JP2017091482A - Print management server, program and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print management server which notifies a user of the occurrence of abnormality targeting a properly-narrowed printer without requiring a user to input additional information for specifying an output destination in advance or the like in the pull-print via a server.SOLUTION: A print management server, while a printing job of pull-print using a user terminal as a destination is held by the own device, estimates an index value indicating the possibility that the user terminal is used for an output destination of the printing job on the basis of the user location, schedule, the installation place of a printer and the like for each of compound machines MFP 1-3, and selects the printers being output destination candidates within the upper limit number on the basis of the index value (P3). When abnormality occurs in any compound machine, only in a case where the compound machine is selected as the output destination candidate, the print management server notifies of the occurrence of abnormality in the compound machine (P5).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a print management server, a program, and a printing system that manage pull print print jobs.

  As a method for printing a confidential document, there is pull printing via a server. In pull printing, generally, a print job specifying a destination user is transmitted from a terminal device such as a PC (personal computer) to a server, the print job is held in the server, and the user can use a user with any printing device. If authentication is performed and the server requests the server to acquire a print job addressed to itself, the server transmits the corresponding print job to the printing apparatus and starts printing. Pull printing guarantees that the user is in front of the printing device by receiving user authentication at the output destination printing device at the start of printing, and prevents information leakage due to peeping into others. To do.

  In pull printing via a server, since the period from when a print job is input to the server until when printing is actually started by the printing apparatus becomes relatively long, the status of the printing apparatus may change during that period. For example, an abnormality such as a failure, out of paper, or out of toner may occur in the printing apparatus after the job is submitted and before the user arrives at the target printing apparatus.

  If the occurrence of such an abnormality is not notified, inconvenience that printing cannot be executed even when the user arrives at the target printing apparatus occurs. However, in pull printing via a server, the server cannot recognize which printing device the user selects as an output destination until printing is actually started. For this reason, if a user is notified of an abnormality that has occurred in all printing apparatuses without omission, the user will receive an unnecessary notification regarding an abnormality that has occurred in a printing apparatus that is not scheduled to be used.

  FIG. 11 shows an example. MFPs 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the server 101 via a network as printing apparatuses. For the user A who submitted the job, the MFP 1 is a printing device that is normally used but is not used this time, the MFP 2 is a printing device that is planned to be used for the current printing, and the MFP 3 is a printing device that is not planned to be used. . If a trouble occurs in the MFP 2 or MFP 3 between the time when the user A submits the job and the time when the user A reaches the MFP 2, the user A is notified of the trouble that has occurred in the MFP 3 that is not scheduled to be used. In particular, when there are a large number of printing apparatuses connected to the network, a large number of unnecessary notifications are made.

  Therefore, a technique for narrowing down the printing apparatuses to be notified of abnormality in pull printing has been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a printing system that first causes a user to select an output destination printing apparatus and notifies the user of the occurrence of an abnormality only for the selected printing apparatus.

  Further, in Patent Document 2 below, on the printing device side, each user can determine the possibility of using the printing device from the usage frequency of the printing device and the position information of each user, and can use the printing device. A technique for notifying only the user who has determined that there is a power supply of the power state of the printing apparatus is disclosed.

  In the following Patent Document 3, main and sub printing apparatuses are registered in advance, and when there is a trouble with the main printing apparatus, it is determined whether printing is possible with the sub printing apparatus. A printing system for notifying a user of a corresponding sub printing apparatus is disclosed.

