JP2003186657A - Output method, output device, control program of output device and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an output method, an output device, a control program, and a recording medium which solve the conventional problem, such as being unable to output due to a time out, if it is in a state where there is a time the secret output function can not work for some reason. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 303 controls the time until deleting output data by a data deletion function to be extended automatically, in response to the state of a printer 300. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output method, an output device, and an output device for outputting data by an output device such as a printer connected to an information processing device such as a host computer through a connecting means such as an interface. The present invention relates to a control program of an output device for controlling a storage medium and a storage medium storing the control program of the output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control part (controller) in a printing device (printer) which is a conventional output device.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 is a printing device which is an output device, and 301 is a host interface portion which is a connecting means for communicating between a host computer (not shown) which is an information processing device. A communication signal from the printing apparatus 300 to the host computer is output to the host computer through the host interface unit 301, and a communication signal from the host computer to the printing apparatus 300 is input to the printing apparatus 300 through the host interface unit 301. To be done. An inter-host communication line 302 is used as a communication medium between the printing apparatus 300 and the host computer. This communication line between hosts 3
In step 02, the code data is input to the printing apparatus 300 through the host interface unit 301.

Reference numeral 303 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit),
It controls the entire printing apparatus 300. A data reception buffer RAM (random access memory) 304 stores a character code, graphic formation information, control information, and the like in the order sent from the host interface unit 301. The image processing information is first input to the data reception buffer RAM 304 from the host computer under the control of the CPU 303. A working RAM (random access memory) 305 is a program RO to be described later by the CPU 303.
This is a work memory for reading and writing various temporary data used for executing processing according to the program stored in M306. 306 is a program ROM
(Read-only memory) stores a control program for controlling the entire printing apparatus 300.
The U303 controls the entire printing apparatus 300 according to the control program.

307 is a FIFO (First In Fi)
The first out memory is a memory for inputting dot pattern data from a dot pattern memory 310 described later, and outputs the dot pattern data to an image forming unit interface unit 308 described later. An image forming unit interface unit 308 is a FIF.
Image data (dot pattern data) from O307
Printing is performed by sending to an image forming unit (not shown). A font memory 309 stores the character pattern data corresponding to the character code. And C
The PU 303 analyzes the character code data stored in the reception buffer RAM 304 according to a processing program such as an interpreter that analyzes the character code stored in the program ROM 306 and the code data of the figure formation information and control information to form a dot pattern. Based on this, the font memory 309 is accessed to read the corresponding pattern data and develop the pattern in the dot pattern memory 310 described later. Reference numeral 310 denotes a dot pattern memory, which is a memory for storing dot pattern data which is pattern-developed by a processing program for forming a dot pattern stored in the program ROM 306. 311
Is a non-volatile readable / writable memory (hereinafter referred to as NVRAM) for environment setting, and can be set from the host computer via the operation panel 313 or the host interface unit 301 described later.
It is a memory that can store various operating environment setting values of.

Reference numeral 312 denotes an operation panel interface section, 3
An operation panel 13 such as a keyboard is used by an operator to input various operating environment settings in the printing apparatus 300, such as setting the host interface unit 301 in an online / offline state. The signal input from the operation panel 313 is input to the data bus 314 and the address bus 315 via the operation panel interface unit 312.

Various operating environment settings of the printing apparatus 300 can be set not only from the operation panel 313 installed on the printing apparatus 300 but also from the host computer via the host interface unit 301.

A clock generation circuit 316 generates a clock signal 318. The clock signal 318 output from the clock generation circuit 316 is used as a clock signal for the CPU 303. It is also possible to internally measure time based on this clock signal 318. A secondary storage device 317, such as a hard disk, stores data received in the confidential printing (confidential output) function described below in the printing device 300 without immediate printing processing (output processing), and is instructed. It is sometimes used when reading out and using.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of confidential printing (secure printing) in the conventional printing apparatus 300.

Hereinafter, confidential printing is referred to as secure printing, and a job for which print processing is designated is referred to as a secure job. The printer 300 is generated from the host computer 401 by a printer driver or the like, and the printing apparatus 300 is a host interface (I
/ F) The secure job received via the unit 301 is not output as it is, but the host computer 40
The data is stored in the secondary storage device 317 together with the secure print instruction information and the password information designated as the first data. A password is input from the operation panel 313. When the passwords match, the secure job data is read out from the secondary storage device 317, expanded, and then output, and after the output, the data in the secondary storage device 317 is deleted. Further, when performing the secure print function in this way, the conventional printing apparatus keeps confidentiality, so that the operation panel 313 and the host computer 40 are used.
When the secure print output is not designated by the instruction from No. 1, there is a function of automatically erasing the data after a lapse of a time preset by the operation panel 313 or the control program.

