Image processing device, control method of image processing device and program
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023128176
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-17
Smart Images
Figure 2025023756000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a control method for an image processing apparatus, and a program. [Background technology]
[0002] In recent years, there have been flat-rate services that allow users to print from image processing devices using consumables that are exclusive to the contract by entering into a contract with a business operator. In such flat-rate services, users can print up to a predetermined number of pages per month for a fixed fee, and if the number of pages exceeds the predetermined number, printing may be canceled or an excess fee may be incurred. Patent Document 1 proposes a system that counts the number of printed sheets for each sheet output from an image processing device when printing, and switches between permitted and prohibited printing by determining whether the number of printed sheets has exceeded an upper limit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-160203 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] When the image processing device described in Patent Document 1 receives a print job, it determines whether printing is possible based on a predetermined print limit number, and performs printing if printing is possible. If printing is not possible, printing becomes impossible. Here, Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the fact that the received print job is temporarily saved and the user issues a print instruction on the operation panel of the image processing device. For example, since printing with incorrect print settings is also counted in the number of printed sheets, a user may want to check the print job on the operation panel of the image processing device and issue a print instruction, especially when the number of printed sheets is approaching the print limit number. In consideration of the above problems, the image processing device of the present invention aims to provide a mechanism for saving a print job when the maximum number of pages to be printed is approached, and printing the data of the print job for which a print instruction has been received on the operation panel of the image processing device. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] The present invention is an image processing device connected via a network to a server providing a flat-rate service, and has a first acquisition means for acquiring an upper limit on the number of pages that can be printed in a specified period using the flat-rate service, and a second acquisition means for acquiring the number of output prints output by the image processing device, and is characterized in having a storage means for storing received print data in a memory means when the difference between the upper limit on the number of pages and the number of output prints is equal to or less than a specified threshold, a display means for displaying a list of the stored print data and information about the print data, and a printing means for outputting the stored print data upon receiving a print execution instruction from a user via the display means. Effect of the Invention
[0006] According to the present invention, when the print limit number is approaching, the print job is saved, and the data of the print job for which a print instruction has been received on the operation panel of the image processing apparatus can be printed. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0007] [Figure 1] A diagram showing the configuration of the management system [Diagram 2] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an image processing device [Diagram 3] Block diagram showing the software configuration of the image processing device [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart showing a print data receiving process according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] An example of bibliographic information [Figure 6] Flowchart showing reservation printing process [Figure 7] Example of a job list screen [Figure 8] An example of a warning screen [Figure 9] A flowchart showing a print data receiving process according to another 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.
[0009] [Embodiment 1] Overall configuration of the management system FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a management system according to this embodiment. The management system 100 is configured with an information processing device 101, an image processing device 103, and a printer management server 104, which are connected to each other via a network 102. An information processing apparatus 101 is a personal computer (PC) and is capable of transmitting print data to an image processing apparatus 103 via a network 102 to execute printing. The image processing device 103 is a digital multifunction machine equipped with various job execution functions such as a printer function, a copy function, a scanner function, and a fax transmission function. The printer management server 104 can communicate with the image processing device 103 via the network 102 and exchanges various information. In this embodiment, the printer management server 104 provides a flat-rate service, manages the upper limit of the number of pages that can be printed within the service, and transmits the upper limit of the number of pages that can be printed to the image processing device 103.
[0010] Hardware configuration of image processing device FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image processing device 103 according to this embodiment. The image processing device 103 has a controller unit 201, which controls a display / operation unit 207, a scanner 210, and a printer 211. When a user uses the copy function, the controller unit 201 controls the scanner 210 to acquire image data of an original, and controls the printer 211 to print and output the image on paper. When a user uses the printer function, the controller unit 201 receives print data from the information processing device 101 via the network 102. Then, the controller unit 201 converts the received print data into image data and transmits it to the printer 211. The printer 211 prints and outputs the image on paper based on the received image data. The controller unit 201 is composed of a CPU 202 , a RAM 203 , a ROM 204 , a HDD 205 , a display / operation unit I / F 206 , a network I / F 208 , and a device I / F 209 , which are connected by a system bus 212 . The CPU 202 controls the entire system of the image processing apparatus 103 by loading programs stored in the ROM 204 and HDD 205 into the RAM 203 and executing them. The RAM 203 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 202, and is also a memory for temporarily storing image data and setting data. The RAM 203 also stores programs and data such as an operating system, system software, and application software. The RAM 203 also stores scanned image data read by the scanner 210, and stores print data received from the information processing device 101 via the network 102. The ROM 204 stores the system boot program and the like. A hard disk drive (HDD) 205 stores and stores an operating system, system software, application software, print data, setting data, and the like.
