JP2007216412A - Printer and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a scheme capable of reducing the possibility that a printed material by authentication printing is seen by a user conducting normal printing and adequately retaining confidentiality of the printed material by the authentication printing in the case where a printer applicable to both of normal printing and authentication printing is used in an authentication printing system. <P>SOLUTION: This printer is constituted so as to perform both of authentication printing via an authentication process and normal printing without the authentication process. The printer comprises a first reception means for receiving a normal printing job, a second reception means for receiving an authentication printing job, and a reception control means for controlling to allow the first reception means not to receive the normal printing job during the performing of the authentication printing. When the reception control means receives authentication information through an authentication device, it controls to allow the first reception means not to receive the normal printing job during the performing of the authentication printing according to the acquired authentication information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus configured to execute both authentication printing that performs printing through an authentication process and general printing that performs printing without using an authentication process.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an authentication printing system that prevents information leakage by permitting printing only to a person who has been authenticated using an authentication device. For example, in Patent Document 1, when printing a confidential document, image data developed based on the print data is stored in the printing apparatus instead of immediately printing according to a print instruction. A configuration is disclosed in which printing is executed based on the image data on condition that user authentication is performed. Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which print data for authentication printing is stored in a server, and corresponding authentication data is transmitted to the printer when authentication information is transmitted from the printer.
Japanese Patent No. 3034160 JP 2004-118232 A

  In the authentication printing system, it is conceivable to use a printing apparatus that can be used for general printing that performs printing without going through an authentication process, instead of a dedicated printing apparatus.

  When a printing apparatus that can be used for both authentication printing and general printing is used, if the execution of authentication printing and the execution of general printing are requested at the same timing, the following problems may occur. That is, for example, when user B requests execution of general printing during the execution of authentication printing requested by user A, while user A waits for the printed matter to be output near the printing apparatus, There is a possibility that the user B comes to the printing apparatus side to collect the result of the general printing. In this case, the printed matter of the user A may be touched by another person (user B) at the time of output or collection even though the printed matter is printed by the authentication printing, and the confidentiality cannot be ensured. There is a fear.

  Therefore, the present invention reduces the possibility that a print product by authentication printing will be seen by the user who performs general printing when using a printing apparatus that can be used for both authentication printing and general printing in the authentication printing system. The purpose is to provide a new framework that can appropriately ensure the confidentiality of printed matter.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus configured to execute both authentication printing that performs printing through an authentication process and general printing that performs printing without performing an authentication process. A first receiving means for receiving a print job (general print job), a second receiving means for receiving a print job for authentication printing (authentication print job), and a general print job by the first receiving means during execution of authentication printing Receiving control means for controlling so as not to be received.

  Normally, when a user who has requested execution of general printing is able to send a general print job to the printing apparatus, he / she thinks that his / her printed matter will be output soon and will go to the printing device to collect the printed matter. However, according to the configuration of the present invention, since the general print job cannot be transmitted (reception is not performed) during the execution of the authentication print, the user who requested the execution of the general print during the execution of the authentication print It is considered that the user does not output his / her printed material until he / she can transmit it, that is, until the execution of the authentication printing is finished, and refrains from collecting the printed material to the printing apparatus. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the printed matter by the authentication printing will be exposed to the eyes of others (users who have requested execution of general printing) at the time of output or collection, and the confidentiality of the printed matter by the authentication printing can be reduced. It can be secured appropriately.

  Preferably, when the authentication information is acquired via the authentication device, the reception control unit is configured to perform general authentication by the first receiving unit during the execution of the authentication printing executed corresponding to the acquired authentication information. Control is performed so that a print job is not received.

  Preferably, the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit receive a print job via different ports, and the reception control unit determines a port used by the first receiving unit. Control is performed such that reception of a general print job by the first receiving unit is not performed by closing.

  Preferably, the reception control means performs reception of the general print job by the first receiving means by filtering received data so that only a device that stores the authentication print job is permitted as a transmission source device. It is characterized by controlling so as not to break.

  The control method of the present invention is a control method for a printing apparatus configured to execute both authentication printing for performing printing through an authentication step and general printing for performing printing without performing the authentication step, A step of receiving a print job for general printing by a first receiving unit included in the printing apparatus, a step of receiving a print job for authenticated printing by a second receiving unit included in the printing apparatus, and executing authentication printing And a control step of controlling the first receiving means so as not to receive a print job for general printing.

