JP5720126B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for controlling an image forming apparatus such as an MFP (Multi Function Printer).

Business owners and managers who have many image forming apparatuses want to reduce the amount of paper and toner used to reduce TCO (Total Cost Ownership). In recent years, companies have been required to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ), which is a cause of global warming.

  Currently, regarding the use of image forming devices, the administrator checks the number of output sheets for each setting (single / double-sided, color / monochrome, aggregation, etc.) and for each user / group on the administrator screen, or displays them in graphs, etc. In addition, a technique for calculating monthly totals is known. In addition, a user screen may be provided for each user, and each user can refer to his / her output record on the user screen. By clarifying the number of sheets output by the image forming apparatus, self-help efforts such as frequent use of double-sided printing and aggregate printing are performed.

  As described above, the history of the number of output sheets by the image forming apparatus has been conventionally checked by the administrator or the user himself, and waste has been eliminated by self-help efforts, but there is a limit to savings by self-help efforts, There is a problem that it is difficult for all users to save paper and toner by themselves.

  On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151820 discloses a technique for storing a changed print setting for an accumulated document in a job log and calculating an accurate paper reduction effect at the time of reprinting. However, when a user submits a job for the first time, the user has to change the print settings by himself / herself, and the changed print settings can be applied only when the same document is reprinted. The problem cannot be solved.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described conventional problems, and its object is to visually appeal the TCO and CO ₂ emission amounts to the user who actually uses the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the user himself / herself is interested in the reduction of TCO and CO ₂ and promotes the reduction.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, an image forming apparatus that prints out an accumulated print job in response to a user operation on the operation display unit, and is recommended by setting via a setting screen. Recommended setting value acquisition means for acquiring recommended setting values indicating print setting contents to be performed, and based on past print setting contents of the user among a range of values set in association with each of the plurality of print setting contents A reference value acquisition unit that acquires a reference value indicating a print setting content corresponding to the value range including the average value calculated in the above, and compares the recommended setting value with the reference value. The first comparison means, the calculation means for calculating the reduction effect of TCO and / or CO ₂ for the setting items determined to be different by the first comparison means, and the first comparison means are determined to be different. Display means for displaying the setting item on the operation display unit as a setting change candidate to the recommended setting value together with the reduction effect, and print setting of the print job based on the setting change candidate selected by the user Change means for changing the print job, and print means for starting the print processing of the print job in accordance with a print instruction from the user.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the user himself / herself is interested in the reduction of TCO and CO ₂ by visually appealing the TCO and CO ₂ emission amount to the user who actually uses the image forming apparatus. And can encourage these reductions.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of data of a user's print setting log | history. It is a figure which shows the example of the data to which the department to which a user belongs, the reduction amount until now, and a registration date. It is a figure which shows the example of data of the total reduction amount of a department. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of data of a print setting initial value. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of data of an administrator setting content. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a process of the setting by an administrator. It is a figure which shows the example of an administrator setting screen. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing example of a print job input by a user. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing example of an operation for printing in the image forming apparatus by a user. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example from job selection to printing end in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a driver print setting reflection confirmation dialog. FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating a screen example of a setting change dialog. It is FIG. (2) which shows the example of a screen of a setting change dialog. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of a dialog during printing. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the dialog at the time of completion | finish of printing.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

<Overview>
Normally, the print settings when printing using the image forming apparatus reflect the print settings set by individual users when a print job is submitted. Therefore, the print settings cannot be changed at the time of print output. In this embodiment, a print job is once stored in the job storage server or the image forming apparatus. After that, when printing is executed in the image forming apparatus, the user is given an opportunity to review the setting change, the setting contents changed by the user are reflected, and the print processing unit issues a print command for the print job. Change to the correct setting.

  The user performs user authentication when using the image forming apparatus, and operates the user-specific screen. The user's own screen displays his print job stored in the image forming apparatus, and allows the user to select a print job to be printed before printing.

