IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHODS THEREOF

• US 20090059267A1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sato, Masayuki
• Application Number:
  US12/197,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20090059267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.140
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1219 with regard to consumables, e.g. ink, toner, paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1239 Restricting the usage of resources, e.g. usage or user levels, credit limit, consumables, special fonts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1254 Automatic configuration, e.g. by driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00912 Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32539 Detecting or indicating the status of the output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0072 Detecting the status of a connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID

Abstract

An image forming system is provided which controls usage of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network for each user of the image forming system. Usage of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is permitted or prohibited based on information in a disable flag associated with each user.

Claims

1. A management apparatus in an image forming system, the image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the management apparatus, which manages whether to use one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a management server that manages usage of the plurality of image forming apparatuses for each user of the image forming system, the management apparatus comprising:

a read-out unit configured to read out user identifier information stored on a recording medium connectable to the management apparatus;

an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from the management server, disabling information corresponding to the read out identifier information and indicating whether to disable usage of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;

an update unit configured to update the disabling information stored in the management server when disabling usage of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is selected or when resumption of usage of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is selected; and

a usage limitation unit configured to prohibit a user corresponding to the user identifier information from executing image formation when the disabling information indicates disabling of usage and to permit the user corresponding to the user identifier information to execute image formation when the disabling information does not indicate disabling of usage.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage limitation unit prohibits usage of all the plurality of image forming apparatuses when the disabling information indicates disabling of usage.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage limitation unit prohibits usage of image forming apparatuses except for an image forming apparatus used by the user when the disabling information indicates disabling of usage.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage limitation unit prohibits usage of an image forming apparatus according to disabling information for each image forming apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage limitation information used to limit usage of the image forming apparatus is stored on the recording medium, and

the update unit updates the disabling information and the usage limitation information stored on the recording medium.

6. A method for processing data in an image forming system, which includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a management apparatus that manages whether to use one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a management server that manages usage of the plurality of image forming apparatuses for each user of the image forming system, the method comprising:

reading out user identifier information stored in a recording medium connectable to the management apparatus;

acquiring, from the management server, disabling information corresponding to the read out user identifier information and indicating whether to disable usage of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;

updating the disabling information stored on the management server when disabling usage of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is selected or when resumption of usage of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is selected; and

prohibiting a user corresponding to the user identifier information from executing image formation when the disabling information indicates disabling of usage and permitting the user corresponding to the user identifier information to execute image formation when the disabling information does not indicate disabling of usage.

7. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for making a computer execute the method of claim 6.