KR100923368B1 - Management device and method of network printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, after installing and installing software for managing the use of the printer in a network printer commonly used by a plurality of users in a storage means, the printer use management program is also automatically loaded by the administrator computer when the printer is initially powered on. The present invention relates to a printer usage management apparatus and method for setting a use condition and controlling the operation of a printer according to a predetermined value when performing a printing function by a user computer.

The present invention for realizing this, the printer of the network printer system to control the execution of the printing function in accordance with the user computer in one or more network printers connected to a plurality of user computers through a network consisting of a local area network to be used in common In the use management device,

An IOF storage unit for storing input / output interface files, an executable program storage unit for storing an executable program (Exe) and a dynamic link library file (dll) for printer usage management, a management information storage unit for storing a policy file and a user information file, Output form information storage unit to store print form and footnote file, work file storage unit to store output file, scan file or fax file, etc., creation date, user information, document contents, number of copies, paper type It consists of a log file storage unit that stores information about prints, such as printing type, and can be set for each user authority, and a printer usage management client program that can control the printer function according to the set authority is mounted, The printer usage management client is automatically loaded with the printer usage management client program. A print management module configured to perform a print management function of a printer according to a permission set through a client program;

When the print management module is mounted and print, copy, scan, or fax transmission / reception processing is performed according to a policy set for each user according to the operation of a printer usage management program mounted in the print management module, the processed document contents together with user information. A network printer to store in the storage unit of the print management module;

And an administrator computer equipped with a printer management server program to set the authority of the network printer in association with the printer use management client program of the network printer, and to receive and store print management information transmitted from the network printer in a database. Invention.

Network printer, print management, print history management, printer usage management

Description

Printer usage management device of network printer system and its method {MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND METHOD OF NETWORK PRINTER SYSTEM}

1 is a block diagram of a printer usage management apparatus of a network printer system for implementing the present invention,

2 is a block diagram of a print management module according to the present invention;

3 is a configuration example of a log file for managing a printer output history according to the present invention;

4 is a field configuration example of a log file according to the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a print preparation step operation in a printer of a network printer system according to the present invention;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing function according to the present invention;

7 is a flow chart illustrating in more detail the user / document information extraction and printing option acquisition functions shown in FIG. 6;

8 is a flowchart for explaining the print control function shown in FIG. 6 in detail;

9 is a flowchart for explaining the log file storage function shown in FIG. 6 in detail;

10 is a flowchart illustrating a copy print history extraction function according to the present invention;

11 is a flowchart illustrating a fax print history extraction function according to the present invention;

12A to 12D are flowcharts for explaining print content files, copy / scan files, fax transmission files, and fax reception file storage functions according to the present invention, respectively;

13 is a flowchart illustrating a printing history log file collection function according to the present invention;

14 is a flowchart for explaining a print content storing file collecting function according to the present invention;

15 is a flowchart illustrating a copy / scan / fax transmission / reception content storing file collection function according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to a printer usage management apparatus and method for a network printer system for implementing output management, output control, output security, and the like for each user in a printer connected to a network so that several people can share the same. Specifically, the software for managing the use of the printer connected to the network is installed in the printer by installing a storage means such as a flash dimm, a compact flash (CF) card, a universal serial bus (USB) memory, and the like. A printer usage management apparatus for a network printer system and a method thereof for automatically loading a printer usage management program to control the operation of a printer according to a preset value for each user or user computer when the power is turned on.

In general, a network printer is to be connected to the network to be used in common by using a plurality of user computers connected to the network. In this case, when the user can print by using all user computers connected to the network, the printer only prints in order according to the sent print command, so that even if unnecessary printing is performed, it can be properly managed. There was a problem that there was a lot of expenses due to unnecessary printing because there is no method, and that a great damage may occur when the contents to be kept in security are printed and taken out.

In particular, printers these days are often complex printers that include not only printing functions but also fax and scanner functions in order to increase the utilization of the device. The same problem is more likely to occur.

