JP2011212881A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus that stores document data while ensuring security between users.SOLUTION: In the printing apparatus, when a source file D2 is received along with printing data D1, first information showing a user who has issued an instruction to print document data is acquired from the source file D2. A management table for storing second information indicating users registered in advance in association with the first information is referred to, and the acquired first information is compared with the second information in the management table. When the users indicated by the first and second information match each other as a result of the comparison, the source file D2 is associated with the second information, to manage the source file D2 for each user, and store the source file D2 in an HDD 13. When an access request to the HDD 13 is received from the user, the source file D2 associated with the second information is acquired from the HDD 13, and the acquired source file D2 is provided.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of storing document data.

  For example, even if a document is created using a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) and the document data is deleted from the PC after the document is printed using a printing apparatus, the deleted document is deleted. There is a request to print again. Alternatively, although document data remains in the PC, many changes have been made thereafter, and there is a demand for printing a previously printed version of the document again.

  In response to such a request, a printing apparatus is provided that can store the data of a printed document and can reprint the stored document data. For example, a technique for automatically managing the version of a document when a printed document is edited / updated within a time limit set in advance by a user is also provided (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-143123 A

  A form in which a single printing apparatus is shared and used by a plurality of PCs is widely and generally employed. When a printing apparatus that stores document data and enables reprinting is used in such a form as in the printing apparatus according to the above-described known technology, it is necessary to ensure security between users.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of storing document data while ensuring security between users.

According to the present invention, the above-described problem is a printing apparatus that performs printing based on print data obtained by converting document data. When a file including the document data is received together with the print data, from the file, An acquisition unit that acquires first information indicating a user who has instructed printing of the document data, and a table that stores second information indicating the user registered in advance in association with the first information. , The collation unit that collates the acquired first information with the second information of the table, and the users indicated by the first and second information as a result of the collation of the collation unit, respectively Is determined to match, the file is associated with the second information, and the management unit that manages the file for each user and the file that is associated with the second information The case And a storage unit that obtains the file associated with the second information from the storage unit when the user receives an access request to the storage unit, and provides the acquired file It can achieve by providing a printing apparatus provided with a part.
In addition, according to the present invention, when the determination unit determines that the users indicated by the first and second information match, the management unit stores the second information in a folder. A folder having a name is generated, and the storage unit can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus that stores the file under the generated folder.
Further, according to the present invention, the management unit attaches version information indicating a version of the file to the file, and a file having the same name as the file to be newly stored in the storage unit has already been obtained. When the file is stored in the storage unit, a value indicating that the file to be newly stored is the latest version is set in the version information, and the providing unit stores a file having the same name in the storage unit. In the case where a plurality of files are stored, this can be achieved by outputting a list of a plurality of acquired files and providing a printing apparatus that provides a file of a specified version from the list.
In addition, according to the present invention, the acquisition unit acquires the first information from the header of the file, and the management unit header of the file associated with the second information. This can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus that changes the description of the part from the first information to the second information.
In addition, according to the present invention, when the user is requested to access the storage unit by the user, the providing unit receives the input user name and password, and the registered second information. If the passwords match each other as compared with the corresponding passwords, this can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus that permits access to the folder having the second information as the folder name.

  According to the printing apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to store document data while ensuring security between users.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation mode of the printer apparatus according to the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the preservation | save method of the document data by the printer apparatus based on embodiment. It is a figure explaining the collation process performed in a collation process part. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of hardware and software of a printer controller of a printer apparatus according to an embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a PC connected to the printer apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on PC by the SAMBAD file server function. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing for storing a source file during printing in the printer device according to the embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing for providing a source file stored in an HDD in the printer device according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation mode of the printer apparatus according to this embodiment. A printer apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as a printer) 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a LAN (Local Area Network) or USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, and a LAN cable is connected to the hub 3. A plurality of PCs 2A to 2E are connected to the end of the hub 3 via LAN cables.
In addition, in FIG. 1, although it comprises five PC2A-2E, it is good also as a structure which connects PC further. In the following description, when it is not necessary to identify each PC, it is simply indicated by PC2.