JP-A-2005-63401 JP 2013-54304 A JP 2012-61754 A

  In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to first specify an output destination printing apparatus, the operation is troublesome. Also, the output destination may not be determined at the time of job submission. Further, when a trouble occurs in the printing apparatus designated as the output destination first, it is troublesome to specify another output destination again.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, whether or not to notify the user is determined based on the past usage frequency or the like by the user, for example, by the user of the printing apparatus that the user intends to use as the output destination. If there is no past use or the number of uses is small, the user is not determined to be notified and the occurrence of an abnormality is not notified.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, when a large number of sub-printing devices are registered, notification regarding the occurrence of an abnormality is performed for a large number of sub-printing devices that are not scheduled to be used even if the main fails in the current printing. Therefore, the inconvenience of receiving many unnecessary notifications cannot be solved.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and is intended for a printing apparatus appropriately narrowed down without requiring the user to input additional information in advance in pull printing via a server. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print management server, a program for the same, and a printing system that can notify a user of the occurrence of an abnormality.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] A receiving unit that receives a print job of pull printing;
A holding unit that holds a print job of a pull print received by the receiving unit;
In response to a transfer request received from a predetermined printing device among one or more printing devices connected through a network, the corresponding print job in the pull print print job held in the holding unit is transferred. A transfer unit that transfers the request to the printing device, and
Predetermined index values indicating the likelihood of being used as output destinations of one or a plurality of pull-print print jobs destined for one user held in the holding unit are respectively set to the plurality of printing apparatuses. A selection unit that selects a predetermined one or a plurality of printing devices from the plurality of printing devices based on these index values;
A detection unit for detecting a printing apparatus in which an abnormality has occurred;
When a pull printing print job destined for the one user is held in the holding unit, and the printing unit in which an abnormality has occurred is detected by the detection unit, the detected printing device is selected. A determination unit that determines whether the printing device is selected by the copy unit;
If the printing device in which the abnormality has occurred is a printing device selected by the selection unit, the one user is notified that an abnormality has occurred in the printing device, and the printing device in which the abnormality has occurred is selected. A notification unit that does not notify the one user that an abnormality has occurred in the printing device if the printing device is not selected by the printing unit;
A print management server characterized by comprising:

  In the above-described invention and the invention described in [6] below, the print management server keeps a preprint print job destined for one user (user A) as a destination for each printing apparatus. The index value indicating the high possibility that the user A is used as the output destination of the print job is estimated from the user's whereabouts, schedule, installation location of the printing apparatus, etc., and the output destination candidate is printed based on the index value. When one or more predetermined devices are selected and an abnormality occurs in any of the printing devices, only when the printing device is selected as an output destination candidate, the user A generates an abnormality in the printing device. To be notified.

[2] The selection unit updates the selected printing device by repeatedly performing the selection while a pull print print job destined for the one user is held in the holding unit, or The selection is performed when an abnormal printing device is detected by the detection unit when a pull print print job destined for the one user is held in the holding unit. The print management server according to [1].

  In the above invention and the invention described in [7] below, the selecting process is repeatedly performed, and the selected printing apparatus is updated sequentially or periodically, or when an abnormality occurs, is selected. Since the index value may fluctuate with the passage of time, such as the relationship between the user's whereabouts and the start time of the meeting, the selected printing apparatus is updated to cope with this.

[3] The selection unit selects a printing device if the index value is within a set upper limit number of printing devices having a predetermined threshold value or more, and the printing device having the index value is not less than the threshold value. The printing management server according to [1] or [2], wherein, when the upper limit number is exceeded, a printing device within the upper limit number is selected based on a predetermined standard.

  In the above invention and the invention described in [8] below, the possibility of being used as an output destination is selected more than a threshold, but if the number exceeds the upper limit number, the number is further narrowed down by another criterion .

[4] The selection unit is based on information including at least one of the location of the one user, the file name of the file to be printed, the schedule of the one user, the installation location of each printing apparatus, and the number of copies to be printed. The print management server according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the index value is obtained.

[5] For each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, the selection unit obtains a primary value indicating a high possibility of being used as an output destination of the job for each job, and calculates the primary value for each printing apparatus. The print management server according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the index values are calculated in total.

  In the above invention and the invention described in [10] below, the possibility that each printing device is used as an output destination depends on the relationship with the job. Therefore, for each printing device, the job output destination for each job. The primary value indicating the high possibility of being used for the printer is obtained, and this is summed for each printing device, thereby obtaining the overall possibility that the printing device is used as an output destination.

