JP2009151474A - Printing system, print server, printing control method, computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of determining whether or not to allow printing desired by a user in consideration of the amount of consumption of consumables.
Correlation with at least one of a difference in consumption amount of consumables between a case where user printing is executed and a case where reference printing using preset print settings is executed, and the total of the differences Whether or not to allow user printing is determined according to the condition using the consumption index of M types (where M is an integer equal to or greater than 1).
[Selection] Figure 17

Description

  The present invention relates to printing.

  Conventionally, various printing systems have been used. For example, a printing system for registering an account for use restriction or billing by a user is known. There is also known a printing system that temporarily cancels the print restriction by giving the administrator the authority to register the release code.

JP 2004-345203 A JP 2007-193432 A

  However, in the past, it has been the actual situation that no sufficient contrivance has been made regarding determining whether or not to allow printing desired by the user in consideration of the amount of consumption of consumables.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and provide a technique capable of determining whether or not to permit printing desired by a user in consideration of consumption of consumables. The purpose is to do.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

Application Example 1 In a printing system, a print request unit that requests user printing using a print setting designated by a user, a case where the user printing is executed, and a reference that uses a preset print setting According to the condition using the consumption index of M types (M is an integer of 1 or more) correlated with at least one of the difference in the consumption amount of the consumables from when the printing is executed and the accumulated difference. And a determining unit that determines whether to permit the user printing.

  According to this configuration, whether or not to allow user printing is determined using a consumption index that correlates with at least one of the difference in consumption of consumables and the cumulative total of the differences. It is possible to determine whether or not to allow printing desired by the user in consideration of the consumption of the product.

Application Example 2 In the printing system according to Application Example 1, the determination unit performs the user printing based on the reference printing rather than the first threshold set for each type of consumption index. A printing system that permits the user printing when a permission condition including that at least a part of the M types of consumption indexes indicates that the excess is small is satisfied.

  According to this configuration, since user printing is permitted when the excess is smaller than the first threshold, it is possible to permit user printing while suppressing an excessive increase in consumption of consumables. .

Application Example 3 In the printing system according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2, the determination unit uses the reference printing as a reference rather than a second threshold set for each type of consumption index. A printing system that does not allow the user printing when a denial condition including that at least a part of the M types of consumption indexes indicates that the excess by the user printing is large is satisfied.

  According to this configuration, when the excess is larger than the second threshold value, user printing is not permitted, and therefore it is possible to suppress an excessive increase in the consumption of consumables.

Application Example 4 The printing system according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3, further including a first approval unit that approves the user print in accordance with an instruction from a first approver, and the determination unit includes: The printing system that transmits at least a part of the M types of consumption indexes to the first approval unit for approval by the first approval unit when a condition using the consumption index is not satisfied.

  According to this configuration, since the first approver can use the consumption index for approval, the first approver can determine whether to permit printing desired by the user in consideration of the consumption of the consumables. .

[Application Example 5] The printing system according to Application Example 4, wherein the determination unit permits the user printing when the user printing is approved by the first approval unit.

  According to this configuration, since it is determined whether to allow user printing according to the approval result by the first approval unit, it is determined whether to allow printing desired by the user in consideration of the consumption amount of consumables. be able to.

[Application Example 6] The printing system according to Application Example 4 or Application Example 5, further including a second approval unit that approves the user print according to an instruction of a second approver, and the determination unit includes the first When another approval condition including that the user print has not been approved by one approval unit is satisfied, at least a part of the M types of consumption indexes is approved by the second approval unit for the second approval Printing system to send to the department.

  According to this configuration, in the printing system in which the approval by the second approval unit is performed when another approval condition including that the approval by the first approval unit is not satisfied, the second approver uses the consumption index for approval. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not to permit the printing desired by the user in consideration of the consumption amount of the consumables.

[Application Example 7] The printing system according to Application Example 6, wherein the determination unit permits the user printing when the user printing is approved by the second approval unit.

  According to this configuration, since it is determined whether to allow user printing according to the approval result by the second approval unit, it is determined whether to allow printing desired by the user in consideration of the consumption amount of consumables. be able to.

Application Example 8 In the printing system according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 7, the M types of consumption indexes include a consumption index that represents a cost corresponding to the difference in consumption. Printing system.

  According to this configuration, since the consumption index representing the cost is used, it is possible to determine whether or not to allow the printing desired by the user in consideration of the cost.

[Application Example 9] The printing system according to any one of Application Example 1 to Application Example 8, wherein the M types of consumption indexes include a consumption index representing the cumulative difference.

  According to this configuration, since the consumption index representing the cumulative difference in consumption is used, it is possible to determine whether or not to allow printing desired by the user in consideration of past consumption.

Application Example 10 A print server connected via a network to a print request unit that requests user printing using print settings designated by a user, when the user printing is executed, Consumption index of M types (M is an integer of 1 or more) correlated with at least one of the difference in consumption amount of consumables from the case of executing reference printing using print settings A print server, comprising: a determination unit that determines whether to permit the user printing by using.

