Information processing system, information processing device, and program

Abstract

In cases where user access to the processing execution device is restricted by restriction information managed by an information management device, the system is designed to prevent inconvenience to the use of the processing execution device even if the user becomes unable to access the information management device. [Solution] When the PC 20 and the multifunction printer 40 can connect to the cloud print server 10 via the network, they acquire restriction information that sets the number of printable pages for each user. The PC 20 has a restriction information processing unit 243 that, if it is unable to register a user's print job with the cloud print server 10 due to a network outage, acquires the restriction information for that user from each multifunction printer 40, identifies the latest restriction information from among them, and sends it to each multifunction printer 40 to update it. The multifunction printer 40 has a restriction information management unit 43 that deducts 1 from the number of printable pages in the restriction information each time it prints one page at a time in response to a print command from the PC 20, and sends the restriction information to the cloud print server 10 when the network is restored.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In order to realize printing in a system environment where a print server is not installed in an office or printing without selecting an output destination, the use of cloud printing services has become widespread. When using a cloud printing service, a user can register a print job with a print server provided in the cloud from an information processing apparatus such as a PC, and then can select the printing timing and the printer as the output destination.

[0003] When providing a print service, restrictions on the service may be set for each user depending on contract fees or the like. For example, there is a restriction such as setting an upper limit on the number of printed sheets during a predetermined period such as one month. In this case, the print server manages the number of printable sheets for each user. Specifically, when the printer executes printing using the print service in response to an instruction from the user, the printer notifies the print server of the number of printed sheets by that printing. The print server subtracts the counter of the number of printable sheets of the relevant user being managed in response to the notification of the number of printed sheets, and manages not to execute printing based on the request from the user when it reaches 0.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When restrictions on a user's use of a processing execution device are managed by restriction information controlled by an information management device, if the user becomes unable to access the information management device, inconveniences may arise, such as the inability to restrict the use of the processing execution device.

[0006] For example, in the conventional technology described above, the print server (the information management device) manages the number of printable pages (the limit information) for the printer (the processing execution device), but in this case, it becomes impossible to manage the number of printable pages.

[0007] The present invention aims to prevent inconvenience in using a processing execution device even when the user is unable to access the information management device, in a situation where the use of the processing execution device by the user is restricted by restriction information managed by the information management device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The information processing system according to the present invention comprises: a first processor provided in one or more processing execution devices that execute processing in response to instructions from a user; a second processor provided in one or more information processing devices used when a user instructs the processing execution devices to execute processing; and a third processor provided in an information management device that manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the use of the processing execution devices by the user. The first processor and the second processor each acquire the restriction information from the information management device at a predetermined timing and store it in their respective devices. The second processor, when unable to access the information management device in response to user operation, acquires the restriction information held in each of the processing execution devices and updates the restriction information held in the information processing device and the processing execution devices, respectively, with the latest restriction information selected from the restriction information held in the information processing device and the restriction information acquired from the processing execution devices.

[0009] Furthermore, the second processor is characterized in that it acquires the restriction information from the information management device at the predetermined timing when the application used to issue a processing execution instruction to the processing execution device is started.

[0010] Furthermore, the second processor is characterized in that, when it pre-registers a job to be used for executing processing in the processing execution device with the information management device, it acquires the restriction information from the information management device at the predetermined timing when the pre-registered processing is executed.

[0011] Furthermore, the first processor is characterized in that it acquires the restriction information from the information management device at the predetermined timing when the job is acquired from the information management device.

[0012] Furthermore, the second processor updates the restriction information held by each of the devices with the latest restriction information, then sends an execution instruction to the processing execution device in accordance with the user's instructions, and the first processor starts executing the process in accordance with the execution instruction from the information processing device, and updates the restriction information held by the processing execution device in conjunction with the execution of the process.

[0013] Furthermore, the first processor, after completing the execution of the process, and upon confirming that it can access the information management device, transmits the restriction information held by the processing execution device to the information management device, thereby updating the restriction information managed by the information management device.

[0014] The information processing device according to the present invention is an information processing device used when a user instructs one or more processing execution devices, each equipped with a processor, to execute processing in response to instructions from the user, and is included in an information processing system together with the processing execution devices and an information management device that manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the use of the processing execution devices by the user, wherein the processor acquires the restriction information from the information management device at a predetermined timing and has the information processing device hold it, and when it is not possible to access the information management device in response to user operation, it acquires the restriction information held in each of the processing execution devices, and updates the restriction information held by the information processing device and the processing execution devices, respectively, with the latest restriction information selected from the restriction information held in the information processing device and the restriction information acquired from the processing execution devices.

[0015] The present invention provides an information processing system comprising: one or more processing execution devices that execute processing in response to user instructions; one or more information processing devices used by the user when instructing the processing execution devices to execute processing; and an information management device that manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the use of the processing execution devices by the user. The system provides the following functions for each computer constituting each of the processing execution devices and each computer constituting each of the information processing devices: a function to acquire the restriction information from the information management device at a predetermined timing and store it in each device; a function to acquire the restriction information held in each of the processing execution devices when the computer constituting the information management device cannot access it in response to user operation; and a function to update the restriction information held by the information processing device and the processing execution device with the latest restriction information selected from the restriction information held in the information processing device and the restriction information acquired from the processing execution devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the invention described in claim 1, when the use of the processing execution device by the user is restricted by the restriction information managed by the information management device, even when the information management device cannot be accessed, it is possible to prevent the use of the processing execution device from being disadvantaged.

