JP2019219953A - Print control device, print system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a print control device, a print system, and a program that calculate an estimated amount of fees generated when print processing based on print data is executed with higher accuracy as compared with a case where the estimate is simply calculated using print conditions of the print data.SOLUTION: A data reception unit 31 receives print data from a terminal device 20. A print data storage unit 33 stores the print data received by the data reception unit 31. A transmission unit 35 transmits the print data stored in the print data storage unit 33 to an image formation device where a user intends to execute print processing. The data reception unit 31 receives, from the image formation device that has transmitted the print data by the transmission unit 35, information on a drawing processing result when performing the drawing processing of the print data. The calculation unit 34 calculates, using the information on the drawing processing result received by the data reception unit 31 and preset charging unit price information, an estimated amount of fees when the print processing based on the print data received from the terminal device 20 by the data reception unit 31 is executed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing control device, a printing system, and a program.

  In Patent Literature 1, an estimated charge is calculated based on the content of a print instruction in a printer, the calculated estimated charge is deducted from an account, and processing based on the print instruction is executed only when the account transfer is successful. A billing system is disclosed.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163873 calculates a charge (charge amount) to be collected for printing of print job data on a printer, and presents the print charge to a user in a management device, so that a print job is displayed on a display. There is disclosed a printing system that can execute a printing process after confirming a data printing fee.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a print control system in which points are determined for each printing condition, and consumption points corresponding to printing of the print job are calculated based on the unit usage per print unit of the print job. Have been.

JP 2003-196554 A JP-A-2007-072771 JP-A-2017-173936

  An object of the present invention is to calculate an estimated amount of a fee generated when a print process based on print data is executed with higher accuracy as compared with a case where the estimated amount is simply calculated using print conditions of print data. It is to provide a possible printing control device, printing system and program.

[Print control device]
The present invention according to claim 1, wherein a first receiving means for receiving print data;
Storage means for storing print data received by the first receiving means;
A transmitting unit that transmits print data stored in the storage unit to a printing device where a user intends to execute a printing process;
A second receiving unit that receives, from the printing apparatus that has transmitted the print data, information related to a rendering processing result when the rendering processing of the print data is performed;
A calculating unit that calculates an estimated amount of a fee when a printing process based on the print data is performed, using information on a drawing process result received by the second receiving unit and predetermined charging unit price information. And a print control device comprising:

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the transmission unit refers to a past print history of a user who intends to perform print processing of print data, and predicts a printing apparatus on which the user performs print processing. Transmitting the print data stored in the storage unit to the predicted printing device;
2. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculating unit calculates an estimated amount of a fee when the printing process based on the print data is executed before the user determines a printing device to execute the printing process. It is.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the transmitting unit transmits print data by predicting a printing device on which the user has performed the previous printing process as a printing device on which the user performs the printing process. 2. The printing control device according to item 2.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the transmitting unit predicts a printing device that satisfies a preset condition in which the user executes the printing process as a printing device that performs the printing process by the user. 3. The print control device according to claim 2, wherein the print control device transmits the print data.

  The present invention according to claim 5, wherein the estimated amount of the fee calculated by the calculating unit is used to specify the drawing processing unit mounted on the printing apparatus that has transmitted the print data and received the information regarding the drawing processing result. 5. The print control device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores the image data together with the drawing processing unit identifier.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus, the calculating unit newly selects a printing apparatus for executing a printing process on the same print data by a user, and loads the drawing apparatus mounted on the selected printing apparatus. If the drawing processing unit identifier of the processing unit is the same as the drawing processing unit identifier associated with the estimated amount stored in the storage unit, the printing device that has selected the estimated amount stored in the storage unit 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the print control apparatus calculates the estimated charge when the print processing is executed.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the transmission unit receives a print request from a printing device that has transmitted print data in the past and received information regarding a rendering process result, the printing unit transmits the print data to the printing device. 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a print instruction specifying a print data identifier for specifying print data is transmitted without transmitting the print instruction again.

