JP2011013937A - Image output control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image output control system for reducing approver's confirmation work.SOLUTION: When the image output control system receives the output request of a file from a user's computer and when the file same as the file whose output request is received has been output in the past and the attribute of the file whose output request is received satisfies a predetermined condition, the image output control system outputs the file whose output request is received on the basis of approval information for the output of the same file output in the past without requesting the approval information of the file whose output request is received again to an approver's computer.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output control system.

  In order to reduce costs, efforts are being made to reduce expensive color printing. For example, in most cases, monochrome printing is sufficient for a confirmation print or a presenter's manuscript at the draft stage of presentation materials created in color.

  Some printers have post-printing processing functions such as stapler processing, and inter-print processing functions such as insertion of insertion sheets such as cover sheets and slip sheets. These functions can also be used. Because it will consume extra resources, it is desirable not to use these functions unless it is the final draft for distribution that has been approved by the approver.

  In order to reduce color printing, the default setting of the printer driver is set to monochrome so that color printing is not performed by mistake. However, since color printing is possible as much as the user desires, the effect of suppressing color printing is low.

  In addition, although there is a printer that can set permission / non-permission of color printing for each user, there is no effect of suppressing color printing by a user who is permitted color printing.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 discloses an image output control system that determines whether or not color settings are made for each job to be printed, and if color settings are made, the printer asks the approver to approve color printing. Are listed. In this system, the approver receives an e-mail attached with a file of a job to be printed, and the printer does not perform printing unless the approver returns a mail that approves printing.

  In the system of Patent Document 1, the approver needs to confirm all the contents of the data to be printed every time the user tries to perform color printing, and the approver is heavily burdened. Further, the burden on the approver becomes large, and there may be a failure in overseeing matters that the approver should check and approving prints that should not be permitted.

JP 2008-140111 A

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image output control system that can reduce the confirmation work of the approver in a system in which the approver determines whether individual printing is possible.

  In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the image output control system according to the present invention receives a file output request from a user computer and indicates to the approver computer whether or not to output the file that has received the output request. An image output control system for requesting approval information and outputting the file for which the output request has been received based on the approval information set in the approver computer, the name of the file once output and the file Storage means for storing the approval information, and when a file output request is received from the user computer, the same file as the file that has received the output request may have been output in the past, and If the attribute of the file that has received the output request satisfies a predetermined condition, the file that has received the output request Without requiring again to the approver computer the authorization information about a file that received the output request, and outputs on the basis of the authorization information for the same file output outputted in the past.

  According to this configuration, when the file attribute satisfies the predetermined condition, the approver does not ask for approval, so that the approver does not need to check the content of the file.

  In the image output control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the predetermined condition is that the toner coverage of the file that has received the output request is equal to or less than a predetermined ratio, and the output page of the file that has received the output request. The number of color output pages of the file that has received the output request is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and the inter-output processing and post-output processing of the file that has received the output request. It may include at least one of the man-hours being a predetermined man-hour or less.

  According to this configuration, the request for the approval information is omitted only when the resources consumed for output are small, so that the loss can be reduced even if it is a wasteful output.

  Further, in the image output control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the predetermined condition is a more lenient condition when the number of times the approval information is set for the same file as the file that has received the output request increases. May be changed.

  According to this configuration, it is highly likely that a file that has been repeatedly approved should be approved even if there is a corrected portion, so that it is possible to save time and effort for re-confirmation by the approver.

  In the image output control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the file that has received the output request is used only when the contents of the approval information set in the past for the file that has received the output request all match. May be output based on the approval information set in the past.

  According to this configuration, when the past approval information is different, the approval information is requested again, so that output based on inappropriate approval information can be excluded.

  In the image output control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the file that has received the output request may be output based on the approval information that was last set for the file.

  According to this configuration, an image can be output based on the latest approval information.

  In the image output control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, a file that has received an output request may be output based on the approval information that is applied most frequently to the file.

  According to this configuration, an image can be output based on the most probable approval information.

