JP2017001280A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that allows another user to resume printing while securing a certain level of security when confidential printing is interrupted. When an image formation based on a confidential print job is interrupted and linked to a start authentication user who is a user who has performed user authentication to start image formation based on a confidential print job, the image is displayed. User information of a resumable user who is a user permitted to resume the formation is acquired. Then, after the image formation based on the confidential print job is interrupted, it is determined that the reason for the image formation interruption has been resolved, and the interrupted image formation is performed only when the start authentication user or the restart permitted user performs user authentication. Let it resume. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of ensuring the security of an output product when resume printing is interrupted in the middle.

  Printers that can execute confidential printing (secure printing) are widely used. Confidential printing refers to a printer that receives a print job (hereinafter referred to as a confidential print job) associated with a user (user ID (identification), etc.) authorized to start the job. This is a printing method in which execution of the confidential print job is started only when user authentication is performed by a user associated with, so that an output product cannot be seen by others.

  By the way, when printing based on a confidential print job is interrupted due to a lack of consumables (toner / paper, etc.), the user who has performed user authentication to start execution of the confidential print job The third party may supply the consumables while the consumables are being picked up. When the consumable item is supplied by the third party and the printing is automatically restarted, the output item is seen by the third party, and the security of the output item cannot be maintained. Therefore, various methods have been proposed to deal with such cases.

  For example, in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, when printing based on a confidential print job is interrupted, printing is performed unless an authentication password is input after the interruption cause that caused the interruption is resolved. A method that does not resume is disclosed.

JP 2005-236357 A JP 2005-161841 A

  However, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, printing that has been suspended is resumed until a user who knows the password for authentication, that is, a user who is permitted to start execution of a confidential print job inputs the password. Not. Therefore, if it takes time for the user to input the authentication password, it takes time for printing to resume. If it takes time until the interrupted printing is resumed, the start of execution of other jobs reserved behind the confidential print job is delayed, and the work of the entire job held by the printer is delayed.

  If there is another user who can resolve the interruption reason earlier than the user who submitted the confidential print job, the work efficiency of the entire job held by the printer is better when the user resumes printing. However, if anyone can resume printing, the security of the output cannot be maintained, and the original problem cannot be achieved.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and provides an image forming apparatus that allows another user to resume printing while ensuring security when confidential printing is interrupted. It is an object.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] A print job associated with a user that receives a confidential print job that requires user authentication by the associated user in order to start image formation at a destination image forming apparatus A reception department;
An authentication unit for performing the user authentication;
An image forming unit;
A start control unit that causes the image forming unit to perform image formation based on the confidential print job only when the user authentication is performed by a user associated with the confidential print job received by the job receiving unit;
An interruption unit for interrupting the image formation when a predetermined image formation interruption reason occurs;
A determination unit for determining whether or not the image formation interruption reason has been eliminated;
When the image formation based on the confidential print job is interrupted, the image formation based on the confidential print job is linked to the start authentication user who is the user who has performed the user authentication to start the image formation based on the confidential print job. A resumable user information acquisition unit that acquires user information of a resumable user who is a user permitted to resume;
After the image formation based on the confidential print job is interrupted, the determination unit determines that the reason for the image formation interruption has been resolved, and the start authentication user or the restart permitted user performs user authentication in the authentication unit. A resumption control unit that resumes the suspended image formation only when
An image forming apparatus comprising:

  In the above invention, after the image formation related to the confidential print job is interrupted, when the reason for the interruption is resolved, the start authenticated user who performed user authentication at the start of the confidential print job, or the start authenticated user The suspended image formation is resumed only when the attached specific resumable user performs user authentication for resuming printing. Therefore, it is highly possible that only the start-authenticated user can resume printing earlier than when the suspended printing can be resumed. In addition, since a user who can resume the interrupted printing is limited to only the start authentication user and the resumable user, a certain level of security is maintained. The resumable user is desirably a user whose start authentication user can be trusted.

[2] The user who has resumed the resumable user who has performed the user authentication when the suspended image formation is resumed because the resumable user has performed the user authentication in the authentication unit. A resume user storage unit that stores the confidential print job in association with
The image forming apparatus according to [1], further comprising a notification unit that reads out and notifies the resumed user from the resumed user storage unit.