[0011] A display / operation unit I / F 206 is an interface unit with a display / operation unit 207, and outputs information to be displayed on the display / operation unit 207 to the display / operation unit 207. Also, the display / operation unit I / F 206 accepts information input from the display / operation unit 207 by the user. A display / operation unit 207 displays information to be provided to a user and accepts operations from the user, and includes, for example, an operation panel such as a touch panel display and a hardware keyboard. A network I / F 208 is connected to the network 102 and is capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus and a printer management server connected to the same network to exchange print data, printer management information, and the like. A device I / F 209 connects the controller unit 201 to a scanner 210 and a printer 211 that read and print image data, and inputs and outputs image data.
[0012] - Software configuration of image processing device FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the image processing device 103 according to this embodiment. The application 301 is software executed by the CPU 202 of the image processing apparatus 103, and is stored in the ROM 204, the HDD 205, or the like. A user interface (UI) control unit 302 receives information input by the user via the display / operation unit 207 and controls the screen. A network control unit 303 receives print data from the information processing apparatus 101 via the network I / F 208 and exchanges various information with the printer management server 104 . The reservation control unit 304 determines whether to temporarily reserve the print data received by the network control unit 303 in the RAM 203 or the HDD 205, and if it determines to reserve the print data, reserves the received print data in the RAM 203 or the HDD 205. In addition, it receives a print execution instruction for the reserved print data, and instructs the job control unit 305 to print the corresponding print data. The job control unit 305 controls the printing execution of the print data received by the network control unit 303 and the print data instructed to be printed by the reservation control unit 304 .
[0013] Print data reception process Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a print data receiving process executed by the image processing device 103 according to this embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 4 is realized by the CPU 202 of the image processing device 103 reading out into the RAM 203 a program for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 204 or HDD 205 and executing the program. In step S401 , the network control unit 303 receives print data transmitted from the information processing apparatus 101 . In S402, the reservation control unit 304 acquires information on the maximum number of pages that can be printed without an excess charge on the image processing device 103 from the printer management server 104 via the network control unit 303. The maximum number of pages that can be printed is the maximum number of pages that can be printed in advance per month in a service in which printing is possible at a fixed rate by making a contract with a business operator for printing from the image processing device and using consumables dedicated to the contract. In addition to the information on the maximum number of pages that can be printed, information on the excess charge that occurs when the maximum number of pages is exceeded is also acquired at the same time (for example, excess charge information of 10 yen per page exceeded). In addition, the administrator of the image processing device may set the maximum number of pages that can be printed when he / she wants to manage the maximum number of pages for each image processing device. In this case, the method of acquiring the maximum number of pages that can be printed may be a process of acquiring the maximum number of pages that can be printed managed within the image processing device 103 without communicating with the printer management server 104. In S403, the reservation control unit 304 acquires the number of output print sheets printed in a predetermined period by the image processing device 103. The predetermined period is monthly in the case of a service that allows printing up to a predetermined number of sheets per month at a fixed price, and the number of output print sheets is reset in the following month. The number of output print sheets is counted when printing of print data is executed and stored in the RAM 203 or HDD 205 in the image processing device 103, and the counting method will be described in detail in S407 described later.
[0014] In S404, the reservation control unit 304 compares the upper limit number of print sheets acquired in S402 with the output print sheet number acquired in S403 to calculate the remaining number of printable sheets. If the output print sheet number is within the upper limit number of print sheets, the number of printable sheets will be a value calculated as the difference between [upper limit number of print sheets - output print sheet number], and if the output print sheet number is equal to or exceeds the upper limit number of print sheets, the number of printable sheets will be 0. In S405, the reservation control unit 304 acquires reservation threshold information and judges whether the printable number calculated in S404 is equal to or less than the reservation threshold. If it is equal to or less than the reservation threshold (Yes in S405), the CPU 202 advances the process to S408, and if not (No in S405), the CPU 202 advances the process to S406. The reservation threshold information is for preventing the printable number from being reached without being noticed by storing print data without printing it when the remaining printable number becomes small before the printable number reaches the upper limit number. The reservation threshold information may be managed by the printer management server 104 and may be acquired by inquiring to the printer management server 104, or may be managed in the RAM 203 or HDD 205 in the image processing device 103 and acquired from there.