  The control method of the present invention can be implemented by, for example, an information processing unit (computer) included in a printing apparatus, and a program therefor is installed through various media such as a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, and a communication network. Or can be loaded. It also includes the case where the program is recorded and distributed on a printer card or a printer option board.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a printing apparatus that can be used for both authentication printing and general printing is used in the authentication printing system, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a printed matter by authentication printing will be visible to the user who performs general printing. It is possible to provide a new framework that can appropriately ensure the confidentiality of printed matter by authenticated printing.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an authentication printing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the authentication printing system 1 includes host apparatuses 10 </ b> A to 10 </ b> B, an authentication print job holding server 20, a printer apparatus 30, and an authentication device 100.

  The host devices 10A to 10B, the authentication print job holding server 20, and the printer device 30 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network N1. The authentication device 100 is configured to be able to communicate with the printer device 30 via the communication network N2. The communication networks N1 and N2 may be any of a LAN, the Internet, a dedicated line, a packet communication network, a combination thereof, and the like, and may include both wired and wireless. N2 may be a device connection interface such as USB. In FIG. 1, one each of the authenticated print job holding server 20, the printer device 30, and the authentication device 100 is illustrated, but the authenticated print system 1 is configured so that each one is one or more according to the design. May be configured.

  Each host device 10 includes hardware such as a CPU (processor), ROM, RAM, I / O controller, communication interface, and HDD, and the CPU is configured to be accessible to each means via a bus. Has been.

  Each host device 10 has the same function as an information processing device such as a normal personal computer. For example, the host device 10 accepts various inputs from the user via an I / O controller or the like / input / output means 11 for outputting information, and transmits / receives various data to / from other devices via a communication interface. The communication unit 12 and the printer driver unit 13 for controlling the printer device are provided (see FIG. 2). Each of these means is functionally realized by the CPU executing a program stored in a ROM, RAM, HDD, external storage medium, or the like in the host device 10.

  The printer driver unit 13 supports general printing and authentication printing by the printer device 30, and has a function of creating a print job in a format that can be processed by the corresponding printer device in the same manner as a normal printer driver. For example, when there is a general print request specifying the printer device 30 from a user or an application program running on the host device 10, a print job for general printing (general print) based on a printer control language that the printer device 30 can interpret. Job) is generated and transmitted to the printer 30. On the other hand, when there is a request for authentication printing from a user or the like, a print job for authentication printing (authentication print job) is created and transmitted to the authentication print job holding server 20. The authenticated print job can include, for example, information such as job ID, output printer model information, user name, document name, and print setting information, and may have the same data structure as a general print job. .

  The authentication print job holding server 20 includes hardware such as a CPU (processor), a ROM, a RAM, an I / O controller, a communication interface, and an HDD. The CPU can access each means via a bus. It is configured.

  Similar to a normal authentication print server, the authentication print job holding server 20 is based on an authentication print job storage unit 21 that stores an authentication print job in association with job specifying information and an authentication print job request received from the printer device 30. An authentication print job transmission unit 22 that transmits a corresponding authentication print job to the printer device 30 is provided (see FIG. 2). Each of these means is functionally realized by the CPU executing a program stored in a ROM or RAM in the authenticated print job holding server, an external storage medium, or the like.

  The printer device 30 has the same configuration as a normal printer device.

  For example, the printer device 30 includes a power supply mechanism that includes a paper feed mechanism that supplies paper into the printer device, a print engine that performs printing, and a paper discharge mechanism that discharges paper outside the printer. A print engine is usually configured to include a paper feed mechanism, a carriage mechanism, a print head, and the like. A serial printer that prints in units of characters, such as an inkjet printer or a thermal transfer printer, a line printer that prints in units of lines, and a page unit. Various print engines corresponding to a page printer or the like for printing can be used.

  Further, for example, the printer device 30 includes an information processing unit including a CPU (processor), a ROM, a RAM, an LCD panel and an LCD controller, a communication interface, an interface with an authentication device, a user interface, and the like. The CPU is configured to be able to access each unit via a bus, and controls the power mechanism unit according to a print job sent via a communication interface, for example, to actually perform a printing operation. Note that the power mechanism unit may include a CPU independently. In that case, the CPU of the power mechanism unit communicates with the CPU of the information processing unit via a parallel interface or the like to control the print engine. A printing operation is performed.