  In the above invention, when the resumable user performs user authentication and resumes the interrupted image formation, the resumable user is stored and notified later. The notification method may be an appropriate method such as screen display or voice notification. The notification timing may be notified at an appropriate timing such as when printing is resumed, when resumed printing is completed, or after completion of printing and when viewing the job history. As a result, other users including the start authenticated user can confirm the user whose printing has been resumed. Since the resumable user who has resumed printing may take away the printed product for security reasons, the start-authenticated user can start receiving the printed product.

[3] The confidential print job includes user information of the resumable user,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] and [2], wherein the resumable user information acquisition unit acquires user information of the resumable user from the confidential print job.

  In the above invention, the user information of the resumable user is included in the confidential print job. Then, the image forming apparatus acquires user information of the resumable user from the confidential print job. The information indicating the user associated with the confidential print job and the user information indicating the resumable user are given to the confidential print job as separate information.

[4] A management table storage unit that stores a management table in which user information of the resumable user is registered for each user.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the resumable user information acquisition unit acquires user information of the resumable user from the management table.

  In the said invention, the management table which registered the user information of the restart permission user corresponding for every user is memorize | stored, The user information of a restart permission user is acquired with reference to the management table.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when confidential printing is interrupted halfway, another user can resume printing while ensuring a certain level of security.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing from when printing is interrupted to when it is restarted due to occurrence of a predetermined image formation interruption event. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the process of FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed when a print job is completed. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which displays a job history. It is an example of the management table in which the resumable user is registered.

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

  FIG. 1 shows an image forming system 7 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system 7 connects an image forming apparatus 10 serving as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention and a PC (Personal Computer) terminal 40 through a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) 3 so as to communicate with each other. Composed.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is a copy job that optically reads a document and prints a duplicate image on a recording sheet, a scan job that stores image data of the read document as a file, and transmits the file to an external device, a PC terminal This is a so-called multi-function machine having a function of executing a job such as a print job for printing an image relating to data sent from 40 on a recording paper and outputting it. The image forming apparatus 10 is provided with an operation panel 30 (see FIG. 3) that includes a display unit 31 and an operation unit 32 for operating the apparatus main body. A screen for performing a setting operation is displayed, a job setting operation or a user ID and password input operation for user authentication is received from the user.

  The PC terminal 40 is a so-called computer device that includes a display unit such as a display and an operation unit such as a keyboard and a mouse. The PC terminal 40 creates a print job and inputs it to the image forming apparatus 10. In addition to a normal print job, the PC terminal 40 is a print job associated with a user, and the associated user in order to start printing at the destination image forming apparatus 10 A confidential print job that requires user authentication can be created.

  When a confidential print job is input from the PC terminal 40, the image forming apparatus 10 performs the confidential operation only when user authentication is performed by a user associated with the confidential print job (hereinafter referred to as a start-permitted user). Start printing based on the print job. The image forming apparatus 10 suspends printing when a predetermined image formation interruption event occurs during printing based on the confidential print job.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is associated with a user who has performed user authentication to start printing based on a confidential print job (hereinafter referred to as a start authentication user), and printing based on the confidential print job is interrupted. In this case, user information of a user who is permitted to resume the printing (hereinafter referred to as a resumable user) is acquired. Then, it is determined that the above-described image formation interruption reason has been resolved, and the suspended printing is resumed only when the start authenticated user or the resumable user performs user authentication.

  In addition to the start-authenticated user, the resumable user can also resume the interrupted printing, so that only the start-authenticating user can resume the interrupted printing, and the printing can be resumed earlier. High nature. In addition, since a user who can resume the interrupted printing is limited to only the start authentication user and the resumable user, a certain level of security is maintained. For example, it is desirable to make another user who is reliable for the start authentication user a resumable user, such as a user who may see a result of printing by a confidential print job.

  Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that comprehensively controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10. The CPU 11 has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a nonvolatile memory 14, a hard disk device 15, an image processing unit 16, an image reading unit 17, a printer unit 18, A facsimile communication unit 19, a network communication unit 20, an authentication unit 21, and an operation panel 30 are provided.

