JP2007058744A - Print instruction device, print function restriction method, and authentication print system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print instruction device adapted to restrict print functions based on print restriction information within an external recording medium, a print function restriction method thereof, and an authentication print system. <P>SOLUTION: In authentication printing from a client terminal 10, whether to perform function restriction is determined for each printing function based on print restriction information within a security card read for this authentication, and restriction of print functions is performed based on the determination result. A print job related to a print instruction with print functions set within the range of restriction of print functions is transmitted to a print server 20. The printing for the print job transmitted to the print server 20 is performed based on authentication from an authentication device 40 provided in conformation to a printer 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print instruction apparatus that issues a print instruction based on a print job in which various print functions are set by a printer driver, a print function restriction method thereof, and an authentication print system. More specifically, the present invention relates to print restriction information in an external recording medium. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print instruction apparatus that restricts a print function based on the print function restriction method and an authentication print system.

  Recently, there are many systems that can use a printer in a so-called network environment in which a plurality of client terminals are connected to a network, a plurality of printers are connected, and the plurality of printers are shared by a plurality of client terminals. Has been built.

  In a system that shares a printer in such a network environment, ensuring the security of the printed document is a problem.

  As a countermeasure against this problem, for example, there is known an authentication printing system provided with an authentication device corresponding to a client terminal on the print request side and a printer on the output side.

  In this authentication printing system, at the time of printing, user authentication is performed by an authentication device provided on the client terminal side. Further, in order to obtain the output result, user authentication is performed by an authentication device provided on the printer side, so that there is no inconvenience that a printed matter is taken away by a third party, and security can be ensured.

  Conventionally, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is known in relation to this type of technique. This Patent Document 1 refers to a technique in which, after authentication by a user having authority to acquire a printed matter, print data corresponding to such authentication is printed out before other print jobs.

  In addition, for authentication by such an authentication device, for example, user authentication using an IC card storing user identification information (user ID) carried by the user, a user who reads biometric feature information such as a user's fingerprint Authentication is known.

As a printing technique using an IC card corresponding to the former, one described in Patent Document 2 is known. This Patent Document 2 refers to a technique that stores a URL address in an IC card, and can acquire and print print target data indicated by the address.
JP 2002-287932 A JP 2002-091856 A

  However, in the invention of Patent Document 1, security is improved because only authorized users can obtain printed matter, but a technique for restricting the printing function has not been considered.

  Therefore, the user's arbitrary printing cannot be restricted, and for example, unnecessary color printing or use of useless paper has been rampant.

  In the invention of Patent Document 2, data other than information for identifying an individual such as a user ID or a user name is recorded in the IC card, but information necessary for limiting the printing function is recorded. This was also not considered for a technology that would restrict the printing function.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a print instruction apparatus, a print function restriction method, and an authentication print system that restrict print functions based on print restriction information in an external recording medium. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print instruction apparatus that issues a print instruction based on a print job in which various print functions are set by a printer driver. An acquisition unit to acquire, a determination unit to determine whether to perform function restriction for each print function based on the print restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a restriction to limit the print function based on a determination result of the determination unit And a print instructing unit configured to issue a print instruction based on a print job in which the print function is set within a range of restriction of the print function by the restriction processing unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the determining unit determines whether or not to limit each function of the printer driver, and the limiting processing unit determines the determination result of the determining unit. Based on the above, the function of the printer driver is limited.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the determination unit determines whether or not to perform color printing function limitation based on the print limitation information, and the limitation processing unit includes the determination unit. When it is determined that the color printing function is restricted by the above, the color printing function of the printer driver is restricted.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the determination unit determines whether or not to perform double-sided printing function restriction based on the print restriction information, and the restriction processing unit includes the determination unit. When it is determined that the double-sided printing function is restricted, the double-sided printing function of the printer driver is restricted.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the determination unit determines whether or not to limit a paper feed destination designation function based on the print restriction information, and the restriction processing unit includes: When it is determined by the determining means that the paper feed destination designation function is restricted, the paper feed destination designation function of the printer driver is restricted.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the determining means determines whether or not to limit a paper type designation function based on the print restriction information, and the restriction processing means When it is determined by the determining means that the paper type designation function is restricted, the paper type designation function of the printer driver is restricted.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the fact is displayed on the display in response to the restriction of the printing function by the restriction processing means.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print instruction apparatus that issues a print instruction based on a print job in which various print functions are set by a printer driver, and an acquisition unit that acquires print restriction information from an external recording medium upon the print instruction. A determination unit that determines whether to perform print restriction based on the print restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit; and a restriction processing unit that performs print restriction based on a determination result of the determination unit. .

