JP2007034615A - Information processing apparatus, printing apparatus, printing system, and methods thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a method thereof capable of suitably searching and printing only a truly necessary document by a user.
A printing apparatus 340 and at least one information processing apparatus (client computer) 310 are connected via a network 300. In the information processing apparatus, print data is generated and a reception condition including a document recipient is added. Then, the print data is output to the server computer 330. The printing apparatus 340 authenticates the user of the print job, and acquires a list of print jobs to which execution time to be executed is given from the information processing apparatus 330. The printing apparatus 340 receives designation of print data to be printed from the list of print jobs, requests the server computer 330 to transmit the job, receives the desired print job, and prints it.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a method for printing a print job with a printing apparatus.

  In recent years, printing systems that use one or a plurality of printing apparatuses in a shared manner by a plurality of client computers or the like via a network or the like are increasing. When a plurality of users share and use a printing apparatus via a client computer, the user who has transmitted a print job from the client computer to the printing apparatus at the start of printing is often away from the printing apparatus. For this reason, there is a possibility that the printed output data may be seen by a third party, and there is a problem that confidentiality cannot be sufficiently maintained.

  On the other hand, a printing apparatus has been proposed in which countermeasures against contact with third parties are taken. For example, a user of a print job transmits a print job with a password and a password added from a client computer to the printing apparatus. When the printing apparatus receives a print job to which a password or password is added, the print job is stored in a storage medium such as a memory or a hard disk in the printing apparatus. Then, when the user inputs a password or password from the operation panel of the printing apparatus, execution of the print job is started. In this way, since printing starts after the user actually visits the printing apparatus, there is little possibility that the printed material of his print job will be seen by a third party without the user's knowledge. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In order to start printing in front of the printing apparatus as in Patent Document 1, the user specifies a print job transmitted by the user from among a plurality of print jobs stored in the printing apparatus. There is a need. Usually, a method of displaying a list of a plurality of print jobs on the screen of the printing apparatus, selecting a user's print job, inputting a password, and starting execution of the print job is conceivable. There has also been proposed a method of automatically selecting a print job using an ID card instead of selecting a print job on an operation panel. In this method, ID information for identifying a user is stored in the ID card, the ID information stored in the ID card is read by the printing apparatus, and a print job that matches the read ID information is stored in the user's ID information. The print job is selected (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Also, the user once transmits the print job to the server computer and stores it, and attaches the smart card to the printing apparatus. As a result, a technique is also disclosed in which a user's print job stored in a server computer is downloaded to a printing apparatus and printed (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP-A-11-2127744 JP-A-11-150559 JP 11-296327 A

  However, for example, in printing using an ID card, all print jobs corresponding to the ID information stored in the ID card are automatically printed when the ID card is installed in the printing apparatus.

  For example, let us consider a case in which materials used by the meeting organizer are transmitted in advance as a print job to a printing apparatus as described above. In this case, after attendees of the conference enter the conference room, it is preferable to execute a printing apparatus print job in the conference room and output materials used for the conference. However, when an ID card is installed in a printing apparatus for printing materials, materials that are not related to the conference may be printed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide the following information processing apparatus, printing apparatus, printing system, and methods thereof. That is, the print job related to the user identification information for identifying the user of the print job is appropriately subjected to print processing according to the execution time associated with the print job.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A printing apparatus that receives a print job from an information processing apparatus and executes print processing,
Input means for inputting user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
Request means for requesting the information processing apparatus to transmit a print job according to the user identification information input by the input means;
When the time associated with the request of the request means is a time designated to execute the print job according to the user identification information, and matches the execution time associated with the print job, Receiving means for receiving a matched print job from the information processing apparatus;
And a printing unit that executes a printing process based on the print job received by the receiving unit.

