JP2013033366A - Print server, network print system, print control method, and print control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently use an image forming device on a network.SOLUTION: When a print server PS receives a print job from a host device Hs connected to a network NW, a network print system 1 saves and manages the print job, monitors operation states of multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 by communicating with them, selects an available device among the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 on the basis of the print job and the operation states of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, and notifies the host device Hs of a selection result. When a user ID is transmitted from one of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, the print server PS controls propriety of use of the selected device among the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 indicated in the selection result on the basis of the user ID.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print server, a network printing system, a printing control method, and a printing control program, and more specifically, a printing server, a network printing system, a printing control method, and a printing control program that efficiently use an image forming apparatus on a network. About.

  In recent years, with the development of the network environment, a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as printers, a host apparatus such as a computer, and a print server are connected to the network, and a printing destination image forming apparatus is selected from the host apparatus. Then, the information of the image forming apparatus of the print destination and the print job are sent to the print server, the print server sends the print job to the image forming apparatus of the designated print destination, and the image forming apparatus is based on the print job. As a result, images are printed out.

  In order to maintain confidentiality and manage the use of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus has conventionally used an authentication information input unit (for example, an IC card reading unit) that inputs user authentication information (such as a user ID) to the image forming apparatus. When the print server stores the print job in the storage memory in association with the user authentication information and the user authentication information sent from the image forming apparatus matches the user authentication information of the print job, A print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus and printed out.

  In recent years, power saving has been demanded. Also in an image forming apparatus connected to a network, conventionally, an operation status of the image forming apparatus is monitored, an operation history based on the operation status is created, and an operation mode is controlled based on the operation history Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the prior art described in the above publication, it is assumed that the image forming apparatuses connected to the network have greatly different power saving characteristics, and the image forming is based on the past operating conditions of the image forming apparatus. Since the operation mode of the apparatus is determined, it is necessary to improve the power saving effect while improving the usability.

  That is, in recent years, in a network printing system in which user authentication is performed for each image forming apparatus and only a print job of a user who has been authenticated is printed out, the image forming apparatus connected to the network has a large difference in power saving characteristics. In a network printing system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected with such power saving characteristics are connected together, the preconditions of the prior art described in the publication are dilute. Since the operation mode is controlled based on this, it is impossible to achieve a realistic and appropriate power saving effect, and there is a need for improvement. There was a need for improvement.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the power saving effect while improving the usability of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication means connected to a network and communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses and host devices connected to the network, and received by the communication means. Job management means for storing and managing a print job from the host device in a job storage means, and operating status monitoring means for monitoring the operating status of the image forming apparatus by communicating with the image forming apparatus via the communication means And, based on the print job managed by the job management means and the operating status of the image forming apparatus, a use apparatus selecting means for selecting a usable image forming apparatus, and a selection result of the use apparatus selecting means as a result of the image formation. An information processing apparatus comprising: a notification unit configured to notify at least one of the apparatus and the host apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the power saving effect while improving the usability of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a network printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The principal part block block diagram of a compound apparatus and a print server. The figure which shows an example of a job management table. The figure which shows an example of a use apparatus order table. The figure which shows the printing control processing procedure in a network printing system. The flowchart which shows a use apparatus order determination process. The flowchart which shows a use apparatus selection process. The flowchart which shows an authentication determination process.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 8 are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a print server, a network printing system, a print control method, and a print control program according to the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a print server, a network print system, and a print control according to the present invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a network printing system 1 to which an embodiment of a method and a printing control program is applied. FIG.

  1, a network printing system 1 includes a plurality (one in FIG. 1) of host devices Hs and a plurality (three in FIG. 1) of composite devices MF1 to MF3 in a network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network). And the print server PS are connected. The network NW may be wired or wireless, and for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like is used. Further, the number of host devices Hs and composite devices MF1 to MF3 connected to the network NW is not limited as long as it is plural.

  For example, a personal computer having a normal hardware configuration is used as the host device Hs, and an OS (Operating System), document creation software, figure creation software, spreadsheet software, database software, a printer driver, etc. are provided on a hard disk or the like. Application software (hereinafter simply referred to as an application) is stored.

