JP4331064B2 - Printing apparatus, printing method and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a program for printing a highly confidential printed matter such as securities or an in-house regular document.

For highly confidential printed materials (hereinafter referred to as confidential printed materials) such as securities and internal regular documents, the type of print medium (for example, the type of paper) to be printed is usually determined, and the printing device In the printing apparatus, a process of determining which paper feed cassette unit out of a plurality of paper feed cassette units is used for printing is performed. Here, when printing a confidential printed matter in a printing apparatus, in order to prevent an unauthorized user from printing the confidential printed matter in a dark manner, for example, when printing using confidential printed matter data In addition, it is necessary to perform authentication using a password or the like. In this case, the printing apparatus performs printing using the printing paper fed to the specific paper feeding cassette unit only when the authentication is successful.
A technique for performing authentication using a password or the like when printing using confidential printed material data is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-143660

  In the technique described above, authentication is performed when printing the data of the confidential printed matter, so that it is possible to control so that a plurality of users cannot print the confidential printed matter without any darkness. However, if the user tries to print the confidential printed material on another paper that is not a paper for printing the confidential printed material, the above technique can easily print the confidential printed material. Printing itself using data cannot be restricted. As a result, there is a problem that it is not sufficient to preserve the contents of the printed matter.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of preserving the content of printed matter that is more confidential than in the past.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and includes authentication information storage means for storing user authentication information in advance, print medium specification information storage means for storing print medium specification information for specifying a print medium, Print content specifying information storage means for storing print content specifying information for specifying print content; a first storage area for storing the print medium specifying information; a second storage area for storing the print content specifying information; Print data reading means for reading the print data holding the print medium, and print medium specifying information checking means for checking whether or not the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storing means is stored in the first storage area And when the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage means is not stored in the first storage area, the print content specifying is performed in the second storage area. Print content specifying information checking means for checking whether or not the print content specifying information stored in the information storage means is stored; and the print medium specifying information stored in the first storage area by the print medium specifying information storage means Is stored, or the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage means is not stored in the first storage area, and the print content specifying information storage means is stored in the second storage area. When the print content specifying information is stored, the user authentication information is read, and it is confirmed whether or not the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit. And printing the print data on the print medium when the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means. A printing unit, a printing apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a.

  Further, the present invention provides the above-described printing apparatus, wherein the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit is stored in the first storage area, and the authentication information is stored in the authentication information storage. If the authentication information matches with the authentication information stored in the printing means, the printing means prints using the print data on the printing medium of the printing medium specifying information stored in the printing medium specifying information storage means in the first storage area. It is characterized by doing.

  According to the present invention, in the printing apparatus described above, the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit is not stored in the first storage area, and the print content specifying information is stored in the second storage area. When the print content specifying information stored in the storage means is not stored, the printing means prints using the print data on a print medium instructed by the user.

  In the invention, it is preferable that the print content specifying information is font information of characters indicated by the print data.

  According to the present invention, the print data holds a third storage area for storing the authentication information, and the authentication unit reads the authentication information from the print data.

  The present invention also stores authentication information storage means for storing user authentication information in advance, print medium specification information storage means for storing print medium specification information for specifying a print medium, and print content specification information for specifying print contents. A printing method in a printing apparatus comprising: a print content specifying information storage means for performing printing data reading means of the printing apparatus, wherein the print data specifying means stores a first storage area in which the print medium specifying information is stored, and the print content specifying A print data reading process for reading the print data that holds the second storage area in which the information is stored, and a print medium specifying information confirming unit of the printing apparatus, wherein the print medium specifying information storing unit stores the information in the first storage area. A printing medium identification information confirmation process for confirming whether or not the printing medium identification information to be stored is stored, and a printing content identification information confirmation unit of the printing apparatus, When the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit is not stored in one storage area, the print content specifying information stored in the print content specifying information storage unit is stored in the second storage area. A print content identification information confirmation process for confirming whether or not the print medium identification information is stored, and when the authentication unit of the printing apparatus stores the print medium identification information stored in the print medium identification information storage unit in the first storage area Or the print medium specifying information stored in the second storage area is not stored in the first storage area and the print medium specifying information stored in the second storage area is not stored in the first storage area. In any case where information is stored, the user authentication information is read, and the read authentication information is stored in the authentication information storage means. Authentication process for confirming whether the authentication information matches, and the printing means of the printing apparatus uses the print data when the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means. And a printing process for printing on the printing method.

