JP2010146486A - Image-processing device, network interface device, controlling method, image-processing system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-processing device which efficiently executes interruption printing in a pull-print printing system, and also provide a method for controlling the image-processing device and a program. <P>SOLUTION: The image-processing device, which communicates with a print management server which manages printing data in association with user identification information, includes; a printing means which prints a first user's printing data which correspond to the user identification information on the first user; an interruption printing executable-or-unexecutable determination means which receives user identification information on a second user, during the execution of printing of the first user's printing data by the printing means, and determines whether the interruption printing of the second user's printing data, which are managed in association with the user identification information on the second user, is possible; and an interruption printing means which executes the interruption printing of the second user's printing data in case that the interruption printing executable-or-unexecutable determination means determines that the interruption printing of the second user's printing data is possible. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing device, a network interface device, a control method, an image processing system, and a program, and more particularly to an image processing device that performs login processing by receiving user identification information.

Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus that performs a login process by reading a storage medium storing identification information by a reader, a printing process is performed based on the identification information, and an interrupt process is performed based on a difference in the identification information read by the reader. A system to do this is considered.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a printing system that can easily execute processing reflecting settings assigned to a user who interrupts when interrupting processing using card authentication.

JP 2008-137329 A

  However, in the printing system described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to interrupt the printing process by performing card authentication, but the interrupted user waits for a long time when interrupt printing of a large number of jobs is performed. There are challenges. In particular, in the case of a “pull print (storage print)” printing system, a device having a large touch panel such as a digital multifunction peripheral displays a list of jobs stored in the management server and selects a job desired by the user. However, the above-mentioned problems do not become much of a problem because it is possible to perform interrupt printing, but for a device that does not have a large panel such as a printer such as a laser beam printer, a desired job is listed from the list. Since it cannot be selected, all jobs existing on the print management server are output by one interrupt printing. For this reason, there is a problem that the interrupted user waits for a long time until the output of the interrupt print job is completed.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first invention is an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a print management server that manages print data in association with user identification information, and accepts user identification information of the first user. In response, the identification information storage means for storing the user identification information of the first user, and a print instruction including the user identification information of the first user stored by the identification information storage means to the print management server Transmitting means for transmitting; receiving means for receiving print data of the first user managed in association with the user identification information of the first user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmitting means; Printing means for printing the print data of the first user received by the receiving means, and printing of the print data of the first user by the printing means. While receiving the user identification information of the second user, it is possible to interrupt and print the print data of the second user managed in association with the user identification information of the second user And determining whether the print data of the second user can be interrupted by the interrupt print enable / disable determining means and the interrupt print enable / disable determining means. Interrupt printing means for interrupting printing of user print data and the first interrupted by the interrupt printing means after the second user's printing interrupted by the interrupt printing means is completed. An image processing apparatus comprising: a print restarting unit that restarts printing of user print data.

  When the interrupt printing enable / disable determining unit determines that the print data of the first user is not being printed, the transmitting unit transmits a print instruction including user identification information of the second user to the print management server. The receiving unit receives the second user print data managed in association with the user identification information of the second user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmitting unit, and the printing unit Prints the print data of the second user received by the receiving means.

  With the above configuration, since the image processing apparatus determines whether or not interrupt printing is possible before performing interrupt printing, interrupt printing is not unconditionally performed, and interrupt printing can be performed efficiently.

The image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention recognizes the approval of the first user when it is determined by the interrupt printing availability determination means that printing of the print data of the second user is impossible. The apparatus further includes an approval receiving unit that allows the interrupt printing unit to interrupt the printing of the print data of the second user by receiving an instruction.
The interrupt printing enable / disable determining means is managed in association with the user identification information of the second user based on print authority information, interrupt enable / disable information, interrupt permission job number information, and interrupt permission number information. It is determined whether printing of the second user's print data can be interrupted.

Thereby, even when it is determined that the print data of the second user cannot be printed, the second user can perform printing. At this time, by obtaining the consent of the first user during printing, the second user can perform interrupt printing with the consent of the first user.
Further, the determination of whether or not interrupt printing is possible can be made based on print authority information, interrupt enable / disable information, interrupt permission job number information, interrupt permission number information, and the like.

The interrupt printing unit is acquired by a print data list acquisition unit that acquires a list of print data of the second user managed in association with the second user identification information, and acquired by the print data list acquisition unit Instruction receiving means for receiving a print instruction of desired print data out of the list of print data of the second user.
The instruction receiving unit receives a print instruction for the desired print data in response to reception of user identification information of the second user.
The interrupt printing unit stores a print interruption point of the print data of the first user interrupted by the printing process of the second user, and the print resuming unit receives the first interruption from the interruption point. Resumes printing of user print data.

