JP2005063285A - Printing device and method for executing confidential print - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device for reducing an operation load when requesting confidential print, and for securing the privacy of passwords, and for allowing a receiver to easily confirm the existence of a confidential print job. <P>SOLUTION: A confidential information inputting means 22 accepts the initial confidential print request accompanied with the input of confidential information such as user ID, box number, password, and mail address, and an URL acquiring means 23 acquires new URL, and this URL and confidential information are registered so as to be associated with each other in a confidential information storing means 24. An URL notifying means 25 notifies the URL to a mail address included in the confidential information by an electronic mail. When receiving a confidential print request with the URL, a confidential print reception means 26 receives a job by using the confidential information registered so as to be associated with the URL. A home page preparing means 27 creates a home page to disclose job information relating to the requested confidential print by using the URL for each URL, and a server part 14 discloses it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of confidential printing and a method for executing confidential printing.

  When print data is transmitted from a print data transmission apparatus such as a personal computer to a printing apparatus at a remote location via a network, the printed material may be viewed by a third party before the person collects it. Therefore, by setting a password when requesting a print job from a personal computer or the like, and providing a confidential printing function that does not allow printing related to this print job unless the correct password is entered from the operation panel of the printing apparatus. There is a printing apparatus that ensures confidentiality (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Also, there has been proposed a printing apparatus that can reduce the burden of the task of notifying the recipient of a password when the recipient of the printed material is different from the sender of the print data or when there are a plurality of recipients (for example, (See Patent Document 2). In this device, when print data for confidential printing is transmitted from a print data transmission device such as a personal computer to the printing device, a password is generated on the printing device side, and this is notified to a preset recipient by e-mail. It is supposed to be.

JP-A-7-276744 JP 2001-251470 A

  In order to request confidential printing to the printing device, confidential information consisting of multiple types of information such as a box ID for storing print data, a user ID, and a password must be input each time, and the operation burden at the time of the request was large. .

  If a password is automatically generated by the printing apparatus and this is notified to the recipient by e-mail, the burden of inputting the password at the time of request for confidential printing can be saved and the operation load is reduced. However, if an e-mail notifying the password is seen by another person, it becomes possible for the other person to print a document related to confidential printing. For this reason, when the password is notified by e-mail, there is a problem that the confidentiality as confidential printing cannot be secured sufficiently.

  On the other hand, if the recipient of the printed material is different from the sender of the print data or if there are multiple recipients, it is necessary to notify them of the occurrence of the printed material to be received, so it is also important to reduce the effort It is.

  The present invention aims to solve the above-described problem, and reduces the burden of input operation when requesting confidential printing, ensuring the confidentiality of a password, and a print job related to confidential printing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a method for executing confidential printing, in which a recipient can easily grasp the existence of the confidential printing.

The invention according to claim 1 is a printing apparatus capable of confidential printing,
Confidential information input means (22) for receiving input of confidential information composed of a plurality of types of information for requesting confidential printing;
URL acquisition means (23) for acquiring a new URL representing a homepage address that can be browsed on the Internet when the confidential information input means (22) receives confidential information;
Confidential information storage means (24) for storing the URL acquired by the URL acquisition means (23) and the confidential information in association with each other;
URL notification means (25) for notifying the URL acquired by the URL acquisition means (23) to the notification destination designated in the confidential information associated therewith;
Confidential print accepting means (26) for accepting confidential print requests in place of confidential information by acquiring confidential information associated with the URL from the confidential information storage means (24);
For each URL stored in the confidential information storage means (24), a homepage for displaying job information related to confidential printing for which a request has been received using the confidential information corresponding to the URL is created, and the URL is stored in the URL. And a homepage creation means (27) that enables browsing at an address indicated by

  According to the above invention, when receiving the input of confidential information including a plurality of types of information such as a user ID, a box ID, and a password, the printing apparatus acquires a new URL and associates the input confidential information with this URL. Remember. In addition, this URL is notified to the notification destination designated in the confidential information by e-mail or the like. Thereafter, confidential printing can be requested by inputting this URL instead of confidential information. That is, when confidential printing is requested using a URL, confidential information stored in association with the URL is read, and a confidential printing request is received using this. Further, for each URL associated with the confidential information, a homepage is created with the URL as an address, and a job related to confidential printing requested by using the URL of the homepage or the corresponding confidential information on the homepage. Display information.