Application Example 11 A computer program for causing a computer to control printing, a function for analyzing a user print request using print settings designated by a user, a case where the user print is executed, and a preset setting Consumption index of M types (M is an integer of 1 or more) correlated with at least one of the difference in consumption amount of consumables from the case of executing reference printing using print settings A computer program for causing a computer to realize a function of determining whether to permit the user printing in accordance with a condition using.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, a printing control method and a printing system, a computer program for realizing the function of the method or system, and a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded. , And the like.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. First embodiment:
B. Second embodiment:
C. Third embodiment:
D. Variations:

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing system as an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 1000 includes a print client device 100, a print server 200, a printing device 300, and two approval client devices 400A and 400B. These devices are connected to the network NET. Note that the total number of print client apparatuses is not limited to 1, and an arbitrary number can be adopted. Also, the total number of approved client devices is not limited to 2, and any number can be adopted. In this embodiment, each approval client device is associated with different approvers in advance.

  The print client device 100 is a computer having a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a storage unit 104, and an interface 105. All of these elements 101 to 105 are connected to the bus 109. The interface 105 is a connection interface with the network NET. The storage unit 104 is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory (for example, a hard disk drive or a flash memory). The print client apparatus 100 is connected to a display unit 100D that displays images, operation screens, and the like. For example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display can be adopted as the display unit 100D. Although not shown, the print client apparatus 100 further includes an input unit (for example, a keyboard or a mouse) that accepts user instructions.

  The print server 200 is a computer having a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a storage unit 204, and an interface 205. These elements 201 to 205 are all connected to the bus 209. The interface 205 is a connection interface with the network NET. The storage unit 204 is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory (for example, a hard disk drive or a flash memory).

  The printing apparatus 300 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, an interface 305, and a printing unit 306. These elements 301 to 306 are all connected to the bus 309. The interface 305 is a connection interface with the network NET. The printing unit 306 is a printing mechanism that executes printing according to given data. Various printing mechanisms such as a printing mechanism that forms an image by ejecting ink droplets onto a printing medium and a printing mechanism that forms an image by transferring and fixing toner onto the printing medium can be adopted as the printing mechanism. .

  The first approval client device 400A is a computer similar to the print client device 100. Elements 401 to 405 and 409 are the same as elements 101 to 105 and 109 of the print client apparatus 100, respectively. Further, the display unit 400AD similar to the display unit 100D is connected to the first approval client device 400A. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, 400 A of 1st approval client apparatuses further have an input part (for example, keyboard and mouse) which receives a user's instruction | indication.

  The hardware configuration of the second approval client device 400B is the same as the hardware configuration of the first approval client device 400A (not shown). In addition, a display unit 400BD similar to the display unit 400AD is connected to the second approval client device 400B.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing modules stored in the storage unit 104 of the print client apparatus 100 (FIG. 1). The storage unit 104 stores a print application 110, a printer driver 120, and an approval result acquisition unit 130. These modules 110, 120, and 130 are all programs executed by the CPU 101. These modules 110, 120, and 130 function under a predetermined operating system.

  The print application 110 is an application that accepts a print instruction from a user (for example, a word processor, image drawing software, an image viewer, a web page viewer). The print application 110 transmits a print command to the printer driver 120 in accordance with the print instruction.

  The printer driver 120 creates print data in accordance with a print command from the print application 110.

  The approval result acquisition unit 130 acquires a result indicating whether printing has been approved from the print server 200 (details will be described later).

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing modules stored in the storage unit 404 of the approval client device 400A (FIG. 1). The storage unit 404 stores a release approval unit 410. The release approval unit 410 is a program executed by the CPU 401. The release approval unit 410 functions under a predetermined operating system. The function of the release approval unit 410 will be described later. The release approval unit 410 is also provided in other approval client devices including the second approval client device 400B.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing modules stored in the ROM 202 of the print server 200 (FIG. 1). The ROM 202 stores a forced setting acquisition unit 210, a release approval request unit 212, a difference calculation unit 214, a cumulative acquisition unit 216, and a determination unit 218. These modules 210 to 218 are all programs executed by the CPU 201. Details of these modules will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing modules stored in the ROM 302 of the printing apparatus 300 (FIG. 1). The ROM 302 stores a consumption calculation unit 310. The consumption calculation unit 310 is a program executed by the CPU 301. Details of the consumption calculation unit 310 will be described later. The ROM 302 also stores a print execution unit (not shown) that performs printing by controlling the printing unit 306 according to the print data.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the storage unit 204 of the print server 200 (FIG. 1). The storage unit 204 includes a forced print setting storage unit 230, an approver information storage unit 232, a consumption cost difference storage unit 234, a denial condition storage unit 236, and a permission condition storage unit 238.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the forced print setting storage unit 230. The forced printing setting storage unit 230 stores a correspondence relationship between a user ID, a setting ID, and a setting value. The user ID is an identification number of a user who has input a print instruction to the print client apparatus 100 (hereinafter also referred to as “input user ID”). The setting ID is an identification number of a setting item that can be designated by the user for printing. The setting value indicates a number indicating the forced setting (hereinafter, the forced setting is referred to as “forced setting”).

