the network 4, in addition to a network interface based on standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), token ring, and FDDI, USB, IEEE 1394, and the like. Various local connection interfaces such as a serial interface, a parallel interface such as SCSI and IEEE1284, a wireless communication interface such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), IEEE802.11, HomeRF, and IrDA, and a telephone line interface for connecting to a telephone line are used. obtain.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management server shown in FIG. The management server 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a hard disk 24, a display 25, an input device 26, and a communication interface 27, which are connected to each other via a bus 28 for exchanging signals. In addition, since each said part of the management server 2 is the same as that of each said part of client PC1, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The hard disk 24 is installed with an application for analyzing history information acquired from the printer 3 and executing processing such as accounting management, printing restriction, and error notification.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer shown in FIG. The printer 3 as an image forming apparatus includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a hard disk 34, an operation panel 35, a printing unit 36, a clock unit 37, and a communication interface 38, which are connected via a bus 39 for exchanging signals. Are connected to each other. Of the parts of the printer 3, those parts having the same functions as those of the client PC 1 are not described in order to avoid duplication of explanation.

  The operation panel 35 includes elements such as an LCD panel, operation buttons, and an LED unit, and is used for displaying various information and inputting various instructions. The printing unit 36 prints an image based on various data on a recording medium such as paper using a known image forming process such as an electrophotographic process.

  The clock unit 37 measures date and time. The clock unit 37 is composed of a dedicated IC chip and measures the date and time. The clock unit 37 operates by receiving power from a dedicated battery or capacitor, and measures the date and time even when the main power supply of the printer 3 is off.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation panel in the printer shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel 35 of the printer 3 in this embodiment includes an LCD panel 35a, operation buttons 35b, and an LED unit 35c. The LCD panel 35a displays various information such as current date / time information, print history information, and error history information. The operation button 35b includes an enter button and a cancel button, and is used for inputting various instructions by the user. The LED unit 35c is lit to notify the user of the state of the printer 3. The operation panel 35 may include elements such as an LCD touch panel and a numeric keypad.

  In addition, the client PC 1, the management server 2, and the printer 3 may each include a component other than the components described above, or may not include some of the components described above. .

  In the printing system of the present embodiment configured as described above, processing such as charging management and printing restriction is executed by the management server 2 based on history information such as printing history information stored in the printer 3. The history information stored in the printer 3 maintains temporal consistency and consistency even when the date / time setting of the printer 3 is changed by the user. Hereinafter, the operation of the printing system in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, history information stored in the printer 3 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining print history storage processing in the printer shown in FIG. The algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is stored as a program in a storage unit such as the ROM 32 of the printer 3 and is executed by the CPU 31.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the print history storage process of the present embodiment, first, a print job is received (step S101). Specifically, a print job transmitted from the client PC 1 is received. The print job includes print data and print setting information such as the number of copies.

  Next, an image is printed (step S102). In the present embodiment, bitmap format image data is generated from the print data included in the print job received in the process shown in step S101, and an image based on the image data is printed on a recording medium such as paper.

  Then, print history information is stored (step S103). In the present embodiment, print history information related to the print job executed in the process shown in step S102 is stored in a storage unit such as the hard disk 34.

  As described above, according to the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the print history information is stored with the print job executed in the printer 3.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of print history information stored in the printer.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the print history information of the present embodiment includes identification information 41, paper size information 42, color printing information 43, duplex printing information 44, and date / time information 45. The identification information 41 is information for identifying a print job, and the paper size information 42 is information indicating the paper size used for printing. The color printing information 43 is information indicating whether the printing is color printing or monochrome printing, and the double-sided printing information 44 is information indicating whether the printing is double-sided printing or single-sided printing. The date / time information 45 is information indicating the execution start date / time of the print job. The date information 45 is generated based on the date measured by the clock unit 37.

