JP2003308191A - Print system, information processor, information processing method, and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To comprehensively and accurately utilize job information processible in an information processor such as time information contained in the job information, for example. <P>SOLUTION: In the information processor for processing a job wherein a plurality of data processing processes are performed to one job, a plurality of pieces of job information obtained in the plurality of data processing processes to one job are acquired and the earliest time information is specified and effectively utilized among starting times respectively contained in the plurality of pieces of job information acquired by an acquisition means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, a copying machine, and the like connected to a network, peripheral devices such as a multifunction device (MFP) that integrates them, and a computer for managing these devices. , About network systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a job management system for an image processing system for acquiring and managing job information has been developed. Appropriate job management (job account)
In order to perform, it is necessary to acquire the job information executed by the peripheral device. Conventionally, the following methods have been used to obtain job information. For example, the spooler on the client computer side accumulates the data received from the driver and sequentially transmits the data to the transmission unit on the client computer side. The client computer side transmission unit receives the print data from the spooler, and transmits the job data to the device according to the job transfer method of the device if the printer is ready. RF is a well-known job data transfer method.
LPR protocol defined in C1179 and US H
Printer-Language specified by the Hewlett-Packard Company
(Printer, Job, Language) etc. Pri
In the inter Job Language, the port monitor can acquire the number of pages of the finished job by bidirectional communication with the device. Of course, a private job management method unique to the printer provider may be used.

On the other hand, there has been developed a management system for managing an image forming apparatus by collecting and using job information by using the above-mentioned job management system. There has been devised a system in which job information is transmitted from a peripheral device to a client computer and a job name or a job ID being processed in the image forming apparatus is grasped.

A job that can be processed by the image forming apparatus is generated in the client apparatus, and a drawing command for the OS, a print data generating process of the device driver, a transmission processing of the generated print data, and the client apparatus to the image forming apparatus. When it is transmitted, a plurality of various processes are performed up to the print output process and the paper discharge process in the image forming apparatus.

[0005]

A technique for acquiring job information including a start time and an end time relating to the various data processing and print processing described above is being developed. However, in these technologies, each job information is separately acquired and stored, and unified management is not performed. Therefore, which process takes a long time, and how each process is processed. There is a problem that it is not possible to comprehensively grasp whether the job has started and ended at the time, and it is not possible to accurately grasp how long it takes for each processing related to the job.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to utilize job information processable by an image processing apparatus, for example, time information included in the job information comprehensively and accurately. .

Further, the present invention comprehensively grasps the usage status of the computer or the peripheral equipment, for example, the time information of the job processing in the client apparatus and / or the time information of the job processing in the image forming apparatus, and It is still another object to perform accurate time management as the whole processing.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to more accurately ascertain the usage status of the client device, it is possible to accurately ascertain the start time, the end time, the time required for the process, etc. for each process related to the job in the client device. Is another purpose.

[0009]

In order to achieve at least one of the above objects, the present application provides the following means. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a first information processing apparatus that performs data processing for one job, an image forming apparatus that receives the one job and performs print processing, the first information processing apparatus, and In a printing system including a second information processing device capable of receiving job information generated from a plurality of processes related to the one job from the image forming device, the first information processing device is the one job. To the first information processing device, the image forming device includes a transmission control unit that controls a transmission process for transmitting start time information of the data processing in the first information processing device obtained from the first information processing device. The second information processing apparatus has a generation unit that generates information indicating the print completion time of the received job, and the second information processing apparatus is configured to transmit the information transmitted from the first information processing apparatus. First acquisition means for acquiring time information via a network, second acquisition means for acquiring completion time information indicating the print completion time of the job generated by the generation means via a network, and It is a printing system having a management unit that manages the start time information acquired by the first acquisition unit and the completion time information acquired by the second acquisition unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an information processing apparatus for processing a job in which a plurality of data processes for one job are performed, a plurality of job information obtained in a plurality of data processes for one job are acquired. And an identifying unit that identifies the earliest start time among the start times indicated by the start time information included in each of the plurality of job information acquired by the acquiring unit. To do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the acquisition unit further acquires completion time information indicating a completion time of the plurality of data processes included in the one job information, and the specifying unit determines the completion time. Among the completion times indicated by the information, the latest completion time is specified.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the management means obtains merged job information obtained by merging a plurality of job information obtained in the plurality of data processes,
The start time specified by the specifying unit is stored in the merged job information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in an information processing device that manages job information corresponding to a job to be data processed, start time information indicating a time when data processing of one job is started is acquired. First acquisition means, a second acquisition means for acquiring completion time information indicating a completion time when the output processing of the image forming apparatus for the one job is completed, and a start time acquired by the first acquisition means. It is characterized by having management means for managing the information and the completion time information acquired by the second acquisition means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the first acquisition means acquires, via a network, a plurality of pieces of start time information respectively generated in a plurality of data processes executed in the external information processing apparatus. The managing means manages the earliest start time among the start times indicated by the plurality of start time information as the start time.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the first acquisition unit acquires the start time information as the first job information, and the second acquisition unit acquires the completion time information as the second job information. The management means obtains merged job information obtained by merging the first job information and the second job information.

