JP2021149432A - Management system, job processing system, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a job management system, a job processing system, a method and a program that can improve working efficiency.SOLUTION: In a job processing system, a print server comprises: receiving means that receives a job from a user terminal; notifying means that notifies the user terminal of a candidate of a device which can early execute the received job on the basis of an accumulation status of the jobs for each device; and transmitting means that transmits an instruction to limit execution of the job which is transmitted to the device specified by the user terminal from other than the user terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a system for managing jobs, a job processing system, a method and a program.

When a user executes a job on a device (for example, a multifunction device) that executes a job, if another user is using the device, the user must wait for the other user's job to finish. .. At this time, the user visually confirms whether or not the device is vacant.

Since it takes time and effort to visually check the availability, when the operation time is long or when a voice notification request is made to the multifunction device from an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer), the multifunction device is operated after the operation of the multifunction device is completed. A technique for notifying the availability of a computer by voice has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, in the conventional technology, it is necessary to go to the device after confirming the availability by voice notification and instruct the device to execute the job, so that it may be used by another user in the meantime. be. In this case, after checking the availability again, it is necessary to go to the equipment, which causes a problem that the work efficiency is lowered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system, a method and a program capable of improving work efficiency.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a management system for managing jobs.
Receiving means to receive jobs from user terminals,
A notification means for notifying the user terminal of a device candidate that can execute the received job at an early stage based on the job accumulation status for each device.
Provided is a management system including a transmission means for transmitting an instruction for restricting execution of a job transmitted from a device other than the user terminal to a device designated by the user terminal.

According to the present invention, work efficiency can be improved.

The figure which showed the configuration example of the job processing system which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which showed an example of the hardware configuration of a print server. The figure which showed an example of the hardware composition of the image forming apparatus (MFP). A block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a user terminal. A block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the print server. A block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the MFP server. A block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the MFP. A sequence diagram showing an example of processing that restricts job execution by the MFP. A sequence diagram showing an example of the process of reserving job execution by the MFP. A flowchart showing an example of a process of executing a job by a restricted MFP. The flowchart which showed the details of the authentication process shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a job processing system according to the present embodiment. The job processing system includes a user terminal that sends a job, a management system that manages the job, and a plurality of devices that execute the job.

The job is a process requested by the user from the device, and examples thereof include processes such as copy, scan, print, projection, fax transmission / reception, mail transmission / reception, and display. Therefore, the device that executes the job may be any device that has a communication function and can execute the job. Examples of devices include image forming devices such as MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) and printers, PJs (Projectors), IWBs (Interactive White Boards), digital signage, etc. Output devices, HUD (Head Up Display) devices, industrial machines, image pickup devices, sound collectors, medical devices, network home appliances, automobiles (Connected Cars), and the like.

Here, the job will be described as a print job, the device will be described as an MFP, and the management system will be described as a print server.

The job processing system includes a user terminal 10, a print server 11, and a plurality of MFPs 12. The job processing system may include other devices, for example, an MFP server 13 that manages the usage status of the MFP 12. The user terminal 10 is not limited to one, and may include another one or more user terminals used by another one or more users.

The user terminal 10, the print server 11, the MFP 12, and the MFP server 13 are connected to the network 14 and can communicate with each other via the network 14. The network 14 may be a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network). Further, the network 14 may be either a wired network or a wireless network.

The user terminal 10 is a device used by the user, and for example, a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC, a desktop PC, a wearable PC, or the like can be used. The user terminal 10 receives the designation of data to be printed and the print setting information from the user, generates a print job for printing the designated data according to the print setting information, and transmits the print job to the print server 11. The data may be any data such as text data, table data, image data, and photographic data. Examples of the print setting information include information such as paper size, document orientation, monochrome / color designation, number of copies, and presence / absence of double-sided printing.

The print server 11 receives a print job from the user terminal 10 and stores it. The print job is accumulated in association with the job identification information for specifying the job such as the job name and the accumulated date and time.