In order to improve this, conventionally, a network printer processing a print command generated by a plurality of users connected to a network stores user information on the printer, print history of each user, and printer usage so that the network printer can check the unnecessary information. If the printer is occupied by a user for a long time or the operation is stopped due to an error of the printer itself, it is possible that the user who sent the command for the job that the printer is currently printing is being sent. Techniques are known to enable identification and appropriate action.
However, these prior arts can distinguish users only by the IP of the computer connected to the printer, so when multiple people use the same computer, it is impossible to check who printed them. Not only did you know the type and contents of the printed documents, but also the fact that recently network printers consist of multi-function printers with various document processing functions such as copying, scanning or faxing as well as printing. The ability to manage printer usage was extremely limited, including the lack of management features for scanning, faxing, and faxing.

The present invention has been invented in view of the above circumstances, and when the initial power is supplied to the printer and booted up, the printer application management software mounted in a separate storage means is loaded as an application program, so that the management computer of the printer By using the printer management software, the printer extracts and saves the printed history and printouts as a file according to the authority set by each user, controls printing and usage by user and output program, and controls fax and scanning functions. In the case of the equipped multi-function printer, it is possible to manage the use of the network printer more efficiently, such as whether to allow transmission or scanning according to the user, and to store the history and contents of the transmitted and scanned documents. Control of the various functions performed on the printer It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer usage management apparatus and method thereof for a network printer system that can store and transfer the stored information to a management computer.

The present invention for achieving the above object, a network printer connected to a plurality of user computers through a network consisting of a local area network to control the performance of the printing function according to the user computer in one or more network printers that can be used in common In the printer usage management device of the system,
An IOF storage unit for storing input / output interface files, an executable program storage unit for storing an executable program (Exe) and a dynamic link library file (dll) for printer usage management, a management information storage unit for storing a policy file and a user information file, Output form information storage unit to store print form and footnote file, work file storage unit to store output file, scan file or fax file, etc., creation date, user information, document contents, number of copies, paper type It consists of a log file storage unit that stores information about prints, such as printing type, and can be set for each user authority, and a printer usage management client program that can control the printer function according to the set authority is mounted, The printer usage management client is automatically loaded with the printer usage management client program. A print management module configured to perform a print management function of a printer according to a permission set through a client program;
When the print management module is mounted and print, copy, scan, or fax transmission / reception processing is performed according to a policy set for each user according to the operation of a printer usage management program mounted in the print management module, the processed document contents together with user information. A network printer to store in the storage unit of the print management module;
And a manager computer equipped with a printer management server program configured to set the authority of the network printer in connection with the printer use management client program of the network printer, receive print management information transmitted from the network printer, and store it in a database. .

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In addition, the usage management method of the network printer according to the present invention includes a network printer for controlling a printing function according to a printer usage management client program and print control information stored and executed in a print management module, and a printer usage management server program. Connecting an administrator computer capable of inputting print control information and one or more user computers outputting data to be printed via a network;
In the administrator computer, a user input table for inputting user information to use a printer, a document input table for inputting document type information for document control, and a document type stored in advance in the document input table are driven by the printer usage management server program. Displaying a policy level input table for setting a print policy as a reference and inputting print control information through the table;
Transmitting, at the administrator computer, the input print control information to a print management module of a network printer;
The network printer performing a function test of the printer itself when the initial power is turned on, and then loading and maintaining the printer usage management client program stored in the print management module and waiting to receive print data;
When print data is received through the input / output channel, the print management module receives the input stream data, extracts user information and document information, and compares the print options with the print policy of the policy related table input based on the policy level input table. A print control step of acquiring and outputting to an output stream by performing a print control function according to a print option;
Generating, by the network printer, an event informing the print management module of completion of the print operation after performing a print operation with a value controlled by the print management module;
The print management module writes the extracted user information and document information as a log file according to the reception of the event, saves it in a log file storage unit, ends the print job, and waits for reception of the next print data. Characterized in that made.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printer usage management apparatus of a network printer system for implementing the present invention.

The network printer system 10 for implementing the present invention is formed by connecting a network printer 30, an administrator computer 40, and a user computer 10 to a network 20 that is mainly composed of a local area network such as a LAN.

