KR20170074837A - Host device, managing server and their image forming control method - Google Patents

Abstract

The host apparatus is started. The host apparatus includes a user interface unit for receiving user information for logging in to the management server, a communication interface unit for transmitting user information to the management server, a display unit, and an image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus And a control unit for controlling the display unit to display information about the device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a host device, a management server,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a host apparatus, a management server, and an image forming control method thereof, and more particularly, to a host apparatus, a management server and an image forming control method thereof operating in an MPS (Managed Printing and Service or Solution) .

The image forming apparatus refers to a device that prints print data generated by a terminal device such as a computer on a recording paper. Examples of such an image forming apparatus include a copier, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that combines the functions of the copier, the printer, and the facsimile through a single device.

In recent years, government offices, universities, or corporations have provided management systems such as MPS (Managed Printing and Service or Solution) for easy management of many image forming apparatuses.

MPS System manages printing machines such as printers and MFPs in the network and their work (printing, copying, faxing, scanning, etc.) logs and manages usage and billing by individual or group by JAC (Job Accounting) It is a system that can process business logic.

However, in the conventional method, an administrator directly adds a plurality of users to each image forming apparatus directly through the MPS system for JAC. That is, the administrator needs to conduct prior investigation of a large number of users who actually use each image forming apparatus.

Therefore, it was necessary to conduct a preliminary investigation as to which users in each department should be assigned to each printer. That is, there has been a problem in that it is necessary to know who the actual users of each printer are.

In addition, the administrator has to register the users to be allocated for each printer investigated in the system one by one, and as the number of the printers and users increases, the administrator repeatedly works.

In addition, when the workforce in the department is changed or a printer other than the printer to which the user himself / herself is assigned due to a temporary problem of the printer is used, the administrator must reflect the change of the user every time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, which is connected to a host apparatus in a Managed Printing and Service or Solution (MPS) And it is an object of the present invention to determine whether or not the user has the right to use the information on the management server.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host apparatus including a user interface unit for receiving user information for logging into a management server, a communication interface unit for transmitting the user information to the management server, And a controller for controlling the display unit to display information on the image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus when the login to the management server is performed,

The control unit may control the communication interface unit to transmit the information of the selected image forming apparatus and the user information to the management server when at least one of the information on the displayed image forming apparatus is selected.

The control unit may control the image forming apparatus to perform the image forming job using the selected image forming apparatus when the information on the selected image forming apparatus and the usage permission information determined in accordance with the user information are received from the management server.

The control unit displays the permission or non-permission information for the selected image forming apparatus when the information about the selected image forming apparatus and the user permission information or the use disapproval information determined according to the user information is received from the management server The display unit can be controlled.

Also, the display unit displays a screen including a login menu, displays a screen for receiving the user information when the login menu is selected, and the control unit transmits the input user information to the management server And when the login completion signal is received from the management server, the control unit may control the display unit to display information on at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus.

The display unit may display at least one of a search menu for searching an image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus, a view menu for displaying information about the searched image forming apparatus, and a selection menu for selecting one of the searched image forming apparatuses You can display it with the login menu.

The control unit may further include a storage unit and the control unit may include a name of at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus, IP information, Driver information , The serial number information, the status information, the toner information, and the JAC setting information, and stores the detected information in the storage unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a management server for storing user information and usage right information for each image forming apparatus, and for periodically storing the usage right information according to the user information provided from the user information database A communication interface for receiving updated information from the storage unit, user information input from the host apparatus, and information about at least one image forming apparatus selected for use in the host apparatus, information stored in the storage unit, And a control unit for comparing the information to determine whether or not the user of the host apparatus is authorized to use and notifying the host apparatus and the image forming apparatus.

The control unit may control the information of the storage unit to be automatically updated according to the information received through the communication interface unit when the right of use is granted to the user of the host apparatus.

The image forming apparatus may further include a user interface unit for receiving the user information and the usage right information for each image forming apparatus.

