JP2013109536A - Assignment processing apparatus, image forming system, assignment processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus capable of selecting a proper assignment source and performing a proper quantity of assignment.SOLUTION: There is provided an apparatus for managing upper limits of frequency of use of functions of a use target apparatus as quantity and performs assignment processing of the quantity. This apparatus includes: a reception unit that receives an assignment request from a client; a quantity prediction unit that calculates within-period predicted use quantity that is quantity expected to be used within a specific period in accordance with the assignment request on the basis of the current use quantity and predicted use quantity; an assignment quantity calculation unit that calculates assignment quantity in accordance with the assignment request on the basis of the calculated within-period predicted use quantity and upper limit quantity set as quantity that can be used within a specific period; an assignment quantity management unit that determines propriety of assignment by the quantity according to the assignment request on the basis of the calculated assignment quantity; and a result transmission unit that transmits the determination result by the assignment quantity management unit to the client.

Description

  The present invention manages an upper limit of a quantity such as the number of times of use and the number of printed sheets of a function or the like provided in a usage target apparatus, and when a transfer request is received for the quantity, a transfer processing apparatus that transfers a certain quantity, the transfer processing apparatus, and an image The present invention relates to an image forming system including a forming apparatus, a method thereof, and a computer readable program for executing the method.

  An image forming apparatus such as a fax machine, a copying machine, a printer, or an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) prints and outputs on paper using toner or ink. In recent years, for cost management of paper resources, toner, ink, etc., a print management server has been provided that can set a limit on the number of prints for each device, for each user, or for each group to which the user belongs, A technique has been proposed in which when the number of print outputs determined by the setting is performed, further print output is prohibited and resource waste is prevented.

  However, when this technique is adopted, there arises an inconvenience that a necessary print output cannot be performed due to a limitation on the number of printed sheets. For this reason, you can ask the administrator to change the setting value for the number of copies to be printed, or you can transfer the surplus number of copies that have not been used up to the upper limit at a certain location. There has been proposed a technique for realizing necessary print output while keeping the upper limit of the number of sheets.

  For example, when a transfer key issuance request is issued to an image processing apparatus with the number of transfer sheets in order to transfer the remaining number of image processing sheets to another information processing apparatus that has reached the limit number, the image processing apparatus manages each department The transfer key is issued by the transfer key issuing unit to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus that receives the transfer key inputs the transfer key. An image processing system that makes an image processing request to an image processing apparatus that exceeds the limit number has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, the print management server includes means for transferring a part of the printable remaining number of the user whose print permission number does not reach the upper limit value to a user who needs the print permission number exceeding the upper limit value. Has also been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

  Further, the print number management device provided for each user uses a user-specific usage counter for counting the remaining number of prints that can be used only by that user, a user-specific upper limit holding unit, and a plurality of users in common. A configuration including a common counter that counts the remaining number of prints that can be printed has also been proposed (see Patent Document 3). In this configuration, when a transfer instruction including the user ID and the transfer number is subtracted from the transfer instruction including the user ID and the transfer number from the client terminal and added to the common counter, The transfer number is subtracted from the common counter and added to the upper limit value of the user.

  However, with the conventional technology, since the transfer source of the number of printed sheets is determined based on simple conditions such as a large number of remaining sheets up to the limit number, it has been impossible to select an appropriate transfer source. For example, a transfer source is selected because the remaining number of pages is the largest, but the transfer source transfers the number of prints, making it impossible to perform its own print output, and transfer from another transfer source. There was a problem that there was a case that had to be asked.

  In addition, since all the users with the remaining number can be assigned as the transfer source and transfer can be received from each user, there is a problem that the result is the same as when the print output is not restricted. .

  What is managed by the upper limit is not limited to the number of printed sheets. For example, the number of uses of the FAX function and scan function provided by the MFP, the number of uses of the application, and the like are also included. If the number of times of use can be transferred by selecting an appropriate transfer source, it is not necessary to perform transfer in multiple stages, and functions and applications can be used effectively.

  Therefore, when a transfer request is received, an appropriate decision is made as to whether or not transfer is possible, so that an appropriate transfer source can be selected. In some cases, it has been desired to provide an apparatus capable of calculating an appropriate quantity and transferring the quantity.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and performs transfer processing for managing the upper limit of at least one of the number of times of use of a function or application included in a target device or application, usage time, and number of printed sheets, and performing transfer processing of the number. A device,
A reception unit for receiving a transfer request from the requester;
In accordance with the transfer request, the current usage quantity that is used until the transfer request is received within a certain period and the predicted use that is the quantity that is predicted to be used from the time when the transfer request is received until the end of the fixed period. A quantity forecasting unit that calculates a forecasted usage quantity within a period, which is a quantity predicted to be used within the certain period, based on the quantity;
A transfer quantity calculation unit that calculates a transfer quantity according to the transfer request based on the predicted use quantity within the period calculated by the quantity prediction part and an upper limit quantity set as a quantity that can be used within the fixed period; ,
Based on the transfer quantity calculated by the transfer quantity calculation unit, a transfer quantity management unit that determines whether the transfer of the quantity according to the transfer request is possible;
A transfer processing apparatus is provided, comprising: a result transmission unit that transmits a determination result by the transfer quantity management unit to the request source.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a client device used in an image forming system. The functional block diagram which showed 1st Embodiment of the client apparatus. The sequence diagram which illustrated the flow of the transfer process performed with the client apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which illustrated printing number information stored in a printing number database (DB). The figure which illustrated the printing pattern produced | generated by the printing number prediction part. The functional block diagram of a printing number prediction part. The sequence diagram which illustrated the flow of the sheet number calculation process performed in the printed sheet number estimation part. The figure which illustrated the log contents stored in print log DB. The figure which illustrated the result which totaled log information. The figure which illustrated printing pattern information. The figure which illustrated the printing pattern information for every period. The functional block diagram which showed 2nd Embodiment of the client apparatus. The sequence diagram which illustrated the flow of the transfer process performed with the client apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which illustrated transfer log contents.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system according to the present embodiment. The image forming system includes client apparatuses 11 and 12 connected to the network 10, printers 14 and 15 as image forming apparatuses connected to the network 10, and an image forming apparatus directly connected to the client apparatus 11 with a cable. And a printer 13. Since this configuration is an example, one or more client apparatuses may be connected to the network 10, and one or more printers may be connected to the network 10. In addition to the printer, the network 10 may be connected to various devices subject to usage restrictions, such as MFPs, facsimile machines, and copying machines, which are other image forming apparatuses.