When desired print data is selected from the list of print data of the second user during the second user's interrupt printing, for example, interrupt printing of high priority print data is performed. This improves the convenience of interrupt printing.
In addition, when interrupt printing is performed, the interrupt location of the print data of the first user is stored, so that after the interrupt print is completed, printing of the print data of the first user is resumed from the interrupt location. This also contributes to improving the convenience of interrupt printing.

  A second invention is a network interface device that is connected to an image processing device and communicates with a print management server that manages print data in association with user identification information, in response to reception of user identification information of the first user. An identification information storage means for storing the user identification information of the first user, and a print instruction including the user identification information of the first user stored by the identification information storage means is transmitted to the print management server. A transmission unit; a reception unit that receives the print data of the first user managed in association with the user identification information of the first user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmission unit; and the reception Printing means for printing the print data of the first user received by the means, and print data of the first user by the printing means. During printing, the user identification information of the second user is received, and printing of the print data of the second user managed in association with the user identification information of the second user is interrupted. When it is determined by the interrupt printing enable / disable determining unit that determines whether or not printing can be performed by the interrupt printing enable / disable determining unit, it is possible to interrupt and print the print data of the second user. Interrupt printing means for interrupting printing of the print data of the second user, and interrupted by the interrupt printing means after the second user printing interrupted by the interrupt printing means is completed. A network resuming unit for resuming printing of the print data of the first user.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method in an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a print management server that manages print data in association with user identification information. An identification information storage step of storing user identification information of the first user, and a transmission step of transmitting a print instruction including the user identification information of the first user stored in the identification information storage step to the print management server; Receiving the print data of the first user managed in association with the user identification information of the first user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmission means; and receiving at the reception step A printing process for printing the print data of the first user, and a user of the second user while the print data of the first user is being printed by the printing process. Accepting identification information and determining whether or not interrupt printing can be performed by interrupting printing of the print data of the second user managed in association with the user identification information of the second user If it is determined in the determination step and the interrupt printing enable / disable determination step that printing of the second user's print data can be interrupted, printing of the second user's print data is interrupted. Interrupt printing process and printing for restarting printing of the print data of the first user interrupted by the interrupt printing process after the second user printing interrupted by the interrupt printing process is completed And a resuming step.

  A fourth invention is an image processing system including a print management server that manages print data in association with user identification information, and an image processing apparatus that can communicate with the print management server. The image processing apparatus includes: In response to acceptance of user identification information of one user, identification information storage means for storing user identification information of the first user, and user identification information of the first user stored by the identification information storage means A transmission unit that transmits a print instruction including the print instruction to the print management server, and the first user who is managed in association with the user identification information of the first user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmission unit. Receiving means for receiving print data; printing means for printing print data of the first user received by the receiving means; and the printing means. While the print data of one user is being printed, the second user who receives the user identification information of the second user and is managed in association with the user identification information of the second user Interrupt printing enable / disable determining means for determining whether or not printing of the print data can be performed by interrupting and printing of the second user's print data by the interrupt printing enable / disable determining means is performed. If it is determined that the print data of the second user is interrupted, an interrupt printing unit that interrupts printing of the print data of the second user, and after the printing of the second user interrupted by the interrupt printing unit is completed, Printing restarting means for restarting printing of the print data of the first user interrupted by the interrupt printing means, and the print management server sends the print sent by the sending means An image comprising: print data transmitting means for transmitting print data of the first user managed in association with user identification information of the first user included in the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus It is a processing system.

  A fifth invention is a program for causing an image processing apparatus to function as the image processing apparatus of the first invention.

  A sixth invention is a program for causing a network interface device to function as the network interface device of the second invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that can efficiently execute interrupt printing in a pull print printing system, a control method therefor, and a program. In particular, for example, the number of interrupt jobs can be controlled and the number of interrupt jobs can be controlled such that one interrupt job is one job, so that the print waiting time of the interrupted user can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a printer will be described as an example of an image processing apparatus. However, a rich display cannot be displayed on the operation screen of the main body panel even if it is a multifunction peripheral, for example, a low-end MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) or the like. You may make it a target.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print system (image processing system) 1 to which the image processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the office A10 of the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes one or more client PCs 100 (for example, for each user) and one or more print servers 200 (for example, installed on each floor of a company building). One or a plurality of printers (image processing apparatuses) 300 (for example, installed for each floor of a company building), a print management server 400, one or a plurality of login service PCs 500 (for example, installed for each floor of a company building), a directory service server 600 The IC card authentication server 800 is connected via a local area network (LAN) 700.

