JP2004001284A - PRINTING APPARATUS, PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME, AND PRINTING METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a printing apparatus capable of maintaining confidentiality with respect to a confidential document even when a printing request is made as normal printing, a printing system including the printing apparatus, and a printing method.
A print job management unit controls received document print data based on job information corresponding to the received document print data, and, when document print data requested to be printed in confidential printing is received, the document print data and job information And a confidential print job storage unit 18 for storing print information including the following. When the received job information indicates that a print request has not been made in confidential printing, the print job management unit 14 uses the print information stored in the confidential print job storage unit 18 to generate the same It is determined whether or not the document print data has been printed by confidential printing before. If it is determined that the document print data has been printed, the printing of the received document print data is stopped.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for confidentially printing a confidential document, a printing system including the printing apparatus, and a printing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional network type printer (hereinafter, referred to as a printer), a plurality of users (information processing terminals) share and use, and various users output data to a discharge tray. Therefore, in order to maintain the confidentiality of the confidential document, the printer has a confidential printing function for printing the confidential document in addition to the normal printing function.
[0003]
When printing a confidential document, the user first sends document print data of the confidential document to the printer. Then, the printer enters the confidential print mode, and holds the transmitted document print data in the printer without printing.
[0004]
Thereafter, the user goes to the front of the printer and inputs an ID and a password for authenticating the user from the operation panel of the printer. If the user is authenticated by the ID and the password, the printer prints (outputs) the document print data.
[0005]
As described above, by using the confidential print function, even if a print request is made from a place remote from the printer, the document print data can be extracted without being seen by others.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, confidential printing of a confidential document is left to the user's will and operation, so that normal printing may be erroneously performed in spite of the confidential document.
[0007]
Further, since document creation and printing are independent operations, a confidential document cannot be forcibly converted into confidential printing with the created document (document print data) itself.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing apparatus capable of maintaining confidentiality for a confidential document even when printing is requested as normal printing. A printing system and a printing method are provided.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a print data to be printed on a recording medium via a network, information indicating whether the print data has been requested to be printed by confidential printing, and a corresponding print data. Control means for receiving job information including information to be associated with the data, and controlling the received print data based on the job information; and Storage means for storing print information including print data and job information corresponding to the print data for confidential printing, wherein the job information corresponding to the received print data is not requested to be printed in confidential printing The control means uses the print information stored in the storage means to display the received print data. Determines whether there is the printed confidentially printed before the same print data and data, when it is determined that there is characterized in that to stop the printing of the print data received.
[0010]
According to the above configuration, for example, even if a confidential document requiring confidentiality is not requested to be printed by confidential printing, that is, even if a print request is made by normal printing, the printing of the received print data is stopped. , The confidentiality of confidential documents can be maintained.
[0011]
When the control unit determines that the same print data as the received print data has been confidentially printed before, the printing device stops printing the received print data, and sets the received print data and It is preferable to delete the job information.
[0012]
According to the above configuration, the confidentiality of the received print data can be more reliably maintained by deleting the received print data and job information. Even if the print data and the job information received here are deleted, the fact that the same print data has been printed before can be determined again using the print information already stored in the storage means. it can.
[0013]
When the control unit determines that the same print data as the received print data has been previously confidentially printed, the printing device stops printing the received print data and confidentially prints the print data. It is preferable to switch to printing and store the print data until the output instruction is issued.
[0014]
According to the above configuration, since the mode is automatically switched to the confidential printing, the user does not need to switch the printing request to the confidential printing and make the printing request again. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability and shorten the printing time of the print data.
[0015]
The above printing apparatus, when switching the print data to confidential printing, an authentication information notifying means for notifying the user of authentication information used to authenticate that the user transmitted the print data at the time of output instruction It is preferable to provide
[0016]
According to the above configuration, by notifying the authentication information such as the ID and the password, the user can know that the printing is confidential printing. Therefore, operability by the user can be improved.
