JP4858260B2 - Execution management apparatus, execution management method and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an execution management apparatus, an execution management method, and a program thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an execution management apparatus, an apparatus that stores printing restriction information that is information for restricting printing by a printer has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 transmits print restriction information to a printer when a user inputs an ID and authenticates it, stores the print restriction information in the printer until a predetermined period of time elapses, and the same user When the authentication is performed, access from the user is reduced by performing print restriction using print restriction information stored in the printer.
JP 2002-103743 A

  However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the print restriction information stored in the printer is deleted when a predetermined period elapses, so that the print restriction information is updated as the predetermined period elapses, and printing is performed each time. Although the content of the restriction may change, the point of switching the printing restriction for each of a plurality of periods has not been considered. For this reason, when it is going to implement | achieve the printing restriction | limiting according to a several period, although giving a some ID to a user and switching and authenticating ID on the user side can be considered, there existed the trouble that a user changed ID. . Moreover, although it is conceivable to perform restriction by switching on the apparatus side for each period with one ID, it is necessary to improve the certainty of processing restriction.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an execution management apparatus, an execution management method, and a program thereof that can more reliably perform processing restriction for each period. It is another object of the present invention to provide an execution management apparatus, an execution management method, and a program thereof that can reduce the complexity of the user when switching processing restrictions for each period.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve at least one of the above objects.

The execution management apparatus of the present invention
An execution management device that manages execution of a predetermined process in an information processing device using identification information associated with a user,
Information acquisition means capable of acquiring first identification information associated with the user used for authentication and a processing target used for execution of the predetermined process;
Period setting means for setting whether it is a first period or a second period different from the first period;
Identification information setting means for setting, in place of the first identification information, second identification information that the user does not use for authentication when the set period is the second period;
After the information acquisition means acquires the first identification information and the processing target during the set first period, the processing target based on the first restriction associated with the first identification information While determining whether to execute the process, the second information set by the identification information setting unit after the information acquisition unit acquires the first identification information and the process target during the set second period. Execution determination means for determining whether or not to execute the process to be processed based on a second restriction different from the first restriction associated with the identification information;
It is equipped with.

  In the execution management apparatus, the first identification information associated with the user used by the user for authentication and the processing target used for execution of the predetermined process are acquired, and the first period or the first It is set whether the second period is different from the period, and the second identification information that the user does not use for authentication when the set period is the second period is set instead of the first identification information. While acquiring the first identification information and the processing target during the set first period, the determination as to whether or not the processing target can be executed based on the first restriction associated with the first identification information. After acquiring the first identification information and the processing target during the set second period, the second limit is different from the first limit associated with the set second identification information. It is determined whether or not the process to be processed can be executed. As described above, in the first period, the first identification information used by the user for authentication is used to determine whether or not the process can be executed based on the first restriction. In the second period, the user does not use the second identification for authentication. The identification information is set and used to determine whether the process can be executed based on the second restriction. Therefore, since the identification information is switched between the first period and the second period, it is possible to more reliably limit the processing for each period. Further, since it is not necessary for the user to switch the identification information for authentication, it is possible to reduce the complexity of the user when switching the processing restriction for each period.

  The execution management apparatus according to the present invention includes an information output unit capable of outputting information, and when the set period is the first period and the execution determination unit determines that the process target process can be executed. While the acquired first identification information and processing target are output to the information output unit to the information output unit, the set period is the second period, and the processing of the processing target can be performed by the execution determination unit And an execution control unit that causes the information output unit to output the set second identification information and the processing target to the information processing unit. If it carries out like this, 1st identification information and 2nd identification information can be utilized with an information processing apparatus according to a determination result. Here, “output the processing target to the information processing device” includes not only outputting the acquired processing target to the information processing device as it is, but also converting the acquired processing target into a mode that can be processed by the information processing device. The output of the processed object to the information processing apparatus is also included.