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the determining means determines whether or not to restrict printing from a specific application based on the printing restriction information, and the restriction processing means If it is determined by the determining means that printing from the application is restricted, printing from the application is restricted.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing function restriction method for a printing instruction apparatus that issues a printing instruction based on a printing job in which various printing functions are set by a printer driver, the printing restriction information is received from an external recording medium at the time of the printing instruction. A determination unit determines whether or not to perform function restriction for each print function based on the print restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit, and restricts the print function based on the determination result of the determination unit And a print instruction unit that issues a print instruction based on a print job in which the print function is set within the range of restriction of the print function by the restriction processing unit.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, one or a plurality of client terminals connected to a network, one or a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to the network, and printing permission in the printing apparatus corresponding to the printing apparatus are provided. An authentication printing system comprising: an authentication device that performs authentication; and a print server that executes a print job related to a print instruction from the client terminal on the printing device based on user authentication by the authentication device. At the time of instruction, an acquisition unit that acquires the print restriction information from an external recording medium on which at least information necessary for the user authentication is recorded, and whether to perform function restriction for each print function based on the print restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit A determination unit for determining whether or not to limit, and a restriction for limiting a print function based on a determination result of the determination unit And management means, characterized by comprising a spool means for transmitting the print job related to the print instruction print function is set within the limits of the printing function by the limitation processing unit to the print server.

  According to the present invention, when printing is instructed, it is determined whether or not to perform function limitation for each printing function based on the printing limitation information acquired from the external recording medium, and the printing function is limited based on the determination result. Since it is configured to issue a print instruction based on a print job in which the print function is set within the range of the function restriction, the print restriction information corresponding to the user is recorded in the external recording medium, so that an appropriate print can be performed for each user. Function restrictions can be made.

  Thereby, unnecessary color printing and use of useless paper can be suppressed. Further, for example, when the paper type is limited and only output from cherry paper (paper that makes characters appear when copied) is permitted, security can be given to the printed matter after output.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a printing instruction apparatus, a printing function limiting method thereof, and an authentication printing system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an authentication printing system according to the present invention.

  The authentication printing system includes one or a plurality of client terminals 10, a print server 20, and one or a plurality of printers 30, each of which is connected via a network 50 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Connected. Each client terminal 10 is provided with an authentication device 11 and each printer 30 is provided with an authentication device 40 in a one-to-one correspondence.

  Here, the client terminal 10 is a personal computer handled by the user, and can request printing of a desired document from this terminal. In this authentication printing system, when printing is performed from the client terminal 10, printing is always performed by the printer 30 via the print server 20.

  The printer 30 receives a print job from the client terminal 10 via the print server 20, and prints out based on the job. The authentication device 40 is connected to the network 50 in correspondence with the printer 30, and performs user authentication as to whether or not the user has an authority to print when printing with the corresponding printer 30. The authentication device 11 is locally connected to the client terminal 10 and performs user authentication as to whether or not the user is authorized to print when printing a document from the corresponding client terminal 10.

  User authentication in the authentication device 11 and the authentication device 40 includes user authentication using a card-like storage medium (hereinafter referred to as a security card) in which user identification information (user ID) carried by the user is stored, user fingerprints, and the like. In this embodiment, a case where user authentication is performed using a security card will be described as an example.

  Here, the security card can be composed of an IC card equipped with an IC (integrated circuit), a magnetic card using a magnetic stripe as a storage means, and the like, in addition to the user ID, department information to which the user belongs. In addition to various information necessary for user authentication such as a range of authority, a secret key used for encryption of a print job formed based on a print instruction, a public key used for encoding, and the like, print restriction information characteristic of the present invention Stored in advance.

