JP2008129941A - Image processor, image processing method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform image processing that can set a security level different by each page in a page unit by a password. <P>SOLUTION: This image processor is provided with a protection image processing means (S205) for performing image processing for obtaining an output corresponding to a print quality rank specified by an authenticated password when one optional password among a plurality of passwords is authenticated for a print job with the plurality of passwords set therein, wherein the print quality rank is set in each password in a page unit (S204). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer program that can set image quality in units of print pages.

  In a printing apparatus such as a printer or an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), secure printing is becoming popular as a form of a printing method. Secure printing is a method that enables printing only when authentication with a password entered by a user is obtained when printing a confidential document.

Conventionally, this secure printing has been performed in units of print jobs, but a method of printing in units of pages is considered (see Patent Document 1 below). In this printing method, secure print is specified on a page-by-page basis, and if user authentication is obtained with a password, the same security level is set for all specified pages, and only the specified pages are output. To do.
JP 2002-187317 A

  However, the conventional printing method has only one password that can be set for one print job. Also, with the conventional printing method, the same security level is set for all selected pages in the print job, so it is possible to set a print quality rank that gives a difference in print quality for each page. However, there was a problem that it was not convenient for secure printing.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer program that can set different security levels for each page by a password. .

  The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

  (1) An image processing apparatus comprising: password setting means for setting a plurality of passwords for one print job; and print quality rank setting means for setting a print quality rank for each password. .

  (2) The rank of the print quality includes, in addition to an unrestricted operation rank in which no restriction is imposed on the print quality, monochrome output for printing with a monochrome image, low-quality output for printing with a lower quality than normal, and printing. The image processing apparatus according to (1), including any one of a restriction operation rank in which a blank sheet is output without being printed, and printing is not performed and no sheet is output.

  (3) The image processing apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the rank of the print quality is set for each page.

  (4) When a plurality of passwords are set, a receiving means for receiving a print job in which a print quality rank is set for each password, and when any one of the plurality of passwords is authenticated, the authentication is performed. An image processing apparatus comprising: protected image processing means for performing image processing for obtaining an output corresponding to the rank of the print quality specified by the password.

  (5) In addition to the non-restricted operation rank in which the print quality is not limited, the rank of the print quality is a monochrome output for printing with a monochrome image, a low image quality output for printing with a lower quality than normal, and a print. The image processing apparatus according to (4), including any one of a restriction operation rank in which a blank sheet is output without being printed, and printing is not performed and a sheet is not output.

  (6) The image processing apparatus according to (4) or (5), wherein the rank of the print quality is set for each page.

(7) a password setting step for setting a plurality of passwords for one print job, a print quality rank setting step for setting a print quality rank for each password,
An image processing method characterized by comprising:

  (8) A reception step of receiving a print job in which a plurality of passwords are set and a print quality rank is set for each password, and if any one of the plurality of passwords is authenticated, the authentication is performed. And a protected image processing step for performing image processing for obtaining an output corresponding to the rank of the print quality specified by the password.

  (9) An image which causes a computer to execute a password setting procedure for setting a plurality of passwords for one print job and a print quality rank setting procedure for setting a print quality rank for each password. Processing program.

  (10) A reception procedure for receiving a print job in which a plurality of passwords are set and a print quality rank is set for each password, and when any one of the plurality of passwords is authenticated, the authentication is performed. An image processing program for causing a computer to execute a protected image processing procedure for performing image processing for obtaining an output corresponding to the rank of print quality specified by a password.

  (11) A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 9 or 10 is recorded.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to set a plurality of passwords specifying the rank of print quality for each print page. Accordingly, different security levels can be set for each page according to the password in accordance with the characteristics of the confidential document, and printing can be performed.

  For example, in addition to the unrestricted operation rank of “no restriction” that does not place restrictions on print quality, “monochrome output” for printing in monochrome images, “low image quality output” for printing at lower quality than normal, and printing It can be set to one of the restricted operation ranks of “blank paper output” for outputting in a blank state without printing, or “no output” for not printing and paper output, and the print output can be changed depending on the print quality. it can.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform fine security settings for each page with a plurality of passwords in accordance with the characteristics of the confidential document.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The printing system includes a host computer PC1 as a print instruction apparatus that instructs to print a document, and a printer 2 as a printing apparatus that performs printing based on a print instruction received from the PC1. It is connected so that it can communicate. Note that the PC 1 and the printer 2 may be directly connected (locally connected) between devices without going through the network 3.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PC 1 shown in FIG. The PC 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk 14, a display 15, an input device 16, and a network interface 17, which are connected to each other via a bus 18 for exchanging signals.