  In the execution management apparatus of the present invention, the identification information setting means may set second identification information including the first identification information instead of the first identification information. In this way, it is easy to specify the corresponding user later by using the first identification information included in the second identification information. At this time, the execution management apparatus of the present invention includes a management information storage unit that stores management information for registering information related to the result of the process execution, and the information acquisition unit receives the first identification information and the process from the information processing apparatus. When the target processing result is acquired, the user associated with the first identification information, the acquired processing result, and the first period are associated with each other and registered in the management information. When acquiring the second identification information and the processing result of the processing target from the information processing device, the user is identified based on the first identification information included in the second identification information, the identified user, and the acquired processing result Management execution means for associating with the second period and registering in the management information may be provided. By doing this, it is possible to manage the processing results according to the first period and the second period, so that it is easy to grasp these relationships. The execution management apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that when the information acquisition unit acquires the first identification information and the processing result of the processing target, the acquired processing result is associated with the first identification information. On the other hand, when the information acquisition unit acquires the second identification information and the processing result of the processing target from the information processing apparatus, the acquired identification result is included in the second identification information. It is good also as a thing provided with the restriction | limiting control means reflected in the said 2nd restriction | limiting matched with. In this way, the processing target can be executed by the restriction reflecting the processing result of the processing target. At this time, the processing target may be a print job, and the first restriction and the second restriction may be the number of printed sheets. By so doing, it is possible to switch the printing restriction between the first period and the second period. The execution management apparatus of the present invention also includes an execution output unit capable of outputting information, correspondence information in which a user is associated with first identification information, and an acquisition information storage that stores the processing target acquired by the information acquisition unit And an output control means for controlling the execution output means to output information, wherein the identification information setting means is a processing object stored in the acquired information storage means during the second period. Before the information acquisition unit acquires from the information processing apparatus the authentication execution command for executing the process by authentication of the first identification information and the first identification information associated with the user. The second identification information is set in place of the first identification information associated with the information and stored in the acquired information storage means, and the output control means sends the authentication execution command and the first identification information to the information When the obtaining unit obtains the information from the information processing apparatus, authentication of the obtained first identification information is performed using the correspondence information, and the first identification information included in the set second identification information is obtained. Based on the first identification information, the processing target corresponding to the user is searched from the stored processing targets, and after the acquired first identification information is authenticated, the set second identification information and the The searched processing target may be output to the information processing apparatus by the execution output unit. In this way, since the second identification information is set before receiving the authentication execution command, execution management based on the second identification information can be performed more reliably. In addition, the second identification information can be set more reliably within the second period.

  Alternatively, the execution management device according to the present invention stores an execution output unit capable of outputting information, correspondence information in which a user is associated with first identification information, and the processing target acquired by the information acquisition unit. And an output control means for controlling the execution output means to output information, wherein the identification information setting means determines the processing target stored in the acquired information storage means by authenticating the first identification information. When the information acquisition unit acquires the authentication execution command to execute the process and the first identification information associated with the processing target from the information processing apparatus during the second period, the acquisition is performed using the correspondence information. The first identification information is authenticated, and after the acquired first identification information is authenticated, the second identification information is set and stored in the acquired information storage means. The output control means 2 The processing target corresponding to the user is selected from the stored processing targets based on the first identification information associated with the processing target and the acquired first identification information before the identification information is set. After the search is performed and the second identification information is set, the set second identification information and the searched processing target may be output to the information processing apparatus by the execution output unit. In this way, since the second identification information is set after receiving the authentication execution command, the stored processing object can be searched as it is, and it is easier to search.

  The execution management apparatus of the present invention includes a conversion unit that converts the processing target into a mode that can be processed by the information processing apparatus, and the period setting unit switches between the first period and the second period. When the conversion means is executing the conversion process to be processed, the first period and the second period may be switched and set after the conversion process is completed. . In this case, the period is changed after the conversion process to be processed is executed, and the first restriction or the second restriction is applied based on the time when the conversion process to be processed is started. Limit can be enforced.

  In the execution management apparatus of the present invention, the period setting means sets a predetermined non-working period as the first period, sets a predetermined working period as the second period, and the execution determination means includes: When the set period is a predetermined non-working period, it is determined whether or not the processing target can be executed based on the non-working limit as the first limit, and the set period is a predetermined working period It is also possible to always determine that the process to be processed can be executed as the second restriction when the period is within this period. By doing so, the processing target process can be executed without limitation during a predetermined working period, so that the working efficiency is good.

  In the execution management apparatus of the present invention, the information processing apparatus is a printing apparatus that prints a colorant on a print medium based on the print data as the processing target, and the first restriction and the second restriction are: The number of prints may be limited. Since it is desired that the limitation of the printing process is switched according to a predetermined period, the significance of applying the present invention is high.

The execution management method of the present invention includes:
An execution management method using an execution management device that manages execution of a predetermined process in an information processing device using identification information associated with a user,
(A) acquiring first identification information associated with the user used for authentication and a processing target used for executing the predetermined process;
(B) setting whether it is a first period or a second period different from the first period;
(C) replacing the first identification information with second identification information that the user does not use for authentication when the period set in step (b) is the second period;
(D) The processing based on the first restriction associated with the first identification information after acquiring the first identification information and the processing target during the first period set in the step (b). While determining whether the target process can be executed, the second set in step (c) after acquiring the first identification information and the process target during the second period set in step (b). Determining whether to execute the process to be processed based on a second restriction different from the first restriction associated with the identification information;
Is included.

  In this execution management method, the first identification information associated with the user used by the user for authentication and the processing target used for execution of the predetermined process are acquired, and the first period or the first It is set whether the second period is different from the period, and the second identification information that the user does not use for authentication when the set period is the second period is set instead of the first identification information. While acquiring the first identification information and the processing target during the set first period, the determination as to whether or not the processing target can be executed based on the first restriction associated with the first identification information. After acquiring the first identification information and the processing target during the set second period, the second limit is different from the first limit associated with the set second identification information. It is determined whether or not the process to be processed can be executed. As described above, in the first period, the first identification information used by the user for authentication is used to determine whether or not the process can be executed based on the first restriction. In the second period, the user does not use the second identification for authentication. The identification information is set and used to determine whether the process can be executed based on the second restriction. Therefore, since the identification information is switched between the first period and the second period, it is possible to more reliably limit the processing for each period. Further, since it is not necessary for the user to switch the identification information for authentication, it is possible to reduce the complexity of the user when switching the processing restriction for each period. In this execution management method, various aspects of the above-described execution management apparatus may be adopted, and steps for realizing each function of the above-described execution management apparatus may be added.