The present invention according to claim 8, wherein the calculation means includes information about a drawing processing result in the print data and information on a drawing processing means identifier of a drawing processing means mounted on a printing apparatus that is to execute the printing processing. Calculating an estimated amount corresponding to the drawing processing means identifier using the information on the drawing processing result,
When the drawing processing means identifier of the drawing processing means mounted on the printing apparatus selected by the user is the same as the drawing processing means identifier included in the print data, transmitting the print data to the printing apparatus selected by the user. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an estimated amount corresponding to the calculated drawing processing unit identifier is calculated as an estimated amount when a printing process based on the print data is executed in a printing device selected by a user. It is.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is the print control apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the information on the drawing processing result includes at least information of a print color, a paper size, and the number of pages or pages.

[Printing system]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a first receiving means for receiving print data, a storing means for storing print data received by the first receiving means, and a user intending to execute a printing process A transmitting unit that transmits the print data stored in the storage unit to the printing device, and information about a drawing process result when the drawing process of the print data is performed is received from the printing device that has transmitted the print data. Using a second receiving unit, and information on the drawing process result received by the second receiving unit and predetermined charging unit price information, a charge when a print process based on the print data is executed. A print control device including a calculating unit that calculates an estimated amount;
A drawing processing unit for performing a drawing process on the print data transmitted from the transmission unit of the print control device; and a reply unit for returning a drawing process result when the drawing process is performed by the drawing processing unit to the print control device. A printing device comprising: a display unit that receives and displays the estimated amount calculated by the calculation unit from the print control device,
Is a printing system having:

[program]
The present invention according to claim 11, wherein a first receiving step of receiving print data;
Storing the print data received in the first receiving step;
A transmitting step of transmitting the print data stored in the storing step to a printing device where a user intends to execute a printing process;
A second receiving step of receiving, from the printing apparatus that has transmitted the print data, information relating to a drawing processing result when the drawing processing of the print data is performed;
A calculating step of calculating, using the information on the drawing processing result received in the second receiving step and the pre-set charging unit price information, an estimate of a charge when a printing process based on the print data is executed; Is a program for causing a computer to execute.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, compared with a case where the estimated amount of the fee generated when the print processing based on the print data is executed is simply calculated using the print conditions of the print data, higher accuracy is obtained. Can be provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time from when the user selects the printing apparatus that executes the printing process to when the estimated price is calculated, compared to when the user calculates the estimated price. It is possible to provide a print control device capable of performing the following.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time from when the user selects the printing apparatus that executes the printing process to when the estimated amount is calculated, until the estimated amount is calculated. It is possible to provide a print control device capable of performing the following.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time from when the user selects the printing apparatus that executes the printing process to when the estimated amount is calculated, until the estimated amount is calculated. It is possible to provide a print control device capable of performing the following.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a printing apparatus equipped with the same drawing processing unit as the printing apparatus selected when calculating the estimated price in the past is selected, the print data is stored in the selected printing apparatus. Can be provided, and the time required for calculating the estimated amount can be reduced as compared with the case where the estimated amount is calculated by transmitting information about the drawing processing result.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when a printing apparatus equipped with the same drawing processing unit as the printing apparatus selected in calculating the estimated amount in the past is selected, the print data is stored in the selected printing apparatus. Can be provided, and the time required for calculating the estimated amount can be reduced as compared with the case where the estimated amount is calculated by transmitting information about the drawing processing result.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when a print request is received from the printing apparatus selected when calculating the estimated amount in the past, the print processing is executed as compared with the case where the print data is transmitted again. It is possible to provide a print control device capable of shortening the time until the printing is performed.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where print data is transmitted to the selected printing apparatus to obtain information on the drawing processing result and the estimated amount is calculated, A print control device capable of reducing time can be provided.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the estimated amount of the charge generated when the print processing based on the print data is executed is simply calculated using the print condition of the print data, higher accuracy is obtained. Can be provided.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the estimated amount of the charge generated when the print processing based on the print data is executed is simply calculated using the print conditions of the print data, higher accuracy is obtained. Can be provided.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, compared to a case where the estimated amount of the charge generated when the print processing based on the print data is executed is simply calculated using the print conditions of the print data, higher accuracy is obtained. It is possible to provide a program that can be calculated by

