JP4692359B2 - Log management device, log management system, log management method and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a log management apparatus, a log management method, and a program thereof, and more particularly, to execute relative image processing based on an image processing job involving image processing and to specify a relative time specified by at least an elapsed time from a predetermined reference time. The present invention relates to a log management apparatus, a log management method, and a program thereof, which are connected to an image processing apparatus having a measurable relative time measurement function via a network and manage logs of the image processing apparatus.

Conventionally, a system for managing a log of a printing apparatus or the like is known. For example, in Patent Document 1, when the printing device has a clock IC capable of measuring the current time, the current time read from the clock IC is acquired as print job reception time information and printed as a log. Store in the device. On the other hand, if the printing device does not have a clock IC, the transmission date and time information from the host computer included in the print job data is acquired as the reception time information of the print job, and is stored in the printing device as a log. Remember it. Therefore, even if the printing device does not have a clock IC, the time information of each print job is stored as a log as the current time when the print job is received, and management of print processing and error processing can be performed efficiently. Can be done well.
JP 2001-162899 A

  By the way, when log management is performed by a device different from the printing device, the log management device acquires information on the usage status created by the printing device (for example, time information such as printing start time and printing end time). Manage this. In general, the printer has a built-in timer (system clock) that can measure the elapsed time since startup, instead of a clock (real-time clock) that can measure the current time even when the power is off, for reasons such as cost. Often doing. Therefore, when managing logs, it is necessary to match time information as relative time held by the printing apparatus on a unified time axis. As the method, for example, it is conceivable to calculate the absolute time when the printing apparatus is activated based on the absolute time acquired from the job management apparatus, and to calculate the print processing time based on the elapsed time from the activation time. However, when the log management device is connected to the printer via a print server or the like, the log management device cannot directly acquire the printer time. It cannot be managed. In other words, when the print server obtains the reference time from the log management device and uses the time obtained by adding the elapsed time measured by the system clock of the print server as the obtained reference time as the printer time, it is created by the printer. The log time information includes measurement errors between the system clock of the print server and the system clock of the printer. In general, since the accuracy of the system clock is low, the time information of the log created by the printer in such a configuration sometimes deviates from the actual time due to a measurement error between the print server and the printer.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a log management apparatus, a log management method, and a log management apparatus capable of managing a time included in a log acquired from an image processing apparatus on a unified time axis The purpose is to provide a program.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

That is, the log management apparatus of the present invention is
Connected via an image processing device with a relative time measurement function capable of measuring image processing based on an image processing job involving image processing and measuring at least the relative time specified by the elapsed time from a predetermined reference time A log management device for managing a log of the image processing device,
A reference time measuring means for measuring the reference time;
Dummy job transmitting means for transmitting a dummy job imitating the image processing job to the image processing apparatus;
A transmission time storage means for storing information relating to a transmission reference time that is a reference time when the dummy job is transmitted from the dummy job transmission means;
A log of the dummy job including information on relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the dummy job, and a log of the image processing job including information on relative time when the image processing job is processed. Log acquisition means to acquire;
Time correction means for correcting the information on the relative time in the log of the image processing job based on the information on the transmission reference time and the log of the dummy job so as to match the time axis of the reference time;
Log storage means for storing information corrected by the time correction means as a log of the image processing device;
It is equipped with.

  In this log management apparatus, a dummy job imitating an image processing job is transmitted to the image processing apparatus, and information relating to the relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the dummy job is used as a log of the image processing apparatus. Get from. When the information regarding the relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the image processing job is acquired as the log of the image processing apparatus, the image processing is performed based on the information regarding the transmission reference time of the dummy job and the log of the dummy job. The information regarding the relative time when the job for processing is processed is corrected so as to match the time axis of the reference time. That is, the log management device transmits a dummy job to the image processing device, so that there is no special means for performing time synchronization between the log management device and the image processing device. It is possible to relate the time on the image processing apparatus side and replace the relative processing time of the image processing job grasped by the image processing apparatus with a time that matches the time axis of the log management apparatus. Therefore, the log can be managed on a unified time axis by matching the time included in the log acquired from the image processing apparatus with the time of the log management apparatus.

  Here, the predetermined reference time may be, for example, when the image processing apparatus is activated, or may be an arbitrary time. At this time, the time at the predetermined reference time may be zero, for example, or may be a time input by communication from another external device.

  In the log management apparatus according to the present invention, the dummy job does not involve image processing, and the log acquisition unit uses the image processing apparatus as information regarding a relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the dummy job. May acquire information relating to the relative time when the dummy job is received. In this way, it is possible to prevent the image processing that should be originally performed from being hindered by the dummy job. In addition, since the image processing apparatus corrects the processing relative time of the image processing job using the time when the dummy job is received, compared with the case where the image processing apparatus corrects using the time when the dummy job processing is started. Thus, the processing relative time can be corrected more accurately.