[6] A program executed on a server connected to a network,
A receiving step for receiving a print job of pull printing;
A holding step for holding the print job of the received pull print;
In response to a transfer request received from a predetermined printing device among one or more printing devices connected through a network, a corresponding print job in the held pull print job is sent to the transfer request. A transfer step for transferring to the sending printing device;
A predetermined index value indicating a high possibility of being used as an output destination of one or a plurality of pull print print jobs destined for one held user is obtained for each of the plurality of printing apparatuses. A selection step of selecting a predetermined one or a plurality of printing devices from the plurality of printing devices based on the index value;
A detection step for detecting a printing device in which an abnormality has occurred;
When a print device in which an abnormality has occurred is detected by the detection unit while holding a pull print print job destined for the one user, the detected print device is the selected print device. A determination step for determining whether or not
When the printing apparatus in which the abnormality has occurred is the selected printing apparatus, the one user is notified that an abnormality has occurred in the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus in which the abnormality has occurred is selected by the selection unit. A notification step of not notifying the one user that an abnormality has occurred in the printing device if it is not a printed printing device;
The program characterized by having.

[7] In the selection step, the selection is repeated while holding a pull print print job destined for the one user to update the selected printing apparatus, or The program according to [6], wherein the selection is performed when a printing apparatus in which an abnormality has occurred is detected when a pull print print job destined for the user is held.

[8] In the selecting step, if the index value is within a set upper limit number of printing devices having a predetermined threshold value or more, those printing devices are selected, and the printing device having the index value not less than the threshold value is selected. The program according to [6] or [7], wherein, when the upper limit number is exceeded, a printing device within the upper limit number is selected based on a predetermined standard.

[9] In the selection step, based on information including at least one of the location of the one user, the file name of the file to be printed, the schedule of the one user, the installation location of each printing apparatus, and the number of copies to be printed. The program according to any one of [6] to [8], wherein the index value is obtained.

[10] In the selecting step, for each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, a primary value indicating a high possibility of being used as an output destination of the job is obtained for each job, and the primary value is determined for each printing apparatus. The program according to any one of [6] to [9], wherein the index values are calculated in total.

[11] The print management server according to any one of [1] to [5];
A printing apparatus connected to the print management server via a network and compatible with pull printing;
The printing system characterized by including.

  According to the print management server, the program, and the printing system according to the present invention, in the pull print via the server, the printing apparatus appropriately narrowed down without requiring the user to input additional information such as specifying the output destination in advance is targeted. Thus, the occurrence of abnormality can be notified to the user.

It is a figure which shows an example of the printing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of the pull print in the printing system which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print management server. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the print management server creates an output destination candidate list. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a print management server detects an abnormality in a printing apparatus and notifies a corresponding user of the occurrence of an abnormality. It is a figure which shows an example of the score list used for calculation of an index value. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the distance from a user, and the distance from a conference room. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the score based on a schedule and meeting start time. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a score totaling table listing scores for each job and each MFP, an index value and priority for each MFP. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an occurrence of an abnormality is notified from an MFP that is not scheduled to be used in a conventional printing system that performs pull printing via a server.

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

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a printing system 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 5 is configured by connecting a print management server 10, a plurality of printing apparatuses 30 managed by the print management server 10, and an arbitrary number of user terminals 7 to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a wide area network. Is done. The user terminal 7 is a portable information processing terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet, a PC (personal computer), or the like.

  The printing apparatus 30 has a copy function for optically reading a document and printing a duplicate image on a recording paper, a scan function for storing image data of the read document as a file, and transmitting the image data to an external terminal via a network, printing This is a so-called MFP (MFP) having a print function for printing a document or image on a recording sheet based on a print job received from the management server 10 via a network. Hereinafter, the printing apparatus 30 is also referred to as an MFP.

  In the printing system 5, pull printing is performed via the print management server 10. The printing system 5 also has a function of notifying a user of an abnormality that has occurred in a printing apparatus that is likely to be used as an output destination of a print job for pull printing.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of a procedure when pull printing is performed in the printing system 5. A portion surrounded by a rectangular broken line in FIG. 2 is a portion related to a function for notifying a user of an abnormality occurring in the printing apparatus.

  User A uses his / her client terminal 7 to generate a pull-print print job (hereinafter simply referred to as a print job) and sends it to the print management server 10 (P1). A destination user (a user who is permitted to output) is set in the print job for pull printing. Here, it is assumed that user A is set as the destination.