  Further, the second aspect of the image output control system according to the present invention receives a file output request from a user computer, requests an approver computer for approval information indicating whether or not to output the file that has received the output request, An image output control system that outputs a file that has received the output request based on the approval information set in the approver computer, and stores the attribute of the file that has been output once and the approval information for the file A storage unit, and when a file output request is received from the user computer, the same file as the file for which the output request has been received has been output in the past, and the file for which the output request has been received If the difference between the attribute and the attribute of the same file output in the past is within a predetermined range, Output the file that has received the output request based on the approval information for the same file that has been output in the past, without requesting the approval information for the output requested file to the approver computer. And

  According to this configuration, a file with a small difference in file contents from the previous output is likely to have the same approval result as the previous one even if confirmed by the approver. Can be printed based on the approval information, and the burden on the approver can be reduced.

  In the image output control system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined range includes a difference in the number of pages of color output being equal to or less than a predetermined number of pages, and the predetermined range includes a difference in file size. The predetermined range is that the difference in the number of output pages is less than a predetermined number of pages, the difference in toner coverage is less than a predetermined value, and the time when the output request is received The difference may include at least one of the difference being equal to or less than a predetermined time.

  According to this configuration, since the request for the approval information is omitted only for the files that are likely to affect the approval result, inappropriate image output can be reduced.

  Further, the third aspect of the image output control system according to the present invention receives a file output request from a user computer, requests approval information indicating whether or not to output the file having received the output request from an approver computer, An image output control system that outputs the file that has received the output request based on the approval information set in the approver computer, wherein the request for the approval information is an output image of the file that has received the output request In addition, it is assumed that confirmation data to which additional information that clearly indicates a portion where a predetermined setting is made in the file is generated and transmitted to the approver computer.

  According to this configuration, since the approver clearly indicates the portion that should be judged by the additional information, the approver can accurately and promptly judge whether the file can be output.

  In the image output control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the additional information includes information that clearly indicates a color output setting, and the confirmation data is forward of the output image of a page that is set for color output. It may be arranged in.

  According to this configuration, since the confirmation data presents the parts where the color output is set at a high cost, the approver must confirm whether or not the color setting is performed. The output cost can be reliably reduced.

  In the image output control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the confirmation data may include a thumbnail image that can simultaneously display a plurality of pages of the output image.

  According to this configuration, since the approver can easily check the outline of the entire file by the thumbnail image, it is easy to determine whether output is possible.

  In the image output control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the additional information includes information specifying the staple setting, and the information specifying the staple setting may be added to the first page of the output image. Good.

  According to this configuration, it is displayed at the beginning of the confirmation data that the stapling process in which the output product cannot be used separately is performed, so that the approver can make discretion such as stricter the criteria for whether or not to output.

  Further, in the image output control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the additional information includes information that clearly indicates an insertion sheet insertion setting, and the confirmation data includes the insertion sheet insertion setting. The image of the insertion sheet may be added to the page position where the insertion sheet is inserted.

  According to this configuration, the output of the insertion sheet, which has an output cost higher than the data amount of the file, is specified according to the output order, so that the approver can make an appropriate determination.

  Further, in the image output control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the additional information is the approval information set in the approver computer when the same file as the file that has received the output request was output last time. It may contain information that specifies the contents of.

  According to this configuration, since it is possible to confirm the previous determination as to whether or not output is possible, it can be used as a reference for the determination, and variation in determination can be reduced.

  In the image output control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the additional information may include information that clearly indicates that a sheet having a predetermined size is selected.

  According to this configuration, if the output is made on a large sheet, the cost is high. Therefore, the approver can determine whether or not the output is possible in consideration of this.

  In the image output control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the additional information is set in the approver computer when the setting of any of the requested files is output the same file last time. If the file conforms to the approval information and the contents of the file corresponding to each setting have not been updated since the previous output, the output with the setting is clearly approved. Information may be included.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to omit the confirmation of the contents by permitting the output of the part that has not changed from the previous time as it is.

  Further, in the image output control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the additional information clearly indicates a setting that can be output depending on a printable level difference between the current user and the user who output the previous time. Information may be included.