The invention described in claims 8 to 15 is
Since it is the invention of the method and the control program according to the first to seventh aspects, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a system which is a premise of the embodiment of the job account system of the present invention. Printers 1807 to 1809, which are suitable examples of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, which are constituent members of FIG. 18, will be described. The operation of the printer differs depending on the function it has. For example, the printer 1807 is the most general type and prints the data received from the transmission unit on the client computer side. At the end of the job, the printer 1808 returns the total number of discharged pages of the job to the transmission unit on the client computer 1000 side. The printer 1809 stores the job information in the storage device in the printer after printing.

In the client computer of FIG. 18,
Printing is performed as follows. Application 1802
Operates GDI1803 (subsystem for processing graphic drawing) of the OS by calling an API (application programming interface). The printer driver 1804 converts the request from the GDI 1803 into a format suitable for the printer that prints,
Send to the spooler 1805.

In the client computer 1000, the job account client 1801 hooks (monitors and recognizes) the GDI call of the application 1802. Job account client 1801
Acquires the number of discharged sheets or the number of pages of the job issued by the application by counting the API for page break or sheet discharge. The job information acquired by this is called a hook log.

Further, the job account client 18
01 defines a protocol with a printer driver in advance and communicates with the printer driver so that the job information can be received from the printer driver in the client computer. The job information thus obtained is called a driver log.

Further, the job account client 18
01 regularly monitors the spooler, and if there is a spooled job, the information of the job is acquired by the API to acquire the number of discharged sheets or the number of pages of the job. The job information acquired by this is called an API log.

Further, the job account client 18
01 defines the protocol with the transmitter and communicates,
Gets the total number of output pages returned by the printer. The job information acquired in this way is called a transmission unit log.

In the case of a printer that stores job information in the printer, such as the printer 1809, which is a preferred example of the image forming apparatus, the job account server defines a protocol with the printer and communicates with the printer so that the job information is transmitted from the printer. To get. The job information acquired in this way is called a device log. The device log is stored in the RAM or HDD in the printer, but due to the limited storage capacity, it is often not possible to store all the information such as the document name transmitted from the transmission unit. In addition to the printer, the image forming apparatus includes a facsimile, a copying machine, a copying system in which a printer, which is a type of copying machine, and a scanner are combined, and a composite machine of these.

Job account client 1801
Sets a priority order for selecting which of a hook log, a driver log, an API log, a transmission unit log, and a device log, and transmits one of them to the job account server.

The job account server 1810 selects a job log in response to a request from a person who wants to browse, and performs aggregation processing for each unit period, each device, each job issuer, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a device and a module configuration of a job account system showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is achieved in a system including a plurality of devices. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention is also applied to the case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. Hook log, driver log, API for one print job
The manner in which four logs, the log and the transmission unit log, are created will be described in detail. The parts different from FIG. 18 will be described in detail below.

Reference numeral 101 is a client computer consisting of a standard PC or workstation, and when a print instruction is given from the application 102, 107,
The print data is transmitted to the printer 108 or 109 via the transmission unit 107. The job account client 118, which is a software module executed by the CPU in the client computer, collects logs relating to various printing processes and sends the logs to the job account server 121 via the job log sending unit 117. At this time, the job log transmission unit, which is a part of the job account client, may control the transmission unit provided by the OS to transmit the log to the job log reception unit.

When a print instruction is issued to the application 102 in the client computer 101, the application 102 makes a GDI call for drawing in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 103
The hook unit is incorporated by the 117 job account client, and hooks a GDI call, and stores information such as which GDI call was called by what parameter, the number of times it was called, and the like. A history created based on this information is called a hook log 111. An example of the hook log 111 is shown in FIG. The hook unit 103 changes the document name in some cases based on a predetermined judgment standard. The document name and this changing process will be described later.

The printer driver 105 converts the GDI call into print data that can be interpreted by the printer according to the print settings, sends the print data to the spooler 106, extracts the print information from the conversion content, and uses it as the driver log 112 as a job account client 117. Send to.

The job account client 117 constantly monitors the spooler 106 for jobs. If there is a job, AP specified by the OS
I is issued, print information is acquired, and it is recorded in API log 11
Get as 3.

The transmitting unit 107 is connected to the network 10 via the network.
Of the 8, 109, and 110, the printer communicates with the printer specified by any of the applications, and if the printer is in the ready state, print data is transmitted. At this time, for example, the aforementioned Printer Job Lang of HP Co.
By using the command of "age (printer job language)", the printer 109 can obtain the number of pages discharged by the job after the discharge of all the pages of the print job is completed. The transmission unit (port monitor) 106 transmits job information such as the number of pages received from the 109 printer to the 110 job account client. A print log created based on this information is referred to as a transmission unit log 114.

As described above, the job account client 110 (acquisition unit) acquires and creates four logs of the hook log, the driver log, the API log, and the transmission unit log for one print job. However, four logs are not always available. For example, if the application 102 sends print data directly to the spooler 106, the hook log 111 and the driver log 112 cannot be acquired. If the protocol is not defined between the printer driver 105 and the job account client 117, the 112 driver log cannot be acquired. Printer 10
If there is no function to notify the number of discharged pages to the transmission unit as in the case of 8, the discharged page information of the transmission unit log 114 cannot be acquired. However, by acquiring the logs in a plurality of processes related to the job, even if the logs cannot be acquired in some processes, the probability that the logs can be acquired is generally high.

