JP2007320166A - Image forming apparatus and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can apply a printing limitation for every user also in a pull printing environment where printing is carried out by inputting printing data to the image forming apparatus from a printing server by an indication from the image forming apparatus, and to provide its control method. <P>SOLUTION: A document list display part (10405) lists and displays information on one, or two or more document data printable in the name of the user who succeeds in user authentication. A printing document designating part (10406) selects based on the selection operation, the document data subjected to image formation from the listed displayed information on one, or two or more document data. A printing appearance limitation information acquiring part (10402) acquires appearance limitation information of the user, and the document list display part (10405) further displays the fact if an appearance based on appearance information attached to the document data becomes an object of limitation based on the acquired appearance limitation information, for each of the one, or two or more document data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof.

  An authentication mode in which an image forming device such as a printer or copying machine can be used for the first time when an ID such as a personal identification number is entered from the operation panel and the entered ID matches a pre-registered ID. Some of them are equipped with a function (for example, see Patent Document 1). With such an authentication mode function, use by unregistered users can be prohibited.

  Further, a system has been proposed in which print data converted into a printable format by a client is stored in a print server, and printing is performed by inputting the print data from the print server to the image forming apparatus according to an instruction from the image forming apparatus. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). Such a system is called a “pull print” system. In the pull print environment, the user can print submitted document data using a necessary image forming apparatus when necessary.

  For example, Patent Document 3 proposes the following image forming apparatus. First, print format information (imposition information such as single-sided / double-sided, finishing information such as stapling) is acquired when the image forming apparatus performs printing with printing data from an external data storage server. Next, the image forming apparatus determines whether the acquired data can be printed according to the print format information with the current configuration. If it is determined that printing is possible, printing is performed as it is. If it is determined that printing is not possible, the print format is edited or the user resets the setting value to be printable by the image forming apparatus. Print after making changes. As a result, when the image forming apparatus acquires and stores the data stored in the data management server, any image forming apparatus can be used regardless of the ability of the image forming apparatus used for printing. It is like that.

JP 2000-47843 A JP 2002-132464 A JP 2001-22219 A

  The prior art as described above has the following problems.

  First, in a pull print environment in which print data is input from a print server to an image forming apparatus according to an instruction from the image forming apparatus, printing cannot be restricted for each user. Here, “print restriction” refers to, for example, printing in which single-sided printing is not permitted or N logical pages (N is an integer of 2 or more) or more are arranged on one printing sheet in consideration of the reduction of the printing volume. N-up printing) only. In a so-called push print environment where printing is performed in response to an instruction from a client, there is a configuration in which a print restriction can be applied for each user. However, in a pull print environment, a print restriction cannot be provided for each user. It was.

  Secondly, when printing is restricted at the time of printing and the printing conditions are changed according to the judgment of the image forming apparatus, the user cannot know the fact and cannot obtain a desired printing result. There were problems such as repeated reprints to obtain print results.

  Third, when printing is restricted due to printing restrictions for each user, the user cannot voluntarily reset the printing conditions. For this reason, the user cannot control the printing result as intended.

  Fourth, in pull printing, the submitter and the print performer may be different. In this case, the print restriction of the print performer, not the submitter, should be applied. There was a problem that it could not be imposed.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention displays an authentication unit for authenticating a user and information on one or more document data printable by the user when authentication by the authentication unit is successful. Display means, selection means for selecting any document data from information of the one or more document data displayed as a list by the display means, and the document data selected by the selection means, the document data An image forming unit that forms an image in a format based on the format information attached thereto, further including an acquisition unit that acquires the user's format restriction information, and the display unit includes the one or more pieces of document data When the appearance based on the accompanying appearance information is subject to restriction based on the appearance restriction information acquired by the acquisition means, Further characterized in that displaying the.

  According to the present invention, for example, even in a pull print environment, printing restrictions can be provided for each user.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following embodiment, It shows only the specific example advantageous for implementation of this invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the following embodiments are indispensable as means for solving the problems of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network system including an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied and a functional configuration example of each node.

  This network system includes one or more clients 101, a document management server 102, a user authentication server 103, and one or more printers 104 as image forming apparatuses, each of which is connected to a LAN 121 and can communicate with each other. It has become. Note that the document management server 102 and the user authentication server 103 may be configured by a single computer system. Further, the client 101 may be a word processor or a game machine having a communication function. In this embodiment, PDL (Page Description Language) is used as data in a format that can be printed by the printer 104. Further, the printer 104 may have a form in which not only a PDL data printing function but also a scanner function, a copy function, a FAX function, and the like are installed.

  The client 101 includes a document submission unit 10101 and a print performer designation unit 10102 as shown. The uploader can submit desired document data to the document management server 102 using the document submission unit 10101. At this time, the print executor designation unit 10102 can designate a print executor who can print the submitted document data. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the print performer designated by the print performer designating unit 10102 can print the document data by the printer 104 even when the submitter and the print performer are different.

  The document management server 102 includes a document reception unit 10201, a document storage unit 10202, and a print data conversion unit 10203. A document receiving unit 10201 can receive document data input by the document input unit 10101 of the client 101, and can store the document data in an auxiliary storage device 203 (to be described later) by the document storage unit 10202. A print data conversion unit 10203 is used when converting the document data into a format printable by the printer 104.