  Once confidential information is registered in this manner, confidential printing can be requested using the URL notified from the printing apparatus, and the input operation burden at the time of the request is reduced. Further, by accessing the notified URL, it is possible to confirm job information related to confidential printing requested using the URL on the home page. Therefore, if the recipient is designated as the URL notification destination in the confidential information, the recipient is notified of the URL. Therefore, each recipient accesses the corresponding home page from his / her communication terminal with a browser or the like and prints the confidential information. It becomes possible to easily obtain the job information related to. Also, since job information is published on a homepage on the Internet, it is possible to easily obtain job information from a general-purpose browser or mobile phone regardless of time and place.

The invention according to claim 2 is the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the URL notification means (25) notifies the URL by electronic mail.

  According to the above invention, the URL is notified by electronic mail. Even if this e-mail is viewed by others, since the password required for printing is not included in the e-mail, confidentiality as confidential printing is ensured.

The invention according to claim 3 is a step of receiving input of confidential information composed of a plurality of types of information for requesting confidential printing;
Obtaining a new URL representing the address of a homepage viewable on the Internet;
Storing the acquired URL and the confidential information received earlier in association with each other;
Notifying the URL specified in the confidential information to the notification destination;
Extracting confidential information stored in association with the URL, and accepting a confidential print request with the URL instead of the confidential information;
For each URL, creating a home page that displays job information related to confidential printing for which a request has been received using the confidential information corresponding to the URL, and enabling the browsing at the address indicated by the URL. This is a confidential printing execution method characterized by the above.

  According to the printing apparatus and the confidential printing execution method according to the present invention, once confidential information is registered, confidential printing can be requested using the URL notified from the printing apparatus. The burden is reduced. Further, by accessing the notified URL, job information related to confidential printing requested using the URL can be confirmed on the home page. Accordingly, if the recipient of a document related to confidential printing is designated as the URL notification destination, the URL is automatically notified to each recipient. Therefore, each recipient can access confidential printing by accessing the notified URL. The existence of such a job can be easily grasped.

  Also, since job information is published on a homepage on the Internet, job information can be obtained from a general-purpose browser or mobile phone regardless of time and place.

  Further, even if the content notified from the printing device by e-mail or the like is seen by others, since the password required for printing is not included in the notification content, confidentiality as confidential printing is ensured.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 10 has a function of printing and outputting an image corresponding to received print data on a recording sheet. The printing apparatus 10 is connected to the printing apparatus 10 via a LAN (Local Area Network), such as a personal computer. The printing apparatus 10 has a WWW (World Wide Web) server function, and displays a home page on the personal computer or mobile phone connected to the Internet 6 in response to access from various communication terminals 7. It has a function to transmit data.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus 10 has a confidential printing function. In confidential printing, a password is set when a print job is requested from the print data transmission device 5 or the like to the printing device 10, and if the correct password is not entered from the operation panel of the printing device 10, printing related to this print job is executed. This is a printing function that is not performed.

  Here, a box serving as a virtual container for sorting and storing print data for each user or group is provided in the printing apparatus 10, and the box corresponding to each of the confidential printing request and printing is displayed. A number is specified.

  The printing apparatus 10 includes a main control unit 20 that controls the overall operation of the apparatus. The main control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory) as main parts. The printer unit 11 functions to form and output an image on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic process, and includes a recording sheet conveyance device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, and a transfer separation device. And a so-called laser printer having a cleaning device and a fixing device.

  The display operation unit 12 includes a liquid crystal display and various operation switches, and has a function of displaying various guidance displays and status displays to the user, and accepting various input operations in addition to the box number and password input from the user. Have. The communication unit 13 performs a function of transmitting / receiving various data to / from an external device by a communication method such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or LAN.