  When a print command for a document created by an application is issued from the application or the like, the host device Hs passes the document data (drawing information) and print setting data to the printer driver through the OS. The command (print data) of information necessary for generating the actual print image by interpreting by the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 designated as, and specifying the print data, the setting data (print setting), and the print destination Information and user information (for example, a user ID) are transmitted as print jobs to the print server PS via the network NW as indicated by broken line arrows in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the composite apparatuses (image forming apparatuses) MF1 to MF3 include a controller 11, an operation panel 12, a printer engine 13, and the like. The controller 11 includes a printer control system 21, an image analysis unit 22, and a storage. Unit 23, panel I / F 24, engine I / F 25, network I / F 26, and the like. In FIG. 2, each block 21 to 26 of the controller 11 is shown as a functional block constructed by software stored in the storage unit 23.

  The operation panel 12 displays the mode of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, various operation keys for performing various operations necessary for the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 to execute each process, and the state and various information of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3. Display (for example, a liquid crystal display) and a user authentication information acquisition unit used for user authentication processing. For example, when performing user authentication with an IC card in which user authentication information is recorded, the user authentication information acquisition unit enters an IC card reading unit, and enters a user authentication information input mode when keying in a user ID number. Operation keys in a set state (particularly, a numeric keypad, etc.), and the user authentication information acquisition unit is not limited to the above-described one, and one corresponding to the input form of user authentication information is used. In the following description, the user authentication information acquisition unit is an IC card reading unit, and the user performs input processing of a user ID as user authentication information by causing the user authentication information acquisition unit to read the IC card. Although described, other user authentication information input forms may be used.

  The operation panel 12 is connected to the panel I / F 24 of the controller 11, and the printer control system 21 operates the key operation state of the operation panel 12 via the panel I / F 24 and user authentication information obtained by the user authentication information acquisition unit. It performs processing such as obtaining information and displaying information on the display.

  The printer engine 13 sets a plurality of printing sheets, feeds the set sheets one by one, and prints out an image based on the drawing data on the sheets fed from the sheet feeding unit. A printing execution unit that performs printing, a paper discharge tray that can discharge a sheet of paper that has been printed by the printing execution unit, and can be loaded on a plurality of sheets. As the printing execution unit, for example, an electrophotographic printing execution unit, an ink jet printing execution unit, or the like is used, and the printing method is not limited.

  The printer engine 13 is connected to the engine I / F 25 of the controller 11, receives drawing data and control signals from the printer control system 21, performs printing processing based on the drawing data, and sends print status information to the engine I / F 25. To the printer control system 21.

  The network I / F 26 of the controller 11 is connected to the print server PS via the network NW, and exchanges signals and information with the print server PS under the control of the printer control system 21.

  The image analysis unit 22 stores the print job sent from the print server PS in the storage unit 23 under the control of the printer control system 21, interprets the print job, and can print out the print engine 13. Drawing data (printed image) is generated, stored in the storage unit 23, and output to the printer control system 21.

  The storage unit 23 is composed of, for example, a hard disk and stores print jobs, image data, and other data under the control of the printer control system 21.

  The printer control system 21 controls each unit of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 to execute processing as the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, and print server PS of user authentication information acquired by the user authentication information acquisition unit of the operation panel 12. And processing based on the authentication result from the print server PS (for example, display of the authentication result on the display of the operation panel 12, reception of a print job, print processing, print rejection processing, etc.). In addition, the printer control system 21 has an operation status investigation function for investigating the operation status of its own machine (whether it is operating normally, whether an abnormality such as a jam has occurred and operation has stopped, etc.). As will be described later, when there is a device operation status confirmation request from the print server PS, the device operation status information of the own device acquired by the operation status investigation function is transmitted to the print server PS.

  As the print server (print server) PS, a personal computer or the like having a normal hardware configuration is used, and the server control system 31 is installed as shown in FIG. 2 by introducing the print control program of the present invention. The network I / F 32 and the storage unit 33 are constructed, and the server control system 31 is constructed with a used device selection unit 41, a used device order determination unit 42, an authentication determination unit 43, and the like.

  That is, the print server PS includes ROM, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), DVD ( A print control program for executing the print control method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a digital versatile disk (SD), a secure digital (SD) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) is read into a hard disk or By being installed in the ROM, the information processing apparatus is constructed as an information processing apparatus that executes a print control method for processing a print request from a user by appropriately setting a use order of composite apparatuses MF1 to MF3 described later. This print control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  A network I / F (communication means) 32 is connected to each of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 via the network NW, and exchanges signals and information with each of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 under the control of the server control system 31. In particular, investigation (monitoring) of device operation status of the composite devices MF1 to MF3, transmission of availability information, and the like are performed.

