JP2006167916A - Image forming apparatus, printing management apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which makes it possible to specify a user's desired printing environment and printing condition, and makes it possible to carry out printing while surely attaining security protection. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is equipped with a printer controller 10 and a printer engine 22. A security level judging part 101 of the printer controller 10 analyzes header information of a printing job transmitted from a user terminal 5, and distinguishes whether or not document data of the printing job requires security protection. If the security protection is required, a user ID of the user who carries out the printing job transmission operation and a user terminal ID are requested to the user terminal 5. When the transmitted user ID and user terminal ID agree with a user ID and a user terminal ID in the header information, and when a printer ID stored in a printer ID storage part 105 agrees with a printer ID in the header information, printing of the document data is carried out by the printer engine 22 according to an output number of sets in the header information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus, a print management apparatus, a control method, and a program capable of printing data requiring confidentiality.

  Conventionally, a technique relating to printing of data requiring confidentiality has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this proposal, when the password code set together with the print data is transmitted from the host computer (host device) to the printer, the password code and the print data received by the printer are stored, and when the user inputs the password code from the operation panel of the printer, The printer compares the input code and the stored code.

  If the passwords do not match, printing is performed. If the passwords do not match, the user is requested to re-enter the passwords, and if the passwords do not match even if the passwords have been entered a predetermined number of times, they are saved. Delete the print data. Thus, by setting a personal identification code on the print data transmission side, printing is executed after the person inputs the personal identification code in front of the printer without immediately printing confidential print data. Therefore, the printed matter is prevented from being seen by a third party.

In addition to the above, a technique related to confidential printing has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this proposal, the print controller performs control to switch the transfer destination of the generated image data to a hard disk or a printer engine according to output restriction data described in the print information. Thus, if the print information is described as data that requires confidentiality, the data is stored on the hard disk, and printing is not executed until user information is input, so confidentiality can be maintained.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-21089 JP 7-152520 A

  However, in the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since the password code is set on the host computer (host device) side that transmits print data to the printer, the password code of the user is the password of another user. May overlap with the code. Therefore, there is a problem that if the user is informed of duplication of the security code when the security code is duplicated, the security code is known to a third party.

  In addition, since the personal identification code set on the user side often inputs a number related to the user's personal information such as a birthday, the personal identification code is easily guessed by a third party. .

  Also, if the print data is taken out in the form of an electronic file from a floppy disk or hard disk, etc., there is also a problem that the secret code cannot be kept when it is known to a third party. .

  It is an object of the present invention to specify a printing environment and printing conditions desired by a user, and to ensure confidentiality printing without causing problems such as duplication or leakage of a secret code as in the past. To provide an image forming apparatus, a print management apparatus, a control method, and a program that can be performed.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal device, and is transmitted from the terminal device and storage means for storing unique information of the image forming device. The print job header information is analyzed to determine whether the print job data is data that requires confidentiality, and the determination means determines that the print job data is data that requires confidentiality. The user information transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request is compared with the user information described in the header information, and the unique information stored in the storage unit and the unique information described in the header information And a print control means for printing the print job data when the user information matches and the unique information matches. Characterized in that it comprises a.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal device, and is transmitted from the terminal device and storage means for storing unique information of the image forming device. Requesting to print data from the terminal device, encryption means for adding and encrypting the unique information of the image forming apparatus to the print job data, storage means for storing the data encrypted by the encryption means, In the case where the unique information added to the data read from the storage means matches the unique information stored in the storage means, the decoding means for decoding the data read from the storage means, Printing means for printing the data decrypted by the decryption means.

  In order to achieve the above object, a print management apparatus according to the present invention is a print management apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus and a terminal apparatus, and a storage unit for storing unique information of the image forming apparatus, and the terminal Analyzing the header information of the print job transmitted from the apparatus and determining whether or not the print job data is data that requires confidentiality, and data for which the print job data requires confidentiality by the determination means If it is determined that the user information transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request is compared with the user information described in the header information, the unique information stored in the storage means and the header information are described. If the user information matches the unique information and the unique information matches, the comparison means for comparing the unique information is printed with the print job data. And print control means for instructing the forming device, characterized in that it comprises a.

