JP2013114515A - Cloud print system, image processing device, image processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve secure print by a cloud service, in an inexpensive image processing device which only has a storage device with small capacity.SOLUTION: An image processing device comprises: reception means which receives an instruction for cloud print; determination means which determines a size of a storage region used for development processing of print data which corresponds to the instruction if secure print is designated in the instruction; request means which transmits a print data acquisition request designating a part of the print data to a print server, within a size which can be stored in the size of the storage region; communication means which terminates a session with the print server after the print data corresponding to the print data acquisition request is received; and storage means which stores image data generated by the development processing to the print data, using the storage region which is determined for the instruction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cloud print system, an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program, and more particularly to cloud print.

  In recent years, cloud prints have been used in which an image processing apparatus obtains print data from a cloud server on the Internet and realizes a printing function. One of the advantages of cloud printing is, for example, reduction in server management costs for the user environment and ease of cooperation with other cloud services.

  Usually, in a cloud print system configuration, since a firewall is interposed, print data cannot be transmitted to an image processing apparatus starting from a print server on the Internet. Therefore, the data flow is a so-called PULL type print in which a data acquisition request is issued from the image processing apparatus to the print server, and the print data is transmitted from the print server to the image processing apparatus. On the other hand, a conventional method of transmitting print data from a print driver or the like in a LAN to an image processing apparatus is called a push type.

  Normally, authentication is required when using cloud print, but there are two authentication timings. The first is before the image processing apparatus requests acquisition of print data from the cloud server. The image processing apparatus transmits a print data acquisition request to the cloud server after performing authentication processing at the operation unit. Then, the image processing apparatus receives the print data, and executes the expansion process and the print process.

  The second is after the image processing apparatus completes the development process. The image processing apparatus receives print data from the cloud print server, and develops the received print data. The image data generated by the expansion process is stored in the storage device, but the image data is set in an authenticable state after the storage is completed. After authentication, the stored image data is printed.

  The second method only prints image data stored after the authentication process as compared with the first method, and the user waiting time from the authentication to the start of printing is short. The second method is close to the configuration of secure printing in which printing is performed after performing conventional authentication. Conventional secure printing is mainly used on a LAN. The secure print is a function that keeps confidentiality by suppressing the print result input from the information processing apparatus from being viewed by a third party.

  The present invention proposes a technique for solving a problem that occurs when the second authentication timing method described above is applied to secure printing in a cloud service.

JP 2006-293933 A

  Recently, there is an image processing apparatus having only a small-capacity storage device. Inexpensive HDD-less model image processing apparatuses are required to support secure printing in cloud services. However, since the conventional secure printing method is premised on the provision of a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD, a problem occurs when applied to a small capacity. In order to solve this problem, there have been proposals for PUSH type printing by a LAN print driver. However, the cloud print, which is a PULL type print, has a different configuration from the PUSH type print, and causes another problem. There are three issues to be dealt with here.

  The first problem will be described. Here, a case where the conventional secure print method is applied to cloud print of an image processing apparatus having a small-capacity storage area will be described. Usually, the processing order of the image processing apparatus in secure printing is data reception, data expansion, authentication, and printing. Specifically, when the image processing apparatus receives the print data, the image processing apparatus performs expansion processing and temporarily stores the image data in the storage device.

  The image processing apparatus puts the job into an authentication waiting state after the expansion processing for all pages of the input data is completed. Thereafter, the image processing apparatus accepts input of authentication information at the operation unit. The image processing apparatus prints the stored image data when the authentication process is successful. When this conventional secure print process is applied to a small-capacity storage area, there is a job that cannot be printed because there is not enough storage area for the developed image data. This is because the image processing apparatus cancels the job as the protection process when the capacity is full during the development process. That is, in a small-capacity image processing apparatus, a capacity full state frequently occurs, and a problem that image data for all pages cannot be stored normally occurs.

  The second problem will be described. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151826 is a prior art related to small-capacity secure printing. This is a PUSH type and performs authentication processing before receiving print data. In this method, since the image processing apparatus executes all processes from reception of print data after authentication, a waiting time of the user occurs from authentication to start of printing. In cloud printing, the network bandwidth is often narrower than that of a LAN, so that there is a concern that the reception time is extended and the waiting time until the start of printing is further increased. In general, a user performs secure printing on a document that requires confidentiality. For such data, an unfavorable situation may occur in which the printing process is not started immediately after authentication. In this case, since the user does not want to be viewed by a third party, the user must wait in front of the image processing apparatus until the start of printing.

  Note that in an image processing apparatus having a large-capacity storage device such as a conventional HDD, all pages can be expanded and image data can be stored in a storage area. That is, the waiting time does not occur because the image data stored after the authentication is printed.

  The third problem will be described. This occurs when the small-capacity secure print method in the push-type print is applied to cloud print. The image processing apparatus temporarily stops the development and reception processing without canceling the job when the capacity full occurs during the development processing of the data transmitted by the push type from the print driver or the like. Then, the image processing apparatus transitions to the authentication waiting state and waits. At this time, the image processing apparatus maintains a session with a client such as a print driver until the user authentication process is accepted after the suspension.

