JP2005269422A - E-mail printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve security property at the spooling of an attached file of e-mail to a print server. <P>SOLUTION: When received e-mail has the attached file and storage of the attached file is set, a mail server part provided in a network server stores the attached file as a printing job in the printing server part, and sets an access right to the stored attached file in a text of the e-mail (steps 100, 104, 108 and 110). Then the mail text with the access right to the attached file set therein is transferred to a registered user, on the basis of a request from the registered user (step 112). Consequently, only the registered user that has received the mail text can invoke the access right for printing the attached file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an e-mail printing system that prints out an attached file attached to an e-mail received via a network by a print output device.

  In recent years, electronic mail (e-mail) has become widespread and has spread as an information transmission means. An electronic mail can be attached to a recipient by sending not only text data as a mail body but also a data file such as image data or a document.

  On the other hand, an information processing terminal such as a personal computer that receives electronic mail is connected to a network, and a network printer is generally connected to such a network.

  From here, the mail recipient who has received the e-mail can check the contents of the attached file by opening the attached file attached to the e-mail. Further, the attached file can be printed out by transferring the attached file as a print job to the print output apparatus.

By the way, in order for the mail recipient who received the email to omit the operation for printing the attached file, the email sender sends the email as a so-called print job to the network printer used by the email recipient. A so-called Internet facsimile is proposed in which the received network printer automatically prints an e-mail or an attached file of the e-mail (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, when an electronic mail or an attached file is automatically printed out, the print content is seen by an unspecified person, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of security.

  On the other hand, some network printers and print servers that output print data to the network printer have a spool function that holds a print job input from an information processing terminal. It is possible to prevent an attached file attached to an e-mail or an e-mail from being printed out in a dark manner.

However, even if such a spool function is used, an attached file spooled as a print job can be printed out by an arbitrary user, and it is not always possible to obtain good security. There is.
JP-A-11-136432

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and when sending an e-mail to a print processing apparatus such as a network printer and printing out an attached file attached to the e-mail, accurate security is provided. An object is to propose an e-mail printing system that can be obtained.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a print processing unit that performs image processing based on a print job and enables print output using a print output device, and receives an email as a destination of the email. Based on a request from a specified mail recipient, a mail transmission / reception means for transferring the e-mail, and an attached file attached to the e-mail received by the mail receiving section are printed in the print processing section. An attachment file processing means for adding the access right to the stored attachment file to the mail body to be transferred to the mail recipient, and from the mail recipient who has received the electronic mail to which the access right is added. Processing execution means for executing processing for the print job stored in the print processing unit in response to a request. It is characterized in.

  According to the present invention, when an electronic mail is received, the presence / absence of an attached file is confirmed, and if there is an attached file, the attached file is stored in the print processing unit as a print job. This eliminates the need to retransmit the attached file when printing the attached file.

  The attached file processing means saves the attached file and sets an access right for the saved attached file in the mail body to be transferred to the mail recipient.

  Thereby, only the mail recipient who receives the e-mail for which the access right is set can perform the printing process for the attached file. Since this mail recipient has the right to receive the attached file, only the mail recipient who has the right to receive the attached file has the right to access the attached file stored in the print processing unit, and saves it. It is possible to ensure accurate security for attached files.

  In the present invention as described above, the attached file processing means may be able to save the mail body of an e-mail together with the attached file as a print job, and save the attached file or the mail body as the print job. Whether or not to do so is preferably set in advance for each mail recipient.

  Further, in the present invention, the processing execution means may execute processing for the attached file by mail transfer or mail reply based on the e-mail for which the access right is set. The operation for printing the attached file becomes easy.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the e-mail recipient includes user registration means that is pre-registered with a password, and the process execution means performs user authentication when the access right to the stored attached file is exercised. It is more preferable to perform the above, and it becomes possible to secure higher security for the attached file stored.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when an attached file attached to an e-mail is stored as a print job, an access right to the print job is added to the e-mail body of the e-mail. As a result, only the mail recipient who has received the e-mail can perform print processing or the like on the stored attached file, so that it is possible to ensure appropriate security for the stored attached file. Is obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of a network 10 applied to the present embodiment. The network 10 is provided with a print server 12 having a print server function and a mail server function. The print server 12 may include a network server function, and will be described as the network server 12 below.

  In addition, a personal computer or a workstation as an information processing terminal is connected to the network 10 as a client terminal 14. The network 10 is connected to an external network via the Internet, and each client terminal 14 can use various network functions such as transmission / reception of electronic mail via the Internet.