[0017] According to the invention described in claim 2, the restriction information can be acquired at the timing when the application is started.

[0018] According to the invention described in claim 3, the restriction information can be acquired at the timing when the job is pre-registered.

[0019] According to the invention described in claim 4, the restriction information can be acquired from the information management device in conjunction with the acquisition of the job.

[0020] According to the invention described in claim 5, even when the information management device cannot be accessed, the processing can be executed according to the restriction information.

[0021] According to the invention described in claim 6, the restriction information managed by the information management device can be updated to the latest state.

[0022] According to the invention described in claim 7, when the use of the processing execution device by the user is restricted by the restriction information managed by the information management device, even when the information management device cannot be accessed, it is possible to prevent the use of the processing execution device from being disadvantaged.

[0023] [[ID=(28)]]According to the invention described in claim 8, when the use of the processing execution device by the user is restricted by the restriction information managed by the information management device, even when the information management device cannot be accessed, it is possible to prevent the use of the processing execution device from being disadvantaged.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It should be noted that there seems to be a small error in the original text where "" is written as "[[ID=(28)]]" in the English translation. It should be corrected to "" for consistency.It is a block configuration diagram showing the entire information processing system in this embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the restriction information stored in the restriction information storage unit in this embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a flowchart showing the printing process in this embodiment. [Figure 4A] It is a sequence diagram showing the process in the normal printing mode in this embodiment. [Figure 4B] It is a sequence diagram following FIG. 4A. [Figure 5A] It is a sequence diagram showing the process in the local printing mode in this embodiment. [Figure 5B] It is a sequence diagram following FIG. 5A.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing the entire information processing system in this embodiment. Since the information processing system in this embodiment is configured so as to be able to provide a cloud printing service, it can also be called a cloud printing service system. When using the cloud printing service, a user can register a print job with the cloud printing server 10 provided in the cloud and then can select the printing timing and the printer as the output destination. In this embodiment, printing using the cloud printing service is referred to as "cloud printing".

[0027] In FIG. 1, a cloud printing server 10, a PC 20, and a multifunction device 40 are shown. Each device 10, 20, 40 is connected to a network such as the Internet (not shown) and is in a relationship where they can communicate with each other.

[0028] The cloud printing server 10 provides cloud printing services to users of PC 20 and multifunction printer 40. The cloud printing server 10 may be implemented with a general-purpose server computer hardware configuration. Specifically, the cloud printing server 10 has a CPU as a third processor, ROM, RAM, a hard disk drive as a storage means, and a network interface provided as a communication means.

[0029] The cloud print server 10 manages print jobs received from PC 20. If the print request is a push print, it issues an output command directly to the designated multifunction printer 40. If it is a pull print, it stores the print job until an output command is requested from the cloud print server 10.

[0030] The cloud printing server 10 includes a job management unit 11, a multifunction printer list generation unit 12, a restriction information management unit 13, a job information storage unit 14, an execution history information storage unit 15, and a restriction information storage unit 16. Components not used in the description of this embodiment are omitted from the figures.

[0031] The job management unit 11 manages information related to jobs to be executed in the cloud printing service. Specifically, the job management unit 11 registers information about jobs sent from the PC 20 in the job information storage unit 14 and also manages jobs such as deleting completed jobs. In addition, the job management unit 11 sends a list of print jobs registered by the requesting user (hereinafter simply referred to as the "job list") in response to a request from the multifunction printer 40, or sends a job selected from the job list.

[0032] The multifunction printer list generation unit 12 searches the execution history information storage unit 15 in response to a transmission request from a user using the PC 20, and generates a list of multifunction printers 40 that meet predetermined conditions, such as a predetermined number (e.g., 10) or multifunction printers 40 used by the user most recently, or multifunction printers 40 used within a predetermined period (hereinafter referred to as the "multifunction printer list"), and returns it to the requesting PC 20.

[0033] The restriction information management unit 13 manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the use of the multifunction printer 40 by users. In this embodiment, the restriction information will be explained using, as an example, the upper limit on the number of pages that a user of the cloud printing service can print within a predetermined period such as a month (hereinafter referred to as "printable pages").

[0034] The job information storage unit 14 stores job information, which is information related to a job. The data structure of the job information itself can be the same as before, and for example, the job ID, which is the job identification information, includes the job owner, job registration time information, and the actual job.

[0035] The execution history information storage unit 15 stores information related to the execution history of jobs stored in the job information storage unit 14. Specifically, the execution history information includes the job ID, job owner, job execution start time information, execution duration, the PC 20 that issued the execution instruction, the multifunction printer 40 that executed the job, etc.

[0036] Figure 2 shows an example of the data structure of the restriction information stored in the restriction information storage unit 16 in this embodiment. The restriction information is set for each user, and is configured by associating the user ID, which is the user's identification information, with the content of the restriction information, in this embodiment, the current number of printable pages, and time information (hereinafter referred to as "update date and time") indicating the latest update time of the number of printable pages.