The system calculates the print setting reference value from the user's history and automatically sets it as the user's print setting. Also, the recommended setting value set by the administrator set in advance in the system is compared with the reference value of the user, and the TCO reduction amount and CO ₂ reduction amount when changed to the recommended setting value are presented. If the reference value is not conscious of TCO or CO ₂ emissions, for example, single-sided, color printing, printing on a single sheet (no aggregation), how much CO ₂ will be reduced if the recommended setting value is changed to monochrome printing? The amount of CO ₂ emission is reduced when the pages are consolidated into one page (hereinafter referred to as N-up when N pages are consolidated into one page).

During printing, how much the user has contributed to TCO reduction and CO ₂ reduction is displayed. Finally, the ranking in the department to which the image forming apparatus belongs is displayed. By performing these operations, it is possible to urge the user to reduce the amount of TCO or CO ₂ emission.

  In order to realize the above functions, the technology for presenting information when printing with an image forming apparatus has the following characteristics.

  Print jobs issued by the user from the client computer are not printed immediately but are stored. The operation display unit and the external input device are used for inputting individual information when the user performs authentication.

  User authentication is performed on the image forming apparatus, and a user-specific screen is displayed on the image forming apparatus. Even if the user does not make fine print settings with the driver, the contents are changed to the previously set contents or presented on the panel by the image forming apparatus. In addition, information related to the CO2 emission amount and cost is displayed before the user performs printing, during printing, and after printing, and the reduction thereof is promoted.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a client computer 2, an image forming apparatus 3, a job storage server 4, a user information server 5, and an authentication server 6 are connected to a network 1 and can communicate with each other. Note that the job storage server 4, the user information server 5, and the authentication server 6 may be provided in the image forming apparatus 3.

  The network 1 is a wired and / or wireless network such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).

  The client computer 2 is an information terminal such as a PC (Personal Computer).

  The image forming apparatus 3 is an apparatus having at least a printing function, such as an MFP, an LP (Laser Printer), or a FAX (Facsimile). The client computer 2 includes a driver that issues a print command to the image forming apparatus 3. A print job input from the client computer 2 is temporarily stored in the job storage server 4 or the image forming apparatus 3, and printing is performed after user authentication in the image forming apparatus 3.

  The job storage server 4 stores print jobs submitted from the client computer 2. If the print job is stored only in the image forming apparatus 3, the job storage server 4 can be omitted.

The user information server 5 manages the print setting history of each user, the user's department and the CO ₂ and TCO reductions so far, the total reduction of the departments, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of user print setting history data. In the example shown in the figure, history # 1 to # 6 for one side / both sides, color mode, and aggregation (N-up) for a certain user are shown. The reference value of the user calculated from the history and the print setting initial value (described later) is held. The reference value indicates the average setting content of the user.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data example of a department to which a user belongs, a reduction amount and registration date so far, and the user name (user identification information), department, CO ₂ reduction amount, TCO reduction amount, registration date, etc. Is retained.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data example of the total reduction amount of the department, and holds the department, CO ₂ reduction amount, TCO reduction amount and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of print setting initial values used for calculating the reference value (FIG. 2) for each user. The print setting initial values are stored in the user information server 5 or, if necessary, the image forming apparatus 3 or the like. Obtained from. In the illustrated example, the print setting initial value holds the initial setting (default) content in the printer driver for single-sided / double-sided, color mode, and aggregation (N-up). The print setting initial values reflect the recommended setting values set by the administrator.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the authentication server 6 determines the coincidence with the user name, password, etc. held in the authentication server 6 in response to the authentication request accompanied by the user name, password, etc. from the image forming apparatus 3. respond.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the image forming apparatus 3.

  6, the image forming apparatus 3 includes a user information acquisition unit 304, a conversion unit 305, a print processing unit 301 that provides a normal print function, a scan function, and a copy function, a scan processing unit 302, and a copy processing unit 303. An authentication information acquisition unit 306, a print setting change unit 307, an administrator setting content management unit 308, a print setting determination unit 309, an operation display unit 310, and a print job storage unit 311 are provided. The image forming apparatus 3 can be connected to an external input device 7. The print setting change unit 307 and the print job storage unit 311 can be provided in an external print server or the like.

