JP2011090380A - Image processing apparatus, control method and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly charge a fee in response to printing use, and to avoid a problem on security in a print output. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus includes a charging means for print processing, and allows printing by a body operation, printing from the first information processing apparatus, and printing from the second information processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes a job sorting means for sorting print jobs from the body operation, the printing from the first information processing apparatus and the printing from the second information processing apparatus, a user authentication means for authenticating a user as to the printing from the first information processing apparatus and the printing from the second information processing apparatus, a charge effectuating means for effectuating the charging means, only about the printing by the body operation and the printing from the first information processing apparatus, and a printing management means for making only the user authenticated by the user authentication means carry out the print output. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of an image processing apparatus that is shared for a commercial purpose of collecting individual charges according to use of printing and a purpose of corporate use in an office.

  Conventionally, when using the copy function in an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine installed in an environment used by an unspecified user such as a convenience store, the copy fee is collected according to the number of output sheets, etc. Is common. This fee collection is often performed using a coin rack connected to the image processing apparatus. In this case, the user inserts cash in advance into the coin rack and makes a copy request. Every time one image is copied, the image processing apparatus deducts the fee and calculates the remaining amount. When the remaining amount is exhausted, copying is disabled.

  In recent years, as image processing devices have become more sophisticated, not only a copy service but also a service that takes in and prints electronic files stored in an external storage medium such as a memory card and charges the user according to the print output is provided. It became so.

  For example, there is a device disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a billing device for a service for printing such an electronic file. In this apparatus, image data brought in by an external storage medium by a user is incorporated into a format provided on the image forming apparatus side and printed. The price for the service is paid in cash from a coin rack connected to the image forming apparatus for each format provided. Specifically, in this billing system, after the user determines the format to be printed and the number of printed output sheets, the image forming apparatus presents a printing fee and confirms that a sufficient fee has been put into the coin rack before printing. Provides an operation flow to start output.

  As described above, the charge for image processing apparatuses such as copiers used in convenience stores, etc., is determined by the printing service itself and the content, and a method in which an unspecified user pays the charge on the spot is common. is there.

  On the other hand, when the image processing apparatus is used for printing documents in an office, the printing fee is not paid as a price for individual printing services because the documents required for business are printed. Often billed to the department to which it belongs. For example, in Patent Document 2, a user name, a group name, and a password are added as a header part of print instruction data sent to a printer as means for making a charge for each department, and the user instructs the application to start printing. A system is disclosed in which print data including a header portion is transferred to a printer and the user can be confirmed by analyzing the header portion on the printer side. By using such a system, it is possible to charge for each department to which the user belongs.

  As described above, the use of image processing devices can be broadly classified into commercial purposes and corporate use purposes. However, considering the cost of installation and maintenance, image processing devices are not installed for each use, but are not specified. In an environment where both users and office users coexist (for example, an environment in which a store such as a convenience store and its management office coexist), an image processing apparatus capable of charging according to print output and charging for each department is provided. It is preferable to install.

  However, the conventional image processing apparatus has means for determining whether the print output to be executed is an instruction from an unspecified user for commercial purposes or a print instruction from an office user and to implement an appropriate charging method. Depending on the application, multiple image processing devices will be installed individually, or office users will print using cash and then use the receipt to perform department clearing using a separate clearing system. There was inconvenience such as becoming. In addition, when the print output by the unspecified user's main body operation and the print output by the remote operation using the office user's PC or the like are instructed at the same time, the unspecified user operates the image processing apparatus while the office user operates There is a possibility that a printed matter may be output, and there is a possibility that a fee charged by an unspecified user into the coin rack is unintentionally subtracted. In such a case, there is a high possibility that the printed matter of the office user is seen by an unspecified user, which may cause a security problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and can appropriately charge according to the purpose of printing (commercial purpose / corporate purpose), and has a security problem in print output. An object is to provide an image processing apparatus, a control method for the image processing apparatus, and a program thereof that can be avoided.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention has a charging means for print processing, printing by main body operation, printing from the first information processing apparatus, and from the second information processing apparatus. In the image processing apparatus capable of printing, job classification means for separating jobs for printing by the main body, printing from the first information processing apparatus, and printing from the second information processing apparatus, and the first information processing User authentication means for authenticating a user for printing from the apparatus and printing from the second information processing apparatus, and the charging means only for printing by the main body operation and printing from the first information processing apparatus Charge enabling means for enabling, and print management means for outputting prints only for print jobs that have been user-authenticated by the user authentication means. To.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the image processing apparatus, the print management unit controls to store history information including a print image only for printing from the second information processing apparatus, and for other printing, the print image It is characterized by carrying out control to erase.

  According to the present invention, in the image processing apparatus, the job classification unit performs the classification based on user information set in a header portion of a print job.