In addition, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
An information processing apparatus that transmits a print job to a printing apparatus that executes print processing,
Storage means for storing the print job;
Receiving means for receiving a print job transmission request for user identification information for identifying a user of the print job from the printing apparatus;
The time associated with the transmission request received by the receiving means is the time designated to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and matches the execution time associated with the print job. In this case, a transmission unit that transmits the matched print job from the storage unit to the printing apparatus is provided.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A printing system that executes print processing based on a print job,
Input means for inputting user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
Storage means for storing the print job;
The time associated with the input of the user identification information by the input means is the time designated to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and the execution time associated with the print job And a printing unit that prints the matched print job when it matches.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A printing method in a printing apparatus that receives a print job from an information processing apparatus and executes print processing,
An input step of inputting user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
A requesting step for requesting the information processing apparatus to transmit a print job related to the user identification information input in the input step;
When the time associated with the request of the request step is a time designated to execute the print job according to the user identification information and matches the execution time associated with the print job, A receiving step of receiving a matched print job from the information processing apparatus;
And a printing step of executing a printing process based on the received print job in the receiving step.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
An information processing method of an information processing apparatus that transmits a print job to a printing apparatus that executes print processing,
A storage step for storing the print job;
A receiving step of receiving a print job transmission request related to user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
The time associated with the transmission request received by the receiving step is a time designated to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and matches the execution time associated with the print job. A transmission step for transmitting the matched print job to the printing apparatus.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A printing method in a printing system that executes printing processing,
A storage step for storing the print job;
An input step of inputting user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
The time associated with the input of the user identification information in the input step is the time designated to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and the execution time associated with the print job And a printing step for printing the matched print job.

  According to the present invention, a print job related to user identification information for identifying a user of a print job can be appropriately subjected to print processing according to an execution time associated with the print job.

  Hereinafter, a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Example 1>
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a network configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a printing system in which one printing apparatus is shared by a plurality of computers (external apparatuses) connected via a network will be described.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a network that supports, for example, the TCP / IP protocol. Reference numerals 310 and 320 denote client computers used by the user. Reference numeral 330 denotes an information processing apparatus (server computer). Reference numeral 340 denotes a multifunction machine that functions as a printing apparatus, which receives a print job from the information processing apparatus 330 and executes print processing.

  In the present embodiment, for example, the client computers 310 and 320 create an electronic document using an application and generate a print job from the electronic document. Then, the client computers 310 and 320 add the user ID (user identification information) for identifying the user of the print job and the execution time for executing the print job to the print job, and transmit the print job to the server computer 330. . Then, the user of the print job attaches an IC card storing his / her user ID to the printing apparatus 340 and performs user authentication. The printing apparatus 340 determines whether there is a print job to be printed by the user, and only the designated user can acquire the printed matter by causing the printing to be performed.

  The network configuration described above is merely a conceptual diagram of a general configuration, and a plurality of computers and multifunction peripherals used by general users may be connected. In addition, the printing apparatus does not need to be a multifunction peripheral, and a single device such as a scanner, a printer, or a FAX may be connected to the network. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the print job may be temporarily stored on the client computer without placing the server computer. Furthermore, a print job may be temporarily stored in the multifunction peripheral without placing a server computer.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a central processing unit (CPU) 101 stores various information such as drive conditions and management data of each part of the apparatus in accordance with a control program read from a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 or a hard disk 103. Further, the CPU 101 uses a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 that stores data necessary for operation to cause the control unit 105 to execute various functions described later.

  In FIG. 1, the display unit 106 displays various information such as driving conditions, device states, or input information. The operation unit 107 is a touch panel or the like in which keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key for performing input operations such as settings and commands by the user, or all or a part thereof are in the display unit 106.

  The communication control unit 108 is connected to an intranet or the Internet, and executes transmission / reception with other devices such as document data including image data and control commands. The network control device 109 is connected to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), and executes predetermined line control when making / receiving calls to connect or disconnect the line. This multifunction device modulates and demodulates the image data and control signals using a modem device, and executes facsimile transmission / reception via the network control device 109.