  The print processing unit 301 controls the printer engine and performs print processing.

  The scan processing unit 302 controls the image scanner and performs scan processing.

  The copy processing unit 303 performs copy processing by printing the image read by the scan processing unit 302 by the print processing unit 301.

The user information acquisition unit 304 receives, from the user information server 5, a reference value calculated from the print settings that a predetermined user has set up to the previous time, the CO ₂ reduction amount or TCO reduction amount that has contributed so far, and the affiliation of the user Acquire information on the total reduction amount of the department.

Conversion unit 305, a CO ₂ reduction amount and TCO reductions for one sheet of paper, for example, toner is color or monochrome, aggregation of N-Stay up-, CO ₂ reduction in each case, such as if both sides or one side and TCO Based on the basic data of the reduction amount, the value of the CO ₂ reduction amount and the TCO reduction amount for the print job is calculated according to the print setting that can be changed by the user. The print settings that can be changed by the user include the reference value of the user acquired from the user information server 5 by the user information acquisition unit 304 and the recommended setting value (print setting initial value) held by the administrator setting content management unit 308. It is judged from the difference.

  The authentication information acquisition unit 306 makes an authentication request to the authentication server 6 and receives an authentication result.

  The print setting changing unit 307 reflects the print setting changed by the user in the print job.

The administrator setting content management unit 308 holds the content (recommended setting value) preset by the administrator on the management screen. As shown in FIG. 7, for example, the recommended setting values include dialog display contents (CO ₂ reduction amount, TCO reduction amount, etc.) and setting change display contents (single side → double side, color mode: color → monochrome mode, aggregation: 2 pages Is set by the administrator. On the administrator setting screen, it is possible to refer to the setting change history of each user and the total reduction amount of each department.

  Returning to FIG. 6, the print setting determination unit 309 determines whether the print setting of the print job acquired from the job storage server 4 or the print job storage unit 311 is the initial print setting value of the driver. Check if it is different from the value. The print setting initial value of the driver is the same data as shown in FIG. 5 and is stored in the image forming apparatus 3 or acquired from another management apparatus as necessary.

  The operation display unit 310 includes, for example, a soft keyboard realized by a liquid crystal panel and a touch panel provided thereon. For convenience, it is assumed that the operation display unit 310 has a control function that distributes processing to each unit in accordance with input contents (operation contents) in addition to the display / input function. In addition, you may make a control function independent as a control part separately.

  The print job accumulation unit 311 accumulates print jobs input from the client computer 2. When the print job is stored only by the job storage server 4, the print job storage unit 311 can be omitted.

  The external input device 7 is, for example, a card reader that reads an ID card possessed by the user.

<Operation>
FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of setting processing by the administrator.

In FIG. 8, the administrator determines how the user who uses the image forming apparatus 3 performs print processing on the administrator setting screen as shown in FIG. 9 provided by the administrator setting content management unit 308 of the image forming apparatus 3. Whether to present information is set (step S101). For example, for the purpose of CO ₂ reduction, the print setting initial value is set such that one side is double-sided, the color mode is color to monochrome, and the aggregation is to set two pages to one page. This print setting initial value is also used as a recommended setting value.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the administrator setting content management unit 308 holds the set content as data as shown in FIG. 7 (step S102). Further, the administrator setting content management unit 308 reflects the set content on the image forming apparatus 3 as the print setting initial value.

  Note that the case where the administrator setting content management unit 308 of the image forming apparatus 3 sets the print setting initial value and the recommended setting value has been described. You may make it perform a setting in common.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a print job input process by the user.

  In FIG. 10, the user inputs a print job from the client computer 2 to the job storage server 4 or the print job storage unit 311 of the image forming apparatus 3 (step S201). At this time, the user does not particularly perform print settings (for example, double-sided etc.) with the driver and issues a print command.