  According to the present invention, in the image processing apparatus, user information set in a header part of a job for printing by the main body operation and printing from the first information processing apparatus includes a fixed user ID for identifying each of them. It is characterized by.

  In the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus further includes user information management means for managing user information, wherein the job classification means includes user information set in a header portion of a print job, and the user information management The print jobs are classified by collating with user information managed by the means.

  According to the present invention, in the image processing apparatus, the print management unit queues a print job from the first information processing apparatus and a print job from the second information processing apparatus, and the queued print job A print job having user information that matches user information designated by the user in the image processing apparatus is printed out.

In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the user information includes a user ID and a password.

  In addition, the present invention includes a charging unit for print processing, and is executed by a control unit of an image processing apparatus capable of printing by main body operation, printing from the first information processing apparatus, and printing from the second information processing apparatus. A control method, wherein the control means separates jobs for printing by the main body, printing from the first information processing apparatus, and printing from the second information processing apparatus; and the control means A user authentication step for authenticating a user for printing from the first information processing apparatus and printing from the second information processing apparatus, and the control means includes printing by the main body operation and first information processing. Only for printing from the apparatus, a charging validation step for validating the billing means, and the control means for the user authenticated by the user authentication step. Only for the job, characterized by comprising a print management step of the printout, the.

  In addition, the present invention includes a charging unit for print processing, and is executed by a control unit of an image processing apparatus capable of printing by main body operation, printing from the first information processing apparatus, and printing from the second information processing apparatus. A job sorting step for sorting a print job by the operation of the main body, a print job from the first information processing apparatus and a print job from the second information processing apparatus by the control means; and the control means. A user authentication step for authenticating a user for printing from the first information processing apparatus and printing from the second information processing apparatus, and printing by the main body operation and the first information processing apparatus by the control means Only for printing from a charging validating step for validating the charging means, and by the control means by the user authentication step. Only for the user authentication print job, characterized in that it comprises a print management step of the printout, the.

  In the print management step, it is desirable to control to save history information including a print image only for printing from the second information processing apparatus, and to control to delete the print image for other printing.

  In the job classification step, it is desirable to perform the classification based on user information set in the header part of the print job.

  Further, it is desirable that the user information set in the header portion of the job for printing by the main body operation and printing from the first information processing apparatus includes a fixed user ID for identifying each.

  Further, in the job classification step, the user information set in the header part of the print job is collated with the user information managed by the user information management means for managing the user information, so that the classification of the print job is performed. It is desirable to do.

  In the print management step, a job for printing from the first information processing apparatus and a print job from the second information processing apparatus is queued, and a user in the image processing apparatus is selected from the queued print jobs. It is desirable to print out a print job having user information that matches the user information specified by.

  The user information preferably includes a user ID and a password.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to control charging and print output according to the purpose of printing by separately processing whether it is an instruction from an unspecified user for commercial purposes or a printing instruction from an office user. Thus, the image processing apparatus can be shared for both commercial use and office use.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen displayed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information stored in the user information management unit A of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information stored in the user information management unit B of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of header information of a print job handled by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of media printing processing executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of PC printing processing executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of print data authentication processing executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of print execution processing executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of queuing print processing 1 performed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of queuing print processing 2 performed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of user authentication processing performed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user ID and password input screen displayed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 16 is a flowchart of print history storage processing executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for common parts.

(Outline of the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment)
The image processing apparatus of this embodiment is a system including an image processing apparatus main body and a coin rack, and is installed in a convenience store or the like. In the following, an image processing apparatus will be described as an example of a complex machine that combines a printer function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. When image processing such as printing, copying, and fax transmission is performed using this image processing apparatus, a fee is collected using a coin rack. Here, a case where print processing is performed as image processing will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 1 includes a main body and a coin rack 101 as a charging unit connected to the main body. Here, the collection of the fee is not limited to the collection of cash by the well-known coin rack 101 shown in the present embodiment, but may be performed by electronic money using a contact or non-contact IC card or the like that is currently widely used. In this case, a card reader (not shown) as a billing unit performs processing according to the form of the IC card for deducting charges from the remaining amount in the IC card in accordance with an instruction from the image processing apparatus 1.

  The main body of the image processing apparatus 1 has a configuration in which an image reading apparatus 103 that reads an image from a document is disposed on the upper part of a printing apparatus 102 that forms an image on a sheet. An operation panel P is provided on the outer surface of the image reading apparatus 103 for displaying to the user and accepting various inputs from the user. Furthermore, an external media input / output device 104 that reads data from various media (recording media) and writes data to the recording media is provided below the operation panel P. Is exposed to the outside. Examples of the recording medium here include a semiconductor memory, a flexible disk, a hard disk, and an optical disk, and the external media input / output device 104 has a function of reading and writing data from these recording media.

(Hardware configuration)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus 1. The image processing apparatus 1 is roughly divided into an image processing unit A and an information processing unit B, and the printing apparatus 102 and the image reading apparatus 103 belong to the image processing unit A, and the operation panel P and external media input / output. The device 104 belongs to the information processing unit part B.