[0037] PC20 can utilize cloud printing services by installing a cloud printing driver. PC20 may be implemented with a general-purpose hardware configuration. Specifically, PC20 has a CPU as a second processor, ROM, RAM, a hard disk drive as a storage means, a network interface provided as a communication means, and a user interface including input means such as a mouse and keyboard, and display means such as a display.

[0038] Figure 1 shows two PC20s for convenience, but this indicates that an information processing system can have multiple PC20s as information processing devices. In this embodiment, the PC20 is shown as an example of an information processing device used by a user to instruct the multifunction printer 40 to perform a process called cloud printing. Therefore, it is not limited to a PC20, as long as it is an information processing device capable of instructing the multifunction printer 40, it could be a mobile terminal such as a tablet. Each PC20 only needs to have the same configuration, so in Figure 1, the components of one PCa are shown. Note that if there is no need to distinguish between the two PC20s shown in Figure 1, they will be written as "PC20", and if there is a need to distinguish between them, they will be written as "PCa" or "PCb".

[0039] The PC20 includes a communication processing unit 21, a job registration unit 22, an information acquisition unit 23, a local print mode control unit 24, a control unit 25, a file storage unit 26, a multifunction device list storage unit 27, and a restriction information storage unit 28. Components not used in the description of this embodiment are omitted from the figures.

[0040] The communication processing unit 21 performs network-based communication with the cloud printing server 10. If communication with the cloud printing server 10 fails, for example, if the system is unable to access the cloud printing server 10 in response to user operations, the communication processing unit 21 detects this inaccessibility as a communication error. Note that inaccessibility can be caused by various factors other than network disconnection, such as the cloud printing server 10 being down.

[0041] The job registration unit 22 registers a print job for printing a file selected from the file storage unit 26 in response to user instructions, and sends it to the cloud print server 10 for registration. The information acquisition unit 23 obtains the multifunction printer list and restriction information by requesting them from the cloud print server 10, and registers them in the multifunction printer list storage unit 27 and the restriction information storage unit 28, respectively.

[0042] If we define the system state in which printing can be performed on the multifunction printer 40 using the cloud printing service as the normal printing mode, then in this embodiment, when the cloud printing service is unavailable due to a network failure or other problem with the cloud printing server 10, i.e., when the above-mentioned communication error occurs, the system state in which printing is performed on the multifunction printer 40 without going through the network will be referred to as the "local printing mode."

[0043] The local print mode control unit 24 controls the execution of printing when the PC 20 is in local print mode. The local print mode control unit 24 includes a multifunction device list display unit 241, a file list display unit 242, a control information processing unit 243, and a print instruction unit 244. The multifunction device list display unit 241 displays the multifunction device list stored in the multifunction device list storage unit 27. The file list display unit 242 displays a list of files stored in the file storage unit 26 as candidates for files to be printed. The control information processing unit 243 performs processing related to restriction information, such as requesting the transmission of restriction information to the multifunction device 40, transmitting restriction information to the multifunction device 40, and updating the settings of the restriction information. The print instruction unit 244 instructs printing by sending a print job containing the files selected as the target to the multifunction device 40.

[0044] The control unit 25 controls and coordinates the operation of the components 21 to 24 included in the PC 20, thereby enabling printing in the local print mode, which is a feature of this embodiment.

[0045] The file storage unit 26 stores candidate files to be printed. The multifunction printer list storage unit 27 stores the multifunction printer list obtained from the cloud print server 10 by the information acquisition unit 23. The restriction information storage unit 28 stores the restriction information obtained from the cloud print server 10 by the information acquisition unit 23.

[0046] The multifunction printer 40 can utilize cloud printing services by being equipped with Print Agent. The multifunction printer 40 is an image forming device that incorporates various functions such as printing, copying, and scanning, and has an information processing device built in. The multifunction printer 40 may be implemented with a general-purpose multifunction printer hardware configuration. That is, the multifunction printer 40 has a CPU as a first processor, ROM, RAM, a hard disk drive as a storage means, a network interface provided as a communication means, an operation panel as a user interface, a scanner, and a printer.

[0047] In this embodiment, the multifunction printer 40 is shown as an example of a processing execution device that performs a process called cloud printing in response to instructions from a user. In Figure 1, two multifunction printers 40 are shown for convenience, but this indicates that an information processing system can have multiple multifunction printers 40 as processing execution devices. Any processing execution device that can perform cloud printing in response to instructions from a user is not limited to a multifunction printer 40; for example, a printer that can be equipped with a Print Agent may also be used. Each multifunction printer 40 only needs to have the same configuration, so in Figure 1, the components of one multifunction printer a are shown. Note that if it is not necessary to distinguish between the two multifunction printers 40 shown in Figure 1, they will be referred to as "multifunction printer 40," and if it is necessary to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as "multifunction printer a" or "multifunction printer b."

[0048] The multifunction printer 40 includes a communication processing unit 41, a printing processing unit 42, a restriction information management unit 43, a control unit 44, and a restriction information storage unit 45. Components not used in the description of this embodiment are omitted from the figures.

[0049] The communication processing unit 41 performs network-based communication with the cloud printing server 10. If communication with the cloud printing server 10 fails, for example, if it cannot access print jobs or restriction information, the communication processing unit 41 detects this inaccessibility as a communication error.