  Note that the print history information may include information such as user information, printing department information, and number-of-prints information, or may not include some of the information described above. The date / time information is not limited to the information indicating the execution start date / time of the print job, and information indicating the print job execution end date / time, the paper printing start date / time, or the paper printing end date / time may be applied. Further, the storage unit of the print history information is not limited to the print job unit, and may be stored in a page unit or a copy unit.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining error history storage processing in the printer shown in FIG. Note that the algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is stored as a program in a storage unit such as the ROM 32 of the printer 3 and is executed by the CPU 31.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the error history saving process of the present embodiment, first, an error occurring in the printer 3 is detected (step S201). Specifically, errors such as a paper jam of the printing paper, out of toner, and power stop occurring in the printer 3 are detected.

  Next, it is determined whether or not to store error history information (step S202). In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not to store error history information related to the error detected in the process shown in step S201 according to the setting by the user.

  If it is determined not to save the error history information (step S202: NO), the process ends without saving the error history information. On the other hand, when it is determined to save the error history information (step S202: YES), the error history information is saved (step S203). In the present embodiment, error history information related to the error detected in the process shown in step S201 is stored in a storage unit such as the hard disk 34.

  As described above, according to the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, error history information is stored as an error occurs in the printer 3. In the above-described embodiment, the error history information is stored in the storage unit according to the setting by the user. However, unlike the present embodiment, error history information may always be stored if an error is detected.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of error history information stored in the printer.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the error history information of this embodiment includes identification information 51, category information 52, error type information 53, and date / time information 54. The identification information 51 is information for identifying an error, and the category information 52 is information indicating an error category. The error type information 53 is information indicating the type of error, and the date / time information 54 is information indicating the date / time when the error was detected.

  Note that the error history information may include not only information indicating errors such as occurrence of paper shortage and occurrence of toner, but also information indicating error cancellation such as toner replacement and power-on.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, a date / time setting change process for changing the current date / time setting in the printer 3 of the present embodiment will be described. As described above, in the printer 3 of the present embodiment, the temporal consistency and consistency of the history information are maintained even when the current date and time setting is changed by the user.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining date / time setting change processing in the printer shown in FIG. Note that the algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is stored as a program in a storage unit such as the ROM 32 of the printer 3 and is executed by the CPU 31.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the date / time setting change processing in the present embodiment, first, a user's request for changing the date / time of the clock unit 37 is accepted (step S <b> 301). Specifically, a request for changing the current date and time in the clock unit 37 is accepted through a button operation on the operation panel 35 or an operation on the management server 2 by the user. In response to the date / time change request, the user inputs a desired date / time.

  Next, it is determined whether or not to change the date and time of the history information in accordance with the change of the current date and time in the clock unit 37 (step S302). In the present embodiment, for example, whether or not to change the date and time of history information by displaying on the LDC panel 35a a screen that prompts the user to select whether or not to change the date and time of history information and accepting the selection by the user. Is judged.

  If it is determined not to change the date and time of the history information (step S302: NO), the process proceeds to step S307 and the subsequent steps, and only the current date and time setting in the printer 3 is changed. On the other hand, when it is determined to change the date and time of the history information (step S302: YES), it is determined whether or not the user has administrator authority (step S303). In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the user who requests the date / time change in the process shown in step S301 has an administrator authority to change the history information of the printer 3. Specifically, for example, a screen prompting the user to input a password is displayed on the LCD panel 35a, and it is determined whether or not the user has administrator authority by accepting the input of the password from the user. .

  When it is determined that the user does not have administrator authority (step S303: NO), the process proceeds to step S307 and the subsequent steps, and only the current date and time setting in the printer 3 is changed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the user has administrator authority (step S303: YES), selection of a method for changing the date and time of history information is accepted (step S304). In the present embodiment, the first change method of changing the date and time of history information so as to correct the time lag caused by the measurement error of the date and time by the clock unit 37 and the current date and time setting error in the clock unit 37 are caused. The selection of one of the change methods by the user is accepted from the second change method of changing the date and time of the history information so as to correct the time lag. Specifically, for example, by displaying on the LDC panel 35a a screen that prompts the user to select a change method, the selection of the change method by the user is accepted.