[0017]
It is preferable that the printing apparatus includes a notification unit for notifying a user that printing of the received print data has been stopped.
[0018]
According to the above configuration, the user can know that the printing of the print data has stopped.
[0019]
In the above-described printing apparatus, the job information includes, as information associated with the corresponding print data, a file name of a file having the corresponding print data, position information indicating an area where the corresponding print data is stored, and addition of the print data. It is preferable to include at least one of the sum values that are values.
[0020]
According to the above configuration, the determination (matching) can be performed using the job information having a small capacity. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the storage capacity of the storage unit and to speed up the determination.
[0021]
In the above printing apparatus, the control unit compares the received print data with the print data stored in the storage unit to determine whether the same print data as the received print data has been confidentially printed before. It is preferable to determine whether or not.
[0022]
According to the above configuration, an accurate determination can be made.
[0023]
In the above printing apparatus, it is preferable that the control unit deletes the print data from the storage unit after printing the print data by confidential printing.
[0024]
According to the above configuration, the storage capacity of the storage unit can be reduced.
[0025]
A printing system according to another aspect of the invention includes the printing apparatus described above, and a host computer connected to the printing apparatus via a network and requesting the printing apparatus to print print data.
[0026]
According to the above configuration, even if a confidential document requiring confidentiality is not requested for printing by confidential printing, that is, even if a printing request is made for normal printing, the printing of the received print data is stopped, Document confidentiality can be maintained.
[0027]
The printing system includes a host notifying unit that transmits, to the host computer, print stop data indicating that the printing apparatus has stopped printing the received print data, and the host computer determines that the print stop data has been received. It is preferable to provide a user notification unit for notifying the user.
[0028]
According to the above configuration, the user can know that the printing of the print data has stopped.
[0029]
As described above, according to the printing method of the present invention, the print data, the information indicating whether or not the print data has been requested to be printed in confidential printing, and the information associated with the corresponding print data are output from a plurality of host computers connected to the network. When the print information connected to the network is received based on the print data, the printing apparatus prints an image on a recording medium. When the printing apparatus stores job information corresponding to the print data and indicates that the job information corresponding to the print data received by the printing apparatus is not requested to be printed in confidential printing, the received job information is stored using the stored job information. Whether confidential printing of the same print data has been performed before After determination, if it is determined that there is characterized in that to stop the printing of the received print data.
[0030]
According to the above-described method, even if a confidential document requiring confidentiality is not requested to be printed by confidential printing, that is, even if a printing request is made by normal printing, the printing of the received print data is stopped. Document confidentiality can be maintained.
[0031]
In the above printing method, when printing is stopped, it is preferable that the received print data and job information corresponding to the print data be deleted.
[0032]
According to the above method, the confidentiality of the received print data can be more reliably maintained by deleting the received print data and job information.
[0033]
In the above printing method, when printing is stopped, it is preferable to switch the printing of the received print data to confidential printing.
[0034]
According to the above method, since the mode is automatically switched to the confidential printing, the user does not need to switch the print request to the confidential printing and make the print request again. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability and shorten the printing time of the print data.
[0035]
In the above printing method, it is preferable to notify a user that printing of the received print data has been stopped.
[0036]
According to the above method, the user can know that the printing of the print data has stopped.
[0037]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0038]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a main part of a printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 1 is connected to a plurality of host computers (hereinafter, referred to as host PCs) 2 and a storage server 3 by a LAN (Local Area Network). The printing device 1, the host PC 2, and the storage server 3 constitute a printing system.
[0039]
The host PC 2 creates and edits a document. The host PC 2 has a memory (not shown) and stores (stores) a document.
[0040]
The storage server 3 stores documents. The document stored in the storage server 3 is shared by a plurality of host PCs 2. The document stored in the storage server 3 can be printed by issuing a print request from the host PC 2 to the printing device 1.