The display unit may further include a display unit for displaying the user information and the usage right information for each image forming apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming control method for a host apparatus, the method comprising: receiving user information for logging into a management server; transmitting the user information to the management server; Displaying information on the image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus when the log-in to the management server is performed, receiving at least one of the information about the displayed image forming apparatus, And transmitting the user information to the management server.

The method may further include performing an image forming job using the selected image forming apparatus when the information on the selected image forming apparatus and the usage permission information determined in accordance with the user information are received from the management server.

The method may further include the step of displaying a permission or denial status of the selected image forming apparatus when the information on the selected image forming apparatus and the permission information or the use disapproval information determined according to the user information are received from the management server can do.

The inputting of the user information may include displaying a screen including a login menu, displaying a screen for receiving the user information when the login menu is selected, displaying information on the image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus The input user information may be transmitted to the management server, and when the login completion signal is received from the management server, information about at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus may be displayed.

It is preferable that at least one of a search menu for searching an image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus, a view menu for displaying information about the searched image forming apparatus, and a selection menu for selecting one of the searched image forming apparatuses And a step of displaying an image.

When the log-in to the management server is performed or the search menu is selected, the name, IP information, Driver information, serial number information, status information, toner information, JAC setting information of at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus And detecting and storing at least one of information indicating whether the information is stored or not, and displaying the detected information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming control method for a management server, the method including receiving user information from a user information database, periodically storing user information periodically, And receiving information on at least one image forming apparatus selected for use in the host apparatus and user information inputted from the host apparatus, Comparing the information to determine whether or not the user of the host apparatus is authorized for use, and notifying the host apparatus and the image forming apparatus of the usage right.

The determining may further include automatically updating the updated information according to the received information when the right of use is granted to the user of the host apparatus.

The method may further include receiving the user information and the usage right information for each image forming apparatus.

The method may further include displaying the user information and the usage right information for each image forming apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium on which program codes for performing an image forming control method of a host apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are stored, The method comprising: receiving user information; transmitting the user information to the management server; displaying information on the image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus when the login to the management server is performed; Selecting at least one of information on the selected image forming apparatus and information on the selected image forming apparatus and transmitting the user information to the management server.

And displaying the permission or denial status of the selected image forming apparatus when the information on the selected image forming apparatus and the permission information or the use disapproval information determined according to the user information are received from the management server can do.

As described above, according to various embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to automatically add and set an actual user to a plurality of printers in an MPS SYSTEM environment without an administrator intervention.

Also, if the organization is changed and the printing environment of the user is changed, the JAC can be set and released without the intervention of the administrator.

Also, in the situation where the user is added or removed, the JAC setting can be actively performed without the intervention of the administrator.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a block diagram illustrating a host device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram illustrating a management server according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 4A to 4J are diagrams for explaining operational characteristics of the host apparatus of Fig. 2,
5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining operational characteristics of the management server of FIG. 3,
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an image forming control method of a host apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a flowchart for explaining an image formation control method of a management server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 1, the image forming system includes a host apparatus 100, a management server 200, and an image forming apparatus 300. As shown in FIG. Here, the image forming system may be an MPS System.

The host apparatus 100 is connected to the management server 200 and the image forming apparatus 300. The host device 100 logs in using the information of the user registered in the management server 200 and when the log-in to the management server 200 is performed, the image forming apparatus 300 connected to the host apparatus 100 Display information. And also stores information on the image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus 100. [ Further, a user interface is provided so that information of at least one image forming apparatus (that is, an image forming apparatus to be actually used by the user) out of information on stored or displayed image forming apparatuses. And also transmits information and user information of the selected image forming apparatus to the management server 200. [ In addition, when the license information or the use-disapproval information determined according to the information of the selected image forming apparatus and the user information is received from the management server 200, the permission or non-permission status of the selected image forming apparatus is displayed through the display unit. The specific configuration and operation of the host apparatus 100 will be described later with reference to Fig. On the other hand, the host apparatus 100 may be any apparatus capable of controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 300, for example, a terminal apparatus such as a PC.