  The job accumulation server 4 or the print job accumulation unit 311 of the image forming apparatus 3 accumulates the print job without immediately shifting to the printing process (step S202).

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing example of an operation for printing in the image forming apparatus 3 by the user.

  In FIG. 11, a user who has submitted a print job goes to the front of the image forming apparatus 3, inputs a user name and password using an operation display unit 310 (for example, a soft keyboard) mounted on the image forming apparatus 3, and A login request with a user name and a password is made to the forming apparatus 3 (step S301).

  The operation display unit 310 that has received the login request makes the login request to the authentication information acquisition unit 306 (step S302), and the authentication information acquisition unit 306 makes an authentication request to the authentication server 6 (step S303).

  If the user name and password are registered, the authentication server 6 returns authentication OK to the authentication information acquisition unit 306 (step S304), and the authentication information acquisition unit 306 returns a login OK to the operation display unit 310 (step S305). ).

  When the login is successful, the operation display unit 310 makes a user information acquisition request with the user name to the user information acquisition unit 304 (step S306), and the user information acquisition unit 304 sends the user information acquisition request to the user information server 5. Is performed (step S307).

  The user information server 5 acquires a reference value, a reduction contribution amount, and a department contribution amount associated with the specified user name, responds to the user information acquisition unit 304 (step S308), and the user information acquisition unit 304 The same content is returned to the operation display unit 310 (step S309).

  Thereafter, the operation display unit 310 makes a job acquisition request with a user name to the job storage server 4 (step S310), and the job storage server 4 responds with a print job (s) associated with the specified user name. (Step S311).

  The operation display unit 310 displays the acquired print jobs as a list on the panel (step S312).

  When the user selects a print job from the displayed list and presses the print button (step S313), the operation display unit 310 causes the print setting determination unit 309 to check whether the print setting of the print job is the print setting initial value of the driver. In step S314, the print setting determination unit 309 responds that the print setting is not the initial print setting value if the print setting of the print job is different from the initial print setting value of the driver (step S315). If the print setting of the print job matches the initial print setting of the driver, a response indicating that they match is returned.

  When the response indicating that the print setting is not the initial value is received, the operation display unit 310 displays a driver print setting reflection confirmation dialog (step S316), and asks the user whether or not to reflect the print setting in the driver. Details of the driver print setting reflection confirmation dialog will be described later.

  When the user selects “do not reflect” from the displayed driver print setting reflection confirmation dialog (step S317), the operation display unit 310 causes the print setting determination unit 309 to confirm that the user reference value and the recommended setting value are the same. A confirmation request is made (step S318), and if the user's reference value and the recommended setting value are different, a different setting is responded (step S319). If the contents of the user's reference value and the recommended setting value match, a response indicating that they match is made.

The operation display unit 310 displays a setting change dialog (step S320), and if the contents of the user reference value and the recommended setting value are different, the user is recommended to change the different settings. Regarding the change of setting, the reduction amount of CO ₂ and TCO is written together to make it easy to understand the degree of contribution to CO ₂ reduction and TCO reduction. The reduction amount of CO ₂ and TCO is calculated by the conversion unit 305.

When the user selects a predetermined setting change (for example, the print setting is changed to 2-up aggregation) (step S321), the operation display unit 310 updates the setting change dialog (step S322). That is, the selected setting change is set to the selected state, and the display content is updated to the CO ₂ or TCO reduction amount when the change is further made from the state.

  Thereafter, when the user presses the print button (step S323), the operation display unit 310 makes a print job setting change request to the print setting change unit 307 (step S324), and the print setting change unit 307 is changed to the print processing unit 301. A print request is made with the selected settings (step S325).

Further, the operation display unit 310 requests the conversion unit 305 to update the contribution amount of CO ₂ or TCO reduction (step S326), and the conversion unit 305 responds with a new contribution amount (step S327).

  The operation display unit 310 newly displays a printing dialog (step S328) and presents the user's contribution amount to the user. Details of the printing dialog will be described later.