  The printer 1 performs printing in response to a print request received from each PC 2 via a LAN line. The printer 1 is also provided with a USB port, and the PC 2 can be connected by USB. In the example shown in FIG. 1, one PC 2F is connected.

  Each PC 2 is assigned a PC name such as “TSUCHIYA”, “Yamada”, and “S. Ogawa”. When printing, the printer 1 receives PC name information from the PC 2 together with print data. The print data is obtained by the printer driver of the PC 2 converting the document data created on the PC 2 into a format that can be processed by the printer 1.

  When the printer 1 according to the present embodiment receives a print request from the PC 2, it receives document data from the PC 2 in addition to the PC name and print data. The received document data is stored in the own apparatus in association with information representing the user. When there is a request from the user to provide document data using the PC 2, the document data stored in association with information representing the user is provided. More specific description will be given below.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a document data storage method by the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows only the configuration related to the output processing of the printed matter and the storage processing of the document data among the configurations of the printer 1.

  The printer 1 includes a printer controller 12, an engine 11, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 13. Among these, the printer controller 12 develops the print data D1 received from the PC 2 and transmits it to the engine 11 in accordance with the print request from the PC 2. The engine 11 drives a recording unit (not shown) in FIG. 2 of the printer 1, performs printing based on the developed data, and outputs a printed matter. The HDD 13 stores the source file D2 received from the PC 2 together with the print data D1.

  The source file D2 includes document data and information representing a user who has instructed printing via the PC 2, and the printer controller 12 of the printer 1 prints the user represented by the information included in the source file D2, ie, the document. Only the authorized user is given access authority to the source file D2.

  Specifically, when storing the source file D2 in the HDD 13, the collation processing unit 15 of the printer controller 12 registers in advance the user name representing the user of the PC 2 that is the source of the source file D2 and the file server of the printer 1. Check with the registered user name. When it is determined that the user indicated by the user name of the PC 2 matches the user indicated by the user name registered in advance, a folder whose folder name is the user name is generated, and the source file D2 is stored in the generated folder. Store. When providing the source file D2 stored in the HDD 13 to the user, the user is authenticated using the user name and password registered in the file server, and then the source under the folder having the user name as the folder name File D2 is provided.

  As described above, when the source file D2 is stored and the source file D2 is provided, the printer controller 12 (the verification processing unit 15) refers to the management table held in the HDD 13 to determine whether the user has been registered. To do. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the collation processing executed in the collation processing unit 15. Among these, FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a structure example of a management table used by the collation processing unit 15 for collation processing, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the collation processing.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the management table includes a user name (pc_user_name) C1 of PC2, a user name (printer_user_name) C2 of printer 1, and a password (printer_password) C3.

  The user name C1 of the PC 2 is the name of the PC user registered in the PC 2. The user name C2 of the printer 1 is the name of the printer user registered in the file server of the printer 1, and the password C3 is used to authenticate the printer user registered in the file server of the printer 1 together with the user name. Information.

  When the PC 2 performs user registration for the printer 1, the PC 2 transmits a password C 3 to be set by the user to the printer 1. Based on the information received from the PC 2, the printer 1 associates the user name C1 of the PC 2, the user name C2 of the printer 1, and the password C3, and stores each information in the management table.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the user name C1 of the PC 2 is described in the header portion of the source file D2. The collation processing unit 15 acquires “TSUCHIYA”, which is the user name C1, from the header part of the source file D2, and the user name C2 “tsuchiya” of the printer 1 corresponding to the user name C1 “TSUCHIYA” is obtained by the collation process. 3 is confirmed to exist in the management table. Then, the source file D2 is stored under a folder whose folder name is “tsuchiya” which is the user name C2.