The print server 11 communicates with the MFP server 13 and acquires the usage status of the MFP 12. The usage status is the accumulation status of print jobs for each MFP 12, and if the jobs are accumulated, it indicates that they are in use, and if the jobs are not accumulated, it indicates that they are not used, that is, they are vacant. The print server 11 communicates with the MFP 12 and transmits an accumulated job, an instruction (lock instruction) for restricting execution of a job from another user terminal used by another user, and the like.

The MFP 12 has a plurality of functions such as a scanning function, a copying function, a fax function, a printing function, and a communication function. The MFP 12 provides each function to the user and executes processing based on the function selected by the user. Here, the MFP 12 receives the print job and executes printing by using the print function.

Upon receiving the lock instruction, the MFP 12 accumulates print jobs and performs a process (lock) of restricting the execution of jobs from other user terminals used by other users for a certain period of time. The MFP 12 allows only the user of the user terminal 10 to use it while the lock is being performed. Therefore, the MFP 12 can receive the authentication information from the user of the user terminal 10, authenticate (log in) only the user, receive the job selection and execution instructions from the user, and execute printing.

The MFP server 13 holds all the information of the plurality of MFPs 12, receives confirmation from the print server 11, and transmits the usage status of each MFP 12.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the print server 11 and the MFP server 13 are separate devices from the user terminal 10 and the MFP 12, but the functions of the print server 11 are implemented in one MFP 12, and the job processing system is installed. It may be composed of a user terminal 10, a plurality of MFPs 12, and an MFP server 13. Further, the function of the MFP server 13 may be implemented in one MFP 12, and the job processing system may be composed of the user terminal 10, the print server 11, and a plurality of MFPs 12. Further, the function of the print server 11 and the function of the MFP server 13 may be implemented in one or two MFPs 12, and the job processing system may be composed of the user terminal 10 and a plurality of MFPs 12.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the print server 11. Since the user terminal 10 and the MFP server 13 have the same configuration as the print server 11, the description of the hardware configuration of the user terminal 10 and the MFP server 13 will be omitted.

The print server 11 has a CPU 20, a ROM 21, a RAM 22, an HD23, an HDD controller 24, a display I / F26, an external device connection I / F27, a network I / F28, and a bus line, like a general PC. It includes 29, a keyboard 30, a mouse 31, a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 32, and a media I / F 33. Here, the display 25 is connected to the print server 11, and the display 25 is not included in the print server 11, but it may be included.

The CPU 20 controls the operation of the entire print server 11. The ROM 21 stores a program used to drive the CPU 20 such as an IPL (Internet Printer Language). The RAM 22 provides a work area for the CPU 20. The HD23 stores various programs and various data. The HDD controller 24 controls reading and writing of various data to the HD 23 according to the control of the CPU 20.

The display 25 displays various information such as cursors, menus, windows, characters, and images. The display I / F 26 is an interface for connecting the display 25 to the print server 11 and controlling the display of the display 25. The external device connection I / F27 is an interface for connecting various external devices. The external device is, for example, a USB memory, a printer, or the like. The network I / F 28 is an interface for communicating via the network 14. The bus line 29 is an address bus or a data bus for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 20.

The keyboard 30 is an input means including a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, and the like. The mouse 31 is an input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like. The DVD-RW drive 32 controls reading and writing of various data to the DVD-RW 34, which is one of the removable recording media. Here, the recording medium is DVD-RW, but the recording medium is not limited to DVD-RW, and may be CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, or the like. The media I / F 33 controls reading and writing of data to a recording medium 35 such as a flash memory.

The print server 11 and the MFP server 13 do not have to be provided with all the above hardware, and may be provided with only the necessary hardware.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the MFP 12. The MFP 12 includes a controller 40, a short-range communication circuit 41, an engine control unit 42, an operation panel 43, and a network I / F 44.

The controller 40 includes a CPU 50, which is a main part of a computer, a system memory (MEM-P) 51, a north bridge (NB) 52, a south bridge (SB) 53, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 54, and a local controller 40. It includes a memory (MEM-C) 55, an HDD controller 56, and an HD (Hard Disk) 57. The NB 52 and the ASIC 54 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics) bus 58.

