JP2009060305A - Image processor, print output device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique capable of preventing waste of printing paper. <P>SOLUTION: An image processor (MFP 1 or the like) includes: an access right information acquisition part 11 for acquiring access right information of a user; an access restriction information acquisition part 12 for acquiring access restriction information set for each page of a processing object document; a determination part 13 for determining whether the user can access each page of the processing object document based on the access right information and the access restriction information; a print output control part 14 for generating print output images of the processing object document by removing pages determined to be inaccessible by the determination part 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that generates a print output image and a technique related thereto.

  There is a technique for restricting print output in units of documents for documents containing confidential information (confidential documents).

  Further, among confidential documents, not only the entire document is confidential information, but also confidential information is included in only some pages of the document. For the latter type of document, there is a demand for restricting print output in units of pages.

  Therefore, for the latter type of document (that is, a document including confidential information on only a part of pages), a technique for restricting the print output of only a part of the page instead of restricting the print output of the entire document has been proposed. ing.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a copy-prohibited page (print-output target document) includes a copy-prohibited page, the copy-prohibited page is printed with a blank page, or the content in the copy-prohibited page Is erased once, and a character such as “copy prohibited” is embedded in the page and printed out.

JP 2006-229709 A

  However, when the above-described method is adopted, even if the page included in the print output target document is a page that cannot be printed out because it does not have access authority, a blank page, copy prohibition, etc. It is always printed out as a page with embedded characters. Therefore, the printing paper is consumed wastefully.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of suppressing waste of printing paper.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 is an image processing apparatus, wherein first acquisition means for acquiring user access authority information, and access restriction information set for each page of the processing target document are acquired. A second acquisition unit that determines whether the user can access each page of the processing target document based on the access authority information and the access restriction information; And a control unit that deletes the page determined to be generated and generates a print output image of the processing target document.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the print output image includes a report page image in which a page number deleted according to a determination result of the determination unit is described. It is characterized by that.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the first acquisition unit acquires, as the access authority information, information related to an access authority level in which any one of a plurality of levels is defined. The second acquisition means acquires, as the access restriction information, information related to an access restriction level in which any one of a plurality of levels is defined, and the determination means includes the access authority level of the user and the document to be processed. It is determined whether or not the user can access each page of the print output target document based on the magnitude relationship with the access restriction level for each page.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, the first acquisition means acquires the access authority level of the user based on a data table that defines the access authority level of each user. It is characterized by doing.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print output apparatus, wherein the first acquisition unit acquires user access authority information, and the second acquisition unit acquires access restriction information set for each page of the print output target document. Determining means for determining whether or not the user can access each page of the document to be printed based on the access authority information and the access restriction information; and a page determined to be inaccessible And a control means for printing out the document to be processed.

  The invention of claim 6 provides a computer with a) a procedure for obtaining user access authority information, b) a procedure for obtaining access restriction information set for each page of a document to be processed, and c) the access authority information. And determining whether or not the user can access each page of the processing target document based on the access restriction information and d) deleting the page determined to be inaccessible, And a procedure for generating a print output image of the processing target document.

  According to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, since the page determined to be inaccessible is not printed out, it is possible to suppress waste of printing paper.

  In particular, according to the invention described in claim 2, since the report page in which the number of the deleted page is described is generated, it is easy to understand which page has been deleted.

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

<1. Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing system 100.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 100 includes a multi function peripheral (abbreviated as MFP) 1.

  The MFP 1 is connected to a plurality of computers 90 and the like via the network NW, receives a print output command (also simply referred to as a print command) from the computer 90, and executes a print output operation based on the print command. The network NW includes various networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet.

  The MFP 1 has a print output function as described above, and functions as a print output device (also simply referred to as a printing device). The MFP 1 also functions as an image processing apparatus that generates a print output image.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the MFP 1. The MFP 1 is a device (also referred to as a multi function device) having a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, a facsimile communication function, and the like. Specifically, the MFP 1 includes an image reading unit 2, a print output unit 3, a communication unit 4, a storage unit 5, an input / output unit 6, and a controller 9, and these units are combined. The above-described functions are realized by operating the above.

  The image reading unit 2 is a processing unit that optically reads a document placed at a predetermined position of the MFP 1 and generates image data (also referred to as a document image) of the document.

  The print output unit 3 is an output unit that prints an image on various media such as paper based on image data related to the target image.