  When a user whose user name C1 is “TSUCHIYA” inputs the user name “tsuchiha” and password “metabo1” of the printer 1 and requests access to the source file D2 stored in the HDD 13, the verification process After authenticating the user with reference to the management table of FIG. 3A, the unit 15 permits access to the folder having the user name C2 “tsuchiya” as the folder name. Although other users are also registered in the file server of the printer 1, access to the “tsuchiya” folder is prohibited for these other users. Thereby, security between users is ensured.

  The processing by the collation processing unit 15 is realized by a program that operates in the printer controller 12. Next, hardware and programs that operate in the printer controller 12 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of hardware and software of the printer controller 12 of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. In the embodiment, the OS (operating system) of the printer controller 12 is Linux (registered trademark), and the printer controller 12 is a program similar to a program that runs on a Linux personal computer. Included program is running.

  First, as the hardware of the printer controller 12, an Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 21, a USB controller 22, a USB HOST controller 23, a serial controller 24, an HDD controller 25, an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) controller 26, an ASIC / FPGA (Application Specific). It has an Integrated Circuit / Field Programmable Gate Array (27) 27, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 28, and a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 29.

  The Ethernet controller 21 receives data relating to printing such as print data from the PC 2 (PCs 2A to 2E in FIG. 1) via the LAN. The USB controller 22 receives print-related data such as print data from the PC 2 (PC 2F in FIG. 1) via the USB.

  The USBHOST controller 23 is provided for connecting an IC card reader 4 for reading an IC (Integrated Circuit) card used for confidential printing. The SPI controller 26 is provided for connection to an operation panel (operation panel) 14 provided in the printer 1. The ASIC / FPGA 27 is provided to connect to the engine 11.

  The serial controller 24 is provided for serial connection with the PC 2. For example, RS232C is used as the serial communication standard. When serial connection is made with the PC 2 and the terminal software is activated in the PC 2, for example, the status message of the printer 1 can be read. FIG. 5A shows an example of a screen when logging in to the printer 1 using the terminal software from the PC 2 serially connected to the printer 1. The terminal software to be used is, for example, Linux MINICOM. The PC 2 is connected to the printer 1 by serial connection using MINICOM or the like, and is used for debugging a program of the printer 1 under development. For example, the operating state of the printer 1 is displayed by a printk () function or the like. Alternatively, it is possible to log in to the Linux running on the printer 1 with root authority, that is, with administrator authority, and to provide support when the user forgets the password.

  The HDD controller 25 is provided to connect to the HDD 13 via a P-ATA (Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment) interface. The HDD 13 is used for storing the source file D2 in addition to the confidential printing.

  The CPU 28 controls the hardware and software of the printer controller 12. The DRAM 29 holds data obtained by developing the print data.

Next, software of the printer controller 12 will be described.
In the case of a general Linux personal computer, a user operates an input means such as a keyboard to start an application and execute an operation. On the other hand, in the case of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, it is not common for a user to start an application. When the printer 1 is turned on, the program starts as a server daemon, It is executed resident in the RAM. Among the various software shown in FIG. 4, “D” at the end of the software name represents a daemon.

  The server daemon includes USBD31, USBHOSTD32, PRNMNGD33, RCVMNDD34, NETPOND35, DHCPCD36, LPD37, SNMPD38, HTPD39, PORT9100D40, INETD41, FTPD42, TELNETD43, SAMBAD44, and FILENGGD45.