  When this method is applied to cloud print, a problem occurs in session management. The print server in the cloud print has a limited resource configuration on the Internet. That is, it becomes a high-load server that accepts print data acquisition requests from a large number of image processing apparatuses around the world.

  The purpose of this proposal is to solve the above-mentioned problem of small-capacity secure printing in the cloud.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a cloud print system including a print server belonging to an external network and an image processing apparatus belonging to the internal network, wherein the image processing apparatus receives a cloud print instruction from the user via the print server; A determination unit that determines a size of a storage area to be used for a development process of print data corresponding to the instruction when a secure print that requires an authentication process is specified when the printed matter is output in the cloud print instruction; A request means for sending a print data acquisition request specifying a part of the print data to the print server within a size range that can be held by the size of the storage area determined by the means, and corresponding to the print data acquisition request After receiving print data to be received Communication means for ending a session with the print server, holding means for holding image data generated by performing expansion processing on the print data using the storage area determined for the instruction, Printing means for performing printing after executing authentication processing on the image data held in the storage area, and the print server transmits print data in a range specified by the print data acquisition request as a response Responding means.

  According to the present invention, low-load secure printing in the cloud is realized in a small-capacity image processing apparatus.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system. The sequence diagram between the apparatuses in a printing system. The figure which shows the structural example of a document list screen. The figure which shows the structural example of print data. The figure which shows the example of a structure of a cloud print instruction | indication, and the example of a print data acquisition request. The figure which shows the example of a screen of a job list screen. 5 is a flowchart in the image processing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining settings of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a job list screen according to the second embodiment.

<Embodiment 1>
[System configuration]
A mode for carrying out the present invention will be described. FIG. 1A shows an overall configuration diagram of a cloud print system according to the present embodiment. With this cloud print system, secure printing by cloud service is implemented. In this specification, a print service provided via the cloud print server 1001 on the Internet 1000 is referred to as “cloud print”. In addition, “cloud” or “cloud service” indicates a general usage form of cloud computing using a server on an external network such as the Internet. In this specification, “secure print” means that authentication information such as a password is set for a job (or data), and authentication processing is executed by the authentication information input by the user when outputting to a printed matter such as a paper medium. This refers to the printing process that performs output. A printing process that does not require an authentication process is referred to as “normal printing”.

  The information processing apparatus 1102 and the image processing apparatus 1200 are connected via a LAN 1100 that is an internal network. The LAN 1100 is connected to the Internet 1000 via the firewall 1101. The cloud print server 1001 can communicate with the information processing apparatus 1102 and the image processing apparatus 1200 of the LAN 1100 via the Internet 1000.

  In conventional PUSH type printing, print data is transmitted from a print driver (not shown) on the information processing apparatus 1102 to the image processing apparatus 1200, and the image processing apparatus 1200 performs print processing. In the cloud print, since the firewall 1101 is between the Internet 1000 and the LAN 1100, the PUSH type print starting from the cloud print server 1001 cannot be executed. After receiving a cloud print instruction from a web browser (not shown) on the information processing apparatus 1102, the image processing apparatus 1200 requests the cloud print server 1001 to acquire print data. In this way, PULL type printing is performed in which the image processing apparatus 1200 receives print data and performs print processing. Details of this processing will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  The internal configuration of the image processing apparatus 1200 will be briefly described. Each module in the image processing apparatus 1200 is connected to each other via a system bus 1201. The CPU 1202 is responsible for control processing of the entire image processing apparatus 1200. The image processing apparatus 1200 performs communication processing with other devices on the network such as the LAN 1100 at the network control unit 1203. Here, processing such as reception of a cloud print instruction from the information processing apparatus 1102, transmission of a print data acquisition request to the cloud print server 1001, reception of print data from the cloud print server 1001 is processed. Further, the network control unit 1203 also processes print acceptance by transmitting / receiving data closed in a local network such as the LAN 1100 from the conventional information processing apparatus 1102.

  The image processing apparatus 1200 develops the received print data into image data by the image development processing unit 1207. The developed image data is stored in the storage device 1205 by the image data storage processing unit 1208 in units of one page. In the case of secure print processing, the image processing apparatus 1200 shifts a job corresponding to the print data to an authentication waiting state after the image data is expanded.

  In the case of a job for which secure printing is designated, the image processing apparatus 1200 receives input of authentication information from the user via the operation unit 1204 and performs authentication processing in the authentication processing unit 1206. After successful authentication, the image processing apparatus 1200 outputs the image data to the printer engine 1209 for print processing. The image processing apparatus 1200 outputs to the printer engine 1209 and sequentially deletes image data of pages for which printing processing has been completed from the storage device 1205.

  FIG. 1B shows an example of dividing a storage area in an image storage unit (not shown) of the storage device 1205 of the image processing device 1200. The image processing apparatus 1200 processes a plurality of functions such as copying in addition to printing. For this reason, the image storage unit of the storage device 1205 is divided for each job type. In FIG. 1B, the area of the image storage unit is divided into an area 1031 used for normal print image data, an area 1032 used for secure print image data, an area 1033 used for copy function image data, and the like. Note that the method of dividing the storage area is not limited to this, and the storage area may be further divided into different function applications.

