JP4230442B2 - Image processing system, client computer and server computer - Google Patents

Description

  According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus is connected to a client computer and a server computer via a network, and the image forming apparatus performs an image processing system according to a print instruction from the client computer, a client computer of the image processing system, and The server computer.

  Conventionally, in an office or the like, a plurality of digital multifunction peripherals and printers are connected to a client PC (Personal Computer) and a server PC via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and the multifunction peripherals and printers designated by the client PC are used. A print process is being performed.

In Patent Document 1, the client PC transmits the user ID and password input by the user to the server PC, and the user ID and password from the server PC match the user ID and password stored in the user registration information database. An automatic authentication system is described that causes a printer or the like to execute a printing process when receiving a notification signal to that effect. In this automatic authentication system, when the client PC receives print permission by the user authentication from the server, the client PC transmits the print number information and the copy number information to the server PC, and the server PC uses the print number information and the copy number information. The total amount of printed sheets is obtained, and the charge amount is obtained by adding the unit price to the total number of printed sheets.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-236577

  However, in the conventional system, the printing cost is charged to the department to which the user who performed the printing process belongs. Therefore, if the materials distributed to all departments are collectively printed by the multifunction machine of one department, that department Expenses were concentrated in the department, and it was not possible to obtain an accurate charge amount for each department.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing system, a client computer, and a server computer that can calculate and manage a charge amount for each distribution destination of printed matter.

An image processing system according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image processing system in which an image forming apparatus is connected to a client computer and a server computer via a network, and the image forming apparatus performs print processing in accordance with a print instruction from the client computer. Because
The client computer is
Information receiving means for receiving distribution destination information indicating a plurality of distribution destinations for a printed matter to be printed for each print instruction, and receiving from the user distribution number information indicating the number of distribution copies to each of the plurality of distribution destinations ; and print data Calculating means for obtaining the number of printed sheets, which is the number of recording sheets required when recording the image on the recording paper, a plurality of distribution destination information received by the information receiving means, information on each number of copies, and the calculating means. Information transmitting means for transmitting the number of printed sheets indicating the number of printed sheets to the server computer,
The server computer
Wherein the plurality of distribution destination information from the client computer, an information receiving means for receiving each distribution copy number information and print number information, the unit price information storage means for storing bid information for the recording paper one sheet of the printing process, the plurality of distribution A destination information and a billing information storage unit for storing the billing amount information for past print processing for each of the destination information, and a destination specified by the destination information received by the information receiving means for each print instruction For each time, the total number of printed sheets is calculated from the number of copies and the number of printed sheets, and the charging processing means for calculating the charging amount of each distribution destination by adding the unit price to the total number of printed sheets, and each of the charging processing means in which the charge amount of the distribution destination, and a summing means for adding the previous billing amount information about the charging information stored in the storage unit Tei Ru the respective distribution destination That.

  According to the above configuration, the information receiving means of the client computer accepts the distribution destination information and the number of copies information, and the calculating means obtains the number of printed sheets. Further, distribution destination information and distribution copy number information received by the information transmission unit, and print number information indicating the number of prints calculated by the calculation unit are transmitted to the server computer. When the distribution destination information, the number of copies information and the number of printed sheets information are received by the information receiving means of the server computer, the number of distribution copies for each distribution destination specified by the distribution destination information received by the information receiving means by the billing processing means. The total number of printed sheets is obtained from the number of printed sheets, and the unit price is added to the total number of printed sheets, whereby the billing amount of each distribution destination is obtained. Then, the charging amount of each distribution destination is added to the past charging amount information of each distribution destination stored in the charging information storage unit by the adding means.

  An image processing system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the first aspect, wherein the client computer receives a user ID for identifying a user from the outside, and receives the user ID. User ID transmission means for transmitting the user ID received by the means to the server computer, the server computer receiving user ID from the client computer, and a plurality of user registration IDs for user authentication A user ID storage means for storing, a match determination means for determining whether or not a user registration ID that matches the user ID received by the user ID reception means is stored in the user ID storage means, and the match determination By means of said user ID receiving means When it is determined that the user registration ID that matches the received user ID is not stored in the user ID storage means, a notification signal transmission means for transmitting a mismatch notification signal to that effect to the client computer is provided. The client computer includes notification signal receiving means for receiving a mismatch notification signal from the server computer, and the information transmitting means receives the mismatch notification signal from the server computer by the notification signal receiving means. The distribution copy number information and the print number information are not transmitted to the server computer.