  FIG. 8 is a table showing specific examples of setting IDs and setting values. The setting item whose setting ID is “1” is “color / monochrome setting”. The options for “color / monochrome setting” are “color printing” and “monochrome printing”. A setting value of “color / monochrome setting” being “1” means that “monochrome printing” is forced. Next, the setting item whose setting ID is “2” is “image quality setting”. The options of “image quality setting” are “speed priority”, “intermediate”, and “image quality priority” (“intermediate” means an intermediate between “speed priority” and “image quality priority”). The setting value of “image quality setting” being “1” means that “speed priority” is forced. The setting value of “image quality setting” being “2” means that “intermediate” is forced. Such correspondence is determined in advance. In addition, as a setting item and its choice, not only the example of FIG. 8 but various items and choices are employable. For example, “paper setting” that can be selected from “quality plain paper” and “coated paper” may be used.

  FIG. 7 shows three correspondences. The first correspondence CS1 relates to the first user US1 (user ID = 00200531), and indicates that “intermediate (setting value = 2)” is forced as “image quality setting (setting ID = 2)”. . The second correspondence CS2 relates to the second user US2 (user ID = 00351981), and indicates that “speed priority (setting value = 1)” is forced as “image quality setting (setting ID = 2)”. Yes. Although details will be described later, printing using this forced setting is permitted unconditionally. On the other hand, in order to use a setting different from the forced setting, it is required to satisfy a condition for being permitted.

  In this embodiment, the forced setting (setting value) is determined in advance for each user ID. Further, the forced setting is determined in advance for each setting item (setting ID). No restrictions are imposed on combinations of user IDs and setting IDs that are not stored in the forced print setting storage unit 230.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the approver information storage unit 232. The approver information storage unit 232 stores a correspondence relationship between the user ID and the approver ID. The approver ID indicates a user ID of a user (approver) who performs approval regarding the user ID. This approval relates to printing using a setting different from the forced setting. For example, the first correspondence relationship AR1 indicates that the first user US1 (user ID = 00200531) approves the second user US2 (user ID = 00351981). The second correspondence relationship AR2 indicates that the third user US3 (user ID = 00200133) approves the first user US1 (user ID = 00200531). In this manner, a plurality of approvers can be traced from one input user (for example, the first user US1 and the third user US3 can be traced from the second user US2). An arbitrary number can be adopted as the number of approver levels, that is, the total number of approvers traced from one input user.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the consumption cost difference storage unit 234. The consumption cost difference storage unit 234 stores a correspondence relationship between the approver ID, the approval date and time, the cost difference, and the difference in consumption amount of the consumables. In the present embodiment, the difference regarding each of N types (N is an integer of 1 or more) of the consumables consumed by the printing apparatus 300 is stored in the consumption cost difference storage unit 234 (consumable). Product ID = 1 to N). This correspondence indicates the difference in consumption of consumables between the case where forced setting is used and the case where a setting different from the forced setting is used (the unit of difference is the type of consumable). In advance). For example, when a user who is forced to perform monochrome printing selects color printing, the consumption amount of the color dedicated ink is recorded as a difference in the consumption amount of the ink. Although details will be described later, every time use of a setting different from the forced setting is approved, a correspondence relationship regarding the approval is added. The approver ID is the user ID of the approver who performed the approval. The approval date and time is the date and time when the approval was performed. The cost difference is a cost difference calculated from a difference in consumption of consumables. In this embodiment, using these differences, it is determined whether to permit printing using a setting different from the forced setting (details will be described later).

  FIG. 11 is a table showing specific examples of consumable IDs and consumables. In the figure, six consumables are shown. Consumables with consumable IDs 1 to 6 are “high quality plain paper (size is A4)”, “coated paper (size is A4)”, “toner (black)”, “toner (blue)”, “ “Toner (red)” and “Toner (yellow)”. Although illustration is omitted, a unique consumable ID is allocated in advance to each of the N types of consumables. The consumables are not limited to those shown in FIG. 11, and any consumables consumed by the printing apparatus 300 can be employed.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the denial condition storage unit 236. The denial condition storage unit 236 stores a correspondence relationship between the approver ID, the consumable item ID, and the denial threshold. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the permission condition storage unit 238. The permission condition storage unit 238 stores the correspondence relationship between the approver ID, the consumable item ID, and the permission threshold value. Note that the correspondence relationship of the consumable ID = 0 represents a threshold related to the cost.

  FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating the denial threshold and the permission threshold. The horizontal axis V indicates the cumulative difference in consumption (or cost) of consumables (details will be described later). On the horizontal axis, the permission threshold value AT and the denial threshold value NT are shown. When the total V is smaller than the permission threshold value AT, printing using a setting different from the forced setting is permitted unconditionally even without approval by the approver. On the other hand, if the cumulative V is larger than the rejection threshold NT, printing using a setting different from the forced setting is rejected unconditionally. If the total V is greater than or equal to the permission threshold AT and less than or equal to the denial threshold NT, the approver determines whether to approve.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the denial threshold NT and the permission threshold AT are determined in advance for each approver ID. These threshold values NT and AT are determined for each consumable ID. Details of processing using these pieces of information will be described later.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the printing process. In the first step S100, the user inputs a print instruction to the print application 110 (FIG. 2). In the next step S <b> 110, the print application 110 transmits a print command to the printer driver 120. At this time, the print application 110 supplies image data representing a print image to the printer driver 120. In response to the print command, the printer driver 120 accepts an instruction from the user to specify options for each setting item for printing. For example, the user can designate color printing instead of monochrome printing, and can designate image quality priority printing. Hereinafter, the setting designated by the user is referred to as “user setting”.

