JP2008155374A - Image forming apparatus, computer program, control computer, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the security efficiency of printing by enabling theft of a password by a third party to be prevented even when an image forming apparatus is in a halt. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises an input means for the password to be inputted to through the user's operation, a password generating means which generates the password, a password transmitting means which transmits the password generated by the password generating means to a connected computer, a printing means which carries out printing to a recording paper, and a control means which makes the printing means carry out printing based on an indication from the computer when the password transmitted by the password transmitting means to the computer is inputted to the input means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a computer program, a control computer, and an image forming system including a control unit that causes a printing unit to execute printing when a password is input to an input unit.

  Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as printers, fax machines, copiers, and multifunction machines have been used. These image forming apparatuses can acquire print data from an external computer such as a personal computer connected from the outside through a LAN, the Internet, or another network, and can print the acquired print data. Here, since the external computer is located at a different location from the image forming apparatus, the user of the computer causes the image forming apparatus to print using the external computer and then moves to the location of the image forming apparatus. Then, an output product printed by the image forming apparatus is obtained.

  In such an image forming apparatus, printing security may be required. The security of printing means that a printed output is not touched by the eyes of a third party because it is particularly necessary when, for example, personal information or confidential documents are printed.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus, the following confidential printing is performed in order to perform such highly secure printing. In confidential printing, the external computer transmits a password to the image forming apparatus together with print data representing an image to be printed. When the user moves to the location of the image forming apparatus and inputs the transmitted password to the image forming apparatus from the operation panel or the like, the image forming apparatus starts printing the print data. If such confidential printing is performed, the output of printing is started before the user moves to the location of the image forming apparatus, and the output can be prevented from being touched by a third party. Printing security can be ensured (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP-A-9-65148 JP 7-152520 A

  However, in such a conventional technique, even when the image forming apparatus is stopped, a password for causing the image forming apparatus to execute printing is prepared on the computer side. For this reason, even if the image forming apparatus is stopped, the computer has a password. Or? In such a case, there is a possibility that a third party steals the password due to unauthorized access to the computer.

  The present invention has been made in view of this point, and can improve security of printing by preventing a third party from stealing a password even when the image forming apparatus is in a stopped state. With the goal.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an input means for inputting a password by a user operation, a password generation means for generating a password, and a password transmission means for transmitting the password generated by the password generation means to a connected computer. Printing means for printing on recording paper; and when the password transmitted to the computer by the password transmission means is input to the input means, printing based on an instruction from the computer is performed on the printing means And an image forming apparatus including a control unit to be executed.

  According to this configuration, the password generated by the password generation unit of the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the computer by the password transmission unit, and when the transmitted password is input to the input unit of the image forming apparatus, Printing based on instructions from the computer is executed. For this reason, for example, since the password is not generated while the image forming apparatus is in the stopped state, the password does not flow out to a place outside the image forming apparatus unnecessarily when the image forming apparatus is in the stopped state. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the password from leaking and illegal printing while the image forming apparatus is in the stopped state, and to improve the security of printing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided print data receiving means for receiving print data from the computer, and the password transmitting means receives the password every time the print data is received from the computer by the print data receiving means. The password generated by the generation unit is transmitted to the computer, and the control unit receives the password transmitted to the computer by the password transmission unit, and the input password is transmitted to the computer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the printing data is transmitted to the computer, the printing data is received by the printing data receiving unit.

  With this configuration, every time print data is received by the print data receiving means of the image forming apparatus, a password is transmitted to the computer so that the password necessary for printing can be obtained on the computer side at the time of printing. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which there is no password and printing cannot be performed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, each time the print data receiving means receives print data from the computer, the password transmitting means transmits different passwords generated by the password generating means to the computer. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

  According to this configuration, even if the password is revealed to a third party for some reason, it is obvious except for printing of the print data received by the print data receiving means when the password is transmitted to the computer. Since the password cannot be executed with the new password, the harmful effect when the password is revealed to a third party can be reduced.

  The password generation unit may be a one-time password generation unit that generates a so-called one-time password. The password generation means may change the password to be generated according to, for example, the time when the password is generated or the number of times of printing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the print data transmission means for transmitting print data to the image forming apparatus and the print data are printed on the image forming apparatus by being input to the image forming apparatus by a user operation. It is a computer program for functioning as a password acquisition unit that acquires a password to be executed from the image forming apparatus and a notification unit that notifies a notification unit of the computer of the password acquired by the password acquisition unit.

  With this configuration, the password is acquired from the image forming apparatus, the acquired password is notified, and the image forming apparatus executes printing by inputting the notified password to the image forming apparatus. A password cannot be acquired while the apparatus is in a stopped state, and the password does not flow out to a place outside the image forming apparatus such as the computer unnecessarily when the image forming apparatus is in a stopped state. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the password from leaking and illegal printing while the image forming apparatus is in the stopped state, and to improve the security of printing.

  The invention according to claim 5 further causes the computer to function as a non-printable state detecting unit that detects that the image forming apparatus is in a non-printable state in which printing cannot be performed. 5. The computer program according to claim 4, for causing the computer to function as not transmitting the print data to the image forming apparatus while the image forming apparatus is detected to be in an unprintable state by the impossible state detecting means. It is.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent print data from being stored in the image forming apparatus even though the image forming apparatus is in an unprintable state. As a result, printing cannot be performed immediately, and there is no time for the print data to be left in the image forming apparatus even though the user is not aware of the printing. It is possible to improve the security by reducing the possibility of reading the print data and ensuring that the printed output is not exposed to the eyes of a third party.

  Note that when the image forming apparatus is in the “printing disabled state”, for example, at least a part of when the image forming apparatus is in the “stopped state”, in the sleep state, or during the warm-up operation. Can be considered included.

  In addition, with such a configuration, by sending print data to an image forming apparatus that is not ready for printing at an early stage, a user who is unconscious of printing forgets the password or inputs the password after that. Thus, it is possible to avoid forgetting to start printing of the print data, and to prevent the user from making mistakes.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the print data transmission unit detects the unprintable state and the unprintable state when the image forming apparatus is detected as unprintable by the unprintable state detection unit. And the password acquisition means transmits the print data transmission means when the image forming apparatus is detected as being in an unprintable state by the unprintable state detection means. However, the password is acquired from the image forming apparatus at the same time as or after the transmission of the print data to the image forming apparatus after the image forming apparatus is no longer detected by the unprintable state and the unprintable state detecting means. 6. A computer program according to claim 5 for causing said computer to function.

  According to this configuration, the password can be acquired by the computer at the same time as or after the transmission of the print data when the image forming apparatus is not in the unprintable state. As a result, it is possible to avoid the possibility that the password is acquired to the computer side before the print data is sent and the password is leaked to a third party. You can be sure not to see the eyes of a third party.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the print data transmitting means inputs a password by a user operation as in the case of the image forming apparatus when the non-printable state detecting means detects that the image forming apparatus is in an unprintable state. Thus, printing of the print data transmitted from the print data transmission unit is executed by the image forming apparatus, the print data is transmitted to another image forming apparatus, and the password acquisition unit is configured to transmit the print data by the print data transmission unit. When print data is transmitted to another image forming apparatus, the other image forming apparatus acquires a password for executing printing of the print data from the other image forming apparatus, and the notification unit is configured to acquire the password acquisition unit. When the password for executing printing by the other image forming apparatus is acquired, the acquired password is notified to the user. A claim 5, wherein a computer program for causing the computer to function as causing a notification to.

