Image Forming Apparatus, Charge Server and Image Forming System

Abstract

An image forming apparatus has a communication interface, a processor, and a storage unit. The storage unit stores a job log and a job log transmission program. The job log transmission program causes the processor to transmit a job log of a finished job via the communication interface to a charge server connected to a network. The job log transmission program causes the processor to execute the steps of: (a) via the communication interface, determining whether or not the charge server can receive the job log currently, and (b) if it is determined that the charge server can not receive the job log currently, keeping the job log to be transmitted in the storage unit and transmitting the job log kept in the storage unit to the charge server when a job log of a next job is transmitted to the charge server.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a communication interface;   a processor; and   a storage unit that stores a job log and a job log transmission program, the job log transmission program causing the processor to transmit a job log of a finished job via the communication interface to a charge server connected to a network;   wherein the job log transmission program causes the processor to execute the steps of:
 (a) via the communication interface, determining whether or not the charge server can receive the job log currently, and 
 (b) if it is determined that the charge server can not receive the job log currently, keeping the job log to be transmitted in the storage unit and transmitting the job log kept in the storage unit to the charge server when a job log of a next job is transmitted to the charge server. 
   
   
   
       2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the step (a), the job log transmission program causes the processor to try to transmit the job log to the charge server and determining that the charge server can not receive the job log currently if an acknowledgement is not received from the charge server within a predetermined time. 
   
   
       3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the job log transmission program causes the processor to serially link the job log kept in the storage unit and a job log of a finished job, and to transmit all the linked job logs to the charge server. 
   
   
       4 . An image forming system comprising:
 a charge server connected to a network, and   an image forming apparatus connected to the network;   wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:
 a communication interface; 
 a processor; and 
 a storage unit that stores a job log and a job log transmission program, the job log transmission program causing the processor to transmit a job log of a finished job via the communication interface to the charge server; 
 wherein the job log transmission program causes the processor to execute the steps of:
 (a) via the communication interface, determining whether or not the charge server can receive the job log currently, and 
 (b) if it is determined that the charge server can not receive the job log currently, keeping the job log to be transmitted in the storage unit and transmitting the job log kept in the storage unit to the charge server when a job log of a next job is transmitted to the charge server. 
 
   
   
   
       5 . The image forming system according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network, the respective image forming apparatuses same as said image forming apparatus;   a print server connected to the network;   an authentication server connected to the network; and   a plurality of clients connected to the network.   
   
   
       6 . The image forming system according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the clients transmits device independent print job data to the print server, and the device independent print job data contains user authentication information; and the print server transmits the user authentication information to the authentication server, receives an authentication result from the authentication server, converts the device independent print job data to device dependent print job data if the authentication result indicates successful authentication, and transmits the device dependent print job data to one of the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the device dependent print job data. 
   
   
       7 . The image forming system according to  claim 5 , wherein one computer system comprises the authentication server and the charge server. 
   
   
       8 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   an input device;   a communication interface connected to a management server on a network; and   a storage unit that stores a program and data;   wherein the program causes the processor to execute the steps of:
 (a) via the communication interface, transmitting authentication information input with the input device to the management server to request authentication, 
 (b) if an authentication result of the request is not received, causing the storage unit to store the unprocessed authentication information, and receiving a job under an assumption of successful authentication, and 
 (c) at a predetermined timing, transmitting the unprocessed authentication information stored in the storage unit to the management server. 
   
   
   
       9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a timer that outputs a current time and date;   wherein the program causes the processor to execute:   in the step (a), detecting a login attempting time and date with output of the timer, and transmitting the login attempting time and date with the authentication information, and   in the step (b), causing the storage unit to store the login attempting time and date with the unprocessed authentication information, and   in the step (c), transmitting the login attempting time and date with the unprocessed authentication information to the management server.   
   
   
       10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the program causes the processor to execute the steps of:
 (d) transmitting a job log of a job via the communication interface to the management server when the job ends, and   (e) causing the storage unit to store this job log if an acknowledgement to indicate the management server receives the job log is not received from the management server; and   in the step (c), transmitting the job log stored in the step (e) to the management server together with the unprocessed authentication information.   
   
   
       11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the program causes the processor to execute:
 in the step (b), assigning a temporal session ID and a temporal job ID and causing the storage unit to store the temporal session ID and the temporal job ID with the unprocessed authentication information;   in the step (c), transmitting the temporal session ID and the temporal job ID to the management server together with the authentication information; and   in the step (d), inserting the temporal session ID and the temporal job ID in a job log corresponding thereto.   
   
