JP2002196913A - Printing system, printing method, data processing device, memory medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system capable of realizing the secured printing even with a relatively inexpensive printing device in which many memory media cannot be installed. SOLUTION: When the secured printing is started, the printing device is made to wait till printing jobs previously stored in a spooler run out (S502), and if the target printing job is at the head in the spooler and the printing device is not printing, the printing device is locked so that printing data will not be received till a command is given (S505). After the locking, the input of the printing command is urged (S506), and when the printing command is inputted, the printing device is made to wait for starting printing for a specified period of time (S507). After the specified period of time elapses, the printing data transmission is started ( S508). At the time, since a printing person is in front of the printing device, the delivered printed matters will not be seen by a third person, so that the secured printing can be realized. After the printing, the lock of the printing device is released (S510).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing method, an information processing device, a storage medium, and a program for printing a print job transmitted from an information processing device by a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printing systems that share and use a printing apparatus via a network or the like have been increasing. When a plurality of users use the printing apparatus, there is a possibility that printed output data may be seen by a third party, and there is a problem that confidentiality cannot be maintained.

[0005] On the other hand, there has been proposed a printing apparatus in which measures are taken to maintain confidentiality. In such a printing apparatus, for example, a print job with a password or a password is once stored in a storage medium such as a memory or a hard disk in the printing apparatus, and the user inputs the password or the password from the main body panel. Printing starts.

[0004]

However, a conventional printing apparatus which is provided with measures to maintain confidentiality generally requires many storage media such as a memory and a hard disk, and is expensive. That is, such a printing apparatus requires a storage medium such as a lot of memory,
A user interface such as a graphical panel for inputting a password is required, and a special device is required, for example, a device such as a magnetic card is mounted on a printing device to specify the start of printing.

On the other hand, in the existing printing apparatus, such measures are not taken, and it is possible to realize printing called secure printing, in which printed output data is not seen by a third party. could not.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of using an existing printing apparatus.
A printing system that can realize secure printing even with an inexpensive printing device that cannot mount many storage media,
It is an object to provide a printing method, an information processing device, a storage medium, and a program.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to the present invention stores a plurality of print jobs in a printing system for printing a print job transmitted from an information processing apparatus by the printing apparatus. Storage means, state acquisition means for acquiring the state of the stored print job, occupation means for occupying the printing apparatus based on the acquired state of the print job, and It is characterized by comprising recognition means for recognizing the printing end time of the transmitted print job, and opening means for releasing the occupied printing device after the printing is completed.

According to a printing method of the present invention, in a printing method for printing a print job transmitted from an information processing apparatus by a printing apparatus, a step of storing a plurality of print jobs and acquiring a state of the stored print jobs. Occupying the printing apparatus based on the acquired state of the print job; recognizing a print end time of a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus in the occupied state; Releasing the occupied printing device after the process is completed.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus for transmitting a print job to be printed by a printing apparatus, comprising: a storage unit for storing a plurality of print jobs; and a state for acquiring a state of the stored print job. Acquiring means, occupying means for occupying the printing apparatus based on the acquired state of the print job, recognizing means for recognizing a print end time of a print job transmitted in the occupied state, and after ending the printing. Opening means for opening the occupied printing apparatus.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a printing system, a printing method, an information processing apparatus, a storage medium and a program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a general personal computer used in the first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a client computer (PC) for instructing printing, and 150 denotes a server computer (PC) on which software for realizing secure print runs. The client computer 100 and the server computer 150 have basically the same configuration as a general-purpose computer.

That is, the PCs 100 and 150 are ROM
CPU 1 that executes a print application, a printer driver, and secure print realization software stored in a hard disk (HD) 111 or supplied from a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FD) 112 or a CD-ROM 113
01, and generally controls each device connected to the system bus 104.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory of the CPU 101, a work area, and the like. Reference numeral 105 denotes a user command input controller (KBC), which controls input of instructions from a keyboard (KB) 109 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 106 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC), and a CRT display (CR
T) Control the display of 110.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a disk controller (DKC)
Boot programs, various applications,
A hard disk (HD) 111 for storing an edited file, a user file, and software for realizing secure print, a floppy disk controller (F
D) Access to the 112 or the CD-ROM 113 is controlled. A host interface (I / F) 108 bidirectionally exchanges data with a local printer, a network printer, another network device, or another PC via the LAN 300.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a general printing apparatus used in the first embodiment. In the figure, 200
Is a printing device as a network device. The printing apparatus 200 includes a CPU 201 that executes software stored in a storage medium such as a ROM 202 and a RAM 203.
And generally controls each device connected to the main bus 204.