  The CPU 11 is based on an OS (Operating System) program, and executes middleware, application programs, and the like. Further, the CPU 11 functions as an interrupting unit that interrupts printing when a predetermined image formation interrupting reason occurs, and a determination unit that determines whether or not the image forming interrupting reason has been resolved.

  The ROM 12 stores a program for starting the image forming apparatus 10. After starting according to these programs, the program stored in the hard disk device 15 is loaded into the RAM 13, and according to the loaded program. Each function of the image forming apparatus 10 is realized by the CPU 11 executing various processes.

  The RAM 13 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 11 executes processing based on a program, an image memory for storing image data, and the like.

  The nonvolatile memory 14 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off, and is used for storing various setting information.

  The hard disk device 15 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and stores an OS program, various application programs, various job histories, and the like. The hard disk device 15 stores a program for the CPU 11 to execute a series of controls of the image forming apparatus 10. The hard disk device 15 may be another storage medium such as an SSD (Solid State Drive).

  In the embodiment of the present invention, a management table 90 (see FIG. 8 described later) in which user information of resumable users corresponding to each user is registered is stored in the hard disk device 15. Further, when the user who is permitted to resume resumes the interrupted printing, the image forming apparatus 10 stores the user information of the user permitted to resume in the hard disk device 15 in association with the confidential print job from which the printing is performed. The

  The image processing unit 16 performs processing such as image enlargement / reduction, rotation, rasterization processing for converting print data into image data, image data compression / decompression processing, and the like.

  The image reading unit 17 performs a function of optically reading a document and acquiring image data. The image reading unit 17 sequentially, for example, a light source that irradiates light on the document, a line image sensor that receives the reflected light for one line in the width direction, and a line-by-line reading position in the length direction of the document. An optical path composed of a moving unit for moving, a lens, a mirror, and the like for guiding reflected light from the document to the line image sensor to form an image, and a conversion unit for converting an analog image signal output from the line image sensor into digital image data And so on.

  The printer unit 18 has a function of forming an image corresponding to image data on a recording sheet. Here, it has a recording paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device, and forms an image by an electrophotographic process. It is configured as a so-called laser printer. Other methods may be used for image formation.

  The facsimile communication unit 19 performs a function of transmitting / receiving image data to / from an external apparatus having a facsimile (FAX (facsimile)) function through a public line.

  The network communication unit 20 performs a function of communicating data with a server and other external devices through a network such as a LAN. In the embodiment of the present invention, the network communication unit 20 functions as a job reception unit of the present invention.

  The authentication unit 21 performs a function of performing user authentication. In the embodiment of the present invention, the user authentication method employs user ID (Identification) and password authentication, but the user authentication method is not limited to this. Any suitable method such as fingerprint authentication may be used.

  The operation panel 30 includes a display unit 31 and an operation unit 32. The operation unit 32 includes a switch unit 33 such as a start button and a return button, and a touch panel unit 34. The display unit 31 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the like, and has a function of displaying various operation screens, setting screens, and the like. In the present embodiment, the CPU 11 performs control of display contents displayed on the operation panel 30 and control related to reception of operations by the operation panel 30.

  The touch panel unit 34 is provided on the display unit 31. The touch panel unit 34 detects a touch position (coordinate position) on the display unit 31 pressed with a touch pen or a finger. The CPU 11 recognizes a flick operation, a drag operation, and the like from the continuously detected touch position change (operation information).

  FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of a part of the image forming apparatus 10 related to reception, start, interruption, and restart of confidential printing. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a job receiving unit 49, an authentication unit 47, an image forming unit 46, a start control unit 41, an interruption unit 42, a determination unit 43, a resumable user information acquisition unit 44, and a resuming function unit related to confidential printing. It has a control unit 48, a resume user storage unit 50, and a notification unit 45.

  The job reception unit 49 receives a confidential print job. The authentication unit 47 performs user authentication. The image forming unit 46 forms an image.

  The start control unit 41 causes the image forming unit 46 to perform image formation based on the confidential print job when user authentication is performed by the user who is permitted to start the confidential print job.