   
       12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the program causes the processor to execute the step of:
 (f) when an authentication result of the authentication information transmitted in the step (c) is received from the management server, determining whether or not a job corresponding to the authentication information has ended, and stopping the job if it is determined that the job has not ended.   
   
   
       13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined timing in the step (c) includes a timing of the authentication request in the step (a). 
   
   
       14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the timer makes an interruption to the processor every predetermined time repeatedly in a period that an interruption mask is reset; the program causes the processor to reset the interruption mask in the step (b) and to set the interruption mask after the transmission in the step (c); and the predetermined timing in the step (c) is a timing of interruption by the timer. 
   
   
       15 . An image forming system comprising:
 a management server connected to a network; and   a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network;   wherein each of the image forming apparatuses comprises:
 a processor; 
 an input device; 
 a communication interface connected to the management server; and 
 a storage unit that stores a program and data, the program causing the processor to execute the steps of:
 (a) via the communication interface, transmitting authentication information input with the input device to the management server to request authentication, 
 (b) if an authentication result of the request is not received, causing the storage unit to store the unprocessed authentication information, and receiving a job under an assumption of successful authentication, and 
 (c) at a predetermined timing, transmitting the unprocessed authentication information stored in the storage unit to the management server; and 
 
   the management server performs authentication for the authentication information received from one of the image forming apparatus, and transmits an authentication result thereof to the image forming apparatus.   
   
   
       16 . The image forming system according to  claim 15 , wherein the management server comprises a storage unit that stores an email address of an administrator, transmits email to the administrator if the authentication of the unprocessed authentication information results in failure, and the email contains information indicating unsuccessful authentication and the authentication information. 
   
   
       17 . The image forming system according to  claim 16 , wherein the management server inserts information to the email if the authentication of the unprocessed authentication information results in failure, the inserted information indicates whether or not a job log is received from the image forming apparatus, and the management server also inserts content of a job log to the email if the job log is received from the image forming apparatus. 
   
   
       18 . The image forming system according to  claim 16 , wherein the management server watches whether or not a total usage amount of a user ID exceeds a limit usage amount, increases the total usage amount of a user ID corresponding to a job log received from the image forming apparatus by a usage amount indicated in the job log if the authentication of the unprocessed authentication information results in success, and inserts information indicating an excess of the limit usage amount into the email if the total usage amount exceeds the limit usage amount after the total usage amount is increased. 
   
   
       19 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a communication interface; and   a storage unit that stores a program causing the processor to write a log of a print job in the storage unit, to read out the log of a finished print job from the storage unit, and to transmit the log via the communication interface to a charge server connected to a network;   wherein the program causes the processor to write information common to all pages of the print job in the log, and to write charge information in the log for every page of the print job when the page is printed.   
   
   
       20 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the charge information includes a page size, a sheet type, and information indicating whether or not the one page is printed in duplex printing. 
   
   
       21 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the charge information further includes page count information. 
   
   
       22 . A charge server comprising:
 a processor;   a communication interface; and   a storage unit that stores a program causing the processor to receive a log of a finished job via the communication interface from an image forming apparatus connected to a network and to store the log in the storage unit;   wherein the log includes information common to all pages of the job and charge information on the respective pages printed; and the program causes the processor to add a page count to the charge information of each of the pages, and to convert the charge information of k pages to that of one page with the page count of k if the charge information of k pages has the same k parts except for the page count.   
   
   
       23 . A charge server comprising:
 a processor;   a communication interface; and   a storage unit that stores a program causing the processor to receive a log of a finished job via the communication interface from an image forming apparatus connected to a network and to store the log in the storage unit;   wherein the log includes information common to all pages of the job and charge information of the respective pages printed, and the charge information contains a page count; and the program causes the processor to convert the charge information of k pages to that of one page with the page count of k if the charge information of k pages has the same k parts except for the page count.   
   
   
       24 . An image forming system comprising:
 a charge server connected to a network, and   a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network;   wherein the charge server comprises:
 a first processor, 
 a first communication interface, and 
 a first storage unit that stores a first program causing the first processor to receive a log of a finished job via the communication interface from the image forming apparatuses and to store the log in the first storage unit, 
 wherein the log includes information common to all pages of the job and charge information of the respective pages printed; and the first program causes the first processor to add a page count to the charge information of each of the pages, and to convert the charge information of k pages to that of one page with the page count of k if the charge information of k pages has same k parts except for the page count; and 
   each of the image forming apparatuses comprises:
 a second processor, 
 a second communication interface, and 
 a second storage unit that stores a second program causing the second processor to write a log of a print job in the second storage unit, reading out the log of a finished print job from the second storage unit, and transmitting the log via the second communication interface to the charge server, 
 wherein the second program causes the second processor to write information common to all pages of the print job in the log, and to write charge information in the log for every page of the print job when the page is printed. 
   