[0050] The print processing unit 42 performs printing by activating its printing function. The print processing unit 42 includes a job list display unit 421, a job acquisition unit 422, and a print execution unit 423. In normal print mode, the job list display unit 421 acquires a list of print jobs registered by the user, i.e., the job list, from the cloud print server 10 in response to instructions from the user, and displays it on the operation panel. The job acquisition unit 422 acquires the print job selected by the user from the job list from the cloud print server 10. In normal print mode, the print execution unit 423 executes the print job acquired by the job acquisition unit 422. In local print mode, the print execution unit 423 also executes print jobs sent from the PC 20.

[0051] The restriction information management unit 43 manages the restriction information set in the restriction information storage unit 45 of the multifunction printer 40. For example, as will be described in detail later, the restriction information management unit 43 obtains restriction information from the cloud print server 10 at predetermined timings, such as when acquiring a print job, and registers it in the restriction information storage unit 45. It also obtains the number of sheets of paper used for printing during the printing process executed by the print processing unit 42 and updates the number of printable pages set in the restriction information storage unit 45.

[0052] The control unit 25 controls and coordinates the operation of the components 41 to 43 included in the multifunction printer 40, thereby realizing the printing functions installed in the multifunction printer 40, and in this embodiment, particularly printing in local printing mode.

[0053] As described above, the restriction information storage unit 45 stores the restriction information acquired from the cloud print server 10 by the restriction information management unit 43. The data structure of the restriction information is the same as the data structure of the restriction information managed by the cloud print server 10, and is configured so that the current number of printable pages and the update date and time are associated with each user's user ID. The restriction information maintained and managed by the multifunction printer 40 is updated according to the printing process performed by the multifunction printer 40.

[0054] In this embodiment, restriction information is associated with each user, but this is not the only option. For example, it could be associated with each user group, or it could be system-wide restriction information.

[0055] Next, the general flow of the printing process implemented in this embodiment will be explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 focuses on the processing performed on PC20.

[0056] PC20 needs to obtain a list of multifunction printers and restriction information from the cloud print server 10 at predetermined times. For example, the predetermined time is when a user logs into PC20. In this case, when a user logs into PC20, the information acquisition unit 23 acquires the list of multifunction printers and restriction information associated with the logged-in user from the cloud print server 10. The communication processing unit 21 communicates with the cloud print server 10 via the network to acquire each piece of information, but if the network is down, the information cannot be acquired. In this case (N in step S20), the control unit 25 switches PC20 to local print mode, so that PC20 performs printing in local print mode (step S60). On the other hand, once the information has been acquired (Y in step S20), the control unit 25 operates PC20 in normal print mode. That is, the information acquisition unit 23 saves the list of multifunction printers by registering it in the multifunction printer list storage unit 27, and the restriction information by registering it in the restriction information storage unit 28 (step S10).

[0057] Next, when the user selects a file to be printed from the file storage unit 26, the job registration unit 22 generates a print job for that file and uploads it to the cloud print server 10. In this way, the print job is registered with the cloud print server 10 (step S30).

[0058] The communication processing unit 21 communicates with the cloud printing server 10 over the network to register a job to the cloud printing server 10, but if the network is down, it cannot send the print job. In this case (N in step S40), the PC 20 will perform the printing process in local printing mode (step S60). On the other hand, if the print job registration is successful (Y in step S40), the cloud printing process can be performed (step S50).

[0059] The outline of the printing process in this embodiment is as described above. Next, the details of the cloud printing process performed in normal printing mode in this embodiment will be explained using the sequence diagrams shown in Figures 4A and 4B.

[0060] When a user logs into PC20, the information acquisition unit 23 requests the cloud printing server 10 to send a list of multifunction printers and restriction information associated with the logged-in user (step S211). This information transmission request includes the user ID of the logged-in user. The communication processing unit 21 sends the information transmission request from the information acquisition unit 23 to the cloud printing server 10.

[0061] In normal printing mode, network communication is functioning correctly. Therefore, the cloud printing server 10 can receive the information transmission request. In response to this information transmission request, the multifunction printer list generation unit 12 searches the execution history information storage unit 15 based on the user ID included in the information transmission request to generate a list of multifunction printers 40 associated with that user, i.e., a multifunction printer list, and sends it to the PC 20. The restriction information management unit 13 also reads the restriction information corresponding to the user ID included in the information transmission request from the restriction information storage unit 16 and sends it to the PC 20 (step S111).

[0062] The information acquisition unit 23 stores the list of multifunction printers acquired from the cloud printing server 10 in the multifunction printer list storage unit 27, and the restriction information in the restriction information storage unit 28 (step S213).

[0063] Next, the user launches a predetermined cloud printing application used to issue a print command to the multifunction printer 40 in order to print using cloud printing. In the above description, restriction information was obtained from the cloud printing server 10 at a predetermined timing when the user logs in, but the restriction information may also be obtained when this application is launched, i.e., triggered by the launch of the application. It can also be said that the job registration unit 22, the information acquisition unit 23, and the local print mode control unit 24 are realized by the functions of this application.

[0064] The job registration unit 22 displays multiple files stored in the file storage unit 26 as candidates for printing, and selects the file to be printed from among them. When the job registration unit 22 obtains the file selected by the user (step S214), it generates a print job to print that file and sends it to the cloud print server 10 (step S215).

