JP2006297623A - Image output apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically set an optimum printing method in accordance with the protection state of received data. <P>SOLUTION: A machine control part 8 is constituted to set an output process as an image according to the protection state of received direct print data. When the received direct print data is solely simple data of a predetermined file format, the process of printing out unconditionally is set. When the data is encrypted, the data is once held, and at the same time the process of printing out upon receipt of a user's output instruction is set. When a password is added to the data, the data is once held, and at the same time a process of printing out upon receipt of an input of the password by the user is set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output apparatus that prints out an image based on data received from the outside. More specifically, a printout processing method can be set according to the state of data received by direct printing. The present invention relates to an image output apparatus.

  In the conventional printing method, a user starts a necessary application on a personal computer, opens a file for printing, and sequentially executes, for example, “file”, “print”, and “execute” from the opened file data screen. By selecting, printing is started.

  On the other hand, recently, a direct print function has been proposed in which data is expanded on the printer side and immediately printed out by throwing the data as it is without opening such an application (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  In this case, direct printing is basically to print out the received data immediately, but if you print out all the received data unconditionally, for example, you may be able to see data that you do not want to see. When a third party comes to pick up a printed document, there is a possibility that a document printed out by himself / herself is mistakenly taken along.

  Therefore, apart from such a direct print function, the received data is temporarily held, the user comes to the printer, displays a list of hold data, and selects the data to be printed from among them. A hold print function such as executing out is also proposed.

Also, after the user sets a password in the data and sends a print instruction, the printer goes to the printer, and then the confidential print that the printout is started for the first time when the set password is entered from an operation panel (not shown). Functions have also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-351537 A JP-A-2-268321

  Thus, recently, various printing methods such as direct printing, hold printing, and confidential printing have been proposed.

  By the way, the data sent through the network path includes various types of data such as data sent encrypted and data sent as a password. In this case, there is no particular problem even if data that is not encrypted and has no password added is printed out immediately after being thrown to the printer.

  On the other hand, for data sent in encrypted form, for example, even if it tries to print out immediately when it is thrown to the printer, it is decrypted if the encryption is not in the specified encryption format. Cannot be printed out. Also, considering recent damage caused by electronic viruses, spam mails, etc., it is not known whether the data sent after being encrypted is data that has no problem in the first place. Considering such circumstances, when encrypted data is sent by direct printing, it is a problem to print out immediately unconditionally. In this case, the data is temporarily held and arbitrarily It is preferable to hold the printout so that it can be printed out only when the user confirms the contents and determines that there is no problem in printing out.

  On the other hand, data sent as data with a password can be opened by the user who has received the password by entering the password on the personal computer. When the opened data is printed out as the above confidential print, Needs to input the confidential print password again and send it to the printer.

  As described above, either direct printing or hold printing can be performed by setting in advance with a printer, and confidential printing is performed by a user who wants to print out data for confidential printing. By entering a password, it is possible to make confidential prints, which can be arbitrarily used according to the purpose of use.

  By the way, for data sent from the outside as direct print, in addition to direct print, depending on the protection state (whether it is in a predetermined file format, encrypted or with a password) attached to the data It is convenient if the above hold print and confidential print can be set appropriately. However, no image output apparatus that can automatically set the printout method to any one of direct print, hold print, and confidential print according to the protection state of the received data has been proposed so far. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image output apparatus capable of automatically setting a printout method to an optimum method according to the protection state of received data. Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image output apparatus according to the present invention includes a protection state confirmation unit that confirms a state relating to protection of received data in an image output apparatus that outputs an image based on externally received data, and the protection. Control means for controlling an image output process in accordance with the data protection state confirmed by the state confirmation means. Here, the “related to image protection” state specifically means a state where the data itself is encrypted or a state where a password is given to the data.

