JP3875608B2 - Network compatible printing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network-compatible printing system that performs printing restriction for each user in an environment in which a plurality of users share a printer device in a large-scale network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in offices, systems for efficiently performing office processing by connecting personal computers (PCs), printers, copiers, and the like via a network are rapidly spreading. In such an environment, the following proposals have been made as a technique for limiting the usage amount of each user to a certain amount from the viewpoint of cost reduction.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-48165 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-185474
In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a print restriction device is provided for restricting a user who can use the printer in the printer itself. If all the printers connected to the network are provided with such a print restriction function and a charge management function, the entire network printing system becomes very expensive.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 proposes a printing system in which a network that issues a job and a network that connects a printer are physically separated, and a print management apparatus that is located at the boundary is provided with a print restriction device. .
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in a large-scale company or the like, an environment in which employee information, authentication information, and the like are already managed in a unified manner by using a directory service or the like is often realized. Also in a printing system, it is desired to reduce management load such as maintenance by linking with authentication information managed in a centralized manner.
One purpose of introducing a printing system that generally has user restrictions into a company is to reduce the cost of the company. It is necessary to be aware of the suppression of unnecessary paper output as much as possible, such as the suppression of private paper output, frequent test printing, consolidation, and printing that reduces the number of both sides.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to always be aware of wasted paper output by letting the user know the remaining number of printable sheets and when the print restriction will occur. It is to provide a printing system.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a print network formed by connecting one or more client terminals, one or more printer apparatuses, and a print restriction server for restricting printing, and one or more print networks and lines are connected. In a network-compatible printing system comprising an authentication server that can be connected via the authentication server, the authentication server registers registration information for each user, the number of print results and the maximum number of prints, and a user terminal is a client terminal in each print network. Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring user authentication information via the line, the user authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition means, and authentication information for each user registered in the registration means Authentication judging means for judging whether or not authentication is possible by comparing A storage unit that acquires and stores the authentication information of the corresponding user, the number of print results and the upper limit number of prints from the registration unit via a line when authentication by the authentication determination unit is possible; When a print job is input from the client terminal, a print determination unit that determines whether or not to allow printing based on the user authentication information and the upper limit number of prints stored in the storage unit, and printable as a result of the determination by the print determination unit In this case, when printing of a certain number of sheets is executed, an updating unit that updates the value of the number of print results in the storage unit according to the number of print results, and the value updated by the update unit via the line A transmission unit that transmits to the authentication server; and a deletion unit that deletes the user authentication information, the number of print results, and the upper limit number of prints stored in the storage unit after the value is transmitted by the transmission unit, Serial authentication server by registering the updated value sent from said transmitting means to said registration means, to achieve the above object.
[0006]
The invention according to claim 2 further comprises display means for displaying the remaining number of printable sheets on the screen when the user authenticates from the client terminal or makes a print request. Features.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the display unit displays a transition graph of the number of print results on the screen.
[0007]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the second or third aspect, the display means displays the rank of the printing frequency in the organization to which the user belongs.
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, the display means displays a predicted period until printing restriction is applied.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The network-compatible printing system 10 includes a plurality of printing networks (1 to 3) and a single authentication server 15. Each of the printing networks (1 to 3) includes a plurality of printer apparatuses shared in the network, a plurality of client PCs that can input print requests to the printing apparatuses, and a single printing restriction server 20. These components are connected to each other via a network.
[0009]
The use procedure of the network compatible printing system 10 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
When using the client PC, the user performs an authentication procedure for obtaining print permission to the authentication server 15 via the print restriction server 20 (step 10) (step 11). For example, a method of inputting a user name and password, which are information for specifying an individual, as an authentication procedure from the screen can be considered.
The print restriction server 20 that has received these pieces of information tells the authentication server 15 whether or not the designated user is registered in the authentication server, and whether or not the designated user has reached the upper limit. An inquiry is made (step 12).
[0010]
The authentication server 15 holds the authentication table shown in FIG. 2, and after confirming that these conditions are satisfied based on the transmitted information (step 12; Y), the designated user Is issued to the print restriction server 20.
The print restriction server 20 stores the designated user information in the print information table (see FIG. 3) (step 13) and outputs the user information designated in the local storage device of the print restriction server 20 as a log. (Step 14). Further, a print permission notification is sent to the client PC (step 15).
On the other hand, when receiving the print permission notification, the client PC displays some information A included in the print permission notification on the screen. The contents to be displayed will be described later. If the condition is not satisfied, a print disapproval notice is returned to the print restriction server 20, and the print restriction server 20 further notifies the client PC of print disapproval (step 16).
[0011]
When the user instructs printing execution of a document created by the document creation application at any timing after the completion of authentication, communication to the print restriction server 20 is performed, and some information A is displayed on the screen of the client PC. To do. Thereafter, a print job is issued from the client PC to the print restriction server 20.
In addition to the print data expressed in the page description language, the user ID of the user who issues the job and the address of the destination printer are added to the print job (see FIG. 4).
[0012]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the print restriction server 20 when a print job is received.
First, the print restriction server 20 analyzes the print job (step 21), the user ID added thereto is recorded in the print information table, and further, “print result number” and “authenticated print number”. After confirming that the sum (= total number of prints) has not reached the “maximum number of prints” (step 22; Y), a print job (see FIG. 5) is transmitted to the designated printer (step 23). ). If the user ID added to the print job does not exist in the print information table, or if the total number of prints corresponding to the user ID has reached the upper limit number of prints (step 22; N), print to the client PC. Notification of job rejection is performed (step 27).
[0013]
The printer apparatus that has received the print job executes the corresponding print process, and notifies the print restriction server 20 as a result of how many sheets have been printed (step 24).
The print restriction server 20 adds the notified print result number to the “print number after authentication” in the print information table (step 25), and outputs the print log at that time to the local storage device (step 26). ).
Note that the logout is notified from the client PC to the print restriction server 20 at the timing when the user finishes using the client PC.
[0014]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the print restriction server 20 when a logout notification is received.
When the print restriction server 20 receives the logout notification (step 30), the print restriction server 20 acquires the latest number of print results for the corresponding user ID from the authentication server 15 (step 31), and adds the “number of print results after authentication procedure”. The authentication server 15 is notified (step 32), and the corresponding user ID entry is deleted from the print information table (step 33).
The authentication server 15 stores the received print information of the user ID and updates the authentication information table. It is necessary to obtain the latest print result number at the time of logout so that the print result number can be added without fail when the same user executes printing in another printing system. In addition, by rewriting the number information only at the time of logout, it is possible to reduce the frequency of access to the authentication server and increase the system responsiveness.
[0015]
Here, the information A for displaying the information obtained from the print restriction server 20 on the client PC will be described.
In the printing system according to the first embodiment, for example, the remaining printable number obtained by the following expression is displayed on the screen on the client PC.
[Remaining number of prints] = [Maximum number of prints]-([Number of print results] + [Number of prints after authentication])
[0016]
In the printing system according to the second embodiment, based on the log output to the local storage device on the print restriction server 20, a transition graph of time on the horizontal axis and the cumulative number of printed sheets on the vertical axis is generated, and the client PC Display on screen. At this time, the user can visually determine the remaining number of printable sheets by displaying the upper limit number of print lines.
Even when the designated user is executing printing on another network, the total number of printed sheets obtained from the authentication server 15 is dropped in the log when accessing the authentication server 15, so that the entire graph can be configured. (See FIG. 6).
[0017]
In the printing system according to the third embodiment, when the user uses the client PC to inquire about authentication permission from the authentication server 15, for example, the printing frequency is calculated according to the following equation:
[Printing frequency] = [Cumulative number of copies] ÷ [Period from initial authentication date and time]
As for this printing frequency, the print restriction server 20 is notified of the rank when compared with other users together with the print permission notice, and this is displayed on the screen on the client PC.
[0018]
In the printing system according to the fourth embodiment, every time the user performs printing, for example, the printing frequency is calculated according to the following equation.
[Printing frequency] = [Cumulative printing number + Number of printings after authentication] ÷ [Period from first authentication date and time]
Further, the predicted period until the printing restriction calculated according to the following equation is displayed on the screen on the client PC.
[Predicted period until printing restriction is applied] = [Remaining printable number of copies] / [Printing frequency]
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to limit the number of prints for each user in an environment in which a plurality of users share a printing apparatus connected to a network.
In the inventions according to claims 2 to 5, the user recognizes the remaining number of printable sheets at the time of authentication and printing, thereby reducing the number of sheets for private paper output suppression, frequent trial printing, aggregation, duplex, etc. It is possible to thoroughly raise awareness of reducing unnecessary paper output as much as possible, such as encouraging printing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire printing system according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an authentication information table of an authentication server.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a print information table of a usage restriction server.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a print job issued from a client PC to a print restriction server.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a print job input from a print restriction server to a printer.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print log stored in a print server.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a print restriction server during an authentication procedure.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in a print restriction server when a print job is received.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in a print restriction server when a logout notification is received.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Network-compatible printing system 15 Authentication server 20 Printing restriction server