[0065] In cloud printing, as described above, print jobs are pre-registered with the cloud printing server 10. However, the restriction information may be obtained from the cloud printing server 10 at a predetermined timing when the process of registering this print job is executed.

[0066] In normal printing mode, network communication is functioning correctly. Therefore, the cloud printing server 10 can receive the print job. The job management unit 11 registers the print job sent from the PC 20 in the job information storage unit 14 (step S112).

[0067] As described above, the user registers a print job with the cloud printing server 10 as a preliminary step to receiving the cloud printing service.

[0068] Next, the user logs into the multifunction printer 40 to perform cloud printing (step S411). When the user selects the cloud printing function from the control panel, the job list display unit 421 requests the cloud printing server 10 to send the job list (step S412). This transmission request includes the user ID of the logged-in user. The communication processing unit 41 sends the transmission request from the job list display unit 421 to the cloud printing server 10.

[0069] In normal printing mode, network communication is functioning correctly. Therefore, the cloud print server 10 can receive the transmission request. In response to this transmission request, the job management unit 11 searches the job information storage unit 14 based on the user ID included in the transmission request to generate a list of print jobs associated with that user, i.e., a job list, and sends it to the multifunction printer 40.

[0070] Incidentally, the multifunction printer 40 also needs to acquire and store restriction information from the cloud print server 10 at predetermined timings, just like the PC 20. For example, let's say the acquisition of the job list is the predetermined timing. In this case, when the restriction information management unit 13 receives a job list transmission request, it reads the restriction information corresponding to the user ID included in the transmission request from the restriction information storage unit 16 and sends it to the PC 20 (step S113). When the job list display unit 421 acquires the job list from the cloud print server 10, it displays it on the operation panel (step S413).

[0071] Next, the user selects the print job they want to execute from the job list. The job acquisition unit 422 requests the cloud print server 10 to send the print job selected by the user (step S414). This transmission request includes the user ID of the logged-in user and the job ID associated with the selected print job. The communication processing unit 41 sends the transmission request from the job acquisition unit 422 to the cloud print server 10.

[0072] In normal printing mode, network communication is functioning correctly. Therefore, the cloud print server 10 can receive the transmission request. In response to this transmission request, the job management unit 11 retrieves the print job by searching the job information storage unit 14 based on the job ID included in the transmission request and sends it to the multifunction printer 40 (step S114).

[0073] By the way, the multifunction printer 40 only needs to acquire restriction information before executing a print job. In the above explanation, the timing was set to when the job list is acquired, but it is not limited to this. For example, the restriction information could be acquired from the cloud print server 10 at the time the print job is acquired. Alternatively, the acquisition of restriction information could be a standalone process, i.e., acquired separately from the job list and print job. Or, similar to the PC 20, the timing could be set to when the user logs in.

[0074] As described above, once a print job is obtained from the cloud print server 10, the print execution unit 423 executes the obtained print job (step S415).

[0075] By the way, when a print job is executed, the multifunction printer 40 prints one page at a time. Each time the print execution unit 423 prints a page, it notifies the restriction information management unit 43 of that print job. Each time the restriction information management unit 43 receives this notification, it updates the restriction information storage unit 45, which is set to decrease the number of printable pages associated with that user by one. The number of printable pages is information equivalent to a counter. If the number of printable pages reaches zero by decreasing it by one, the restriction information management unit 43 notifies the print execution unit 423 of this fact. Upon receiving this notification, the print execution unit 423 restricts printing. In other words, the print execution unit 423 forcibly terminates the running print job. In this way, the number of printable pages for that user is restricted. For the purposes of this explanation, we will continue assuming that the print limit has not been reached.

[0076] As mentioned above, while a print job is running, the number of printable pages associated with that user, as set in the restriction information storage unit 45, is updated sequentially. The update date and time are also updated sequentially along with the number of printable pages. When the print job is finished, the restriction information management unit 43 sends the restriction information associated with that user, as set in the restriction information storage unit 45, to the cloud print server 10 via the communication processing unit 41 (step S416).

[0077] When restriction information is sent from the multifunction printer 40, the restriction information management unit 13 in the cloud printing server 10 overwrites and updates the restriction information set in the restriction information storage unit 16 with that restriction information (step S115).

[0078] For example, suppose that in the restriction information managed by the cloud print server 10, user A's printable page limit is 40, and the multifunction printer a acquires user A's restriction information when acquiring a print job. The printable page limit included in this acquired restriction information is 40. Suppose the multifunction printer a prints 10 pages by executing user A's print job. In this case, the number of printable pages for user A held by the multifunction printer a becomes (40-10=)30. This restriction information, which states that the printable page limit is 30, is notified to the cloud print server 10 after the print job is executed, and the restriction information set in the restriction information storage unit 16 is overwritten and updated.

[0079] Subsequently, when the multifunction printer b acquires a print job to execute userA's print job, the number of printable pages included in userA's restriction information is 30.

[0080] In this way, even if different multifunction printers 40 attempt to execute print jobs for the same user, the consistency of the user's printable page count can be maintained. Furthermore, since the limit information includes the update date and time, consistency can be maintained even if the timing of when the limit information is notified to the cloud print server 10 differs.