  The control means includes a setting unit that sets an output process as an image according to a protection state of the received data, an encryption confirmation unit that confirms whether or not the received data is encrypted, and the received data And a password confirmation unit that confirms the presence or absence of a password that restricts use, and the setting unit sets an output process as an image according to the presence or absence of encryption confirmed by the encryption confirmation unit. The setting unit sets an output process as an image according to the presence or absence of a password confirmed by the password confirmation unit. Here, “setting the output process” specifically refers to setting a processing method of direct printing, hold printing, or confidential printing.

  That is, when it is confirmed that the received data is encrypted or a password is added, the control means, when outputting as an image (that is, printing out), according to the procedure of hold print or confidential print, Printout is started in response to an instruction from the user.

  More specifically, when the received direct print data is only simple data in a predetermined file format, the control means performs either a processing method for unconditionally printing out or a processing method for temporarily holding data. Set and hold once if the data is encrypted, set a processing method to print out in response to a user output instruction, and hold once if a password is added to the data At the same time, a processing method for receiving a password input by the user and printing it out is set.

  In addition, the image output apparatus of the present invention includes output setting means for setting the processing method as described above, and the user can arbitrarily set the output setting means. Accordingly, a printout processing method can be set for each data protection state.

  In addition, data to be processed as direct printing and data to be processed in accordance with a print instruction from a normal driver may be classified and displayed as a job list (for example, a hold job list, an output completion job list, etc.).

  The printer further includes a deletion unit that deletes print data whose output is stagnant from the apparatus when a preset hold period elapses, and print data from a normal driver and a print instruction from a normal driver. The hold period may be varied in accordance with the data held by. That is, the handling of data held by direct printing and data held by an instruction from the driver is separated. In addition, the list display may be configured to be displayed separately, and the user may select which one to display. Here, as for the hold period, in the case of direct printing, since it may take time to notice when it is sent, the hold period by direct printing is longer than the hold period by a print instruction from a normal driver. You just have to. However, from the viewpoint of security, the direct print hold period may be shortened.

  Since the image output apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, a printout processing method can be set according to the protection state of data received by direct printing. In other words, depending on whether the received data was sent as it was created in a prescribed file format, it was sent encrypted, or sent with a password, the printout method is directly It can be automatically set to print, hold print, or confidential print.

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

  In this embodiment, a case where the image output apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital multi-function peripheral will be described. FIG. 1 shows an outline of the electrical configuration of such a digital multi-function peripheral and the connection relationship with peripheral devices.

  First, the electrical configuration of the digital multifunction machine 1 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 includes an image reading unit 2, an operation unit 4, an image forming unit 6, a device control unit 8, a FAX model 9, a communication unit 10, a management unit 11, an erasing unit 12, and a hard disk. (HD) 13 is provided. In other words, the digital copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment is a combined machine of a FAX and a network printer.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a CCD 2a, a document detection sensor 2b, and the like.

  The operation unit 4 includes an input unit 4a composed of various function buttons such as a touch panel and mechanical keys described later, and a display unit 4b composed of a display panel such as a liquid crystal. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the operation unit 4. The display unit 4b has a structure in which a transparent touch panel 44 is arranged on the upper surface of the display panel 41. Various function buttons 42 and a numeric keypad 43 are arranged next to the display unit 4b (right side in the figure). Yes. Further, a start button, a full release (CA) button, and a clear (C) button are arranged on the right side of the numeric keypad 43.

  The image forming unit 6 includes an image processing unit 6a having a working memory 6b for developing print data, and encrypts the data and temporarily saves (saves) the data to the hard disk 13 in order to protect the data coming from outside. And an encryption / decryption unit 6c that decrypts the data saved in the hard disk 13 and passes the decrypted data to the image processing unit 6a, a printing unit 6d having a laser scanning unit (LSU), and the like.

  The device control unit 8 is a part that manages operation control of the entire device, and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The management unit 11 is a part that manages information necessary for the operation of the device. For example, in terms of transmission / reception, the management unit 11 manages a mail address, a FAX telephone number, and the like. In addition, it is necessary for the operation of the device, such as management of position information (address information) of data temporarily saved in the hard disk 13 and management of position information of data output to the printer when operating in the printer mode. Information is managed collectively.