The network printer 30 may be a printer having only a unique printing function, or a complex printer having fax transmission, scanning, or all of these functions may be used, and a printer usage management client program (hereinafter referred to as "client") will be described below. Program). A print management module 32 is mounted. The print management module 32 is composed of storage means that can be mounted on a printer board, such as a flash dim, a CF card, or a USB memory, and can be determined according to the hardware structure of the network printer 30. Therefore, when the network printer 30 is turned on, the client program is automatically loaded into the execution mode in the memory of the network printer 30.

In particular, the print management module 32 stores an input / output interface file (IOF) storage unit 321, an execution program Exe for managing printer use, and a dynamic link library file dll, as shown in FIG. The storage unit 322, the management information storage unit 323 for storing the policy file and the user information file, the output form storage unit 324 for storing the print form and the footnote file, output file, scan file, fax The work file storage unit 325 and a log file storage unit 326 for storing a history performed by users connected to the network printer 30 are stored.

The administrator computer 40 is a user interface for controlling printing of the network printer 30, and includes a printer usage management server program (hereinafter, referred to as a "server program") consisting of a Windows program and a web program. All of the functions are the same, but only the user's approach and usage are different The server program has a management function for registering, changing, and deleting user information, document type information, and printing policy information. Sending to the network printer 30 causes the print management module 32, which is a memory module, to manage the received policy information as a file in the printer 30. In addition, the administrator computer 40 side may be configured to form an electronic form file, an image file, When the font file is transmitted to the printer 30, the print management module 32 receives the policy information from the printer 30 To be managed as a file within.

When the client program is executed in the network printer 30, when the print data is transmitted from the general user computer 50 to the printer 30 and printed matter is output, the client program prints the print history in the log file of the print management module 32. In addition, if print control options by user and document type are set, the print data is compared so that only the document to which the print control is applied is output as a document to which the control option is applied.

The print management module 32 of the network printer 30 is configured to transmit the log file stored therein to the manager computer 40 at the request of the manager computer 40, and the manager computer 40 receives the received information. Use as a basic data for statistics on printing history inquiry and print quantity. In addition, it receives the output document file storing the printed output and uses it as the data for the print contents inquiry.

Meanwhile, a database 60 for managing user information using a user computer 50 connected to the network 20 to manage a user who is connected to the network 20 and uses the network printer 30 is provided. User information may be obtained and reflected from the database 60 at the time of use management of the 30. The database 60 may be provided in the manager computer 40 or connected to the network 20 as a separate database server.

According to such a configuration, the network printer 30 collects and stores print information performed by print commands of a plurality of user computers 50 and controls the output. In addition, the manager computer 40 is configured to analyze and manage the current state of data stored in the network printer 30 and to set the authority for the network printer 30 to control the output.

3 shows an example of the configuration of a log file for managing the printer output history according to the present invention.

The print management module 32 extracts information about the printed matter when the printed matter is output from the printer 30 and records the printed information in the log file storage unit 326, and records the log file created by the server program of the manager computer 40. By uploading data, print history data can be accumulated and managed in print history database and statistics database.

As the storage fields of the log file stored in the print management module 32, as shown in FIG. 3, [create date], output user information ([user ID], [computer ID], [group ID]) and [ Document Content (aka Job name)], [Job ID], [Accumulated Total Prints], [Black & White Prints], [Column Prints], [Paper Type], [Print Status], etc. It can be arbitrarily changed in the use environment.

The [Date Date] field extracts the print time in the received print data header or, if there is no print time in the header, contains the year / month / day hour, minute and second values according to the time printed by the printer.

Output user information fields ([User ID], [Computer ID], [Group ID]) Field) is obtained by extracting user information (login environment information of the computer which issued the print command) in the received print data header, and in some cases, only part of the information may be extracted.

The [Document Contents] field is called Job name, and when extracted or absent from the JOB NAME field in the header of the received print data, it reads a part of the print contents, for example, a value of about 128 bytes.

The [JOB ID] field is an ID number value for distinguishing one piece of print data information and is managed by incrementing the first print information by one and starting with one.

The Total Cumulative Printer Count field stores a total number of print information information that the printer has printed from the beginning to the present.

[B & W Print], [Color Print] The field stores total monochrome and color print quantity information values output as received print data.

[Paper Type] The field stores the paper type (A4, A5, Letter, etc.) outputted in the received print data.