  The program of the present invention is for causing each step of the above-described execution management method to be realized by one or a plurality of computers. 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 a single computer or if each step is shared and executed by a plurality of computers, each step of the execution management method described above is executed, so that the same effect as the execution management method can be obtained. It is done.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a restricted printing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of information stored in an HDD 35 provided in the print server 30. The restricted printing system 10 of the present embodiment is connected via a LAN 12 to user personal computers (hereinafter referred to as user PCs) 20 and 29 connected to a LAN 12 as a network, and a print server 30 connected via the LAN 12. The log management server 50 and a plurality of printers 60 and 68 connected via the LAN 12. In this embodiment, a case where the restricted printing system 10 is installed in a lecture room in a university will be described. The restricted printing system 10 includes a plurality of other user PCs and printers (not shown). Note that the printer and the user PC may each have an arbitrary number.

  The user PC 20 is a well-known general-purpose personal computer configured as a processing requesting device used by a user. The CPU 22 executes various controls, a ROM 23 stores various control programs, a RAM 24 temporarily stores data, and various application programs. And an HDD 25 which is a large-capacity memory for storing various data files, and a network interface (I / F) 26 capable of transmitting / receiving information to / from an external device connected to the LAN 12. The user PC 20 instructs a print process to the print server 30 via the I / F 26 by an installed program, or reads information such as the print log information 55 a stored in the log management server 50. The user PC 20 uses a reception buffer and a transmission buffer provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 24 when transmitting / receiving data to / from the print server 30 or the like via the LAN 12. The user PC 20 includes a display 27 for displaying various information on a screen, an input device 28 such as a keyboard for a user to input various commands, and the like, and a user inputs a cursor or the like displayed on the display 27 via the input device 28. When operated, it has a function of executing an operation corresponding to the input operation. Note that the user PC 29 has the same configuration as the user PC 20, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

  The print server 30 is a server having a function of managing a print job received from a user and executing the print job by each printer. The print server 30 includes a CPU 32 that executes various controls, a ROM 33 that stores various control programs, a RAM 34 that temporarily stores data, an HDD 35 that is a large-capacity memory that stores various application programs and various data files, and a LAN 12. And an authentication device 37 for inputting information for confirming whether or not the user is a system use authorized person. The CPU 32 is connected to the HDD 35 and the I / F 36 so that information can be exchanged via a bus (not shown). The print server 30 uses a reception buffer and a transmission buffer provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 34 via the I / F 36 when transmitting / receiving data to / from the user PC 20 and the printer 60 via the LAN 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the HDD 35 has a print restriction management program 40 for setting a lesson period, executing user print restrictions and managing print restrictions, and print data printable by a predetermined printer (for example, the printer 60). A printer driver 41 for generating the print data, job management information 42 as a management list storing print data 42a, print restriction correspondence information 44 including information on print restrictions corresponding to each user, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the job management information 42 is a job ID given when a print job is received, a print reception time that is the time when the print job is received, and identification information corresponding to the user who sent the print job. Information such as a user ID and print data generated from a print job is stored. The print restriction correspondence information 44 includes a user name, a user ID registered corresponding to the user, an upper limit value associated with each user that can be printed in a time zone outside the class period, and the number of sheets already printed. Information such as the upper limit value associated with each user who can print within the class period and the number of sheets already printed is stored. Here, there is no upper limit on the number of printable sheets within the lesson period, and the user can freely print. The authentication device 37 is configured as a card reader that inputs information such as a user ID in a contact or non-contact state with an authentication card including a storage element that stores a user ID, a password, and the like as user identification information.

  The log management server 50 is a server that manages a print log that is information of a printed result, and includes a CPU 52 that executes various controls, a ROM 53 that stores various control programs, a RAM 54 that temporarily stores data, and various application programs. And an HDD 55 that is a large-capacity memory for storing various data files, and an I / F 56 that can transmit and receive signals to and from external devices connected to the LAN 12. The CPU 52 is connected to the HDD 55 and the I / F 56 so that information can be exchanged via a bus (not shown). The log management server 50 uses a reception buffer and a transmission buffer provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 54 via the I / F 56 when transmitting / receiving data to / from the user PC 20 or the printer 60 via the LAN 12. . The HDD 55 stores print log information 55a that is information on the result of printing by each user and each printer. The print log information 55a can be browsed by access from the user.

