License management device, image forming apparatus, and license management method

Abstract

To change a working speed as required, which regulates the printing speed of an image forming apparatus and the like.SOLUTION: A license management device 2 comprises: a communication unit 206 that performs communication with an image forming apparatus 1; a storage device 203 that stores information on a plurality of licenses corresponding to a plurality of working speeds for actuating the image forming apparatus 1, and use state information indicating a state of a license not used for and a state of the license in use for the image forming apparatus 1; and a CPU 201 that assigns the license in which the use state of the license is unused based on the use state information, to the image forming apparatus 1 for which assignment of the license is requested through the communication unit 206, and transmits the information on the license to the image forming apparatus 1 to which the license is assigned through the communication unit 206.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a license management device, an image forming apparatus, and a license management method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, the printing speed of an image forming apparatus is set at the time of shipment, and even during operation, the printing speed set at the time of shipment has been fixedly used. For example, in a company, multiple types of image forming apparatuses with different printing speeds have been purchased and installed according to user requests and usage environments.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an image processing apparatus capable of changing the frequency of a clock input to a data processing unit that performs printing control or the like based on license information. According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, even for the same product, it is possible to change performance such as printing speed and printed image quality for each device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, even when the performance such as the printing speed of an image forming apparatus is changed to high performance, for example, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, if the image forming apparatus after performance change is located at a position far from the seat of the user who wants to use the performance, the user has to move to the installation position of the image forming apparatus.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to enable the operation speed that defines the printing speed or the like of an image forming apparatus to be changed at any time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A license management device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit that communicates with an image forming apparatus, a storage unit that stores information on a plurality of licenses corresponding to a plurality of operating speeds for operating the image forming apparatus, and allocation status information indicating the status of unassigned and assigned licenses to the image forming apparatus, and a control unit that, when a license assignment is requested via the communication unit, assigns a license whose status is unassigned based on the allocation status information, and transmits license information to the image forming apparatus to which the license has been assigned via the communication unit. When the control unit receives a license assignment request from the communication unit, it selects a license that is currently unassigned and has the fastest operating speed, and assigns the license to the image forming apparatus that made the assignment request. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the operating speed that defines the printing speed of the image forming apparatus can be changed at any time. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This block diagram shows an example configuration of a license management device and a control system for an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example configuration of a license management table related to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of the procedure for license management processing by an image forming apparatus and a license management device that constitute an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This figure shows a specific example of license management processing by an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of the configuration of the license selection screen displayed on the operation panel of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7]This flowchart shows an example of the procedure for license management processing by an image forming apparatus and a license management device that constitute an image forming system according to a modified version of the present invention. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows an example of the procedure for license management processing by an image forming apparatus and a license management device that constitute an image forming system according to a modified version of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function or configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0011] <Overall configuration of the image forming system> Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system 100 shown in Figure 1 includes three image forming apparatuses 1a to 1c, a license management device 2, and a control device 3.

[0012] Image forming apparatus 1 is a multi-function peripheral (MFP) that performs image formation using an electrophotographic method and has multiple functions such as copying, printing (image formation), scanning, faxing, and boxing. The image formation method of image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to electrophotography; other methods such as inkjet printing may also be used. Furthermore, image forming apparatus 1 may not be a multi-function device but a device that performs image formation only. Also, Figure 1 shows an example where image forming apparatus 1 consists of three units, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0013] The license management device 2 is a server that manages information on speed licenses (hereinafter simply referred to as licenses) granted to the image forming apparatus 1. By granting a license to the image forming apparatus 1, the license permits the image forming apparatus 1 to operate at the operating speed specified in the license.

[0014] In this embodiment, the license management device 2 manages information on a total of three licenses, namely, one license for operating the image forming apparatus 1 at 45 ppm (pages per minute), one license for operating at 36 ppm, and one license for operating at 25 ppm. Further, the license management device 2 also manages usage status information (an example of allocation status information) of each of these licenses.

[0015] Note that the operating speed of the image forming apparatus 1 permitted by the license is not limited to these three speeds, and other operating speeds may be used. Also, in this embodiment, an example where the number of licenses matches the number of image forming apparatuses 1 is given, but the present invention is not limited to this. The number of licenses may be less than the number of image forming apparatuses 1. However, when the number of licenses is less than the number of image forming apparatuses 1, in a situation where all licenses are in use, there will be image forming apparatuses 1 for which the license cannot be used.