  A printer driver is installed in the client PC 100. The printer driver generates print data based on the data received from the application program, transmits the print data to the print server 200, and the like. Can be stored in the storage location (spool area).

The print server 200 can generate bibliographic information data corresponding to the print data received from the client PC 100, transmit it to the print management server 400, and store it in a predetermined storage location of the print management server 400. Further, the print server 200 controls transfer of the print data stored in the predetermined storage location to the printer 300 based on a command for executing an LPR (Line Printer daemon protocol) received from the outside.
The bibliographic information data is generated from bibliographic information such as a login user name and the number of pages included in the print data when the print data is generated by the printer driver of the client PC 100.

The print management server 400 includes a bibliographic information DB (database), receives bibliographic information corresponding to the print data stored in the print server 200 from the print server 200, and stores and manages the bibliographic information DB.
The print management server 400 is a device corresponding to an IP address described in the bibliographic information in response to a print request for print data corresponding to the bibliographic information managed by the bibliographic information DB from the printer 300. A print instruction for the print data is issued to 200.

  The IC card authentication server 800 stores an IC card authentication table (shown in FIG. 5 to be described later), and performs an authentication process using the IC card authentication table in response to an IC card authentication request from the printer 300. .

  The login service PC 500 is stored and managed by the directory service server 600 as a login service of the printer 300. For example, the login user name and password of the client PC 100 such as a Windows (registered trademark) login user name and password of Microsoft Corporation. Authentication processing (SSO (Single-Sign-ON)) based on the system, for example, a personal computer equipped with a Canon security agent service.

  The directory service server 600 includes hardware resources such as servers, clients, and printers existing on the network, and clients such as Microsoft Windows (registered trademark) login user names and passwords of users who use them. For example, a server having an active directory function is used to centrally store and manage information such as the login user name of the PC 100, attributes including a password, and access rights.

  In addition, the printing system according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the office A10 having the above-described configuration and one or more client PCs 100, one or more print servers 200, and one or more printers 300 are connected via the LAN 700. The configuration may be such that one or more offices B20 are connected via a WAN (Wide Area Network) 900.

  In this embodiment, the IC card authentication server 800 is configured to perform the IC card authentication. However, the IC card authentication server 800 may be integrated with the print management server 400, and the IC card authentication server 800 cooperates with the login service PC 500. The authentication may be executed by the login service PC 500. At this time, the print management server 400 does not refer to the IC card authentication table if it is authenticated by the login service PC 500 and can be determined as a legitimate user.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, information processing apparatus hardware applicable to the client PC 100, print server 200, print management server 400, login service PC 500, directory service server 600, and IC card authentication server 800 shown in FIG. The configuration will be described.
2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable to the client PC 100, the print server 200, the print management server 400, the login service PC 500, the directory service server 600, and the IC card authentication server 800 shown in FIG. It is.

In FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204. In addition, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 or an external memory 211 has a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) that is a control program of the CPU 201, a function executed by each server or each PC. Various programs described below necessary for realizing the above are stored.
A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program or the like necessary for execution of processing from the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 into the RAM 203 and executing the loaded program.

  The input controller 205 controls input from a keyboard (KB) 209 or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown). The video controller 206 controls display on a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display (CRT) 210. In FIG. 2, although described as CRT 210, the display device is not limited to the CRT, but may be another display device such as a liquid crystal display. These are used by the administrator as needed.

  The memory controller 207 is an external storage device such as a hard disk (HD) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, etc., a flexible disk (FD), or a PCMCIA (Personal Computer). Controls access to an external memory 211 such as a Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory connected to a Memory Card International Association (Card Memory) card slot via an adapter.

A communication I / F (interface) controller 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network such as the LAN 700 shown in FIG. 1, and executes communication control processing in the network. For example, communication using TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) is possible.
Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the CRT 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. In addition, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 210.

  In the present invention, various programs for realizing a printing process to be described later are recorded in the external memory 211, and are executed by the CPU 201 by loading them into the RAM 203 as necessary. Furthermore, definition files and various information tables used when executing the program are also stored in the external memory 211, and a detailed description thereof will be described later.

Next, the hardware configuration of the controller unit (network interface device) 316 that controls the printer 300 as the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the controller unit 316 of the printer 300 illustrated in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, a controller unit 316 is connected to a printer 312 functioning as an image output device, while a LAN such as the LAN 700 shown in FIG. 1, PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Networks) or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), and the like. By connecting to a public line (WAN), image data and device information are input / output.