  In the log management apparatus of the present invention, the dummy job transmission unit transmits the dummy job once, and the time correction unit performs the relative time measurement for one dummy job transmitted by the dummy job transmission unit. Based on the relationship between the relative time measured by the function and the reference time measured by the reference time measuring means, the information related to the relative time in the log of the image processing job is corrected to match the time axis of the reference time. You may do that. In this way, it is possible to correct the processing relative time measured by the image processing apparatus to a time that matches the time axis of the log management apparatus without transmitting dummy jobs more than necessary.

  In the log management apparatus according to the present invention, the time correction unit is configured so that information relating to the relative time in the log of the image processing job matches the time axis of the reference time in consideration of a measurement error in the relative time measurement function. You may correct to. In this way, even when the accuracy of the relative time measurement function of the image processing apparatus is low, more accurate time can be managed as a log. At this time, the dummy job transmission unit transmits the dummy job twice, and the time correction unit measures the two dummy jobs transmitted by the dummy job transmission unit by the relative time measurement function. A relationship between the relative time and the reference time measured by the reference time measuring unit is calculated, and information on the relative time in the log of the image processing job is aligned with the time axis of the reference time based on the calculated relationship. By correcting as described above, a measurement error in the relative time measurement function may be taken into consideration. In this way, when the processing relative time is corrected, the measurement error of the relative measurement function can be reflected relatively easily.

  In the log management apparatus of the present invention, the dummy job transmission unit may transmit the dummy job at predetermined intervals. In this way, even when the predetermined reference time changes in the image processing apparatus or past information related to the dummy job is deleted, the processing time of the image processing job can be set using the new dummy job log. It can be corrected.

  In the log management apparatus according to the present invention, the predetermined reference time is a time when the image processing apparatus is started, and the dummy job transmission unit restarts the image processing apparatus when the image processing apparatus is restarted. The dummy job may be transmitted at least once later. By doing this, it is possible to accurately correct the processing relative time of the image processing job even when the time of the predetermined reference time is changed by restarting the image processing apparatus.

  In the log management apparatus of the present invention, the image processing apparatus receives the image processing job and the dummy job, and transmits the received image processing job and the dummy job to the image processing apparatus. The log management device may be connected to the log management device, and a relative time having a relative time specified by the time measurement function of the job management device as a time axis may be transmitted to the log management device as a log. By doing so, it is possible to correct the relative time represented by using the time at the job management apparatus as the time axis to the time using the log management apparatus as the time axis. In this case, it is possible to carry out correction taking account of measurement errors in the job management apparatus, and it is highly significant to apply the present invention. At this time, the job management device includes a job determination unit that determines whether or not the image processing job is stored in the job management device, and the dummy job transmission unit causes the job management device to perform the image processing on the job management device. The dummy job may be transmitted when it is determined that no job is stored. In this way, since it is not necessary to consider the waiting time in the job management apparatus until the dummy job is transmitted to the image processing apparatus, the time on the log management apparatus side and the time on the image processing apparatus side are accurately related. The processing relative time can be corrected to a more accurate time.

  The log management system of the present invention can measure relative time specified by at least an elapsed time from a predetermined reference time by executing image processing based on the log management apparatus described above and an image processing job including image data. And an image processing apparatus having a relative time measurement function. The log management apparatus according to the present invention uses a dummy job, so that the image processing job grasped by the image processing apparatus can be obtained without special means for performing time synchronization between the log management apparatus and the image processing apparatus. The processing relative time can be replaced with a time that matches the time axis of the log management device, and as a result, the time included in the log acquired from the image processing device matches the time that the log management device has, with a unified time axis Since the log can be managed, the log management system including the log also has the same effect.

The log management method of the present invention includes:
Relative time measurement that includes a reference time measurement means for measuring a reference time, and that can execute image processing based on an image processing job that accompanies image processing and can measure at least a relative time specified by an elapsed time from a predetermined reference time A log management device connected to an image processing device having a function via a network and managing a log of the image processing device,
(A) transmitting a dummy job without image processing imitating the image processing job to the image processing apparatus;
(B) storing information relating to a transmission reference time, which is a reference time when the dummy job is transmitted in the step (b);
(C) a log of the dummy job including information regarding a relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the dummy job and an image processing job including information regarding a relative time when the image processing job is processed; A step to get logs and
(D) Process the image processing job acquired in step (c) based on the information related to the transmission reference time stored in step (b) and the log of the dummy job acquired in step (c). Correcting the information related to the relative time to match the time axis of the reference time;
(E) storing the information corrected in step (d) as a log of the image processing apparatus;
Is included.