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a print server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a print server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a charging unit table stored by an information storage unit 36. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a balance list stored by an information storage unit 36. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a decomposer ID list stored by an information storage unit 36. 9 is a sequence chart for explaining an operation in a case where the user A selects the image forming apparatus 30 </ b> A and displays the estimated amount, and then directly executes the printing process. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a drawing process result returned from the image forming apparatus 30A to the print server 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an estimation result list stored in an information storage unit 36. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where an estimated amount is displayed on an operation panel 41 of the image forming apparatus 30A. 9 is a sequence chart for explaining an operation in a case where redundant transmission of print data is not performed. 9 is a sequence chart for explaining an operation when the user A logs in to the image forming apparatus 30A and checks the estimated amount, and then logs in to the image forming apparatus 30B to display the estimated amount.

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

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a print server 10, a terminal device 20, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses (printing apparatuses) 30A, 30B, and 30C interconnected by a network 40. Be composed.

  The terminal device 20 is a personal computer or the like in which a printer driver corresponding to the image type image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, and 30C is installed. The terminal device 20 generates print data (print job) and transmits the print data generated via the network 40. This is transmitted to the print server 10.

  In the printing system shown in FIG. 1, only one terminal device 20 is shown for simplicity of description, but many terminal devices 20 are actually connected to the network 40. Similarly, in the printing system shown in FIG. 1, a case where three image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, and 30C are connected to the network 40 is shown, but four or more image forming apparatuses are connected. May be.

  The print server 10 is a print control device for controlling print processing in the image forming devices 30A, 30B, and 30C. The print server 10 receives and stores print data from the terminal device 20, and stores the print data in the image forming devices 30A, 30B, and 30C. When the user logs in to any of the devices 30C and makes a print request, the print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, and 30C receive the print data transmitted from the print server 10 and output an image corresponding to the print data on a sheet. The image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, and 30C are so-called multifunction peripherals having a plurality of functions such as a printing function, a scanning function, a copying function, and a facsimile function.

  The printing system according to the present embodiment is, for example, a printing system used by a user (user) such as a student or a faculty member at a university or the like, and as an example, a printing method called authentication printing is described.

  When the authentication print is performed, print data from the terminal device 20 is temporarily stored in the print server 10 and a user such as a student or a staff member selects an image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) to execute a printing process. Authentication is performed using an IC card or the like and login is performed, so that the print server 10 transfers the information to the image forming apparatus.

  Then, the user can obtain a print result based on the print data by instructing execution of the print processing in the logged-in image forming apparatus.

  In addition, when students perform printing processing, fees based on color / black and white, paper size, number of pages, etc. are collected, and when faculty and staff perform printing processing, fees are not collected. Description will be made using the case where the setting has been made. In such a case, when the student performs the printing process, the printing is performed only within the preset amount or within the pre-charged amount, and the printing process exceeding such amount is not performed. Is set to

  As described above, when a fee is required for the printing process, there is a demand to grasp an estimated amount of the fee for the printing process to be executed before executing the printing process.

  The reason for this is that the printing process will result in higher costs than expected and the available balance will be significantly reduced. This is because there is a case where it is desired to know whether or not the process can be executed.

  In particular, even for the same number of sheets (number of pages), the price for printing processing is significantly different between color and black and white, so the amount that is expected to be black and white is significantly different from the amount that was expected to be color printing. This will be incurred as a fee for the printing process. As a result, a situation may occur in which the printing process cannot be executed due to a shortage of balance, or a situation in which the available balance may become significantly short thereafter and other printing processes may not be executed. I will.