The management server 200 is connected to the host apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus 300. The management server 200 stores user information and usage right information for each image forming apparatus. Here, the user information means an ID and a password corresponding to each user. Further, the usage right information per the image forming apparatus refers to whether a user is authorized to use an image forming apparatus, or whether a department is authorized to use an image forming apparatus. The usage right information for each image forming apparatus is stored in a form in which at least one user is enumerated for each image forming apparatus. Also, the management server 200 is periodically updated according to the user information provided from the user information database. That is, the management server 200 is interlocked with the user information database when a user is added, deleted, or changed, and accordingly, the user information and the usage right information for each image forming apparatus are updated. Here, the user information database may be an LDAP server. In addition, the management server 200 receives user information input from the host apparatus 100 and information of at least one image forming apparatus selected for use in the host apparatus 100. [ Then, the received information (the user information input from the host apparatus 100 and the information of at least one image forming apparatus selected for use in the host apparatus 100) and the information (user information, And determines whether or not the user of the host apparatus 100 has the use right for the selected at least one image forming apparatus, and determines whether or not the use authority exists in the host apparatus 100 and the image Forming apparatus. The specific configuration and operation of the management server 200 will be described later with reference to FIG. On the other hand, the management server 200 may be any server type, in particular, an MPS server.

The image forming apparatus 300 is connected to the host apparatus 100 and the management server 200 and performs an image forming job at the request of the host apparatus 100. [ Specifically, in the image forming apparatus 300, when the usage permission information determined in accordance with the information of the selected image forming apparatus and the user information is received from the management server 200 by the host apparatus 100, To perform an image forming job. Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus 300 may be a copier, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that combines the functions of the copier, the printer, and the facsimile through a single device.

Although only one host apparatus 100, the management server 200, and the image forming apparatus 300 are shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of them may be provided. For example, a plurality of image forming apparatuses may be connected to a plurality of host apparatuses. In this case, a plurality of image forming apparatuses may be implemented by different apparatuses such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and an MFP.

Although the image forming system is illustrated as being implemented in one network in FIG. 1, the image forming system may be implemented in different networks, and in this case, a repeater serving as a relay for enabling communication between different networks may be provided.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a host device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2, the host apparatus 100 includes a user interface unit 101, a communication interface unit 102, a display unit 103, a storage unit 104, and a control unit 105.

The user interface unit 101 functions to allow a user to set or select various functions supported by the host apparatus 100. [

Specifically, the user interface unit 101 may display a user interface window (UI) for receiving user information for log-in to the management server 200.

In addition, at least one of a search menu for searching an image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus 100, a view menu for displaying information about the searched image forming apparatus, and a selection menu for selecting one of the searched image forming apparatus It can be displayed as a user interface window (UI).

Here, the user interface unit 101 may be implemented as a device that simultaneously implements inputs and outputs such as a touch pad, or may be implemented by combining input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard, and display devices such as a CRT monitor, an LCD monitor, .

The communication interface unit 102 functions to connect the host apparatus 100 to the management server 200 and the image forming apparatus 300.

Specifically, when the login is performed using the user interface unit 101, the communication interface unit 102 can transmit the user information to the management server 200.

When at least one of the information on the image forming apparatus displayed on the display unit 103 is selected, the communication interface unit 102 can transmit the information of the selected image forming apparatus to the management server 200. [

In addition, the communication interface unit 102 receives from the management server 200 the permission information determined in accordance with the information of the selected image forming apparatus and the user information, and instructs the image forming apparatus to perform an image forming job using the selected image forming apparatus Lt; / RTI >

The communication interface unit 102 is formed to connect the host apparatus 100 to the management server 200 and the image forming apparatus 300 and is connected to the communication interface unit 102 via a LAN or a local area network (Universal Serial Bus) port as well as a form connected to the USB port.

