JP2006001241A - Printer and printing control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and a printing control method, which enable printing processing to be performed without the loss of confidentiality and which can reduce waiting time in front of the printer. <P>SOLUTION: When transmitted to the printer 201 in a state wherein a card with user identification information is inserted into a card reader 102 of a host terminal 101, a printing request is treated as a confidential printing request requiring confidentiality. The printer 201, which receives the confidential printing request, outputs printed matter into a mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism. Even if the mailbox 215 has no space, the printed matter can also be output into a mailbox 214 with no locking mechanism when authentication is performed in a user authentication mechanism of the printer 201 by using the card inserted into the card reader 102, in the transmission of the printing request. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing control method, and more specifically, a printing apparatus capable of effectively using a confidential printing dedicated paper discharge section when having a confidential printing dedicated paper discharge section with a lockable locking mechanism, and The present invention relates to a printing control method.

  Conventionally, in a printing apparatus that performs confidential printing, there are a plurality of lockable discharge destinations, a device that employs a mailbox method that distributes the discharge destinations by the user, and a method of adding a PIN number to the print data There have been proposed methods for ensuring the confidentiality of printed matter by various methods such as an adopted apparatus.

  For example, a “printer device” described in Patent Document 1 is disclosed as a technique related to the technique employing the above-described mailbox method.

  In the invention of this patent document 1, when the number of bins is insufficient with respect to the number of users who use the printer device, output is performed to the bins that are not locked. It mentions the technology that can be addressed.

  Further, as a technique relating to the above-described technique of adopting the personal identification number system, a “shared output device with security function” described in Patent Document 2 is disclosed.

The invention of this Patent Document 2 refers to a technique for performing confidentiality printing by temporarily storing data that needs to ensure confidentiality in a memory and printing it in response to input of a personal identification number or the like. Has been.
JP 07-247047 A JP 03-269756 A

  However, in the invention of Patent Document 1 described above, when users exceeding the number of mailboxes try to use and there are not enough mailboxes, printing is waited until the mailboxes are empty, or the confidentiality is given up and discharged to a shared box. There was a problem that there was only paper.

  In the invention of the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, no matter how much time has passed since the print request was made, printing is started after user authentication, so that the user waits until the end of printing in front of the printer. There was a problem that.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus and a printing control method capable of performing a printing process without losing confidentiality and reducing a waiting time in front of a printer.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a first paper discharge unit having a locking mechanism used for discharging a print job related to a confidential print request, and a discharge of the print job related to the confidential print request. A second discharge unit used for paper, an authentication unit for performing user authentication of the confidential print request, an empty detection unit for detecting empty of the first discharge unit, and the first discharge unit When the printed paper relating to the confidential printing request is discharged, the locking mechanism of the first paper discharge unit is controlled to the locked state, and the locking state of the locking mechanism is determined by user authentication related to the confidential printing request by the authentication unit. When the lock control unit to be released and the confidential print request are accepted, the empty detection unit performs empty discharge in the first discharge unit before the authentication unit performs user authentication of the confidential print request. If it is detected that there is a part When the print job related to the confidential print request is executed with the empty paper discharge unit as the paper discharge destination, and the user relating to the confidential print request is authenticated by the authentication unit, the second paper discharge unit And a control means for executing a print job relating to the confidential print request.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means discharges the same user as the user related to the confidential print request in the first paper discharge unit. If there is a paper discharge unit, a print job related to the confidential print request is executed with the paper discharge unit as a paper discharge destination.

  The invention of claim 3 further comprises buffer means for temporarily holding a print job relating to the confidential print request in the invention of claim 1, wherein the control means is provided in the first paper discharge section. If there is no empty paper discharge unit, the buffer means holds the print job related to the confidential print request, and it is detected that there is an empty paper discharge unit in the first paper discharge unit. A print job related to the confidential print request held in the buffer unit is executed with the paper discharge unit as a paper discharge destination.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising notification means for notifying a paper discharge destination of a print job related to a confidential print request after user authentication by the authentication means. To do.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the print job related to the confidential print request is executed prior to a print job related to a normal print request.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the print job related to the confidential print request after the user authentication by the authentication unit is the print job related to the confidential print request before the user authentication by the authentication unit. It is executed in preference to