  In order to prevent such a situation from occurring, the print server 10 calculates in advance the estimated amount for executing the print processing for each print data before the print processing is executed, and allows the user to use the image forming apparatus 30A, When one of 30B and 30C is selected, it is conceivable that an estimate is presented to the user together with a list of print data.

  Here, in the printing system of the present embodiment, the print data generated in the terminal device 20 is described in PDL (Page Description Language). Then, the print data described by the PDL is transmitted from the print server 10 to the image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, 30C, and decomposed by a decomposer (drawing processing unit) mounted on the image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, 30C. As a result, the image data is converted into raster image data and output on a recording medium such as printing paper.

  Each image forming apparatus may use a different decomposer (drawing processing unit) for converting print data described in PDL into a raster image. Different decomposers may perform different conversion processes even for the same print data. Therefore, even if the print data is the same, the print result may be different, for example, color printing may be performed by one decomposer, or monochrome printing may be performed by another decomposer.

  Therefore, if the print server 10 attempts to determine the print content based on the print data described in the PDL, the print processing is actually executed in the image forming apparatus even if it is determined that the print data is monochrome print. In such a case, color printing may be performed and a fee for color printing may be incurred.

  Conversely, when color printing is specified in the print data, the print server 10 determines that color printing is to be performed in print processing based on the print data and calculates an estimated amount for color printing. When the forced black and white print mode is set in the image forming apparatus selected by the user, black and white printing is performed.

  As described above, in the case where the estimated amount is calculated in advance based on only the print data described in the PDL in the print server 10, the charge generated by actually executing the printing process in the image forming apparatus and the estimated amount calculated in advance And a difference may occur.

  Therefore, in the printing system of the present embodiment, by performing the processing described below, when the user logs in to the image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, and 30C, the accuracy that matches the printing processing that is actually executed is performed. A high estimate is displayed before the print process is executed.

  Next, FIG. 2 illustrates a hardware configuration of the print server 10 in the printing system according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the print server 10 communicates with a CPU 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and transmits and receives data to and from an external device via a network 40. An interface (IF) 14 and a user interface (UI) device 15 including a touch panel or a liquid crystal display and a keyboard are provided. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 16.

  The CPU 11 controls the operation of the print server 10 by executing predetermined processing based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13. In the present embodiment, the CPU 11 is described as reading and executing a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13. However, the CPU 11 stores the program in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and It is also possible to provide.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the print server 10 realized by executing the control program.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the print server 10 of the present embodiment includes a data receiving unit 31, a control unit 32, a print data storage unit 33, and an information storage unit 36.

  The data receiving unit 31 receives print data from the terminal device 20. Further, the data receiving unit 31 receives, from the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the print data by the transmission unit 35, information regarding a drawing process result when the print data is drawn.

  The control unit 32 controls the operation of the print server 10 and includes a calculation unit 34 and a transmission unit 35.

  The print data storage unit 33 stores the print data received by the data receiving unit 31.

  The information storage unit 36 includes a charge unit table (charge unit price information) in which unit prices of charges generated for each combination of print color, paper size, and number of pages or pages are set, and a list of balances indicating balances for each user. The table shows the correspondence between decomposer IDs (drawing processing unit identifiers) for specifying (identifying) decomposers mounted on the image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, 30C, and the like, and the image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, 30C, and the like. The decomposer ID list is stored.