  When the print processing is completed in the print processing unit 301, a message to that effect is returned to the print setting changing unit 307 (step S329), and the print setting changing unit 307 responds to the operation display unit 310 with the end of printing (step S330).

  When printing is completed, the operation display unit 310 displays a dialog when printing is completed (step S331) and presents the ranking of the user in the department. Details of the print end dialog will be described later.

  Thereafter, the operation display unit 310 sends the user's print history to the print setting change unit 307 (step S332), and the print setting change unit 307 sends the history to the user information server 5 (step S333).

  Receiving the history, the user information server 5 recalculates and updates the reference value (step S334).

  For example, the reference value of each user is calculated based on the history of the past 10 times. When the history is less than 10 times, the reference value including the print setting initial value is calculated. A calculation example is shown below based on the data examples in FIGS. 2 and 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, this user has performed printing six times in the past. Since the history is limited to six times, the reference value including the print setting initial value in FIG. 5 is calculated.

In order to calculate the reference value for one side / both sides, “1” is set for both sides and “0” is set for one side, and an average of the setting values for the past six times and the initial print setting value is obtained.
{Both sides (1) × 5 + single side (0) × 2} /7=0.71
The average value is obtained by the above, and when this calculated value is “0.5” or more, it is “double-sided”, and when it is less than that, it is “single-sided”. In this example, it is “both sides”. In the color mode, monochrome is calculated as “1”, color is calculated as “0”, “monochrome” when the value is “0.5” or more, and “color” when the value is less than that. In this example, it is “monochrome”. Regarding the aggregation, the setting value that is the largest from the past setting values and the print setting initial value is used as the aggregation reference value. In this example, it is “1-up”. If the numbers are the same, priority is given to aggregation. For example,
16-up>9-up>4-up>2-up> 1-up
Priority is given to the left side of.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing from job selection to printing end in the image forming apparatus 3.

  In FIG. 12, when the user selects a print job to be printed from the print job list displayed on the panel of the image forming apparatus 3 and presses the print button (step S401), the image forming apparatus 3 sets the selected print job. It is determined whether or not the content is a print setting initial value of the driver (for example, one side, color, no aggregation) (step S402).

  If the print job setting contents are different from the print setting initial value (No in step S402), a driver print setting reflection confirmation dialog as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed (step S403). The driver print setting reflection confirmation dialog has buttons “Yes” and “No”.

  Returning to FIG. 12, the user presses the “Yes” button to reflect the setting contents of the driver as they are (step S404). In this case, the image forming apparatus 3 starts the printing process by reflecting the setting contents (step S412).

  If the setting contents of the driver are not reflected, the “No” button is pressed (step S405).

  When the setting contents of the print job are the initial print setting values (Yes in step S402) and when the “No” button is pressed (step S405), the reference value and setting recommendation of the user acquired in advance are set. The values are compared (step S406).

If the user's reference value is a value that is less conscious of CO ₂ reduction or TCO reduction than the recommended setting value, a setting change dialog as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed (step S407). In the setting change dialog, changeable setting contents are displayed so as to be selectable, and a CO ₂ reduction amount and a TCO reduction amount when changing to the setting contents are also shown. In the illustrated example, since only the display of the CO ₂ reduction amount is specified in the administrator setting contents shown in FIG. 7, only the CO ₂ reduction amount is displayed. If the user's reference value matches the recommended setting value, printing can be instructed based on the reference value without displaying the changeable setting contents in a selectable manner. The printing process may be started without displaying the dialog itself.

Here, the reduction amount is calculated as follows. As an example, the CO ₂ reduction amount will be described, but the TCO reduction amount can be similarly calculated.

First, the total CO ₂ emissions are

で表わされる。また、ＣＯ_２削減量は、

It is represented by The amount of CO ₂ reduction is

で表わされる。

It is represented by

When the original setting is “normal”, “one side”, “color”, and the recommended setting is “2 up”, “double side”, “monochrome”, there are three elements that can be changed, and each is calculated. Further, when one of the three elements is selected, two of the three elements are selected, and all three elements are selected. CO ₂ reduction in elements X, N and Y

で表すとすると、

If expressed as

となる。左辺と右辺の値は一致する時もあるかもしれないが、一般には単純な和とならない。

It becomes. The values on the left and right sides may coincide, but in general they are not simple sums.