The CPU 50 functions as a control unit that controls the entire MFP 12. The NB 52 is a bridge that connects the CPU 50 and the MEM-P51, SB53, and AGP bus 58, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P51, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target.

The MEM-P51 is composed of a ROM 51a for storing programs and data for realizing each function of the controller 40, and a RAM 51b used for developing programs and data, drawing at the time of printing, and the like. The program stored in the RAM 51b is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or SD card in an installable or executable format file. May be configured to provide.

The SB53 is a bridge for connecting the NB 52 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The ASIC 54 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing applications that has hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge that connects the MEM-C55, the HDD controller 56, the AGP bus 58, and the PCI bus 59, respectively. The ASIC 54 includes a PCI target, an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 54, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C55, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data by hardware logic or the like. ), And a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 60 and the printer unit 61 via the PCI bus 59. An interface of USB or IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 may be connected to the ASIC 54.

The MEM-C55 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer or a code buffer. The HD57 is a storage for storing image data, font data used at the time of printing, forms, and the like. The HDD controller 56 controls reading and writing of data to the HD 57 according to the control of the CPU 50. The AGP bus 58 is a bus interface for a graphic accelerator card for speeding up graphic processing, and speeds up the graphic accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P51 with high throughput.

The short-range communication circuit 41 is a circuit that performs short-range wireless communication by NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like. The short-range communication circuit 41 is provided with a short-range communication antenna 41a. The engine control unit 42 is composed of a scanner unit 60 and a printer unit 61, and controls a scanner and a printer included in the MFP 12.

The operation panel 43 displays a current setting value, a selection screen, etc., and receives a panel display unit 43a such as a touch panel that accepts input from a user, and a numeric keypad or a copy that accepts setting values of conditions related to image formation such as density setting conditions. It is composed of an operation button 43b such as a start key that receives a start instruction.

The network I / F44 is an interface for communicating via the network 14. The short-range communication circuit 41 and the network I / F 44 are electrically connected to the ASIC 54 via the PCI bus 59.

The controller 40 controls the entire MFP 12, and for example, it is possible to sequentially switch and select the scanner function, the document box function, the copy function, the printer function, and the facsimile function by using the application switching keys of the drawing, communication, and operation panel 43. To. When each function is selected, the MFP 12 is in a mode corresponding to each function.

Next, the functional configuration of the user terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIG. Each functional means is realized by the CPU reading the program stored in the HD via the HDD controller, expanding it on the RAM, and executing the program. Each functional means is realized by devices such as ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and conventional circuit modules designed to execute each function. You may. The same applies to the print server 11, the MFP server 13, and the MFP 12 described below.

The user terminal 10 includes a job transmission unit 70, a lock instruction unit 71, and a reservation instruction unit 72.

The job transmission unit 70 transmits a print job that the user wants to print to the print server 11. The print job is sent in association with the information of the user who requests the execution of the print job. Examples of the user information include a user name and a user ID.

Upon receiving the notification of the usage status of the MFP 12 from the print server 11, the lock instruction unit 71 prevents other users from logging in to the free MFP 12 for a certain period of time when there is a (free) MFP 12 that is not currently used. Instruct the free MFP 12 to lock. When a plurality of free MFPs 12 exist, a lock is instructed to the free MFP12 specified by the user. The reservation instruction unit 72 instructs the reservation of the MFP12 to be used when all the MFPs 12 are currently used by other users and there is no free MFP12.

The functional configuration of the print server 11 will be described with reference to FIG. The print server 11 includes a job receiving unit 80, a job storage unit 81, a usage status confirmation unit 82, a usage status notification unit 83, a lock instruction unit 84, a reservation instruction unit 85, and a usage end notification unit 86. include.

The job receiving unit 80 receives the print job transmitted from the user terminal 10. The job storage unit 81 stores the print jobs received by the job reception unit 80. The usage status confirmation unit 82 confirms the usage status of all the MFPs 12 with the MFP server 13.