  The CPU 11 performs control of each part and various arithmetic processes according to the program. The ROM 12 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 13 temporarily stores programs and data as a work area. The hard disk 14 stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

  Here, the hard disk 14 is installed with an application for creating a document file and a printer driver for converting the document file into print job data described in a language interpretable by the printer 2. The printer driver has a function of setting a print output condition, a preview image display instruction, and a print instruction for a document created by using an application. Here, the preview image refers to an image that shows a print result in advance. The printer driver includes a program for displaying a driver screen for performing these settings and instructions, and a program for displaying a preview image.

  The display 15 is an LCD, a CRT display, or the like, and is used for displaying various information. The input device 16 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used for inputting various information.

  The network interface 17 is an interface for communicating with other devices via the network 3, and standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), token ring, and FDDI are used.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 2 shown in FIG. The printer 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a hard disk 24, an operation panel unit 25, a printing unit 26, and a network interface 27, which are connected to each other via a bus 28 for exchanging signals. . Of the parts of the printer 2, the parts having the same functions as those of the parts of the PC 1 are not described in order to avoid duplication.

  Here, in the ROM 22 or the hard disk 24, in addition to a normal processing program such as a drawing process for expanding print data received from the PC 1 into image data in bitmap format and a print process for printing image data on paper, the printer 2 Stores an image processing program for determining the print output condition in relation to the password.

  The operation panel unit 25 includes a touch panel, a numeric keypad, a start button, a stop button, and the like, and is used for displaying various information and inputting various information. The printing unit 26 prints various data on a recording material such as paper using a known image forming process such as an electrophotographic process.

  By the way, when printing an arbitrary file, the user normally uses a printer driver to convert the file into a page description language (PDL: Page Description Language) such as PostScript (registered trademark) as a process on the PC 1 side. Send to. When confidential document data is created in an environment that takes such a transmission form, the file cannot be placed in a shared space such as a data server in order to prevent browsing by an unspecified number of people. Therefore, a method is conceivable in which the confidential data is stored in the printer 2 as print data, a password for printing is set so that unauthorized persons cannot print, and the confidential document is stored.

  However, the level of control in which printing is permitted or not permitted by a password prohibits printing of the entire document, resulting in a problem that convenience is reduced.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of passwords that specify the rank of print quality for each page are set for each print job to be stored. And according to each password entered by the user at the time of printing, the rank of print quality such as “No restriction”, “Monochrome output”, “Low image quality output”, “Blank output”, “No output” is realized for each page Therefore, the image data by the print job is handled or image processing is performed on the image data (in this specification, both are simply referred to as “protective image processing”).

  “Unrestricted” means that the protected image processing is performed with a non-restricted operation rank in which no restriction is placed on the print quality as the print quality rank, and the page set with the print quality “unrestricted” rank. Is output according to the settings of the saved print job.

  In contrast, “monochrome output”, “low image quality output”, “blank paper output”, and “no output” tend to be lower in print quality rank than the print job settings in which the print quality is stored. The protection image processing of the restricted operation rank to be restricted is performed. Of these, “monochrome output” is image processing with a restricted operation rank that prints with a monochrome image, and pages set to the rank of print quality “monochrome output” are forcibly converted to monochrome images regardless of whether they are color images. Is output. “Low image quality output” is protected image processing with a limited operation rank that performs printing at a lower quality than normal. Pages set to a rank of print quality “low image quality output” are output with reduced resolution. “Blank Output” is a protected image process with a restricted operation rank that outputs a blank page without printing, and pages set to the rank of print quality “Blank Output” are forcibly output as blank pages. . “Do not output” is protected image processing with a restricted operation rank in which printing is not performed and paper is not output, and a page set to a rank of print quality “not output” is not output itself.