  According to the present invention, a printing environment and printing conditions desired by a user can be specified based on information described in header information of a print job transmitted from a terminal device to an image forming apparatus or a print management apparatus. At the same time, it is possible to reliably perform printing for data that requires confidentiality without causing problems such as duplication or leakage of personal identification codes as in the prior art.

  In addition, when a print job is transmitted from the terminal device to the image forming apparatus, by storing the data requiring confidentiality with additional unique information, when a print request is made from the terminal device to the image forming apparatus, It is possible to provide an environment in which data with matching unique information is read and printing is executed.

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

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration centering on a header information analysis unit of an image forming apparatus of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the printing system includes an image forming apparatus 1 and a user terminal device (hereinafter abbreviated as a user terminal) 5 connected on the same network. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a security level determination unit 101, a user ID determination unit 102, a terminal ID determination unit 103, a printer ID determination unit 104, a printer ID storage unit 105, an output copy number determination unit 106, an output copy number storage unit 107, and print control. A printer controller 10 having a unit 108 and a work memory 109, a printer engine 22, and an external interface 25. The security level determination unit 101 to the output number storage unit 107 constitute a header information analysis unit.

  The image forming apparatus 1 analyzes the print job transmitted from the user terminal 5, determines whether or not the document data in the print job is document data that requires confidentiality, and determines a document data processing method based on the determination result. By switching, it is configured as a printer or a digital copying apparatus that realizes a printing method desired by the user. The print job includes header information in which security level information, user ID information, user terminal ID information, printer ID information, and output copy number information are described, and document data (see FIG. 2).

  The security level determination unit 101 analyzes header information of a print job and determines whether the document data requires confidentiality. The user ID determination unit 102 specifies the user who transmitted the print job based on the user ID described in the header information. The terminal ID determination unit 103 identifies the user terminal that has transmitted the print job based on the user terminal ID described in the header information. The printer ID determination unit 104 specifies the printer designated by the print job transmission source based on the printer ID described in the header information. The printer ID storage unit 105 stores a machine number unique to the image forming apparatus.

  The output copy number determination unit 106 determines the output copy number designated by the print job transmission source based on the output copy number described in the header information. The output number determination unit 107 stores the number of copies that have been printed in the past by the print job determined by the security level determination unit 101. The print control unit 108 controls print output by the printer engine 22 according to the determination results of the respective determination units. A work memory 109 is a memory for developing document data in a print job. The external interface 25 transmits / receives data to / from the user terminal 5 and expands the print job transmitted from the user terminal 5 into header information and document data. The printer engine 22 has a print function for forming an image on a print medium.

  The user terminal 5 is configured as, for example, a computer capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the image forming apparatus 1 via the external interface 25, and transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus 1, and print information from the image forming apparatus 1. Receive. Here, the user terminal 5 is not limited to a computer, but can be applied to various information devices such as a portable terminal. As shown in FIG. 3 described later, a plurality of user terminals can be connected to the image forming apparatus 1.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a print job.

  2, the print job is security level information indicating whether or not the document data requires confidentiality, user ID information in which a user name is described, user terminal ID information in which a machine number of the user terminal is described, print output, and the like. It is composed of a header information part including printer ID information in which the machine number of the printer to be specified is described, output number information specifying the number of output copies to be printed by a print job, and a document data (print data) part. .

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

  3, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a printer controller 10 having a CPU 11, a RAM 12, a ROM 13, a hard disk (HD) 14, and a timer 15, an operation panel 21, an operation panel interface 23, a printer engine 22, and an engine control interface. 24. 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3 are user terminals, and 7 is a network such as Ether Talk. In the following description, the user terminals 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3 are collectively referred to as the user terminal 5.

  The CPU 11 performs normal printing control and confidential printing control (control for executing printing according to the determination result based on various information described in the header information of the print job when printing document data requiring confidentiality). The processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5 is executed based on the control program stored in the ROM 13. The RAM 12 is a memory that stores data related to various controls. The ROM 13 is a memory that stores a control program for realizing normal printing control, confidential printing control, and the like. The hard disk 14 is a non-volatile storage device that stores document data (print data) of a print job. The timer 15 measures time.

