Administrative server, administrative system, control method for administrative server, and program

Abstract

To solve a problem that, even if a user is notified of an expiration date for ink in flat rate service including a printer main body, when the user forgets to order ink, printing is made with the expired ink.SOLUTION: An administrative server connected to an image formation device through a network, includes holding means that holds a loading date of an ink tank received from the image formation device, and dispatch instruction means that instructs to dispatch new ink on the basis of the loading date of the ink tank, a date very close to an expiration date, and a plurality of periods determined from the expiration date of the ink.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management server, a management system, a control method for the management server, and a program for controlling the quality of ink in a fixed-price service that includes the printer body. [Background technology]

[0002] Ink, a printer consumable, has an expiration date after opening, and most manufacturers recommend using it within six months. Printing with expired ink can lead to a decline in print quality, such as loss of color and clogging of the print head. For this reason, there is a demand for printers that can detect when ink has expired. Patent Document 1 describes a device that stores the expiration date of a consumable item and notifies the user when the power is turned on or when the device returns from sleep mode. It discloses a device that notifies the user that the expiration date of a consumable item is approaching at a timing that does not cause the user to feel bothered. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6505500 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The system described in Patent Document 1 only notifies the user when the expiry date of the consumables has passed. Therefore, if the user forgets to order the consumables, the expiry date of the consumables is not yet reached, and the user ends up printing with the expired consumables, which may have deteriorated in quality. The present invention has been made in recognition of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a system in which ink tanks within their expiration date are shipped so that the user always has them on hand during the contract period of a flat-rate service that includes the image processing device, which is a printer itself (the so-called "printer body subscription"). [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, a management server according to the present invention has the following arrangement. The management server is connected to an image forming device via a network, and has a storage means for storing the installation date of the ink tank received from the image forming device, and a shipping instruction means for issuing an instruction to ship a new ink tank based on a plurality of periods determined from the installation date of the ink tank, the date when the ink expiration date is approaching, and the ink expiration date. Effect of the Invention

[0006] During the contract period of the flat-rate service that includes the printer itself, which is the image processing device, you will not encounter a situation where the ink has expired, and you can maintain a good printing environment. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] A diagram showing the configuration of an automatic ink ordering system for main unit subscription in the present invention. [Diagram 2] Printer hardware configuration diagram [Diagram 3] Management server hardware configuration diagram [Figure 4] Ink tank status table in the embodiment [Diagram 5] Flowchart for sending an ink tank installation log in an embodiment [Figure 6] Flowchart for registering the ink tank installation date in the embodiment [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of classification of periods after the ink tank installation date in an embodiment; [Figure 8] Flowchart for quality control of ink tanks in an embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in the embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. [Embodiment 1] Overall system configuration Fig. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of an ink quality control system in a flat-rate service including a printer body according to the present invention. In Fig. 1, a printer 10, which is an image processing device used by a user, and a management server 20, which manages the delivery of ink tanks, are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network 30 such as the Internet. The printer 10 is equipped with an ink tank installation date transmission unit 11, and when a user installs an ink tank in the printer, the printer immediately transmits an ink tank installation log to the management server 20 via the network 30. The ink tank installation log includes the color of the installed ink tank, the installation date, etc. The management server 20 comprises the software modules of an ink tank installation date storage unit 21, a new ink tank delivery determination unit 22, a new ink tank delivery instruction unit 23, and an ink tank status storage unit 24. The ink tank installation date storage unit 21 stores the installation dates of the ink tanks from the ink tank installation log transmitted from the printer. A new ink tank shipping determination unit 22 determines whether the expiration date of the ink used by the user is approaching, based on the ink tank installation date stored in the ink tank installation date storage unit 21. If the expiration date of the ink is approaching, a new ink tank shipping instruction unit 23 issues an instruction to ship a new ink tank. The ink tank status storage unit 24 stores the status of the ink tank currently being used.