Claims (5)

A print network formed by connecting one or more client terminals, one or more printer devices, and a print restriction server that restricts printing;
In a network-compatible printing system comprising an authentication server that can be connected to one or more printing networks via a line,
The authentication server is
Registration means for registering authentication information for each user, the number of print results and the maximum number of prints;
In each print network, when a user uses a client terminal, authentication information acquisition means for acquiring user authentication information via the line;
Authentication judgment means for judging whether or not authentication is possible by comparing the authentication information of the user acquired by the authentication information acquisition means and the authentication information for each user registered in the registration means,
The print restriction server is
If authentication of the authentication judgment unit is possible, a storage unit that acquires and stores the authentication information of the corresponding user, the number of print results, and the upper limit number of prints from the registration unit via a line;
A print determination unit that determines whether or not printing is possible based on the user authentication information and the upper limit number of prints stored in the storage unit when a print job is input from the client terminal;
An update means for updating the value of the number of print results in the storage means according to the number of print results when a predetermined number of prints are executed when printing is possible as a result of the judgment of the print judgment means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the value updated by the updating means to the authentication server via a line;
A deletion unit that deletes the user authentication information, the number of print results, and the upper limit number of prints stored in the storage unit after the value is transmitted by the transmission unit;
The network-compatible printing system, wherein the authentication server registers the updated value sent from the transmission unit in the registration unit. 2. The network-compatible printing system according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the remaining number of printable sheets on the screen when the user performs authentication or requests for printing from the client terminal. 3. The network compatible printing system according to claim 2, wherein the display means displays a transition graph of the number of print results on the screen. 4. The network-compatible printing system according to claim 2, wherein the display means displays a ranking of printing frequencies in the organization to which the user belongs. 5. The network-compatible printing system according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the display means displays a predicted period until printing restriction is applied.

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