  The operation panel 21 includes an input unit for inputting various data and a display unit (for example, LCD) for displaying and outputting messages. The printer engine 22 operates as an image forming mechanism. The operation panel interface 23 serves as an interface with the operation panel 21. The engine control interface 24 controls an interface with the printer engine 22. The external interface 25 manages an interface between a plurality of user terminals 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3 operating as a host device via the network 7.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 1 and each user terminal 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 are connected one-to-one by a parallel interface (Parallel I / F) or the like instead of via the network 7. There is also.

  Next, a specific processing flow in the printing system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating the confidentiality printing process of the image forming apparatus 1.

  4 and 5, the external interface 25 of the image forming apparatus 1 first receives the print job having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 transmitted from the user terminal 5 (step S401). Next, the external interface 25 expands the print job into header information and document data (step S402), and then the print control unit 108 expands the document data in the work memory 109 (step S403).

  The header information is analyzed in the following order. The security level determination unit 101 determines the security level based on the security level information described in the header information, and determines whether the document data of the print job is document data that needs confidentiality (step S404).

  If it is determined that confidentiality is not required (NO in step S404), the print control unit 108 outputs the document data expanded in the work memory 109 to the printer engine 22 to execute printing (step S405). This process is terminated. At this time, it may be transmitted as a message to the print job transmission source user terminal 5 that the image forming apparatus 1 has successfully printed.

  When it is determined that confidentiality is required (YES in step S404), the print control unit 108 requests the user ID of the user who executed the print job transmission operation from the user terminal 5 that is the print job transmission source (step S407). . The user ID determination unit 102 compares the user ID transmitted from the user terminal 5 in response to the user ID request with the user ID described in the header information (step S408).

  If both user IDs do not match (“mismatch” in step S408), the print control unit 108 transmits a message indicating that the user IDs do not match to the user terminal 5 that is the print job transmission source (step S418). The document data in the work memory 109 is erased (step S419), and this process ends.

  If both user IDs match (“match” in step S408), the print control unit 108 requests the user terminal 5 of the user terminal 5 on which the print job transmission operation has been executed to the user terminal 5 that is the print job transmission source. (Step S409). The terminal ID determination unit 103 compares the user terminal ID transmitted from the user terminal 5 in response to the user terminal ID request with the user terminal ID described in the header information (step S410).

  If the two user terminal IDs do not match (“mismatch” in step S410), the print control unit 108 transmits a message indicating that the user terminal IDs do not match to the user terminal 5 that has transmitted the print job (step S418). ), The document data in the work memory 109 is erased (step S419), and this process ends.

  If both user terminal IDs match (“match” in step S410), the printer ID determination unit 104 requests the printer ID from the printer ID storage unit 105 (step S411). The printer ID determination unit 104 compares the printer ID acquired from the printer ID storage unit 105 with the printer ID described in the header information (step S412).

  If the two printer IDs do not match (“mismatch” in step S412), the print control unit 108 transmits a message that the printer IDs do not match to the user terminal 5 that is the print job transmission source (step S418). The document data in the work memory 109 is erased (step S419), and this process ends.

  If both printer IDs match (“match” in step S412), the output copy number determination unit 106 requests the output copy number storage unit 107 for a counter value of the number of output copies that have been printed so far (step S413). The output copy number determination unit 106 compares the counter value of the output copy number acquired from the output copy number storage unit 107 with the output copy number described in the header information (step S414).

  If the counter value of the number of output copies exceeds the number of output copies described in the header information (counter value> number of output copies (header) in step S414), the print control unit 108 determines that the counter value indicates the number of output copies of the header information. A message to the effect that this has been exceeded is transmitted to the user terminal 5 that is the transmission source of the print job (step S418), the document data in the work memory 109 is erased (step S419), and this process ends.

  If the counter value of the number of output copies does not exceed the number of output copies described in the header information (counter value ≦ number of output copies (header) in step S414), the print control unit 108 notifies the user terminal 5 of the print job transmission source. A request is made for the number of output copies (step S415), and the counter value (new) obtained by accumulating the number of output copies obtained by printing to the number of output copies obtained so far and the number of output copies transmitted from the user terminal 5 are set to the counter value before accumulation ( The added value added to (old) is compared (step S416).