The printer 108 interprets the job sent from the sending unit 107 and executes printing. Printer 109
Interprets the job sent from the transmission unit 107 and executes printing. After printing, set the number of ejected pages to 107
Reply to the sender. The printer 110 interprets the job sent from the sending unit 107 and executes printing. After printing is completed, the job information is stored in 304 HDD (described later).

The job log merging unit 116 merges the hook log, the driver log, the API log, and the transmission unit log and sends them to the job log transmission unit 117. The merge process will be described later. The job log transmission unit 117 transmits the job log to the job log reception unit 122 of the job account server 121.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the client computer and the server computer which constitute the job account system shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which performs control and arithmetic processing of the entire computer apparatus. Reference numeral 202 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which is a storage area for information such as a system boot program. Reference numeral 203 denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is a data storage area without use restrictions. Software modules such as an operating system, an application 102, a hook unit 103, a GDI 104, a printer driver 105, a transmission unit 107, a job account client 118, Also, this is an area in which programs such as communication control are loaded from the HD unit 205 or the ROM 202 and executed by the CPU 201. 204
Is a KBC, that is, a keyboard control unit, which receives input data from the keyboard and transmits it to the CPU. 205 is CR
T, that is, a display control unit (display control means), controls display on the display device. Reference numeral 206 denotes an external storage device such as an FD, that is, a floppy (R) disk device or an HD, that is, a hard disk device, and an SRAM, that is, a non-volatile storage device. To load. Reference numeral 207 denotes a communication unit for performing network communication control, capable of communicating with other computers and peripheral devices connected to the network as described in FIG. 1, a transmission unit 107, a job log transmission unit. 117
Controlled by. Reference numeral 208 denotes a system bus, which should serve as a data path between the above-mentioned components.

In principle, the job account server 12
1 can also have a similar configuration in terms of hardware. In the job account server 121, a job log merging unit 123, a job log recording unit 124, a job log receiving unit 122, and a job log totaling unit 125 are stored in the HDD. The job log receiving unit 122 also controls the communication unit 207.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printer which constitutes the job account system shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, a controller unit 305 controls the entire printer. As an internal configuration of the controller, reference numeral 301 is a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the controller and performs arithmetic processing.
Reference numeral 302 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which is a storage area for information such as system boot programs. Reference numeral 303 is a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is a data storage area with no use restrictions, and 304 is HD, that is, a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk or SRAM.

The RAM 303 is an area in which programs such as an operating system, communication control and engine control are loaded and executed. Reference numeral 306 denotes an engine unit of this apparatus, which performs a printing operation and an image reading operation under the control of the controller. Reference numeral 307 denotes a communication unit that controls network communication.
It is possible to communicate with the client computer and the server computer as described in. A user operation input / output unit 308 performs interactive setting work with the user. Reference numeral 309 denotes a system bus, which should serve as a data path between the above-mentioned components.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of the job account server 121 shown in FIG. 41
Indicates a basic I / O program. Reference numeral 42 shows a memory map in a state where an operating system such as a window system is loaded into the RAM 203 and becomes executable. Four
3 shows a memory map in a state where the program of the present invention is loaded into the RAM 3 and becomes executable. Reference numeral 44 shows a memory map in a state where the relevant data is loaded into the RAM 3 and becomes executable. Reference numeral 45 shows a memory map of a work memory used by each program.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration contents of the FD that stores the job account program and related data, which is an example of the embodiment of the present invention. A job account program, which is an example of the embodiment of the present invention, and related data are recorded in a floppy (R) disk (FD). In the recording area 50 of the floppy (R) disk (FD), volume information 51 and directory information 5
2, an application execution file 53 and a job account program related data file 54 are recorded. The recording area 50 may be a DVD, or an HDD (not shown) in an external server connected to the computer 62 via a network, and a job account program of the present invention (in the client computer shown in FIG. 1). Each module, job Akan and server 1
It goes without saying that each module in 21) may be installed by being downloaded via a network.
The computer 62 is the same as the computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows an example which loads the job account program and related data recorded on FD into a computer system. The job account program and related data recorded on the floppy (R) disk (FD) 60 can be loaded into the computer 62 via the FD drive (DKC) 61. When the floppy (R) disk (FD) 60 is set in the FD drive (DKC) 61, under the control of the operating system 42 and the basic I / O program 41, a program module for realizing this job account program, and the like. Related data is floppy (R) disk (F
D) It is read from 60, loaded into the RAM 203, and becomes usable. The computer 62 is the computer shown in FIG. 18, and the client computer 101 and the job account server 121 shown in FIG.
Can be used to realize A program module or the like for realizing the job account program corresponds to each software module in the client computer 101 or the job account server 121 described in FIG. Of course, the storage medium is not limited to the FD, but may be a DVD or a CD-R.
It goes without saying that OM and the like are included.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a hook log in the embodiment of the present invention. In the hook log, JobI
d, the application name, the number of logical pages, and the document name can be acquired. The JobId can be acquired from GDI when the GDI is instructed to start printing, and the print job of the client computer 101 can be uniquely designated.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the driver log in this embodiment. The driver log is history information that the job account client can obtain from the driver when executing printing. In the driver log, JobId that is an identifier of a job related to printing, paper size of print data included in the job, N-up information, information of the number of physical pages,
Both-sided and one-sided information can be acquired. Paper size, N-u
p, the number of physical pages, and double-sided / single-sided information are acquired from the print settings that are set at the time of printing or default input to the printer driver. N-up is a setting for the number of logical pages to be assigned to a sheet. The number of physical pages is a unit in which one side of the paper output at the time of printing is counted as 1.