[0041]
The printing apparatus 1 prints a document created in the host PC 2 or a document held in the storage server 3 in the normal print mode or the confidential print mode. Note that a document is composed of document print data, and printing a document means forming an image based on the document print data on a recording medium (paper).
[0042]
Here, the normal print mode is a print mode in which when a print request for a document is made from the host PC 2 to the printing apparatus 1, the recording medium printed from the printing apparatus 1 is discharged as it is.
[0043]
That is, after document print data (print data) is input from the host PC 2 to the printing apparatus 1, the host PC 2 forms an image based on the document print data on a recording medium without storing the document print data. (Document print data (document) is printed).
[0044]
The confidential print mode is a print mode used when printing a confidential document. That is, when a printing request for a document is made from the host PC 2 to the printing device 1, the printing device 1 temporarily stores the document print data. After that, the print mode is a print mode in which the person who has requested the printing of the document print data directly issues an output instruction to the printing apparatus 1 and then prints the document print data.
[0045]
Regardless of the print mode in which the print request is made, the host PC 2 or the storage server 3 storing the requested print document sends the document print data and the document print data in the confidential print mode to the printing apparatus 1. Print information including information indicating whether a print request has been made and job information including information associated with the corresponding document print data is transmitted. That is, job information is added to the document print data input to the printing apparatus 1.
[0046]
The document print data input to the printing device 1 is not particularly limited. For example, the data may be data represented by a command or bitmap data converted into a bitmap. Here, a description will be given below assuming that the data represented by the command is input as the document print data.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes a display unit (notification unit) 11, an operation unit 12, an external I / F unit 13, a print job management unit (control unit) 14, an image forming unit 15, a printing unit 16, It comprises an e-mail processing unit (notifying unit, host notifying unit, authentication information notifying unit) 17, a confidential print job storage unit (storage unit) 18, and a paper discharging unit 19.
[0048]
The display unit 11 is, for example, a display panel using a liquid crystal or the like, and displays a screen.
[0049]
The operation unit 12 includes operation keys and the like, and allows a user to select a setting or input a key on a screen displayed on the display unit 11. The user inputs an ID and a password, which will be described later, via the operation unit 12.
[0050]
Note that the display unit 11 and the operation unit 12 may have an integrated configuration.
[0051]
The print job management unit 14 includes a user authentication unit 21 and a job determination unit 22. The print job management unit 14 manages the received print information.
[0052]
The user authentication unit 21 authenticates the user by determining whether the ID or password input from the operation unit 12 is the same as a preset ID or password.
[0053]
The job determining unit (control means) 22 controls the received document print data based on the job information among the received print information. That is, the job determination unit 22 determines which of the confidential print mode and the normal print mode has been requested to print the received document print data. When it is determined that the document print data has been requested to be printed in the normal print mode, matching described later is performed using the job information.
[0054]
The confidential print job storage unit 18 stores the received print information. The configurations of the job determination unit 22 and the confidential print job storage unit 18 will be described later in detail.
[0055]
The e-mail processing unit 17 creates an e-mail and sends it to the host PC 2 via the external I / F unit 13.
[0056]
The image forming unit 15 converts the document print data into an actual print pattern, here, bitmap data, and further performs predetermined image processing.
[0057]
The printing unit 16 includes, for example, a photoconductor (not shown), an exposure unit that exposes the photoconductor based on data input from the image forming unit 15, and a plurality of electrostatic latent images formed on the surface of the photoconductor by the exposure. A developing unit for developing with the toner, a transfer unit for transferring the developed toner image to a sheet (recording medium), and a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the sheet to form an image based on document print data. Have.
[0058]
The paper discharge unit 19 discharges the paper on which the image is formed by the print unit 16 from the printing apparatus 1.
[0059]
Here, job information corresponding to document print data will be described.