  According to this configuration, the approver can be alerted by clearly indicating the possibility of the determination result being different depending on the user.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image output control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a control flowchart of the image output control system of FIG. 2. 3 is a screen on which a user sets a file in the output of the image output control system of FIG. 2. 3 is a table showing an example of an output history stored in a storage unit in FIG. 2. It is a setting screen of the approval information of the approver computer of FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the conditions which omit approval in FIG. It is a screen for selecting whether to perform control concerning the present invention. It is a flowchart of control of the image output control system of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. This is a screen for inputting conditions for omitting approval. It is a flowchart of control of the image output control system of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 12 is a flowchart of confirmation data creation processing in FIG. 11. It is a flowchart of the color information addition process of FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the content of the file which requested | required printing. 14 is an output image of confirmation data created by the processing of FIG. 13. 14 is a setting screen for approval information based on the confirmation data created by the processing of FIG. 13 is a flowchart of staple information addition processing in FIG. 12. 18 is a setting screen for approval information based on the confirmation data after processing in FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an insertion sheet information addition process in FIG. 12. 14 is an output image of confirmation data corrected by the processing of FIG. 13. 20 is a setting screen for approval information based on the confirmation data after processing in FIG. 19. It is a flowchart of the approval history information addition process of FIG. It is a figure which shows the data for confirmation which added approval log information in the process of FIG. It is a figure which shows the data for confirmation changed into unapproved of the change location in the process of FIG. It is a figure which shows the data for confirmation which changed the user level violation location into unapproved in the process of FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the paper size information addition process of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the data for confirmation at the time of A3 size setting.

  Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a network configuration according to the image output control system of the present invention. The image output control system of the present invention is applied when a user computer 2 and an approver computer 3 are connected to a multifunction printer 4 via a network 1 as shown. The image output control system of the present invention may be provided as a server function of the network 1 or as a function of the printer 4.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image output control system 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the image output control system of the present embodiment, when the job reception unit 6 receives a print job (file output request) from the print control unit 7, the data determination unit 8 determines whether or not specific print settings are made for the print job data. Judging. When specific settings such as color output settings are set for the print job, the confirmation data generation unit 9 processes the print job data to generate confirmation data, and the approver via the communication unit 10 Send to computer 3. If the approval information as an answer from the approver computer 3 is received via the communication unit 10, the execution determination unit 11 determines whether or not the print job can be executed based on the approval information. If it is determined that execution of the print job is permitted, the execution instruction unit 12 generates an execution instruction and instructs the print control unit 7 to execute the print job.

  The output control system 5 includes a hard disk and a memory, and also includes a storage unit 13 that can store information. Each component of these image output control systems 5 does not necessarily need to be an independent element, and each may be realized as a function of a computer program. The output control system 5 does not have to be integrated with each other, and may be a distributed system connected to each other via the network 1.

  FIG. 3 shows a processing flow of the image output control system 5. First, in step S101, the image output control system 5 accepts a file output (print, FAX, E-mail transmission, etc.) request from the user computer 102. This output request may be made by a standard protocol such as LPR (Line PRinter daemon protocol) or by a dedicated protocol.

  When the user makes a file output request, for example, when performing printing (printing), the user computer 2 receives a print setting screen as shown in FIG. 4 and performs, for example, the document size and orientation, and color printing. Make settings related to output (printing), such as whether to perform monochrome printing or who is authorized to perform printing permission for the user.

  If the image output control system 5 receives an image output request, in step S102, the image output control system 5 determines whether or not the same file has been output to the storage unit 13 in the past based on the file name of the file that has received the output request. Confirm. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the storage unit 13 stores a file name of a file printed in the past, an approver name, the number of approvals, an approval date, the number of color prints, image data of a printed image, and an approver at that time. A print history consisting of the approval result (approval information) and the like is stored.

  In step S103, when there is print history data in the file for which the output request has been received, the image output control system 5 further confirms the number of times of output in step S104. If the output request is the fourth or later, in step S105, the contents of the file for which the output request has been received are imaged based on the latest approval result in the print history without requesting approval information from the approver computer 103 again. Output as. The file output approval information may be permitted / not permitted for each part such as a page or a paragraph as well as permitting / not-permitting color output of the entire file (instructing monochrome output).

  In step S104, if the output is the third time, the process proceeds to step S106. If the approval information in the second output matches the approval information in the third output, the process proceeds to step S105 and the approver computer 103 is informed. Printing is performed based on the third approval information without requesting the approval information again. However, if the second and third approval information do not match, the process proceeds to step S107. If it is determined in step S104 that the print request is the second print, the process proceeds to step S107.

