Patent Publication Number: US-6985244-B1

Title: Print quotas

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to printing in a network environment. More specifically, the present invention relates to controlling the amount of printing a network user may perform within a specified time period. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In a computer network environment, network users must often share the same printing resources. In this type of environment, large print jobs can cause considerable problems. If several network users are attempting to use the same printer at roughly the same time, a large print job can delay several smaller, subsequent print jobs. This essentially allows one person to disrupt the work of several people, leading to considerable productivity problems for the entire network. If several people are attempting to print large print jobs, the congestion can become even more severe. 
     In addition to problems of delay and congestion, large print jobs require considerable resources, such as paper and ink/toner. In addition to the direct financial costs for these resources, there are also environmental concerns related to the production of paper waste. 
     Since many network users do not directly bear the costs of their large print jobs, there is not much of an incentive to control their own use of the printer resources. Many large print jobs, though convenient for the user, may not be necessary for the user&#39;s work, and not worth the costs to network productivity as a whole. 
     Currently, there is no way for a computer network administrator to limit how many pages a network user may print within a specified time period. Therefore, a method for limiting the amount of printing a network user may perform within a specified time period, while allowing exceptions for necessary jobs, would be desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method for limiting the size of print jobs in a computer network by setting a predetermined quota for the number of pages a network user may print within a specified time period. If a print job submitted by a network user exceeds the print quota, the job will automatically be prevented from printing. If the submitted print job does not exceed the print quota, the job will be allowed to proceed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a network user may request special permission to exceed the print quota, if necessary. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a pictorial representation of a distributed data processing system in which the present invention may be implemented; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of a data processing system which may be implemented as a server, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in which the present invention may be implemented; and 
         FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart illustrating a method for limiting the number of pages a network user may print within a specified period of time, in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the figures, and in particular with reference to  FIG. 1 , a pictorial representation of a distributed data processing system is depicted in which the present invention may be implemented. 
     Distributed data processing system  100  is a network of computers in which the present invention may be implemented. Distributed data processing system  100  contains network  102 , which is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected within distributed data processing system  100 . Network  102  may include permanent connections, such as wire or fiber optic cables, or temporary connections made through telephone connections. In the depicted example, server  104  is connected to network  102 , along with storage unit  106 . In addition, clients  108 ,  110  and  112  are also connected to network  102 . These clients,  108 ,  110  and  112 , may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. 
     For purposes of this application, a network computer is any computer coupled to a network that receives a program or other application from another computer coupled to the network. In the depicted example, server  104  provides data, such as boot files, operating system images and applications, to clients  108 – 112 . Clients  108 ,  110  and  112  are clients to server  104 . Distributed data processing system  100  may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown. Distributed data processing system  100  also includes printers  114 ,  116  and  118 . A client, such as client  110 , may print directly to printer  114 . Clients such as client  108  and client  112  do not have directly attached printers. These clients may print to printer  116 , which is attached to server  104 , or to printer  118 , which is a network printer that does not require connection to a computer for printing documents. Client  110 , alternatively, may print to printer  116  or printer  118 , depending on the printer type and the document requirements. 
     In the depicted example, distributed data processing system  100  is the Internet, with network  102  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers consisting of thousands of commercial, government, education, and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, distributed data processing system  100  also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks such as, for example, an intranet or a local area network. 
       FIG. 1  is intended as an example and not as an architectural limitation for the processes of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of a data processing system which may be implemented as a server, such as server  104  in  FIG. 1 , is depicted in accordance with the present invention. Data processing system  200  may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors  202  and  204  connected to system bus  206 . Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. Also connected to system bus  206  is memory controller/cache  208 , which provides an interface to local memory  209 . I/O bus bridge  210  is connected to system bus  206  and provides an interface to I/O bus  212 . Memory controller/cache  208  and I/O bus bridge  210  may be integrated as depicted. 
     Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge  214  connected to I/O bus  212  provides an interface to PCI local bus  216 . A number of modems  218 – 220  may be connected to PCI bus  216 . Typical PCI bus implementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. Communications links to network computers  108 – 112  in  FIG. 1  may be provided through modem  218  and network adapter  220  connected to PCI local bus  216  through add-in boards. 
     Additional PCI bus bridges  222  and  224  provide interfaces for additional PCI buses  226  and  228 , from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, server  200  allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory mapped graphics adapter  230  and hard disk  232  may also be connected to I/O bus  212  as depicted, either directly or indirectly. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in  FIG. 2  may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives and the like, also may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention. 