  The user authentication server 103 includes a user authentication unit 10301 and a print format restriction information management unit 10302. When the user authentication unit 10301 receives user authentication information from an external device and accepts a user authentication request, the user authentication unit 10301 inquires about user information registered in advance and determines whether the designated user can use the system. . A print format restriction information management unit 10302 manages print format information that can be used by each registered user. In the present embodiment, “print style” refers to setting information for printing document data with the printer 104. The setting information includes, for example, copy number designation, color printing designation, monochrome printing designation, single-sided printing designation, double-sided printing designation, stapling processing designation, punching processing designation, N-up imposition designation, and the like.

  The printer 104 includes a print performer authentication unit 10401, a print format restriction information acquisition unit 10402, a print format restriction information determination unit 10403, a document list acquisition unit 10404, a document list display unit 10405, a print document designation unit 10406, and a print unit 10407. The print performer authentication unit 10401 identifies a print performer who executes print processing using the printer 104, and inquires the user authentication server 103 about the execution authority of the identified print performer. The print format restriction information acquisition unit 10402 acquires the print format restriction information associated with the print performer from the authentication server 103. The print format restriction information determination unit 10403 refers to the content of the print format restriction information acquired from the authentication server 103 and performs control when the print performer performs printing. A document list acquisition unit 10404 acquires attribute information of document data that can be processed by the print performer from the document management server 103. A document list display unit 10405 displays a list of attribute information of document data acquired by the document list acquisition unit 10404. A print document designation unit 10406 designates a document desired by the print executor from the document list displayed by the document list display unit 10405. The printing unit 10407 notifies the document management server 103 of the document ID associated with the document designated by the print performer in the print document designation unit 10407, and obtains the PDL corresponding to the document ID designated from the document management server 103. Print.

  With the above configuration, a pull print environment in which print data is input from the document management 102 server to the printer 104 in accordance with an instruction from the printer 104 is realized.

  Note that the functional configuration of this system is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and the function of each node may be appropriately assigned to another node.

  For example, the printer 104 may include the function of the document management server 102. That is, as shown in FIG. 39, the printer 104 may have a document receiving unit 10201 and a document storage unit 10202 as shown by a broken line portion 102a instead of eliminating the document management server 102.

  In addition, the printer 104 may include the function of the user authentication server 103. That is, as shown in FIG. 40, instead of omitting the document management server 102 and the user authentication server 103, the printer 104 further includes a user authentication unit 10301 and a print format restriction information management unit 10302 as indicated by a broken line portion 103a. It is good also as a structure to have.

  FIG. 41 shows still another modified example in which the function of the user authentication server 103 is distributed to the document management server 102 and the printer 104, and one function of the printer 104 is assigned to the document management server 102. That is, in FIG. 41, the document management server 102 has a print format restriction information management unit 10302 as indicated by a broken line part 103b, and the printer 104 has a user authentication part 10301 as indicated by a broken line part 103c. Further, as indicated by a broken line portion 104a, the document management server 102 includes a print format restriction information determination unit 10403.

  The following description is based on the system configuration shown in FIG.

  Each of the client 101, the document management server 102, and the user authentication server 103 can be realized by a general-purpose computer system such as a personal computer, and the schematic configuration of the hardware is as shown in FIG. In the figure, 201 is a CPU that controls the node, and 202 is a RAM that functions as a main storage and provides a work area for the CPU 201. Reference numeral 203 denotes an auxiliary storage device that stores a program for realizing the above-described functions. As a storage medium of the auxiliary storage device 203, for example, a hard disk, a flash memory, a CD-ROM, or the like is used. Reference numeral 204 denotes a display device, specifically, for example, a CRT display, a DSTN liquid crystal display, or the like. Reference numeral 205 denotes an input device operated by the user, specifically a mouse, a keyboard, and the like. Reference numeral 206 denotes a network interface card (hereinafter referred to as “NIC”) for performing communication via the LAN 121. Reference numeral 209 denotes a main bus to which the above-described components are connected. In the present embodiment, the input device 205 and the display device 204 are not essential for the document management 102 and the user authentication server 103.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of hardware of the printer 104.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU that interprets print data received from the client 101 and performs print control, finishing control, and the like. A RAM 302 provides a work area for the CPU 301 and temporarily stores print data. Reference numeral 303 denotes an auxiliary storage device that is used in place of the RAM 302 according to temporary storage of print data or the determination of the CPU 301, and is realized by, for example, a hard disk device. A display device 304 displays the status of the printer 104, an error message, and the like. Reference numeral 305 denotes an input device from which the user can input login information, specify desired document data, and the like. The input device 305 includes, for example, a push button including a numeric keypad and a touch panel provided on the display device 304. Reference numeral 306 denotes a NIC for performing communication via the LAN 121. An image forming unit 307 forms and outputs an image on a recording sheet.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the client 101. A program (submission program) corresponding to this flowchart is stored in, for example, the auxiliary storage device 203 of the client 101, loaded into the RAM 202, and then executed by the CPU 201.

