Management system and method

Abstract

To solve a problem that device management information checked on a screen may not match exported device management information because filter settings for displaying the device management information and filter settings for exporting the information are separate.SOLUTION: A management system accepts a first filter setting for checking the number of printed sheets on a managed printing device, provides a tabulation result of the number of printed sheets on the managed printing device according to the first filter setting on a screen as a dashboard, accepts a second filter setting for exporting the tabulation result of the number of printed sheets on the managed printing device, and exports the tabulation result of the number of printed sheets on the managed printing device as a file according to the second filter setting. Here, the management system can also accept an instruction to reuse the first filter setting as the second filter setting.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management system and method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there exists a management system that collects device management information, such as the number of printed sheets, from an image forming apparatus, such as a multifunction device capable of copying, printing, etc., via a network, and displays the information on a screen. The management system aims to present device management information to an administrator of the image forming apparatus, for example, and can consolidate and display management information for multiple image forming apparatuses or multiple device information on one screen (hereinafter, referred to as a dashboard screen). The administrator can customize the dashboard screen by specifying conditions to be displayed on the dashboard screen.

[0003] On the other hand, such management systems also provide a function for exporting device management information. Some management systems require the user to specify conditions for export when exporting (outputting or downloading reports).

[0004] Here, as a related technique, Reference 1 proposes a technique for saving multiple print settings when printing on an image forming device as a print setting set. When printing is performed using a saved print setting set, the print setting set may not be valid for all image forming devices. If the print setting set contains print settings that cannot be used on the image forming device to be printed on, the print setting set can be changed to invalid and the print settings can be displayed on the screen, allowing efficient print setting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-258216 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the management system mentioned above, the conditions for displaying on the dashboard screen and the conditions for exporting are treated as separate entities. Therefore, it is necessary to set the same conditions in two places (two different screens), which is time-consuming.

[0007] In addition, when setting conditions in two places, there is a possibility that the specified conditions may differ due to operational mistakes even if the conditions are the same. This creates a risk that the device management information visually confirmed by the administrator on the dashboard screen will not match the exported device management information.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and aims to prevent discrepancies between the device management information confirmed by an administrator and the exported device management information by making it possible to use the conditions for displaying device management information as conditions for export. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. According to one aspect of the present invention, a first reception unit is configured to receive a first filter setting for confirming the number of printed sheets in a printing device to be managed; a providing means for providing a result of tallying up the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed according to the first filter setting on a screen as a dashboard; a second reception means for receiving a second filter setting related to exporting a count result of the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed; an export unit that exports, as a file, a result of tallying up the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed according to the second filter setting; The second reception means can also receive an instruction to reuse the first filter setting as the second filter setting. A management system is provided. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, by making it possible to use the display conditions of device management information as export conditions, it is possible to prevent discrepancies between the device management information confirmed by the administrator and the exported device management information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] Overall system configuration diagram. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of components. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a software configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for registering device management information on a dashboard screen in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a registration screen for device management information on a dashboard screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an export process of device management information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an export screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an automatic export sequence in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of automatic export when a change in a filter condition is detected on the dashboard screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an export process of device management information according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an export screen in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0013] [Embodiment 1] System Configuration 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a system according to this embodiment. An information processing device 100, an image forming device 101, and a client terminal 102 are connected to a network 110 and are capable of communicating with each other. In this embodiment, each device is shown as one device, but a plurality of devices may be connected to the network 110. Alternatively, one or a plurality of components of the information processing device 100, the image forming device 101, and the client terminal 102 may be configured on the same device.

[0014] The information processing device 100 collects device management information from the image forming device 101 and provides a device management service that manages the image forming device. The information processing device 100 provides a user interface that enables an administrator user (hereinafter, "user") to manage one or more image forming devices 101. The user interface may be provided in the image processing device 100, but may also be realized by, for example, a web browser executed on a client terminal 102 provided over a communication network. In this embodiment, the object of management by the device management service executed by the information processing device 100 is mainly printing by the image forming device, so the image forming device may also be called a printing device.