  FIG. 4 shows a print setting screen 31 of the printer driver displayed on the PC 1. In the print setting screen 31, there are three items, “Secure Save”, “Normal Save”, and “Print”, as a “Output Method” setting field 32 in a pull-down display method. Alternatively, it can be selected. Among these, “Secure Save” is an output method in which a print job in which a print quality rank for each page corresponding to the password and the password is set is stored in the internal storage device of the printer 2. “Normal save” is an output method in which a print job in which such a print quality rank is not set is saved in the internal storage device of the printer 2. “Print” is a setting for causing the printer 2 to immediately perform printing without performing an operation of saving a print job. In this embodiment, the storage device of the printer 2 refers to an internal storage device such as the RAM 23 or the hard disk 24 of the printer 2, but may be an external storage device (hard disk or the like) of the printer 2.

  When “Secure Save” is selected from these output method items, the window of FIG. 5 is displayed.

  FIG. 5 shows a secure save setting screen 33 as print quality rank setting means for setting a password for a print job and a print quality level for each page corresponding to the password. The secure save setting screen 33 includes item fields such as “setting number”, “password”, “unify settings for all pages”, “print quality”, and an image display area (page preview) of “page preview”. (Region) 34 is provided for three pages from page 1 to page 3.

  An item column (setting number column) 35 of “setting number” is a column for specifying and setting a setting management number, and one of the numbers from 1 to 5 displayed as a pull-down as shown in FIG. 6 is selected. Thus, it is possible to designate and set management numbers for five different print quality ranks. The “Password” item field (password entry field) 36 below is a field for writing and setting a password.

  Further, the item column (unify all page settings) 37 below that includes a check box 38 and a print quality uniform input column 39, and the check box 38 is checked as shown in FIG. As a result, the unified print quality input field 39 below becomes effective, and it is possible to designate printing of all pages with the same print quality. The print quality that can be specified in the print quality unified input field 39 can be selected and specified from the ranks of “no restriction”, “monochrome output”, “low image quality output”, “blank paper output”, and “no output”. In the example of FIG. 7, the check box 38 of the all page setting unified field 37 is checked and “no restriction” is set in the print quality unified input field 39. If the check box 38 of the all page setting unified field 37 is checked, the setting of “print quality” for each page (setting of the print quality rank) described below cannot be performed. The function of “unifying all page settings” is advantageous in that the same print quality rank can be set for all pages and the print quality rank can be easily set when the number of pages is large.

  On the other hand, if the check box 38 of the unify all page settings column 37 is unchecked, the above-mentioned “unify all page settings” function becomes invalid, and the “print quality” for each page in the following page unit is disabled. Setting (rank setting) can be performed.

  Next, the “print quality” item column (print quality rank setting column) 41 arranged in three stages in the middle frame 40 is an item column for setting the print quality rank for each page. In this embodiment, first, second, and third print quality rank input fields 42 for three pages are prepared as the print quality rank setting fields 41. In the print quality rank input fields 42 of the respective pages, As shown in FIG. 8, the print quality rank is displayed in a pull-down display of five types of “unlimited”, “monochrome output”, “low image quality output”, “blank paper output”, and “no output”, and one of these is selected. It is possible to specify input.

  An image display area (page preview area) 34 of “page preview” is an area for displaying a preview image for each page, and within the frame in the positional relationship corresponding to the three print quality rank input fields 42. There are provided “page 1 preview”, “page 2 preview”, and “page 3 preview”.

  Note that the number of print quality rank input fields 42 is three, and the number of page preview areas 34 corresponding to this is three. This embodiment prints a three-page confidential document from the PC 1. This is because the case is described as an example, and the number of the print quality rank input field 42 and the page preview area 34 is not particularly limited, and any number can be provided.

  A print job transmitted from the PC 1 to the printer 2 is created in a page description language by the printer driver of the PC 1 and transmitted. At this time, the printing conditions including the print quality rank are described in the print job. When printing conditions such as a print quality rank are designated, commands such as those shown in FIG. 9 are included in the printer description language using, for example, PJL (Printer Job Language).

  FIG. 9 is an extract of the secure print setting unit from the PJL of the print job created on the setting screen described with reference to FIGS.

  Here, the items of the secure print setting unit will be described.

  HOLD = ON: This print job is a saved job.

  HOLD = OFF: Indicates that this print job is not a saved job.

  HOLDTYPE = SECURE: Indicates that the print job output method is secure save.

  HOLDTYPE = NORMAL: Indicates that the output method of this print job is normal save.

  SETSECURENO = #: Indicates the number of passwords set for this print job (#: setting numbers 1 to 5).