  The reading device 110 reads image data by photoelectrically converting reflected light corresponding to an image of irradiated light on a document to be transmitted, copied, or stored. The recording device 111 outputs the recording paper by forming the read or received image data or the received print data as a permanent visible image on a recording paper (recording medium). The image storage unit 112 temporarily stores read or received image data or received print data. The image storage unit 112 may be in the hard disk 103 depending on the device and state.

  The image processing unit 113 compresses and encodes image data to be transmitted, decompresses received image data, combines the received image data, and converts received print data into image data. Further, the image processing unit 113 converts the format of the image data to be stored into an appropriate or PDF format specified by the user, or performs image correction processing according to the optical response characteristics of the reading device 110, variations in senders, and the like. To go. Further, the image processing unit 113 performs an image processing process such as a scaling process of an image input by the user from the operation unit 107, an image optimization process for converting the image data to the writing characteristics of the recording device 111, and the like. On request.

  Whether the authentication processing unit 114 matches the user ID for identifying the user of the print job input via the operation unit 107 and the user ID added to the print job stored in the hard disk 103 or the like. By determining the above, user authentication is performed. Note that the method for performing user authentication is not limited to the method of inputting the user ID via the operation unit 107. For example, the authentication processing unit 114 may be provided with a function of reading information on the IC card, and the user ID may be input by reading the user ID stored in the IC card. The bus 115 connects the above-described CPU 101, ROM 102, hard disk 103, RAM 104, control unit 105, and display unit 106 to each other. In addition to them, the bus 115 is also connected to the operation unit 107, the communication control unit 108, the reading device 110, the recording device 111, the image storage unit 112, the image processing unit 113, and the authentication processing unit 114.

  That is, the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a facsimile communication for transmitting read image data, a transfer function for transferring data to a document management server computer, and a copy function for recording and outputting the read image data. The printing apparatus also has a reception printing function for receiving received image data by facsimile and a printing function for receiving and printing print data from a client computer. That is, the printing apparatus can be used not only as a printing apparatus but also as a facsimile apparatus, a printer apparatus, and a scanner apparatus.

  An authentication card such as a magnetic card in which a department number or password is registered is attached to a storage medium control unit (not shown), and the department number and password set in advance are read from the ROM 102 or the hard disk 103. Also good. And after authenticating in the authentication process part 114, you may make it provide the user authentication function which can implement | achieve various functions. Alternatively, instead of using an authentication card such as a magnetic card, the authentication processing unit 114 may perform authentication by allowing the user to input a department number or password in the operation unit 107.

  In addition to the electrophotographic recording method, the recording device 111 may record by any other method such as an ink jet method, a thermal head method, a dot impact method, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a client computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the client computer includes a CPU 201 that executes a program according to an embodiment of the present invention that is stored in the ROM 202 or the hard disk (HD) 210 or that is supplied from the flexible disk drive (FD) 209. The CPU 201 generally controls each device connected to the system bus 204.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 203 denotes a RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 201. A user command input controller (KBC) 208 controls an instruction input from a keyboard (KB) 212 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 207 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 211. A disk controller (DKC) 206 controls access to the hard disk (HD) 210 and the flexible disk (FD) 209 that store various applications, user files, installation program creation programs, and the like. A host interface (I / F) 205 bi-directionally exchanges data with a local printer, a network printer, another network device, or another PC.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a print control process using the above-described printing system will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure for transmitting a print job to the printing apparatus 340 performed by the client computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in the client computer, an application is activated and print settings such as designation of a paper size and color printing are performed as pre-processing for printing (step S401). Also, the user of the print job to be printed from now and the execution time for executing the print job are set (step S402). In addition, as a user setting method, any method for inputting information for identifying a user such as a method for inputting a user's e-mail address, a method for obtaining from a directory service, or a method for selecting from an address book may be used. There is no particular limitation. Thereafter, a print job to which a user ID for identifying the user and information related to the execution time of the print job are added is generated (step S403) and transmitted to the server computer (step S404).