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a first paper discharge unit having a locking mechanism used for discharging a print job related to a confidential print request and a second paper discharge used for discharging a print job related to the confidential print request. In the printing control method of the printing apparatus comprising the paper discharge unit, when the confidential print request is received, the first paper discharge is performed by the empty detection unit before user authentication of the confidential print request is performed by the authentication unit. When it is detected that there is an empty paper discharge unit, the print job related to the confidential print request is executed with the empty first paper discharge unit as the paper discharge destination, and the paper discharge destination The locking mechanism of the first paper discharge unit is controlled to the locked state by the lock control unit, and before the user authentication of the confidential print request is performed by the authentication unit, the empty detection unit causes the first paper discharge unit to be within the first paper discharge unit. If it is detected that there is no empty paper discharge unit, the confidential printing When the print job related to the request is stored in the buffer unit and the user of the print job stored in the buffer unit is authenticated by the authentication unit, the print job is discharged from the second discharge unit. It is characterized by being executed first.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform print processing without losing confidentiality, and to shorten the waiting time in front of the printer.

  Embodiments of a printing apparatus and a printing control method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system configured by applying a print control method according to the present invention to a printer 201. If the functions of the present invention are executed, a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) may be used regardless of whether it is a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices. The present invention can be applied even to a system in which processing is performed through connection.

  In FIG. 1, a printer 201 according to the present invention is connected to a LAN 301, and a plurality of host terminals 101 are connected to the LAN 301.

  The printer 201 includes a card reader (not shown) as a user authentication mechanism. Information for identifying the user is written on the card. When the user inserts the card into the card reader of the printer 201, the printer 201 reads the user identification information from the card and performs user authentication.

  The printer 201 further includes a normal paper discharge tray 213 and mail boxes 214 and 215 as a paper discharge unit. In the printer 201 shown in FIG. Four 215 are equipped. The paper discharge tray 213 indicates a normal paper discharge destination from which all users who use the printer 201 can freely take out printed matter. On the other hand, the mail boxes 214 and 215 are paper discharge destinations when a print request requiring confidentiality is required. The mail box 215 except for the mail box 214 is provided with an electronic locking mechanism and is normally locked, so that the paper in the box cannot be taken out.

  On the other hand, the card reader 102 is also installed in the host terminal 101, and when printing processing requiring confidentiality is performed, that is, a print request (hereinafter referred to as confidential print request) for discharging paper to the mail boxes 214 and 215 is transmitted. In this case, it can be performed by inserting a card into a card reader 102 connected to the host terminal 101 and causing the host terminal 101 to read user identification information. In this case, if a card is inserted in the card reader 102 at the time of the print request, it may be regarded as a confidential print request automatically, or user identification information is read from the card reader 102 to the host terminal 101 in advance. Alternatively, confidential printing may be designated from a printer driver setting screen (not shown) when a print request is made. In the latter case, the user name and password must be entered.

  Here, a flow of a printing process when a confidential print request is made from the host terminal 101 to the printer 201 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When a card is inserted into the card reader 102 of the host terminal 101 and a print request is made with the user identification information read from the card to the host terminal 101, a confidential print request is transmitted to the printer 201. When the printer 201 that has received the print request determines that the print request is a confidential print request, the printer 201 selects one of the mailboxes 215 with a locking mechanism as a paper discharge destination so that the confidentiality of the printed matter can be secured, and the mailbox The printed matter is output to 215. When a user who has made a confidential print request from the host terminal 101 takes out a printed matter, user authentication is performed by the card reader of the printer 201 using the card used for the confidential print request. When the user authentication is normally performed, the printer 201 unlocks the mailbox 215 from which the printed matter is discharged, turns on a user identification lamp attached to the mailbox 215, and displays the console panel of the printer 201. The message “Please take out from the box where the lamp is lit” is displayed above. The user can see this and take out the printed matter from the corresponding mailbox 215.

  In the above-described configuration, the case where confidential printing is performed using a card holding user identification information has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a personal identification number or the like may be input when a confidential printing instruction is given. If the user who performed confidential printing can take out the printed matter from the printer 201 while ensuring confidentiality, other user authentication methods may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system configuration shown in FIG. 1 for each function. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same thing as FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows a host terminal 101 and a printer 201 connected to a card reader 102. The printer 201 includes a controller unit 202 and an engine unit 208 therein.