[0060]
The job information includes, for example, document name, transmission source information, user name, application name, driver information, confidential information (authentication ID), same document prohibition information, e-mail notification destination, document position information, and document print data sum. Information that includes at least one of the values, that can be associated with the corresponding document print data and that can be associated with it, and determines whether it is a print request in the normal print mode or a print request in the confidential print mode There is no particular limitation as long as it is possible.
[0061]
In the confidential print mode, when a print request is made and the document print data and job information are input to the printing apparatus 1, the confidential print job storage unit 18 stores the document print data and the corresponding Job information to be stored.
[0062]
After the user gives an output instruction and the document print data is read out from the confidential print job storage unit 18 to form an image, the document print data is deleted from the confidential print job storage unit 18. However, the job information remains stored without being deleted.
[0063]
As shown in FIG. 3, when document print data and corresponding job information are stored in the confidential print job storage unit 18, they are stored in association with the job ID. This job ID may be included in the job information.
[0064]
The document name is the file name of the document print data.
[0065]
The transmission source information indicates which of the connected host PC 2 and storage server 3 has transmitted the document print data to the printing apparatus 1, that is, the transmission source of the document print data.
[0066]
The user name is the name of the user who transmitted the document print data to the printing device 1.
[0067]
The application name is an application name used for creating document print data.
[0068]
The driver information is information of a driver incorporated in the host PC 2 or the like that created the document print data.
[0069]
The confidential information is information indicating the print mode, that is, whether or not the document print data has been requested to be printed in confidential printing. For example, in the case of the confidential print mode, the information may include the authentication ID, and in the case of the normal print mode, no information may be added.
[0070]
The authentication ID is an ID or a password that is input when the user makes a print request in confidential printing, and is used to confirm whether or not the user is the user himself when giving an output instruction.
[0071]
The same document prohibition information is information added to the document print data requested to be printed in confidential printing, and is used to stop the printing when the same document print data is requested to be printed in normal printing. Information.
[0072]
For example, when the same document prohibition information is “setting”, even if the document print data of the same content is later requested to be printed in the normal print mode, the print is not performed. On the other hand, when the same document prohibition information is “no setting”, when a print request of the same document print data in the normal print mode is issued later, the same document print data is printed in the normal print mode.
[0073]
The e-mail notification destination is, for example, a notification that, when the same document prohibition information is "set" and the printing of the document print data of the same content is stopped, the fact (print stop data) is notified by e-mail. This is information for setting the destination. For example, the user who made the print request and the administrator of the printing system are set.
[0074]
The document position information indicates, in the host PC 2 or the storage server 3, a position where the document print data requested to be printed is stored, for example, a directory name in which a file composed of the document print data requested to be printed is managed. For example, when the user or the administrator sets a certain directory in the host PC 2 or the storage server 3 to the confidential print mode, when printing a file managed in the directory, the confidential print mode is set.
[0075]
The document print data sum value is a sum value that is an addition value of bits constituting data (bitmap data) obtained by bitmapping the document print data.
[0076]
These pieces of job information are used at the time of matching described later.
[0077]
Hereinafter, an example of the printing process will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0078]
As shown in FIG. 4, first, when print information including job information and document print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1 in response to a print request from the user, the print information is printed via the external I / F unit 13. The data is input to the job management unit 14 (S11).
[0079]
Next, the print job management unit 14 inputs the job information of the print information to the job determination unit 22 of the print job management unit 14. The job determination unit 22 determines whether the print request is a print request in the normal print mode or a confidential print mode using the job information.
[0080]
If the printing is in the confidential print mode (Yes in S12), the print job management unit 14 stores the print information in the confidential print job storage unit 18 (S20), and an output instruction is input from the user. Wait for it.
[0081]
On the other hand, in the case of printing in the normal print mode (No in S12), the job determination unit 22 sets the same document prohibition information in the job information stored in the confidential print job storage unit 18 to “setting is performed”. Then, it is determined whether or not there is any (S13).
