JP2005202748A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein, when a print is output before an operator reaches a printing system, for example, in the case where the output is to a printer device installed in a position separate from an upper host PC, the print result may be read by another. <P>SOLUTION: A printing system comprising an upper host PC having a printer driver, an expansion processing part for receiving print data from the upper computer and expanding the print data to convert into raster data, and a large capacity recording device has a printer driver for sending a key operation for starting printing along with a copy of print data, means for inputting a key operation for starting printing from a user interface, and means for starting printing if the input key operation matches the key operation included in the print data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system that receives printing data from a host computer, analyzes and expands the printing data, and controls printing.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a printing system including a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk.
The host computer 4 has a function of issuing a command for causing the printer driver 5 to create print data and transmitting the print data created by the printer driver 5 to the printer printer 6. The printer 6 receives the print data in the reception process 7 and stores the data in the reception buffer 11.

  In parallel with the data reception in the reception process 7, the expansion process 8 sequentially reads and analyzes the data in the reception buffer 11, creates drawing data, writes it into the drawing memory 12, and finishes creating one page of drawing data. Then, the drawing data is transferred to the large-capacity recording device 13. In the engine control process 14, when the development process for one job is completed, the drawing data for one job stored in the large-capacity recording device 13 is read and a printing operation is executed. The printing system also has an operation panel 9 for displaying the status of the printing system and setting parameters for printing. The operation panel 9 is controlled by an operation panel process 10.

  Next, the control procedure of the printing system will be described with reference to FIG.

  The data transmitted from the host computer 4 is received, the data are sequentially read out, drawing data is created, and the process is repeated until the creation of drawing data for one page is completed. When the creation of drawing data for one page is completed, the drawing data is transferred to the mass storage device 13. This process is repeated until drawing data for one job has been transferred to the mass storage device 13. After the transfer for one job is completed, a print command is issued to the engine control process 14 to print the drawing data stored in the mass storage device 13. After the printing is completed, the printing operation is completed by deleting the drawing data stored in the mass storage device 13.

  The print driver 5 creates print data based on data settable by the print driver, such as application data created by the host computer 4 and paper size. As shown in FIG. 6, the print data is composed of a header portion containing print format information and a print data portion.

  Even when printing confidential data such as personal information to the above general printer control device, once print data is sent, it is automatically output, and the printing device is in a remote location However, there is a problem in that it is output before it arrives at the printing apparatus, and the print result is read by another person.

  As a means to solve the above problems, a function for inputting a personal identification number and a function for transmitting the inputted personal identification number in addition to the print data to a printer driver installed in the host PC is added, and a large capacity such as a hard disk is added. In a printing system equipped with a storage device, a function for reading a personal identification number added to print data, a function for inputting a personal identification number from a user interface such as an operator panel, and a personal identification number management table are provided. By comparing the password numbers of the print data stored in the device and having a function of printing if they match, control is performed so as not to start printing without entering the password, so the operator must always print By staying in front, it is no longer possible for others to see the print results, and this problem is solved. How to have a certain (e.g., see Patent Document 1.).

JP 2003-154164 A

  Even when printing information that is not desired to be read by others, such as personal information, the printing system prints sequentially when print data is transmitted. If the printed matter is output before the operator arrives at the printing system, such as when outputting to a printer device installed at a location distant from the host PC, the print result may be read by others. There was a problem that occurred. There is also a method of starting printing by allowing the operator to enter a password from the operator panel. However, due to physical limitations of the operator panel, it may be difficult to enter the password or the operability may be poor. It was.

  The present invention provides a printer driver that transmits a key operation for starting printing in addition to a part of print data, means for inputting a key operation for starting printing from a user interface, and the input key operation and print data. And a means for starting printing when the included key operations match.

  According to the present invention, an arbitrary combination of pressing the buttons on the operator panel is used as the encryption for starting printing, so that the operator is always in front of the printing system so that others cannot see the print result. In addition, operability is improved.

  By using any combination of pressing the buttons on the operator panel as the encryption for starting printing, the operator is always in front of the printing system, so that the print result is not seen by others and operability is improved. I let you.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 2, 5, 7 and 8. FIG.

  In FIG. 2, a print start key input process 15 and a print start key transmission process 16 are newly added to the conventional printer driver 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the operator panel 25 used in this embodiment is composed of an LCD 23 and eight buttons 24. The newly added print start key input process 15 is the same as this button as shown in FIG. In this way, a window in which buttons are arranged is displayed and a function for saving the input of the print start key is provided. In the embodiment, since the “ENTER” key is used as the input end key, for example, when the print start key is set as “ONLINE” − “ONLINE” − “MENU” − “RESET”, “ONLINE” − “ONLINE” − By inputting “MENU” − “RESET” − “ENTER”, it becomes possible to set a print start key. The set key has a function of incorporating the print start key information 22 into a part of the print format information as shown in FIG. 5 in the print start key transmission process 16.

  Further, in the printing system, a print start key recognition process having a function of reading the print start key transmitted from the print start key transmission process 16 to the expansion process 8 and a function of saving the read print start key in the print start key storage table. 17. Compare the print start key input process 18 having the function of allowing the operator to input the print start key to the operation panel process 10 and the input print start key with the print start key storage table 20, and the same print start key is found. In this case, a print start key comparison process 19 having a function of setting the print start key input completion flag 21 in the print start key table of the print start key storage table to a state where a print start key is input is added.

  Next, the printing system will be described with reference to FIGS. Compared to the conventional process, a print start key input determination process 1 is added. In the print start key input determination process 1, the print start key input flag 21 of the print start key storage table 20 is referred to (S01). If no print start key is input, data is received as in the conventional process. Create drawing data. In the print start key reception determination process 2, it is determined whether or not print start key information is included in the received data. If it is included, information is set in the print start key storage table 20. The above process is repeated until the creation of drawing data for one page is completed. When the creation of drawing data for one page is completed, the drawing data is transferred to the mass storage device. The above processing is repeated until drawing data for one job is transferred to the mass storage device. After transfer for one job is completed, if the expanded data is not a job with a print start key input in the print start key designation print determination process 3, a print command is sent to the engine control process, and a job with a print start key input In this case, the process is terminated without issuing a print command to the engine control process. In (S01), if there is a print start key input and the printing system is in an idle state, the corresponding table in the print start key storage table is reset, and by issuing a print command for the corresponding print data to the engine control process, Solved the problem.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow of the printing system according to the embodiment of this invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conventional printing system operation flow explanatory diagram. It is a conventional printing system configuration diagram. It is explanatory drawing of the printing data of the Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional print data. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional operator panel. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional print start key input process.

Explanation of symbols

1 Print start key input determination process 2 Print start key reception determination process 3 Print start key designation print determination process

Claims (1)

Printing is performed in a host system equipped with a printer driver, and a printing system that includes printing processing data received from the host computer, a developing processing unit that develops the printing data and converts it into raster data, and a large-capacity recording device. A printer driver that transmits a key operation to be started in addition to a part of the print data, a means for inputting a key operation to start printing from the user interface, and the key operation included in the print data match the input key operation Means for starting printing when the printing is performed.

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