The display unit 103 functions to display various operations of the host apparatus 100. [

Specifically, the display unit 103 functions to display various functions of the user interface unit 101 so that the user can set or select them. That is, a search menu for searching an image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus 100, a view menu for displaying information about the searched image forming apparatus, and a selection menu for selecting one of the searched image forming apparatuses And can be displayed on the display unit 103 in the user interface window (UI). And functions to display a screen under the control of the control unit 105, which will be described later.

The display unit 103 also has a function of displaying information on the image forming apparatus to which the use right is permitted and information such as quotas (for example, the degree of usability of print, scan, copy, fax, etc.) .

The display unit 103 may be a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, And a display (3D display).

The storage unit 104 stores various programs and data necessary for driving the host apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus 300.

Specifically, when the log-in to the management server 200 is performed, the storage unit 104 stores the name of at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus 100, IP information, Driver Information, serial number information, status information, toner information, and JAC setting information.

Here, the storage unit 104 may be implemented as a built-in repository as well as a removable type repository.

The control unit 105 controls the user interface unit 101, the communication interface unit 102, the display unit 103, and the storage unit 104.

Specifically, the control unit 105 may control the display unit 103 to display information on the image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus 100, when the login to the management server 200 is performed. That is, the control unit 105 controls the communication interface unit 102 to select the login menu displayed on the display unit 103 and transmit the input user information (ID and password) to the management server 200. When the login completion signal is received from the management server 200 through the communication interface unit 102 (that is, when the user information input at the time of login is stored in the management server 200), the login is successful. 100) connected to the image forming apparatus. The information about at least one image forming apparatus searched here may be at least one of the name, IP information, Driver information, serial number information, status information, toner information, and JAC setting information of at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus 100 One. The control unit 105 detects information about the searched image forming apparatus and stores the information in the storage unit 104. [

The control unit 105 controls the display unit 103 to display information on the image forming apparatus stored in the storage unit 104 when the view menu displayed on the display unit 103 is selected through the user interface unit 101 can do.

When the selection menu displayed on the display unit 103 is selected through the user interface unit 101, the control unit 105 displays a list of at least one image forming apparatus corresponding to information on the image forming apparatus stored in the storage unit 104 It is possible to control the display unit 103 to display a selection window for selecting one.

The control unit 105 displays a search window for searching at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus 100 on the display unit 103 when the search menu displayed on the display unit 103 is selected through the user interface unit 101 103). ≪ / RTI > The search menu is for searching at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus 100. When the user moves to a network environment different from the existing network environment for some reason, Can be used. Here, the search includes an automatic search mode and a manual search mode (a method in which a user directly inputs an IP or the like to search for an image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus).

The control unit 105 can also control the communication interface unit 102 to transmit the information of the selected image forming apparatus and the user information to the management server 200 when at least one of the information on the displayed image forming apparatus is selected.

Further, when the usage permission information determined in accordance with the information of the selected image forming apparatus and the user information (i.e., the state in which the selected image forming apparatus is available to the user of the host apparatus 100) is received from the management server 200, It is possible to control the image forming job to be performed using the selected image forming apparatus.

Also, when the license information or the use-disapproval information determined in accordance with the information of the selected image forming apparatus and the user information is received from the management server, the display unit 103 is controlled to display the permission or denial status of the selected image forming apparatus .

If the driver for the image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus 100 is not installed in the host apparatus 100, the control unit 105 controls to manually install or automatically install the driver for the image forming apparatus .

As described above, according to the host apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a user selects an image forming apparatus to be used and transmits the selected image forming apparatus to the management server 200, so that when the user's printing environment is changed, JAC can be set and released.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3, the management server 200 includes a user interface unit 201, a communication interface unit 202, a display unit 203, a storage unit 204, and a control unit 205.

The user interface unit 201 functions to allow a user to set or select various functions supported by the management server 200. [

Specifically, the user interface unit 201 can receive user information added, changed, and deleted to the management server 200, and can also receive usage right information for each user of the image forming apparatus. Here, the user interface unit 201 may be implemented by combining input devices such as a touch pad, a mouse, and a keyboard, and a display device such as a CRT monitor, an LCD monitor, and an LED.