  According to the above configuration, when the user ID is received by the user ID receiving unit of the client computer, the user ID is transmitted to the server computer by the user ID transmitting unit. When the user ID is received by the user ID receiving means of the server computer, it is determined whether or not a user registration ID that matches the user ID received by the match determining means is stored in the user ID storage means. As a result, when it is determined that the user registration ID that matches the user ID received by the match determination unit is not stored in the user ID storage unit, a mismatch notification signal notifying that is sent from the notification signal transmission unit to the client computer. Sent to. Further, when the mismatch signal is received from the server computer by the notification signal receiving unit of the client computer, the distribution destination information, the distribution number information, and the print number information are not transmitted to the server computer by the information transmitting unit.

An image processing system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the client computer receives a distribution destination print instruction for printing a distribution destination on a recording sheet from outside. A receiving unit; a character information storage unit that stores character information for specifying a plurality of distribution destinations; and a print control unit that causes the image forming apparatus to execute a printing process. The print control unit includes the print instruction receiving unit. When the distribution destination printing instruction is accepted by the information receiving unit, the distribution destination character information specified by the distribution destination information received by the information receiving unit is read from the character information storage unit, and the image forming apparatus prints the printed matter for the number of distribution copies. Print.

  According to the above configuration, when the distribution destination print instruction is received by the print instruction reception unit of the client computer, the printing of the image forming apparatus is performed so that the character information of the distribution destination is printed on the printed matter for the number of copies by the print control unit. Control is performed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing system according to the third aspect, in the client computer, the character information storage means stores character information for specifying a distribution source of the printed matter. The print instruction accepting unit accepts a distribution source print instruction for printing the distribution source on recording paper from the outside, and the print control unit accepts the distribution source print instruction by the print instruction accepting unit. Then, the character information of the distribution source is read from the character information storage means, and the image forming apparatus is caused to print the character information of the distribution source on a recording sheet.

  According to the above configuration, when the distribution source print instruction is received by the print instruction reception unit of the client computer, the print control of the image forming apparatus is performed so that the character information of the distribution source is printed on the recording paper by the print control unit. It is.

A client computer according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a client computer that is connected to an image forming apparatus and a server computer via a network and transmits a print instruction to the image forming apparatus to perform a printing process .
Information receiving means for receiving distribution destination information indicating a plurality of distribution destinations for a printed matter to be printed for each print instruction, and receiving from the user distribution number information indicating the number of distribution copies to each of the plurality of distribution destinations ; and print data Calculating means for obtaining the number of printed sheets, which is the number of recording sheets required when recording the image on the recording paper, a plurality of distribution destination information received by the information receiving means, information on each number of copies, and the calculating means. der which the print number information indicating the number of printed sheets and a data transmitting means for transmitting to said server computer Ru.

  According to the above configuration, the information receiving means of the client computer accepts the distribution destination information and the number of copies information, and the calculating means obtains the number of printed sheets. Further, distribution destination information and distribution copy number information received by the information transmission unit, and print number information indicating the number of prints calculated by the calculation unit are transmitted to the server computer.

A server computer according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a server computer connected via a network to a client computer and an image forming apparatus that performs a printing process in response to a print instruction from the client computer ,
Information receiving means for receiving a plurality of distribution destination information, distribution copy number information and number of printed sheets information from the client computer , and unit price information storage means for storing unit price information in printing by the image forming apparatus for printing processing of one recording sheet When the charging information storage unit that stores charge amount information for past print processing for each the plurality of distribution destination information and their respective distribution destination information, every time the print instruction, the distribution destination information received by the information receiving means Charging processing means for determining the total amount of printed sheets from the number of copies to be distributed and the number of printed sheets for each distribution destination, and further calculating the charging amount of each distribution destination by adding a unit price to the total number of printed sheets; the charge amount of each distribution destination determined by means adds the past charge amount information for each distribution destination Ru Tei stored in the charging information storage unit adds hands Ru der that a stage.

  According to the above configuration, when the distribution destination information, the number of copies information, and the print number information are received by the information reception unit of the server computer, the distribution specified by the distribution destination information received by the information reception unit is performed by the billing processing unit. For each destination, the total number of printed sheets is obtained from the number of copies to be distributed and the number of printed sheets, and the unit price is added to the total number of printed sheets to obtain the charge amount of each distribution destination. Then, the charging amount of each distribution destination is added to the past charging amount information of each distribution destination stored in the charging information storage unit by the adding means.