[0015] In S406, the reservation control unit 304 determines to print the print data received in S401 without reserving it, and instructs the job control unit 305 to print the print data. Then, the job control unit 305 executes printing of the print data instructed to be printed. In S407, the job control unit 305 counts the number of printed sheets while printing the print data in S406, and updates the number of output printed sheets. The number of printed sheets is counted for each page output, so in the case of double-sided output, one sheet is counted when the front side is output, and one more sheet is counted when the back side is output. Also, if the number of printed sheets of the received print data is greater than the reservation threshold acquired in S405, the upper limit number of printed sheets may be exceeded during printing. In this case, control may be performed so that an excess fee is incurred for the number of printed sheets that exceeds the upper limit number of printed sheets, or a method may be used in which printing is stopped when the upper limit number of printed sheets is exceeded, and the user is allowed to select on the display / operation unit 207 whether to cancel printing or continue printing. In S408 , the reservation control unit 304 determines to store the print data received in S401 , and stores the print data in the RAM 203 or HDD 205 in the image processing apparatus 103 . In S409, the reservation control unit 304 analyzes the print data saved in S408, and acquires user information, a file name, and print setting information (such as the number of copies, color mode, and Nin1 information). In S 410 , the reservation control unit 304 creates bibliographic information 501 based on the information analyzed in S 409 , and stores it in the RAM 203 or HDD 205 in the image processing device 103 .
[0016] (Bibliographic information) An example of the bibliographic information 501 is shown in table format in FIG. Bibliographic information 501 is saved as one record (507 to 510) for each piece of print data. Each record consists of items such as date and time 502 when the print data was input, name of the user who input the print data 503, job name 504 which is the name of the print data, print settings 505 which is print setting information for the print data, and number of pages of the print data 506. The print settings 505 save information such as a double-sided setting for whether to print on one side or both sides, a copy setting for how many copies of the print data to print, a Nin1 setting for how many pages to print on one sheet, and a color mode setting for whether to print in color or monochrome. This completes the print data receiving process of this embodiment.
[0017] Reserve printing process Fig. 6 describes reservation printing processing executed by the image processing device 103 according to this embodiment with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 6. This processing is realized by the CPU 202 of the image processing device 103 reading into the RAM 203 and executing the programs for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 204 or HDD 205. The reservation printing processing of this embodiment is processing for operating the display / operation unit 207 to print the print data that has been determined to be saved in the print data reception processing shown in Fig. 4 and saved. In S601, the UI control unit 302 monitors whether the user has operated the display / operation unit 207 to instruct the display of a job list screen of the saved print data, and if there has been an instruction to display the job list screen, proceeds to S602.
[0018] In S602, upon receiving an instruction to display the job list screen in S601, the reservation control unit 304 displays a list of job information of the print data stored on the display / operation unit 207. (Job list screen) FIG. 7 shows a job list screen 700. The job list screen 700 in FIG. 7 displays a list of job information of the print data stored in the bibliographic information 501. Specifically, the following items of information are displayed in a list for each print data (715 to 718): a job name 710, which is the name of the print job, a date and time 711 when the job was submitted, output number information 712, which is information on the number of pages and the number of copies of the print data, print settings 713, and a user name 714 who submitted the print data. In addition, buttons capable of executing processes for the print data displayed in the list are arranged, such as a [Select All] button 720 for selecting all the print data displayed in the list, and a [Print Settings] button 721 for changing the settings of the selected print data. In addition, a [Display Image] button 722 for displaying a preview of the selected print data, a [Extend Storage Period] button 723 for changing the storage period of the selected print data, and a [Delete Job] button 724 for deleting the selected print data are arranged. In addition, a [Start Print] button 725 for starting printing of the selected print data is also arranged. A [Waiting to Print] button 701 displays unprinted print data that has never been printed out of the stored print data, and a [Printed] button 702 displays printed print data that has been printed at least once out of the stored print data. An [Update] button 703 is a button for updating the print data list display screen, and is used to reflect changes in the bibliographic information on the job list screen 700 when additional print data is received or when print data is deleted after a certain period of time has passed.