In the controller unit 316, the CPU 301 is a processor that controls the entire system. A RAM 302 is a system work memory for the CPU 301 to operate, and is also a program memory for recording a program and an image memory for temporarily recording image data.
The ROM 303 stores a system boot program and various control programs. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 304 is an external storage device and stores various programs for controlling the system, image data, and the like. The HDD 304 stores the IC card authentication table 50 shown in FIG.

An operation unit I / F 307 is an interface unit with the operation unit 308, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 308 to the operation unit 308. The operation unit I / F 307 serves to transmit information such as user information input by the system user from the operation unit 308 to the CPU 301.
A network I / F 305 is connected to a network such as the LAN 700 and inputs / outputs data.
The external I / F 318 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE (Institut of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394, a printer port, an RS-232C (Recommended Standard 232 Version), etc. In the embodiment, a card reader 319 for reading an IC card required for authentication is connected to the external I / F unit 318. The CPU 301 can control reading of information from the IC card by the card reader 319 via the external I / F 318, and can acquire information read from the IC card.
The above devices are arranged on the system bus 309.

The image bus I / F 320 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 309 and an image bus 315 that transfers image data at high speed, and converts the data structure.
The image bus 315 is configured by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus or IEEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 315.
A RIP (Raster Image Processor) 310 develops, for example, vector data such as a PDL (Page Description Language) code into a bitmap image.

A printer I / F 311 connects the printer 312 and the controller unit 316, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.
The image processing unit 317 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on the print output image data. In addition, the image processing unit 317 performs image data rotation, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) for multi-valued image data, JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image Experts Group) for binary image data, and MMR. (Modified Modified READ), MH (Modified Huffman), and the like are performed.

  The printer 312 is a part that converts raster image data into an image on paper. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photoconductive drum or a photoconductive belt, or ink is ejected from a micro nozzle array directly on the paper. There is an inkjet method for printing an image, but any method may be used. The activation of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the CPU 301. The printer 312 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and has a paper cassette corresponding thereto.

The operation unit 308 has an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display unit and includes only simple hard keys such as arrow keys.
The card reader 319 reads information stored in an IC card (for example, Sony FeliCa (registered trademark)) under the control of the CPU 301, and reads the read information via the external I / F 318. The CPU 301 is notified.
In this embodiment, since an IC card is used, the card reader 319 is provided. However, authentication using a fingerprint, a finger vein, or the like can be performed in addition to the IC card. In that case, the card reader 319 can be realized by replacing it with a fingerprint reader or a finger vein reader.
With the configuration described above, the printer 300 can print out print data received from the LAN 700 using the printer 312.

Next, an overall flow of the print system 1 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
4 is a data configuration diagram illustrating an example of the bibliographic information data 40 in the print system 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a data configuration diagram illustrating an example of the IC card authentication table 50 in the print system 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of processing in the print system 1 of the present embodiment, FIG. 7 is a first flowchart showing the flow of interrupt control processing in the print system 1 of the present embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a data configuration diagram illustrating an example of a user management table 90 in the print system 1 according to the present embodiment.

In the flowchart of FIG. 6, first, the user logs in to the client PC 100 and issues a print instruction to the logical printer corresponding to the printer driver set as the print destination from an application program executed on the client PC 100.
In response to this print instruction, the application program of the client PC 100 transmits data to the printer driver via the graphic engine. The printer driver of the client PC 100 generates print data based on the data received from the application program via the graphic engine (step S601). Then, the client PC 100 transmits the generated print data to the print server 200 (step S602), and the print server 200 stores the print data in a predetermined storage location (step S603).
Note that transmission from the client PC 100 to the print server 200 is performed using, for example, an LPR printing mechanism. Further, even if the print data is stored in the predetermined storage location, the print server 200 does not transmit to the printing apparatus at this time.

  Next, the print server 200 extracts and generates the bibliographic information data 40 shown in FIG. 4 from the print data received from the client PC 100 and stored in the predetermined storage location (step S604). The print server 200 transmits the extracted and generated bibliographic information data 40 to the print management server 400 (step S605), and uses a predetermined file storage location (preliminarily stored in the print management server 400 using a file sharing mechanism on the network). Stored in the set directory) (step S606).

Here, the bibliographic information data 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the bibliographic information data 40 includes a login user name 401, a print data storage server IP address 402, a print data path 403, a document name 404, the number of copies 405, a page 406, an error presence / absence 407, a time stamp 408, It consists of information such as interrupt printing enable / disable 409 (interrupt enable / disable information), interrupt-permitted job count 410 (interrupt-permitted job count information), and the like.

A login user name 401 indicates a login user name of the client PC 100, for example.
The print data storage server IP address 402 indicates the IP address of the print server 200 that stores the corresponding print data.
A print data path 403 indicates a full path indicating a storage location of the corresponding print data.