  In step S107, the attribute of the file that has received the output request is analyzed. If the file attribute satisfies a predetermined condition that the output cost is determined to be high, as will be described later, the process proceeds to step S105, where the approval is made. The file is output based on the latest approval result in the print history without requesting the approval information to the user computer 103 again. If it is determined in step S107 that the file attribute does not satisfy a predetermined condition, or if no print history is found in step S103, the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S107, the file attribute condition for proceeding to step S105 and outputting the request for approval information is that the toner coverage of the file image is a predetermined value (for example, 5%) or less, the number of printed pages Is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 100 sheets), the number of pages to be color-printed is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 10 sheets), and the man-hour for inter-output processing is equal to or less than a predetermined value, For example, the number of sheets is 50 or less, and the post-output processing man-hour is less than a predetermined value, for example, there is no stapler processing.

  If these attributes are not satisfied in step S107, the image output control system 5 creates confirmation data for requesting approval information from the approver in step S108, and creates confirmation data in the approver computer 3. Send. The confirmation data is data indicating the contents of the file that has received the print request, and may include an output image or the like.

  When the approver computer 3 receives the confirmation data, the approver computer 3 displays, for example, a setting screen as shown in FIG. 6 based on the confirmation data. As shown in the figure, an output image in the confirmation data is displayed on the setting screen. In the approver computer 3, the approver confirms the content of the file for which the output request has been received, sets whether to permit color output of the file, and presses the decision button, thereby allowing the image output control system 5 to The approval information is transmitted or stored in an area accessible by the image output control system 5.

  When the image output control system 5 receives the approval information from the approver computer 3 in step S109 (or confirms the approval information set in the approver computer 3), in step S110, the contents of the file and the authentication information are displayed. In step S111, the multi-function printer 4 prints the file according to the received approval information.

  If the approval information cannot be received in step S109, the image output control system 5 confirms the timeout in step S112. If approval information is not obtained within a predetermined time, it is assumed in step S113 that all settings have not been approved, and additional functions such as inter-output processing such as an insertion sheet and post-output processing such as a stapler are used. Without printing, the entire file is printed in monochrome.

  In step S107, the image output control system 5 may change the condition of the file attribute for omitting the request for approval information to a gentler condition as the number of approvals increases as shown in FIG. Good. This is because it is generally considered that a file for which repeated output is permitted should be permitted next time.

  When a plurality of printers 4 are connected to the network 1, the image output control system 5 displays a setting screen as shown in FIG. 8 on the display device of each printer 4, for example. According to the above-described control, it can be set whether or not the request for approval information can be omitted, and the approval information may be requested every time for output from the printer 4 with a high running cost. Further, on this setting screen, a file attribute condition for omitting a request for approval information may be set for each printer 4 by a “detail” setting button.

  In the control of FIG. 3, step S106 for comparing the contents of past approval information may be omitted. In this case, every time approval information is obtained for the same file, the contents of the print history including the approval information stored in the storage unit 13 are overwritten with the latest content, thereby saving the capacity of the storage unit 13. May be.

  Further, in the control of FIG. 3, in step S105, printing may be performed based on the most frequently applied approval information among a plurality of print histories for the same file. As a result, for example, when the user has recently printed with a reduced color output for the purpose of saving his or her own, the approval information for the previous color setting is made valid and color output is enabled. be able to.

  Further, when confirming the print history, if a part of the file name (for example, the first or last eight characters) matches and the file sizes are substantially the same, it may be determined that they are the same file. Alternatively, the identity may be determined by extracting a part of the character string included in the file (for example, the first predetermined number of characters).

  Next, FIG. 9 shows a control flow of the image output control system 5 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The control of this embodiment is obtained by replacing steps S104, 106, and 107 in FIG. 3 with step S114 that performs different control. Therefore, the description which overlaps about the same process is abbreviate | omitted. The mechanical configuration is also the same as that in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In step S103, if there is a history of outputting the same file in the past, the image output control system 5 of the present embodiment displays the file attributes and print requests included in the latest print history for the same file in step S114. The received file attribute is compared, and if the difference between the file attributes is within a predetermined range, the file that has received the print request is printed based on the approval information of the print history in step S105.

  The file attributes compared in step S114 are, for example, the number of pages to be output in color, the file size, the total number of printed pages, the average value of toner coverage, the printing date and time, and the like. In step S114, the difference in file attributes allowed for omitting the request for approval information is, for example, an increase in the number of pages for color output is 1 page or less, a difference in file size is ± 5% or less, The number of printed pages is 3 pages or less, the difference in the average value of toner coverage is ± 10% or less, and the difference in printing date and time is 30 minutes or less (may be from the previous printing completion to the current output request).