  The network 10 can use a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or a metropolitan area network (MAN) depending on the range. In these networks, communication can be performed using an appropriate communication protocol such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). A network 10 shown in FIG. 1 is mainly an in-house LAN, and transmits information on server devices and network devices (not shown) in addition to information on client devices 11 and 12 and printers 13, 14 and 15.

  The printers 13, 14, and 15 receive the print requests and print data transmitted from the client apparatuses 11 and 12, and print and output the document and image information transmitted from the client apparatuses 11 and 12 on paper according to them. Since the printer 13 is directly connected to the client device 11 via a cable, the printer 13 includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port and is connected via a USB cable. The printers 14 and 15 include a network board having a LAN port and are connected by a LAN cable.

  The printers 13, 14, and 15 include a controller for controlling the positions of the ink and toner and performing various corrections, in addition to the image forming unit that forms an image on the paper with the ink and toner. The controller includes a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory) for storing a control program, a correction program, and the like, and a CPU that reads and executes the program.

  The client devices 11 and 12 are electronic devices having a data transmission function such as a PC, a workstation, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and a tablet terminal.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the client device. Since the client devices 11 and 12 have the same hardware configuration, the client device 11 will be described below. The client device 11 includes, for example, a CPU 20 as a processor, and provides a ROM 21 that is a nonvolatile memory for storing a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) and firmware as a storage device, and an execution storage space that allows the CPU 20 to perform program processing. The RAM 22 can be configured to be provided.

  The CPU 20 is connected to a storage control interface 23 that is one of the interfaces via an internal bus, accesses a hard disk 24 that is one of the storage devices connected to the storage control interface 23, and performs various applications and data. Read, execute, and write. As the storage control interface 23, an interface for managing input / output of the hard disk 24 can be used according to standards such as IDE (Integrated Device Electronics), ATA (AT Attachment), Serial ATA, and UltraATA.

  The CPU 20 controls a serial or parallel interface 25 such as USB or IEEE1394 via an internal bus, communicates with an input / output device 26 such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a printer, and can accept input from a user.

  In addition, the client device 11 responds to a command from the CPU 20 to process a video signal and display it on the display device 27, a VRAM (Video RAM) 28, a graphic chip 29, and other devices via the network 10. A network I / F 30 connected to the network 10 for communication can be included. The VRAM 28 is a RAM used as a storage device for video display on the display device 27, and the graphic chip 29 is an integrated circuit that performs image data processing.

  In the client device 11, the CPU 20 reads out a program stored in the ROM 21, the hard disk 24, and other storage devices such as an NV-RAM and an SD card (not shown), and expands them in the memory area of the RAM 22, so that an appropriate OS (Operating System) ), Each process to be described later is realized, and the CPU 20 can be configured as each part for realizing each process. As the OS, Windows (registered trademark), UNIX (registered trademark), LINUX (registered trademark), or the like can be employed.

  The ROM 21 can store a system boot program. The boot program is a program that activates the device, reads an OS (Operating System) stored in the hard disk 24 into a memory, and activates the device so that the device can be operated. The RAM 22 can be used as a working memory for operating the CPU 20 and a memory for temporarily storing image data. In addition to the OS described above, the hard disk 24 can store system software such as drivers and utility software for operating hardware, document data of input documents, and the like.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system has been described as including the network 10, client apparatuses 11 and 12, and printers 13, 14, and 15. For example, as a server device, a print upper limit management server device that sets and notifies the upper limit value of the number of prints assigned to each of the client devices 11 and 12 can be provided.

  As described above, in order to prevent waste of paper resources, the upper limit value of the number of printed sheets is set for every predetermined period, but there is an inconvenience that necessary print output cannot be performed due to the limitation of the number of printed sheets. In view of this problem, these client apparatuses 11 and 12 execute a process of transferring a certain number of sheets from a person having a sufficient number of printed sheets to a person who requests the number of printed sheets.

  When the above-described print upper limit management server apparatus is provided, it is possible to cause the server apparatus to execute the above transfer process and to function as the transfer processing apparatus. Thereby, it is possible to manage the transition of the number of transferred sheets by integrating the client apparatuses even if there are requests for transfer from a plurality of client apparatuses at the same time, without the trouble of one-to-one communication between the client apparatuses.

  The upper limit value of the number of prints can be set for each client device 11, 12, but can also be set for each user who uses the client devices 11, 12, or set for each group to which the user belongs. It is also possible. As a group, if you belong to a company, you can list departments and departments.

