JP3610207B2 - Image forming apparatus and management information transmission method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a copy function and a printer function, for example, and Pipe More particularly, the image forming apparatus suitable for managing the number of output sheets by the copy function and the number of output sheets by the printer function based on the same department ID. Pipe The present invention relates to a method for transmitting physical information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are copiers equipped with a management device that manages magnetic card and ID number input. In this type of copying machine, when copying by a user, the above-described management apparatus manages the number of copies by department. In recent years, multi-function (hereinafter referred to as MFP) devices having both a facsimile (FAX) function and a printer function have been developed. With respect to this type of MFP device, there have been devised ones that can separately manage FAX reception output and the number of printer outputs, and one that manages copy output and print output by the same department information.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described prior art has the following problems. That is, for example, when the output is impossible because the cumulative output number of a certain department exceeds the upper limit output number, it is not possible to output to a user who performs print output from a place away from the device. There is a drawback that a warning is not notified, or it is not determined whether output is possible unless data to be actually printed is generated and transmitted to the device.
[0004]
In particular, in a system in which print data is spooled to a disk and then sent to the output device, the output device cannot print if the print target document is a complex document and it takes a long time to create the print data. There has been a demand for immediately interrupting the printing process by confirming that it is in a state.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points. By making it possible to inquire about the cumulative output number and the upper limit output number of a department from a network-connected client computer before the start of a printing operation, An image forming apparatus capable of confirming whether or not output is possible and capable of interrupting a printing operation without waiting for a time required for creating print data. Pipe It is an object to provide a method for transmitting physical information.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides image data obtained by converting data received from an external device. based on An image forming apparatus capable of printing output, Registered by the ID number registration means for registering the department ID number and the ID number registration means Management means for holding print output management information for each ID number; A first determination unit that determines whether an ID number input for a copy operation is registered by the ID number registration unit; and a copy when the input ID number is registered by the ID number registration unit An update means for updating the management information of the ID number input for the copy operation according to the print output by the operation, a registration means for registering a user ID corresponding to the ID number, a management information inquiry instruction, and a user ID Receiving means from an external device, second determination means for determining whether the user ID received by the receiving means is registered by the registration means, and the user ID received by the receiving means is the registration If registered by the means, received by the receiving means according to the inquiry instruction received by the receiving means Of the ID number corresponding to over The ID And control means for transmitting management information to an external device.
[0007]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 2 When the user ID received by the receiving unit is not registered by the registration unit, the control unit transmits a message indicating that the printing operation is impossible to the external device. It is characterized by that.
[0008]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 3 The management means holds a cumulative output count value and an output upper limit count value for each department as management information. It is characterized by that.
[0009]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 4 A conversion unit configured to convert the user ID received by the reception unit into an ID number; and the control unit transmits management information of the ID number converted by the conversion unit to an external device. It is characterized by that.
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 5 The registration unit associates the input user ID with the ID number selected from the ID numbers registered by the ID number registration unit. It is characterized by that.
[0011]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 6 provides: If the input ID number is not registered by the ID number registering means, printing output by the copy operation is not performed. It is characterized by that.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 7 provides: A method for transmitting management information of an image forming apparatus capable of printing output based on image data obtained by converting data received from an external device, an ID number registration step for registering a department ID number, and the ID number registration A management step for holding print output management information for each ID number registered in the step, and a first determination step for determining whether the ID number input for the copy operation is registered in the ID number registration step; An update step of updating management information of the ID number input for the copy operation according to a print output by the copy operation when the input ID number is registered by the ID number registration step; and the ID number A registration step for registering a user ID corresponding to the user ID, a management information inquiry instruction, and a user ID from an external device. A receiving step, a second determining step for determining whether the user ID received by the receiving step is registered by the registration step, and a user ID received by the receiving step are registered by the registration step. A control step of transmitting management information of an ID number corresponding to the user ID received by the reception step to an external device according to the inquiry instruction received by the reception step. It is characterized by doing.
[0013]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 8 provides: In the control step, if the user ID received in the receiving step is not registered in the registration step, a message indicating that the printing operation is not possible is transmitted to the external device. It is characterized by that.
[0014]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 9 In the management step, the cumulative output count value and the output upper limit count value for each department are held as management information. It is characterized by that.
[0015]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 10 provides: A conversion step of converting the user ID received in the reception step into an ID number, and in the control step, management information of the ID number converted in the conversion step is transmitted to an external device; It is characterized by that.