     The data processing system depicted in  FIG. 2  may be, for example, an IBM RS/6000, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) operating system. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a block diagram of a data processing system in which the present invention may be implemented is illustrated. Data processing system  300  is an example of a client computer. Data processing system  300  employs a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architectures, such as Micro Channel and ISA, may be used. Processor  302  and main memory  304  are connected to PCI local bus  306  through PCI bridge  308 . PCI bridge  308  may also include an integrated memory controller and cache memory for processor  302 . Additional connections to PCI local bus  306  may be made through direct component interconnection or through add-in boards. In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  310 , SCSI host bus adapter  312 , and expansion bus interface  314  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by direct component connection. In contrast, audio adapter  316 , graphics adapter  318 , and audio/video adapter (A/V)  319  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by add-in boards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface  314  provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter  320 , modem  322 , and additional memory  324 . In the depicted example, SCSI host bus adapter  312  provides a connection for hard disk drive  326 , tape drive  328 , CD-ROM drive  330 , and digital video disc read only memory drive (DVD-ROM)  332 . Typical PCI local bus implementations will support three or four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. 
     An operating system runs on processor  302  and is used to coordinate and provide control of various components within data processing system  300  in  FIG. 3 . The operating system may be a commercially available operating system, such as AIX, which is available from International Business Machines Corporation. “AIX” is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. An object oriented programming system, such as Java, may run in conjunction with the operating system, providing calls to the operating system from Java programs or applications executing on data processing system  300 . Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented operating system, and applications or programs are located on a storage device, such as hard disk drive  326 , and may be loaded into main memory  304  for execution by processor  302 . 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in  FIG. 3  may vary depending on the implementation. For example, other peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in  FIG. 3 . The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention. For example, the processes of the present invention may be applied to multiprocessor data processing systems. 
     In reference to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart illustrating a method for limiting the number of pages a network user may print within a specified period of time is depicted in accordance with the present invention. The present invention provides the network administrator with a graphical user interface (GUI), which may be tied into the operating system. This administrative GUI allows the network administrator to set print quotas for network users (step  401 ). These quotas refer to the number of pages a network user may print within a specified period of time. Both the number of pages and the time period in question may be set by the network administrator. In addition, the administrator may set different print quotas for each network user, or a uniform quota for the entire network, depending on the specific needs of the network. Each user may also have a set of quotas, denoting different time intervals. For example, a user may have a quota for number of pages printed per hour, per day, and per week. 
     With the print quotas in place, a network user can then submit a print job to one of the network printers, such as, for example, printers  116  or  118  in  FIG. 1  (step  402 ). The next step is to determine if the requested print job exceeds the user&#39;s specified print quota for that time period (step  403 ). 
     If the requested print job exceeds the user&#39;s print quota, the job will be denied and automatically prevented from printing (step  404 ). If the requested print job does not exceed the user&#39;s print quota, the job will be allowed to print (step  407 ). After printing is completed, the invention logs how much of the user&#39;s quota has been used (step  408 ). 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, provisions are made for exceeding print quotas when necessary. Taking into account the fact that predetermined quotas will not be able to perfectly anticipate future printing needs, the present invention allows a network user to request special permission to exceed that user&#39;s print quota (step  405 ). This may be accomplished by means of, for example, a dialog box for submitting special requests to the network administrator. It is then up to the administrator to decide whether or not the user may exceed the print quota (step  406 ). If the administrator denies the special request, the print job in question will not be allowed to print (step  404 ). If the special request is granted, then the print job will be allowed to print (step  407 ). 
     Allowing special permission to exceed print quotas provides needed flexibility that cannot be accomplished with simple bright line rules, but still allows the administrator to minimize printing delays and the waste of limited resources. Special permission to exceed print quotas can also be automated and based on the total network printer use for that time interval, so that network administrators are not constantly bogged down with requests from users. In addition, special permission can be granted preemptively if a user is about to exceed his or her quota and network printer use is low for that time interval. In this way, the delay of having to process a formal request can be avoided. 
     By logging printer use for each network user in step  408 , the network administrator can determine who the heaviest print users are. This information can be used to reign in users who might be wasting resources, or it could be used increase quotas for users with genuinely higher print requirements. 
     It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a RAM, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communications links, wired or wireless communications links using transmission forms, such as, for example, radio frequency and light wave transmissions. The computer readable media may take the form of coded formats that are decoded for actual use in a particular data processing system. 
     The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.