   
   
       25 . An image forming system comprising:
 a charge server connected to a network; and   a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network;   wherein the charge server comprises:
 a first processor, 
 a first communication interface, and 
 a first storage unit that stores a first program causing the first processor to receive a log of a finished job via the first communication interface from the image forming apparatuses and to store the log in the first storage unit, 
 wherein the log includes information common to all pages of the job and charge information of the respective pages printed, and the charge information contains a page count; and the first program causes the first processor to convert the charge information of k pages to that of one page with the page count of k if the charge information of k pages has same k parts except for the page count; and 
   each of the image forming apparatuses comprises:
 a second processor, 
 a second communication interface, and 
 a second storage unit that stores a second program causing the second processor to write a log of a print job in the second storage unit, reading out the log of an ended print job from the second storage unit, and transmitting the log via the second communication interface to the charge server, 
 wherein the second program causes the second processor to write information common to all pages of the print job in the log, and to write charge information in the log for every page of the print job when the page is printed, and the charge information includes the page count. 
   
   
   
       26 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an input device;   a communication interface connected to a management server on a network;   a processor; and   a storage unit that stores a database and a program, the database having a first user ID, a first password, usage limit information, and other information that are related to each other, the program causing the processor to update the usage limit information corresponding to job execution, and to maintain the usage limit information to obey a rule; wherein to cause a user of a second user ID input with the input device to pretend to be a user of the first user ID locally, the program causes the processor to execute the steps of:
 (a) transmitting authentication information that includes the second user ID via the communication interface to the management server, 
 (b) overwriting the usage limit information with usage limit information received from the management server for the second user ID, and overwriting the other information with the second user ID, and 
 (c) locally authenticating the user of the second user ID with authentication information that includes the first user ID and the first password to enable job execution. 
   
   
   
       27 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the program causes the processor to further execute the step of:
 (d) transmitting the usage limit information updated upon the end of the job execution to the management server with the second user ID.   
   
   
       28 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the database includes a user table and a group management table, the user table has the first user ID, the first password, a group ID and the other information that are related to each other, and the group management table has the group ID and the usage limit information related to each other. 
   
   
       29 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the usage limit information includes a limit number of usage and the total number of usage, the total number of usage is increased corresponding to job execution for updating the usage limit information, and the rule is set that the total number does not exceed the limit number. 
   
   
       30 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the limit number of usage and the total number of usage are a limit number of pages on image forming and the total number of pages on image forming, respectively. 
   
   
       31 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the other information is a user name. 
   
   
       32 . An image forming system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus that is connected to a network and comprises a first storage unit, the first storage unit storing a first database that has a first user ID, a first password, usage limit information, and other information that are related with each other; and   a management server that is connected to the network and comprises a second storage unit, the second storage unit storing a second database that has a second user ID, a second password, and usage limit information related with each other;   wherein (a) the management server reads out the usage limit information of the second user ID from the second storage unit, and transmits the usage limit information with a result of user authentication to the image forming apparatus after successful user authentication with received authentication information that includes the second user ID, and   to cause a user of the second user ID to pretend to be a user of the first user ID in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus executes the steps of:
 (b) overwriting the other information with the second user ID, and overwriting the usage limit information of the first user ID with usage limit information received from the management server, and 
 (c) performing user authentication with the first user ID and the first password locally. 
   
   
   
       33 . The image forming system according to  claim 32 , wherein the image forming apparatus further executes the steps of:
 (d) executing a requested job, updating the usage limit information corresponding to the job execution and maintaining the usage limit information to obey a rule, and   (e) transmitting the usage limit information updated upon the end of the job execution to the management server with the second user ID.   
   
   
       34 . The image forming system according to  claim 32 , wherein the first database includes a user table and a group management table, the user table has the first user ID, the first password, a group ID and other information that are related to each other, and the group management table has the group ID and the usage limit information that are related to each other. 
   
   
       35 . The image forming system according to  claim 33 , wherein the usage limit information includes a limit number of usage and the total number of usage, and in the step (d), the total number of usage is increased corresponding to job execution for updating the usage limit information, and the rule is set that the total number does not exceed the limit number. 
   
   
       36 . The image forming system according to  claim 35 , wherein the limit number of usage and the total number of usage are a limit number of pages on image forming and the total number of pages on image forming, respectively. 
   
   
       37 . The image forming system according to  claim 32 , wherein the other information is a user name.