  The present invention also stores authentication information storage means for storing user authentication information in advance, print medium specification information storage means for storing print medium specification information for specifying a print medium, and print content specification information for specifying print contents. A print content specifying information storage means for executing a program executed by a computer of a printing apparatus, wherein the print data reading means of the printing apparatus stores a first storage area in which the print medium specifying information is stored, A process for reading the print data holding the second storage area in which the print content specifying information is stored; the print medium specifying information confirming means of the printing apparatus; and the print medium specifying information storing means in the first storage area A process for confirming whether or not the print medium specifying information stored therein is stored, and a print content specifying information confirming unit of the printing apparatus in the first storage area Whether or not the print content specifying information stored in the print content specifying information storage unit is stored in the second storage area when the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit is not stored When the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage means is stored in the first storage area, or in the first storage area Any of the cases where the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit is not stored and the print content specifying information stored in the print content specifying information storage unit is stored in the second storage area In such a case, the authentication information of the user is read, and it is confirmed whether or not the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means. And processing that causes the printing unit of the printing apparatus to print on the printing medium using the print data when the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit. It is a program to let you.

According to the present invention, the print medium specifying information confirming unit confirms whether or not the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storing unit is stored in the first storage area of the print data. When the confirmation unit does not store the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit in the first storage area, the print content specifying information stored in the print content specifying information storage unit is stored in the second storage area. Check whether it is done. When the authentication unit stores the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit in the first storage area, or the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit is stored in the first storage area. If the print content specifying information stored in the print content specifying information storage means is stored in the second storage area, the user authentication information is read in any case, and the read authentication information is the authentication information. It is confirmed whether or not it matches the authentication information stored in the storage means. Then, the printing unit prints on the print medium using the print data when the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit.
Accordingly, in order to print a highly confidential document, the print medium specifying information (media type) stored in advance in the print medium specifying information storing means and the print content specifying information (font identification information) stored in the print content specifying information storing means are printed. If the print medium specification information or the print content specification information indicating the content of a highly confidential document is used, it is possible to prevent various users from printing highly confidential information using the received print data. It becomes possible. Thereby, in the printing apparatus, it is possible to maintain the content of the printed matter that is more confidential than in the past.

  Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a data receiving unit that receives print data from the host computer 2 or the like. An internal processing control unit 12 controls each processing unit of the printing apparatus 1. Reference numeral 13 denotes information on a medium type (print medium specifying information) indicating a specific print medium (for example, printing paper), and font identification information for specifying a font (print contents) of characters printed on a highly confidential printed matter. The storage unit stores at least (print content specifying information) and a password (authentication information) of a user who can print a highly confidential printed matter. Highly confidential printed materials are, for example, securities and in-house regular documents. The media type is information for specifying a print sheet for printing a highly confidential printed matter.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes an input / output unit that accepts output of various screens and input of instructions from the user, and is a general operation panel including a liquid crystal screen, for example. Reference numeral 15 denotes a prohibition processing unit (print medium specific information confirmation means, print content specific information confirmation, which determines whether or not the printed matter has high confidentiality by using the media type, font identification information, and user password included in the print data. Means, authentication means). Reference numeral 16 denotes a prohibition registration unit for registering a media type, font identification information, and a user password. Reference numeral 17 denotes a data analysis unit that analyzes whether or not the media type and font identification information are included in the print data. Reference numeral 18 denotes a print control unit that controls printing of printed matter. Reference numeral 19 denotes a print engine that performs print processing.

  Note that the print data is data for printing a printed matter, but the print data may have a media type stored in advance in a predetermined area (first storage area) of the data. When this media type is stored, the data analysis unit 17 of the printing apparatus 1 detects it, and the print control unit 18 removes the sheet from the cassette holder to which the printing sheet indicated by the media type is fed. The print engine 19 is processed to take out and print. The print data stores font identification information of characters to be printed in advance in a predetermined area (second storage area) of the data. In the print data, a user password for instructing printing is stored in a predetermined area of the data in advance. For example, when print data is created by a host computer or the like, it is given to the print data by a user instruction.