  The communication unit 10 is a communication unit that performs bidirectional communication with the network 21. In this embodiment, the communication unit 10 is a printer board that includes a memory for expanding received data into data that can be handled by the device. Accordingly, the communication unit 10 sequentially transfers the received data to the working memory 6b while developing the data on the memory.

  The erasing unit 12 performs processing of deleting data temporarily saved in the hard disk 13 under the control of the device control unit 8 when a hold period to be described later elapses.

  In the digital multi-function peripheral 1 having the above-described configuration, a facsimile machine 31 managed by, for example, an administrator can be connected to the FAX modem 9 via a telephone line 22, and a network 21 such as a LAN is connected to the communication unit 10. Terminal devices (personal computers) 32, 33 and the like are connected through the Internet, and an Internet FAX 34 and an external personal computer 35 can be connected through the Internet 23. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 of this embodiment is arranged in such a network environment.

  In the present embodiment, the data received from the outside via the network is configured to be expanded into data that can be handled by the device in the communication unit 10, so that the communication unit 10 can check the protection status of the received data. Is possible. That is, it is possible to check whether the data is in a prescribed file format that is not processed or added, whether it is encrypted data, or data with a password. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the device control unit 8 automatically sets the subsequent printout processing method of received data based on the result of confirmation by the communication unit 10.

<Explanation when setting the printout processing method to the device>
Here, as a pre-process for automatically setting the printout processing method in the device control unit 8, a procedure for the user to set the printout processing method in the device is specifically described with reference to FIGS. I will explain it.

  When setting the printout processing method in the device, first, the user presses the function button 42a labeled “user setting” in the input unit 4a shown in FIG. As a result, the user setting screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 4b. This user setting screen is a screen for setting the operation of the device. “Total used number display”, “Screen contrast”, “Data list print”, “Date / time setting”, “Paper tray setting”, “ Various setting keys such as “register partner” are prepared. However, since these contents are not requirements of the present invention, description thereof is omitted here. The user setting screen also includes touch keys labeled “key operator program” for performing more detailed settings. Therefore, when the user touches the touch key 41a described as “key operator program”, the setting screen of the user setting / key operator program shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 4b. In this setting screen, for example, a 5-digit code is required to be input. As shown in FIG. 5, when the codes are sequentially input to the code input window 41b, the display unit 4b displays the toe shown in FIG. The operator program setting screen is displayed. However, this setting screen is a screen mainly operated by a device administrator, a service person, etc., and is not a screen handled by a general user.

  On this setting screen, “Department Management”, “Energy Saving Setting”, “Operation Setting”, “Device Setting”, “System Management Setting”, “Copy Setting”, “Fax / Image Transmission Setting”, “List / Report Print” Various setting keys such as “Change key operator code” and “Product key input” are prepared. However, in this embodiment, since handling of data with a password, which will be described later, is set, other than “device setting” is not used, and therefore description of operations other than “device setting” is omitted. Here, when the user touches the touch key 41c described as “device setting”, a device setting screen of the key operator program shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.

  On this device setting screen, “Document detection device settings”, “Double-sided function use prohibited”, “Mail pin stacker use prohibited”, “Document feed device use prohibited”, and “Paper disc use prohibited” In addition, various setting keys such as “direct print setting”, which is a feature of the present invention, are prepared. Here, when the user checks the horizontal check window 41d labeled “Direct print setting” and touches the “OK” button 41e at the upper right of the screen, the direct print setting screen of the key operator program shown in FIG. Is displayed.

  This direct print setting screen is provided with a selection window (check window) 41f for selecting whether or not direct printing is permitted. Accordingly, by checking this check window, the device control unit 8 conditionally permits the encrypted data (that is, subject to hold) as described below, Internal processing is set to hold direct printing.

  Further, the user checks the check window 41f and then operates the downward cursor button 41g, whereby the direct print setting screen of the key operator program shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display unit 4b.