[Sequence Diagram]
FIG. 2 shows a sequence diagram of a print system that executes secure printing in the cloud service according to the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates an overview of the present embodiment. Details of each process will be described separately.

  The user gives a cloud print instruction using a web browser (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 1102. At the start of the operation, the information processing apparatus 1102 notifies the cloud print server 1001 of a login request (S2001). The cloud print server 1001 returns a login request response to the information processing apparatus 1102 (S2002). The information processing apparatus 1102 notifies the cloud print server 1001 of a document list acquisition request (S2003). The cloud print server 1001 returns a document list to the information processing apparatus 1102 (S2004).

  The information processing apparatus 1102 displays the received document list on the web browser. An example of a document list screen displayed on the web browser is shown in FIG. The information processing apparatus 1102 accepts a document selection from the user on the document list screen (FIG. 3A). When the print button 3002 in FIG. 3 is selected, FIG. 3B is displayed. Further, the information processing apparatus 1102 receives secure print settings and password settings for the selected document on the operation screen. A configuration example of the operation screen is shown in FIG.

  The information processing apparatus 1102 notifies the cloud print server 1001 of a print request for a document designated for secure printing (S2005). This print request includes a password input by the user that can be accepted by the password setting 3012 in FIG. The cloud print server 1001 creates print data from data corresponding to the designated document (S2006). At this time, the cloud print server 1001 assigns the password input on the screen shown in FIG. 3B to the print data. The cloud print server 1001 returns a response to the information processing apparatus 1102 after creating the print data (S2007). This response includes an executable statement that causes the image processing apparatus 1200 to transmit a print request. In the present embodiment, JavaScript (registered trademark) is used in the description of the executable statement. This executable statement includes information such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is position information for accessing print data spooled in the cloud print server 1001. Note that the executable statement is the same as that of general cloud print, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The information processing apparatus 1102 transmits a cloud print instruction to the image processing apparatus 1200 from the received executable statement (S2008). A description example of the contents of the cloud print instruction is shown in FIG. This cloud print instruction includes an identifier of print data spooled on the cloud print server 1001, a URL for accessing the print data, a secure print, an image data size, and the like. The image processing apparatus 1200 returns a response to the cloud print instruction (S2008) to the information processing apparatus 1102 (S2009).

  A cloud print process in the image processing apparatus 1200 will be described. The details of the printing process of the image processing apparatus 1200 are shown in a flowchart in FIG. Here, the overall image will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of the system (FIG. 2).

  The image processing apparatus 1200 notifies the cloud print server 1001 of a print data acquisition request (S2010). Here, the division range designation for the print data is used in the print data acquisition request. The division range designation here is to divide print data and designate a part thereof. This notification content is shown in FIG. In response to this notification, the cloud print server 1001 changes the status of the print data to “downloading” (S2011). Then, the cloud print server 1001 transmits print data for the designated division range to the image processing apparatus 1200 (S2012). The image processing apparatus 1200 ends the session with the cloud print server 1001 after completing the reception of the print data for the designated division range (S2012).

  If the designated range is smaller than the print data, the print data has not been transmitted yet. Therefore, the cloud print server 1001 considers that the print is secure, and changes the status of the print data to “waiting for authentication” (S2013).

  The image processing apparatus 1200 performs a development process for the received print data of the size (S2014). The expansion process here is a process of interpreting the print data and converting it into image data in a state where it can be output. Note that the processing content is not particularly limited, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. Then, the image processing apparatus 1200 changes the job state to “Waiting”. In this state, it waits for an authentication instruction from the user. The image processing apparatus 1200 receives the user's password input through the operation unit 1204 and performs authentication processing (S2015). FIG. 6 shows the operation screen of the image processing apparatus 1200 at this time.

  The image processing apparatus 1200 starts print processing for the job after authentication. At this time, the image processing apparatus 1200 sequentially deletes image data of pages that have been printed (S2017). The image processing apparatus 1200 reestablishes a session with the cloud print server 1001 in parallel with the print processing in S2017. Then, the image processing apparatus 1200 designates a data range for the unacquired print data and makes an acquisition request (S2016). At this time, the image processing apparatus 1200 performs the subsequent processing using the storage area freed by the deletion.

  When transmitting the remaining print data, the cloud print server 1001 changes the status of the print data to “downloading” (S2018). Then, the cloud print server 1001 transmits the remaining print data to the image processing apparatus 1200 (S2019). The image processing apparatus 1200 performs expansion processing and printing processing of the remaining received print data (S2022). Since the authentication process has already been performed in S2015, the development process and the print process may be sequentially performed here.

  In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 2, the print data of 100000 KBytes is transmitted twice (each 50000 KBytes). However, the data may be further divided and transmitted according to the data size of the print data and the size of the small-capacity storage medium included in the image processing apparatus 1200. Further, the value in a predetermined range for the data described in the print data acquisition request may be arbitrarily set according to the communication status.

  In the present invention, the above-described processing is performed to solve the above-described three problems and to realize a small-capacity secure print using the cloud. Details of each processing content are described below.