A document name 404 indicates the document name of the corresponding print data.
The number of copies 405 indicates the number of copies of the corresponding print data.
A page 406 indicates the number of pages of corresponding print data.
The error presence / absence 407 indicates whether or not there is an error in printing the corresponding print data, and is “None” at the timing when the bibliographic information data 40 is created.
The time stamp 408 is given when print data is received by the print server 200, and indicates the date and time when the corresponding print data is received.

The interrupt printing permission / inhibition 409 is set when a print instruction is issued in step S601, and sets whether or not the job (print data) can be interrupted during printing of the job (print data). The default is “interrupt disabled”.
The number of interrupt-permitted jobs 410 is also set when a print instruction is issued in step S601, and is the maximum number of jobs that can be interrupted when “interrupt permitted” is set in the interrupt print enable / disable 409. The default number of interrupt-permitted jobs 410 is one job. In this embodiment, the maximum number of jobs is used. However, the maximum number of pages may be used.

Hereinafter, the entire description of the print system 1 will be returned.
The print management server 400 monitors the predetermined directory, and when the bibliographic information data 40 transmitted from the print server 200 is stored in the predetermined directory, the bibliographic information data 40 is analyzed, and the bibliographic information data 40 is stored. Registration is made in the bibliographic information DB constructed on the external storage device of the print management server 400. Note that the interrupt management permission / inhibition 409 and interrupt permission job count 410 in FIG. 4 may be generated by the print management server 400.

  On the other hand, when the printer 300 detects an IC card that can be read by the card reader 319, the printer 300 reads the personal authentication information in the IC card (step S607), and uses the read personal authentication information as an authentication request to the IC card authentication server 800. Transmit (step S608). The personal authentication information is information used for authentication and may be a manufacturing number of the IC card.

  When receiving the personal authentication information from the printer 300 (step S609), the IC card authentication server 800 receives the personal card based on the IC card authentication table 50 shown in FIG. 5 stored on the external storage device of the IC card authentication server 800. The authentication information is authenticated, and the authentication result is returned to the printer 300 (step S610). If the authentication process is successful, it is assumed that a user name (user identification information) 502 and a print authority (print authority information) 507, which are logins of the client PC 100, are transmitted as an authentication result.

Here, the IC card authentication table 50 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the IC card authentication table 50 includes information such as a card manufacturing number 501, a user name 502, a mail address 503, a department ID 504, a department password 505, an administrator authority 506, and a printing authority 507. .

The card production number 501 indicates the production number of the IC card, for example.
A user name 502 indicates a login user name of the client PC 100.
A mail address 503 indicates an electronic mail address associated with the login user name.
The department ID 504 indicates the department ID of the department to which the login user belongs.
The department password 505 indicates a password for performing authentication using the department ID 504.
The administrator authority 506 indicates whether the login user has administrator authority.
A print authority 507 indicates a print authority when performing pull print printing. If the authority is high, interrupt printing can be forcibly performed without obtaining permission for interrupt printing from the user who is printing. The authority level may be divided into numerical levels, or may be managed in categories such as managerial positions and general positions.

Hereinafter, the entire description of the print system 1 will be returned.
The printer 300 receives (accepts) the user name 502, the print authority 507, and the like from the IC card authentication server 800 as authentication results indicating that the authentication has been successful (step S611).
Next, the printer 300 refers to the user information of the printing user 901 in the user management table 90 (FIG. 9) held in the RAM 302 (identification information storage unit), and determines whether there is a printing user. (Step S612).
As shown in FIG. 9, the user management table 90 includes a printing user 901 indicating information related to a user currently printing in the printer 300 (first user) and a user performing interrupt printing (second user). An interrupt user 902 indicating information about
If there is a user who is already printing, the process proceeds to step S614. If not, the process proceeds to step S613.

  If there is a user who is printing, interrupt printing is performed and the process ends (step S614). Details of the interrupt printing process will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

If there is no printing user, the printer 300 stores the currently logged-in user as the printing user 901 in the user management table 90 held in the RAM 302 (step S613).
Next, the printer 300 transmits a print request (print instruction) for all print data of the user regarding the personal authentication result acquired in step S611 to the print management server 400 (step S615). Note that this print request includes a user name and the like.

When the print management server 400 receives the print data print request from the printer 300 (step S616), the print management server 400 searches the bibliographic information data 40 of the print data for which the output instruction has been issued from the bibliographic information DB using the user name as a key, The print server 200 storing the corresponding print data is specified from the retrieved bibliographic information, and a print request for the corresponding print data is transmitted to the print server 200 (step S617).
The print request is a print command including a corresponding time stamp, document name, and printer IP address. This IP address may be included in the print request or notified. The time stamp described above is given when print data is received by the print server 200.