[0016]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 11 provides: In the registration step, the input user ID is associated with the ID number selected from the ID numbers registered in the ID number registration step. It is characterized by that.
[0017]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 12 If the input ID number is not registered in the ID number registration step, print output by a copy operation is not performed. It is characterized by that.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
First, the overall configuration of the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The network system includes a personal computer (hereinafter PC) 201, a personal computer (hereinafter PC) 202, a scanner unit 203, a printer unit 204, a copy machine 207, a FAX (facsimile) machine 208, and a personal computer (hereinafter PC). ) 209, a copy machine 210, a FAX machine 211, a LAN (Local Area Network) 212, a LAN 213, a magneto-optical disk unit 214, and a magneto-optical disk unit 215.
[0024]
The configuration of each unit will be described in detail. On the LAN 212, a PC 201, a PC 202, a copy machine 207, and a FAX machine 208 are connected. Further, a scanner unit 203 and a printer unit 204 are connected to the PC 202, and a magneto-optical disk unit 214 is connected to the copy machine 207. On the other hand, a PC 209, a copy machine 210, and a FAX machine 211 are connected on the LAN 213. Further, a magneto-optical disk unit 215 is connected to the copy machine 210. The connected devices on the LAN 212 and LAN 213 are not limited to those shown in the figure.
[0025]
The PC 201 is a computer that is normally used by a user, and is a device that creates a document and exchanges e-mails with other computers connected to the LAN 212. The PC 209 also has the same function as the PC 201 described above. The PC 202 is the same as the PC 201 and the PC 209 described above, and the scanner unit 203 and the printer unit 204 are connected to the PC 202 via a general-purpose interface of a computer equipped in the PC 202.
[0026]
The scanner unit 203 is used to paste an image read by the scanner unit 203 on a document created on the PC 202. The printer unit 204 is used to print out a document created on the PC 202. The system including the PC 202, the scanner unit 203, and the printer unit 204 has a simple copy function that prints out an image read by the scanner unit 203 by the printer unit 204 by an operation from the PC 202.
[0027]
The copy machine 207 is an image forming apparatus equipped with a large liquid crystal touch panel, for example, and has both a scanner function and a printer function. In addition to having a copy function as a single unit, the copy machine 207 has a function as an electronic filing device by connecting a magneto-optical disk unit 214. Further, the copy machine 207 also has a printer function such as a computer, and develops the image forming command data into bitmap image data via the LAN 212 for the document created by the PC 201 or the PC 202 or the like. , Print. The copy machine 210 has a similar function.
[0028]
The FAX machine 208 is an image forming apparatus equipped with, for example, a large liquid crystal touch panel and connected to the LAN 212 and connected to the public line 216 as described above. The FAX machine 208 has a simple copy function and G3 standard FAX function as a single unit, and also functions as a gateway (an apparatus for connecting a plurality of networks) to another LAN 213 via the public line 216. Plays. The FAX machine 211 has a similar function.
[0029]
Next, a control configuration of a common part of the above-described image forming apparatuses (copy machine, FAX machine) configuring the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus includes a CPU 101, a hard disk (HD) 102, a memory 103, a high-speed CPU bus 104, a RIP (Raster Image Processor) 105, an image processing unit 106, a compression / decompression unit 107, and a bus bridge 108. A low-speed CPU bus 109, a modem 110, a LAN 112, a management device interface 114, a panel interface 115, a high-speed image bus 116, a scanner interface unit 117, a scanner unit 118, a printer interface unit 119, and a printer. A unit 120, an operation unit 121, and a management device 122 are provided.
[0030]
The configuration of each unit will be described in detail. The CPU 101 includes, for example, a microprocessor that controls the entire image forming apparatus, and operates by a real-time OS (Operating System). The hard disk 102 is a large-capacity storage unit that stores a plurality of applications for the operation of the CPU 101, and is under the control of the CPU 101. The memory 103 is a work memory when the CPU 101 operates, and is configured to be accessible from the CPU 101 at high speed.
[0031]
The high-speed CPU bus 104 is a bus that connects the CPU 101, the hard disk 102, the memory 103, and each functional unit described later, and transfers data processed by the CPU 101 to each functional unit or between functional units. This is for transferring data at high speed (DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer). The high-speed CPU bus 104 generally includes a VL (Video Electronics Standards Association Local) bus or a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus.