  Then, the data receiving unit 11 reads the print data, and the data analysis unit 17 checks whether or not the media type is stored in the print data. When the media type is stored in the print data, the prohibition processing unit 15 checks whether or not the font identification information stored in the storage unit 13 is stored in the print data. Further, the prohibition processing unit 15 does not store the media type stored in the storage unit 13 in the print data when the media type stored in the storage unit 13 is stored in the print data, or stores the storage unit 13 in the print data. In any case where the font identification information stored in step S <b> 1 is stored, the user's password is read from the print data or the like, and it is confirmed whether or not the read password matches the password stored in the storage unit 13. The print control unit 18 and the print engine 19 perform processing for printing on the print medium when the authentication is successful with the password.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of the printing apparatus.
Next, processing of the printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the data receiving unit 11 of the printing apparatus 1 reads print data from the host computer 2 or the like (step S1). When the data reception unit 11 receives the print data, the internal processing control unit 12 then receives the transfer of the print data from the data reception unit 11 and further transfers it to the data analysis unit 17. The internal processing control unit 12 instructs the data analysis unit 17 to analyze the media type. Next, the data analysis unit 17 checks whether or not media type information is stored in a predetermined area of the transferred print data (step S2). If the media type is stored in a predetermined area of the print data, the data analysis unit 17 transfers the media type to the prohibition processing unit 15.

  Next, the prohibition processing unit 15 reads the media type recorded in the storage unit 13 and compares it with the media type received from the data analysis unit 17 to check whether the two media types are the same (step S3). . When the media type recorded in the storage unit 13 is the same as the media type stored in the print data, that is, the printing paper for printing the print data prints a highly confidential printed matter. In the case of the print paper, the prohibition processing unit 15 requests the data analysis unit 17 to transfer the password stored in the print data. The data analysis unit 17 checks whether or not a password is stored in a predetermined area of the print data (step S4), and if it is stored, transfers the password to the prohibition processing unit 15. Then, the prohibition processing unit 15 compares the password recorded in the storage unit 13 with the password received from the data analysis unit 17 to check whether the two passwords are the same (step S5). When the two passwords are the same, that is, when the user authentication is successful, the internal processing control unit 12 is notified of the authentication success. In step S4, if a password is not stored in a predetermined area of the print data, the data analysis unit 17 notifies the prohibition processing unit 15 to that effect, and the prohibition processing unit 15 requests the user to input a password. The screen is output to the input / output unit 14 (step S6). Then, the password is received from the input / output unit 14 and the same authentication process as in step S5 is performed.

  Next, when receiving an authentication success, the internal processing control unit 12 instructs the print data to be transferred to the print control unit 18 for printing. Then, the print control unit 18 instructs the print engine 19 to print the print data on the media type printing paper recorded in the predetermined area of the print data. The print engine 19 prints the print data on a media type printing paper recorded in a predetermined area of the print data (step S7).

  Next, the case where the media type is not stored in step S2 or the case where the two media types are not the same in step S3 will be described. In this case, the data analysis unit 17 or the prohibition processing unit 15 sends a notification to the internal processing control unit 12 that the print data does not specify a predetermined media type (print paper on which a highly confidential printed matter is printed). . Then, the internal processing control unit 12 notifies the data analysis unit 17 to confirm the font identification information stored in a predetermined area of the print data. Then, the data analysis unit 17 reads the font identification information from the print data. Then, the font identification information is transmitted to the prohibition processing unit 15. The prohibition processing unit 15 reads the font identification information recorded in advance in the storage unit 13 and compares it with the font identification information received from the data analysis unit 17 to confirm whether or not they are the same (step S8). When the font identification information recorded in the storage unit 13 and the font identification information stored in the print data are the same, that is, the content of the print data is print data that holds highly confidential content. In this case, the prohibition processing unit 15 requests the data analysis unit 17 to transfer the password stored in the print data. Then, the processing from step S4 to step S7 is repeated. In step S8, if the font identification information recorded in the storage unit 13 is not the same as the font identification information stored in the print data, that is, the print data holds the highly confidential content. If not, the internal processing control unit 12 instructs the print control unit 18 to print, and the print control unit 18 outputs a screen for prompting the user to specify a print sheet to the input / output unit 14. Then, the print control unit 18 prints the contents of the print data for printing based on the user instruction (step S9).

  If the compared two passwords are not the same in step S5, the prohibition processing unit 15 outputs a screen indicating that printing is not possible to the input / output unit 14 (step S10). Then, the prohibition processing unit 15 notifies the internal processing control unit 12 of the deletion of the print data, and the internal processing control unit 12 performs the print data deletion processing (step S11).

  In the present embodiment, in step S8, it is determined whether the print data is data for printing a highly confidential document using the font identification information stored in the print data. However, the information is not limited to the font identification information, and other information may be used as long as the information indicates the content of the print data (print content specifying information). For example, it may be information such as a seal, a certificate design, or a mark. When the process of step S8 is performed using print content specifying information other than the font identification information, the print content specifying information included in the storage unit 13 and the print data is compared as in the above-described process. It is determined whether the print data is data for printing a highly confidential document.