[0082]
If there is no “setting” (No in S13), printing is performed in the normal print mode (S16). That is, the document print data is input to the image forming unit 15, and the paper on which the image based on the document print data is formed is discharged from the paper discharge unit 19 via the print unit 16.
[0083]
On the other hand, if there is at least one of which has “setting” (Yes in S13), the job determining unit 22 determines whether the print data corresponding to the job information having “setting” is The document print data input together with the request is compared to determine whether they are the same (matching, S14).
[0084]
Then, if there is no data identical to the document print data requested to be printed in the document print data corresponding to the job information of “setting” (No in S15), printing is performed in the normal print mode as it is. .
[0085]
On the other hand, if the document print data corresponding to the job information “set” has the same data as the document print data requested to be printed (Yes in S15), the job determination unit 22 determines Using the job information stored in the confidential print job storage unit 18 in association with this data, it is determined whether or not there is an “e-mail notification destination” setting.
[0086]
If the "e-mail notification destination" is set (Yes in S31), document print data having the same content as that previously printed in the confidential print mode is stored in the set notification destination in the normal print mode. (S31), the print job management unit 14 deletes the print information including the print request document print data (S33). That is, printing is stopped.
[0087]
If there is no “e-mail notification destination” setting (No in S31), the print job management unit 14 deletes the print information including the document print data requested to be printed (S33).
[0088]
Next, a printing process in the confidential printing mode after an output instruction is issued from the user will be described with reference to FIG.
[0089]
After the user first makes a print request in the confidential print mode from the host PC 2, the user goes to the installation location of the printing apparatus 1 and prints (outputs) in the confidential print mode via the operation unit 12 of the printing apparatus 1. ) (S21). At this time, the user inputs the authentication ID from the operation unit 12. If the authentication ID is correct (Yes in S22), an image based on the document print data is formed on a recording medium and discharged (printed) (S23).
[0090]
Thereafter, if there is an instruction to delete the document print data for which image formation has been completed (Yes in S24), only the document print data is deleted from the confidential print job storage unit 18 (S25). That is, the job information corresponding to the document print data is stored without being deleted.
[0091]
On the other hand, if the authentication ID is not correct (No in S22), the job determining unit 22 determines whether or not “e-mail notification destination” is set in the job information corresponding to the document print data requested to be printed. Determine.
[0092]
Then, when there is a setting of the “e-mail notification destination” (Yes in S41), it notifies the set notification destination that printing cannot be performed because the authentication ID is not correct (S42). If there is no “e-mail notification destination” setting (No in S41), printing is not performed as it is.
[0093]
In S31, an e-mail is used to notify the set notification destination that the document print data of the same content has been requested to be printed in the normal print mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Not something. Also, in S41 described above, an e-mail is used to notify the set notification destination that the authentication ID is incorrect, but the present invention is not limited to this.
[0094]
For example, the notification can be made using a status monitor displayed on the display (user notification means) of the host PC 2 or the display document print data 11 of the printing apparatus 1. In this case, the job information may include information on what is used and what is notified.
[0095]
Further, as the notification destination of the e-mail, for example, the user who made the print request, the administrator of the printing system, and the like are set.
[0096]
Further, in S24, it is determined whether or not to delete the document print data on which the image formation in the confidential print mode has been completed. May contain this information.
[0097]
Further, the determination of the deletion designation in S24 may not be performed. That is, even if the document print data for which image formation has been completed in the confidential print mode is set to be always deleted, the document print data once stored in the confidential print job storage unit 18 is set so as not to be deleted. I don't care.
[0098]
Hereinafter, the above-described matching will be described.
[0099]
The matching shown in S14 is performed using print information. That is, by comparing the print information stored in the confidential print job storage unit 18 with the print information requested to be printed and input to the print job management unit 14, the same as the document print data requested to be printed and received is obtained. It is determined whether or not the document print data has been printed in the confidential print mode before (matching is performed).