[Screen example]
FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples of screens for specifying a document to be cloud-printed displayed on the information processing apparatus. FIG. 3A shows a document list screen 3000 that is notified from the cloud print server 1001 and displayed on the information processing apparatus 1102. The document list screen 3000 includes items of a document selection check box 3003, a document name 3004, a document creation date / time 3005, a document page number 3006, and a document size 3007. The list items and screen configurations for each document are not limited to this, but may include other information.

  The information processing apparatus 1102 displays a job setting screen 3010 when a document is selected in the document selection check box 3003 and a job setting button 3001 is clicked. Note that the information processing apparatus 1102 transmits a print instruction to the cloud print server 1001 when a document is selected in the document selection check box 3003 and a click on the print instruction button 3002 is accepted.

  FIG. 3B shows a configuration example of a cloud print job setting screen 3010. The job setting screen 3010 includes setting items such as a secure print invalidation / validation setting 3011, a password setting 3012 when secure printing is enabled, a finishing setting 3013 such as single-sided / double-sided, and a printing paper size setting 3014. The job setting screen 3010 is not limited to this configuration, and may include other screen configurations.

  When the information processing apparatus 1102 receives a click on the print instruction button 3022 after setting the job on the job setting screen 3010, the information processing apparatus 1102 transmits the print instruction to the cloud print server 1001.

  Note that in the present embodiment, when the invalidation / validation setting 3011 of the job setting screen 3010 shown in FIG. 3B is invalidated, normal printing is performed for the job.

[Data structure]
FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of print data. Here, the print data 4001 acquired from the cloud print server 1001 by the image processing apparatus 1200 is indicated. The print data 4001 includes a job attribute part 4002 and a PDL data part 4003.

  The job attribute part 4002 will be described. A job attribute unit 4002 can specify a document size, finishing setting, and the like used for print processing in the image processing apparatus 1200. In FIG. 4, “number of original pages” and “original size” are designated as <original setting>, and “printing method” is designated as <finishing setting>. The setting value of the job attribute part is not limited to this.

  In the job attribute section 4002, in addition to the above, settings relating to secure printing can be made in the item <secure printing>. Settings relating to secure printing will be described. First, it is possible to set whether secure printing is enabled or disabled. When the image processing apparatus 1200 receives a valid job, the image processing apparatus 1200 processes the job as a secure print. The image processing apparatus 1200 processes a job for which invalidity is set or a job for which there is no <secure print> setting item as a normal print job.

  In “Job Name”, a job name to be displayed in a job list or the like of the image processing apparatus 1200 can be set. The job list will be described with reference to FIG. In “Password”, a password necessary for starting the print processing of the secure print job is set.

  The PDL data unit 4003 will be described. The PDL data is described based on the language specification of PDL (Page Description Language). Describes drawing information mainly in page units. In the example, PDL data of each page from the first page to the tenth page is described. The image processing apparatus 1200 performs expansion processing according to the PDL data to generate image data. The PDL type may be a PDL data format supported by the image processing apparatus 1200.

[Cloud Print Instruction]
FIG. 5A shows a description example of a cloud print instruction. This is the content of data transmitted from the information processing apparatus 1102 to the image processing apparatus 1200 used in S2008 of FIG. In the present embodiment, the cloud print instruction is described in XML (extensible Markup Language). Tags related to this embodiment will be described. In the <JobId> tag, an identifier of print data of the cloud print server 1001 is described. In the <JobUrl> tag, a URL for accessing print data on the cloud print server 1001 is described.

  The <DataType> tag describes the type of print data. Specifically, secure print, normal print, and the like are described. The <ImageSize> tag describes the size of the image data after development. Hereinafter, the size described here is referred to as a print data size.

  FIGS. 5B and 5C show a description example of a print acquisition request. This refers to a description example of a print data acquisition request specifying a division range to be transmitted from the image processing apparatus 1200 to the cloud print server 1001 used in S2010 and S2016 in FIG. In this embodiment, an HTTP request is used as a print data acquisition request.

  FIG. 5B shows a first divided range request transmitted to the cloud print server 1001 after the image processing apparatus 1200 receives a cloud print instruction from the information processing apparatus 1102. That is, it is a print data acquisition request used in S2010 of FIG. The contents of FIG. 5B will be described. The HTTP GET method is designated, and then the print data path is designated. Feed name: Specify the host that holds the print data in Host. The range specification is used for the acquisition request specifying the print data range. Here, the unit of the value of Range is KByte. In FIG. 5B, 50000 KBytes is requested from the top. Further, since Connection: Keep-Alive is not set, the image processing apparatus 1200 can end the session processing with the cloud print server 1001 after receiving the data for the range specified.

  FIG. 5C shows an acquisition request in which the image processing apparatus 1200 reestablishes a session with the cloud print server 1001 and designates the range of print data of the remaining data. That is, it is a print data acquisition request used in S2016 in FIG. FIG. 5C requests 50000 KBytes-100000 KBytes after the request in FIG. Other structures are similar to those in FIG.

