JP2008225640A - Management device, output management method, storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform output management capable of restricting an output request from each user, on condition of output restriction information having a different attribute set to each user. <P>SOLUTION: Information on upper limit sheet number by user is set to a specific user allowing use of an image forming apparatus 107 from a third client PC 103. Further a first client PC 101 sets information on upper limit sheet number by output use to use of the image forming apparatus used by the specific user. The set use restriction information by output use or user is acquired and registered in a storage means. When receiving a use request of the image forming apparatus 107 based on the use selected by the specific user, the use request of the image forming apparatus by the specific user is restricted when a control part 106b decides that it cannot be executed within use restriction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a management apparatus that manages the output status of a user who uses an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an environment in which an image forming apparatus, an information terminal apparatus serving as a client thereof, and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network, an output for managing the number of prints and the maximum number of prints for each user in the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus A management system is in place.

  In this system, an output management system is constructed in which the image forming apparatus is an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral), the information terminal apparatus is a PC (Personal Computer), and the information processing apparatus is a server.

  In such an output management system, the system administrator generally sets the upper limit number of prints for each user. However, in consideration of the printing application for each user (for example, lecture A, project B, etc.), the upper limit is individually set for each user. Setting the number is a heavy burden.

  For this reason, in an actual usage environment such as a university, the upper limit number of prints is often set uniformly for all users without considering the printing application for each user, and the optimum upper limit number for the user is not set. It was.

On the other hand, a plurality of users are grouped into groups, and the upper limit number of prints is set for each group separately from the upper limit number of prints for each user. There is a technique of output management. For example, in Patent Document 1, in addition to the above technique, a technique is also described in which subgroups are created hierarchically in one group and the upper limit number of prints is set for each subgroup.
JP 2005-266120 A

  However, in the above-described prior art, the upper limit number of prints set by a group or subgroup is shared and used by a plurality of users belonging to the group or subgroup.

  For this reason, it is not possible to set the optimum print upper limit number of sheets (output restriction information) according to the user's personal printing application.

  Furthermore, in the output management system, there are two types of output for each group and output for each individual user. For this reason, for example, a certain user can always print by specifying the upper limit number of groups in the billing destination information when printing, and there is a problem that strict output management for each user cannot be performed.

  In this way, when an output environment is set in which a plurality of output restriction information is set for a user who uses the image forming apparatus, each output restriction information is monitored independently. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to restrict the user from requesting output with advantageous output restriction information.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide output management capable of restricting output requests from each user on the condition of output restriction information having different attributes set for each user. It is to provide a mechanism that can do.

  The management apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.

  A management apparatus that communicates with an image forming apparatus to manage an output status, and includes first usage restriction information that is set as a user-specific maximum number of sheets that a specific user can output from the image forming apparatus; Acquisition means for acquiring second usage restriction information set as an upper limit sheet for each usage purpose that can be output from the forming apparatus for each usage purpose; and the first and second usage restriction information acquired by the acquisition means. Whether the registration request to be registered in the storage means and the use request of the image forming apparatus based on the usage purpose selected by the specific user can be executed within the usage restrictions determined by the first and second usage restriction information. Determining means for determining, and restricting means for restricting a request to use the image forming apparatus by the specific user when the determining means determines that the execution cannot be performed within the use restriction. And features.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the output management which can restrict | limit the output request from each user can be performed on condition of the output restriction information from which the attribute set to each user differs.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Description of system configuration>
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of an output management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of explanation, a system having four client PCs, two servers, and one image forming apparatus will be described. However, the number of these devices is merely an example and is not limited to this system. . In this embodiment, the user-specific upper limit number and the printing purpose upper limit number are described as examples of use restriction information. However, a system in which other attributes are set as use restriction information may be used. In other words, as long as it is an attribute that can be set with respect to the user-specific upper limit sheet number, the upper limit sheet number for each printing application is not limited.

  In this embodiment, an example in which a printing application is used is described. However, the present invention is not limited to printing, and may be data transmission, document reading, specific image processing, facsimile reception processing, or the like. In other words, the present invention can be applied to other functions as long as the usage selected by the user is set in the function processing executable by the image forming apparatus 107. Furthermore, an embodiment in which the attribute shown in the present embodiment is combined with use restriction information of another attribute may be used.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a first client PC that functions as an information terminal device. The first client PC includes hardware resources as described later, and is configured to be able to communicate with other devices via a network 108.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a second client PC that functions as an information terminal device. The second client PC has hardware resources as will be described later, and is configured to be able to communicate with other devices via the network 108.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a third client PC that functions as an information terminal device, which has hardware resources as described later and is configured to be able to communicate with other devices via the network 108.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a fourth client PC that functions as an information terminal device. The fourth client PC includes hardware resources as will be described later, and is configured to be able to communicate with other devices via the network 108. The fourth client PC 104 includes a network communication unit 104a, a control unit 104b, an operation unit 104c, and a print job generation unit 104d.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes a first server that functions as an information processing apparatus. The first server 105 includes hardware resources as described later, and is configured to be able to communicate with other devices via the network 108.

  The first server 105 includes a network communication unit 105a, a control unit 105b, a print use management unit 105c, and a print use storage unit 105g. The print use storage unit 105g stores and manages a print use 105d for managing print uses, a registered user 105f for managing registered users, and a selectable user 105e for managing selectable users.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a second server that functions as an information processing apparatus. The second server 106 includes hardware resources as described later, and is configured to be able to communicate with other devices via the network 108. The second server 106 includes a network communication unit 106a, a control unit 106b, an upper limit number management unit 106c for each printing purpose, an upper limit number management unit 106g for each user, and an actual printing number management unit 106m. Here, the user-specific upper limit sheet number is user-specific upper limit sheet number information (use restriction information), for example, information that can be set for the image forming apparatus 107 by the system administrator.

  The upper limit number management unit 106c for each printing purpose stores and manages the printing purpose 106d and the upper limit number 106e for each printing purpose via the upper limit number storage unit 106f for each printing purpose. Here, the upper limit sheet number by use of printing is information on the upper limit sheet number by use application (use restriction information), and is information set by a user (superior user) superior to a specific user.

  Further, the user-specific upper limit number management unit 106g stores and manages the user-specific upper limit number 106h and the print use-specific upper limit number 106i via the user-specific upper limit number storage unit 106j.

  Furthermore, the printing result number management unit 106m stores and manages the user-specific result number 106n and the printing purpose-specific result number 106p via the user-specific result number storage unit 106r. The second server 106 monitors the output status associated with the output request from the user who uses the image forming apparatus 107 based on the output restriction information having different set attributes, and restricts the output request from the user. It has a function. Here, the output restriction information having different attributes refers to output number information for each output application set for each user's output application within the maximum output number for the maximum output sheet set for each user. Correspond. In other words, output limit information with different attributes is related, and output number management is performed while one output limit information is adapted to a specific usage limit update condition under the limit of the maximum output number for each user. Can do.

  Here, the specific use restriction update condition is set by a user superior to a specific user, and in this embodiment, a case where a professor instructing a student is subject to a credit acquisition situation is a condition. However, it is not limited to this.