[0015] The device management information includes, for example, management information such as the serial number of the image forming device, job information such as the number of printed sheets, the number of double-sided / single-sided printed sheets, the number of color / monochrome printed sheets, the number of copies, and the number of scanned sheets, and user information using the image forming device. The number of sheets may be the number of pages. In this way, the device management information includes the results of counting the number of printed sheets or the number of printed pages, counted by classification or collectively. The user information may be information targeted at users with general authority (general users) other than users with administrator authority. The information processing device 100 displays information that matches the filter conditions in the user interface by specifying the period that the user wants to display or the contents that the user wants to display as filter conditions for device management information such as a list of image forming devices. For example, it is a screen 500 shown in FIG. 5 described later. For example, the period that the user wants to check, the image forming device to be managed, and the target user are specified as filter conditions, and a list screen of the desired image forming devices or a list screen of users is displayed. Setting of filter conditions is called filter setting.

[0016] Moreover, by registering the set filter conditions as favorite filter conditions, a plurality of pieces of device management information that match the filter conditions can be collected and displayed on one screen (hereinafter, referred to as a dashboard screen). For example, it is a screen 510 shown in FIG. 5 described later. On the dashboard screen, the user may specify and store a position on the screen where the plurality of pieces of device management information filtered by the favorite filter conditions are to be displayed. Also, on the dashboard screen, it may be possible to display the device management information graphically. For example, numerical values ​​contained in the device management information and numerical values ​​derived from the numerical values ​​may be displayed as graphics such as graphs corresponding to the numerical values. Note that the favorite filter conditions are filter conditions that are registered by the user as filter conditions that are frequently used, i.e., frequently used, and may be registered for each user.

[0017] Furthermore, the information processing device 100 has a function of receiving instructions from a user via a user interface and exporting (outputting a report) device management information according to the instructions. The user can specify filter conditions for export. If filter conditions are specified, device management information that meets the conditions will be exported. The exported device management information is displayed on a dashboard screen, for example, and is used for purposes such as leaving the device management information visually confirmed by the user as evidence, or obtaining data for processing the device management information.

[0018] The image forming apparatus 101 is, for example, a multifunction machine, printer, or scanner capable of copying, printing, faxing, transmission, etc. The image forming apparatus 101 periodically transmits its own device management information to the information processing apparatus 100. Here, if the network is an intranet, or in other circumstances where the configuration allows it, the device management information may be transmitted in response to a request from the information processing apparatus 100.

[0019] The client terminal 102 is an information processing device (computer) for a user to request a screen display from the information processing device 100 and to operate the displayed screen. In addition, a print job may be transmitted from the client terminal 102 to the image forming device 101 for execution.

[0020] The network 110 is a communication line for connecting the information processing device 100, the image forming device 101, and the client terminal 102 so that they can communicate with each other. Specifically, the network 110 is any one of a LAN such as the Internet or an intranet, a WAN, a wireless communication network including a wireless LAN, LTE, NR, etc., a telephone line, a dedicated digital line, an ATM, etc. Also, the network 110 is a communication network realized by a combination of these.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 101 transmits the device management information directly to the information processing apparatus 100, but the information processing apparatus 100 may acquire the device management information in another manner. For example, the image forming apparatus 101 or another management system (not shown) may output the device management information, and the locally stored information may be imported to the information processing apparatus 100 by a user or software (not shown). Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 100 may acquire the device management information from another cloud system (not shown, for example, cloud storage).

[0022] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing device 100 shown in Fig. 1. In addition to the information processing device 100 of the present embodiment, the image forming device 101 and the client terminal 102 may have the hardware configuration of a general information processing device as shown in Fig. 2.

[0023] The CPU 200 controls the overall operation by reading out control programs stored in the ROM 201 and the RAM 202 and executing various processes. The RAM 202 is used as a temporary storage area such as the main memory and work area of ​​the CPU 200. The storage device 203 is a large-capacity storage unit that stores device management information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 101 and various programs. The communication device 204 is an interface that connects the information processing device to a network. The CPU 200 receives device management information from the image forming apparatus 101 via the communication device 204.

[0024] The display device 206 displays a screen for displaying device management information, a dashboard screen, or a screen for exporting device management information. A user issues instructions to the information processing device by inputting characters and data using an input device 205 such as a keyboard or a mouse. Note that user operations on the information processing device 100 may be performed using the client terminal 102 as a terminal.

[0025] In addition to the image forming apparatus 101, a scanner device and a printer device (not shown) may be connected to the bus 210.