  The controller unit 202 includes a job control unit 203 that performs control related to a print job, a job buffer 204 that stores a print job received from the host terminal 101, an image image development unit 205 that develops a print job into an image, and user identification information A user authentication unit 206 that authenticates the user, and a mailbox information table 207 that manages information about the mailboxes 214 and 215.

  The engine unit 208 includes an engine control unit 209 that performs overall control of the engine unit 208, a paper feeding unit 210 that feeds paper, and an image forming unit 211 that forms an image on paper fed from the paper feeding unit 210. The paper discharge unit 212 includes a normal paper discharge tray 213 and mail boxes 214 and 215 which are the paper discharge destinations for confidential printing.

  The job control unit 203 manages a print job in the job buffer 204 in a queue (First In First Out), and sends the print job to the image image development unit 205 while adding selection information of a discharge destination to the print job.

  For example, as a control process of the job control unit 203, when a print job designated for confidential printing that is not authenticated by the printer 201 is stored in the job buffer 204, the print job is stored in the job buffer 204. Even in the case of a previously stored print job, when all the mailboxes 215 with the locking mechanism are used by other users, control is performed so that other print jobs are given priority without being output from the job buffer 204. . If there is already a mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism that is used by the same user, or if there is an empty mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism, the image image development unit 205 performs a job in the same way as a normal print job. Send to.

  Also, in the case of a print job designated for confidential printing that has already been authenticated by the user, if there is a mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism already used by the same user, the mailbox 215 is set as the paper discharge destination, and if not, the locking mechanism A mail box 214 having no message is set as a paper discharge destination.

  As described above, the user authentication unit 206 includes a card reader, and reads user identification information from a card inserted by the user.

  The mailbox information table 207 centrally manages information such as to which user each mailbox 214 and 215 is used, whether or not user authentication has been completed, whether or not printed paper has already been discharged, and so on. The job control unit 203 and the user authentication unit 206 use the data to control each of them. The above is the description of each functional block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the printer 201. Next, the schematic configuration of the mail box 215 with a locking mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the figure, a mail box 215 with a locking mechanism is shown, a locking mechanism 216 that locks the printed matter so as not to be taken out freely, a paper presence / absence sensor 217 that detects whether or not a paper is in the box, A discharge destination identification lamp 218 is provided to allow the user to identify where the printed sheet is discharged.

  The printed matter discharged to the mailbox 215 is not touched by another person through the openable door provided in the mailbox 215, and the door is not opened unless the user is authenticated and the locking mechanism 216 is unlocked. Confidentiality is maintained. Further, although not shown, the mail box 214 is similarly provided with an openable / closable door so that the printed matter that has been discharged cannot be seen by others. The above is description of each functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the job control process in the job control unit 203 shown in FIG.

  When the job control process is started, the job control unit 203 determines in the image image development unit 205 whether or not a print job can be accepted (step S101). If the image image development unit 205 determines that the print job cannot be accepted (NO in step S101), the process waits until the print job can be accepted, but the print job can be accepted. (YES in step S101), a job pointer is set to the print job received first among the print jobs stored in the job buffer 204 (step S102).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the print job in which the job pointer is set is a confidential print designation print job (step S103).

  If the print job with the job pointer set is not a confidential print designation print job (NO in step S103), the print job is a normal print process, and the print job is sent to the image image development unit 205 using the discharge tray 213 as a discharge destination. (Step S104), and the print job is deleted from the job buffer 204 (step S111). Then, the process returns to step S101 again, and the image image development unit 205 determines whether a print job can be accepted.

  If the print job with the job pointer set is a confidential print designation print job (YES in step S103), it is determined whether there is a mailbox 215 being used by the same user (step S105).

  That is, it is a determination as to whether there is a mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism that is already used by the user who has instructed the confidential print request.

  If there is a mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism already in use (YES in step S105), the print job is transmitted to the image image development unit 205 using the mailbox 215 as a paper discharge destination (step S106). Delete from the job buffer 204 (step S111). Then, the process returns to step S101 again, and the image image development unit 205 determines whether a print job can be accepted.

  If there is no mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism in use (NO in step S105), it is determined whether or not user authentication is performed by the card reader of the printer 201 (step S107).

  If it is determined that the print job has already been authenticated by the user authentication (YES in step S107), the print job is transmitted to the image image development unit 205 with the mail box 214 having no locking mechanism as the paper discharge destination. Then, the print job is deleted from the job buffer 204 (step S111). Then, the process returns to step S101 again, and the image image development unit 205 determines whether a print job can be accepted.

  In the process of step S108, the mail box 214 having no locking mechanism is selected as the paper discharge destination, but there is no loss of confidentiality. In other words, the fact that the user has been authenticated means that the user has come to the front of the printer 201 and has set the card in the card reader, and the printed matter corresponding to the confidential print request is discharged to the mail box 214 having no locking mechanism. However, since the user is in front of the printer 201, confidentiality can be ensured.

  If the print job is not user-authenticated (NO in step S107), it is determined whether there is an unused mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism (step S109).

  If there is an unused mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism (YES in step S109), a print job is transmitted to the image image development unit 205 using the mailbox 215 as a paper discharge destination (step S110). Delete from the job buffer 204 (step S111). Then, the process returns to step S101 again, and the image image development unit 205 determines whether a print job can be accepted.

  If all the mailboxes 215 with the locking mechanism are in use (NO in step S109), the job pointer is set to the next (oldest) print job (step S112). If there is no next print job (NO in step S113), the process returns to step S101 again, and the image image development unit 205 determines whether the print job can be accepted. If there is another print job (YES in step S113), the processing from step S103 onward is performed for the next print job. Thereafter, the above-described processing is repeated for the print job in the job buffer 204.

  As described above, in the present invention, since the limited number of mailboxes 215 with the locking mechanism is controlled by the processing of the job control unit 203, a sufficient number is available for reasons such as cost. Even when the present invention is applied to a printer that cannot be equipped with the mailbox 215 with the locking mechanism, efficient printing processing can be performed while maintaining confidentiality.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the user authentication process in the user authentication unit 206 shown in FIG.

  Note that the user authentication processing shown in the figure will be described as processing after the user inserts a card into the card reader of the printer 201. The print job shown here refers to a print job designated as confidential printing.

  When this user authentication process is started, it is first determined whether or not there is a mailbox 215 that has already been subjected to user authentication (step S201). That is, it is a determination as to whether or not there is a print process being executed by the user authentication performed by another user first.

  If it is determined that there is a print process that has been user-authenticated by another user (YES in step S201), a message “other user is using” is displayed on the console panel of the printer 201 ( In step S203), the process returns to step S201 and waits until a card is inserted again.

  If it is determined that there is no authenticated print processing by another user (NO in step S201), the user identification information is read from the inserted card (step S202), and the authenticated user who inserted the card It is determined whether or not there is a mail box 215 that is being used (step S204).

  If it is determined that there is no mail box 215 in use (NO in step S204), it is determined whether there is a print job of the authenticated user in the job buffer 204 (step S205). If it is determined that there is no print job corresponding to the authenticated user (NO in step S205), a message “No corresponding print job” is displayed on the console panel of the printer 201 (step S211). ), The process returns to step S201 and waits until a card is inserted.

  If it is determined in step S205 that there is a print job corresponding to the authenticated user (YES in step S205), the print job stored in the job buffer 204 corresponds to the authenticated user. All jobs are authenticated (step S212), the mailbox 214 without the locking mechanism is used in the mailbox information table 207 and set to authenticated (step S213), and the process returns to step S201 and waits until the card is inserted. To do.

  If it is determined in step S204 that there is a mailbox 215 in use (YES in step S204), it is determined whether there is a print job of the authenticated user in the job buffer 204 (step S206). ).

  If it is determined that there is a print job corresponding to the authenticated user (YES in step S206), all print jobs corresponding to the authenticated user among the print jobs stored in the job buffer 204 are authenticated. “Completed” (step S209), sets “authenticated” in the mailbox information table 207 (step S210), returns to step S201, and waits until a card is inserted.

  If it is determined that there is no print job corresponding to the authenticated user (NO in step S206), it is determined whether the printed matter has already been discharged (step S207).

  If it is determined that the printed material has already been discharged (YES in step S207), the mailbox 215 to which the printed material is discharged is unlocked (step S208) and authenticated in the mailbox information table 207. Is set (step S210), the process returns to step S201 and waits until a card is inserted.

  If it is determined that the printed matter has not been discharged (NO in step S207), authentication is set in the mailbox information table 207, non-discharge is set (step S210), and the process returns to step S201 and waits until a card is inserted. . Thereafter, each time a card is inserted into the user authentication unit 206 of the printer 201, the above-described processing is repeated.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when printing processing for a confidential print request is performed, even if there is no space in the mailbox 215 with the locking mechanism, user authentication can be performed without touching others' eyes. Since the paper is ejected to the mail box 214 which can be printed, the printed matter can be obtained immediately while maintaining confidentiality.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the paper discharge control process in the paper discharge unit 212 shown in FIG.

  When the paper discharge control process is started, it is determined whether or not there is a paper discharge end notification (step S301). That is, it is a determination as to whether or not the printed material has been discharged from any of the paper discharge tray 213 and the mail boxes 214 and 215. If there is no paper discharge end notification (NO in step S301), the process waits until a paper discharge end notification is received. If a paper discharge end notification is received (YES in step S301), the paper discharge destination is locked. It is determined whether the mail box 215 has a mechanism (step S302).

  If the paper discharge destination is other than the mail box 215 with the locking mechanism (NO in step S302), the process returns to step S301 and waits until a paper discharge end notification is received, but the paper discharge destination is the mail box 215 with the locking mechanism. (YES in step S302), it is determined whether or not a print job of the user using the paper discharge destination is in the job buffer 204 (step S303).

  If the print job of the user using the mailbox 215 with the locking mechanism is in the job buffer 204 (YES in step S303), the process returns to step S301 and waits until a discharge end notification is received. If the print job of the user who uses the mailbox 215 with the locking mechanism is not in the job buffer 204 (NO in step S303), discharged paper is set in the mailbox information table 207 (step S304).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the mailbox 215 has already been authenticated (step S305). If the user authentication of the mailbox 215 has not been performed (NO in step S305), the process returns to step S301 and waits until a discharge end notification is received.

  If the mailbox 215 has already been authenticated in step S305 (YES in step S305), the locking mechanism 216 of the mailbox 215 is unlocked (step S306), and the process returns to step S301 to notify the end of paper discharge. Wait until you accept. Thereafter, the above-described processing is repeated each time a discharge end notification is received.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the mailbox control process in the mailbox 215 shown in FIG.

  When this mailbox control process is started, the mailbox 215 starts monitoring whether or not the door is closed (step S401).

  If it is not detected that the door of the mail box 215 is closed (NO in step S401), it is determined whether or not the mail box 215 is a user authenticated box (step S404).

  When it is detected that the door of the mail box 215 is closed (YES in step S401), the presence / absence of paper is determined (step S402). This paper presence / absence determination process is performed based on the determination by the paper presence / absence sensor 217 installed in the mail box 215.

  If it is determined that the paper remains in the mail box 215 (NO in step S402), it is determined whether the mail box 215 is a user authenticated box (step S404).

  If it is determined that no paper remains in the mailbox 215 (YES in step S402), unused, undischarged and unauthenticated are set in the mailbox information table 207 (step S403), and the mailbox 215 is set. Is a user-authenticated box (step S404).

  If the user authentication of the mailbox 215 has not been performed (NO in step S404), the process returns to step S401 to monitor again whether or not the door of the mailbox 215 has been closed. If the user has been authenticated (YES in step S404), it is determined whether the printed matter has been discharged to the mail box 215 (step S405).

  If the printed matter has been discharged to the mail box 215 (YES in step S405), the paper discharge destination identification lamp 218 of the mail box 215 is turned on (step S406), and the lamp is turned on on the console panel of the printer 201. The message “Please take out from the box that is being used” is displayed (step S407). And it returns to step S401 and monitors whether the door of the mail box 215 was closed again.

  If the printed matter is being discharged to the mail box 215 (NO in step S405), the paper discharge destination identification lamp 218 of the mail box 215 is blinked (step S408), and “until printing is completed” is displayed on the console panel of the printer 201. A message “Please wait for a while” is displayed (step S409). And it returns to step S401 and monitors whether the door of the mail box 215 was closed again.

