JP2009234106A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a waiting time for a user's printing operation while securing a security in authentication printing system. <P>SOLUTION: A printing system 20 is constituted such that a computer PC as a client, a printer PRT as an authentication printer, and a server SV temporarily storing a print job are connected to each other in a local area network LAN. A CPU 30 of the printer PRT detects an access to the printer PRT by a user detecting mechanism 57, identifies a user, and confirms whether a print job related to the identified user is stored in the server SV. When the print job is stored, the CPU 30 acquires the print job, warms up a printing mechanism 53, and displays the print job in advance of the authentication of the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print execution technique in which print data is received from a print data holding device that holds print data, and the printing device executes printing.

  In the authenticated printing system, when a user issues a print command on a client such as a personal computer, a print job is temporarily spooled on a server connected to the client via a network. When the user moves to the installation location of the printer connected to the server via the network, authenticates with an authentication device attached to the printer, and performs a print execution operation, the printer receives a print job from the server. Printing is executed. In such an authentication printing system, since printing is executed in front of the user who issued the print execution instruction, there is no problem that a printed matter in which highly confidential information is written is delivered to another person's hand. Since the printer acquires a print job and executes printing after performing the print execution operation, there is a waiting time for the user from when the print execution operation is performed until printing is started.

  In the following Patent Document 1, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader provided in a printer transmits an electromagnetic wave signal to a memory card carried by a user, reads user identification information, and performs user authentication based on the information. A technique is disclosed in which if a user's print job exists, printing of the print job is executed to reduce the waiting time related to the user's print execution.

JP-A-2005-244656

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the user can perform authentication only by approaching the printer, the operation amount of the user related to authentication is reduced, but compared to the case where the user issues a print execution instruction after authentication. The effect of shortening the waiting time was slight. Further, even when the user does not wish to execute printing, there is a security problem because printing is executed only by approaching the printer, for example, just passing the printer.

  In light of the above-described problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to reduce the waiting time related to print execution by the user while ensuring security in the authentication printing system.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

Application Example 1 A printing apparatus that receives print data from a print data holding apparatus that holds print data, and executes printing.
Authentication means for performing a first authentication process for authenticating a user by a direct operation on the printing apparatus;
User detection identification means for detecting the approach of the user to the printing apparatus and identifying the user;
Confirmation means for confirming whether the print data relating to the identified user is retained in the print data retaining device;
Prior to the first authentication process, a preparation processing unit that performs a predetermined preparation process according to a confirmation result of the confirmation unit for the printing of the identified user;
A printing apparatus comprising: a print execution unit that executes the print that has undergone the preparation process after the first authentication process.

  When the printing apparatus configured as described above detects the approach of the user to the printing apparatus and identifies the user, the printing apparatus confirms whether the print data related to the identified user is held in the print data holding apparatus, and performs the first authentication. Prior to the processing, a predetermined preparation process corresponding to the confirmation result is performed for the printing of the identified user. Then, after the first authentication process, the printing prepared for printing is executed. Therefore, since the print preparation is performed before the first authentication process, the waiting time related to the user's print execution can be shortened accordingly. Further, since printing is executed after the first authentication process, security can be ensured.

Application Example 2 The preparation process includes a process of acquiring at least a part of the print data from the print data holding device when the confirmation unit confirms that the print data related to the identified user is held. The printing apparatus according to Application Example 1.

  Since the printing apparatus having such a configuration acquires at least a part of print data as a preparation process prior to the authentication process, the waiting time related to the user's print execution is compared with the case where the print data is acquired after the authentication process. The time for acquiring print data can be shortened.

Application Example 3 The preparation process includes an application example 1 including a process of displaying information about the held print data when the confirmation unit confirms that the print data relating to the identified user is held. The printing apparatus according to Application Example 2.

  Since the printing apparatus having such a configuration displays information about the held print data as a preparation process prior to the authentication process, the user can know that printing can be executed before the authentication process. , Improve convenience.

Application Example 4 The application examples 1 to 3 include a process in which the preparation unit includes a process of warming up the print execution unit when the confirmation unit confirms that print data relating to the identified user is held. The printing apparatus in any one of.