[0026] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a software configuration of the information processing device 100 in embodiment 1. The software configuration shown in Fig. 3 is realized by the CPU 200 reading a program stored in, for example, the ROM 201 into the RAM 202 and executing it.

[0027] The setting management unit 301 stores settings related to various functions of the information processing device 100 in each storage device such as the RAM 202 and the storage device 203, and reads them from each storage device. Here, the settings include, for example, one or more filter conditions for displaying on the dashboard screen, and settings related to position information of the graphical device management information to be displayed on the dashboard screen. Furthermore, a filter condition for export may be included separately from the filter condition for displaying on the dashboard screen.

[0028] The operation management unit 302 detects setting operations performed by the user on various screens via the input device 205 or the client terminal 102, and stores the settings specified via the setting management unit 301 in the data storage unit 304. The various screens are screens displayed on the display device 206 or the client terminal 102 by the UI control unit 305, such as a list screen of image forming devices and a list screen of users. The operation management unit 302 also detects an export instruction from the user on the export screen via the input device 205 or the client terminal 102, and obtains and exports device management information from the data storage unit 304 according to the specified filter conditions. Furthermore, the operation management unit 302 stores the device management information received from the image forming device 101 via the communication unit 303 in the data storage unit 304.

[0029] A communication unit 303 communicates with, for example, the image forming apparatus 101 and the client terminal 102, receives device management information, displays a screen, and receives screen operations.

[0030] The data storage unit 304 stores setting values ​​in response to a request from the setting management unit 301. In addition, the data storage unit 304 stores device management information received from the image forming apparatus 101 via the communication unit 303 to the operation management unit 302, and reads out the device management information in response to a request from the operation management unit 302.

[0031] The UI control unit 305 displays a screen on the display device 206 in response to a request from the user. For example, the screens shown in Figs. 5, 7 to 11 are displayed on the display device 206. Also, instructions from the user are accepted via the input device 205. Note that an authentication control unit or an external authentication service (not shown) may be used to restrict access to the screen displayed by the UI control unit 305. As described above, the client terminal 102 may be used as a user interface.

[0032] ● Registering device management information on the dashboard screen Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a sequence for registering device management information on a dashboard screen in the information processing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Device management information is registered on the dashboard screen by setting a filter condition specified for the device management information as a favorite filter condition. Upon registration, the device management information to be registered is displayed as part of the dashboard screen. The CPU 200 is the entity that executes the hardware of the process in Fig. 4. The process in Fig. 4 is executed in response to, for example, the selection of displaying device information on the operation screen. The process will be described with reference to an example screen shown in Fig. 5.

[0033] In step S401, the operation management unit 302 detects a screen display instruction from the user received via the communication unit 303, and instructs the UI control unit 305 to display the screen. The screen may be, for example, a list of image forming devices or a list of users. A menu may be displayed to allow the user to select which list screen to display. The selectable screen may be the number of prints or job information related to color / monochrome printing, but in the case of color / monochrome printing, where the amount of information becomes huge when past information is included, the screen is displayed divided into a certain period. For example, the system may preset a fixed period of the past one month, or if the user specified a period when the screen was displayed last time, the period may be followed. The user may be able to change the predetermined period.

[0034] In step S402, the user specifies filter conditions via the input device 205 on the screen displayed by the UI control unit 305 for the device management information displayed on the screen in S401. The operation management unit 305 accepts the input and temporarily stores it. Every time the filter conditions are changed, the temporary filter conditions are updated. The screen for specifying the filter conditions may be a new separate screen displayed by the UI control unit 305, or may be a screen for specifying filter conditions 501 on the screen displayed in S401, such as screen 500 shown in FIG. 5. The operation management unit 302 saves the filter conditions specified in step S402 in the data storage unit 304. The filter conditions set in S402 are called current filter conditions.

[0035] 5 is an example of a list screen of image forming devices. A device list 502 displays a list of image forming devices managed by the management system of the first embodiment. The list includes device management information for each image forming device.