[0016] The control device 3 is a device that controls the image forming apparatus 1, issues a job based on an operation by a user (not shown), and instructs the image forming apparatus 1 to perform printing based on the job, etc.

[0017] <Configuration of the control system of the image forming system> Next, referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the control system of the image forming system 100 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the control systems of the license management device 2 and the image forming apparatus 1 that constitute the image forming system 100.

[0018] [License management device] As shown in FIG. 2, the license management device 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202, a storage device 203, a monitor 204, an input device 205, and a communication unit 206.

[0019] The CPU 201 is a central processing unit and is an example of a control unit that controls the operation of each part that constitutes the license management device 2. For example, the CPU 201 controls the transmission of a license to the image forming apparatus 1 that requested the license, based on the license usage information stored in the license management table Tb of the storage device 203. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 requests the acquisition of a license by sending a license provision request (an example of a license assignment request) to the license management device 2. When the license management device 2 receives the license provision request, it provides (transmits) to the image forming apparatus 1 that requested the license a license whose license usage information is "unused" and which has the fastest operating speed.

[0020] Furthermore, when a license return request (an example of a license return request) is sent from the image forming apparatus 1, the CPU 201 performs control to accept the return of the license. In addition, the CPU 201 also performs processing to change the status of the license usage in the license management table Tb described later, based on the provision or return of the license.

[0021] RAM202 is used as a work area when the CPU201 executes a program. The storage device 203 (an example of a storage unit) is composed of, for example, a non-volatile semiconductor memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., and stores a system program, various programs executable on the system program, a license management application (not shown), etc. These programs or applications are stored in the form of program code that can be read by a computer. In other words, the storage device 203 is used as an example of a computer-readable, non-transient recording medium that stores programs executed by a computer.

[0022] The storage device 203 includes a license information storage unit Sd and a license management table Tb. The license information storage unit Sd stores license information. In this embodiment, it stores information for a total of three licenses: one license to operate the image forming apparatus 1 at 45 ppm, one license to operate it at 36 ppm, and one license to operate it at 25 ppm. If one license is provided to any of the image forming apparatuses 1, that license cannot be used by any other image forming apparatuses 1.

[0023] The license management table Tb stores usage information (an example of allocation information) for the three licenses (operating speeds) mentioned above. The license management table Tb is described in detail with reference to Figure 3 below.

[0024] Monitor 204 is a display device composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electronic Luminescent) panel. Monitor 204 displays license information, license usage information, and other similar information.

[0025] The input device 205 is composed of, for example, a mouse or keyboard, and generates an operation signal according to the user's operation and supplies the operation signal to the CPU 201. The monitor 204 and the input device 205 may be integrated as a display panel and touch sensor that constitute a touch panel.

[0026] The communication unit 206 is composed of, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) and controls the transmission and reception of various data between the image forming apparatus 1 and other devices such as the control device 3 of the image forming apparatus 1, via a wired or wireless network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0027] [Image forming apparatus] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM 103, an NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) 104, and a storage device 105. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes an operation panel 106, a scanner unit 107, a printer unit 108, a fax unit 109, and a communication unit 110.

[0028] The CPU 101 is a central processing unit and is an example of a second control unit that controls the operation of each part constituting the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the CPU 101 controls the transmission of a license provision request or a license return request to the license management device 2 via the communication unit 110. The CPU 101 also controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 at the operating speed specified in the license transmitted from the license management device 2. The operating speed of the image forming apparatus 1 can be changed, for example, by the CPU 101 changing the clock frequency of a clock generator (not shown) that supplies clocks to each part constituting the image forming apparatus 1 to match the operating speed specified in the license.

[0029] ROM102 stores system programs for operating the image forming apparatus 1, programs for sending license provision requests or license return requests to the license management device 2, and programs for changing the operating speed based on received licenses.

[0030] RAM 103 is used as a work area when the CPU 101 executes a program. Additionally, image data read by the scanner unit 107 is temporarily stored in RAM 103.

[0031] The NVRAM 104 is a non-volatile memory that stores parameters (setting values) related to the settings of the image forming apparatus 1. The setting values ​​stored in the NVRAM 104 are overwritten when a setting change instruction is received from the operation panel 106.