  If the added value exceeds the counter value (added value> counter value in step S416), the print control unit 108 sends a message to the print job transmission source user terminal 5 that the added value exceeds the counter value. This is transmitted (step S418), the document data in the work memory 109 is deleted (step S419), and this process is terminated.

  If the added value does not exceed the counter value (added value ≦ counter value in step S416), the output number determination unit 106 stores the added value in the output number storage unit 107 (step S417), and the print control unit 108 Then, after the document data is transmitted from the work memory 109 to the printer engine 22 to execute printing (step S405), this process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the security determination unit 101 analyzes the header information of the print job transmitted from the user terminal 5 and determines whether the document data of the print job is document data that requires confidentiality. Is determined. In the case of document data that does not require confidentiality, printing is performed by the printer engine 22 as it is.

  In the case of document data requiring confidentiality, the user terminal 5 is requested for the user ID and user terminal ID of the user who executed the print job transmission operation, and is described in the transmitted user ID, user terminal ID and header information. When the user ID and user terminal ID match and the printer ID stored in the printer ID storage unit 105 matches the printer ID described in the header information, the printer engine 22 creates a document according to the number of output copies described in the header information. Print the data.

  In other words, the image forming apparatus 1 can specify the printing environment and printing conditions desired by the user based on the information described in the header information of the print job transmitted from the user terminal 5, as in the conventional case. Thus, it is possible to reliably perform confidentiality printing on document data that requires confidentiality without causing trouble such as duplication or leakage of a secret code.

[Second Embodiment]
In the above-described first embodiment, the case where the header information analysis unit is provided in the printer controller of the image forming apparatus has been described.

  In the second embodiment, a case where a header information analysis unit is provided in a server controller of a printer server connected to the same network as the image forming apparatus and the user terminal will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration centering on the header information analysis unit of the printer server of the printing system according to the present embodiment.

  6, the printing system includes an image forming apparatus 200, a user terminal 210, and a printer server 220 connected on the same network. The printer server 220 includes a security level determination unit 201, a user ID determination unit 202, a terminal ID determination unit 203, a printer ID determination unit 204, a printer ID storage unit 205, an output copy number determination unit 206, an output copy number storage unit 207, and a print control unit. 208, a server controller 230 having a work memory 209, and an external interface 225. The security level determination unit 201 to the output number storage unit 207 constitute a header information analysis unit.

  This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that a printer server 220 that provides a printer (image forming apparatus) sharing service on a network includes a header information analysis unit. The other elements of the present embodiment are the same as the corresponding ones of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2) described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Also, the confidentiality printing process in the present embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5) described above except for the printing process. That is, in the printing process in step S405 of FIG. 4, the printer server 220 transmits document data to the image forming apparatus 200 via the external interface 225, and instructs the image forming apparatus 200 to print the document data. Printing is executed by the engine.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printer server 220 uses the information described in the header information of the print job transmitted from the user terminal 210 to determine the printing environment and printing conditions desired by the user. Can be specified, and the image forming apparatus 200 reliably ensures that the document data requiring confidentiality is controlled by the printer server 220 without causing problems such as duplication or leakage of the secret code as in the prior art. Printing can be performed while maintaining the image.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments described above, by adding security level information, user ID information, user terminal ID information, printer ID information, and output copy number information to the print job as header information, the print job document An explanation has been given of the case where the environment in which data can be printed out is limited and confidentiality is realized.

  In the third embodiment, an environment in which security level document data is stored in a storage medium in the image forming apparatus, and the security level document data in the storage medium is read based on a print request from a user terminal to execute printing. The case where it provides is demonstrated.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 61 includes a CPU 611, a RAM 612, a ROM 613, a storage medium 614, a storage medium control unit 616, a printer controller 610 having a timer 615, an operation panel 621, an operation panel interface 623, and a printer engine 622. And an engine control interface 624. 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3 are user terminals, and 67 is a network. In the following description, the user terminals 6-1, 6-2 and 6-3 are collectively referred to as the user terminal 6.