  An image forming apparatus 107 includes hardware resources as described later, and is configured to be able to communicate with other devices via the network 108.

  The image forming apparatus 107 includes a network communication unit a and a control unit 107b. The control unit 107b controls the billing information storage unit 107c, the image forming unit 107d, the operation unit 107e, the display unit 107f, and the external device I / F 107g.

  In the present embodiment, the network 108 may be a LAN, a wireless LAN, or the Internet.

  The second client PC 102 and the third client PC 103 include a network communication unit 101a, a control unit 101b, an operation unit 101c, and a WEB browser 101d, which are not shown, but are the same as the first client PC 101.

  The WEB browser 101d is a browsing application and has a function of performing, for example, control of displaying an XML format file on a display device and notifying an instruction set on the displayed screen to a request destination.

  Further, each of the client PCs 101 to 104 may be a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA having an equivalent configuration.

[Print usage registration process]
First, a case where a printing application registrant (for example, a system administrator, a professor, a boss, etc.) registers a printing application from the first client PC 101 to the first server 105 will be described.

  In this case, authentication information of a printing use registrant is input to the printing use registration authentication screen displayed on the WEB browser 101d of the first client PC 101 using the operation unit 101c.

  Further, although not shown, the authentication information may be input via an external device such as an IC card reader or a biometric reader.

  Next, if the above authentication is successful (authenticated), the printing application is input to the printing application registration screen displayed on the WEB browser 101 d and transmitted to the first server 105. Finally, a registration result for printing use is displayed on the WEB browser 101d.

  The control unit 101b controls user authentication and registration request processing, and controls processing to the WEB browser 101d, the operation unit 101c, and the network communication unit 101a.

  In the first server 105, when the network communication unit 105a receives a print use registration request from the first client PC 101, the first server 105 transmits a user authentication screen to the first client PC 101 and prompts input of authentication information. The screen is displayed on the display device included in the first client PC 101 via the WEB browser 101d.

  Next, if the printing application registrant has the authority to register the printing application from the authentication information received from the first client PC 101, the first server 105 displays a printing application registration screen for the first client PC 101. Send.

  Finally, the print use management unit 105 c stores the print use 105 d received from the first client PC 101 in the print use storage unit 105 g and transmits a print use registration request to the second server 106.

  In addition, the control unit 105b controls processing of the printing application management unit 105c and the network communication unit 105a in response to the printing application registration request.

  In the second server 106, when the network communication unit 106a receives the print use registration request from the first server 105, the print use upper limit number management unit 106c registers the print use 106d in the print use upper limit number storage unit 106f. To do.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the second server 106 registers the printing application 106d by receiving the printing application registration request from the first server 105 has been described. On the other hand, the second server 106 may perform registration for printing periodically by performing synchronization processing with the first server 105.

  In the present embodiment, the second server 106 holds the same information as the printing application 105 d held by the first server 105. However, the second server 106 may refer to the printing application 105 d held by the first server 105 instead of directly holding the printing application 106 d.

[Registering the maximum number of prints by printing purpose]
Next, a case will be described in which an upper limit sheet number by printing application (for example, a professor, a boss, etc.) registers the upper limit sheet number by printing application from the second client PC 102 to the second server 106.

  In this case, the authentication information is input on the authentication screen for registering the maximum number of prints for each print use displayed on the WEB browser of the second client PC 102, as in the previous print use registration. If the authentication is successful (authenticated) for the input authentication information, the upper limit number of prints for each printing application is input and transmitted to the second server 106.

  In the second server 106, when the network communication unit 106a receives an upper limit sheet number registration request for each printing purpose from the second client PC 102, the second server 106 transmits a user authentication screen to the second client PC 102 to prompt the user to input authentication information.

  Next, from the authentication information received from the second client PC 102, if the registrant who has registered the maximum number of prints for each printing purpose has the authority to register the maximum number of sheets for each printing purpose, a screen for registering the maximum number of sheets for each printing purpose is transmitted.

  Finally, the upper limit sheet number management unit 106c for each printing application stores the received upper limit sheet number 106e for each printing application in the upper limit sheet storage unit 106f for each printing application. The control unit 106b controls processing of the upper limit sheet number management unit 106c for each printing application and the network communication unit 106a in response to the upper limit sheet number registration request for each printing purpose.

  Further, in this embodiment, the printing application registrant and the printing application-specific upper limit number of registrants are separated, but both may be the same user. Therefore, the first client PC 101 and the second client PC 102 may be the same client PC.

[User-specific printing registration process]
Next, a printing use registration process by a user-specific printing use registrant (for example, a student, a general job, etc.) will be described. In this example, a case will be described in which a printing application is registered as a printing application for an individual user from among the printing applications 105 d registered in advance by the printing application registrant from the third client PC 103 to the first server 105.

  In this case, the authentication information is input on the user-specific print use registration authentication screen displayed on the WEB browser of the third client PC 103, as in the previous print use registration. If the authentication is successful with respect to the input authentication information (authenticated), a print application to be registered as a user personal print application is selected and transmitted to the first server 105.

  In the first server 105, when the network communication unit receives the 105a user-specific print usage registration request from the third client PC 103, the first server 105 transmits a user authentication screen to the third client PC 103 to prompt the user to input authentication information.

  Next, when the authentication of the user-specific printing application registrant is successful from the authentication information received from the third client PC 103, a user-specific printing application registration screen is transmitted to the third client PC 103.

  Finally, the print use management unit 105c stores the user-specific print use registrant as the registered user 105f in the print use storage unit 105g for the registered print use 105d, and stores it in the second server 106 for each user. Request to update the maximum number of sheets. The control unit 105b controls processing of the print use management unit 105c and the network communication unit 105a in response to the print use registration request for each user.

  The second server 106 receives an update request for the user-specific upper limit number from the first server 105. Then, the user-specific upper limit number management unit 106g performs a process of adding the registered upper limit number 106i for each printing purpose to the user's upper limit number 106h for each user.

[Print processing]
Next, a case where a printer (for example, a student, a general job, etc.) performs printing from the fourth client PC 104 will be described.

  In this case, when the fourth client PC 104 issues a print instruction, for example, when the printer presses the print button of the application, the control unit 104b receives the remaining printable number of prints from the second server 106 as an electronic ticket file. To do. Note that the remaining printable sheet number of the printer is received from the remaining printable sheet number notifying unit 106k shown in FIG.

  Next, the control unit 104b determines whether printing is possible from the print job generated by the print job generation unit 104d and the remaining number of printable sheets. If it is determined that the print job is possible, the control unit 104b sends the print job to the image forming apparatus via the network communication unit 104a. It transmits to 107.

  The control unit 104b controls processing of the print job generation unit 104d and the network communication unit 104a, and determination of whether printing is possible, in response to a print request.

  In the image forming apparatus 107, the print job received by the network communication unit 107a is printed by the image forming unit 107d, and charging information such as the number of prints is stored in the charging information storage unit 107c for each printing. When printing of the print job is completed, the charging information stored in the charging information storage unit 107 c is transmitted to the second server 106.