(Image processing unit A)
Here, the image processing unit A will be described.

  The image processing unit A that includes the printing apparatus 102 and the image reading apparatus 103 includes an image processing control unit 10 that performs overall control of image processing in the image processing unit A. The image processing control unit 10 includes: A print control unit 11 that controls the printing apparatus 102 and an image reading control unit 12 that controls the image reading apparatus 103 are connected. The print control unit 11 outputs a print instruction including image data to the printing apparatus 102 according to the control of the image processing control unit 10, and causes the printing apparatus 102 to form and output an image on a medium such as transfer paper. The image reading control unit 12 drives the image reading device 103 under the control of the image processing control unit 10, and reflects light reflected from the lamp on the surface of the document to a light receiving element (for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device)) using a mirror and a lens. Condensed and read, and A / D converted to generate 8-bit RGB digital image data.

  Such an image processing control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 13 that is a main processor and a memory device that temporarily stores image data read from the image reading device 103 for use in image formation by the printing device 102 ( For example, SDRAM (Synchronous Random Access Memory) 14, ROM (Read Only Memory) 15 storing a control program, and system log / system settings / various log information etc. when the power is turned off. In this configuration, the NVRAM 16 capable of holding data is connected by a bus.

  The image processing control unit 10 also includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 17 serving as a storage device for storing a large amount of image data and job history, and a HUB 19 that is a concentrator provided in the image processing device 1. A LAN control unit 18 for connecting the image processing unit A to the LAN 2 and a FAX control unit 20 for performing FAX control are connected. The FAX control unit 20 is connected to a private branch exchange (PBX) 21 leading to a public telephone network, and the image processing apparatus 1 can communicate with a remote facsimile.

  In addition, a display control unit 22 and an operation input control unit 23 are connected to the image processing control unit 10. The display control unit 22 sends an image display control signal to the information processing unit B via the control panel I / F 24 and the communication cable 25 connected to the control panel I / F 24 under the control of the image processing control unit 10. Output and control the image display on the operation panel P of the information processing unit B.

  The operation input control unit 23 receives an input control signal corresponding to a function setting or input operation by the operator from the operation panel P of the information processing unit B, and controls the control panel I / F 24 and the control by the control of the image processing control unit 10. Input is performed via a communication cable 25 connected to the panel I / F 24. That is, the image processing unit A is configured to be able to directly monitor the operation panel P of the information processing unit B via the communication cable 25. Accordingly, the image processing unit A is configured such that the communication cable 25 is connected to the image processing unit provided in the conventional image processing apparatus, and the operation panel P of the information processing unit B is used. That is, the display control unit 22 and the operation input control unit 23 of the image processing unit A operate as if they are connected to the operation panel P.

  With such a configuration, the image processing unit A can analyze print data that is image information from the outside (server computer, client computer, facsimile, etc.) and a command that instructs printing, and print the print data as output image data. Bitmaps are developed in the state, and the print mode is analyzed from the command to determine the operation. The print data and command are received and operated through the LAN control unit 18 or the FAX control unit 20. Also, the image processing unit A may transfer print data, document read data, output image data obtained by processing these data for output, and compressed data obtained by compressing them to the outside, stored in the SDRAM 14 or the HDD 17. it can.

(Information processing unit part B)
Next, the information processing unit B including the operation panel P will be described.

  The information processing unit B is controlled by a general-purpose OS (Operating System) generally used in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC). The information processing unit section B has a CPU 31 that is a main processor, and the CPU 31 includes a memory unit that includes a ROM that is a read-only memory that stores a RAM that is a work area of the CPU 31, a startup program, and the like. 32 and a storage device control unit 34 that controls input / output of data to / from a storage device 33 such as an HDD that stores an OS (Operating System) and application programs are connected by a bus.

  The CPU 31 is connected to a LAN control unit 35 for connecting the information processing unit unit B to the LAN 2 via the HUB 19. An IP address that is a network address assigned to the LAN control unit 35 is different from the IP address assigned to the LAN control unit 18 of the image processing unit A described above. That is, two IP addresses are assigned to the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. That is, the image processing unit A and the information processing unit B are individually connected to the LAN 2, and data exchange is performed between the image processing unit A and the information processing unit B via the LAN 2. It has a possible configuration.

  Further, a display control unit 36 and an operation input control unit 37 that control the operation panel P via the control panel I / F 38 are connected to the CPU 31. In addition, an image display control signal is received from the image processing unit A via the communication cable 25, and an input control signal corresponding to the function setting or input operation by the operator from the operation panel P is sent via the communication cable 25 to the image processing unit. A control panel communication unit 39 that outputs to the control panel I / F 24 of the part A is also connected.