  Since the printing apparatus configured as described above warms up the print execution unit as a preparation process prior to the authentication process, the waiting time related to the user's print execution is more warm than the case where the warm-up is performed after the authentication process. Time for up can be shortened.

[Application Example 5] The preparation process includes any one of Application Examples 1 to 4 including a process of notifying that when the confirmation unit confirms that print data relating to the identified user is not held. The printing apparatus as described.

  Since the printing apparatus having such a configuration displays that print data is not held as a preparation process prior to the authentication process, the user can know that printing cannot be executed before the authentication process, and is unnecessary. Convenience is improved because no authentication process is required.

[Application Example 6] The printing apparatus according to any one of Application Example 1 to Application Example 5, further including a print resource that can execute printing of print data held in the print data holding apparatus related to the identified user. The printing apparatus includes a resource confirmation unit that confirms whether or not the printing apparatus is provided, and the preparation processing unit performs the preparation process only when the printing apparatus includes the printing resource.

  When the printing apparatus configured as described above cannot perform printing due to a shortage of printing resources, it does not prepare for printing such as acquisition of print data from the print data holding apparatus, so that the printing data is not held in the printing apparatus and security is ensured. be able to.

[Application Example 7] The printing apparatus according to any one of Application Example 1 to Application Example 6, further including a print resource that can execute printing of print data held in the print data holding apparatus related to the identified user. The printing apparatus includes resource confirmation means for confirming whether or not the printing apparatus is provided, and the preparation process includes a process of notifying the contents of the insufficient printing resource when the printing apparatus is not provided with the printing resource.

  When the printing apparatus having such a configuration cannot print due to a shortage of print resources, the contents are notified as a preparation process, so that the user knows that there is a shortage of print resources before performing the authentication process and printing. Can do. Therefore, there is not enough print resources during printing execution, and the user does not leave the printing apparatus to replenish the print resources, so security can be ensured.

[Application Example 8] The printing apparatus according to any one of Application Example 1 to Application Example 7, wherein the user detection identification unit performs a second authentication process for the identified user, and the preparation processing unit is a user detection identification unit. Is a printing apparatus that performs preparatory processing when the second authentication processing is successful.

  Since the printing apparatus configured as described above performs the preparation process when the second authentication process is successful, the printing preparation process is performed for a user who cannot perform the first authentication process, that is, cannot perform printing. Therefore, the print preparation process can be performed efficiently. Security can also be secured.

  In addition to the configuration as a printing apparatus, the present invention can also be realized as a printing system including a print data holding apparatus and a printing apparatus, a printing execution method, a computer program, a storage medium, and the like.

Examples of the present invention will be described.
A. First embodiment:
A-1. General configuration of the printing system:
A configuration of a printing system 20 as an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The printing system 20 includes a computer PC, a server SV, and a printer PRT connected to a local area network LAN. In this embodiment, the computer PC, the server SV, and the printer PRT are connected by a local area network LAN. However, these may be connected by a communicable communication means such as the Internet. The server SV and the printer PRT may be locally connected by a USB cable or the like. Further, for convenience of explanation, the printing system 20 has a single computer PC, server SV, and printer PRT, but any one or all of them may be configured by a plurality. Good.

  The printing system 20 is an authentication printing system that performs authentication printing, and its outline is as follows. The computer PC is a general-purpose personal computer, and the server SV is a print server that spools print jobs. The printer PRT is a printer with an authentication function. When the user issues a print instruction using the PC, the PC transmits the print job to the server SV in association with the user of the computer PC. When the server SV receives a print job from the computer PC, the server SV temporarily spools the print job. When the user moves to the installation site of the printer PRT and authenticates with an authentication device associated with the printer PRT, the printer PRT receives a print job associated with the authenticated user from the server SV. The printing is executed based on the data.

A-2. Printer configuration:
A schematic configuration of the printer PRT is shown in FIG. As shown, the printer PRT includes a CPU 30, an EEPROM 40, a ROM 51, a RAM 52, a printing mechanism 53, an input mechanism 54, an authentication mechanism 56, a user detection mechanism 57, a resource confirmation mechanism 58, and an interface 59, each of which is a bus. It is connected.