  The function of the information processing unit of the printer device 30 is basically the same as the function of the information processing unit of the conventional printer device (see FIG. 2). For example, receiving means 31 for receiving a general print job via a predetermined receiving port, analysis / image generation for analyzing a print job and generating a raster-format print image for one band or one page and storing it in an image buffer Means 32, print control means 33 for transferring a print image of a predetermined unit (for example, one pass) from the image buffer to the print engine based on a control command in the print job, and executing printing while controlling the print engine It has.

  Also, the function as an authentication printing apparatus, that is, authentication information acquisition means 34 for acquiring authentication information from a user who desires to execute authentication printing using the authentication device 100, and authentication means for executing authentication processing based on the authentication information 35. Authentication printing via a predetermined reception port different from the job request unit 36 and the reception unit 31 that request the authentication print job holding server 20 for an authentication print job corresponding to the job specifying information acquired from the authenticated user. A receiving means 37 for receiving a job is provided.

  However, the printer device 30 of the present embodiment further includes a reception control unit 38 that controls the information processing unit so that the reception unit 31 does not receive a general print job during execution of authentication printing. This is different from the conventional authentication printing apparatus (see FIG. 2).

  Each of these means is functionally realized by the CPU executing a program stored in a ROM or RAM in the printer apparatus, an external storage medium, or the like.

  The authentication device 100 is, for example, a magnetic card reader, a fingerprint reader, a barcode reader, or the like, and various existing authentication devices can be used depending on the design.

  The authentication printing framework in the authentication printing system 1 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In addition, each process (including the partial process to which the code | symbol is not provided) can be arbitrarily changed in order within the range which does not produce contradiction in the processing content, or can be performed in parallel.

(General print execution / authentication print job accumulation stage: FIG. 3)
When the printer driver means 13 of each host device 10 receives a print request designating the printer device 30 from a user or an application program running on the host device 10 (S100), the printer driver means 13 has a predetermined interpretation that the printer device 30 can interpret. A print job is created based on the printer control language (S101).

  Next, the printer driver unit 13 determines whether the print request is a request for general printing or a request for authentication printing (S102).

  If it is determined that the request is a general print request, the printer driver unit 13 determines whether or not reception of the general print job is valid in the printer device 30 (S103).

  As a method for determining whether or not it is valid, for example, the status of the printer device 30 is confirmed by SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) via a port monitor, and whether or not the reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31 is open. Therefore, a method for determining whether or not the reception of the general print job is valid can be considered.

  If it is determined that the reception of the general print job is valid, the printer driver unit 13 transmits the created print job to the printer device 30 as a general print job (S104).

  When the printer device 30 receives a general print job from the host device 10 (printer driver means) (S105), the printer device 30 executes a printing process based on the general print job (S106) as in the conventional case. That is, a general print job is analyzed, a raster-format print image for one band or one page is generated and stored in an image buffer, and a predetermined unit (for example, one pass) is stored based on a control command in the general print job. ) Is transferred from the image buffer to the print engine, and printing is executed while controlling the print engine.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the reception is not valid, the printer driver means 13 displays a dialog such as “print data transmission pending” on the display or the like (S107), and returns to S103. By displaying such a dialog, for the user who has requested general printing, the user's own print data has not been transmitted to the printer device 30 (and thus has not yet been printed), and the reason for this is the printer device. It can be recognized that this is not because the power of 30 is not turned on or because an error has occurred in the printer device 30. As a result, it is possible to appropriately prevent the user from going to the location of the printer device 30 in order to collect the print results or to check the status of the printer device 30.

  Instead of adopting the method illustrated with respect to S103, it is determined in S104 that the reception of the general print job is not valid when the acknowledgment information is not returned from the printer device 30 within a predetermined time for the transmission of the general print job. May be. However, the exemplified method is preferable in that it can be specified that the reason why the general print job cannot be transmitted is not due to the reason that the printer device 30 is not turned on.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the print request is an authentication print request, the printer driver unit 13 transmits the created print job as an authentication print job to the authentication print job holding server 20 (S108). At this time, the authentication print job may be created by adding information necessary for authentication printing such as a password to the created print job.

  When the authenticated print job holding server 20 receives the authenticated print job from the host device 10 (printer driver means) (S109), the authenticated print job holding server 20 extracts job specifying information such as a user name from the authenticated print job, and the job specifying information is included in the job specifying information. Corresponding information is stored in the authenticated print job storage means 21 (S110). FIG. 5 shows an example of the data structure of the authenticated print job storage unit 21.