[0009] Printer hardware configuration FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration diagram of a printer 10 which is an image processing device. The printer 10 includes a CPU 201 , a volatile storage device 202 , a non-volatile storage device 203 , a print execution unit 204 , a communication unit 205 , a display unit 206 , an operation unit 207 , an ink supply unit 208 , and an ink tank 209 . The CPU 201 is a calculation device that performs data processing, and performs overall control of the printer 10 by loading a program stored in the non-volatile storage device 203 into the volatile storage device 202 and executing it. The volatile storage device 202 is a memory such as a DRAM, and is used to expand the programs executed by the CPU 201 and temporarily store intermediate data generated when the CPU 201 executes the processes. The non-volatile storage device 203 is a hard disk, a flash memory, or the like, and is used to store computer programs for controlling the printer and data to be stored permanently. The print execution unit 204 uses ink from an ink tank 209 as a printing material to print images and characters on paper as a print medium. The communication unit 205 is an interface for connecting to an external device such as the management server 20 via the network 30 . The display unit 206 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display for displaying images and characters. An operation unit 207 includes buttons, a touch panel, and the like for obtaining operations from a user. The ink supply unit 208 is adapted to allow an ink tank 209 to be attached thereto, and is adapted to take in the ink within the ink tank 209 .

[0010] Management server hardware configuration FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration diagram of the management server 20. As shown in FIG. The management server 20 includes a CPU 301 , a volatile storage device 302 , a non-volatile storage device 303 , a communication unit 304 , a display unit 305 , and an operation unit 306 . The CPU 301 is a calculation device that reads out a program related to registering the date of installation of an ink tank and a program related to shipping management of an ink tank from the non-volatile storage device 303, develops it in the volatile storage device 302, and executes it to process data. The CPU 301 also performs overall control of the management server 20 by executing various programs. The volatile storage device 302 is a DRAM or the like, and temporarily stores programs and calculation results, allowing the management server 20 to perform high-speed processing. The non-volatile storage device 303 is a hard disk or flash memory, and stores a program related to registering the date when the ink tank was installed, a program related to the delivery management of the ink tank, and data to be stored permanently. The communication unit 304 is an interface for connecting to an external device such as the printer 10 via the network 30 . The display unit 305 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display for displaying images and characters. The operation unit 306 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like for obtaining operations from the user.

[0011] (Ink Tank Status Table) Figure 4 is a table listing ink tank statuses. There are four ink tank statuses: "ink tank installed", "expiration date approaching (ink tank not yet shipped)", "expiration date approaching (ink tank shipped)", and "expiration date exceeded (ink tank shipped)". The ink tank status takes one of these values. Regarding the relationship between each ink tank status, after an ink tank is installed, it becomes "Ink Tank Installed", and if it is used thereafter, it changes to "Expiration Soon (Ink Tank Not Shipped)", and once a new ink tank has been shipped, it changes to "Expiration Soon (Ink Tank Shipped)". Then, when the user receives the new ink tank and replaces the ink tank, "Expiration Soon (Ink Tank Shipped)" changes to "Ink Tank Installed". This process is repeated. However, if the user does not replace the ink tank even though they have received a new ink tank, the following will happen: When the expiration date of the ink currently being used by the user arrives, "Expiration Soon (Ink Tank Shipped)" changes to "Expiration Past (Ink Tank Shipped)".

[0012] - Ink tank installation log sending process FIG. 5 is a flow chart relating to the transmission of an ink tank installation log in printer 10, which is an image processing device. With printer 10 turned on, a user installs or replaces an ink tank. With the printer 10 turned on, the printer 10 periodically checks whether an ink tank has been installed or removed. For example, the printer 10 may be set to check once a day at 6 am. The flow of processing when checking whether an ink tank has been installed or removed will be described below. This processing is realized by the CPU 201 of printer 10, which is an image processing device, expanding a program stored in non-volatile storage device 203 into volatile storage device 202 and executing it. In S501, it is confirmed whether a new ink tank has been installed. If a new ink tank has been installed (Yes in S501), the CPU 201 proceeds to S502, and if not (No in S501), the CPU 201 proceeds to S503. In S502, the ink tank mounting log is sent to the management server 20, and the process ends. Also, in S503, if it is not confirmed that a new ink tank has been installed, a timer is started to wait for a predetermined time, and the process returns to S501 to execute the process of S501 again. For example, it is possible to wait for 30 minutes in S503 and then execute the process of S501.