  What can be transferred and transferred by the transfer processing device is not limited to the number of printed sheets. It may be the number of use times or use time of the printers 13, 14, 15. By limiting the number of uses and the use time in the printers 13, 14, and 15, it is possible to prevent waste of paper resources and waste of ink and toner. Also, by transferring these to other devices or users, the other devices, users, etc. can continue to execute printing without changing the total number of restrictions.

  When the MFP is connected to the network 10, it is possible to manage the upper limit of the functions provided by the MFP, the number of times of use of the application, and the usage time, and transfer the functions. This is because the FAX function and copy function provided in the MFP print and output, and by limiting these functions, waste of paper resources and waste of ink and toner can be prevented. In addition, since the FAX function, copy function, and scanner function are functions that are realized by executing an application, waste of paper resources and waste of ink and toner can be achieved by limiting the number of times and time of use of the application. Can be prevented. By transferring these to other devices, users, etc., it is possible for other devices, users, etc. to continue printing on the MFP without changing the total number of restrictions, making effective use of functions and applications Can be achieved.

  In this way, the transfer processing device manages the upper limit of the number of times of use, usage time, etc. in addition to the number of printed sheets, determines whether transfer is possible in response to the transfer request, and if possible, a certain quantity In the following, the quantity will be described in detail as the number of printed sheets.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the client apparatus 11 functioning as a print number transfer processing apparatus. The client apparatus 11 includes hardware such as the CPU 20 and the ROM 21 as described above, and software such as an OS and firmware. FIG. 3 shows only functions necessary for the configuration of the transfer processing apparatus. Since the client device 12 has the same function as the client device 11, only the client device 11 will be described here.

  The client device 11 includes a transmission / reception unit 40 as a reception unit and a result transmission unit, a transfer number management unit 41 as a transfer quantity management unit, a transfer number calculation unit 42 as a transfer quantity calculation unit, and a print as a quantity prediction unit. A sheet number prediction unit 43, a print number upper limit management unit 44 as a quantity upper limit management unit, a print number DB 45 as a quantity storage unit, a print instruction unit 46 as an instruction unit, and a print log DB 47 as a history information storage unit Is provided.

  The transmission / reception unit 40 is configured by the network I / F 30, is connected to the network 10, receives information from the network 10, and transmits information from the client device 11 to the network 10. The transmission / reception unit 40 receives a transfer request for the number of printed sheets transmitted from another client device via the network 10 and passes the transfer request to the transfer number management unit 41.

  When the transfer number management unit 41 accepts the transfer request, it makes an inquiry to the transfer number calculation unit 42 to determine whether there is a transferable number. In response to this inquiry, the transfer number calculation unit 42 calls the print number prediction unit 43 and predicts that printing will be performed in the remaining period from the present to the end of the certain period of time within the fixed period in which the upper limit value is set. The predicted number of sheets to be calculated is calculated, the number of sheets obtained by adding the number of sheets used up to now (predicted number of sheets used during the period) is calculated, and the number of transferable sheets (transferable number of sheets) is calculated using the calculated number.

  The transfer number management unit 41 determines whether transfer is possible from the transferable number calculated by the transfer number calculation unit 42. The transfer number management unit 41 determines that transfer is possible when the transferable number is calculated as a positive integer, and determines that transfer is not possible when it is calculated as 0 or a negative integer. Then, the transfer number management unit 41 determines whether the transfer is possible or not, and the upper limit value of the transferable number in the case where the transfer is possible via the transmission / reception unit 40 To the client device.

  The transfer number calculation unit 42 receives the inquiry from the transfer number management unit 41, receives the predicted use number within the period calculated by the print number prediction unit 43, and subtracts the predicted use number within the period from the set upper limit value. Then, the upper limit value of the transferable number of transferable items is calculated. Then, the transfer sheet number calculation unit 42 passes the upper limit value of the transferable sheet number to the transfer sheet number management unit 41 as a calculation result.

  The print number prediction unit 43 receives an instruction from the transfer number calculation unit 42, refers to the print log DB 47, outputs a print request and print data from the client device 11 within a certain period, and sends it to the printers 13, 14, 15. A print pattern representing the transition of the number of printed sheets is obtained on the basis of the results of printout, and the estimated number of sheets used in the period for how many sheets are printed within that period is calculated. The configuration and calculation method of the print number prediction unit 43 will be described later.

  The print number upper limit management unit 44 manages the upper limit value of the number of printable sheets within a certain period and the print number obtained by actually executing printing and counting the number of output sheets. The upper limit value and the number of printed sheets are managed in association with the device identification information of the client device 11 or the user identification information of the user or the group identification information of the group for which the upper limit value is set. As the user identification information and group identification information, login information input when using the client device 11 can be used. The print number upper limit management unit 44 reads and provides the upper limit value corresponding to each piece of identification information from the print number DB 45 and adds the print number obtained by counting to the print number corresponding to each piece of identification information. Store in DB45.

  When the client apparatus 11 transmits a print request and print data to any of the printers 13, 14, and 15, and receives a notification that printing has actually been performed and printing has been completed, it corresponds to the identification information from the print number DB 45. The number of printed sheets is read, and if one sheet is printed, the number is increased by 1 and stored. In this way, the number of sheets is counted, and when the number of printed sheets reaches the upper limit value, the printed sheet number upper limit management unit 44 notifies the print instruction unit 46 that printing is prohibited.

