JP3886458B2 - Department management control system for digital multifunction devices - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a department management control system for a digital multi-function peripheral in an office or the like, and more particularly, to a digital multi-function peripheral that provides effective processing when the processing amount of each department reaches a limit count value when performing processing in the digital multi-function peripheral. It relates to the department management control system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an office or the like, a digital multifunction machine having a printer function, a copier function, an image scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like has come to be used in particular, and in particular, a printing function such as a printer function or a copier function is used. The number of output sheets to be used is limited by each department in order to prevent unlimited output and wasteful consumption of paper and toner from the viewpoint of budget and environmental impact. Management is done. For example, when using the printing function, a limit count value is set in advance, and when the cumulative number of prints reaches this limit count value, control is performed so that the subsequent printing operation is stopped. Appropriate operation management is performed for each department for the use of printing functions such as the above. However, when a job is performed where the cumulative number of prints is close to the limit count value, the limit count value is often reached during job execution.
[0003]
In such a case, in the conventional department management control system, it has been implemented or proposed to perform the following processing for the final job exceeding the limit count value.
(1) The last job can be executed without limitation.
(2) The last job is prefetched and the excess jobs are not executed.
(3) The process is stopped when the limit count value is exceeded during execution of the final job.
(4) The process is transferred to another machine having a remaining limit count value.
[0004]
However, when a job exceeding the limit count value of (1) can be executed without limit, it may be abused to process a large job as a final job, which is not desirable. In addition, when the last job of (2) is pre-read and processing is not executed for an excess job, there are actually some feasible count values remaining, which is uneconomical. Further, when the last job is stopped midway when the limit count value of (3) is reached, the job itself may not be completed, so the job may not make sense. Furthermore, in order to transfer the processing to a machine with another limit count value in (4), at least two or more digital multifunction peripherals that can operate the same department management control system are required. There is.
[0005]
In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses that when the limit count value is exceeded when the print function is used, print data of subsequent pages is expanded in the internal memory, and a separate management ID is used. There is disclosed an image processing apparatus and method that can resume printing of image data that has been expanded in an internal memory when is input. However, in this image processing apparatus and method as well, since it is necessary to cancel the restriction by inputting a management ID separately by the administrator, if the limit count value is still exceeded when using the print function, the subsequent processing is immediately performed. There was a problem that the page could not be printed.
[0006]
On the other hand, the digital multi-function peripheral has not only a printing function such as a printer function and a copier function, but also an image scanner function. Digital image processing of input image data, network transfer processing, external memory (storage means) Despite the increase in storage processing, etc., department management was hardly performed for these processes. Therefore, the present inventor has made various improvements to perform department management control for functions other than printing functions such as a printer function and a copier function. It has been found that by combining with department management control of the printing function, even if the final job exceeds the limit count value as described above, the final job can be continuously and effectively performed to the end. The present invention has been completed.
[0007]
In other words, the object of the present invention is to provide a digital composite that can continuously and effectively perform the final job even if it is a final job that exceeds the limit count value when processing with the digital multifunction peripheral. It is to provide a machine department management control system.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-44340 A (Claims, paragraph [0005])
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution. In other words, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the department management control system of a digital multi-function peripheral having a plurality of input forms and output forms, and setting an arbitrary limit count value for each input / output process for each department. If the limit count is exceeded when a predetermined job is processed, the count value exceeding the limit count value is added to the cumulative count value of other processes in the same department at a predetermined count ratio. Thus, a department management control system for a digital multi-function peripheral that can execute the job to the end is provided. According to this aspect, even when the final job that exceeds the limit count value when performing processing with the digital multi-function peripheral, the final job can be executed continuously and effectively until the end. Each department can be used to the maximum extent possible up to the set limit count values.
[0010]
In this aspect, it is preferable that the predetermined count ratio is set so that only an administrator can freely set the input / output processing. This makes it easier to manage the digital multi-function peripheral because there is no possibility that the limit count value will be exceeded without permission from the management side.
[0011]
Further, in this aspect, the other processing is
(1) a step executed as a default process associated with a department code in advance;
(2) Each user designates and executes the current job, and
(3) A step of presenting an avoidance plan to the user when it is found that the limit value is exceeded, and selecting and executing by the user action,
It is preferable to be able to switch between. According to this aspect, since various processing functions of the digital multifunction peripheral have different usage priority and usage frequency depending on the department, the digital copying machine can be used efficiently for each department.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a digital multifunction peripheral used in the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital multifunction peripheral in FIG.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 used in the present invention includes at least an operation unit 12, a facsimile unit 14, a scanner unit 16, an external memory interface 18, an input image processing / generation unit 20, various host interfaces 22, A job control unit 24, an information recording unit 26, an output control unit 28, a printing unit 30 and an internal memory 32 are provided. The facsimile unit 14 may not be provided in the digital multi-function peripheral, and further, it is impractical to limit the reception or transmission of the facsimile. Therefore, the department management of the digital multi-function peripheral of the present invention is not necessarily required. It is not a function required for the control system.