  The print management server 10 holds the received print job (P2). Thereafter, when an abnormality occurs in any of the plurality of printing apparatuses 30 to be managed while the print job is held, the printing apparatus 30 in which the abnormality has occurred is set as the output destination of the print job of the user A. The user A is notified that an abnormality has occurred in the printing apparatus only when it is determined that there is a high possibility of being used as an output destination.

  In the example of FIG. 2, while the print management server 10 holds the print job of the user A, the print management server 10 indicates the high possibility of being used as the output destination of the print job of the user A for each printing apparatus to be managed. The estimated printing device 30 is selected as an output destination candidate (P3). For example, the output destination is determined based on the distance between the user A and each printing device 30, the relationship between the user A's schedule (meeting, etc.) and the file name (meeting name, etc.) of the file output in the print job. Estimate the likelihood of

  Thereafter, the print management server 10 detects that an abnormality has occurred in the MFP 2. However, since the MFP 2 has not been selected as an output destination candidate, the print management server 10 determines that notification is unnecessary and does not notify the user A of the occurrence of the abnormality in the MFP 2 ( P4). On the other hand, an abnormality that has occurred in the MFP 3 includes the MFP 3 in the output destination candidates selected earlier, so it is determined that notification is necessary, and the user A's terminal is notified of the occurrence of the abnormality in the MFP 3 (P5).

  The process of selecting the output destination candidate is repeated, and the output destination candidate is updated. For example, an output destination candidate is selected at regular time intervals or every time a state related to selection changes (for example, a schedule is changed or a new job is input). Note that a configuration in which an output destination candidate is selected when it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the printing apparatus 30 may be employed.

  After that, when the user A moves to one of the printing apparatuses (here, MFP 1 in which no abnormality has occurred) and the user authentication is successful in the MFP 1 (P6), the MFP 1 sends the user to the print management server 10. A transfer request instructing to transfer the print job of A to the own apparatus is transmitted (P7). Receiving this, the print management server 10 transfers the print job of user A to the MFP 1 that is the transmission source of the transfer request (P8). The MFP 1 prints out the print job transferred from the print management server 10 (P9).

  For example, when the user A authenticates with any of the printing apparatuses 30 and logs in, a list of print jobs in which the user A is set as the destination is displayed on the operation panel of the printing apparatus 30. When the user selects one of the print jobs from the list, a transfer request for the selected print job is transmitted to the print management server 10, and the print management server 10 that has received the request specifies the transfer request. The printed job is transferred to the printing apparatus 30.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the print management server 10. The print management server 10 is a computer device that performs a server function. The print management server 10 includes a control unit 11 having a central processing unit (CPU) as a main part, a storage unit 12 including a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a nonvolatile memory, a hard disk device, and the like, a network The network communication unit 13 and the input / output interface 14 that communicate with external devices such as the printing device 30 and the user terminal 7 are provided.

  The network communication unit 13 functions as a reception unit 26 that receives a pull print job from a user (user terminal 7). The storage unit 12 is used as a holding unit 28 that temporarily holds the received print job of pull printing.

  The control unit 11 executes various processes according to programs stored in the storage unit 12. In addition to the basic computer system (OS), the storage unit 12 stores a program for causing the information processing apparatus to function as the print management server 10 according to the present invention.

  The control unit 11 performs functions such as a selection unit 21, a detection unit 22, a determination unit 23, a notification unit 24, and a transfer unit 25 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 12.

  When the transfer unit 25 receives a transfer request from one or more of the printing apparatuses 30 connected via the network, the pull print job held in the holding unit 28 in response to the transfer request. A function to transfer the corresponding print job in the file to the printing apparatus 30 that is the transmission source of the transfer request is performed using the network communication unit 13.

  The selection unit 21 is a predetermined value indicating a high possibility of being used as an output destination of one or a plurality of pull print print jobs destined for one user (user A) held in the holding unit 28. Is obtained for each of the plurality of printing apparatuses 30 to be managed. Based on these index values, a predetermined one or a plurality of printing devices 30 are selected as output destination candidates from the plurality of printing devices 30. Note that the number of printing apparatuses 30 to be targeted for narrowing output destination candidates and the number of narrowed printing apparatuses 30 may be one.