[0036] The filter condition 501 can specify values ​​or ranges of items such as period, device name, user, place of use, and serial number to narrow down the items to be displayed in the device list 502. For example, by specifying the period from the 1st to the last day of the previous month, the total number of pages, the number of color pages, the number of monochrome pages, and the number of double-sided prints for the previous month are displayed. For example, by specifying the device name "Device A", the device management information of the image forming device named Device A is displayed. For example, by specifying the user "User1", the image forming device used by the user named User1 is displayed. In this case, Device A and Device B are applicable. For example, the place of use can be specified as "Office", "Home", or "Satellite". It is possible to display the image forming device installed in the "Office", the image forming device installed in the "Home", and the image forming device installed in the "Satellite" such as a satellite office. The serial number is unique identification information assigned to the image forming device. For example, by specifying "HIJ12345", the device management information of the image forming device named "Device A" is displayed. In this example, the filter condition is given by the logical product of each item. However, the combination may be changed, for example, by using a logical product with other items for the period and a logical sum with the other items.

[0037] In step S403, the operation management unit 302 updates the screen displayed in S401 according to the filter conditions specified by the user in S402. This allows the user to check the desired device management information on the screen displayed in S403.

[0038] In step S404, the operation management unit 302 judges whether the user has set the filter condition specified in S402 as a favorite filter condition. When setting the filter condition as a favorite filter condition, for example, the user clicks on the star 503 in the upper right of the screen 500. By this operation, for example, the color of the star 503 is inverted, and it is possible to color the star 503. When the star 503 is colored, the operation management unit 302 judges that the displayed filter condition has been set as a favorite filter condition. The operation management unit 302 judges whether the star 503 has a color indicating that it has been registered as a favorite (whether it has been set as a favorite filter condition) via the UI control unit 305. Here, the operation to set the filter condition as a favorite filter condition may be, for example, by selecting a menu "Register favorites" (not shown) or by having the user specify the information on another screen. Note that the information indicating that registration of favorites has been instructed is not limited to the color of the star 503, as long as it is stored in association with the current filter condition.

[0039] If the user sets the current filter condition as the favorite filter condition, in step S405, the operation management unit 302 saves the specified current filter condition as a favorite filter condition in the data storage unit 304 via the setting management unit 301. In the example of Table 1, the favorite filter condition is only the period, but if values ​​are set for other items, those values ​​are saved as the favorite filter condition. At this time, the identification information of the device list 502 and information related to the display format are associated with the dashboard display item list shown in Table 1 and saved.

[0040] For example, in Table 1, the device list 502 corresponds to the display item ID "1." The format to be displayed on the dashboard screen is "list," and the name of the information is "device list." In addition, the favorite filter condition specifies the period "2022 / 12 / 1-2022 / 12 / 31," and the display position is the "top center" part of the dashboard screen.

[0041] Here, in S405, for example, the dashboard display item list may be referenced, the display item selected in S401, for example a display item named "Device List", may be searched for, and the favorite filter conditions of the corresponding display item may be updated with the current filter conditions. If there is no corresponding display item, a new display item may be added, and the favorite filter conditions of that display item may be updated with the current filter conditions. In this case, predetermined values ​​such as those shown in Table 1 may be set as the name and format of the information and the display item position information. Of course, these may also be set by the user via a user interface.

[0042] The dashboard display item list in Table 1 includes, as display items, a list of devices, as well as "Number of printed pages per user" and "Ratio of monochrome / color printing." For these items, when a screen for that item is selected in S401, filter conditions 501 for setting filter conditions for that item are displayed, and a screen corresponding to the selected item is displayed under those conditions. In S405, the current filter conditions are saved as favorite filter conditions for each of those display items. Furthermore, depending on the display item, the user may be able to select the format.

[0043] [Table 1]

[0044] In step S406, the operation management unit 302 displays a dashboard screen according to the dashboard display item list via the UI control unit 305. For example, screen 510 in Fig. 5 is an example of a dashboard screen. By displaying the dashboard screen in S406, the user can check the display status of the dashboard screen as a series of steps for registering device management information on the dashboard screen. At this time, the user may also specify the format and position of the device management information to be displayed on the dashboard screen.

[0045] For example, a screen 510 displays a device list 511, the number of printed sheets for each user 512, and a monochrome / color printing ratio 513 as display items.

[0046] Device list 511 is a list of display item ID "1" in Table 1, number of prints per user 512 is a line graph of display item ID "2", and monochrome / color printing ratio 513 is a pie chart of display item ID "3". For example, in the favorite filter conditions shown in Table 1, only the filter condition of the period is specified for display item ID "1" and display item ID "3", but the filter condition of the user in addition to the period is specified for display item ID "2". In this way, favorite filter conditions can be specified for each display item.