On the other hand, the CO ₂ emissions per print job for elements X, N, and Y

とすると、

Then,

となる。ある要素を選択してから別の要素を選択する場合は、既に選択した設定からのＣＯ_２削減量とする。

It becomes. When another element is selected after a certain element is selected, the CO ₂ reduction amount from the already selected setting is used.

Here, from the basic data of CO ₂ emissions per page (logical page)

を算出したとすると、

Is calculated,

となる。

It becomes.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 12, when the user changes the displayed content (Yes in step S408), the setting change dialog is updated (step S410) when the setting to be changed is pressed (step S409). When “2 pages into 1 page” is pressed from the setting change dialog in FIG. 14, the setting change dialog is updated as shown in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 12, the change can be repeated, but if no change is made or if all desired changes are made (No in step S408), the user presses the print button (step S411).

  The image forming apparatus 3 reflects the set value and starts the printing process (step S412).

During printing, a printing dialog showing how much the user has contributed to CO ₂ reduction after starting to collect statistics is displayed (step S413). FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a dialog box during printing.

After printing, the image forming apparatus 3 displays the contribution ranking in the department to which the user belongs and the CO ₂ reduction amount in the entire department (step S414). FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a dialog box when printing is completed. The intra-department ranking is calculated based on the reduction contribution amount per page of the number of pages printed so far.

  Returning to FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus 3 leaves the user's setting contents as a history, and newly calculates a reference value (step S415).

<Summary>
According to the embodiment described above, the TCO and CO ₂ emission amounts can be visually confirmed for all users who use the image forming apparatus, without bothering the business owner who has many image forming apparatuses and the manager thereof. By appealing, you can encourage yourself to save paper and save toner. In addition, when the user submits a print job using the driver, the user can do so without being aware of these matters. Since the system presents print settings that are conscious of TCO and CO ₂ , there is no need for the user to make conscious settings. In addition, the system holds the contents once set, and the print settings can be reflected when another print job is printed.

  The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Obviously you can. In other words, the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the details of the specific examples and the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network 2 Client computer 3 Image forming apparatus 301 Print processing part 302 Scan processing part 303 Copy processing part 304 User information acquisition part 305 Conversion part 306 Authentication information acquisition part 307 Print setting change part 308 Administrator setting content management part 309 Print setting judgment Unit 310 Operation display unit 311 Print job storage unit 4 Job storage server 5 User information server 6 Authentication server 7 External input device

JP 2007-118453 A

Claims (11)