  The storage unit (job storage unit) 33 includes a print job sent from each host device Hs, a job management table TBc for managing the print job, and a device order in which the use order of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 is set. A table TBj and OS, a program as a print server, a print control program of the present invention, and the like are stored.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the job management table TBc is a table in which a user ID (user authentication information), a job ID, and a printing device IP address are associated. In FIG. 3, for example, the user ID is “A”. Print jobs for the multifunction peripherals MF1 to MF3 having the printing device IP address “111.222.333.444” from the user are registered as the job ID “111”.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the used device order table TBj is a table in which the print order, the number of jobs, and the print device IP address are associated with each other. The order of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 to which print jobs are preferentially assigned is shown. The number of jobs means the allowable number of print jobs that is the allowable number of print jobs set in advance for each of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, and the printing device IP address is assigned to each of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3. IP (Internet Protocol) address on the network NW.

  Based on the used device order table TBj, the used device order determination unit 42 of the server control system 31 sequentially issues a device operation status confirmation request to each of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 via the network I / F 32 and the network NW. The device operation status information from each of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 is acquired, the use order of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 in the use device order table TBj shown in FIG. 4 is determined, and the use device order table TBj. Set to.

  When the server control system 31 receives a print job from the host device Hs, the used device selecting unit (used device selecting means) 41 is the first composite device in the used device order table TBj determined and set by the used device order determining unit 42. The number of allowable print jobs is acquired in order from MF1 to MF3, and the current number of print jobs registered in the multi-function devices MF1 to MF3 (number of registered print jobs) in the job management table TBc is compared. The MFPs MF1 to MF3 whose registered print jobs are less than the allowable print jobs are set as the print destination MFPs MF1 to MF3 of the print job, and the print jobs are stored in the job management table TBc. The host that sent the print job while updating the job management table TBc registered corresponding to Notifying the composite device MF1~MF3 as used equipment location Hs. In addition, when the current number of print jobs has reached the allowable number of print jobs in all the composite devices MF1 to MF3, the used device selection unit 41 does not include the composite devices MF1 to MF3 that print the print job. A message indicating that printing is not possible is sent to the host apparatus Hs that has given the print job.

  The authentication determination unit (authentication unit) 43 causes the user authentication information acquisition unit of the operation panel 12 to read the IC card by the user in the composite devices MF1 to MF3, and is read by the user authentication information acquisition unit from the composite devices MF1 to MF3. When a user ID (user authentication information) is sent and received by the network I / F 32, a job management table TBc is created based on the user ID and the printing device IP addresses of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 that have transmitted the user ID. Referring to this, it is determined whether a print job (job ID) of the user ID is registered corresponding to the printing device IP address. When the print job of the user ID corresponding to the printing device IP address is registered in the job management table TBc, the authentication determination unit 43 sends an authentication OK (authentication confirmation) to the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3. At the same time, the print job is transmitted to the multifunction apparatuses MF1 to MF3. The authentication determination unit 43 refers to the job management table TBc based on the user ID when the print job of the user ID corresponding to the printing device IP address is not registered in the job management table TBc. The user searches for the MFPs MF1 to MF3 that can be printed, and transmits the searched MFPs MF1 to MF3 to the MFPs MF1 to MF3 that have transmitted the user authentication information.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The network printing system 1 of the present embodiment improves the power saving effect while improving the usability of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 connected to the network NW.

  First, a print processing procedure in the network printing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the network printing system 1, the user transmits a print job including the user ID (user authentication information) and the designation of the print destination multifunction peripherals MF1 to MF3 from the host device Hs to the print server PS via the network NW. However, when the server control system 31 receives the print job via the network I / F 32, the server control system 31 sends an operation status confirmation request to the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, and each of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 The operating status is detected and transmitted to the server control system 31 of the print server PS as device operating status information.

  When the device operation status information is sent, the server control system 31 passes the device operation status information to the used device order determination unit 42, and the used device order determination unit 42 based on the device operation status information, The use order of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 in the used equipment order table TBj shown in FIG. 4 is determined, set in the used equipment order table TBj, and notified to the used equipment selection unit 41.