[0100]
For example, when the document print data is deleted after printing in the confidential print mode, matching is performed using job information in the print information.
[0101]
In this case, for example, any one of the above-described document name, transmission source information, user name, application name, driver information, document position information, and document print data sum value, or a combination thereof is used.
[0102]
Accordingly, the capacity of the confidential print job storage unit 18 can be reduced, and by performing matching, printing of a confidential document in the normal print mode can be prevented.
[0103]
If the document print data is not deleted after printing in the confidential print mode, matching is performed using document print data, for example, bitmap data in the print information.
[0104]
Thereby, accurate matching can be performed.
[0105]
In S33 shown in FIG. 4, when the document print data having the same content as that previously printed in the confidential print mode is requested to be printed in the normal print mode, the printing is stopped by deleting the print information. After that, the mode may be switched to the confidential print mode and set to print.
[0106]
In this case, the user and the administrator who made the print request are notified that the printing is switched to the confidential print mode, and the user is notified of the authentication ID for the output instruction.
[0107]
When an authentication ID is set for each user in advance, there is no need to notify the user of the authentication ID from the printing apparatus 1.
[0108]
As described above, every time a document (document print data) requested to be printed in confidential printing is printed, the printing apparatus 1 stores the job information corresponding to the document print data, and stores the document print data received by the printing apparatus 1. When the job information corresponding to the data indicates that a print request has not been made in confidential printing, the confidential printing of the same document print data as the received document print data was previously performed using the stored job information. After determining whether or not there is, if it is determined that there is, printing of the received document print data is stopped.
[0109]
That is, the printing apparatus 1 transmits a job including document print data to be printed on a recording medium via a network, information indicating whether the document print data has been requested to be printed in confidential printing, and information associated with the corresponding document print data. And a print job management unit 14 that receives the information and controls the received document print data based on the job information. When the document print data requested to be printed by confidential printing is received, the document print for confidential printing is performed. A confidential print job storage unit 18 for storing print information including data and job information corresponding to the document print data for the confidential print, and the job information corresponding to the received document print data is printed by the confidential print. When the request is not requested, that is, when the print mode is the normal print mode, the print job management unit 14 stores the information in the confidential print job storage unit 18. It is determined whether or not the same document print data as the received document print data has been printed by confidential printing before using the print information that has been received. Stop printing data.
[0110]
As a result, even if a confidential document requiring confidentiality is not requested to be printed by confidential printing, that is, even if a print request is made by normal printing, the printing of the received document print data is stopped, thereby securing the confidential document. Sex can be maintained.
[0111]
If the print job management unit 14 determines that the same document print data as the received document print data has been printed before, the print job management unit 14 stops printing the received document print data, The confidential print job storage unit 18 stores the document print data until there is an output instruction.
[0112]
This automatically switches to the confidential print mode, so that the user does not need to switch the print request from the normal print mode to the confidential print mode and make a print request again. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability and shorten the printing time of the print data.
[0113]
Further, the printing apparatus 1 includes, as information that the job information is associated with the corresponding document print data, a file name of a file having the corresponding document print data, position information indicating an area where the corresponding document print data is stored, It contains at least one of the sum values that are the added values of the document print data.
[0114]
This makes it possible to make a determination (matching) using job information having a small capacity. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the storage capacity of the storage unit and to speed up the determination.
[0115]
When matching is performed using the file name, the matching may be performed using only the main part of the file name. For example, in the case where a numeral or alphabet is added to the end of the file name, if the last numeral or part other than the alphabet is the same, the document print data may be determined to be the same. Thereby, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be further maintained.
[0116]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the printing apparatus of the present invention provides, via a network, print data to be printed on a recording medium, information indicating whether the print data has been requested to be printed in confidential printing, and information associated with the corresponding print data. And control means for controlling the received print data based on the job information, and when print data requested to be printed in confidential printing is received, print data for confidential printing; Storage means for storing print information including job information corresponding to the print data for the confidential print, and when the job information corresponding to the received print data indicates that a print request has not been made in the confidential print, The control means uses the print information stored in the storage means to print the same print data as the received print data. It determines whether there is the printed confidentially printed before the cement data, when it is determined that there is a structure to stop printing the print data received.