[0032] The storage device 105 is composed of, for example, an HDD or SSD, and stores destination information registered in the image forming apparatus 1, as well as documents accumulated by the BOX function of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0033] The operation panel 106 is an example of an operation input unit consisting of a touch panel in which a touch sensor and a display panel are integrally formed. The operation panel 106 displays various setting screens for setting copy image quality, paper settings, etc., and a screen for registering and selecting the destination (recipient) of scanned images scanned by the scanner unit 107. The operation panel 106 also generates operation signals corresponding to the content entered by the user via these screens and supplies these operation signals to the CPU 101.

[0034] The scanner unit 107 scans the document placed on a document glass (not shown) and obtains image data of the document. The printer unit 108 converts image data read by the scanner unit 107, print data included in print jobs sent from the control device 2, and fax data received by the fax unit 109 into printable data (print data), and prints an image based on the print data onto paper.

[0035] The fax unit 109 transmits the image data read by the scanner unit 107 to the designated destination device via a public telephone line (not shown). The communication unit 110 is an example of a second communication unit that consists of a NIC or the like and transmits and receives various types of data with other devices such as the license management device 2 and the control device 3 via a wired or wireless network N such as a LAN.

[0036] <Configuration of the license management table> Next, with reference to Figure 3, the configuration of the license management table Tb managed by the license management device 2 will be described. Figure 3 shows an example of the configuration of the license management table Tb.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the license management table Tb has "License" and "Usage" fields. The "License" field stores information about the type of license. In the example shown in Figure 3, the license type is indicated by the operating speed that the license permits (grants) to the image forming apparatus 1, such as "45 ppm", "36 ppm", and "25 ppm".

[0038] In the "Usage Status" section, the license usage status is managed by two statuses: "Unused" (an example of "Not Assigned") or "In Use" (an example of "Assigned"). The "Usage Status" section changes to "In Use" when the license has been sent (assigned) to one of the image forming apparatus 1, and to "Unused" when the license is returned from the image forming apparatus 1. Figure 3 shows an example where the "45ppm" license is "In Use," and the "36ppm" and "25ppm" licenses are "Unused."

[0039] It is also conceivable that one of the multiple licenses may be permanently assigned to a specific image forming apparatus 1. In this case, the usage status of the license will be managed as "in use" regardless of whether the license is actually being used or not.

[0040] <License management method using image formation systems> Next, with reference to Figure 4, the license management method by the image forming system 100 will be described. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for license management processing by the image forming apparatus 1 and the license management apparatus 2 that constitute the image forming system 100.

[0041] First, the use of the image forming apparatus 1 is initiated (step SA1). The use of the image forming apparatus 1 is initiated, for example, when a job is received from the control device 3, when user input is detected on the operation panel 106 (see Figure 2), when a human presence sensor (not shown) is activated, or when a trigger input for returning from a power-saving state to a normal state is detected.

[0042] In step SA1, after the image forming apparatus 1 is put into use, the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus 1 (see Figure 2) sends a license provision request to the license management device 2 via the communication unit 110 (step SA2).

[0043] Next, the communication unit 206 of the license management device 2 (see Figure 2) receives the license provision request sent from the image forming apparatus 1 in step SA2 (step SB1). Then, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 determines whether or not there are any available licenses (step SB2). Specifically, the CPU 201 determines whether or not there are any licenses whose "Usage Status" status in the license management table Tb (see Figure 3) is "unused".

[0044] If step SB2 determines that there are no available licenses (step SB2 is a NO determination), the CPU 201 sends a "No available licenses" response to the image forming apparatus 1, the source of the license provision request, via the communication unit 206 (step SB3). After processing in step SB3, the license management process by the image forming apparatus 1 is completed.

[0045] On the other hand, if step SB2 determines that there are available licenses (if step SB2 is determined to be YES), the CPU 201 refers to the license management table Tb and selects the license that is unused and has the fastest operating speed. Then, it transmits this license to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 206 (step SB4). Next, the CPU 201 changes the usage status of the license transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 in step SB4 to "in use" in the license management table Tb (step SB5).

[0046] The license transmitted from the license management device 2 in step SB4 is received by the image forming apparatus 1 (step SA3). Next, the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus 1 sets the operating speed of the image forming apparatus 1 to the operating speed specified in the license received in step SA3 (step SA4).