  The used device selection unit 41 obtains the allowable number of print jobs in order from the top of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 of the used device order table TBj determined and set by the used device order determination unit 42, and from the job management table TBc, The current number of print jobs (number of registered print jobs) of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 is acquired, and compared with the allowable number of print jobs, the number of registered print jobs is less than the number of allowable print jobs. In response to this, the print job combination devices MF1 to MF3 of the print job are set, the job management table TBc for registering the print job in the job management table TBc is updated, and the server control system 31 is notified. The server control system 31 uses the composite device MF1 that is a device used for the host device Hs that has sent the print job. To notify the MF3. In addition, when the number of registered print jobs has reached the allowable number of print jobs in all the composite devices MF1 to MF3, the used device selection unit 41 does not include the composite devices MF1 to MF3 that print the print job. A message indicating that printing is not possible is sent to the host apparatus Hs that has given the print job via the server control system 31.

  After that, when the user makes a user authentication request using an IC card in the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 and the like that have been notified from the print server PS, the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 receive the user authentication information acquisition unit of the operation panel 12 from the IC card. The user ID (user authentication information) is read, and the user ID is transmitted to the print server PS together with a user authentication request (authentication inquiry).

  When there is a user authentication request from the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, the print server PS passes the printing device IP address and the user ID, which are device information of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, to the authentication determination unit 43 and requests user authentication. .

  The authentication determination unit 43 refers to the job management table TBc based on the user ID that is the user authentication information and the printing device IP address of the multifunction peripheral MF1 to MF3 that has transmitted the user ID, and corresponds to the printing device IP address. Then, it is determined whether the print job (job ID) of the user ID is registered. The authentication determination unit 43 sends an authentication OK notification (authentication confirmation notification) via the server control system 31 when a print job with the user ID corresponding to the printing device IP address is registered in the job management table TBc. When the print job of the user ID corresponding to the printing device IP address is not registered in the job management table TBc and transmitted to the multifunction apparatus MF1 to MF3, the job management table TBc is based on the user ID. , The MFPs MF1 to MF3 that can be printed by the user are searched, and the MFPs MF1 to MF3 are sent to the MFPs MF1 to MF3 that have transmitted the user authentication information via the server control system 31. Send.

  The MFPs MF1 to MF3 make a print request to the print server PS if the authentication is OK, and the server control system 31 of the print server PS receives a print request from the MFPs MF1 to MF3 of authentication OK. A print job with a job ID registered in the table TBc corresponding to the user ID and the printing device IP address is read out from the storage unit 33, and the printing device IP address composite devices MF1 to MF3 are connected via the network NW. Send.

  The multi-function devices MF1 to MF3 print out an image on paper based on a print job sent from the print server PS and output a printed matter.

  In the print server PS, the used device order determining unit 42 performs the used device order determining process as shown in FIG.

  That is, when the used device order determination unit 42 receives a device operation status confirmation request from the server control system 31 (step S101), the used device order determination unit 42 obtains a printing device IP address that is device information from the used device order table TBj (step S102). Then, an operation status confirmation request is sequentially made to the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 having the printing device IP address. When the operating device order determination unit 42 receives the operation status information from each of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 (step S103), the use device order determination unit 42 checks whether or not the composite devices MF1 to MF3 are usable based on the operation status information ( Step S104).

  In step S104, the used device order determination unit 42 checks whether the operating states of all the composite devices MF1 to MF3 have been determined if the composite devices MF1 to MF3 are usable (step S105), and all the composite devices are checked. If the state determination of MF1 to MF3 has not been completed, the process returns to step S102, and the printing device IP addresses of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 set to the next use order are acquired from the use device order table TBj, and the The process of acquiring the operation status information from the multifunction apparatuses MF1 to MF3 is sequentially repeated (Steps S102 to S105).

  In step S104, the used device order determination unit 42 may not use the combined devices MF1 to MF3 because the combined devices MF1 to MF3 that have acquired the operation status information cannot be printed due to an arbitrary abnormality such as a paper jam. If not, the printing device IP address of the multifunction device MF1 to MF3 is changed to the lowest position in the used device order table TBj and registered (step S106), and it is checked whether the states of all the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 have been determined. (Step S105).