  The printer 60 is configured as an information processing apparatus that prints print data obtained via the LAN 12 on a recording sheet S, and includes a CPU 62 that controls the entire apparatus, a readable / writable flash ROM 63 that stores various processing programs, and a temporary memory. A RAM 64 for storing data, a printing mechanism 65 for printing on the recording paper S using toner as a colorant, an I / F 66 capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from an external device connected to the LAN 12, And an authentication device 67 for inputting information for confirming whether or not the user is a system use authorized person. The printing mechanism 65 is configured as a full-color electrophotographic printing mechanism that employs a single photoreceptor system and an intermediate transfer system, and includes cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). An electrostatic latent image of an image for each color separated into four colors is formed on a photoreceptor, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner of each color, and the developed toner image is transferred to a recording paper S via a transfer belt. In this mechanism, the recording sheet S that has been transferred to is transferred and fixed by heating and pressing. The printing mechanism 65 may employ an ink jet system that pressurizes the ink in the ink cartridge by a piezoelectric element or heater provided in the print head and discharges the ink toward the recording paper S. The authentication device 67 is configured as a card reader that inputs information such as a user ID in a contact or non-contact state with an authentication card provided with a storage element that stores a user ID or password as user identification information. Since the printer 68 has the same configuration as the printer 60, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, regarding the operation of the limited printing system 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, first, an operation for setting whether it is within the class period or outside the class period will be described. Here, as a specific example for explaining a series of flow of printing restriction, a case where the user A issues a print command from the user PC 20 during the lesson period and performs authentication printing by the printer 60 will be mainly described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a period setting process routine executed by the CPU 32 of the print server 30. This routine is a part of the print restriction management program 40 stored in the HDD 35 and is repeatedly executed after the print server 30 is activated.

  When this routine is executed, the CPU 32 first determines whether or not there is a lesson start input (step S100). This class start input determination is set to be performed based on whether the user ID and password stored in the authentication card are input as information related to instructor authentication by touching the authentication card to the authentication device 37 or the like. Yes. When the class start input is not made, the CPU 32 waits as it is, and when the class start input is made, the CPU 32 determines whether or not the printer driver 41 is executing a spool process for converting a print job into print data (step S110). ). When the spool processing is in progress, the CPU 32 waits for the processing of the print job received outside the class period to end, and when the spool processing is not in progress such as the end of the spool processing, the in-class flag stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 34 is stored. A value 1 is set in F (step S120). This class flag F is a flag set to a value “1” during the class period, and an initial value is set to a value “0”. Next, the CPU 32 determines whether or not there is a lesson end input (step S130). The determination of the class end input is set to be performed based on whether or not the same operation as the class start input is performed again. When the class end input is not made, the process waits as it is, and when the class end input is made, it is determined whether or not the spool processing is being executed (step S140). When the spool process is in progress, the CPU 32 waits as it is, and when the spool process is not completed, such as when the spool process is not in progress, the value “0” is set to the in-class flag F (step S150), and this routine ends. In this way, the print server 30 sets whether it is within the class period or outside the class period based on the operation of the lecturer.

  Next, an operation in which the user transmits a print job and executes authentication printing with the printer 60 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print management processing routine executed by the CPU 32 of the print server 30. This routine is stored in the HDD 35 and is repeatedly executed after the print server 30 is activated. When this routine is executed, the CPU 32 first determines whether or not a print job has been received via the I / F 36 (step S200). Here, the user A operates the input device 28 of the user PC 20 to input a designation to perform authentication printing of a predetermined file displayed on the display 27 by the printer 60 and give a print command. Then, the CPU 22 of the user PC 20 generates a print job including the user ID (“ID-A” here) input from the user A when the user PC 20 logs on, and sends it to the print server 30 via the I / F 26. Send output.

  When a print job including this user ID is received (acquired) via the I / F 36, the CPU 32 determines whether or not the class flag F is a value “0” (step S210). If the class flag F is “0”, the user ID is registered as it is outside the class period together with the contents of the print job in the job management information 42 (step S220), and the class flag F is “1”. When the class ID is in the class period, a predetermined character string is added to the user ID included in the print job as being within the class period, so that the class ID that the user does not use for authentication (hereinafter also referred to as class ID). ) Is registered, and the set class ID is registered in the job management information 42 together with the contents of the print job (step S230). Here, it is determined that a character string “_class” is added to the user ID as the class ID. That is, user A's class ID is set to “ID-A_class”. In addition, the reason for setting the ID during class within the class period is to switch the printing number limit and the management of the number of printed sheets between the class period and outside the class period.

  After steps S220 and S230, the CPU 32 determines whether or not the user who has transmitted the print job is restricted from printing (step S240). Whether or not printing is restricted is determined based on whether or not the current printed number outside the class period of the user has reached the upper limit when the predetermined character string is not added to the user ID. When a predetermined character string is added, the determination is made based on whether the current number of printed sheets within the class period of the user has reached the upper limit number. Here, when a predetermined character string is added to the user ID, printing is possible without an upper limit. When the user is restricted in printing, that is, when the number of printed sheets reaches the upper limit outside the class period, the CPU 32 transmits a message to that effect to the user PC 20 via the I / F 36 and receives the received print job on the HDD 35. (Step S250). On the other hand, when the user is not restricted to print, that is, when the number of printed sheets has not reached the upper limit outside the class period or within the class period, the CPU 32 designates the spool processing of the received print job as the print job. The spooled print data is stored in the job management information 42 using the printer driver 41 for the existing printer (step S260). In this way, when the user can print, it is stored in the HDD 35 in a state where printing can be performed by the designated printer in preparation for authentication printing.