The usage status notification unit 83 notifies the usage status confirmed by the usage status confirmation unit 82. At this time, the usage status notification unit 83 notifies the information of the free MFP 12 as a candidate of the MFP 12 that can execute the print job received from the user terminal 10 at an early stage. When there is no free MFP 12, the usage status notification unit 83 considers that there is no candidate and notifies the information that there is no free MFP. Since these are examples, the MFP12 that accumulates a small number of print jobs when there is a free MFP12 may be notified as a candidate, or the MFP12 that accumulates a small number of print jobs when there is no free MFP12 may be notified as a candidate. You may notify.

When the lock instruction unit 84 has a free MFP 12 and receives a lock instruction for the free MFP 12 designated by the user from the user terminal 10, the lock instruction unit 84 transmits the lock instruction to the designated free MFP 12. When there is no free MFP 12 and the reservation instruction unit 85 receives the reservation instruction for the MFP 12 designated by the user from the user terminal 10, the reservation instruction unit 85 transmits the reservation instruction to the designated MFP 12.

The use end notification unit 86 transmits a end notification to the user terminal 10 when the use of another user of the MFP 12 reserved by the reservation instruction unit 85 is completed. As a result, the user knows that the MFP 12 is free and can use the MFP 12. Since the end notification is not sent to other users, other users cannot know that the MFP 12 is free.

The functional configuration of the MFP server 13 will be described with reference to FIG. The MFP server 13 includes a usage status confirmation unit 90, a usage status storage unit 91, and a usage status transmission unit 92.

The usage status confirmation unit 90 confirms all usage statuses of a plurality of MFPs 12 held by an arbitrary community such as a department. Although it is referred to as a community here, it is not limited to this, and may be an area such as a floor or a building. The usage status confirmation unit 90 can request, for example, each MFP 12 to confirm the usage status of its own machine, and obtain the confirmation result. The usage status storage unit 91 stores the usage status confirmed by the usage status confirmation unit 90. The usage status transmission unit 92 receives a request from the print server 11 and transmits the usage status of each MFP 12.

The functional configuration of the MFP 12 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The MFP 12 includes a server communication unit 100, a usage status confirmation unit 101, a restriction unit (lock unit) 102, a job storage unit 103, a reservation unit 104, and a usage end notification unit 105.

The server communication unit 100 communicates with the print server 11 and the MFP server 13, receives a lock instruction and a reservation instruction from the print server 11, receives a usage status confirmation request from the MFP server 13, and returns the confirmation result. The usage status confirmation unit 101 confirms the current usage status of its own machine in response to the usage status confirmation request. The current usage status of the own machine can be confirmed by checking the accumulation status of print jobs.

The lock unit 102 locks its own machine based on the lock instruction received via the server communication unit 100. That is, login from a user other than the user who uses the user terminal 10 that has sent the lock instruction is restricted. Therefore, even if another user tries to log in, the login is not permitted. The job storage unit 103 stores the print jobs transmitted from the user terminal 10 that has transmitted the lock instruction. The accumulated print job is displayed on the panel display unit 43a of the operation panel 43 for selection by the logged-in user.

The lock unit 102 locks the own machine for a certain period of time, and releases the lock after a certain period of time elapses. This allows other users to use the MFP 12. The lock time is determined in consideration of the user's travel time and the like.

The reservation unit 104 makes a reservation for its own machine based on the reservation instruction received via the server communication unit 100. The reservation is for executing the print job received from the user terminal 10 after the use by a user other than the user who uses the user terminal 10 to which the reservation instruction has been sent is completed, and the use by the other user is completed. It ends when you do. Upon receiving the completion of the reservation, the use end notification unit 105 transmits the end notification to the print server 11.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing for limiting job execution by the MFP 12. This process is started by transmitting a print job from the user terminal 10 to the print server 11 (S1). The print server 11 stores the print jobs received from the user terminal 10 (S2). The print server 11 confirms the usage status of all the MFPs 12 via the MFP server 13 (S3), and acquires the information of the free MFP12 (S4). The free MFP 12 is an MFP 12 that is not currently used by any user and has no print job accumulation. The print server 11 transmits the information of the free MFP 12 to the user terminal 10 as a candidate for a device capable of executing the print job at an early stage (S5).