[0014]
The “department management” in the present invention is not only for managing the use in an organization composed of a plurality of members such as “unit”, “group” unit, “section” unit, but also for each person. A case where ID (password) is individually assigned for personal management is also included.
[0015]
The operation unit 12, the facsimile unit 14, the scanner unit 16, the external memory interface 18, and various host interfaces 22 constitute a group of input processes to the digital multi-function peripheral 10, and input image processing / generation units that manage these input data, respectively. 20 is connected.
[0016]
The operation unit 12 includes at least a touch panel type input unit, and also serves as an input unit such as an administrator ID and a department ID and a selection unit for various operations. The facsimile unit 14 is connected to a public telephone line 34, and transmits and receives facsimile data from the outside and image data supplied via the input image processing generation unit 20 according to a predetermined communication method.
[0017]
The external memory interface 18 includes various interfaces such as a parallel interface, serial interface, USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, and PC-Card bus that are used for general purposes. The external memory interface 18 includes a semiconductor memory, an HDD, and a CD. , CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, FD and other external memories (storage means) 36 are connected, and through these external memories 36, not only input / output of various image data but also an administrator ID It is also used as an input means such as a department ID.
[0018]
In addition, the various host interfaces 22 are computers PC ₁ 40-1, PC ₂ 40-2, PC ₃ 40-3,... PCn 40-4, and a server 40 for an administrator corresponding to each department via a network 38. Connected to -5.
[0019]
The job control unit 24 is at least
(1) A count ratio table 42 that stores the setting of each count ratio for various input / output processes;
(2) an output processing priority table 44 that defines an output destination priority order to which a cumulative count value for each department code is added, and
(3) Department code detailed information / count value table 46 for managing detailed settings of various department information, count values, etc.
The information recording unit 26 is a recording unit made up of an HDD, a non-volatile memory, etc., and is stored in the information recording unit 26 as image data via the input image processing / generation unit 20 that processes the input data. Information recording unit after the processing in the output control unit 28 is normally completed by automatically changing the output destination to which the cumulative count value is added if necessary while pre-reading the limit count value The cumulative count value for the count ratio set at 26 is added, and the information is stored in the information recording unit 26. Details of the operation of the job control unit 24 will be described later.
[0020]
The output control unit 28 prints the image data sent via the input image processing / generation unit 20 and the job control unit 24 on a sheet by the printing unit 30 according to the purpose, or stores the image data in the external memory 36. Alternatively, the information is transmitted to the computers PC ₁ 40-1, PC ₂ 40-2, PC ₃ 40-3,... PCn 40-4, and the administrator server 40-5 of each department through various host interfaces 22. Has been made. Note that a dedicated host PC 48 is connected to the digital multi-function peripheral 10 via the output control unit 28 to display image data processed via the output control unit 28, and an administrator server if necessary. 40-5 functions may be provided.
[0021]
Next, the operation of each process in the present invention will be described using the flowchart of FIG. In the present invention, before use, first, the administrator uses the administrator ID to print the count function table 42 of the information recording unit 26 for each department, such as a printer function, a copier function, etc., a scanner function, Sets the conversion ratio of count values for the use of department management target functions such as digital data conversion function, network transfer function, storage processing to external memory, and cumulative count for each department in the output processing priority table 44 The priority order of the output destination to which the value is added and the default state of the limit count value for each function are set in the department code detailed information / count value table 46.
[0022]
That is, since the use of each function described above is not equivalent from the viewpoint of cost and environmental load, the count value is weighted according to each function (for example, assuming that the count value in the process of printing one sheet of A4 paper is 1). The image scanning process by the scanner is 0.3, the saving process in the external memory is 0.1, etc.) and the conversion ratio is set and stored in the count ratio table 42. For example, the printer function, the copier function, etc. When the print function exceeds the limit count value, the priority order of which process count count value is assigned to the print function is stored in the output process priority table 44. The limit count value for each function is stored in the department code detailed information / count value table 46, and the initialization is completed.
[0023]
Various table information, count value information, and setting management information related to department management in the information recording unit 26 are transmitted via the operation unit of the digital multifunction peripheral 10 or the host PC 48 directly connected to the multifunction peripheral or the various host interfaces 22. The server can be managed on the server 40-5 connected via the server 38, and all of these can be added, deleted, and changed by inputting an ID.
[0024]
In addition, as count information, for each department code, the count value for each input / output process is started, and various count information is held so that it can be referenced and initialized as necessary. additional are adapted to be managed in the same manner well as deleted. Further, the information recording unit 26 holds information relating to the operation of department management such as administrator ID information, department management control On / Off information of each function, limit count information as overall management information. also, it added as well as table information, changes are Do possible deletion.