  In this log management method, a dummy job imitating an image processing job is transmitted to the image processing apparatus, and information relating to the relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the dummy job is used as a log of the image processing apparatus. Get from. When the information regarding the relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the image processing job is acquired as the log of the image processing apparatus, the image processing is performed based on the information regarding the transmission reference time of the dummy job and the log of the dummy job. The information regarding the relative time when the job for processing is processed is corrected so as to match the time axis of the reference time. That is, the log management device transmits a dummy job to the image processing device, so that there is no special means for performing time synchronization between the log management device and the image processing device. It is possible to relate the time on the image processing apparatus side and replace the relative processing time of the image processing job grasped by the image processing apparatus with a time that matches the time axis of the log management apparatus. Therefore, the log can be managed on a unified time axis by matching the time included in the log acquired from the image processing apparatus with the time of the log management apparatus. Note that a step of realizing any of the functions of the log management apparatus described above may be added to the log management method of the present invention.

  The log management program of the present invention is a program for causing one or a plurality of computers to execute each step of the log management method described above. This program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.), or from a computer via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or may be exchanged in any other form. If this program is executed by one computer, or if each step is shared and executed by a plurality of computers, the same effect as the log management method described above can be obtained.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a log management system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a log management system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a management server 20 as a log management apparatus according to the present invention, and a print server connected to the management server 20 via a LAN (Local Area Network) 12. 30, a printer 40 locally connected to the print server 30, and a client computer (hereinafter referred to as a client PC) 50 connected to the management server 20 and the print server 30 via the LAN 12.

  The management server 20 includes a CPU 21 that executes various controls, a ROM 22 that stores various control programs, a RAM 23 that temporarily stores data, an HDD 24 that is a large-capacity memory that stores various application programs and various data files, and external devices. A network interface (I / F) 26 capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from the RTC 25 for measuring the reference time of the management server 20, which are electrically connected via a bus 27 to exchange information Is possible. The management server 20 monitors the printer 40 every predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds), acquires information such as the print processing content of the print job and the time when the print processing was performed from the printer 40, and stores it in a predetermined area of the HDD 24. ·to manage. When transmitting / receiving data to / from the print server 30 and the client PC 50 via the LAN 12, the management server 20 transmits / receives data using a reception buffer and a transmission buffer provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 23. The HDD 24 stores a log management program 24a that is an application program, a log 24b that is information related to past print processing of the printer 40, and the like. The RTC 25 divides the oscillation clock from the crystal oscillator to generate a clock frequency. Unlike the internal system clock, the RTC 25 receives power from a battery (not shown) and operates while the power is off.

  The print server 30 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU 31, and exchanges data with a printer 32, a ROM 32 that stores various processing programs and various data, a RAM 33 that temporarily stores data, and a printer 40. An external communication I / F 34 and a network I / F 35 that can communicate with the management server 20 via a network are provided, and these are connected by a bus 36. The CPU 31 has an internal system clock 31a, and the internal system clock 31a divides a transmission clock from the crystal oscillator to generate a clock frequency.

  The printer 40 has an inkjet printing mechanism 45, and is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU 41. The ROM 42 stores various processing programs and various data, and the RAM 43 stores data temporarily. And an external communication I / F 44 for exchanging data with the print server 30, and these are connected by a bus 46. The CPU 41 has an internal system clock 41a, and this internal system clock 41a divides a transmission clock from the crystal oscillator to generate a clock frequency. The ROM 42 stores a job information management program 42a that is an application program. By executing the job information management program 42a, the print processing content of the print job received from the client PC 50 and the time when the print processing was performed are stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 43 as job information.

  The client PC 50 is a known general-purpose personal computer, and transmits a file print command to the print server 30 via the LAN 12 or receives a response from the print server 30 by an installed program. The client PC 50 includes a display 51 that displays various information on a screen, an input device 52 such as a keyboard for a user to input various commands, and the like, and the user inputs a cursor displayed on the display 51 via the input device 52. Thus, an operation corresponding to the input operation is executed.

  Next, among the operations of the devices constituting the log management system 10 of the present embodiment, an operation in which the management server 20 transmits a dummy job to the printer 40 via the print server 30 will be described first. Here, the dummy job imitates the format of a print job for image processing, and is sent as a print job from the management server 20 to the printer 40 via the print server 30, but the number of prints is set to zero. This is a job that does not involve execution of printing. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a dummy job transmission routine executed by the CPU 21 of the management server 20. This routine is executed at predetermined timings (for example, every several tens of seconds or several mins) after the management server 20 is activated.