Reference numeral 203 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 201. Reference numeral 205 denotes a user command input device, which controls an instruction input from a button or the like in the main body panel. Reference numeral 206 denotes a panel display unit which displays a device state or the like on a liquid crystal portion in the main body panel.
Reference numeral 207 denotes a main body control device that controls the main body of the printing apparatus as a printing device. 208 is a host interface (I
/ F), and bidirectionally exchanges data with a local printer, a network printer, another network device, or another PC via the LAN 300.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network in which the secure print system can operate. In the figure, reference numeral 300 denotes the LAN described above, for example, TCP / I
A network that supports the P protocol. 10
Reference numerals 0 and 150 respectively denote a client computer and a server computer for instructing execution of printing. The client computer or the server computer has the configuration shown in FIG. 1 described above, and is connected to the network 300. These computers are computers that can execute secure print realizing software, and have a function of displaying the status of a printing apparatus, which will be described later, and inputting various instructions given by the printer.

Reference numeral 200 denotes a printing apparatus having the above-described configuration shown in FIG. For example, the computer 100 sends the printing device 200
It is also possible to print directly via the network 300, or for example, the computer 150 can be a server computer and cause the printing apparatus 200 to print from the computer 100. Here, for convenience, the case of four computers and one printing device is shown, but it goes without saying that any number may be used.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the secure print system. The client computer 100 instructs the start of printing, and the server computer 15
0 and the printing apparatus 200 communicate with each other, so that the printing apparatus 200 implements secure printing via the server computer 150. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes the client computer described above, which prints print data including print data and a control code to a server computer 150.
Send to

Reference numeral 150 denotes the server computer described above, which obtains the status of the printing apparatus 200, and at the timing when the printer or a specific third party who has a role of collecting printed materials is near the printing apparatus. By transmitting a print job to the printing apparatus 200, secure printing is realized.

The client computer 100, the server computer 150, and the printing apparatus 200 are connected to a network represented by, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) (Ethernet (registered trademark)) and can communicate with each other.

The printing apparatus 200 includes a printing mechanism section 423 for forming a desired permanent visible image on recording paper, an interface control section 421 for controlling an interface with a computer, and a controller section (for controlling the entire printing apparatus). (Not shown).

In the client computer 100, reference numeral 401 denotes an application, which is software for creating data intended by a user. The operating system of the client computer 100 (O
If S) is, for example, Windows (registered trademark), the application 401 also includes a drawing command (GDI).

Reference numeral 402 denotes a data processing unit which generates print data and control codes for outputting data sent from the application 401 to the printing apparatus 200 via the server computer 150. Note that, depending on the OS, a process of converting the print data and the control code into print data and a control code may be performed by a server computer. In that case, the function of the data processing unit may be provided in the server computer.

Reference numeral 403 denotes an interface control unit which controls an interface with the server computer 150. Reference numeral 404 denotes a spooler management unit that acquires the status of the printing apparatus 200 from the server computer 150 via the interface control unit 403 and notifies the display unit 405, and acquires spooler information of the server computer 150 and notifies the display unit 405 A function to issue a command to prevent the printing apparatus 200 from receiving a job other than its own, a function to issue a command to start printing at a designated time, and the like.

Reference numeral 405 denotes a display unit constituted by the CRT 110. The display unit 405 prompts the user who performs secure printing whether the current target printing apparatus is printing, for example.
A function to display the status such as whether printing is possible immediately,
It has a function of instructing the spooler management unit 404 to issue various instructions.

In the server computer 150, 41
1 is a spooler for storing print data, for example,
It is a storage medium composed of a hard disk or other memory resources. Generally, there is a case where a spooler exists in the OS itself. However, since the contents of the OS spooler can be referred to from a third party, considering security,
In this embodiment, the original spooler is separately prepared, but it is needless to say that the spooler of the OS may be used.