[0032]
The RIP 105 is a functional unit that receives an image forming command input via an external interface connected to a computer, which will be described later, and converts it into a bitmap image in accordance with the contents. The image forming command is input from the high-speed CPU bus 104 and outputs an image to a high-speed image bus 116 described later. Examples of the RIP 105 include Postscript (a page description language developed by Adobe Corporation in the United States), PCL (a type of page description language), LIPS (a page description language developed by Canon Inc.), and CaPSL (a type of page description language). can give.
[0033]
The image processing unit 106 is a functional unit that performs filtering processing on an image image such as smoothing processing or edge processing on an image image input from the high-speed image bus 116 in accordance with a processing command instructed by the CPU 101. Other functions of the image processing unit 106 include a character recognition function (OCR: Optical Character Reader) for an image input from the high-speed image bus 116, and an image separation function for separating the character part and the image part. It also has.
[0034]
The compression / decompression unit 107 performs MH (Modified Huffman), MR (Modified Read), MMR (Modified Modified Read), and JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group: the same organization) on the image input from the high-speed image bus 116. The image data is compressed by an image compression method such as a color still image compression method, and the compressed data is sent to the high-speed CPU bus 104 or the high-speed image bus 116 again, or vice versa. It has a function of expanding data according to a method compressed by this functional unit and sending it to the high-speed image bus 116.
[0035]
The bus bridge 108 is a bus bridge controller for connecting the high-speed CPU bus 104 and a low-speed CPU bus 109 described later, and absorbs a difference in processing speed between the buses. Through the bus bridge 108, the CPU 101 operating at high speed can access a functional unit operating at low speed connected to the low-speed CPU bus 109.
[0036]
The low-speed CPU bus 109 has a lower transfer speed than the above-described high-speed CPU bus 104, and is a bus for connecting functional units having relatively slow processing capabilities. The low-speed CPU bus 109 is generally an ISA (Industrial Standard Architecture) bus or the like.
[0037]
The modem 110 is a functional unit that interposes the public line 111 and the low-speed CPU bus 109. The modem 110 modulates the digital data sent from the low-speed CPU bus 109 so that the data can flow through the public line 111, and the public A function of converting the modulated data sent from the line 111 into digital data that can be processed in the image forming apparatus.
[0038]
The LAN 112 is a functional unit for connecting the image forming apparatus to the local network 113, and is used for transmitting and receiving data to and from the local network 113. Examples of the LAN 112 include Ethernet (LAN having a bus structure developed by Xerox, DEC, and Intel).
[0039]
The management apparatus interface 114 is a functional unit for connecting the image forming apparatus and the management apparatus 122, and sends a control command from the image forming apparatus to the management apparatus 122 via the interface 114, or sends an image from the management apparatus 122. It is used for returning counter information and an enable signal to the forming apparatus.
[0040]
The panel interface 115 exchanges various control signals with an operation unit 121 (to be described later) in the image forming apparatus. The panel interface 115 transmits a signal of an input switch such as a key disposed in the operation unit 121 to the CPU 101, This is a unit that performs resolution conversion for displaying the image data created by the image processing unit 106 and the compression / decompression unit 107 on, for example, a liquid crystal display unit equipped in the operation unit 121.
[0041]
The high-speed image bus 116 is a bus for mutually connecting an image input / output bus in various image generation units (RIP 105, image processing unit 106, compression / decompression unit 107), a scanner interface 117, and a printer interface 119 described later. is there. The control of the high-speed image bus 116 is not under the control of the CPU 101, and is controlled by the management device 122 described later to perform data transfer.
[0042]
The scanner unit 118 is a visible image reading apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder, and is a three-line CCD (Charge Coupled Device) color sensor, or one line of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). It has a monochrome CCD line sensor. Image data read by the scanner unit 118 is transferred to the high-speed image bus 116 by the scanner interface unit 117.
[0043]
The scanner interface unit 117 binarizes the image data read by the scanner unit 118 according to the contents of processing in the subsequent process, and performs serial-parallel conversion in accordance with the data width of the high-speed image bus 116. The read R, G, and B primary color data are converted into C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and Bk (black) data.
[0044]
The printer unit 120 prints image data received from a printer interface unit 119, which will be described later, as visible image data on a recording sheet. As the printer unit 120, for example, a bubble jet printer that prints on a recording sheet using a bubble jet method, or an electrophotographic technique that forms an image on a photosensitive drum by using a laser beam and forms an image on the recording sheet is used. Laser beam printers. Laser beam printers include those of a single color and color laser beam printers of C, M, Y, and Bk.
