JP2000276314A - Network printing system and printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the utilization efficiency and security of a printer server by discriminating/operating the data of a stored private printing job. SOLUTION: A private printing job outputted from a work station 1 is stored in a printer server together with the attributes of the job through a network. A job receiving date, job storing time, a user's belonging group, etc., are included in the attributes of the job. When the job storing time has elapsed after storing the job, a management means 2 warns the user or executes processing such as the deletion of the job.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When a highly confidential document is printed by a network printing apparatus shared by a plurality of users or groups, print job data is temporarily stored in a printer server connected to a network, and The present invention relates to a system in which printing of a print job is started by performing an operation to instruct printing start in front of a printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is generally known a network system in which a plurality of users operating respective workstations share resources such as a file server, a printer and a multifunctional peripheral device. In such a system, each workstation is located some distance from a printer that outputs printed paper.

When printing a highly confidential document, that is, performing a private print job in such a system, a user creates a document to be privately printed on a workstation, and generates data indicating that the document is a private print. And a user ID into the workstation. The workstation transmits the input data to the printer server via the network. The printer server stores the transmitted document data and the user ID in the storage unit.

A user goes to a printer and inputs a user ID and a job number. If the user IDs match, printing is performed. A system in which a private print job sent via a network is stored in a printer server and then printed is hereinafter referred to as a private print unit.

[0005]

In the private printing means, since the printout is not performed while the print data is stored, the remaining storage capacity becomes insufficient, or a highly confidential document remains on the printer server. Such a problem arises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency and security of use of a printer server by judging and manipulating data of a stored private print job by using means for managing data stored in the printer server. And

[0007]

According to the present invention, there are provided (a) a printing means connected to a network such as a network printer and a copying machine; (b) a user operation input means such as a control panel provided in the printing means; c) a printer server unit capable of storing print job data, such as a printer internal storage buffer or an external printer controller internal storage device; (d) a storage status management unit for managing the storage status of print job data; ) Print job attribute setting means such as a printer driver capable of setting the attributes of a print job, (f) attribute management means for managing the setting attributes of print job data, (g) notifying means for notifying a user, h) A user instruction input means for inputting an instruction from a user is provided.

When a highly confidential document is printed by a printing means shared by a plurality of users or groups, print data is temporarily stored in a printer server means,
When the user performs an operation using the user operation input means to instruct the start of printout and perform printout, the above means (a) to (h) are combined and operated.

[0009] In the private printing means, if the remaining storage capacity becomes insufficient, it is impossible to store any more print jobs. Therefore, the lower limit value of the remaining capacity that can be stored is set as a condition, and the remaining capacity is checked by a storage status management unit that manages the storage status of the print job data. When the management unit determines that the lower limit has been cut, for example, (1) automatically deletes the target job (one with an old reception date and a large data size can be set). (2) A warning mail is sent to the user who sent the target job. (3) A warning is issued by the user instruction input means, and a list of jobs to be deleted is presented to the user to urge deletion. At this time, an attribute management unit that manages attribute information such as a job ID, a user ID, a password, a reception date, a data size, and the like of the print job together with the job data is provided, and a target job is selected based on the value. .

[0010] The same applies to solving the above-mentioned problem that a highly confidential document remains on the printer server. A data retention period is set as a condition, and the attribute management unit determines that the period has passed. The processing set in (1) to (3) can be performed on the job that has been set.

Regarding the condition setting as a criterion for determination, it can be set for each class such as the entire system, each group, each user, and each job. For example, even if the data retention period is set to one day in the entire system, the retention period can be set to one hour especially when a highly confidential job is sent.

In this case, there are a plurality of condition settings, and it is assumed that a condition to be actually applied can be automatically selected from the conditions. In the above example, the setting of 1 hour given to the job is preferentially selected, and if it is determined that the time exceeds 1 hour, the processing set in (1) to (3) is performed.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a network print system to which the present invention is applied. In this network printing system, a plurality of workstations 1 used by a client, a printer server 2 and printing means such as a printer or a copier are connected via a network 4.