For example, when there are four logical pages,
When 2-up printing processing is performed in double-sided printing, the number of physical pages becomes two. Then, the physical page is printed on the front and back sides of the sheet, and one sheet is output and ejected. The first and second logical pages are printed on the front side, and the third and fourth logical pages are printed on the back side.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the API log in this embodiment. In the API log, JobId, job owner name, and spool data size can be acquired.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the transmission unit log in the embodiment of the present invention. In the monitor log, JobI
d can be acquired. 108, the number of discharged pages and the number of discharged sheets can be acquired.

Hook log, driver log, API log,
An area for recording flag information indicating whether or not the job has been processed and information indicating the type of log is provided in each of the transmission unit logs.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of a procedure for merging logs in the embodiment of the present invention.
The operation of the job log merging unit 116 in the client computer will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The job log merging unit 116 receives each log described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 18, and records the contents in the HDD or the like. Then, the following process is periodically started at a preset cycle, and the merge process is performed for each job. In the present embodiment, the logs are merged (merged) by using the job ID as a key, but they may be merged by using a document data name or a new document data name described later as a key. In the processing of FIG. 11 below, the job log merging unit 1 is set in the client computer.
Reference numeral 16 denotes the earliest start time among the start times indicated by the entries of the start time information and the completion time information, which are included in the job information (hook log, API log, API log) obtained by each of the plurality of processes in the client device. Then, the latest completion time can be specified. And
As described above, each piece of time information is stored as job information merged and merged.

In step S1101, the job log merging unit 116, which is a preferred example of the management unit of the present invention, causes the transmission unit log whose processed flag is not YES (see FIG. 10), that is, the unprocessed transmission unit log. If there is an unprocessed transmission unit log, S11 is performed.
Go to 02. In step S1102, the job log merging unit 116 copies the transmission unit log identified as unprocessed in step S1101 to another temporary storage area, and sets this as log A. In S1103, the log A to Job
Get the ID part. In step S1104, the job log merge unit 116 acquires the JobID acquired in step S1103.
Among the logs corresponding to, there is a log that has not been merged yet, that is, whether there is an unprocessed log.
The determination is made by searching and specifying each log of the hook log, the driver log, and the API log based on D. S11
If it is determined in 04 that there is no unprocessed log, the process ends. When the job log merging unit 116 determines in S1104 that there is an unprocessed log, the job log merging unit 116 proceeds to S1105 and determines the JobID determined to be unprocessed in S1104 (here, N for convenience). )
JobID that is equal to
Based on the above, each log of the hook log, the driver log, and the API log is searched and specified, and this is designated as log B. S
The log of JobID equal to N in 1105 is the hook log,
If there is no driver log or API log, the process advances to step S1108. Jo equal to N in S1105
If the bID is in any of the logs, S1106
Proceed to. Here, for example, in S1105, N may be specified as N from the smallest JobID included in the unprocessed log A in order from the smallest.

In S1106, the job log merging unit 116 determines the JobID of the log A specified in S1105.
For each item of the log corresponding to N (job information included in each log acquired for JobID N), log B
It is determined whether or not there is an item not included in the log A among the items included in. If it is determined in step S1106 that the JobID N item of the log A is not included in the log A of the log B, the job log merging unit 116 performs the process of step S1108. If it is determined in S1106 that there is an item that does not exist in log A in log B, the process advances to step S1107, and job log merging unit 116 determines the items of JobID N in log A that do not exist in log A in log B. The data additionally stored in the log A is merged. Here, the processed flag of the log created by adding the item of log B to log A (hereinafter, merge log) is set to "YES", and S1108 is set.
Proceed to. Then, the item of the type of the merge log is set to "merge". 7 to 1 for the transmitter log
When the logs shown in 0 are merged one after another based on the process of FIG. 11, a merge log as shown in FIG. 12 is obtained. As shown in the figure, this merge log consists of hook log, driver log, A
It has items of PI log and transmission unit log. Figure 12
It is a figure which shows an example of the merge log of embodiment of this invention.

In step S1104 subsequent to step S1108, log A
When it is determined that the processing has been completed for all JobIDs related to (3), the processing ends.

Normally, each time the merge process is completed, the job log merge unit 116 sends the merged log to the log transmission unit 116 after the process of FIG. The log transmission unit 116 transmits the log to the job log acquisition unit 122 periodically or in response to a request from the job log acquisition unit 122.