  This direct print setting screen is a screen that is set when, for example, it is desired to notify the device manager or the like that the direct print data has been received when the direct print data is received. In this case, since the digital copying machine 1 of this embodiment has an Internet FAX function, this notification is a notification by the mail function. Therefore, the user sets the mail address of the desired person as the notification destination on this setting screen. Thereafter, all the settings are completed by touching an “OK” button 41h in the upper right of the screen. That is, the screen again transitions to the state shown in FIG.

<Description of processing when receiving direct print data>
Next, when the device is set as described above, the processing operation of the device when receiving direct print data will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. However, as an example of the received direct print data, three types of data, that is, data created in a prescribed file format, encrypted data, and data with a password will be described as an example.

  When receiving the direct print data, the device control unit 8 stores the reception log in the management unit 11 in order to leave a reception history such as the reception date and time (step S101). Thereafter, the received data is expanded and it is confirmed whether or not the data can be handled (for example, data in a file format such as PDF or FIFF) (step S102).

  As a result, when it is determined that handling is impossible (when it is determined No in step S102), the operation proceeds to step S114, the data is immediately discarded, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that handling is possible (when it is determined Yes in step S102), it is next confirmed whether direct printing is permitted based on the above settings (step S103). As a result, when direct printing is not permitted (that is, when the check is removed from the setting screen in FIG. 8), the operation proceeds to step S114, the data is immediately discarded, and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, in this example, since direct printing is permitted, it is next determined whether or not to notify the device manager or the like that the direct printing data has been received based on the above settings (step S104). As a result, when the notification to the device administrator or the like is set (when the e-mail address is set as the notification destination in the setting screen of FIG. 9), the direct print data has been received to the e-mail address. Is notified (step S105). On the other hand, when notification to the device manager or the like is not set, notification is not performed.

  Next, it is confirmed whether or not the received data is encrypted data (step S106). As a result, when the data is encrypted (when it is determined Yes in step S106), the received data is decrypted and expanded in the working memory 6b of the image processing unit 6a (data A). In this state (step S107), it is next confirmed whether or not a password is added to the data A (step S108). As a result, when the password is not added (when it is determined No in step S108), the expanded data A is saved (saved) in a predetermined area of the hard disk 13 and held (step S109). On the other hand, if a password is added (if determined Yes in step S108), the expanded data is stored in a predetermined area of the hard disk 13 together with the added password and held (step S110). .

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S106 that the data has not been encrypted (No is determined), it is then confirmed whether or not a password is added to the received data (step S111). As a result, when the password is not added (when it is determined No in step S111), the received data is not encrypted, and normal data with no password added (for example, PDF format) In this case, the data A is immediately printed out without being held as in the basic of the direct print function (step S113). On the other hand, when a password is added (when it is determined Yes in step S108), the data A is stored in a predetermined area of the hard disk 13 together with the added password and held (step S112).

  That is, in this embodiment, when direct print data is received, if the received data is simply data of a predetermined file format, it is printed immediately unconditionally, and the received data is encrypted. Is temporarily held, and when a password is added to the received data, it is temporarily held together with the password.

<Description of hold print processing>
Next, regarding the print processing operation of the data held in the hard disk 13 by the above processing at the time of receiving the direct print data, refer to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 and the display screen examples of the display unit 4b shown in FIGS. To explain.

  When printing the held data, the user presses the function button 42b labeled “printer” of the input unit 4a shown in FIG. Thereby, a list screen of the print hold list (job list) shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display unit 4b (step S201). The user selects data to be printed from this list screen (step S202). Here, when data to be printed is not selected from this list (when it is determined No in step S202), the user is confirmed whether or not to cancel the hold print (step S203). If cancel is selected, the process ends. On the other hand, if it is just an operation error and there is no intention to cancel, the process returns to step S202 to select data to be printed again.

  On the other hand, when arbitrary data is selected in step S202 (when it is determined Yes), it is confirmed whether or not a password is added to the data (step S204).