  SET # _PASSWORD = *********: Indicates that the password of the setting number (# = 1 to 5) is “******”.

  SET # _SAMEQUALITY = ON: Indicates that “unify settings for all pages” of the setting number (# = 1 to 5) is valid.

  SET # _SAMEQUALITY = OFF: Indicates that “unify settings for all pages” of the setting number (# = 1 to 5) is invalid.

  SET # _QUALITYJOB = NOLIMIT: Indicates that the print quality rank setting for all pages of the setting number (# = 1-5) is “no restriction”.

  SET # _QUALITYJOB = MONOCHROME: Indicates that the print quality rank setting of all pages of the setting number (# = 1 to 5) is “monochrome output”.

SET # _QUALITYJOB = LOWQUALITY: indicates that the print quality rank setting for all pages of the setting number (# = 1-5) is “low image quality output” SET # _QUALITYJOB = BLANK: setting number (# = 1-5) This indicates that the print quality rank setting of all pages is “blank output”.

  SET # _QUALITYJOB = NOPAINT: This indicates that the print quality rank setting of all pages of the setting number (# = 1 to 5) is “not output”.

  SET # _QUALITYPAGE (#: setting number 1-5, ◎: page number 1-Nmax) indicates the print quality rank setting of page number ◎ of setting number #.

 That is, SET # _QUALITYPAGE == NOLIMIT: The setting number (# = 1-5) and the page quality (◎ = 1-Nmax) print quality rank setting indicates “no restriction”.

  SET # _QUALITYPAGE ◎ = MONOCHROME: The setting number (# = 1 to 5) and the page number ◎ (◎ = 1 to Nmax) indicate that the print quality rank setting is “monochrome output”.

  SET # _QUALITYPAGE = LOWQUALITY: The setting number (# = 1-5) and the page quality (◎ = 1-Nmax) print quality rank setting indicates “low image quality output”.

  SET # _QUALITYPAGE A = BLANK: Setting number (# = 1-5) and page number A (A = 1-Nmax) indicates that the print quality rank setting is “blank paper output”.

  SET # _QUALITYPAGE = NOPAINT: The setting number (# = 1-5) and the page quality (◎ = 1-Nmax) print quality rank setting indicates “not output”.

  The print job including the PJL secure print setting unit set as described above is transmitted from the PC 1 to the printer 2.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing in the printer 2 that is performed by receiving this print job.

  The printer 2 continues to wait until it receives a print job transmitted from the PC 1 (S101). When a print job is received, it is determined whether or not the print job is a save job (save designation) by analyzing the PJL secure save setting section (second line in FIG. 9) of the print job (step S102). .

  If the print job is not a save job, that is, if the “HOLD” setting of the secure save setting unit is “OFF” (S102: NO), the process proceeds to step S103. Then, normal print processing (S103) such as print job analysis processing / rasterization processing is performed, a printed matter is output, and the processing ends.

  If the print job is a saved job, that is, if the “HOLD” setting of the secure save setting unit is “ON” (S102: YES), the process proceeds to step S104 to determine whether the print job has a password. To do. That is, by analyzing the secure save setting part of the print job, whether or not the password setting is included in the print job, whether the “HOLDTYPE” setting of the secure save setting part is “SECURE” or “NORMAL” It is judged by whether or not.

  If the print job has a password, that is, if the “HOLDTYPE” setting of the secure save setting unit is HOLDTYPE = SECURE (S104: YES), the process proceeds to step S105, and the received print job, more precisely, the password The print job in which the print quality setting for each page corresponding to the password is set is stored in the internal storage device of the printer 2 (S105).

  If the print job does not have a password, that is, if the “HOLDTYPE” setting of the secure save setting unit is “HOLDTYPE = NORMAL” (S104: NO), the process proceeds to step S106, and the print job without the password is assigned to the printer. 2 is stored in the internal storage device 2 (S106).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process for printing the print job (referred to as a stored job in this specification) stored in the internal storage device of the printer 2. Note that the algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 is stored as a control program in a storage unit such as the hard disk 24, and is read out to the RAM 23 and executed by the CPU 21 when the operation starts.

