JP2007264779A - Unit for controlling use of authentication printing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an authentication printing system with a new framework that allows a user to quickly and easily make settings related to whether or not use of his or her own authentication printing is permitted without the intervention of a manager or the like. <P>SOLUTION: This control unit for controlling use of authentication information includes: a user control requirement storage means for storing the requirements for stopping or starting use of authentication information based on the job information of a print job; a use control requirement determining means for referring to the storage means and determining whether or not the job information of the print job sent by the user meets the requirements for stopping or starting use of the authentication information; and a means which, if the requirements for stopping or starting use of the authentication information are determined to be met, informs a print unit or a unit providing the print job to the print unit that use of the authentication information will be stopped or started for the corresponding user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to authenticated printing that executes printing on the condition that authentication has been performed.

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

  As a user authentication method in such an authentication printing system, a method can be considered in which a person who owns a medium such as a card in which authentication information is recorded is determined to be a user specified by the authentication information. This method is highly convenient for the user because it can be authenticated simply by having the authentication device read the card, but on the other hand, if the card with the authentication information is lost, the card is misused. Even a person other than the principal can pass the authentication process and execute the authentication printing. In order to appropriately prevent such misuse, if the user notices that a card or the like is lost, it is necessary to stop using authentication printing using the card or the like as soon as possible.

  Here, since settings related to the availability of authentication printing, such as suspension of card usage, were conventionally performed by an administrator of the authentication printing system, etc., a user who lost the card, etc., asks the administrator, etc. In other words, it is necessary to stop the use of authentication printing via an administrator or the like.

  However, in the framework of setting the use suspension through the administrator etc., it is natural that the setting cannot be made if there is no administrator, and when the number of users is large, the user who requested the use suspension is valid. There is a high possibility that it will not be possible to stop using the service in a timely manner, for example, it will take time to confirm whether the user is a correct user.

  On the other hand, it may be possible for a user to make a setting related to whether or not he / she can use it on behalf of a manager at a predetermined management terminal. It is a big burden.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new framework that enables a user to quickly and easily perform settings related to whether or not to use his / her authentication printing in an authentication printing system without using an administrator or the like. .

  The authentication print use control unit of the present invention includes a use control condition storage unit that stores an authentication print use stop or start condition based on job information of a print job, and a print job transmitted by a user with reference to the use control condition storage unit The use control condition determining means for determining whether the job information of the print job satisfies the authentication print use stop or start condition, and if it is determined that the authentication print use stop or start condition is satisfied, the print job is sent to the print unit or the print unit. Means for notifying the unit to be provided that the corresponding user is stopped or started using authentication printing.

  The usage control condition storage unit stores authentication printing usage stop or start conditions in association with a user, and the usage control condition determination unit determines that job information of a print job transmitted by the user corresponds to the user. It is desirable to determine whether or not the authentication print use stop or start condition is satisfied.

  Preferably, based on the information input using the registration screen information from the user, the means for providing the user with registration screen information for the authentication print use stop or start condition to the user, the usage control condition storage means Means for registering the user's authentication printing use stop or start condition.

  Also preferably, the usage control condition storage means sets the file name, paper size, number of copies, single-sided / double-sided printing, color / monochrome printing as the authentication printing usage stop or start condition based on the job information of the print job. An authentication print use stop or start condition based on at least one of the designations is stored.

  According to such a configuration, when the user wants to stop or start the use of the authentication print, the user creates and sends a print job that matches the authentication print use control condition, so that the user can perform the authentication print without going through the administrator. Use stop or start can be set. As a result, if you want to stop using authentication printing as soon as possible, such as if you lose your authentication card, you can stop using it in a timely manner and appropriately prevent unauthorized authentication printing. .

  In addition, since the use stop or start of the authentication printing is determined based on the job information of the print job, the user can send the print job without going to the setting management terminal installation location and operating it. The use stop or start of the authentication printing can be easily set by an action that can be executed from the above. Furthermore, when adopting such a configuration, it is not always necessary to mount a special tool or the like related to the setting for stopping use of authentication printing in the user terminal, and a framework based on the present invention is used by using the printer driver unit 13 similar to the conventional one. Can be realized.