  The information storage unit 36 stores the estimated amount of the fee calculated by the calculation unit 34 together with the decomposer ID of the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the print data and received the information on the drawing processing result as an estimation result list. deep.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the charging unit table stored in the information storage unit 36. In the example of the charging unit table shown in FIG. 4, the charging unit generated by the printing process for each side is set for each combination of the printing color of black and white / color, the presence / absence of front side printing of one side / two sides, and the paper size. You can see that

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the balance list stored in the information storage unit 36. In the example of the balance list shown in FIG. 5, it can be seen that information on the balance and whether or not the upper limit is set is stored for each user ID and user name. It should be noted that the user without the upper limit setting is, for example, a user of a faculty member, and does not store the information on the balance because no fee is charged when the printing process is performed.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the decomposer ID list stored in the information storage unit 36. In the example of the decomposer ID list shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that the decomposer ID for specifying the decomposer mounted on each of the image forming apparatuses 30A to 30D is stored in association with each other. Although the image forming apparatus 30D is not shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 30D is connected to the network 40 similarly to the image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, and 30C.

  The calculating unit 34 executes the printing process based on the print data received from the terminal device 20 by the data receiving unit 31 using the information on the drawing process result received by the data receiving unit 31 and the preset charging unit price information. Calculate the estimated amount of the charge in the case of being done.

  The transmission unit 35 transmits the print data stored in the print data storage unit 33 to the image forming apparatus where the user intends to execute the print processing.

  The transmitting unit 35 refers to the past print history of the user who intends to perform the print processing of the print data, predicts the image forming apparatus in which the user executes the print processing, and sends the predicted image forming apparatus to the predicted image forming apparatus. Thus, the print data stored in the print data storage unit 33 may be transmitted. In this case, the calculation unit 34 calculates in advance the estimated amount of the fee when the print processing based on the print data is executed before the user determines the image forming apparatus to execute the print processing.

  At this time, for example, the transmission unit 35 transmits the print data by predicting the image forming apparatus on which the user has performed the print processing last time as the image forming apparatus on which the user performs the print processing.

  Further, the transmission unit 35 transmits the print data by predicting an image forming apparatus in which the frequency at which the user executes the print processing that satisfies a preset condition as an image forming apparatus by which the user executes the print processing. May be. For example, the transmission unit 35 transmits print data by predicting an image forming apparatus that the user has used three or more times a week as an image forming apparatus that is highly likely to execute print processing.

It is highly likely that the same decomposer is mounted on an image forming apparatus of the same model, and the same decomposer may be mounted on a different model even if the model is different. If the decomposer is the same, there is a high possibility that the processing result for the same print data will be the same.

  Therefore, the calculation unit 34 selects a new image forming apparatus for executing print processing on the same print data by the user, and displays the decomposer ID of the decomposer mounted on the selected image forming apparatus and information When the estimated amount stored in the storage unit 36 is the same as the decomposer ID associated with the estimated amount, the estimated amount stored in the information storage unit 36 is used when the printing process is executed in the selected image forming apparatus. It may be calculated as an estimated price.

  As described above, the print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus selected by the user, and the image forming apparatus performs decomposing based on the transmitted print data and performs conversion to a raster image. When the estimated amount is calculated using the information on the drawing processing result, the raster image is generated in the image forming apparatus selected by the user.

  Therefore, when the user who has confirmed the estimated amount performs an operation for executing the print process as it is in the selected image forming apparatus, the print process may be executed using the generated raster image.

  For this reason, when the transmission unit 35 receives a print request from an image forming apparatus that has transmitted print data in the past and received information regarding the drawing processing result, the transmission unit 35 transmits the print data to the image forming apparatus again. A print instruction specifying a job ID (print data identifier) for specifying print data without transmitting the print instruction may be transmitted.

  In the image forming apparatus that has received such a print instruction specifying the job ID, the generated raster image is stored together with the job ID, and therefore, the raster image corresponding to the job ID specified in the print instruction is printed on printing paper or the like. , The printing process can be executed without performing the rasterizing process again.

  When the terminal device 20 generates print data using the printer driver, the print data, the information such as the print color, the paper size, the number of pages or the number of pages, and the image forming apparatus that is to execute the print process. Information of the decomposer ID of the mounted decomposer can be included.