  Here, the data “direct document 123” received as direct print and an arbitrary terminal device (for example, the terminal device 32) in the local area network 21 are transmitted to the print hold list list screen shown in FIG. The document data “document 456” having the user name “user DEF” and the table data having the user name “user GHI” transmitted from another terminal device (for example, the terminal device 33) in the local area network 21. “Table 123” is displayed as a print hold list. In this case, it is assumed that the data of “direct document 123” is data with a password. If there is other data that is in print hold, touch the up and down cursor keys on the right side (down cursor key in FIG. 12) to turn the page and turn the print hold list. The display can be switched sequentially.

  Then, as a result of the confirmation in step S204, if a password is added to the selected data (that is, “direct document 123” is selected), as shown in FIG. A password input screen 41i is displayed over the hold list screen (step S205). Therefore, the user inputs the corresponding 5-digit password in the input window 41j of the password input screen 41i.

  The device control unit 8 checks whether or not the input password matches the password stored together with the data on the hard disk 13 (step S206). As a result, if the passwords do not match (if No is determined in step S206), the password is requested to be input again (step S207), and the process returns to step S206. On the other hand, if the input passwords match (if determined Yes in step S206), an output condition setting screen is displayed on the display unit 4b as shown in FIG.

  The user sets output conditions on the output condition setting screen (step S208). Specifically, the number of output copies is set on this output condition setting screen. It also sets how to handle the data after printing.

  If “delete data after printing” is selected, the data of “direct document 123” is printed out (step S209), and then the data of “direct document 123” is deleted from the hard disk 13. That is, in this case, when returning to the print hold list list screen, as shown in FIG. 15, “direct document 123” is deleted, document data “document 456” with user name “user DEF”, and user Only the table data “table 123” having the name “user GHI” is displayed.

  On the other hand, if “save post-print data” is selected, the data of “direct document 123” is stored in the hard disk 13 even after the data of “direct document 123” is printed out (step S209). It will be. That is, in this case, when returning to the print hold list screen, the print hold list screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed.

  Here, in the above description, as shown in the print hold list screen of FIG. 12, the data received from the outside via the Internet 23 (“Direct Document 123”) and the terminal device 32 via the network 21. , 33 and the like (“user DEF document 456”, “user GHI table 123”) are displayed in a list without distinction. However, this print hold list may be displayed separately. That is, the screen is distinguished from a print hold list list of data received and held from outside via the Internet 23 and a print hold list list of data received and held from the terminal devices 32 and 33 via the network 21. It may be displayed. In this case, the list screen may be switched by touching the upper and lower cursor keys on the right side of the screen shown in FIG. In the above description, when the function button 42b labeled “printer” of the input unit 4a shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the print hold list list screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. When the function button 42b labeled "Printer" is pressed, a confirmation screen (not shown) for inquiring the user which print hold list to display is displayed on the display unit 4b, and the user confirms this confirmation. By selecting one of the lists on the screen, the selected print hold list may be displayed on the display unit 4b in the form shown in FIG.

  Further, in the present embodiment, there is provided a deleting unit 12 that deletes data for which output (printout) is stagnant from the hard disk 13 when a preset hold period elapses. That is, when a preset hold period elapses, the device control unit 8 controls the erasing unit 12 to erase data in the hard disk 13 that has passed the hold period. In this case, data held as direct print (“direct document 123”) and data held by a print instruction from the printer drivers of the terminal devices 32 and 33 (“user DEF document 456”, “user GHI creation”). The holding period may be varied according to each of the table 123 "). That is, the handling of data held by direct printing and the data held by an instruction from the printer drivers of the terminal devices 32 and 33 are different. Specifically, in the case of direct printing, since it may take time to recognize when it is sent, the hold period by direct printing is more than the hold period by print instructions from the printer drivers such as the terminal devices 32 and 33. It is conceivable to keep this longer. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 12, the hold period of data held as direct print (“direct document 123”) is 5 days, and is held by a print instruction from the printer driver of the terminal devices 32 and 33. The hold period of the data (“user DEF document 456”, “user GHI table 123”) may be 3 days. However, from the viewpoint of security, the direct print hold period may be shortened. Therefore, the hold period may be arbitrarily set by an administrator who manages the device.