  The job management system according to the present invention refers to the authenticated printing use control unit according to the present invention and the print job holding unit that stores the print job in association with the job specifying information, and the job specifying information acquired from the user who has input the authentication information. And a job providing unit for providing the print unit with a print job corresponding to the above.

  The job management system according to the present invention includes a use stop condition storage unit that stores an authentication print use stop condition based on job information of a print job, and information indicating whether or not use of the authentication print related to the user is associated with the user (hereinafter referred to as the user). , Referred to as “usage availability information”) and the use suspension condition storage means to determine whether or not the job information of the print job transmitted by the user satisfies the authentication printing use suspension condition. When it is determined that the use stop determination unit and the authentication print use stop condition are satisfied, the use permission control is performed to update the storage contents of the permission information storage unit so that the corresponding user use permission information indicates “unusable”. The availability information stored in the availability storage means for the user specified from the authentication information input via the authentication device and the authentication device is “usable” Means for referring to the print job holding unit that stores the print job in association with the job identification information and providing the print unit with the print job corresponding to the job identification information acquired from the user who has input the authentication information; It is characterized by providing.

  Preferably, when the availability information stored in the availability storage unit indicates “unusable” for the user specified from the authentication information input via the authentication device, the administrator or the input authentication Means for notifying the user specified from the information that the authentication information has been input in the “unusable” state.

  The authentication printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a use availability storage unit that stores information indicating whether or not to use authentication printing for a user (hereinafter referred to as “usability information”), and a user who wishes to execute printing. Acquires the authentication information input via the authentication device and authenticates based on the authentication information, and the availability information stored in the availability storage means for the user specified from the acquired authentication information Indicates “available”, means for requesting the print job based on the job identification information acquired from the user who entered the authentication information to the authenticated print job management unit server, and responding to the request from the job management unit The print control means for acquiring a print job to be executed and executing printing, and the availability storage for the user specified from the acquired authentication information When the availability information stored in the column indicates “unusable”, the administrator or the user specified from the acquired authentication information is notified that authentication information has been entered in the “unusable” state. And means for performing.

  The authentication print use control method of the present invention refers to a use control condition storage unit that stores an authentication print use stop or start condition based on job information of a print job, and the job information of the print job sent by the user is authenticated print use stop Alternatively, a usage control condition determination step for determining whether or not a start condition is satisfied, and a case where it is determined that the authentication print use stop or start condition is satisfied, the print unit or a unit that provides a print job to the print unit is handled. And a step of notifying use stop or start of authentication printing for the user.

  The authentication printing use control method of the present invention and the authentication printing method described as the embodiment can be implemented by, for example, an information processing unit (computer) included in the authentication print job management server or the printing apparatus. It can be installed or loaded through various media such as CD-ROM, magnetic disk, semiconductor memory and communication network. 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, in the authentication printing system, it is possible to provide a new framework that allows a user to quickly and easily perform settings related to whether or not his / her authentication printing can be used without using an administrator or the like. .

  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 shown in FIG. 1, the authentication printing system 1 includes a host device 10, an authentication print job management server 20, a printer device 30, and an authentication device 100.

  The host device 10, the authentication print job management 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 host device 10, the authentication print job management server 20, the printer device 30, and the authentication device 100 is shown. However, according to the design, one or more each is provided. The authentication printing system 1 may be configured.

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

  The 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 authentication printing by the authentication print job management server 20 and the printer device 30 and, like a normal printer driver, creates a print job in a format that can be processed by the corresponding printer device. Is provided. For example, when there is a request for authentication printing from a user or an application program running on the host device 10, a print job for authentication printing (authentication print job) is created and transmitted to the authentication print job management server 20. .

  The authentication print job management server 20 includes hardware such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O controller, a communication interface, and an HDD, and the CPU is configured to be accessible to each unit via a bus. ing.

  The authentication print job management server 20 receives the authentication print job and stores the authentication print job in association with the job identification information and the authentication print job request received from the printer device 30 in the same manner as a normal authentication print server. Based on the authentication print job providing means 22 for transmitting the corresponding authentication print job to the printer 30 (see FIG. 2).