Next, the operation of the job account server 121 will be described. The 122 job log acquisition unit, which is a preferred example of the acquisition unit of the present invention, is the job log transmission unit 11
The job sent from 7 is acquired and stored. Also, the 110 printer 3 is periodically polled, and if there is job information that has not been acquired, it is acquired. This job information is used as a device log. Although the device log is stored in the 303 RAM or 304 HDD, it is not desirable to store all the information such as the document name transmitted from the 107 transmission unit due to the limited storage capacity. Here, it is assumed that the upper limit of the document name is 8 characters. FIG. 13 shows an example of the device log. FIG. 14 shows an example of a device log when the 103 hook unit is not operating.

The device job log merging unit 123, which is a preferred example of the management means of the present invention, has the merge log 127 and the device log 115 sent from the job account client.
To merge. The procedure for merging will be described later. The job log recording unit 124 is the device job log merging unit 123.
The job log is received from and stored in 206HD or the like.
The job log totaling unit 125 performs totaling processing such as obtaining the number of printed pages for each unit period or the number of printed pages for each owner according to an instruction from the viewer.

The ID generation unit 126 issues an ID for uniquely identifying the client computer 101.
Here, each digit can take 26 values from a to z. 4
A string of digits is sent to aaaa, aaa in response to a request from the 103 hook unit.
It is issued so that the client can be uniquely identified by sequentially changing b, ..., Zzzy, zzzz. Here, the new document name is created by using the combination of the host and the job ID, but a new document name (to be described later) unique to the entire printing system may be centrally issued in the job account server.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an example of the procedure for changing the document name according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the hook portion 103 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S1501, the hook unit 103 acquires and determines information indicating whether or not the printer at the printing destination has the device log by the predetermined device management protocol, and when it determines that the printer has the device log, the hook unit 103 proceeds to step S15.
Go to 02. When the hook log unit 103 determines that the printer does not have the device log, the process ends.
In step S1502, the hook unit 103 determines whether the client ID has been acquired.
Proceeds to S1504. If not acquired, the process proceeds to S1503. Here, the client ID is identification information issued by the ID generating unit that can uniquely identify the client computer 101. Here, in S1503,
It is assumed that the hook unit 103 communicates with the ID generation unit 126 and acquires an ID that uniquely identifies the client computer from the ID generation unit. In step S1504, an in-client JOBID that uniquely identifies a job in the client computer is created. Here, it is assumed that the numerical values from 0001 to 9999 are issued in order.

In S1505, the hook portion 103
Client ID and S determined to have been acquired in S1503
The in-client JobIDs created in 1504 are combined to create a new document name, which is an example of new identification information uniquely determined in the printing system. In step S1506, the hook unit 103 stores the original document name passed from the application in the item “original document name” of the hook log. In step S1507, the document name is replaced with the new document name in step S1505.
As a result, the new document name is passed to GDI as the document name. It is preferable that all the document names in the printer driver 105, the spooler 106, the transmission unit 107, and the printer 110, which are the latter stage of the GDI process, be processed with the new document name.

The reason for creating the new document name is that it is difficult to use JobID as it is as a key of the merge process when merging the job information acquired from the printing apparatus. For example, when the account server A developed by A company is used, the account server developed by A company obtains JobID from the printer developed by B company because part of the specifications of the job management method is not disclosed. Often unable to do. In other words, even if job information is acquired from a printer that supports an unintended job management method, it is often the case that this does not include the job ID, and this cannot be merged and used.
However, the document name created by the OS or application in the client computer and sent to the printer can often be acquired as job information.

Therefore, instead of the job ID, management can be performed on the client side, and the JobI
Instead of D, it is possible to manage a document name that can be acquired as a key of job information as identification information. However, using the conventional document name as it is causes a problem. Generally, the OS or application on the client side can manage more than 8 characters, and a generally used OS can give a document name of up to 255 characters. The printer can manage up to 8 characters, as described above. Also, in general,
8 document names can be used in the job management system
Up to letters. With this, 8
When a document name with more than characters is given, even if the document name given by the OS or application on the client side is different, jobs with the same document name may coexist in the printer. There is confusion. Therefore, the host ID on the account server side
Is issued and used in combination with the document name issued on the client side. As a result, a new document name that is uniquely determined in the printing system including the client computer and the printer, which is managed by the account server within 8 characters, is completed. Then, this new document name can be used in place of the job ID to identify the job. Once the new document name is generated on the client side, the printer,
This document name can be used as a job identifier in the client and account server.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for merging logs to create a final log according to the embodiment of the present invention. Using the flowchart of FIG.
Job log merge section 123 (device job log merge section)
The operation of will be described.

In S1601, the job log merging unit 123 searches for an unprocessed merge log, and if there is, it proceeds to S1602. If not, the process ends. S160
In step 2, the job log merging unit 123 determines whether the printer has a device log, and if so, S160.
Go to 3. If not provided, the process proceeds to S1607. S16
In 03, the device job log merging unit 123 searches and determines whether or not there is an unprocessed device log in which the item of the document name is the same as the merge log in S1601. If it is determined, the process proceeds to S1604. If it is determined that the same log as the merge log in S1601 does not exist, the process ends. In step S1604, the device job log merge unit 12
In step 3, the number of ejected pages of the device log is replaced or added to the merge log.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a device log in the embodiment of the present invention. In step S1605, the job log merge unit 123 replaces the document name with the original document name. When applied to the device logs of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, it becomes “Document name: 2001 annual report source document name: abcd0001”.