(Authentication printing execution stage: Fig. 4)
When the printer device 30 receives an authentication print execution instruction from a user who wishes to execute authentication print, the authentication print processing is executed according to the following procedure.

  First, the authentication information acquisition unit 34 acquires information (authentication information) necessary for authentication of the user by using the authentication device 100 from a user who wishes to execute authentication printing (S200).

  For example, when the authentication device 100 is a magnetic card reader, information recorded on an authentication card passed by the user who wishes to print through the card reader is acquired as authentication information. Although what kind of information is specifically used as the authentication information can be determined according to the design, it is conceivable to use a user name, a user ID (employee number, etc.), for example. Note that as part of the authentication information, a password or the like may be received from a user who desires printing via a user interface.

  Next, the reception control unit 38 performs authentication printing so as to prevent reception of a general print job during execution of authentication printing executed in response to authentication information acquired via the authentication device 100. Is set to temporarily close the reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31 (S201).

  Next, the authentication means 35 performs an authentication process based on the authentication information acquired in S200 (S202).

  For example, when the authentication unit 35 is a client of the LDAP authentication service, the authentication unit 35 notifies the directory server (not shown) that provides the LDAP authentication service of the acquired authentication information, and based on the notification, the directory server Receives the result of the authentication performed at.

  If the user who wants to print cannot be authenticated (S203: NO), the reception control unit 38 performs setting to open the reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31 (S204). Thereby, the authentication printing process is completed.

  On the other hand, if the authentication is successful (S203: YES), the job request unit 36 generates an authentication print job request so as to include the job identification information, and sends the generated authentication print job request to the authentication print job holding server 20. Is transmitted (S205).

  Here, it is desirable that the job specifying information includes at least one of a user name, a password, a file name, a job generation date and time, and a printing attribute (for example, color / monochrome, double-sided / single-sided, etc.). When job identification information is included in the acquired authentication information, the job request unit 36 generates an authentication print job request using the included job identification information. On the other hand, when job identification information is not included in the acquired authentication information, or when an authenticated user wants to print a print job of another user, the job request unit 36 prints from the authenticated user. Acquires job identification information of a print job desired to be executed, and generates an authentication print job request.

  When the authenticated print job holding server 20 receives the authenticated print job request (S206), the authenticated print job transmission unit 22 extracts job specifying information from the authenticated print job request, refers to the authenticated print job storage unit 21, and executes the job. A print job corresponding to the specific information is searched (S207).

  If the corresponding authentication print job is found by the search, the authentication print job transmission unit 22 reads out the corresponding authentication print job and transmits it to the printer device 30 (S208).

  Note that it may be configured such that the list information of the corresponding authenticated print job is first created and transmitted to the printer device 30, and the user is allowed to select the authenticated print job desired to be printed based on the list information. The authenticated print job whose transmission to the printer device 30 has ended is sent from the authenticated print job storage unit 21 at a predetermined timing (for example, when a print end notification is received from the printer device 30 or after a certain period of time has elapsed). It is desirable to delete it.

  When the authentication print job receiving unit 37 of the printer device 30 receives the authentication print job transmitted from the authentication print job holding server 20 (S209), the printer device 30 prints based on the authentication print job in the same manner as before. The process is executed (S210). That is, the authentication print job is analyzed, a raster-format print image for one band or one page is generated and stored in an image buffer, and a predetermined unit (for example, one pass) is stored based on a control command in the authentication print job. ) Is transferred from the image buffer to the print engine, and printing is executed while controlling the print engine.

  The reception control means 38 is based on the condition that the execution of printing based on the received authenticated print job is completed (including not only when printing is normally completed but also when a cancel instruction is issued). Settings are made to open the reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31 (S211).

  The reception control unit 38 receives the authentication print job (when there is a notification from the authentication print job holding server 20 that there is no corresponding authentication print job, or within a certain period of time, the authentication print job holding server). Similarly, when a reply is not received from 20), a setting is made to open the reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the printer device 30 that can be used for both general printing and authentication printing is controlled so that the general print job receiving unit 31 does not receive a general print job during the execution of authentication printing. The configuration is adopted. Normally, when a user who has requested execution of general printing can transmit a general print job to the printer device 30, he / she thinks that his / her printed material will be output soon, and goes to the printer device 30 to collect the printed material. Although it is conceivable, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, since the general print job cannot be transmitted (reception is not performed) during the execution of the authentication print, the user who requested the execution of the general print during the execution of the authentication print It is considered that the user does not output his / her printed material until he / she can send a general print job, that is, until the execution of the authentication printing is finished, and refrains from collecting the printed material to the printer device 30. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the printed matter by the authentication printing will be exposed to the eyes of others (users who have requested execution of general printing) at the time of output or collection, and the confidentiality of the printed matter by the authentication printing can be reduced. It can be secured appropriately.