  First, a submission screen 500 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed (S402). In the submission screen 500 of FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes an area for specifying a file path of document data to be submitted. Reference numeral 502 denotes an area for designating the number of copies. Reference numeral 503 denotes a print surface designation area, which can designate either single-sided printing or double-sided printing. A page layout designation area 504 can designate the number of logical pages to be arranged on one sheet of recording paper. An area 505 designates execution of toner saving mode printing. 506 and 507 are areas for designating stapling and punching, respectively. Reference numeral 508 denotes an area for designating a print performer. Reference numeral 509 denotes an area for designating an ID for identifying a submitter. Reference numeral 510 denotes an upload button for instructing execution of document submission (upload) to the document management server 102, and reference numeral 511 denotes a cancel button for canceling the upload.

  The submitter can input the input document information (501 to 509) including the print format from the input program screen 500 using the input device 205 (S403). In the present embodiment, it is possible for another user to print the submitted document, but the print authority is limited to the print performer designated in 508 of FIG.

  When the upload button 510 in FIG. 5 is pressed, the input document information 700 having a data structure as shown in FIG. 7 is created based on the input information. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 701 denotes a user ID designated by 509. Reference numeral 702 denotes the name of the document data designated by 501. 703 is the number of copies specified by 502, 704 is the print surface setting specified by 503, and 705 is the page layout setting specified by 504. 706 is a toner save mode setting designated by 505, 707 is a staple setting designated by 506, 708 is a punch setting designated by 507, and 709 is a print performer designated by 508. In this embodiment, the print format (703 to 708) described in the submitted document information 700 is treated as a default print format at the time of printing. However, as will be described later, the print executor can also change the print format at the time of printing.

  Thereafter, the document data specified in 501 and the submitted document information 700 are transmitted to the document management server 102 (S404), and this process is terminated. Note that connection destination document management server information as shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 203 of the client 101. In S404, communication with the document management server 102 is performed by referring to the connection destination document management server information. can do. As shown in FIG. 6, the destination document management server information includes, for example, an IP address and a port number.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the document management server 102. A program (document management server program) corresponding to this flowchart is stored in, for example, the auxiliary storage device 203 of the document management server 102, loaded into the RAM 202, and then executed by the CPU 201.

  First, document data and submitted document information 700 are received from the client 101 (S802). When this reception is completed, a document ID that can identify the submitted document is issued (S803), and the document ID is added to the submitted document information 700 (S804). Next, the document data received in S802 is stored in a predetermined location (S805), and information on the location where the document data is stored is added to the input document information 700 (S806). Here, the document data storage location information is, for example, a file path in the auxiliary storage device 201 of the document management server 102. Next, information of the submitted document information 700 relating to the received document data is added to the document management information 900 to be described later (S807), and then this process ends.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the document management information used in S807. The document management information 900 is, for example, a file that includes data such as filed document information, filed user ID, and file path indicating the storage location of the document data regarding all documents that have been submitted. By referring to the document management information 900, the document management server 102 can specify each document data that has been submitted with a document ID or the like as a key at an arbitrary timing. In the present embodiment, in particular, it is possible to specify document data using “printer” included in the document management information 900 as a key.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the printer 104. A program (printing program) corresponding to this flowchart is stored in, for example, the auxiliary storage device 303 of the printer 104, loaded into the RAM 302, and then executed by the CPU 301.

  When the printing program starts (S1001), a login screen 1100 as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed, and the login operation of the print executor is awaited. In FIG. 11, 1101 is a user ID input area, and 1102 is a password input area. Reference numeral 1103 denotes a login instruction button for making a login request with the input contents of the user ID input area 1101 and the password input area 1102. The print executor performs a login operation based on the login screen of FIG. 11 (S1002). When the login instruction button 1103 is pressed in S1002, the print performer authentication unit 10401 creates user authentication information 1200 having a data structure as shown in FIG. 12 from the user ID and password input in FIG. 11 (S1003 ).

  Next, the print performer authentication unit 10401 sends the user authentication information 1200 to the user authentication server 103, makes an authentication permission request, and issues a print format restriction information acquisition request (S1004).

  As will be described later, when the user authentication server 103 permits user authentication, the user authentication server 103 sends the print format restriction information to the user authentication request source together with the permission message. When the authentication is not permitted, a message indicating that the user authentication is not permitted is notified to the user authentication request source.

  When the response message from the user authentication server 103 is received (S1005), the print performer authentication unit 10401 determines whether authentication is permitted (S1006). If user authentication is not permitted, error processing such as displaying an authentication failure message as shown in FIG. 13 on the display device 304 is performed (S1012), and the processing is terminated. On the other hand, if user authentication is permitted in S1006, the following processing is performed. That is, the document list acquisition unit 10404 transmits the user ID described in the user authentication information 1200 to the document management server 102 and issues a request for acquiring a list of documents that can be printed by the print performer (S1007). . When document list information 1800 (to be described later) is acquired from the document management server 102 (S1008), the document list display unit 10405 displays a document list display screen 2500 as shown in FIG. 25 on the display device 304 (S1009). Thereafter, a document selection / printing process to be described later is performed (S1010), and the process ends.

  FIG. 11 is an example of a screen used when the print performer authentication unit 10401 specifies a print performer. Reference numeral 1101 denotes a user ID input area for uniquely identifying a user who performs print processing using the printer 104, and 1102 denotes an area for inputting a password corresponding to the user ID. In this embodiment, it is assumed that printing processing using the printer 104 becomes possible when authentication is permitted from the user authentication server 103 by both the user ID and the password. Note that the print performer authentication unit 10401 may be configured to read the ID information stored in the IC card, or to identify the ID using a fingerprint authentication system.