When receiving a print request from the print management server 400 (step S618), the print server 200 transmits print data to the printer 300 based on the print request (step S619). The printer 300 receives the print data and prints the received print data by LPR printing (step S620).
When printing by the printer 300 is completed (step S621), the printer 300 deletes the information on the user 901 being printed in the user management table 90 stored in step S613 (step S622).

Hereinafter, interrupt control in the print system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The interrupt control process shown in FIG. 7 shows the details of the interrupt print control in step S614 of FIG. 6, and the CPU 301 of the printer 300 loads the program stored in the ROM 303 or HDD 304 onto the RAM 302 and executes it. It is realized by doing.

When the second user tries to perform interrupt printing while the first user is printing on the printer 300, the CPU 301 of the printer 300 sends the second user 902 of the user management table 90 stored in the RAM 302 to the second user. The user is stored as an interrupt user (step S701).
Subsequently, the CPU 301 of the printer 300 compares the printing authority 507 of the printing user 901, which is the first user, with the printing authority 507 of the interrupting user 902, which is the second user (step S702).
As the authority comparison method, the numerical levels of the printing authority 507 arbitrarily assigned to the IC cards of the respective users may be compared, or comparisons may be made at the category level such as managerial positions and general positions. If the printing authority of the second user is higher than that of the first user, the process forcibly shifts to the interrupt mode and proceeds to step S707. If the print authority is equal or less, the process proceeds to step S703.

In step S703, the printer 300 refers to the bibliographic information data 40 of the job being printed, and determines whether or not the interrupt printing enable / disable 409 is set to “interrupt disabled” (step S703). If it is set, a character string that clearly indicates that interruption is not possible, for example, “Warcomifika IC card information” is displayed on the operation unit 308 (step S704). If full-width characters such as kanji can be displayed on the operation unit 308, a message such as “Please hold the IC card of user XX” may be displayed. On the other hand, if the interrupt printing enable / disable 409 is set to “interrupt enabled”, the process proceeds to step S705.
In step S703, the printer 300 transmits a determination request including the name of the job being printed to the print management server 400, and causes the print management server 400 to determine whether or not interrupt printing is possible. The determination result may be received.

In step S <b> 705, the CPU 301 of the printer 300 refers to the bibliographic information data 40 of the job being printed, obtains the interrupt permitted job number 410, and compares it with the number of jobs interrupted by the second user stored in the RAM 302. (Step S705). In this embodiment, the default value for the number of interrupt-permitted jobs is “1”. If the number of interrupted jobs exceeds the number of interrupt-permitted jobs 410, the process proceeds to step S704 described above.
On the other hand, if the number of interrupted jobs is within the range of the interrupt permitted job number 410, the CPU 301 of the printer 300 stores the number of interrupted jobs in the RAM 302, proceeds to step S707, and shifts to interrupt printing (step S711). ).
In step S703, the printer 300 transmits the name of the job being printed to the print management server 400, the user name of the second user, and the like, and uses these to determine whether or not interrupt printing is possible. The printer 300 may receive the determination result.

In step S704, after displaying a character string clearly indicating that interruption is not possible on the operation unit 308, in order to obtain approval for interruption, the printer 300 holds the IC card of the first user being printed, and gives an instruction to approve the first user. It is confirmed whether it has been accepted (step S706). If the IC card is not held over for a certain period of time and the first user's approval instruction is not accepted, the process proceeds to step S710, and interrupt printing is terminated.
If the IC card of the first user is held over, the process proceeds to step S707.

In order to shift to interrupt printing, the printer 300 interrupts the job being printed by the first user, and stores the interrupted portion in the RAM 302 (step S707). Here, the number of pages being printed is stored. However, when a plurality of jobs are being printed, the number of pages may be interrupted for each job.
That is, in the present invention, while the print data of the first user is being printed, the user identification information of the second user is received and managed in association with the user identification information of the second user. An interrupt printing enable / disable determination process for determining whether it is possible to interrupt and print the print data of the second user. This interrupt printing permission / inhibition determination process includes determination of “printing authority” in step S702, determination of “interrupt printing permission” in step S703, “number of interrupt printing permission jobs” in step S705, and the like. Further, as described in step S707, a determination process as to whether or not interrupt printing can be performed by determining whether or not there is between pages of one print job, and a print currently being performed. It is assumed that after the job, a process for determining whether interrupt printing can be performed by determining whether a print job of the same user is between waiting print jobs is also included.
The determination of “number of interrupts allowed” is also included in the interrupt print permission determination process. For example, when the second user is performing interrupt printing, if a new user's IC card is held over (interrupt interrupt), the process determines that printing by the third user is not permitted. Alternatively, it may be a process of determining whether to enable interrupt printing after obtaining the permission of the first user and the second user.
In addition, this interrupt printability determination process includes determination by any one of a plurality of determination processes listed above or a combination of a plurality of determination processes.