  When the used device order determining unit 42 completes the state determination of all the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 in step S105, the used device order determining unit 42 passes the information of the used device order table TBj to the used device selecting unit 41 and ends the used device order determining process. (Step S107).

  In the print server PS, the used device selection unit 41 performs the used device selection process as shown in FIG.

  That is, when the used device selection unit 41 receives the used device order table TBj as the printing device order information from the used device order determination unit 42 (step S201), the device (composite device) registered in the used device order table TBj. MF1 to MF3), it is checked whether there is a device waiting for confirmation that has not been checked for availability (step S202). If there is a device waiting for confirmation, the multifunction devices MF1 to MF1 that are the first device in the device used order table TBj are checked. The number of registered print jobs in the job management table TBc is confirmed from the MF 3 (step S203), and the allowable print jobs in which the number of registered print jobs is set in advance as an appropriate number of print jobs for the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3. It is checked whether the number is less than the number (step S204).

  In step S204, if the number of already registered print jobs is equal to or greater than the allowable print job number, the used device selection unit 41 returns to step S202, and newly prints a print job for the multifunction peripherals MF1 to MF3. Is returned to step S202, and the same processing as described above is performed from the check of whether there is a device waiting for confirmation (steps S202 to S204).

  In step S204, if the number of print jobs held by the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 to be processed is less than the allowable number of print jobs, it is determined that a new print job can be input, and the job management table TBc is entered. The new print job is registered and updated (step S205), the composite devices MF1 to MF3, which are used devices, are notified from the server control system 31 to the host device Hs, and the used device selection process is terminated (step S206). .

  The used device selection unit 41 sequentially performs the above-described availability check process from the first combined device MF1 to MF3 in the used device order table TBj, and cannot find the usable combined devices MF1 to MF3 in step S202. When there are no devices waiting to be confirmed in the used device order table TBj, the server control system 31 notifies the host device Hs that there is no printable device, and the used device selection process is terminated (step S206).

  When the print server PS receives a user ID from the multifunction apparatus MF1 to MF3 and receives an authentication request, the authentication determination unit 43 performs an authentication determination process as illustrated in FIG.

  That is, upon receiving the user ID (user authentication information) and the authentication request (step S301), the authentication determination unit 43 refers to the print job management table TBc (step S302), and the multifunction apparatus MF1 that is the requesting printing device. Based on whether or not the job ID of the user with the user ID corresponding to the printing device IP address of MF3 is registered, it is checked whether or not the multifunction peripherals MF1 to MF3 can be used (step S303).

  If the request source multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 can be used in step S303, the authentication determination unit 43 notifies the request source multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 via the server control system 31 that the authentication is OK. After that, when there is a print request from the composite devices MF1 to MF3, a print job including print data and setting information is transmitted to the composite devices MF1 to MF3, and the authentication determination process is ended (step S305). ).

  If the job ID of the user corresponding to the user ID is not registered in step S303 corresponding to the printing device IP of the multifunction device MF1 to MF3 that is the requesting printing device, the authentication determination unit 43 The MF1 to MF3 are determined to be unusable, and the requesting multifunction apparatus MF1 to MF3 is notified of the authentication NG (step S306). Next, the authentication determination unit 43 refers to the print job management table TBc (step S307), selects the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 that can be used by the user with the user ID sent in the authentication request, and can use them. The multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 are notified to the requesting multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, and the authentication determination process is terminated (step S308).

  As described above, in the network printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the print server PS is connected to the network NW, and the plurality of composite devices (image forming apparatuses) MF1 to MF3 and the host device Hs connected to the network NW. And a server control system (job management) for storing and managing a print job from the host device Hs received by the network I / F 32 in the storage unit (job storage unit) 33 Means) 31, a used device order determination unit (operation status monitoring means) 42 that communicates with the composite devices MF1 to MF3 via the network I / F 32 to monitor the operation status of the composite devices MF1 to MF3, and a server control system 31 based on the print job managed by 31 and the operating status of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3. Use device selection unit (use device selection means) 41 for selecting possible composite devices MF1 to MF3, and a server that notifies the selection result of the use device selection unit 41 to at least one of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 and the host device Hs A control system (notification means) 31.