[Print Status] The field stores the output state, and the state consists of IOEnded (the state after the first printing), Complete (the print end state), and Canceled (the print cancel state).

4A to 4C are diagrams showing a policy related input table to which a printing policy according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 4A is a document type input table, FIG. 4B is a user input table, and FIG. 4C is a policy level input table. .

The document type input table and the user input table are tables for storing comparison target (document type and user) information to which a print policy is applied.

The document type input table shown in FIG. 4A is a table for inputting information on a document type desired for print control. The document type input table is registered, changed, and deleted in a server program of the manager computer 40 and transmitted to the printer 30. The same table contents are stored and managed in the print management module 32. The print management module 32 updates the document type table that has been added, changed, or deleted, puts it in the memory, and, when print data is received, performs print control through a serial process of comparing the document content (aka job name) extracted from the header. .

For example, the document type input table includes a search option input unit for searching for a document, a first keyword input unit for searching for a document, and a second keyword input unit for searching for a document.

Examples of find options include find from beginning, find two words (OR), find two words (AND), and so on.

The keyword input value may find a keyword value based on document contents (aka job name) extracted by the print management module 32 from the received print data.

In general, the value of a job name is a document file name or, if there is no document file name (for example, SAP (System Application and Products) print data), the print data content is extracted.

The user input table illustrated in FIG. 4B is a table for inputting user information for using a printer, and is a comparison target table for printing control for each user. In addition, the server program of the manager computer 40 is managed to register, change, delete, and transmit the same to the printer 30 to store the same table content in the print management module 32 to manage. The print management module 32 performs printing control by updating a user input table that has been added, changed, or deleted, put it in a memory, and comparing the user information extracted from a header when print data is received.

The user input table includes an input unit for inputting a policy level, a user ID (login ID) input unit, a computer ID input unit, and a group ID input unit. The user ID, machine ID, and group ID should be the user preference values that users log in to when they use their personal computers. The user registration method associates a direct user input with a user database (for example, a "personnel database"). There may be a method of acquiring the user information at a predetermined time by the scheduler and registering them collectively.

The policy level input unit selects and inputs the level number set in the policy level table described later based on FIG. 4C.

The policy level table shown in FIG. 4C is a table for setting a print policy based on a document type previously stored in the document type input table of FIG. 4A, which is also registered, changed, and managed by the server program of the administrator computer 40. In addition, the same table contents are stored and managed in the print management module 32 by transmitting to the printer 30. The print management module 32 updates the policy level input table added, changed, or deleted, puts it in the memory, and when the print data is received, the print management module 32 performs print control according to a print policy option for comparing the user information extracted from the header with the document type. .

The policy level input table includes an input unit for storing print options for each document and an input unit for storing print options for unregistered documents, and the number of documents is not limited. The first record is an input section for setting print options for unregistered users. The next record is a level-level record configuration, and the number of levels is unlimited. Examples of the policy options may include output permission, output prohibition, color / monochrome conversion output, watermark / Footnote output, and output file storage option.

The level is determined for each user in the user input table of FIG. 4B according to the printing policy level set as described above.

Thus, the tables as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C are combined so that a policy capable of controlling printing by user and document is configured as a table.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a print preparation step operation in the printer of the network printer system according to the present invention.

First, when the network printer 30 is powered on and booted, the printer 30, that is, the controller installed inside the printer performs its own self-test.

At this time, if it is determined that the printer 30 is normal, the print management module 32 according to the present invention, which is an application module, is loaded and maintained in the printer memory.

The print management module 32 checks the printer status and log file when initially loaded, reads the policy file for output control, loads it into the memory, and waits for a print reception signal to come in.

The printer status inspection includes obtaining a printer system environment variable value (date, model) for creating a print history, checking a device serial number in which the print management module 32 is embedded, and confirming whether it is a registered product, and print management. Checking whether the files and directories in which the module 32 is installed is normal is included.

Log file check also checks file size and entire log contents to check if previously created log file is normal, and has the necessary values (date, job ID, status) in the last created log contents in memory. Actions are included.

In addition, the operation includes reading information files (user information, document information, policy level information) related to the policy and maintaining the values in the memory. This is to control printing according to the user information and document information compared with the information in the received data when the print reception data is received.