  However, as shown in FIG. 2, the authentication print job management server 20 of the present embodiment includes an authentication print usage control unit 23. The authentication print usage control unit 23 performs authentication printing based on job information of the print job. Use stop condition storage means 231 for storing use stop conditions and use stop condition storage means 231, and use stop judgment for judging whether or not the job information of the print job transmitted by the user satisfies the authentication print use stop condition. Conventional authentication printing in that it includes means 232 and use stop notification means 233 for notifying the printer device 30 of the stop of use of authentication printing when it is determined that the authentication print use stop condition is satisfied. It is different from the server. FIG. 2 also shows other means described in the modification.

  Each of these means is functionally realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the ROM or RAM in the authenticated print job management server 20 or an external storage medium. Further, the use suspension condition storage unit 231 is realized on a nonvolatile memory.

  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.

  For example, the printer device 30 includes an information processing unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication interface, a user interface such as a console panel, and an interface with an authentication device. The CPU of the printer device 30 is configured to be able to access each means via a bus. For example, in accordance with a print job sent via a communication interface, the power mechanism unit is controlled to actually perform a printing operation. .

  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, a job receiving unit 31 that receives a print job, an analysis / image generation unit 32 that analyzes a print job, generates a raster-format print image for one band or one page, and stores it in an image buffer; Based on the control command, there is provided a print control means 33 for transferring a print image for a predetermined unit (for example, for one pass) from the image buffer to the print engine and executing printing while controlling the print engine.

  Also, functions as an authentication printing apparatus, that is, an authentication information acquisition unit 34 that acquires authentication information input via the authentication device 100 by a user who wants to execute printing, an authentication unit 35 that executes authentication processing based on the authentication information, A job request unit 36 for requesting an authenticated print job based on job specifying information acquired from a user who has input authentication information is provided to the authenticated print job management server 20 (see FIG. 2).

  However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the printer device 30 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a use availability storage unit 37 that stores information (usability information) that indicates whether or not authentication printing is available for the user in association with the user. A use availability update unit 38 for updating the storage content of the use availability storage unit 37 so that the use availability information of the corresponding user indicates “unusable” when a notification of use suspension is received from the authentication print use control unit 23; When the availability information stored in the availability storage means 37 for the user specified from the authentication information indicates “unusable”, the administrator or the user specified from the input authentication information The job requesting means 36 is a user identified from the authentication information in that it is provided with an alarm means 39 for notifying that authentication information has been input in the “impossible” state. Therefore, when the availability information stored in the availability storage unit 37 indicates “usable”, the authenticated print job based on the job identification information acquired from the user who has input the authentication information to the authenticated print job management server 20. This is different from the conventional authentication printing apparatus in that it requires this.

  Each of these means is functionally realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the ROM or RAM in the printer device 30, an external storage medium, or the like. Further, the availability storage unit 37 is realized on a nonvolatile memory.

  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.

  Hereinafter, a framework for setting authentication printing and suspension of use thereof in the authentication printing system 1 will be described with reference to 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.

(Authentication print job accumulation stage: Fig. 3)
When the printer driver unit 13 of the host device 10 receives a print request designating the printer device 30 from the user via an application program running on the outside or the host device 10 (S100), the printer device 30 can interpret it. An authenticated print job is created based on a predetermined printer control language (S101), and is transmitted to the authenticated print job management server 20 (S102).

  The authenticated print job includes, for example, a job ID, output printer model information, user name (user ID), file name of a document to be printed, password, print setting information (number of copies, single-sided / double-sided printing, Job information such as color / monochrome designation) and the like, and may have the same data structure as a normal print job.

  When the authenticated print job management server 20 receives the authenticated print job transmitted by the user via the printer driver unit 13 (S103), the authenticated print job management server 20 extracts job specifying information such as a user name from the authenticated print job, and associates it with this. The authentication print job storage unit 21 stores the information (S104). FIG. 5 shows an example of the data structure of the authenticated print job storage unit 21.