  The USBD 31 controls the USB device. The USBHOSTD 32 controls the USB host controller 23. The PRIM NGD 33 is a program for managing the printer 1. Among these, the PRNMNGD 1 mainly performs drawing control, the PRNMNGD 2 controls the engine 11, and the PRNMND 3 controls the operation panel 14. RCVMGD34 performs reception control, among which RCVMNDD1 performs USB reception control, and RCVMNDD2 performs LAN reception control. The NETPOND 35 performs network diagnosis control and transmits the status of the printer 1 to the outside through the Internet line. The DHCPCD 36 automatically assigns an IP (Internet Protocol) address. An LPD (line printer daemon) 37 performs printing via a LAN, and an SNMPD 38 performs network monitoring control. The HTTPD 39 controls the web server. Specifically, when an IP address is entered by the user in the address field of the browser (Internet Explorer or the like) of the PC 2 and the printer 1 is accessed, the HTTP PD 39 in the printer 1 sends the information of the printer 1 to the PC 2. Send to browser. FIG. 5B shows an example of a screen when information of the printer 1 is displayed on the browser of the PC 2. When the PC 2 connected to the LAN inputs “123.456.xxx.xxx” which is the IP address of the printer 1 and accesses using the HTTP communication, the HTTP PD 39 displays FIG. The information of the printer 1 is displayed on the browser of the PC 2 as shown in FIG. For example, the remaining amount of toner of the printer 1 and the like can be displayed on the browser of the PC 2 and the same setting and operation as the operation panel key operation can be performed from the PC 2.

  A PORT 9100D (standard TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP port monitor) 40 performs print control and transmits an error occurring in the printer 1 to the PC 2. The INETD 41 monitors port numbers used for various Internet services. Specifically, the INETD 41 monitors the FTPD 42 and the TELNETD 43 and activates each daemon when recognizing that a TCP packet or IP packet is received at the monitored port.

  The FTPD (file transfer control) 42 controls file transfer between the PC 2 and the printer 1 when the PC 2 accesses the printer 1 by FTP (File Transfer Protocol). FIG. 5C is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the PC 2 when connected to the FTP server of the printer 1 by the FTP client software of the PC 2. In the example shown in FIG. 5C, folders and files stored in the PC 2 are displayed on the upper left P1 of the screen, and an FTP folder in the printer 1 is displayed on the upper right P2 of the screen. Yes. For example, it is used when software is upgraded.

The TELNETD (network remote control) 43 performs control related to TELNET (Telecommunication Network) communication between the PC 2 and the printer 1.
About said software, it is mounted in the conventional printer apparatus and is a well-known technique.

  The SAMBAD 44 is software for providing a service using SMB (Server Message Block). For example, the SAMBAD 44 provides a service such as printer sharing to the PC 2 on which Windows (registered trademark) is installed as an OS.

  Note that a general SAMBAD function can provide a file sharing service, but the SAMBAD 44 of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment does not share files among a plurality of PCs 2. In the present embodiment, access authority is given to a specific user protected by a password. As a result, it is prohibited to allow other people to access and copy the source file D2, which is a personal property, to ensure security.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the PC 2 by the file server function of the SAMBAD 44. Here, a case where a user whose user name registered in the file server of the printer 1 is “tsuchiya” is accessing the printer 1 from the PC 2A is shown. The screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the PC 2A of “tsuchiya”.

  The user “tsuchiya” is permitted to access (read / write) only in the “tsuchiya folder” storing the source file D2 of the folder list P3 shown in FIG. For example, the user “tsuchiya” is prohibited from browsing / accessing another user's folder, for example, the “yamada folder” in which the source file D2 of “yamada” is stored.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, a configuration in which a folder that stores another user's source file D2 is also displayed in the list P3 is not limited thereto. For example, it is possible to hide the folder of the user who is logged in to the printer 1 and the source file D2 under the folder.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, among the registered users illustrated in FIG. 3A, the “itoh” folder is not displayed. In this way, the folder of a specific user and the source file D2 under the folder can be hidden. For example, when the user “itoh” is in a managerial position in the organization and handles important documents, security can be improved by hiding such user folders and the like.

  Furthermore, the specific PC 2 may not be registered in the file server of the printer 1 and the source file D 2 may not be stored in the HDD 13. For example, as for “NOTE1” in FIG. 1, a terminal shared by a plurality of people can be improved in security by not having the source file D2 left in the printer 1.