As such, after the loading of the print management module 32 is completed, the printer 30 tests a job to be performed at the beginning of booting (test job) and waits for a print signal to be input if there is no error.

 6 shows a flowchart for explaining a print processing function according to the present invention.

When print data is received from the user computer 50 or the like through the IOF channel of the printer 30, the printter is turned on and the print data receiving process is received as input stream data at the input side of the activated print management module 32. Will perform the action.

The print management module 32 extracts user information and document information from the header of the received print data, obtains a print option by comparing with a print policy, performs a print control function according to the print option, and then outputs an output stream. (Output Stream) Send as data and print.

When the printing is finished, a print event is generated to the print management module 32, indicating that the printing is finished. After that, the extracted user information and document information are created as a log file as a print history, stored in a log file storage unit, and then received one. All jobs on the printed data are finished.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the user / document information extraction and print option acquisition function shown in FIG. 6 in more detail.

The print management module 32 extracts user information and document type in the print header when print data is received as an input stream.

Then, the extracted user information and document type are compared with the values in the policy related table to obtain the set print option, and if the user information and document type information do not exist in each policy related table, the unregistered user or unregistered document is Acquire print options set in.

That is, it is determined whether the extracted user information exists in the user information table described above, and if it is determined that the extracted user information exists in the user information table, the policy level specified in the user information table is obtained. If it is determined that the information exists in the document type table, and it is determined that the information exists in the document type table, the print level set for the user and document type is obtained from the policy level table. Obtain print options set for users and unregistered documents from the policy level table.

If it is determined that the extracted user information does not exist in the user information table, it is determined whether information about the extracted document type exists in the document type table. If it is determined that the extracted user information exists in the document type table, the unregistered user is determined in the policy level table. And print options set for the document type, and if it is determined that they do not exist in the document type table, the print options set for the unregistered user and the unregistered document are obtained from the policy level table.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for explaining the print control function shown in FIG. 6 in more detail.

As described above, the print option value is obtained based on the user information and the document information extracted from the print data received by the input stream of the print management module 32. Print options include print bypass, print prohibition, color / monochrome conversion, watermark / footnote output, and output file storage. Afterwards, the print control function is sent to the output stream.

For example, it is determined whether the obtained print option policy is an output bypass. In the case of an output bypass, the printing history log file is stored and sent to an output stream as described below with reference to FIG. 9. If it is determined that the obtained policy option corresponds to the output prohibition option, it stores the print history log file corresponding to the output prohibition option and does not send it to the output stream.

As a result of the determination of the obtained print option, if it is neither output bypass nor output prohibition, it is determined whether it is a color / monochrome conversion option, and if it is applicable, converts it to a monochrome print command and then checks whether it corresponds to the watermark / footnote output option. If not, and if not, it is determined whether or not the watermark / footnote output option.

Watermark / Footnote Print Option Determines whether to add a watermark / footnote to print based on whether or not it is available, and then determines whether it is an output file save option, and if so, saves the print contents to a file. If not, the print contents are stored in the print history log file without being saved as a file and then sent to the output stream.

9 is a flowchart for explaining the log file storing function shown in FIG. 6 in more detail.

When print data is received as an input stream of the print management module 32, information to be stored in the print history log file is extracted from the print data. The extracted information includes the print date and user information (login ID, computer ID, group ID), document type (file name and application name), print method (single-sided / double-sided), and print language type in the print data header. There are values (PCLXL / PS / PCL5, etc.).

The first extracted information is saved as a new record in the print history log file, and then the print data is sent to the output stream for printing through the print engine.

Subsequently, an IOF (Input Output Filter) event occurs upon completion of printing, and when the occurrence occurs, the print history log file contents are updated to extract print result information. The information that can be obtained from the event includes, for example, the number of black and white prints, the number of color prints, the print paper, the print direction, the print status (printing success, print failure, and cancellation of printing), and the ink usage values. 3).

The log file stored as described above is transmitted to the server program when a collection request is received from the server program of the manager computer 40 as shown in the flowchart of the log file collection function described with reference to FIG. Used.

10 is a flowchart illustrating a copy print history extraction function according to the present invention.