  After step S250, S260 or when no print job is received in step S200, the CPU 32 determines whether or not an authentication request has been made (step S270). The authentication request is determined based on whether a user ID and an authentication request are received from the printer 60 or the like. Here, the user A inputs the user ID stored in the authentication card as information relating to authentication by contacting the authentication card 67 with the authentication device 67 of the printer 60. Then, the CPU 62 of the printer 60 transmits and outputs the input user ID and an authentication request that is a request for executing authentication printing to the print server 30 via the I / F 66. When it is determined that an authentication request has been made, the CPU 32 determines whether or not the authentication has been performed based on whether or not the user ID input by authentication is registered in the print restriction correspondence information 44 (step S280). If the user ID input by authentication is not authenticated, a message to that effect is transmitted and output to the printer 60 that is the transmission source (step S290). On the other hand, when the input user ID is authenticated, the CPU 32 searches the job management information 42 for print data corresponding to the user ID excluding the additional character string (step S300), and uses the searched print job name as the printer. 60 is transmitted and output (step S310). In response to this, the CPU 62 of the printer 60 displays it on a display panel (not shown), and when the user selects a print job for printing by operating an operation unit (not shown), the selected print job name is transmitted to the print server 30 and output. . On the other hand, the CPU 32 determines whether or not a print job has been selected (step S320). When the print job is not selected, the CPU 32 stands by, and when the print job is selected, the selected print job is sent to the printer 60. The transmission is output (step S330). Receiving this, the printer 60 executes the printing process.

  Here, processing in the printer 60 will be described. When receiving the print job, the CPU 62 forms an electrostatic latent image of each color image on the photoconductor based on the print data, develops the electrostatic latent image with the toner of each color, and develops the developed toner image. The image is transferred onto the recording paper S via the transfer belt, and the transferred recording paper S is fixed by heating and pressing. When all printing is completed, the printer 60 displays information such as the number of printed sheets, job ID, print data name, user ID associated with the print data, or ID during class as the print result, and the print server 30 and log management server 50. To send output. In response to this, the log management server 50 updates the print log information 55a based on the received information.

  The print server 30 determines whether or not the print result has been received from the printer 60 after step S330, after outputting a message at step S290, or when there is no authentication request at step S270. (Step S340). If the print result has not been received, the routine is terminated as it is. If the print result is received, whether or not there is an additional character string in the user ID included in the received print result, that is, whether or not it is a class ID. Is determined (step S350). When the user ID has no additional character string, it is assumed that the print result is a result of a print instruction outside the class period, and the current print number is added to the printed number outside the class period of the user corresponding to the user ID. The printing restriction correspondence information 44 is updated (step S360), and this routine is finished. On the other hand, when the ID is a class ID with an additional character string, the user ID is specified using the user ID included in the class ID, and the number of printed sheets in the class period of the user corresponding to the class ID is printed this time. Is added to update the print restriction correspondence information 44 (step S370), and this routine ends.

  Then, when the user operates the input device 28 of the user PC 20 to access the log management server 50 and executes browsing of the print log information 55a, the CPU 52 of the log management server 50 that has received this print restriction from the print server 30. The correspondence information 44 is acquired, and the information of the print log information 55a corresponding to the user who has made the browsing request and the information of the print restriction correspondence information 44 are transmitted and output to the user PC 20 via the I / F 56. Receiving this, the CPU 22 of the user PC 20 displays the print log information display screen 80 on the display 27 based on the received information. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the print log information display screen 80. The print log information display screen 80 includes a print restriction information display unit 82 that displays information on the number of printed pages of the user and a print log display unit 83 that displays individual print results. As described above, the user and the administrator can confirm later the information regarding the printing result within the class period or outside the class period for each period. Further, it is possible to charge for the number of printed pages of each user by using information such as the number of printed pages of the print log information 55a and the print restriction correspondence information 44.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The print server 30 of the present embodiment corresponds to an execution management apparatus of the present invention. Among these, the I / F 36 corresponds to an information acquisition unit, an information output unit, and an execution output unit, and the CPU 32 includes a period setting unit and an identification information setting unit. , Execution determination means, execution control means, management execution means, restriction control means, output control means and conversion means, and the HDD 35 corresponds to management information storage means and acquisition information storage means. Further, the user ID corresponds to the first identification information, the class ID corresponds to the second identification information, the outside of the class period corresponds to the first period, the inside of the class period corresponds to the second period, The limit on the number of prints outside the period corresponds to the first limit, the limit on the number of prints within the class period corresponds to the second limit, the print restriction correspondence information 44 corresponds to the management information and the correspondence information, and the toner and ink It corresponds to the colorant, the recording paper S corresponds to the print medium, the print job corresponds to the processing target, and the printers 60 and 68 correspond to the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus. In the present embodiment, an example of the execution management method of the present invention is also clarified by describing the operation of the restricted printing system 10.