  That is, the image output control system 5 has a high probability of the same approval result for the current file if there is a slight correction from the file that the previous approver permitted to output for the newly received output request. It is determined that there is no problem even if it is output based on the previous approval information.

  Further, the image output control system 5 shows, for example, FIG. 10 when the approver sets the approval information in the approver computer 3 with the allowable limit of the file attribute difference that omits the request for the approval information in step S114. Such a setting screen may be set freely.

  Further, FIG. 11 shows a control flow of the image output control system 5 of the third embodiment of the present invention. The mechanical configuration of this embodiment is also the same as that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the image output control system 5 accepts a file output request from the user computer 2 in step S201, and in step S202, the user requests it by the method described in the first embodiment or the second embodiment. For the print setting to be performed, it is determined whether or not the approver should be requested to set approval information.

  If new approval information needs to be set, the image output control system 5 temporarily stores the contents of the file requested to be printed in the storage unit 13 in step S203, and in step S204, prints according to the procedure described later. For each print setting of the requested file, confirmation data for confirming whether or not the printing conditions can be applied to the approver is created, and the confirmation data is transmitted to the approver computer 3 in step S205. The confirmation data may be transmitted by E-mail or may be transmitted by communication using another network protocol (may be a dedicated protocol).

  In step S206, the image output control system 5 waits for approval information to be set in the approver computer 3. In FIG. 11, the approval information is transmitted to the image output control system 5 by communication via the network 1. The image output control system 5 can access the resource of the approver computer 3 via the network 1 to confirm the approval information. Good.

  If the image output control system 5 receives the approval information for the file requested to be printed, in step S207, it is confirmed whether approval (printing permission) has been made for all the setting items, and printing is not permitted. The location is changed to a setting that does not require approval in step S208, and then the image of the file is printed (output) in step S209. Even when it is determined in step S202 that new approval information is unnecessary, the process proceeds to step S209, and an image is printed based on the approval information at the time of previous printing.

  FIG. 12 shows a procedure for creating confirmation data in step S204 of FIG. In the creation of the confirmation data by the image output control system 5, first, in step S301, it is confirmed whether or not there is a portion for which color output is set in the file requested for printing. If there is a color setting portion, the image output control system 5 adds additional information that clearly indicates that the color setting has been made to the confirmation data in step S302 according to the procedure described later.

  Subsequently, in step S303, the image output control system 5 confirms whether or not stapling is set. If stapling is set, the confirmation is performed in step S304 according to the procedure described later. Additional information that clearly indicates that the staple setting image has been made is added to the data.

  Subsequently, in step S305, the image output control system 5 confirms whether or not the processing for inserting the insertion sheet is set. If the setting for the insertion sheet processing has been made, in step S306, the process will be described later. According to the procedure, additional information that clearly indicates that the staple setting is made is added to the confirmation data.

  Thereafter, in step S307, the image output control system 5 checks whether the storage unit 13 has a print history for a file having the same name as the file for which the print request has been made. If it is determined in step S308 that a print history exists, in step S309, additional information specifying the previous approval information is added to the confirmation data by a procedure described later.

  Furthermore, if the size of the paper selected in the file output request is A3 in step S310, the image output control system 5 confirms that the A3 size paper is selected in step S311 according to the procedure described later. Append explicit information to the confirmation data.

  FIG. 13 shows details of the color information addition processing in step S302 of FIG. In the color information addition process, first, in step S401, an output image set to perform color printing is extracted from the output image of the file requested to be printed, and in step S402, it is set to perform monochrome printing. Extract the output image. In step S403, confirmation data is generated in which the output image of the page to be printed in color is preceded by the output image of the page to be printed in monochrome.

  As an example, the contents of the file requested to be printed are set so that the first half of the first page, the entire second page, and the second half of the fourth page are color-printed as shown in FIG. Assume that the second half of the eye, the entire third page, and the first half of the fourth page are set to perform monochrome printing. In this case, the output images of the confirmation data are arranged in the page order of 1-2-4-1-3-4 as illustrated in FIG. That is, the output image is arranged on the page where the color setting and the monochrome setting are mixed. However, if the approver is to determine only whether or not color printing is possible, the output image of the monochrome setting page may be omitted.