  In response to a request from a client connected to the Internet 6, the server unit 14 performs a function of transmitting home page display data to a requesting client. Job information related to confidential printing is displayed on the home page provided by the server unit 14.

  The print data storage unit 16 stores and stores print data received from the print data transmission device 5 or the like. In the print data storage unit 16, the above-described boxes are generated for each user and each group. Print data relating to confidential printing (hereinafter also referred to as confidential printing data) is stored in a box designated at the time of requesting confidential printing.

  The main control unit 20 includes a print controller 21, confidential information input means 22, URL acquisition means 23, confidential information storage means 24, URL notification means 25, confidential print reception means 26, and homepage creation means 27. Fulfills the function. The print controller 21 develops the print data received from the print data transmission device 5 or the like into image data (raster image data). The confidential information input means 22 has a function of accepting input of confidential information composed of a plurality of types of information to be specified when requesting confidential printing. Here, the user ID, password, box number, and e-mail address are confidential information associated with confidential printing, and a plurality of e-mail addresses can be designated.

  When the print controller 21 receives confidential information, the URL acquisition unit 23 acquires a new URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that represents the address of a homepage that can be browsed on the Internet 6. Specifically, this is address information of a home page that the server unit 14 provides to the client. The confidential information input means 22 stores the already assigned URLs and newly acquires URLs different from these.

  The confidential information storage unit 24 stores the confidential information received by the confidential information input unit 22 in association with the URL acquired by the URL acquisition unit 23. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, a confidential print management table 30 is generated for each URL, and this is stored in the confidential information storage means 24. In the confidential print management table 30, URL 31, confidential information 32, and confidential print job information 33 are registered. The confidential print management table 30 stores the confidential information 32 and the confidential print job information 33, and the pointer to the area storing the confidential print management table 30 is associated with the corresponding URL and stored in another area. Also good.

  The URL notification unit 25 has a function of notifying the URL acquired by the URL acquisition unit 23 to the notification destination specified in the confidential information associated therewith. Specifically, an e-mail including a URL is created and transmitted to the e-mail address included in the confidential information.

  The confidential print accepting unit 26 has a function of accepting a confidential print request with the URL instead of the confidential information by acquiring the confidential information associated with the URL from the confidential information storage unit 24. That is, when a request for confidential printing is received by a URL, the confidential information storage unit 24 is searched using this URL, the corresponding confidential information is read, and a print job related to confidential printing is registered using this confidential information. Therefore, when confidential printing is requested for the first time, confidential information including a user ID, a password, a box number, and an e-mail address must be input. After the URL is notified from the printing apparatus 10, this URL is input. It is possible to request confidential printing using the confidential information input for the first time.

  The homepage creation means 27 has a function of creating a homepage for each URL stored in the confidential information storage means 24 and allowing the server section 14 to browse the homepage. On the home page, job information (confidential print job information 33) related to confidential printing for which a request has been received using confidential information corresponding to the URL is displayed. The confidential print job information 33 includes the name and user ID of the user who requested confidential printing, the job number of confidential printing that is waiting for output, the job reception date and time, and the like.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the transition of the input screen displayed on the print data transmission device 5 when requesting confidential printing. These screens are provided by the driver software of the printing apparatus 10 installed in the print data transmission apparatus 5. When confidential printing is selected in the print screen properties or the like, a request method selection screen 50 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. On the request method selection screen 50, a “new registration” button 51 and a “use URL” button 52 are displayed. When the “new registration” button 51 is selected, a confidential information registration screen 60 is displayed.

  The confidential information registration screen 60 includes a user ID input field 61 for inputting a user ID, a password input field 62 for inputting a password, a box number input field 63 for inputting a box number, and an e-mail. A URL notification destination input field 64 for inputting an address is displayed. When an “add” button 65 or a “delete” button 66 arranged below the URL notification destination input field 64 is operated, an e-mail address as a URL notification destination can be added or deleted.