  According to the restricted printing system 10 of this embodiment described in detail above, the print server 30 acquires the user ID and print job used for user authentication, and is outside the class period based on the instructor's authentication input. If it is set within the class period and the user ID and the processing target are received outside the class period, whether or not the print job can be printed is determined based on the print number limit associated with the user ID. When a user ID and a print job are received within the period, a class ID that includes all of the user ID character string as it is and is not used for authentication by the user is set instead of the user ID and is associated with the class ID. Whether print processing of this print job is possible is determined based on the limit (no limit) on the number of printed sheets within the class period. In this way, outside the class period, the user ID used for authentication is used to determine whether or not the printing process is possible by limiting the number of prints, and within the class period, the user sets a class ID that is not used for authentication. Using this, it is determined that the print process can be performed without limitation. Therefore, since the ID is switched between outside the class period and within the class period, it is possible to more reliably limit the number of printed sheets for each period. Further, since the user does not need to manage a plurality of IDs and switch them for each period, it is possible to reduce the complexity of the user when switching the print number limit for each period. Moreover, since the class ID including the user ID is set, it is easy to specify the corresponding user later by using the user ID included in the class ID. Furthermore, since the predetermined number of prints is limited outside the class period and printing is always possible within the class period, the efficiency of the class is high.

  When it is determined that the print processing of the print job is possible outside the class period, the user ID and the print job are transmitted and output to the printer 60, while when it is determined that the print process of the print job is possible within the class period Since the class ID and the print job are transmitted and output to the printer 60, the user ID and class ID can be used by the printer 60 according to the determination result. Furthermore, when the user ID and the print result are received from the printer 60, the user associated with the user ID, the print result, and the outside of the class period are reflected in the associated print restriction number 44 and registered in the print restriction correspondence information 44. When the class ID and the print result are received from the printer 60, the user is specified based on the user ID included in the class ID, and the specified user, the print result, and the class period are associated with each other. Therefore, it is possible to manage the processing results according to the outside of the class period and the inside of the class period, to easily grasp the relationship between them, and to execute the print job by the restriction reflecting the printing result. Furthermore, before the authentication execution command and the user ID are received from the printer 60 within the class period, the class ID is set instead of the user ID associated with the print job and is registered in the job management information 42. When the authentication execution command and the user ID are acquired from the printer 60, the user ID is authenticated using the print restriction correspondence information 44, and the user ID included in the user ID and the class ID of the print restriction correspondence information 44 Based on the received user ID, the print job corresponding to the user is searched from the print jobs of the print restriction correspondence information 44, and after the received user ID is authenticated, the print job searched for the class ID Is transmitted to the printer 60, and the ID management during class is set before receiving the authentication execution command, so that the printing management by the class ID is more reliably performed. It can be, can be set more reliably classes in ID within semester. When the spool process is being executed when switching between the outside of the class period and the inside of the class period, the spool process of the print job is performed after the spool process is completed, so that the setting is switched between the outside of the class period and the inside of the class period. Since the restriction on the number of printed sheets is applied based on the time when the execution of is started, a relatively appropriate restriction can be executed. Further, since it is desired to switch the print number limit every predetermined period, the significance of applying the present invention is high. Furthermore, although unlimited printing is possible within the lesson period, the number of printed sheets is managed by the print restriction correspondence information 44, so that the number of printed sheets for each user can be suppressed. In addition, since an ID that the user does not use for authentication is set by the print server 30 and printing restriction and authentication printing can be executed with the set ID, an existing ID that cannot be switched according to a period can be changed. Easy to apply to the system.

  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 above-described embodiment, the print job instructed to print is stored in the print server 30 and authentication input is performed by the printer 60 after the authentication input is performed by the printer 60. After that, the print job may be printed as it is without performing the authentication printing, that is, the steps S270 to S320 may be omitted, and the print job and the user ID or the class ID may be transmitted and output to the printer in step S330. Even in this case, since the ID is switched between the class period and the outside of the period, the number of printed sheets can be more reliably limited for each period, and the user does not need to manage a plurality of IDs and switch and print for each period. The complexity of the user can be reduced.

  In the embodiment described above, the lesson ID including the user ID is set. However, the lesson ID not including the user ID, for example, “lesson” is set instead of the above-described “ID-A_lesson”. It is good. This makes it difficult to know which user has performed how many copies during the lesson period, but since the ID is switched between during and outside the lesson period, it is more reliable to limit the number of prints per period. In addition, since it is not necessary for the user to manage a plurality of IDs and switch printing for each period, it is possible to reduce the complexity of the user. At this time, management of the number of printed sheets within each lesson period of the user may be omitted, and the number of printed sheets within the lesson period for the entire user may be managed. The management itself may be omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the user performs authentication from the authentication device 67 of the printer 60. However, authentication may be performed from the authentication device 37 of the print server 30, or the print server 30, the printer 60, and the log management server 50. The user ID may be input by operating an input device (not shown).