[0045]
The printer interface unit 119 transfers image data sent from the high-speed image bus 116 to the printer unit 120. The printer interface unit 119 has a bus width that matches the gradation of the printer to be output from the bus width of the high-speed image bus 116. A bus width conversion function for conversion and a function for absorbing the difference between the printing speed of the printer and the transfer speed of image data on the high-speed image bus 116 are provided.
[0046]
The operation unit 121 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display unit, a touch panel input device attached on the liquid crystal display unit, and a plurality of hard keys. A signal input via the touch panel or hard key is transmitted to the CPU 101 via the panel interface 115 described above. The liquid crystal display unit displays image data sent via the panel interface 115. The liquid crystal display unit displays function display, image data, and the like in the operation of the image forming apparatus. The display method is not limited to liquid crystal.
[0047]
The management device 122 holds management information for image output for each registered ID number, and is connected to the image forming apparatus via the management device interface 114. In addition, the management apparatus 122 receives a control command transmitted from the image forming apparatus via the management apparatus interface 114, and returns counter information and an enable signal to the image forming apparatus via the management apparatus interface 114.
[0048]
Next, a management method of copy / print output information by ID number and a counter information inquiry method from a client computer, which are main control portions in the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0049]
(A) ID number registration from the operation unit 121
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering an ID number from the operation unit 121. First, in step S101, when the user presses the ID key on the operation unit 121, a selection screen as shown in FIG. 11A is displayed on the operation unit 121 (F101). In step S102, when the user selects “ID number registration” from the selection screen and presses the OK key, an ID number input screen as shown in FIG. 11B is displayed (F102).
[0050]
In step S103, the user inputs, for example, a four-digit number using the numeric keypad. In step S104, the user presses the OK key to determine the ID number. Next, in step S105, when there is an ID number to be registered, the user selects with the ▲ ▼ key, returns to step S103, and inputs a number again with the numeric keypad.
[0051]
On the other hand, if there is no ID number to be registered in step S105, the ID number is registered in step S107 when the user ends the ID number registration screen by pressing the ID key. In step S <b> 108, the registered ID number is notified to the management device 122 via the management device interface 114 and stored in the nonvolatile memory in the management device 122. As described above, the ID number registration sequence is completed.
[0052]
(B) Network user ID registration from the operation unit 121
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering a network user ID from the operation unit 121. First, in step S <b> 201, the user selects “register network user ID” from the selection screen (FIG. 11A) of the operation unit 121. In step S202, a character input screen as shown in FIG. 12A is displayed on the operation unit 121 (F103).
[0053]
Here, the user can select input of alphabets and symbols by pressing an input mode key. Numbers can be entered from the numeric keypad. The network user ID is input by the above input means.
[0054]
In step S203, the user presses the OK key to determine the network user ID. In step S204, the ID number registered inside is displayed as shown in FIG. 11B (F102). When the user selects an ID number corresponding to the network user ID with the ▲ ▼ key and presses the OK key, the corresponding ID number is confirmed.
[0055]
In step S205, if there is a further network user ID to be registered, the processes in steps S202 to S204 are repeated. In step S206, the user presses the ID key to end the registration screen, and the input network user ID and the corresponding internal ID number table are stored in the non-volatile memory in the copy machine 207. As described above, the network user ID number registration sequence is completed.
[0056]
(C) Copy operation by entering ID number
5 to 7 are flowcharts showing a procedure for performing a copy operation by inputting an ID number from the operation unit 121. First, in step S301, a message for prompting an ID number input as shown in FIG. 12B is displayed on the copy operation screen (F104). When the user inputs a four-digit number in step S302, for example, the copy machine 207 transmits the input ID number to the management apparatus 122 via the management apparatus interface 114 in step S303.
[0057]
When receiving the ID number in step S312 from the ID number reception waiting state in step S311, the management apparatus 122 determines in step S313 whether any of the registered ID numbers match the received ID number. Judging. If there is a match, an enable signal to the copy machine 207 in the management apparatus interface 114 is activated in step S314. On the other hand, if there is no match, the process returns to step S311 while keeping the enable signal to the copy machine 207 inactive in step S315.
[0058]
If the copy machine 207 detects that the enable signal has become active in step S304, the copy machine 207 displays a message indicating that copying is possible in step S305 and accepts the copy operation. In step S 306, when the user performs a copy operation and starts output, the copy machine 207 notifies the management apparatus 122 of the copy condition and the output count signal via the management apparatus interface 114. On the other hand, if the enable signal remains inactive in step S304, the process returns to the ID number input waiting state in step S301.