  The CPU 30 manages the entire printer PRT by developing and executing firmware and OS stored in the EEPROM 40 and ROM 51 in the RAM 52. Further, the CPU 30 functions as an authentication unit 31, a user detection and identification unit 32, a confirmation unit 33, a preparation processing unit 34, a print execution unit 35, and a resource confirmation unit 36 by executing a program stored in the EEPROM 40. Details of this functional unit will be described later.

  The EEPROM 40 is a writable nonvolatile memory, and is used as a buffer for a print job received from the work area of the CPU 30 or the server SV. The printing mechanism 53 is a laser type printing mechanism in this embodiment. The input mechanism 54 includes a keyboard and a monitor that displays a UI.

  The authentication mechanism 56 is an IC card type authentication device. When the user reads the authentication information of the IC chip into the authentication mechanism 56 and succeeds in authentication, the user can log in to the printer PRT. Note that the authentication method is not limited to the IC card method, and may be another method such as a password method or a biometric method.

  The user detection mechanism 57 is a mechanism for detecting that the user has approached the printer PRT and identifying the user. In this embodiment, the user detection mechanism 57 is an RFID reader, and detects an approach of the user by transmitting an electromagnetic wave signal to an IC card carried by the user approaching the printer PRT and reading the identification information of the user. And identifying the user.

  The resource confirmation mechanism 58 is a mechanism that detects the print resource of the printer PRT, and includes a toner remaining amount detection mechanism that detects the remaining amount of toner and a paper remaining amount detection mechanism that detects the remaining amount of printing paper. The toner detection device uses a magnetic permeability detection method, but other methods such as a piezo method and a transmitted light method may be used depending on the type of toner. The paper remaining amount detection mechanism moves the reflection type sensor attached to the paper storage unit up and down by an actuator, reads the paper thickness according to the waveform of the reflected light, and reads the read paper thickness per preset sheet. The method of detecting the remaining amount of paper by dividing by the thickness is used, but other methods may be used. In this embodiment, the print resource detected by the resource confirmation mechanism 58 is the remaining amount of toner and paper, but may be configured to detect other print resources.

  The interface 59 is an interface for connecting the printer PRT to the local area network LAN, and the printer PRT is connected to the local area network LAN via the interface 59.

A-3. Server configuration:
A schematic configuration of the server SV is shown in FIG. The server SV includes a CPU 60, a hard disk drive 70, a ROM 81, a RAM 82, and an interface 89, which are connected by a bus.

  The CPU 60 manages the entire server SV by deploying and executing firmware and OS stored in the hard disk drive 70 and the ROM 81 in the RAM 82. Further, the CPU 60 functions as a print job communication unit 61, a print job search unit 62, and a print resource information provision unit 63 by executing a program stored in the hard disk drive 70. Details of this functional unit will be described later.

  The hard disk drive 70 stores the OS and programs described above, and a print job holding area 71 for spooling print jobs received from the computer PC in association with user identifiers.

  The interface 89 is an interface for connecting to the local area network LAN, and the server SV is connected to the local area network LAN via the interface 89.

A-4. Print preparation process:
FIG. 4 shows the flow of printing processing in the printer PRT constituting the printing system 20. First, the premise of the printing process will be described. When the user operates the computer PC to specify print target data and issues a print instruction, the print driver of the computer PC generates a print job in which the print target data is converted into a page description language and corresponds to the user identifier. Attach it to the server SV. At this time, if the model of the printer that performs printing is designated, the information is also transmitted in association with the print job.

  On the other hand, when receiving the print job from the computer PC, the CPU 60 of the server SV stores the print job in the print job holding area 71 in association with the user identifier. In this embodiment, the user identifier associated with the print job is the user identifier read from the user's IC card in the reading device provided in the computer PC. However, the user name registered in the computer PC and the user May be input using an input mechanism provided in the computer PC at the time of printing instruction.

  Under this assumption, when the printing process is started by the printer PRT, the CPU 60 first executes a printing preparation process as a preparation for executing printing (step S110).

  The print preparation process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. When the print preparation process is started, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the user detection mechanism 57 has acquired a user identifier from an IC card carried by a user approaching the printer PRT as a process of the user detection and identification unit 32. (Step S310). As a result, if the user identifier has not been acquired (step S310: NO), the process waits until acquisition.

  On the other hand, if the user identifier is obtained (step S310: YES), the CPU 30 confirms whether the print job of the user who has obtained the identifier is held in the server SV as a process of the confirmation unit 33 (step S320). Specifically, the CPU 30 transmits the user identifier and the model name of the printer PRT to the server SV. On the other hand, when receiving the information, the CPU 60 of the server SV searches the print job holding area 71 for a print job associated with the received user identifier and model name as processing of the print job search unit 62, and The result is transmitted to the printer PRT. The CPU 30 receives this and confirms the holding of the print job.

  When the print job is confirmed, the CPU 30 interprets the search result received from the server SV and determines whether there is a print job in the server SV (step S330). As a result, if there is a print job (step S330: YES), the CPU 30 starts acquiring the print job prior to the user authentication process as the preparation processing unit 34 (step S340). Specifically, the CPU 30 requests the server SV to transmit the print job. As processing of the print job communication unit 61, the CPU 60 of the server SV reads the print job requested for transmission from the print job holding area 71 and transmits it to the printer PRT. The CPU 30 of the printer PRT receives the print job and stores it in the EEPROM 40.

  When the pre-acquisition of the print job is started, the CPU 30 starts warming up of the printing mechanism 53 such as increasing the temperature of the toner fixing unit as a process of the preparation processing unit 34 (step S350). Then, as a process of the preparation processing unit 34, the CPU 30 displays on the monitor of the input mechanism 54 that there is a print job that can be printed (step S360), and returns the process to the print process of FIG. A specific example of the display contents here is shown in FIG. In this example, the user “AAA” has three print jobs “aaaaaa.doc”, “bbbbbb.pdf”, and “ccccc.jpg” that can be printed, and the number of pages of the print job is “3 pages”, respectively. , “Page 15”, “page 1”. The information regarding the print job displayed here is included in the search result transmitted by the server SV in step S320. Note that the information regarding the print job displayed in step S360 is not limited to the example of FIG. 6A, and may be various information such as the date and time when the server SV received the print job.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S330 that there is no print job (step S330: NO), the CPU 30 displays on the monitor of the input mechanism 54 that there is no print job that can be printed, as processing of the preparation processing unit 34. (Step S370), and the process returns to the printing process of FIG. A specific example of the display contents here is shown in FIG. In this example, it is displayed that there is no print job that can be printed for the user “AAA”.

  Here, the description returns to the printing process of FIG. When the print preparation process described with reference to FIG. 5 is performed, the CPU 30 waits for user authentication. When the user reads the IC card into the authentication mechanism 56 and performs authentication, the CPU 30 determines whether the authentication is successful. Judgment is made (step S120). As a result, if the authentication fails (step S120: NO), the authenticated user has no authority to execute printing with the printer PRT, and the CPU 30 ends the printing process.

  On the other hand, if the authentication is successful (step S120: YES), the CPU 30 performs a login process for enabling the printer PRT (step S130), and inputs a print job list that is a list of print jobs that can be printed. A print execution instruction that is displayed on the monitor of the mechanism 54 and selected by the user by selecting a desired print job is received (step S140).

  When receiving the print execution instruction, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the print job selected in step S140 corresponds to the print job acquired from the server SV in step S340 (step S150). As a result, if the selected print job is the acquired print job (step S150: YES), the CPU 30 converts the print job stored in the EEPROM 40 into image data as a process of the print execution unit 35, and print mechanism. 53 is driven to print the acquired print job (step S160). Then, the CPU 30 notifies the server SV of the completion of printing (step S170) and completes the printing process.

  On the other hand, if the print job selected in step S140 is not the acquired print job (step S150: NO), the CPU 30 checks whether the print job of the user who has succeeded in authentication is held in the server SV. (Step S180). Specifically, the CPU 30 transmits the user identifier and the model name of the printer PRT to the server SV as in step S320. The CPU 60 of the server SV receives the information, searches the print job holding area 71 for a print job associated with the received user identifier and model name, and transmits the result to the printer PRT. The CPU 30 receives this and confirms the holding of the print job.

  After confirming the print job, the CPU 30 interprets the search result received from the server SV and determines whether or not the server SV has the print job selected in step S140 (step S190). As a result, if there is no print job (step S190: NO), the CPU 30 completes the printing process. On the other hand, if there is a print job (step S190: YES), the CPU 30 requests the server SV to transmit the print job, receives the print job from the server SV, and stores it in the EEPROM 40 (step S200). Then, the CPU 30 executes printing of the acquired print job (step S210) as in step S160, notifies the server SV of completion of printing (step S220), and performs print processing, as in step S170. finish. In this way, even if there is an unacquired print job, the print job can be printed. After step S170, the server SV is checked again to determine whether there is unacquired print data. If there is unacquired print data, the print data is acquired and printing is performed. It is good also as a structure.

  Although not shown, if the user does not execute printing within a predetermined time even though the print job is acquired in step S340 of the print preparation process in FIG. 5, the CPU 30 acquires the print job. The configured print job is deleted from the EEPROM 40. In this way, security can be ensured.

  In the printing system 20 having such a configuration, when the printer PRT detects the approach of the user to the printer PRT and identifies the user, the printer PRT checks whether the print job related to the identified user is held in the server SV, and prints. When a job is held, print job acquisition, print mechanism 53 warm-up, and print job display are performed prior to authentication processing. Accordingly, there is no need to acquire a print job or warm up after the authentication process, and accordingly, the waiting time of the user can be reduced. Further, the user can know that printing can be executed before the authentication process, and convenience is improved. In addition, since the printing is performed after the authentication process is performed, security can be ensured.

  In addition, when no print job is held in the server SV, the printer PRT displays that prior to the authentication process, so that the user knows that printing cannot be executed before the authentication process. In addition, the convenience of the authentication process can be saved, thereby improving convenience.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 7 shows a flow of print preparation processing as the second embodiment. In addition, about the step similar to 1st Example, the code | symbol same as FIG. 4 is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted. In the print preparation process as the second embodiment, if it is determined in step S330 that there is a print job in the server SV (step S330: YES), the CPU 30 acquires print resource information from the server SV (step S410). Specifically, the CPU 30 requests the server SV to transmit print resource information related to the print job. On the other hand, the CPU 60 of the server SV calculates the print resource information of the print job as a process of the print resource information providing unit 63 and transmits it to the printer PRT. The CPU 30 of the printer PRT receives this and acquires print resource information. Note that the print resource information here is the number of pages of the print job and the amount of toner necessary for printing. The amount of toner is calculated by the CPU 60 by multiplying the number of pages of the print job by a predetermined basic unit of toner usage per page.

  When the print resource information is acquired, the CPU 30 determines whether there are sufficient print resources to print all the print jobs (step S420). This determination is performed by the CPU 30 using the resource confirmation mechanism 58 to detect the print resource currently provided in the printer PRT, that is, the amount of printing paper and toner, as the processing of the resource confirmation unit 36, and the print acquired from the server SV. This is done by comparing with resource information.

  As a result, if the print resource is sufficient (step S420: YES), the CPU 30 advances the process to step S340, and starts acquiring a print job prior to the user authentication process, as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, if the print resource is insufficient (step S420: NO), the CPU 30 starts acquiring the print job prior to the user authentication process (step S430), and the print resource 53 is displayed on the monitor of the print mechanism 53. The information regarding the shortage and the print job are displayed (step S440), and the process returns to the print process of FIG.

  A specific example of the display contents here is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8A, for user “AAA”, there are three print jobs “aaaaaa.doc”, “bbbbbb.pdf”, and “ccccc.jpg” that can be printed, and the number of pages of the print job is “ “3 pages”, “15 pages”, and “1 page”, indicating that 10 sheets of A4 paper are insufficient to print all of them. Further, FIG. 8B shows that Y toner is insufficient.

  In the second embodiment, when the print resource is insufficient (step S420: NO), the printing mechanism 53 is not warmed up. However, the warming up may be performed. In such a case, the print job is acquired (step S430), but the print job may not be acquired. This is because the user may cancel the execution of printing because he / she knows that the print resource is insufficient.

  In the print preparation process having such a configuration, when printing cannot be performed due to a shortage of print resources, the contents of the shortage print resource are displayed. Therefore, the user knows that the print resource is short before performing the authentication process and executing printing. be able to. Therefore, there is not enough print resources during printing execution, and the user does not leave the printing apparatus to replenish the print resources, so security can be ensured.