  In the next step S120, the printer driver 120 transmits the input user ID to the print server 200 (FIG. 1) and requests forcible setting. The input user ID is an identification number of a user who has input a print instruction to the print client device 100. In this embodiment, a user who has succeeded in user authentication can use the print client apparatus 100 (such user authentication is also referred to as “login”). The printer driver 120 transmits a user ID previously associated with the authenticated user to the print server 200. Note that any method can be adopted as a method for specifying the input user ID. For example, the input user ID may be specified using an IC card provided by the user.

  The forced setting acquisition unit 210 (FIG. 4) of the print server 200 transmits the forced setting associated with the input user ID to the print client apparatus 100 in response to a request from the print client apparatus 100. The forced setting acquisition unit 210 acquires the forced setting associated with the input user ID from the forced print setting storage unit 230 (FIG. 7).

  In the next step S130 of FIG. 15, the printer driver 120 (FIG. 2) compares the received forced setting with the user setting. If the user setting is the same as the forced setting for all the setting items for which the forced setting is determined, the process proceeds to the next step S140. In step S140, the printer driver 120 generates print data according to the user settings, and transmits the generated print data to the printing apparatus 300 (FIG. 1). A preset address is used as an address (for example, an IP address) on the network of the printing apparatus 300. The CPU 301 of the printing apparatus 300 controls the printing unit 306 according to the received print data and executes printing. Then, the printing process ends. Arbitrary user settings are allowed for setting items for which forced settings are not defined. Hereinafter, printing using the user settings as they are will be referred to as “user printing”.

  If the user setting of at least one of the setting items for which the forced setting is determined is different from the forced setting, the process proceeds to step S150. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the approval printing process executed in step S150. In the first step S200, the printer driver 120 (FIG. 2) displays information indicating that it is waiting for approval on the display unit 100D (FIG. 1). In the next step S210, the printer driver 120 generates print data according to user settings and print data according to forced settings. Hereinafter, the print data according to the user setting is referred to as “user print data”, and the print data according to the forced setting is referred to as “forced print data”. In order to generate user print data, user settings are used as they are for all setting items. In order to generate forced print data, for the setting items whose user settings are different from the forced settings, the forced settings are used instead of the user settings. User settings are used for other setting items.

  In the next step S220, the printer driver 120 transmits the input user ID, two types of print data, and the IP address of the printing apparatus 300 to the print server 200 (FIG. 1), thereby approving (permitting) user printing. ). The approval result is acquired by the approval result acquisition unit 130. The printer driver 120 corresponds to a “print request unit” in the claims. The approval process will be described later.

  If user printing is approved, in the next step S240, the printer driver 120 (FIG. 2) transmits user print data to the printing apparatus 300 (FIG. 1). This step S240 is the same as step S140 in FIG. In the next step S250, the printer driver 120 displays the approval result on the display unit 100D. Then, the process of FIG. 16 ends.

  If the user printing is not approved, step S240 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S250. Then, the process of FIG. 16 ends.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the approval process. In the first step S300, the print server 200 (FIG. 1) receives the input user ID, two types of print data, and the IP address of the printing apparatus 300 from the print client apparatus 100. In the next step S <b> 310, the difference calculation unit 214 (FIG. 4) transmits the user print data to the printing apparatus 300 to acquire the consumption amount of the consumable item. The consumption calculation unit 310 (FIG. 5) of the printing apparatus 300 analyzes the received user print data, thereby calculating the consumption by printing according to the user print data. Specifically, the consumption amounts of the N types of consumables described in FIGS. 10 and 11 are calculated. Then, the consumption amount calculation unit 310 transmits the consumption amount to the print server 200. Hereinafter, the consumption calculated in step S310 is referred to as “user consumption”.

  In the next step S320, the difference calculation unit 214 (FIG. 4) acquires the consumption amount of the consumable by transmitting the forced print data to the printing apparatus 300. This step S320 is performed in the same manner as step S310 described above. Hereinafter, the consumption calculated in step S320 is referred to as “forced consumption”.

  In the next step S330, the difference calculation unit 214 (FIG. 6) calculates the difference by subtracting the forced consumption amount from the user consumption amount. The difference is calculated for each of the N types of consumables. In the next step S340, the consumption cost difference storage unit 234 calculates the difference in cost from the difference in consumption. The unit price of each consumable is set in advance. The sum of the difference in consumption multiplied by the unit price is the difference in cost. Hereinafter, the calculated difference is referred to as “current difference”.