[Job list screen]
FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the job list screen of the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus 1200 displays a list of print jobs on the job list screen 6000 of the operation unit 1204. The image processing apparatus 1200 accepts a job selection instruction and an authentication instruction via the job list screen 6000.

  The image processing apparatus 1200 accepts a selection instruction by pressing a frame corresponding to jobs 6011, 6012, and 6013. The image processing apparatus 1200 displays that the selection instruction has been accepted by changing the background color of the job. In the operation unit, the job list 6002 can display a plurality of pages, and when there are two or more pages, the page can be moved by pressing a button 6006.

  The image processing apparatus 1200 makes it possible to select two types of display of the print job list by selecting from the list 6001. There are two display methods: “all” or “secure print”. Note that other display methods may be selected. Note that when “all” is selected, the image processing apparatus 1200 displays both a normal print job and a secure print job. When “Secure Print” is selected as in the list 6001 of FIG. 6A, only the secure print job is displayed. This is a display filter for the purpose of facilitating selection since a secure print job requires a password input from job selection.

  The configuration of the job list screen 6000 will be described. The image processing apparatus 1200 displays a job list 6002 for the job being processed. The image processing apparatus 1200 accepts a selection instruction by pressing a frame corresponding to jobs 6011, 6012, and 6013. At this time, the image processing apparatus 1200 displays that the selection instruction has been accepted by changing the background color of the job. The job list of the operation unit 1204 can display a plurality of pages. When a button 6006 is pressed, if there are two or more pages, the page can be moved.

  A button to be pressed after selecting a job will be described. When the image processing apparatus 1200 receives pressing of the detail button 6008, the image processing apparatus 1200 displays the detailed information of the job (not shown). When the image processing apparatus 1200 accepts pressing of the cancel button 6009, the image processing apparatus 1200 cancels the job. When the image processing apparatus 1200 accepts pressing of the password button 6010, the image processing apparatus 1200 displays an authentication screen 6021. The authentication screen 6021 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Items shown in the job list 6002 include an icon, a time 6003, a job name 6004, a job status 6005, and the like. The icon is a process or an icon that can be intuitively understood while waiting. Time 6003 is a job reception time. For example, “19:04” is displayed. The job name 6004 displays what the user has set. For example, “Cloud Secure Print 1” is displayed. A job status 6005 displays the status of the job.

[Status display]
The status display of the secure print job will be described. In the job status 6005 on the job list screen 6000, in this embodiment, the status transition of each job of secure printing is changed and displayed in the following order.

・ Receiving (cloud secure print)
・ Under development (Cloud Secure Print)
・ Waiting for authentication (Cloud Secure Print)
・ Printing (Cloud Secure Print)
・ Cancelled (Cloud Secure Print)
When the image processing apparatus 1200 is receiving a print job from the cloud print server 1001, “Receiving” is displayed in the job status 6005 of the job list 6002. If the image processing apparatus 1200 is developing a received job, “Developing” is displayed in the job status 6005 of the job list 6002. (Job 6013). In the case where the image processing apparatus 1200 is processing reception and expansion in parallel, “development” is preferentially displayed here.

  When the image processing apparatus 1200 completes developing the received data and stores the image data, the job is shifted to the authentication waiting state, and “waiting for authentication” is displayed in the job state 6005 of the job list 6002 (job 6012). Next, the authentication operation is accepted. The authentication operation screen will be described later, and the job status will be described. When the job authentication process is successful, the printer engine 1209 starts the printing process and displays “printing” in the job status 6005 of the job list 6002 (job 6011). In this embodiment, after printing processing is started, if printing and processing are performed in parallel using the free area of the image data that has finished printing processing, “printing” is given priority here. indicate.

  If the image processing apparatus 1200 receives a press of a cancel button 6009 after selecting a job during any of the above processes, the image processing apparatus 1200 stops the processing of the job. When the cancel instruction is received, the image processing apparatus 1200 displays “suspending” in the job status 6005 of the job list 6002. When the image processing apparatus 1200 completes the cancellation process, the image processing apparatus 1200 deletes the job from the job list 6002.

  In the above description, the state to be displayed when parallel processing is performed is set, but the state of parallel processing may be alternately displayed. Further, the job status is not limited to the above set value, and other job status may be provided or reduced as necessary.

[Authentication operation screen]
Next, the authentication screen 6021 will be described. In the job list screen 6000, the image processing apparatus 1200 accepts the selection of the “Waiting for authentication” job 6012 and presses the password button 6010, and displays an authentication screen 6021 shown in FIG. When the image processing apparatus 1200 receives an input of authentication information (here, a password) on the authentication screen 6021 and further receives a press of an OK button 6022, the authentication processing unit 1206 performs an authentication process. Then, the image processing apparatus 1200 displays the authentication result on the screen.

  When the authentication fails, the image processing apparatus 1200 returns to the job list screen 6000 shown in FIG. 6A, and the job status remains “Waiting for authentication”. If the user presses the cancel button 6023, the authentication process is not executed. Also in this case, the screen returns to the original job list display screen shown in FIG. When a job for which normal printing is designated is selected in the job list 6002, the password button 6010 may be displayed so that it cannot be selected.