Reference numeral 412 denotes a print management unit, which has a function of transmitting print data stored in the spooler 411 to the printing apparatus 200 at a timing designated by a print person. 413
Denotes an interface control unit that controls an interface between the client computer 100 and the printing apparatus 200.

In the printing apparatus 200, reference numeral 421 denotes an interface control unit which controls an interface with the server computer 150. Reference numeral 422 denotes a data analysis unit. When the data transmitted from the interface control unit 421 is print data, the print data is passed to the print mechanism unit 423. Further, when the data sent from the interface control unit 421 is an information acquisition command of the printing device 520, the data is transmitted via the interface control unit 421.
The information of the printing device 200 is passed to the server computer 150. The information of the printing apparatus 200 includes a state such as whether the printing apparatus 200 is in a ready state or printing, the number of print jobs in the printing apparatus 200, and the like. A printing mechanism 423 forms a permanent visible image on recording paper.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for realizing secure printing for a printing apparatus which does not support secure printing in the printing apparatus itself. This processing program is stored in the ROM 1 in the client computer 100 or the server computer 150.
02, HD111, FD112 or CD-ROM1
13 and executed by the CPU 101.

First, when secure printing is started in accordance with an instruction from the client computer 100, it is checked whether or not a target print job is at the head of the spooler 411 (step S501). If a print job has already been stored in the spooler 411, the process waits until there is no longer any print job previously stored in the spooler 411 (step S502). There are various methods of waiting until a target print job becomes the first in a spooler, and for example, a polling method is known. In the polling method, the process returns to step S501 at regular intervals to check whether the target print job is at the top.

When the target print job comes first in the spooler 411, it is checked whether the printing apparatus 200 is printing (step S503). Printing device 2
Various methods are known for determining whether 00 is being printed. For example, when the status “printing” can be acquired from the printing apparatus 200, SNMP / MIB or JL (J
ob Language) or the like to acquire the state of the printing apparatus. Further, when print data inside the printing apparatus can be referred to, there is a method of acquiring whether or not there is print data inside the printing apparatus using a special command or the like.

If it is determined that printing is in progress,
It waits until the current printing is completed (step S50).
4). Various methods for waiting until the current printing is completed are known. For example, there is a method in which a setting is made in the printing apparatus to notify when printing is completed. Also,
Returning to the process of step S503 at regular intervals, a polling method for determining whether or not printing is in progress is exemplified.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S503 that printing is not being performed, the printing apparatus 200 is locked so that print data will not be accepted until an instruction is issued (step S505). Although there are various methods for locking the printing apparatus 200, for example, a method for issuing a specific command is exemplified. Alternatively, when a printing apparatus is connected to a network and printing is performed by LPR / LPD, a method of causing the printing apparatus to recognize a lock command by a simple method of establishing a TCP connection and not accepting another connection. Is mentioned. In this case, the printing apparatus does not need to have a special configuration.

After the printing apparatus 200 is locked, the user who wants to print is prompted to input a print instruction (step S506). In the present embodiment, a person who intends to print or a specific third party realizes secure printing by standing in front of the printing apparatus when a printed material is discharged. It is sufficient to specify time such as starting printing five minutes after now.

When the input of the print instruction is completed, the printing is made to wait for a designated time (step S507). When the designated time has elapsed, transmission of print data to the printing apparatus 200 is started (step S508). At this time, the person who intends to print or a specific third party can use the printing device 2
Since it is before 00, secure print can be realized without the printed matter being exposed to the eyes of a third party.

Then, it waits until the printing is completed (step S
509) After confirming the end of printing, the lock of the printing apparatus 200 is released (step S510). Thereafter, the process ends. During the standby in steps S502, S504, and S507, a message indicating that the client computer 100 is in a standby state may be displayed on the display unit 405 of the client computer 100 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a user interface screen for prompting input of a print instruction in step S506. In the figure, reference numeral 600 denotes a user instruction dialog box. For example, after locking of the printing apparatus 200 succeeds, the user is prompted to issue an instruction by popping up that secure print is ready.

Reference numeral 601 denotes a control area for inputting a time, for example, 1 minute, 2 minutes... Of course, it is not necessary to use the minute unit, but another unit such as the second unit or the setting unit may be changeable as needed.