  FIG. 12 is an example of user authentication information created in S1003 of FIG. Information input in 1101 and 1102 in FIG. 11 corresponds to 1201 and 1202 in the user authentication information 1200 in FIG. When the print performer authentication unit 10401 is, for example, a fingerprint authentication system, the user authentication information is information representing a fingerprint or a feature of the fingerprint.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of error processing performed in S1012 of FIG. 10, and in this embodiment, the error message screen shown in FIG. 13 is displayed as error processing. Detailed description is omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of user authentication processing by the user authentication server 103 when the print performer authentication unit 1000041 of the printer 104 makes a user authentication request to the user authentication server 103 in S1004 of FIG. Determination of a series of processing in the user authentication server 103 is performed by the CPU 201 of the user authentication server 103 and a program (hereinafter referred to as “user authentication server program”) operating on the user authentication server 103.

  The user authentication server 103 first receives user authentication information 1200 from the user authentication request source. At the same time, a user authentication determination request and a print format restriction information acquisition request are also received (S1402). Next, it is confirmed whether the combination of the user ID and password described in the received user authentication information 1200 matches any of all user information included in the user management information (see FIG. 15) (S1403). If a match is confirmed here, the print format restriction information management unit 10302 refers to various information corresponding to the corresponding user ID from the user management information, and creates print format restriction information (S1405). Then, a user authentication permission message is transmitted to the request issuer together with the print format restriction information (S1406), and the process ends (S1408). On the other hand, if a match is not confirmed in S1404, a user authentication non-permission message is transmitted to the request issuer (S1407), and the process ends (S1408).

  FIG. 15 shows a data structure example of the above-described user management information. It is assumed that the user authentication unit 10301 of the user authentication server 103 can refer to the user management information 1500 at an arbitrary timing. Further, it is assumed that the printing style restriction information management unit 10302 can create printing style restriction information (see FIG. 16) based on information described in the user management information 1500 at an arbitrary timing. The user management information 1500 includes the following information, for example. 1501 is a user ID of each user, and 1502 is a password. Reference numeral 1503 denotes a flag indicating the presence / absence of single-sided printing authority, and 1504 denotes a flag indicating the presence / absence of double-sided printing authority. Reference numerals 1505 to 1508 denote flags indicating presence / absence of 1up printing authority, 2up printing authority, 4up printing authority, and 6up printing authority, respectively. Reference numerals 1509 to 1511 denote flags indicating the presence / absence of printing authority, stapling use authority, and punch use authority in the non-toner saving mode. Each of the above flags is set to 1 when having the authority, and is set to 0 when not having the authority. According to the example of FIG. 15, for example, the user “kaneko” has the following usage authority regarding the print format.

Single-sided printing: Not possible Double-sided printing: Yes
1up printing: Possible
4up printing: Yes
6up printing: Yes Non-toner saving mode: Yes (Indicates that printing is possible in modes other than toner saving mode)
Staple processing: Possible Punch processing: Possible

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of the print format restriction information created by the print format restriction information management unit 10302 in S1405 of FIG. The print format restriction information management unit 10302 creates print format restriction information 1600 that can be used by the user specified by the user authentication information 1200 based on the information described in the user management information 1500.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by the document server program of the document management server 102 when the document list acquisition unit 10401 of the printer 104 issues a document list acquisition request to the document management server 102 in S1007 of FIG. It is.

  First, the document management server 102 receives a document list acquisition request together with a user ID from a request issuer (S1702). Then, with reference to the document management information 900 stored in the auxiliary storage device 203 of the document management server 102 (S1703), the document management information is searched for document information that can be printed by the designated user ID (S1704). Next, document list information 1800, which will be described later, including information about all document information that can be printed by the designated user ID is created (S1705). Then, the document list information is transmitted to the request issuer (S1706), and the process is terminated (S1707). In S1704, “document information that can be printed by the designated user” is a document that matches the “submission user ID” of the document management information 900 and the designated user ID, or “printer”. Points to a document containing the specified user ID. Therefore, a user who is different from the submitter can also be a print performer.

  FIG. 18 shows an example of the document list information created in S1705 of FIG. The document list information 1800 lists information on documents that can be printed by the print executor (in this example, “kaneko”). In the processing of the printer 104 described later, the document list display unit 10405 can display a list of information described in the document list information 1800.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the document list display process in S1009 of FIG.

  The document list display unit 10405 identifies the installation status of optional devices such as finishers and duplex units that can be used in the printer 104, and creates device capability information 2000 (see FIG. 20), which will be described later (S1902). Next, parameters used for the iterative process are initialized (S1903, S1904). Next, the nth document information of the document list information 1800 acquired in S1008 of FIG. 10 is referred to (S1905), and the document name and the submitted user ID are displayed on a document list display screen 2500 (see FIG. 25) described later. (S1906), rounding information creation processing is performed (S1907).

  FIG. 21 shows a detailed flow of the rounding information creation processing in S1907.