[0059]
In step S316, the management apparatus 122 updates the management information corresponding to the accepted ID number in accordance with the notified information. In the copy machine 207, when the copy operation is finished in step S307, the user notifies the end by pressing the ID key. When the ID key is pressed, in step S308, the copy machine 207 notifies the management apparatus 122 of the end of the copy operation via the management apparatus interface 114.
[0060]
Upon receiving the copy completion, the management device 122 deactivates the enable signal in the management device interface 114 in step S317. In step S317, the copy machine 207 confirms that the enable signal has become inactive, and returns to the ID number input screen in step S301. As described above, the copy sequence by inputting the ID number is completed.
[0061]
(D) Procedure for inquiring counter information from PC via network
FIGS. 8 to 10 are flowcharts showing a procedure for inquiring management information (counter value) held in the management apparatus 122 from a PC connected to the network. First, in step S401, when the user instructs printing to start in the PC 101, the PC 101 transmits a management information inquiry command and a network user ID to the copy machine 207 in step S402.
[0062]
The copy machine 207 is in a data reception waiting state in step S410, receives a management information inquiry command and a network user ID in step S411, and converts the network user ID into a department ID in step S412. In step S413, the copy machine 207 transmits the management information inquiry command and the converted department ID to the management apparatus 122 via the management apparatus interface 114.
[0063]
The management device 122 is in a command reception waiting state in step S420, and receives a management information inquiry command and a department ID via the management device interface 114 in step S421. If the received department ID matches the department ID registered in the non-volatile memory in step S422, the management apparatus 122 obtains the accumulated count value corresponding to the department ID in step S423. Set the upper count value to the return value.
[0064]
On the other hand, if there is no coincidence in step S422, the management apparatus 122 sets a return value indicating “no corresponding section” in step S424. In step S425, the management apparatus 122 transmits the set return value to the copy machine 207, and returns to the command waiting state in step S420.
[0065]
In step S414, the copy machine 207 receives the return value from the management apparatus 122. In step S415, the copy machine 207 transmits the received return value to the PC 101, and returns to the data reception waiting state in step S410. In step S404, the PC 101 determines the return value from the copy machine 207. If the return value is normal, the PC 101 compares the accumulated count value with the upper limit count value in step S405. On the other hand, if the return value is abnormal, a warning message “Print is not accepted” is displayed in step S407, and the process ends in step S408.
[0066]
If the accumulated count value is smaller than the upper limit count value in step S405, the original printing process is started in step S406. On the other hand, if the accumulated count value is not smaller than the upper limit count value in step S405, a warning message that “the count value has reached the upper limit” is displayed in step S407, and the process is performed in step S408. finish. As described above, the procedure for inquiring counter information via the network is completed.
[0067]
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus (copy machine, FAX machine) constituting the network system manages the print output management information for each registered ID number. 122, and a CPU 101 that sends an inquiry to the management apparatus 122 and transmits management information corresponding to the ID number notified from the management apparatus 122 to the PC when receiving an instruction and ID number for inquiring the management information from the PC. Have.
[0068]
With the configuration as described above, when the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus receives the management information inquiry instruction and the ID number from the PC via the modem 110, the CPU 101 converts the ID number into an ID number having a format equivalent to the input ID number. The management apparatus 122 is inquired via the management apparatus interface 114. The management device 122 notifies the CPU 101 of management information corresponding to the notified ID number via the management device interface 114. The CPU 101 transmits the notified management information to the PC via the modem 110. The PC can check the management information of the image forming apparatus before creating / transmitting data for printing. Here, if, for example, a cumulative count value and an upper limit count value for each department are given as management information, the printing process can be interrupted on the spot when output is impossible.
[0069]
As described above, the management information held in the management device 122 can be inquired from a PC on the network, so that when the image forming apparatus cannot accept the print output from the user, The process can be canceled before the print data creation process on the PC side. This can also be applied to, for example, a system in which an image forming apparatus (composite image forming apparatus) that manages the number of output sheets of a copy function and a printer function with the same department ID and a PC are connected to a network.
[0070]
That is, before starting the printing operation in the image forming apparatus, the PC determines whether it is possible to output the user's department on the image forming apparatus side based on the management information transmitted from the image forming apparatus. Can be confirmed. As a result, it is possible to interrupt the printing operation and issue a warning to the user without waiting for the time required for creating or transmitting the print data as in the prior art.
[0071]
The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program code stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by executing read.
[0072]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0073]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0074]
Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. Needless to say, a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing is also included.