[0019] In S603, the reservation control unit 304 acquires the upper limit number of prints and the number of output prints in the same manner as in S402 and S403, and displays print count information 704 consisting of the upper limit number of prints and the number of output prints on the job list screen 700. The user can also check whether the upper limit number of prints will be exceeded by checking this print count information 704 and output count information 712 of the print data (number of sheets x number of copies). In S604, the reservation control unit 304 judges whether or not a command to extend the storage period for the stored print data has been issued from the user. If a command to extend the storage period has been issued (Yes in S604), the process proceeds to S605, and if not (No in S604), the process proceeds to S606. For example, when print data in the job list screen 700 is selected and then the [Extend storage period] button 723 is pressed, it is judged that a command to extend the storage period for the selected print data has been issued.
[0020] In S605, the reservation control unit 304 extends the storage period of the print data for which an extension instruction has been given until a predetermined timing after the next reset of the print upper limit number. Since the capacity of the RAM 203 and the HDD 205 in the image processing device 103 is also limited, a storage period is often set for the stored print data, and a setting such as one day or three days is stored in the RAM 203 and the HDD 205 in the image processing device 103 as the storage period. The print data is controlled so that it is deleted when the storage period has elapsed from the date and time 502 of reception. Therefore, even if the user tries to print the print data in the next month because the number of printable sheets left this month is low, if there is a period until the next month, the stored print data will be deleted. Therefore, in S605, the storage period of the print data for which an extension instruction has been given is extended so that it is stored for the storage period set in the image processing device 103 after the reset of the print upper limit number for the next month. For example, if the storage period is set to three days, the storage period is changed so that the print data is stored until the third day of the next month. In S606, the reservation control unit 304 determines whether or not a print command has been issued from the user to print the stored print data. If a print command has been issued, the process proceeds to S607. For example, when print data is selected in the job list screen 700 and the [Start Print] button 725 is then pressed, it is determined that a print command has been issued for the selected print data.
[0021] In S607, the reservation control unit 304 calculates the number of printable sheets from the difference between the upper limit number of printable sheets and the number of output print sheets, in the same manner as in S404. In S608, the reservation control unit 304 calculates the number of output sheets from the bibliographic information of the print data instructed to be printed. For example, when the print instruction is for the print data 508 in the bibliographic information 501 (the bibliographic information corresponding to the list 716 in the job list screen 700), the number of pages is 8 and the number of copies is 2, so the number of output sheets is 16. In S609, the reservation control unit 304 compares the printable number information calculated in S607 with the output number calculated in S608. If the output number is greater than the printable number (Yes in S609), the process proceeds to S611, and if not (No in S609), the process proceeds to S610. In S610, the reservation control unit 304 instructs the job control unit 305 to print the print data instructed to be printed. Then, the job control unit 305 executes printing of the print data and advances the process to S615.
[0022] On the other hand, if the number of output sheets is greater than the number of printable sheets, in S611, the reservation control unit 304 displays a warning screen (FIG. 8) to warn that the number of output sheets exceeds the number of printable sheets. In this embodiment, as displayed in the print number information 704, the print limit number is 50 sheets and the output print number is 40 sheets, so the number of printable sheets is 10 sheets. At this time, in the case of a print instruction for the print data 508 in the bibliographic information 501 (bibliographic information corresponding to the list 716 in the job list screen 700), the number of output sheets is 8×2=16 sheets, which is 6 sheets in excess. If the excess fee information is 10 yen per sheet, the excess is 60 yen. In the example of the warning screen in FIG. 8, the excess output number information / excess fee information 800 and print setting change information 801 that allows the number of output sheets to be reduced are displayed. In addition, the printer is provided with a [Cancel] button 802 for canceling the job for which printing has been instructed, a [Start printing without changing settings] button 803 for starting printing without changing settings, and a [Change settings and start printing] button 804 for changing settings and starting printing. The contents displayed in the print setting change information 801 that allows the number of prints to be reduced are to encourage a change in print settings, such as recommending 2in1 for printing print data set with 1in1 set, and recommending 4in1 for printing print data set with 2in1 set. In the example of print data 508, the number of prints was originally 16 sheets, so changing to 2in1 would reduce the number of prints by 8 sheets, and would fit within the number of printable sheets, so no excess fee would be incurred. In this case, the display of the button 804 is dynamically changed to display the [Change 2in1 settings and start printing] button 804 to encourage a change in settings to the recommended 2in1 printing.