[0081] Furthermore, for example, the restriction information sent from multifunction device a to the cloud print server 10 will not be updated until it is retrieved at a predetermined time, such as when acquiring a print job. However, since multifunction device b acquires the latest restriction information from the cloud print server 10 before executing a print job (step S113 in Figure 4), the settings of the restriction information on multifunction device b will be updated with the latest information.

[0082] However, strictly speaking, problems can arise when multiple multifunction printers 40 execute print jobs simultaneously. For example, if multifunction printer a notifies the cloud print server 10 of a limit of 30 printable pages, and multifunction printer b obtains the limit information from the cloud print server 10 before the cloud print server 10 updates the limit information storage unit 16 with the notified limit information, then multifunction printer b will obtain limit information indicating a printable page limit of 40. In this case, problems can arise when multifunction printer b attempts to print 31 pages or more.

[0083] Therefore, although this may increase processing load and network load, the restriction information management unit 43 in the multifunction printer 40 may process the system so that it notifies the restriction information management unit 13 of the updated restriction information each time a page is printed, rather than notifying the cloud print server 10 of the restriction information on a per-print job basis at the end of execution of the print job, i.e., in step S416.

[0084] Next, we will explain the printing process that occurs when PC20 and the multifunction printer 40 cannot access the cloud print server 10, that is, the printing process in local print mode, using the sequence diagrams shown in Figures 5A and 5B. For the purposes of this explanation, we will assume that the user is using PCa.

[0085] As in normal printing mode, when a user logs into PCa (step S231), the information acquisition unit 23 requests the cloud printing server 10 to send the list of multifunction printers and restriction information associated with the logged-in user (step S232). However, since network communication is not functioning properly at this time, the transmission request cannot be sent to the cloud printing server 10. When the communication processing unit 21 detects this communication anomaly, the control unit 25 switches to local printing mode (step S233). As a result, the local printing mode control unit 24 becomes the main operator of PCa.

[0086] Since PCa cannot obtain the list of multifunction printers at this time, the multifunction printer list display unit 241 reads and displays the latest list of multifunction printers at this time, i.e., the list of multifunction printers obtained during the previous login, from the multifunction printer list storage unit 27 (step S234). The user selects a multifunction printer 40 from the displayed list of multifunction printers to be used as the printing destination for files without using the cloud printing service. Upon receiving the multifunction printer 40 selected by the user (step S235), the control information processing unit 243 sends a control information transmission request to each multifunction printer 40 (step S236). The destination multifunction printer 40 can be any multifunction printer 40 set in the multifunction printer list. Here, the multifunction printers 40 set in the multifunction printer list are multifunction printer a and multifunction printer b, and the user has selected multifunction printer a as the printing destination.

[0087] When the multifunction printers 40, i.e., multifunction printers a and b, receive a control information transmission request, they each read the restriction information stored in their internal restriction information storage units 45 and transmit the request source to PCa (step S432).

[0088] When the control information processing unit 243 receives restriction information from each multifunction device a and b that are the recipients of the transmission request, it refers to the update date and time associated with the user of each received restriction information and the restriction information held by PCa to select the latest restriction information (step S237). This makes it possible to identify the number of printable pages updated by the most recently executed print process on PCa and multifunction devices a and b. Once the latest restriction information is identified, the control information processing unit 243 updates the restriction information storage unit 28 with the identified restriction information (step S238). Then, the control information processing unit 243 notifies each multifunction device a and b of the latest restriction information (step S239). This allows each multifunction device a and b to update the restriction information it holds internally with the latest restriction information (step S433).

[0089] In this embodiment, the latest restriction information is notified to all multifunction devices a and b. However, since there is no need to update the restriction information for multifunction device 40, which already holds the latest restriction information, it is not necessary to send the information to it.

[0090] Next, the user selects the file to be printed from the files stored in the file storage unit 26. When the print instruction unit 244 retrieves the file selected by the user (step S240), it generates a print job to print that file and sends a print execution instruction to the multifunction device a that was received in step S235 (step S241).

[0091] The print execution unit 423 in the multifunction printer a executes the print job sent from PCa (step S434). At this time, as in normal printing mode, the print execution unit 423 notifies the restriction information management unit 43 of the print job each time a page is printed. Each time the restriction information management unit 43 receives a notification as a page is printed, it updates the restriction information storage unit 45 by decreasing the number of printable pages associated with that user by one. In this way, even when the restriction information managed by the cloud print server 10 is inaccessible, the restriction information can be updated while maintaining consistency between the PC 20 and the multifunction printer 40.

[0092] After the network is restored and the multifunction printer 40 can access the cloud print server 10, the communication processing unit 41 confirms the network has been restored by detecting that access is now possible (step S435). The communication processing unit 41 may monitor the network connection status by periodically accessing the cloud print server 10 during local print mode, or it may receive notifications from other devices. In any case, before accessing the restriction information on the cloud print server 10, for example, when obtaining a job list in response to user operation (step S412), it is possible to detect that the network has returned to a normal state, so there is no need to specifically monitor the network connection status.

[0093] Once network connectivity is confirmed, the restriction information management unit 43 sends the restriction information for the user, which is set in the restriction information storage unit 45, to the cloud printing server 10 (step S436).

[0094] In the cloud print server 10, the restriction information management unit 13 updates the restriction information for the user set in the restriction information storage unit 16 in response to a notification from the multifunction printer a (step S131). This allows the update of the print history, i.e., the number of printable pages, of print operations performed in local print mode, i.e., when the cloud print server 10 could not access the PC 20 and the multifunction printer 40. This allows the restriction information managed by the cloud print server 10 to be updated after network recovery.