  The above-described printing apparatus has a computer system inside. The process described above is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above process is performed by the computer reading and executing this program. Here, the computer-readable recording medium means a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.

  The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of a printing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus, 11 ... Data receiving part, 12 ... Internal process control part, 13 ... Memory | storage part, 14 ... Input-output part, 15 ... Forbidden process part, 16 ...・ Prohibition registration part, 17 ... Data analysis part, 18 ... Print control part, 19 ... Print engine, 2 ... Host computer

Claims (6)

Authentication information storage means for storing user authentication information in advance;
Print medium specifying information storage means for storing print medium specifying information for specifying a print medium;
Print content specifying information storage means for storing print content specifying information for specifying the print content;
Print data reading means for reading print data holding the first storage area in which the print medium specifying information is stored and the second storage area in which the print content specifying information is stored;
Print medium identification information confirmation means for confirming whether or not the print medium identification information stored in the print medium identification information storage means is stored in the first storage area;
The print content specifying information stored in the second storage area by the print content specifying information storage means when the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage means is not stored in the first storage area. Print content specific information confirmation means for confirming whether or not is stored,
When the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit is stored in the first storage area, or the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit is stored in the first storage area. In any case where the print content specifying information stored in the print content specifying information storage means is stored in the second storage area, the user authentication information is read and read. Authentication means for confirming whether authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means;
Printing means for printing on a print medium using the print data when the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means ,
The printing apparatus, wherein the print content specifying information is font information of characters indicated by the print data. When the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit is stored in the first storage area, and the authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit The printing unit prints using the print data on a print medium of the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit in the first storage area. Printing device. The print medium specifying information stored by the print medium specifying information storage means is not stored in the first storage area, and the print content specifying information stored by the print contents specifying information storage means is stored in the second storage area. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if not stored, the printing unit performs printing using the print data on a print medium instructed by the user. 4. The print data holds a third storage area for storing the authentication information,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the authentication unit reads the authentication information from the print data . Authentication information storage means for storing user authentication information in advance;
Print medium specifying information storage means for storing print medium specifying information for specifying a print medium;
Print content specifying information storage means for storing print content specifying information for specifying the print content;
A printing method in a printing apparatus comprising:
Print data reading means for reading print data, wherein the print data reading means of the printing apparatus holds a first storage area in which the print medium specifying information is stored and a second storage area in which the print content specifying information is stored Process,
A printing medium specifying information checking unit for checking whether the printing medium specifying information stored in the printing medium specifying information storing unit is stored in the first storage area; ,
When the print content specifying information confirmation unit of the printing apparatus does not store the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit in the first storage region, the print content is stored in the second storage region. A print content identification information confirmation process for confirming whether or not the print content identification information stored in the specific information storage means is stored;
When the authentication unit of the printing apparatus stores the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit in the first storage area, or the printing medium specifying information storage unit in the first storage area. In the case where the print medium specifying information to be stored is not stored and the print content specifying information stored in the print content specifying information storage unit is stored in the second storage area, the user's An authentication process for reading authentication information and checking whether the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means;
A printing process in which the printing unit of the printing apparatus prints on a print medium using the print data when the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit;
The printing method characterized in that the print content specifying information is font information of characters indicated by the print data. Authentication information storage means for storing user authentication information in advance;
Print medium specifying information storage means for storing print medium specifying information for specifying a print medium;
Print content specifying information storage means for storing print content specifying information for specifying the print content;
A program to be executed by a computer of a printing apparatus comprising:
Processing for causing the print data reading means of the printing apparatus to read print data holding a first storage area in which the print medium specifying information is stored and a second storage area in which the print content specifying information is stored; ,
A process for causing the print medium specifying information checking unit of the printing apparatus to check whether or not the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storing unit is stored in the first storage area;
When the print content specifying information confirmation unit of the printing apparatus does not store the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit in the first storage region, the print content is stored in the second storage region. Processing for confirming whether or not the print content specifying information stored in the specific information storage means is stored;
The authentication unit of the printing apparatus stores the print medium specifying information stored in the print medium specifying information storage unit in the first storage area, or the print medium specifying information storage unit in the first storage area. In the case where the print medium specifying information to be stored is not stored and the print content specifying information stored in the print content specifying information storage unit is stored in the second storage area, the user's Processing for reading authentication information and checking whether the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means;
Causing the printing means of the printing apparatus to cause the computer to execute processing for printing on the print medium using the print data when the read authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means;
The program according to claim 1, wherein the print content specifying information is font information of characters indicated by the print data.

Images