C. Variations:
A modification of the above-described embodiment will be described.
C-1. Modification 1:
In the above-described embodiment, in the print preparation process shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 30 of the printer PRT determines whether or not the user detection mechanism 57 has acquired the user identifier from the IC card carried by the user approaching the printer PRT. If the user identifier is acquired (step S310: YES), processing such as print job acquisition (steps S340 to S370) is performed. However, the user identifier is acquired to authenticate the user. If authentication is successful, processing such as acquisition of a print job (steps S340 to S370) may be performed.

  In this way, in step S120 of the printing process shown in FIG. 4, for a user who does not succeed in authentication, that is, for a user who cannot execute printing, a process (steps S340 to S370) such as acquisition of a print job is performed. Since this is not performed, the print execution preparation process can be performed efficiently. Security can also be secured.

  Even in such a case, the printing can be executed only when the authentication is successful using the authentication mechanism 56 in step S120 of the printing process shown in FIG. In this way, when a user who does not intend to perform printing simply passes the printer PRT side, printing is not performed and security can be ensured.

C-2. Modification 2:
In the second embodiment described above, even when print resources are insufficient in step S420 of the print preparation process shown in FIG. 7 (step S420: NO), processing such as print job acquisition (S430, S440) is performed. However, if the print resources are insufficient, these processes may not be performed. This is because the user knows that the print resource is insufficient and sometimes cancels the execution of printing, so that security is ensured.

C-3. Modification 3:
In the embodiment, in step S340 of the print preparation process shown in FIG. 5, all the print jobs of the user who acquired the identifier are acquired. However, a part of the print job may be acquired. For example, when there are a plurality of print jobs of the user who acquired the identifier, only the first page data may be acquired for each print job. In such a case, data for the second and subsequent pages may be acquired while printing the first page acquired in advance in step S160.

C-4. Modification 4:
In the embodiment, as a print preparation process prior to authentication using the authentication mechanism 56, a configuration is shown in which a print job is acquired, the print mechanism 53 is warmed up, a print job is displayed, and the like. The content is not limited to the content of the embodiment, and can be configured as various processes performed before printing of print data. For example, the print preparation process may include a process of converting the format of the print job from page description language to image data. When the printer PRT acquires an encrypted print job, the print job is decrypted. Processing may be included.

C-5. Modification 5:
In the embodiment, in step S370 of the print preparation process shown in FIG. 5, the absence of print data is displayed on the monitor of the input mechanism 54. Similarly, in step S440 of the print preparation process illustrated in FIG. 7, a configuration in which a shortage of print resources is displayed on the monitor of the input mechanism 54 is adopted. However, the means for notifying the user of these is not limited to the mode of displaying on the monitor, and various notifying means such as lighting of a light emitting device such as an LED and notification by voice guidance can be used.

C-6. Modification 6:
In the embodiment, the print job acquired in advance in step S340 of the print preparation process in FIG. 5 is configured to be deleted from the EEPROM 40 by the CPU 30 after a predetermined time has elapsed from the prior acquisition from the viewpoint of ensuring security. The print job deletion timing can be set to various timings in consideration of the possibility of the user executing printing and the state of the free space in the EEPROM 40. For example, when printing of a print job is completed by the printer PRT, the print job may be deleted. Alternatively, the print job relating to the user may be deleted after a predetermined time has elapsed since the user could not be detected by the user detection identification unit 32. Even in such a configuration, since a print job that has been acquired in advance but has a reduced print execution possibility is not stored indefinitely, security can be ensured.

  Alternatively, when a print job acquired in advance is printed by a printer connected to the local area network LAN and different from the printer PRT, the print job may be deleted. In this configuration, for example, as in step S170, another printer that has completed printing transmits a notification of completion of printing to the server SV, and the server SV that has received this notification has previously acquired the print job. This can be realized by transferring the reception completion notification to the PRT. Even in such a configuration, since a print job that has been acquired in advance but has a reduced print execution possibility is not stored indefinitely, security can be ensured.

  Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a print job acquired in advance is deleted when the free space of the EEPROM 40 becomes a predetermined value or less. In such a case, the configuration may be such that all the print jobs are deleted, or a part of the print jobs that have been acquired in advance is deleted based on a predetermined priority order until the free space becomes a predetermined value or more. Good. For example, the priority order may be determined based on the elapsed time since the print job was acquired in advance, the user attribute corresponding to the print job, the data size of the print job, and the like. It is possible to determine such that the user's print job is deleted first, and the print job having a large data size is deleted first. With this configuration, in addition to ensuring security, the limited capacity of the EEPROM 40 can be used effectively.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to such embodiment, Of course, in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can implement in a various aspect. For example, the present invention can be realized in the form of a print execution method, a program, a storage medium, and the like in addition to the configuration as the printing system 20 and the printer PRT.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system 20. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of printer PRT. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of server SV. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of printing processing in a printer PRT. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of print preparation processing in print processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the display content on the monitor of the input mechanism 54 in a print preparation process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the print preparation process in the printing process as 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the display content on the monitor of the input mechanism 54 in the print preparation process as 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

20 ... Printing system 30 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Authentication part 32 ... User detection identification part 33 ... Confirmation part 34 ... Preparation processing part 35 ... Print execution part 36 ... Resource confirmation part 40 ... EEPROM
51 ... ROM
52 ... RAM
53 ... Printing mechanism 54 ... Input mechanism 56 ... Authentication mechanism 57 ... User detection mechanism 58 ... Resource confirmation mechanism 59 ... Interface 60 ... CPU
61 ... Print job communication unit 62 ... Print job search unit 63 ... Print resource information providing unit 70 ... Hard disk drive 71 ... Print job holding area 81 ... ROM
82 ... RAM
89 ... Interface PC ... Computer SV ... Server PRT ... Printer LAN ... Local Area Network

Claims (9)

A printing device that receives print data from a print data holding device that holds print data, and executes printing.
Authentication means for performing a first authentication process for authenticating a user by a direct operation on the printing apparatus;
User detection identification means for detecting the approach of the user to the printing apparatus and identifying the user;
Confirmation means for confirming whether the print data relating to the identified user is retained in the print data retaining device;
Prior to the first authentication process, a preparation processing unit that performs a predetermined preparation process according to a confirmation result of the confirmation unit for the printing of the identified user;
A printing apparatus comprising: a print execution unit that executes the print that has undergone the preparation process after the first authentication process.   The preparation process includes a process of acquiring at least a part of the print data from the print data holding device when the confirmation unit confirms that the print data relating to the identified user is held. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.   The preparation process includes a process of displaying information about the held print data when the confirmation unit confirms that the print data related to the identified user is held. Item 3. The printing apparatus according to Item 2.   4. The preparation process according to claim 1, wherein the preparation process includes a process of warming up the print execution unit when the confirmation unit confirms that print data relating to the identified user is held. A printing apparatus according to any one of the above.   The said preparation process includes the process which alert | reports that when the said confirmation means confirms that the printing data which concern on the said identified user are not hold | maintained. Printing device. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Furthermore, it comprises resource confirmation means for confirming whether or not the printing apparatus has a print resource that can execute printing of the print data held in the print data holding apparatus related to the identified user,
The said preparation process means is a printing apparatus which performs the said preparation process only when the said printing apparatus is provided with the said printing resource. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Furthermore, it comprises resource confirmation means for confirming whether or not the printing apparatus has a print resource that can execute printing of the print data held in the print data holding apparatus related to the identified user,
The preparation process includes a process of notifying the contents of a print resource that is insufficient when the printing apparatus does not include the print resource. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The user detection and identification means performs a second authentication process for the identified user,
The preparation processing unit is a printing apparatus that performs the preparation processing when the user detection and identification unit succeeds in the second authentication processing. A print execution method in which the print data is received from a print data holding device that holds print data, and the printing device executes printing,
Detecting the user's approach to the printing device, identifying the user,
Prior to the authentication process for authenticating the user of the printing device, confirm whether or not the print data holding device holds the print data relating to the identified user,
Prior to the authentication process, a predetermined preparation process is performed for the printing of the identified user,
A print execution method for executing the printing after the authentication process.

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