  First, the rounding processing information 2200 (see FIG. 22) reflecting the information described in the document information is created (S2102). The rounding processing information 2200 is information for managing print format information related to the print format for each document. The print appearance in this example includes a print surface 2202, a page layout 2211, a toner saving mode 2217, a staple 2226, and a punch 2235. The rounding processing information 2200 includes, for each print style, a designated value at the time of submission, information about rounding processing by the print style restriction information 1600, information about rounding processing by the device capability information 2000, and setting values for printing. The setting value for printing is a setting value that can be used for printing, which is comprehensively determined from the rounding process based on the print format restriction information 1600 and the rounding process based on the device capability information 2000.

  When the rounding processing information 2200 is created, the print format restriction information determination unit 10403 compares the print format described in the document information with the use status information of each print format described in the print format restriction information 1600 (S2103). ). Next, rounding conditions are determined for all restricted print formats, and the determination result is added to the rounding process information 2200 to create rounding process information 2300 (see FIG. 23) (S2104). Similarly, the print format described in the document information is compared with the device capability information 2000 (S2105), the rounding condition is determined for all restricted print formats, and the determination result is added to the rounding processing information 2300 (S2106). ), The process ends.

  When the rounding information creation process S1907 as described above is completed, the print format restriction information determination unit 10404 refers to the rounding process information 2300 and determines whether or not there is a restriction based on the print style restriction information (S1908). To determine whether or not there are restrictions, refer to the item “Rounding” (2305, 2314, 2320, 2329, and 2338 in FIG. 23) in “Rounding by printing style restriction information” of the rounding processing information 2300 for each printing style. To judge. For example, since 2305 is “rounding = present”, it is determined that “the selected document is restricted by the print format restriction information”.

  If it is determined in S1908 that there is a restriction based on the print format restriction information, “present” is displayed in a corresponding place in the print format restriction field 2503 of the document list display screen 2500 shown in FIG. 25 (S1909). On the other hand, if it is determined in S1908 that there is no restriction based on the print format restriction information, “None” is displayed at the corresponding location in the print format restriction column 2503 of the document list display screen 2500 (S1910).

  Next, the print format restriction information determination unit 10404 refers to the rounding processing information 2300 and determines whether or not restriction is imposed by the device capability information (S1911). Whether or not there is a restriction is determined by referring to the item “Rounding” (2308, 2323, 2332, 2341) in “Rounding by device capability information” of the rounding processing information 2300 for each printing style. For example, since 2308 is “rounding = none”, it is determined that “the selected document is not restricted by the device capability information”.

  If it is determined in S1911 that there is a restriction based on the device capability information, “present” is displayed in the corresponding portion of the device capability restriction column 2504 of the document list display screen 2500 in FIG. 25 described later (S1912). On the other hand, if it is determined in S1911 that there is no restriction based on the device capability information, “None” is displayed at the corresponding location in the device capability restriction column 2504 of the document list display screen 2500 (S1913).

  The processes in S1905 to S1913 described above are repeated for all information described in the document list information 1800. If it is determined in S1914 that all document information has been processed, the document list display process is terminated (S1915).

  As described above, on the document list display screen 2500 shown in FIG. 25, “Yes” or “No” is displayed in the area 2503 or 2504 regarding the print format restriction by the processing of S1909, S1910, S1912, and S1913 in FIG. Is done. As a result, the print executor can visually confirm whether or not the print format is restricted.

  FIG. 34 shows another example of the document list display screen. In the case of FIG. 34, a doll icon 3401 and a printer icon 3402 are displayed in the document list. When the restriction is imposed by the print permission information 1600 for each user, a cross mark is given to the doll icon 3401, and when the restriction is imposed by the device capability information 2000, a cross mark is given to the printer icon 3402. . Alternatively, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the icon color is changed and displayed. For example, when the restriction is imposed by the print permission information 1600 for each user, the color of the doll icon 3401 is changed to red or the like and displayed. Also, when the device capability information 2000 restricts, the color of the printer icon 3402 is changed to red or the like and displayed.

  FIG. 35 shows still another example of the document list display screen. In the case of FIG. 35, when restrictions are imposed by the print permission information 1600 for each user, it is shaded with an upward-sloping diagonal line, and when restrictions are imposed by the device capability information 2000, it is shaded with a downward-sloping diagonal line. To do. In addition, when restrictions are imposed by both the print permission information 1600 and the device capability information 2000, a shaded display in a frame format is displayed. Alternatively, instead of the distinction by shading as shown in FIG. 35, the color of the document list may be changed and displayed. For example, when restrictions are imposed by the print permission information 1600, it is displayed in red, when restrictions are imposed by the device capability information 2000, it is displayed in blue, and when restrictions are imposed by both the print permission information 1600 and the device capability information 2000, it is green. Display.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of device capability information created in S1902 of FIG. The illustrated device capability information 2000 describes the presence / absence of a double-sided printing function 2001, the presence / absence of a stapling function 2002, the presence / absence of a punching function 2003, and the presence / absence of a toner saving mode function 2004.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of document information used in S1905 of FIG. 19, S2102, S2103, S2105, S2106 of FIG. The document information 2400 is logical information indicating information regarding a specific document among information regarding a plurality of documents listed in the document list information 1800. For example, when “n = 1” in FIG. 19, the document information 2400 indicates the first information included in the document list information 1800.