  When printing, the user selects a saved job saved in the internal storage device of the printer 2 from the operation panel unit 25 of the printer 2 or the PC 1 and instructs printing of the saved job. FIG. 12 shows a stored job selection screen 43. The stored job 44 is displayed in the display field 45 in the form of a list, and any one of the lists of the plurality of stored jobs 44 is selected. Selection can be instructed by inverting and pressing the print button 46. In this way, the user selects a print target from the saved jobs 44 saved in the internal storage device of the printer 2.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 11, the printer 2 first analyzes the PJL secure save setting unit (FIG. 9) of the save job 44 to determine whether the save job 44 to be printed has a password, that is, the print job includes a password setting. It is determined whether it has been (S201).

  If the save job 44 to be printed does not have a password, that is, if the “HOLDTYPE” setting of the secure save setting unit is “HOLDTYPE = NORMAL” (S201: NO), the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, print processing (S202) such as analysis processing / rasterization processing of the saved job 44 is performed, a printed matter is output, and the processing ends.

  If the save job 44 to be printed has a password, that is, if the “HOLDTYPE” setting of the secure save setting unit is “HOLDTYPE = SECURE” (S201: YES), the process proceeds to step S203. In step S203, the user is requested to input the password to the printer 2 from the operation panel of the printer 2 or the PC 1.

  FIG. 13 shows a screen (password input screen) 47 for inputting the password. The user can input the password by pressing the OK button 49 after inputting the password in the password input field 48 in the password input screen 47.

  When the password is input from the user, the program proceeds to step S204, and checks whether the input password matches the stored password (S204). This is done by comparing the password entered by the user with the password set in “SET # _PASSWORD” of the secure save setting section of the save job 44.

  If the input password does not match the password of the saved job 44 (S204: NO), the process ends.

  If the input password matches the password of the saved job 44 (S204: YES), the process proceeds to step S205, and the protected image processing is performed according to the print quality rank corresponding to the input password (S205). Print processing is performed with the print quality of each page set in the password.

  Here, when the password input by the user matches the one of the setting number 1 among the three setting numbers 1 to 3 set in the secure save setting unit (FIG. 9) of the save job 44, that is, “ When the password “*******” set in “SET1_PASSWORD = *******” is matched, the protected image processing operation is as follows.

  When “SET1_SAMEQUALITY” (unify all page settings) is “ON”, “Unlimited”, “Monochrome output”, “Low quality output”, “Blank output”, “No output” set in “SET1_QUALITYJOB” ”, All pages are printed at the same print quality level.

  When “SET1_SAMEQUALITY” (unify the settings for all pages) is “OFF”, the “SET1_QUALITYJOB” setting is ignored and “no limit”, “monochrome output”, “low image quality output” set in “SET1_QUALITYPAGE1”, The first page is output by either “blank paper output” or “no output”, and “unlimited”, “monochrome output”, “low image quality output”, “blank paper output”, “white paper output” set in “SET1_QUALITYPAGE2”, “ The second page is output by either “No Output”, and any of “No Limit”, “Monochrome Output”, “Low Quality Output”, “Blank Output”, “No Output” set in “SET1_QUALITYPAGE3” Thus, the third page is output.

  14 and 15 are flowcharts showing protected image processing means (details of protected image processing in step S205) based on the print quality rank corresponding to the input password.

  In FIG. 14, first, the page counter is initialized with n = 1 (S301), and the print quality rank of the nth page in the secure save setting section of the saved job corresponding to the input password is stored in the page quality [n] register. Is set (S302). Initially, the print quality rank of n = 1 page is set. Next, the n page counter is incremented by +1 (S303), and the above is repeated until the number of pages of the saved job is reached (S304). The print quality rank set on each page is selected from “monochrome output”, “low image quality output”, “blank paper output”, and “no output” preset by the user in FIG.

  In this way, the print quality rank for each page is stored in the memory of the printer 2 for all pages of the saved job from the secure save setting unit of the saved job (steps S301 to S304). Then, the process proceeds to step S305 in FIG.

  In FIG. 15, in order to perform the image processing of the page according to the print quality rank, the page counter is initialized with n = 1 (S305). First, it is determined whether the print quality of the nth page is “NOPRINT” (S306). When the print quality rank is “NOPRINT” (S306: YES), the process proceeds to step S315, and printing of the nth page is skipped.

  If the print quality is not “NOPRINT” (S306: NO), the process proceeds to step S307. In step S307, it is checked whether the print quality rank of the nth page is “BLANK” (blank paper output). When the print quality rank is “BLANK” (S307: YES), the process proceeds to step S308, the nth page is created as a blank page (S308), and the process proceeds to step S314.

