JP2005104160A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer enabling the confidentiality when a document of high confidential document is printed. <P>SOLUTION: The printer shown in the diagram is provided with a general mode performing the printing of a usual low-confidential printing data and a confidential mode performing the printing of a high-confidential printing data. For the confidential mode, the control section 34 makes the printed data received from the upper device written in the user memory area of a corresponded memory section 32 and compares a password including a received user ID inputted from an operation/indication section 35 with the user ID including the password registered in the password table of a key-code memory section 33. Only in case these user IDs and passwords get equal, respectively, the printed data stored in the user memory area is made read and operated for printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer device, and more particularly to a printer device connected to a local area network (LAN) and shared by a plurality of personal computers and host devices such as a word processor.

  In recent years, with the spread of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”), various so-called network printers that are connected to a local area network and shared by host devices such as a plurality of PCs have become widespread.

  For example, there is a printer device described in Patent Document 1. Such a printer device includes a user management table for registering a unique user ID and password of each user, a user ID and the use start time of each user's printer measure corresponding to the user ID, and The non-volatile memory in which the usage history table for recording the usage end time is set, the user ID and password included in the data from the host device, and the user ID and password registered in the user management table are collated. When the user ID and the password match, the user ID and the use start time of the printer device are recorded to start the print operation of the printer device, and at the end of the print operation of the printer device, the printer device is recorded in the use history table. And a control unit for recording the use end time. By adopting such a configuration, the printer cannot be used unless it is a registered user, and the use opportunities are made uniform.

JP-A-8-34147

  However, in the printer device described in Patent Document 1, in order for a plurality of users to share one printer, before registering the ID and password in the printer and issuing an output instruction from the PC, Since the user only has to input the password and limit the users who can use it, there are the following problems.

  First, in recent years, some printers have a plurality of paper discharge trays and have a function as a mailbox function. However, the cost is increased correspondingly, and there is no such device. However, there is a problem that confidential documents and general documents are mixed and discharged in one discharge tray, and the confidentiality of the documents cannot be maintained.

  Secondly, when a confidential document is output, there is a problem that the document being output can be seen by surrounding people.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer device capable of ensuring confidentiality when printing a highly confidential document.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a printer device according to claim 1 is a printer device connected to a local area network and shared by a plurality of host devices, and is selected by the host device. And a control means for executing the second print mode, and a plurality of paper discharge trays, wherein the control means has different paper discharge trays in the first print mode and the second print mode. It is characterized by being printed out.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printer apparatus, wherein the paper discharge tray that outputs the print in the second mode is arranged in a lower stage of the paper discharge tray that outputs the print in the first mode.

  The printer apparatus according to claim 3 is characterized in that the first print mode is a normal mode and the second print mode is a confidential mode.

  In a printer device connected to a local area network and shared by a plurality of host devices, a printer device according to the present invention includes a control unit that executes first and second print modes selected by the host device, And the control means outputs the printout to different discharge trays in the first print mode and the second print mode. Documents with low confidentiality can be output to separate paper discharge trays, and mixing of highly confidential documents with low confidentiality documents can be prevented.

  Further, in the printer device according to the present invention, the paper discharge tray that performs print output in the second mode is arranged in the lower stage of the paper discharge tray that performs print output in the first mode. It is possible to prevent a highly confidential document from being seen from the outside.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a printing system to which a printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. The printing system shown in FIG. 1 is composed of a host device 10A to 10N composed of a personal computer or the like for sending print data and a printer device 30 for printing print data sent from the host devices 10A to 10N. 10N and the printer 10 are connected via a LAN 20.

  Hereinafter, specific configurations of the host apparatuses 10A to 10N and the printer 30 will be described in order.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of the higher-level devices 10A to 10N illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 2, the host device is composed of, for example, a personal computer or the like, and includes an input unit 14 for inputting a character string, an I / F 16 for performing data communication, a display unit 15, and a CPU 11 that controls the entire host device. And a ROM 12 storing various control programs for operating the CPU 11 and a RAM 13 used as a work area for the various control programs.

  The input unit 14 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and outputs a key press signal pressed by the keyboard to the CPU 11.

  The I / F 16 is connected to the LAN 20 and is used for data communication with other host devices and the printer device 30 via the LAN 20. The display unit 15 is configured by a CRT, an LCD, or the like, and performs display according to display data input from the CPU 11. The display unit 15 displays necessary data when creating print data or transferring print data.

  The CPU 11 is a central control unit that controls the entire apparatus according to various control programs and application programs stored in the ROM 12. The CPU 11 includes an input unit 14, an I / F 16, a display unit 15, a ROM 12, The RAM 13 is connected to control data communication, reading of an application program by accessing the memory, reading / writing of various data, data / command input, display, and the like.

  The ROM 12 stores various control programs for operating the CPU 11, applications, parameters and data used for the processing, and the like. These various control programs and application programs are stored in the form of program codes readable by the CPU 11.