  FIG. 25 is a view showing an example of a document list screen displayed on the screen display device 304 by the document list display unit 104 of the printer 104. Reference numeral 2501 denotes an area for displaying a document name. In step S1906 in FIG. 19, the document list display unit 10405 displays information described in the document name 2401 of the document information. Reference numeral 2502 denotes an area for displaying a submitted user, which displays information described in the submitted user ID 1801 of the document information. 2503 displays “Yes” when the print format restriction information determination unit 10403 determines that there is a restriction based on the determination of S1908 in FIG. 19, and displays “No” when it determines that there is no restriction. As described above, it is an area. Also, in the case of 2504, “Yes” is displayed when the print format restriction information determination unit 10403 determines that there is a restriction according to the determination of S1908 in FIG. 19, and “None” when it is determined that there is no restriction. The area to be displayed is as described above.

  Reference numerals 2506 to 2508 denote the results of performing the above display processing for all the documents described in the document list information 1800. The print executor can change the print format of the specified document by designating an arbitrary document on the document list display screen and pressing a print format change button 2509. In addition, the print executor can designate an arbitrary document on the document list display screen and press the print execution button 2510 to instruct print processing of the designated document. With the document list display screen as shown in FIG. 25, the print executor can confirm whether or not the print appearance specified by the submitter at the time of submission is restricted by the print executor's print permission information. It is also possible to easily confirm whether or not the printing style designated by the submitter at the time of submission is restricted by the processing capability of the printer 104.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by the print program when the print format change button 2509 or the print execution button 2510 on the document list display screen 2500 is pressed.

  Based on the selection operation of the print performer, one of the documents is selected from the document list (2505 to 2508) (S2602). At this time, the document list display unit 10405 displays the selected document by distinguishing it from other documents by changing the color or displaying the selected document. In the case of FIG. 25, it is assumed that the document indicated by 2505 is selected by the user in S2602. In this state, when the user presses the print execution button 2510, the rounding processing information 2300 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the printing style designated at the time of submission is restricted (S2605). In the case of the rounding processing information 2300 illustrated in FIG. 23, the one-side designation is rounded to the two-side designation from 2305, 2306, and 2310 according to the print format restriction information. From 2314, 2315, and 2316, 1up designation is rounded to 2up designation by the print format restriction information. Further, from 2341, 2342, 2343, the punch presence designation is rounded to the no punch designation according to the device capability information. As described above, in S2602, it is determined that “the printing style is limited”.

  On the other hand, when the information regarding the rounding process is not described in the rounding process information, it is determined that “the printing style is not limited”. If there is no printing restriction, a job ticket file 2800 shown in FIG. 28 is created (S2608). The job ticket file 2800 is a file used when the printer 104 makes a PDL acquisition request to the document management server 102 in the process of S2609 described later. As shown in FIG. 28, the job ticket file 2800 describes information relating to a document ID 2801, a printer driver model 2802 used at the time of creating a PDL, and a print style indicated by 2803 to 2808. Based on the information described in the job ticket 2800, the document management server 102 can perform PDL conversion on the specified document data and send it to the requesting printer 104 by a processing flow described later.

  Next, the job ticket file 2800 is transmitted to the document management server 102 and a PDL acquisition request is made (S2609). After that, when receiving the PDL corresponding to the document data specified by the job ticket from the document management server 102, the printing unit 10407 prints out the received PDL using the image forming unit 307 (S2610), and the process ends ( S2612).

  If it is determined in S2605 that printing restrictions are applied, the rounding information described in the rounding information is displayed on the printing restriction notification screen 2900 shown in FIG. 29 (S2606). The print restriction notification screen 2900 displays information on the rounding process based on the print permission information in the area 2901 and information on the rounding process based on the device capability information in the area 2904. For example, when the rounding processing information is 2300 shown in FIG. 23, the one-side designation is rounded to the two-side designation and the 1up designation is rounded to the two-up designation by the print permission information, so that information is displayed in 2902 and 2903. Further, since the punching designation is rounded to the punchless designation according to the device capability information, a message to that effect is displayed in 2905. In FIG. 29, a print continuation button 2906 and a print cancel button 2907 are prepared, and when the print executor's instruction is continuation of printing, printing processing is performed by the above-described S2608, S2609, and S2610. If the print executor's instruction is to cancel printing, the process ends (S2612). If the print executor's instruction is a print format change in S2603, a print format change process described later is performed (S2611), and the process ends.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when the print executor presses the print format change button 2509 on the document list display screen 2500.

  In FIG. 27, first, the print style change screen 3000 shown in FIG. 30 is displayed (S2702). The print format change screen 3000 displays, for example, a copy number designation area 3001, a print surface designation area 3002, a page layout designation area 3003, and a designation area 3004 indicating whether or not to use the toner saving mode. Further, a designation 3005 indicating whether or not the staple function is used and a designation 3006 indicating whether or not the punch function is used are also displayed. Here, the print program disables display so that items that cannot be specified in the print permission information 1600 and the device capability information 2000 cannot be selected. In the example of FIG. 30, “one side” of the printing surface 3002, “1up” of the page layout 3003, and punch designation 3006 are disabled and displayed in different colors. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the print executor cannot select a disabled display location by changing the color in this way.