In step S1606, the device job log merging unit 123 deletes the original document name of the merge log. This is the final log. When applied to the device logs of FIGS. 12 and 13, the result is as shown in FIG. In step S1607, the device job log merge unit 123 sets the final log to 12
4 Send to the job log recording unit.

As described above, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to acquire more accurate document information and job information that stores paper ejection information, and it is possible to perform a stricter job account. . In other words, in the printing system managed by the account server, a mechanism for performing the merge process using the unique identification information is provided, so that the same job is used for different jobs when managing the job information and counting the number of printed sheets and the number of discharged sheets. Accurate job accounts are possible without accidentally merging and managing as jobs.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on a portion different from the first embodiment. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of merge processing in the job log merge unit 116 according to the embodiment of this invention. The operation of the job log merging unit 116 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The job log merging unit 116 receives and acquires each log, and records the contents in the HDD or the like in the client computer. Then, the following processing is started regularly. In step S1901, the job log merge unit 116
Searches for an unprocessed transmission unit log, and if it is determined that there is one, the process advances to step S1902. If it is determined in S1901 that there is no unprocessed transmitter log, the process ends. S19
In 02, the job log merging unit 116 copies the contents of the transmission unit log. This is log A. Here, the processed flag of the transmission unit log is set to YES. In step S1903, the job log merging unit 116 determines from the log A to Jo.
bId is extracted and acquired. Then, in step S1904, the job log merging unit 116 determines whether or not there are JobIDs related to the log A acquired in step S1903 that have not undergone merge processing and time determination processing.

If it is determined in S1904 that there are no unprocessed items, the process ends. If the job log merge unit 116 determines in S1904 that there is unprocessed job information related to the JobID, the process advances to S1905. In steps S1905 and below, among the Job IDs determined to be unprocessed in step S1903, here, the smallest number J is used.
The process proceeds with obID as N. Then, the job log merging unit 116 identifies the log having the JobID equal to N by searching the hook log, the driver log, the API log, and the transmission unit log, and identifies the identified log as the log B.
And If the job log merging unit 116 determines in S1905 that there is no log having a JobID equal to N, it marks JobID N as processed in S1912, and proceeds to another unprocessed JobID determination process (S19).
04). If the job log merging unit 116 determines in step S1905 that there is a log having a JobID equal to N, the process advances to step S1906 and thereafter to perform merge processing.

After S1906, the job ID JobID N entry is processed. S
At 1906, it is determined whether the start time of the log B is before the start time of the log A. If it is before the start time, S1
907, if not before the start time, S1908.
Process. In step S1907, the job log merging unit 116 rewrites the start time of the log A with the start time of the log B, and proceeds to step S1908.

In step S1908, the job log merging unit 116 determines whether the end time of the log B is later than the end time of the log A.
Proceed to 9. If it is determined that it is not later, the process proceeds to S1910. In step S1909, the job log merge unit 116
Rewrites the end time of log A to the end time of log B,
Proceeds to S1910. In step S1910, the job log merge unit 116 determines whether or not there is an item in the log B that is not in the log A. If it is determined that there is an item, the process advances to step S1911.
If it is determined that there is not, the process proceeds to S1912. S1911
In, the job log merging unit 116 adds an item in the log B that is not in the log A. Here, the processed flag of the log B is set to YES. Here, the type is merge.
When the processing of FIG. 19 is applied to the logs of FIGS. 7 to 10, the logs are as shown in FIG. This is the hook log, as shown in the figure
It has items of a driver log, an API log, and a transmitter log, and the start time of the hook log and the end time of the transmitter log. This makes it possible to grasp the throughput from the generation of one job to the completion of processing from the input of a print command to the application to the completion of paper ejection. After the processing in FIG. 19, the job log merging unit 116 sends the merged log to the 116 log transmitting unit. The job log transmission unit 117 periodically transmits the log (merged job information) to the 122 job log acquisition unit.

When this processing is performed, it is not necessary to arrange the order of merging logs that can be acquired in each processing of image processing / output processing in time series of the data processing order. As mentioned earlier, here again, the new document name is J
Instead of obID, it can be used for merge processing.

As described above, in a client device that processes a job in which a plurality of data processes for one job have been performed, a plurality of job information obtained in a plurality of data processes for one job are acquired and the account client The job log merging unit 116, which is a preferred example of the specifying unit of the present invention included in each of the plurality of job information acquired by the above, can specify the earliest start time among the start times indicated by the start time information. Also,
Similar to the above process, if the job log merging unit 116 is controlled so that the latest time is overwritten with respect to the completion time, the latest completion time is left in the merge log and the latest completion time is left. You can specify the time.