  The print instruction unit 46 transmits print data such as a document or an image created by the client device 11 and a print request to the printer 13 via the transmission / reception unit 40, for example. At this time, the print instruction unit 46 inquires of the print number upper limit management unit 44 whether or not printing is possible, and the print number upper limit management unit 44 sets the number of prints to be printed to the number printed so far. It is determined that printing is possible by confirming that the number of prints obtained by adding up does not reach the upper limit. In response to the determination that printing is possible, the print instruction unit 46 transmits a print request and print data to the printer 13. Further, when the print instruction unit 46 transmits print data or the like and causes the printer 13 to execute printing, the print content or the like is stored in the print log DB 47.

  The print log DB 47 stores print history information, and stores information such as print date / time, contents, number of sheets, user name instructing printing, print settings, and the like as the history information. Here, the data is stored in the database format, but may be stored in the file format. Since the print log is acquired and accumulated in the client device 11, the history information of the printer 13 directly connected to the client device 11 with a cable is also acquired and stored.

  FIG. 4 shows a sequence showing the flow of the print number transfer process performed by the client apparatus shown in FIG. When the print instruction unit 46b included in the client device 12 as the request source receives a print request from an application or the like, the client device 12 inquires of the print number upper limit management unit 44b included in the client device 12 whether printing is possible. The print number upper limit management unit 44b determines whether the print number exceeds the upper limit value with reference to the print number DB. Specifically, the number of sheets to be printed this time in response to a print request is 10 sheets, the upper limit is 200 sheets, and the number of printed sheets up to the present (the total number of sheets printed from the start of the period to the present) is 195 sheets. If there is, the remaining number is 5 and the requested number is 10, so it is determined that the upper limit is exceeded.

  When the number of printed sheets does not exceed the upper limit value, the print number upper limit management unit 44b responds that printing is possible, and the print instruction unit 46b transmits a print request and print data to the image forming apparatus 16 for printing. Is executed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the number of printed sheets exceeds the upper limit value, the printed sheet number upper limit management unit 44b replies that printing is impossible.

  In response to the reply that printing is not possible, the print instruction unit 46b requests the transfer number management unit 41b to request the transfer of the number of printed sheets. This request includes information on the required number of printed sheets and device identification information for identifying the client device 12 that has requested the transfer request. The device identification information includes a device name, an IP address, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, and the like. When the request source is a user or group, user identification information and group identification information are included in this request.

  In response to this request, the transfer number management unit 41b notifies the requested client device 11 of the necessary print number and device identification information, and requests transfer of the print number. This request is sent to the network 10 via the transmission / reception unit 40.

  The transmission / reception unit 40 of the requested client apparatus 11 receives the transfer request from the network 10 and passes it to the transfer number management unit 41a. The transfer number management unit 41a inquires of the print number upper limit management unit 44a about the difference between the current print number of the client device 11 and the upper limit value in the current period. The current period is a fixed period in which an upper limit value of the number of printed sheets is set, and is a period currently in progress toward the end of the fixed period. In response to the inquiry, the print number upper limit management unit 44a refers to the print number DB 45, subtracts the current print number from the upper limit value of the print number, and returns the difference to the transfer number management unit 41a as an answer to the inquiry. .

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, the information stored in the print number DB 45 provided in the client apparatus 11 will be described. The print number DB 45 can store information in a table format. The table includes, as items, an upper limit number of prints and the number of prints up to the present in the current period, and numerical values are associated with them. In FIG. 5, the upper limit number of prints is 150, and the number of prints up to now is 96. From these values, the remaining 54 sheets can be calculated as printable sheets. When the number of printed sheets up to now reaches 150, it indicates that the number of printed sheets has reached the upper limit.

  Referring again to FIG. 4, when the number of printed sheets has reached the upper limit value, the transfer number management unit 41 a replies to the requesting client device 12 via the transmission / reception unit 40 that transfer is not possible. On the other hand, when the number of printed sheets has not reached the upper limit, the transfer number management unit 41a inquires the transfer number calculation unit 42a about the transferable number. This is to determine whether transfer is possible or not based on the number of transferable sheets.

  The transfer sheet number calculation unit 42a requests the print sheet number prediction unit 43a to calculate the number of sheets predicted to be used in the remaining period of the current period from the present to the end of the period and to calculate the predicted use sheet number within the period. For example, if the fixed period for which the upper limit is set is a period of 31 days from October 1st to 31st, and the current period is October 15, the remaining period is the end of the period 10 It is the 16th to 31st of the month.

  In response to the request, the print number predicting unit 43a refers to the history information stored in the print log DB 47, obtains a print pattern representing the transition of the number of sheets used in the past, and predicts the print number from the print pattern. Is calculated by adding the predicted number of printed sheets to the number of sheets actually printed so far, and the predicted number of used sheets within the period is calculated, and the predicted number of used sheets within the period is returned as a calculation result. The transfer number calculation unit 42a returns a value obtained by subtracting the predicted use number within the period received from the print number prediction unit 43a from the upper limit value set in the current period to the transfer number management unit 41a as a transferable number. To do.

  If the transfer is possible, the transfer number management unit 41a returns a message to that effect to the requesting client device 12 via the transmission / reception unit 40. In the request source client device 12, when the request source user instructs the transfer number management unit 41b of the request source client device 12 to acquire the number of prints within the transferable number, the transfer number management unit 41b The number upper limit management unit 44b is notified of the number of copies and requested to change the number upper limit value, and the print number upper limit management unit 44b currently sets the upper limit value stored in the print number DB of the client device 12. The value is changed to a value obtained by adding the number of acquired sheets and stored. On the other hand, the transfer number management unit 41b notifies the client device 11 of the request destination of the acquired print number via the transmission / reception unit.