[0117]
Thus, for example, even if a confidential document requiring confidentiality is not requested to be printed in confidential printing, that is, even if a print request is made in normal printing, the printing of the received print data is stopped. This produces an effect that confidentiality can be maintained.
[0118]
When the control unit determines that the same print data as the received print data has been confidentially printed before, the printing device stops printing the received print data and executes the received print data. And delete job information.
[0119]
As a result, by deleting the received print data and the job information, the confidentiality of the received print data can be more reliably maintained.
[0120]
When the control unit determines that the same print data as the received print data has been previously confidentially printed, the control unit stops printing the received print data and transmits the print data. Switching to confidential printing, the storage means stores the print data until an output instruction is given.
[0121]
This automatically switches to confidential printing, so the user does not need to switch the print request to confidential printing and make a print request again. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability and shorten the printing time of the print data.
[0122]
When the print device of the present invention switches print data to confidential printing, an authentication information notification for notifying the user of authentication information used to authenticate that the user transmitted the print data at the time of the output instruction is provided. It is a configuration including means.
[0123]
Thus, by notifying the authentication information such as the ID and the password, the user can know that the printing is confidential printing. Therefore, there is an effect that the operability by the user can be improved.
[0124]
The printing apparatus of the present invention is configured to include a notification unit for notifying a user that printing of the received print data has been stopped.
[0125]
This provides an effect that the user can know that the printing of the print data has stopped.
[0126]
According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the job information includes, as information associated with the corresponding print data, a file name of a file having the corresponding print data, position information indicating an area in which the corresponding print data is stored, and print information of the print data. The configuration includes at least one of the sum values that are the added values.
[0127]
As a result, it is possible to determine (matching) whether or not the data is the same using the job information having a small capacity. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the storage capacity of the storage means and to speed up the determination.
[0128]
In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the control unit compares the received print data with the print data stored in the storage unit, and may have previously confidentially printed the same print data as the received print data. It is a configuration for determining whether or not the above is true.
[0129]
Thereby, there is an effect that an accurate determination can be made.
[0130]
The printing apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration in which the control unit deletes the print data from the storage unit after printing the print data by confidential printing.
[0131]
This produces an effect that the storage capacity of the storage unit can be reduced.
[0132]
As described above, the printing system of the present invention is configured to include the printing apparatus described above and a host computer connected to the printing apparatus via a network and requesting the printing apparatus to print print data.
[0133]
As a result, even if a confidential document requiring confidentiality is not requested to be printed in confidential printing, that is, even if a print request is made in normal printing, the printing of the received print data is stopped, thereby securing the confidentiality of the confidential document. Can be maintained.
[0134]
The printing system of the present invention includes a host notifying unit that transmits print stop data indicating that the printing of the received print data has been stopped to the host computer, and the host computer receives the print stop data. Is provided to the user.
[0135]
This provides an effect that the user can know that the printing of the print data has stopped.
[0136]
According to the printing method of the present invention, every time print data requested to be printed in confidential printing is printed, job information corresponding to the print data is stored, and the job information corresponding to the print data received by the printing apparatus is stored in confidential printing. When indicating that a print request has not been issued, it is determined, using the stored job information, whether or not the same print data as the received print data has been previously confidentially printed, and then determined that there is. In this case, the printing of the received print data is stopped.
[0137]
As a result, even if a confidential document requiring confidentiality is not requested to be printed in confidential printing, that is, even if a print request is made in normal printing, the printing of the received print data is stopped, thereby securing the confidentiality of the confidential document. Can be maintained.