  According to this configuration, even when one image forming apparatus cannot print, printing of print data to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus by the print data transmitting unit by inputting a password by a user operation as in the case of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to use another image forming apparatus capable of executing the above-described processing, and to reliably perform printing so that a printed output is not touched by a third party's eyes.

  The invention according to claim 8 obtains a permission instruction from a user who permits printing on the other image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is detected to be unprintable by the unprintable state detecting means. The computer further functions as a permission instruction acquisition unit, and the print data transmission unit receives the permission instruction from the permission instruction acquisition unit when the image forming apparatus is detected to be unprintable by the unprintable state detection unit. 8. The computer program according to claim 7, which causes the computer to function as transmitting the print data to the other image forming apparatus only when it is acquired.

  According to this configuration, the user can give an instruction to switch whether or not to permit printing on another image forming apparatus by a permission instruction, and can freely select whether or not to print on another image forming apparatus. .

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the print data transmitting means for transmitting the print data to the image forming apparatus, and the print data is printed on the image forming apparatus by being input to the image forming apparatus by a user operation. A control computer comprising password acquisition means for acquiring a password from the image forming apparatus, and notification means for notifying the notification section of the control computer of the password acquired by the password acquisition means.

  With this configuration, the password is acquired from the image forming apparatus, the acquired password is notified, and printing is executed on the image forming apparatus by inputting the notified password to the image forming apparatus. When the forming apparatus is in a stopped state, the password is not unnecessarily leaked to a place outside the image forming apparatus such as the control computer. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the password from leaking and illegal printing while the image forming apparatus is in the stopped state, and to improve the security of printing.

  The invention according to claim 10 is an input means for inputting a password by a user operation, a password generation means for generating a password, and a password transmission means for transmitting the password generated by the password generation means to a connected computer. And printing means for printing on recording paper, and printing of print data received from the computer when the password transmitted to the computer by the password transmitting means is input to the input means. An image forming apparatus including a control unit to be executed by the unit, a print data transmitting unit that transmits print data to the image forming apparatus, a password receiving unit that receives a password transmitted to the computer by the password transmitting unit, The password received by the password receiving means. The word is an image forming system comprising a computer and a notifying means for notifying the notification unit of the computer.

  With this configuration, the password is not leaked to a place outside the image forming apparatus such as the computer unnecessarily when the image forming apparatus is in a stopped state. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the password from leaking and illegal printing while the image forming apparatus is in the stopped state, and to improve the security of printing.

  According to the present invention, even when the image forming apparatus is in a stopped state, password security by a third party can be prevented and printing security can be improved.

  Hereinafter, a printing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

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

  The printing system 1 includes a personal computer (hereinafter, PC) 100 and printers 200 and 300 connected to the PC 100 via a network LAN.

  The printers 200 and 300 exemplify the printers provided in the printing system 1. The printing system 1 includes a plurality of three or more printers having the same configuration as the printers 200 and 300. A printer connected to the network LAN may be included.

  The PC 100 sends print data to the printers 200 and 300, respectively, and causes the printers 200 and 300 to print the contents represented by the print data.

  When the printers 200 and 300 respectively obtain print data from the PC 100, they transmit a password to the PC 100. The PC 100 acquires the password returned in response to the transmission of the print data from the printers 200 and 300, and notifies the PC 100 user who has instructed the PC 100 to print to the printer 200 or 300.

  The user records the password on paper, remembers it, moves to the location of the printer 200 or 300 that sent the print data from the PC 100, and then operates the operation panel 200p or 300p provided on the printer 200 or 300. By inputting the password, the printer 200 or 300 that has transmitted the print data from the PC 100 can print the print data.

  Thus, until the user inputs the password to the printer 200 or 300, the printer 200 or 300 does not start printing, and even if a third party is near the printer 200 or 300, the result of the printing is not displayed. The content can be prevented from being seen by those third parties. The printing system 1 is a printing system that performs confidential printing.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating detailed configurations of the PC 100 and the printer 200.

  The PC 100 is a personal computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, a keyboard, a display 100d, and the like, and implements various functions by executing software stored in the hardware.

  FIG. 2 shows functional block functions of the printer driver 150 that causes the printer 100 or the printer 300 to execute printing from the PC 100, which is one of the functions realized in the PC 100. The function of the functional block of the printer driver 150 is that the software of the printer driver 150 stored in the hard disk is read out to the RAM by the OS of the PC 100 and further read from the RAM to the cache memory in the CPU. And executed by the CPU, the CPU of the PC 100 is realized.

  The printer driver 150 includes functional block functions of an apparatus state detection unit 151, a print data transmission unit 152, a password reception unit 153, and a password notification unit 154, and these functions are used to control the entire printer driver 150. Function is realized. Note that the functions of the print data transmission unit 152 include functional block functions of the confidential printing press storage unit 152m and the alternative printing approval / disapproval acquisition unit 152i.

  Here, since the functional block diagram constituted by these functional blocks shown in the figure shows the functions implemented in the CPU of the PC 100 and the relationship between these functions, the relationship between these functions and functions. If the software of the printer driver 150 stored in the hardware of the PC 100 is provided with the logical structure of the PC 100, the PC 100 of this embodiment can be configured. The logical structure of the software may be constructed by a module structure or class structure having the same structure as this structure, and the logical structure (at least a part of) is included in the module structure or class structure structure. The structure constituted by each instruction in the program although it is lacking may have the logical structure.

  At least a part of the functions of the functional blocks shown in the figure may be realized by dedicated hardware constructed by an LSI or the like. Also in this case, the dedicated hardware can be realized by configuring a hardware module based on the logical structure shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the printer 200 includes an image forming mechanism such as a photosensitive drum, an operation panel 200p in which a password is input by key input as described above, and a control device that controls the operation of each unit of the printer 200.

  The control device includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and executes software stored in the ROM. FIG. 2 shows that the functions of the functional blocks of the control unit 250 are realized in the CPU by executing the software in the control device.

  The control unit 250 controls the operation of each unit of the printer 200.

  The control unit 250 includes functional block functions of a status information transmission unit 251, a print data reception unit 252, a password generation unit 253, a password transmission unit 254, and a print control unit 255.

  Each functional block of the printer 200 can also be realized by using various configurations of software and hardware, similarly to the functional blocks of the PC 100 described above.

  Here, the printer 200 will be described as an example, but the printer 300 has the same configuration.

  Here, as will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, this image forming system has a function of performing “waiting time display”. The description related to the function of performing the “waiting time display” will be collectively described later with reference to FIGS.

  The status information transmission unit 251 transmits status information of the printer 200 to the PC 100. Here, status information includes, for example, status information. The status information includes information indicating that the printer 200 is in a sleep state or a warm-up state, respectively. The printer 200 cannot immediately execute printing while the printer 200 is in the sleep state or the warm-up state. As described above, a state in which the printer 200 is in the sleep state or the warm-up state and cannot immediately perform printing is referred to as an unprintable state.

  The print data receiving unit 252 receives print data from the PC 100. The password generation unit 253 generates a password. The password transmission unit 254 transmits the password generated by the password generation unit 253 to the PC 100. The password transmission unit 254 is connected to the network LAN, as in the case of the PC 100, when a plurality of computers that cause the printer 200 to perform printing are connected, and when the print data reception unit 252 receives the print data, the print data It is assumed that the password is transmitted to the computer that received the password.

  When a password is input to the operation panel 200p, the print control unit 255 operates the image forming mechanism of the printer 200 and causes the print data reception unit 252 to print the received print data.

  The print control unit 255 receives the print data received by the print data receiving unit 252 and the password transmitted by the password transmitting unit 254 to the PC 100 when the print data is received by the print data receiving unit 252. A print data storage unit that stores the data in association with each other is provided. When a user inputs a password to the operation panel 200p, print data corresponding to the input password indicated by the print data storage unit is executed. .

  On the other hand, on the PC 100 side, the apparatus state detection unit 151 acquires the state information of the printer 200 from the state information transmission unit 251, so that the printer 200 is in the sleep state or the warm-up state, that is, the print disabled state. Detecting that.

  The print data transmission unit 152 transmits, to the printer 200, print data representing print contents that the user desires to print based on a user operation on the keyboard of the PC 100 or the like. The print data to be transmitted is received by the print data receiving unit 252 of the PC 100.

  The confidential printing machine storage unit 152m stores printers having the same configuration as the printer 200 among printers connected to the printing system 1. The confidential printing machine storage unit 152m performs this storage by storing addresses of the printers 200 and 300, for example.

  The alternative printing approval / disapproval acquisition unit 152i displays a predetermined user interface 100x1 (FIG. 4 to be described later), and acquires an instruction from the user as to whether to permit or refuse to change the printing destination printer.

  The password receiving unit 153 receives the password output from the password transmission unit 254. Here, the password receiving unit 153 receives the password from the password transmitting unit 254 of the destination printer (printer 200 or 300) to which the print data is transmitted by the print data transmitting unit 152.

  The password notification unit 154 displays the password received by the password receiving unit 153 on the display 100d of the PC 100d, thereby notifying the user who has transmitted the print data to the PC 100.

  The user of the PC 100 that has transmitted print data from the PC 100 to the printer 200 (or 300) moves the password displayed on the display 100d by the password notification unit 154 to the location of the printer 200 (or 300), and operates the operation panel. By inputting to 200p (or 300p), it is possible to cause the printer 200 (or 300) of the transmission destination that has transmitted the print data to print the print data.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations of the PC 100 and the printer 200.

  In step Sa1, the print data transmitting unit 152 makes a print request to the printer 200 (or 300) designated by the user of the PC 100. Here, the description will be given below assuming that the user designates the printer 200. The print data transmission unit 152 accepts only the printer designation stored in the confidential printer storage unit 152m. When the print data transmission unit 152 makes this print request, the status information transmission unit 251 transmits the status information of the printer 200 to the PC 100, and the transmitted status information is acquired by the device status detection unit 151.

  In step Sb1, the status information transmission unit 251 transmits the status information of the printer 200 to the PC 100 in response to the print request from the print data transmission unit 152 (step Sa1).

  In step Sa2, the apparatus state detection unit 151 analyzes the state information acquired in step Sa1, and determines whether the printer 200 is in a sleep state or a warm-up state, that is, an unprintable state where printing cannot be performed.

  In step Sa2, the PC 100 executes the processes of steps Sa3, Sa3x, and Sa4 when the apparatus state detection unit 151 detects that the printer 200 is in an unprintable state (step Sa2: Yes).

  In step Sa <b> 3, the print data transmission unit 152 searches for an alternative printer that can be used in place of the unprintable printer 200. At this time, the print data transmission unit 152 searches from the printers stored in the confidential printing machine storage unit 152m. By performing this search, the print data transmission unit 152 specifies, among printers other than the printer 200, a printer whose unprintable state is not detected by the device state detection unit 151 as an alternative printer to be used instead of the printer 200. .

  Hereinafter, in this step Sa3, the print data transmitting unit will be described as specifying the printer 300 as an alternative printer.

  In step Sb1, the alternative printer 300 transmits device information to the device state detection unit 151 when the PC 100 performs the process of step Sa3.

  In step Sa3x, the print data transmission unit 152 asks the user for permission to change the printer to be printed to the alternative printer specified by the print data transmission unit 152 in step Sa3.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a user interface 100x1 that is displayed on the display 100d by the print data transmission unit 152 and that confirms the change of the printer to be printed to the user.

  The alternative printing approval / disapproval acquisition unit 152i displays the user interface 100x1 on the display 100d using a function module such as a window display software module (class module or the like) or a library provided in the OS of the PC 100, for example. The alternative printing approval / disapproval acquisition unit 152i acquires an instruction to accept or reject the user printing on the alternative printer based on a user operation on the cancel button or the OK button of the interface 100x1.

  In step Sa <b> 4, the print data transmission unit 152 waits until the printer 200 to which printing is performed is not detected by the device state detection unit 151 as being in an unprintable state. If no alternative printer can be identified (step Sa3: No), that is, if the printer 300 is turned off, the print data transmission unit 152 stores one in the confidential printer storage unit 152m in the network LAN. When the detected printer is not found, when all the found printers are in an unprintable state, or even when an alternative printer can be specified (step Sa3: Yes), the user uses the interface 100x1 in step Sa3x. When an instruction to reject printing by alternative printing is acquired by pressing the cancel button or the like (step Sa3x: No), the standby processing of step Sa4 is performed.

  The process of step Sa4 will be described in more detail later with reference to FIGS.

  In step Sa5, when the stand-by in step Sa4 ends and the printer 200 is not detected by the unprintable state and the apparatus state detection unit 151, or when the printer 200 is not unprintable from the beginning (step Sa2: No), or when printing to the alternative printer 300 is performed (step Sa3: Yes), an instruction for permitting printing to the printer 300 or the like that can be specified by the print data transmission unit 152 as an alternative printer is displayed on the interface 100x1. When the user presses an OK button or the like and is acquired by the alternative printing approval / disapproval acquisition unit 152i (step Sa3x: Yes), the print data transmission unit 152 performs processing of the printer 200 (step Sa2: No or step Sa4). When finished) or the alternative printer 300 ( Step Sa3x: Yes to), respectively, and transmits the print data.

  The print data transmission unit 152 delays the transmission timing of the print data by performing the standby process in step Sa4.

  Hereinafter, in the description of steps Sa5 to Sa8 and steps Sb5 to Sb10, the case where print data is transmitted to the printer 200 will be described as an example, but the same applies to the case where the print data is transmitted to the alternative printer 300.

  In step Sb5, the print data receiving unit 252 receives the print data transmitted by the print data transmitting unit 152 in step Sa5.

  In step Sa6, the password generation unit 253 generates a password for the received print data in response to the print data received by the print data reception unit 252 in step Sb5.

  Here, the password generated by the password generation unit 253 is a so-called one-time password, and is constant depending on the device that is the transmission source of the print data received by the print data reception unit 252 in step Sb5 corresponding to the password, For example, the time or the number of times of printing is used as a seed so that it does not vary depending on the user who sent the print data by the device, and changes depending on the time or the number of times of printing of the printer 200, for example. Generated based on the generated random number. By using such a one-time password and changing the character string of the password in real time or dynamically for each printing, the password is constant as described above, and one password is used for printing a plurality of times. Compared to the time, it is possible to suppress the adverse effects when the password is leaked.