When the user terminal 10 receives the information of the free MFP 12 from the print server 11, the user terminal 10 notifies the user by displaying the information on the display unit included in the user terminal 10. The user refers to the notified information of the free MFP12 and specifies one of the free MFPs 12 as the MFP12 to be locked. When a plurality of free MFPs 12 exist, the user can specify one of the plurality of free MFPs 12.

When a plurality of free MFPs 12 exist, the user may specify them, or the free MFPs 12 closest to the location where the user is located may be automatically specified by setting in advance. In this case, a map including information on the location where the user is, for example, the seat position of the user and the installation positions of all the MFPs 12 can be registered, and the nearest empty MFP12 can be specified by referring to the registered map. .. Since this is an example, other methods may be used to specify the closest free MFP12.

When the user specifies the MFP 12 to be locked and instructs the lock, the user terminal 10 accepts the designation and the lock instruction (S6). When the above automatic designation is made, the user can be notified that the automatic designation has been made, and only the lock instruction can be accepted from the user.

The user terminal 10 transmits the received lock instruction to the MFP 12 to the print server 11 (S7). The lock instruction includes job identification information such as a print job name for identifying a print job as a parameter. The print server 11 transmits the lock instruction received from the user terminal 10 to the designated MFP 12 (S8). At this time, the print server 11 transmits the print job corresponding to the job specific information to the designated MFP 12.

Upon receiving the lock instruction from the print server 11, the MFP 12 accumulates the received print job (S9). Further, the MFP 12 locks for a certain period of time (S10). While the MFP12 is locked, the user moves to the place where the MFP12 is installed, operates the MFP12, and logs in directly to the MFP12. Then, the user selects a print job to be executed from the print jobs displayed on the panel display unit 43a of the operation panel 43 of the MFP 12, and instructs the execution of printing by pressing the print button or the like. Upon receiving the instruction to execute printing, the MFP 12 executes printing of the print job selected by the user (S11).

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process of reserving job execution by the MFP 12. Similar to the process shown in FIG. 8, this process is also started by transmitting a print job from the user terminal 10 to the print server 11 (S1). The print server 11 stores the print jobs received from the user terminal 10 (S2). The print server 11 confirms the usage status of all the MFPs 12 via the MFP server 13 (S3), and acquires the information of the free MFP12 (S4). Since the job execution is reserved when there is no free MFP 12, the print server 11 transmits the information without the free MFP 12 to the user terminal 10 (S5).

Here, the information without the free MFP 12 is transmitted, but if the MFP 12 to be reserved is in use but the other MFP 12 has a free space, the information of the free MFP 12 may be transmitted.

When the user terminal 10 receives the information without the free MFP 12 from the print server 11, the user terminal 10 notifies the user by displaying that there is no free MFP 12 on the display unit provided in the user terminal 10. The user specifies the MFP 12 to be reserved and instructs the reservation. The user terminal 10 receives the designation and the reservation instruction (S6).

The user terminal 10 transmits a reservation instruction to the received MFP 12 to the print server 11 (S7). The print server 11 transmits the reservation instruction received from the user terminal 10 to the designated MFP 12 (S8).

Upon receiving the reservation instruction from the print server 11, the MFP 12 makes a reservation for the MFP 12 (S9). The MFP 12 that has received the reservation sends a usage end notification to the print server 11 (S11) when the use of the other user is completed (S10). The print server 11 transmits the received end-of-use notification to the user terminal 10 (S12). The user terminal 10 can notify the user by displaying on the display unit or the like that the use of the other user has ended.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of executing a print job by the MFP 12. This process is performed at S11 in FIG. 8 or after S12 in FIG. The process is started from step 100, and in step 101, the user authentication process is performed on the MFP 12 and the user logs in. The authentication process is performed by comparing the input authentication information with the information registered in advance. As the authentication information, user identification information or a password that identifies the user may be used, or biological information such as a fingerprint, an iris, a vein, or a voiceprint may be used. It may also contain other information. The authentication information may be input using an input key or the like, or may be in the form of reading information recorded in advance on an IC card, a smartphone or the like.