  Next, the use suspension determination unit 232 refers to the use suspension condition storage unit 231 that stores the authentication printing use suspension condition in association with the user, and determines whether the job information of the received print job satisfies the authentication printing use suspension condition. It is determined whether or not (S105).

  FIG. 6A shows an example of the data structure of the use suspension condition storage unit 231. In the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, the authentication printing use stop condition is stored in association with the user, but the use stop condition may be common to some or all users.

  Here, the authentication print use stop condition is set based on the job information of the print job.

  Examples of job information include items such as the file name of a document to be printed, the paper size, the number of copies, designation of single-sided / double-sided printing, and designation of color / monochrome printing. In this embodiment, FIG. As shown in (a), the authentication print use stop condition can be set based on at least one of these items (based on a plurality of items as necessary). For example, the user name “takahashi” is stored in association with a use suspension condition that the file name is “AuthPrinting.doc” and the paper size is “A3”. In addition, the user name “tanaka” is stored in association with a use suspension condition that the file name is “test.log” and the number of copies is “5 copies”.

  In addition, when the authentication print use stop condition is set based only on the print setting information such as the paper size, the number of copies, single-side / double-side print designation, and color / monochrome print designation, a print job not intended to stop use There is also a possibility that the authentication print use stop condition may be matched. From this point of view, for example, the authentication print use stop condition is set using at least information other than the print setting information such as the file name of the document to be printed (the information other than the print setting information is configured as the authentication print use stop condition) It is desirable to make it an essential item.

  The use suspension determination unit 232 relates to the file name of the document to be printed, the paper size, the number of copies, single-side / double-side print designation, and color / monochrome print designation as job information from the received print job header or the like. Information is extracted and the use stop condition storage unit 231 is referred to determine whether or not the extracted information matches the authentication print use stop condition corresponding to the transmission user of the received print job. Then, if all the registered items are matched, it is determined that the authentication printing use stop condition is satisfied.

  If it is determined that the authentication print use stop condition is not satisfied, the process in the storage stage for the received print job ends.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the authentication print use stop condition is satisfied, the use stop notification unit 233 sends the received print job (hereinafter referred to as a print job satisfying the authentication print use stop condition to the “use stop print”). The transmission user of “job” is designated to notify the use stop of the authentication printing (S106).

  As described above, the printer device 30 includes the use availability storage unit 37 (see FIG. 6B) that stores information (usability information) indicating whether or not the authentication printing can be used in association with the user. When the authentication print use stop notification is received from the use stop notification unit 233 (S107), the use availability update unit 38 determines whether or not the use is permitted so that the user availability information designated in the notification indicates “unusable”. The stored contents of the storage means 37 are updated (S108).

(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 user authentication, which is input via the authentication device 100 by a user who desires 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, for example, a card number set for each authentication card may be used. 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 authentication means 35 performs an authentication process based on the authentication information acquired in S200 (S201).

  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 cannot be authenticated based on the acquired authentication information (S202: NO), the authentication printing process ends.

  On the other hand, when the authentication is successful (S202: YES), the job request unit 36 reads the availability information stored in the availability storage unit 37 for the user specified by the authentication process from the acquired authentication information (S203). .

  When the read availability information indicates “unusable” (S204: Unusable), the alarm unit 39 is in an “unusable” state for the administrator or the user specified from the acquired authentication information. It is notified that the authentication information has been input (S205). With this process, the authentication printing process ends.

  As said notification, the aspect which transmits e-mail with respect to a user specified from an administrator or the acquired said authentication information can be considered, for example. In the transmission destination terminal (administrator terminal, user terminal) that has received the e-mail, for example, a predetermined pop-up message as shown in FIG. 7 can be displayed on the display device.

  On the other hand, when the read availability information indicates “usable” (S204: available), the job request unit 36 includes job specifying information acquired from the user who desires authentication printing (the user who has input the authentication information). The authentication print job request is generated, and the generated authentication print job request is transmitted to the authentication print job management server 20 (S206).