  The input / output device control unit 40 performs input / output control for the external media input / output device 104 that reads the storage medium M and other media and the various interfaces 41.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen initially displayed by the information processing unit B. The image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can perform copy, fax, and print services. The user presses the copy button 301 to make a copy, presses the FAX button 302 to make a fax, presses the media print button 303 to print from an external storage medium, When printing from the PC or when an employee or the like wants to print from the office PC, the PC print button 304 is pressed. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 1 starts the instructed service.

(Billing I / F board)
The billing I / F board 50 is a device that generates a coin rack control signal to the coin rack 101. The image processing unit A and the information processing unit B can acquire information such as the setting of the coin rack 101 and the charge to the coin rack 101 via the driver 26 and the driver 42 incorporated therein.

(Functional block of image processing apparatus 1)
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing, as functional blocks, each apparatus related to printing and processing executed when each printing instruction means such as a PC instructs printing. In addition, the block shown with the code | symbol A in the same figure is contained in the image processing unit part A, and the block shown with the code | symbol B is contained in the information processing unit part B.

  The media print execution unit 401 is an application executed by the information processing unit B shown in FIG. 2 and displays an operation screen on the operation panel P that allows the user to perform a media print operation. The media print execution unit 401 functions as a UI (User Interface) as a print data input unit when a user himself / herself stores a file in a medium at a convenience store or the like and operates the image processing apparatus 1 to perform printing. .

  PC-A 402 is a PC installed in a convenience store. For example, the user can operate the PC-A 402 to cause the image processing apparatus 1 to print an image acquired from the Internet.

  The PC-B 403 is a store clerk PC installed in a convenience store office. This is used for printing printed materials necessary for business such as order slips using the image processing apparatus 1.

  The print job processing unit 404 receives a print job instructed from each of the media print execution unit 401, the PC-A 402, and the PC-B 403. The print job processing unit 404 confirms that the received data is a correct job, and delivers the print job to the print authentication execution unit 405.

  The print authentication execution unit 405 performs print job classification (attribute determination) and user authentication. Print job sorting and user authentication are performed using user information stored in the user information management unit A 406 and the user information management unit B 407. The user information management unit A406 stores user information that can collate a user ID and password included in a print job instructed by the media print execution unit 401 or the PC-A 402 used by an unspecified user who has visited a convenience store. ing. On the other hand, the user information management unit B407 stores user information that can collate a user ID and password included in a print job instructed from a PC installed in a convenience store office, that is, the PC-B403.

  Here, the storage format (format) of the user information of each user information management unit will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which user information stored in the user information management unit A 406 is described in a markup language called XML. Each user information is stored in a range surrounded by a <userinfo> tag (user information tag) indicated by 501, 502, 503, and 504 and a corresponding </ userinfo> tag.

  User information includes user ID information 505 described using a <userid> tag and a </ userid> tag, password information 506 described using a <password> tag and a </ password> tag, and < It is composed of a type> tag and attribute information 507 described using the </ type> tag. The attribute has a choice between desktop and background. When the attribute is desktop, it means face-to-face printing in which the user operates while looking at the screen of the operation panel P. In the case of the background, the image processing apparatus is used. 1 means printing from a PC connected to the network (in this specification, facing the operation panel P of the main body of the image processing apparatus 1 and operating it to perform printing is referred to as facing printing). These pieces of user information are information that can be changed only by authorized personnel having a specific role, such as a store manager of a convenience store or an administrator of a printing service, and can be changed from the operation panel P of the image processing apparatus 1 at the time of installation. It is set by input.

  The information described using the user information tag 501 shown in the figure is instructed by an operation on the operation panel P of the image processing apparatus 1 used by an unspecified user, that is, instructed by the media print execution unit 401. User information used by the print job. On the other hand, information described using user information tags 502, 503, and 504 is user information used by a print job instructed by the user from a PC provided in a convenience store or the like. In the example of FIG. 5, 1000 user information storage areas are provided. By preparing an area that can store a plurality of user information, a plurality of print instructions can be received simultaneously. When the 1001st registration is made, the user information 502 is used again. That is, the previously accepted print instruction is automatically deleted from the old one and reused.

  For the user IDs 508, 511 and 514, and the attributes 510, 513 and 516, a person with a specific role such as a convenience store manager or a print service administrator can set up from the operation panel P of the image processing apparatus 1 at the time of installation. As for passwords 509, 512 and 515, the password arbitrarily set by the user at the time of print acceptance is stored by the print authentication execution unit 405 (not set in FIG. 5). The user needs to memorize 1 to 1000 user IDs displayed on the display device of the PC-A 402 at the time of print acceptance and a password arbitrarily set by the user until printing is executed.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which user information stored in the user information management unit B407 is described in a markup language called XML. Each user information is stored in a range surrounded by a <userinfo> tag (user information tag) indicated by 601 and 602 and a corresponding </ userinfo> tag. Information described using user information tags such as 601 and 602 is user information assigned for each individual to a store clerk of a convenience store who is going to execute printing. This user information includes user ID information 603 described using a <userid> tag and a </ userid> tag, password information 604 described using a <password> tag and a </ password> tag, Personal name information 605 described using a <name> tag and a </ name> tag, group name information 606 described using a <group> tag and a </ group> tag, and a <post> tag It includes post information 607 described using a </ post> tag. The user information is information that can be changed only by a specific role person who is authorized such as an I / T manager of a company that develops a convenience store, and can be changed from the operation panel P of the image processing apparatus 1 at the time of installation. Or by centralized management at a remote server.