In an image processing system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus provided with an input unit capable of inputting a print instruction is connected to a server computer via a network, and the image forming apparatus receives a print instruction by the input unit. An image processing system for performing a printing process by:
The image forming apparatus includes:
Information for accepting distribution destination information indicating a distribution destination of a plurality of printed materials for a printed matter printed for each print instruction, and receiving distribution number information indicating the number of distribution copies to each of the plurality of distribution destinations from the user reception means and, calculating means and a plurality of distribution destination information and the distribution copy number information received by the information receiving means for obtaining the number of printed sheets is a number of recording sheets needed when recording the print data on a recording sheet, and Information transmission means for transmitting, to the server computer, print number information indicating the number of prints calculated by the calculation means;
The server computer
Wherein the plurality of distribution destination information from the image forming apparatus, an information receiving means for receiving each distribution copy number information and print number information, the unit price information storage means for storing bid information for the recording sheet one printing process, the plurality The distribution information specified by the distribution destination information received by the information receiving means for each print instruction, and the charge information storage unit for storing the charge amount information for the past print processing for each distribution destination information. For each destination, a total number of printed sheets is calculated from the number of copies and the number of printed sheets, and a charging processing unit for calculating a charging amount of each distribution destination by adding a unit price to the total number of printed sheets, and the charging processing unit. the charge amount of each distribution destination, Ru der that an adding means for adding the previous charge amount information for each distribution destination Ru Tei stored in the charging information storage unit.

  According to the above configuration, the distribution destination information and the distribution number information are received by the information reception unit of the image forming apparatus, and the number of printed sheets is obtained by the calculation unit. Further, distribution destination information and distribution copy number information received by the information transmission unit, and print number information indicating the number of prints calculated by the calculation unit are transmitted to the server computer. When the distribution destination information, the number of copies information and the number of printed sheets information are received by the information receiving means of the server computer, the number of distribution copies for each distribution destination specified by the distribution destination information received by the information receiving means by the billing processing means. The total number of printed sheets is obtained from the number of printed sheets, and the unit price is added to the total number of printed sheets, whereby the billing amount of each distribution destination is obtained. Then, the charging amount of each distribution destination is added to the past charging amount information of each distribution destination stored in the charging information storage unit by the adding means.

  According to the image processing system of the first aspect of the present invention, the charge amount can be obtained for each distribution destination of the printed matter, and the expense management can be performed appropriately and efficiently.

  According to the image processing system of the second aspect of the present invention, unauthorized use by a third party other than a user registered in advance can be prevented.

  According to the image processing system of the third aspect of the present invention, the user can confirm the distribution destination of the printed matter at a glance, and can efficiently perform the distribution work of the printed matter. In addition, since the distribution destination of the printed matter is also a burden of printing costs, it is possible to simultaneously confirm the burden of printing costs.

  According to the image processing system of the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm not only the distribution destination of the printed material but also the distribution source of the printed material.

  According to the client computer of the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to calculate the billing amount for each distribution destination of the printed matter by the server computer connected to the client computer via the network, and the expense management is appropriate and efficient. Can be done.

  According to the server computer of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the charge amount can be obtained for each distribution destination of the printed matter based on the distribution destination information, the distribution number information, and the print number information transmitted from the client computer. Can be performed appropriately and efficiently.

  According to the image processing system of the seventh aspect of the present invention, the charge amount can be obtained for each distribution destination of the printed matter, and the expense management can be performed appropriately and efficiently.

  Hereinafter, a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system of the present invention. In a network system, digital multifunction peripherals 6 and 7 having a scanner function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and a copy function are connected to client PCs 1 and 3 to 5 and a server PC 2 through a network such as a LAN, and various information is received. It is configured to be able to send and receive between each other. Upon receiving a print instruction and print data from one of the client PCs, the digital multifunction peripherals 6 and 7 perform print processing. For example, an office in which this network system is constructed has a plurality of departments, and department information and user IDs indicating departments to which the members belong are set in client PCs used by the members of each department.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client PC 1 and server PC 2 in the network system shown in FIG. The client PC 1 includes a CPU 11 (Central Processing Unit), a RAM 12 (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU 11, a ROM 13 (Read Only Memory) in which program data and the like are recorded, and an I / F that is an interface with an external device. Unit 14, an operation unit 15 including a keyboard and a mouse for inputting an instruction from the user, a display unit 16, and an external storage device 17. The RAM 12 temporarily stores a user information storage unit 121 that temporarily stores the user ID and password input via the operation unit 15, and distribution information regarding the distribution destination and the number of distributions of the printed material input via the operation unit 15. And a distribution information storage unit 122 for storing the information.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a data configuration diagram of distribution information stored in the distribution information storage unit 122. Here, distribution information created when there are a plurality of distribution destinations will be described. The distribution information includes department information 1231, 1233 indicating the department designated as the distribution destination of the printed material among all departments, distribution number information 1232, 1234 indicating the number of distribution of the printed material to the department designated as the distribution destination, and recording. Distribution destination print instruction information 1235 indicating whether or not to print character information indicating the distribution destination and the department of the distribution source on the paper is included. The external storage device 17 includes a user registration information storage unit 171 that stores department information indicating a user ID and a department to which the user belongs, department information of all departments registered in advance, and character information representing department names of all departments. And a character information storage unit 172 for storing.