  Upon receiving the notification, the transfer number management unit 41a of the requested client apparatus 11 notifies the print number upper limit management unit 44a of the transferred number and requests the change of the upper limit value. The print number upper limit management unit 44a subtracts the transferred number from the upper limit value stored in the print number DB 47 of the client device 11, and stores the value after the subtraction as the upper limit value.

  In the client apparatus 12 as the request source, the print instruction unit 46b inquires of the print number upper limit management unit 44b again whether printing is possible. The print number upper limit management unit 44b determines again whether or not the print number exceeds the upper limit value with reference to the print number DB.

  When the number of printed sheets does not exceed the upper limit value, the print number upper limit management unit 44b responds that printing is possible, and the print instruction unit 46b transmits a print request and print data to the image forming apparatus 17 for printing. Is executed. If the number of printed sheets still exceeds the upper limit value even after the number of printed sheets has been acquired, the printed sheet number upper limit management unit 44b responds that printing is not possible. In this case, the print instruction unit 46b requests a transfer request to the transfer number management unit 41b, and the transfer number management unit 41b does not request the client device 11 but the other client devices 16 to print the number of prints. Request transfer of. In this way, by receiving the transfer of the number of printable sheets from some other client apparatuses, it becomes possible to continue printing.

  With reference to an example of the print pattern generated by the print number predicting unit 43 in FIG. 6, the transfer possibility determination process performed by the transfer number calculating unit 42 will be described in detail. In this determination, a print pattern representing the transition of the number of printed sheets within a certain period as shown in FIG. 6 is used. FIG. 6A shows the print pattern A, and FIG. 6B shows the print pattern B. The bar graphs shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B show the number of prints for each fixed section, and the line graph shows the total number of prints. The transition of the number of printed sheets is obtained by analyzing a print log for a certain period.

  6A and 6B, the horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates the number of printed sheets. Usually, since the upper limit value of the number of printed sheets is given every predetermined period, it becomes a value such as 100 sheets per month, for example. From this, the print pattern is calculated by dividing every period in which the upper limit value is determined.

  The transfer number calculation unit 42 makes a determination by using a pattern representing a transition of the number of printed sheets within a certain period, not simply the number of printed sheets or the average of the number of printed sheets in the most recent period. In other words, in the above example, the determination is made using a pattern representing an increase or decrease in the number of printed sheets within a period of one month. This pattern is not only the pattern of the previous period, but also a pattern obtained by averaging a plurality of past patterns, or if the period is divided by month, the pattern of the same month of the previous year may be used. Is possible. Moreover, you may use what averaged the same month for the past several years. By averaging in this way, it is possible to efficiently estimate the number of sheets in the future even when the print pattern varies from period to period.

  In addition, a plurality of past patterns are classified into two or more patterns based on the feature of the pattern, and by using the two or more patterns, a specific pattern is determined by determining which pattern the current pattern matches. It is also possible to determine and judge using the pattern. Even if there is a difference in the printing pattern depending on the period, it is possible to make an accurate prediction of the future number of sheets by determining which pattern the current period is close to.

  Here, there is a client A that performs print output of the print pattern A shown in FIG. 6A and a client B that performs print output of the print pattern B shown in FIG. Consider the case where the remaining number of prints remaining is the same after a lapse. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, a 2/3 period is indicated by a broken line.

  At this point, when a transfer request is sent from another client C, client A performs printing concentrated on the remaining 1/3 period from the past results as shown in FIG. Is expected. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the client B, it is predicted that the number of printed sheets is small in the remaining ３ period. For this reason, even if the remaining number of sheets is the same client, it is more appropriate to transfer the number of printed sheets from the client B, which is predicted to have a small number of printed sheets in the remaining period.

  Therefore, the transfer number management unit of client A determines that transfer is not possible, and the transfer number management unit of client B determines that transfer is possible, and each responds to the transfer request. As a result, the client A can no longer print because it has been transferred, and it is not necessary to perform transfer in multiple stages, such as receiving transfer from another client, and appropriate transfer can be realized and appropriate print output control can be performed.

  In making the above prediction, the transfer number calculation unit 42 requests the print number prediction unit 43 to generate a print pattern. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the print number prediction unit 43. The print number prediction unit 43 includes a log totaling unit 50, a total data DB 51, a print pattern management unit 52, a print pattern calculation unit 53, a used number calculation unit 54, and a print pattern DB 55.

  The log totaling unit 50 is connected to the print log DB 47, acquires information on the date and number of prints and the number of prints from the print log DB 47, and generates total data totaled for each predetermined section. Here, the section is one period obtained by dividing a certain period into a plurality of periods. When the fixed period is 30 days, for example, one day is the section here. The total data DB 51 stores the total data generated by the log total unit 50. In the total data DB 51, total data generated in the past can be accumulated.

  The print pattern management unit 52 manages a pattern that represents the transition of the number of printed sheets aggregated for each section. The print pattern calculation unit 53 determines which print pattern the tabulated data tabulated by the log tabulation unit 50 matches with the print pattern managed by the print pattern manager 52. The use number calculation unit 54 calculates the predicted use number within the period that is expected to be used within a certain period from the print pattern that the print pattern calculation unit 53 determines to match, the number of prints up to now, the remaining period, and the like.