  Accordingly, among the plurality of composite devices MF1 to MF3 on the network NW, an appropriate composite device MF1 to MF3 is selected as the usable composite device MF1 to MF3 and notified to the user host device Hs or the composite device MF1 to MF3. It is possible to improve the power saving effect while improving the usability of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 connected to the network NW.

  Further, in the network printing system 1 of this embodiment, the print server PS is connected to the network NW and communicates with a plurality of composite devices (image forming devices) MF1 to MF3 and the host device Hs connected to the network NW. A communication processing step for performing the processing, a job management processing step for storing and managing the print job received from the host device Hs in the communication processing step in the storage unit (job storage means) 33, and the composite device via the communication processing step. Can be used based on the operation status monitoring processing step for monitoring the operating status of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 by communicating with the MF1 to MF3, the print job managed in the job management processing step, and the operating status of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 Used device selection processing step for selecting the complex devices MF1 to MF3, and used device selection processing step The selection results-up of the composite apparatus MF1~MF3 the host device Hs running print control method having a notification processing step of notifying at least either a.

  Accordingly, among the plurality of composite devices MF1 to MF3 on the network NW, an appropriate composite device MF1 to MF3 is selected as the usable composite device MF1 to MF3 and notified to the user host device Hs or the composite device MF1 to MF3. It is possible to improve the power saving effect while improving the usability of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 connected to the network NW.

  Furthermore, in the network printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the print server PS is connected to a network NW and a plurality of composite devices (image forming apparatuses) MF1 to MF3 and host devices connected to the network NW. Communication processing for communicating with Hs, job management processing for storing and managing a print job received from the host device Hs in the communication processing in the storage unit (job storage means) 33, and the composite devices MF1 to MF1 through the communication processing An operational status monitoring process for communicating with the MF3 to monitor the operational status of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3, a print job managed by the job management process, and a usable multifunction device MF1 based on the operational status of the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 -Used device selection process for selecting MF3 and the selection results in the used device selection process are combined with the combined devices MF1-MF3 and host Are equipped with a printing control program to be executed and a notification process of notifying the at least one, the one of the device Hs.

  Accordingly, among the plurality of composite devices MF1 to MF3 on the network NW, an appropriate composite device MF1 to MF3 is selected as the usable composite device MF1 to MF3 and notified to the user host device Hs or the composite device MF1 to MF3. It is possible to improve the power saving effect while improving the usability of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 connected to the network NW.

  In addition, the print server PS of the network printing system 1 according to the present embodiment uses the device order determining unit (sets the order of use of the plurality of composite devices MF1 to MF3 based on the operation status of the plurality of composite devices MF1 to MF3). Use device order setting means) 42, and the used device selection unit (use device selection means) 41 selects usable composite devices MF1 to MF3 based on the device use order set by the use device order determination unit 42. doing.

  Therefore, among the plurality of composite devices MF1 to MF3 on the network NW, a more appropriate composite device MF1 to MF3 is selected as the usable composite device MF1 to MF3, and the user's host device Hs or the composite device MF1 to MF3 is selected. The power saving effect can be further improved while further improving the usability of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 connected to the network NW.

  Furthermore, in the network printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the server control system 31 manages the print job in association with the print destination multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 designated by the print job, and uses the device selection unit 41. Is the number of registered print jobs already registered for the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 of the printing destination specified in the print job and the allowable print job number preset for the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3. In comparison, if the number of registered print jobs is less than the allowable print job number, the composite devices MF1 to MF3 are selected as usable composite devices MF1 to MF3, and the registered print job is selected as the allowable print job. If the number is greater than or equal to the number, the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 are selected as the unusable multifunction devices MF1 to MF3.

  Therefore, the composite devices MF1 to MF3 that can be used by selecting the composite devices MF1 to MF3 that can be used based on the appropriate number of allowable print jobs set for the composite devices MF1 to MF3 are selected. It can be selected as MF3 and notified to the user's host device Hs and the composite devices MF1 to MF3, and while further improving the usability of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 connected to the network NW, it is possible to achieve a power saving effect. This can be further improved.

  Further, the network printing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit (user authentication information) and a server ID (user authentication information) that the server control system (job management unit) 31 authenticates a user who has transmitted the print job received together with the print job. When the print server PS receives a user ID from the multifunction apparatus MF1 to MF3, the print server PS stores the user ID in the job storage means) 33 and manages the print job for the multifunction apparatus MF1 to MF3 in the storage unit 33. If the user ID matches with the user ID, printing of the print job corresponding to the user ID using the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 is permitted. If the user ID does not match, the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 are permitted. An authentication determination unit 43 that disallows printing using the is provided.