  In the second server 106, when the network communication unit 106a receives the print request, the second server 106 acquires the user-specific upper limit number 106h and the user-specific actual number 106n corresponding to the printer. Then, the second server 106 generates the remaining printable sheet number information as an electronic ticket file by the remaining printable sheet number notifying unit 106k and transmits it to the fourth client PC 104.

  Further, when the control unit 106b receives the charging information from the image forming apparatus 107 by the network communication unit 106a, the printing result number management unit 106m adds the charging information to the user-specific actual number 106n corresponding to the printer.

  In this embodiment, the fourth client PC 104 determines whether printing is possible from the remaining number of printable sheets and the print job. The print server information is transmitted to the second server 106 and the second server 106 It may be configured to determine whether printing is possible.

  Further, the fourth client PC 104 transmits the printr's information and print job to the image forming apparatus 107, and the image forming apparatus 107 acquires the remaining printable number of prints from the second server 106, and whether or not printing is possible. It is good also as a structure which judges.

  In this embodiment, the accounting information is held in the image forming apparatus. However, the accounting information may be held in the fourth client PC 104 and transmitted to the second server 106.

  Next, when the printer performs printing such as copying or pull printing from the image forming apparatus 107, the authentication information displayed on the display unit 107f is input using the operation unit 107e to log in the printer. .

  As an authentication information input method, the authentication information may be input via an external device such as an IC card reader (not shown) or a biometric reader connected to the external device I / F 107g.

  Next, the image forming apparatus 107 receives from the second server 106 the remaining printable number of prints by an electronic ticket file or the like. When the image forming apparatus 107 determines that printing is possible from the print job and the remaining printable number of sheets, the image forming unit 107d performs printing, and the charging information storage unit 107c stores charging information such as the number of printed sheets for each printing. .

  Finally, when the printer logs out, the charging information stored in the charging information storage unit 107 c is transmitted to the second server 106. The control unit 107b controls user authentication and print request processing, and controls processing to the display unit 107f, operation unit 107e, external device I / F 107g, image forming unit 107d, charging information storage unit 107c, and network communication unit 107a. .

  The operation of the second server 106 is the same as the printing from the fourth client PC 104.

  The control unit 106b determines whether or not the use request of the image forming apparatus 107 based on the usage purpose selected by the specific user can be executed within the usage limit determined by the user-specific upper limit number and the usage-specific upper limit number. It has. Here, the upper limit number by use is configured so that it can be updated based on the specific conditions set by the upper user after the upper user has set the specific user, for example, for each specific user. The upper limit can be set dynamically. Further, when the control unit 106b determines that the execution can be performed within the usage restrictions, the control unit 106b permits a usage request to the image forming apparatus from a specific user.

  Furthermore, if the use request for the image forming apparatus is an image formation request, the control unit 106b reduces the set upper limit number for each use according to the number of sheets output in accordance with the execution of the image formation request (image formation processing). Perform update processing.

  When the control unit 106b determines that execution cannot be performed within the usage restrictions (when it is determined to be prohibited), a notification or the like for restricting a request for using the image forming apparatus 107 by a specific user is issued. To the display unit 107f.

  In this embodiment, the accounting information is transmitted to the second server 106 when the printer logs out of the image forming apparatus 107. However, the accounting information is transmitted to the second server 106 every time printing of the print job is completed. It is good also as composition to do.

  Further, the configuration of the first server 105 may be included in the second server 106 to manage the printing use and the upper limit number of prints with one server.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display device of the first client PC 1 shown in FIG. This example is an example of a print use registration screen displayed via the WEB browser 101d when a print use registrant registers a print use from the first client PC 101 to the first server 105. Displayed after user authentication on the authentication screen. In this embodiment, the printing application registrant is a system administrator.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the lecture name that is a subject of study at a university or the like is an example for printing, but other departments of the company, projects, and the like are also examples of other printing applications.

  In FIG. 2, a user name display unit 201 is for displaying the name of a printing application registrant who is currently logged in to the printing application registration service via an authentication screen (not shown). In FIG. 2, this corresponds to the state where the system administrator is currently displayed as the printing application registrant name.

  The print application input unit 202 is used to input a name of each print application registered in the print application registration service (in this embodiment, an example of a course name is shown).

  The upper limit sheet number registrant input unit 203 for each printing purpose is used to input a user who can register the upper limit sheet number for each printing purpose. In this embodiment, the person in charge of each lecture (name of professor in charge) corresponds to this.

  The print use registration possible user input unit 204 is for inputting a user who can register each print use as a print use for each user. In the present embodiment, a person to be attended in each lecture (name of a student who has already been registered). Is this.

  The printing application selection unit 205 is for selecting each printing application to be registered or deleted.

  The registration button 206 is used to instruct the printing purpose storage unit 105 g of the first server 105 to register each printing purpose selected by the printing purpose selection unit 205.

  In the present embodiment, at the same time as registering in the print use storage unit 105g of the first server 105, it is also registered in the upper limit number storage unit 106f for each print use of the second server 106 as described above.

  The delete button 207 is used to instruct deletion of each print application selected by the print application selection unit 205 from the print application storage unit 105g of the first server 105. Further, in the present embodiment, the information is deleted from the print use storage unit 105g of the first server 105 and at the same time is deleted from the upper limit number storage unit 106f for each print use of the second server 106.

  The logout button 208 is used by the printing application registrant to log out from the printing application registration service.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display device of the second client PC 102 shown in FIG. This example is an example of a printing purpose upper limit number registration screen displayed on the WEB browser when the upper limit number registration by printing purpose is registered in the second server 106 from the second client PC 102. It is. This screen is displayed through user authentication on an authentication screen (not shown). In this embodiment, the upper limit sheet number registrant (specific authority) for each printing application is a lecturer (professor).

  In FIG. 3, a user name display unit 301 is for displaying an upper limit sheet number registrant (name of professor in charge) for each printing purpose that is currently logged in to the upper limit sheet number registration service for each printing purpose through an authentication screen (not shown). is there. Currently, the state where the instructor name is Professor A is displayed.

  The registerable print application list 302 is used to display a list of print applications in which the currently logged-in upper limit sheet number by print application can register the upper limit sheet by print application.

  The upper limit number maximum value notifying unit 303 is for notifying the maximum value of the upper limit number that can be registered for each printing use by the currently registered upper limit number registering member for each printing purpose. In the present embodiment, the maximum value of the upper limit number is set by the registrant of the upper limit number for each printing purpose, but the maximum value may be set according to the printing purpose.

  An upper limit sheet number input unit 304 for each printing application is used to input an upper limit sheet number for each printing application for each monochrome and color. In this embodiment, the upper limit number of prints for each monochrome and color is input. However, a configuration for inputting the upper limit print amount is another embodiment.

  The registration button 305 instructs to register the upper limit sheet number for each printing application input by the upper limit sheet number input unit 304 for each printing purpose in the upper limit sheet number storage unit 106f for each printing application as the upper limit sheet number 106e for each printing purpose in the second server 106. belongs to.