  As described above, when the print data includes the information on the drawing processing result and the information on the decomposer ID, the calculation unit 34 calculates the estimated amount corresponding to the decomposer ID using the information on the drawing processing result, and If the decomposer ID of the image forming apparatus obtained is the same as the decomposer ID included in the print data, the user can send the estimated amount corresponding to the calculated decomposer ID without transmitting the print data to the image forming apparatus selected by the user. It may be calculated as an estimated amount in the selected image device.

  The image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, and 30C in the printing system according to the present embodiment perform a drawing process on the print data transmitted from the transmission unit 35 of the print server 10 and perform a drawing process using the decomposer. And a display unit that receives and displays the estimated amount calculated by the calculation unit 34 of the print server 10.

  Next, the operation of the printing system of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the operation in the case where the user A selects the image forming apparatus 30A and displays the estimated amount and then executes the print processing as it is will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG.

  When the user A transmits print data from the terminal device 20 to the print server 10 (step S101), the print data is stored in the print server 10 in association with the user A.

  Then, when the user A moves to the installation location in the image forming apparatus 30A, performs authentication processing using an IC card or the like, and logs in (step S102), the user A logs in from the image forming apparatus 30A to the print server 10. A log-in notification to the effect is made (step S103).

  Then, the print server 10 receiving the login notification transmits the print data stored in association with the logged-in user A to the image forming apparatus 30A (step S104).

  Then, the image forming apparatus 30A executes a decomposing process (conversion process) on the print data transmitted from the print server 10, and prints the information as a result of the information decomposing on the drawing process results such as color / monochrome, paper size, and number of pages. A reply is sent to the server 10 (step S106).

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the drawing processing result returned from the image forming apparatus 30A to the print server 10 in this manner. In the example of the drawing processing result illustrated in FIG. 8, three “color, A4, single-sided” prints (or one side) together with a job ID for specifying print data (print job), a user ID of the user A, and a file name are performed. ), "Black and white, A3, single sided" includes information of 5 sheets (or sides).

  In the print server 10 that has received the information on the drawing processing result, the calculating unit 34 uses the information on the drawing processing result transmitted from the image forming apparatus 30A and the accounting unit table shown in FIG. An estimate of the fee when the data is executed is calculated (step S107).

  Then, the estimated amount calculated in this way is stored in the information storage unit 36 together with the decomposer ID, the job ID, and the user ID of the image forming apparatus that has performed the drawing processing. FIG. 9 shows an example of the estimation result list stored in the information storage unit 36 in this manner.

  Then, the estimated amount calculated by the calculation unit 34 is transmitted from the print server 10 to the image forming apparatus 30A (Step S108), and displayed on the image forming apparatus 30A, for example, on an operation panel or the like (Step S109).

  FIG. 10 shows an example in which the estimated amount is displayed on the operation panel 41 of the image forming apparatus 30A in this manner. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the estimated amount when the print data with the job ID “job0001” and the file name “xxxxxx document” is printed together with the balance “480 yen” of the user A is 40 yen. It is displayed that the estimated amount when the print data having the ID “job0002” and the file name “meeting minutes” is printed is 80 yen.

  Then, when the user who confirms the estimated amount performs an operation for instructing execution of the print processing (step S110), the image forming apparatus 30A issues a print instruction to the print server 10 to the print server 10. A data print request is transmitted (step S111).

  The print server 10 that has received the print request from the image forming apparatus 30A transmits a print instruction using the stored print data to the image forming apparatus 30A (step S112). Then, in the image forming apparatus 30A, a printing process based on the transmitted print data is executed (Step S113).

  In the sequence chart shown in FIG. 7, the same print data is transmitted twice from the print server 10 to the image forming apparatus 30A. The operation in the case where such redundant transmission of print data is not performed will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG.