  The CPU 11 executes print processing on the operation reception unit 111 that receives various instructions input via the operation unit 15, the data transmission / reception unit 112 that transmits and receives various data via the I / F unit 14, and the multifunction peripherals 6 and 7. And a display control unit 114 that displays various operation screens and image data on the display unit 16. When the operation receiving unit 111 receives distribution information including the distribution destination department information, the number of distribution copies, and the distribution destination print instruction information when receiving the print instruction via the operation unit 15, the operation reception unit 111 receives the distribution information. Write to. When the operation reception unit 111 receives the user ID and password via the operation unit 15, the operation reception unit 111 writes the user ID and password in the user information storage unit 121. The data transmitting / receiving unit 112 transmits the user ID, password, and distribution information to the server PC 2 via the I / F unit 14 as necessary.

  The print control unit 113 receives a match notification signal indicating that the user ID and password received from the client PC by the user authentication unit 211 of the server PC 2 match the user ID and password stored in the user registration information storage unit 271. When received by the printer 112, a print instruction is transmitted to the multifunction peripherals 6 and 7. When the print control unit 113 receives the coincidence notification signal, the print control unit 113 obtains the number of print data to be printed, and transmits the print number information and distribution information stored in the distribution information storage unit 122 to the server PC 2.

  Similarly to the client PC 1, the server PC 2 includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, an I / F unit 24, an operation unit 25, a display unit 26, and an external storage device 27. The RAM 22 includes a user information storage unit 221 that stores a user ID and password received from the client PC 1 and a distribution information storage unit 222 that stores distribution information received from the client PC. The external storage device 27 is a user registration information storage unit 271 that stores user IDs of members of all departments registered in advance and passwords associated with the user IDs, and a charge amount for printing processing of one sheet of recording paper. A unit price information storage unit 272 that stores unit price information and a billing information storage unit 273 that stores in advance the department information and billing information of all the departments registered in advance are provided.

  The CPU 21 includes a data transmission / reception unit 210, a user authentication unit 211, and a billing processing unit 212. The data transmission / reception unit 210 transmits / receives various data via the I / F unit 24. The user authentication unit 211 determines whether the user ID and password received from the client PC 1 by the data transmission / reception unit 210 match the user ID and password stored in the user registration information storage unit 271 and receives the received user ID and password. Is matched with any user ID and password stored in the user registration information storage unit 271, the data transmission / reception unit 210 transmits a match notification signal to that effect to the client PC 1. The charging processing unit 212 obtains the total number of printed sheets by adding the number of printed sheets to the corresponding number of distribution units for each distribution destination department information included in the distribution information received from the client PC 1, and further calculates unit price information on the total number of printed sheets. The charge amount is obtained by adding up the charge amount, and the charge amount for the current print processing is added to the accumulated amount of the charge amount for the past print processing stored in the charge information storage unit 273.

  4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining processing by the client PC and the server PC when performing printing processing by the multifunction machine. When a print instruction is input via the operation unit 15, the display control unit 114 displays a print setting screen (not shown) on the display unit 16 (step S <b> 1), and the operation accepting unit 111 causes the model of the multifunction peripheral to print to. Various printing conditions such as name and printing format are accepted (step S3). Whether or not a distribution destination designation key (not shown) for displaying a distribution destination designation screen for inputting distribution information is selected by the operation reception unit 111 is determined (step S5), and when the distribution destination designation key is selected, The display control unit 114 displays the distribution destination designation screen G1 on the display unit 16 (step S7).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution destination designation screen G1 displayed on the display unit 16. In the distribution destination designation screen G1, a distribution destination setting unit 31 for setting a distribution destination department and the number of distribution copies of a printed matter. 32, a print setting section 33 for selecting whether or not to execute a distribution destination printing process for printing the distribution destination and the distribution source's department name at an appropriate position of the recording paper, for example, at the corner. The distribution destination setting unit 31 includes a menu display key 312 for displaying a pull-down menu including a plurality of preset department names, a distribution destination display frame 311 for displaying a department name selected from the pull-down menu, A distribution number display frame 313 for displaying the number of distributions input by the numeric keypad of the operation unit 15. Similarly, the distribution destination setting unit 32 displays a menu display key 322 for displaying a pull-down menu including a plurality of preset department names, and a distribution destination display frame 321 for displaying a department name selected from the pull-down menu. And a distribution number display frame 323 for displaying the distribution number input by the numeric keypad of the operation unit 15.