  The interruption unit 42 interrupts image formation by the image forming unit 46 when a predetermined image formation interruption reason occurs. The predetermined image formation interruption reason will be described later. The determination unit 43 determines whether or not the reason for interrupting image formation has been resolved.

  The resumable user information acquisition unit 44 acquires user information of resumable users. In the embodiment of the present invention, the user information of the resumable user is acquired from the management table 90 (see FIG. 8 described later) stored in the hard disk device 15.

  The restart control unit 48 cancels the image when the image formation interruption reason is resolved after the image formation (printing) based on the confidential print job is canceled and the start authentication user or the restart permitted user performs user authentication. Resume formation.

  The resuming user storage unit 50 stores the resumable user who has resumed the suspended confidential print job in association with the confidential print job. The notification unit 45 reads out from the resumed user storage unit 50 and notifies the user who has resumed the suspended confidential print job.

  Next, a flow until the image forming apparatus 10 receives a confidential print job and starts printing based on the confidential print job will be described.

  First, the image forming apparatus 10 receives a confidential print job from the PC terminal 40 via the network communication unit 20. The confidential print job transmitted by the PC terminal 40 includes user information of the start permitted user. The start permitted user may be one person or plural persons.

  Before starting the confidential print job, the image forming apparatus 10 displays a dedicated screen for user authentication on the operation panel 30 and prompts the user authentication by inputting the user ID and password. When the user corresponding to the start permitted user included in the confidential print job performs user authentication, the image forming apparatus 10 starts printing based on the confidential print job.

  When a normal print job is input from the PC terminal 40, the image forming apparatus 10 automatically starts printing without waiting for the above-described user authentication.

  Next, when a predetermined image formation interruption event occurs after the image forming apparatus 10 starts printing, the flow from the interruption of the printing to the resumption of printing will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. I will explain.

  4 and 5 are flowcharts showing processing performed by the image forming apparatus 10 when a predetermined image formation interruption event occurs after printing is started. The predetermined image formation interruption reason is a reason why printing should be interrupted, such as out of consumables such as paper or toner, or paper jam. In FIG. 4, a case where a sheet has run out will be described as an example.

  The image forming apparatus 10 suspends printing when the paper runs out during printing (step S101). The image forming apparatus 10 waits until a sheet is supplied, that is, until a predetermined image formation interruption reason is resolved (step S102; No). When the paper is supplied, that is, when the predetermined image formation interruption reason is resolved (step S102; Yes), it is checked whether the interrupted printing is printing based on the confidential print job (step S103). .

  If the print is not based on the confidential print job, that is, if the print is based on the normal print job (step S103; No), the process proceeds to step S108.

  If the print is based on a confidential print job (step S103; Yes), user authentication is requested (step S104). Specifically, a screen requesting user authentication is displayed on the operation panel 30, and authentication information (user ID and password) input on the screen is acquired.

  When the user indicated by the received authentication information matches the start authentication user (step S105; Yes), the process proceeds to step S108. When the user indicated by the received authentication information does not match the start authentication user (step S105; No), it is checked whether or not the user indicated by the received authentication information matches the resumable user (step S106). A method for checking whether or not the user is a resumable user will be described later.

  If the user indicated by the received authentication information does not match the resumable user (step S106; No), the process returns to step S104 and continues. Before returning to step S104, the user who has performed user authentication in steps S104 to S105 may be notified that resumption of suspended printing is not permitted.

  When the user indicated by the received authentication information matches the resumable user (step S106; Yes), the resumable flag is turned on, and the suspended printing of the user information of the user who performed the user authentication is resumed. As a user (step S107), printing is resumed (step S108).

  Thereafter, when the printing is not completed normally and is interrupted again (step S109; No), the process returns to step S101 to continue the processing. If the printing is normally completed (step S109; Yes), the process proceeds to step S110 in FIG.

  In step S110 in FIG. 5, the print job that has been printed in step S109 in FIG. 4 is registered in the job history as a “normally completed” print job, and a screen indicating that the job has been completed normally is displayed on the display unit 31. indicate.

  Next, it is checked whether or not the restart permission flag is on (step S111). If the restart permission flag is off (step S111; No), this process is terminated.