The workstation 1 is composed of, for example, a personal computer and includes a keyboard, a display, a control unit, a transmission control unit, and the like. The printer server 2 has a hard disk device and an optical disk device, and controls access to data files and the like on a network. This file server provides security and synchronization over a network via a network operating system. It should be noted that the printer server 2 and the printing means 3 are 1
It may be configured as one digital copier.

Next, registration of a client will be described. Prior to the private print, first, the configuration of a group to which a plurality of clients belong is registered in the printer server 2. FIG. 2 shows an example of such group registration. FIG. 2 shows an example of registration of a client on the second floor in a certain company. In the configuration shown in this figure, first, the group on the second floor is divided into units such as the general affairs department and the design department, then divided into sections, and finally divided into units to which each individual belongs. . By performing such registration at the printer server on each floor, the department, section, or section to which the individual belongs is specified from the name of each individual. The registration of the client can be performed at each workstation.

Next, the operation when private printing is performed in the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of the private print.

First, a client (hereinafter referred to as a workstation user) creates a document to be privately printed on the workstation 1 and inputs data indicating that the document is a private print and a user name to the workstation 1 ( Step S1).
The workstation 1 transfers the input data to the printer server 2 via the network 4 (Step S2).

The printer server 2 determines the attribute of the document data from the user name transmitted together with the document data based on the content set in the print job attribute setting means described later, and stores the document data together with this attribute in the storage unit. It is stored (step S3). This attribute includes the group to which the user belongs, the transfer time, and the like shown in FIG. The print job attribute setting means may be provided in the workstation 1. In that case, workstation 1
Determines the attribute based on the input user name, adds the attribute to the document data, and transfers the document data to the printer server.

The user goes to the printing means 3, and the user operation input means (control panel) of the printing means 3
3a, input the name and user ID (step S
4). Then, a list of private print documents which the user by the printing means 3 has previously transferred and has not printed yet is displayed on the user operation input means 3a (step S5). The user selects a required document from the list (step S6), and printing is performed (step S7).

Next, the configuration and operation of the network print system according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of each means constituting the network print system of the present invention. When printing a highly confidential document by the printing unit 3 connected to a network shared by a plurality of users or groups, print job data is temporarily stored in the printer server unit 2 and the user The printout is started by performing an operation for instructing the start of the printout by the user operation input means 3a before.

As in step S3 in FIG. 3, the attribute information added to the document data transferred from the workstation 1 is managed by the management means (2) and 2a together with the data of the private print job. As will be described later, the management means (2) can cause the user to set a value related to the attribute information as a condition value, and can make a judgment from the attribute information to be managed and the value set by the user. Some processing can be performed according to the result of the determination, and the content of the processing can be set by the user. FIG. 5 shows an example of the attribute management.

The storage status of the print job data in the printer server means 2 is managed by the management means (1) and 2b. The management means (1) mainly manages the status of the storage area. As will be described later, the management means (1) can allow the user to set a value related to the area as a condition, and can make a judgment from the information to be managed and the value set by the user. Can be performed in accordance with the information, and the content of the processing can be set by the user.

As one of the above processes, a notification can be made to the outside. This is performed by the notification means 2d. As will be described later, the notification content may include a content requesting an instruction from the user.

The printing means 3 has a user instruction input means 3a which can receive the instruction when the notification requesting the instruction from the user is made. By this instruction input, processing can be performed using the processing capability of the management means (1) and the management means (2).

Next, the operation of the network print system according to the present invention will be described.

The printer server 2 periodically determines whether or not the remaining free space in the storage unit is small, and if it is, executes a management sequence 1 according to the present invention described later. Further, the printer server 2 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed after the document data is stored, based on the attribute added to each document data.
This predetermined time can be set to a different value depending on the attribute of each document data. If a document has passed the specified time,
A management sequence 2 according to the present invention described below is executed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the management sequence 1. The storage state of the print job data is managed by the management means (1). This management information is presented to the user, and the user can judge it and can voluntarily process (delete, compress, transfer, etc.) the job data.

Here, the free space of the storage area is mainly managed, and it is checked whether the capacity required for the operation of the private print means is secured (step S1).
0). This storage area can be provided for each user or for each group to which the user belongs as shown in FIG. 2, and management can also be performed for each user or for each group to which the user belongs.