  The detection unit 22 detects the printing apparatus 30 in which an abnormality has occurred. When the detection unit 22 detects a printing device 30 in which an abnormality has occurred while the holding unit 28 holds a pull print print job destined for one user (user A), the determination unit 23 Then, it is determined whether or not the detected printing device 30 is the output destination candidate printing device 30 selected by the selection unit 21.

  When it is determined that the printing device 30 in which the abnormality has occurred is the output destination candidate printing device 30 selected by the selection unit 21, the notification unit 24 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the printing device 30. Notify user A). On the other hand, if the printing device 30 in which an abnormality has occurred is not a printing device selected as an output destination candidate by the selection unit 21, the process of notifying one user (user A) that an abnormality has occurred in the printing device 30 is as follows. Not performed. The print management server 10 performs the operation for the one user described above for each of all users whose pull print jobs are held in the holding unit 28. Note that when the selection unit 21 performs the selection process and there is no output destination candidate, the notification unit 24 does not notify.

  A display device such as a liquid crystal display and an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel are connected to the input / output interface 14.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 30. The printing apparatus 30 includes a control unit 31 that comprehensively controls the operation of the printing apparatus 30. The control unit 31 includes a CPU and the like as main components. A storage unit 32, an image processing unit 33, an image reading unit 34, an operation panel 35, a printing unit 38, a network communication unit 39, an authentication unit 41, and the like are connected to the control unit 31.

  The CPU of the control unit 31 is based on an OS (Operating System) program and executes programs such as middleware and application programs.

  The storage unit 32 includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk device, a nonvolatile memory, and the like, and stores various programs and data. The function of the printing apparatus 30 is realized by the CPU of the control unit 31 executing various processes according to these programs.

  The image processing unit 33 performs rasterization processing for converting print data into image data, image data compression and expansion processing, in addition to processing such as image enlargement / reduction and rotation.

  The image reading unit (reading device) 34 functions to optically read a document and acquire image data.

  The operation panel 35 includes a display unit 36 and an operation unit 37. The display unit 36 is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like, and fulfills a function of displaying various operation screens, setting screens, and the like. The operation unit 37 includes various operation switches such as a start button, a touch panel provided on the display surface of the display unit 36, and the like. The touch panel detects a coordinate position pressed with a touch pen or a finger.

  The printing unit 38 has a function of forming an image corresponding to print data on a recording sheet. Here, it has a recording paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device, and forms an image by an electrophotographic process. It is configured as a so-called laser printer. The printing unit 38 may use other methods.

  The network communication unit 39 functions to communicate with the print management server 10, the user terminal 7, and other external devices via the network.

  The authentication unit 41 performs user authentication. The authentication unit 41 is, for example, an IC card reader that reads an IC card in which user authentication information is registered. A vein reader or the like for performing user authentication by vein authentication may be used. In addition, the structure which logs in by performing user authentication by inputting a user ID and a password from the operation panel 35 may be sufficient.

  FIG. 5 shows a flow of processing for selecting an output destination candidate performed by the print management server 10. Here, it is set as the process regarding the notification to the user A.

  The control unit 11 of the print management server 10 checks whether or not a pull print print job destined for the user A is held in the holding unit 28 (step S101). If not held (step S101; No), this process is terminated.

  When a print job of pull print destined for the user A is held in the holding unit 28 (step S101; Yes), the possibility of being used as an output destination for each printing apparatus 30 to be managed is set. A predetermined index value (index value) is obtained (step S102). How to obtain the index value will be described later.

  A printing device 30 whose index value exceeds a preset threshold value among the printing devices 30 to be managed is selected as a primary candidate (step S103). Next, it is determined whether or not the number of primary candidates exceeds a predetermined upper limit number (step S104). When the number of primary candidates does not exceed the upper limit number (step S104; No), the primary candidates are directly registered in the list as output destination candidates (step S106), and this process is terminated.