  In the above description, the case where the print status is displayed on the control panel of the printer 201 is described as a method of notifying the user of the print status. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the print status is displayed on the host terminal 101 handled by the user. May be displayed, or a voice announcement may be made from the printer 201. In the case of a configuration in which notification is given by display on the host terminal 101 and voice announcement, the user can recognize the print waiting state at the place where the print instruction is given, and therefore the timing for picking up the printed matter. Can be grasped, and the waiting time for printing can be further reduced.

  Next, the operation of the print control process in the printer 201 shown in FIG. 2 will be described using a specific example with reference to FIGS.

  8 to 10 describe the processing from step 501 to step 511, and the mailbox information table 207 and job buffer 204 are shown for each step.

  In the configuration shown in steps 501 to 511, the printer 201 is shared and used by five users “U 1”, “U 2”, “U 3”, “U 4”, and “U 5”. The printer 201 includes one mailbox 214 having no locking mechanism as “B” and three mailboxes 215 with locking mechanisms as “A1”, “A2”, and “A3”.

  Here, all print requests instructed by the users (U1 to U5) will be described as confidential print requests.

  In step 501, the mailboxes “A1” to “A3” and “B” are all unused, and the authentication status and paper discharge status are also unauthenticated and undischarged are set in the mailbox information table 207. The job buffer 204 also stores no print job.

  In step 502, when the user “U 1” inserts a card into the card reader 102 of the host terminal 101 and transmits a print request, the print request is received by the printer 201 as a confidential print request. Although the print job is temporarily stored in the job buffer 204, the job control unit 203 sets the mailbox “A1” as the paper discharge destination and is in use for the user “U1”, and immediately prints the print job as an image. The image is sent to the expansion unit 205 and printing is started.

  In step 503, when printing is completed, the discharge status of the message box information table 207 is changed to “discharged” by a notification from the engine control unit 209. Similarly, user “U2” and user “U3” start confidential printing. Both are temporarily stored in the job buffer 204, but are sent to the image image development unit 205 in order as soon as printing of the previous print job is completed.

  In step 504, when the user “U 4” transmits a print request, since the mailboxes “A 1” to “A 3” are all in use, the print job for the user “U 4” is put on hold in the job buffer 204.

  In step 505, when the user “U 1” comes to pick up the printed matter, inserts the card into the card reader of the printer 201 and performs user authentication, the user authentication unit 206 refers to the mailbox information table 207, and sends the mailbox “A 1”. "Is used by the user" U1 ". Further, since the paper discharge status is “discharged”, it is determined that the paper can be taken out immediately, the paper discharge destination identification lamp 218 of the mailbox “A1” is turned on, the locking mechanism 216 is unlocked, and the console The message “Please take out from the box where the lamp is lit” is displayed on the panel. The user “U1” knows that his / her printed matter is in the mailbox “A1” by lighting the lamp, opens the door of the mailbox “A1”, takes out all the paper, and closes the door to turn off the lamp and lock. . At the same time, the user of the mailbox information table 207 is returned to “unused”, and the discharge status is returned to “not discharged”.

  In step 506, the job control unit 203 detects that the print job of the user “U4” held in the job buffer 204 can be printed because the mailbox “A1” is empty, and rejects the mailbox “A1”. The print job of the user “U4” is sent to the image image development unit 205 as the paper tip, and printing is started.

  In step 507, it is further assumed that the user “U2” issues a second confidential print request.

  In step 508, the job control unit 203 refers to the mailbox information table 207 and recognizes that the user “U2” is already using the mailbox “A2”. Accordingly, the print job of the user “U2” is additionally sent to the image image development unit 205 with the mailbox “A2” as the paper discharge destination, and printing is started. At this time, the paper discharge status returns to “undischarged”, and becomes “discharged” again when the discharge of the print job is completed.

  In step 509, it is assumed that a new user “U5” issues a confidential print request. Since all of the mailboxes “A1” to “A3” are in use, the print job of the user “U5” is suspended in the job buffer 204.

  In step 510, when the user “U5” comes to pick up the printed matter, inserts the card into the card reader of the printer 201 and performs user authentication, the user authentication unit 206 refers to the mailbox information table 207, and the user “U5”. Confirm that none of the mailboxes “A1” to “A3” are used. Thereafter, referring to the job buffer 204 and confirming that there is an unauthenticated print job of the user “U5”, this is regarded as authenticated. The authenticated print job is sent to the image image development unit 205 with the mailbox “B” as the paper discharge destination, and printing is started.