  The RAM 13 includes a work memory that stores designated control programs and application programs, input instructions, input data, processing results, and the like, and a display memory that temporarily stores display data to be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15. ing.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of the printer device 30 of FIG. 3 includes a network I / F 31 for performing data communication, a storage unit 32 that stores print data, a control unit 34 that controls the entire printer device, a user ID, a password, and the like. Key code storage unit 33 for storing a password table in association with each other, input data etc., operation / display unit 35 for displaying display data, mechanism control unit 36 for controlling printing mechanism unit 37, printing on paper, etc. And a printing mechanism unit 37 for printing data.

  The network I / F 31 is connected to the LAN 20 and transmits / receives data such as user ID data and print data among a plurality of higher-level devices A to Z.

  The storage unit 32 is, for example, a hard disk, and is a buffer that temporarily stores print data sent from the host apparatuses 10A to 10N connected to the LAN 20, and has a memory configuration as shown in FIG. Yes. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the storage unit 12 corresponds to a common area 32a that can be commonly used by all the host devices A to Z, and a user ID of each user, and a user storage area 32b dedicated to each user. 32d... That is, it has an electronic mailbox function. In the normal print mode (first print mode), the print data received from the host devices 10A to 10N is stored in the common area (common storage area) 32a, and in the confidential mode (second print mode). The print data received from the host devices 10A to 10N are stored in the corresponding user storage areas 32b to 32d.

  The key code storage unit 33 is composed of a nonvolatile memory, and stores a password table as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the user ID of each user and a password corresponding to the user ID are registered in the password table. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, “11111” and “22222” are registered as user IDs in the password table, and “XXXX” and “YYYYY” are registered as corresponding passwords.

  The control unit 34 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The CPU is a control unit that controls the entire printer apparatus in accordance with various control programs stored in the ROM. The control unit 34 includes a network I / O. F31, storage unit 32, key code storage unit 33, operation display unit 35, and mechanism control unit 36 are connected. Specifically, the control unit 34 controls read / write of print data received by the network I / F 31 to the storage unit 32, data / command input and display control of the operation / display unit 35, a mechanism control unit 36, and Control of the printing operation in the printing mechanism unit 37 and data collation, registration, update, etc. in the key code storage unit 33 are performed. The detailed operation of the control unit 34 will be described later.

  The mechanism control unit 36 inputs print data stored in the storage unit 32 based on a print command from the control unit 34 and operates the print mechanism unit 37 at a predetermined timing to output the print data. Let it be done. The printing mechanism unit 37 is provided with a counting unit that counts the number of sheets used for printing output of the print data.

  The operation / display unit 35 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel with touch keys, and serves both as an operation unit and a display unit. Data such as passwords and printing conditions are input from the operation unit, and set printing conditions and data necessary for the printing operation are displayed on the display unit. The operation unit and the display unit may be configured separately, or may be configured using another device.

  The above-described printer device has two print modes: a normal mode (first print mode) for printing print data with low confidentiality, and a confidential mode (second print) for printing print data with high confidentiality. Mode). The selection of the print mode is performed by the host devices 10A to 10N. Details of the normal mode and the confidential mode will be described later.

  In the printer configured as described above, the network I / F 31 is a communication unit, the key code storage unit 33 is a first storage unit, the storage unit 32 is a second storage unit, and the operation / display unit 35 is an input unit. In addition, the control unit 34 realizes the control unit, and the mechanism control unit 36 and the printing mechanism unit 37 realize the printing unit.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic external configuration (front view) of the printer apparatus. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 30 denotes a main body of the printer apparatus. The main body 30 is provided with an operation / display unit 35 above it, and below it is a two-stage storage that is configured to be detachable. Paper trays 44 and 45 are provided. The left side of the main body 30 is provided with two stages of paper discharge trays 41 and 42, the paper discharge tray 42 is disposed in the upper stage, and the lower stage is substantially below the paper discharge tray 42. A paper discharge tray 41 is arranged. The printed paper is discharged to the upper discharge tray 42 in the normal mode, and the printed paper is discharged to the lower discharge tray 41 in the confidential mode.

  Next, the operation of the printing system configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing system.

  When printing is performed by the printer device, the user first creates print data such as a document or a figure in any one of the host devices 10A to 10N using an application program corresponding to the printer device 30 (step S1). ). After the creation of the print data, the user selects a printer for which print output is desired using the printer driver prepared in the application program (step S2), and further uses the printer driver to select the paper size and the number of characters. Is set (step S3). Then, the user selects either the confidential mode or the normal mode as the print mode (step S4).

  Then, the user transmits the selected print mode, the user ID (user ID) registered in advance in the host device, and the print data from the host device to the printer device 30 (step S5).