  The network server 12 is provided with a network interface (network I / F) 16, and is connected to the network 10 via the network I / F 16.

  The network server 12 includes a mail server unit 18 and a print server unit 20, and the print server unit 20 is provided with a local printer interface (LPI / F) 22 via the LPI / F 22. A local printer 24 serving as a print output device is connected.

  The print server unit 20 is provided with an image processing unit 26. When the print server unit 20 receives a print job output from the client terminal 14, the image processing unit 26 performs predetermined image processing. At this time, if the image processing unit 26 generates raster data that can be printed by the local printer 24, the raster data is output to the local printer 24.

  Thereby, a print output corresponding to the print job is obtained from the local printer 24. The print server unit 20 can apply the configuration and functions of a conventionally known general print server, and detailed description thereof is omitted in the present embodiment. A network printer 28 may be provided in the network 10 in which the network server 12 is provided. At this time, the print job can also be printed by transferring the print job from the print server unit 20 to the network printer 28, and the client terminal 14 using the network 10 receives the network server. In addition to the local printer 24 connected to the printer 12, the network printer 28 can be used directly or indirectly to perform the printing process.

  On the other hand, the mail server unit 18 of the print server 12 includes a mail delivery unit (POP server) 30 for receiving emails, a mail delivery unit (SMTP server) 32 for sending emails, and a user management database. Is stored.

  In the network 10, an e-mail address is set for each client terminal 14 or for each user who uses the network 10 using the client terminal 14, and this e-mail address is registered in the e-mail server unit 18.

  Thus, when the registered mail address is input to the mail server unit 18, the mail server unit 18 receives and holds the electronic mail.

  The mail server unit 18 outputs an e-mail addressed to the corresponding user when the e-mail delivery request is received from the client terminal 14 or the user in which the e-mail address is registered, and is further transmitted from the client terminal 14. E-mail delivery is also possible.

  As the basic configuration of such a mail server unit 18, a configuration of a conventionally known general mail server can be applied, and detailed description thereof is omitted in the present embodiment.

  By the way, the print server unit 20 of the network server 12 is provided with a spool unit 36. For example, when a print job designated as waiting for execution of print processing is input from the client terminal 14, the spool unit 34 is provided. Thus, it is stored and held in the HDD 38 (spool).

  Further, in response to an instruction to execute the spooled print job, the print server unit 20 reads out the print job from the spool unit 34 and starts the printing process. The HDD 34 of the mail server unit 18 and the HDD 38 of the print server unit 20 can use one HDD.

  On the other hand, the mail server unit 18 is provided with an attached file storage unit 40. When an attached file is added to the received e-mail, the attached file is duplicated and the attached file storage unit 40 sends it to the print server. By outputting to the spool unit 36 of the unit 20, the print job is held.

  As a result, when the mail recipient to which the attached file is attached prints out the attached file, an operation for transferring the attached file from the client terminal 14 to the print server unit 20 becomes unnecessary.

  On the other hand, when the attached file holding unit 40 spools the attached file in the spool unit 36, the access right of the attached file is set to the mail recipient of the e-mail, and the mail recipient to which the access right is set. Other than these, the spooled attached file cannot be printed.

  At this time, the attached file holding unit 40 uses HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) to create image data that enables access to the spooled attached file, and attaches this data to the e-mail.

  As a result, when the corresponding electronic mail is received, the attached file spooled in the print server unit 20 can be accessed. That is, only the mail recipient can access the attached file stored in the spool unit 36.

  2A and 2B show an example of display based on data indicating the access right created by the attached file holding unit 40. FIG. FIG. 2A shows a display example when general-purpose mailing software is used, and FIG. 2B shows a display example when dedicated mailing software set in advance is used. Show.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the attached file holding unit 40 forms “print” and “delete” with hypertext. Here, by selecting “Delete”, a mail instructing the mail server unit 18 to delete the corresponding attached file is transmitted. When the attached file holding unit 40 receives this mail, the mail is spooled to the spool unit 36. Request deletion of attached file.

  When “print” is selected, a mail instructing the print processing of the corresponding attached file is transmitted to the mail server unit 18. As a result, the attached file holding unit 40 of the mail server unit 18 instructs the spool unit 36 to print the corresponding attached file, and the attached file printing process is executed.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, for dedicated mailing software, in addition to a reply button 42A for the sender of the email (original sender), a reply to the server (print server unit 18) A button 42B is provided, and when a reply to the server is selected (operation of the reply button 42B), a selection result of “delete” or “print” is transmitted to the mail server unit 18.