[0047] Next, the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether it is currently time to execute a job (step SA5). If it is determined in step SA5 that it is time to execute a job (if step SA5 is determined to be YES), the CPU 101 operates each part of the image forming apparatus at the operating speed set in step SA4 (step SA6). For example, suppose the license received from the license management device 2 in step SA3 grants the image forming apparatus 1 an operating speed of 45 ppm, and the job determined to be time to execute in step SA5 is a print job. In this case, as a result of the processing in step SA6, the printer unit 108 performs printing at a printing speed of 45 ppm.

[0048] After processing in step SA6, or if step SA5 results in a NO determination, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the use of the image forming apparatus 1 has ended (step SA7). The CPU 101 can determine that the use of the image forming apparatus 1 has ended if, for example, the conditions that all jobs have been completed and no further jobs have been received are met. The CPU 101 may also consider other conditions in addition to these when determining whether or not the use of the image forming apparatus 1 has ended. Other conditions include, for example, that no operation on the operation panel 106 has been detected, that the human presence sensor (not shown) has not responded, and that no trigger input for returning from power-saving state to normal state has been detected.

[0049] If step SA7 determines that the use of the image forming apparatus 1 has not ended (if step SA7 is determined to be NO), the CPU 101 returns to step SA5 and repeats the determination. On the other hand, if step SA7 determines that the use of the image forming apparatus 1 has ended (if step SA7 is determined to be YES), the CPU 101 sends a license return request (an example of a license return request) to the license management device 2 via the communication unit 110 (step SA8).

[0050] The license return request sent in step SA8 is received by the communication unit 206 of the license management device 2 (step SB6). Next, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 changes the usage status of the license for which return has been requested from "in use" to "unused" in the license management table Tb (step SB7). Next, the CPU 201 sends a license return response to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 206, indicating that the return has been completed (step SB8). After processing in step SB8, the license management processing by the license management device 2 is completed.

[0051] The license return response transmitted from the license management device 2 in step SB8 is received by the communication unit 110 of the image forming apparatus 1 (step SA9). Next, the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus 1 changes the operating speed of the image forming apparatus 1 to unset or the default value (step SA10). After processing in step SA10, the license management process by the image forming apparatus 1 is completed.

[0052] Furthermore, the operating speed of the image forming apparatus 1 does not need to be changed after the license is returned. This is because the operating speed of the image forming apparatus 1 will be overwritten the next time based on the information of the newly granted license from the license management device 2. However, if the operating speed specified in the newly granted license is the same as the already set operating speed, the CPU 101 may operate the image forming apparatus 1 at the set operating speed without overwriting the operating speed. When such control is performed, it is possible to further reduce the waiting time during the process of changing the operating speed. On the other hand, if the operating speed specified in the newly granted license is different from the already set operating speed, the set operating speed will be overwritten by the operating speed specified in the newly granted license.

[0053] <Specific examples of license management processes> Next, with reference to Figure 5, a specific example of license management processing by the image forming system 100 will be described. Figure 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of license management processing by the image forming system 100. "T0" to "T11" shown in Figure 5 indicate each timing in the transition of time.

[0054] First, at timing T0, shown in the upper right corner of Figure 5, the usage status of all licenses managed by the timing management table Tb is "unused". Then, at the next timing T1, when a license provision request is sent from the image forming apparatus 1a to the license management device 2, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 (see Figure 2) checks the usage status of the license management table Tb.

[0055] At this point, the usage status of all licenses is "unused," so the CPU 201 of license management device 2 selects the "45ppm" license, which has the fastest operating speed among the licenses with the status "unused." Then, it sends the license that allows image forming apparatus 1 (1a~1c) to operate at 45ppm to the requesting image forming apparatus 1a (Timing T2). Subsequently, the CPU 201 of license management device 2 changes the usage status of the "45ppm" license in the license management table Tb from "unused" to "in use" (Timing T3).

[0056] At the next timing T4, when the image forming apparatus 1b sends a license provision request to the license management device 2, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 checks the usage status of the license management table Tb. At this point, the license that is "unused" and has the fastest operating speed is the "36ppm" license. Therefore, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 sends a license that allows the image forming apparatus 1 to operate at 36ppm to the requesting image forming apparatus 1b (timing T5).

[0057] Subsequently, CPU201 of license management device 2 changes the license usage status of "36ppm" in license management table Tb from "unused" to "in use" (timing T6).

