OPTIMIZING A PRINTER SYSTEM IN CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LOAD
First Claim
1. A. system comprising:
- a print server that receives a print job from a client and directs the print job to a printer system from among a plurality of printer systems connected to the print server through a network, wherein the print server includes a microprocessor coupled to a memory, the microprocessor programmed to implement the print server having;
a basic information acquiring section that acquires basic information including environmental load information from at least one of the plurality of printer systems and external computers;
a unit price calculating section that calculates a unit price based on the acquired basic information, the unit price calculated for printer systems in the plurality of printer systems;
a storage section that stores the calculated unit prices and identities of the printer systems associated with the calculated unit prices; and
a sending section that sends the print unit prices and the identities of the printer systems associated with the calculated unit prices to the client;
wherein the client receives the print unit prices and printer system identities, accepts a selection of one the printer systems from the received printer system identities, and generates and sends a print job capable of being executed in the selected printer system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A print server selects a printer system to execute a print job received from a client, the printer system selected from among a plurality of printer systems connected to the network, the print server comprising a basic information acquiring section that acquires, at predetermining timing, unit price calculation basic information on printer systems in operation including at least information on environmental load information from at least one of the plurality of printer systems and external computers, a unit price calculating section that calculates a print unit price for each printer system based on the acquired unit price calculation basic information, a storage section that stores the calculated unit price in association with identification information for identifying the printer system and a sending section that sends the print unit prices and the identities of the printer systems associated with the calculated unit prices to the client.
22 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A. system comprising:
a print server that receives a print job from a client and directs the print job to a printer system from among a plurality of printer systems connected to the print server through a network, wherein the print server includes a microprocessor coupled to a memory, the microprocessor programmed to implement the print server having; a basic information acquiring section that acquires basic information including environmental load information from at least one of the plurality of printer systems and external computers; a unit price calculating section that calculates a unit price based on the acquired basic information, the unit price calculated for printer systems in the plurality of printer systems; a storage section that stores the calculated unit prices and identities of the printer systems associated with the calculated unit prices; and a sending section that sends the print unit prices and the identities of the printer systems associated with the calculated unit prices to the client; wherein the client receives the print unit prices and printer system identities, accepts a selection of one the printer systems from the received printer system identities, and generates and sends a print job capable of being executed in the selected printer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A print server for selecting a printer system to execute a print job received from a client, the printer system selected from among a plurality of printer systems connected to the network, the print server comprising:
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a basic information acquiring section that acquires, at predetermining timing, unit price calculation basic information on printer systems in operation including at least information on environmental load information from at least one of the plurality of printer systems and external computers; a unit price calculating section that calculates a print unit price for each printer system based on the acquired unit price calculation basic information; a storage section that stores the calculated unit price in association with identification information for identifying the printer system; and a sending section that sends the print unit prices and the identities of the printer systems associated with the calculated unit prices to the client. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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10. A method of conducting printing, the method comprising:
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acquiring, on a print server, basic information about printer systems connected to the print server including environmental load information; calculating a print unit prices for the printer systems based on the acquired basic information; storing the calculated unit prices along with identities of the printer systems associated with the calculated print unit prices; and sending the print unit prices and the identities of the printer systems to a client. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable storage device with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a microprocessor to perform:
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acquiring, on a print server, basic information about printer systems connected to the print server including environmental load information; calculating a print unit prices for the printer systems based on the acquired basic information; storing the calculated unit prices along with identities of the printer systems associated with the calculated print unit prices; and sending the print unit prices and the identities of the printer systems to a client. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification