JP2008146458A - Print control program and device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print control program and device capable of preventing an increase in storage capacity and maintaining a restraining effect of a pattern image in a print system having an image log function. <P>SOLUTION: When a pattern image cannot be analyzed into digital data, print data and the pattern image are saved. When the pattern image can be analyzed into digital data, analyzed digital data is saved. When the digital data needs to be encrypted, the encrypted digital data is saved. When the content of digital data indicates a print prohibition attribute, the print data and the digital data are discarded, the print data with image quality adjusted is saved, or history data is saved. Upon receiving a reprint instruction, the content of digital data is converted when so instructed, and reprinting is performed. The digital data is encrypted when needed, and reprinting is performed. When the content of digital data indicates the print prohibition attribute, various prohibition processings are performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control program and apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when print data created by a PC or the like is printed out using a printer, a technique for superimposing an image called a background pattern (hereinafter referred to as a background pattern image) on the background of the print data has become widespread. This copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image appears as a simple pattern in the original printed matter output by the printer, but when copying or the like, certain characters etc. appear on the copied printed matter. Can be given.

  For example, when an instruction to store print data in a printing apparatus is received from a user, printing that promotes the original pattern guarantee property and psychological restraint effect of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print by limiting the number of times and the number of copies of a document with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern There are a control device, a printing control method, and a computer program (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is a print system having an image log function in which a print server collectively controls print data requested to be printed from a PC on a network, and the print data is stored for reprinting.

For example, there is a network printer that can store printout history data of an actual printout image with a small capacity and that can be easily confirmed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2005-111957 A JP-A-10-187364

  Here, when printing with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is performed in the print system as described above, if the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is stored together with the original print data, a problem arises in that the storage capacity increases. It is possible to solve the problem of storage capacity by dropping the image, but using the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with reduced resolution by reprinting makes the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image difficult to see and the check effect of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image A new problem of weakening occurs.

  Accordingly, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a print control program and apparatus capable of preventing an increase in storage capacity and maintaining a check effect by a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in a print system having an image log function. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a process for receiving a print job from a client connected via communication means, and a process for transmitting the received print job to a printer connected via the communication means. When the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added to the print data to be printed included in the print job, the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are separated, and the separated print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are stored in a storage unit. The processing is performed by a computer.

  In the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be analyzed into digital data, the digital data is analyzed from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, and the analysis is performed instead of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. A process of storing digital data in the storage means is operated by a computer.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the process of encrypting the digital data and the process of storing the encrypted digital data in the storage unit instead of the digital data are performed in a computer. It is characterized by operating.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the computer is caused to operate a process for prohibiting storage of the digital data and the print data in the storage unit according to the contents of the digital data. And

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, a process for adjusting the image quality of the print data in accordance with the contents of the digital data, and print data with the image quality adjusted instead of the print data. It is stored in the storage means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the print data and history data relating to the print job are stored in the storage unit instead of the digital data in accordance with the contents of the digital data. And

  In the invention of claim 7, in the invention of claim 2, when the reprint instruction is received from the client, the print data and the digital data instructed to reprint are acquired from the storage unit. A computer is operated for processing, processing for generating a tint block image based on the acquired digital data, and processing for generating a print job based on the generated tint block image and the acquired print data. .

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7, wherein when the instruction for converting the content of the digital data is received together with the instruction for reprinting, the content of the acquired digital data is changed according to the instruction for conversion. A computer is operated to perform the conversion process.

  According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the seventh aspect of the invention, the computer is operated to perform the process of encrypting the acquired digital data.

  The invention of claim 10 is the process of the invention of claim 7, wherein the processing of analyzing the content of the acquired digital data and the processing of performing the prohibition processing on the print data according to the content of the analyzed digital data. Is operated by a computer.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 10, wherein the prohibition process prohibits reprinting of the print data, outputs the print data in an unreadable state, and partially unreadable the print data. It is characterized by outputting in a state.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the computer according to the tenth aspect of the present invention causes a computer to perform a process of performing a prohibition process corresponding to each user who has instructed the reprinting.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the fourth, fifth, sixth or tenth aspect, the contents of the digital data indicate a print prohibition attribute.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving unit that receives a print job from a client connected via a communication unit, and a print job that transmits the print job received by the receiving unit to a printer connected via the communication unit. A transmission unit; a separation unit that separates the print data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image when a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added to print data to be printed included in the print job; and the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image separated by the separation unit And a storage means for storing.

  The invention of claim 15 further comprises a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image analyzing means for analyzing the digital copy data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be analyzed into digital data. Is characterized in that the digital data analyzed by the tint block analysis means is stored instead of the tint block image.

  Further, the invention of claim 16 further comprises an encryption means for encrypting the digital data in the invention of claim 15, and the storage means is encrypted by the encryption means instead of the digital data. It is characterized by storing digital data.

  The invention of claim 17 is the invention of claim 15, further comprising storage control means for prohibiting storage of the digital data and the print data in the storage means in accordance with the contents of the digital data. Features.

  The invention of claim 18 further comprises image quality adjustment means for adjusting the image quality of the print data in accordance with the contents of the digital data in the invention of claim 15, and the storage means replaces the print data. And storing the print data whose image quality is adjusted by the image quality adjusting means.

  The invention of claim 19 is the invention of claim 15, wherein the storage means stores the print data and history data relating to the print job instead of the digital data according to the contents of the digital data. Features.

  The invention according to claim 20 is the invention according to claim 15, wherein when the accepting unit accepts an instruction for reprinting from the client, the print data instructed for reprinting from the storage unit and the digital An acquisition unit for acquiring data, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit for generating a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on the digital data acquired by the acquisition unit, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generated by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit, and print data acquired by the acquisition unit And a print job generation unit configured to generate a print job based on the print job.

  According to a twenty-first aspect of the invention, in the twentieth aspect of the invention, the digital data acquired by the acquiring means when the receiving means receives an instruction to convert the contents of the digital data together with the reprint instruction. It further comprises conversion means for converting the contents in accordance with the conversion instruction.

  The invention of claim 22 is the invention of claim 20, further comprising an encryption means for encrypting the digital data acquired by the acquisition means.

  According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect of the invention, the digital data analyzing means for analyzing the contents of the digital data acquired by the acquiring means and the contents of the digital data analyzed by the digital data analyzing means. It further comprises prohibition processing execution means for performing prohibition processing on the print data.

  In the invention of claim 24, in the invention of claim 23, the prohibition process prohibits reprinting of the print data, outputs the print data in an unreadable state, and partially unreadable the print data. It is characterized by outputting in a state.

  According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the invention, in the twenty-third aspect of the invention, the prohibition processing execution unit executes a prohibition process corresponding to each user who has instructed the reprinting.

  According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth or twenty-third aspect, the content of the digital data indicates a print prohibition attribute.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to save the storage capacity even when storing print data to which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when reprinting is performed, the security level of the stored print data is maintained, so that it is possible to maintain the check effect by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, since individual security levels can be set for stored print data, it is possible to maintain the check effect by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a print control apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the print control apparatus 1 is connected to a client 2 such as a PC and a printer 3 via a communication line such as a network. Although only one client 2 and one printer 3 are shown in FIG. 1, the print control apparatus 1 can be connected to a plurality of clients 2 and printers 3.

  The print control apparatus 1 receives a print processing request (hereinafter referred to as a print job) to the printer 3 including print data to be printed and print parameters from the client 2, and assigns the received print job to the printer 3. A storage process for storing the print data included in the print job, and a reprint process for causing the printer to reprint the print data when an instruction to reprint the print data stored from the client 2 is received.

  Next, the functional configuration of the print control apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the print control apparatus 1 includes a reception unit 4, a processing unit 5, a print job transmission control unit 6, and a storage unit 7.

  The accepting unit 4 performs a process for accepting a print job transmitted from the client 2 or a process for accepting a reprint instruction.

  The processing unit 5 performs a storage process of print data included in the print job received by the reception unit 4 or performs a reprint process according to a reprint instruction received by the reception unit 4. A detailed description of the above-described storage process and reprint process will be described in detail later.

  The print job transmission control unit 6 performs processing for transmitting a print job to the printer 3.

  The storage unit 7 stores print data included in a print job.

  Next, a functional configuration of the processing unit 5 when performing the storage process will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the processing unit 5 includes a separation unit 8, a tint block image analysis unit 9, an encryption unit 10, an image quality adjustment unit 11, and a storage control unit 12.

  The separation unit 8 separates the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image when an image called a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern (hereinafter referred to as a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image) is added to the background of the print data when printing is performed using the printer 3. Perform the process.

  When the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image separated from the print data by the separation unit 8 can be analyzed into digital data, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image analysis unit 9 performs processing for analyzing the digital data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image.

  The encryption unit 10 performs processing for encrypting the digital data analyzed by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image analysis unit 9.

  The image quality adjustment unit 11 adjusts the image quality of the print data separated from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image by the separation unit 8 (specifically, the print data contents are unreadable and reduced to an image quality that allows only the layout to be determined). I do.

  The storage control unit 12 performs storage control of the print data, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, and digital data in the storage unit 7.

  Next, a functional configuration of the processing unit when performing the reprinting process will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the processing unit 5 includes an acquisition unit 13, a digital data analysis unit 14, a conversion unit 15, an encryption unit 10, a prohibition processing unit 16, a tint block image generation unit 17, and a print job generation unit 18. Configured.

  The acquisition unit 13 performs processing for acquiring, from the storage unit 7, print data instructed to be reprinted and digital data (or a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image) stored together with the print data.

  When the acquisition unit 13 acquires digital data, the digital data analysis unit 14 performs processing for analyzing the contents of the digital data.

  When receiving an instruction for reprinting from the client 2 and an instruction for converting the contents of the digital data, the converting unit 15 performs processing for converting the contents of the digital data acquired from the storage unit 7 according to the instructions.

  The encryption unit 10 performs a process of encrypting the digital data acquired from the storage unit 7 or the digital data whose contents are converted by the conversion unit 15.

  The prohibition processing unit 16 performs various prohibition processes (specifically, prohibition of reprinting, unreadable output, partially unreadable output, etc.) according to the contents of the digital data analyzed by the digital data analysis unit 14. Do.

  The tint block image generation unit 17 performs a process of generating a tint block image based on the digital data.

  The print job generation unit 18 performs processing for generating a print job based on the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image instructed to reprint.

  Note that the above-described receiving unit 4, processing unit 5 (separation unit 8 included in the processing unit 5, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image analysis unit 9, encryption unit 10, image quality adjustment unit 11, storage control unit 12, acquisition unit 13, digital data analysis Section 14, conversion section 15, prohibition processing section 16, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation section 17, print job generation section 18), and print job transmission control section 6 as functions (corresponding to the print control program according to the present invention) It is also possible to apply the configuration installed in the server.

  Next, storage processing and reprint processing performed by the print control apparatus 1 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of storage processing performed by the print control apparatus.

  When the reception unit receives a reprint instruction from the client (NO in S401 and YES in S402), the process proceeds to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. If it is not a print job or a reprint instruction received from the client (NO in S401 and NO in S402), the process ends.

  When the reception unit receives a print job from the client (NO in S401), the print job transmission control unit transmits the print job to the printer (S403), and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added to the print data included in the print job. If the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not added (NO in S404), the process proceeds to S405. If the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added (YES in S404), the process proceeds to S406.

  If the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not added (NO in S404), the storage control unit stores the print data in the storage unit (S405), and the process ends.

  If a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added (YES in S404), the separation unit separates the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image (S406), and checks whether the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be analyzed into digital data. If it is impossible to analyze the digital data (NO in S407), the process proceeds to S408. If the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be analyzed to digital data (YES in S407), the process proceeds to S409.

  If the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image cannot be analyzed into digital data (NO in S407), the storage control unit stores the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image separately in the storage unit (S408), and the process ends.

  If the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be analyzed into digital data (YES in S407), the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image analysis unit analyzes the digital data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image (S409), analyzes the contents of the digital data (S410), It is confirmed whether or not storage of print data is prohibited according to the contents of the data. If storage of print data is prohibited (YES in S411), the process proceeds to S412 and storage of print data is prohibited. If not (NO in S411), the process proceeds to S415.

  When storage of print data is prohibited (YES in S411), history data related to the print job according to the contents of the digital data (specifically, the name of the user who instructed printing, the print execution time, the title of the print data, etc.) ) Is prohibited, and storage of history data is not prohibited (NO in S412), the storage control unit stores the history data in the storage unit (S413), and ends the process. If history data storage is prohibited (YES in S412), the storage control unit stores nothing in the storage unit (S414) and ends the process.

  If storage of print data is not prohibited (NO in S411), it is confirmed whether digital data encryption is necessary according to the contents of the digital data, and if digital data encryption is necessary (S415). YES), the encryption unit encrypts the digital data (S416), and proceeds to S417. If digital data encryption is not required (NO in S415), the process proceeds to S417.

  Then, it is confirmed whether or not the image quality adjustment of the print data is necessary according to the contents of the digital data. If the image quality adjustment of the print data is necessary (YES in S417), the image quality adjustment unit adjusts the image quality of the print data. (S418), the process proceeds to S419. If it is not necessary to adjust the image quality of the print data (NO in S417), the process proceeds to S419.

  Then, the storage control unit stores the digital data and the print data separately in the storage unit (S419), and the process ends.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the reprint process performed by the print control apparatus.

  When the accepting unit accepts a reprint instruction from the client in S402 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 (YES in S402), the obtaining unit obtains the print data instructed to reprint from the storage unit and the digital data If YES in S501, the process proceeds to S502. If the acquisition unit acquires print data and acquires a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image (or does not acquire anything) (NO in S501), the process proceeds to S509.

  When the acquisition unit acquires the print data instructed to be reprinted from the storage unit and acquires digital data (YES in S501), the digital data analysis unit analyzes the contents of the digital data (S502), and the analyzed digital data If the prohibition process is not necessary (NO in S503), the process proceeds to S504. If the prohibition process is necessary (YES in S503), the process proceeds to S510. move on.

  If prohibition processing is not required (NO in S503), it is confirmed whether or not conversion of digital data content is instructed together with an instruction for reprinting, and if there is a conversion instruction (YES in S504), the conversion unit displays the digital data. The contents are converted (S505), and the process proceeds to S506. If there is no conversion instruction (NO in S504), the process proceeds to S506.

  Then, it is confirmed whether or not the digital data needs to be encrypted according to the contents of the digital data. If encryption is necessary (YES in S506), the encryption unit encrypts the digital data (S507), The process proceeds to S508, and if encryption is not necessary (NO in S506), the process proceeds to S508.

  Then, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit generates a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on the digital data (S508), and the process proceeds to S509.

  Then, the print job generation unit generates a print job based on the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image (S509), the print job transmission control unit transmits the generated print job to the printer (S510), and the process ends.

  If the prohibition process is necessary (YES in S503), the prohibition processing unit performs the prohibition process according to the contents of the digital data (S511), and if the prohibition process performed is prohibition of reprinting (in S512). (YES), the process ends, and if the implemented prohibition process is not prohibition of reprinting (NO in S512), the process proceeds to S508, and the tint block image generation unit generates a tint block image based on the digital data (S508). The print job generation unit generates a print job based on the print data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image subjected to the prohibition process (S509), and the print job transmission control unit transmits the generated print job to the printer (S510), and the process ends. To do.

  Next, a specific example of the storage process performed by the print control apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 added to the print data 19 cannot be analyzed into digital data, the print control apparatus 1 stores the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image separately.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 added to the print data 19 can be analyzed into the digital data 21, the print control apparatus 1 analyzes the digital data 21 ( “ABCDEFGH”) is stored separately, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 is discarded. Therefore, storing the digital data 21 having a smaller capacity than the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 can prevent an increase in storage capacity.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the digital data 21 can be analyzed from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 added to the print data 19 and the digital data 21 needs to be encrypted according to the contents of the digital data 21, the print control device 1 separately stores the print data 19 and the encrypted digital data 22 (in the figure, “ABCDEFGH” is encrypted to “FJAKSDJA”), and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 is discarded.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the digital data 21 can be analyzed from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 added to the print data 19, and the contents of the digital data 21 indicate print prohibition attributes such as copy prohibition, the print control is performed. The apparatus 1 discards the print data 19 and the digital data 21 without storing them (the ground pattern image 20 is also discarded).