Regarding the processing operation of the data erasing function,
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The flow shown in FIG. 5 is the program R of FIG.
It is stored in the OM 306 and executed under the control of the CPU 303.

First, when the job is recognized as a secure job in step S501, the data is saved in the secondary storage device 317 of the printing device 300, and at the same time, the time for saving the job is started in step S502. .
Next, in steps S503 and S504, a loop is formed to continue waiting until the secure erase time preset in the NVRAM 311 of FIG. 3 is exceeded unless secure release is performed by an instruction from the operation panel 313. When the secure erasing time exceeds the job saving time, by performing control such as deleting the job in step S506, the data of the secure job which is not instructed to be output after a lapse of a certain time is automatically erased. .

[0014]

Conventional printing apparatus 300
The secure print function in (1) has a function of automatically deleting the secure job in the printing apparatus 300 after a certain period of time.

When performing secure printing in this way,
The stored data is automatically erased when a password is not entered after a certain period of time has passed. However, assuming that the secure print erasing time is, for example, 60 minutes, the printing apparatus 300 is occupied by another job, or A piece of paper,
If there is a time during which secure printing cannot be executed due to paper clogging, etc., the 60 minutes is not the time reserved for secure use, so the data retention time during that period is unusable. Has passed,
There has been a problem that printing may not be possible due to the time limit being expired.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and controls the automatic extension of the time until the secure print is erased, thereby making it possible to prevent the secure job from being erased by a careless accident. Output method, output device,
An object is to provide a control program for an output device and a storage medium.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, the output method of the present invention comprises a confidential output function which is connected to an information processing apparatus through a connection means and outputs output data by outputting a password. An output method of outputting data by an output device having a data deletion function of automatically deleting output data after a lapse of a certain time in a state where data instructed to be output by the confidential output function is not output, wherein: The method further comprises an extension step of automatically extending the time until the output data is deleted by the data deletion function according to the state of the output device.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the output device of the present invention is connected to the information processing device through the connection means and outputs the output data by outputting the password, and the confidential output function and the confidential output function. An output device having a data deleting function that automatically deletes output data after a lapse of a certain time in a state where the data instructed to output is not output until the output data is deleted by the data deleting function. It is characterized by having an extension means for automatically extending the time according to the state of the output device.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the control program of the output device of the present invention is connected to the information processing device through the connecting means, and outputs the output data by outputting the password, and the confidential output function. Control of a computer-readable output device for controlling an output device having a data deletion function that automatically deletes output data after a lapse of a certain time in a state where the data instructed to output by the confidential output function is not output A program,
It is characterized by comprising program code for causing a computer to execute an extension step of automatically extending the time until the output data is deleted by the data deletion function according to the state of the output device.

In order to achieve the above object, the storage medium of the present invention is characterized by storing a control program for an output device according to any one of claims 13 to 18.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described.
A description will be given based on FIGS. 1 and 2.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Since the basic construction of the printing apparatus, which is the output apparatus according to the present embodiment, is the same as that of the above-described conventional example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, these two figures will be used for explanation.

As a printing apparatus which is an output apparatus to which the present invention is applied, there are a laser beam printer and a printer of another printing system.

In the following example, a laser beam printer using toner will be described, but it goes without saying that the toner cartridge may be replaced with an ink cartridge or an ink ribbon cartridge depending on the printing method.

A description will be given below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing operations of the printing apparatus 300 which is the output apparatus according to this embodiment.

Here, in the processing operation of the flowchart used in the description of FIG. 1, a control program based on this flowchart is stored in the program ROM 306 of FIG.
It is executed under the control of the CPU 303.

When the printing apparatus 300 receives the data to be printed by the user, the operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 1 is started. The user adds secure print designation information and password information to the print data using a printer driver or application software and transmits the print data.

First, in step S101, it is determined whether or not the received data is a secure print instruction. If the determination result is negative (NO), the process proceeds to step S111, data processing is normally performed, and the main print processing operation ends, but if affirmative (YES) (secure print), , Go to step S102, save the data in the secondary storage device 317, and
The measurement of the elapsed time (Tj) since the printing apparatus 300 stored the data is started.