  When this routine is executed, the CPU 21 of the management server 20 transmits a dummy job to the printer 40 via the print server 30 (step S100), and the dummy job transmission / reception table with the time of the RTC 25 at this time as the dummy job transmission time. (Step S105). FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a dummy job transmission / reception table. The dummy job transmission / reception table is a table showing the server transmission time tsd indicated by the RTC 25 when the dummy job is transmitted, the job reception time tpa when the printer 40 receives the dummy job, and the print job number. It is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 23. Here, the dummy job number is assigned to each dummy job by the CPU 21 when a dummy job is transmitted from the management server 20. The print job number is a number assigned by the printer CPU 41 when the printer 40 receives a print job or dummy job from the print server 30. Since the server transmission time tsd is a time measured by the RTC 25, it is represented as a current time at the time of transmission.

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 requests the print server 30 to return the job reception time tpa when the printer 40 received the dummy job and the print job number (step S110). Thus, when the print server 30 or the printer 40 is activated, the print server 30 requests the printer 40 to return the job reception time tpa and the print job number, and the printer 40 that has received this request returns the print server 30. Returns the job reception time tpa and the print job number. Then, the print server 30 that has received the job reception time tpa and the print job number returns it to the management server 20. Here, the job reception time tpa is a time measured by the internal system clock 41a, and is expressed as an elapsed time from when the printer is activated. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the job reception time tpa and the print job number are received from the printer 40 within a predetermined time (step S115), and the job reception time tpa and the print job number are not received within the predetermined time. If this is the case, it is determined that the print server 30 or the printer 40 is not activated, and this routine is terminated. On the other hand, when the job reception time tpa and the print job number are received within the predetermined time, the job reception time tpa and the print job number are stored in the cell corresponding to the dummy job number in the dummy job transmission / reception table (step S120). ), This routine is terminated. After this routine is completed, this routine is repeatedly executed until the management server 20 is powered off.

  Next, a description will be given of operations for creating and storing a log related to the printing process of the printer 40. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the log creation / save routine. This routine is executed by the CPU 41 of the printer 40 at every predetermined timing (for example, every several msec) after the printer 40 is activated.

  When this routine is executed, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a print job has been received from the print server 30 (step S200). If no print job has been received, this routine is terminated as it is. On the other hand, when a print job is received, the print processing contents such as the name of the user who sent the print job, the number of prints, and the print start time of the print job are stored in each corresponding cell of the printer log table. (Step S210). FIG. 5 shows an example of a printer log table. The printer log table represents the print processing contents and processing time of a print job transmitted from the print server 30 to the printer 40 as a table, and is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 43. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the printer log table includes a print job number given by the CPU 41 when a print job is received and the time of the internal system clock 41a when the print job is received. A certain job reception time tpa, a print start time tps that is the time of the internal system clock 41a when the print process is started, a print end time tpe that is the time of the internal system clock 41a when the print process is finished, and printing The correspondence between the name of the user who instructed the user and the number of printed sheets is displayed. Of these, the print start time tps and the print end time tpe are represented by the elapsed time from the start time measured by the internal system clock 41a with the time when the printer 40 is started as time zero. With respect to the print start time tps and the print end time tpe, if the print job is a dummy job, printing is not executed, so these cells are null. In step S210, since printing has not yet been completed, information on the print end time tpe is not saved at this time. Further, regarding the user name instructing printing, it is assumed that the print job includes sender information indicating the sender, and the CPU 41 determines the user name based on the sender information. In the present embodiment, when the transmission source is the client PC 50, the IP address assigned to each client PC 50 is included in the print job, and this IP address is used as the user name of the client PC. In the case of the management server 20, the I / F number of the network interface 26 to which the management server 20 is connected is included in the print job, and this I / F number is used as the user name of the management server 20.

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 determines whether or not printing is finished (step S220), and when the printing is not finished, the CPU 21 stands by until the printing is finished. On the other hand, when printing is completed, the time of the internal system clock 41a is read out and set as the print end time tpe, and the time is stored in the “print end time” cell of the corresponding print job number (step S230). finish.

  Next, an operation in which the management server 20 acquires and saves a log from the RAM 43 of the printer 40 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a log management routine executed by the CPU 21 of the management server 20. This routine is executed every predetermined timing (for example, every 10 sec) after the management server 20 is activated.

  When this routine is executed, the CPU 21 first determines whether or not the error coefficient α and the activation time tso are set (step S300). This error coefficient α will be described later. When the error coefficient α and the activation time tso are not yet set, it is determined whether or not the management server 20 has transmitted the dummy job twice after activation by executing the above-described dummy job transmission / reception routine (step S305). Here, whether or not the management server 40 has transmitted the dummy job twice after activation is determined based on the dummy job number stored in the dummy job transmission / reception table. When the management server 20 has not yet transmitted the dummy job twice after starting, the management server 20 waits as it is, and when the management server 20 has transmitted the dummy job twice after starting, the dummy job transmission / reception table stores The server transmission time tsd and job reception time tpa are read (step S310).