  As the notification destination, the person who requested the confidential printing or the recipient of the printed matter related to the confidential printing may be designated. When a plurality of persons belonging to the same group or department become recipients, the e-mail addresses for the plurality of persons may be set as URL notification destinations. When the “OK” button 67 is operated after inputting the information corresponding to each of the columns 61 to 64, the reception of the confidential information is completed, and the confidential printing is requested using the confidential information.

  When the “use URL” button 52 is operated on the request method selection screen 50, a URL input screen 70 is displayed. On the URL input screen 70, a URL input field 71 for inputting a URL is displayed. In addition to directly inputting a URL in the URL input field 71, by operating the “reference” button 72, it is possible to select and input a URL to be used this time from already registered URLs. Alternatively, the URL notified by e-mail may be copied from the e-mail and pasted in the URL input field 71. When the “OK” button 73 is operated after the URL is entered in the URL input field 71, the URL input acceptance is completed, and a confidential print request is made using this URL.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation flow of the printing apparatus 10 when confidential information is directly specified from the confidential information registration screen 60 and confidential printing is requested, and FIG. 4 shows a data flow in this operation. When receiving the first confidential print instruction specifying confidential information such as a user ID, password, box number, and e-mail address from the print data transmitting apparatus 5 (step S101), the printing apparatus 10 acquires a new URL (step S101). (S102), a confidential print management table 30 in which this URL is associated with the received confidential information is created and stored in the confidential information storage means 24 (step S103).

  Thereafter, the confidential print data sent from the print data transmitting apparatus 5 is received and stored in the box designated by the previous confidential information (step S104). Further, the job information related to confidential printing requested this time is registered in the confidential printing management table 30 (step S105). Further, the printing apparatus 10 creates an e-mail for notifying the URL acquired this time, and transmits it to each e-mail address included as a notification destination in the confidential information received this time (step S106).

  FIG. 5 shows the operation flow of the printing apparatus 10 when a confidential print is requested by specifying a URL from the URL input screen 70, and FIG. 6 shows the data flow in this operation. When the printing apparatus 10 receives a confidential printing instruction specifying a URL from the print data transmitting apparatus 5 (step S201), the printing apparatus 10 searches the confidential information storage unit 24 with the received URL (step S202), and the corresponding URL is registered. If not (step S203; N), an error notification to that effect is sent to the sender of the confidential print instruction (step S204).

  If the confidential print management table 30 including the received URL is registered (step S203; Y), a print job related to confidential printing is registered according to the confidential information registered in the confidential print management table 30 including the corresponding URL. (Steps S205 and 206). That is, the print data sent from the print data transmission device 5 is stored as confidential print data in the box indicated by the box number of the confidential information registered in the confidential print management table 30 including the corresponding URL (step S205). ), A print job related to the current confidential print instruction is additionally registered in the confidential print job information of the confidential print management table 30 (step S206).

  As described above, once confidential information is registered, confidential printing can be requested using the URL notified from the printing apparatus 10, so that the burden of input operation at the time of the request is reduced and convenience is improved.

  FIG. 7 shows a flow of operation of the printing apparatus 10 when the communication unit 7 or the like accesses the server unit 14 through the Internet 6, and FIG. 8 shows a flow of data in this operation. The printing apparatus 10 searches the confidential information storage unit 24 with the URL requested to be accessed (step S301). If the corresponding URL is not registered (step S302; N), it indicates that the designated home page cannot be found. Error notification is performed (step S303).

  If the confidential print management table 30 including the URL requested to be accessed is registered (step S302; Y), the confidential print job information 33 registered in the confidential print management table 30 including the URL is read, and this confidential print job information 33 is read. A homepage for displaying the print job information 33 is created (step S304), and data for displaying the homepage with a browser or the like is transmitted to the access source communication terminal 7 (step S305).