  In step Sb7, the password transmission unit 254 transmits the password generated by the password generation unit 253 in step Sb6 to the PC 100.

  In step Sa7, the password receiving unit 153 receives the password transmitted by the password transmitting unit 254 in step Sb7.

  In step Sa8, the password notifying unit 154 displays the password received by the password receiving unit 153 in step Sa7 on the display 100d to notify the user.

  In step Sb9, the user of the PC 100 who has operated the PC 100 to transmit print data, etc., moves to the location of the printer 200, and in step Sa8, the password displayed on the display 100d by the password notification unit 154 is changed to the printer 200. To the operation panel 200p.

  In step Sb10, the print control unit 255 receives the print data when the password is transmitted to the PC 100 by the password transmission unit 254 based on the password input to the operation panel 200p by the user in step Sb9 (step Sb6). The print data (step Sb5) received by the unit 252 is executed. The print control unit 255 causes the print data corresponding to the password input to the operation panel 200p in step Sb9 to be printed based on the correspondence relationship indicated by the print data storage unit described above.

  Here, a description will be given of a case in which when the print data transmission unit 152 makes a print request in step Sa1, the requested printer 200 is powered off and stopped. In this case, the printer 200 does not return the status information by the status information transmission unit 251 in step Sb1.

  Here, it is assumed that the printer driver 150 includes a power-off corresponding unit (not shown). In step Sa1, the power-off response unit detects this when the state information transmission unit 251 in step Sb1 has not returned the state information. In this case, the printer that performs printing is changed from the printer 200 to another appropriate printer. The power-off responding unit selects, for example, a printer stored in the confidential printing machine storage unit 152m as the change destination printer.

  The power-off responding unit acquires a permission instruction for permitting the user to change the printer, changes the printer only when the permission is obtained, and if the permission is not obtained, The process may be terminated. Further, the power-off responding unit may acquire a printer designation for designating a printing destination printer from the user and change the printing destination printer to the designated printer.

  In step Sa1, the print data transmission unit 152 makes a print request to the changed print destination printer again when the print-off printer is changed by the power-off response unit, and the processing from step Sa2 onward is performed. The changed printer is executed as the printing destination printer.

  In this way, when the printer 200 is in a power-off state, a password for causing the printer 200 to execute printing does not flow out to a location outside the printer 200 such as the PC 100, and the printing security of the printer 200 can be improved. .

  Continuously, in this printing system 1, in step Sa4, the waiting time until the printer 200 becomes printable is displayed to the user of the PC 100 until the printer 200 changes from the unprintable state to the printable state. (See FIG. 6) will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer driver 150 and the control unit 250 with a focus on the portion related to the waiting time display.

  The control unit 250 includes an execution start time storage unit 251m included in the state information transmission unit 251 and a warm-up control unit 250x.

  The printer 200 includes an operation mode control unit (not shown) as a part of the function of the control unit 250. The operation mode control unit receives a print request from the PC 100 (see steps Sa1 and Sb1 in FIG. 3). In addition, when a certain period of time has passed without the operation panel 200p being operated, the operation state of the printer 200 is switched from the normal operation state to the sleep state.

  The operation mode control unit turns off the heater of the fixing device included in the printer 200 when the printer 200 is put in the sleep state. In addition, most parts of the printer 200 are turned off. Thus, the operation mode control unit realizes energy saving.

  The state information transmission unit 251 described above transmits state information when the printer 200 is in the sleep state to the PC 100 when the printer 200 is set to the sleep state by the operation mode control unit.

  The warm-up control unit 250x sleeps when there is a print request from the print data transmission unit 152 of the PC 100 to the printer 200 while the printer 200 is in the sleep state (see steps Sa1 and Sb1 in FIG. 3). The state is terminated, and the printer 200 starts a warm-up operation.

  FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the operation of the printing system 1.

  In FIG. 6, the left side (a) shows that the print data transmission unit 152 makes a print request to the printer 200 at timing T2 (step Sa1), and the warm-up control unit 250x that has received the print request at this timing T2. However, the warm-up operation is started by the printer 200, the fixing roller of the printer 200 that has cooled during the sleep state up to the timing T2 is heated, and the printer 200 is started up (timing T2 to T3).

  Here, the time of the warm-up operation is constant at any time. As shown in the figure, the time required for the approximately constant warm-up operation is described as T seconds in this embodiment.

  When the warm-up control unit 250x causes the printer 200 to perform a warm-up operation and complete the operation for T seconds, which is the time required for the warm-up operation, as described above, the printer 200 can perform printing. The state is entered (see the description of step Sa4 in FIG. 3). In FIG. 6, in this way, the unprintable state of the printer 200 that continued from before the timing T1 changes to the printable state at the timing T4 after the warm-up operation started at the timing T1 has continued for T seconds. This is illustrated by indicating that the unprintable state is indicated by thick line hatching before the timing T4 and the printable state is indicated by applying thin line hatching after the timing T4. .

  Next, FIG. 6B shows a print request by another computer that causes the printer 200 to print via a network LAN (FIG. 1) other than the PC 100, or a user at the location of the printer 200 on the operation panel 200p. The case where the warm-up control unit 250x starts the warm-up operation at the timing T1 prior to the timing T2 at which the PC 100 makes a print request to the printer 200 by some touch operation is shown.

  In FIG. 6B, since the warm-up control unit 250x has already started the warm-up operation of the printer 200 at the timing T1, it does not start again at the timing T2.

  The time from the timing T1 when the warm-up operation is started to the timing T2 when the print request of the PC 100 is received by the warm-up control unit 250x will be described below as x seconds.

  Therefore, at the time of FIG. 6B, the warm-up control unit 250x is only the required time of T seconds at the timing T3, which is x seconds earlier than the timing T3 at which the warm-up operation is ended at the time of FIG. The warm-up will be terminated.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the execution start time storage unit 251m included in the state information transmission unit 251 is time when the warm-up operation is started by the warm-up control unit 250x (timing T2 in FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B). Then, the timing T1) is stored.

  When the printer 200 receives a print request from the print data transmission unit 152, the status information transmission unit 251 notifies the PC 100 of the sleep request as in FIG. 6A. To do. That is, the state information transmission unit 251 notifies the PC 100 that the warm-up operation is started at that time because it is in the sleep state, and more specifically, until T seconds (timing T4) from that time. The printer 200 is notified that the printer 200 is in an unprintable state and changes from the unprintable state to the printable state after T seconds (timing T4).

  Further, when the printer 200 receives a print request from the print data transmission unit 152, the status information transmission unit 251 determines that the printer 200 is performing a warm-up operation as in FIG. 6B. x seconds (timing T1 to T2 in FIG. 6B), that is, the time from the start time of the warm-up operation stored in the execution start time storage unit 251m to the current time, that is, the warm-up operation. The length of the executed time (x seconds) that has been executed is notified to the PC 100. In other words, the status information transmission unit 251 is in a print-incapable state until Tx seconds from the time when the print request is made, by x seconds earlier than the required time T seconds, that is, after T-X seconds (timing T3). At a later time (timing T3), notification is made that the printable state changes to the printable state.

  The status information transmission unit 251 performs these notifications by attaching data indicating the notification contents to the status information to be returned when the status information is returned in response to the print request in step Sb1 (FIG. 3).