  In print job authentication, the print authentication execution unit 405 uses the user ID and password stored in the user information management unit A 406 and the user information management unit B 407, and the user ID and password described in the header of the print job. Match. When a matching combination of user ID and password is found, an attribute related to the user ID is assigned and stored in the data storage unit 408, and the print management unit 409 is notified that the print job has been authenticated. The print management unit 409 determines whether or not to execute a print job that has been notified of authentication completion, controls the coin rack 101 through the billing I / F board 50, displays a user ID / password input screen, and displays a print reservation list. Control the display.

  FIG. 7 shows the data format of the print job used in this embodiment. A user ID 701 and a password 702 are added as a header portion 704 before the print data 703. Note that the data in the header section 704 is information given by a printer driver that supports the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.

  The print job controlled by the print management unit 409 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 102 via the print control unit 11 and printed out by the printing apparatus 102. As described above, the billing I / F board 50 is a hardware board that acquires and controls information of the coin rack 101 and can be operated by the print management unit 409 and the media print execution unit 401.

  The print image storage unit 410 is a functional block that stores a print output image (print image data) sent from the print control unit 11 to the printing apparatus 102 as an electronic file. In addition, the print history storage unit 411 stores the number of prints, the color attribute, and the print output image as an electronic file for each user ID as a history related to the print output image stored in the print image storage unit 410 by the print management unit 409. It is a functional block.

  Note that with the copy and fax functions that always use the image reading apparatus 103, the user is facing the image processing apparatus 1 when the service is provided, so the functional blocks and processing flow of the present embodiment relating to the processing of the print job are not applied.

(Media printing process)
Next, processing at the time of printing using media (hereinafter referred to as media printing) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of printing using a medium.

  First, in S801, the user performs a screen operation on the operation panel P. At this time, the user inserts a medium such as a memory card that has been brought into the media slot provided in the information processing unit B, selects a file to be printed on the operation panel P, and sets print attributes such as print color and number of prints. Will be input.

  The fee is fixed after the printing attributes are determined. In step S <b> 802, the media printing execution unit 401 prompts the user to input a fixed fee through a screen display, so that the user inserts the displayed fee into the coin rack 101. When a sufficient fee is inserted into the coin rack 101, the user can instruct the start of printing by pressing the start button on the information processing unit unit B.

  In subsequent S803, the printer driver of the information processing unit unit B makes a print request to the image processing unit unit A. At this time, the printer driver sets a fixed user ID and password in the header portion of the print job so that the print job can be determined to be media printing.

  The subsequent S804 is a print data authentication process performed by the print authentication execution unit 405 of the image processing unit A. In this print data authentication, the user ID and password are extracted from the received print job, and the extracted user ID and password match the user ID and password registered in advance in the user information management unit A406 or the user information management unit B407. This is a process of collating whether or not to determine the attributes of the print job.

  A subsequent S805 is a print execution process performed by the print management unit 409 after the print data authentication is completed. In the case of media printing, billing by the coin rack 101 is validated (that is, the usage fee can be reduced from the amount inserted into the coin rack 101). Then, a print output is requested to the print control unit 11. Upon receiving this print output, the print control unit 11 outputs a print instruction including image data to the printing apparatus 102, and causes the printing apparatus 102 to form and output an image on a medium such as transfer paper.

  Subsequent S806 is billing by the coin rack 101. A print unit price is set in advance for the coin rack 101 before a print instruction, and the input charge in the coin rack 101 is subtracted by the print unit price at the end of output for each sheet.

  The subsequent S807 is a print image erasing process. In this embodiment, an image log of a print output image is temporarily recorded for all print outputs. However, since storage of print data printed by an unspecified user at a convenience store or the like corresponds to personal information, the print management unit 409 performs S807 for a print output image (print image) acquired by the print control unit 11. Delete with.

(PC printing process)
Next, processing when printing is performed by issuing a print instruction from the PC will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process in a case where a print instruction is issued from the PC and printing is performed.

  First, in S901, an operation for a print instruction by the user on the PC is performed. At this time, after selecting a file to be printed, the user inputs print attributes such as print color and number of prints.