  Details of the number calculation process performed by the print number prediction unit 43 will be described with reference to a sequence diagram shown in FIG. The print number prediction unit 43 receives a request for the calculation of the predicted use number within the period from the transfer number calculation unit 42, and the log totaling unit 50 requests the print log DB 47 for a log regarding printing performed within the current period. The print log DB 47 returns the print log designated by the request. Then, the log totaling unit 50 totals the number of printed sheets for each predetermined section for the print logs in the current period.

  Here, the contents of the log held by the print log DB 47 are illustrated in FIG. The log shown in FIG. 9 includes the print date and time, the number of prints, print settings, and print contents. The print setting is print setting information such as the presence / absence of double-sided printing, the presence / absence of collective printing, color / monochrome printing, and paper size. Although the printed contents are not shown in FIG. 9, for example, posters, postcards, business cards, labels, quotations, contracts, deliveries, requests, and the like can be mentioned. These are listed by way of example, and information other than these can also be included as print setting information and print contents.

  The log totaling unit 50 acquires the contents of the log as shown in FIG. 9 and generates aggregated data totaled for each predetermined section. An example of the generated total data is shown in FIG. The tabulated data shown in FIG. 10 is the result of tabulating the print log in a section of one day. Here, an interval of one day is selected for a period of one month, but an optimum one such as one week or one month can be selected as this interval. The period is not limited to one month, and a certain period such as two months, three months, or one year can be set.

  In FIG. 10, the total section is a daily unit such as February 5, 2011, and the total number of sheets printed on that day is totaled and input as the number of printed sheets. It also includes information indicating whether the number of printed sheets has increased or decreased from the previous section in association with the printing section and the number of printed sheets. The log totaling unit 50 counts the number of printed pages of the day based on the contents of the log, inputs the totaled number of sheets, compares the number of sheets with the number of the previous section, and determines whether the number is increasing or decreasing. Judgment is made, relevant information is inputted, and these are stored.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10, 10 sheets are printed on February 5, 2011, and since there is no previous section, “−” indicating that there is no information indicating increase / decrease is input. Since the next section, February 9, 2011, two sheets are printed, and the number of printed sheets is smaller than the previous section, February 5, the information “decrease” is input. Further, six sheets are printed on the next section, February 11, 2011, and since the number of printed sheets has increased from February 9, the previous section, the information “Increase” is input.

  Referring again to FIG. 8, the log totaling unit 50 provides the total data generated in this way to the print pattern calculating unit 53. The print pattern calculation unit 53 receives this total data, and requests a print pattern from the print pattern management unit 52 in order to search for a print pattern that matches the total data. In response to this request, the print pattern management unit 52 reads the print pattern stored in the print pattern DB 55 and passes it to the print pattern calculation unit 53.

  An example of the print pattern stored in the print pattern DB 55 is shown in FIG. The print pattern uses a print pattern name as information for identifying the print pattern, and is stored in association with the pattern feature. As shown in FIG. 11, the pattern feature uses the information indicating the increase / decrease shown in FIG. 10, the first pattern has almost no increase / decrease (no increase / decrease), the second pattern first increases and then Decrease (increase → decrease), decrease first as the third pattern and then increase (decrease → increase), increase as the fourth pattern (increase), decrease as the fifth pattern There are things to go (decrease).

  In the example of the total data shown in FIG. 10, since it first decreases and then increases, it corresponds to the third pattern, that is, the print pattern C in FIG. In FIG. 11, five patterns are illustrated. However, other patterns such as a pattern of first decreasing, once increasing, and decreasing may be generated. These patterns can be generated based on the total data obtained by totaling past printing results as described above. The pattern can be generated in this way, but a typical pattern may be prepared in advance.

  The print pattern calculation unit 53 compares the total data received from the log totaling unit 50 with the print pattern acquired from the print pattern management unit 52, selects the print pattern having the closest tendency, and selects this print pattern for the current period. Is calculated as the optimal pattern. The print pattern calculation unit 53 stores the calculated optimum pattern in the total data DB 51 together with the total data.

  At this time, as data stored in the total data DB 51, data as shown in FIG. 12 can be stored. The stored data includes a period obtained from the total data, the total number of printed sheets in the period, and the print pattern name of the calculated print pattern. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the period is one month, and the total number of sheets printed in the month is stored in association with the total number of printed sheets.

  When the elapsed period is short, such as when the elapsed period of the current period is less than 1/2, it may be difficult to derive a suitable print pattern from the generated aggregated data. In such a case, the print data for the most recent periods in the past are checked from the total data DB 51, and the print pattern with the closest tendency is adopted, or if the current period is one month in May, 1 By adopting a print pattern for one month of the same month before the year, a print pattern for the current period can be estimated from past print patterns.

  Referring to FIG. 8 again, the print pattern calculation unit 53 passes the print pattern of the current period to the use number calculation unit 54 and requests calculation of the transferable number. In response to the request, the usage number calculation unit 54 outputs the received print pattern, the elapsed period up to the present time within the current period, and the total number of prints output up to the present time until the end of the future period. The predicted number of sheets to be predicted is calculated. The predicted number of sheets is calculated by applying the tendency of increase / decrease within the period from the print pattern, the average value of the number of printed sheets for each section, and the like.

  The used number calculating unit 54 can calculate the predicted number using the optimum pattern, but can also calculate the predicted number using a plurality of print patterns. For example, if the current period is May and the trend of increase / decrease in print patterns in the past January and March shows the same tendency, these two print patterns are used, such as January 8 and March 8. The average value of the same section is calculated, one averaged pattern is generated using the calculated average value, and the predicted number of sheets can be calculated using the generated pattern.