The communication interface unit 202 functions to connect the management server 200 to the host apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus 300.

Specifically, the communication interface unit 202 can receive user information input from the host apparatus 100 and information of at least one image forming apparatus selected for use in the host apparatus 100. [

Further, if the right of use of the user of the host apparatus 100 is permitted or denied, information on the usage right can be transmitted to the host apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus. Here, the communication interface unit 202 may be connected via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port as well as a wireless or wired connection type via a LAN (Local Area Network) and an Internet network.

The display unit 203 functions to display various operations of the management server 200. [

Specifically, the display unit 103 may display the user information stored in the storage unit 204 and the usage right information for each image forming apparatus. The display unit 103 may be a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, And a display (3D display).

The storage unit 204 stores various programs and data necessary for the management server 200 to operate.

Specifically, the storage unit 204 stores user information and usage right information for each image forming apparatus, and when the user is added, deleted, or changed in association with a user information database (e.g., LDAP) . Here, the storage unit 204 may be embodied as a built-in repository as well as a removable type repository.

The control unit 205 controls the user interface unit 201, the communication interface unit 202, the display unit 203, and the storage unit 204.

More specifically, the control unit 205 stores user information input from the host apparatus 100 received via the communication interface unit 202, information of at least one image forming apparatus selected for use in the host apparatus, And the usage right information for each image forming apparatus can be compared with each other.

If there is the user information input from the host apparatus 100 in the storage unit 204 and the authority to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the information of at least one image forming apparatus selected for use in the host apparatus, Can be granted.

Otherwise, if there is user information input from the host apparatus 100 in the storage unit 204 but there is no authority for the image forming apparatus corresponding to the information of at least one image forming apparatus selected for use in the host apparatus, Permission may be denied.

If there is no user information input from the host device 100 in the storage unit 204, it is obvious that the login itself fails and no information is transmitted to the management server 200. [

The control unit 205 can control the host apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus 300 to be notified via the communication interface unit 202 when the use right is determined.

If the user of the host apparatus 100 is granted the right to use the information, the control unit 205 controls the user information of the storage unit 204 according to the user information received through the communication interface unit 202 and information on the image forming apparatus And the storage unit 204 to automatically update the authority information for each image forming apparatus. That is, the control unit 205 may control the storage unit 204 to update the user information allowed for each image forming apparatus.

As described above, according to the management server 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to actively set the JAC without intervention of the administrator in a situation where the user is added, removed or changed by interlocking with the user database.

4A to 4K are diagrams for explaining operational characteristics of the host apparatus of FIG.

4A to 4K, the printer of the image forming apparatus will be described as an example for convenience of explanation. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any image forming apparatus is applicable.

4A is automatically activated at the start of the host apparatus 100, the execution is indicated on the desk bar, and the host apparatus 100 resides until the end of the host apparatus 100 and performs its function.

The user can click the icon of FIG. 4A to view the menu provided by the application. First, if a login menu is selected as shown in FIG. 4B for login, a window for inputting user information (ID and password) as shown on the right is created. The user can access the management server 200 by inputting the user information. If the user information does not match the user information stored in the management server 200, the login fails and no information is transmitted to the management server 200 Do not.

When the login is completed, the application collects information of printers connected to the host apparatus 100 of the user as shown in FIG. 4C. The information about the printer includes information such as the name of the printer (for example, names such as CLX-9250 9350 Series and SCX-6X55 Series), IP information (IP address of each printer), driver information, serial number information, (Information on whether or not the printer 100 is connected to the printer 100, whether the printer 100 is connected to the printer 100), toner information (CMYK toner amount information), and JAC setting information.

4D is a diagram showing information of printers connected to the host device 100 searched when the view menu is selected.

FIG. 4E is a diagram for selecting at least one printer corresponding to the information of the prints connected to the host device 100 retrieved in FIG. 4C when the selection menu is selected. In FIG. 4E, CLX-9250 9350 Series and SCX-6X55 Series are selected.