  In this way, by accessing the notified URL from a browser or the like, job information related to confidential printing requested using the URL can be confirmed on the home page. Therefore, when the confidential information is registered, if the e-mail address of the recipient of the printed matter is specified as the URL notification destination, the recipient is notified of the URL, so each recipient can use his or her communication terminal with a browser or the like. It becomes possible to easily obtain job information related to confidential printing by accessing the corresponding home page.

  Further, since the e-mail notifying the URL does not include a password necessary for printing, confidentiality as confidential printing is ensured even if the e-mail is viewed by others.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, confidential information is input and registered at the time of the first confidential printing request. However, it may be configured such that only confidential information registration can be performed independently before the confidential printing request.

  In addition, when a request for confidential printing is received, an e-mail indicating that a new confidential printing job has occurred is created and transmitted to each e-mail address included in the confidential information related to the confidential printing. May be configured to have a function. In addition, the content of confidential print job information disclosed on the homepage is not limited to that exemplified in the embodiment.

  In the embodiment, the corresponding home page is created when accessed, but it may be configured to be created and stored in advance. Further, although the server unit 14 is provided in the printing apparatus 10 so as to publish the home page, a server for publishing the home page is provided separately, and data of the home page to be published is uploaded from the printing apparatus 10 to the server. May be.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of transition of an input screen displayed on the print data transmission apparatus when requesting confidential printing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing apparatus when confidential information is directly specified from a confidential information registration screen and confidential printing is requested. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the data concerning the operation | movement shown in FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing apparatus when confidential printing is requested by specifying a URL from a URL input screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the data concerning the operation | movement shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing apparatus when a server unit is accessed from the communication terminal or the like through the Internet. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the data concerning the operation | movement shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Print data transmission apparatus 6 ... Internet 7 ... Communication terminal 10 ... Printing apparatus 11 ... Printer part 12 ... Display operation part 13 ... Communication part 14 ... Server part 16 ... Print data storage means 20 ... Main control part 21 ... Print controller 22 ... confidential information input means 23 ... URL acquisition means 24 ... confidential information storage means 25 ... URL notification means 26 ... confidential print acceptance means 27 ... homepage creation means 30 ... confidential print management table 31 ... URL
32 ... Confidential information 33 ... Confidential print job information 50 ... Request method selection screen 51 ... "New registration" button 52 ... "Use URL" button 60 ... Confidential information registration screen 61 ... User ID input field 62 ... Password input field 63 ... Box Number input field 64 ... URL notification destination input field 65 ... "Add" button 66 ... "Delete" button 67 ... "OK" button 70 ... URL input screen 71 ... URL input field 72 ... "Reference" button 73 ... "OK" button

Claims (3)

In a printing device capable of confidential printing,
Confidential information input means for accepting input of confidential information consisting of multiple types of information for requesting confidential printing;
URL acquisition means for acquiring a new URL representing the address of a homepage that can be browsed on the Internet when the confidential information input means accepts confidential information;
Confidential information storage means for storing the URL acquired by the URL acquisition means and the confidential information in association with each other;
URL notification means for notifying the URL acquired by the URL acquisition means to the notification destination specified in the confidential information associated therewith;
Confidential print accepting means for obtaining confidential information associated with the URL from the confidential information storage means and accepting a request for confidential printing by URL instead of confidential information;
For each URL stored in the confidential information storage means, a homepage is created that displays job information related to confidential printing for which a request has been received using confidential information corresponding to the URL, and this is the address indicated by the URL And a homepage creation means that enables browsing on a printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the URL notification unit notifies the URL by electronic mail. A step of accepting input of confidential information composed of a plurality of types of information for requesting confidential printing;
Obtaining a new URL representing the address of a homepage viewable on the Internet;
Storing the acquired URL and the confidential information received earlier in association with each other;
Notifying the URL specified in the confidential information to the notification destination;
Extracting confidential information stored in association with the URL, and accepting a confidential print request with the URL instead of the confidential information;
For each URL, creating a home page that displays job information related to confidential printing for which a request has been received using the confidential information corresponding to the URL, and enabling the browsing at the address indicated by the URL. A method of executing confidential printing characterized by the above.

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