  If the resuming permission flag is on (step S111; Yes), “printing was interrupted halfway and resumed by a resuming authorized user” in the job history of the print job ended in step S109, and printing is resumed. The user information of the registered user is additionally registered, and the user who has resumed printing is additionally displayed on the display unit (step S112), and the process is terminated.

  When printing is resumed by a resume-permitted user, the user information of the resumed user is registered in the job history. Therefore, which user resumed printing can be determined later by another user (for example, a start authentication user). ) Can be confirmed.

  FIG. 6 shows a job completion notification screen 92 which is an example of the screen displayed in step S112 of FIG. The job completion notification screen 92 displays that the printing based on the confidential print job has been normally completed, that the printing has been interrupted in the middle, and that the printing has been resumed by user authentication by “user B”. In the embodiment, this user name is displayed only when the user who resumed printing is a resumable user. However, the user name is displayed even if the user who resumed printing is the start authenticated user. Also good.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a job history screen 91 that displays a job history. The job history screen 91 displays a list of job histories of three print jobs. The job history screen 91 displays, as a job history, for each print job, a job ID, a job name, a status (whether the job has been normally completed), remarks, and the like.

  On the job history screen 91, for a print job with a job ID “002”, a mark (lock mark) indicating that it is a confidential print job is displayed on the left side of the job name. Whether or not each print job is a confidential print job can be confirmed by the presence or absence of this mark.

  For print jobs that have been interrupted or resumed during printing, the remarks column and the name of the user who resumed printing (user B in the figure) are displayed. In the embodiment, this user name is displayed only when the user who resumed printing is a resumable user. However, the user name is displayed even if the user who resumed printing is the start authenticated user. Also good.

  For example, when printing resumed by a resuming authorized user is completed while the start authentication user is away from the image forming apparatus 10 that has suspended printing, the resuming authorized user takes away the print result for security reasons. There is a high possibility of end. The start authentication user who has returned to the front of the image forming apparatus 10 can check who has resumed printing by referring to the job completion notification screen 92 or the job history screen 91. The printed product can be picked up.

  Next, a method for checking whether or not the user indicated by the received authentication information matches the resumable user in step S106 of FIG. 4 will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 10 has a management table 90 in which user information of resumable users corresponding to each user is registered in advance. FIG. 8 shows an example of the user management table 90.

  In the management table 90 of FIG. 8, resumable users corresponding to the users A to E are registered. If “permitted” is registered, it is a resumable user, and if “not permitted” is registered, it is not a resumable user.

  The image forming apparatus 10 refers to the management table 90 and acquires a user who becomes a resumable user for the start authentication user. For example, when user A is a start authentication user, only user B and the administrator are resumable users. When the user C is a start authentication user, the user A, the user B, and the administrator are resumable users.

  In the figure, the administrator of the image forming apparatus 10 is a resumable user corresponding to all users. For example, if none of the start-authenticated user and the resumable user other than the administrator resumes printing, the execution of another job reserved behind the confidential print job is delayed, and the image forming apparatus 10 has the problem. Since the work of the entire job is delayed, it is possible to prevent a situation where printing is not resumed indefinitely by setting a resumable user corresponding to all users.

  In the embodiment, it is assumed that the management table 90 is stored in the hard disk device 15 in advance. However, when printing based on the confidential print job is interrupted, the image forming apparatus 10 receives the management table from an external server or the like. 90 may be acquired.

  The confidential print job may include information on the resumable user, and the image forming apparatus 10 may acquire the information and grasp the resumable user. Specifically, the confidential print job includes information indicating one or a plurality of start-permitted users and information indicating a re-permitted user associated with each start-permitted user in advance. , Information on the resumable user is acquired from the confidential print job. The information on the resumable user may be acquired every time a confidential print job is received, or may be acquired only when printing based on the confidential print job is interrupted. Note that the information indicating the start permitted user and the information indicating the resumable user are separate information, and the image forming apparatus 10 acquires these separately.

  Note that a user who is a resumable user and is not a start-permitted user can resume printing when printing based on a confidential print job is interrupted, but cannot start execution of a confidential print job.