  The subsequent S902 is a process of making a print request to the image processing control unit 10 from the printer driver of the PC. At this time, since a fixed user ID is set in advance in the driver so that it can be determined that a print job has been input from the PC in the store, the user inputs only the password himself. To do. The entered password is stored in the internal memory for a certain period by the printer driver. If the input password matches an existing password in the memory, the user is prompted to change the password. On the other hand, when issuing a print instruction from a PC in an office or the like, the user ID and password previously distributed to the individual by the company or the like by the user who performs printing are sent to the printer driver via the UI (User Interface). Set with.

  The subsequent S903 is a print data authentication process performed by the print authentication execution unit 405 of the image processing unit A. The print data authentication extracts the user ID and password from the received print data, collates whether the user ID and password match the user ID and password registered in advance as user information, and sets the print job attributes. It is a process to decide. The print authentication execution unit 405 determines whether the printing is instructed from the PC in the store or the printing instructed from the office PC based on the user information corresponding to the user ID for which the collation is established, and sets the attribute. The data is stored in the data storage unit 408. Then, the process proceeds to the printing execution of S904 executed by the print management unit 409.

  In the printing execution of S904, since the print job attribute determined by the print authentication execution unit 405 and stored in the data storage unit 408 is an attribute that requires user authentication, the print management unit 409 converts the print job into data The data is queued in the storage unit 408, and printing output is interrupted until user authentication is performed from the operation panel P of the image processing apparatus 1. Thereafter, when user authentication is successful in the image processing apparatus 1 and a print instruction is given, the print output process of the print job is performed. The details of the process for executing this printing will be described later.

(Print data authentication process)
Next, details of the print data authentication process in S804 and S903 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the print data authentication process in S804 and S903 described above. The following processing is performed by the print authentication execution unit 405.

  First, in S1001, collation (print data authentication A) is performed to determine whether or not the user ID and password extracted from the print job are registered in the user information management unit A406.

  Next, when a user ID registered in the user information management unit A406 that matches the user ID extracted from the print job is detected as a result of the collation in S1001 (Yes in S1002), a coin is added to the user information in S1003. Add the rack charge execution attribute.

  Subsequently, in S1004, when it is confirmed that the user ID is a user ID from a PC installed in the store (Yes in S1004), among the user information stored in the user information management unit A406 in S1005, The password character string extracted from the print job is overwritten and added to the password portion of the user information that matches the user ID extracted from the print job. If S1004 is No, the process proceeds to S1010.

  Next, when the user ID extracted from the print job matches the user ID for media printing in S1010 (Yes in S1010), the face-to-face printing attribute is added to the user information in S1011. If S1010 is No, the process proceeds to S1012.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1002 that the user ID extracted from the print job does not match the user ID registered in the user information management unit A406 (No in S1002), the user extracted from the print job in S1006. Collation (print data authentication B) is performed to check whether the ID and password are registered in the user information management unit B407.

  If the user ID and password extracted from the print job match the user ID and password registered in the user information management unit B407 as a result of the collation in S1007 (Yes in S1007), the history information is stored in the user information in S1008. Is added.

  On the other hand, if the user ID and password extracted from the print job are not registered in the user information management unit B407 in S1007 (No in S1007), the print data is discarded in S1009 as print data authentication failure, and the print processing is performed. finish.

  On the other hand, a print job that has been successfully authenticated for print data is assigned a management number assigned to each print job in step S1012, and is stored in the data storage unit 408 together with user information and print data.

  In subsequent S1013, the print management unit 409 is notified of the print job management number, thereby informing the print management unit 409 that the authentication for the print job has ended, and the print data authentication process is ended.

(Print execution process)

  Next, details of the print execution processing in S805 and S904 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of the print execution processing in steps S805 and S904.

  First, in S1101, it is determined whether the print job has a face-to-face print attribute based on the attribute added to the user information in the print data authentication process described above. If the print job has no face-to-face printing attribute (No in S1101), the print job is queued as described above in S1103. The queued print job is not printed out until the user performs a prescribed operation while facing the image processing apparatus 1.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1101 that the print job has the face-to-face printing attribute (Yes in S1101), the coin rack 101 is validated in S1102. Then, the print output process of S1104 is performed.

(Cueing printing process 1)
Next, a process of printing a queued print job instructed from the office PC will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a process (cue print process 1) in which a print job instructed and queued from the office PC is printed.

  First, in S1201, the user performs a screen operation on the operation panel P. At this time, the user himself inputs a user ID and a password.

  When the input is completed, the print management unit 409 performs user authentication in step S1202. Here, the user authentication is based on the user ID and password input from the operation panel P, and from the print job queued in the data storage unit 408, the user ID and password that match the input user ID and password. Is a process of finding a print job having

  When the user authentication is completed, in step S1203, the print management unit 409 requests the print control unit 11 for print output. Upon receiving this print output, the print control unit 11 outputs a print instruction including image data to the printing apparatus 102, and causes the printing apparatus 102 to form and output an image on a medium such as transfer paper.