  The job specifying information preferably 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). When job identification information is included in the acquired authentication information (including the case where the authentication information is the job identification information itself), the job request unit 36 performs authentication printing using the included job identification information. Generate a job request. On the other hand, when job identification information is not included in the acquired authentication information, or when an authenticated user executes printing of an authentication print job other than the self authorized by another user, the job request unit 36 includes: Job identification information of an authenticated print job desired to be printed is acquired from an authenticated user, and an authenticated print job request is generated.

  When the job specifying information used in the authenticated print job management server 20 is of a different type from the job specifying information included in the authentication information (for example, the authenticated print job management server 20 associates the authenticated print job with the user name). However, when the acquired authentication information includes an employee name instead of a user name), the job request unit 36 refers to the table storing the corresponding job specifying information in the authenticated print job management server 20. Acquired job identification information is used, and an authenticated print job request is generated using this information. The conversion of the job specifying information may be executed in the authenticated print job management server 20.

  When the authenticated print job management server 20 receives the authenticated print job request (S207), the authenticated print job providing unit 22 extracts job specifying information from the authenticated print job request, and refers to the authenticated print job storage unit 21 for the job. A print job corresponding to the specific information is searched (S208).

  If the corresponding authenticated print job is found by the search, the authenticated print job providing unit 22 reads this and transmits it to the printer device 30 (S209).

  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.

  In the printer device 30, when the authentication print job transmitted from the authentication print job management server 20 is received (S210), the printing process is executed based on the authentication print job (S211) as in the conventional case. 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.

  As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the authentication print use stop condition based on the job information of the print job is stored, and the use of the authentication print is stopped when the job information of the print job transmitted by the user satisfies the condition. Therefore, when the user wants to stop the use of the authentication print, the user creates a print job (use stop print job) that matches the registered authentication print use control condition of the user and uses the authentication print job management server 20. By transmitting to, it is possible to set the use stop of the authentication printing by itself without using an administrator or the like. As a result, if you want to stop using authentication printing as soon as possible, such as if you lose your authentication card, you can stop using it in a timely manner and appropriately prevent unauthorized authentication printing. .

  In addition, since the use of authenticated printing is determined to be stopped based on the job information of the print job, the user can execute the print job transmission from the user terminal without going to the setting management terminal installation location and operating it. The suspension of use of authentication printing can be easily set by a possible action. Furthermore, when adopting such a configuration, it is not always necessary to mount a special tool or the like related to the setting for stopping use of authentication printing in the user terminal, and a framework based on the present invention is used by using the printer driver unit 13 similar to the conventional one. Since it is realizable, the tool mounting operation | work to each user terminal which can become a remarkable burden especially when there are many users of the authentication printing system 1 can be avoided.

  In addition, when authentication information is input for a user whose availability information indicates “unusable”, the authentication information has been input in an “unusable” state to an administrator or a user identified from the authentication information. Since the notification configuration is adopted, when a lost card or the like is actually used illegally, the related parties can quickly and reliably grasp the fact.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified and applied. 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. . Further, for example, a normal printer device that does not have an authentication printing function may be included.

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

  In the above embodiment, the authentication print usage control unit 23 is realized by the CPU of the authentication print job management server 20. However, the authentication print usage control unit 23 is a unit separate from the authentication print job management server 20. It may be configured.

  Alternatively, the authentication device 100 may be connected to the authentication print job management server 20 and the server 20 may execute authentication processing.

  The authenticated print job storage unit 21 may not necessarily be provided in the authenticated print job management server 20 as long as it can be accessed by the authenticated print job management server 20 (managed by a database system or the like separate from the management server 20). May be).

  Further, in place of / in addition to the authentication print job management server 20, the authentication print job may be 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). . When accumulating the authentication print job in the printer device 30, the printer device 30 can also acquire the authentication print job by referring to the authentication print job accumulation unit in the own device.

  In the above embodiment, the case where there is one authenticated print job management server 20 is described. However, a plurality of authenticated print job management servers may exist in the communication network. In this case, since the printer device 30 does not know which server holds the authentication print job corresponding to the job identification information, the printer device 30 may transmit an authentication print job request to each of the plurality of authentication print job management servers. Conceivable.