  The print server 20 receives and manages a print job from the client terminal 10 and transmits the job to any of a plurality of printers 30 managed by the own device for printout.

  Further, the print server 20 performs user authentication processing based on an inquiry to its own database or a separately provided user management system to determine whether or not the user has the authority to issue a print instruction for the document. Is returned to the client terminal 10.

  A flow of printing processing in this authentication printing system will be described. When a print instruction is issued from the client terminal 10, the user first inserts a security card into the authentication device 11 locally connected to the client terminal 10.

  The authentication device 11 includes a card reader that reads print restriction information necessary for print restriction and information necessary for user authentication (hereinafter referred to as authentication data) from a security card carried by the user. At the time of user authentication, card information (print restriction information, authentication data, etc.) is read from the security card, and this card information is input to the corresponding client terminal 10.

  Next, the user who has inserted the card selects a desired document from a local or document management server (not shown) and sets the output destination printer of the document and print parameters such as color / monochrome. Start the printer driver.

  When the printer driver is activated, the client terminal 10 determines whether to perform function restriction for each print function based on the print restriction information recorded in the security card. Details of this processing will be described later, but due to this function restriction, the print function is restricted for each function of the printer driver, and the user can perform the print parameter setting operation from the printer driver within the limits of this print function. And instruct printing.

  Then, the client terminal 10 performs user authentication based on the authentication data read from the card. This user authentication is performed by an inquiry to the print server 20.

  That is, the client terminal 10 transmits all or part of the authentication data read from the security card to the print server 20 via the network 50, and this user has authority to issue a print instruction for this document to the print server 20. Inquire whether or not it has.

  The print server 20 performs user authentication processing based on an inquiry to its own database or a separately provided user management system to determine whether or not the user has the authority to issue a print instruction for the document, and the response is sent to the client. Return to terminal 10.

  In the client terminal 10, if it is determined that the user does not have the authority to issue a print instruction for the document, the print job based on the print instruction is not submitted but discarded.

  However, if it is determined that the user has authority to issue a print instruction for the document, a print job based on the print instruction is generated, and the print job is read using the secret key read from the security card. The encrypted print job is transmitted to the print server 20 via the network 50.

  The print server 20 stores and manages the encrypted print job transmitted from the client terminal 10 corresponding to the user ID of the user who instructed printing, for example. At this time, printing related to this print job stored in the print server 20 is not started.

  Now, when a user who has given a print instruction at the client terminal 10 or a user who has the authority to obtain a printed matter based on this print instruction obtains a printed matter based on this print instruction, he goes near the printer 30 that performs print output, User authentication is performed by an authentication device 40 disposed near the printer 30.

  This user authentication is performed using a security card in the same manner as the user authentication by the authentication device 11. That is, a user who has performed near the printer 30 that performs print output inserts a security card carried by the user into the authentication device 40 near the printer 30.

  Thereby, authentication data required for user authentication is read from the security card. The read authentication data is sent to the print server 20 via the network 50, and the print server 20 authenticates whether or not the user has the authority to acquire a printed material based on the print instruction.

  This user authentication is also performed based on an inquiry to the database of the print server 20 or a separately provided user management system.

  If it is determined by the user authentication that the user does not have the authority to acquire a printed matter based on the print instruction at the printer 30, printing based on the print instruction is prohibited.

  If it is determined by the user authentication that the user has the authority to acquire a printed matter based on the print instruction with the printer 30, the print server 20 is included in the authentication data sent from the authentication device 40. The corresponding print job is extracted from the encrypted print job stored and managed based on the user ID, and the print job is decrypted using the public key included in the authentication data.

  The print server 20 stores a correspondence table that stores the correspondence between the printer 30 and the authentication device 40, and refers to the correspondence table for the printer 30 corresponding to the authentication device 40 that has received the authentication data. And the decrypted print data is transmitted to the specified printer 30.

  As a result, the printer 30 starts printing based on the decrypted print data.

  Here, an example of the print restriction information recorded on the security card will be described with reference to FIG.

