IP Library › Granted Patent US 12693814
Granted Patent B2
US 12693814 · App. 18/443,579 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Printing system, control method, information processing apparatus, and medium

Inventor: Ryuya Tanibe (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G06F3/1205G06F3/126G06K15/1823G06F3/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693814
App. No.
18/443,579
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A printing system includes a first information processing apparatus that performs a first print service, and a second information processing apparatus that performs a second print service. The first print service obtains a maximum print amount and a current print amount from the second print service, and executes the print job if it determines that a total print amount and the current print amount do not exceed the maximum print amount. The first print service obtains a property to be used as the maximum print amount from the second print service, and if the property is a unique property of the second print service, obtains a print amount using a calculation formula according to a condition under which the calculation formula is to be applied for calculating the maximum print amount and the current print amount from a common property which is in common with the second print service.

Claims (80)

1 . A printing system comprising:

a first information processing apparatus including

at least one memory storing at least one first program, and

at least one first processor;

a second information processing apparatus connected with the first information processing apparatus, the second information processing apparatus including

at least one memory storing at least one second program, and

at least one second processor; and

an image forming apparatus connected with the first information processing apparatus,

wherein the at least one first processor reads the at least one first program from the at least one first memory and executes it to perform a first print service configured to store print jobs,

the at least one second processor reads the at least one second program from the at least one second memory and executes it to perform a second print service,

the second print service holds a maximum print amount and a current print amount per a user, and

the first print service

when the image forming apparatus executes the print job, obtains the maximum print amount and the current print amount from the second print service,

determines whether a total of a print amount according to the print job and the current print amount exceeds the maximum print amount, and

if the total of the print amount according to the print job and the current print amount does not exceed the maximum print amount, causes the image forming apparatus to execute the print job,

wherein the first print service

obtains a property to be used as the maximum print amount from the second print service, and

in a case where the property used as the maximum print amount is a unique property of the second print service, the first print service obtains a print amount using a calculation formula according to a condition under which the calculation formula is to be applied for calculating the maximum print amount and the current print amount from a common property which is in common with the second print service.

2 . The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein

when causing the image forming apparatus to execute the print job, the first print service transmits the print amount according to the print job to the second print service, and

the second print service adds the print amount according to the print job to the current print amount and updates the current print amount.

3 . The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first print service provides a user interface for setting the calculation formula for calculating the unique property from the common property and the condition under which the calculation formula is to be applied.

4 . The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the maximum print amount and the current print amount are managed for each user, and

the first print service

obtains from the second print service the maximum print amount and the current print amount of a user that causes the image forming apparatus to execute the print job, and

determines whether the total of the print amount according to the print job and the current print amount exceeds the maximum print amount.

5 . The printing system according to claim 4 , wherein

the first print service and the second print service identify an identity of a user by associating a user of the first print service and a user of the second print service.

6 . The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first print service is a print service that supports a setting common to an image forming apparatus and does not support a setting unique to a manufacturer of the image forming apparatus, and

the second print service is a print service that supports the setting unique to the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus.

7 . A first information processing apparatus comprising:

at least one memory storing at least one first program; and

at least one first processor, wherein the at least one first processor reads the at least one first program from the at least one first memory and executes it to perform:

holding a print job;

when an image forming apparatus connected to the first information processing apparatus executes the print job, obtaining a maximum print amount and a current print amount from a second information processing apparatus;

determining whether a total of a print amount according to the print job and the current print amount exceeds the maximum print amount; and

in a case where the total of the print amount according to the print job and the current print amount does not exceed the maximum print amount, causing the image forming apparatus to execute the print job, wherein

the at least one first processor performs:

obtaining a property to be used as the maximum print amount from the second information processing apparatus, and

in a case where the property to be used as the maximum print amount is a unique property of the second information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus obtains a print amount using a calculation formula according to a condition under which the calculation formula is to be applied for calculating the maximum print amount and the current print amount from a common property which is in common with the second information processing apparatus.

8 . The first information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

when causing the image forming apparatus to execute the print job, the first information processing apparatus transmits the print amount according to the print job to the second information processing apparatus, and

the second information processing apparatus adds the print amount according to the print job to the current print amount and updates the current print amount.

9 . The first information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the at least one first processor performs:

providing a user interface for setting the calculation formula for calculating the unique property from the common property and the condition under which the calculation formula is to be applied.

10 . The first information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the maximum print amount and the current print amount are managed for each user, and

the at least one first processor performs:

obtaining from the second information processing apparatus the maximum print amount and the current print amount of a user that causes the image forming apparatus to execute the print job, and

determining whether the total of the print amount according to the print job and the current print amount exceeds the maximum print amount.

11 . The first information processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein

the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus identify an identity of a user by associating a user of the first information processing apparatus and a user of the second information processing apparatus.

12 . The first information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the first information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus that supports a setting common to an image forming apparatus and does not support a setting unique to a manufacturer of the image forming apparatus, and

the second information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus that supports the setting unique to the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus.

13 . A method of controlling a printing system including

a first information processing apparatus configured to provide a first print service that stores a print job,

a second information processing apparatus configured to provide a second print service connected with the first information processing apparatus, and

an image forming apparatus connected with the first information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

the second print service holding a maximum print amount and a current print amount per a user, and

the first print service

when the image forming apparatus executes the print job, obtaining the maximum print amount and the current print amount from the second print service

determining whether a total of a print amount according to the print job and the current print amount exceeds the maximum print amount, and

if the total of the print amount according to the print job and the current print amount does not exceed the maximum print amount, causing the image forming apparatus to execute the print job,

wherein the first print service

obtains a property to be used as the maximum print amount from the second print service, and

in a case where the property used as the maximum print amount is a unique property of the second print service, the first print service obtains a print amount using a calculation formula according to a condition under which the calculation formula is to be applied for calculating the maximum print amount and the current print amount from a common property which is in common with the second print service.

14 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing thereon a program which, when loaded into a computer and executed, causes the computer to execute a process, the process comprising:

a first information processing apparatus

holding a print job;

when an image forming apparatus connected to the first information processing apparatus executes the print job, obtaining a maximum print amount and a current print amount from a second information processing apparatus;

determining whether a total of a print amount according to the print job and the current print amount exceeds the maximum print amount, and

if the total of the print amount according to the print job and the current print amount does not exceed the maximum print amount, causing the image forming apparatus to execute the print job, wherein

the first information processing apparatus performs:

obtaining a property to be used as the maximum print amount from the second information processing apparatus, and

in a case where the property to be used as the maximum print amount is a unique property of the second information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus obtains a print amount using a calculation formula according to a condition under which the calculation formula is to be applied for calculating the maximum print amount and the current print amount from a common property which is in common with the second information processing apparatus.