[0023] In S612, the reservation control unit 304 determines whether the [Cancel] button 802 on the warning screen is pressed. If the [Cancel] button 802 is pressed (No in S612), the process returns to S606, and if not (Yes in S612), the process proceeds to S613. In the next step S613, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to change the settings. If the [Start printing without changing the settings] button 803 is pressed (No in S613), the process proceeds to S610, and if the [Change 2in1 settings and start printing] button 804 is pressed (Yes in S613), the process proceeds to S614. In S614, the reservation control unit 304 changes the print setting information of the print data instructed to be printed, and instructs the job control unit 305 to print the print data. The job control unit 305 then prints the print data, and the process proceeds to S615. Here, the setting is changed to 2in1 and printing is executed. In S615, the job control unit 305 counts the number of printed sheets in the same manner as in S407, updates the number of output printed sheets, and ends this process.
[0024] As described above, according to this embodiment, in an image processing device in which the print limit number is managed monthly, when the print limit number is approaching, the print data is not printed but is reserved. Then, the user can check the remaining number of prints and the number of output pages of a print job on the operation panel of the image processing device before deciding whether to print or not, and can decide to save the number of prints before the print limit number is reached. In addition, by displaying a warning screen when printing exceeds the print limit number, it is possible to prevent users from trying to print without realizing it. In addition, by making it possible to extend the storage period of reserved print data until a specified timing after resetting the print limit number, it is possible to reduce the effort of re-inputting print data.
[0025] [Embodiment 2] In the first embodiment, a method was described in which, when the image processing device receives print data, switching between printing and reserving is performed based on the reservation threshold. With this method, even a user who does not care about the maximum number of pages that can be printed must issue a print instruction twice, once from the information processing device and once from the image processing device. Therefore, in the second embodiment, a method is described in which switching between reserving and reserving can be performed for each user who uses the image processing device. The basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, so only the differences are shown.
[0026] Print data reception process Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining print data reception processing executed by the image processing device 103 according to this embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 9 is realized by the CPU 202 of the image processing device 103 reading into the RAM 203 a program for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 204 or HDD 205 and executing the program. Since steps S401 to S410 in Fig. 9 are the same as those in Fig. 4, steps S901 to S905, which are the differences, will be explained. In S901, the reservation control unit 304 analyzes the print data received in S401 and checks whether reservation permission information is present. The reservation permission information is information that can specify whether to reserve without printing when the number of output print sheets approaches the print upper limit number for an image processing device for which the print upper limit number is managed. The reservation permission information can be specified by an application (driver, etc.) that issues a print instruction when a user issues a print instruction to print data on the information processing device 101, and when specified, information is added to a header section, etc., in the print data.
[0027] In S902, the reservation control unit 304 determines whether the reservation permission information is present as a result of checking the reservation permission information in the print data in S901. If the reservation permission information is not present (No in S902), the process proceeds to S903, and if the reservation permission information is present (Yes in S902), the process proceeds to S905. In S903, the reservation control unit 304 checks the reservation permission setting managed as a main body setting in the image processing device 103. The reservation permission setting is stored in the RAM 203 or HDD 205 in the image processing device 103, and is used to specify whether or not to reserve without printing when the number of output print sheets approaches the print upper limit number for an image processing device managed as a main body setting. The reservation permission setting can be set by a user who uses the image processing device 103 via the display / operation unit 207. In S904, the reservation control unit 304 determines whether or not reservation is permitted by the reservation permission setting in the main body settings. If the reservation permission setting is set to permit (Yes in S904), the process proceeds to S402, and if the reservation is set to not permit (No in S904), the process proceeds to S406. In S905, the reservation control unit 304 determines whether reservation is permitted by the reservation permission designation information in the print data confirmed in S902. If reservation is permitted, the process proceeds to S402, and if reservation is not permitted, the process proceeds to S406.
[0028] As described above, according to this embodiment, for users who do not care about the print limit, it is possible to not reserve prints even when the print limit is approaching by setting the setting not to allow reservation when issuing a print command from the information processing device or in the main body settings of the image processing device. This allows the print process to be flexibly switched according to the user's usage pattern. In the present embodiment, a printer has been described as an example of an image processing device, but the image processing device is not limited to this.
[0029] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions. The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration, method, and program. (Configuration 1) An image processing device connected to a server that provides flat-rate services via a network, A first acquisition means for acquiring an upper limit of the number of pages that can be printed in a predetermined period in a flat-rate service; A second acquisition means for acquiring the number of output print sheets output by the image processing device; having a storage unit that stores the received print data in a storage unit when the difference between the upper limit number of print sheets and the number of output print sheets is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value; A display means for displaying a list of the stored print data and information about the print data; a printing means for outputting stored print data in response to a print execution instruction from a user via the display means; 13. An image processing device comprising: (Configuration 2) The display means further displays the upper limit number of print sheets and the number of output print sheets. 2. The image processing device according to claim 1, (Configuration 3) The display means displays a warning when the number of output sheets when the stored print data instructed to be printed is printed exceeds the difference between the upper limit number of print sheets and the output number of print sheets. 3. The image processing device according to configuration 1 or 2. (Configuration 4) The image processing device according to configuration 3, characterized in that the warning includes a display of the number of output sheets exceeding the upper limit of the number of print sheets, an excess fee incurred by exceeding the upper limit of the number of print sheets, and a display encouraging a change in settings to reduce the number of output sheets. (Configuration 5) A storage period extension means for extending the storage period of the stored print data until a predetermined timing after the upper limit number of prints is reset. 5. The image processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4. (Configuration 6) The decision as to whether or not to save the received print data is based on the device settings. 6. The image processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5. (Configuration 7) The decision as to whether or not to store the received print data is based on information included in the print data. 7. The image processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6. (Configuration 8) The first acquisition means acquires the maximum print number from the server. 8. The image processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7. (Configuration 9) The first acquisition means acquires the print limit number from a storage means in the image processing device. 8. The image processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7. (Method 1) A method for controlling an image processing device connected to a server providing flat-rate services via a network, comprising: A first acquisition step of acquiring an upper limit number of pages that can be printed in a predetermined period in a flat-rate service; A second acquisition step of acquiring the number of prints output by the image processing device; having a storing step of storing the received print data in a storage device when the difference between the upper limit number of print sheets and the number of output print sheets is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value; a display step of displaying a list of the print data and information on the print data stored in a display means; a printing step of outputting the stored print data in response to a print execution instruction from a user via the display means; 23. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus comprising the steps of: (Program 1) A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an image processing device according to Method 1.
Claims
1. An image processing device connected to a server that provides flat-rate services via a network, a first acquiring means for acquiring an upper limit of the number of pages that can be printed in a predetermined period in a flat-rate service; A second acquisition means for acquiring the number of output print sheets outputted by the image processing device in a predetermined period of time; having a storage unit that stores the received print data in a storage unit when the difference between the upper limit number of print sheets and the number of output print sheets is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value; A display means for displaying a list of the stored print data and information about the print data; a printing means for outputting stored print data in response to a print execution instruction from a user via the display means; 13. An image processing device comprising:
2. The display means further displays the upper limit number of print sheets and the number of output print sheets.
2. The image processing device according to claim 1,
3. The display means displays a warning when the number of output sheets when the stored print data instructed to be printed is printed exceeds the difference between the upper limit number of print sheets and the output number of print sheets.
3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing device.
4. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the warning includes a display of the number of output sheets exceeding the upper limit of the number of print sheets, an excess fee incurred when the upper limit of the number of print sheets is exceeded, and a display prompting a change in settings to enable a reduction in the number of output sheets.
5. A storage period extension means for extending the storage period of the stored print data until a predetermined timing after the upper limit number of prints is reset.
3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing device.
6. The decision as to whether or not to save the received print data is based on the device settings.
3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a computer.
7. The decision as to whether or not to store the received print data is based on information included in the print data.
3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a computer.
8. The first acquisition means acquires the maximum print number from the server.
2. The image processing device according to claim 1,
9. The first acquisition means acquires the print upper limit number from a storage means in the image processing apparatus.
2. The image processing device according to claim 1,
10. A method for controlling an image processing device connected to a server providing flat-rate services via a network, comprising: A first acquisition step of acquiring an upper limit number of pages that can be printed in a predetermined period in a flat-rate service; a second acquisition step of acquiring the number of output print sheets outputted by the image processing device in a predetermined period; having a storing step of storing the received print data in a storage device when the difference between the upper limit number of print sheets and the number of output print sheets is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value; a display step of displaying a list of the print data and information on the print data stored in a display means; a printing step of outputting the stored print data in response to a print execution instruction from a user via the display means; 23. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus comprising the steps of:
11. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 10.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Image formation apparatus and control method
JP2021160203A