[Processing flow]
FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the image processing apparatus 1200. In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 1200 can process both a normal cloud print and a secure print in the cloud. This processing flow is realized by the CPU 1202 of the image processing apparatus 1200 reading and executing a program stored in the storage device 1205 that is a storage unit.

  The image processing apparatus 1200 receives a cloud print instruction (FIG. 5A) from the information processing apparatus 1102 (S7001). The image processing apparatus 1200 determines whether the cloud print instruction is normal cloud print or secure print (S7002).

  In the case of normal cloud printing (NO in S7002), the image processing apparatus 1200 transmits a print data acquisition request to the cloud print server 1001 (7003). Then, the image processing apparatus 1200 receives print data via the Internet 1000 as a response to the request (S7004). The image processing apparatus 1200 performs a session end process after the reception is completed (S7005). In addition, the image processing apparatus 1200 performs development processing and printing processing in parallel with the reception processing (S7006). Thereafter, this processing flow ends.

  In the case of secure printing (YES in S7002), the image processing apparatus 1200 determines the storage area size used for the job in the storage device 1205 (S7011). Here, the size 1302 in the area used for the image data of the secure print in the storage device 1205 shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus 1200 compares the print data size described in the cloud print instruction with the storage area size (S7012).

  If the print data size fits in the storage area size (YES in S7012), the image processing apparatus 1200 notifies the cloud print server 1001 of a print data acquisition request (S7013). The image processing apparatus 1200 receives print data from the cloud print server 1001, and performs a session termination process with the cloud print server 1001 after the reception is completed (S7014). The image processing apparatus 1200 performs development processing for all pages, and stores the image data in the job storage area (S7015). The image processing apparatus 1200 shifts the job to the “waiting for authentication” state after expanding all pages.

  The image processing apparatus 1200 receives a password input from the user, and after the authentication process (S7016), outputs the stored image data to the printer engine 1209, and performs a printing process (S7017). Then, this processing flow ends.

  If the print data size is larger than the storage area size (NO in S7012), the image processing apparatus 1200 designates a range of print data to the cloud print server 1001, and requests acquisition (S7021). The image processing apparatus 1200 receives the specified print data range, and performs a session end process with the cloud print server 1001 after the reception is completed (S7022). The image processing apparatus 1200 develops the received print data in the image development processing unit 1207, and saves the image data in the storage device 1205 in the image data storage processing unit 1208 (S7023). The image processing apparatus 1200 transitions the job to the “Waiting for authentication” state after the received image data has been expanded.

  After accepting the authentication (YES in S7024), the image processing apparatus 1200 outputs the image data stored in the storage device 1205 to the printer engine 1209, and executes the printing process. Then, the image processing apparatus 1200 deletes the image data for which the printing process has been completed from the storage device 1205 (S7025). In parallel with the printing / deleting process (S7025), the image processing apparatus 1200 uses the deleted storage area for the job, designates the remaining print data as a range, and issues an acquisition request to the cloud print server 1001. put out. Then, the image processing apparatus 1200 executes print data reception / development / print processing. These parallel processes (S7025 and S7026) are repeatedly executed until the end of the job.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, secure printing can be realized in a small-capacity image processing apparatus. At this time, it is possible to prevent a situation in which printing cannot be performed due to an insufficient print data development area, and a waiting time is generated for the user from authentication to the start of printing. In addition, redundant session management of the cloud print server can be eliminated.

<Embodiment 2>
In the second embodiment, a configuration in which the image processing apparatus 1200 processes both secure printing on the LAN 1100 and secure printing using the cloud will be described. That is, the image processing apparatus 1200 processes a plurality of secure print jobs according to a print instruction closed in the local network and a cloud print instruction via a print server on the Internet. In this embodiment, in order to process a plurality of secure print jobs, the development area for secure print jobs in the storage device 1205 of the image processing apparatus 1200 is divided and used.

  FIG. 8A shows a configuration of a storage area for image data in the storage device 1205 of the image processing apparatus 1200. The development area for secure print job image data is divided into the maximum number of secure print jobs (areas 8011, 8012, 8013, 8014, 8015). That is, this one section corresponds to a secure print 1 job development area on the storage device 1205. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 8A, five secure print jobs can be processed in parallel.

  The image processing apparatus 1200 uses the secure print development area for both secure print from the LAN 1100 and secure print from the cloud. Further, the image processing apparatus 1200 uses the storage device 1205 for normal print jobs and copy jobs other than the secure print job, and assigns an area different from the secure print (areas 8001 and 8002).

  FIG. 8B shows a secure print setting screen of the image processing apparatus 1200. In the present embodiment, it is possible to set the upper limit number of secure print jobs (setting 8022) and the secure job deletion time (setting 8023) on the secure print setting screen 8021. The upper limit number of secure print jobs (setting 8022) is the number of divisions of the secure print job development area. In the case of FIG. 8A, the upper limit number is set as “5” (areas 8011, 8012, 8013, 8014, 8015).

  Another setting value specific to a secure print job is a timer setting. This timer (not shown) is provided in the image processing apparatus 1200 so that when the input secure print job is left unauthenticated, the image processing apparatus 1200 deletes the job after a predetermined time has elapsed. use. That is, the time set in the setting 8023 is the job data holding time in the storage unit. These setting values are reflected after the image processing apparatus 1200 is restarted. Also, if a secure print job has been saved at the time of restart, it is deleted.