  The above <Description of processing when receiving direct print data> and <Description of hold print processing> are mainly descriptions of processing when data from an external direct print is received. The hold print processing on the printer driver side of the terminal device including the case where the data sent by the confidential mail is opened on the application and printed out will be described.

<Description of Hold Print Processing in Printer Driver of Terminal Device>
The hold print processing operation in the printer driver of the terminal device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 16 and the display screen example of the display unit 4b shown in FIG.

  For example, when data sent in a confidential mail with a password to the terminal device 32 is opened by the terminal device 32, for example, when the file of the data is opened on the application, first, the data is used for the file. Whether or not there is a restriction on the user, that is, whether or not a password is necessary (step S301), and if a password is necessary (if it is determined Yes in step S301), request the input of the password (Step S302). Since this user (for example, “abcd”) should basically know the user who uses the terminal device 32, the user inputs the password “abcd” in accordance with this request. When the password match is confirmed, the file data is opened (step S303).

  Next, when the user issues a print instruction (for example, selecting “file” and “print” sequentially from the opened file data screen) in order to print the opened data (step S304), Upon receiving this print instruction, the printer driver confirms whether or not a password has been assigned to the print data (step S305). As a result, if it is determined that a password has been assigned (Yes in step S305), the assigned password “abcd” is used as it is as a confidential print password (password). The printer driver that has received the print instruction displays a print setting screen shown in FIG. 17 on the screen of the terminal device 32. When the user selects, for example, single-sided printing from this screen and clicks the “job management” button at the lower right of the screen, the job management screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed. This screen shows that the print data is held without being printed in the digital multi-function peripheral 1, and that the password “abcd” is set as the password. When the user clicks the “OK” button at the lower right of the job management screen, the print screen shown in FIG. 19 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 19, a message screen for notifying that the password “abcd” given as the confidential mail is used as it is as the personal identification number of the confidential print is superimposed on the print screen at this time ( Step S306). When the user confirms the message content and clicks the “OK” button at the lower right of the screen, the print data is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 together with the password “abcd” (step S307).

  On the other hand, the digital copying machine 1 stores the password-added data on the hard disk 13 as a hold print without printing, similarly to the process described in the above <Description of process when receiving direct print data> (step S308). ).

  If it is determined in step S305 that a password has not been assigned (No), it is checked whether the data is encrypted data (step S309). As a result, if the data is not encrypted data (if NO is determined in step S309), the print data is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 as it is (step S310). As a result, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 immediately prints out the received print data in the same manner as the processing described in the above <Description of hold print processing> (step S322).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S309 that the print data is encrypted data (Yes), the encrypted data is transmitted as it is to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (step S311). At this time, on the screen of the terminal device 32, as shown in FIG. 20, a message notifying that it is an encrypted mail and treated as a hold print is displayed (step S312).

  On the other hand, in the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the received encrypted data is stored in the hard disk 13 as hold print data in the same manner as the process described in <Description of Hold Print Process> (step S313).

  Thereafter, the user goes to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and presses the function button 42b labeled “printer” in the input unit 4a shown in FIG. 2 (step S314). Thereby, for example, a list screen of the print hold list shown in FIG. 21 is displayed on the display unit 4b (step S315). Here, assuming that “user DEF document 789” in FIG. 21 is data stored together with the previous password “abcd”, the user selects “user DEF document 789” as data to be printed from this list screen. (Step S316). The device control unit 8 checks whether or not a password (password) is added to the selected data (step S317). In this case, since the password (password “abcd”) is added to the selected data (Yes is determined in step S317), a password input screen (on the print hold list screen of the display unit 4b) 13) are displayed in a superimposed manner (step S318). Therefore, the user inputs the above “abcd” in the input window of the password input screen.

  The device control unit 8 checks whether or not the input password matches the password stored together with the data on the hard disk 13 (step S319). As a result, if the passwords do not match (if No is determined in step S319), the password is requested to be input again (step S320), and the process returns to step S319. In this case, since the input passwords match (Yes is determined in step S319), the device control unit 8 displays an output condition setting screen on the display unit 4b as shown in FIG.