[0047] The process of S406 can be omitted by providing a method for displaying the dashboard screen by displaying a separate menu, for example.

[0048] ● Export device management information Fig. 6 is a flowchart of an export sequence of device management information in the information processing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This process is executed when the operation management unit 302 of the information processing device 100 receives an instruction to display an export screen from a user via the communication unit 303. The execution entity on the hardware is the CPU 200. The process of Fig. 6 is executed in response to, for example, the selection of exporting device management information on the operation screen. An explanation will be given with reference to an example screen shown in Fig. 7.

[0049] In step S601, the operation management unit 302 displays an export screen via the UI control unit 305. The export screen is, for example, an export screen 700 shown in FIG.

[0050] In the screen 700, the user can newly specify filter conditions from period 701 to serial number 705. The details of the filter conditions are the same as those of period, device name, user, location of use, and serial number described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. By specifying a desired folder or storage service destination in the "Export destination" text box 707, the device management information narrowed down by the filter conditions is exported as a file or data. If the "Set automatic export" check box 708 is checked, the user can specify the start date, execution interval, and execution start time when executing the automatic export process described later in FIG. 8. If the "Save automatic export settings" button 709 is pressed, the automatic export settings are saved, and if the "Export" button 710 is pressed, export according to the specified filter conditions is immediately executed.

[0051] In step S602, the operation management unit 302 determines whether or not the user has designated the use of the favorite filter conditions via the UI control unit 305. Specifically, for example, the determination is made based on whether or not the "Reuse Dashboard Settings" button 706 on the screen 700 has been pressed. If the "Reuse Dashboard Settings" button 706 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S603, and if not, the process proceeds to step S606.

[0052] In step S603, the operation management unit 302 acquires the favorite filter conditions, if any, stored in the data storage unit 304 via the setting management unit 301. The favorite filter conditions are the favorite filter conditions stored in S405 of FIG.

[0053] Next, in step S604, the operation management unit 302 displays the favorite filter condition acquired in S603 as a filter condition on the export screen. Specifically, for example, the operation management unit 302 displays the favorite filter condition acquired in S603 as a filter condition from the period 711 to the serial number 715 as in the screen 710 via the UI control unit 305. Here, when favorite filter conditions are specified for a plurality of display items as in Table 1, the logical sum of each filter condition may be displayed on the screen 710. Also, the user may be made to specify a filter condition to be prioritized in advance on a screen not shown, and the prioritized filter condition may be displayed according to the specification. In this case, the filter condition of the specified display item may be the prioritized filter condition. Alternatively, each of the plurality of filter conditions may be displayed as a list, and may be used as a plurality of export targets. Also, when the favorite filter condition does not exist, this process may be skipped.

[0054] In step S605, the operation management unit 302 acquires the device management information to be filtered from the data storage unit 304 according to the filter conditions set in S604, and performs export. At this time, the operation management unit 302 outputs the device management information to be exported in a file such as CSV. In addition, the operation management unit 302 also outputs the graphics (list, line graph, pie chart, etc.) of the display items displayed on the dashboard screen, such as the device list 511, the number of prints per user 512, and the monochrome / color printing ratio 513 in FIG. 5, in a file. This is to leave evidence of the device management information that the user visually confirmed on the dashboard screen and judged whether there was a problem, and by outputting the graphics, the user can check the same graphics later. The graphics may be reconstructed from the device management information of the exported device list.

[0055] If the user decides not to use the favorite filter conditions in step S602, then in step S606 the user is prompted to set filter conditions as necessary from period 701 to serial number 705 on screen 700. For example, if the "Export" button is pressed without pressing "Reuse dashboard settings" button 706 on screen 700, a message is displayed to notify the user that filter conditions need to be set.

[0056] In step S607, the operation management unit 302 acquires the device management information to be filtered from the data storage unit 304 according to the filtering conditions specified by the user in S606, and performs export. At this time, the operation management unit 302 outputs the items to be exported, for example, the device management information of a device list, in a file such as a CSV file.