  On the other hand, the mail server unit 18 is provided with a user management unit 44. The user management unit 44 stores settings for each user registered in the mail server unit 18.

  FIG. 3A shows a user registration dialog 50 as an example of a user interface (UI) displayed on a monitor (not shown) when performing user registration of the mail server unit 12 on the network server 12.

  The user registration dialog 50 shows registered user names and settings for each user. For each user setting, when the mail server 18 receives an e-mail, whether to save the attached file (image save), send the attached file together with the e-mail text (image transfer), and save the e-mail text The setting of whether to save (main text) is displayed. By setting image storage and mail text storage, the mail text is spooled in the spool unit 36 as a print job together with the attached file.

  In the user registration dialog 50, the registered user can be deleted by the delete button 52, and a new user can be registered by the add button 54.

  The user registration dialog 50 is provided with a detail button 56. By operating the detail button 56, it is possible to make detailed settings for each user.

  FIG. 3B shows an example of detailed settings for each user (an example of a user interface). This detailed setting is displayed not only when the detail button 56 is operated but also when the add button 54 is operated.

  In this detailed setting, user name input, “image saving”, “image transfer”, and “text saving” can be selected and set. In this detailed setting, a password is set.

  The mail server unit 18 requests input of a password when deletion or printing of an attached file is selected from the mail text transmitted to the client terminal 14. As a result, when the input password matches the registered password, the selected process is executed on the attached file.

  Here, processing for an electronic mail in the network server 12 in which the mail server unit 18 and the print server unit 20 configured as described above are described. Hereinafter, a registered user who operates the client terminal 14 connected to the network 10 will be described as a mail receiver or a registered user.

  FIG. 4 shows an outline of processing for receiving and transferring an e-mail addressed to a registered user. This flowchart is executed when an e-mail addressed to a registered user is received. In the first step 100, it is confirmed whether there is an attached file. At this time, if there is no attached file, a negative determination is made in step 100, the process proceeds to step 102, and an electronic mail (mail body) is transferred based on a request from the registered user.

  On the other hand, when there is an attached file in the received e-mail, an affirmative determination is made in step 100 to save the attached file or the like (spool processing). In this spool processing, first, in step 104, it is confirmed whether or not to save the attached file in the print server unit 20 according to the setting of the registered user.

  If the saving of the attached file is not set, a negative determination is made in step 104 and the process proceeds to step 106, and the attached file is sent to the registered user together with the mail body in response to a request from the mail recipient who is the registered user. Transfer to (to client terminal 14 used by mail recipient).

  On the other hand, when saving of the attached file is set, an affirmative determination is made in step 104 and the process proceeds to step 108, where the attached file is output to the spool unit 36 and saved as a print job.

  In the next step 110, image data (for example, HTML) in which the access right to the stored attached file is set is generated and added to the mail body of the e-mail.

  When the attachment file is saved and the access right for the saved attachment file is set in this way, the process proceeds to step 112, and first, the mail body of the e-mail is transferred in response to a request from the registered user. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 114, and it is confirmed whether or not the transfer of the attached file is set from the user registration setting.

  At this time, if the transfer of the attached file is not set, a negative determination is made in step 114, and the transfer process for the corresponding electronic mail is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is set to transfer the attached file, an affirmative determination is made in step 114 and the process proceeds to step 116 to transfer the attached file to the registered user.

  On the other hand, a user who has received a mail body with access rights set by saving the attached file in the print server unit 20 can exercise the access right from the mail body.

  FIG. 5A shows an outline of access processing for an attached file. This flowchart is executed by receiving a mail from a user (here, an access mail) for an attached file. In the first step 120, it is confirmed whether or not there is a corresponding attached file. If it has been deleted, a negative determination is made at step 120 and the routine proceeds to step 122 to notify that the corresponding attached file has already been deleted.

  If the corresponding attached file is stored, an affirmative determination is made in step 120 and the process proceeds to step 124 to request input of a registered user name and password. For the input of the user name and password, for example, a general user interface can be used as shown in FIG.

  Here, in the flowchart of FIG. 5A, when the user name and password are input, the process proceeds to step 126, where the user name and password are verified, and in step 128, it is confirmed whether or not they match. .

  If at least one of the user name and password does not match at this time, a negative determination is made in step 128, the process proceeds to step 130, an error is notified, and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the user name and the password match, an affirmative determination is made at step 128 and the routine proceeds to step 132. In this step 132, it is confirmed whether or not the attached file printing process.

  Here, when the printing process is designated, an affirmative determination is made in step 132, the process proceeds to step 134, and the printing process for the corresponding attached file is executed. If the attached file is to be deleted instead of the printing process, a negative determination is made in step 132 and the process proceeds to step 136 where the corresponding attached file is deleted from the spool unit 36.

  As described above, in the network server 12 provided with the mail server unit 18 and the print server unit 20, the attached file attached to the e-mail is stored as a print job in the network server unit 20, so that the attached file is printed out. When this is done, the work of transferring the attached file from the client terminal 14 to the print server unit 20 is not required, and the attached file can be quickly printed out.

  Further, the access right of the attached file stored as a print job in the print server unit 20 is given to the mail body of the e-mail to which the attached file is attached, and only to the user who receives this mail body (e-mail), Access rights can be granted accurately.

  In other words, only the recipient of the email has the right to print out the attached file attached to the email. By setting the access right in the email body of the email, only the original rights holder can The right to access the attached file can be given accurately.

  In the mail server unit 18, a password is registered together with the user name, and when accessing the attached file, the user name and password are requested to be entered, and the registered user name and password are verified. It is possible to reliably prevent a person other than the mail recipient to whom the access right is set from accessing an attached file stored as a print job in the print server unit 20 and performing a printing process or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the access right added to the mail text is described in hypertext is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, any method as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 can be applied. FIG. 6A shows an example in which print settings such as the number of copies to be printed, color / monochrome, and the like, and a print setting screen that allows setting of a printer to print out are added.

  FIG. 6B shows an example in which a mail address of a reply destination is added when performing the printing process, and FIG. 7A shows a mail as a reply destination when performing color printing. An example in which an address and a mail address as a reply destination when performing monochrome printing are added is shown. In FIG. 7B, URL (Uniform Resource Locators) is added, and printing processing can be performed from this URL. I am doing so.

  In FIG. 8A, the URL for color printing and the URL for monochrome printing are set separately. In FIG. 8B, a password is added to the URL. The security is further improved.

  Thus, any method can be applied when setting the access right to the mail text.

  The embodiment described above shows an example of the present invention, and the present invention forms the mail server unit 18 and the print server unit 20 substantially integrally and is attached to an e-mail. Any configuration can be applied as long as the attached file can be stored in the print server unit 20 as a print job and the print processing of the attached file can be designated via the mail server unit 18. Can do.

It is a schematic block diagram of the network and network server applied to this Embodiment. (A) And (B) is the schematic which shows the example of a display of the mail text to which the access right was provided. (A) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a user registration dialog used as a user interface, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a user interface used for detailed setting of a registered user. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the reception / transfer process of the email in a mail server part. (A) is a flowchart showing an example of processing when an access right is exercised, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a user interface used for inputting a user name and a password. (A) And (B) is the schematic which shows the other example of a display of the mail text to which the access right was provided. (A) And (B) is the schematic which shows the other example of a display of the mail text to which the access right was provided. (A) And (B) is the schematic which shows the other example of a display of the mail text to which the access right was provided.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Network 12 Network server 14 Client terminal 18 Mail server part (mail transmission / reception means)
20 Print server section (print processing section)
24 Local printer (print output device)
26 Image Processing Unit 28 Network Printer (Print Output Device)
30, 32 Mail distribution part (mail sending and receiving means)
36 Spool part 40 Attached file holding part (attached file holding means)
44 User Management Department

Claims (5)

A print processing unit that performs image processing based on a print job and enables print output using a print output device;
A mail transmission / reception means for receiving the e-mail and transferring the e-mail based on a request from a mail recipient designated as an e-mail destination;
The attached file attached to the e-mail received by the mail receiving unit is saved as a print job in the print processing unit, and the access right to the saved attached file is added to the mail body to be transferred to the mail recipient. Attachment processing means;
Processing execution means for executing processing for the print job stored in the print processing unit in response to a request from the mail recipient who has received the electronic mail to which the access right is added;
An e-mail printing system comprising:   2. The e-mail printing system according to claim 1, wherein the attached file processing unit can save a mail body of the e-mail together with the attached file as a print job.   3. The e-mail printing system according to claim 1, wherein whether or not to save the attached file or the e-mail body as the print job is set in advance for each e-mail recipient. .   4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process execution unit executes a process for the attached file by mail transfer or mail reply based on the electronic mail to which the access right is set. The e-mail print processing system described in the section.   The e-mail recipient includes user registration means registered in advance with a password, and the processing execution means performs user authentication when the access right to the stored attached file is exercised. The electronic mail printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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