  This printing restriction information basically holds the restriction contents of the printing function for each function of the printer driver. Specifically, a print control identifier is provided for each function of the printer driver, and the restriction content (invalid or valid) is set corresponding to this print control identifier. Note that the print control identifier is not necessarily provided for each function of the printer driver. For example, as described below, when printing from a specific application is restricted, a print control identifier is not provided for each function of the printer driver.

  In the example shown in the figure, the print control identifier includes forced monochrome print setting, forced duplex printing setting, forced Nup designation print setting, forced paper source designation print setting, paper type restriction setting, and application restriction setting. Valid / invalid restrictions are set according to the item.

  In the forced monochrome print setting of the print control identifier, either valid / invalid is set as the restriction content. Here, when valid is set, monochrome printing is permitted and color printing is restricted.

  In the forced duplex printing setting, either valid / invalid is set as the restriction content. Here, when “valid” is set, double-sided printing is permitted, and single-sided printing is restricted.

  In the forced Nup designation print setting, either valid / invalid is set as the restriction content. Here, when valid is set, the number of Nup (2up, 4up, 8up, 16up) is further specified, printing with the specified Nup number is permitted, and other Nup number or no Nup Normal printing will be limited.

  In the forced paper feed destination designation print setting, either valid / invalid is set as the restriction content. If valid is set, a paper feed destination (automatic, tray 1, tray 2, tray 3, manual feed tray) is further designated, and printing at the designated paper feed destination is permitted. Printing that specifies other paper feed destinations is restricted.

  In the paper type restriction setting, either valid / invalid is set as the restriction content. If the setting is valid, the paper type (plain paper, recycled paper, postcard, glossy paper, thick paper, OHP, other than plain paper, other than recycled paper, other than postcard, other than glossy paper, other than thick paper, “Other than OHP” is designated, printing using the designated type of paper is permitted, and printing using other paper is restricted.

  In the application restriction setting, either valid / invalid is set as the restriction content. If “valid” is set here, an application name is further designated, and printing from the designated application is restricted.

  Although an example of the print restriction information has been described with reference to FIG. 2, various items can be provided in the print control identifier according to the performance of the printer driver and the printer. For example, forced color printing settings (allows color printing and restricts monochrome printing), forced paper size specification print settings (allows printing using the specified paper size and restricts printing using other paper sizes ), Forced printer designation setting (permitting printing with a designated printer and restricting printing with other printers), and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the client terminal 10 shown in FIG. Here, only the constituent elements according to the present invention will be described.

  The client terminal 10 includes an application 61 that creates and edits a document, a printer driver 62 that generates a print job by converting a document to be printed into data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer 30, and transmission of the generated print job. A spooler 63 that performs control, a port 64 that constitutes an interface between the client terminal 10 and the network 50, an authentication processing unit 65 that performs user authentication, a print restriction function unit 66 that performs print restriction processing according to the present invention, and an authentication. A card reading function unit 67 that performs a security card reading process via the device 11 and a port 68 that constitutes an interface between the client terminal 10 and the authentication device 11 are provided.

  The authentication processing unit 65 performs user authentication based on the authentication data read from the security card to determine whether or not the user who issues the print instruction is a user having a valid authority. User authentication by the authentication processing unit 65 is performed by an inquiry to the print server 20.

  Here, a part of the functional configuration of the print restriction function unit 66 will be described.

  The print restriction function unit 66 includes a restriction presence / absence determination unit 66a, a restriction processing unit 66b, and a restriction information display control unit 66c as various processing function units.

  The restriction presence / absence determination unit 66a determines whether or not to restrict the print function for each function of the printer driver 62, using the print restriction information read from the security card. The restriction processing unit 66a restricts the printing function of the printer driver 62 based on the determination result of the restriction presence / absence determining unit 66a. The restriction information display control unit 66c has a function of displaying on the display unit (not shown) that the function of the printer driver 62 is restricted by the restriction processing unit 66a.

  The printer driver 62 generates a print job by converting the document to be printed into data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer 30 in accordance with the print function restriction by the print restriction function unit 66.