  Further, the image output control system 5 creates a thumbnail image having a small size so that a plurality of pages can be simultaneously displayed on the approver computer from the print job in step S404 in FIG. 13, and confirms the thumbnail image in step S405. Append to data.

  The confirmation data created in this way is displayed on the approver computer 3 together with the output image, as illustrated in FIG. In this example, the output image shown in FIG. 15 is displayed so that a page to be confirmed can be selected by a scroll bar or by clicking a thumbnail image displayed at the same time.

  In the confirmation data, in addition to the output image of the page for which color printing is set, a check box for granting color printing is added, and the approver specifies the part to set whether or not to allow color printing. Easy to grasp. In addition, since the page where the output image is set in color is rearranged first, the approver can check the portion to be judged whether color printing is possible or not.

  FIG. 17 shows details of the staple information addition processing in step S304 of FIG. In step S501, the image output control system 5 extracts setting information for stapling processing from the file requested to be printed. In step S502, as shown in FIG. 18, the image output control system 5 places it on the output image of the first page of the confirmation data. Then, a symbol for clearly indicating the staple process is added, and a check box for approving the staple process is added to the confirmation data. Further, a thumbnail image is created in step S503, and the thumbnail image is added to the confirmation data in step S504.

  FIG. 19 shows details of the insertion sheet information addition processing in step S306 of FIG. In step S601, the image output control system 5 extracts setting information for insertion sheet insertion processing including a cover from the file requested to be printed. In step S602, as shown in FIG. 20, an output image of confirmation data is output. An insertion sheet image is added to the insertion position of the insertion sheet, and a check box for approving insertion sheet processing is added as shown in FIG. Further, a thumbnail image is created in step S603, and the thumbnail image is added to the confirmation data in step S604.

  FIG. 22 shows details of the approval history addition process in step S309 of FIG. In step S701, the image output control system 5 confirms the past output history of the file in the storage unit 13. In step S702, the approval information at the previous printing is extracted from the print history. 23, the previous approval information is added to the confirmation data, and the setting item approved last time is preset to an approval state (a state in which the check box is checked).

  Further, in step S704, the image output control system 5 compares the previous output content with the current output content. If the contents of the file have been changed since the previous output in step S705, the setting item of the part whose contents have been changed is changed to unauthorized in step S706. For example, in FIG. 24, the setting for the second page is set to color, but since the previous approval was monochrome, the check box has been changed (reset) to an unapproved state.

  Further, in step S707, the image output control system 5 confirms whether or not the user who made the output request is the same as the user who requested the output of the same file last time. If the previous user is different from the previous user, it is checked in step S708 if the user's printable level is the same as the previous user.

  If the printable levels of the users are different, the difference between the printable levels is confirmed in step S709, the part where the print setting exceeds the print level is extracted in step S710, and the confirmation data is printed in step S711. Add information that clearly indicates the level violation to the place where the print setting exceeds the level, and change (reset) the check box to an unapproved state.

  For example, FIG. 25 illustrates a display using confirmation data in the case where the insertion of the cover sheet has been approved at the time of the previous printing, but the user who made the print request this time is a user who is not permitted to insert the insertion sheet. In this example, the confirmation data has a cover insertion check box reset to an unapproved state, and a warning message of level violation is added.

  FIG. 26 shows details of the paper size information addition processing in step S311 of FIG. In step S801, the image output control system 5 extracts A3 setting information. In step S802, as shown in FIG. 27, the first output image of the confirmation data is enlarged, and whether or not A3 size printing can be performed on the confirmation data. Add a check box to confirm.

  In this way, the image output control system 5 creates the confirmation data with additional information that clearly indicates the items to be confirmed by the approver, thereby facilitating the approval work of the approver, and the check omission or determination error. Can be prevented.