  In the above-described embodiment, the class period has been described. However, an additional character string is defined for each class type (for example, “_class 1”), and the class ID is set for each class and printing is restricted. It is good. An arbitrary character string may be adopted as the additional character string. Moreover, although it demonstrated as the inside of a lesson period and the outside of a lesson period, what is necessary is just to switch a restriction | limiting between the 1st period and the 2nd period different from this 1st period. It is good also as a period.

  In the above-described embodiment, the inside of the class period and the outside of the class period are set by the input of the lecturer. However, when the predetermined time is reached, the class period may be switched to the outside of the class period. Even in this case, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained. In the above-described embodiment, while the spool process is being executed by the printer driver, the period is switched and set while waiting for the spool process to end. However, the period is switched without waiting for the spool process to end. It is good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the print server 30 uses the printer driver 41 to convert the print data to be printable by the designated printer. However, the user PC 20 uses the printer driver to convert the print data. It may be done.

  In the embodiment described above, the class ID is set immediately after the print server 30 receives the print job and the user ID within the class period. However, when the print job and the user ID are received from the user PC 20, the job management information is used as it is. When the authentication execution command and the user ID are received from the printer 60 and the like, the print job associated with the user ID is searched from the job management information 42, and the searched print job name is transmitted to the printer 60 as the transmission source. When a print job is selected from the printer 60, if the selected print job is instructed to be printed within the lesson period, a lesson ID is set instead of the user ID, and the lesson set The ID and the print job may be transmitted and output to the printer 60. In this way, since the ID during class is set after receiving the authentication execution command, the stored print job can be searched with the user ID as it is, and it is easier to search. In addition, although embodiment mentioned above is also the same, you may perform any of an authentication process and a search process first. Also, the searched print job name is transmitted to the printer 60 and the selected print job is transmitted to the printer 60 after the user selects it. However, the transmission of the print job name is omitted and the searched print job itself is transmitted. May be.

  In the embodiment described above, the number of printed sheets is not limited during the lesson period, but the number of printed sheets may be limited in accordance with a class period different from the number of printed sheets outside the class period. At this time, the number of printed sheets, which is the printing result within the class period, may be added to the number of printed sheets corresponding to the class period, that is, the printing result may be reflected in the limit on the number of printed sheets within the class period.

  In the embodiment described above, the printer 60 directly transmits and outputs the print result to the print server 30. However, after the printer 60 transmits the print result to the log management server 50 and registers it in the print log information 55a, the log management server The print result may be transmitted to the print server 30 via 50. Also, the print restriction correspondence information 44 may be managed by the log management server 50, or the print restriction correspondence information 44 may be stored in the print server 30 and the log management server 50 and managed by both.

  In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of print counts are limited using a plurality of IDs according to a plurality of periods. However, a plurality of processing limits are performed using a plurality of IDs according to a plurality of periods. Any material can be used without particular limitation. Although the printer 60 is used, it may be a FAX machine having a printer function or a copier. In the above-described embodiment, the print server 30 as the execution management apparatus of the present invention has been described. However, the execution management method may be used, or a program for executing the execution management method may be used.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a restricted printing system 10. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of information stored in an HDD 35 provided in the print server 30. FIG. It is a flowchart showing an example of a period setting process routine. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print management processing routine. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a print log information display screen 80. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  10 restricted printing system, 12 LAN, 20, 29 user PC, 22 CPU, 23 ROM, 24 RAM, 25 HDD, 26 network interface (I / F), 27 display, 28 input device, 30 print server, 32 CPU, 33 ROM, 34 RAM, 35 HDD, 36 Network interface (I / F), 37 Authentication device, 40 Print restriction management program, 41 Printer driver, 42 Job management information, 42a Print data, 44 Print restriction support information, 50 Log management server 52 CPU, 53 ROM, 54 RAM, 55 HDD, 55a Print log information, 56 Network interface (I / F), 60, 68 Printer, 62 CPU, 63 Flash ROM, 64 RAM, 65 Printing mechanism 66 network interface (I / F), 67 authentication device, 80 print log information display screen 82 print control information display unit, 83 print log display unit, S paper.