In a printer multi-printer equipped with a copy function, when a user makes a copy job, the user inserts a copy paper into the scanner and scans. When the scan job is completed, the printer scans the data and prints the copy paper. .

At this time, a copy event occurs to the print management module 32 and extracts copy information from the copy event to create a copy history log file. As the copy information, for example, the copy time, the number of prints, and the like may be stored (see FIG. 3).

11 is a flowchart illustrating a fax print history extraction function according to the present invention.

When a fax is called and the fax data is received from the printer of the multi-function printer equipped with the fax function, the printer stores the fax reception information as a log file.

When the fax data is printed, a fax reception event occurs in the print management module 32. At this time, the fax reception information is extracted from the fax log file and the fax history log file is stored. The fax reception information may be a fax reception time, a counterpart phone number received, a fax reception status, a number of prints, and the like (see FIG. 3).

12A is a flow chart for explaining the function of storing the print content in a file according to the present invention, FIG. 12B is a flow chart for explaining the function of storing the copy / scan content in a file according to the present invention, and FIG. Flow chart for explaining the function of storing the fax transmission contents according to the file, Figure 12d shows a flow chart for explaining the function of storing the fax reception contents in a file according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 12A, when the print data is received as the input stream of the print management module 32, the print page is stored before being sent to the output stream. Save data as file. As the file to be stored, for example, general print data can be stored in a printer control language such as PCL, JPEG can be copied, and fax data can be stored in a picture file format such as TIFF file format. Each stored file is managed by storing it as a [JOB ID] file name in a hard disk installed separately when the print management module 32 has a built-in disk or a composite printer.

The stored print file is collected by the server program when a collection request is received from the server program of the manager computer 40 and used as an image file when the print contents are inquired.

In a similar manner, the operation of saving the copy / scan contents to a file is performed as shown in FIG. 12B. When a copy or scan operation is performed, the printer generates an original image file and ends the copy or scan operation. The management module 32 generates a copy / scan end event. Accordingly, the print management module 32 checks whether the original image file exists in the temporary storage path of the copy / scan original image file for each printer device, and then copies and stores the original image file in the storage path. The copied / scanned file is usually saved as a jpg file, and depending on the copy option, it can be saved in a picture format file format such as TIFF or PDF.

In addition, the operation of storing the fax transmission contents as a file is illustrated in FIG. 12C. When the scanning operation for the fax transmission is performed, the printer generates an original image file and connects the target fax to transmit the original image file. After generating the fax transmission, generate a fax transmission event to the print management module (32). Accordingly, the print management module 32 copies and stores the original image file to the storage path in the same manner as the print content storage method.

In addition, the operation of storing the fax reception contents as a file is as shown in FIG. 12D. When the fax image is received, the printer generates an original image file based on the received fax image and prints the fax image. Generates a fax reception event to the print management module (32). Accordingly, the print management module 32 copies and stores the original image file to the storage path in the same manner as the print content storage method.

13 is a flowchart illustrating a printing history log file collection function according to the present invention.

When an authenticated user, that is, an administrator, sends a print history log collection command to the printer 30 by using a server program to the administrator computer 40 or the like, whether the printer 30 is powered on, connected to a network, or ready to print. If the condition is checked and the condition is met, the print management module 32 of the printer 30 is requested whether or not the log file exists.

At this time, when the response that the log file does not exist from the printer 30 side is sent to the administrator computer 40 displays a log file in the form of a message, while the response that the log file exists, the print management module 32 The log file read request is sent to the log file side, and the print management module 32 transmits the log file data to the manager computer 40.

The manager computer 40 reads the received log file and stores the print history log file in the manager computer 40 or a database 60 provided separately.

14 is a flowchart illustrating a printing content storing file collecting function according to the present invention.

When an authorized administrator sends a print content file collection command to the printer 30 by using a server program to the administrator computer 40 or the like, whether the printer 30 is in a power-on state, a network connection, or a print ready state. If the condition is met, the print management module 32 of the printer 30 is requested whether or not the print content file exists.

At this time, if a response is sent from the printer 30 that the print content file does not exist, the administrator computer 40 displays the absence of a print content file in the form of a message, and if a reply is transmitted that the print content file exists, print management is performed. The print content file read request is made to the module 32 side, and accordingly, the print management module 32 transmits the print content file data to the manager computer 40.