[0013] - Ink tank installation date registration process 6 is a flowchart for registering the date when an ink tank was installed in the management server 20. The management server 20 periodically checks whether an ink tank installation log has been received. For example, the management server 20 may be set to check once a day at 6:30 a.m. The flow of processing when checking the installation and removal of an ink tank is described below. This processing is realized by the CPU 301 of the management server 20 expanding a program stored in the non-volatile storage device 303 into the volatile storage device 302 and executing it. In S601, it is confirmed whether an ink tank installation log has been received. If the log has been received (Yes in S601), the CPU 301 advances the process to S602, and if the log has not been received (No in S601), the CPU 301 advances the process to S603. In S602, the ink tank installation date is registered in the ink tank installation date holding unit 21, and this process ends. If the log has not been received, in S603, a timer is started to wait for a predetermined time, and the process returns to S601 to execute the process of S601 again. For example, the process may wait for 30 minutes in S603, and then execute the process of S601.

[0014] 7 is a diagram for explaining classification of periods after the ink tank installation date. The horizontal axis of FIG. 7 represents time (date). When the ink tank installation date is determined, the ink expiration date after a predetermined period (for example, six months) is also determined. Then, when the ink expiration date is determined, a predetermined number of days before the ink tank expiration date can be set as the date when the ink expiration date is approaching. For example, if an ink tank is installed on January 1, the ink tank installation date is January 1. The ink expiration date can be determined as June 30, six months later. Here, the ink expiration date is determined to be the date obtained by adding 6 to the month and subtracting one day from the date. The ink expiration date may be determined to be the date 180 days after the ink tank installation date. The date when the ink expiration date is approaching can be set as the date a specified number of days before the ink expiration date, and this specified number of days is determined taking into consideration the period from when the ink tank is sent to the user until the user actually receives the ink tank. Here, the specified number of days is set to 10 days. In this case, the date when the ink expiration date is approaching is June 20. In this way, the ink expiration date and the date when the ink expiration date is approaching can be obtained from the ink tank installation date, so that the days after the ink tank installation date can be classified into three periods, period 1, period 2, and period 3, as shown in FIG. 7(a). Figure 7(b) summarizes these three periods in a table. Period 1 is the period from the date of installation of the ink tank to the day before the ink expiration date. Period 1 is a period during which there is no need to worry about the expiration date of the ink, and is a period during which there is no need to consider shipping the ink tank. Period 2 is the period from the day when the ink expiration date is approaching to the ink expiration date. Since period 2 is the period when the ink expiration date is approaching, it is necessary to consider shipping the ink tank during this period. Period 3 is the period from the day after the ink expiration date onwards. Period 3 is the period after the ink expiration date. The ink tank management procedures differ depending on whether the date of printer use falls into period 1, period 2, or period 3.