  S1204 is a history storage process after the print output is completed, which is executed by the print management unit 409. In the history storage process, the number of prints, color attributes, and print image are converted into electronic files for each user ID and stored in a storage device (print history storage unit 411) inside the image processing unit A.

(Cueing printing process 2)
Next, a queuing print process (cue print process 2) for a print job instructed from a PC in the store will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart for the queuing print process 2.

  First, in S1301, the user performs a screen operation on the operation panel P. At this time, in the case of printing instructed from the PC in the store, the user ID is fixed. Therefore, the user ID cannot be input by the user, and only the arbitrary password specified when the print instruction is given is input. Therefore, the user needs to memorize the password entered on the PC in the store.

  When the password input is completed, the print management unit 409 performs user authentication in step S1302. The user authentication here is a process of searching for a print job having a fixed user ID and a user ID and password matching the password input from the operation panel P from among the print jobs queued in the data storage unit 408. It is.

  When the user authentication is completed, the input fee is detected in S1303. The print management unit 409 makes an inquiry to the coin rack 101 via the billing I / F board 50 to confirm the insertion fee. If there is a shortage, the print management unit 409 displays on the operation panel P an instruction to input the fee.

  If it is detected in S1303 that a sufficient charge for printing is detected, charging from the coin rack 101 is validated in S1304. In step S1305, the print control unit 11 is requested to perform print output. Upon receiving this print output, the print control unit 11 outputs a print instruction including image data to the printing apparatus 102, and causes the printing apparatus 102 to form and output an image on a medium such as transfer paper.

  In step S1306, the coin rack 101 is charged. A printing unit price is set in advance for the coin rack 101 before a printing instruction, and the charge in the coin rack 101 is subtracted by the printing unit price at the end of output for each sheet.

  S1307 is a print image erasing process. In this embodiment, image logs are temporarily recorded for all print outputs. However, storage of print data performed by a user at a convenience store or the like corresponds to personal information. Therefore, unlike the queuing print process 1, the print data is temporarily recorded by the print control unit 11 as in the case of media printing. The print management unit 409 deletes the print output image (print image).

(User authentication process)
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of the user authentication processing in S1202 and S1302.

  S1401 is a process of displaying an input screen (GUI) for inputting a user ID and a password on the screen. The user can input a user ID and password from this input screen.

  Here, FIG. 15 shows an example of an input screen for inputting a user ID and a password. FIG. 15 shows an example of a screen when PC print is pressed on the initial screen of FIG. There are a user ID input field 1501 and a password input field 1502 as input fields that can be input by the user. The user operates the keyboard unit 1504 displayed on the screen and inputs the user ID set at the time of printing instruction and the arbitrarily set password (in the case of printing using a PC in the store as described above, the user ID is fixed). When the user finishes inputting the user ID and password, the user presses an input completion button 1503 on the screen. Thereby, the input setting of the user ID and password is completed.

  Next, user authentication processing will be described. S1402 is a process for checking whether or not the input of the user ID and password has been completed. This check process is repeatedly performed through a certain wait process in S1403 while the input of the user ID and the password is incomplete (No in S1402). When the input of the user ID and password is completed (when the input completion button 1503 is pressed) (Yes in S1402), the process proceeds to S1404.

  In step S <b> 1404, a print job whose input user ID and password match is searched from the queued print jobs to acquire print data. In step S1405, a list of file names that can identify print jobs is displayed on the screen. At this time, the user can select a print job from the displayed list.

  S1406 is a check process for determining whether or not the user has selected the data to be printed. This check process is repeatedly performed while a selection is incomplete (No in S1406) and a certain wait process in S1407. When the selection of data to be printed is completed (for example, when a predetermined button is pressed after the selection operation) (Yes in S1406), the user authentication process here is completed.

(Print history saving process)
Next, details of the print history storage process in S1204 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing details of the print history storage process in S1204.

  The first step S1601 is a history storage attribute check process. In this step, it is determined whether or not the executed print job has a history based on the presence or absence of the history storage attribute.

  In the case of the history storage attribute (Yes in S1601), in S1602, a print output image (print image) is obtained from the above-described print image storage unit 410, and in S1604, the print output image is stored in the print history as an image log for each user ID. Including the print history storage unit 411 described above.

  On the other hand, if there is no history storage attribute in S1601 (No in S1601), the print output image is deleted from the image processing apparatus 1 (that is, from the print image storage unit 410) in S1603.

  The details of the configuration and operation of the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment have been described above. In the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the customer's face-to-face printing or the customer's printing of data received from the store's PC and the store employee's printing from the back office are separately processed and processed from the customer. It is possible to prevent a problem of billing due to interruption of printing from the back office during printing, and it is possible to prevent a security problem such that a printed matter from the back office is seen by the customer. In addition, a history or the like is processed for printing from the back office, but personal information can be protected by deleting the history or the like for printing by a customer.