  Next, the printing program displays the values described in the submission specified values (2303, 2312, 2318, 2327, 2336) of the rounding processing information 2300 (S2703). At this stage, the designated value at the time of submission may overlap with the disabled display portion. In the print appearance display screen 3000 shown in FIG. 30, for example, “one side” of the print surface 3002 is checked even though it is disabled. As a result, the print executor can determine that the currently specified print surface setting is limited.

  On the print appearance display screen 3000, if the print executor changes a setting value (for example, changes the setting of the print side from one side to double side), a check is added to the changed setting value, and the setting value before the change is checked Is removed and the display of the print style change screen 3000 is updated (S2705). When the print performer presses the OK button 3007, the value checked on the print format change screen 3000 is referred to, and the specified value at the time of submission of the rounding processing information 3300 (2303, 2312, 2318, 2327, 2336) Is updated (S2706). Then, the display content of the document list display screen 2500 is updated (S2707), and the process is terminated (S2708). If the print executor presses the cancel button on the print style change screen 3000, the process is terminated as it is (S2708). In the present embodiment, the display content update on the document list display screen 2500 in S2707 specifically performs the processing shown in S1908 to S1913 in FIG.

  FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the print data conversion unit 10203 of the document management server 102 when the printing program of the printer 104 issues a PDL acquisition request to the document management server 102 in S2609 of FIG.

  First, in S3102, a PDL conversion request is received together with a job ticket 2800 from the request issuer. Thereafter, the document data stored in the auxiliary storage device 203 of the document management server 102 is acquired based on the document ID described in the job ticket 2800 (S3103). Next, using the printer driver specified by the printer driver model described in the job ticket 2800, the acquired document data is converted to PDL by reflecting the print format (2803 to 2808) described in the job ticket 2800. (S3104). Then, the converted PDL is transmitted to the request issuer (S3105), and the process ends (S3106).

  The document data is not limited to a specific format. For example, it may be a Microsoft (registered trademark) Word document or a text document. The document management server 102 can perform print processing (PDL conversion) on these documents using a printer driver. For example, in the case of a Word document, it is possible to perform printing in a printing style designated by a printer designated using an interface such as OLE of a Word application.

  FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a print format restriction information management screen 3300 for setting print format restriction information for each user managed by the user authentication server 103. FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of print format restriction information management processing using the print style restriction information management screen 3300 shown in FIG.

  The print format restriction information management unit 10302 refers to the information described in the user management information 1500 and displays a user list in an area indicated by 3301 of the print style restriction information management screen 3300 (S3202). When the user to be set is selected (S3203), the printing style restriction information management unit 10302 displays the printing style restriction information of the selected user in the area indicated by 3302 of the printing style restriction information management screen 3300. (S3204). When the user designates each print style in the area 3302 of the print style restriction information management screen 3300 (S3206) and presses the apply button 3303, the following update processing is performed. That is, the information of the user management information 1500 is updated with the designated print format information as the print format restriction information of the user designated in S3203 (S3207). If the cancel button 3304 is pressed on the print format restriction information management screen 3300, the changed contents are discarded and the process is terminated (S3209).

  The main points of the processing in the above embodiment will be summarized. First, document data is submitted from the client 101 to the document management server 102 by a document data uploader. Thereafter, a print execution person who has undergone user authentication with the printer 104 (may be the same as or different from the submitter) prints the document data already submitted to the document management server 102 to the printer 104. Instructed. Then, the printer 104 acquires the print format restriction information associated with the print performer from the authentication server 103, and when the print format information desired by the print performer is limited by the acquired print format information, Screen display control is performed so that the print executor can determine this. As a result, the print executor can reset the print format so that the print format is not restricted.

(Modification 1)
As a modified example, when the print format specified by the submitter is limited by the print format restriction information or device capability information of the print performer, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which rounding processing is automatically performed. is there.

  Since the outline of the system configuration and processing is the same as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a modification of the document list display process in the printer 104 shown in FIG. In the figure, the processing other than the portion surrounded by F1900 is the same as that in FIG. When the document list display unit 10405 creates the rounding processing information described above (S1907), the document list display unit 10405 determines whether there is a restriction based on the print format restriction information (S3701).

  FIG. 38 shows a document list display screen 3800 displayed on the printer 104 according to this modification. This document list display screen 3800 is similar to the document list display screen 2500 shown in FIG. 25, but since this modification is configured to automatically perform rounding processing, a button corresponding to the print format change button 2509 is provided. It is not done.

  If it is determined in S3701 that there is a restriction based on the print format restriction information, “print format has been rounded” is displayed at the corresponding position in the print format restriction field 3803 in FIG. 38 (S3704). On the other hand, if it is determined in S3701 that such a restriction is not applied, it is determined in S3703 whether or not the restriction based on the device capability information is applied. If it is determined that the restriction is applied, “print format is rounded” is displayed in the print format restriction field 3803 of FIG. 38 (S3704).

  With the above configuration, when printing, the printing style designated by the submitter is restricted by the printing style restriction information or the device capability information of the print performer, it is possible to automatically perform rounding processing.

(Modification 2)
By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the print performer can change the print format specified by the submitter at the time of printing by the print performer's own print execution permission authority. However, it is also possible for the submitter to provide an option for designating such a change in the print format in advance. For example, when a submitter submits document data from the client 101 to the document management server 102, the submitter provides the submitter with a submission screen as shown in FIG. The submission screen 3600 shown in FIG. 5 is substantially the same as the submission screen 500 shown in FIG. 5, but includes a designation item 3601 that prohibits a change in print format during printing. When this designation item 3601 is checked, the designation information is included in the submitted document information. In this case, when the print performer performs printing, regardless of the setting contents of the print format restriction information 1600 and the device capability information 2000, the change of the print format is not permitted.