  Next, the date and time immediately before the change in the clock unit 37 is stored (step S305). In the present embodiment, prior to changing the date / time of the history information, the date / time of the clock unit 37 immediately before receiving the date / time change request from the user is stored in the RAM 33.

  Next, history information change processing is executed (step S306). In the present embodiment, the date and time information added to the history information is changed according to the first or second changing method selected in the process shown in step S304. Detailed description of the history information change process shown in step S306 will be described later.

  Next, the date and time of the clock unit 37 after the change by the user is stored (step S307). In the present embodiment, the date and time input by the user in the process shown in step S301 is stored in the RAM 33.

  Then, the saved date and time is reflected (step S308), and the process is terminated. In the present embodiment, the date and time saved in the process shown in step S307 is reflected as the current date and time in the clock unit 37.

  As described above, according to the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, first, the change by the user of the current date and time in the clock unit 37 of the printer 3 is accepted. If the user has administrator authority, the date and time of the history information stored in the printer 3 is changed according to the change of the current date and time in the clock unit 37.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the history information change process shown in step S306 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the history information change process of the present embodiment, first, history information is read (step S401). In the present embodiment, one history information is read from a plurality of history information stored in the hard disk 34.

  Next, date information is extracted (step S402). In this embodiment, the date / time information added to the history information read in the process shown in step S401 is extracted.

  Next, the date information is changed (step S403). In the present embodiment, the date / time information extracted in the process shown in step S402 is changed according to the first or second change method accepted in the process shown in step S304 of FIG.

  Next, the date / time information is written in the history information (step S404). In the present embodiment, the date / time information changed in the process shown in step S403 is written in the history information read in the process shown in step S401.

  Then, it is determined whether date / time information has been changed for all history information (step S405). In the present embodiment, it is determined whether date / time information has been changed for all error history information and print history information stored in the hard disk 34.

  When it is determined that the date / time information has not been changed for all the history information (step S405: NO), the processes in and after step S401 are repeated until the date / time information is changed for all the history information. . On the other hand, when it is determined that the date / time information has been changed for all the history information (step S405: YES), the process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the date and time of the history information stored in the printer 3 is changed according to the change of the current date and time in the clock unit 37.

  Next, the first and second changing methods for changing the date and time of history information will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 12A is a diagram for explaining a first change method for changing the date / time of history information so as to correct the time lag caused by the date / time measurement error by the clock unit 37. The horizontal axis in FIG. 12A is the elapsed time from the time when the date and time of the clock unit 37 was last changed, and the vertical axis is the date and time.

When the current date and time in the clock unit 37 is changed from the first date and time T _Before to the second date and time T _After by the user, the changed date and time T ′ corresponding to the date and time T of any history information is as follows ( 1) It is shown by the equation.

Here, T _Last indicates the date and time of the clock unit 37 when the current date and time in the clock unit 37 was last changed by the user.

As shown in the above equation (1), in the first change method, the time difference (T _After −T _Before ) between the date and time T _Before before the change and the date and time T _After after the change in the clock unit 37 is set as the maximum value. The time proportional to the elapsed time (T-L _Last ) from the time when the date and time of the unit 37 was last changed is added to the date and time T before the change of each history information, so that the date and time after the change of each history information T ′ is calculated.

  For example, when the date and time of the clock unit 37 is last changed, the date and time of the clock unit 37 is 12:00 on January 1, 2001, and thereafter, the date and time of the clock unit 37 is 15 on January 30, 2001. , When the date and time of the clock unit 37 is changed to 12:00 on January 30, 2001, the date and time T before the change of the history information and the date and time T ′ after the change are as follows: It is as Table 1.

  As shown in Table 1, according to the first changing method, the date / time information is changed so that the correction amount increases in proportion to the elapsed time from the time when the date / time of the clock unit 37 was last changed. . According to such a configuration, according to the change of the current date and time in the clock unit 37, the time shift of the history information due to the date and time measurement error of the clock unit 37 is corrected.

  FIG. 12B is a diagram for explaining a second changing method for changing the date and time of history information so as to correct the time lag caused by the setting error of the current date and time in the clock unit 37. The horizontal axis in FIG. 12B is the elapsed time from the time when the date and time of the clock unit 37 was last changed, and the vertical axis is the date and time.