  As described above, when a predetermined image forming event occurs during printing based on the confidential print job, the image forming apparatus 10 interrupts the printing. The interrupted printing can be resumed only when the start authentication user or the resumable user performs user authentication. There is a high possibility that only the start-authenticated user can resume printing earlier than when the suspended printing can be resumed. In addition, since a user who can resume the interrupted printing is limited to only the start authentication user and the resumable user, a certain level of security is maintained.

  Further, when printing based on the confidential print job is interrupted and printing is resumed, the image forming apparatus 10 stores the user who has performed user authentication for the resume in association with the job history of the confidential print job. In addition, since the user information of the user is displayed together with the job history, it is possible for another user (for example, a start authentication user) to confirm later which user has resumed printing.

  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.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus 10 has been described as an example, but the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus may be configured by extracting the CPU 11, the ROM 12, the nonvolatile memory 14, the network communication unit 20, the printer unit 18, and the authentication unit 21 from the image forming apparatus 10.

  Wireless communication with the PC terminal 40 is not limited to the LAN 3 or the like. For example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, when printing based on a confidential print job is interrupted or resumed, when the confidential print job is completed and when the job history of the confidential print job is displayed, the resume is displayed on the display unit. However, the notification method and notification timing of the user who has resumed printing are not limited to this. Notification may be made when printing is resumed. Notification may be made by voice instead of display.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, only the start authenticated user and the restart permitted user corresponding to the start authenticated user can resume the suspended printing, but when a plurality of start permitted users are set, In addition to the start authenticated user and the restart permitted user corresponding to the start authenticated user, the suspended printing may be resumed also when the restart permitted user corresponding to any start permitted user performs user authentication.

  Also, if multiple start-permitted users are set, it will be interrupted if the start-authenticated user and the restart-permitted user corresponding to the start-authenticated user, or if a start-permitted user other than the start-authenticated user performs user authentication Printing inside may be resumed.

3 ... LAN
7 ... Image forming system 10 ... Image forming apparatus 11 ... CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Nonvolatile memory 15 ... Hard disk device 16 ... Image processing part 17 ... Image reading part 18 ... Printer part 19 ... Facsimile communication part 20 ... Network communication part 21 ... Authentication part 30 ... Operation panel 31 ... Display part 32 ... Operation part 33 ... Switch unit 34 ... Touch panel unit 40 ... PC terminal 41 ... Start control unit 42 ... Interruption unit 43 ... Judgment unit 44 ... Resumption permission user information acquisition unit 45 ... Notification unit 46 ... Image formation unit 47 ... Authentication unit 48 ... Resumption control unit 49 ... Job reception unit 50 ... Resume user storage unit 90 ... Management table 91 ... Job history screen 92 ... Job completion notification screen

Claims (4)

A job reception unit that receives a confidential print job that is associated with a user and that requires user authentication by the associated user in order to start image formation at a destination image forming apparatus; ,
An authentication unit for performing the user authentication;
An image forming unit;
A start control unit that causes the image forming unit to perform image formation based on the confidential print job only when the user authentication is performed by a user associated with the confidential print job received by the job receiving unit;
An interruption unit for interrupting the image formation when a predetermined image formation interruption reason occurs;
A determination unit for determining whether or not the image formation interruption reason has been eliminated;
When the image formation based on the confidential print job is interrupted, the image formation based on the confidential print job is linked to the start authentication user who is the user who has performed the user authentication to start the image formation based on the confidential print job. A resumable user information acquisition unit that acquires user information of a resumable user who is a user permitted to resume;
After the image formation based on the confidential print job is interrupted, the determination unit determines that the reason for the image formation interruption has been resolved, and the start authentication user or the restart permitted user performs user authentication in the authentication unit. A resumption control unit that resumes the suspended image formation only when
An image forming apparatus comprising: When the suspended image formation is resumed because the resumable user has performed the user authentication in the authentication unit, the resumable user who has performed the user authentication is regarded as the resumed user as the confidential user. A resume user storage unit for storing the print job in association with the print job;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that reads out and notifies the resumed user from the resumed user storage unit. The confidential print job includes user information of the resumable user,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resumable user information acquisition unit acquires user information of the resumable user from the confidential print job. A management table storage unit that stores a management table in which user information of the resumable user is registered for each user.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resumable user information acquisition unit acquires user information of the resumable user from the management table.

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