FIG. 4F shows that the printers (CLX-9250 9350 Series and SCX-6X55 Series in FIG. 4F) that have been selected previously appear in a state of 'set' in JAC setting on the printer selection screen. This is because the image forming apparatus was used by selecting the CLX-9250 9350 Series and the SCX-6X55 Series previously. In this case, if the CLX-8385 Series and CLP-660 for which JAC is not set are selected and the OK button is pressed as shown in FIG. 4f, the management server 200 is requested to set the license for the selected printer. Will be displayed.

4G, when the user moves to another network environment other than the existing network environment for some reason while using the application, the user can manually or automatically search the printers connected to the host device 100 as shown in FIG. 4G. In this case, the printers retrieved in the new network environment can be used, as shown in FIG. 4H.

After requesting the management server 200 to set the usage rights related to the printers (SCX-1385 Series and SCX-2X55) corresponding to the information on the printers selected in Fig. 4H, the management server 200 determines whether the user Check whether you have permission. The determination of the usage rights can be made by comparing the usage rights information for each printer stored in the management server 200 as shown in FIG. 4I. Here, the usage right information for each printer can be modified through the user interface unit. As shown in FIG. 4I, the usage right information for each printer is stored for each printer. If the user of the host device 100 selects and selects the SCX-1385 Series by JAC, the management server 200 determines whether the user of the host device has authority. For example, if you are not a member of 'design group 1' but not 'King Sejong,' you will not be able to use the SCX-1385 Series printer. If the CLX-9250 9350 Series printer is authorized for all users and groups, the user of the host device 100 is allowed to use the CLX-9250 9350 Series when JAC is selected, and the CLX-9250 9350 Series It will be possible to print using.

FIG. 4J is a diagram showing that the host device 100 is notified whether the user has the right to use the selected printer when the CLX-9250 9350 Series and the SCX-6X55 Series are selected as the printer. The CLX-9250 9350 Series was successful, and the SCX-6X55 Series failed. In this case, CLX-9250 9350 Series will be set to JAC setting.

4A to 4J, the application periodically checks the list of printers selected by the user, and whenever the first selection and subsequent changes occur, information on the image forming apparatus selected by the management server 200 and user information . If the management server 200 normally finishes setting the JAC for the selected image forming apparatus on the basis of the received information, the user can output the image to the JAC configured image forming apparatus.

5A to 5E are diagrams for explaining operational characteristics of the management server of FIG.

5A to 5E, the printer of the image forming apparatus will be described as an example for convenience of explanation. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any image forming apparatus is applicable.

The management server 200 is interlocked with a user information database (e.g., LDAP), and is periodically updated when a user is added, deleted, or changed.

5A is a diagram showing user information in the management server 200 periodically updated. In the case where 'Hong Kil-Dong' is registered as a user as shown in FIG. 5A, when the Hong Kil-dong leaves the office or moves the department, the management server 200 automatically links 'Hong Kil Dong' 200), or may change the department.

In addition, the host device 100 receives user information and information about the selected printer, and determines whether or not the user is authorized to use the printer.

If permission is granted, the user information is added and stored on a printer basis in association with the per-printer user authority. Also, when the user information of the printer is changed, the corresponding user information is updated.

5B is a diagram showing user information transmitted from the host apparatus and information on the selected print. Referring to FIG. 5B, it can be seen that 'Kim Cheol Soo' related to the user information and 'CLX-8385 Series and CLP-660' related to the selected print are transmitted to the management server.

FIG. 5C is a view showing user rights information per print stored in the storage unit of the management server 200. FIG. 5C shows the user right information for each print stored in the storage unit of the management server 200 when the usage right for the selected print is granted based on the information in FIG. 5B. 'Chul-soo Kim' has selected 'CLX-8385 Series' and 'CLP-660' and added 'Chul-soo' to 'CLP-8385 Series' and 'Chul-soo' to 'CLP-660' . That is, the management server 200 knows that the user is added and stored for each printer.