[0057] ●Automatic export FIG. 8 is an automatic export sequence in the information processing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This process is executed when the automatic export start time is reached according to the start date, execution interval, and execution start time that can be specified when the "Set automatic export" checkbox 708 is checked on the export screen 700 of FIG. 7, for example. In the example of the screen 700, automatic export is executed at 0:00 every 7 days from December 31, 2022. It may also be executed when an automatic export execution instruction is received from external software (not shown). By periodically outputting device management information by automatic export, the history of past device management information can be left without any trouble. The process is executed by the CPU 200.

[0058] In step S801, similarly to step S603, the operation management unit 302 acquires favorite filter conditions stored in the data storage unit 304 via the setting management unit 301, if any.

[0059] In step S802, the operation management unit 302 determines whether or not the favorite filter condition acquired in S801 exists. If it exists, the process proceeds to S803, and if it does not exist, the process proceeds to S805.

[0060] In step S803, the operation management unit 302 sets the favorite filter conditions acquired in S801 as the filter conditions for export. In this case, unlike S604 in which the favorite filter conditions are displayed on the screen, the favorite filter conditions are saved in the RAM 202 as filter conditions for internal processing, for example.

[0061] In step S804, the operation management unit 302 obtains the device management information to be filtered from the data storage unit 304 according to the filter conditions set in S803, and performs export. At this time, the operation management unit 302 outputs the device management information to be exported as a file such as CSV. Here, in order to leave evidence as in S605, graphics in the same format as those displayed on the dashboard screen are also output as a file.

[0062] In step S805, since there is no favorite filter condition acquired in S801, the operation management unit 302 sets, for example, a default filter condition stored in the system as the filter condition. For example, the filter condition may be set to a period of "from one month ago to the current day," and all device management information for one month may be exported.

[0063] In step S806, similarly to S607, the operation management unit 302 acquires the device management information to be filtered from the data storage unit 304 according to the filtering conditions set in S805, and performs export. At this time, the operation management unit 302 outputs the device management information to be exported in a file such as a CSV file.

[0064] FIG. 9 shows an automatic export sequence that is executed when it is detected that a filter condition has been changed on the dashboard screen of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] In the first embodiment, as shown in the filter condition 514 of the screen example 510, at least the filter condition related to the period can be changed on the dashboard screen. When one or more filter conditions are changed, unless the export process is executed at that timing, evidence of the device management information visually confirmed by the user cannot be left. Even if the operation is performed using the automatic export function, the filter condition for the next automatic export execution will be the changed condition due to the change in the filter condition. Therefore, it becomes impossible to leave the device management information at the time of the filter condition change on the dashboard screen from the previous automatic export execution. In order to deal with this problem, it is a process for executing the export when it is detected that the filter condition has been changed on the dashboard screen. This process may be executed, for example, after an instruction to register as a favorite is given on the dashboard screen and before it is saved as a favorite. For example, when it is determined as YES in S404 of FIG. 4, it may be executed before S405.

[0066] In step S901, the operation management unit 302 detects whether one or more filter conditions on the dashboard screen have been changed via the UI control unit 305. If a change has been detected, in step S902, the operation management unit 302 executes the automatic export process shown in Fig. 8. At this time, the process is executed according to the saved filter conditions before the filter conditions were changed.

[0067] After that, in step S903, the operation management unit 302 saves one or more filter conditions changed on the dashboard screen as favorite filter conditions in the data storage unit 304 via the setting management unit 301. This saving process causes the changes in the filter conditions detected in S901 to be reflected in the filter conditions the next time the dashboard screen is displayed or in the automatic export process.

[0068] With the above configuration and processing, according to this embodiment, the favorite filter conditions saved for displaying device management information on a dashboard can also be used (applied) for exporting device management information. This makes it possible to prevent discrepancies in filter conditions between display and export. In addition, every time filter conditions for displaying the dashboard are changed, export is automatically executed before the information is registered as a favorite. This makes it possible to export device management information under the conditions before the change to the favorite filter conditions immediately before the change.

[0069] In this embodiment, the filter conditions for displaying on the dashboard are applied to the filter conditions for exporting, but conversely, the filter conditions for exporting may be applied to displaying on the dashboard.

[0070] [Embodiment 2] A screen example different from that shown in FIG. 7, which is the screen example of the first embodiment, will be described as a second embodiment.