When the current date and time in the clock unit 37 is changed from the first date and time T _Before to the second date and time T _After by the user, the changed date and time T ′ corresponding to the date and time T of any history information is as follows ( 2) It is shown by the formula.

As shown in the above equation (2), in the second change method, the time difference (T _After −T _Before ) between the date and time T _Before before the change and the date and time T _After after the change in the clock unit 37 is calculated as follows. By uniformly adding to the date and time T before the change, the date and time T ′ after the change of each history information is calculated.

  For example, when the date and time of the clock unit 37 is last changed, the date and time of the clock unit 37 is 12:00 on January 1, 2001, and thereafter, the date and time of the clock unit 37 is 15 on January 30, 2001. , When the date and time of the clock unit 37 is changed to 15:00 on January 30, 2000, the date and time T before the change of the history information and the date and time T ′ after the change are shown in the table below. Two.

  As shown in Table 2, according to the second change method, the date information is uniformly changed regardless of the elapsed time from the time when the date and time of the clock unit 37 was last changed. According to such a configuration, for example, when the user mistakenly sets the date and time of the clock unit 37 and then changes the date and time of the clock unit 37 to an actual date and time, history information resulting from a date and time setting error Is corrected.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the current date and time in the clock unit 37 of the printer 3 is changed, the date and time of the history information stored in the storage unit is also changed retrospectively. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the current date and time in the clock unit 37 is changed, the temporal consistency and consistency of the history information is maintained.

  Finally, with reference to FIG. 13, the print analysis process in the management server 2 of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining print analysis processing in the management server shown in FIG. The algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13 is stored as a program in a storage unit such as the ROM 22 of the management server 2 and is executed by the CPU 21.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the print analysis process of the present embodiment, first, history information is acquired (step S501). In the present embodiment, history information stored in the printer 3 is acquired via the network 4. As described above, the history information acquired from the printer 3 maintains temporal consistency and consistency.

  Next, the history information is analyzed (step S502). In the present embodiment, the history information acquired in the process shown in step S501 is analyzed. By analyzing the history information, information such as the total number of printed sheets of the printer 3, the number of printed sheets for each user, and the number of printed sheets for each department within a certain period is acquired. If the history information includes error history information, the error history information is extracted.

  Next, it is determined whether or not to perform billing management (step S503). In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not to perform billing management according to the setting by the administrator. If it is determined not to execute billing management (step S503: NO), the process proceeds to step S505 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, if it is determined to execute billing management (step S503: YES), billing management is performed (step S504). In this embodiment, billing management is executed in conjunction with a billing server (not shown) by transmitting information such as the number of printed sheets to a dedicated billing server. Alternatively, unlike the present embodiment, billing management may be executed by the management server 2 alone.

  Next, it is determined whether or not to perform printing restriction (step S505). In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not to execute the print restriction according to the setting by the administrator. If it is determined not to execute the print restriction (step S505: NO), the process proceeds to step S508 and subsequent steps.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the print restriction is to be executed (step S505: YES), it is determined whether or not the number of printed sheets is equal to or more than the limited number (step S506). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the total number of prints of the printer 3 acquired by the analysis process shown in step S502 is equal to or greater than a preset limit number. When it is determined that the number of prints is less than the limit number (step S506: NO), the process proceeds to step S508 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of printed sheets is equal to or greater than the limit number (step S506: YES), the print limit is executed (step S507). Specifically, a print restriction command is issued from the management server 2 to the printer 3. Note that the print restriction may be executed for each user or each department, or may be executed for all users. Alternatively, the print restriction may be executed separately for color / monochrome printing.