(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, the authentication device 100 is connected to the printer device 30. However, in the first modification, the authentication device 100 is connected to the authentication print job holding server 20.

  In this case, in the printer device 30, the authentication information acquisition unit 34, the authentication unit 35, and the job request unit 36 are not required, but the authentication print job holding server 20 authenticates the user who wants to execute authentication printing. An authentication information acquisition unit 23 that acquires authentication information using the device 100, an authentication unit 24 that executes an authentication process based on the authentication information, and a general print job reception unit 31 receives a general print job during the execution of authentication printing. Reception restriction instruction means 25 for instructing not to be received is provided (see FIG. 6).

  Hereinafter, the authentication printing execution stage in the first modification will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  When the authentication print job holding server 20 receives an authentication print execution instruction from a user who wishes to execute authentication print, the authentication print processing is executed according to the following procedure.

  First, the authentication information acquisition unit 23 acquires information (authentication information) necessary for user authentication by using the authentication device 100 for a user who wishes to execute authentication printing (S400).

  Next, the reception restriction instructing unit 25 performs a setting for temporarily closing the reception port used by the general print job receiving unit 31 for the printer device 30 using an authentication print execution instruction or acquisition of authentication information as a trigger. (Close instruction) (S401).

  When the printer device 30 receives a close instruction (S500), the reception control unit 38 does not receive a general print job during the execution of the authentication printing executed in response to the acquired authentication information. Next, a setting is made to temporarily close the reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31 (S501).

  On the other hand, in the authenticated print job holding server 20, the authentication unit 24 executes an authentication process based on the authentication information acquired in S400 (S402).

  If the user who wants to print cannot be authenticated (S403: NO), the reception restriction instruction unit 25 instructs the printer device 30 to make a setting for opening the reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31 (open). (Instruction) (S404).

  When the printer device 30 receives an open instruction (S502: YES), the reception control unit 38 performs setting to open a reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31 (S503). Thereby, the authentication printing process is completed.

  On the other hand, if the authentication is successful (S403: YES), the authentication print job transmission unit 22 refers to the authentication print job storage unit 21, and the authenticated user (authenticated user) has a print job, ie, authentication. An authentication print job corresponding to the user name of the user is searched (405).

  If the corresponding authentication print job is found by the search, the authentication print job transmission unit 22 reads this and transmits it to the printer device 30 (S406).

  When the authentication print job receiving unit 37 of the printer device 30 receives the authentication print job transmitted from the authentication print job holding server 20 (S504: YES), the printer device 30 converts the authentication print job into the authentication print job in the same manner as before. Based on this, the printing process is executed (S505).

  When receiving the authentication print job, the reception control unit 38 performs a setting to open the reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31 on the condition that execution of printing based on the received authentication print job has been completed ( S506).

(Other variations)
The present invention can be applied with various modifications without being limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an authentication printing system including a printer device as a printing apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to an authentication printing system including a printing apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine. .

  In the above embodiment, the host device 10 and the print job holding server 20 are described as separate units, but one of them may have the other function. Similarly, although the printer device 30 and the print job holding server 20 are described as separate bodies, one of them may have the other function.

  In the above embodiment, when the host apparatus 10 determines that the reception of the general print job is not valid, a dialog such as “print data transmission pending” is displayed on the display or the like, and the general print job is transmitted until it becomes valid. For example, when it is determined that it is not valid, a dialog such as "Print data could not be sent because the printer is occupied. Please try printing again after a while." It may be configured to display and once finish the execution of general printing.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the authentication print job holding | maintenance server 20 was one, the some authentication print job holding | maintenance server may exist in a communication network. In this case, since the printer device 30 does not know which server holds the print data corresponding to the job specification information input by the user, the printer device 30 includes job specification information for each of the plurality of authenticated print job holding servers. It is conceivable to send an authentication print job request. Further, instead of / in addition to the authentication print job holding server 20, for example, the authentication print job is stored in the host device 10 or the printer device 30 and further in an external storage unit (including a USB memory or a portable terminal). Also good. For example, when accumulating an authentication print job in the printer apparatus 30, the printer apparatus 30 refers to the authentication print job accumulation unit in the own apparatus instead of / in addition to S 205 requesting the authentication print job, and authenticates the print job. Execute the process to get.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the general print job receiving unit 31 closes the reception port so that the general print job is not received. However, the present invention has such a configuration. It is not limited. For example, when the general print job receiving unit 31 receives a general print job via a USB interface, the general print job is not received by temporarily disabling the USB interface. The configuration to control can be considered.