  This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that a storage medium 614 and a storage medium control unit 616 are provided instead of the hard disk 14. Since the other elements of the present embodiment are the same as the corresponding ones of the first embodiment (FIG. 3) described above, description thereof is omitted.

  The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment described above will be described. The CPU 611 executes normal print control and confidential print control, and is based on a control program stored in the ROM 613. 10 and the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 are executed. The storage medium 614 is a non-volatile storage device that stores document data (print data) of a print job (see FIG. 8). Specific examples thereof include a compact flash (registered trademark) memory. The storage medium control unit 616 controls document data encryption processing when document data is written to the storage medium 614 and document data read processing from the storage medium 614.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a print job.

  In FIG. 8, a print job is composed of a header information portion including security level information indicating whether or not the document data requires confidentiality, and a document data (print data) portion.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the storage medium control unit 616.

  In FIG. 9, the storage medium control unit 616 includes an encryption unit 701, a work memory 702, a decryption unit 703, and a machine number storage unit 704.

  The machine number storage unit 704 stores the machine number unique to the image forming apparatus that is input to the encryption unit 701 and the decryption unit 703, respectively. The encryption unit 701 inputs document data (print data) that is transmitted from the user terminal 6 via the external interface 625 and needs to be encrypted, and also inputs a machine number from the machine number storage unit 704 to the document data. The machine number is added and encrypted using a predetermined encryption method. The encrypted document data is written to the storage medium 614 via the work memory 702.

  The document data written in the storage medium 614 is input to the decryption unit 703 via the work memory 702 in response to a print output request. The decryption unit 703 receives the machine number from the machine number storage unit 704 and decrypts the document data according to a predetermined criterion. The decrypted document data is output as print data to the printer engine 622 via the engine control interface 624.

  Next, a specific processing flow in the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the encryption processing of the image forming apparatus 61.

  In FIG. 10, when the external interface 625 of the image forming apparatus 61 receives a print job transmitted from the user terminal 6 (step S801), the storage medium control unit 616 expands the print job into header information and document data ( Step SS802). Next, the storage medium control unit 616 analyzes the header information (step S803), and determines whether or not the document data of the print job is at a security level (requires confidentiality) (step S804).

  If the document data is not at the security level (NO in step S804), the storage medium control unit 616 stores the document data in the storage medium 614 via the work memory 702 (step S807), and ends this process.

  If the document data is at the security level (YES in step S804), the storage medium control unit 616 inputs the document data to the encryption unit 701, reads the machine number from the machine number storage unit 704 (step S805), and performs encryption. The encrypting unit 701 encrypts the document data with a predetermined encryption method in accordance with the machine number. The machine number used for encryption is added to the encrypted document data (step S806). The storage medium control unit 616 stores the encrypted document data in the storage medium 614 via the work memory 702 (step S807), and ends this process.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the machine number comparison process of the image forming apparatus.

  In FIG. 11, when the storage medium control unit 616 of the image forming apparatus 61 receives a print output request for document data from the user terminal 6 (step S901), it reads out the machine number from the machine number storage unit 704 (step S902). Then, the document data designated by the print output request is read from the storage medium 614 to the decryption unit 703 via the work memory 702 (step S903). The storage medium control unit 616 detects the machine number added to the document data read from the storage medium 614 and compares the machine number added to the document data with the machine number read from the machine number storage unit 704. (Step S905).

  If both machine numbers match (YES in step S905), the storage medium control unit 616 decrypts the encrypted document data by the decryption unit 703 (step S906), and the decrypted document data By outputting the print data to the printer engine 622 via the engine control interface 624, the printer engine 622 is caused to execute printing (step S907), and this processing is terminated.

  If the two machine numbers do not match (NO in step S905), the storage medium control unit 616 sends a message indicating that the machine numbers do not match to the user terminal 6 via the external interface 625 (step S908). The document data is deleted from the work memory 702 (step S909), and this process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a print job is transmitted from the user terminal 6 to the image forming apparatus 61 when the storage medium control unit 616 transmits a print job to a security level, The machine number read from the machine number storage unit 704 is added to the document data, encrypted, and stored in the storage medium 614. On the other hand, when there is a print output request for document data from the user terminal 6 to the image forming apparatus 61, the machine number added to the document data read from the storage medium 614 and the machine number stored in the machine number storage unit 704 are displayed. Compare. If the machine numbers match, the document data read from the storage medium 614 is decrypted and output to the printer engine 622 for printing.