  When the print quality rank is not “BLANK” (blank output) (S307: NO), the process proceeds to step S309. In step S309, raster data for the nth page is created by rasterization processing (S309), and the process proceeds to step S310.

  In step S310, it is determined whether or not the print quality rank of the nth page is “MONOCHROME” (monochrome output). When the rank of the print quality is “MONOCHROME” (S310: YES), the process proceeds to step S311 to perform image processing for converting the color data of the raster data into monochrome data, and the process proceeds to step S314. When the print quality rank is not “MONOCHROME” (monochrome output) (S310: NO), the process proceeds to step S314.

  In step S312, it is determined whether the print quality rank of the nth page is “LOW QUALITY” (low image quality output). If the rank of the print quality is “LOW QUALITY” (S312: YES), image processing for converting the resolution of the raster data to a low resolution is performed (S313), and the process proceeds to step S314.

  When the print quality rank is not “LOW QUALITY” (low image quality output) (S312: NO), the process proceeds to step S314. In step S314, the created nth page is output, and the process proceeds to step S315. In step S315, the page counter is incremented by +1.

  After that, it is checked whether the protected image processing of all pages has been performed for the saved job (S316). If there is a page that has not yet been processed, that is, if the value of the page counter is equal to or less than the number of pages of the saved job 44 (S316: YES), the process returns to step S306, and the above steps S306 to S316 are repeated. When the image processing for all the pages of the saved job 44 is completed (S316: NO), the printing process is terminated.

<Operation example 1>
Next, as operation example 1, when a confidential document of 3 pages is printed from the PC 1 and the rank of the print quality with respect to the password is set as follows, the protected image processing for each page to be obtained Describe the results.
(A) Setting number 1
·password:**********
・ Unify all page settings: OFF
-Uniform print quality: No limit-First page print quality: No limit-Second page print quality: Blank paper output-Third page print quality: No limit (b) Setting number 2
·password:*******
・ Unify all page settings: OFF
-Unified print quality: No restriction-Print quality of the first page: No restriction-Print quality of the second page: Blank paper output-Print quality of the third page: Blank paper output (c) Setting number 3
·password:*********
・ Unify all page settings: OFF
-Uniform print quality: No restrictions-Print quality of the first page: Blank paper output-Print quality of the second page: Blank paper output-Print quality of the third page: Blank paper output If set as above, the type of password to be entered Thus, all users can be classified into the following four groups with respect to confidential documents.

  (A) User A who is not given a password cannot print.

  (B) As shown in FIG. 16, the user B who is informed of the password of the setting number 1 is that the first page and the third page are print outputs with no restriction on the print quality, and the second page is blank page output. Print result.

  (C) As shown in FIG. 17, the user C who is informed of the password of setting number 2 is that the first page is a print output with no restriction on the print quality, and the second and third pages are blank output. Print result.

  (D) As shown in FIG. 18, the user D who is informed of the password of the setting number 3 has a print result that the first page, the second page, and the third page are all blank pages.

  When the print quality rank is selected as “MONOCHROME” (monochrome output), a color page is printed as a monochrome page as shown in FIG. However, because of the difficulty in drawing the color display, in FIG. 19, the characters on the color page are displayed in a normal typeface without inclination, and the characters on the monochrome page are displayed in an inclined form.

  Furthermore, when “LOW QUALITY” (low quality output) is selected as the print quality rank, printing is performed with the page resolution lowered as shown in FIG.

<Operation example 2>
As an example almost the same as the operation example 1 described above, the password for the print job of the confidential document and the print quality setting screen for each page corresponding to the password (FIG. 5) on the print quality for all the pages “no restriction” ”Is set.

  By doing so, it is possible to classify all users into the following two groups with respect to confidential documents in the same flow as in the first operation example.

  (A) A user who is not taught a password cannot print.

  (B) A user who is taught a password can print without restriction.

  According to the embodiment described above, by setting a password designating the rank of the print quality for each page in the print data to be stored, “no restriction”, “ The print output can be changed according to the print quality rank such as “monochrome output”, “low image quality output”, “blank paper output”, “not output”. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to select from a simple security setting as to whether printing is possible or not to a fine security setting for each page with a plurality of passwords according to the characteristics of the confidential document. become.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the protection image processing when the print job including the print quality rank set together with the password is transmitted to the printer and the printing is actually performed based on the print quality rank received by the printer has been described. . However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, even when a print job including the received print quality rank is stored in the internal storage device of the printer and the image is displayed with the print quality rank based on the stored job, the protected image processing is performed. The present invention can be applied to.