  The warning dialog 306 is displayed when an attempt is made to re-register the upper limit number for each printing purpose for a printing purpose for which the upper limit number has already been registered. This screen is for confirming whether or not the upper limit sheet number for each printing purpose managed in the upper limit sheet number storage unit 106f of the second server 106 may be updated. The registrant for the maximum number of prints by printing application presses the confirmation button 307 to instruct whether to update. Further, when an update is instructed, a notification screen described later with reference to FIG. 6 is displayed to a user who has already registered this printing application.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display device of the third client PC 103 shown in FIG. This example is an example of a user-specific print application registration screen displayed on the WEB browser when a user-specific print application registrant registers a user-specific print application from the third client PC 103 to the first server 105. . In this embodiment, the user-specific printing application registrant is a student who takes the lecture of a professor shown in FIG. This screen is displayed through user authentication on an authentication screen (not shown).

  In FIG. 4, a user name display unit 401 is for displaying a user-specific printing application registrant who is currently logged in to a user-specific printing application registration service via an unillustrated authentication screen. For example, this corresponds to a state where the user name “studentB” is displayed.

  The user attribute display unit 402 is for displaying attribute information such as the affiliation of the logged-in user-specific printing application registrant (eg, “Fourth Grade Engineering”). In this embodiment, the user attribute information is used to determine whether or not the user can register for printing.

  The registerable print application list 403 is used to display a list of print applications that can be registered by the logged-in user print application registrant.

  Although not shown in the present embodiment, the upper limit number for each printing application registered in advance may be displayed in this list.

  The registered printing application selection unit 404 is for selecting a printing application registered as a printing application for each user by a logged-in user-specific printing application registrant (“studentB”).

  A registration button 405 is used to register each printing application selected by the registered printing application selecting unit 404 in the printing application storage unit 105g of the first server 105 as a printing application of a user-specific printing application registrant.

  In the present embodiment, an update request for the user-specific upper limit number 106h is sent to the second server 106 at the same time as registration in the printing purpose storage unit 105g of the first server 105.

  The second server 106 receives the received print usage information registered in the first server 105 and the user-specific print usage registrant along with the update request for the user-specific upper limit number 106h. Then, the control unit 106b of the second server 106 adds the upper limit number 106i for each registered printing purpose to the user's upper limit number 106h of the received user-specific printing purpose registrant, and updates the first result. To the server 105. When the first server 105 receives the update result, the first server 105 transitions from the screen display state shown in FIG. 4 to the screen display shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display device of the third client PC 103 shown in FIG. This example is a WEB page screen that displays the result of adding the upper limit number for each printing purpose to the upper limit number for each printing user registrant, and the registration button on the user-specific printing purpose registration screen (FIG. 4). Displayed by pressing 405. This example is a user-specific print usage registration screen example for the user name studentB.

  In FIG. 5, an upper limit sheet number display unit 501 for each user indicates the upper limit sheet number 106h for each user registered in the upper limit sheet number storage unit 106j for each user by adding the upper limit sheet number for each printing application. . This example is a case where the user name “studentB” is registered as “380” for monochrome and “150” for color as the upper limit number for each printing purpose.

  The user-specific upper limit sheet number display section 502 represents the upper limit sheet number for each printing purpose added as a breakdown of the upper limit sheet number for each user. Note that the upper limit number for each printing application has the same structure as the data structure of the upper limit number for each user 106h managed by the upper limit number for each user storage unit 106j of the second server 106.

  In addition to the printing application registered in FIG. 4, there may be a default number of prints preset for each user. In addition, a maximum value may be set for the upper limit number for each user so that no matter how much printing is selected, the upper limit number for each user may not be exceeded.

  The confirmation button 503 is used when the user-specific print application registrant confirms the registered maximum number of sheets. When the confirmation button 503 is pressed, the user-specific print application registration screen (from the screen display state shown in FIG. 4).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display device of the second client PC 102 shown in FIG.

  In this example, when the upper limit sheet number registration by printing purpose presses “Yes” of the confirmation button 307 of the warning dialog 306 on the registration screen for upper limit number by printing purpose (FIG. 3), the upper limit number 106e by printing purpose is re-registered. It is an example of the notification screen notified to the user. Here, the user is a user who has registered the printing application. This example is an example in which an upper limit sheet number registrant (Prof. A) for each printing application has updated the upper limit sheet number for the user (student B).

  Note that the upper limit number 106e for each printing application is managed by the upper limit number storage unit 106f for each printing application of the second server 106.

  In FIG. 6, a pre-update upper limit sheet number display portion 601 represents the upper limit sheet number for each user before the upper limit sheet number by printing purpose (Professor A) re-registers the upper limit sheet number for each printing purpose.

  The updated upper limit number display unit 602 displays the upper limit number for each user after the registrant for printing purpose re-registers the upper limit number for each printing purpose (in this example, the monochrome number is reduced and the number of colors is increased). It is an example). With this function, when the registrant for printing use upper limit sheet number re-registers the upper limit sheet number for each printing purpose, it can be dynamically reflected in the upper limit sheet number for each user without imposing a burden on anyone.

  In this embodiment, each user is notified by displaying a dialog, but may be notified by transmitting an e-mail or the like describing the same content.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the upper limit number of sheets for each printing application is registered before the printing application for each user is registered as a processing flow.

  For this reason, this notification screen is displayed only when the upper limit number for each printing purpose is updated, but the upper limit number for each printing purpose may be registered after the printing purpose for each user is registered. In this case, when the upper limit number for each printing application is registered, this notification screen is also transmitted to a user who has already been registered as a printing application for each user.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display device of the second client PC 102 shown in FIG. In this screen example, if the user does not satisfy certain conditions for the registered printing application (in this embodiment, the lecture unit is dropped), the upper limit sheet for each printing application is subtracted from the upper limit sheet for each user. It is an example of the notification screen notified to a user when it does. The fixed condition is not limited to the present embodiment, and various conditions may be used depending on the use environment of the system that shares the image forming apparatus and manages the output (use environment required by the user to be managed). Setting is possible.

  In FIG. 7, a pre-update upper limit number display section 701 represents the user-specific upper limit number of users before update.

  The updated upper limit sheet number display unit 702 represents an upper limit sheet number for each user (an example in which the upper limit sheet number for each printing purpose is subtracted) after updating without satisfying certain conditions for the printing purpose registered by each user. It is.

  With this function, it is possible to prevent the user from registering more printing applications than necessary in order to increase the user-specific upper limit number of sheets, particularly in use cases such as universities.

  In this embodiment, each user is notified by displaying a dialog, but may be notified by transmitting an e-mail or the like describing the same content.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display device of the fourth client PC 104 shown in FIG. This example is an example of a printer driver screen displayed on the fourth client PC 104 when the printer performs printing from the fourth client PC 104. When the printer issues a print instruction with the print button of the application, etc. Is displayed.

  In FIG. 8, a remaining printable sheet number display portion 801 is for representing the remaining printable sheet number of the printer. In the present embodiment, when the printer driver is activated, it is displayed by receiving from the second server 106 an electronic ticket file of the remaining printable number of prints, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The display timing is not limited to this, and the configuration in which the remaining printable number display portion 801 is displayed when the print setting button 802 or the print start button 803 is pressed, or the configuration that is displayed when printing is completed. It is good.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the user information of the printer is an example in which it is assumed that the user information used when the printer logs in to the fourth client PC 104 is used together. On the other hand, the printer driver is provided with a part for inputting the user information of the printer, or the authentication dialog is displayed when a print instruction is given, so that the authentication information of the printer is input. Also good.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic ticket file representing the remaining printable number of prints generated by the second server 106 shown in FIG. In this example, an electronic ticket file is generated using an XML file or the like.