[0015] -Ink tank quality control process The process relating to quality control of ink tanks when the management server 20 receives an ink tank installation log will be described with reference to Fig. 8. This process is realized by the CPU 301 of the management server 20 expanding a program stored in the non-volatile storage device 303 into the volatile storage device 302 and executing it. The management server 20 also executes this process once a day to check whether the ink in the printer used by the user has expired. For example, the expiration date of the ink can be managed by setting the time to check at 7:00 every morning. In S801, CPU 301 determines whether the date checked (hereinafter referred to as the "printer use date", meaning the date the printer is scheduled to be used) is included in period 1. CPU 301 obtains the ink tank installation date from ink tank installation date storage unit 21, and calculates the ink expiration date and the date when the ink expiration date will be approaching, using the procedure described above. Then, it determines whether the printer use date is included in period 1. If the date on which the printer was used is included in period 1 (Yes in S801), the CPU 301 advances the process to S802. In S802, the ink tank status is changed to "ink tank installed" and the value is stored in the ink tank status holding unit 24, and this process ends. If the date on which the printer was used is not included in period 1 (No in S801), the CPU 301 advances the process to S803. In S803, it is determined whether the date on which the printer was used is included in period 2. In the same manner as in S801, the ink expiration date and the date on which the ink expiration date is approaching can be calculated, so it is determined whether the date on which the printer was used is included in period 2. If the date on which the printer was used is included in period 2 (Yes in S803), the CPU 301 advances the process to S804. In S804, the CPU 301 changes the ink tank status to "Expiration Date Near (Not Shipped)" and stores that value in the ink tank status holding unit 24. After that, the CPU 301 advances the process to S805. In S805, the new ink tank shipping determination unit 22 determines whether the ink tank has been shipped. If the shipping instruction history of the new ink tank shipping instruction unit 23 includes a shipping history of a new ink tank during the period from the date when the ink expiration date is approaching to the date when the printer is used, it is determined that the new ink tank has been shipped. If there is no shipping history of the new ink tank, it is determined that the new ink tank has not been shipped. If the new ink tank has not been shipped (No in S805), the CPU 301 advances the process to S807. In S807, the CPU 301 issues a shipping instruction for a new ink tank to the new ink tank shipping instruction unit 23, and ends this process. If the ink tank has already been shipped (Yes in S805), the CPU 301 advances the process to S806. In S806, the CPU 301 changes the ink tank status to "Expiration Soon (Shipped)", stores this value in the ink tank status storage unit 24, and ends this process. The management server 20 checks the expiration date of ink every day, so the ink tank status changes in the following order: "ink tank installed", "expiration date coming soon (not shipped)", "expiration date coming soon (shipped)". Then, when the user replaces the ink tank currently being used with a new ink tank delivered to the user, the ink tank status changes from "expiration date coming soon (shipped)" to "ink tank installed". In this way, with a flat-rate service that includes the printer itself, the ink tank status is cycled through the following order: "ink tank installed," "expiration date approaching (not yet shipped)," "expiration date approaching (shipped)," ensuring that the user always has a new ink tank in hand.

[0016] If the user does not replace the ink tank currently being used with a new ink tank that has arrived to the user by the ink expiration date, the date the printer was used is not included in period 2 (No in S803), and the CPU 301 proceeds to the process at S808. This corresponds to the case where the date the printer was used is included in period 3. In S808, the ink tank status is changed to "expired (shipped)" and the value is stored in the ink tank status holding unit 24, and this process ends. When the ink tank status becomes "Expired (Shipped)", the management server 20 may prompt the user to replace the shipped ink tank by displaying this on the UI of the image forming device 10. Similarly, for other ink statuses, the ink status, for example, the expiration date, may be constantly displayed on the UI of the image forming device 10. Furthermore, the amount of ink used varies depending on the color, and the replacement and installation dates and times of ink tanks also vary. The ink tank installation log includes the installation date and time as well as the color information of the ink, and the above processing flow is judged and processed for each ink color. Furthermore, when the ink status is displayed on the UI of the image forming device 10, information may be displayed for each color.