  When the number of primary candidates exceeds the upper limit number (step S104; Yes), the number of primary candidates is narrowed within the upper limit by a predetermined method (step S105). Then, the primary candidates narrowed down within the upper limit are registered in the list as output destination candidates (step S106), and this process ends.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the print management server 10 to notify the occurrence of an abnormality. The print management server 10 always monitors whether any abnormality has occurred in the printing device 30 to be managed (step S201; No). If it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in any of the printing apparatuses 30 (step S201; Yes), whether or not the print management server 10 in which the abnormality has occurred is registered in the list created in the process of FIG. (Step S202).

  When registered in the list (step S202; Yes), the user A is notified of the printing apparatus 30 in which an abnormality has occurred (step S203). For example, the printing apparatus 30 in which an abnormality has occurred is notified to the terminal 7 of the user A using e-mail or the like.

  If the printing apparatus 30 in which an abnormality has occurred is not registered in the list (step S202; No), this processing is terminated without performing the above notification.

  Next, derivation of the index value and selection of an output destination candidate based on the output value will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the score list 50 used for calculating the index value. The score list 50 is composed of basic values and additional values. The basic value is composed of index A, and the additional value is composed of indices B, C, D, and E.

  The index A is obtained by scoring the distance from the user to the printing apparatus 30. In this example, 5 points are given if the printing apparatus 30 is on the same floor as the user, 3 points if it is on a different floor, and 0 points if it is in a different building (base).

  The index B is obtained by scoring relevance and consistency between the user's schedule and the file name of the file printed by the print job. Here, if there is a schedule for the file name in the schedule (if it matches), it will be 10 points, otherwise it will be 0 points. For example, if “Sales Strategy Meeting” is registered in the schedule and the file name of the file to be printed in the print job is “Sales Strategy Meeting” or “Sales Strategy Meeting Materials”, etc., it is determined that the schedule and file name match. To do.

  The index C is an index that is adopted when the index B is determined to be “related or coincident”, and is obtained by scoring the length of time from the present to the start time of the corresponding conference. Here, it is 5 points when it is 1 hour or more until the corresponding meeting start time, 10 points when it is less than 1 hour, and 0 point when the start time of the corresponding meeting has passed.

  The index D is an index that is adopted when the index B is determined to be “related or coincident”, and is obtained by scoring the distance between the conference room used for the conference and the printing apparatus. Here, it is 10 points if it is less than the specified distance (for example, within 10 m), and 5 points if it is longer than the specified distance.

  The index E is a score of the number of printed copies. This is based on the fact that the greater the number of printed copies, the higher the possibility that a printing apparatus close to the place where the printed material is used is the output destination. The index E is also an index that is adopted when the index B is determined to be “related or coincident”.

  FIG. 8 shows a specific example relating to the index A and the index D. User A is on the second floor of the Hachioji branch. MFP 1 is installed on the third floor of the Marunouchi head office, MFP 2 is installed on the first floor of the Marunouchi head office, MFP 3 is installed on the third floor of the Hachioji branch, MFP 4 is installed on the second floor of the Hachioji branch, and MFP 5 is installed on the first floor of the Hachioji branch. It is also assumed that there is a conference room A on the third floor of the Marunouchi head office and a conference room B on the third floor of the Hachioji branch office.

  In this example, the score of the index A is 0 for MFP1, 0 for MFP2, 3 for MFP3, 5 for MFP4, and 3 for MFP5. The score of index D is 10 points for MFP 1 and MFP 3 respectively, and 5 points for MFPs 2, 4 and 5 respectively.

  FIG. 9 shows a specific example of the index C. In the schedule, the sales strategy meeting is from 15:00 to 16:00 today. When outputting a print job for printing materials of the sales strategy meeting, if the current time is one hour or more before the meeting start time, that is, before 14:00, the score of the index C is 5 points. Thereafter, while the time elapses and the current time is between 15:00 and 16:00, the score of the index C changes to 10 points. When the current time passes 16:00, the score of the index C changes to 0 points. As described above, the score of the index C varies with time.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the score totaling table 60. In this example, there are five printing apparatuses 30 to be managed, MFP1 to MFP5, and the print jobs whose destination is user A held in the holding unit 28 of the print management server 10 are job 1, job 2, and job Suppose there are three of three.