  The user sets output conditions on this output condition setting screen (step S321). Specifically, the number of output copies is set on this output condition setting screen. It also sets how to handle the data after printing.

  If “delete data after printing” is selected, the data of “user DEF document 789” is printed out (step S322), and then the data of “user DEF document 789” is deleted from the hard disk 13. .

  On the other hand, if “save data after printing” is selected, the data of “user DEF document 789” is stored in the hard disk 13 even after the data of “user DEF document 789” is printed out (step S322). Will be.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an outline of an electrical configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention and a connection relationship with peripheral devices. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of an operation part. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for setting a printout processing method in a device. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for setting a printout processing method in a device. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for setting a printout processing method in a device. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for setting a printout processing method in a device. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for setting a printout processing method in a device. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for setting a printout processing method in a device. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for setting a printout processing method in a device. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing operations of the device when direct print data is received. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which performs the printing process of the data hold | maintained in the hard disk. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which performs the printing process of the data hold | maintained in the hard disk. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which performs the printing process of the data hold | maintained in the hard disk. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which performs the printing process of the data hold | maintained in the hard disk. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of a print hold list list after performing a print process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the hold print in the printer driver of a terminal device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display screen at the time of the print setting with a terminal device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display screen at the time of the print setting with a terminal device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display screen at the time of the print setting with a terminal device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display screen at the time of the print setting with a terminal device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which performs the printing process of the data hold | maintained in the hard disk. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which performs the printing process of the data hold | maintained in the hard disk.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital MFP 2 Image Reading Unit 2a CCD
2b Document detection sensor 4 Operation unit 4a Input unit 4b Display unit 6 Image forming unit 6a Image processing unit 6b Working memory 6c Encryption / decryption unit 6d Printing unit 8 Device control unit 9 FAX modem 10 Communication unit 11 Management unit 12 Erase Means 13 Hard Disk (HD)
21 Network (LAN)
22 Telephone network 23 Internet 31 Facsimile device 33, 33 Terminal device (PC)
34 Internet FAX
35 External PC

Claims (10)

In an image output device that outputs an image based on data received from outside,
A protection status checking means for checking the status of protection of received data;
An image output apparatus comprising: control means for controlling an image output process in accordance with the data protection state confirmed by the protection state confirmation means.   The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a setting unit that sets an output process as an image according to a protection state of received data.   The control unit includes an encryption confirmation unit that confirms whether or not the received data is encrypted, and the setting unit outputs an image according to the presence or absence of the encryption confirmed by the encryption confirmation unit. The image output apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a process is set.   The control means includes a password confirmation unit that confirms the presence or absence of a password that restricts use of the received data, and the setting unit outputs an image according to the presence or absence of the password confirmed by the password confirmation unit. The image output apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a process is set.   4. The control unit according to claim 3, wherein when it is confirmed that the received data is encrypted or a password is added, when the data is output as an image, the control unit performs output according to an instruction from the user. Alternatively, the image output device according to claim 4. In an image output device that prints out an image based on data received from outside,
An image output apparatus comprising processing method setting means for presetting a print processing method when a direct print is received.   The processing method setting means sets a processing method to print out unconditionally when the received direct print data is only simple data of a predetermined file format, and when the data is encrypted Processing to hold once and set a processing method to print out in response to a user's output instruction. When a password is added to the data, hold the data once and print out upon receiving a password input by the user The image output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a method is set.   7. The image output apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising output setting means for setting whether to output data received by direct printing.   7. The image output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein data to be processed as direct print and data to be processed according to a print instruction from a normal driver are separated and displayed as a job list.   The printer is further equipped with a deletion unit that deletes the print data whose output is stagnant from the device when a preset hold period elapses, and holds the data that is held as a direct print and a print instruction from a normal driver. The image output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the hold period is different depending on each of the data being recorded.

Images