  In the present embodiment, as the image processing apparatus 1, an apparatus including the image processing unit unit A and the information processing unit unit B is used, and the media print execution unit 401 is constructed in the information processing unit unit B. It goes without saying that the same function can be realized by constructing the media print execution unit 401 in the processing unit unit A.

  The program executed by the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like. This program is provided as a file in an installable or executable format and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). You may comprise.

  Further, the program is provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. That is, it may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The program executed by the image processing unit A of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a module configuration including the above-described print job processing unit 404, print authentication execution unit 405, and print management unit 409. As the hardware, the CPU 13 loads a program from the ROM 15 onto the SDRAM 14, which is a main storage device, and executes it. The media print execution unit 401, which is one of the programs executed by the information processing unit B of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, is executed by the CPU 31 from the ROM in the memory unit 32 as a program. Is loaded onto the main memory in the memory unit 32 and executed.

1 Image processing device 2 LAN
10 Image processing control unit (control means)
11 Print Control Unit 12 Image Reading Control Unit 13 CPU
14 SDRAM
15 ROM
16 NVRAM
17 HDD
18 LAN controller 19 HUB
20 FAX control unit 21 PBX
22 Display Control Unit 23 Operation Input Control Unit 24 Control Panel I / F
25 Communication cable 26 Driver 31 CPU
32 Memory unit 33 Storage device 34 Storage device control unit 35 LAN control unit 36 Display control unit 37 Operation input control unit 38 Control panel I / F
39 Control Panel Communication Unit 40 Input / Output Device Control Unit 41 Various Interfaces 42 Driver 50 Billing I / F Board 101 Coin Rack (Billing Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Printing apparatus 103 Image reading apparatus 104 External media input / output apparatus 401 Media printing execution part 402 PC-A
403 PC-B
404 Print Job Processing Unit 405 Print Authentication Execution Unit (Job Separation Unit)
406 User information management part A (user information management means)
407 User information management unit B (user information management means)
408 Data storage unit 409 Print management unit (user authentication means, billing validation means, print management means)
410 Print image storage unit 411 Print history storage unit

JP 2005-266359 A JP-A-10-207661

Claims (9)

In an image processing apparatus having a billing unit for print processing and capable of printing by a main body operation, printing from a first information processing apparatus, and printing from a second information processing apparatus,
Job sorting means for sorting jobs for printing by the main body, printing from the first information processing apparatus, and printing from the second information processing apparatus;
User authentication means for authenticating a user for printing from the first information processing apparatus and printing from the second information processing apparatus;
Billing validating means for validating the billing means only for printing by the main body operation and printing from the first information processing apparatus;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a print management unit that prints out only a print job that has been user-authenticated by the user authentication unit.   The print management means controls to store history information including a print image only for printing from the second information processing apparatus, and controls to delete the print image for other printing. Item 8. The image processing apparatus according to Item 1.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job sorting unit performs the sorting based on user information set in a header part of a print job.   4. The image according to claim 3, wherein user information set in a header portion of a job for printing by the main body operation and printing from the first information processing apparatus includes a fixed user ID for identifying each of the user information. Processing equipment. A user information management means for managing user information;
The job classification unit performs classification of the print job by collating user information set in a header part of a print job with user information managed by the user information management unit. Item 5. The image processing device according to Item 3 or Item 4.   The print management means queues a print job from the first information processing apparatus and a print job from the second information processing apparatus, and a user designates the queued print job in the image processing apparatus. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a print job having user information that matches the user information that has been printed is printed out.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the user information includes a user ID and a password. A control method executed by a control unit of an image processing apparatus that has a charging unit for printing processing and is capable of printing by a main body operation, printing from a first information processing apparatus, and printing from a second information processing apparatus. ,
A job separation step in which the control means separates a job of printing by the main body operation, printing from the first information processing apparatus, and printing from the second information processing apparatus;
A user authentication step in which the control means authenticates a user for printing from the first information processing apparatus and printing from the second information processing apparatus;
A billing validation step in which the control means validates the billing means only for printing by the main body operation and printing from the first information processing apparatus;
A control method for an image processing apparatus, comprising: a print management step in which the control means prints out only a print job that has been user-authenticated in the user authentication step. A program executed by a control unit of an image processing apparatus that has a charging unit for printing processing and is capable of printing by a main body operation, printing from a first information processing apparatus, and printing from a second information processing apparatus,
A job separation step of separating, by the control means, printing by the main body operation, printing from the first information processing apparatus, and printing from the second information processing apparatus;
A user authentication step of authenticating a user for printing from the first information processing apparatus and printing from the second information processing apparatus by the control means;
A charging validation step for validating the charging means only for printing by the main body operation and printing from the first information processing apparatus by the control means;
And a print management step for performing print output only for the print job that has been user-authenticated by the user authentication step by the control means.

Images