[Processing flow]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. This processing flow is realized by the CPU 1202 of the image processing apparatus 1200 reading and executing a program stored in the storage device 1205 that is a storage unit.

  The image processing apparatus 1200 can process both secure printing from the LAN 1100 and secure printing from the cloud. Which image processing apparatus 1200 processes depends on whether or not a cloud print instruction (FIG. 5A) from the information processing apparatus 1102 can be received. That is, the image processing apparatus 1200 determines whether a cloud print instruction has been received (S9001). When the image processing apparatus 1200 receives a cloud print instruction (YES in S9001), the image processing apparatus 1200 performs processing according to the flowchart described with reference to FIG. 7 (S9021).

  When the image processing apparatus 1200 receives a print job without receiving a cloud print instruction (NO in step S9001), the image processing apparatus 1200 processes the print job from the LAN 1100. A print job from a print driver or the like from the LAN 1100 has the same print data structure as that shown in FIG. That is, the print job includes a job attribute part 4002 and a PDL data part 4003. The image processing apparatus 1200 analyzes the job attribute portion 4002 of the received print job and confirms whether or not secure printing is set (S9002).

  If the secure print setting is invalid, or if the secure print setting itself is not included in the job attribute (NO in S9003), image processing apparatus 1200 processes the print job received as the normal print. The image processing apparatus 1200 expands the received data and prints the image data (S9004). Then, this processing flow ends.

  If the secure print setting is valid (YES in step S9003), the image processing apparatus 1200 processes the received print job as a secure print. The image processing device 1200 performs the expansion process and saves the image data in the storage device (S9011). The image processing apparatus 1200 develops the image data for all the pages, then shifts the secure print job to the “waiting for authentication” state, and waits for an authentication instruction (S9012).

  The image processing apparatus 1200 performs authentication processing when receiving an authentication instruction from the user, and prints image data stored in the storage device 1205 (S9013). Then, this processing flow ends.

[Job list screen]
FIG. 10 shows a job list screen 6000 of the image processing apparatus 1200 according to the present embodiment. Since the screen configuration is the same as that of the screen of FIG. 6A shown in the first embodiment, the description of the overlapping portions is omitted. In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 1200 displays both the secure print from the LAN 1100 and the secure print from the cloud in the same job list 6002.

  The configuration of the job list screen 6000 will be described. The image processing apparatus 1200 displays a job list 6002 for the job being processed. The image processing apparatus 1200 accepts a selection instruction by pressing the jobs 10021, 10022, and 10025 in a frame. The image processing apparatus 1200 displays that the selection instruction has been accepted, for example, by changing the background color of the job. In the operation unit, the job list 6002 can display a plurality of pages. When a button 6006 is pressed, if there are two or more pages, the page can be moved.

[Status display]
The secure print job status display according to the present embodiment will be described. In the image processing apparatus 1200, a difference is provided between the job status display of the secure print from the LAN 1100 and the secure print from the cloud. This clearly indicates to the user which job is the job.

  In the job status 6005 of the job list 6002, the status transition of the secure print job is changed and displayed in the following order. The job status of secure printing from a printer driver or the like on the LAN 1100 is listed.

・ Receiving (LAN secure print)
・ Under development (LAN secure print)
・ Waiting for authentication (LAN secure print)
-Printing (LAN secure print)
-Canceling (LAN secure print)
The image processing apparatus 1200 is associated with each process and supplements the display state. While receiving a secure print job from the printer driver on the LAN 1100, the image processing apparatus 1200 displays “Receiving (LAN secure print)” in the job status 6005 of the job list 6002. While the image processing apparatus 1200 is developing a received job on the LAN 1100, “Developing (LAN secure print)” is displayed in the job status 6005 of the job list 6002. The image processing apparatus 1200 displays “Waiting for authentication (LAN secure print)” in the job status 6005 of the job list 6002 when the development processing of the job received from the LAN 1100 is completed for all pages. When the print processing is started after the authentication processing for the received job, the image processing apparatus 1200 displays “printing (LAN secure print)” in the job status 6005. When the image processing apparatus 1200 receives a cancel instruction during the processing of any of the jobs described above, the job status 6005 displays “Suspended (LAN secure print)” and cancels the job.

  The display (status transition) of the secure print job status 6005 in the cloud service is the same as in the first embodiment.

・ Receiving (cloud secure print)
・ Under development (Cloud Secure Print)
・ Waiting for authentication (Cloud Secure Print)
・ Printing (Cloud Secure Print)
・ Cancelled (Cloud Secure Print)
For example, FIG. 10 shows that the image processing apparatus 1200 is processing a secure print 1 job 10021 and secure print 2 job 10022 from the cloud, and a secure print 1 job 10023 from the print driver on the LAN 1100. .

  The first job 10021 is a secure print job from the cloud, and the job status is “printing”. The second job 10022 is a secure print job from the cloud, and the job status is “Waiting for authentication”. A third job, job 10027, is a secure print job from the LAN 1100, and the job status is “Under development”.