In the next step S350, the release approval request unit 212 (FIG. 4) acquires the approver ID associated with the input user ID from the approver information storage unit 232 (FIG. 9).

  In the next step S360, the total acquisition unit 216 (FIG. 4) calculates N types of totals for consumption differences and totals for cost differences. These totals are all the totals associated with the approver ID, and are totals within a predetermined period up to the present time (for example, one month in the calendar). As described above, the consumption cost difference storage unit 234 (FIG. 10) stores a difference regarding user printing approved in the past. The total acquisition unit 216 calculates the total by referring to the consumption cost difference storage unit 234.

  In the next step S370, the determination unit 218 (FIG. 4) determines whether to allow user printing without approval based on the cumulative total. The determination unit 218 makes a determination with reference to the permission condition storage unit 238 (FIG. 13). The determination unit 218 permits user printing when the total of the cost difference and the N types of total consumption difference are smaller than the permission threshold value AT associated with each total (FIG. 14). .

  If user printing is permitted in step S370, the release approval request unit 212 (FIG. 4) transmits an approval result indicating approval to the print client apparatus 100 in the next step S380. Then, the process of FIG. 17 ends.

  If the user printing is not permitted in step S370, that is, if at least one of the total of the cost difference and the N types of total of the consumption difference is equal to or greater than the permission threshold value AT, the processing is step. The process proceeds to S400. In step S400, determination unit 218 (FIG. 4) sets the confirmation user ID as the approver ID. The confirmation user ID indicates the user ID of the approver. As will be described later, the confirmation user ID is not limited to the approver ID associated with the input user ID, but may be a user ID of a higher approver associated with the approver ID.

  In the next step S410, the determination unit 218 (FIG. 4) determines whether or not to deny unconditionally based on the cumulative total and the confirmation user ID. The determination unit 218 makes a determination with reference to the denial condition storage unit 236 (FIG. 12). The determination unit 218 determines that the denial should be denied unconditionally when at least one of the total of the cost difference and the N types of total of the consumption difference is greater than the denial threshold NT.

  If it is determined that it should be denied unconditionally, in the next steps S420, S430, and S440, the determination unit 218 (FIG. 4) determines the approver associated with the confirmation user ID and the current confirmation user ID. Set to ID (superior approver). The higher-level approver ID is acquired from the approver information storage unit 232 (FIG. 9). Then, the process returns to step S410 again.

  If the approver ID is not associated with the current confirmation user ID (S430: No), the determination unit 218 (FIG. 4) determines that user printing is not permitted. In the next step S450, the release approval request unit 212 (FIG. 4) transmits an approval result indicating that it has been denied to the print client apparatus 100. Then, the process of FIG. 17 ends.

  In step S410, when each of the total of the cost difference and the N types of total of the consumption difference is equal to or less than the rejection threshold NT, the determination unit 218 (FIG. 4) confirms with the approver (confirming user). Judge that it should. In the next step S500, the release approval request unit 212 calculates the current difference of each of the N types of consumption, the current difference of the cost, the total of the cost difference, and the total of each of the N types of consumption difference. Sent to an approved client device for approval. This approval client device is a device associated in advance with an approver (confirmation user ID) (for example, the first approval client device 400A in FIG. 1). The release approval unit 410 (FIG. 3) of the approval client device uses the received information to display an approval screen on the display unit (for example, the display unit 400AD).

  FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an approval screen. On this approval screen AW, an approval button AB and a denial button NB are displayed. The approver can determine whether to approve by operating these buttons AB and NB. The release approval unit 410 (FIG. 3) transmits the approval result to the print server 200 (FIG. 1) according to the operation of the approver.

  In addition, on the approval screen AW, the current difference regarding each item of the cost and the N types of consumables is displayed. Therefore, the approver can make an appropriate determination in consideration of the difference between the case of approval and the case of denial. In addition, the difference screen for each item is displayed on the approval screen AW. Therefore, the approver can make an appropriate determination in consideration of the increase due to the previous approval. Further, the approval screen AW displays the permission threshold value AT and the denial threshold value NT for each item. Therefore, the approver can make an appropriate determination based on the threshold value. Note that the release approval unit 410 (FIG. 3) displays a preset value as each threshold value. Instead, the release approval unit 410 may acquire each threshold value from the print server 200 (FIG. 1). Arbitrary information may be omitted from the approval screen AW. For example, the threshold value may be omitted.

  When the received approval result indicates “approval” (FIG. 17: S510: Yes), the release approval request unit 212 (FIG. 4) updates the consumption cost difference storage unit 234 (FIG. 10) ( In step S520, the approval result is transmitted to the print client apparatus 100 (step S530). Then, the process of FIG. 17 ends. The consumption cost difference storage unit 234 updates the consumption cost difference storage unit 234 by adding a correspondence representing the current difference.