  In FIG. 9, a user ID holding unit 901 is for representing the user information of the printer.

  The remaining printable sheet number holding unit 902 represents the remaining printable sheet number of the printer. In this embodiment, the remaining number of printable sheets for each monochrome and color is held, but the remaining printable amount may be used.

  The electronic signature unit 903 is an electronic signature of the second server 106 and is used to prove that the electronic ticket file has been generated by the second server 106.

  In addition to this, the electronic ticket file may include information for checking whether the electronic ticket file has been tampered with or information such as an expiration date. Furthermore, in the electronic ticket file transmission / reception process, a known encryption process and decryption process may be combined to maintain security.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display device of the fourth client PC 104 shown in FIG. This example is an example of a screen displayed when the print job instructed to be printed by the printer exceeds the number of remaining printable sheets of the printer. Specifically, the fourth client PC 104 compares the print job generated by the printer driver in FIG. 8 with the remaining printable sheet number information in FIG. 9, and when the print job exceeds the remaining printable sheet number, the fourth client PC 104 A prompt is displayed on the display device.

  In FIG. 10, a designated number-of-prints display section 1001 is for displaying the number of prints of a print job instructed to be printed by the printer. The remaining printable sheet number display unit 1002 is for displaying the remaining printable sheet number of the printer.

  A reset button 1003 is a button for the printer to reset print settings and instruct printing again. When the reset button 1003 is pressed, the screen changes to the printer driver screen of FIG. Note that the user's resetting burden may be reduced by performing control for automating page settings so that all pages to be printed can be printed as much as possible with the number of printable sheets. For example, a user who has 32 prints and 26 color prints can print the remaining 6 requested monochrome prints within the printable number of monochrome prints.

  Further, when the reset button 1003 is pressed, the electronic ticket file cached in the fourth client PC 104 may be used instead of acquiring the electronic ticket file again from the second server 106.

  A cancel button 1004 is used by the printer to cancel the print instruction.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on the display unit 107f of the image forming apparatus 107 illustrated in FIG. This example is an example of a display screen of the remaining printable number displayed on the display unit 107f of the image forming apparatus 107 when the printer performs printing with the image forming apparatus 107. Displayed after authentication of the printer.

  In FIG. 11, a user name display unit 1101 is for displaying a printer who is currently logged in to the image forming apparatus 107 via an authentication screen (not shown).

  The remaining printable sheet number display unit 1102 is for representing the remaining printable sheet number of the printer. In this embodiment, when the printer logs in to the image forming apparatus 107, the remaining number of printable sheets is displayed by receiving from the second server 106 the electronic ticket file of the number of remaining printable sheets of the printer shown in FIG. Part 1102 displays.

  The display timing is not limited to this, and may be a configuration displayed when an instruction to start printing is given or a configuration displayed when printing is completed.

  A service selection tab 1103 is used to select a service (copy, FAX, transmission, pull print service, etc.) that can be used by the printer. In the present embodiment, the upper limit value is managed for the number of printed sheets, but the upper limit value may be managed for transmission of a FAX or an electronic file.

  A logout button 1104 is a button for the printer to issue a logout instruction from the image forming apparatus 107. When the logout button 1104 is pressed, accounting information of a printer, which will be described later, is transmitted to the second server 106.

  The image forming apparatus 107 compares the job instructed by the printer with the remaining number of printable electronic ticket files in the same way as when the fourth client PC 104 instructs to print. Then, based on the comparison result, the image forming apparatus 107 displays a notification screen (not shown) having the same content as that shown in FIG. This is displayed on the part 107f. This notifies the printer that the printable number has been exceeded.

  FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the data structure of billing information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 107 shown in FIG. 1 to the second server 106.

  In FIG. 12, the billing information is transmitted when printing is completed when the printer issues a print instruction from the fourth client PC 104. The billing information is transmitted when the printer logs out of the image forming apparatus when the printer instructs printing from the image forming apparatus 107.

  In the present embodiment, the billing information manages the user ID of the printer, the number of prints for each monochrome and color printed by the printer. Also, in a configuration where output management is performed using a printing amount or the like, a printing fee is managed. In addition, the configuration may include information such as printing date / time, print job name, designated print format, and output image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the data structure of the user-by-user result number 106n managed by the user-by-user result number storage unit 106r of the second server 106 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 13, the actual number of prints by user manages the user ID of the printer, and the total number of prints for each monochrome and color that the printer has printed so far. The second server 106 calculates the remaining printable number by subtracting the user-specific actual number 106n from the user-specific maximum number 106h, and generates the electronic ticket file of FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the output management system according to the present embodiment. This example is a processing example of the control unit of the first server 105 when the printing application registrant registers the printing application from the first client PC 101 to the first server 105. In addition, S101-S110 show each step. Each step is realized by the control unit 105b of the first server 105 and the control unit 101b of the first client PC 101 loading the control program into the RAM and executing the program.

  First, when a print use registration request is received from the first client PC 101 in S101, a user authentication screen (not shown) is displayed on the display device of the first client PC 101 in S102, and user information (authentication information) is input. Let

  In step S103, the control unit 105b determines whether the user information input from the first client PC 101 has a registration authority for printing use, that is, whether authentication is OK. If the control unit 105b determines that the authentication is OK, the process proceeds to S104, and the printing use registration screen illustrated in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display device included in the first client PC 101.

  In step S105, the user of the first client PC 101 inputs a print application via the operation unit 101c.

  Next, in S106, the user of the first client PC 101 inputs a registrant who can register the upper limit number of print uses via the operation unit 101c. Next, in S107, the user of the first client PC 101 inputs a user who can select a printing application via the operation unit 101c.

  Next, in S108, the user presses the registration button 206 of FIG. 2 displayed by the user of the first client PC 101 via the operation unit 101c. In step S109, the control unit 105b controls the print use management unit 105c to register each piece of information acquired from the first client PC 101 in the print use storage unit 105g of the first server 105. Here, the stored information includes a printing application, a registrant for each printing application, and a user who can select a printing application.

  Finally, in step S110, in order to register the printing application in the second server 106, the printing application registered in step S109 is transmitted to the second server 106, and this process ends.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the output management system according to the present embodiment. In this example, the control unit 106b of the second server 106 and the second client when the upper limit sheet number by printing application registers the upper limit sheet by printing application in the second server 106 from the second client PC 102. It is an example of a process by the control part of PC102. In addition, S201-S216 shows each step. Each step is realized by the control unit 106b of the second server 106 or the control unit of the second client PC 102 loading the control program into the RAM and executing it.

  First, in S201, when a registration request for the upper limit number of print applications is received from the second client PC 102, user authentication screen information (not shown) is transferred to the second client PC 102 in S202. Then, user information (authentication information) is input to a user authentication screen displayed on the display device of the second client PC 102 via the WEB browser.