  The printer 300 performs interrupt printing for the second user (step S708). Details of the interrupt printing process will be described later. When the interrupt printing is finished, the printer 300 resumes printing of the suspended job (step S709). At that time, the process restarts from the interrupted location stored in step S707. After the end of printing, the CPU 301 of the printer 300 discards the user information stored in the interrupt user 902 of the user management table 90 of the RAM 302 in step S701 and ends the processing (step S710).

Next, the interrupt printing process by the second user in step S708 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
First, using the user name of the second user read from the IC card as a key, the printer 300 acquires a job list that is a list of print data of the second user from the print management server 400 (step S801). The job name at the top of the list is stored in the RAM 302 (step S802).
Next, the printer 300 displays a character string that prompts the second user to select a job, such as “job selection” (step S803).
Next, the printer 300 acquires the number of times the up / down arrow key has been pressed by the second user (step S804). Here, when the up / down arrow key is pressed, a time-out determination is performed. If the arrow key is not pressed for a certain time, the process proceeds to step S808.
Subsequently, the printer 300 searches the job list for a job name corresponding to the number of times acquired in step S804 (step S805), stores the matched job name in the RAM 302 (step S806), and stores the job name stored in the RAM 302. The information is displayed on the operation unit 308 (step S807).

Next, the printer 300 checks whether the second user's IC card is held over to start interrupt printing (whether a print instruction has been accepted) (step S808). If the second user's IC card is not held over for a certain period of time, interrupt printing is stopped and the interrupt printing process is terminated. If the IC card is held over, the process proceeds to step S809.
Whether or not the second user's IC card is held is checked by performing steps S607 to S611 in FIG. 6 and determining whether the obtained (accepted) user name matches the interrupted user 902 in FIG. .
In step S809, the printer 300 acquires a print job corresponding to the job name stored in the RAM 302 in step S806 from the print management server 400 (step S809), and prints the acquired job (step S810).
The printer 300 confirms whether the interrupt printing by the second user is completed (step S811), and when the interrupt printing is completed, the interrupt printing process is ended.

  As described above, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus, a network interface apparatus, a control method, and a program that can efficiently execute interrupt printing in the printing system according to the present invention. In particular, since it is possible to control whether or not to perform interrupt printing and the number of interrupt jobs, such as one interrupt job, for example, the print waiting time of the interrupted user can be shortened.

  The preferred embodiments of the print system and the like according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a configuration of a print system 1 to which an image processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied. A block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable to the client PC 100, the print server 200, the print management server 400, the login service PC 500, the directory service server 600, and the IC card authentication server 800. Block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the controller unit 316 of the printer 300 Data configuration diagram showing an example of bibliographic information data 40 in the print system 1 of the present embodiment Data configuration diagram showing an example of an IC card authentication table 50 in the print system 1 of the present embodiment A flowchart showing the flow of the entire process in the print system 1 of the present embodiment. A flowchart showing a flow of interrupt control processing in the print system 1 of the present embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of the interruption printing process in the printing system 1 of this embodiment. Data configuration diagram showing an example of a user management table 90 in the print system 1 of the present embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Print system 10 ... Office A
20 ... Office B
100: Client PC
200... Print server 300... Printer 400... Print management server 500.
600 ... Directory service server 700 ... LAN
800 ... IC card authentication server 900 ... WAN

Claims (12)