  Clicking the menu display key 312 displays a pull-down menu including names of a plurality of departments such as general affairs, labor, etc. When one of these is clicked, the selected department name is displayed in the distribution destination display frame 311. At the same time, the desired number of distributions is input using the numeric keypad, and the number of distributions input is displayed in the distribution number display frame 313. Similarly, when the menu display key 322 is clicked, a pull-down menu including names of a plurality of departments such as general affairs and labor is displayed, and when one of them is clicked, the selected department name is displayed in the distribution destination display frame 321. And the number of distributions input by inputting the desired number of distributions using the numeric keypad is displayed in the distribution number display frame 323.

  The print setting unit 33 includes selection units 331 and 332 for inputting respective instructions when the distribution destination print process is executed and when the distribution destination print process is not executed, and the distribution destination print process is performed by clicking one of the selection units 331 and 332. Whether to execute or not can be selected. The presence / absence of execution of the distribution destination printing process selected by the print setting unit 33 is applied to all printed materials for the distribution destinations designated by the distribution destination setting units 31 and 32. Two print setting units may be provided so that the distribution destination printing process can be selected for each distribution destination.

  In the lower part of the distribution destination designation screen G1, the distribution destination and distribution number of the printed material set by the distribution destination setting units 31 and 32, and whether or not the distribution destination printing process selected by the print setting unit 33 is executed are determined. A cancel key 35 for canceling the setting contents set by the OK key 34, the distribution destination setting units 31 and 32, and the print setting unit 33 is displayed.

  When distributing the printed material to one department, the distribution destination and the number of distribution copies are selected by one of the distribution destination setting units 31 and 32. When distributing the printed material to two departments, both the distribution destination setting units 31 and 32 are used. When the distribution destination and the number of distribution copies are selected by the user, and when the OK key 34 is clicked after the print setting unit 33 selects whether or not to execute the distribution destination printing process, the distribution destination and distribution selected by the operation reception unit 111 are selected. Distribution information including the number of copies and distribution destination instruction information is received and stored in the distribution information storage unit 122. Here, the number of distribution copies can be set by specifying two different departments using the two distribution destination setting sections, but the number of distribution destination setting sections is not limited to this and may be three or more. .

  Returning to FIG. 4, the operation accepting unit 111 accepts distribution information regarding the distribution destination department, the number of distribution copies, and whether or not the distribution destination printing process is executed (step S9). Further, it is determined whether or not the OK key 34 has been selected (step S11). If the OK key 34 has been selected, the received distribution information is stored in the distribution information storage unit 122 (step S13). Next, the user information input screen G2 is displayed on the display unit 16 by the display control unit 114 (step S15). FIG. 8 is a screen diagram showing an example of a user information input screen G2 displayed on the display unit 16. The user information input screen G2 includes a user ID input frame 41 for inputting a user ID, a password input frame 42 for inputting a password, and a user input in the user ID input frame 41 and the password input frame 42, respectively. An OK key 43 and a cancel key 44 for confirming or canceling the ID and password are displayed.

  Returning to FIG. 4, after the user ID and password are accepted by the operation accepting unit 111 in step S17, it is determined whether or not the OK key 43 is selected as shown in FIG. 5 (step S19). When 43 is selected, the user ID and password are transmitted to the server PC 2 by the data transmitting / receiving unit 112 (step S21). The user ID and password are received by the data transmission / reception unit 210 of the server PC 2 (step S101), user authentication processing is performed by the user authentication unit 211 (step S103), and a response signal for notifying the result of user authentication by the data transmission / reception unit 210 Is transmitted to the client PC 1 (step S105). Specifically, the user authentication unit 211 determines whether or not the received user ID and password match any of the user ID and password stored in the user registration information storage unit 271. On the other hand, a match notification signal for notifying the fact is transmitted to the client PC 1. On the other hand, if the determination result is mismatch, a mismatch notification signal for notifying the mismatch is transmitted to the client PC 1.