  Next, the operation of the print restriction process in the client terminal 10 shown in FIG. 3 will be described using FIG. 4 and FIG. Here, the print control identifiers set in the print restriction information described in FIG. 2 (forced monochrome print setting, forced duplex printing setting, forced Nup designation print setting, forced paper source designation print setting, paper type restriction setting, The operation when the print restriction is performed for the item corresponding to “application restriction setting” will be described.

  When the user inserts a security card into the authentication device 11 during printing, the card information (user identification information, printing restriction information, etc.) recorded in the card is read and input to the client terminal 10 (step S101). ).

  Subsequently, when the user instructs activation of the printer driver, the client terminal 10 starts activation of the printer driver (step S102). At this point, the printer driver is still hidden.

  In the client terminal 10, the print restriction function unit 66 starts determining whether or not to restrict the print function for each function of the printer driver based on the print restriction information input from the authentication device 11 in step S101.

  When this process is started, the restriction presence / absence determination unit 66a first determines whether or not the application restriction setting is valid (step S103). If the application restriction setting is invalid (invalid in step S103), the printer driver is displayed on the display unit (not shown) (step S107), and whether the forced monochrome printing setting is valid is determined. If the application restriction setting is valid (valid in step S103), it is further determined whether the application that is the printer driver activation source is an application that is a print restriction target (step S104). .

  As a result of the determination, if the printer driver is activated from an application that is not subject to restriction (NO in step S104), the printer driver is displayed on a display unit (not shown) (step S107), and forced monochrome print setting is set. When the printer driver is activated from the restriction target application (YES in step S104), the restriction processing unit 66b cancels the activation of the printer driver (step S104). In step S105, the restriction information display control unit 66c displays that printing from the application is restricted (step S106), and the process ends.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, a warning that printing from this application is restricted by the restriction information of the IC card is displayed by a dialog or the like.

  When the process for the application restriction setting is completed, the restriction presence / absence determining unit 66a determines whether the forced monochrome printing setting is valid (step S108).

  If the forced monochrome print setting is invalid (invalid in step S108), the process proceeds to determining whether the forced duplex print setting is valid. If the forced monochrome print setting is valid ( In step S108, the restriction processing unit 66b validates the monochrome setting of the printer driver (step S109), and the restriction information display control unit 66c displays that effect on the printer driver (step S110).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7, even if color printing is selected by default, monochrome printing is forcibly selected and color printing is performed in the lower message area in the same screen according to the restriction information of the IC card. Display that it can not be done.

  When the processing for forced monochrome printing setting is completed, the restriction presence / absence determining unit 66a determines whether the forced duplex printing setting is valid (step S111).

  If the forced duplex printing setting is invalid (invalid in step S111), the process proceeds to determining whether the forced Nup designated printing setting is valid. If the forced duplex printing setting is valid, the process proceeds. (Effective in step S111), the restriction processing unit 66b validates the duplex setting of the printer driver (step S112), and the restriction information display control unit 66c displays that effect on the printer driver (step S113). .

  Here, as shown in FIG. 8, even if single-sided printing is selected by default, double-sided printing is forcibly selected, and single-sided printing is performed in the lower message area in the same screen according to the restriction information of the IC card. Display that it can not be done.

  When the processing for forced double-sided print setting is completed, next, the restriction presence / absence determining unit 66a determines whether or not the forced Nup designation print setting is valid (step S114). The processes after step S114 are shown in FIG.

  Here, when the forced Nup designation print setting is invalid (invalid in step S114), the process proceeds to a determination as to whether or not the forced paper source designation print setting is valid, but the forced Nup designation print setting is valid. If there is (valid in step S114), the restriction processing unit 66b validates the Nup print setting (N is the designated number) of the printer driver (step S115), and the restriction information display control unit 66c indicates that fact. The image is displayed on the printer driver (step S116).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, even if Nup printing is not performed but it is selected by default, Nup printing (in this case, 2up) is forcibly selected, and an IC card is displayed in the lower message area in the same screen. The fact that printing without Nup cannot be performed is displayed according to the restriction information.

  When the process for the forced Nup designated print setting is completed, the restriction presence / absence determining unit 66a determines whether the forced paper feed destination designated print setting is valid (step S117).