  Subsequently, an error coefficient α for correcting the measurement error of the internal system clock 41a with respect to the RTC 25 is calculated using each of the two server transmission times tsd and job reception times tpa that have been read, and the calculated error coefficient α is used. The activation time tso of the printer 40 is estimated by the following equation (1), and the error coefficient α and the activation time tso are stored in the RAM (step S315). Here, the error coefficient α is calculated by dividing the difference between the server transmission times tsd1 and tsd2 in the two dummy jobs by the difference between the job reception times tpd1 and tpd2, and is expressed by the following equation (2). The That is, the error coefficient α is a ratio for adjusting the time between the job reception times tpd1 and tpd2 to the time between the server transmission times tsd1 and tsd2. For example, when the accuracy of the internal system clock 41a of the printer 40 is low and the time error is large, the time shift also increases. Therefore, the time shift due to this time error is corrected by the error coefficient α. Note that these calculation formulas are stored in the HDD 24. FIG. 7 shows the relationship among the server transmission times tsd1 and tsd2, the job reception times tpd1 and tpd2, the error coefficient α, and the printer activation time tso.

tso = tsd1-α ・ tpd1 (1)
α = (tsd2-tsd1) / (tpd2-tpd1) (2)

  Now, after calculating the error coefficient α and the activation time tso in step S315, or when it is determined in step S300 that the error coefficient α and the activation time tso have already been set, the CPU 21 stores the printer data stored in the RAM 43 of the printer 40. From the log table, the print server 30 is requested to send back a log that is a job other than a dummy job among print jobs that have not yet received a log and has the smallest print job number (step S320). Is received (step S325), and when the log is received, information other than the job reception time tpa among the information included in the log is stored in each corresponding cell of the log management table (step S325). S330). That is, when the CPU 21 of the management server 20 requests the print server 30 to return a log, the print server 30 first requests the printer 40 to transmit the log. The printer 40 that has received this request has not been transmitted in the printer log table, and it is checked whether or not a log in which a user name other than the management server 20 is recorded as a user name is stored in the printer log table. When this log is stored, the log with the smallest print job number is returned to the print server 30. Then, the print server 30 that has received the log returns it to the management server 20, which is received by the management server 20 and stored in each corresponding cell of the log management table.

  The log management table will be described. FIG. 8 shows an example of the log management table. The log management table is a table representing the print processing content and processing time of a print job executed by the printer 40 and is stored in a predetermined area of the HDD 24. Specifically, in the log management table, as shown in FIG. 8, the print job number, the print start log time tss representing the time when the print process is started as the time of the RTC 25, and the print process are completed. The correspondence relationship between the print end log time tse, which represents the time as the time of the RTC 25, the name of the user who instructed printing, and the number of printed sheets is represented. Among these, the print start log time tss and the print end log time tse are stored in step S330, respectively, among the logs received from the print server 30, the print start time tps and the print end time tpe.

  After saving the print job log, the CPU 21 determines whether the printer 40 has been restarted (step S335). Whether or not the printer 40 has been restarted is determined based on the job reception time tpa of the print job. That is, the job reception time tpa between the print job number of the print job received this time and the print job having a print job number that is smaller by 1 than the print job received this time is read from the printer log table, compared, and received this time If the job reception time tpa of the print job is smaller, it is determined that the printer 40 has been restarted. When the printer 40 is restarted, it is determined whether there is a dummy job having a print job number larger than the job number of the print job received this time (step S340). Whether there is a dummy job having a print job number larger than the print job number of the print job received this time is determined by the print job number in the dummy job transmission / reception table. If there is no dummy job having a print job number larger than the print job number of the print job received this time in the dummy job transmission / reception table, the process waits until it is stored in the dummy job transmission / reception table. On the other hand, if there is a dummy job having a print job number larger than the job number of the print job received this time, the dummy job log is read from the dummy job transmission / reception table (step S345), and the printer activation time tso is reset (step S345). Step S350). Specifically, the printer activation time tso is recalculated using the error coefficient α calculated in step S315, the server transmission time tsd and job reception time tpa read in step S345, and the above equation (1). Thereby, the time when the printer is restarted is calculated as the time of the RTC 25.

  When it is determined in step S335 that the printer 40 has not been restarted or after the start time tso of the printer 40 is reset in step S350, the CPU 21 sets the print start log time tss among the logs saved in step S330. The print start time tps stored in the cell and the print end time tpe stored in the cell of the print end log time tse are read from the HDD 24, and these times are corrected to times corresponding to the times measured by the RTC 25 of the management server 20, respectively. (Step S355). That is, the print start time tps is converted into the print start log time tss, and the print end time tpe is converted into the print end log time tse. The conversion from the print start time tps to the print start log time tss and the conversion from the print end time tpe to the print end log time tse are performed using the following equation (3) and equation using the printer activation time tso and the error coefficient α, respectively. (4).

tss = tso + α ・ tps (3)
tse = tso + α ・ tpe (4)

  When the print start log time tss and the print end log time tse are calculated, the CPU 21 calculates the time stored as the print start log time and the print end log time of the corresponding print job number in the log management table. Update (step S360), and this routine ends. Thereby, the time of the printing process included in the log management table of the HDD 24 is unified and managed so as to match the time of the RTC 25 of the management server 20. After this routine is finished, this routine is repeatedly executed until the management server 20 is powered off.