Next, in step S103, it is determined whether or not the job has a password input and an output instruction. If the determination result is affirmative (YES) (if a secure print output instruction has been issued, the process proceeds to step S109 to execute an output process, and a negative (N
In the case of O), the process proceeds to step S104.

In step S104, it is determined whether or not the value of the elapsed time (Tj) after saving the job exceeds the secure print erasing time (Ts) set in the NVRAM 311 of FIG. And the judgment result is affirmative (YES)
In the case of, the process proceeds to step S110, the job data is erased, and then the main print processing operation is ended. In the case of negative (NO) (Tj <Ts), the process proceeds to step S105 and the printing apparatus 300. It is determined whether or not is in the unprintable state.

If the result of the determination in step S105 is affirmative (YES) (if printing is not possible), the flow advances to step S106 to start measuring the total unprintable time (Ti) of the data. A loop for returning to step S105 is formed, and while printing is not possible, waiting is continued, and when a printable state is reached, measurement of the total unprintable time (Ti) is stopped at step S107.

Next, in step S108, the total time (Ti) measured is added to the secure print erasing time (Ts).
(Ts = Ti + Ts), notify the host computer through the host interface unit 301 of FIG. 3 to that effect, and then form a loop to return to step S103.

By controlling in this way, for example, even if the secure erase time is set to 60 minutes, a job that has been saved at 12:00 will be considered even if a paper out error has occurred for 15 minutes. Then, the erasing time is extended for 15 minutes, the user of the host computer is notified to that effect, and when there is no print instruction, the erasing time is automatically erased at 13:15.

In the above example, the paper-out error is set as the unprintable condition, but this is an example, and the step S1 is performed.
The conditions for determining that printing is impossible in 05 may be, for example, all the conditions such as running out of toner such as supply of consumables, or the unusable state due to paper jam or failure of the printing portion. Alternatively, it may be carried out by focusing on only specific conditions.

The time during which another print job is using the printing apparatus 300 may also be added when the secure job cannot be printed.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Since the basic construction of the printing apparatus, which is the output apparatus according to the present embodiment, is the same as that of the above-described conventional example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, both figures will be used.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the flow of the operation of the printing device 300 which is the output device according to this embodiment.

The operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is executed under the control of the CPU 303, with the control program based on this flowchart stored in the program ROM 306 of FIG.

When the printing device 300 receives the data to be printed by the user, the operation of this flowchart starts. The user adds secure print designation information and password information to the print data using a printer driver or application software and transmits the print data.

First, it is determined whether or not the data received in step S201 is a secure print instruction.
If the determination result is negative (NO), the process proceeds to step S209 to perform normal data processing, and then the main print processing operation ends, but if the determination is affirmative (YES) (when secure printing is performed). ) Proceeds to step S202 to save the data in the secondary storage device 317, and
The measurement of the elapsed time (Tj) since the printing apparatus 300 stored the data is started. Next, step S203.
Then, the number of pages to be printed of the job is checked, and then in step S204, the correction time (T
h) is calculated (here, Th = 10 × N is set to extend 10 seconds per page as an example). This correction time is added to the secure print erasing time (Ts) set in the NVRAM 311 of FIG. 3 (Ts = Ts + T
h) do.

Next, in step S205, it is determined whether or not the job has a password input and an output instruction. If the determination result is affirmative (YES) (when a secure print output instruction is issued)
Advances to step S207 to execute the output process, and then ends the print processing operation. In the case of negative (NO),
In step S206, it is determined whether the value of the elapsed time (Tj) after saving the job exceeds the secure print erasing time (Ts). If the determination result is negative (NO) (Ts> Tj), the step S2 is performed.
Returning to 05, a loop is formed to wait for the secure print instruction. If the determination result in step S206 is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to step S208.
After deleting the job, the print processing operation is ended.

By controlling in this way, for example, assuming that the secure erase time is set to 60 minutes, the job of 60 pages stored at 12:00 is 600 seconds (10 seconds) in consideration of the large number of pages. Since it is possible to extend the erasing time, it is possible to reduce the risk of a situation in which a large number of pages are instructed to be securely printed and then erased.

The correction time of 10 seconds per page in step S204 of the above example is an example for simplifying the calculation, and is actually for each job (type, data size, number of sheets, color or monochrome, etc.). ), Parameters and calculation formulas may be changed.