  In other words, when a print job is transmitted from the user terminal 6 to the image forming apparatus 61, the machine number is added to the document data of the print job determined to be the security level and stored in the storage medium 614, whereby the user terminal 6 When there is a print request from the image forming apparatus 61 to the image forming apparatus 61, it is possible to provide an environment in which document data having the same machine number is read from the storage medium 614 and printing is executed.

[Other embodiments]
In the first and second embodiments, the user ID and the user terminal ID are described as user information in the header information of the print job. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a printing system is installed in a company, in addition to a user ID and a user terminal ID as user information in header information of a print job, a department ID of a department (group) to which each user belongs is described. You may comprise so that user terminal ID and affiliation department ID may be collated.

  In the third embodiment, the document data is printed when the machine number added to the document data read from the storage medium 614 of the image forming apparatus matches the machine number stored in the machine number storage unit 704. Although an example was given, it is not limited to this. For example, the user information is described together with the security information in the header information of the print job, or the user information is registered in advance in the image forming apparatus, and the user information transmitted from the user terminal with the same machine number is printed. The document data may be printed when it matches the user information described in the header information of the job (or user information registered in the image forming apparatus).

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and to perform computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  The above-described program only needs to be able to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments by a computer, and the form includes forms such as object code, a program executed by an interpreter, and script data supplied to the OS. But you can.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, RAM, NV-RAM, floppy (registered trademark) disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, MO, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW), magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, other ROM, etc. may be used as long as they can store the above programs. Alternatively, the program is supplied by downloading from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like.

2 is a block diagram showing a configuration centering on a header information analysis unit of the image forming apparatus of the printing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print job. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating confidentiality printing processing of the image forming apparatus. It is a continuation of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure centering on the header information analysis part of the printer server of the printing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print job. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a storage medium control part. 6 is a flowchart illustrating encryption processing of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing machine number comparison processing of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1, 61, 200 Image forming device 5, 6, 210 User terminal (terminal device)
22 Printer engine 101, 201 Security level determination unit (determination means)
102, 202 User ID determination unit (comparison means)
103, 203 Terminal ID determination unit (comparison means)
104, 204 Printer ID determination unit (comparison means)
105, 205 Printer ID storage unit (storage means)
106, 206 Output number determination unit 107, 207 Output number storage unit 108, 208 Print control unit (print control means)
220 Printer server (print management device)
611 CPU (printing control means)
614 Storage medium (storage means)
616 Storage medium control unit (determination means)
622 Printer engine (printing means)
701 Encryption unit (encryption means)
703 Decoding unit (decoding means)
704 Airframe number storage unit (storage means)