  In addition, the present invention is generally applied to a printer, but can also be applied to other printing apparatuses such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a multi-function peripheral (FMP).

  The means and method for performing various processes in the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment can be realized by either a dedicated hardware circuit or a programmed computer. The program may be applied by a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk or a CD ROM, or may be provided online via a network such as the Internet. In this case, the program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred to and stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk. The program may be provided as a single application software, or may be incorporated in the software of the device as one function of the device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of PC shown by FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print setting screen of a printer driver. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen for a print job password and a print quality for each page corresponding to the password. It is a figure which shows the change in the setting screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows the change in the setting screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows the change in the setting screen of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an extracted secure print setting unit from a PJL of a print job. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a print job is received by a printer. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print processing of a saved job in a printer. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a selection screen for selecting a print target from a stored job stored in an internal storage device of a printer. It is a figure which shows the screen for inputting a password with respect to a printer. It is a flowchart which shows the first half of the image processing by the printing quality according to an input password. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the second half of image processing with print quality according to an input password. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an output example with a password of setting number 1 in the print job of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an output example with a password of setting number 2 in the print job of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an output example with a password of setting number 3 in the print job of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an output example when the print quality is monochrome output. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an output example when the print quality is set to low image quality output.

Explanation of symbols

1 PC,
2 printer,
3 network,
11 CPU,
12 ROM,
13 RAM,
14 hard disk,
15 display,
16 input devices,
17 network interface,
18 Bus,
21 CPU,
22 ROM,
23 RAM,
24 hard disk,
25 Operation panel section,
26 printing department,
27 network interface,
28 Bus,
31 Print setting screen,
32 Output method setting field,
33 Secure save setting screen,
34 page preview area,
35 Setting number field,
36 Password input field,
37 All page setting standard field,
38 check boxes,
39 Print quality standard input field,
40 middle frame,
41 Print quality rank setting field,
42. Third print quality rank input field,
43 Saved job selection screen,
44 Saved jobs,
45 Display field,
46 Print button,
47 Password input screen,
48 Password input field,
49 OK button.

Claims (11)

Password setting means for setting a plurality of passwords for one print job;
A print quality rank setting means for setting a print quality rank for each password;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The rank of the print quality is in addition to the non-restricted operation rank in which there is no restriction on the print quality, the monochrome output for printing with a monochrome image, the low image quality output for printing at a lower quality than normal, and without printing Including the limited operation rank of blank paper output in a blank paper state, no printing and no paper output,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rank of the print quality is set for each page. Receiving means for receiving a print job in which a plurality of passwords are set and a print quality rank is set for each password;
Protected image processing means for performing image processing to obtain an output according to the rank of the print quality specified by the authenticated password when any one of the plurality of passwords is authenticated,
An image processing apparatus. The rank of the print quality is in addition to the non-restricted operation rank in which there is no restriction on the print quality, the monochrome output for printing with a monochrome image, the low image quality output for printing at a lower quality than normal, and without printing Including the limited operation rank of blank paper output in a blank paper state, no printing and no paper output,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 4.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rank of the print quality is set for each page. A password setting step for setting a plurality of passwords for one print job;
A print quality rank setting step for setting a print quality rank for each password;
An image processing method characterized by comprising: A receiving step for receiving a print job in which a plurality of passwords are set and a print quality rank is set for each password;
A protected image processing step for performing image processing to obtain an output corresponding to the rank of the print quality specified by the authenticated password when any one of the plurality of passwords is authenticated,
An image processing method. Password setting procedure for setting multiple passwords for one print job,
A print quality rank setting procedure for setting a print quality rank for each password;
An image processing program for causing a computer to execute. A reception procedure for receiving a print job in which a plurality of passwords are set and a print quality rank is set for each password,
A protected image processing procedure for performing image processing to obtain an output corresponding to the rank of the print quality specified by the authenticated password when any one of the plurality of passwords is authenticated;
An image processing program for causing a computer to execute.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the computer program of Claim 9 or 10.

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