  For each job, the total of the scores of the indices A to E for each printing apparatus is obtained as a primary value. In this example, for job 1, the primary value of MFP1 is 35 points, for MFP2 to MFP5 is 0 point, for job2, the primary value of MFP1 is 3 points, for MFP3 is 25 points, for MFP4 is 5 points, MFPs 2 and 5 each have 0 points. For job 3, the primary value of MFP 1 is 5 points, MFP 2 is 10 points, MFP 3 is 0 points, MFP 4 is 5 points, and MFP 5 is 3 points.

  The index value S of the MFP 1 is the sum of the primary values of the MFP 1 and is 43 points in this example. The index value S of the MFP 2 is the sum of the primary values of the MFP 2 and is 10 points in this example. Similarly, the index value S of MFP 3 is 25 points, the index value S of MFP 4 is 10 points, and the index value S of MFP 5 is 3 points.

  In step S103 of FIG. 5, an MFP having an index value S exceeding a threshold value K is selected as a primary candidate. When the threshold value K is 8 points, in the example of FIG. 10, four units MFP1 to MFP4 are selected as primary candidates. If the upper limit number of output destination candidates is four or more, the primary candidates are directly registered in the list as output destination candidates.

  When the upper limit number is three or less, the primary candidates are narrowed down to the upper limit number or less. At this time, there are the following narrowing methods.

<First method>
From the primary candidates, those with a large index value S are preferentially selected as output destination candidates, and the selection is terminated when the upper limit number is reached.

<Second method>
For each MFP, the maximum values of the primary values are compared, and an output destination candidate is preferentially selected from the largest value, and the selection is terminated when the upper limit number is reached.

<Third method>
Based on the first method, when there are a plurality of MFPs having the same index value S and the output destination candidates cannot be narrowed down to the upper limit, the second method is used for the final narrowing down.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 10, since the index values S of both MFP2 and MFP4 are 10 points (indicated by (*) in the figure), the first method cannot narrow down the output destination candidates to three. . At this time, the second method is used in combination to select the last one. That is, since the maximum primary value of MFP 2 is 10 points and the maximum primary value of MFP 4 is 5 points, MFP 2 is selected as the third output destination candidate.

  The order of priority in FIG. 10 indicates the order that is most likely to be used for the output destination, which is finally estimated.

  As described above, in the printing system 5 according to the present embodiment, in the pull printing via the server, the output destination candidates are appropriately narrowed down without requiring the user to input additional information such as specifying the output destination in advance. Since the user is notified only when an abnormality occurs in the apparatus, it is possible to prevent the user from being notified of the abnormality that has occurred in the printing apparatus 30 that is not scheduled to be an output destination, and thus inconvenience the user.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  The method for selecting an output destination candidate is not limited to that exemplified in the embodiment. The contents and number of indices used for calculating the primary value are not limited to those exemplified in the score list 50. Moreover, the information used for obtaining the index value is not limited to the information exemplified in the embodiment such as the schedule and the position of the user, and appropriate information may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Printing system 7 ... User terminal 10 ... Print management server 11 ... Control part 12 ... Memory | storage part 13 ... Network communication part 14 ... Input / output interface 21 ... Selection part 22 ... Detection part 23 ... Determination part 24 ... Notification part 25 ... Transfer Unit 26: Reception unit 28 ... Holding unit 30 ... Printing device 31 ... Control unit 32 ... Storage unit 33 ... Image processing unit 34 ... Image reading unit 35 ... Operation panel 36 ... Display unit 37 ... Operation unit 38 ... Printing unit 39 ... Network Communication unit 41 ... Authentication unit 50 ... Score list 60 ... Score tabulation table

Claims (11)