5D is a diagram showing that the storage unit is updated when the per-print user right information is changed. That is, in FIG. 5D, 'Hong Kil Dong' is added to the CLP-660 image forming apparatus. This means that Hong Kil-Dong selects CLP-660 from the host device, and the management server 200 is updated to add to the storage unit, judging that Hong Kil-Dong is in the user information and also has the right to use CLP-660.

FIG. 5E is a diagram showing a user's quota value for each printer. In FIG. 5 (e), U denotes an unlimited quota value, and therefore, 'Hong Kil-dong' shows that print, copy, fax, and scan can be used indefinitely.

6 is a flowchart for explaining an image formation control method of a host apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, first, user information for logging in to the management server is input (S610). In this case, a user interface window may be displayed as shown in FIG. 4B.

Then, the input user information is transmitted to the management server (S620). When the login to the management server is performed, information on the image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus is displayed (S630). In this case, information about the image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus is retrieved as shown in Fig. 4C, When the menu is selected, a user interface window as shown in FIG. 4E can be displayed.

If at least one of the information on the displayed image forming apparatus is selected (S640: Y), the information about the selected image forming apparatus and the user information are transmitted to the management server (S650). If at least one of the information on the displayed image forming apparatus is not selected (S640: N), information on the image forming apparatus and user information are not transmitted to the management server.

7 is a flowchart for explaining an image formation control method of a management server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the user information is provided from the user information database (S710). The user information and the usage right information for each image forming apparatus are periodically updated according to the provided information (S720). The user information input from the host apparatus and the information of at least one image forming apparatus selected for use in the host apparatus are received (S730). The received information is compared with the updated information to determine whether or not the user of the host apparatus is authorized for use (S740).

If the use right is granted to the user of the host apparatus (S750: Y), the host apparatus and the image forming apparatus are notified of the use permission (S760). The updated information is automatically updated according to the received information (S770).

If the use right is not granted to the user of the host apparatus (S750: N), the host apparatus and the image forming apparatus are notified of the use permission (S780).

Further, the image formation control method of the host apparatus according to the above-described various embodiments may be implemented by a program code stored in various types of recording media and executed by a CPU or the like.

Specifically, the code for performing the above-described methods may be stored in a storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM) Such as a floppy disk, a removable disk, a memory card, a USB memory, a CD-ROM, and the like.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

100: host apparatus 101: user interface unit
102: communication interface unit 103: display unit
104: Storage unit 105: Control unit
200: management server 201: user interface unit
202: communication interface unit 203: display unit
204: storage unit 205:
300: image forming apparatus

Claims (18)