[0071] Fig. 7 shows an example in which favorite filter conditions are displayed as values ​​for a control that specifies filter conditions that can be input by the user. Fig. 11 shows an example in which set favorite filter conditions are displayed from the beginning when the export screen is displayed, separately from a control that specifies filter conditions that can be input by the user. Note that configurations and processes that are not specifically stated are all the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0072] Fig. 10 shows a sequence for exporting device management information in the information processing device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This process is executed by the CPU 200 when the operation management unit 302 of the information processing device 100 receives an export screen display instruction from the user via the communication unit 303. The process will be described with reference to an example screen shown in Fig. 11.

[0073] In step S1001, similarly to S603, the operation management unit 302 acquires the favorite filter conditions, if any, stored in the data storage unit 304 via the setting management unit 301. The favorite filter conditions are the filter conditions stored in step S405 of FIG.

[0074] In step S1002, the operation management unit 302 displays an export screen via the UI control unit 305. At this time, in the second embodiment, the favorite filter conditions acquired in S1001 are embedded in the export screen and then displayed. For example, the favorite filter conditions are displayed in a "dashboard settings" display area 1102 on an export screen 1100 shown in FIG. 11. When multiple favorite filter conditions are specified as in Table 1, the logical sum of the filter conditions may be displayed on the screen 710, or each of the multiple filter conditions may be displayed in a list. When there are multiple filter conditions, it is preferable to have multiple export targets.

[0075] In step S1003, the operation management unit 302 determines whether or not the user has specified the use of the favorite filter conditions via the UI control unit 305. Specifically, the user checks the display contents displayed in the "Dashboard settings" display area 1102 in S1002 and determines whether or not the favorite filter conditions are to be used. If the user determines that the favorite filter conditions are to be used, the user selects the "Export with filter conditions of the dashboard screen" radio button on the screen 1100. If the user determines that the favorite filter conditions are not to be used, the user selects the "Specify filter conditions and export" radio button. If the favorite filter conditions cannot be acquired or do not exist in S1001, the UI control unit 305 disables the "Export with filter conditions of the dashboard screen" radio button so that it cannot be selected. The UI control unit 305 informs the operation management unit 302 of which radio button is selected, so that the operation management unit 302 can determine whether or not the user has specified the use of the favorite filter conditions. If the favorite filter conditions are to be used, the process proceeds to step S1004, and if the favorite filter conditions are not to be used, the process proceeds to step S1006.

[0076] In step S1004, the operation management unit 302 sets the favorite filter condition acquired in step S1001 as the filter condition, for example, by saving the favorite filter condition in the RAM 202 as a filter condition for internal processing.

[0077] In step S1005, the operation management unit 302 acquires the device management information to be filtered from the data storage unit 304 according to the filter conditions set in S1004, and performs export. At this time, similar to S605, the operation management unit 302 outputs, as the export target, a file such as a CSV file that outputs the device management information, as well as a file of the same format as that displayed on the dashboard screen.

[0078] If it is determined in step S1003 that the favorite filter conditions are not to be used, in step S1006, the user is prompted to set filter conditions in the "Specify filter conditions and export" radio button 1103 on screen 1100. The filter conditions are equivalent to the period, device name, user, location of use, and serial number described with reference to Figures 4 and 5, or Figures 6 and 7. For example, if the "Specify filter conditions and export" radio button 1103 on screen 1100 is selected and the "Export" button is pressed without any filter conditions being entered, the user is notified that filter conditions need to be set. This notification may be made, for example, by displaying a message.

[0079] In step S1007, the operation management unit 302 acquires device management information to be filtered from the data storage unit 304 according to the filter conditions set in S1006, and performs export. At this time, the operation management unit 302 outputs the device management information to be exported in a file such as a CSV file.

[0080] As described above, in this embodiment, by displaying the favorite filter conditions on the export screen, the user can refer to and check the favorite filter conditions when setting up the export. After checking, the user can apply the favorite filter conditions for export.

[0081] (Other embodiments) 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) for implementing one or more of the functions.