The user can set a processing mode by the management means (1) when the remaining capacity is reached. That is, the user enters step S12.
As described above, when it is determined that the capacity is not ensured by checking the free space, it is possible to set which of the following automatic processing mode, notification mode, and user-specified request mode to shift to.

I. Automatic processing mode The private printing means automatically performs processing to secure a necessary capacity. The user can set the processing method at this time, and the management means (1) selects the set processing method (step S13) and executes the processing. The processing methods that can be set here include complete deletion of print job data from the printer server means 2, deletion of entries of print job data, compression of print job data, transfer of print job data to the outside (external storage device). Transfer, data return to sending user). Complete deletion means overwriting a document already stored in the printer server with a new document, and entry deletion means deleting only the list of documents stored in the printer server. In any case, it becomes impossible to re-read the deleted document.

The user can set desired processing from these processing methods by turning on / off, for example, a check box displayed on the user operation input means 3a or the display section of the workstation (0 to plural processing methods). Can be set). Thereafter, a private print job to be processed is selected (step S14).

The selection of a private print job can be determined from the attribute information of each job managed by the management means (2) (step S14). Attributes to be used as criteria for determination include job data size, job data retention period, job reception date and time, user name or group name to which the user belongs, job data type, job data name, and the like. ON / OF
F (0 to multiple items can be selected). The job selected in this way is processed according to the processing method selected in step S33 (step S1).
5).

II. Notification Mode The private print unit notifies the user that the required capacity is not secured in the printer server unit 2.
The user can set the notification method at this time, and the management means (1)
Selects the set notification method (step S17).
Notification methods that can be set include e-mail notification, messages via a network, and display on some user interface (such as a tool for managing private print means and on a control panel). These notification methods are described above. Can be turned on / off (0 to a plurality can be selected). In addition, as the notification destination, the destination such as to all the users, to the administrator, to the transmission user of the target job, or the like can be turned on / off as described above (0 to a plurality of destinations can be selected).

III. User instruction request mode A mechanism for requesting a user instruction is added to the notification mode. The user answers the instruction request accompanying the notification,
Processing can be prompted to the private print unit. The processing that the user can instruct conforms to the processing that can be selected in the automatic processing mode. That is, as in step 16 described above, the management means (1) selects the notification method set by the user (step S18) and notifies the user. Then, an instruction relating to the processing method described in step S13 is received from the user (step S19), and the print job is processed according to the instruction (step S20).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the management sequence 2.

The attribute set in the print job data is managed by the management means (2). This management information is presented to the user, and the user can judge it and can voluntarily process (delete, compress, transfer, etc.) the job data. Here, mainly, the job data holding period of the print job data is managed, and it is checked how long a print job with high concealment is to be held on the printer server means (step S30).

The user can set a lower limit or an upper limit of the holding period, and can set whether to shift to any processing mode by the management means (2) when the date is compared with the lower limit or the upper limit. The lower limit of the retention period is a minimum time that the user desires to retain, that is, a time interval that the user does not want to erase. That is, as in step S30, when the print job holding time is determined to be out of the predetermined holding period by this check, the user can determine which processing mode to shift to by the following automatic processing mode and notification mode. , Any of the user-specified request modes.

I. Automatic processing mode The private print means automatically processes jobs out of the retention period. The user can set the processing method at this time, and the management means (2) selects the processing method set in step S33. Processing methods that can be set include complete deletion of print job data from the printer server means, deletion of entry of print job data, compression of print job data, transfer of print job data to the outside (moving to external storage device, sending out Etc.). As described above, the user operates the check box displayed on the user operation input means 3a or the display unit of the workstation 1 as described above.
/ OFF can be set (0 to a plurality can be selected).

II. Notification Mode The private print unit notifies the user that a job out of the retention period has been entered. The user can set the notification method at this time, and the management means (2) selects the set processing method (step S35). As notification methods that can be set, notification methods such as notification by e-mail, a message via a network, display on some user interface (a tool for managing private print means, on a control panel, etc.) are turned on / off as described above. Yes (0 to multiple items can be selected). Also, as the notification destination, the destination can be turned on / off for all the users, for the administrator, or for the transmission user of the target job. (0 to a plurality can be selected).