  Here, the operation for correcting the time measured by the internal system clock 41a of the printer 40 to be the time measured by the RTC 25 of the management server 20 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 7 and 8. FIG. Explained. First, the CPU 21 includes time information (server transmission time tsd1: 9:00:00, which is included in the log contents of the dummy job number 1 among the dummy jobs stored in the dummy job transmission / reception table (see FIG. 3). Job reception time tpa1: 01 minutes 00 seconds) and time information (server transmission time tsd2: 9: 05: 00, job reception time tpa2: 05 minutes 30 seconds) included in the log contents with the dummy job number value 2. Read all. Subsequently, the difference (5:00 minutes 00 seconds) between the server transmission time tsd2 (9:05:00) and the server transmission time tsd1 (9:00:00), the job reception time tpd2 (05 minutes 30 seconds), and A difference (4 minutes 30 seconds) from the job reception time tpd1 (01 minutes 00 seconds) is calculated, and an error coefficient α (5 minutes 00 seconds / 4 minutes 30 seconds) as a difference ratio between the two is calculated. Next, the printer start time tso (8:58:53) is obtained by multiplying the error coefficient α by the job reception time tpd1 (01:00) and subtracting this value from the server transmission time tsd1 (9:00:00). ) Is calculated. Now, it is assumed that the print start log time tss of the print job having the print job number 3 is obtained (see FIGS. 5 and 8). In this print job, the print start time tps included in the contents of the log received from the printer 40 is 10 minutes 00 seconds (see FIGS. 5 and 8). In order to correct this time so as to match the time axis of the RTC 25, the above equation (3) is used. In other words, the print start log time (9: 9: 59) is obtained by multiplying the error coefficient α by the print start time tps (10:00) and adding this value to the printer start time tso (8:58:53). Is calculated. The print end log time tse can be calculated in the same manner.

  Next, consider a case where the printer 40 is restarted while the management server 20 continues to monitor the printer 40. For example, assume that the printer 40 is restarted before the print job with the print job number 6 is transmitted to the printer 40. In this case, the printer is activated according to the above equation (1) using the previously obtained error coefficient α and the dummy job transmitted to the printer 40 after the print job number 6 (here, the dummy job number is 5). Reset time tso. That is, by multiplying the error coefficient α by the job reception time tpd (03:00) and subtracting this value from the server transmission time tsd (9:20:00), the printer activation time tso (9:16:42) Is calculated. Then, the print start log time (9 o'clock) is obtained by multiplying the print start time tps (01 minutes 00 seconds) of the print job number 6 by the error coefficient α and adding this value to the printer start time tso (9:16:42). 17 minutes 48 seconds) is calculated.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The printer 40 of this embodiment corresponds to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the internal system clock 41a of the printer 40 corresponds to the relative time measurement function, and the management server 20 corresponds to the log management apparatus. The RTC 25 corresponds to a reference time measuring unit, the CPU 21 of the management server 20 corresponds to a dummy job transmission unit, a log acquisition unit, and a time correction unit, and the RAM 23 corresponds to a transmission time storage unit. The HDD 24 corresponds to a log storage unit, and the print server 30 corresponds to a job management apparatus. In the present embodiment, the operations of the management server 20 and the printer 40 are described, and at the same time, the log management method of the present invention and its program are also described.

  According to the log management system 10 of this embodiment described in detail above, the dummy job log is acquired from the printer 40 after the dummy job is transmitted from the management server 20 to the printer 40, whereby the time of the RTC 25 of the management server 20 is obtained. The time of the internal system clock 41a of the printer 40 is related. In this way, by transmitting a dummy job from the management server 20 to the printer 40, the print start time tps measured by the printer 40 can be obtained without special time synchronization between the management server 20 and the printer 40. The print end time tpe can be corrected to a time that matches the time axis of the management server 20. Therefore, the time included in the log acquired from the printer 40 can be managed by unifying the RTC 25 of the management server 20 as a time axis.

  In addition, since the number of printed sheets of the dummy job is set to zero, printing that should be performed is not hindered, and printing paper and colorant (ink, toner, etc.) are not wasted. Further, since the print start time tps and the print end time tpe are corrected using the time when the printer 40 receives the dummy job, the correction can be performed more accurately.

  Furthermore, since the printing start time tps and the printing end time tpe are corrected using the error coefficient α, more accurate time can be managed as a log even when the accuracy of the internal system clock 41a of the printer 40 is low. . Further, since the error coefficient α is calculated from two dummy jobs, it can be calculated relatively easily.