  When the received approval result indicates “denied” (S510: No), the cancellation approval request unit 212 (FIG. 4) skips step S520 and transmits the approval result to the print client apparatus 100 ( S530). Then, the process of FIG. 17 ends.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the determination unit 218 (FIG. 4) determines whether or not to allow user printing by using the N types of total consumption differences and the total cost differences. Judgment is made (FIG. 17: S370, S380, S410, S450). Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not to permit printing desired by the user in consideration of the consumption amount of the consumables. In addition, when each total is smaller than the permission threshold value AT associated with each total, user printing is permitted, so user printing is performed while suppressing an excessive increase in the consumption of consumables. It can be permitted (FIG. 17: S370). Furthermore, when at least one of the cumulative totals is larger than the denial threshold NT, it is determined that denial should be denied unconditionally, so that it is possible to suppress an excessive increase in consumption of consumables ( FIG. 17: S410). Further, since the cost is used in addition to the amount of consumption for determining whether or not to allow user printing, it is possible to determine in consideration of the cost. In addition, since the cumulative total is used for the determination, it is possible to determine whether or not to allow the printing desired by the user in consideration of the past consumption.

  If neither the permission condition (FIG. 17: S370) nor the rejection condition (S410) is satisfied, it is determined whether or not user printing is permitted according to the approval result by the approval client device ( S500 to S530). At this time, the release approval request unit 212 transmits each current difference and each total to the approval client device for approval (S500). Therefore, since the approver can approve using these pieces of information, it is possible to determine whether or not to permit printing desired by the user in consideration of the consumption amount of the consumables.

  In the present embodiment, the entire processing units 210 to 218 shown in FIG. 4 determine whether or not to allow user printing. Accordingly, the entire processing units 210 to 218 correspond to a “determination unit” in the claims. Further, the release approval unit 410 (FIG. 3) has a function of approving user printing in accordance with an approver's instruction. Accordingly, the release approval unit 410 corresponds to an “approval unit” in the claims. The release approval unit 410 of the approval client device associated with the approver of the input user corresponds to the “first approval unit”, and the release approval of the approval client device associated with the higher approver of the approver. The unit 410 corresponds to a “second approval unit”.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the procedure of another embodiment of the approval process. The only difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 17 is that the process shifts from step S510 to step S420 instead of step S530 when the approval result by the approval client device indicates “denial”. Other steps are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. As a result, if the approval by the approver is not obtained, the determination unit 218 (FIG. 4) determines whether or not to reject the user printing based on the denial condition associated with the higher-level approver. Judgment is made (S410). If it is determined that the higher-level approver should confirm, the release approval request unit 212 requests approval by the higher-level approver (S500). As a result, the possibility of being approved can be increased, so that convenience for the user can be improved.

C. Third embodiment:
FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of another embodiment of the approval printing process. The only difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 is that steps S232, S234, and S236 when user printing is not approved are added. Other steps are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG.

  In step S232, the printer driver 120 (FIG. 2) displays an inquiry screen on the display unit 100D (FIG. 1). On this screen, the approval result and the forced setting are displayed (not shown). In addition, the user can instruct the printer driver 120 whether or not to execute printing using the forced setting instead of the user setting. When the printer driver 120 receives an instruction indicating that the forced setting is used (S234: Yes), the printer driver 120 transmits the forced print data to the printing apparatus 300 (FIG. 1) in the next step S236. The printing apparatus 300 executes printing according to the received forced print data. When the printer driver 120 receives an instruction indicating that the forced setting is not used (S234: No), the printer driver 120 skips Step S236 and ends the processing of FIG.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, when user printing is not permitted, the user can select printing using forced setting, so that convenience can be improved.

  Note that in steps S232, S234, and S236 of FIG. 20, a setting proposed by the approver (referred to as “suggest setting”) may be used instead of the forced setting. For example, in step S500 of FIGS. 17 and 19, the approver may determine the proposal setting when the user print is not approved. As such a proposal setting, a setting different from both the user setting and the forced setting can be adopted. The release approval unit 410 (FIG. 3) of the approval client device transmits the proposal setting to the print server 200 in accordance with the approver's instruction. In step S530 of FIGS. 17 and 19, the release approval request unit 212 (FIG. 4) transmits the received proposal setting to the print client apparatus 100. In steps S232, S234, and S236 of FIG. 20, the printer driver 120 executes processing using the proposal setting. In step S <b> 236, the printer driver 120 generates print data according to the proposal setting, and transmits the generated print data to the printing apparatus 300. In this way, the degree of freedom of approval by the approver can be increased.

D. Variations:
In addition, elements other than the elements claimed in the independent claims among the constituent elements in each of the above embodiments are additional elements and can be omitted as appropriate. The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

Modification 1:
In each of the above-described embodiments, the consumption index used for determining whether or not to allow user printing is not limited to the total of the difference in cost and the N types of total of the difference in consumption. Values can be adopted. In general, the determination unit can employ M types (M is an integer of 1 or more) having a correlation with at least one of a difference in consumption of consumables and a cumulative total of the differences. For example, the current difference may be adopted instead of the cumulative difference. Further, both the cumulative difference and the current difference may be adopted. Moreover, you may employ | adopt any one of the consumption amount difference and the expense corresponded to a difference. In addition, as the cumulative total, a value including the current difference may be adopted. In addition, as a cost, a cost corresponding to a difference in consumption of any consumable can be employed. Here, you may employ | adopt the total cost regarding arbitrary L types (L is an integer greater than or equal to 1) expendable supplies.