An image forming apparatus that prints out an accumulated print job according to a user operation on an operation display unit,
Recommended setting value acquisition means for acquiring recommended setting values indicating recommended print setting contents by setting via the setting screen ;
The print setting content corresponding to the value range including the average value calculated based on the user's past print setting content among the value ranges set in association with each of the plurality of print setting content is shown. A reference value acquisition means for acquiring a reference value ;
And the recommended set value, a first comparison means for comparing whether the reference value and the match,
Calculating means for calculating a TCO and / or CO ₂ reduction effect for the setting items determined to be different by the first comparing means ;
Display means for displaying, on the operation display unit, the setting items determined to be different by the first comparing means, together with the reduction effect, as setting change candidates to the recommended setting values;
Changing means for changing print settings of the print job based on the setting change candidates selected by the user;
An image forming apparatus comprising the printing unit to start printing processing of the print job according to a print instruction by the user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the average value is calculated based on a coefficient provided for each of the plurality of print setting contents and the number of times of printing executed according to the print setting contents. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The calculating means includes
When any one of the setting change candidates is selected by the user, and there are other setting change candidates, the reduction effect is calculated based on the print setting contents reflecting the selected setting change candidate. Rework,
The display means includes
An image forming apparatus, wherein the display of the reduction effect is updated based on the recalculated reduction effect . The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Accumulation setting value acquisition means for acquiring an accumulation setting value indicating a print setting content set by a client computer that transmits the print job when the print job is accumulated;
Second comparison means for comparing the recommended set value with the accumulated set value;
Selection means for causing the user to select whether or not to reflect the recommended setting value in the accumulated setting value when it is determined that the difference is different by the second comparing means;
With
The changing means is
If it is selected to reflect by the selection means, the print setting of the print job is changed based on the recommended setting value,
The first comparing means includes
If the selection means does not reflect, the recommended setting value is compared with the reference value.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Means for setting the setting item and the reduction effect to be displayed on the display means
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
An image forming apparatus that displays a cumulative amount of TCO and / or CO ₂ reduction of the user during a print process of the print job. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
An image forming apparatus that displays a ranking of TCO and / or CO ₂ reduction cumulative amount in a department to which the user belongs at the end of print processing of the print job. A printing system comprising: a client computer that sends a print job; means for storing the print job; and an image forming apparatus that prints out the stored print job in response to a user operation on an operation display unit. And
The image forming apparatus includes:
Recommended setting value acquisition means for acquiring recommended setting values indicating recommended print setting contents by setting via the setting screen ;
The print setting content corresponding to the value range including the average value calculated based on the user's past print setting content among the value ranges set in association with each of the plurality of print setting content is shown. A reference value acquisition means for acquiring a reference value ;
And the recommended set value, a first comparison means for comparing whether the reference value and the match,
Calculating means for calculating a TCO and / or CO ₂ reduction effect for the setting items determined to be different by the first comparing means ;
Display means for displaying, on the operation display unit, the setting items determined to be different by the first comparing means, together with the reduction effect, as setting change candidates to the recommended setting values;
Changing means for changing print settings of the print job based on the setting change candidates selected by the user;
And a printing unit that starts printing processing of the print job in accordance with a printing instruction from the user. Control of a printing system comprising a client computer for sending a print job, means for storing the print job, and an image forming apparatus for printing out the stored print job in response to a user operation on an operation display unit A method,
A recommended setting value acquisition process for acquiring recommended setting values indicating recommended print setting contents by setting via the setting screen ;
The print setting content corresponding to the value range including the average value calculated based on the user's past print setting content among the value ranges set in association with each of the plurality of print setting content is shown. A reference value acquisition process for acquiring a reference value ;
And the recommended set value, a first comparison step of comparing whether the reference value and the match,
A calculation step of calculating a TCO and / or CO ₂ reduction effect for the setting item determined to be different depending on the first comparison step ;
A display step of displaying, on the operation display unit, the setting item determined to be different depending on the first comparison step, together with the reduction effect, as a setting change candidate to the recommended setting value;
A change step of changing print settings of the print job based on the setting change candidates selected by the user;
An image formation control method comprising: a printing step of starting printing processing of the print job in accordance with a printing instruction from the user. A computer constituting the image forming apparatus that prints out the accumulated print job according to a user operation on the operation display unit,
Recommended setting value acquisition means for acquiring recommended setting values indicating recommended print settings by setting via the setting screen,
The print setting content corresponding to the value range including the average value calculated based on the user's past print setting content among the value ranges set in association with each of the plurality of print setting content is shown. A reference value acquisition means for acquiring a reference value;
First comparison means for comparing whether or not the recommended set value matches the reference value;
Calculating means for calculating a TCO and / or CO ₂ reduction effect for the setting item determined to be different by the first comparing means;
Display means for displaying, on the operation display section, the setting items determined to be different by the first comparison means, together with the reduction effect, as setting change candidates to the recommended setting values;
Change means for changing print settings of the print job based on the setting change candidates selected by the user;
Printing means for starting printing processing of the print job in accordance with a printing instruction by the user
As an image forming apparatus control program.   A computer-readable program recording medium in which the image forming apparatus control program according to claim 10 is recorded.

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