[0017] (Other Examples) The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions. The disclosure of the present embodiment includes the following configurations, systems, methods, and programs. (Configuration 1) A management server connected to an image forming apparatus via a network, a storage unit for storing the installation date of the ink tank received from the image forming device; a shipping instruction means for issuing an instruction to ship a new ink tank based on a plurality of periods determined based on the installation date of the ink tank, the date when the ink expiration date is approaching, and the expiration date of the ink; A management server comprising: (Configuration 2) The shipping instruction means issues an instruction to ship a new ink tank if the ink tank has not been shipped during the period between the date when the ink expiration date is approaching and the date of the expiration date of the ink. 2. The management server according to configuration 1. (Configuration 3) 3. The management server according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein the expiration date of the ink is determined based on the installation date of the ink tank. (Configuration 4) The date when the ink expiration date is approaching is set to a date a predetermined number of days before the expiration date of the ink. 4. The management server according to claim 1, wherein the management server is a server that performs a plurality of operations. (Configuration 5) The installation date of the ink tank is managed for each ink color. 5. The management server according to any one of configurations 1 to 4. (Configuration 6) The state of the ink in the ink tank is notified to the image forming device based on a plurality of periods determined from the installation date of the ink tank, the date when the ink expiration date is approaching, and the expiration date of the ink. 6. The management server according to any one of configurations 1 to 5. (Configuration 7) The management server according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein if the period is before the day when the expiration date of the ink approaches, it is determined that the period is one in which shipment of the ink tank is unnecessary. (System 1) A management system including an image forming apparatus and a management server according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, the image forming apparatus being connected to each other via a network, When an ink tank is installed in the image forming device, the image forming device transmits a log of the ink tank installation to the management server. 1. A management system comprising: (Method 1) A method for controlling a management server connected to an image forming apparatus via a network, comprising: a storage step of storing the installation date of the ink tank received from the image forming apparatus in a storage unit; a shipping instruction step of issuing an instruction to ship a new ink tank based on a plurality of periods determined based on the installation date of the ink tank, the date when the ink expiration date is approaching, and the expiration date of the ink; 13. A method for controlling a management server comprising: (Program 1) A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to the first method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0018] 10 Printers 11 Ink tank installation date transmitter 20 Management Server 21 Ink tank installation date retainer 22 New ink tank shipping determination section 23 New ink tank shipping instructions 24 Ink tank status storage unit

Claims

1. A management server connected to an image forming apparatus via a network, a storage unit for storing the installation date of the ink tank received from the image forming device; a shipping instruction means for issuing an instruction to ship a new ink tank based on a plurality of periods determined based on the installation date of the ink tank, the date when the ink expiration date is approaching, and the expiration date of the ink; A management server comprising:

2. The shipping instruction means issues an instruction to ship a new ink tank if the ink tank has not been shipped during the period between the date when the ink expiration date is approaching and the expiration date of the ink.

2. The management server according to claim 1.

3. 3. The management server according to claim 1, wherein the expiration date of the ink is determined based on the date on which the ink tank was installed.

4. The date when the ink expiration date is approaching is set to a date a predetermined number of days before the expiration date of the ink.

3. The management server according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The installation date of the ink tank is managed for each ink color.

3. The management server according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The state of the ink in the ink tank is notified to the image forming device based on a plurality of periods determined from the installation date of the ink tank, the date when the ink expiration date is approaching, and the expiration date of the ink.

3. The management server according to claim 1 or 2.

7. 3. The management server according to claim 1, wherein if the period is a period prior to the day when the expiration date of the ink is approaching, it is determined that the period is a period during which shipping of the ink tank is unnecessary.

8. A management system comprising an image forming apparatus and a management server according to claim 1 or 2, the image forming apparatus and the management server being connected to each other via a network, When an ink tank is installed in the image forming device, the image forming device transmits a log of the ink tank installation to the management server.

1. A management system comprising:

9. A method for controlling a management server connected to an image forming apparatus via a network, comprising: a storage step of storing the installation date of the ink tank received from the image forming apparatus in a storage unit; a shipping instruction step of issuing an instruction to ship a new ink tank based on a plurality of periods determined based on the installation date of the ink tank, the date when the ink expiration date is approaching, and the expiration date of the ink; 13. A method for controlling a management server comprising:

10. A program for causing a server computer to execute the control method according to claim 9.

Images