  In step S203, user information input from the second client PC 102 is acquired, and the control unit 106b determines whether the input user information is a registered user (authentication is OK). If it is determined that the authentication is OK, the process proceeds to S204.

  In S204, if the authenticated user has the authority to register the upper limit number for each printing purpose, the user obtains a list of printing purposes in which the user can register the upper limit number, and the process proceeds to S205. In step S205, the list of printing applications acquired in step S204 is transferred to the client PC 102, and the printing application upper limit number registration service screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display device of the second client PC 102.

  In step S <b> 206, an upper limit sheet for each printing purpose is input from the operation unit on the printing application upper limit sheet registration service screen displayed on the display device of the second client PC 102. Next, in step S207, the registration button 305 on the printing use upper limit number registration service screen displayed on the display device of the second client PC 102 is pressed.

  In step S <b> 208, the control unit 106 b determines the maximum number of registrable users registered in the upper limit number maximum value notifying unit 303, the upper limit number input from the second client PC 102 via the print use upper limit number registration service screen. Judge whether it exceeds. If the control unit 106b determines that the maximum number of sheets that can be registered by the user is exceeded, the process returns to S206 to input the upper limit number. If it is determined that the number does not exceed, the process proceeds to S209.

  In step S209, the control unit 106b determines whether the upper limit number for each printing purpose for the designated printing purpose has already been registered in the past. Here, if the control unit 106b determines that it has not been registered in the past, the process proceeds to S210, where it is newly registered in the upper limit number storage unit 106f for each printing purpose of the second server 106, and this process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S209 that the control unit 106b has already registered the upper limit number for each printing purpose for the designated printing purpose, the warning dialog 306 shown in FIG. Displayed on the display device.

  Next, when “Yes” of the confirmation button 307 shown in FIG. 3 is pressed by the user of the second client PC 102 in S212, the control unit 106b causes the second server 106 to limit the maximum number of sheets for each printing purpose in S213. Update registration is performed in the storage unit 106f.

  Next, in step S214, user information for which the registered printing application has been registered is acquired from the first server 105, and in step S215, a request for updating the upper limit number for each user, which will be described later with reference to FIG. Finally, in S216, an update notification message that the user-specific upper limit number has been updated is transmitted through the notification screen shown in FIG. 6 to the user who has updated the user-specific upper limit number, and the process ends.

  Thereby, it is possible to notify the user of the second client PC 102 that the upper limit number for each user has been updated together with the reason for the update.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a third data processing procedure in the output management system according to the present embodiment. This processing is a processing example of the control unit of the first server 105 when the user-specific printing usage registrant registers the user-specific printing usage from the third client PC 103 to the first server 105. In addition, S301-S311 show each step. Each step is executed by the control unit of the third client PC 103 or the control unit 105b of the first server 105.

  First, in step S <b> 301, the first server 105 receives a registration request for printing by user from the third client PC 103. In step S <b> 302, the first server 105 displays a user authentication screen (not illustrated) on a display device included in the third client PC 103 to input user information (authentication information).

  Next, in S303, it is determined whether or not the authentication of the user information input from the third client PC 103 in S302 has succeeded (OK). If it is determined that the authentication is NG, the process returns to S302.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S303 that the user information input from the third client PC 103 has been successfully authenticated (OK) in S302, the process proceeds to S304. In step S <b> 304, the third client PC 103 acquires a list of print applications that can be registered as user-specific print applications from the first server 105. In step S <b> 305, the user-specific printing application registration screen (FIG. 4) including the list is displayed on the display device included in the third client PC 103.

  In step S <b> 306, the user of the third client PC 103 inputs a printing application to be registered from the operation unit via the user-specific printing application registration screen displayed on the display device. In step S <b> 307, when the registration button 405 displayed on the user-specific print application registration screen is pressed, the input print application is transferred to the first server 105. In step S308, the printing application transferred to the first server 105 is acquired and registered in the printing application storage unit 105g of the first server 105 as a registered user for printing application.

  In step S309, the user information and the registered printing application are transmitted to the second server 106, and a request for updating the upper limit number for each user, which will be described later with reference to FIG. In S310, the third client PC 103 receives the update result of the upper limit number for each user from the second server 106, and displays the update result screen for the upper limit number for each user in FIG. 5 on the display device in S311. This process ends.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a fourth data processing procedure in the output management system according to the present embodiment. This processing is a processing example of the control unit of the second server 106 in the update processing of the upper limit number of users. More specifically, it is an example of processing performed by the update request for the upper limit number by user from S215 and S309 described above with reference to FIGS.

  S401 to S409 indicate each step. Each step is executed by the control unit of the second client PC 102, the third client PC 103, or the control unit 106b of the second server 106.

  First, in S401, when an update request for the upper limit number for each user is received from S215 in FIG. 15 or S309 in FIG. 16, information on the user to be updated is received in S402. Next, the printing use information registered in S403 is received.

  Next, in S404, the upper limit number by user of the authenticated user is acquired from the upper limit number storage unit by user 106j. In S405, the upper limit sheet number management unit 106c for each printing purpose acquires the upper limit sheet number for each printing purpose for the printing purpose from the upper limit sheet number storage unit 106f for each printing purpose.

  Next, in S406, it is determined whether or not the update request received by the control unit 106b is a new registration for user-specific printing use, that is, a request coming from S309 in FIG. If the control unit 106b determines that the request comes from S309 in FIG. 16, the upper limit number for each printing purpose is added to the upper limit number for each user in S407. Then, the result of addition in S408 is notified to the request source, and this processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S406 that the update request received by the control unit 106b is an update of the upper limit number for each printing purpose, that is, a request coming from S215 in FIG. 15, the above-described upper limit number for each user is determined in S409. Update the maximum number of prints by printing purpose. In step S408, the updated result is notified under request, and the process ends.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth data processing procedure in the output management system according to the present embodiment. This processing is a processing example of the control unit of the fourth client PC 104 when the printer prints from the fourth client PC 104 to the image forming apparatus 107 via the printer driver.

  S501 to S510 indicate each step. Each step is executed by the control unit 104b of the fourth client PC 104.

  First, in step S501, the user issues a print request by pressing a print button of an application via the user interface. In step S <b> 502, the control unit of the fourth client PC 104 transmits user information to the second server 106, and issues a request for issuing the remaining printable number of the user, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 20.

  Next, in S503, the remaining printable sheet number in the form of an electronic ticket file is received from the second server 106 in this embodiment, and in S504, the remaining printable sheet number is displayed in the remaining printable sheet number display unit 801 shown in FIG. Is displayed. Next, when a print job is generated by a printer driver or the like in S505, the number of print jobs and the remaining printable number are compared in S506.

  In step S507, the control unit 104b of the fourth client PC 104 determines whether the number of print jobs exceeds the remaining printable number. If the control unit 104b determines that the remaining printable number has been exceeded, the upper limit number excess screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display unit 107f in S508, and the cancel button 1004 is pressed in S509. End the process.