As another example of this embodiment, a hook log, a driver log, an API log, and a transmission unit log, which correspond to one job ID in the item of time of each log, are arranged.
Then, the merge process is performed in this order. The item of time is
It is necessary to perform the overwrite merge processing in the order in which they are arranged.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of merge processing in the job log merge unit 123 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the job log merging unit 123 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The merge log is transmitted to the account server device and the same processing as that of FIG. 15 is performed. That is, the new document name is stored in the merge log based on the information generated by the ID generation unit, and the old document name is backed up in the item of the old document name. Then, the job log merging unit 123
In, the final log is generated from the merge log. The following is a modification of the merge log process described above.

In S2001, the job log merging unit 123 searches and determines whether or not there is an unprocessed merge log acquired by the job log merging unit 123 from the client computer, and if it determines that there is, it proceeds to S2002. If it is determined that there is not, it ends. In step S2002, the job log merge unit determines whether the printer has the device log acquisition mechanism. If it determines that the printer has the device log acquisition mechanism, the process proceeds to step S2003. If it is determined that it is not equipped, the process proceeds to S2011. In step S2003, the job log merge unit 123 determines whether the job log merge unit 123 searches the device log acquired from the printer for an unprocessed device log that has the same document name as the merge log in step S2001. If it is determined that there is something, the process proceeds to S2004. When it is determined that there is no same thing, the process ends. In step S2004, the job log merge unit 123 adds the number of discharged pages of the device log to the merge log. In step S2005, the job log merge unit 123 replaces the document name with the original document name. When this process is applied to the device logs of FIGS. 12 and 13, “document name: 2001 annual report source document name: abcd0001” is obtained.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the final log in the embodiment of the present invention. In S2006, the original document name of the merge log is deleted. This is the final log. When applied to the logs of FIGS. 12 and 13, the result is as shown in FIG. In step S2007, it is determined whether the start time of the device log is before the start time of the merge log. If yes, the process proceeds to step S2008. Otherwise, it proceeds to S2009. In step S2008, the start time of the final log is set to the start time of the device log. In S2009, it is determined whether the end time of the device log is later than the end time of the merge log, and if it is determined that the end time is later, the process proceeds to S2010. If it is determined that there is no later, the process proceeds to S2011. S201
At 0, the end time of the final log is set to the end time of the device log, and the process ends.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the final log in the embodiment of the present invention. In step S2011, the final log is transmitted to the 124 job log recording unit. The generated job log is as shown in FIG. By doing so, the job log merging unit 123 can accurately reflect and manage the output start time and the output end time in the host computer in the final log shown in FIG. 21, and perform accurate image processing. It is possible to measure the throughput from the start to the output completion.

That is, the job log merge section 123 acquires a plurality of job information obtained in a plurality of data processes for one job, and the job log merge section 123
Of the start time information of each log included in the hook log, API log, API log, device log, and the start time indicated by the entry of the completion time information, which are obtained by a plurality of processes corresponding to one job acquired by , The earliest start time and the latest completion time can be specified. Then, each time information is merged and stored as merged job information as described above.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to acquire the print start time and the print end time, and it is possible to perform a stricter job account.

(Third Embodiment) The present invention is not effective only when the printer has a device log. By making the document name unique, the hook log, driver log, and API log can be merged.

Depending on the OS, J issued by the OS
obId may not guarantee uniqueness. in this case,
The discriminating process of S2001 in FIG. 15 may be replaced with the discriminating process of “whether or not the JobId is unique?”, And if it is not unique, the document name changing process may be performed. In addition, in S1101, S1901, etc., JobI
The job ID of the transmitter log is used for D in the above embodiment, but it goes without saying that the merge process may be performed based on the JobID of another log (hook log, driver log, API log, etc.). .

(Other Embodiments) The processing shown in the flowcharts of the respective drawings (FIG. 11, FIG. 16, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, etc.) and the respective modules shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. It is performed by each of the computers by the program installed from. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention is applicable even when the information group including the program is supplied to the client computer from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, or is downloaded from an external server (not shown), It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or device reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself such as the job account server or job account client program read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code is It constitutes the invention. As the storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a DVD, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM or the like can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. Further, a program code transmitted from a predetermined external server device (not shown) via a network or read from a storage medium is a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion connected to the computer. After being written in the memory provided in the unit, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and by the processing, the above-described embodiment It goes without saying that the case where the function is realized is also included.

[0085]

As described above, according to the invention described in the present application, the job information can be comprehensively and accurately grasped.

Further, the utilization status of the computer or the peripheral equipment, for example, the time information of the job processing in the client apparatus or the time information of the job processing in the image forming apparatus is comprehensively grasped, and the time management is performed for the entire job processing. Can be done accurately.