[0138]
The printing method of the present invention is configured such that when printing is stopped, the received print data and job information corresponding to the print data are deleted.
[0139]
As a result, by deleting the received print data and the job information, the confidentiality of the received print data can be more reliably maintained.
[0140]
The printing method of the present invention is configured such that when printing is stopped, printing of the received print data is switched to confidential printing.
[0141]
This automatically switches to confidential printing, so the user does not need to switch the print request to confidential printing and make a print request again. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability and shorten the printing time of the print data.
[0142]
The printing method of the present invention is configured to notify the user that printing of the received print data has been stopped.
[0143]
This provides an effect that the user can know that the printing of the print data has stopped.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is connected.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of print information stored in a confidential print job storage unit.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print mode determination and a print process in a normal print mode.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print processing in a confidential print mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer
2 Host PC (host computer)
3 storage server
11 Display
12 Operation section
14 Print job management unit (control means)
15 Image forming unit
16 Print section
17 E-mail processing unit (notification means, host notification means, authentication information notification means)
18 Confidential print job storage (storage means)
21 User Authentication Department
22 Job discrimination unit (control means)

Claims (16)

Receiving, via a network, print data to be printed on a recording medium, and job information including information indicating whether or not the print data has been requested to be printed in confidential printing and information relating to the corresponding print data; Control means for controlling data based on the job information;
Storage means for storing print information including print data for confidential printing and job information corresponding to the confidential print data when print data requested to be printed in confidential printing is received; ,
When the job information corresponding to the received print data indicates that a print request has not been made in confidential printing, the control unit uses the print information stored in the storage unit to generate the same print data as the received print data. A printing apparatus for determining whether or not print data has been printed by confidential printing before, and when determining that there is, printing of the received print data is stopped. The control means stops printing the received print data and deletes the received print data and job information when determining that the same print data as the received print data has been previously confidentially printed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The control means, when determining that the same print data as the received print data has been confidentially printed before, stops printing the received print data, and switches the print data to confidential printing,
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the print data until an output instruction is issued. When the print data is switched to confidential printing, an authentication information notifying unit is provided for notifying the user of authentication information used to authenticate the user who transmitted the print data at the time of the output instruction. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify a user that printing of the received print data has been stopped. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job information includes, as information associated with the corresponding print data, a file name of a file having the corresponding print data. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job information includes position information indicating an area where the corresponding print data is stored, as information associated with the corresponding print data. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job information includes a sum value, which is an added value of the print data, as information associated with the corresponding print data. The control unit compares the received print data with the print data stored in the storage unit to determine whether the same print data as the received print data has been confidentially printed before. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit deletes the print data from the storage unit after printing the print data by confidential printing. A printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A printing system, comprising: a host computer connected to the printing apparatus via a network, and requesting the printing apparatus to print print data. The printing apparatus includes a host notifying unit that transmits print stop data indicating that printing of the received print data has been stopped to the host computer,
The printing system according to claim 11, wherein the host computer includes a user notifying unit that notifies a user that the print stop data has been received. Upon receiving print data from a plurality of host computers connected to the network and job information including information indicating whether the print data has been requested to be printed in confidential printing and information relating to the corresponding print data, the print data Based on, in a printing method in which the printing device connected to the network prints an image on a recording medium,
Each time print data requested to be printed in confidential printing is printed, job information corresponding to the print data is stored,
When the job information corresponding to the print data received by the printing apparatus indicates that a print request has not been made in confidential printing, the same print data as the received print data is previously confidentially printed using the stored job information. After determining whether or not you have
If it is determined that the print data is present, printing of the received print data is stopped. 14. The printing method according to claim 13, wherein when the printing is stopped, the received print data and job information corresponding to the print data are deleted. 14. The printing method according to claim 13, wherein when the printing is stopped, the printing of the received print data is switched to confidential printing. 14. The printing method according to claim 13, wherein the user is notified that the printing of the received print data has been stopped.

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