In step 102, the print job sent by the logged-in user is displayed. The print job can be displayed by displaying the job specific information on the panel display unit 43a of the operation panel 43 shown in FIG. In step 103, it is determined whether or not to execute printing. The user can instruct the execution of printing by selecting the print job displayed on the panel display unit 43a and pressing the print button. Whether or not to execute printing can be determined by whether or not the print button is pressed.

If it is determined in step 103 that printing is to be executed, the process proceeds to step 104 to execute printing, and if printing is completed, the process proceeds to step 105 to end the process. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 103 that printing is not executed, the process returns to step 102, a print job is selected, and printing is executed. If a certain period of time elapses without printing being executed, it is possible to proceed to step 105, end the process, and start the authentication process again.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the details of the authentication process shown in FIG. The authentication process may be carried out in the MFP 12 or may be carried out using a separately provided authentication server.

Starting from step 200, step 201 locks the MFP 12 so that it cannot be used by another user for a certain period of time. In step 202, it is determined whether or not the user who is going to log in is the user who has instructed the lock. The lock instruction includes job identification information that identifies the print job as a parameter. Further, in the print job, the job specific information and the user information are associated with each other. Therefore, the user information can be acquired from the job specific information included in the lock instruction. Since the authentication information is input at the time of login, the above determination can be made by comparing the authentication information with the user information.

If it is determined that the user has been instructed to lock in step 202, the process proceeds to step 203, and it is confirmed whether or not the locked fixed time has passed. A time measuring unit for measuring time can be provided to determine whether or not a certain time has passed. If not, the process proceeds to step 204, the authentication is successful, the user logs in, and the authentication process ends in step 206.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the user is not the user who instructed the lock in step 202, or if the fixed time locked in step 203 has passed, the process proceeds to step 205, and the free information of the other MFP 12 is used as the lock process for the free MFP 12. Check. Then, it is possible to prompt the other MFP 12 to execute the lock instruction and the authentication process.

If the locked time has passed in step 203, since the user who is trying to log in is the user who instructed the lock, the free information including the same MFP 12 can be confirmed. If the same MFP 12 is available, the process can be started again from step 200 and the authentication process can be performed.

As described above, by locking the MFP 12 for a certain period of time when the MFP 12 is free, it is possible to restrict the use of other users after confirming the usage status of the MFP 12. Execution of the print job in the MFP 12 is performed by actually going to the MFP 12, logging in, selecting a print job, and instructing the execution of printing. Therefore, by restricting the use of other users, it is only necessary to go to the MFP 12 once, and it is possible to reduce the trouble of going to the MFP 12 several times.

As a result of checking the usage status, when a plurality of free MFP12s exist, the user may specify the MFP12, or the MFP12 closest to the user's current position may be specified. By specifying the MFP 12 closest to the user's current location, the travel distance of the user can be shortened. Further, by specifying the MFP12 by the user, the favorite MFP12 can be used, and the MFP12 having high performance and likely to finish early can be used.

Further, even when a free MFP 12 does not exist, the user can specify and make a reservation, so that the favorite MFP 12 or the MFP 12 that is likely to end early can be used even after the use of the other user is finished. Further, by designating and making a reservation by designating the MFP 12 closest to the user's current location, the user's travel distance can be shortened.

So far, the present invention has been described with the above-described embodiments as a management system, a job processing system, a method, and a program for executing the method on a computer, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. No. Therefore, other embodiments, additions, changes, deletions, etc. can be made within the range that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, and as long as the actions and effects of the present invention are exhibited in any of the embodiments, the present invention It is included in the range. Therefore, a recording medium on which the program is recorded, a server device that provides the program via a network, and the like can also be provided.