  Next, it is determined whether or not to notify an error (step S508). In this embodiment, it is determined whether to notify an error according to the setting by the administrator. If it is determined not to notify an error (step S508: NO), the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined to notify an error (step S508: YES), it is determined whether an error has occurred (step S509). In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred in the printer 3 by determining whether or not error history information is included in the history information. When it is determined that an error has occurred (step S509: YES), an error is notified (step S510). In the present embodiment, the error is notified by displaying information for notifying the error on the display 25 of the management server 2. When the number of occurrences of errors in the printer 3 is a predetermined number or more, for example, a process for stopping the operation of the printer 3 may be executed. On the other hand, when it is determined that no error has occurred (step S509: NO), the process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, billing management, printing restriction, and error notification are executed based on the history information acquired from the printer 3. As described above, for example, even if the user of the client PC 1 changes the current date and time in the printer 3, the history information acquired from the printer 3 maintains temporal consistency and consistency. The management server 2 executes accurate processing.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a printer is described as an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral).

  In the above embodiment, when the user has administrator authority, the date and time of both the error history information and the print history information are changed. However, an authority may be independently assigned to the change of the date / time of the error history information and the change of the date / time of the print history information. For example, the printer administrator is given the authority to change the date and time of both error history information and printing history information, while the user of the client PC is given only the right to change the date and time of error history information. May be.

  The means and method for performing various processes in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment can be realized by either a dedicated hardware circuit or a programmed computer. The program may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk and a CD-ROM, or may be provided online via a network such as the Internet. In this case, the program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium is normally transferred to and stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk. The program may be provided as a single application software, or may be incorporated in the software of the apparatus as a function of the image forming apparatus.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the client PC shown by FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the management server shown by FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation panel in the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a print history storing process in the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of print history information stored in the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining error history storage processing in the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of error history information stored in the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a date / time setting change process in the printer shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the log | history information change process shown by step S306 of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st and 2nd change method which changes the date of history information. 4 is a flowchart for explaining print analysis processing in the management server shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

1 client PC,
11, 21, 31 CPU,
12, 22, 32 ROM,
13, 23, 33 RAM,
14, 24, 34 hard disk,
15, 25 display,
16, 26 input device,
17, 27, 38 Communication interface,
18, 28, 39 bus,
2 management server,
3 Printer,
35 Operation panel,
36 Printing Department,
37 Clock part,
4 Network.

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus,
A clock unit that measures the date and time,
A storage unit for storing date and time information obtained from the clock unit in addition to history information related to the operation of the image forming apparatus;
A change accepting unit for accepting a change by the user of the current date and time in the clock unit;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a changing unit that changes the date and time information stored in the storage unit in response to a change in the current date and time received by the change receiving unit. A first change method for changing the date and time information so as to correct a time lag caused by the measurement error of the date and time by the clock unit, and a time lag caused by an error in setting the current date and time in the clock unit A selection receiving unit that receives selection of one of the change methods by the user from the second change method for changing the date and time information to
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change unit changes the date information according to the selected change method. A calculation unit that calculates a difference time before and after the change of the current date and time in the clock unit;
When the first change method is selected, the changing unit is configured to change the correction amount based on the difference time so that the amount of correction increases as the elapsed time from the time when the current date and time is last changed. Change the date and time information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the second changing method is selected, the changing unit uniformly changes the date and time information by the difference time. A determination unit that determines whether or not the user has an authority to change the date and time information when a change of the current date and time is accepted by the change reception unit;
When it is determined that the user has the authority, the change unit permits the change of the date / time information by the change unit, and when the user is determined not to have the authority. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that prohibits the change of the date and time information according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the history information includes information related to a printing process executed by the image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the history information includes information regarding an error that occurs in the image forming apparatus. A control method for controlling an image forming apparatus,
(A) adding date and time information obtained from a clock unit for measuring date and time to history information relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus and storing it in a storage unit;
Accepting a change by the user of the current date and time in the clock part; and
And (c) changing the date and time information stored in the storage unit in response to the change in the current date and time accepted in the step (b). A control program for controlling an image forming apparatus,
A procedure (a) of adding date and time information obtained from a clock unit for measuring date and time to history information relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus and storing it in a storage unit;
A procedure (b) for accepting a change by the user of the current date and time in the clock part;
A step (c) of changing the date / time information stored in the storage unit according to the change of the current date / time received in the step (b); Control program.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the control program according to claim 8 is recorded.

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