  On the other hand, when the reset button 1003 is pressed in step S509, the print setting is changed by the printer driver, and the process returns to the regeneration of the print job in step S505.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S507 that the number of print jobs does not exceed the remaining printable number, the print job generated by the printer driver is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 107 in S510, and this processing is terminated. .

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth data processing procedure in the output management system according to the present embodiment. This processing is a processing example of the control unit 107b of the image forming apparatus 107.

  In addition, S601-S620 shows each step. Each step is executed by the control unit 107b of the image forming apparatus 107.

  First, when a print job generated via the printer driver of the fourth client PC 104 is received in S601, the image forming unit 107d performs print processing in S602. Here, the printing process is a process of developing a raster image that can be output by the so-called image forming unit 107d and printing it on a recording medium. Although the image forming unit 107d does not show details of the engine unit, the image forming unit 107d includes an engine capable of printing both color images and monochrome images.

  In step S603, the control unit 107b stores the charging information in the charging information storage unit 107c of the image forming apparatus 107 along with image formation, and then transmits the charging information to the second server 106 in step S604.

  When the printer performs printing from the image forming apparatus 107, a user authentication screen (not shown) is displayed in S605, and user information (authentication information) is input. In step S606, the control unit 107b determines whether the authentication of user information has succeeded (OK). If the control unit 107b determines that the user information has been successfully authenticated, the user login process to the image forming apparatus 107 is performed in step S607. In step S <b> 608, user information is transmitted to the second server 106, and a request for issuing the remaining printable sheet number of the user, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 20, is transmitted.

  In step S <b> 609, the remaining printable sheet number in the form of an electronic ticket file is received from the second server 106 in this embodiment. In step S610, the remaining printable sheet number is displayed on the remaining printable sheet number display unit 1102 illustrated in FIG. 11 on the display unit 107f via the user interface.

  After that, when a print job is generated in S611 according to an instruction from the operation unit 107e operated by the user, in S612, the number of print jobs and the remaining printable number are compared.

  In step S613, the control unit 107b determines whether the number of print jobs exceeds the remaining printable number. If the control unit 107b determines that the number of print jobs exceeds the remaining printable number, the upper limit number excess screen having the same contents as in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display unit 107f in S614.

  In step S615, the control unit 107b determines whether the cancel button 1004 is pressed on the upper limit number excess screen shown in FIG. Here, if the control unit 107b determines that the request is a reset request, the process returns to S611, and a print job is generated again according to an instruction from the user. If it is determined that there is no reset request, the process ends. To do.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 107b determines in step S613 that the number of print jobs does not exceed the remaining printable number, the process advances to step S616, and the image forming unit 107d performs print processing.

  Next, in S617, the charging information shown in FIG. 12 is stored in the charging information storage unit 107c of the image forming apparatus 107, and then in S618, it is determined whether or not logout from the image forming apparatus 107 is instructed. If the control unit 107b determines that logout is instructed, the billing information is transmitted to the second server 106 in S619, and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S618 that logout is not instructed, that is, if the next printing is performed without logging out, the remaining printable number is updated in S620, and the process returns to S610. .

  In this embodiment, the billing information is transmitted to the second server 106 at the time of logout. However, the billing information may be transmitted every time the printing process is completed, that is, after S617.

  In this embodiment, the remaining printable sheet number is updated in S620. However, if the remaining print sheet number is information that cannot be updated by the image forming apparatus 107, in S613, the accumulated print sheet number and the remaining print number after the user logs in are displayed. The number of printable sheets may be compared.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a seventh data processing procedure in the output management system according to the present embodiment. This example is a processing example of the control unit of the second server 106 when the fourth client PC 104 or the image forming apparatus 107 requests the second server 106 to issue the remaining printable number of sheets. S701 to S707 indicate each step. Each step is executed by the control unit 106b of the second server 106.

  First, in S701, when the second server 106 receives a request for issuing the remaining printable number from the fourth client PC 104 or the image forming apparatus 107, in S702, the user information of the printer is received. Next, in S703, the upper limit number for each user of the printer is acquired, and in S704, the control unit 106b acquires the actual number for each user (FIG. 13).

  In step S <b> 705, the control unit 106 b calculates the remaining printable number of sheets by subtracting the actual number of sheets from the acquired upper limit number of sheets.

  In step S <b> 706, the control unit 106 b adds the electronic signature of the second server 106 to generate the remaining printable number of electronic ticket files illustrated in FIG. 9. Finally, in step S707, the control unit 106b transmits the generated remaining printable sheet number to the request source, and ends this process.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an eighth data processing procedure in the output management system according to the present embodiment. This example is a processing example of the control unit 106b of the second server 106 when the image forming apparatus 107 requests the second server 106 to update the number of print results. In addition, S801-S804 shows each step. Each step is executed by the control unit 106b of the second server 106.

  First, when an update request for the actual number of prints is received from the image forming apparatus 107 in S801, the control unit 106b receives the charging information shown in FIG. 12 from the image forming apparatus 107 in S802.

  In step S <b> 803, the control unit 106 b acquires the number of prints per user (FIG. 13) of the user from the user ID included in the received billing information. Next, in step S804, the control unit 106b adds the number of printed sheets included in the billing information to the number of actual results for each user 106n managed by the number of actual results for each user storage unit 106r, and ends this processing.

  As a result, an optimum upper limit number of prints can be set for each individual user according to the printing application for each individual user. Furthermore, strict output management can be performed for each user.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  In the second embodiment, the registration process for printing applications, the registration process for the upper limit number of print applications, and the registration process for user-specific printing applications are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which output management is performed so that the total number of print results for a user does not exceed the total number of upper limit sheets for each user without specifying a print application at the time of printing. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a print application is designated at the time of printing, and output management is performed so that the actual number of printed sheets for each application does not exceed the upper limit number of prints for each application.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of the upper limit number for each user managed by the output management system according to the second embodiment of this invention. This example is a data structure example of the upper limit number 106h for each user managed by the upper limit number storage unit 106j for each user of the second server 106.

  The user-specific upper limit sheet number manages the user ID and the upper limit sheet number for each printing application. In the first embodiment, the upper limit sheet number for each printing application has only a role as a breakdown of what kind of printing application the upper limit sheet number for each user is set. However, in the second embodiment, the upper limit number is registered for each printing application, and output management is performed so as not to exceed the upper limit number for each printing application.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of the number of results by user managed by the output management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This example is an example of the data structure of the user-by-user achievement number 106n managed by the user-by-user achievement number storage unit 106r of the second server 106.

  The actual number of sheets for each user manages the user ID and the actual number of sheets for each printing application. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, only the total number of print results for each user is managed, but in the second embodiment, the actual number of prints for each user's printing purpose is managed.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on the display unit 107f of the image forming apparatus 107 illustrated in FIG. This example is an example of a display screen of the remaining printable number displayed on the display unit 107f of the image forming apparatus 107 when the printer performs print processing from the image forming apparatus 107. Displayed after authentication of the printer.

  In FIG. 24, a remaining printable sheet number display unit 2401 is for representing the remaining printable sheet number for each use of the printer. In this embodiment, when the printer logs in to the image forming apparatus 107, the second server 106 displays the electronic ticket file of the remaining printable number of prints received from the second server 106.