  In the sequence chart shown in FIG. 11, the processing of step S104 of transmitting print data from the print server 10 to the image forming apparatus 30A for calculating the estimated amount, and the printing of the sequence chart shown in FIG. The only difference is that the process of step S112 for transmitting print data from the print server 10 to the image forming apparatus 30A for execution of the process is replaced with steps S104a and S112a, respectively.

  That is, in the sequence chart shown in FIG. 11, when print data is transmitted from the print server 10 to the image forming apparatus 30A for calculating the estimated amount, the job ID is transmitted together with the print data (step S104a).

  Then, when a print instruction is issued from the print server 10 to the image forming apparatus 30A to execute the print processing, only the job ID transmitted in step S104a is transmitted without transmitting print data (step S112a).

  Then, in the image forming apparatus 30A, a printing process using the raster image data stored in association with the job ID is executed (Step S113).

  Here, the job ID only needs to be an identifier for uniquely specifying the print data stored in the image forming apparatus after the print server 10 transmits the print data (print job) to the image forming apparatus. 8 or 9 or other information may be used as the job ID. For example, when there are a plurality of print servers 10, the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the print server 10 + the management ID in the print server 10 + the date and time of issue (for example, May 10, 2018, 18: 15: 3.01 second) ) + Information composed of a random value or the like may be used as the job ID.

  Finally, an operation in the case where the user A logs in to the image forming apparatus 30A and confirms the estimated amount, and then logs in to the image forming apparatus 30B to display the estimated amount will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. .

  FIG. 12 illustrates a case where the decomposer ID of the decomposer mounted on the image forming apparatus 30A is the same as the decomposer ID of the decomposer mounted on the image forming apparatus 30B.

  In the sequence chart shown in FIG. 12, the processes in steps S101 to S109 in the sequence chart shown in FIG.

  In the operation example illustrated in FIG. 12, the user A logs out of the image forming apparatus 30A after confirming the estimated amount displayed on the image forming apparatus 30A (step S201). The description will be made assuming that the user A has moved to the installation location of the image forming apparatus 30B and logged in to the image forming apparatus 30B (step S202).

  Then, a login notification that user A has logged in is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 30B to the print server 10 (step S203).

  The print server 10 that has received the login notification from the image forming apparatus 30B receives the same decomposer ID as the decomposer ID (for example, “1001”) of the image forming apparatus 30B from the estimation result list as shown in FIG. A search is made for the associated estimation result, and if there is an estimation result calculated in the past, the estimation amount is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30B (step S204).

  Then, in the image forming apparatus 30B, the estimated amount transmitted from the print server 10 is displayed on the operation panel or the like, so that the estimated amount is presented to the user.

  In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which, when a user logs in to the image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, and 30C, an estimated amount for print data associated with the user is calculated. As described above, in the case of a user who does not generate a fee for the printing process, the above-described calculation of the estimated amount is not performed even when the user logs in. By performing such processing, when a faculty member or the like logs in, the calculation of the estimated amount becomes unnecessary, and a list of print data associated with the user after logging in is displayed on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. Responsiveness in which the time until the display is shortened is improved as compared with the case where a student or the like logs in.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where information such as the balance of each user and whether or not a fee for the printing process is generated is stored in the print server 10 has been described. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the data is stored in a server other than the print server 10.

[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, the printing system in which the printing process is performed by the image forming apparatuses 30A, 30B, and 30C, which is a so-called multifunction machine, has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be similarly applied to a printing system in which a printing process is performed by various possible printing apparatuses.