10 ... User terminal 11 ... Print server 12 ... MFP
13 ... MFP server 14 ... Network 20 ... CPU
21 ... ROM
22 ... RAM
23 ... HD
24 ... HDD controller 25 ... Display 26 ... Display I / F
27 ... External device connection I / F
28 ... Network I / F
29 ... Bus line 30 ... Keyboard 31 ... Mouse 32 ... DVD-RW drive 33 ... Media I / F
34 ... DVD-RW
35 ... Recording media 40 ... Controller 41 ... Short-range communication circuit 41a ... Short-range communication antenna 42 ... Engine control unit 43 ... Operation panel 43a ... Panel display unit 43b ... Operation button 44 ... Network I / F
50 ... CPU
51 ... MEM-P
51a ... ROM
51b ... RAM
52 ... NB
53 ... SB
54 ... ASIC
55 ... MEM-C
56 ... HDD controller 57 ... HD
58 ... AGP bus 59 ... PCI bus 60 ... Scanner unit 61 ... Printer unit 70 ... Job transmission unit 71 ... Lock instruction unit 72 ... Reservation instruction unit 80 ... Job reception unit 81 ... Job storage unit 82 ... Usage status confirmation unit 83 ... Use Status notification unit 84 ... Lock instruction unit 85 ... Reservation instruction unit 86 ... Usage end notification unit 90 ... Usage status confirmation unit 91 ... Usage status storage unit 92 ... Usage status transmission unit 100 ... Server contact unit 101 ... Usage status confirmation unit 102 ... Lock unit 103 ... Job storage unit 104 ... Reservation unit 105 ... End of use notification unit

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-219912

Claims (12)

A management system that manages jobs
Receiving means to receive jobs from user terminals,
A notification means for notifying the user terminal of a candidate device that can execute the received job at an early stage based on the accumulation status of the job for each device.
A management system including a transmission means for transmitting an instruction for restricting execution of a job transmitted from a device other than the user terminal to a device designated by the user terminal. When there is an unused device that does not have a job accumulated in the job accumulation status for each device, the notification means provides information on the unused device as a candidate for a device that can execute the job at an early stage. The management system according to claim 1, which notifies. 2. When there are two or more unused devices, the transmitting means transmits the restriction instruction to the unused device closest to the user terminal as the device designated by the user terminal. The management system described in. When the device designated by the user terminal is an in-use device in which jobs are accumulated, the transmitting means transmits an instruction to reserve the designated device instead of the limiting instruction. Item 1. The management system according to item 1. The management system according to claim 4, further comprising a second notification means for notifying the user terminal of the end of use when the execution of the accumulated job for the reserved device is completed. The management system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the transmission means transmits the reservation instruction to a device closest to the user terminal as a device designated by the user. Includes multiple devices that execute jobs and a management system that manages jobs
The management system
Receiving means to receive jobs from user terminals,
A notification means for notifying the user terminal of a candidate device that can execute the received job at an early stage based on the accumulation status of the job for each device.
A job processing system including a transmission means for transmitting an instruction for restricting execution of a job transmitted from a device other than the user terminal to a device designated by the user terminal. The job processing system according to claim 7, wherein the device includes a limiting means for limiting the execution of a job transmitted from a device other than the user terminal for a certain period of time by receiving the instruction. The job processing system according to claim 8, wherein the limiting means releases the execution restriction of a job transmitted from a device other than the user terminal after the lapse of a certain period of time. When the device receives an instruction to reserve the device instead of the limiting instruction, the device executes the job received from the user terminal after the execution of the jobs accumulated in the device is completed. The job processing system according to claim 7, further comprising a reservation means for reserving the device. A method performed by a management system that manages jobs.
The step of receiving a job from the user terminal and
Based on the accumulation status of jobs for each device, a step of notifying the user terminal of a candidate device that can execute the received job at an early stage, and
A method comprising the step of transmitting an instruction for restricting execution of a job transmitted from other than the user terminal to a device designated by the user terminal. A program for causing a computer to perform each step included in the method according to claim 11.

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