  Furthermore, since a dummy job is transmitted at predetermined intervals, even when the standard of the internal system clock 41a of the printer 40 is changed by restarting the printer 40, the print start time tps and printing are performed using a new dummy job log. The end time tpe can be corrected accurately.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the print start time tps and the print end time tpe are corrected in consideration of the measurement error in the internal system clock 41a, that is, the error coefficient α. However, the correction is performed without considering the error coefficient α. It is good. That is, the log management routine of FIG. 9 may be executed instead of FIG. 9, the same processes as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same step numbers as those in FIG. When the routine of FIG. 9 is started, the CPU 21 first executes the processes of steps S320 to S330, and then reads the log of the dummy job having the largest dummy job number from the dummy job transmission / reception table of the RAM 23 (step S410). Subsequently, using the log of the dummy job, the print start time tps and the print end time tpe are corrected in the log received in step S330 (step S420). In this correction, as shown in FIG. 10, the difference between the print start time tps or print end time tpe and the job reception time tpa of the dummy job is obtained, and the time obtained by adding this difference to the server transmission time tsd of the dummy job is printed. This is done by setting the start log time tss or the print end log time tse. Here, the operation of correcting the print start time tps of the print job number 3 using the print job number 3 (see FIG. 5) and the dummy job number 2 (see FIG. 3) will be specifically described. In order to correct the print start time tps (10:00) of the print job number 3 to the print start log time tss, first, from the print start time tps (10:00) of the print job number 3, the dummy job number 2 The difference between the job reception times tpa (05 minutes 30 seconds) is obtained. Subsequently, this difference (4 minutes 30 seconds) is added to the server transmission time tsd (9:05). The time thus obtained, that is, 9: 9: 35, becomes the print start log time tss. The print end job time tse can be obtained in the same manner. When the print start time tps and the print end time tpe are corrected in step S420, the print start time tps and the print end time tpe are updated to the corrected values (step S360), and this routine ends. Also in this case, by matching the time included in the log acquired from the printer 40 with the RTC 25 of the management server 20, the log can be managed on a unified time axis. At this time, it is preferable to increase the frequency with which the dummy job is transmitted from the management server 20 to the printer 40. In this way, the accuracy of the log time can be ensured without calculating the error coefficient α.

  In the embodiment described above, when calculating the error coefficient α, the error coefficient α may be calculated using a log read from the log management table stored in the HDD 24 of the management server 20 and a log of one dummy job. That is, a cell for storing the print start time tps of the print job is provided as a log management table. From the print start time tps, the print start job time tss of the print job, the job reception time tpa of the dummy job, and the server transmission time tsd The error coefficient α may be calculated. Specifically, a value obtained by dividing the difference between the print start job time tss and the server transmission time tsd by the difference between the print start time tps and the job reception time tpa is defined as an error coefficient α.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer activation time tso is calculated and the processing time of the printer 40 is obtained from the elapsed time from the printer activation time tso. For example, 40 processing times may be obtained. Specifically, the processing time of the printer 40 is calculated by multiplying the difference between the job reception time tpa of the dummy job and the processing times tps and tpe of the printer 40 by the error coefficient α and adding this value to the server transmission time tsd. It is good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 40 and the management server 20 are connected via the print server 30, but the printer 40 and the management server 20 may be directly connected. Also in this case, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained. In a configuration in which the printer 40 and the management server 20 are connected via the print server 30, the printer 40 may create a log using the internal system clock 31a of the print server 30 as a time axis. In this case, by applying the present invention, it is possible to perform correction in consideration of not only the measurement error in the internal system clock 41a of the printer 40 but also the measurement error in the internal system clock 31a of the print server 30. Therefore, when the printer 40 creates a log using the internal system clock 31a of the print server 30 as a time axis, the connection is made via the print server 30, it is highly significant to apply the present invention.

  In the embodiment described above, the management server 20 may transmit a dummy job when no print job is stored in the print server 30. In this way, since there is no waiting time until the dummy job is transmitted from the print server 30 to the printer 40, the server transmission time tsd and the job reception time tpa can be more accurately related. Therefore, the processing time in the printer 40 can be corrected more accurately.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 40 is used as the image processing apparatus. However, the image processing apparatus is not limited to this as long as it is capable of receiving a dummy job. For example, a facsimile machine, a copier, a multifunction machine, or the like is used. The present invention may be applied to various electronic devices.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a log management system 10. FIG. The flowchart of a dummy job transmission routine. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of a dummy job transmission / reception table. The flowchart of a log creation preservation routine. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a printer log table. The flowchart of a log management routine. Explanatory drawing explaining the relationship between server transmission time, job reception time, error coefficient, and printer activation time. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of a log management table. The flowchart of another log management routine. Explanatory drawing explaining the relationship between server transmission time and job reception time.