An OK button 602 sends print data from the spooler 411 to the printing apparatus 200 after the time specified in the control area 601 has elapsed since the button was pressed. A cancel button 603 has a function of stopping printing. Note that the cancel button may be omitted.

In the printing system having the above-described algorithm and data structure, even if the printing apparatus is not specially designed so as to enable secure printing, it is possible to clarify the separation from other printing and to make it easier for a person who intends to print or By starting printing at the timing when a specific third party is in front of the printing apparatus, it is possible to prevent the printed matter from being seen by the third party, and secure printing can be performed.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the timing at which printed matter is discharged is determined by the person who receives the printed matter, that is, the person who intends to print or who has the role of acquiring the printed matter. By matching when you are in front of a secure print was realized. However, a person who receives the printed matter for some reason may be delayed in timing to go to the printing apparatus.

The second embodiment deals with such a case. In addition to the function of the first embodiment, a person who receives a printed material stands in front of a printing apparatus and sets a specific paper feed stage. Start printing by specifying it. Thus, even if the person who receives the printed matter delays in arriving in front of the printing apparatus, the printed matter can be prevented from being seen by a third party.

In the case of a printing apparatus which cannot wait for printing until a paper feed tray is designated, the paper in a certain paper feed tray is emptied, and when performing secure printing, instead of designating the paper feed tray, It is also possible to realize secure print by operating paper in an empty paper feed stage.

[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment, when there is a print job in the spooler first, the spooler waits until all the print jobs that have been previously printed are printed. However, if there are many print jobs waiting to be printed in the spooler, or if the print job that is waiting to be printed first takes a long time to print, the user who wants to perform secure print must specify the print time. It is conceivable that the user has to wait for a long time before performing.

In such a case, in the third embodiment, the time for locking the printing apparatus is reserved first. That is, this can be realized by providing a step process for designating the lock time of the printing apparatus and a step process for waiting until the designated time comes before the process of step S501 in FIG.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the third embodiment, the time at which the printing apparatus is locked is reserved. However, there is a case where secure printing is required in a hurry. In such a case, instead of waiting until the print job that has accumulated in the print waiting state disappears, the priority of the secure print job is set high and the spooler sends the print job to the printing apparatus before other print jobs. You may.

In consideration of the general operation, the print job is passed first and the print job is performed first, which affects other users. Therefore, the execution right and the like can be designated. However, it is needless to say that the execution right and the like need not be particularly considered.

As described above, in the present embodiment, even a relatively inexpensive printing apparatus which cannot mount many storage media,
Secure print can be realized. In other words, even if the printing device is not specially set so that secure printing can be performed, the separation from other printing is clarified,
By starting printing at the timing when a person who intends to print or a specific third party is in front of the printing apparatus, printed matter can be prevented from being seen by a third party, and secure printing can be performed.

On the other hand, a printing apparatus designed to enable secure printing requires a large number of storage media such as a memory, a user interface such as a graphical panel for inputting a password, and a magnetic field. A special device is required, such as specifying the start of printing by attaching a card or the like to the printing device, and it has been difficult to realize secure printing with an inexpensive printing device. However, in the printing system of the present embodiment, secure printing is realized in the entire system, so that secure printing can be realized in any printing device from an expensive printing device to an inexpensive printing device.

Here, the secure print program may be installed from the outside and executed by a computer. In this case, the program may be stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or a floppy disk and supplied to the computer, or the program may be downloaded from an external storage medium via a network such as e-mail or personal computer communication. The information group may be supplied to the computer by loading the information group on the computer, and in any case, the present invention is applicable.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a memory map of a CD-ROM as a storage medium. In the figure, reference numeral 9999 denotes an area storing directory information. An area 9998 stores an installation program. 9
An area 997 stores a secure print program.

When this program is installed in the computer 150, first, the installation program stored in the area 9998 storing the installation program is loaded into the system and executed by the CPU 101. Next, the installation program executed by the CPU 101 reads this program from the area 9997 in which the secure print program is stored, and stores the read program in the hard disk 111.
By executing the stored secure print program, the functions described above are realized, and the program itself and a storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

The above is an explanation of the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments, and the functions described in the claims or the configurations of the embodiments are not limited thereto. Any configuration can be applied as long as it has the function that it has.