  In the above embodiment, when it is determined that the authentication print use stop condition is satisfied, the use stop notification unit 233 notifies the printer device 30 of the use stop, and the printer device 30 that receives the notification stops use. The authentication print job is not requested when the authentication information is input with respect to the sending user (the authentication print job is not “pulled”), but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.

  For example, instead of / in addition to the configuration as in the above-described embodiment, the authenticated print job management server 20 itself does not provide an authenticated print job when authentication information is input regarding the transmission user of the use stop print job (authenticated print job). The job may be configured not to “push”. In this case, the authentication print job management server 20 includes, in addition to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, a use availability storage unit that stores information (usability information) indicating whether or not authentication printing is available for the user in association with the user. When it is determined that the job information of the print job transmitted by the user satisfies the authentication print use stop condition, the storage content of the availability information storage unit is set so that the availability information of the corresponding user indicates “unusable”. And an availability control means for updating. Further, the authentication print job providing unit 22 performs authentication when the availability information stored in the availability storage unit for the user specified from the authentication information input via the authentication device 100 indicates “usable”. The print job storage unit 21 is referred to, and a print job corresponding to the job specifying information acquired from the user who has input the authentication information is provided to the printer device 30.

  In addition, for example, when there are a plurality of authenticated print job management servers, there is a unit that can provide an authenticated print job to the printer device 30 in addition to the authenticated print job management server 20 that has received the use stop print job. In the authentication print job management server 20, the use stop notification means 233 designates the use stop print job transmission user and stops use of the authentication print for other units that can provide such an authentication print job. May be configured to be notified. When the other unit that has received the notification includes the above-described use availability storage unit, the storage contents of the availability information storage unit so that the use availability information of the user who has stopped using the print job indicates “unusable”. Update.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, it is desirable for the utilization suspension condition memory | storage means 231 to be comprised so that a utilization suspension condition can be set from the outside. As an example of such a configuration, for example, the authentication printing use control unit 23 provides the registration screen information for the user with the condition registration screen providing unit 234 for providing the user with the registration screen information for the authentication printing use stop condition. It is conceivable that the usage stop condition storage unit 231 is provided with a condition registration unit 235 for registering the user's authentication printing use stop condition based on the information input by use.

  That is, when the user of the authentication printing system 1 requests registration of the use stop condition via the user terminal or the like, the condition registration screen providing unit 234 reads the registration screen information of the authentication print use stop condition from a predetermined storage unit. And sent to the user (user terminal) who requested registration. In the user terminal that has received the registration screen information, a registration screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed by a printer driver, for example. The user inputs values to be registered as use stop conditions for the file name, the number of copies, the designation of single-sided / double-sided printing, and the designation of color / monochrome via the registration screen, and the authentication print usage control unit 23 Can be sent. On the other hand, when the condition registration unit 235 receives information such as a file name constituting the use stop condition from the user (user terminal), the condition registration unit 235 stops using the user's authentication printing in the use stop condition storage unit 231 based on the received information. Register the conditions.

  In the above embodiment, the authentication print use stop condition based on the job information of the print job is stored, and the use of the authentication print is stopped when the job information of the print job transmitted by the user satisfies the condition. As described above, the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment can be adopted for the start of use of authentication printing. In particular, when different conditions are stored for each of the usage suspension and usage start, and the conditions are determined independently for each, the intention is to be kept as long as the usage start conditions can be concealed even if the usage suspension conditions leak. It is possible to achieve a high security level, such as preventing execution of authentication printing that is not performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration for determining the use stop condition based on the job information of one print job has been described. However, for example, the use stop condition is satisfied when a print job having a predetermined file name is transmitted a plurality of times. For example, the use stop condition may be determined based on job information of a plurality of print jobs.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the authentication printing system 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of a host device 10, an authenticated print job management server 20, and a printer device 30. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an 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. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the use stop condition memory | storage means 231 and the availability determination means 37. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of notification that the authentication information was input in the "unusable" state. It is a figure which shows the example of a registration screen of authentication printing utilization control conditions.