  If the forced paper source designation print setting is invalid (invalid in step S117), the process proceeds to determining whether the paper type restriction setting is valid, but the forced paper source designation print setting is valid. If it is (valid at step S117), the restriction processing unit 66b sets the paper feed destination of the printer driver to the designated paper feed destination (step S118), and the restriction information display control unit 66c notifies that effect. Is displayed on the printer driver (step S119).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 10, even if automatic is selected as the paper feed destination by default, the paper feed destination (in this case, tray 1) is forcibly selected and the lower message area in the same screen is displayed. In addition, a message indicating that paper is fed from a designated paper feed tray (in this case, tray 1) is displayed according to the restriction information of the IC card.

  When the process for the forced paper feed destination designation print setting is completed, next, the restriction presence / absence determination unit 66a determines whether or not the paper type restriction setting is valid (step S120).

  If the paper type restriction setting is invalid (invalid in step S120), this process ends. If the paper type restriction setting is valid (valid in step S120), the restriction processing unit 66b. Thus, the paper type setting of the printer driver is set to the designated paper type (step S121), and the fact is displayed on the printer driver by the restriction information display control unit 66c (step S122).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 11, even if automatic is selected as the paper type by default, the paper type (in this case, postcard) is forcibly selected, and the lower message area in the same screen displays the IC. It is displayed that the designated paper type (in this case, postcard) is selected based on the card restriction information.

  When the print restriction process is completed in this way, user authentication is performed by the authentication processing unit 65, and if the user has the authority to issue a print instruction for the document, a print job is generated and the encryption is performed. And transmitted to the print server 20 via the spooler 63 and the port 64.

  As described above, in the present invention, when performing authentication printing from the client terminal 10, it is determined whether or not to perform function restriction for each print function based on the print restriction information in the security card read for such authentication. The print function is restricted based on the determination result, and the print job related to the print instruction in which the print function is set within the restriction range of the print function is transmitted to the print server 20, and printing for the print job is performed by the printer 30. Since it is configured to be executed based on authentication from the authentication device 40 provided corresponding to the above, the print restriction information corresponding to the user is recorded in the security card, thereby restricting the appropriate print function for each user. It can be done, and the printed material is not illegally taken away by a third party.

  Thereby, unnecessary color printing and use of useless paper can be suppressed while maintaining security. Further, for example, when the paper type is limited and only output from cherry paper (paper that makes characters appear when copied) is permitted, security can be given to the printed matter after output.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the print restriction information is recorded in the security card and the print restriction process is performed has been described. However, the print restriction information may be stored in the print server 20. Specifically, printing restriction information is stored in the print server 20 in correspondence with the user identification information, and the client terminal 10 side uses the user identification information read from the authentication device 11 at the time of printing to perform the network 50. Then, the corresponding print restriction information is received from the print server 20, and the above-described print restriction process is performed using the received print restriction information.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the authentication printing system has been described. It may be configured to be applied to a personal computer provided (corresponding to the client terminal 10 in the embodiment). In this case, the print server may be configured not to perform authentication processing. For example, the print restriction is based on the print restriction information read from the security card in an environment in which the client terminal 10 and the printer 20 are directly connected. It can be performed.

  Further, the print restriction process in the client terminal 10 described in the above embodiment may be implemented by a program installed in the computer.

  The print instruction apparatus, the print function restriction method, and the authentication print system of the present invention can be applied to all print instruction apparatuses that issue a print instruction based on a print job in which various print functions are set by a printer driver. This can be used effectively when restricting appropriate print functions.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the authentication printing system concerning this invention. An example of printing restriction information recorded on the security card will be described. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a detailed structure of the client terminal 10 shown in FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a print restriction process in the client terminal 10 illustrated in FIG. 3. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a print restriction process in the client terminal 10 shown in FIG. 3 (continuation of FIG. 4). It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display at the time of printing restriction | limiting (application restriction | limiting setting). It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display at the time of printing restriction | limiting (forced monochrome printing setting). It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display at the time of printing restriction | limiting (forced duplex printing setting). It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display at the time of printing restriction | limiting (forced Nup designation | designated printing setting). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when printing is restricted (forced paper feed destination designation print setting). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when printing is restricted (paper type restriction setting).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Client terminal 11 Authentication apparatus 20 Print server 30 Printer 40 Authentication apparatus 50 Network 61 Application 62 Printer driver 63 Spooler 64, 68 Port 65 Authentication process part 66 Print restriction function part 66a Restriction presence / absence judgment part 66b Restriction process part 66c Restriction information display control Part 67 Card reading function part