  On the client PC 1 side, the user transmission / reception unit 112 receives a response signal for user authentication (step S23), and the print control unit 113 determines whether or not the response signal is a coincidence notification signal indicating printing permission (step S25). If the response signal is a mismatch notification signal, the process returns to step S15, and the user information input screen G2 is displayed on the display unit 16 again. If the response signal is a coincidence notification signal, print control is performed on, for example, the multifunction device 6 designated as the print destination (step S27), print data is transmitted to the multifunction device 6, and printing for starting printing is performed. Control data including information on a start instruction and various printing conditions is transmitted. During the printing control to the multifunction device 6, the number of recording sheets (hereinafter referred to as “the number of printed sheets”) required when the print data is printed on the recording sheets by the print control unit 113 is obtained. The distribution information is read from the distribution information storage unit 122 by the data transmission / reception unit 112 and transmitted to the server PC 2 together with the print number information obtained by the print control unit 113 (step S29).

  Next, on the server PC 2 side, when the data transmission / reception unit 210 receives the distribution information and the printed sheet number information (step S 107), if there are a plurality of departments designated as distribution destinations by the accounting processing unit 212, The total number of copies is obtained by adding the number of copies to the specified number of copies every time, and further, the unit price information stored in the unit price information storage unit is added to the total number of copies to be distributed to each department at the distribution destination. The billing amount is calculated (step S109). Then, the billing amount for each department of the distribution destination obtained by the billing processing unit 212 is added to the past billing amount for each department of the distribution destination recorded in the billing information storage unit 273 (step S111).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining print control processing by the print control unit 113. First, the presence / absence of a distribution destination printing instruction is determined based on the distribution destination printing instruction information stored in the distribution information storage unit 122 (step S201). If there is no distribution destination printing instruction, the print data and control data are stored in the multifunction device 6. (Step S207). On the other hand, when there is a distribution destination printing instruction, the print control unit 111 reads out the character information of the distribution destination and distribution source corresponding to the distribution destination and distribution source department information from the character information storage unit 172 (step S110). In step S203, the data transmission / reception unit 112 transmits the character information, the print data, and the control data of the distribution destination and the distribution source to the MFP 6 (step S205). This control data includes an instruction to print the character information of each department name of the distribution destination on the printed matter for the number of copies and an instruction to print the character information of the department name of the distribution source on each printed matter.

  For example, the print setting process of the MFP 6 is performed by the client PC 1 installed in the accounting department, one distribution destination on the distribution destination designation screen G1 is designated as “general affairs department”, and the number of distribution designations is designated as “3 copies”. In addition, when the other distribution destination is designated as “labor department” and the number of distribution is designated as “4 copies”, 7 copies are output by the multi-function device 6, and each of the 3 copies of the printed matter is recorded. As shown in FIG. 9, the character string 51 of “General Affairs” and the character string 52 of “Accounting” are printed at the predetermined positions on the paper, and the remaining four copies are recorded. At a predetermined position of the paper, a character string “labor” is printed as a distribution destination department, and a character string “accounting” is printed as a distribution department.

  Accordingly, the user can recognize at a glance the department to which the printed material is distributed, and can efficiently perform the work of distributing the printed material for each department. The department name of the distribution destination is also a transfer destination of the printing cost, and the user and the person who received the printed matter can confirm at a glance the department that bears the printing cost. Further, the user and the person who has received the printed material can simultaneously confirm the department of the distribution source by the department name of the distribution source.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the server PC 2 responds to the number of printed materials distributed to each department of the distribution destination even when the multi-function device 6 performs batch printing processing to a plurality of distribution destinations. Since the billing amount is calculated and cumulatively added to the past billing information, an accurate billing amount can be obtained for each department, and appropriate and efficient cost management can be realized.

  Also, since the department name of the distribution destination is printed on the printed material, the user can recognize at a glance the department to which the printed material is distributed, and can efficiently perform the work of distributing the materials to each distribution department. . The department name is also a transfer destination of the printing cost, and the user and the person who received the printed matter can confirm at a glance the department that bears the cost. Further, the user and the person who has received the printed material can simultaneously confirm the department of the distribution source by the department name of the distribution source.

(Other embodiments)
(A) In this embodiment, when the operation receiving unit 111 receives a distribution destination print instruction, the print control unit controls the printing of the multifunction peripheral so that both the distribution destination and the distribution source are printed on the recording paper. However, a selection unit that can select whether or not to print the distribution source department name on the recording sheet may be further provided, and the distribution source department name may be printed arbitrarily.