[0082] Summary of embodiments The above embodiments can be summarized as follows: (Item 1) a first reception means for receiving a first filter setting for confirming the number of printed sheets in a printing device to be managed; a providing means for providing a result of tallying up the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed according to the first filter setting on a screen as a dashboard; a second reception means for receiving a second filter setting related to exporting a count result of the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed; an export unit that exports, as a file, a result of tallying up the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed according to the second filter setting; The second reception means can also receive an instruction to reuse the first filter setting as the second filter setting. 1. A management system comprising: (Item 2) The management system according to item 1, When the second reception means receives the instruction to reuse, the export means exports, as a file, a count result of the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed, using the first filter setting as the second filter setting. 1. A management system comprising: (Item 3) The management system according to item 2, When there are a plurality of the first filter settings, the export means exports the file with the sum of the first filter settings as the second filter setting. 1. A management system comprising: (Item 4) The management system according to any one of items 1 to 3, The device further includes a registration means for registering the first filter setting in response to an instruction, The first filter setting used as the second filter setting is the first filter setting registered by the registration means. 1. A management system comprising: (Item 5) Item 4. The management system according to item 4, When the first filter setting is changed, the export means exports, as a file, a count result of the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed according to the first filter setting before the changed first filter setting is registered by the registration means. 1. A management system comprising: (Item 6) The management system according to any one of items 1 to 5, The first reception means receives the first filter setting on a screen on which the dashboard is provided by the provision means. 1. A management system comprising: (Item 7) The management system according to any one of items 1 to 6, The second reception means is capable of receiving the instruction for diversion on a screen for receiving the second filter setting. 1. A management system comprising: (Item 8) The management system according to any one of items 1 to 7, Displaying the first filter setting on a screen for accepting the second filter setting 1. A management system comprising: (Item 9) A management method in a management system having a first receiving means, a providing means, a second receiving means, and an export means, comprising: the first reception means receives a first filter setting for confirming the number of printed sheets in a printing device to be managed; the providing means provides a count result of the number of printed sheets at the printing device to be managed according to the first filter setting on a screen as a dashboard; the second reception unit receives a second filter setting related to exporting a count result of the number of printed sheets at the printing device to be managed; the export means exports, as a file, a count result of the number of printed sheets at the printing device to be managed according to the second filter setting; The second reception means can also receive an instruction to reuse the first filter setting as the second filter setting. A management method comprising:

[0083] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 301: setting management unit of information processing device; 302: operation management unit of information processing device; 303: communication unit of information processing device; 304: data storage unit of information processing device; 305: UI control unit of information processing device

Claims

1. a first reception unit for receiving a first filter setting for confirming the number of printed sheets in a printing device to be managed; a providing means for providing a result of tallying up the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed according to the first filter setting on a screen as a dashboard; a second reception unit for receiving a second filter setting related to exporting a count result of the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed; an export unit that exports, as a file, a result of counting the number of printed sheets in the printing device that is the management target according to the second filter setting; The second reception means can also receive an instruction to reuse the first filter setting as the second filter setting.

1. A management system comprising:

2. The management system according to claim 1, When the second reception means receives the instruction to reuse, the export means exports, as a file, a count result of the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed, using the first filter setting as the second filter setting.

1. A management system comprising:

3. The management system according to claim 2, When there are a plurality of the first filter settings, the export means exports the file with the sum of the first filter settings as the second filter setting.

1. A management system comprising:

4. The management system according to claim 1, The apparatus further includes a registration means for registering the first filter setting in response to an instruction, The first filter setting used as the second filter setting is the first filter setting registered by the registration means.

1. A management system comprising:

5. The management system according to claim 4, When the first filter setting is changed, the export means exports, as a file, a count result of the number of printed sheets in the printing device under management according to the first filter setting before the changed first filter setting is registered by the registration means.

1. A management system comprising:

6. The management system according to claim 1, The first reception means receives the first filter setting on a screen on which the dashboard is provided by the provision means.

1. A management system comprising:

7. The management system according to claim 1, The second reception means is capable of receiving the instruction for diversion on a screen for receiving the second filter setting.

1. A management system comprising:

8. The management system according to claim 7, The first filter setting is displayed on a screen for accepting the second filter setting.

1. A management system comprising:

9. A management method in a management system having a first reception means, a providing means, a second reception means, and an export means, comprising: the first reception unit receives a first filter setting for confirming the number of printed sheets in a printing device to be managed; the providing means provides a result of tallying up the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed according to the first filter setting on a screen as a dashboard; the second reception unit receives a second filter setting related to exporting a count result of the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed; the export unit exports, as a file, a count result of the number of printed sheets in the printing device to be managed according to the second filter setting; The second reception means can also receive an instruction to reuse the first filter setting as the second filter setting. A management method comprising:

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