  Next, a print job transmission / reception process performed by the server computer will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a print job transmission / reception process performed by the server computer.

  First, the server computer 330 determines whether or not a print job has been received from the client computer. If it is determined that the print job has been received, the server computer 330 proceeds to step S802 (step S801). In step S <b> 802, the server computer 330 stores the received print job in a storage medium such as a hard disk included in the server computer 330. The server computer 330 assigns a unique job ID (for example, a count value incremented by one each time a print job is received) to the received print job, and assigns a plurality of print jobs to each print job. Manage so that it can be identified.

  Next, the server computer 330 determines whether or not a user ID for identifying the user of the print job has been received from the printing apparatus 340 (step S803).

  In step S804, the server computer 330 determines whether a print job that matches the user ID received from the printing apparatus 340 in step S803 is stored in the hard disk. The server computer 330 proceeds to step S805 if a matching print job is stored, and ends this flow if not stored.

  In step S805, the server computer 330 transmits to the printing apparatus 340 a print job list that lists all the print jobs that match the user ID received from the printing apparatus 340 in step S803. The print job list is a set of a job ID for specifying a print job, a user ID assigned to the print job specified by the job ID, and information on execution time.

  In step S <b> 806, the server computer 330 determines whether a transmission request for a print job in the print job list transmitted to the printing apparatus 340 has been received from the printing apparatus 340. The transmission request is information including a job ID for specifying a print job.

  In step S807, the server computer 330 transmits the print job (print job specified by the job ID) according to the transmission request to the printing apparatus 340.

  Next, a print job reception process performed by the printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a print job reception process performed by the printing apparatus.

  In step S <b> 901, the printing apparatus 340 determines whether a user ID is input to the authentication processing unit 114 via the operation panel 107. If it is determined that the user ID has been input, the process proceeds to step S902.

  In step S902, the printing apparatus 340 transmits the user ID input through the authentication processing unit 114 to the server computer 330 in which the print job is stored. The reason why the user ID is transmitted to the server computer 330 is to request the server computer 330 to transmit a print job that matches the user ID.

  In step S903, the printing apparatus 340 receives a print job list of print jobs that match the user ID from the server computer 330 that has transmitted the user ID in step S902. As described above, the print job list is a set of a job ID for specifying a print job, a user ID assigned to the print job specified by the job ID, and information on execution time.

  In step S904, the printing apparatus 340 refers to the current time, and determines whether there is a print job that matches the current time in the execution time given to the print job in the received print job list. To do. The execution time given to the print job may have a predetermined time interval as shown in FIG. 5, for example. In this case, if the current time is included in a predetermined time interval (for example, 15:00 to 16:00 on March 31, 2005), the printing device 340 matches the execution time with the current time. Judge that it is. And the present time should just be time measured by the time-measurement part (not shown) which the printing apparatus 340 has at the time of determination of step S904. Moreover, since the present time should just be able to compare with execution time, it may be the timing determined as YES in step S901, the timing of step S902, or the timing of step S903.

  In step S905, the printing apparatus 340 requests the server computer 330 to transmit a print job whose execution time matches the current time. Specifically, the job ID in the print job list (limited to that corresponding to the print job requesting transmission) and information (IP address or the like) specifying the printing apparatus 340 are transmitted to the server computer 330.

  In step S906, the printing apparatus 340 determines whether the print job requested to be transmitted in step S905 is received from the server computer 330. If the print job is received, the process proceeds to step S907.

  In step S907, the printing apparatus 340 stores the print job received in step S906 in the hard disk 103 and performs predetermined processing in the image processing unit 113 and the like, and then executes printing processing in the recording apparatus 111.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a user interface (UI) of a printer driver in a client computer that adds a user (a recipient of a print job) and an execution time (reception date and time) for executing the print job to the print job according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example. The user and the execution time can be set by opening the UI reception setting tab 501 of the printer driver shown in FIG.