Explanation of symbols

  10 log management system, 20 management server, 21 CPU, 22 ROM, 23 RAM, 24 HDD, 24a log management program, 24b log, 25 RTC, 26 network interface, 27 bus, 30 print server, 31 CPU, 31a internal system clock 32 ROM, 33 RAM, 34 External communication interface, 35 Network interface, 36 Bus, 40 Printer, 41 CPU, 41a Internal system clock, 42 ROM, 42a Job information management program, 43 RAM, 44 External communication interface, 45 Printing mechanism , 46 buses, 50 client PCs, 51 displays, 52 input devices.

Claims (12)

Connected via an image processing device with a relative time measurement function capable of measuring image processing based on an image processing job involving image processing and measuring at least the relative time specified by the elapsed time from a predetermined reference time A log management device for managing a log of the image processing device,
A reference time measuring means for measuring the reference time;
Dummy job transmitting means for transmitting a dummy job imitating the image processing job to the image processing apparatus;
A transmission time storage means for storing information relating to a transmission reference time that is a reference time when the dummy job is transmitted from the dummy job transmission means;
A log of the dummy job including information on relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the dummy job, and a log of the image processing job including information on relative time when the image processing job is processed. Log acquisition means to acquire;
Time correction means for correcting the information on the relative time in the log of the image processing job based on the information on the transmission reference time and the log of the dummy job so as to match the time axis of the reference time;
Log storage means for storing information corrected by the time correction means as a log of the image processing device;
Log management device with The dummy job does not involve image processing,
The log acquisition unit acquires information on a relative time when the image processing apparatus receives the dummy job as information on a relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the dummy job.
The log management apparatus according to claim 1. The dummy job transmission means transmits the dummy job once,
The time correction means is based on the relationship between the relative time measured by the relative time measurement function and the reference time measured by the reference time measurement means for one dummy job transmitted by the dummy job transmission means. Correct the information related to the relative time in the log of the image processing job so that it matches the time axis of the reference time,
The log management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The time correction means corrects the information related to the relative time in the log of the image processing job so as to match the time axis of the reference time in consideration of the measurement error in the relative time measurement function;
The log management apparatus according to claim 1. The dummy job transmission means transmits the dummy job twice,
The time correction means calculates the relationship between the relative time measured by the relative time measurement function and the reference time measured by the reference time measurement means for the two dummy jobs transmitted by the dummy job transmission means. And taking into account the measurement error in the relative time measurement function by correcting the information related to the relative time in the log of the image processing job based on the calculated relationship so as to match the time axis of the reference time.
The log management apparatus according to claim 4. The dummy job transmission means transmits the dummy job at predetermined intervals.
The log management apparatus according to claim 1. The predetermined reference time is when the image processing apparatus is activated,
The dummy job transmission means transmits the dummy job at least once after the restart when the image processing apparatus is restarted after being started.
The log management apparatus according to claim 1. The image processing apparatus receives the image processing job and the dummy job, and sends the received image processing job and the dummy job to the log management apparatus via a job management apparatus that transmits the image processing job and the dummy job to the image processing apparatus. Connected to the log management device as a log relative time with the relative time specified by the time measurement function of the job management device as a time axis,
The log management apparatus according to claim 1. The log management device according to claim 8,
Job determination means for determining whether or not the image processing job is stored in the job management apparatus;
With
The dummy job transmission unit transmits the dummy job when the job determination unit determines that the image processing job is not stored in the job management apparatus;
Log management device. A log management device according to claim 1;
An image processing apparatus having a relative time measurement function capable of performing image processing based on an image processing job including image data and measuring a relative time specified by at least an elapsed time from a predetermined reference time;
Log management system with Relative time measurement that includes a reference time measurement means for measuring a reference time, and that can execute image processing based on an image processing job that accompanies image processing and can measure at least a relative time specified by an elapsed time from a predetermined reference time A log management method for managing a log of an image processing apparatus connected to an image processing apparatus having a function via a network,
(A) transmitting a dummy job without image processing imitating the image processing job to the image processing apparatus;
(B) storing information relating to a transmission reference time, which is a reference time when the dummy job is transmitted in the step (b);
(C) a log of the dummy job including information regarding a relative time when the image processing apparatus processes the dummy job and an image processing job including information regarding a relative time when the image processing job is processed; A step to get logs and
(D) Process the image processing job acquired in step (c) based on the information related to the transmission reference time stored in step (b) and the log of the dummy job acquired in step (c). Correcting the information related to the relative time to match the time axis of the reference time;
(E) storing the information corrected in step (d) as a log of the image processing apparatus;
Log management method.   A log management program for causing one or more computers to execute each step of the log management method according to claim 11.

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