[0095] According to this embodiment, when the restrictions on the use of the multifunction printer 40 are managed by the cloud printing server 10, even if printing is performed when the PC 20 and the multifunction printer 40 are unable to access the cloud printing server 10, it is possible to prevent any inconvenience in using the multifunction printer 40.

[0096] The predetermined timing at which PC20 and multifunction printer 40 acquire restriction information from the cloud print server 10 is described, with various cases being exemplified, such as when a user logs in or when acquiring various types of information. Of course, the information can be acquired at those times, but it may also be processed so that the restriction information held by PC20 and multifunction printer 40 is always kept up-to-date, for example, by repeatedly acquiring the information from the cloud print server 10 periodically.

[0097] In this embodiment, each process is executed on any computer. Furthermore, any computer may execute these processes using a processor as hardware, a program as software, or a combination thereof. In that case, the processor is configured to work in cooperation with the program to execute the various processes in this embodiment, and can function as a unit or means in this embodiment. Also, the execution order of the processes by the processor is not limited to the order described and may be changed as appropriate. Any computer may be a general-purpose computer, a computer designed for a specific purpose, a workstation, or any other system capable of executing each process.

[0098] A processor may consist of one or more hardware components, and the type of hardware is not limited. For example, a processor may consist of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a dedicated circuit for executing a specific process such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit). Furthermore, the type of hardware may be a combination of different types of hardware. When multiple hardware components are configured to execute one or more processes of a processor, these components may reside in physically separate devices or in the same device. Also, in any embodiment, the order of each process performed by the processor is not limited to the order described above and may be changed as appropriate. Hardware is composed of electrical circuits (circuitry) that combine circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

[0099] Furthermore, the program may be firmware or software such as microcode. Alternatively, the program may be, for example, a set of program modules, each function of which may be implemented by a processor configured to perform its respective function. The program may be program code or multiple code segments stored on one or more non-temporary computer-readable media (e.g., storage media or other storage). The program may be divided and stored on multiple non-temporary computer-readable media located on physically separate devices. Program code or code segments may represent any combination of procedures, functions, subprograms, routines, subroutines, modules, software packages, classes, or instructions, data structures, or program statements. Program code or code segments may be connected to other code segments or hardware circuits by sending and receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents.

[0100] This invention can also be applied to programs and program products.

[0101] (Note) (((1))) A first processor is provided in one or more processing execution devices that perform processing in response to instructions from the user, A second processor is provided in each of the one or more information processing devices used when a user instructs the processing execution device to perform processing, A third processor included in an information management device that manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the use of the processing execution device by users, It has, The first processor and the second processor each acquire the restriction information from the information management device at a predetermined timing and store it in their respective devices. The second processor is, If access to the information management device is not possible when the user attempts to access it, the restriction information held in each of the processing execution devices is acquired. The restriction information held by the information processing device and the processing execution device are updated with the latest restriction information selected from the restriction information held by the information processing device and the restriction information obtained from the processing execution device. An information processing system characterized by the following: (((2))) The information processing system according to (((1))), characterized in that the second processor acquires the restriction information from the information management device at the predetermined timing when the application used to issue a processing execution instruction to the processing execution device is started. (((3))) The information processing system according to (((1))) or (((2))), characterized in that when the second processor pre-registers a job to be used for executing processing in the processing execution device with the information management device, it acquires the restriction information from the information management device at the predetermined timing when the pre-registered processing is executed. (((4))) The information processing system according to (((3))), characterized in that the first processor acquires the restriction information from the information management device at the predetermined timing when the job is acquired from the information management device. (((5))) The aforementioned second processor is After updating the restriction information held by each of the aforementioned devices with the latest restriction information, a processing execution instruction is sent to the processing execution device in accordance with the user's instructions. The aforementioned first processor, When the execution of a process is started in accordance with the execution instruction from the information processing device, the restriction information held by the processing execution device is updated in conjunction with the execution of the process. An information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))) characterized by the above. (((6))) The information processing system according to (((5))), characterized in that, after the completion of the processing, the first processor, upon confirming that it can access the information management device, transmits the restriction information held by the processing execution device to the information management device, thereby updating the restriction information managed by the information management device. (((7))) An information processing device used when a user instructs one or more processing execution devices, each equipped with a processor and executing processing in response to user instructions, to execute processing, wherein the information processing device is included in an information processing system together with the processing execution device and an information management device that manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the user's use of the processing execution device, The aforementioned processor, The restriction information is acquired from the information management device at a predetermined timing and stored in the information processing device. If access to the information management device is not possible when the user attempts to access it, the restriction information held in each of the processing execution devices is acquired. The restriction information held by the information processing device and the processing execution device are updated with the latest restriction information selected from the restriction information held by the information processing device and the restriction information obtained from the processing execution device. An information processing device characterized by the following: (((8))) In an information processing system comprising: one or more processing execution devices that execute processing in response to user instructions; one or more information processing devices used by the user when instructing the processing execution devices to execute processing; and an information management device that manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the user's use of the processing execution devices, each computer constituting the processing execution devices and each computer constituting the information processing devices are provided with a function to acquire the restriction information from the information management device at a predetermined timing and store it in each device. The computer constituting the aforementioned information management device, A function to acquire restriction information held in each of the processing execution devices when access to the information management device is not possible in response to user operation. A function to update the restriction information held by the information processing device and the processing execution device, respectively, with the latest restriction information selected from the restriction information held by the information processing device and the restriction information acquired from the processing execution device. A program to achieve this.