Further, for each process related to the job in the client device, the start time, the end time, the time required for the process, etc. can be accurately grasped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a job account system showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a client computer and a server computer that constitute the job account system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printer that constitutes the job account system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of the job account system shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration content of an FD that stores a job account program and related data, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention, showing an example of loading a job account program and related data recorded in an FD into a computer system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a hook log according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a driver log according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an API log according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission unit log according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for merging logs according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a merge log according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a device log according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional device log.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for changing a document name according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a process of merging logs according to the embodiment of the present invention;
It is a flow chart which shows an example of the procedure of creating the last log.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a final log according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a system which is a premise of the embodiment of the job account system of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of merge processing in the job log merge unit 116 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of merge processing in the job log merge unit 123 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a final log according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

60 Flexible Disk FD 61 Flexible Disk Drive Controller DK
C 62 Computer 111 Hook log 112 Driver log 113 API log 114 Sending part log 115 Device log 116 Job log merging part 117 Job log sending part 118 Job account client 122 Job log receiving part 123 Job log merging part 121 Job account server 126 ID generating part

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A first information processing apparatus that performs data processing for one job, an image forming apparatus that receives the one job and performs print processing, the first information processing apparatus, and the image forming apparatus. In a printing system including a second information processing device capable of receiving job information generated in a plurality of processes related to the one job from the first information processing device in the data processing for the one job, The image forming apparatus includes a transmission control unit that controls a transmission process of transmitting start time information of the data processing in the obtained first information processing apparatus, and the image forming apparatus receives the job received from the first information processing apparatus. Of the start time information transmitted from the first information processing device. A first acquisition unit that acquires via a network, completion time information indicating the print completion time of the job generated by the generation unit, a second acquisition unit that acquires via a network, and the first acquisition unit Start time information acquired by the acquisition means, and
A printing system comprising: a management unit that manages the completion time information acquired by the second acquisition unit. 2. An information processing apparatus for processing a job in which a plurality of data processes for one job are performed, an acquisition unit for acquiring a plurality of job information obtained in a plurality of data processes for one job, and the acquisition. An information processing apparatus comprising: a specifying unit that specifies the earliest start time among the start times indicated by the start time information included in each of the plurality of pieces of job information acquired by the unit. 3. The obtaining unit further obtains completion time information indicating a completion time of a plurality of data processes for the one job, and the specifying unit is the latest of the completion times indicated by the completion time information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the completion time is specified. 4. A management unit for obtaining merged job information obtained by merging a plurality of job information obtained in the plurality of data processes, wherein the start time specified by the specifying unit is stored in the merged job information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. 5. An information processing apparatus for managing job information corresponding to a job to be subjected to data processing, comprising: first acquisition means for acquiring start time information indicating a time at which data processing of one job is started. A second acquisition unit that acquires completion time information indicating a completion time when the output processing of the one job in the image forming apparatus is completed; start time information acquired by the first acquisition unit; and a second acquisition An information processing apparatus, comprising: management means for managing the completion time information acquired by the means. 6. The first obtaining means obtains, via a network, a plurality of pieces of start time information respectively generated in a plurality of data processes executed by an external information processing apparatus, and the managing means comprises The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the earliest start time among the start times indicated by the plurality of start time information is managed as a start time. 7. The first acquisition means acquires start time information as first job information, and the second acquisition means acquires completion time information as second job information. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the management unit obtains merged job information obtained by merging the first job information and the second job information. 8. An information processing method for processing a job in which a plurality of data processes for one job are processed, an acquisition process for acquiring a plurality of job information obtained in a plurality of data processes for one job, and the acquisition process. An information processing method, comprising: a specifying step of specifying the earliest start time among the start times indicated by the start time information included in each of the plurality of job information acquired in the step. 9. The obtaining step further obtains completion time information indicating a completion time of the plurality of data processes included in the one job information, and in the identifying step, among the completion times indicated by the completion time information. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the latest completion time is specified. 10. A management step of obtaining merged job information obtained by merging a plurality of job information obtained in the plurality of data processes, wherein the start time specified in the specifying step is stored in the merged job information. The information processing method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: 11. An information processing method for managing job information corresponding to a job subject to data processing, comprising: a first acquisition step of acquiring start time information indicating a time when data processing of one job is started. A second acquisition step of acquiring completion time information indicating a completion time at which the output processing of the image forming apparatus of the one job is completed, start time information acquired in the first acquisition step, and a second acquisition An information processing method comprising a management step of managing the completion time information acquired in the step. 12. The first acquisition step acquires, via a network, a plurality of pieces of start time information generated in a plurality of data processes executed in an external information processing apparatus, and the management step comprises The information processing method according to claim 11, wherein the earliest start time among the start times indicated by the plurality of start time information is managed as a start time. 13. The first acquisition step acquires start time information as first job information, the second acquisition step acquires completion time information as second job information, and the management step 13. Then, the merged job information obtained by merging the first job information and the second job information is obtained, and the information processing method according to claim 11 or 12. 14. A control program executed in an information processing system for processing a job in which a plurality of data processes for one job are performed, and obtains a plurality of job information obtained in a plurality of data processes for one job. An acquisition step; and a specifying step of specifying the earliest start time among the start times indicated by the start time information included in each of the plurality of job information pieces acquired by the acquisition means, in a computer included in the information processing system. A control program characterized by the above. 15. A control program executed in an information processing system that manages job information corresponding to a job to be subjected to data processing, and obtains start time information indicating a time when data processing of one job is started. A first acquisition step, a second acquisition step of acquiring completion time information indicating a completion time when the output process of the image forming apparatus for the one job is completed, and start time information acquired by the first acquisition unit And a management step of managing the completion time information acquired by the second acquisition means, the control program being executed by a computer included in the information processing system.