[0025]
When using the digital multi-function peripheral 10, the user first inputs at least a department ID in step 1 as shown in FIG. This department ID may be input from the operation unit 12 of the digital multifunction peripheral 10 or may be input using an external memory 36 such as an IC card, or the computers 40-1 to 40 of each department. -4 may be input via the network 38, and may be selected as appropriate according to the function of the digital multifunction peripheral 10 to be used. If the image data needs to be distributed to other departments, the distribution destination is entered at this time. If the digital MFP 10 is used only for distributing the generated image data to other departments, and it seems to be harsh to handle the count value of the department to which the user belongs, the user ID is Means that do not require input may be provided. If you want to specify an output destination to be counted up without referring to the output processing priority table 44 set by default when the job to be executed exceeds the limit count value, click here. It can also be specified with.
[0026]
Next, in step S2, image data is input from various input processing groups, and the data sent by the input image processing / generation unit 20 is processed according to the individual data. For example, if the data is written in an intermediate language such as PDL (page description language), the data is rasterized, compressed as necessary, and rasterized data such as scan data In this case, compression processing is performed as necessary, and in the case of data in a predetermined format such as file data, compression processing, rasterization processing, temporary storage in an internal file system, etc. are performed as necessary. Source when performing these processes, Ru is determined by the header information added to the header portion of each data. Further, additional information other than information necessary for data generation is used for entrusting the management to the job control unit 24.
[0027]
Thereafter, in step 3, the job control unit 24 refers to various tables recorded in the information recording unit 26, and sets page information for each page based on the image data and additional information sent from the input image processing / generation unit 20. Generate page information and job information for each job. As the job information, department code information for adding an accumulated count value to be subject to department management for input / output processing is first set based on the additional information. If the department code information is not directly specified by the additional information from the input image processing / generation unit 20, the department code detailed information / count value table 46 of the information recording unit 26 is referred to, and the distribution destination name and department Get and set the name and department code assigned to each I / O process itself.
[0028]
After the department code for each input / output process is determined, the limit count value of the corresponding department code is checked in step S4, and when the current count value approaches the limit count value, the count value for the job is temporarily added. Check if the limit is exceeded by the job.
[0029]
As a result of this check, if it does not exceed the limit count value, it is executed as it is as default processing associated with the department code in advance, or if another output destination to be counted up is specified in step 1, the output destination is specified. In step S5, predetermined image data output processing is performed.
[0030]
If the limit count value is likely to be exceeded, an output destination that does not exceed the limit count value even if the count value for the job is added is searched based on the output processing priority table 44 corresponding to the department code in step S6. . If a matching output destination is found, the subsequent output operation performs a predetermined output process in step S5 and changes the output destination to which the count value for the job is added. Note that when it is found that the limit count value is likely to be exceeded, an avoidance plan may be presented to the user and selected and executed by a user action.
[0031]
Next, after receiving a normal output completion report in step S7, an output destination count-up process for adding a predetermined count value of each department is performed in step S8. In these processes, in order to obtain a count ratio for each input / output process, the count ratio table 42 of the information recording unit 26 inputted in advance is referred to, and the changeable information of the user output destination is the current job information. If not added, a predetermined count-up is executed with reference to the output processing priority table 44 set by default. It should be noted that a processing mode may be provided in which the operation is temporarily stopped to prompt the user to determine before changing the output destination for automatically counting up the current job information.
[0032]
In the output process of step 8, the output control unit 28 outputs the designated data for the image data from the job control unit 24. At that time, data conversion processing is performed according to the output destination. For example, in the case of printing processing to the printing unit, decompression processing of compressed data is performed, or in the case of storage / storing in the external memory 36, conversion to a predetermined file format is performed. Even in the case of transmitting to E-Mail to 40-4 etc., after performing data conversion to the designated file format, the actual output operation is started. When each output operation is completed normally, a completion report is sent to the job control unit 24.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in the department management control using the digital multi-function peripheral, each department can utilize the count value effectively to the maximum with respect to the set limit count value. Even when viewed from the management side, there is no possibility of exceeding the limit count value on its own, so that an excellent effect of easy management is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a digital multi-function peripheral used in the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital multifunction machine 12 Operation part 14 Facsimile part 16 Scanner part 18 External memory interface 20 Input image processing production | generation part 22 Various host interfaces 24 Job control part 26 Information recording part 28 Output control part 30 Printing part 32 Internal memory 34 Public telephone line 36 External memory 38 Network 42 Count ratio table 44 Output processing priority table 46 Count value table 48 Host PC

Claims (3)

In the department management control system of a digital multi-function peripheral that has multiple input forms and output forms, and sets an arbitrary limit count value for each input / output process for each department, the limit count will be exceeded when a predetermined job is processed In this case, the job can be executed to the end by adding a count value exceeding the limit count value to a cumulative count value of other processes in the same department at a predetermined count ratio. A department management control system for digital multifunction devices. 2. The department management control system for a digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined predetermined count ratio can be freely set only by an administrator for each input / output process. . Other processes in the same department are:
(1) a step to be executed as a default process previously associated with a department code;
(2) Each user designates and executes the current job, and
(3) A step of presenting an avoidance plan to the user when it is found that the limit value is exceeded, and selecting and executing by a user action,
2. The department management control system for a digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the department management control system is capable of switching between the two.

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