  In the above embodiment, the general print job receiving unit 31 and the authentication print job receiving unit 37 receive a print job via different receiving ports. However, both receiving units are connected via a common receiving port. A configuration for receiving a print job, a configuration in which one receiving unit serves as both the general print job receiving unit 31 and the authenticated print job receiving unit 37, and a general print job after the authenticated print job receiving unit 37 receives an authenticated print job A configuration (loopback) in which the authentication print job is transmitted with the reception port used by the reception unit 31 as the destination may be employed. In this case, if the reception port used by the general print job receiving unit 31 is temporarily closed to prevent the reception of the general print job, even the authentication print job cannot be received (or cannot be looped back). It will be. Therefore, in such a case, the reception control unit 38 filters received data (for example, IP filtering) so that, for example, only the authentication print job holding server 20 (or a device having the function) is permitted as a transmission source device. It is conceivable to perform control so that the general print job receiving unit 31 does not receive the general print job by performing the above.

  In the above embodiment, the printer device 30 is configured to temporarily close the reception port used by the general print job receiving unit 31 before executing the authentication process. The reception port may be set to be temporarily closed with the fact that the authentication has been authenticated or the reception of the authentication print job as a trigger. In the above-described embodiment, the printer device 30 is configured to open the reception port used by the general print job reception unit 31 on the condition that execution of printing based on the received authentication print job is completed. In consideration of the collection time of the printed matter by the authentication printing, the general print job receiving means 31 is provided on the condition that the execution of the printing based on the received authentication print job is completed and that a certain time has passed since the completion. It is good also as a structure which performs the setting which opens the receiving port which uses.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the authentication printing system 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of a host device 10, an authenticated print job holding server 20, and a printer device 30. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a general print execution / authentication print job accumulation stage. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an authentication printing execution step. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of an authentication print job storage unit 21. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of a print job holding server 20 and a printer device 30 in Modification 1. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an authentication printing execution stage in Modification 1; 12 is a flowchart for explaining an authentication printing execution stage in Modification 1;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Authentication printing system 10 Host apparatus 11 Input / output means 12 Communication means 13 Printer driver means 20 Authentication print job holding server 21 Authentication print job storage means 22 Authentication print job transmission means 23 Authentication information acquisition means 24 authentication means, 25 instruction means, 30 printer device, 31 general print job reception means, 32 analysis / image generation means, 33 print control means, 34 authentication information acquisition means, 35 authentication means, 36 job request means, 37 authentication print job Receiving means, 38 receiving control means, 100 authentication device

Claims (6)

A printing apparatus configured to execute both authentication printing that performs printing through an authentication process and general printing that performs printing without using an authentication process,
First receiving means for receiving a print job for general printing (hereinafter referred to as “general print job”);
A second receiving means for receiving a print job for authentication printing (hereinafter referred to as “authentication print job”);
A printing apparatus comprising: a reception control unit configured to perform control so that a general print job is not received by the first receiving unit during execution of authenticated printing.   When the authentication information is acquired via the authentication device, the reception control unit receives the general print job by the first receiving unit during the execution of the authentication printing executed corresponding to the acquired authentication information. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is controlled so as not to be performed. The first receiving unit and the second receiving unit are configured to receive a print job via different ports.
3. The printing according to claim 1, wherein the reception control unit performs control so that a general print job is not received by the first receiving unit by closing a port used by the first receiving unit. apparatus.   The reception control unit controls the reception data so that only a device that stores the authentication print job is permitted as a transmission source device, so that a general print job is not received by the first reception unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: A control method for a printing apparatus configured to execute both authentication printing for performing printing through an authentication process and general printing for performing printing without using an authentication process,
Receiving a print job for general printing by a first receiving means included in the printing apparatus;
Receiving a print job for authentication printing by a second receiving means included in the printing apparatus;
And a control step of controlling the first receiving means so that a print job for general printing is not received during execution of authenticated printing.   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 5.

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