Claims (12)

An execution management device that manages execution of a predetermined process in an information processing device using identification information associated with a user,
Information acquisition means capable of acquiring first identification information associated with the user used for authentication and a processing target used for execution of the predetermined process;
Period setting means for setting whether it is a first period or a second period different from the first period;
Identification information setting means for setting, in place of the first identification information, second identification information that the user does not use for authentication when the set period is the second period;
After the information acquisition means acquires the first identification information and the processing target during the set first period, the processing target based on the first restriction associated with the first identification information While determining whether to execute the process, the second information set by the identification information setting unit after the information acquisition unit acquires the first identification information and the process target during the set second period. Execution determination means for determining whether or not to execute the process to be processed based on a second restriction different from the first restriction associated with the identification information;
An execution management device. The execution management device according to claim 1,
An information output means capable of outputting information;
When the set period is the first period and the execution determination unit determines that the process target can be executed, the acquired first identification information and the process target are sent to the information processing apparatus. while to result output to the output means, the second identification information and the processing described above set when said set time period is determined to be a possible processing execution of the processing target by the second is a period wherein the execution determination means and execution control means thus to output to said information output means subject to the information processing apparatus,
An execution management device.   The execution management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information setting unit sets second identification information including the first identification information instead of the first identification information. The execution management device according to claim 3,
Management information storage means for storing management information for registering information on the result of the processing execution;
When the information acquisition unit acquires the first identification information and the processing result of the processing target from the information processing apparatus, the user associated with the first identification information, the acquired processing result, and the first period Are registered in the management information in association with each other, and when the information acquisition unit acquires the second identification information and the processing result of the processing target from the information processing apparatus, the first identification information included in the second identification information Management execution means for identifying a user based on the management information and registering the identified user, the acquired processing result, and the second period in association with the management information;
An execution management device. The execution management device according to claim 3 or 4,
When the information acquisition means acquires the first identification information and the processing result of the processing target, the acquired processing result is reflected in the first restriction associated with the first identification information, while the information acquisition When the means acquires the second identification information and the processing result of the processing target from the information processing apparatus, the second restriction associated with the acquired processing result associated with the first identification information included in the second identification information An execution management device comprising restriction control means to be reflected in The execution management device according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
Execution output means capable of outputting information;
Correspondence information in which a user is associated with first identification information, and acquisition information storage means for storing the processing object acquired by the information acquisition means;
Output control means for controlling the execution output means so as to output information,
The identification information setting means is associated with the user and an authentication execution command for executing the processing target stored in the acquired information storage means by authentication of the first identification information during the second period. Before the information acquisition unit acquires the first identification information from the information processing apparatus, the second identification information is set instead of the first identification information associated with the stored processing target, and the acquisition is performed. Stored in the information storage means,
The output control means executes authentication of the acquired first identification information using the correspondence information when the information acquisition means acquires the authentication execution command and the first identification information from the information processing apparatus, Based on the first identification information included in the set second identification information and the acquired first identification information, a processing target corresponding to the user is searched from the stored processing targets, and the acquisition is performed. the first identification information is the cause to perform the output unit thus outputs the processed that is the search and second identification information after the set has been authenticated to the information processing apparatus, execution management apparatus. The execution management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Execution output means capable of outputting information;
Correspondence information in which a user is associated with first identification information, and acquisition information storage means for storing the processing object acquired by the information acquisition means;
Output control means for controlling the execution output means so as to output information,
The identification information setting means outputs an authentication execution command for executing the processing target stored in the acquired information storage means by authentication of the first identification information and the first identification information associated with the processing target. When the information acquisition means acquires from the information processing apparatus during the second period, authentication of the acquired first identification information is performed using the correspondence information, and after the acquired first identification information is authenticated And sets the second identification information and stores it in the acquired information storage means,
The output control means is configured to select from among the stored processing targets based on the first identification information associated with the processing target and the acquired first identification information before the second identification information is set. Find the processed corresponding to the user, the execution output means thus outputting said processed second identification information is the search and second identification information after the set has been set to the information processing apparatus Execution management device. The execution management device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Conversion means for converting the processing target into a mode that can be processed by the information processing apparatus,
The period setting means, when the conversion means is executing the conversion process to be processed when switching between the first period and the second period, after the execution of the conversion process is completed, An execution management apparatus that switches between a first period and the second period. The period setting means sets a predetermined non-working period as the first period, sets a predetermined working period as the second period,
The execution determination unit determines whether the processing target can be executed based on the non-working restriction as the first restriction when the set period is a predetermined non-working period. The execution management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when the determined period is a predetermined working period, it is determined that the process to be processed is always executable as the second restriction. The information processing apparatus is a printing apparatus that prints a colorant on a print medium based on print data as the processing target;
The execution management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first restriction and the second restriction are restrictions on the number of printed sheets. An execution management method using an execution management device that manages execution of a predetermined process in an information processing device using identification information associated with a user,
(A) acquiring first identification information associated with the user used for authentication and a processing target used for executing the predetermined process;
(B) setting whether it is a first period or a second period different from the first period;
(C) replacing the first identification information with second identification information that the user does not use for authentication when the period set in step (b) is the second period;
(D) The processing based on the first restriction associated with the first identification information after acquiring the first identification information and the processing target during the first period set in the step (b). While determining whether the target process can be executed, the second set in step (c) after acquiring the first identification information and the process target during the second period set in step (b). Determining whether to execute the process to be processed based on a second restriction different from the first restriction associated with the identification information;
Execution management method including   A program for causing each step of the information management method according to claim 11 to be realized by one or more computers.

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