  (B) In this embodiment, the user distributes the printed matter to each department, but the printed item may be automatically distributed. For example, the client PC is provided with an IP address storage means for storing the IP address of the MFP installed in each department in advance in association with the department information of each department, and the distribution received by the operation accepting section by the print control section 113 The multi-function peripheral having the IP address corresponding to the destination ID may be caused to execute print processing for the designated number of distribution copies. Furthermore, the client PC includes a mail address storage means for storing the mail address set in the client PC of the member belonging to each department in association with the department information of each department, and for the department designated as the distribution destination. A mail for notifying the printing process may be transmitted to the members belonging to the department at the same time when the printing instruction is output to the multifunction device. Thereby, a user's work burden can be reduced significantly.

  (C) In this embodiment, the server PC 2 calculates the charging information for each distribution destination of the printed matter when the multifunction device 6 performs the printing process according to the print instruction from the client PC 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the copy function 6 is used, an operation screen on which the distribution destination and distribution number of the printed matter can be input is displayed on the operation panel, and the distribution destination and distribution number received from the outside and the print data read from the manuscript are recorded on the recording paper. By transmitting to the server PC 2 the number of prints necessary for recording in the server, it is possible to calculate the billing information for each distribution destination even for the printed matter printed by the copy function of the multifunction device 6.

  (D) In this embodiment, the accounting information is managed by the server PC. However, in the case of a network system having a print server in addition to the server PC, the print server performs this processing instead of the server PC. Also good.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the network system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of client PC and server PC in the network system shown in FIG. It is a data block diagram of the distribution information memorize | stored in a distribution information storage part. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing by a client PC and a server PC when performing printing processing by a multi-function peripheral. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing by a client PC and a server PC when performing printing processing by a multi-function peripheral. 6 is a flowchart for explaining print control processing by a print control unit. It is a figure which shows an example of the distribution destination designation | designated screen displayed on a display part. It is a screen figure which shows an example of the user information input screen displayed on a display part. 7 is an example of a recording sheet on which character information of a distribution destination and a distribution source is printed by a multi-function peripheral.

Explanation of symbols

1,3-5 Cryant PC
11 CPU
111 Operation Accepting Unit 112 Data Transmitting / Receiving Unit 113 Print Control Unit 114 Display Control Unit 12 RAM
121 User information storage unit 122 Distribution information storage unit 13 ROM
14 I / F unit 15 Operation unit 16 Display unit 17 External storage device 171 User registration information storage unit 172 Character information storage unit 2 Server PC
21 CPU
210 Data Transmission / Reception Unit 211 User Authentication Unit 212 Charge Processing Unit 22 RAM
221 User information storage unit 222 Distribution information storage unit 23 ROM
24 I / F unit 25 Operation unit 26 Display unit 27 External storage device 271 User registration information storage unit 272 Unit price information storage unit 273 Accounting information storage unit 6, 7 Multifunction device