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal device,
Storage means for storing unique information of the image forming apparatus;
Analyzing means for analyzing header information of the print job transmitted from the terminal device, and determining whether the data of the print job is data requiring confidentiality;
When the determination unit determines that the data of the print job is data requiring confidentiality, the user information transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request is compared with the user information described in the header information, Comparing means for comparing the unique information stored in the storage means with the unique information described in the header information;
Print control means for executing printing of the data of the print job when the user information matches and the unique information matches;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The user information includes a user ID that identifies a user of the terminal device and a terminal device ID that identifies the terminal device,
The print control means executes printing of the print job data according to the number of output copies described in the header information when the respective user IDs and terminal device IDs match and the respective unique information matches. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal device,
Storage means for storing unique information of the image forming apparatus;
Encryption means for adding and encrypting the unique information of the image forming apparatus to the print job data transmitted from the terminal device;
Storage means for storing data encrypted by the encryption means;
When printing of data is requested from the terminal device, when the unique information added to the data read from the storage means matches the unique information stored in the storage means, the data read from the storage means is Decrypting means for decrypting;
Print control means for executing printing of data decrypted by the decryption means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Analysis means for analyzing the header information of the print job, and further comprising determination means for determining whether the data of the print job is data that requires confidentiality,
The encryption unit adds the unique information of the image forming apparatus to the print job data and encrypts the print job data when the determination unit determines that the print job data requires confidentiality. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. A print management apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus and a terminal apparatus,
Storage means for storing unique information of the image forming apparatus;
Analyzing means for analyzing header information of the print job transmitted from the terminal device, and determining whether the data of the print job is data requiring confidentiality;
When the determination unit determines that the data of the print job is data requiring confidentiality, the user information transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request is compared with the user information described in the header information, Comparing means for comparing the unique information stored in the storage means with the unique information described in the header information;
Print control means for instructing the image forming apparatus to print the data of the print job when the user information matches and the unique information matches;
A print management apparatus comprising: The user information includes a user ID that identifies a user of the terminal device and a terminal device ID that identifies the terminal device,
The print control means prints the print job data according to the number of output copies described in the header information when the respective user IDs and terminal device IDs match and the respective unique information matches. 6. The print management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an instruction is given to the image forming apparatus. A control method of an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal device,
A determination step of analyzing header information of the print job transmitted from the terminal device and determining whether the data of the print job is data that requires confidentiality;
When the determination step determines that the print job data requires confidentiality, the user information transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request is compared with the user information described in the header information, A comparison step of comparing the unique information of the image forming apparatus stored in the image forming apparatus with the unique information described in the header information;
A print control step for executing printing of data of the print job when the user information matches and the unique information matches;
A control method comprising: A control method of an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal device,
An encryption step of adding and encrypting the unique information of the image forming apparatus to the print job data transmitted from the terminal device;
A storage step of storing the data encrypted by the encryption step in a storage means;
When printing of data is requested from the terminal device, when the unique information added to the data read from the storage unit matches the unique information of the image forming device stored in the image forming device, A decoding step of decoding data read from the storage means;
A print control step of printing the data decrypted by the decryption step;
A control method comprising: A control method of a print management apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus and a terminal apparatus,
A determination step of analyzing header information of the print job transmitted from the terminal device and determining whether the data of the print job is data that requires confidentiality;
When the determination step determines that the print job data requires confidentiality, the user information transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request is compared with the user information described in the header information, A comparison step of comparing the unique information of the image forming apparatus stored in the print management apparatus with the unique information described in the header information;
A print control step for instructing the image forming apparatus to print the data of the print job when the user information matches and the unique information matches;
A control method comprising: A program that causes a computer to execute a control method of an image forming apparatus that can communicate with a terminal device,
A determination module that analyzes header information of the print job transmitted from the terminal device and determines whether the data of the print job is data that requires confidentiality;
When the determination module determines that the data of the print job is data that requires confidentiality, the user information transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request is compared with the user information described in the header information, A comparison module that compares the unique information of the image forming apparatus stored in the image forming apparatus with the unique information described in the header information;
A print control module that executes printing of data of the print job when the user information matches and the unique information matches;
A program comprising: A program that causes a computer to execute a control method of an image forming apparatus that can communicate with a terminal device,
An encryption module for adding and encrypting the unique information of the image forming apparatus to the print job data transmitted from the terminal device;
A storage module for storing in the storage means the data encrypted by the encryption module;
When printing of data is requested from the terminal device, when the unique information added to the data read from the storage unit matches the unique information of the image forming device stored in the image forming device, A decryption module for decrypting data read from the storage means;
A print control module for executing printing of data decrypted by the decryption module;
A program comprising: A program that causes a computer to execute a control method of a print management apparatus that can communicate with an image forming apparatus and a terminal apparatus,
A determination module that analyzes header information of the print job transmitted from the terminal device and determines whether the data of the print job is data that requires confidentiality;
When the determination module determines that the data of the print job is data that requires confidentiality, the user information transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request is compared with the user information described in the header information, A comparison module that compares the unique information of the image forming apparatus stored in the print management apparatus with the unique information described in the header information;
A print control module that instructs the image forming apparatus to print the data of the print job when the user information matches and the unique information matches;
A program comprising:

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