  The total is not limited to a total within a predetermined period until the present time (when determining whether or not to allow user printing), but can be a total within various periods. For example, the date and time may be divided into a plurality of periods in advance, and the cumulative total within the period including the current time may be employed. Specifically, the month in the calendar may be adopted as the period, and the cumulative total within the month including the current time may be employed (if the current time is December 3, the cumulative total within December may be employed). In any case, it is preferable to employ a total within a period determined by a predetermined condition. As such conditions, various conditions that determine the period according to the present time can be adopted.

Modification 2:
In each of the above-described embodiments, as the permission condition, any condition including that the excess indicated by at least a part of the M types of consumption indexes is smaller than the permission threshold can be employed. For example, even if the excess indicated by a part of the consumption index is larger than the permission threshold, the permission condition is satisfied if the excess indicated by the remaining consumption index is smaller than the permission threshold. It may be determined that The excess amount is a value corresponding to a difference obtained by subtracting the consumption amount when the forced setting is used from the consumption amount when the user setting is used. The permission threshold may be determined in advance for each type of consumption index.

  In addition, as the denial condition, any condition including that the excess indicated by at least a part of the M types of consumption indexes is larger than the denial threshold can be adopted. For example, it may be adopted as the denial condition that the excess indicated by all consumption indexes is larger than the denial threshold. The rejection threshold may be determined in advance for each type of consumption index. Moreover, as a denial threshold value, a value larger than the above-mentioned permission threshold value is preferable.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, each of the permission threshold value and the denial threshold value is determined for each approver. The approver is determined for each input user. Therefore, it can be said that each threshold is associated with the input user. Each threshold value may be determined for each group of input users, and each threshold value may be common to all input users.

Further, as a condition using the consumption index (hereinafter referred to as “determination condition”) for determining whether or not to allow user printing, any condition using the consumption index can be adopted. For example, only one of the permission condition and the denial condition may be used, or both the permission condition and the denial condition may be used. In any case, when the determination condition is not satisfied, the determination unit preferably determines according to the approval by the approval unit. And the determination conditions may be previously determined for every approver like each above-mentioned Example. Here, the following steps may be repeatedly executed.
(S1) It is determined whether or not to allow user printing according to a determination condition associated with the approver.
(S2) If the determination condition is not satisfied, an approval is requested from the approval unit associated with the approver.
(S3) When the approval of the approver is not obtained, the above steps S1 and S2 are repeated for the higher-level approver.
However, the determination condition may be determined in advance so that the determination can be made without using the approval.

Modification 3:
In each of the above-described embodiments, any method that presents the consumption index to the approver can be adopted as a method of using the consumption index by the approval unit (FIG. 3: cancellation approval unit 410). For example, output (including display and printing) can be employed. An output unit (for example, a display unit or a printing unit) may be connected to the approval unit. Here, any format can be adopted as the output format. For example, a numerical value may be output, and a color associated with the numerical value may be output. Moreover, the consumption index supplied to the approval unit may be a part of the M types of consumption indexes used by the determination unit. Further, the approval unit may present (for example, output) a part of the received consumption index to the approver.

Modification 4:
In each of the embodiments described above, the forced setting of one setting item may include a plurality of options. For example, regarding “image quality setting” shown in FIG. 8, two of “speed priority” and “intermediate” may be designated as forced settings. In this case, if the user setting is either “speed priority” or “intermediate”, it may be determined that the user setting is the same as the forced setting. Further, when generating forced print data, a predetermined setting of a plurality of forced settings may be used.

  Note that the forced setting may be determined for each input user as in the above-described embodiments, or may be determined for each group of input users. Further, the forced setting may be common to all input users. Note that printing using forced setting corresponds to “reference printing” in the claims.

Modification 5:
In the embodiments described above, various configurations can be adopted as the configuration of the printing system 1000. A plurality of components of the print server 200 may be distributed among a plurality of devices connected to each other via a network. For example, a calculation server (not shown) connected to the print server 200 via the network NET may function as the difference calculation unit 214 (FIG. 4). Further, the consumption calculation unit 310 (FIG. 5) of the printing apparatus 300 (FIG. 1) may be provided in the print server 200. Further, the function of the print server 200 may be implemented in the print client device 100.

Modification 6:
In each of the above-described embodiments, the method for acquiring the difference in the consumption amount of the consumables is not limited to the method of analyzing the print data, and any method can be adopted. For example, the difference (approximate value) may be acquired by using an approximate value previously associated with the print setting. As described above, a value correlated with the difference can be acquired according to the analysis result of the data related to the user setting (print setting). As data related to the user setting, various data such as data representing the user setting and print data generated according to the user setting can be adopted. Similarly, as a method for acquiring the consumption index, any method for acquiring the consumption index according to the analysis result of the data related to the user setting (print setting) can be adopted. Here, it is preferable that the user print request includes data related to the user setting. In this way, the consumption index can be obtained by analyzing the user print request.