In the host apparatus,
A user interface unit for receiving user information for logging in to the management server;
A communication interface for transmitting the user information to the management server;
A display unit; And
When the login to the management server is performed, the display unit displays the user interface window including information on whether or not the user is allowed to use the at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus, And a controller
Wherein the control unit is further configured to, when at least one image forming apparatus not authorized for use by the user among the at least one image forming apparatus is selected through the user interface window, Wherein the control unit controls the communication interface unit to transmit the selected image forming apparatus information and the user information to the management server, and when the use permission information for the selected image forming apparatus is received from the management server, A host device for performing a forming job. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
When the use permission information or the use permission information determined in accordance with the information of the selected image forming apparatus and the user information is received from the management server, the host which controls the display unit to display the permission or non-permission status of the selected image forming apparatus Device. The method according to claim 1,
The display unit includes:
Displays a screen including a login menu, displays a screen for receiving the user information when the login menu is selected,
Wherein,
Transmits the input user information to the management server, and controls the display unit to display the user interface window when a login completion signal is received from the management server. The method of claim 3,
The display unit includes:
At least one of a search menu for searching an image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus, a view menu for displaying information about the searched image forming apparatus, and a selection menu for selecting one of the searched image forming apparatuses together with the login menu Host device. 5. The method of claim 4,
And a storage unit,
Wherein,
IP information, driver information, serial number information, status information, toner information, and JAC setting information of at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus, when the login to the management server is performed or the search menu is selected Information is detected and stored in the storage unit and displayed. A storage unit storing user information, usage right information for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and periodically updated according to the user information provided from the user information database;
A communication interface for receiving the user information input from the host apparatus and the information of the at least one image forming apparatus selected by the host apparatus, which the host apparatus has transmitted to request permission to use at least one image forming apparatus part; And
Determining whether the user corresponding to the received user information for the at least one image forming apparatus selected by the host apparatus is permitted to use by comparing information received via the communication interface unit and information stored in the storage unit, And a control unit for notifying the host apparatus and the image forming apparatus,
Wherein,
When the use of the user corresponding to the received user information for the at least one image forming apparatus selected by the host apparatus is permitted, the control for automatically updating the information of the storage unit according to the information received through the communication interface unit Management server. The method according to claim 6,
And a user interface unit for receiving the user information and the usage right information for each of the image forming apparatuses. 8. The method of claim 7,
And a display unit for displaying the user information and the usage right information for each of the image forming apparatuses. In the image forming control method of the host apparatus,
Receiving user information for logging in to the management server;
Transmitting the user information to the management server;
Displaying a user interface window including information on whether or not the user is permitted to use at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus when the login to the management server is performed;
If at least one of the at least one image forming apparatus to which the use right is not authorized is selected through the displayed user interface window, the selected image forming apparatus is requested to request permission to use the selected image forming apparatus Forming apparatus and the user information to the management server; And
And when the use permission information for the selected image forming apparatus is received from the management server, performing an image forming job using the selected image forming apparatus. 10. The method of claim 9,
And displaying the permission or non-permission status of the selected image forming apparatus when the use permission information or the use permission information determined according to the selected image forming apparatus information and the user information is received from the management server / RTI > 10. The method of claim 9,
The method of claim 1,
Displays a screen including a login menu, displays a screen for receiving the user information when the login menu is selected,
Wherein the displaying the user interface window comprises:
And when the login completion signal is received from the management server, displays the user interface window. 12. The method of claim 11,
At least one of a search menu for searching an image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus, a view menu for displaying information about the searched image forming apparatus, and a selection menu for selecting one of the searched image forming apparatuses together with the login menu Further comprising the steps of: 13. The method of claim 12,
IP information, Driver information, Serial number information, Status information, Toner information, JAC setting information, and the like, when the log-in to the management server is performed or the search menu is selected Detecting and storing at least one of the information;
And displaying the detected and stored information. An image forming control method for a management server,
Updating the usage right information for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the user information periodically stored according to the provided information from the user information database;
Receiving the user information input from the host apparatus and the information of the at least one image forming apparatus selected by the host apparatus, transmitted from the host apparatus to request permission to use at least one image forming apparatus;
Comparing the received information with the updated information to determine whether the user corresponding to the received user information for the at least one image forming apparatus selected in the host apparatus is permitted to use, And notifying the user of the determined use permission or not; And
And automatically updating the updated information according to the received information if usage of the user corresponding to the received user information for the at least one image forming apparatus selected in the host apparatus is permitted, / RTI > 15. The method of claim 14,
And receiving the user information and the usage right information for each of the image forming apparatuses. 16. The method of claim 15,
And displaying the user information and the usage right information for each of the image forming apparatuses. A computer-readable recording medium storing program codes for performing an image forming control method of a host apparatus,
The image forming control method includes:
Receiving user information for logging in to the management server;
Transmitting the user information to the management server;
Displaying a user interface window including information on whether or not the user is permitted to use at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host apparatus when the login to the management server is performed;
If at least one of the at least one image forming apparatus to which the use right is not authorized is selected through the displayed user interface window, the selected image forming apparatus is requested to request permission to use the selected image forming apparatus Forming apparatus and the user information to the management server; And
And performing an image forming job using the selected image forming apparatus when the use permission information for the selected image forming apparatus is received from the management server. 18. The method of claim 17,
And displaying the permission or non-permission status of the selected image forming apparatus when the use permission information or the use permission information determined according to the selected image forming apparatus information and the user information is received from the management server Recording medium.

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