  The communication unit 4 is a processing unit capable of performing facsimile communication via a public line or the like. Furthermore, the communication unit 4 can perform network communication via the communication network NW. In this network communication, various protocols such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) are used. By using the network communication, the MFP 1 can communicate with a desired destination. Various data can be exchanged between them. Note that the MFP 1 can also send and receive e-mails by using this network communication.

  The storage unit 5 includes a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD). The storage unit 5 stores a document image generated by the image reading unit 2 or the like. The storage unit 5 also stores user authentication information and the like.

  The input / output unit 6 includes an operation input unit 61 that receives input to the MFP 1 and a display unit 62 that displays and outputs various types of information. Specifically, the MFP 1 is provided with an operation panel 63 (see FIG. 1). The operation panel 63 is configured by embedding a piezoelectric sensor or the like in a liquid crystal display panel, and functions as a part of the display unit 62 and also functions as a part of the operation input unit 61.

  The controller 9 is a control device that controls the MFP 1 in an integrated manner, and includes a CPU and various semiconductor memories (such as a RAM and a ROM). Various functions of the MFP 1 are realized by operating various processing units under the control of the controller 9. For example, by scanning a desired image optically using the image reading unit 2 under the control of the controller 9, an image obtained by scanning a document (original image) is acquired, and a scanner function is realized. The controller 9 also controls various processes as described below.

  The controller 9 implements various processing units by executing predetermined software programs (hereinafter also simply referred to as programs) stored in a ROM (for example, an EEPROM) in the CPU. The controller 9 functions as a print control system (also referred to as a print control device).

  Specifically, the controller 9 implements various processing units including an access authority information acquisition unit 11, an access restriction information acquisition unit 12, a determination unit 13, and a print output control unit 14.

  The access authority information acquisition unit 11 is a processing unit that acquires the access authority information MA of the user UT who is the print output instructor.

  The access restriction information acquisition unit 12 is a processing unit that acquires the access restriction information MR set for each page of the processing target document D1.

  The determination unit 13 is a processing unit that determines whether or not the user UT can access each page of the processing target document D1 based on the access authority information MA and the access restriction information MR.

  The print output control unit 14 deletes the page determined by the determination unit 13 as being inaccessible from the plurality of pages (P1, P2, P3,...) Included in the processing target document D1, It is a processing unit that generates a print output image of the processing target document D1. The print output control unit 14 also controls a print output operation based on the generated print output image.

<2. Operation>
Next, an operation in the printing system 100 will be described. In the following, a certain user UT performs an operation input relating to print output to the computer 90, and in response to the operation input, a print instruction relating to the processing target document D1 is transmitted from the computer 90 (90A) to the MFP 1 (1A). An example is given.

Here, it is assumed that the processing target document D1 is generated in advance by a user UD and stored in the storage unit 5 of the MFP 1 in advance. Further, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, access restriction information MR regarding each page is given to the processing target document D1 in advance when the processing target document D1 is created. Specifically, the access restriction information MR of each page has information on an “access restriction level” in which one of a plurality of levels is defined. For example, as shown in the upper part of FIG.
1) The access restriction level of the first page is 0 (zero),
2) The access restriction level of the second page is 1,
3) The access restriction level of the third page is 3,
4) The access restriction level of the fourth page is 5,
5) The access restriction level of the fifth page is 0 (zero).
As described above, the access restriction level of each page is defined.

  Here, it is assumed that the access restriction level of the page is set to be larger as the confidential level of the page is higher.

  4 to 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the MFP 1. FIG. 4 is a main flowchart showing the operation of the MFP 1 that has accepted the print output, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing a part of the operation. FIG. 5 shows the detailed operation of step S11, and FIG. 6 shows the detailed operation of step S19. Hereinafter, the operation of the MFP 1 will be described with reference to these drawings.

  The user UT has already been confirmed to be the user UT by inputting the user ID (identification information) when logging into the computer 90. Thereafter, when the user UT operates the computer 90 to send a print command related to the processing target document D1 to the MFP 1, the MFP 1 receives the print command. The print command includes the file name of the processing target document D1, the user ID of the user UT who is the print output instructor, and the like.

  Upon receiving such a print command, the MFP 1 first acquires the access authority information MA of the user UT in step S11 as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, first, in step S31, the user ID included in the print command is acquired.