10 print server 11 CPU
12 memory 13 storage device 14 communication interface (IF)
Reference Signs List 15 user interface (UI) device 16 control bus 20 terminal device 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D image forming device 31 data receiving unit 32 control unit 33 print data storage unit 34 calculation unit 35 transmission unit 36 information storage unit 40 network 41 operation panel

Claims (11)

First receiving means for receiving print data;
Storage means for storing print data received by the first receiving means;
A transmitting unit that transmits print data stored in the storage unit to a printing device where a user intends to execute a printing process;
A second receiving unit that receives, from the printing apparatus that has transmitted the print data, information related to a rendering processing result when the rendering processing of the print data is performed;
A calculating unit that calculates an estimated amount of a fee when a printing process based on the print data is performed, using information on a drawing process result received by the second receiving unit and predetermined charging unit price information. When,
Print control device provided with The transmitting unit refers to a past print history of a user who intends to perform print processing of print data, predicts a printing apparatus in which the user performs the print processing, and, for the predicted printing apparatus, Transmitting the print data stored in the storage means,
2. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculating unit calculates an estimated amount of a fee when the printing process based on the print data is executed before the user determines a printing device to execute the printing process. .   3. The print control device according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit predicts a printing device on which the user has performed the previous printing process as a printing device on which the user performs the printing process, and transmits the print data.   3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting unit predicts a printing device that satisfies a preset condition for the frequency at which the user performs the printing process as a printing device that performs the printing process by the user, and transmits the print data. The print control device as described in the above.   Storage means for storing the estimated amount of the charge calculated by the calculation means together with a drawing processing means identifier for specifying the drawing processing means mounted on the printing apparatus which has transmitted the print data and received the information regarding the drawing processing result; The print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:   The calculating means, a printing apparatus for performing a printing process by the user for the same print data is newly selected, the drawing processing means identifier of the drawing processing means mounted on the selected printing apparatus, When the estimated amount stored in the storage unit is the same as the drawing processing unit identifier associated with the estimated amount, the estimated amount stored in the storage unit is printed by the selected printing apparatus. The print control device according to claim 5, wherein the print control device calculates the estimated fee.   The transmission unit, when receiving a print request from a printing device that has received print information and received information regarding a drawing process result in the past, specifies the print data without transmitting the print data again to the printing device. 6. The print control device according to claim 5, wherein a print instruction specifying a print data identifier for transmitting the print instruction is transmitted. The calculation unit uses the information on the drawing processing result when the print data includes information on the drawing processing result and information on the drawing processing unit identifier of the drawing processing unit mounted on the printing apparatus that is to execute the printing process. To calculate an estimated amount corresponding to the drawing processing means identifier,
When the drawing processing means identifier of the drawing processing means mounted on the printing apparatus selected by the user is the same as the drawing processing means identifier included in the print data, transmitting the print data to the printing apparatus selected by the user. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an estimated amount corresponding to the calculated drawing processing unit identifier is calculated as an estimated amount when a printing process based on the print data is executed in a printing device selected by a user. .   9. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the drawing processing result includes at least information on a print color, a paper size, and the number of sides or pages. First receiving means for receiving print data, storage means for storing the print data received by the first receiving means, and storage means for a printing apparatus in which a user intends to execute print processing A transmitting unit that transmits the print data stored in the printer, a second receiving unit that receives, from the printing apparatus that has transmitted the print data, information related to a rendering process result when the rendering process of the print data is performed, And calculating means for calculating an estimated price when a print process based on the print data is executed, using the information on the drawing process result received by the receiving device and the preset unit price information. A print control device provided with
A drawing processing unit for performing a drawing process of the print data transmitted from the transmission unit of the print control device; and a return unit for returning a drawing process result when the drawing process is performed by the drawing processing unit to the print control device. A printing device comprising: a display unit that receives and displays the estimated amount calculated by the calculation unit from the print control device,
A printing system having: A first receiving step of receiving print data;
Storing the print data received in the first receiving step;
A transmitting step of transmitting the print data stored in the storing step to a printing device where a user intends to execute a printing process;
A second receiving step of receiving, from the printing apparatus that has transmitted the print data, information relating to a rendering processing result when the rendering processing of the print data is performed;
A calculating step of calculating, using the information on the drawing processing result received in the second receiving step and the pre-set charging unit price information, an estimate of a charge when a print processing based on the print data is executed; When,
A program for causing a computer to execute.

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