[0102] According to the invention described in (((1))), when the restriction on a user's use of a processing execution device is managed by restriction information managed by an information management device, even if the user becomes unable to access the information management device, it is possible to prevent any inconvenience from occurring in the use of the processing execution device. According to the invention described in (((2))), restriction information can be obtained at the time the application is launched. According to the invention described in (((3))), restriction information can be obtained at the time when the job is registered in advance. According to the invention described in (((4))), restriction information can be obtained from the information management device at the same time as job acquisition. According to the invention described in (((5))), processing can be performed in accordance with restricted information even when the information management device is inaccessible. According to the invention described in ((6)), the restriction information managed by the information management device can be updated to the latest state. According to the invention described in (((7))), when the restriction on a user's use of the processing execution device is managed by restriction information managed by an information management device, even if the user becomes unable to access the information management device, it is possible to prevent any inconvenience from occurring in the use of the processing execution device. According to the invention described in ((8)), when the restriction on a user's use of the processing execution device is managed by restriction information managed by an information management device, even if the user becomes unable to access the information management device, it is possible to prevent any inconvenience from occurring in the use of the processing execution device. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0103] 10 Cloud print server, 11 Job management unit, 12 Multifunction printer list generation unit, 13, 43 Restriction information management unit, 14 Job information storage unit, 15 Execution history information storage unit, 16, 28, 45 Restriction information storage unit, 20 PC, 21, 41 Communication processing unit, 22 Job registration unit, 23 Information acquisition unit, 24 Local print mode control unit, 25, 44 Control unit, 26 File storage unit, 27 Multifunction printer list storage unit, 40 Multifunction printer, 42 Print processing unit, 241 Multifunction printer list display unit, 242 File list display unit, 243 Restriction information processing unit, 244 Print instruction unit, 421 Job list display unit, 422 Job acquisition unit, 423 Print execution unit.

Claims

1. A first processor is provided in one or more processing execution devices that perform processing in response to instructions from the user, A second processor is provided in each of the one or more information processing devices used when a user instructs the processing execution device to perform processing, A third processor included in an information management device that manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the use of the processing execution device by users, It has, The first processor and the second processor each acquire the restriction information from the information management device at a predetermined timing and store it in their respective devices. The second processor is, If access to the information management device is not possible when the user attempts to access it, the restriction information held in each of the processing execution devices is acquired. The restriction information held by the information processing device and the processing execution device are updated with the latest restriction information selected from the restriction information held by the information processing device and the restriction information obtained from the processing execution device. An information processing system characterized by the following:

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second processor acquires the restriction information from the information management device at the predetermined timing when the application used to issue a processing execution instruction to the processing execution device is started.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that when the second processor pre-registers a job to be used for executing processing in the processing execution device with the information management device, it acquires the restriction information from the information management device at the predetermined timing when the pre-registered processing is executed.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3, characterized in that the first processor acquires the restriction information from the information management device at the predetermined timing when the job is acquired from the information management device.

5. The second processor is, After updating the restriction information held by each of the aforementioned devices with the latest restriction information, a processing execution instruction is sent to the processing execution device in accordance with the user's instructions. The first processor is, When the execution of a process is started in accordance with the execution instruction from the information processing device, the restriction information held by the processing execution device is updated in conjunction with the execution of the process. The information processing system according to feature 1.

6. The information processing system according to claim 5, characterized in that, after the completion of the processing, the first processor, upon confirming that it can access the information management device, transmits the restriction information held by the processing execution device to the information management device, thereby updating the restriction information managed by the information management device.

7. An information processing device used when a user instructs one or more processing execution devices equipped with a processor to perform processing in response to user instructions, the information processing device included in an information processing system together with the processing execution device and an information management device that manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the use of the processing execution device by the user, The aforementioned processor, The restriction information is acquired from the information management device at a predetermined timing and stored in the information processing device. If access to the information management device is not possible when the user attempts to access it, the restriction information held in each of the processing execution devices is acquired. The restriction information held by the information processing device and the processing execution device are updated with the latest restriction information selected from the restriction information held by the information processing device and the restriction information obtained from the processing execution device. An information processing device characterized by the following:

8. In an information processing system comprising: one or more processing execution devices that execute processing in response to user instructions; one or more information processing devices used by the user when instructing the processing execution devices to execute processing; and an information management device that manages restriction information regarding restrictions on the user's use of the processing execution devices, each computer constituting each of the processing execution devices and each computer constituting each of the information processing devices is provided with a function to acquire the restriction information from the information management device at a predetermined timing and store it in each device. The computer constituting the aforementioned information management device, A function to acquire restriction information held in each of the processing execution devices when access to the information management device is not possible in response to user operation. A function to update the restriction information held by the information processing device and the processing execution device, respectively, with the latest restriction information selected from the restriction information held by the information processing device and the restriction information acquired from the processing execution device. A program to achieve this.

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