  Then, the user information table TB1 (see FIG. 7) stored in the storage unit 5 is accessed, and it is determined whether or not the same ID number as the user ID acquired in step S31 exists in the user information table TB1. (Steps S32 and S33).

  The user information table TB1 is a table that defines the access authority information MA. The access authority information MA includes information related to the “access authority level”, and the “access authority level” includes a plurality of levels (for example, “0”, “1”, “2”, “3”, Any one of “4” and “5” can be defined. In the user information table TB1, an access authority level corresponding to each user ID is defined. Here, it is assumed that any one of a plurality of levels (“1” to “5”) other than zero is set as the “access authority level” of each user ID.

  If the same user ID as the user ID acquired in step S31 is present in the table TB1, the MFP 1 sets the access authority level defined for the user ID in the table TB1 to the access authority level of the user UT. Is obtained and set (step S35). For example, when the user ID of the user UT is “1032”, the access authority level of the user UT is set to “2” (see FIG. 7).

  On the other hand, when the same user ID as the user ID acquired in step S31 does not exist in the table TB1, the lowest level value (specifically, 0 (zero)) is set as the access authority level of the user UT. (Step S34).

  Thereafter, in step S36, a report page (also referred to as a deletion report page) describing the deletion information is provisionally created.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the deletion report page RP. FIG. 8 shows the final output state of the report page RP, but the content of the report page RP is not yet determined in step S36 (more specifically, it is blank). As will be described later, when this report page RP is unnecessary, the report page RP is deleted in step S43. This report page RP will be described later.

  Following the process in step S11 as described above, the MFP 1 executes processes in steps S12 to S18 (FIG. 4). Specifically, the processing (steps S12 to S18) for the nth page (n = 1, 2, 3,...) Among a plurality of pages included in the processing target document D1 is repeatedly executed.

  First, the contents of the nth page are read (step S12), and the access restriction information MR regarding the nth page is acquired (step S13). The access restriction information MR has information related to “access restriction level”. For example, the access restriction level as described above (see FIG. 3) can be set for each page from the first page to the fifth page.

  In step S14, the user UT accesses each page of the processing target document D1 based on the magnitude relationship between the access authority level of the user UT and the access restriction level set for each page of the processing target document D1. It is determined whether or not it is possible. More specifically, when the access restriction level of the nth page is equal to or lower than the access authority level of the user UT, it is determined that the user UT can access the nth page. On the other hand, when the access restriction level of the nth page is higher than the access authority level of the user UT, it is determined that the user UT cannot access the nth page.

  For example, when the access authority level of the user UT is “2”, the first page and the fifth page whose access restriction level is 0 (zero) and the second page whose access restriction level is 1 It is determined that access by the user UT is possible. On the other hand, it is determined that the user UT cannot access the third page whose access restriction level is 3 and the fourth page whose access restriction level is 5.

  If it is determined that access is possible, an image for print output (also referred to as a page image) relating to the nth page is generated, and a print output process based on the page image is executed (step S17).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that access is impossible, the nth page is excluded (deleted) from the print output target (step S15). That is, the processing target document D1 is printed out with at least the nth page deleted. In the next step S16, log information indicating that the nth page has been deleted is described in the report page (deleted report page) RP.

  The operation as described above is executed for all pages included in the processing target document D1.

  As a result, only pages whose access restriction level is equal to or lower than the access authority level of the user UT are printed out. For example, when the access authority level of the user UT is set to “2”, the third page and the fourth page are excluded (deleted) from the print target as shown in the lower part of FIG. And the second page and the fifth page are printed out in this order.

  In step S19, the MFP 1 executes a deletion report page RP generation process and the like.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the presence / absence of a deleted page is determined (step S41). If a deleted page exists, the process proceeds to step S42. If the deleted page does not exist, the process proceeds to step S43.

  In step S42, a page image of the deletion report page RP is generated, and a print output process based on the page image is executed. As a result, the deletion report page RP is printed out following the first page, the second page, and the fifth page (see FIG. 3). In the deletion report page RP (see FIG. 8), two pages including confidential information, specifically, the third page and the fourth page are deleted in the processing target document D1 of all five pages. Are listed.

  On the other hand, in step S43, it is determined that the deletion report page RP is unnecessary, and the deletion report page RP itself is deleted. According to this, since the deletion report page RP itself is not printed out when there is no deletion page, unnecessary print output can be avoided.