  Accordingly, it is possible to specify whether or not to restrict the print style according to the judgment of the submitter, and it can be used according to the application, and convenience is improved. For example, when a university professor who is a submitter distributes a print to a student, printing based on the print format set at the time of submission is ensured regardless of the student's print format restriction authority.

(Other embodiments)
The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above. In the present invention, a program for realizing each function of the above-described embodiments is supplied directly or remotely to a system or apparatus, and a computer included in the system or apparatus reads and executes the supplied program code. Can also be achieved.

  Accordingly, since the functions and processes of the present invention are implemented by a computer, the program code itself installed in the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the computer program itself for realizing the functions and processes is also one aspect of the present invention.

  In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW. Examples of the recording medium include a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like.

  The program may be downloaded from a homepage on the Internet using a browser on a client computer. That is, the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function may be downloaded from a home page to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Further, it is also possible to divide the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and download each file from a different home page. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functions and processing of the present invention on a computer may be a constituent requirement of the present invention.

  Further, the program of the present invention may be encrypted and stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed to users. In this case, only the user who cleared the predetermined condition is allowed to download the key information to be decrypted from the homepage via the Internet, decrypt the program encrypted with the key information, execute it, and install the program on the computer May be.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the computer executing the read program. Note that an OS or the like running on the computer may perform part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program. Of course, also in this case, the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized.

  Furthermore, the program read from the recording medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Based on the instructions of the program, a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing. In this way, the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network system including an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied and a functional configuration example of each node. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the computer system which functions as a client in this embodiment, a document management server, or a user authentication server. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the printer in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the client in embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the submission screen displayed with a client. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of a connection destination document management server connection destination information. It is a figure which shows an example of submitted document information. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a document management server. It is a figure which shows the data structure example of document management information. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing contents of the printer according to the embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the login screen of the printer in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the user authentication information produced | generated by the printer in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display at the time of login failure by the printer in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the user authentication process in a user authentication server. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the user management information which a user authentication server manages. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of printing style restriction | limiting information. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in which a document management server transmits document list information to a printer. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the document list information which a document management server transmits to a printer. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of document list display processing in a printer. It is a figure which shows an example of apparatus capability information. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a rounding information creation process. It is a figure which shows an example of rounding process information (initial value). It is a figure which shows an example of rounding process information (after a process). It is a figure which shows an example of document list information. It is a figure which shows an example of a document list display screen. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of a printer when printing execution or printing style change is selected on a document list display screen. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print format change process in a printer. It is a figure which shows an example of a job ticket file. It is a figure which shows an example of a printing restriction notification screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a printing style change screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the PDL creation process in a document management server. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the management process of stamp printing style restriction information. It is a figure which shows an example of a printing style restriction | limiting information management screen. It is a figure which shows another example of a document list display screen. It is a figure which shows another example of a document list display screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the submission screen which concerns on the modification 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a document list display process in Modification 1. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document list display screen in Modification 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st modification of the system configuration | structure shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification of the system configuration | structure shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 3rd modification of the system configuration | structure shown in FIG.

Claims (8)

An authentication means for authenticating the user;
Display means for displaying a list of information of one or more document data printable by the user when authentication by the authentication means is successful;
Selecting means for selecting any document data from the information of the one or more document data displayed in a list by the display means;
Image forming means for forming an image of the document data selected by the selection means in a format based on appearance information attached to the document data;
Have
Further comprising an acquisition means for acquiring the user's appearance restriction information,
The display means, for each of the one or more document data, if the appearance based on the accompanying appearance information is subject to restriction based on the appearance restriction information acquired by the acquisition means, An image forming apparatus for displaying.   Of the one or more document data, the document data further includes a changing unit that changes the appearance of the document data whose appearance based on the accompanying appearance information is restricted based on the appearance restriction information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the changing unit changes the appearance according to an instruction from a user.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the changing unit automatically changes the appearance so that the appearance is not subject to restriction based on the appearance restriction information.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display unit further displays to that effect the document data whose appearance has been changed by the changing unit. The appearance information attached to each document data includes instruction information indicating whether or not to change the appearance.
6. The change of the appearance by the changing means is prohibited regardless of the appearance restriction information when the instruction information instructs to prohibit the change of the appearance. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The display means further displays, for each of the one or more document data, if the appearance based on the accompanying appearance information is a restriction target based on the device capability of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus that forms an image of document data in a format based on format information attached to the document data,
An authentication step for authenticating the user;
A display step of displaying a list of information of one or more document data printable by the user when the authentication is successful in the authentication step;
A selection step of selecting document data for image formation from information on the one or more document data displayed in a list in the display step;
An acquisition step of acquiring the user's appearance restriction information;
Have
In the display step, for each of the one or more document data, if the appearance based on the accompanying appearance information is a target of restriction based on the appearance restriction information acquired in the acquisition step, further information to that effect A control method for an image forming apparatus, characterized by displaying.

Images