  Next, on the other PC 100 side, the apparatus state detection unit 151 obtains the state information from the printer 200, thereby making a print request to the printer 200 by the print data transmission unit 152 (step Sa1, FIG. ) And (b) timing T2), whether the printer 200 is in the sleep state (case in FIG. 6A), or in the middle of the warm-up operation (case in FIG. 6B), respectively. This can be detected, and in the latter case, the time (x seconds, timings T1 to T2) after the warm-up operation can be detected.

  The apparatus state detection unit 151 has been described above to detect that the printer 200 is in a non-printable state. As described above, in detail, whether the printer 200 in the unprintable state is in a sleep state or not. Alternatively, it can be distinguished whether the warm-up operation is in progress.

  The printer driver 150 includes a remaining waiting time management control unit 500. The remaining waiting time management control unit 500 performs processing for controlling the operation of the PC 100 related to the remaining waiting time.

  The remaining waiting time is the time until the warm-up operation being executed in the printer 200 is completed, that is, when the warm-up operation is completed and the printer 200 changes to a printable state from the current time (FIG. 6A). Time T4 and time T3) in FIG. 6B. For example, if the current time is timing T2, the remaining waiting time is T seconds in FIG. 6A and T−x seconds in FIG. 6B.

  The remaining waiting time management control unit 500 includes functional block functions of a warm-up required time storage unit 501, a remaining waiting time calculation unit 502, and a waiting time counting timer 503.

  The warm-up required time storage unit 501 stores the time required for the above-described warm-up operation (T seconds, timings T2 to T4 in FIG. 6A, timings T1 to T3 in FIG. 6B).

  The remaining waiting time calculation unit 502 calculates the remaining waiting time described above when a print request is made to the printer 200 by the print data transmission unit 152.

  The remaining waiting time calculation unit 502 is a case where the printer 200 is in a sleep state at the time of a print request, that is, in the case of FIG. 6A, and the state information transmission unit 251 receives the print request (FIG. 6A). ) Timing T2), the warm-up control unit 250x notifies the printer driver 150 that the warm-up operation has started, and the device state detection unit 151 in the printer driver 150 warms up when a print request is sent by the print data transmission unit 152. When it is detected that the warm-up operation has been started, the warm-up operation has not been performed by that time (before timing T2 in FIG. 6A), so the remaining waiting time is set to all the time T seconds required for the warm-up operation, that is, T Seconds (timing T2 to T4 in FIG. 6A) are specified.

  On the other hand, the remaining waiting time calculation unit 502 is in the warm-up operation of the printer 200 at the time of the print request (timing T2 in FIG. 6B), and the status information transmission unit 251 (Second) is notified to the printer driver 150 side, since the warm-up operation has already been completed for x seconds out of the time T seconds required for the warm-up operation (timing T1 in FIG. 6B). T2) and Tx seconds are identified as the remaining waiting time (see arrows at timings T2 to T3 in FIG. 6B and the remaining waiting time calculation unit 502 in FIG. 5).

  When the print data transmission unit 152 makes a print request to the printer 200 and the remaining waiting time is calculated by the remaining waiting time calculation unit 502, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 sets the remaining waiting time to the waiting time timer. Set to 503.

  The waiting time timer 503 stores the remaining waiting time. Then, the remaining waiting time is subtracted (decremented) by the elapsed time as time elapses.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a user interface screen on which the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 causes the display 100d to display the remaining waiting time to the user.

  The remaining waiting time management control unit 500 uses the GUI (Graphical User Interface) function implemented in the CPU by the OS software of the PC 100 to display the screens 100y1 and 100y2 illustrated on the display 100d. The remaining waiting time management control unit 500 performs this display by, for example, generating a GUI function object and executing a method, a function, or the like included in the object using the object.

  The screen 100y1 is a screen that the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 displays on the display 100d when 7 seconds is stored as the remaining waiting time in the waiting time counting timer 503. As shown in this screen 100y1, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 sets the remaining waiting time in the waiting time counting timer 503 at the timing T2 in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and then continues. At each current time (timing T2 to T4 in FIG. 6A, timing T1 to T3 in FIG. 6B), the latest remaining waiting time at the current time stored in the waiting time timer 503 is displayed. The user is notified by 100d.

  In the screen 100y2, the latest remaining waiting time stored in the waiting time counting timer 503 is 0 seconds (timing T4 in FIG. 6A, timing T3 in FIG. 6B). In the printer 200, the warm-up control unit 250x The screen which the remaining waiting time management control part 500 displays on the display 100d when a warm-up operation stops is shown.

  At this time, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 notifies the user that the warm-up operation has ended and the remaining waiting time has become 0 seconds.

  Thus, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 notifies the user of the latest remaining waiting time until the latest remaining waiting time stored in the waiting time counting timer 503 becomes 0 seconds.

  Note that when the latest remaining waiting time to be stored becomes 0 seconds, the waiting time counting timer 503 thereafter maintains 0 seconds until the storing time is reset.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the printing system 1 with a focus on processing related to displaying the waiting time.

  Of the steps shown in FIG. 8, steps Sa1, Sa2, Sa4, Sa5 of the PC 100 and steps Sb1, Sb5, Sb10 of the printer 200 indicate steps denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. It is. Below, the process performed for the waiting time display in these steps will be described in detail. Further, the processes of steps Su1, Sv2, and Sv4 of the printer 200 are processes performed between steps Sb1 and Sb5, which are not shown in FIG.

  In the following description, the case where the print data transmission unit 152 cannot find an alternative printer in step Sa3 in FIG. 3 (step Sa3: NO in FIG. 3) will be described. Further, Steps Sa3 and Sa3x (hereinafter, a combination of both are referred to as Step Sa3A) shown in FIG. 3 are not shown in FIG. Here, the processing of these steps Sa3 and Sa3x (step Sa3A) is executed between steps Sa2 and Sa4 by the PC 100 (see FIG. 3). In FIG. 8, step Sa <b> 2 has three branches and is different from the branch in FIG. 3, but “step Sa <b> 2: Yes” in FIG. 3 is different from “step Sa <b> 2: during sleep period” in FIG. Or it is divided into two “and step Sa2: mid-startup”. The processes of steps Sa3 and Sa3x (step Sa3A) shown in FIG. 3 are performed both during “step Sa2: during sleep period” and step Sa4, and between “and step Sa2: during startup” and step Sa4. , Executed on the PC 100 (illustrated as step Sa3Aa and step Sa3Ab, respectively).

  That is, in both cases of “step Sa2: during sleep period” and “and step Sa2: during start-up”, the search for the alternative printer is performed by the print data transmission unit 152 (step Sa3Aa and step Sa3 of step Sa3Ab). In addition, when an alternative printer is found in the print data transmission unit 152 by this search (step Sa3: Yes in step Sa3Aa and step Sa3Ab), the print data transmission unit 152 requests permission from the user (in steps Sa3Aa and step Sa3Ab). Step Sa3x). That is, in both cases of “step Sa2: during sleep period” and “and step Sa2: during startup”, an alternative printer is not found (step Sa3Aa and step Sa3Ab: step Sa3: No) or is found. However, only when the user has not given permission to use the alternative printer (step Sa3Aa and step Sa3Ab: step Sa3x: Yes), the processing of step Sa4 (steps Sn1a and Sn1b) is started to be executed by the PC 100.

  Note that the flow of processing from step Sa3Aa and step Sa3Ab to step Sa5 (the flow of processing from step Sa3A to step Sa5 in FIG. 3) is not shown in FIG. 8 for convenience of illustration.

  Further, in FIG. 8, the steps Sa7 and Sa8 and steps Sb6 to Sb9 shown in FIG. 3 are not shown.

  As described above, in step Sa1, the print data transmission unit 152 makes a print request to the printer 200, and in step Sb1, the printer 200 that has received this print request transmits state information to the PC 100 by the state information transmission unit 251 (FIG. 6 (a), (b) timing T2).

  On the PC 100 side, in step Sm1, the print data transmission unit 152 makes a print request to the printer 200, and in the subsequent step Sm2, the apparatus state detection unit 151 receives the state information from the printer 200, and the apparatus state of the printer 200 is changed. Detect. If the printer 200 is in the sleep state at the time of the print request in step Sm1 by receiving the state information in step Sm2 (at timing T2 in FIG. 6A), the apparatus state detection unit 151 receives the state information in step Sm2. If the printer 200 is in the middle of a warm-up operation started in the past at the time of the print request (at timing T2 in FIG. 6B), the warm-up operation is performed. The notification of the executed time (x seconds: timings T1 to T2 in FIG. 6B) is received.

  On the printer 200 side, in step St1, the control unit 250 receives a print request, and in step St2, the status information transmission unit 251 transmits status information to the PC 100 side.

  Next, in step Sa2, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the apparatus state detection unit 151 performs determination based on the state information.

  In step Sa2, the apparatus state detection unit 151 determines that the printer 200 was neither in the sleep state nor in the warm-up operation at the time of the print request in step Sm1, based on the state information (notification) received in step Sm2. In this case, that is, when it is determined that the printer 200 is not in an unprintable state (step Sa2 in FIG. 7: start-up completed), as described above, the PC 100 starts processing after step Sa5 and executes printing. (See description of FIG. 3).

  On the other hand, in step Sa2, the PC 100 determines that the apparatus state detection unit 151 determines that the printer 200 is in the sleep state or the warm-up operation at the time of the print request in step Sm1, that is, as described above. When it is determined that the printer 200 is in an unprintable state (in the case of FIGS. 6A and 6B), the process of step Sa4 is executed.

  In the case of FIG. 6A, that is, when the apparatus state detection unit 151 determines that the printer 200 is in the sleep state at the time of the print request in step Sm1 (step Sa2: during the sleep period), the remaining in step Sn1a The waiting time management control unit 500 sets the remaining waiting time T seconds calculated by the waiting time calculation unit 502 in the waiting time measuring timer 503.

  On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 6B, that is, when the apparatus state detection unit 151 determines that the printer 200 is in the middle of the warm-up operation at the time of the print request in step Sm1, (step Sa2: during startup) In step Sn1b, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 sets the remaining waiting time T−x seconds calculated by the waiting time calculation unit 502 in the waiting time measuring timer 503.

  In step Sn2, the wait time timer 503 starts counting down the set value, that is, subtracting the stored value by the elapsed time according to the elapsed time.

  In Steps Sn3 to Sn4, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 displays the screen 100y1 shown in FIG. 7 based on the stored value of the waiting time counting timer 503 that is updated from time to time as time elapses. During this time, the waiting time counting timer 503 continues the subtraction process started in step Sn2 (timing T2 to T4 in FIG. 6A, timing T2 to T3 in FIG. 6B).

  In step Sn5, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 determines that the remaining waiting time stored in the updated waiting time measuring timer 503 is 0 seconds (step Sn4: Yes, as shown in FIG. 6A). The timing T4, the timing T3 in FIG. 6B, and the screen 100y2 in FIG. 7 are displayed to notify the user of this fact. In step Sn5, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 enables the send button 100y2b unlike the screen 100y1 shown in the upper part of FIG. 7, that is, the user clicks the button 100y2b by clicking the mouse or the like. To be able to press.

  It is preferable that the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 validates the button 100y2b after confirming in step Sn5 that the printer 200 is in a printable state by the apparatus state detection unit 151.

  On the other hand, if the printer 200 receives a print request from the PC 100 in step St2 and is in a printable state (step Su1: startup has been completed), the printer 200 performs the processing of steps Sb5 to Sb10 and performs the printing process (FIG. (See 3 description).

  If the printer 200 is in the sleep state when it receives the print request in step St2, that is, in the case of FIG. 6A (step Su1: during the sleep period), in step Sv2. The warm-up control unit 250x ends the sleep state and starts the warm-up operation (after timing T2 in FIG. 6A). At this time, in step St2, the status information transmission unit 251 notifies the PC 100 that the printer 200 has started a warm-up operation at the time of a print request. Thereby, in step Sv2, the warm-up control unit 250x sets T seconds as the initial remaining waiting time in the waiting time counting timer 503 in step Sn1a by the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 on the PC 100 side, and step Sn2 The wait time timer 503 starts the warm-up operation on the printer 200 side almost simultaneously with the start of subtraction of the required time T seconds for the warm-up operation. As a result, as the printer 200 is warmed up for T seconds, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 causes the display 100d to display the correct remaining waiting time at each time point on the PC 100. (Steps Sn3 to Sn4 and Sv2 to Sv4, timings T2 to T4 in FIG. 6A).

  Then, almost simultaneously with the stored value of the waiting time counting timer 503 becoming 0 second (step Sn4: Yes), in step Sv4, the warm-up control unit 250x ends the warm-up operation for T seconds ( Timing T2 to T4 in FIG.

  If the printer 200 is in the middle of a warm-up operation when the printer 200 receives a print request in step St1, the printer 200 is in the middle of starting up (at timing T2 in FIG. 6B). In step St2, the state information transmission unit 251 notifies the PC 100 side of the execution time of the warm-up operation after starting the warm-up operation (x seconds: time from timing T1 to T2 in FIG. 6). Thereby, on the PC 100 side, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 sets the remaining waiting time to be set to the value of the initial waiting time counting timer 503 (step Sn1b), that is, “T−x seconds”, that is, at the timing T2. It is assumed that the remaining waiting time is equal to the time for the printer 200 to perform a warm-up operation later (time from timing T2 to T3).

  As a result, when the waiting time timer 503 starts subtraction of the stored value in step Sn2 and the warm-up operation after the timing T2 is performed in the PC 200, the waiting time timer 503 is appropriately set between the timings T2 and T3. The remaining waiting time management controller 500 keeps the appropriate remaining waiting time informed to the user (step Sn3, Sn4: No), and at timing T3, the printer 200 warms up almost simultaneously. The up control unit 250x stops the warm-up operation at step Sv4, and the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 at the PC 100 displays a screen 100y2 indicating that the remaining waiting time at the lower stage of FIG. Is displayed on the display 100d.

  After the above processing, the user can execute printing by pressing the send button 100y2b on the displayed screen 100y2 (see steps Sa5 to Sa8, steps Sb5 to Sb10, FIG. 3).

  Note that the processing of steps Sn5 and Sn6 may be omitted. That is, when the remaining waiting time stored in the waiting time counting timer 503 becomes 0 seconds (step Sn4: Yes, timing T4 in FIG. 6A, timing T3 in FIG. 6B), the automatic processing is immediately and automatically performed. In particular, the print data transmission unit 152 or the like may execute the processes of steps Sa5 to Sa8 and steps Sb5 to Sb10 (see FIG. 3) to transmit the print data.