  Although the electronic ticket file is not shown, the content of the remaining printable sheet number holding unit 902 in FIG. 9 is similar to that of the remaining printable sheet number display unit 2401.

  The print application designation unit 2402 is for the printer to designate a print application that is a billing destination.

  In this embodiment, the printing application is selected from the pull-down. However, each printing application has a unique printing application ID, and the printer designates the charging destination printing application by inputting the printing application ID. Also good.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the printer can freely select the billing destination printing application. On the other hand, a selectable print application is specified in advance in the document attribute of the document to be printed, and it is possible to make it impossible to specify an application other than the print application specified in the document attribute when printing the document. Good. Thereby, output management for each printing application can be performed more strictly.

  An OK button 2403 is used when the printer confirms the remaining number of printable sheets and selects a print application.

  Although not shown, when the printer prints from the fourth client PC 104, the same content as in FIG. 24 is displayed on the remaining printable sheet number display portion 801 in FIG.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a data structure of billing information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 107 shown in FIG. 1 to the second server 106. This example is a data structure example of billing information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 107 to the second server 106 after printing is completed.

  The billing information manages the user ID of the printer, the billing destination printing application designated by the printer, and the number of prints. In this embodiment, when the printer prints with the image forming apparatus 107, the user can instruct printing continuously until logging out. However, when printing is performed continuously, a plurality of billing destination printing applications and the number of printed sheets can be held. it can.

[Third Embodiment]
The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs readable by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIGS. 14 to 21 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, the storage medium storing the software program code for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Therefore, as long as it has the function of the program, the form of the program such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS is not limited.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. Then, the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server, an ftp server, and the like that allow a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer are also included in the claims of the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition, the functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer. For example, based on an instruction of the program code, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing. Needless to say, the process includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

  While various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the spirit and scope of the present invention are not limited to the specific descriptions in the present specification by those skilled in the art.

It is a figure explaining the whole structure of the output management system which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface displayed on the display apparatus of 1st client PC shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface displayed on the display apparatus of the 2nd client PC shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface displayed on the display apparatus of 3rd client PC shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface displayed on the display apparatus of 3rd client PC shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface displayed on the display apparatus of the 2nd client PC shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface displayed on the display apparatus of the 2nd client PC shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface displayed on the display apparatus of 4th client PC shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the electronic ticket file showing the remaining number of printable pages of the printer generated by the second server shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface displayed on the display apparatus of 4th client PC104 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a data structure of billing information transmitted from the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 to a second server. It is a figure explaining the data structure of the track record number per user managed by the track record number memory part by user of the 2nd server shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 1st data processing procedure in the output management system which shows this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 2nd data processing procedure in the output management system apparatus which shows this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 3rd data processing procedure in the output management system which shows this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 4th data processing procedure in the output management system which shows this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 5th data processing procedure in the output management system which shows this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 6th data processing procedure in the output management system which shows this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 7th data processing procedure in the output management system which shows this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 8th data processing procedure in the output management system which shows this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the data structure of the upper limit sheet number according to user managed with the output management system which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the data structure of the results number according to user managed by the output management system which shows a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of billing information transmitted from the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 to a second server. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the storage medium which stores the various data processing program which can be read by the output management system concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 First client PC
102 Second client PC
103 Third client PC
104 Fourth client PC
105 First server 106 Second server 107 Image forming apparatus 108 Network

Claims (22)

A management device that communicates with an image forming apparatus to manage an output status,
First usage restriction information set as a user-specific maximum number of sheets that can be output from the image forming apparatus by a specific user, and set as a maximum number of usage-specific sheets that the specific user can output from the image forming apparatus according to usage. Obtaining means for obtaining second usage restriction information;
Registration means for registering the first and second use restriction information acquired by the acquisition means in a storage means;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the use request of the image forming apparatus based on the use application selected by the specific user can be executed within use restrictions determined by the first and second use restriction information;
A restriction unit that restricts a request to use the image forming apparatus by the specific user when the determination unit determines that the execution cannot be performed within the use restriction;
A management apparatus comprising: Updating means for updating the second use restriction information in accordance with an image forming process executed by the image forming apparatus when a request for use of the image forming apparatus is permitted by the determining means;
Notification means for notifying the specific user of information on the number of output sheets that can be used by the image forming apparatus when the use request to the image forming apparatus is not permitted by the determination means;
The management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the update unit acquires an update request set by a specific authority and updates the second use restriction information.   4. The management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the update request set by the specific authority updates the second use restriction information based on a specific use restriction update condition.   The management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the specific use restriction update condition is set by an upper user for the specific user.   The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restricting unit prohibits execution of the image forming request by the specific user when the determining unit determines that the execution cannot be performed within the use restriction. Generating means for generating output number information that can use the image forming apparatus to be notified to the specific user;
3. The management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the notifying unit notifies the specific user of the usable output number information generated by the generating unit.   The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific user makes an output request to the image forming apparatus via an information processing apparatus.   The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific user makes an output request from the image forming apparatus.   The management device according to claim 1, wherein the specific user is an authenticated user. An output management method in a management device that communicates with an image forming apparatus and manages an output status,
First usage restriction information set as a user-specific maximum number of sheets that can be output from the image forming apparatus by a specific user, and set as a maximum number of usage-specific sheets that the specific user can output from the image forming apparatus according to usage. An acquisition step of acquiring second usage restriction information;
A registration step of registering the first and second use restriction information acquired in the acquisition step in a storage unit;
A determination step of determining whether or not a use request for the image forming apparatus based on a use application selected by the specific user can be executed within use restrictions determined by the first and second use restriction information;
When it is determined by the determination step that the execution cannot be performed within the use restriction, a restriction step for restricting the use request of the image forming apparatus by the specific user;
An output management method comprising: An update step of updating the second use restriction information in accordance with an image forming process executed by the image forming device when a use request for the image forming device is permitted by the determining step;
A notification step of notifying the specific user of information on the number of output sheets that can use the image forming apparatus when a use request for the image forming apparatus is not permitted by the determination step;
The output management method according to claim 11, further comprising:   13. The output management method according to claim 12, wherein the update step acquires an update request set by a specific authority and updates the second use restriction information. 14. The output management method according to claim 13, wherein the update request set by the specific authority updates the second use restriction information based on a specific use restriction update condition.   15. The output management method according to claim 14, wherein the specific use restriction update condition is set by an upper user for the specific user.   12. The output management method according to claim 11, wherein the restricting step prohibits execution of the image forming request by the specific user when it is determined that the restricting step cannot be executed within the use restriction. A generation step of generating output number information that can use the image forming apparatus to be notified to the specific user;
13. The output management method according to claim 12, wherein the notifying step notifies the specific user of the usable output number information generated by the generating step.   12. The output management method according to claim 11, wherein the specific user makes an output request to the image forming apparatus via an information processing apparatus.   12. The output management method according to claim 11, wherein the specific user makes an output request from the image forming apparatus.   The output management method according to claim 11, wherein the specific user is an authenticated user.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the output management method according to any one of claims 11 to 20.   A program for causing a computer to execute the output management method according to any one of claims 11 to 20.

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