[0058] At the next timing T7, when the image forming apparatus 1a sends a request to return the 45ppm license, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 changes the usage status of the 45ppm license in the license management table Tb from "in use" to "unused" (timing T8). Then, the CPU 201 sends a license return response to the image forming apparatus 1a (timing T9).

[0059] At the next timing T10, when the image forming apparatus 1c sends a license provision request to the license management device 2, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 checks the usage status of the license management table Tb. At this point, the license that is "unused" and has the fastest operating speed is the "45ppm" license that was returned earlier at timing T9. Therefore, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 sends a license that allows the image forming apparatus 1 to operate at 45ppm to the requesting image forming apparatus 1c (timing T11).

[0060] Subsequently, CPU201 of license management device 2 changes the license usage status of "45ppm" in license management table Tb from "unused" to "in use" (timing T12).

[0061] In the embodiment described above, the license management device 2 includes a communication unit 206 that communicates with the image forming apparatus 1, and a storage device 203 that stores information on multiple types of licenses with different operating speeds for the image forming apparatus 1, and a license management table Tb that manages the allocation status of licenses to the image forming apparatus 1. When the communication unit 206 receives a license provision request to the image forming apparatus 1, the license management device 2 selects one of the multiple licenses based on the license usage information stored in the license management table Tb of the storage device 203 and the operating speed information of the image forming apparatus permitted by the license. The selected license is then transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 206.

[0062] Therefore, in the embodiment described above, a license is appropriately provided to the image forming apparatus 1 that requested the license, based on information regarding the license usage status and the operating speed permitted by the license. Thus, according to this embodiment, the operating speed that defines the printing speed, etc., of the image forming apparatus that the user wants to use can be flexibly changed.

[0063] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, when the communication unit 206 transmits a license to the image forming apparatus 1, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 changes the usage status of the license corresponding to that license from "unused" to "in use". Also, when the communication unit 206 receives a license return request from the image forming apparatus 1, the CPU 201 changes the usage status from "in use" to "unused". Therefore, according to this embodiment, the operating speed of the image forming apparatus 1 can be flexibly changed within the scope of the license.

[0064] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, when the communication unit 206 receives a license provision request, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 selects the license that is "unused" and has the fastest operating speed, and supplies it to the communication unit 206. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 that made the request is provided with the fastest license that is not currently in use, so the user does not need to go to the location where the image forming apparatus with the fastest operating speed is located.

[0065] In the embodiments described above, an example was given in which the license request is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The license request may also be transmitted from the control device 3 connected to the image forming apparatus 1.

[0066] <Variation> In the embodiment described above, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 provided (sent) to the image forming apparatus 1, the source of the license provision request, a license that was "unused" and had the fastest operating speed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The CPU 201 of the license management device 2 may provide the image forming apparatus 1 with a license corresponding to the operating speed selected by the user.

[0067] Figure 6 shows an example of the configuration of the license selection screen Scr displayed on the operation panel 106 of the image forming apparatus 1. In the modified image forming apparatus 1, a license information request is sent to the license management device 2 when the image forming apparatus 1 is put into use. Upon receiving the license information request, the license management device 2 sends data from the license selection screen, which shows the license usage status, to the image forming apparatus 1, and displays it on the operation panel 106.

[0068] The license selection screen (Sc) shown in Figure 6 displays the message, "Please select the license you wish to use," and below it, a list of license usage statuses is displayed. Specifically, the usage status of the "45ppm" license is "In Use," while the usage status of the "36ppm" and "25ppm" licenses is "Unused."

[0069] Furthermore, a radio button Bn1 is provided corresponding to the information of each license. After checking the usage status, the user can select one of the radio buttons Bn1 to choose the license, that is, the operating speed of the image forming apparatus 1 that they wish to operate.

[0070] In the lower right corner of the license selection screen (Sc), there is a selection button (Bn2). By pressing this button (Bn2), the user can confirm the information of the license they have selected.

[0071] When the selection button Bn2 is pressed, the image forming apparatus 1 sends a license provision request for the selected operating speed to the license management device 2. The license management device 2 then provides the license to the image forming apparatus 1 based on the license provision request. Since the user can select the operating speed using the selection button Bn2, for jobs that do not require high operating speed, it is possible to prioritize selecting the lowest operating speed of 25 ppm.

[0072] <License management method using an image forming system related to a modified example> Next, with reference to Figures 7 and 8, a license management method by the modified image forming system 100 will be described. Figures 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing an example of the procedure for license management processing by the image forming apparatus 1 and license management apparatus 2 that constitute the modified image forming system 100.