  Since a print job is not always set for reception, there is a function for switching whether to perform reception setting using 502. In this embodiment, reference numeral 502 denotes a check box, which functions to perform reception setting when checked and not perform reception setting when unchecked. In order to make it easier to understand, it is general that various controls of this tab are in a disabled state when unchecked.

  In order to set a user of a print job, a user registered in the address book is selected from the address book section 503 and a button 504 is pressed to add the user to the recipient list 505. In order to set the reception date and time, the reception date and time are input in the date and time field 506 and are added to the reception date and time field 508 by pressing a button 507. In order to improve convenience, the date and time of receipt can be specified within a range in this embodiment.

  As described above, not only the user of the print job but also the print date can be specified and the print job can be transmitted, so that when the recipient performs user authentication in front of the printing apparatus, the print job automatically It is possible to receive a print job that has been sent. In particular, it is assumed that the meeting organizer sends materials used in the meeting to the printing apparatus in advance. In this case, when a meeting attendee enters the meeting room, if the document system used in the meeting is output from the printing device in the meeting room, only the document used in the meeting can be output. It becomes possible.

<Example 2>
In the above-described first embodiment, the example in which the recipient and the reception date and time are specified in the printer driver setting at the time of printing has been described. However, it is not necessary to make this setting only at the time of printing, and it goes without saying that a print job temporarily stored in the server may be set using a setting program after being transmitted to the server.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface (UI) of a tool for adding a recipient and a reception date and time to print data performed by a client computer or a server computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The tool (UI) shown in FIG. 6 includes a job list unit 601 and various buttons such as 604 and 605. These print jobs may be displayed so as to be arranged in the order of expiration dates.

  In the job list displayed in FIG. 6, two jobs 602 and 603 are set as a recipient and a reception date and time, and the remaining jobs are not set as a recipient and a reception date and time. Become. In order to change various settings including the recipient setting, a job is selected from the list as in 602, and the 605 button is pressed. Other functions include, for example, deletion of a job 606.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface (UI) displayed after the button 605 in FIG. 6 is pressed according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The print job has various settings such as the number of copies setting and the finishing setting. The user interface can change the various settings. FIG. 7 shows an example of changing the reception setting displayed when the tab 701 is selected.

  In order to set a recipient, a user is selected from the address book section 702 and a button 703 is pressed, and the recipient is added to the recipient list 704. Also, in order to set the reception date and time, the reception date and time are input in the date and time field 705 and are added to the reception date and time field 707 by pressing a button 706. Note that the date and time of receipt can be specified within a range in this embodiment in order to improve convenience.

  Instead of printing after setting the recipient and the date and time of receipt before printing, the recipient is saved in the server computer temporarily and changed in the settings of the print job temporarily saved using the tool. And receiving date and time can be set.

<Example 3>
In the first embodiment described above, the print job is temporarily stored in the server, authenticated before the multifunction peripheral, and then received from the server for printing. However, recent multifunction peripherals are equipped with a large-capacity hard disk, advanced OS, and high-speed CPU, and can sufficiently have a server function. Therefore, it may operate as a printing apparatus with a server function, and not only temporarily stores in the printing apparatus A and receives a print job from the printing apparatus A but also temporarily stores in the printing apparatus A and receives a print job from the printing apparatus B. It goes without saying that it is also good.

  In this case, all the functions executed by the server computer 330 in the first embodiment are incorporated in the printing apparatus 340. In other words, the client computer transmits to the printing apparatus 340 a print job to which the execution time for executing the print job and the user of the print job is given. The printing apparatus 340 prints a print job that matches the user ID input to the printing apparatus 340 and that has the same execution time as the current time.

<Example 4>
In the above-described embodiment, when the user who sent the print data is different from the user who receives the print job, it is possible that the reception date and time will be exceeded without the user noticing that the print data has been sent. In order to cope with this, it is needless to say that when the print data is transmitted, the transmission partner may be notified by a contact method such as e-mail.