Modification 7:
In each of the above embodiments, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced with software, and conversely, part or all of the configuration realized by software may be replaced with hardware. Also good. For example, the function of the difference calculation unit 214 in FIG. 4 may be realized by a hardware circuit having a logic circuit.

  In addition, when part or all of the functions of the present invention are realized by software, the software (computer program) can be provided in a form stored in a computer-readable recording medium. In the present invention, the “computer-readable recording medium” is not limited to a portable recording medium such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM, but an internal storage device in a computer such as various RAMs and ROMs, a hard disk, and the like. An external storage device fixed to the computer is also included.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the printing system as one Example of this invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing modules stored in a storage unit 104. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing modules stored in a storage unit 404. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing modules stored in a ROM 202. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing modules stored in a ROM 302. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage unit 204. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a forced print setting storage unit 230. FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the specific example of setting ID and the detail of a setting value. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an approver information storage unit 232; FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the consumption cost difference memory | storage part 234. FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the specific example of consumable goods ID and a consumable goods. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a denial condition storage unit 236. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a permission condition storage unit 238. FIG. It is a graph explaining a denial threshold value and a permission threshold value. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a printing process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an approval printing process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an approval process. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an approval screen. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of another Example of an approval process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of another Example of an approval printing process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Print client apparatus 100D ... Display part 101 ... CPU
102 ... ROM
103 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 ... Memory | storage part 105 ... Interface 109 ... Bus 110 ... Print application 120 ... Printer driver 130 ... Approval result acquisition part 200 ... Print server 201 ... CPU
202 ... ROM
203 ... RAM
204 ... Storage unit 205 ... Interface 209 ... Bus 210 ... Forced setting acquisition unit 212 ... Release approval request unit 214 ... Difference calculation unit 216 ... Cumulative acquisition unit 218 ... Determination unit 230 ... Forced print setting storage unit 232 ... Approver information storage unit 234 ... Consumption amount difference storage unit 236 ... Denial condition storage unit 238 ... Permit condition storage unit 300 ... Printing device 301 ... CPU
302 ... ROM
303 ... RAM
305: Interface 306 ... Printing unit 309 ... Bus 310 ... Consumption calculation unit 400A ... First approved client device 400B ... Second approved client device 400AD ... Display unit 400BD ... Display unit 401 ... CPU
402 ... ROM
403 ... RAM
404 ... Storage unit 405 ... Interface 409 ... Bus 410 ... Cancellation approval unit 1000 ... Printing system AB ... Approval button NB ... Denial button AW ... Approval screen NET ... Network

Claims (11)

A printing system,
A print request unit that requests user printing using print settings specified by the user;
M correlates with at least one of the difference in consumption of consumables between the case where the user printing is executed and the case where the reference printing using preset print settings is executed, and the sum of the differences. A determination unit that determines whether to allow the user printing according to a condition using a consumption index of a type (M is an integer of 1 or more);
A printing system comprising: The printing system according to claim 1,
The determining unit determines that an excess amount by the user printing based on the reference printing is smaller than a first threshold set for each type of the consumption index, among the M types of consumption indices. Permitting the user printing when a permission condition including at least a part of the information is satisfied,
Printing system. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The determining unit determines that an excess of the user printing based on the reference printing is larger than a second threshold set for each type of the consumption index, among the M types of consumption indices. If a denial condition including at least part of the indication is satisfied, the user printing is not permitted,
Printing system. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
A first approving unit for approving the user print in accordance with an instruction from a first approver;
The determination unit transmits at least a part of the M types of consumption indexes to the first approval unit for approval by the first approval unit when a condition using the consumption index is not satisfied;
Printing system. The printing system according to claim 4,
The determination unit permits the user printing when the user printing is approved by the first approval unit.
Printing system. The printing system according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising:
A second approving unit that approves the user print in accordance with an instruction of a second approver;
The determination unit may include at least one of the M types of consumption indexes for approval by the second approval unit when another approval condition including that the user print has not been approved by the first approval unit is satisfied. A part is transmitted to the second approval unit;
Printing system. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein
The determination unit permits the user printing when the user printing is approved by the second approval unit.
Printing system. A printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The M types of consumption indexes include a consumption index representing a cost corresponding to the difference in consumption. A printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The M types of consumption indexes include a consumption index that represents a cumulative difference. A print server connected via a network to a print request unit that requests user printing using print settings designated by a user,
M correlates with at least one of the difference in consumption of consumables between the case where the user printing is executed and the case where the reference printing using preset print settings is executed, and the sum of the differences. Using a consumption index of a type (M is an integer equal to or greater than 1), and a determination unit that determines whether to allow the user printing,
Print server. A computer program that causes a computer to control printing,
A function to analyze a user print request using print settings specified by the user;
M correlates with at least one of the difference in consumption of consumables between the case where the user printing is executed and the case where the reference printing using preset print settings is executed, and the sum of the differences. A function for determining whether to allow the user printing according to a condition using a consumption index of a type (M is an integer of 1 or more);
A computer program that causes a computer to realize

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