  In this way, the predicted number of sheets predicted to be used in the remaining period is obtained from the past results, the number of sheets used so far is added to the predicted number of sheets to obtain the predicted number of used sheets within the period, and the predicted number of used sheets within the period is calculated. By considering the number of transferable sheets in consideration, an appropriate transfer source can be selected, and an appropriate number can be transferred. As a result, it is possible to control the number of sheets appropriately, prevent transfer in multiple stages, and perform necessary paper output without any trouble.

  In addition, the accuracy can be calculated together with the number of transferred pages based on the magnitude of past print pattern fluctuations. The accuracy is a degree representing the probability. For example, if the results of the same month or the like of one month ago or one year ago are exactly the same, the accuracy is 100%. For example, the accuracy can be determined according to how much the number of each day, which is an example of each section up to now, is different from the number of each day in the optimum pattern. By associating this accuracy with the number of transferable sheets, if there are responses from multiple client devices, users, or groups, the accuracy can be referred to and the transfer number can be transferred from the client device having the highest accuracy. Can do.

  Up to now, the client apparatus functions as the transfer processing apparatus of the present invention, and the client apparatus includes the transmission / reception unit 40, the transfer number management unit 41, the transfer number calculation unit 42, the print number prediction unit 43, and the print number upper limit. The description has been given assuming that the management unit 44, the print number DB 45, the print instruction unit 46, and the print log DB 47 are provided. A client device or user or group for which an upper limit value has been set may have transferred the number of prints to another client device or user or group in the past. If the number of prints transferred in the past can be held and managed, an appropriate transfer number can be determined based on the past assignments.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the client device can employ a configuration further including a transfer information management unit 60 and a transfer log DB 61 in addition to the above-described units. Since each of the above-described units has been described above, only the transfer information management unit 60 and the transfer log DB 61 will be described here.

  The transfer information management unit 60 manages the number of printed sheets transferred to other clients in the past. The transfer log DB 61 stores information on the number of printed sheets transferred to other clients in the past.

  The transfer process in the case of adopting the configuration including the transfer information management unit 60 and the transfer log DB 61 will be described below with reference to FIG. 14 only with respect to differences from the process described above. After the transfer number calculation unit 42a receives the response of the predicted print number (predicted number of sheets used during the period) from the print number prediction unit 43a, the transfer number calculation unit 42a acquires the transfer log from the transfer information management unit 60a. Request.

  The transfer log is stored in the transfer log DB 61, for example, as shown in FIG. The contents of the transfer log shown in FIG. 15 include the transfer date and time, the transfer destination client name, and the transfer number. When the upper limit value of the number of prints is set for each client device, the content shown in FIG. 15 may be used, but when it is set for each user or each group, information on the transfer source is also included. The transfer source information is the above-described user identification information and group identification information.

  In FIG. 15, about 10 copies were transferred to client A once on November 21, 2010, and five copies were transferred to client B on January 12, 2011, and four copies were transferred on January 26, 2011. It shows that it has been transferred twice.

  Referring to FIG. 14 again, in response to the request, transfer information management unit 60a reads a past transfer log from transfer log DB 61, and transfers the read transfer log to transfer number calculation unit 42a.

  The transfer number calculating unit 42a calculates the transferable number in consideration of the past transfer number obtained from the transfer log. As a method for calculating the number of transferred sheets, in the first example, an upper limit value of the number of transferred sheets that can be transferred to one client within a certain period is determined in advance, and the number of sheets transferred to the same client within a certain period is transferred. It is acquired from the log, and it is determined whether or not the total of the number of sheets and the number of sheets transferred this time exceeds the upper limit value. Note that the transfer number calculation unit 42a calculates the current transfer number by subtracting the predicted use number within the period from the upper limit value of the number of prints described above. As a result of this determination, if the upper limit is not exceeded, the current transfer number is used as the transferable number, and if it exceeds, the number obtained by subtracting the current print number from the upper limit is determined as the current transfer number. Calculate as

  In the second example, an upper limit value of the number of transfers that can be transferred to one client within a certain period is determined in advance, the number of times of transfer to the same client within a certain period is calculated, and the number of times is the upper limit value. It is judged whether or not. If it does not exceed, the current number of transfer is set as the transferable number, and if it exceeds, the transfer is not possible.

  In the third example, the transfer information management unit 60a acquires the latest transfer log of the transfer destination client from the transfer log DB so that the transfer number is less than the previous transfer number, and the transfer number calculation unit 42a The transfer number is compared with the transfer number included in the acquired latest transfer log. Then, the transfer number calculating unit 42a is set to be a value equal to or less than the transfer number, for example, in order to determine a value equal to or less than the transfer number included in the latest transfer log if the current transfer number is larger. The number obtained by subtracting the set value from the latest transfer number is the transferable number. If the current transfer number is smaller, the current transfer number is the transferable number.

  Although three methods for calculating the transferable number of sheets in consideration of the transfer log have been exemplified, the present invention is not limited to these methods, and any other method can be used. It is also possible to use the first example and the third example in combination.

  By calculating the number of transferable sheets in this way, even if there is a margin in the number of printed sheets, it is possible to prevent one client from repeating the transfer request beyond the upper limit number of prints of the client, Can be controlled. Therefore, the necessary number of sheets can be distributed to the necessary places without increasing the total number of printed sheets.

  In addition, a configuration is employed that further includes a warning unit that issues a warning when the predicted number of pages used within the period calculated by the print number prediction unit 43 exceeds the upper limit value and urges attention to suppress the upper limit managed number of prints. be able to. By providing this warning unit, it is possible to give a warning to the user before the number of printed sheets becomes insufficient, to call attention, prevent unnecessary output, and suppress the occurrence of transfer processing.