  Note that the job status is not limited to the above set value, and other job status may be provided or reduced as necessary. Moreover, although the cloud or LAN is displayed, more detailed information (for example, the type of cloud service) may be displayed.

  With the configuration described above, the image processing apparatus can process both secure printing from a LAN and secure printing in a cloud service even when a large-capacity storage area such as an HDD is not held. In addition, it is possible to present on the screen which job is a secure print by LAN or cloud to the user.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (12)

A cloud print system including a print server belonging to an external network and an image processing device belonging to the internal network,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving a cloud print instruction from the user via the print server;
A determination unit that determines a size of a storage area to be used for a development process of print data corresponding to the instruction when a secure print that requires an authentication process is specified when outputting a printed matter in the cloud print instruction;
Requesting means for sending a print data acquisition request specifying a part of the print data to the print server within a size range that can be held by the size of the storage area determined by the determining means;
Communication means for receiving print data corresponding to the print data acquisition request and terminating a session with the print server after completion of reception;
Holding means for holding image data generated by performing expansion processing on the print data using the storage area determined in response to the instruction;
Printing means for performing printing after executing an authentication process on the image data held in the storage area;
The print server
A cloud print system comprising response means for transmitting print data in a range specified by the print data acquisition request as a response.   2. The cloud print system according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit deletes the image data from the storage area when the printing by the printing unit is finished for the image data held in the storage area. .   The request unit establishes a session with the print server again after the deletion of the image data held in the storage area is completed, and requests print data in an unacquired range of the print data. The cloud print system according to claim 2, wherein the cloud print system is transmitted to the print server.   4. The communication unit terminates a session between the print server and the image processing device every time reception of print data in a range specified by the print data acquisition request is completed. The described cloud print system.   The process of deleting the image data that has been printed by the holding unit from the storage area and the process of receiving the unacquired range data of the print data from the print server are executed in parallel. The cloud print system according to claim 4, wherein the system is a cloud print system. The receiving means further receives a print instruction closed in the local network;
When the secure print is instructed by a print instruction closed in the local network, the holding unit performs expansion processing using a storage area allocated for the print closed in the local network. The cloud print system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The image processing apparatus further includes display means for displaying a processing status in response to a print instruction,
7. The display unit according to claim 6, wherein the display unit displays a processing state for the print instruction and information indicating whether the print instruction is an instruction by the cloud print or a print closed in a local network. Cloud print system. Further comprising setting means for setting a retention time of data designated as a secure print held in the storage area;
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the authentication process is not performed even after the holding time set by the setting unit has elapsed, the holding unit deletes the image data from the storage area. The cloud print system according to any one of the above. The setting means further sets an upper limit number of secure print jobs that can be held in the storage area,
9. The cloud print system according to claim 8, wherein the determination unit allocates the storage area according to the upper limit number of jobs set by the setting unit. An image processing apparatus belonging to an internal network, connected to be able to communicate with a print server belonging to an external network,
Receiving means for receiving a cloud print instruction from the user via the print server;
A determination unit that determines a size of a storage area to be used for a development process of print data corresponding to the instruction when a secure print that requires an authentication process is specified when outputting a printed matter in the cloud print instruction;
Requesting means for sending a print data acquisition request specifying a part of the print data to the print server within a size range that can be held by the size of the storage area determined by the determining means;
Communication means for receiving print data corresponding to the print data acquisition request and terminating a session with the print server after completion of reception;
Holding means for holding image data generated by performing expansion processing on the print data using the storage area determined in response to the instruction;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that performs printing after executing authentication processing on image data held in the storage area. An image processing method in an image processing apparatus belonging to an internal network, communicatively connected to a print server belonging to an external network,
A receiving step for receiving a cloud print instruction from the user via the print server;
A determining step for determining a size of a storage area to be used for developing a print data corresponding to the instruction when a secure print requiring an authentication process is specified when outputting a printed matter in the cloud print instruction; ,
A requesting step for sending a print data acquisition request specifying a part of the print data to the print server within a size range that can be held by the size of the storage area determined in the determining step;
A communication unit that receives the print data corresponding to the print data acquisition request, and terminates the session with the print server after the reception is completed;
A holding step for holding image data generated by performing a development process on the print data using a storage area determined in response to the instruction;
An image processing method, comprising: a printing step in which a printing unit performs printing after executing an authentication process on the image data held in the storage area. Computer
Receiving means for receiving a cloud print instruction from a user via a print server belonging to an external network;
A determination unit that determines a size of a storage area used for a print data expansion process corresponding to the instruction when a secure print that requires an authentication process is specified when outputting a printed matter in the cloud print instruction;
Request means for sending a print data acquisition request specifying a part of the print data to the print server within a size range that can be held by the size of the storage area determined by the determination means;
Communication means for receiving print data corresponding to the print data acquisition request and terminating a session with the print server after completion of reception;
Holding means for holding image data generated by performing a development process on the print data using the storage area determined in response to the instruction;
A program for causing image data stored in the storage area to function as a printing unit that performs printing after executing an authentication process.

Images