  The FILENGD 45 manages a file stored in the HDD 13, and specifically functions when the source file D 2 is stored in the HDD 13 in the printer 1. The operation of FILENGD 45 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  Although not shown in FIG. 4, a clock function (RTC: real time clock) is mounted in the printer controller 12. According to the setting, the source file D2 that has passed a predetermined period may be automatically deleted from the HDD 13 by the clock function.

  As described with reference to FIG. 4, the storage process and the provision process of the source file D <b> 2 according to the present embodiment are realized by the SAMBAD 44 and the FILENGD 45 (*). In the following, the operation of the software when saving the source file D2 and when providing the source file will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing for saving the source file D2 during printing in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. Upon receiving a print request from the PC 2, the printer controller 12 of the printer 1 starts a series of processes shown in FIG.

  When the print data D1 is received from the PC 2 in step S1, the print data is expanded and transmitted to the engine, and the engine 11 is instructed to execute printing on the paper. The engine 11 executes printing in accordance with an instruction from the printer controller 12 and outputs a final printed matter.

  When the source file D2 transmitted by the printer driver of the PC 2 is received in step S2, the FILENGD (file manager control) 45 refers to the description of the header part of the source file D2 and is described in the header part in step S3. The user name of the PC 2 is collated with the user name registered in the file server of the printer 1. The printer driver of the PC 2 has a function of transmitting the source file D2 to the printer 1 after transmitting the print data D1 to the printer 1. Further, as described above, the matching process in step S3 is executed by referring to the management table shown in FIG.

  If the FILENGD 45 determines in step S4 that the user name printer_user_name of the printer 1 corresponding to the user name pc_user_name of the PC 2 is registered in the management table in the HDD 13 as a result of the collation in step S3, step S5 Proceed to If it is determined that the user name of the printer 1 corresponding to the user name of the PC 2 is not registered in the management table in the HDD 13, no particular process is performed and the process ends.

  In step S5, the FILENGD 45 determines whether there is a file having the same name in a folder corresponding to the user name of the printer 1. If a file with the same name already exists, the process proceeds to step S6. If no file with the same name exists, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S6, the FILENGD 45 determines whether the file stored in the HDD 13 having the same name is set to the overwrite mode. If the file stored in the HDD 13 is set to the overwrite mode, the process proceeds to step S8 by overwriting with the source file D2 received in step S2. If the overwrite mode is not set, the process proceeds to step S7, and the FILENGD 45 adds a number indicating the version to the end of the file name of the source file D2 received in step S2, and then proceeds to step S8. Since the version number is assigned to the source file D2, even the source file D2 having the same name and different contents can be stored at each printing timing.

  The user can select the overwrite mode or whether the version number is added to the end of the file name and the original source file D2 is stored together.

  In the embodiment, for the number indicating the version added to the end of the file name in step S7, in the embodiment, such as “(file name) _001”, “(file name) _002”, etc. The version numbers are assigned in ascending order.

  In step S8, FILENGD 45 saves the source file D2 under a folder whose folder name is the user name printer_user_name of the printer 1. In step S9, FILENGD 45 owns the file described in the header of the saved source file D2. The user is changed to the user name represented by the folder name, that is, the user name registered in the file server of the printer 1, and the process is terminated.

  The reason why FILENGD 45 changes the file name owner in step S9 is that the FILENGD 45 program itself is started with root authority, that is, administrator authority. Since the program is started with the root authority, FILENGD 45 can access the folders of all users. However, since the ownership of the source file D2 stored in the HDD 13 is “root”, the user cannot access his / her folder as it is. Therefore, in step S9, the owner of the source file D2 is changed from “root” to the user name printer_user_name (in the example shown in FIG. 3A, etc., tsuchiha, yamadaa, etc.) so that each user can access his / her folder. It becomes possible to do.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing for providing the source file D2 stored in the HDD 13 in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. When the PC 2 accesses the file server of the printer 1 via the LAN or USB, the printer controller 12 of the printer 1 executes a series of processes shown in FIG.