  According to the operation as described above, it is determined whether the user can access each page of the processing target document based on the access authority information MA and the access restriction information MR. Then, a page determined to be inaccessible among a plurality of pages included in the processing target document D1 is excluded (deleted), and a print output image of the processing target document D1 is generated, and the processing target document D1 is generated. The print output process is executed. Therefore, since the page determined to be inaccessible is not printed out, it is possible to suppress waste of printing paper. In particular, when a plurality of pages are to be deleted, the effect of suppressing waste of printing paper is great.

  In addition, since a print output image including a report page RP (specifically, an image of the report page RP) in which the deleted page number is described is generated and the report page RP is printed out, is there a deleted page? It is easy to understand whether or not and which page has been deleted.

<3. Other>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the contents described above.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where all pages included in the processing target document D1 are designated as print targets is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and some pages included in the processing target document D1 are included. When designated as a printing target, the same idea as described above may be applied. Specifically, when the third to fifth pages are designated as print output targets, neither the third page nor the fourth page is printed out, while the fifth page is printed out. A report page RP describing that the third page and the fourth page have been deleted is also printed out.

  In the above embodiment, when the access authority level of the user UT is equal to the access restriction level of each page (that is, when an equal sign is established) in step S14, the user UT can access each page. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the access authority level of the user UT and the access restriction level of each page are equal (that is, when an equal sign is established), it may be determined that “access is impossible”. In other words, it may be determined that the user UT can access the page only when the access authority level of the user UT is higher than the access restriction level of a certain page.

  In the above embodiment, the report page RP is provisionally created regardless of whether the report page RP is necessary (step S36), and the report page RP is deleted when it is determined that it is unnecessary. (Steps S41, S43) Although the mode is illustrated, it is not limited to this. For example, the creation of the report page RP may be started after the existence of the deleted page is confirmed.

  In the above embodiment, the MFP 1 exemplifies the case where the print output is executed in response to the print command from the computer 90. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the MFP 1 can accept not only a print command from the computer 90 but also a print command from another MFP 1 and execute a print output or the like. Alternatively, the MFP 1 may execute printout of the processing target document D1 stored in the storage unit 5 of the MFP 1 based on a print command input using the operation input unit 61 of the MFP 1 itself. Is possible.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a figure which shows the print output condition regarding a process target document. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an MFP that has received a print output. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed operation | movement of step S11. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed operation | movement of step S19. It is a figure which shows a user information table. It is a figure which shows a deletion report page.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP
9 Controller 90 Computer 100 Printing system D1 Document to be processed RP Report page TB1 User information table

Claims (6)

An image processing apparatus,
First acquisition means for acquiring user access authority information;
Second acquisition means for acquiring access restriction information set for each page of the processing target document;
Determination means for determining whether or not the user can access each page of the processing target document based on the access authority information and the access restriction information;
Control means for deleting a page determined to be inaccessible and generating a print output image of the processing target document;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The image processing apparatus, wherein the print output image includes a report page image in which a page number deleted according to a determination result of the determination unit is described. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The first acquisition means acquires, as the access authority information, information related to an access authority level in which any one of a plurality of levels is defined,
The second acquisition means acquires, as the access restriction information, information related to an access restriction level in which any one of a plurality of levels is defined,
The determination means determines whether the user can access each page of the print output target document based on a magnitude relationship between the access authority level of the user and the access restriction level for each page of the processing target document. An image processing apparatus characterized by determining whether or not. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3.
The image processing apparatus, wherein the first acquisition unit acquires the access authority level of the user based on a data table that defines an access authority level of each user. A print output device,
First acquisition means for acquiring user access authority information;
Second acquisition means for acquiring access restriction information set for each page of the print output target document;
Determination means for determining whether or not the user can access each page of the print output target document based on the access authority information and the access restriction information;
Control means for deleting the page determined to be inaccessible and printing out the processing target document;
A print output apparatus comprising: On the computer,
a) Procedure for obtaining user access authority information;
b) A procedure for obtaining access restriction information set for each page of the processing target document;
c) a procedure for determining whether or not the user can access each page of the processing target document based on the access authority information and the access restriction information;
d) deleting a page determined to be inaccessible and generating a printout image of the processing target document;
A program for running

Images