[0073] First, the image forming apparatus 1 is put into use (step SA11). Next, the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus 1 (see Figure 2) sends a license information request to the license management device 2 via the communication unit 110 (step SA12). The license information request is a request to obtain information indicating the status of license usage.

[0074] Next, the communication unit 206 of the license management device 2 (see Figure 2) receives the license information provision request sent from the image forming apparatus 1 in step SA12 (step SB11). Then, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 sends the license information to the image forming apparatus 1 (step SB12). The license information is the usage status of each license as recorded in the license management table Tb (see Figure 3).

[0075] In step SB12, the license information transmitted from the license management device 2 is received by the communication unit 110 (see Figure 2) of the image forming apparatus 1 (step SA13). Next, the CPU 201 of the image forming apparatus 1 displays the license selection screen Sc (see Figure 6) based on the license information received in step SA13 on the screen of the operation panel 106 (step S14).

[0076] The control to display the license selection screen Sc on the operation panel 106 is achieved, for example, by the license management device 2 transmitting screen data of the license selection screen Sc, which includes license information, to the image forming apparatus 1 and controlling its display. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 1 may generate the license selection screen Sc based on the license information transmitted from the license management device 2 and display it on the screen of the operation panel 106.

[0077] Next, the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether a license has been selected on the license selection screen Scr (step SA15). If it is determined in step S15 that no license has been selected (step SA15 is a NO determination), the CPU 101 repeats the determination in step SA15.

[0078] On the other hand, if it is determined in step SA15 that a license has been selected (if step SA15 is determined to be YES), the CPU 101 sends a license provision request for the selected license to the license management device 2 via the communication unit 110 (step SA16).

[0079] The license provision request sent in step SA16 is received by the communication unit 206 of the license management device 2 (step SB13). Next, the CPU 201 of the license management device 2 determines whether the usage status of the requested license is "unused" by referring to the license management table Tb (see Figure 3) (step SB14).

[0080] If step SB14 determines that the license is "unused" (i.e., step SB14 is determined to be YES), the CPU 201 changes the status of the license in the license management table Tb from "unused" to "in use" (step SB15). Next, the CPU 201 transmits the license to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 206 (step SB16).

[0081] On the other hand, if step SB14 determines that the requested license is not "unused," that is, "in use" (if step SB14 is determined to be NO), the CPU 201 sends a license usage NG response to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 206 (step SB17). Upon receiving the license usage NG response, the image forming apparatus 1 controls the display of the license usage NG message on the screen of the operation panel 106. After processing in step SB17, the CPU 201 returns to step SB11 to perform further processing.

[0082] The license transmitted from the license management device 2 in step SB16 is received by the communication unit 110 of the image forming apparatus 1 (step SA17). Next, the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus 1 sets the operating speed specified in the license received in step SA17 to the operating speed of the image forming apparatus 1 (step SA18).

[0083] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedures from step SA19 onwards by the image forming apparatus 1, and from step SB18 onwards by the license management device 2. Since the processing from step SA19 to step SA24 by the image forming apparatus 1 in Figure 8 is the same as the processing from step SA5 to step SA10 shown in Figure 4, a detailed explanation of these steps will be omitted here.

[0084] Furthermore, since the processes performed by the license management device 2 in Figure 8 from step SB18 to step SB20 are identical to the processes performed from step SB6 to step SB8 shown in Figure 4, their explanation will be omitted.

[0085] In the modified version, a user can acquire a license for their image forming apparatus 1 that is "unused" and has their desired operating speed. Therefore, in the modified version, for example, a user who prioritizes saving printing costs over printing speed can select a license with a lower operating speed.

[0086] In the modified example described above, when the image forming apparatus 1 requires the provision of a license, a license information provision request is sent from the image forming apparatus 1 to the license management device 2, and based on the license information provision request, the license management device 2 sends license information (or screen data of the license selection screen Scr). However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0087] For example, if a request for license information is sent from the control device 3, etc., for the purpose of checking the license usage status, the license management device 2 may send the license information to the control device 3. In this case, the control device 3 can display a list of license usage status based on the license information on the screen of a display device (not shown). With this kind of control, the user can check the license usage status at any time they like.