  Although the above embodiment has been described on the premise of printing an image, the present invention may be applied to any type of output such as transmission of an image by FAX or E-mail.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network 2 ... User computer 3 ... Approver computer 4 ... Printer

Claims (24)

Accept file output requests from user computers,
An image for requesting approval information indicating whether or not to output the file that has received the output request from the approver computer, and outputting the file that has received the output request based on the approval information set in the approver computer An output control system,
Storage means for storing the name of the file once output and the approval information for the file;
When a file output request is received from the user computer, the same file as the file that has received the output request has been output in the past, and the attribute of the file that has received the output request satisfies a predetermined condition. When satisfying, without requesting the approver computer again the approval information for the file that has received the output request, the file that has received the output request is used as the approval information for the same file output that was output in the past. An image output control system characterized in that output is performed based on the output.   The image output control system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes toner coverage of a file that has received the output request being equal to or less than a predetermined ratio.   The image output control system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes that the number of output pages of the file that has received the output request is equal to or less than a predetermined value.   4. The image output control system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that a number of color output pages of the file that has received the output request is equal to or less than a predetermined value. 5.   5. The image output control system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes that a man-hour of at least one of the inter-output processing and post-output processing of the file that has received the output request is equal to or less than a predetermined man-hour. .   6. The predetermined condition is changed to a more lenient condition when the number of times the approval information is set for the same file as the file that has received the output request increases. An image output control system according to claim 1.   Only when the contents of the approval information set in the past for the file that has received the output request all match, the file that has received the output request is output based on the approval information set in the past. 7. The image output control system according to claim 1, wherein   7. The image output control system according to claim 1, wherein a file that has received an output request is output based on the approval information that has been set last for the file.   The image output control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a file that has received an output request is output based on the approval information that is most frequently applied to the file. Accept file output requests from user computers,
An image for requesting approval information indicating whether or not to output the file that has received the output request from the approver computer, and outputting the file that has received the output request based on the approval information set in the approver computer An output control system,
Storage means for storing the attributes of the file once output and the approval information about the file;
When a file output request is received from the user computer, the same file as the file that has received the output request may have been output in the past, and the attributes of the file that have received the output request and the past output If the difference between the attributes of the same file is within a predetermined range, the file for which the output request has been received without requesting the approver computer for the approval information for the output requested file again, An image output control system for outputting based on the approval information for the same file output in the past.   The image output control system according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined range includes a difference in the number of pages of color output being equal to or less than a predetermined number of pages.   12. The image output control system according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined range includes that a difference in file size is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size.   The image output control system according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the predetermined range includes that a difference in the number of output pages is equal to or less than a predetermined number of pages.   The image output control system according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined range includes a difference in toner coverage being a predetermined value or less.   15. The image output control system according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined range includes that a difference in time when an output request is received is equal to or less than a predetermined time. Accept file output requests from user computers,
An image for requesting approval information indicating whether or not to output the file that has received the output request from the approver computer, and outputting the file that has received the output request based on the approval information set in the approver computer An output control system,
The request for the approval information is generated in the approver computer by creating confirmation data in which the output image of the file that has received the output request is added with additional information that clearly indicates a portion in which the predetermined setting is made in the file. An image output control system characterized by performing transmission. The additional information includes information specifying the color output setting,
17. The image output control system according to claim 16, wherein the confirmation data is obtained by arranging the output image of a page set for color output in front.   18. The image output control system according to claim 16, wherein the confirmation data includes a thumbnail image that can simultaneously display a plurality of pages of the output image. The additional information includes information specifying the staple setting,
The image output control system according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the information for specifying the staple setting is added to the first page of the output image. The additional information includes information specifying the insertion setting of the insertion sheet,
20. The confirmation data according to claim 16, wherein an insertion sheet image is added at a page position where the insertion sheet is inserted when the insertion sheet is set to be inserted. The image output control system described.   17. The additional information includes information that clearly indicates a content of the approval information set in the approver computer when the same file as the file that has received the output request is output last time. 21. The image output control system according to any one of items 1 to 20.   The image output control system according to any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein the additional information includes information that clearly indicates that a sheet having a predetermined size is selected.   The additional information corresponds to the approval information set in the approver computer when the setting of any one of the output requested files is output the same file last time, and each setting 23. The information according to any one of claims 16 to 22, further comprising information that clearly indicates that the output of the setting has been approved when the contents of the file of the portion related to the file have not been updated since the previous output. The image output control system described in 1.   24. The information according to claim 16, wherein the additional information includes information that clearly indicates a setting that can be output depending on a printable level difference between a current user and a user who has output the previous time. The image output control system described in 1.

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