The manager computer 40 reads the received print content file and stores the print history log file in the manager computer 40 or a database 60 provided separately.

15 is a flowchart illustrating a copy / scan / fax storage file collection function according to the present invention.

When an authorized administrator sends a collection command for a file copied, scanned, or faxed to or sent to a printer 30 using a server program to the administrator computer 40 or the like, the printer 30 status is turned on, It checks whether the printer is connected or ready to print, and if the condition is met, the print management module 32 of the printer 30 is requested whether a copy / scan / fax file exists.

At this time, when a response is sent from the printer 30 that a copy / scan / fax file does not exist, the manager computer 40 displays the copy / scan / fax file in the form of a message, while copy / scan / fax is displayed. When a response is sent that a stored file exists, a copy / scan / fax file read request is requested to the print management module 32. Accordingly, the print management module 32 copies the copy / scan / fax file data to the manager computer (40). To send).

The manager computer 40 reads the received copy / scan / fax storage file and stores the copy / scan / fax storage file in the manager computer 40 or a database 60 provided separately.

As described above, the present invention allows security management of the output document by allowing or restricting the output contents for each user and document according to a preset authority when using the printing, faxing, and copying functions provided in the printer. Unnecessary output is prevented due to restrictions, output document data management, user display, etc., and thus, there is an advantage of reducing the printing cost.

Claims (12)