  In the printer device 30 that has received the selected print mode, user ID, and print data, the control unit 34 first determines whether the selected print mode is the confidential mode or the normal mode (step S40). P1) If the confidential mode is selected, the process proceeds to step P2. If the normal mode is selected, the process proceeds to step P8.

  In step P2, the control unit 34 confirms the user ID and stores the print data in the user storage area of the storage unit 32 corresponding to the user ID (user) (step P3). If the received user ID is not registered, the host device is notified that the user ID is an error.

  When the storage of the print data in the storage unit 32 is completed, the control unit 34 notifies the host device 10 of a message indicating that the storage of the print data has been completed (step P4). Then, the control unit 34 displays on the operation / display unit 35 whether or not print data is stored in the user storage area of the storage unit 32 corresponding to the user ID and how many are stored, and the password is stored. A message prompting input and a message prompting input of the number of copies are displayed (step P5).

  Then, when the user comes to a place where the printer device is located and inputs the number of outputs and the password from the operation / display unit 35 (step P6), the control unit 34 obtains the received user ID and the input password. The user ID and password registered in the password table of the key code storage unit 33 are collated in advance (step P7). As a result of the collation, the received user ID, the input password, and the password table are registered in advance. If the user ID and password match, the process proceeds to step P8. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step P6 and waits for the input of the password again.

  In step P8, the control unit 34 outputs the print command and the selected print mode to the mechanism control unit 36, and the mechanism control unit 36 reads the print data on the corresponding recording unit 32 in response to the print command. Then, the printing mechanism unit 37 performs printing output for the set number of output copies (step P8). Here, the mechanism control unit 36 causes the printing mechanism unit 37 to perform print output on the paper discharge tray 41 when the confidential mode is selected, and when the normal mode is selected. Print output is performed on the discharge tray 42.

  Then, the control unit 34 deletes the stored print data, and notifies the host device of a message indicating that printing has been completed.

As described above, the printer device according to the present embodiment has a normal mode for printing print data with low confidentiality and a confidential mode for printing print data with high confidentiality. In the mode, the control unit 34 writes the print data received from the host device to the user storage area of the corresponding storage unit 32, the password input from the operation / display unit 35, the received user ID, and the password table. The user ID and password registered in the user ID are collated, and only when these user ID and password match, the print data stored in the user storage area is read and the print operation is performed. Only when the password input from the operation / display unit 35 provided in the apparatus is correct, the print data sent from the host apparatus is displayed. Can be printed, it is possible to ensure the confidentiality of printed documents confidential documents.

  In addition, since the operation / display unit 35 is configured to display whether or not print data is stored in the user storage area of the storage unit 32 and how many pieces of print data are stored, how many print data are stored in the user storage area. It becomes possible for the user to confirm whether or not this is done.

  In addition, since it is possible to select a normal mode for printing print data with low confidentiality and a confidential mode for printing print data with high confidentiality, the user can increase the sensitivity of the document. Depending on the function, it is possible to use different functions.

  In addition, since the print document is output to different discharge trays 41 and 42 in the confidential mode and the normal mode, a highly confidential document and a low confidential document are output to separate discharge trays. It is possible to prevent a highly confidential document and a less confidential document from being mixed.

  In addition, since the paper discharge tray 41 that outputs prints in the confidential mode is arranged below the paper discharge tray 42 that outputs prints in the normal mode, a highly confidential document can be seen from the outside even during print output. Can be prevented.

  In addition, since the printer device is configured to notify the host device when storage of print data is completed in the user storage area of the storage unit 32, the status of the printer device can be confirmed from the host device. It becomes.

  In addition, since the printing condition such as the number of copies of the print data can be set from the operation / display unit 35 of the printer device, the operability when the number of print copies is wrong or changed is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, a hard disk is used as the storage unit 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any rewritable storage medium may be used.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without changing the gist of the invention.

  The printer apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a local area network (LAN), and is useful for a printer apparatus shared by a plurality of personal computers and host devices such as a word processor.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a printing system to which a printing apparatus according to the invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structural example of the high-order apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of the printer apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the memory structural example of the memory | storage part of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the password table stored in the key code memory | storage part of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic external configuration (front view) of the printer apparatus of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the print system according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Host device 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Input unit 15 Display unit 16 I / F
20 LAN
30 Printer device 31 Network I / F
32 storage unit 33 key code storage unit 34 control unit 35 operation / display unit 36 mechanism control unit 37 printing mechanism unit

Claims (3)

In a printer device connected to a local area network and shared by multiple host devices,
Control means for executing the first and second print modes selected by the host device;
A plurality of paper discharge trays,
The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prints out different discharge trays in the first print mode and the second print mode.   The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a paper discharge tray that performs print output in the second mode is arranged at a lower stage of the paper discharge tray that performs print output in the first mode.   3. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first print mode is a normal mode, and the second print mode is a confidential mode. 4.

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