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the digital data 21 can be analyzed from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 added to the print data 19 and the contents of the digital data 21 indicate a print prohibition attribute such as copy prohibition, the print control is performed. The apparatus 1 adjusts the image quality (in the drawing, the content of the print data 19 is unreadable and reduces the image quality to such an extent that only the layout can be determined) and the digital data 21 (which may be encrypted). The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 is discarded separately.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the digital data 21 can be analyzed from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 added to the print data 19 and the contents of the digital data 21 indicate a print prohibition attribute such as copy prohibition, the print control is performed. The apparatus 1 discards the print data 19 and the digital data 21 without storing them (discards the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20). Instead, the history data 24 regarding the print job (specifically, the name of the user who instructed printing, printing execution) Time, print data title, etc.).

  Therefore, according to the specific examples shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, it is possible to set individual security levels for handling the print data 19.

  Next, a specific example of the reprint process performed by the print control apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the print data 19 and the digital data 21 analyzed from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 (“ABCDEFGH” in the figure) are stored separately in the print control apparatus 1, a reprint instruction is accepted. In addition, when receiving an instruction to convert the content of the digital data 21, the print control apparatus 1 converts the content of the digital data 21 (in the figure, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 25 generated from the digital data converted from "ABCDEFGH" to "STUVWXYZ"). Add to print data) and reprint. Therefore, the user can add the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 having a desired content to the print data even by reprinting.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when print data 19 and digital data 21 ("ABCDEFGH" in the figure) analyzed from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 are separately stored in the print control apparatus 1, a reprint instruction is accepted. When it is necessary to encrypt the digital data 21 according to the contents of the digital data 21, the print control apparatus 1 encrypts the digital data 21 (in the figure, “ABCDEFGH” is generated from the digital data encrypted to “FJAKSDJA”). The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 26 is added to the print data 19) and reprinting is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the print data 19 and the digital data 21 analyzed from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 (“copy prohibited” in the figure) are stored separately in the print control apparatus 1, the contents of the digital data 21 Indicates a print prohibition attribute such as copy prohibition, the print control apparatus 1 performs various prohibition processes. In the figure, reprinting prohibition, unreadable output, and partially unreadable output are performed.

  As shown in FIG. 15, when the print data 19 and the digital data 21 analyzed from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 20 (“copy prohibited” in the figure) are stored separately in the print control apparatus 1, the contents of the digital data 21 Indicates a print prohibition attribute such as copy prohibition, the print control apparatus 1 performs a prohibition process corresponding to each user who instructed reprinting. In the figure, reprinting is prohibited in response to user A's reprinting instruction, unreadable output is issued in response to user B's reprinting instruction, and part of the reprinting instruction from user C is not possible. Reading is readable.

  Therefore, the specific examples shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 can maintain the original security level even when reprinting is performed.

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

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a printing control apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a functional structure of the process part at the time of performing a storage process. It is a figure which shows an example of a functional structure of the process part at the time of performing a printing process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of storage processing performed by the print control apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of reprint processing performed by the print control apparatus. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the storage process which a printing control apparatus performs. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the storage process which a printing control apparatus performs. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the storage process which a printing control apparatus performs. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the storage process which a printing control apparatus performs. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the storage process which a printing control apparatus performs. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the storage process which a printing control apparatus performs. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the reprint process which a printing control apparatus performs. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the reprint process which a printing control apparatus performs. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the reprint process which a printing control apparatus performs. It is a figure explaining the specific example of the reprint process which a printing control apparatus performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print control apparatus 2 Client 3 Printer 4 Reception part 5 Processing part 6 Print job transmission control part 7 Storage part 8 Separation part 9 Copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image analysis part 10 Encryption part 11 Image quality adjustment part 12 Storage control part 13 Acquisition part 14 Digital data analysis Unit 15 Conversion unit 16 Prohibition processing unit 17 Copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit 18 Print job generation unit 19 Print data 20 Copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 21 Digital data 22 Encrypted digital data 23 Print data with adjusted image quality 24 History data 25 Generated from converted digital data Copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 26 Copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generated from encrypted digital data

Claims (26)