  The present invention has been described with the above-described embodiments as the transfer processing device, the image forming system including the transfer processing device, and the transfer processing method executed by the transfer processing device. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, and the like can be modified within a range that can be conceived by those skilled in the art. As long as the above is achieved, it is included in the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can provide not only the above-described apparatus, system, and method, but also a computer-readable program for executing the method and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Network, 11, 12, 16 ... Client device, 13, 14, 15 ... Printer, 17 ... Image forming device, 20 ... CPU, 21 ... ROM, 22 ... RAM, 23 ... Storage control interface, 24 ... Hard disk, 25 ... interface, 26 ... input / output device, 27 ... display device, 28 ... VRAM, 29 ... graphic chip, 30 ... network I / F, 40 ... transmission / reception unit, 41, 41a, 41b ... transfer number management unit, 42, 42a Transfer number calculation unit, 43, 43a ... Print number prediction unit, 44, 44a, 44b ... Print number upper limit management unit, 45 ... Print number DB, 46, 46b ... Print instruction unit, 47 ... Print log DB, 50 ... Log Total unit 51: Total data DB 52: Print pattern management unit 53: Print pattern calculation unit 54: Use number calculation unit 55 ... Printed pattern DB, 60,60a ... transfer information management unit, 61 ... transfer log DB

JP 2006-340248 A JP 2008-077742A JP 2010-128807 A

Claims (10)

A transfer processing device that performs upper limit management of at least one quantity of the number of times of use or usage of a function or application provided in a device to be used, usage time, and the number of printed sheets, and performs transfer processing of the quantity,
A reception unit for receiving a transfer request from the requester;
In accordance with the transfer request, the current usage quantity that is used until the transfer request is received within a certain period and the predicted use that is the quantity that is predicted to be used from the time when the transfer request is received until the end of the fixed period. A quantity forecasting unit that calculates a forecasted usage quantity within a period, which is a quantity predicted to be used within the certain period, based on the quantity;
A transfer quantity calculation unit that calculates a transfer quantity according to the transfer request based on the predicted use quantity within the period calculated by the quantity prediction part and an upper limit quantity set as a quantity that can be used within the fixed period; ,
Based on the transfer quantity calculated by the transfer quantity calculation unit, a transfer quantity management unit that determines whether the transfer of the quantity according to the transfer request is possible;
A transfer processing apparatus, comprising: a result transmission unit that transmits a determination result by the transfer quantity management unit to the request source.   The quantity prediction unit generates a pattern representing a transition of the quantity in a plurality of past certain periods, and uses an average pattern obtained by averaging the plurality of patterns to calculate the predicted usage quantity within the period. Item 2. The transfer processing device according to Item 1.   The quantity predicting unit generates a pattern representing a transition of the quantity in a plurality of past certain periods, classifies the plurality of patterns into two or more patterns based on the feature of the pattern, and within the current certain period The current pattern is generated using historical information including the quantity and date and time already used in the process, and it is determined which pattern the current pattern matches, and prediction within the period is performed from the matching pattern. The transfer processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer quantity is calculated.   An instruction unit that issues a use request to the device to be used, and the instruction that manages the upper limit quantity and counts the quantity, and that the use is not possible when the counted quantity reaches the upper limit quantity The transfer processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a quantity upper limit management unit that notifies the unit.   A warning unit that issues a warning when the forecasted usage quantity within the period calculated by the quantity forecasting unit exceeds the upper limit quantity, and urges attention to suppress the use of the function or application managed by the upper limit quantity; The transfer processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: A transfer information management unit for managing history information in which the transfer history corresponding to the transfer request is associated with the request source;
When the transfer request is received by the receiving unit, the transfer information management unit calculates the transfer quantity calculation unit based on a transfer history corresponding to the request source that has transmitted the transfer request from the history information. The transfer processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer quantity is changed. Including at least one client device functioning as the transfer processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and at least one usage target device connected to the client device via a network,
The upper limit quantity of at least one quantity of the functions and applications used by the use target apparatus, the use time, and the number of printed sheets is at least each of the client apparatuses or users using the client apparatuses or a group to which the user belongs. An image forming system set for any one of them. The transfer processing device according to claim 1, at least one usage target device connected to the transfer processing device via a network, and a usage request issued to the usage target device And at least one client device,
The upper limit quantity of at least one quantity of the functions and applications used by the use target apparatus, the use time, and the number of printed sheets is at least each of the client apparatuses or users using the client apparatuses or a group to which the user belongs. An image forming system set for any one of them. A method executed by a transfer processing device that performs upper limit management of at least one quantity of the number of times of use or usage of a function or application provided in a use target apparatus, use time, and number of printed sheets, and performs transfer processing of the quantity,
Receiving a transfer request from the requester;
In accordance with the transfer request, the current usage quantity that is used until the transfer request is received within a certain period and the predicted use that is the quantity that is predicted to be used from the time when the transfer request is received until the end of the fixed period. Calculating a forecasted usage quantity within a period, which is a quantity predicted to be used within the certain period, based on the quantity;
Calculating a transfer quantity corresponding to the transfer request based on the calculated predicted use quantity within the period and an upper limit quantity set as a quantity that can be used within the certain period;
Determining whether or not to transfer the quantity according to the transfer request based on the calculated transfer quantity;
And a step of transmitting the result determined in the determining step to the request source.   A computer-readable program for executing the transfer processing method according to claim 9.