A receiving unit for receiving a print job of pull printing;
A holding unit that holds a print job of a pull print received by the receiving unit;
In response to a transfer request received from a predetermined printing device among one or more printing devices connected through a network, the corresponding print job in the pull print print job held in the holding unit is transferred. A transfer unit that transfers the request to the printing device, and
Predetermined index values indicating the likelihood of being used as output destinations of one or a plurality of pull-print print jobs destined for one user held in the holding unit are respectively set to the plurality of printing apparatuses. A selection unit that selects a predetermined one or a plurality of printing devices from the plurality of printing devices based on these index values;
A detection unit for detecting a printing apparatus in which an abnormality has occurred;
When a pull printing print job destined for the one user is held in the holding unit, and the printing unit in which an abnormality has occurred is detected by the detection unit, the detected printing device is selected. A determination unit that determines whether the printing device is selected by the copy unit;
If the printing device in which the abnormality has occurred is a printing device selected by the selection unit, the one user is notified that an abnormality has occurred in the printing device, and the printing device in which the abnormality has occurred is selected. A notification unit that does not notify the one user that an abnormality has occurred in the printing device if the printing device is not selected by the printing unit;
A print management server characterized by comprising: The selection unit updates the selected printing device by repeatedly performing the selection while a print job of pull print destined for the one user is held in the holding unit, or The selection is performed when an abnormal printing apparatus is detected by the detection unit when a pull print print job destined for the user is held in the holding unit. The print management server described in 1. The selection unit selects a printing device if the index value is within a set upper limit number of printing devices having a predetermined threshold value or more, and a printing device having the index value equal to or more than the threshold value sets the upper limit number. 3. The print management server according to claim 1, wherein when the number exceeds, a printing device within the upper limit number is selected based on a predetermined standard. The selection unit is based on information including at least one of the location of the one user, the file name of the file to be printed, the schedule of the one user, the installation location of each printing apparatus, and the number of copies. The print management server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an index value is obtained. For each of the plurality of printing devices, the selection unit obtains a primary value indicating a high possibility of being used as an output destination of the job for each job, and sums the primary values for each printing device. The print management server according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the index value is obtained. A program executed on a server connected to a network,
A receiving step for receiving a print job of pull printing;
A holding step for holding the print job of the received pull print;
In response to a transfer request received from a predetermined printing device among one or more printing devices connected through a network, a corresponding print job in the held pull print job is sent to the transfer request. A transfer step for transferring to the sending printing device;
A predetermined index value indicating a high possibility of being used as an output destination of one or a plurality of pull print print jobs destined for one held user is obtained for each of the plurality of printing apparatuses. A selection step of selecting a predetermined one or a plurality of printing devices from the plurality of printing devices based on the index value;
A detection step for detecting a printing device in which an abnormality has occurred;
When a print device in which an abnormality has occurred is detected by the detection unit while holding a pull print print job destined for the one user, the detected print device is the selected print device. A determination step for determining whether or not
When the printing apparatus in which the abnormality has occurred is the selected printing apparatus, the one user is notified that an abnormality has occurred in the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus in which the abnormality has occurred is selected by the selection unit. A notification step of not notifying the one user that an abnormality has occurred in the printing device if it is not a printed printing device;
The program characterized by having. In the selection step, the selection printing apparatus is updated by repeatedly performing the selection while holding a print job for pull printing that is destined for the one user, or the destination is the one user. The program according to claim 6, wherein the selection is performed when an abnormal printing apparatus is detected while holding a pull print print job. In the selecting step, if the index value is within a set upper limit number of printing devices having a predetermined threshold value or more, those printing devices are selected, and a printing device having the index value equal to or more than the threshold value sets the upper limit number. The program according to claim 6 or 7, wherein if it exceeds, a printing device within the upper limit number is selected based on a predetermined standard. In the selection step, based on information including at least one of the location of the one user, the file name of the file to be printed, the schedule of the one user, the installation location of each printing device, and the number of copies to be printed, The program according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein an index value is obtained. In the selection step, for each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, a primary value indicating a high possibility of being used as an output destination of the job is obtained for each job, and the primary values are summed for each printing apparatus. The program according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the index value is obtained. A print management server according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A printing apparatus connected to the print management server via a network and compatible with pull printing;
The printing system characterized by including.

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