[0075]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0076]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, Book According to the invention , External device so Is based on the management information transmitted from the image forming apparatus prior to starting the printing operation in the image forming apparatus. Yu The Corresponding to Department so It is possible to confirm whether or not output is possible. As a result, the printing operation can be performed without waiting for the time required to create and transmit the print data as in the past. Cut off It will be possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a common part of an image forming apparatus constituting a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when registering an ID number from the operation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when registering a network user ID from the operation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a copy operation process by inputting an ID number according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a copy operation process by inputting an ID number according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of a copy operation process by inputting an ID number according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the case of inquiring management information from a PC via a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when a management information inquiry is made from a PC via a network according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when a management information inquiry is made from a PC via a network according to an embodiment of the present invention;
11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams showing a screen displayed on the operation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram showing a selection screen, and FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram showing an ID number input screen; is there.
FIGS. 12A and 12B are explanatory diagrams showing screens displayed on the operation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram showing a character input screen, and FIG. 12B is a table of messages for prompting ID number input; It is explanatory drawing which shows an example.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 CPU
102 hard disk
103 memory
105 RIP
106 Image processing unit
107 Compression / decompression unit
110 Modem
112 LAN
114 Management device interface
118 Scanner unit
119 Printer unit
121 Operation unit
122 Management device
201, 202, 209 PC
203 Scanner unit
204 Printer unit
207, 210 Copy machine
208, 211 FAX machine
212, 213 LAN
214, 215 Magneto-optical disk unit
216 Public line

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus capable of printing output based on image data obtained by converting data received from an external device,
ID number registration means for registering the department ID number;
Management means for holding print output management information for each ID number registered by the ID number registration means ;
First determination means for determining whether an ID number input for a copy operation is registered by the ID number registration means;
An update unit that updates management information of the ID number input for the copy operation according to a print output by the copy operation when the input ID number is registered by the ID number registration unit;
Registration means for registering a user ID corresponding to the ID number;
Receiving means for receiving a management information inquiry instruction and user ID from an external device;
Second determination means for determining whether the user ID received by the reception means is registered by the registration means;
When the user ID received by the receiving unit is registered by the registration unit, the management information of the ID number corresponding to the user ID received by the receiving unit is externally transmitted according to the inquiry instruction received by the receiving unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that transmits the image to the apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the user ID received by the receiving unit is not registered by the registration unit , the control unit transmits a message indicating that the printing operation is impossible to the external apparatus. . It said management means, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that retaining sectoral cumulative output count value and the output upper limit count value as the management information. Conversion means for converting the user ID received by the reception means into an ID number;
  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits management information of an ID number after conversion by the conversion unit to an external device. 5. The image according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit associates the input user ID with an ID number selected from among the ID numbers registered by the ID number registration unit. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the input ID number is not registered by the ID number registration unit, printing output by a copy operation is not performed. A management information transmission method for an image forming apparatus capable of printing output based on image data obtained by converting data received from an external device,
  An ID number registration step for registering the department ID number;
  A management step for holding print output management information for each ID number registered in the ID number registration step;
  A first determination step of determining whether an ID number input for a copy operation is registered in the ID number registration step;
  An update step of updating management information of the ID number input for the copy operation according to the print output by the copy operation when the input ID number is registered by the ID number registration step;
  A registration step of registering a user ID corresponding to the ID number;
  A reception step of receiving a management information inquiry instruction and a user ID from an external device;
  A second determination step of determining whether the user ID received by the reception step is registered by the registration step;
  The user ID received by the receiving step is registered by the registration step. And a control step of transmitting management information of an ID number corresponding to the user ID received in the receiving step to an external device in accordance with the inquiry instruction received in the receiving step. Method. 8. The management information transmission according to claim 7, wherein in the control step, when the user ID received in the reception step is not registered in the registration step, a message indicating that the printing operation is impossible is transmitted to an external device. Method. 9. The management information transmission method according to claim 7, wherein in the management step, a cumulative output count value and an output upper limit count value for each department are held as management information. A conversion step of converting the user ID received in the reception step into an ID number;
  10. The management information transmission method according to claim 7, wherein in the control step, management information of the ID number after conversion in the conversion step is transmitted to an external device. 11. The management according to claim 7, wherein in the registration step, the input user ID is associated with the ID number selected from the ID numbers registered in the ID number registration step. Information transmission method. 12. The management information transmission method according to claim 7, wherein when the input ID number is not registered in the ID number registration step, printing output by a copy operation is not performed.

Images