  Hereinafter, other embodiments will be described.

  (A) In the flowchart of FIG. 3, if the process of step Sa3x is omitted and the alternative printer can be specified by the print data transmission unit 152 in step Sa3 (step Sa3: Yes), the process may immediately move to step Sa5. Good. In other words, the print data transmission unit 152 may start printing on the alternative printer without confirming with the user that the printer to be printed is changed (step Sa3x).

  (B) Not only the step Sa3x but also the processing of step Sa3 is omitted, and the print data transmission unit 152 replaces the printer 200 when the apparatus state detection unit 151 detects that the printer 200 is not printable (step Sa2: Yes). Regardless of whether there is a printer or not, it is always possible to wait until the printer 200 is in an unprintable state (step Sa4), and to print to the printer 200 designated by the user first (step Sa4). Sa5-Sa8).

  (C) In the above description, the print data transmission unit 152 performs printing after the apparatus status detection unit 151 detects that the printer 200 is no longer in an unprintable state in step Sa5 (see steps Sa4 and steps Sn5 to Sn6). The data is transmitted to the printer 200 (see the description of FIG. 3), but printing is performed during the process of step Sa4 or at the start of the process until the apparatus status detection unit 151 detects that the printer is not ready for printing. Data may be transmitted to the printer 200 in advance.

  Similarly, the password receiving unit 153 may perform the process of step Sa7 at the start or during the process of step Sa4, and the password may be acquired from the printer 200 to the PC 100.

  Furthermore, it is good also as what is performed to the process of step Sa8 by the password alerting | reporting part 154 at the time of the start of the process of step Sa4, or the middle.

  (D) In the above description, every time print data is received by the print data receiving unit 252 (step Sb5), a different password is generated by the password generating unit 253 (step Sb6), and the PC 100 has received the print data. The password is transmitted by the password transmitting unit 254 (step Sb7), but the present invention is not limited to this case.

  For example, the password is valid only for a certain period, and the password generation unit 253 generates the same password for a certain period, for example, every day, every week, or every month, and a different password every time that period elapses. The password that is generated and transmitted to the PC 100 by the password transmission unit 254 may be changed at every certain period.

  At this time, the password receiving unit 153 of the PC 100 periodically receives a password from the printer 200 at regular intervals regardless of whether or not the print data transmitting unit 152 transmits print data from the PC 100 to the printer 200. The password notifying unit 154 may notify the user of the password every time the password receiving unit 153 receives the password at regular intervals.

  At this time, in the process of FIG. 3, the processes of steps Sa7 and Sa8 and steps Sb6 and Sb7 can be omitted and not performed.

  (E) As described above, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 does not need to display the latest remaining waiting time in real time (Steps Sn3 to Sn4). For example, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 may display the remaining waiting time of T seconds or T−x seconds only once at the timing T2.

  (F) When the PC 100 issues a print request (step Sm1), it is relatively rare that the printer 200 is in the middle of a warm-up operation. If the printer 200 is in an unprintable state, the waiting time management control unit 300 may set T seconds in the waiting time counting timer 503 even when the printer 200 is in a warm-up operation (step Sa2: during startup). Good (step Sn1a). At this time, the status information transmission unit 251 of the printer 200 does not need to include the execution start time storage unit 251m, and it is not necessary to notify the execution time (x seconds) of the warm-up operation. Can be simple.

  (G) The printer 200 includes an end time specifying unit that specifies a time at which its own warm-up operation ends, and the state information transmission unit 251 determines that the printer 200 is in a sleep state or is performing a warm-up operation in step St2. The time information specified by the end time specifying unit may be transmitted to the PC 100. And the remaining waiting time management control part 500 is good also as what displays the time which this information transmitted shows in step Sa4.

  (H) In the above description, the case where the waiting time until the warm-up operation is completed is notified to the user by the PC 100 has been described as an example. However, until printing by a user other than the user of the PC 100 is completed. The waiting time until the printer 200 becomes ready for printing after the completion of printing after passing through the unprintable state where printing from the PC 100 becomes impossible may be notified to the user.

  In this case, in step St2, when the printer 200 is in an unprintable state, the printer 200 transmits information on the remaining number of prints from other users to the PC 100 in step St2.

  In step Sm2, the PC 100 receives the number information from the apparatus state detection unit 151. In step Sa2, the remaining waiting time management control unit 300 determines that the number of sheets indicated by the received number information is 0 or more. In step Sa4, the remaining waiting time management control unit 300 similarly calculates a time obtained by multiplying the number of sheets indicated by the received number information by the average printing time per sheet. The remaining waiting time is specified, and the specified remaining waiting time is set in the waiting time measuring timer 303 in step Sn1a (step Sn1b). It is assumed that the remaining waiting time management control unit 300 stores in advance an average printing time when the printer 200 performs printing on one sheet of recording paper. Accordingly, the remaining waiting time management control unit 300 can notify the user of an appropriate remaining waiting time in Steps Sn3 to Sn5 as the printer 200 finishes printing only the number of sheets indicated by the number information. .

  (I) A cancel button may be provided on the screen 100y1 of FIG. Then, between step Sn3 and step Sn5, the print cancel processing unit included in the printer driver 150 determines that this cancel button has been pressed. If it is pressed, printing is stopped, and FIG. The process of FIG. 3) is terminated at that time. In this way, when the remaining waiting time is long to some extent, the user can stop printing to the printer 200. For example, printing to a printer connected to a network LAN other than the printer stored in the confidential printing machine 152m. Can be done. In this case, it is assumed that the print data transmission unit 152 cannot find an alternative printer in step Sa3 (step Sa3: No). At this time, if there is an excessively long remaining waiting time for high-security printing, the user should cease to perform high-security printing and use low-security printing with a printer other than the printer 200 or the like. It is possible to improve user convenience.

  (J) Of the processes in FIG. 3, the PC 100 may execute only the processes after Step Sa5, and the printer 200 may execute only the processes after Step Sb5 (FIG. 3). That is, it is assumed that the processing of steps Sa1 to Sa4 and the processing of steps Sb1 to S4 shown in FIG. 8 are not executed.

  At this time, in step Sa5, the print data transmission unit 152 does not detect whether or not the printer 200 is in a print-disabled state regardless of whether or not the printer 200 is in a print-disabled state (FIG. 3, FIG. 3). 8), the print data is transmitted.

  In step Sb5, when the print data receiving unit 252 receives the print data in step Sb5, the warm-up control unit 250x regards the reception as a print request and performs processing when there is a print request (step Sb1). FIG. 7 (a), see timing T2 in (b)). Therefore, in step Sb5, when the printer 200 is in the sleep state at that time (see FIG. 6A), the warm-up control unit 250x causes the printer 200 to start warm-up.

  In step Sa5, the print data transmission unit 152 makes a separate print request at the same time as transmitting the transmission data, and in step Sb5, the print data reception unit 252 separates at the same time as receiving the print data. The print request may be accepted.

  In the printer 200, when the password transmission unit 254 transmits the password to the PC 100 in step Sb7, the password is immediately transmitted only when the printer 200 is in a printable state. For example, the password is transmitted after the unprintable state is finished and the printer 200 is in a printable state (see timing T4 in FIG. 6A and timing T3 in FIG. 6B).