For example, in the above embodiment, the client computer, the server computer, and the printing device
For example, they are connected to a network typified by Ethernet (Ethernet) and can communicate with each other, but need not be a network. When the client computer and the server computer are the same, the computer prints using, for example, a Centronics cable. It may be connected to a device.

[0056]

According to the present invention, an existing printing apparatus or the like can be used.
Even a relatively inexpensive printing device that cannot mount many storage media can realize secure printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a general personal computer used in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a general printing apparatus used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a network on which a secure print system can operate.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a secure print system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for realizing secure printing for a printing apparatus that does not support secure printing in the printing apparatus itself.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a user interface screen for prompting input of a print instruction in step S506.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a memory map of a CD-ROM as a storage medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 client computer 101 CPU 150 server computer 200 printing device 401 application 404 spooler manager 411 spooler 412 print manager

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A printing system for printing a print job transmitted from an information processing apparatus by a printing apparatus, comprising: a storage unit for storing a plurality of print jobs; and a status obtaining unit for obtaining a status of the stored print jobs. Occupying means for occupying the printing apparatus based on the state of the acquired print job; recognizing means for recognizing a print end time of a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus in the occupied state; And a release unit for releasing the occupied printing apparatus after the printing is completed. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit for inputting information on a printing timing, wherein the recognizing unit recognizes the printing end timing based on the input information on the printing timing. Printing system. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the information on the printing time is a time when the print job is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus. 4. A transmission start means for starting transmission of the print job after waiting until the print job to be printed becomes the head of the stored print job. The printing system as described. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a standby unit that waits for printing until a sheet to be used for printing is ready, and starts the printing after the sheet is ready. Item 7. The printing system according to Item 1. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printing apparatus has a paper feed stage for storing sheets used for the printing, and the waiting unit waits until the paper feed stage is designated. The printing system as described. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the occupying means includes a reservation means for reserving a time at which the printing apparatus is occupied, and occupies the printing apparatus after reaching the reserved time. Printing system. 8. The occupancy means includes priority setting means for setting a priority of the print job to be printed,
2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is occupied according to the set priority. 9. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a server device and a client device as the information processing device are connected to a network together with the printing device, and a print start instruction is issued from the client device. . 10. A printing method for printing a print job transmitted from an information processing apparatus by a printing apparatus, wherein: a step of storing a plurality of print jobs; a step of obtaining a state of the stored print jobs; Occupying the printing apparatus based on the state of the print job, and recognizing a print end time of a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus in the occupied state. Opening the occupied printing device. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a step of inputting information on a print time, wherein the recognizing step recognizes the print end time based on the input information on the print time. Printing method. 12. The printing method according to claim 11, wherein the information about the print timing is a time when the print job is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus. 13. The printing method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of waiting for transmission of the print job until the print job becomes the first print job based on the acquired status of the print job. 14. The printing method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of starting transmission of the print job after waiting until the print job to be printed becomes the head of the stored print job. Method. 15. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a step of waiting for printing until a sheet to be used for printing is ready, and starting the printing after the sheet is ready. Item 11. The printing method according to Item 10. 16. The printing method according to claim 15, wherein, in the step of waiting, the apparatus waits until a sheet feeding stage of a sheet used for the printing is designated. 17. In the occupying step, a time for occupying the printing device is reserved, and after the reserved time is reached,
The printing method according to claim 10, wherein the printing apparatus is occupied. 18. The method according to claim 18, wherein in the occupying step, a priority of the print job to be printed is set, and the printing apparatus is occupied in accordance with the set priority. Item 11. The printing method according to Item 10. 19. The printing method according to claim 10, wherein an instruction to start printing is issued from a client device connected to a network together with the server device and the printing device as the information processing device. 20. An information processing apparatus for transmitting a print job to be printed by a printing apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing a plurality of print jobs; status obtaining means for obtaining the status of the stored print jobs; Occupying means for occupying the printing apparatus based on the status of the print job, recognition means for recognizing the print end time of the print job transmitted in the occupied state, and An information processing apparatus comprising: an opening unit that opens a printing apparatus. 21. A storage medium holding a program code for realizing the printing method according to claim 10. A program having a program code for realizing the printing method according to any one of claims 10 to 19.