Processing for receiving a print job from a client connected via a communication means;
Processing for transmitting the accepted print job to a printer connected via the communication means;
When a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added to print data to be printed included in the print job, a process of separating the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image;
A printing control program for causing a computer to perform the process of storing the separated print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in a storage unit. When the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be analyzed into digital data, processing for analyzing the digital data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image;
The printing control program according to claim 1, further comprising: causing the computer to perform processing for storing the analyzed digital data in the storage unit instead of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. Processing for encrypting the digital data;
The printing control program according to claim 2, further comprising: causing a computer to perform a process of storing the encrypted digital data in the storage unit instead of the digital data. The printing control program according to claim 2, wherein the computer is caused to operate a process for prohibiting storage of the digital data and the print data in the storage unit according to the contents of the digital data. A process of adjusting the image quality of the print data according to the content of the digital data;
The print control program according to claim 2, wherein the print data in which the image quality is adjusted is stored in the storage unit instead of the print data. The print control program according to claim 2, wherein the print data and history data regarding the print job are stored in the storage unit instead of the print data and the digital data according to the contents of the digital data. A process of acquiring the print data and the digital data instructed to be reprinted from the storage unit when receiving a reprint instruction from the client;
Processing for generating a tint block image based on the acquired digital data;
The print control program according to claim 2, further comprising: causing a computer to operate a process of generating a print job based on the generated copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and the acquired print data. 8. When receiving an instruction for converting the contents of the digital data together with the instruction for reprinting, the computer is caused to operate a process for converting the contents of the acquired digital data in accordance with the instructions for the conversion. The printing control program described. The print control program according to claim 7, wherein the computer operates the process of encrypting the acquired digital data. A process of analyzing the content of the acquired digital data;
8. The print control program according to claim 7, further comprising: causing a computer to perform a process of performing a prohibition process on the print data in accordance with the content of the analyzed digital data. The prohibition process is
11. The print control program according to claim 10, wherein reprinting of the print data is prohibited, the print data is output in an unreadable state, and the print data is output in a partially unreadable state. The printing control program according to claim 10, wherein a computer is operated to execute a prohibition process corresponding to each user who has instructed the reprinting. The contents of the digital data are:
The print control program according to claim 4, 5, 6, or 10, which indicates a print prohibition attribute. Accepting means for accepting a print job from a client connected via communication means;
A print job transmission unit that transmits a print job received by the reception unit to a printer connected via the communication unit;
When a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added to the print data to be printed included in the print job, separation means for separating the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image;
And a storage unit that stores the print data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image separated by the separation unit. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image analyzing means for analyzing the digital data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be analyzed into digital data;
The storage means is
The print control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the digital data analyzed by the tint block analysis unit is stored instead of the tint block image. An encryption means for encrypting the digital data;
The storage means is
The print control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the digital data encrypted by the encryption unit is stored instead of the digital data. The print control apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a storage control unit that prohibits storage of the digital data and the print data in the storage unit according to the content of the digital data. Image quality adjusting means for adjusting the image quality of the print data according to the contents of the digital data;
The storage means is
The print control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the print data in which the image quality is adjusted by the image quality adjustment unit is stored instead of the print data. The storage means is
The print control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein history data relating to the print job is stored instead of the print data and the digital data in accordance with the contents of the digital data. An acquisition unit that acquires the print data and the digital data instructed to be reprinted from the storage unit when the receiving unit receives a reprinting instruction from the client;
A tint block image generation unit configured to generate a tint block image based on the digital data acquired by the acquisition unit;
The print control apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a print job generation unit configured to generate a print job based on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generated by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit and the print data acquired by the acquisition unit. A conversion means for converting the contents of the digital data acquired by the acquisition means according to the conversion instructions when the reception means receives an instruction for conversion of the contents of the digital data together with the reprint instruction; The print control apparatus according to claim 20. 21. The print control apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising: an encryption unit that encrypts the digital data acquired by the acquisition unit. Digital data analysis means for analyzing the contents of the digital data acquired by the acquisition means;
21. The print control apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising prohibition processing execution means for performing prohibition processing on the print data in accordance with the contents of the digital data analyzed by the digital data analysis means. The prohibition process is
The print control apparatus according to claim 23, wherein reprinting of the print data is prohibited, the print data is output in an unreadable state, and the print data is output in a partially unreadable state. The prohibition processing execution means includes:
The print control apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a prohibition process corresponding to each user who has instructed the reprinting is performed. The contents of the digital data are:
The print control apparatus according to claim 17, 18, 19, or 23, wherein the print control attribute indicates a print prohibition attribute.

Images