An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a print management server that manages print data in association with user identification information,
Identification information storage means for storing user identification information of the first user in response to reception of user identification information of the first user;
Transmitting means for transmitting to the print management server a print instruction including user identification information of the first user stored by the identification information storage means;
Receiving means for receiving print data of the first user managed in association with user identification information of the first user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmitting means;
Printing means for printing the print data of the first user received by the receiving means;
While the print data of the first user is being printed by the printing unit, the user identification information of the second user is received and managed in association with the user identification information of the second user. Interrupt printing enable / disable determining means for determining whether or not printing of the print data of the second user can be performed by interrupting;
Interrupt printing means for interrupting printing of the print data of the second user when it is determined by the interrupt printing availability determination means that printing of the print data of the second user can be interrupted When,
Print resuming means for resuming printing of the print data of the first user interrupted by the interrupt printing means after printing of the second user interrupted by the interrupt printing means is completed;
An image processing apparatus comprising: When it is determined by the interrupt printability determination means that the print data of the first user is not being printed,
The transmission means transmits a print instruction including user identification information of the second user to the print management server;
The receiving unit receives the print data of the second user managed in association with the user identification information of the second user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmission unit;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints print data of the second user received by the receiving unit.   When it is determined by the interrupt printing enable / disable determining unit that printing of the print data of the second user cannot be performed, the interrupt printing unit receives an approval instruction from the first user. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an approval receiving unit that enables the printing of the print data of the second user to be interrupted.   The interrupt printing enable / disable determining means is managed in association with the user identification information of the second user based on print authority information, interrupt enable / disable information, interrupt permission job number information, and interrupt permission number information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether printing of the print data of the second user can be interrupted. The interrupt printing means includes
Print data list acquisition means for acquiring a list of print data of the second user managed in association with the second user identification information;
An instruction receiving unit that receives a print instruction of desired print data out of the list of print data of the second user acquired by the print data list acquisition unit;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the instruction receiving unit receives a print instruction for the desired print data in response to reception of user identification information of the second user. The interrupt printing unit stores an interruption point of printing of the print data of the first user interrupted by the printing process of the second user,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing restarting unit restarts printing of the print data of the first user from the interrupted portion. A network interface device that is connected to an image processing device and communicates with a print management server that manages print data in association with user identification information,
Identification information storage means for storing user identification information of the first user in response to reception of user identification information of the first user;
Transmitting means for transmitting to the print management server a print instruction including user identification information of the first user stored by the identification information storage means;
Receiving means for receiving print data of the first user managed in association with user identification information of the first user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmitting means;
Printing means for printing the print data of the first user received by the receiving means;
While the print data of the first user is being printed by the printing unit, the user identification information of the second user is received and managed in association with the user identification information of the second user. Interrupt printing enable / disable determining means for determining whether or not printing of the print data of the second user can be performed by interrupting;
Interrupt printing means for interrupting printing of the print data of the second user when it is determined by the interrupt printing availability determination means that printing of the print data of the second user can be interrupted When,
Print resuming means for resuming printing of the print data of the first user interrupted by the interrupt printing means after printing of the second user interrupted by the interrupt printing means is completed;
A network interface device comprising: A control method in an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a print management server that manages print data in association with user identification information,
An identification information storage step for storing the user identification information of the first user in response to reception of the user identification information of the first user;
A transmission step of transmitting a print instruction including user identification information of the first user stored in the identification information storage step to the print management server;
A receiving step of receiving print data of the first user managed in association with user identification information of the first user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmission unit;
A printing process for printing the print data of the first user received in the receiving process;
While the printing data of the first user is being printed by the printing process, the user identification information of the second user is received and managed in association with the user identification information of the second user. An interrupt printing availability determination step for determining whether or not printing of the print data of the second user can be interrupted; and
Interrupt printing step for interrupting printing of the second user's print data when it is determined that the printing of the second user's print data can be interrupted in the interrupt printing enable / disable determining step When,
A print resuming step of resuming printing of the print data of the first user interrupted by the interrupt printing step after the printing of the second user interrupted by the interrupt printing step is completed;
A control method comprising: An image processing system comprising a print management server that manages print data in association with user identification information, and an image processing apparatus that can communicate with the print management server,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Identification information storage means for storing user identification information of the first user in response to reception of user identification information of the first user;
Transmitting means for transmitting to the print management server a print instruction including user identification information of the first user stored by the identification information storage means;
Receiving means for receiving print data of the first user managed in association with user identification information of the first user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmitting means;
Printing means for printing the print data of the first user received by the receiving means;
While the print data of the first user is being printed by the printing unit, the user identification information of the second user is received and managed in association with the user identification information of the second user. Interrupt printing enable / disable determining means for determining whether or not printing of the print data of the second user can be performed by interrupting;
Interrupt printing means for interrupting printing of the print data of the second user when it is determined by the interrupt printing availability determination means that printing of the print data of the second user can be interrupted When,
Print resuming means for resuming printing of the print data of the first user interrupted by the interrupt printing means after printing of the second user interrupted by the interrupt printing means is completed;
With
The print management server
Print data transmission for transmitting, to the image processing apparatus, print data of the first user managed in association with user identification information of the first user included in the print instruction transmitted by the transmission unit. An image processing system comprising means.   A program for causing an image processing apparatus to function as the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   A program for causing a network interface device to function as the network interface device according to claim 8.

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