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus is connected to a client computer and a server computer via a network, and the image forming apparatus is an image processing system that performs print processing according to a print instruction from the client computer,
The client computer is
Information receiving means for receiving distribution destination information indicating a plurality of distribution destinations for a printed matter to be printed for each print instruction, and receiving from the user distribution number information indicating the number of distribution copies to each of the plurality of distribution destinations ; and print data Calculating means for obtaining the number of printed sheets, which is the number of recording sheets required when recording the image on the recording paper, a plurality of distribution destination information received by the information receiving means, information on each number of copies, and the calculating means. Information transmitting means for transmitting the number of printed sheets indicating the number of printed sheets to the server computer,
The server computer
Wherein the plurality of distribution destination information from the client computer, an information receiving means for receiving each distribution copy number information and print number information, the unit price information storage means for storing bid information for the recording paper one sheet of the printing process, the plurality of distribution A destination information and a billing information storage unit for storing the billing amount information for past print processing for each of the destination information, and a destination specified by the destination information received by the information receiving means for each print instruction For each time, the total number of printed sheets is calculated from the number of copies and the number of printed sheets, and the charging processing means for calculating the charging amount of each distribution destination by adding the unit price to the total number of printed sheets, and each of the charging processing means the charge amount of the distribution destination, the image processing comprising an addition means for adding the previous billing amount information about the stored in the charging information storage unit Tei Ru the respective distribution destination System. The client computer includes a user ID receiving unit that receives a user ID for identifying a user from the outside, and a user ID transmitting unit that transmits the user ID received by the user ID receiving unit to the server computer,
The server computer includes a user ID receiving unit that receives a user ID from the client computer, a user ID storage unit that stores a plurality of user registration IDs for user authentication, and a user ID received by the user ID receiving unit. A match determination unit that determines whether or not a matching user registration ID is stored in the user ID storage unit, and a user registration ID that matches the user ID received by the user ID reception unit by the match determination unit is a user A notification signal transmitting means for transmitting to the client computer a mismatch notification signal for notifying that when it is determined that the ID storage means does not store it,
The client computer includes notification signal receiving means for receiving a mismatch notification signal from the server computer, and the information transmitting means receives the mismatch notification signal from the server computer by the notification signal receiving means. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution copy number information and the print number information are not transmitted to the server computer. The client computer includes a print instruction receiving unit for receiving a distribution destination print instruction for printing a distribution destination on recording paper from the outside, a character information storage unit for storing character information for specifying a plurality of distribution destinations, and the image formation A print control means for causing the apparatus to execute a printing process,
The print control means reads the character information of the distribution destination specified by the distribution destination information received by the information receiving means from the character information storage means when the distribution destination print instruction is received by the print instruction reception means, The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus prints on a printed matter corresponding to the number of distributions. In the client computer, the character information storage means stores character information for specifying a distribution source of printed matter, and the print instruction reception means includes a distribution source print instruction for printing the distribution source on a recording sheet. Is received from the outside,
When the distribution source print instruction is received by the print instruction reception unit, the print control unit reads the character information of the distribution source from the character information storage unit, and prints the character information of the distribution source on a recording sheet to the image forming apparatus. The image processing system according to claim 3. A client computer connected to an image forming apparatus and a server computer via a network and transmitting a print instruction to the image forming apparatus to perform a printing process ;
Information receiving means for receiving distribution destination information indicating a plurality of distribution destinations for a printed matter to be printed for each print instruction, and receiving from the user distribution number information indicating the number of distribution copies to each of the plurality of distribution destinations ; and print data Calculating means for obtaining the number of printed sheets, which is the number of recording sheets required when recording the image on the recording paper, a plurality of distribution destination information received by the information receiving means, information on each number of copies, and the calculating means. A client computer comprising: information transmission means for transmitting the number of printed sheets indicating the number of printed sheets to the server computer. A server computer connected via a network to a client computer and an image forming apparatus that performs print processing in accordance with a print instruction from the client computer ,
Information receiving means for receiving a plurality of distribution destination information, distribution copy number information and number of printed sheets information from the client computer , and unit price information storage means for storing unit price information in printing by the image forming apparatus for printing processing of one recording sheet When the charging information storage unit that stores charge amount information for past print processing for each the plurality of distribution destination information and their respective distribution destination information, every time the print instruction, the distribution destination information received by the information receiving means Charging processing means for determining the total amount of printed sheets from the number of copies to be distributed and the number of printed sheets for each distribution destination, and further calculating the charging amount of each distribution destination by adding a unit price to the total number of printed sheets; the charge amount of each distribution destination determined by means adds the past charge amount information for each distribution destination Ru Tei stored in the charging information storage unit adds hands Server computer with a stage. An image forming apparatus including an input unit capable of inputting a print instruction is connected to a server computer via a network, and the image forming apparatus is an image processing system that performs a print process according to a print instruction by the input unit,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Information for accepting distribution destination information indicating the distribution destinations of a plurality of printed materials for a printed matter to be printed for each print instruction, and receiving distribution number information indicating the number of distribution copies to each of the plurality of distribution destinations from the user reception means and, calculating means and a plurality of distribution destination information and the distribution copy number information received by the information receiving means for obtaining the number of printed sheets is a number of recording sheets needed when recording the print data on a recording sheet, and Information transmission means for transmitting, to the server computer, print number information indicating the number of prints calculated by the calculation means;
The server computer
Wherein the plurality of distribution destination information from the image forming apparatus, an information receiving means for receiving each distribution copy number information and print number information, the unit price information storage means for storing bid information for the recording sheet one printing process, the plurality The distribution information specified by the distribution destination information received by the information receiving means for each print instruction, and the charge information storage unit for storing the charge amount information for the past print processing for each distribution destination information. For each destination, a total number of printed sheets is calculated from the number of copies and the number of printed sheets, and a charging processing unit for calculating a charging amount of each distribution destination by adding a unit price to the total number of printed sheets, and the charging processing unit. image processing system with a charge amount of each distribution destination, and adding means for adding the previous charge amount information for each distribution destination Ru Tei stored in the charging information storage unit.

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