(Other Embodiments) In the first embodiment, the unprintable time is measured and added to the secure print erasing time. However, the data holding time is measured during the unprintable time. You may stop (stop the clock) and notify the host computer to that effect.

In the first and second embodiments described above, an operation for instructing secure print is added by adding a condition for stopping measurement of the data retention time while the operation key is being touched. It may be possible to eliminate the possibility that the job will be erased during the time-consuming operation such as password input from the panel 313.

Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the method of changing the secure print erasing time is uniquely determined by the program, but the operator explicitly extends the erasing time for each job from the host computer. Command or an instruction from the operation panel 313 (for example, to make it possible to specify the extension of the erase time of one's job for 30 minutes), or to change the extension of the erase time from among multiple methods by the operator. May be selectable and changeable.

Even when the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), a device composed of one device (eg, copying machine, facsimile). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer (or CPU or MP of the system or apparatus).
It is needless to say that (U, etc.) is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-RO.
M, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-
RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Further, not only the functions of the above embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

[0056]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the confidential output is performed by the confidential output function, the stored data is erased if the confidential output is not instructed after a certain period of time. For some reason, if there is a time during which the confidential output function cannot be executed, it is possible to eliminate the conventional problem that a case in which the confidential output function cannot be output due to time-out occurs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a printing apparatus which is an output apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a printing device which is an output device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control part in a printing device which is a conventional output device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a confidential printing function in a printing device which is a conventional output device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of a printing device which is a conventional output device.

[Explanation of symbols]

300 Output device (printing device) 301 Host interface section 302 Communication line between hosts 303 CPU 304 receive buffer RAM 305 Working RAM 306 Program ROM 307 FIFO memory 308 Image forming unit interface unit 309 font memory 310 dot pattern memory 311 Non-volatile read / write memory 312 Operation panel interface section 313 Operation panel 314 data bus 315 address bus 316 Clock generation circuit 317 Secondary storage device 318 clock signal 401 host computer (information processing device)

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A confidential output function that is connected to an information processing apparatus through a connection unit and outputs output data by outputting a password, and data instructed to be output by the confidential output function is not output. A method of outputting data by an output device having a data deletion function of automatically deleting output data after a lapse of a certain time, wherein the time until the output data is deleted by the data deletion function is the state of the output device. An output method having an extension step of automatically extending the output method according to the above. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a notification step of notifying the information processing device of a change in the holding time of the confidential output job when the output device changes the holding time.
The output method described. 3. The output method according to claim 1, further comprising a changing step of automatically changing the holding time of the confidential output job according to the type and content of the job data. 4. The output method according to claim 1, wherein the output device is a printing device. 5. The output method according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is a computer. 6. The output method according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is an interface. 7. A confidential output function that is connected to an information processing apparatus through a connection means and outputs output data by outputting a password, and data instructed to be output by the confidential output function is not output. An output device having a data deletion function for automatically deleting output data after a lapse of a certain time, wherein the time until the output data is deleted by the data deletion function is automatically extended according to the state of the output device. An output device having extension means for causing the output device. 8. The output device according to claim 7, further comprising notifying means for notifying the information processing device of a change in the holding time of the confidential output job when the output device changes the holding time. 9. The output device according to claim 7, further comprising a changing unit that automatically changes the holding time of the confidential output job according to the type and content of the job data. 10. The output device according to claim 7, wherein the output device is a printing device. 11. The output device according to claim 7, wherein the information processing device is a computer. 12. The output device according to claim 7, wherein the connecting means is an interface. 13. A confidential output function connected to an information processing device via a connection means and outputting output data by outputting a password, and data instructed to be output by the confidential output function are not output. A control program for a computer-readable output device for controlling an output device having a data deletion function of automatically deleting output data after a lapse of a certain time, until the output data is deleted by the data deletion function. An output device control program comprising a program code for causing a computer to execute an extension step of automatically extending time according to the state of the output device. 14. A program code for causing a computer to execute a notifying step of notifying the information processing apparatus of a change of the holding time of the confidential output job by the output device. Item 1
3. A control program for the output device according to item 3. 15. The program code for causing a computer to execute a changing step of automatically changing the holding time of the confidential output job according to the type and content of the job data. 1
4. The control program for the output device according to 4. 16. The control program for an output device according to claim 13, wherein the output device is a printing device. 17. The control program for an output device according to claim 13, wherein the information processing device is a computer. 18. The control program for an output device according to claim 13, wherein the connecting means is an interface. 19. A storage medium on which the control program for the output device according to claim 13 is stored.