III. User instruction request mode A mechanism for requesting a user instruction is added to the notification mode. The user can prompt the private print unit to perform the process by answering the instruction request accompanying the notification. The processing that the user can instruct conforms to the processing that can be selected in the automatic processing mode. That is, as in step 35 described above,
The management means (2) selects a notification method set by the user (step S37) and notifies. Then, an instruction regarding the processing method described in step S13 is received from the user (step S38), and the print job is processed according to the instruction (step S20).

Next, the setting for each group unit according to the present invention will be described.

The values (lower limit value of free storage capacity, job data retention period, etc.) set by the management means (1) and (2) are changed by dividing the setting unit for each group and changing the set value. Can be done. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when a private print unit is shared by a certain floor, the job data holding period of the entire floor is 24 hours.
Although it is time, the general affairs group has many highly confidential print jobs, so we want to set it to 8 hours, and the print job of the general affairs group head is more confidential, so we want to set it to 2 hours,
Further, a certain job has a particularly high confidentiality, so it is possible to set such that one hour is desired. At this time, what kind of group is to be divided can be set in advance by the user.

Next, the selection of settings for each group unit according to the present invention will be described.

When different settings are made for each group as described above, the user can set a selection guideline to select which setting is actually selected. As a selection guideline that can be set, a guideline such as selecting a setting to further increase the security level or selecting a setting in a smaller group unit can be turned on / off as described above (0 to a plurality of guidelines). You can choose).

[0047]

According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the security of a job can be enhanced by automatically erasing and saving data.

According to the fifth to seventh aspects, the storage capacity can be automatically increased.

According to the eighth aspect, it is possible to notify that the storage capacity is insufficient, and to further notify that a highly confidential print job remains on the printer server.

According to the ninth aspect, it is possible to increase the storage capacity by notifying the user that the storage capacity is insufficient and requesting the user to take action. , The security of the job can be enhanced by requesting the user to take action.

According to the tenth aspect, by setting the conditions in more detail, the flexibility of management of the apparatus or system can be enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a network print system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 shows an example of group registration.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic operation of a private print.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of each means constituting the network print system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of attribute management.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a management sequence 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a management sequence 2.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Akinori Iwase 70, Yanagicho, Yuki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Toshiba Tech Co., Ltd. In-house F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH03 HH07 HJ06 HJ08 HK18 HK21 HK23 HN05 HN23 HQ17 HV22 HV32 HV48 5B021 AA01 CC05 CC07 CC08 EE01 NN00

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A printing unit connected to a network for printing document data, a printer server unit for receiving and storing highly confidential print job data from the network, and a unit for setting attributes of the print job. An attribute management unit that manages attributes set in the print job; and, among job attributes managed by the attribute management unit, a value relating to a job data retention period is set as a condition, and is set in advance according to a determination result of the condition. Means for automatically performing the above-mentioned processing for the print job. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting deletion of print job data as said preset processing. 3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting compression of print job data as said preset processing. 4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for setting movement of print job data to the outside as the preset processing. 5. A storage status management means for managing the storage status of the print job data, and a lower limit value of a storable remaining capacity managed by the storage status management means is set as a condition, and in advance according to a result of the determination of the condition. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for automatically performing a preset process on a print job determined from the set conditions. 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the preset condition is a value relating to a data size of a job among job attributes managed by the attribute management unit. 7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the preset condition is a value relating to a job reception date and time among job attributes managed by the attribute management unit. 8. A notifying unit for notifying a user, and a value relating to a job data retention period among job attributes managed by the attribute managing unit is set as a condition, and a preset user is set according to a result of the determination of the condition. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for performing notification using the notification means. 9. A user instruction input means for inputting an instruction from a user on the network, and a value relating to a job data retention period among job attributes managed by the attribute management means is set as a condition. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for notifying a preset user of an instruction request using the user instruction input means, and performing processing in accordance with the instruction from the user. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for setting the condition separately for each group.
The described system.