<Example 5>
In particular, when the user who sent the print data is different from the user who receives the print job, it can be considered that the recipient does not know whether the print job has been received within the reception date and time. In this case, when a print job is received, it goes without saying that the sender may be notified by a contact method such as e-mail.

<Example 6>
In the above-described first embodiment, in order for the recipient to receive the currently required printed matter, in addition to the recipient of the print job, the receipt date and time are specified. However, for example, when a document required for a meeting is received by a multifunction machine placed in a meeting room where the meeting is held, it may be better to specify the multifunction machine to be printed than the date and time.

  In this way, it goes without saying that the print job may be transmitted by specifying the MFP information identified as the recipient.

<Example 7>
Needless to say, in order to receive more necessary printed matter, the print job may be transmitted by combining the first and sixth embodiments, specifying the recipient, the reception date and time, and the multifunction device information.

<Example 8>
In the first embodiment, when a recipient logs in to the multi-function peripheral, a document that is currently required is automatically printed. However, some users may not like automatic printing, such as when the automatic function cannot be trusted or when the user wants to print after changing the layout before printing.

  In this case, when the recipient logs in to the multifunction device, the user list of the multifunction device is displayed on the user interface of the multifunction device, and the jobs that are currently needed are displayed in order, so that the recipient can easily It goes without saying that it should be possible to select.

  In this case, it is needless to say that not only the document name and the transmission source are displayed in the job list, but also the reception date and time may be displayed. Needless to say, the user interface may be sorted according to the reception date and time.

  As represented by the above-described examples, according to the printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to automatically print a currently required printed matter after user authentication. Alternatively, after the user authentication, it is possible to easily find the currently required printed matter. In particular, it is assumed that the meeting organizer sends materials used in the meeting to the printing apparatus in advance. In this case, when a meeting attendee enters the meeting room, the printing device in the meeting room is linked with a conference system that says that the material used in the meeting is output, and only the material used in the meeting is output. It becomes possible to say.

<Other embodiments>
Although the embodiment has been described in detail above, the present invention can take an embodiment as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium (recording medium), or the like. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied directly or remotely to a system or apparatus, and the program code supplied by the system or apparatus is read and executed. Is also achieved. Here, the program indicates a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the drawing in the embodiment.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW. Further, there are magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like.

  In addition, the program can be supplied by connecting to a homepage on the Internet using a browser of a client computer and downloading the computer program of the present invention from the homepage. It can also be supplied by downloading a compressed file including an automatic installation function to a recording medium such as a hard disk. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. There is also a way to make it. This method can also be realized by executing an encrypted program using the key information and installing it on a computer.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. Further, based on the instructions of the program, the OS running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.

  Furthermore, a method is conceivable in which a program read from a recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In this case, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the written program instruction, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. .

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction peripheral that functions as an image forming apparatus in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a client computer that functions as an information processing apparatus in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure for transmitting a print job to the printing apparatus performed by the client computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface (UI) of a printer driver in a client computer that adds a recipient and a reception date and time to print data according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface (UI) of the tool which adds a recipient and a reception date to the printing data performed by the client computer or server computer in Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface (UI) displayed after the button 605 of FIG. 6 in Example 2 of this invention was pressed down. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a print job transmission / reception process performed by the server computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 6 is a flowchart for explaining a print job reception process performed by the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Explanation of symbols

300 Network 310, 320 Client computer 330 Server computer 340 Printing device

Claims (17)