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 management server, 21 Authentication print job storage means, 22 Authentication print job provision means, 23 Authentication print use control means 231 Use stop condition storage means, 232 Use stop judgment means, 233 Use stop notification means, 234 Condition registration screen providing means, 235 Condition registration means, 30 Printer device, 31 Job receiving means, 32 Analysis / image generation means, 33 Printing Control means, 34 Authentication information acquisition means, 35 Authentication means, 36 Job request means, 37 Usability storage means, 38 Usability update means, 39 Alarm means, 100 Authentication device

Claims (10)

Usage control condition storage means for storing authentication print usage stop or start conditions based on job information of a print job;
A usage control condition determination unit that refers to the usage control condition storage unit and determines whether or not the job information of the print job transmitted by the user satisfies the authentication print usage stop or start condition;
Means for notifying the printing user or the unit that provides a print job to the printing unit that the certification printing use stop or start condition is satisfied, with respect to the corresponding user, the use stop or start of the authentication printing. An authentication printing use control unit characterized by. The use control condition storage means stores authentication print use stop or start conditions in association with the user,
2. The authentication according to claim 1, wherein the usage control condition determining unit determines whether or not job information of a print job transmitted by a user satisfies an authentication printing use stop or start condition corresponding to the user. Print usage control unit. A means for providing the user with registration screen information for authentication printing use suspension or start conditions;
3. A means for registering the user's authentication printing use stop or start condition in the use control condition storage means based on information inputted from the user using the registration screen information. Authentication printing usage control unit as described.   The usage control condition storage means sets at least one of file name, paper size, number of copies, single / double-sided printing, and color / black-and-white printing as authentication printing use stop or start conditions based on job information of a print job. The authentication print use control unit according to claim 1, wherein the authentication print use stop or start condition based on the information is stored. An authentication printing use control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A job providing unit that refers to a print job holding unit that stores the print job in association with the job specifying information and provides the print unit with a print job corresponding to the job specifying information acquired from the user who has input the authentication information. A job management system characterized by that. Use stop condition storage means for storing an authentication print use stop condition based on job information of the print job;
Use availability storage means for storing information indicating whether or not authentication printing is available for the user (hereinafter referred to as “use availability information”) in association with the user;
A use stop determining unit that refers to the use stop condition storage unit and determines whether or not the job information of the print job transmitted by the user satisfies the authentication print use stop condition;
An availability control unit that updates the content stored in the availability information storage unit so that the availability information of the corresponding user indicates “unusable” when it is determined that the authentication printing use suspension condition is satisfied;
When the availability information stored in the availability storage means indicates “usable” for the user specified from the authentication information input via the authentication device, the print job is stored in association with the job identification information. Means for providing a print job corresponding to job specifying information acquired from a user who has input authentication information with reference to the print job holding unit, to the print unit.   When the availability information stored in the availability storage means indicates “unusable” for the user identified from the authentication information input via the authentication device, it is identified from the administrator or the input authentication information. The job management system according to claim 6, further comprising: means for notifying a user who has entered authentication information in an “unusable” state. Use availability storage means for storing information indicating whether or not authentication printing is available for the user (hereinafter referred to as “use availability information”) in association with the user;
An authentication unit that acquires authentication information input via an authentication device by a user who wishes to execute printing, and performs authentication based on the authentication information;
When the availability information stored in the availability storage means indicates “usable” for the user specified from the acquired authentication information, the user who has entered the authentication information to the authenticated print job management unit server Means for requesting a print job based on the acquired job identification information;
Print control means for acquiring a print job corresponding to the request from the job management unit and executing printing;
For the user specified from the acquired authentication information, when the use permission information stored in the use permission storage means indicates “unusable”, the administrator or the user specified from the acquired authentication information Means for notifying that authentication information has been input in the "unusable" state. Referring to the usage control condition storage means for storing the authentication print use stop or start condition based on the job information of the print job, determine whether the job information of the print job sent by the user satisfies the authentication print use stop or start condition Use control condition judgment step to
And a step of notifying the printing unit or the unit that provides a print job to the printing unit that the authentication printing use stop or start condition is satisfied, of notifying use stop or start of authentication printing for the corresponding user. A method for controlling the use of authenticated printing.   A program for causing a computer to execute the authentication printing use control method according to claim 9.

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