Claims (11)

In a print instruction apparatus that issues a print instruction based on a print job in which various print functions are set in the printer driver,
An acquisition means for acquiring printing restriction information from an external recording medium upon the printing instruction;
Determining means for determining whether or not to perform function restriction for each print function based on the print restriction information obtained by the obtaining means;
Restriction processing means for restricting a print function based on a determination result of the determination means; and a print instruction means for issuing a print instruction based on a print job in which the print function is set within the range of restriction of the print function by the restriction processing means. A printing instruction apparatus comprising: The determination means includes
Determine whether to limit for each function of the printer driver,
The restriction processing means is
The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function of the printer driver is limited based on a determination result of the determination unit. The determination means includes
Determining whether to perform color printing function restriction based on the printing restriction information;
The restriction processing means is
The print instruction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the determination unit determines that the color printing function is restricted, the color printing function of the printer driver is restricted. The determination means includes
It is determined whether or not to perform double-sided printing function restriction based on the printing restriction information,
The restriction processing means is
The print instruction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when the determination unit determines that the double-sided printing function is to be restricted, the double-sided printing function of the printer driver is restricted. The determination means includes
Based on the print restriction information, it is determined whether or not to limit the paper feed destination designation function,
The restriction processing means is
The print instruction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined by the determination unit that the function for specifying a paper feed destination is to be restricted, the paper feed destination designation function of the printer driver is restricted. The determination means includes
Based on the print restriction information, it is determined whether to restrict the paper type designation function,
The restriction processing means is
The print instruction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the determination unit determines that the paper type designation function is restricted, the print type designation function of the printer driver is restricted. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a corresponding message is displayed on the display unit in response to the restriction of the print function by the restriction processing unit. In a print instruction apparatus that issues a print instruction based on a print job in which various print functions are set in the printer driver,
An acquisition means for acquiring printing restriction information from an external recording medium upon the printing instruction;
Determining means for determining whether or not to perform printing restriction based on the printing restriction information obtained by the obtaining means;
And a restriction processing unit configured to perform printing restriction based on a determination result of the determination unit. The determination means includes
Determine whether to perform printing restriction from a specific application based on the printing restriction information,
The restriction processing means is
9. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the determination unit determines that printing from the application is restricted, printing from the application is restricted. In a printing function restriction method of a printing instruction apparatus that issues a printing instruction based on a print job in which various printing functions are set by a printer driver,
At the time of the print instruction, the print restriction information is obtained from the external recording medium by the obtaining unit,
A determination unit determines whether to perform function limitation for each print function based on the print limitation information acquired by the acquisition unit,
Based on the determination result of the determination means, the restriction of the print function is performed by the restriction processing means,
A printing function restriction method for a printing instruction apparatus, wherein the printing instruction means performs a printing instruction based on a print job in which a printing function is set within a restriction range of a printing function by the restriction processing means. One or more client terminals connected to the network;
One or more printing devices connected to the network;
An authentication device for authenticating printing permission in the printing device corresponding to the printing device;
In an authentication printing system having a print server that executes a print job related to a print instruction from the client terminal on the printing apparatus based on user authentication by the authentication apparatus,
The client terminal is
An acquisition unit for acquiring the print restriction information from an external recording medium on which at least information necessary for the user authentication is recorded in the print instruction;
Determining means for determining whether or not to perform function restriction for each print function based on the print restriction information obtained by the obtaining means;
Restriction processing means for restricting a printing function based on a determination result of the determination means;
An authentication printing system comprising: spool means for transmitting a print job related to the print instruction in which a print function is set within a range of restriction of the print function by the restriction processing means to the print server.

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