  As a pre-stage of the processing shown in FIG. 8, it is assumed that the PC 2 has registered the file server icon of the printer 1 in advance. Specifically, by using the search function of the PC 2 or the like, a file server name in the printer 1 (for example, “XXX” in the example shown in FIG. 6) is input to perform a network search, Register as a shortcut.

  First, in step S11, when the user of the PC 2 performs an operation such as clicking the file server icon of the printer 1 displayed on the screen of the PC 2, the SAMBAD 44 of the printer controller 12 of the printer 1 is moved from the PC 2. Accept access requests.

In step S12, the SAMBAD 44 receives the user name and password of the printer 1 input by the user on the PC 2.
In step S13, the SAMBAD 44 compares the input user name and password with the user name (printer_user_name) C2 and password (printer_password) C2 registered in the management table shown in FIG. If authentication is performed, the contents of the folder corresponding to the user name are displayed on the PC 2. The contents of the folder displayed on the screen of the PC 2 include information such as the file name, the save date / time of the source file D2, and the print date / time. For example, even if the user has forgotten where the file is stored in the PC 2, the user accesses the printer 1 and searches for the desired file by referring to information such as the displayed save date and time. It becomes possible to do.

  When a predetermined source file D2 is designated from the list of files displayed on the PC 2, the SAMBAD 44 acquires the designated source file D2 from the HDD 13 and provides it to the PC 2. For example, the PC 2 is permitted to copy the source file D2.

  As described above, according to the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the source file D2 including the document data is received from the PC 2 together with the print data D1 when printing is executed. With reference to the management table, the source file D2 is stored in a folder whose folder name is the user name C2 of the printer 1 corresponding to the user name C1 of the PC 2 included in the source file D2. When the user inputs the user name C2 and password C3 of the printer 1 and requests access to the printer 1, only access to the folder corresponding to the user name C2 is permitted. As a result, while ensuring security among users, even if the user deletes from the PC 2 after printing in the past or the data has been changed after printing, It becomes possible to provide the source file D2.

  Even when the source file D2 having the same name is printed a plurality of times, it is possible to provide a desired version of the source file D2 by attaching a version number to each source file and storing it in the HDD 13. It becomes.

1 Printer device 2 Personal computer (PC)
3 Hub 4 IC card reader 11 Engine 12 Printer controller 13 Hard disk drive (HDD)
14 Operation panel (operating panel)
15 collation processing unit 44 SAMBAD (file sharing control)
45 FILENGD (file manager control)

Claims (5)

A printing apparatus that performs printing based on print data obtained by converting document data,
When receiving a file including the document data together with the print data, an acquisition unit that acquires first information indicating a user who has instructed printing of the document data from the file;
Referencing a table that stores second information indicating the user registered in advance in association with the first information, and collating the acquired first information with the second information in the table A verification unit that performs
As a result of collation by the collation unit, when it is determined that the users indicated by the first and second information match, the file is associated with the second information, and the user is associated with the second information. A management unit for managing files;
A storage unit for storing the file associated with the second information;
A provision unit that obtains the file associated with the second information from the storage unit and provides the obtained file when receiving an access request to the storage unit by the user; A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The management unit generates a folder having the second information as a folder name when the determination unit determines that the users indicated by the first and second information match,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the file under the generated folder. The management unit attaches version information indicating the version of the file to the file, and a file having the same name as the file to be newly stored in the storage unit is already stored in the storage unit. A value indicating that the file to be newly stored is the latest version is set in the version information,
The providing unit outputs a list of a plurality of acquired files when a plurality of files having the same name are stored in the storage unit, and provides a file of a specified version from the list. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: The acquisition unit acquires the first information from a header portion of the file,
The said management part changes the description of the header part of the said file linked | related with the said 2nd information from the said 1st information to this 2nd information. Printing device. When the user is requested to access the storage unit by the user, the providing unit compares the input user name and password with the registered second information and the corresponding password, respectively. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein access to a folder having the second information as a folder name is permitted if the two match.