[0088] Furthermore, the embodiments and modifications described above are intended to explain the configuration of the apparatus and system in detail and specifically in order to make the present invention easier to understand, and are not necessarily limited to those comprising all the configurations described.

[0089] Furthermore, the control lines or information lines shown as solid lines, double arrows, or single arrows in Figures 1 and 2 are those deemed necessary for explanation and do not necessarily represent all control lines or information lines in the actual product. In practice, it can be assumed that almost all components are interconnected.

[0090] Furthermore, in this specification, processing steps describing chronological processing include not only processing performed chronologically in the order described, but also processing that is not necessarily performed chronologically but is executed in parallel or individually (for example, parallel processing or processing by objects). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0091] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c…Image forming apparatus, 2…License management device, 3…Control device, 100…Image forming system, 101…CPU, 102…ROM, 103…RAM, 104…NVRAM, 105…Storage device, 106…Operation panel, 107…Scanner unit, 108…Printer unit, 109…FAX unit, 110…Communication unit, 201…CPU, 202…RAM, 203…Storage device, 204…Monitor, 205…Input device, 206…Communication unit

Claims

1. A communication unit that communicates with the image forming apparatus, Information on multiple licenses corresponding to multiple operating speeds for operating the aforementioned image forming apparatus, Furthermore, a storage unit that stores allocation status information indicating the status of the unassigned and allocated licenses for the image forming apparatus, The system includes a control unit which, when an image forming apparatus requests the allocation of the license via the communication unit, allocates the license whose status is unassigned based on the allocation status information, and transmits the license information to the image forming apparatus to which the license has been allocated via the communication unit, When the communication unit receives the license allocation request, the control unit selects the license that is currently unallocated and has the fastest operating speed, and allocates the license to the image forming apparatus that made the allocation request. License management device.

2. When the control unit assigns the license to the image forming apparatus, it changes the assignment status information corresponding to the license from unassigned to assigned, and when the image forming apparatus that has been assigned the license requests the return of the license, it changes the assignment status information from assigned to unassigned. The license management device according to claim 1.

3. The communication unit communicates with the control device that controls the image forming apparatus. When the image forming apparatus receives a job from a control device that controls the image forming apparatus, when the control unit of the image forming apparatus detects an operation input to the image forming apparatus, or when the control unit of the image forming apparatus detects an input of a trigger for the image forming apparatus to return from a power-saving state to a normal state, a license assignment request is sent from the image forming apparatus to the license management device in one or more of the following cases: or when any of the image forming apparatuses is selected by the control device, a license assignment request is sent from the control device to the license management device. The license management device according to claim 1.

4. The control unit selects one of the multiple licenses based on the operating speed information selected for the image forming apparatus or the control device. The license management device according to claim 3.

5. The control unit causes the communication unit to transmit allocation status information corresponding to each of the multiple licenses, and to display it on the screen of the image forming apparatus or the control device. The license management device according to claim 4.

6. When the communication unit receives the license allocation request, the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the operating speed of each of the multiple licenses and the allocation status information corresponding to each license, and displays them as options for the operating speed on the screen of the image forming apparatus or the control device. The license management device according to claim 4.

7. An image forming apparatus capable of operating at multiple operating speeds, A second communication unit communicates with a license management device that assigns unassigned licenses to the image forming apparatus based on a license assignment request from the image forming apparatus, The system comprises: a second control unit which transmits a license allocation request to the license management device via the second communication unit, and which operates the image forming apparatus at the operating speed specified in the license allocated by the license management device based on the allocation request and transmitted from the license management device; The license assigned by the license management device is the license whose assignment status information is unassigned when the communication unit of the license management device receives a license assignment request from the image forming apparatus, and which is the license with the fastest operating speed. Image forming apparatus.

8. The procedure for the communication unit to communicate with the image forming apparatus, Information on multiple licenses corresponding to multiple operating speeds for operating the aforementioned image forming apparatus, Furthermore, a procedure for the storage unit to store allocation status information indicating the status of the unassigned and allocated licenses for the image forming apparatus, The procedure includes assigning a license that is currently unassigned to the image forming apparatus for which the allocation of the aforementioned license has been requested, based on the allocation status information, and transmitting the license information to the image forming apparatus to which the license has been allocated. When the communication unit receives the license allocation request, the control unit selects the license that is currently unallocated and has the fastest operating speed, and allocates the license to the image forming apparatus that made the allocation request. License management methods.

Images