In the printer usage management device of the network printer system to control the execution of the printing function according to the user computer at one or more network printers connected to a plurality of user computers through a network consisting of a local area network to be used in common, An IOF storage unit for storing input / output interface files, an executable program storage unit for storing an executable program (Exe) and a dynamic link library file (dll) for printer usage management, a management information storage unit for storing a policy file and a user information file, Output form information storage unit to store print form and footnote file, work file storage unit to store output file, scan file or fax file, etc., creation date, user information, document contents, number of copies, paper type It consists of a log file storage unit that stores information about prints, such as printing type, and can be set for each user authority, and a printer usage management client program that can control the printer function according to the set authority is mounted, The printer usage management client is automatically loaded with the printer usage management client program. A print management module configured to perform a print management function of a printer according to a permission set through a client program; When the print management module is mounted and print, copy, scan, or fax transmission / reception processing is performed according to a policy set for each user according to the operation of a printer usage management program mounted in the print management module, the processed document contents together with user information. A network printer to store in the storage unit of the print management module; And an administrator computer equipped with a printer management server program to set the authority of the network printer in association with the printer use management client program of the network printer, and to receive and store print management information transmitted from the network printer in a database. Printer usage management device of network printer system. delete The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the print management module includes a printer usage management client program mounted on a flash dim, a CF card, or a USB memory. IOF storage unit for storing I / O interface files, executable program storage unit for storing printer usage management client programs and dynamic link library files (dlls), management information storage unit for storing policy files and user information files, print forms, and foot notes Output form information storage unit for storing files, work file storage unit for storing output files, scan files or fax files, and printed matters such as date of printing, user information, document contents, number of copies, paper type, and printing type. A network printer equipped with a print management module comprising a log file storage unit for storing information about the printer, and a printer usage management server program for setting the rights of the network printer by interworking with a printer usage management client program mounted in the print management module. Mounted administrator computer and outputting data to print Connecting one or more user computers over a network; When the initial power is turned on, the network printer performs a function test of the printer itself, and then loads a printer usage management client program stored in the execution program storage unit of the print management module to maintain the execution state and wait for reception of print data. step; In the administrator computer, a user input table for inputting user information using a printer using a printer usage management server program, a document input table for inputting document type information for document control, and a document type previously stored in a document input table are used. Display the policy related input table of the policy level input table that sets the print policy, and input the print control information to register, change and delete the user, document, and policy level through the table. Transmitting to; The updated policy related input table having print control information is processed by a printer usage management client program mounted in a print management module mounted on a network printer, stored in a corresponding storage unit of the print management module, and updated with the print control information. Putting the policy related input table on memory; When print data is received through an input / output channel, it is received as input stream data by a printer usage management client program mounted in a print management module to extract user information and document information in a print header, and the updated print resides in memory. A print control step of obtaining a print option by comparing the print policy of the policy-related input table with control information with the extracted user information and document information, and then performing a print control function according to the print option and outputting it to an output stream; Generating, by the network printer, an event for notifying completion of a print operation to a user management client program mounted to the print management module after performing a print operation to a value controlled by a user management client program mounted to the print management module; The user management client program mounted in the print management module writes the extracted user information and document information as a log file as a print history according to the reception of the event, saves it in a log file storage unit, and ends the print job and prints the next. Method of using a network printer, characterized in that the step of waiting for the reception of data. delete The printing control step of claim 4, wherein the print control step sets output bypass, output prohibition, color / monochrome conversion, watermark / footnote output, and output file storage options in the policy-related input table in advance as a print option, and extracts the data. Print control function that obtains one or more of the preset print options by comparing the user information and document type with the values in the policy related input table, and then changes and saves the print data according to the acquired options and exports them to the output stream. Usage management method of the network printer, characterized in that it comprises a. The printing control step of claim 4, wherein the print control step includes a print date and user information (login ID, computer ID, group ID) from the header of the print data when print data is received as an input stream to the printer usage management client program mounted in the print management module. Extract log values such as document type (file name and application name), printing method (single-sided / double-sided), printing language type (PCLXL / PS / PCL5, etc.), and save them as new records in the print history log file. After the print data is sent to the output stream and printed through the print engine, when the IOF event occurs according to the printing completion, the number of black-and-white prints, the color prints, the paper, the print direction, the print status (print success, print failure, 4) characterized in that it includes a log file saving process for updating the print history log file contents by extracting print result information such as printing cancellation) and ink usage value. Using the management methods of work of the printer. The printing control step of claim 4, wherein the print control step is performed when a scan job is performed in a printer having a copy function, and the printer scans the data scanned by the printer and prints the copy paper, and then prints it to the printer usage management client program mounted in the print management module. And a copy print history extracting step of generating a copy event, extracting copy information such as copy time and number of prints from the copy event, and creating and storing a copy history log file. The method of claim 4, wherein the print control step includes storing the fax reception information as a log file and printing the fax data after receiving the fax data from a printer having a fax function, and then printing the fax data to a printer usage management client program mounted in the print management module. Generating a fax reception event, and extracting fax reception information such as a fax reception time, an incoming phone number, a fax reception status, and the number of prints from the fax reception event and storing the fax reception log in a fax history log file. Usage management method of the network printer, characterized in that. The print control step of claim 4, wherein the print control step is performed if the print data storage option is set in the print options when the print data is received as an input stream to the printer usage management client program mounted in the print management module. Is saved as a file in the printer control language for normal print data, and in the form of a picture format file for copy printing, scanning of prints, or sending and receiving printouts by fax. Method of managing the use of a network printer, characterized in that the file storage process. 5. The printing control step of claim 4, wherein the print control step is performed by an authorized user running a server program of an administrator computer to send a print history log collecting command to the printer to determine whether the printer status is powered on, network connected, or ready to print. If the condition is met, the printer usage management client program installed in the printer's print management module is requested to check whether or not the log file exists. Is sent to the administrator's computer to indicate that there is no log file in the form of a message. If the log file exists, the log is sent to the printer usage management client program installed in the print management module. Print management module by making a file read request A network printer comprising a print history log file collection process of allowing log file data to be transferred to a manager computer from a printer usage management client program installed in the system, and then reading the received log file and storing the print log file in a database as a print history log file. How to manage use of 5. The printing control step of claim 4, wherein the print control step is performed by an authorized user running a server program of an administrator computer to send a print content storing file collection command to the printer, so that the printer status is turned on, the network is connected, and the print ready status. After checking whether the print content storage file exists, the printer usage management client program installed in the print management module of the printer is requested. If a response is sent to the administrator's computer that the print content storage file does not exist, a message is displayed in the form of a message that no print content storage file exists. Printer Usage Client mounted in the module Save Print Contents to Print Program Saves the print content to the database by sending the print content save file data to the administrator's computer by using the printer usage management client program installed in the Print Management Module by requesting to read the file. And a print content storage file collection process for storing the print content.

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