  On the other hand, in the PC 100, in step Sa7, the password receiving unit 153 determines that the password is not immediately transmitted from the password transmitting unit 254 of the printer 200, that is, when the printer 200 is not in a printable state (FIG. 6). In (a) and (b)), it is assumed to wait until transmission (see timings T2 to T4 in FIG. 6A and timings T2 to T3 in FIG. 6B).

  In step Sa8, the password notifying unit 154 notifies the received password when the password receiving unit 153 receives the password in step Sa7.

  In step Sa5, the apparatus state detection unit 151 acquires state information from the printer 200, and the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 is acquired by the apparatus state detection unit 151 in step Sa5 during steps Sa5 to Sa7. Based on the state information, the processes of steps a2, Sa3Aa, Sa3Ab, and Sa4 in FIG. 8 may be performed. At this time, it is assumed that the process of step Sn5 (in step Sa4) is performed simultaneously with the process of step Sa7 (FIG. 3), and in step Sn5, the remaining waiting time management control unit 500 sets the waiting time count timer 503. When the stored remaining waiting time is 0 second (step Sn4: Yes) and the password is received by the password receiving unit 153 (step Sa7, timing T4 in FIG. 6A, and FIG. 6B). Assume that the transmission button 100y2b is made effective (see timing T3).

  In such a case, if the printer 200 is powered off, even if the PC 100 attempts to send print data to the printer 200 (step Sa5), the printer 200 does not receive the print data, but the print data has been received. Accordingly, the password is not transmitted to the PC 100 that has received the print data (step Sb7).

  As a result, while the printer 200 is in the power-off state, a password for causing the printer 200 to execute printing does not flow unnecessarily to a location outside the printer 200, such as the PC 100, and the printing security of the printer 200 is improved. be able to.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of PC and a printer. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of PC and a printer. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a user interface for confirming a change of a printer of a printing destination displayed on a display in a PC. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer driver and a control unit with a focus on a part related to a waiting time display. 6 is a timing chart showing the operation of the printing system. It is a figure which shows the screen which a remaining waiting time management control part makes a display of PC display the remaining waiting time to a user. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the printing system 1 with a focus on processing related to displaying a waiting time.

Explanation of symbols

LAN network 1 Printing system (image forming system)
100 Personal computer (computer, control computer)
100d display (notification part)
100x1 user interface screen 100y1 user interface screen 100y2 user interface screen 100y2b send button 150 printer driver 151 device state detection unit (unprintable state detection means)
152 Print data transmission unit (print data transmission means)
152i Alternative printing acceptance / rejection acquisition unit (permission instruction acquisition means)
152m confidential printer storage unit 153 password receiving unit (password acquisition means, password receiving means)
154 Password notification part (notification means)
200 Printer (image forming apparatus)
200p operation panel (input means)
250 control unit 250x warm-up control unit 251 status information transmission unit 251m execution start time storage unit 252 print data reception unit (print data reception unit)
253 Password generation unit (password generation means)
254 Password transmission unit (password transmission means)
255 Print Control Unit (Control Unit)
300 Printer (image forming apparatus, other image forming apparatus)
300p operation panel (input means)
500 Remaining waiting time management control unit 501 Warm-up required time storage unit 502 Remaining waiting time calculation unit 503 Waiting time counting timer

Claims (10)

An input means for inputting a password by a user operation;
A password generation means for generating a password;
Password transmitting means for transmitting the password generated by the password generating means to a connected computer;
Printing means for printing on recording paper;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the printing unit to execute printing based on an instruction from the computer when the password transmitted to the computer by the password transmission unit is input to the input unit. Comprising print data receiving means for receiving print data from the computer;
The password transmission unit transmits the password generated by the password generation unit to the computer every time the print data is received from the computer by the print data reception unit,
When the password transmitted to the computer by the password transmission unit is input to the input unit, the control unit receives the print data when the input password is transmitted to the computer by the password transmission unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit causes the printing unit to print the received print data.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the password transmission unit transmits different passwords generated by the password generation unit to the computer every time the print data reception unit receives print data from the computer. . Computer
Print data transmitting means for transmitting print data to the image forming apparatus;
Password acquisition means for acquiring, from the image forming apparatus, a password for executing printing of the print data on the image forming apparatus by being input to the image forming apparatus by a user operation;
A computer program for causing a notification unit of the computer to notify the password acquired by the password acquisition unit. Further causing the computer to function as a non-printable state detecting means for detecting that the image forming apparatus is in a non-printable state where printing cannot be performed,
The print data transmitting unit causes the computer to function as not transmitting the print data to the image forming apparatus while the image forming apparatus is detected to be in an unprintable state by the unprintable state detecting unit. A computer program according to claim 4 for use. When the image forming apparatus is detected to be unprintable by the unprintable state detecting unit, the print data transmitting unit is configured to detect the image forming apparatus after the unprintable state and the unprintable state detecting unit are not detected. Send print data to the image forming device,
When the image forming apparatus is detected as being in an unprintable state by the unprintable state detecting unit, the password acquisition unit is configured to switch the print data transmitting unit into the unprintable state and the unprintable state detecting unit. 6. The computer program according to claim 5, wherein the computer is caused to function as acquiring the password from the image forming apparatus simultaneously with transmission of print data to the image forming apparatus after it is no longer detected or after the transmission. When the image forming apparatus is detected as being in an unprintable state by the unprintable state detecting unit, the print data transmitting unit receives a password from the print data transmitting unit by a user operation as in the case of the image forming apparatus. Printing of the print data to be transmitted is executed by the image forming apparatus, the print data is transmitted to another image forming apparatus,
The password acquisition unit is a password for executing printing of the print data from the other image forming apparatus when the print data is transmitted to the other image forming apparatus by the print data transmitting unit. Get
The informing means is configured to cause the computer to function as an informing section that informs the acquired password of the password when the password acquisition means acquires the password for printing by the other image forming apparatus. The computer program according to claim 5. When the image forming apparatus is detected as being in an unprintable state by the unprintable state detecting unit, the computer is used as a permission instruction acquiring unit that acquires a permission instruction from a user who permits printing on the other image forming apparatus. Make it work,
When the image forming apparatus is detected as being in an unprintable state by the unprintable state detecting unit, the print data transmitting unit is configured to form another image only when the permission instruction is acquired by the permission instruction acquiring unit. The computer program according to claim 7 for causing the computer to function as transmitting the print data to an apparatus. Print data transmitting means for transmitting print data to the image forming apparatus;
Password acquisition means for acquiring, from the image forming apparatus, a password for executing printing of the print data on the image forming apparatus by being input to the image forming apparatus by a user operation;
A control computer comprising: notifying means for informing the notifying unit of the computer of the password acquired by the password acquiring means. An input means for inputting a password by a user operation, a password generating means for generating a password, a password transmitting means for transmitting the password generated by the password generating means to a connected computer, and printing on recording paper Printing means for performing, and control means for causing the printing means to print print data received from the computer when the password transmitted to the computer by the password transmitting means is input to the input means. An image forming apparatus comprising:
Print data transmission means for transmitting print data to the image forming apparatus, password reception means for receiving a password transmitted to the computer by the password transmission means, and the password received by the password reception means for the computer. An image forming system comprising: a computer provided with a notifying unit for informing the notifying unit.

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