  In step 511, the discharge destination identification lamp 218 of the mailbox “B” is blinked, and a message “Please wait for a while until printing is completed” is displayed on the console panel. When printing is finished and the paper is discharged to the mailbox “B”, the job control unit 203 turns on the paper discharge destination identification lamp 218 in the mailbox information table 207 from blinking, and the display on the console panel also displays “The lamp is on. Please remove it from the box. " The user “U5” knows that his / her printed matter is in the mailbox “B” when the lamp is lit, opens the door of the mailbox “B”, removes all the sheets, and closes the door to turn off the lamp. At the same time, the user of the mailbox information table 207 is returned to “unused”, and the discharge status is returned to “not discharged”.

  In the above embodiment, the print control process in the printer 201 having one paper discharge tray 213, one mail box 214 without a locking mechanism, and three mail boxes 215 with a locking mechanism has been described. Needless to say, the present invention can be implemented by adjusting the number of the discharge trays 213 and the mailboxes 214 and 215 according to the use situation as necessary.

  In the above embodiment, the printing control method according to the present invention is applied to the printer 201. However, the printing apparatus according to the present invention is configured to be executed by applying to the printer 201. Also good.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the printed matter requiring confidentiality (confidential printing) is basically discharged to the mail box 215 with a locking mechanism, printing can be performed without losing the confidentiality of the printed matter. it can.

  In addition, a mail box 214 that can be discharged without touching the eyes of others is provided so that the printed material can be discharged to the mail box 214 after user authentication. Therefore, printing can be performed even when the mailbox 215 with the locking mechanism is empty. The waiting time in front of the printer 201 can be shortened while maintaining confidentiality.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the print control method of the first embodiment, a print control process in the case where the confidential print request is printed with priority over other print requests will be described. Since the system configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 2 describing the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 11 shows print jobs that are queue-managed in the job buffer 204. The job buffer 204 when confidential print priority processing is performed on the job buffer 204 shown on the left side of the figure is shown on the right side of the figure. It shows. As described above, since the print jobs in the job buffer 204 are managed in the queue, the print processing is normally performed in order from the print job stored first.

  Referring to the figure, normal job 1 (401) and normal job 2 (402) are stored before confidential job 403 in job buffer 204 before confidential print priority processing is performed. 401) and the print job of the confidential job 403 is not started until the print processing of the normal job 2 (402) is completed, whereas the confidential job 403 is stored at the head in the job buffer 204 after the confidential print priority processing. It can be seen that the order has been changed so that printing is performed before the normal job 1 (401) and the normal job 2 (402).

  In other words, this confidential print priority process controls the print priority of the confidential print job over other print jobs by changing the order of the print jobs stored in the job buffer 204.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when the normal print job and the confidential print job are mixedly stored in the job buffer 204, the confidential print job is prioritized and print control is performed. Since the operating rate of the boxes 214 and 215 can be increased, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the printing process for the confidential print request is awaited.

  In the third embodiment, in addition to the print control method of the first embodiment, a print control process in the case of printing a user-authenticated confidential print request with priority over other print requests will be described. Since the system configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 2 describing the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 12 shows print jobs that are queue-managed by the job buffer 204. The job buffer 204 when the authenticated priority processing is performed on the job buffer 204 shown on the left side of FIG. It shows. As described above, since the print jobs in the job buffer 204 are managed in the queue, the print processing is normally performed in order from the print job stored first.

  Referring to the figure, in the job buffer 204 before the authenticated priority processing is performed, since the unauthenticated confidential job 501 and the normal job 502 are stored before the authenticated confidential job 503, the unauthenticated confidential job is stored. While the print processing of the authenticated confidential job 503 is not started until the print processing of the job 501 and the normal job 502 is completed, the authenticated confidential job 503 is the first in the job buffer 204 after the authenticated priority processing. It can be seen that the order has been changed so that it is printed before the unauthenticated confidential job 501 and normal job 502.

  In other words, the authenticated priority processing is performed by changing the order of the print jobs stored in the job buffer 204, so that the authenticated confidential print job is printed with priority over other print jobs.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, when an authenticated confidential print job is stored in the job buffer 204, the authenticated confidential print job is prioritized to perform print control. The time waiting in front of the printer 201 can be shortened.