A printing apparatus that receives a print job from an information processing apparatus and executes print processing,
Input means for inputting user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
Request means for requesting the information processing apparatus to transmit a print job according to the user identification information input by the input means;
When the time associated with the request of the request means is a time designated to execute the print job according to the user identification information, and matches the execution time associated with the print job, Receiving means for receiving a matched print job from the information processing apparatus;
A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that executes a printing process based on the print job received by the receiving unit.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit inputs the user identification information by reading the user identification information from a storage medium in which the user identification information is stored. The execution time has a predetermined time interval,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit receives a matched print job from the information processing apparatus when the reception time is included in the predetermined time interval. Transmitting means for transmitting the user identification information to the information processing apparatus;
The reception time at which the information processing apparatus receives the user identification information is a time designated to execute a print job related to the user identification information, and an execution time associated with the print job Acquisition means for acquiring print job information related to the matched print job from the information processing apparatus when
Selecting means for selecting a print job to be printed by the printing unit based on the print job information acquired by the acquiring unit;
The request unit requests the information processing apparatus to transmit the selected print job so as to receive the print job selected by the selecting unit from the information processing apparatus. The printing apparatus according to any one of the above. The transmitting unit transmits printing apparatus specifying information for specifying the printing apparatus to the information processing apparatus;
The said receiving means receives the said print job which the said information processing apparatus transmits based on the said printing apparatus specific information from the said information processing apparatus. The any one of Claim 1 to 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Printing device. An information processing apparatus that transmits a print job to a printing apparatus that executes print processing,
Storage means for storing the print job;
Receiving means for receiving a print job transmission request for user identification information for identifying a user of the print job from the printing apparatus;
The time associated with the transmission request received by the receiving means is the time designated to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and matches the execution time associated with the print job. An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the matched print job from the storage unit to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus has input means for inputting the user identification information,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the receiving unit receives the user identification information input by the input unit from the printing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the input unit inputs the user identification information by reading the user identification information from a storage medium in which the user identification information is stored. The execution time has a predetermined time interval,
9. The information processing according to claim 7, wherein the transmission unit transmits the matched print job from the storage unit to the printing apparatus when the reception time is included in the predetermined time interval. apparatus. The reception time when the receiving unit receives the user identification information is a time designated to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and the execution time associated with the print job. An informing means for informing the printing apparatus of print job information relating to the matched print job if they match,
An acquisition means for acquiring a reception request for a print job selected by the printing apparatus based on the print job information from the printing apparatus;
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the transmission unit transmits, to the printing apparatus, a print job related to the reception request acquired by the acquisition unit. A printing system that executes print processing based on a print job,
Input means for inputting user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
Storage means for storing the print job;
The time associated with the input of the user identification information by the input means is the time designated to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and the execution time associated with the print job A printing system comprising: a printing unit that prints a print job that matches when the print job matches the print job.   The printing system according to claim 11, wherein the input unit inputs the user identification information by reading the user identification information from a storage medium in which the user identification information is stored. The execution time has a predetermined time interval,
The printing system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the printing unit prints the matched print job when the input time is included in the predetermined time interval. The input time when the input means inputs the user identification information is the time specified to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and the execution time associated with the print job. A display means for displaying print job information relating to a matched print job if they match,
Selecting means for selecting a print job to be printed by the printing means based on the print job information displayed by the display means;
The printing system according to claim 11, wherein the printing unit prints the print job selected by the selection unit. A printing method in a printing apparatus that receives a print job from an information processing apparatus and executes print processing,
An input step of inputting user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
A requesting step for requesting the information processing apparatus to transmit a print job related to the user identification information input in the input step;
When the time associated with the request of the request step is a time designated to execute the print job according to the user identification information and matches the execution time associated with the print job, A receiving step of receiving a matched print job from the information processing apparatus;
And a printing step of executing a printing process based on the print job received by the receiving step. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus that transmits a print job to a printing apparatus that executes print processing,
A storage step for storing the print job;
A receiving step of receiving a print job transmission request related to user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
The time associated with the transmission request received by the receiving step is a time designated to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and matches the execution time associated with the print job. And a transmission step of transmitting the matched print job to the printing apparatus. A printing method in a printing system that executes printing processing,
A storage step for storing the print job;
An input step of inputting user identification information for identifying a user of the print job;
The time associated with the input of the user identification information in the input step is the time designated to execute the print job related to the user identification information, and the execution time associated with the print job And a printing step for printing the matched print job when the two match.

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