  Accordingly, the multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 that can be used are selected in consideration of the user's intention to use, and the more suitable multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 are selected as usable multifunction devices MF1 to MF3 and the user's host device Hs. Can be notified to the composite devices MF1 to MF3, and the power saving effect can be further improved while further improving the usability of the composite devices MF1 to MF3 connected to the network NW.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network printing system NW network Hs Host apparatus MF1-MF3 Composite apparatus PS Print server 11 Controller 12 Operation panel 13 Printer engine 21 Printer control system 22 Image analysis part 23 Storage part 24 Panel I / F
25 Engine I / F
26 Network I / F
31 Server control system 32 Network I / F
33 Storage Unit 41 Used Device Selection Unit 42 Used Device Order Determination Unit 43 Authentication Judgment Unit TBc Job Management Table TBj Used Device Order Table

JP 2006-340223 A

Claims (7)

A communication unit connected to a network and communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses and host apparatuses connected to the network;
Job management means for storing and managing a print job received from the host device from the host device in a job storage means;
Operation status monitoring means for communicating with the image forming apparatus via the communication means to monitor the operation status of the image forming apparatus;
Use device selection means for selecting a usable image forming apparatus based on the print job managed by the job management means and the operating status of the image forming apparatus;
Notification means for notifying at least one of the image forming apparatus and the host apparatus of a selection result of the use apparatus selecting means;
A print server comprising: The print server
Based on the operating status of the plurality of image forming apparatuses monitored by the operating status monitoring means, comprising a use apparatus order setting means for setting the use order of the plurality of image forming apparatuses,
The use device selection means is:
2. The print server according to claim 1, wherein the usable image forming apparatus is selected based on an apparatus use order set by the use apparatus order setting means. The job management means includes:
Managing the print job in association with the image forming apparatus of the print destination specified in the print job;
The use device selection means is:
Compare the number of registered print jobs already registered for the image forming apparatus of the printing destination specified in the print job with the number of allowable print jobs set in advance for the image forming apparatus, When the registered print job number is less than the allowable print job number, the image forming apparatus is selected as an usable image forming apparatus, and when the registered print job is equal to or greater than the allowable print job number, 3. The print server according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is selected as an unusable image forming apparatus. The job management means includes:
User authentication information for authenticating a user who has transmitted the print job received together with the print job is stored and managed in the job storage unit together with the print job,
The print server
When the user authentication information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus, the user authentication information is compared with the user authentication information of the print job for the image forming apparatus of the job storage unit. An authentication unit that permits printing of the print job corresponding to the user authentication information using the image forming apparatus, and disallows printing using the image forming apparatus if the user authentication information does not match; The print server according to claim 1, wherein the print server is a print server. A plurality of image forming apparatuses, a plurality of host apparatuses, and a print server are connected to the network, the host apparatus transmits a print job to the print server, and the print server transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus. In the network printing system to print,
The network print system according to claim 1, wherein the print server is a print server according to claim 1. A communication processing step connected to a network and communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses and host apparatuses connected to the network;
A job management processing step for storing and managing a print job received from the host device in the communication processing step in a job storage unit;
An operational status monitoring processing step for monitoring the operational status of the image forming apparatus by communicating with the image forming apparatus via the communication processing step;
A use device selection processing step for selecting a usable image forming apparatus based on the print job managed in the job management processing step and the operating status of the image forming apparatus;
A notification processing step of notifying at least one of the image forming device and the host device of a selection result in the use device selection processing step;
A printing control method characterized by comprising: On the computer,
A communication process connected to a network and communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses and host apparatuses connected to the network;
A job management process for storing and managing a print job from the host device received in the communication process in a job storage unit;
An operation status monitoring process for communicating with the image forming apparatus via the communication process to monitor the operation status of the image forming apparatus;
A use device selection process for selecting a usable image forming apparatus based on a print job managed in the job management process and an operation status of the image forming apparatus;
A notification process for notifying at least one of the image forming apparatus and the host apparatus of a selection result in the use apparatus selection process;
A print control program for executing

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