  The printing apparatus and the printing control method of the present invention can be applied to all printing apparatuses having a confidential printing dedicated paper discharge unit with a lockable locking mechanism, particularly in public places used by an unspecified number of users. It can be effectively used when performing a printing process requiring confidentiality.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system configured by applying a printing control method according to the present invention to a printer 201. FIG. The system configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1 is shown as a block diagram for each function. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the mailbox 215 with a locking mechanism shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of job control processing in a job control unit 203 shown in FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a user authentication process in a user authentication unit 206 shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of paper discharge control processing in a paper discharge unit 212 shown in FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a mailbox control process in the mailbox 215 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of an operation of a print control process in the printer 201 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of an operation of a print control process in the printer 201 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of an operation of a print control process in the printer 201 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation of confidential print priority processing in the printer 201 illustrated in FIG. 2 (second embodiment). FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation of authenticated priority processing in the printer 201 illustrated in FIG. 2 (third embodiment).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Host terminal 102 Card reader 201 Printer 202 Controller part 203 Job control part 204 Job buffer 205 Image image expansion part 206 User authentication part 207 Mailbox information table 208 Engine part 209 Engine control part 210 Paper feed part 211 Image formation part 212 Paper discharge 213 Discharge tray 214 Mail box 215 Mail box with locking mechanism 301 LAN (Local Area Network)

Claims (7)

A first paper discharge unit having a locking mechanism used for paper discharge of a print job related to a confidential print request;
A second discharge unit used for discharging a print job related to the confidential print request;
Authentication means for performing user authentication of the confidential print request;
Empty detection means for detecting empty of the first paper discharge unit;
The user authentication relating to the confidential printing request by the authentication unit is performed by controlling the locking mechanism of the first paper discharging unit to the locked state when discharging the printed paper relating to the confidential printing request to the first paper discharging unit. Locking control means for releasing the locking state of the locking mechanism by
When receiving the confidential print request, the empty detection unit detects that there is an empty paper discharge unit in the first paper discharge unit before the authentication unit performs user authentication of the confidential print request. If the authentication unit executes the print job related to the confidential print request with the empty paper discharge unit as the paper discharge destination, and the authentication unit authenticates the user related to the confidential print request, And a control unit that executes a print job related to the confidential print request with the paper discharge unit as a paper discharge destination. The control means includes
When there is a paper discharge unit in the first paper discharge unit that is being discharged by the same user as the user related to the confidential print request, the confidential print request is made using the paper discharge unit as a paper discharge destination. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job is executed. Buffer means for temporarily holding a print job related to the confidential print request;
The control means includes
If there is no empty paper discharge unit in the first paper discharge unit, the buffer unit holds the print job related to the confidential print request, and an empty paper discharge unit in the first paper discharge unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a print job related to the confidential print request held in the buffer unit is executed with the empty paper discharge unit as a paper discharge destination. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies a discharge destination of a print job related to a confidential print request after user authentication by the authentication unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job related to the confidential print request is executed in preference to the print job related to a normal print request. 6. The print job related to a confidential print request after user authentication by the authentication unit is executed in preference to a print job related to a confidential print request before user authentication by the authentication unit. The printing apparatus in any one. Printing including a first paper discharge unit having a locking mechanism used for discharging a print job related to a confidential print request, and a second paper discharge unit used for discharging a print job related to the confidential print request. In the printing control method of the apparatus,
At the time of accepting the confidential print request, before the user authentication of the confidential print request is performed by the authentication unit, the empty detection unit detects that there is an empty paper discharge unit in the first paper discharge unit. In this case, a print job related to the confidential print request is executed with the empty first discharge unit as a discharge destination, and
The locking mechanism of the first paper discharge unit of the paper discharge destination is controlled to be locked by the lock control means;
If the empty detection unit detects that there is no empty paper discharge unit in the first paper discharge unit before the user authentication of the confidential print request is performed by the authentication unit, it relates to the confidential print request. Save the print job in the buffer means,
When the authentication unit authenticates the user of the print job stored in the buffer unit, the print job is executed with the second discharge unit as the discharge destination. .

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