JP2013073302A - Proxy authentication printing system, and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a proxy authentication printing system which allows execution of authentication printing even when a printer mounted with an authentication information input device cannot execute printing.SOLUTION: A proxy authentication printer in one form of the present invention includes: a storage part for storing at least one piece of identification information for identifying a printer different from the proxy authentication printer; an identification information reception part for receiving specification of one of the at least one piece of identification information; an authentication information reception part for receiving input of authentication information for authenticating a user; and a transmission part for transmitting the received authentication information and proxy authentication printer specifying information including the identification information to a host computer.

Description

  Some embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to printing devices, and more particularly, to proxy-authenticated printing systems and control methods thereof.

  In recent office environments, network devices are common, and when a printing apparatus is connected to a network, the printing apparatus is often installed at a remote location. In such a situation, there is a case where a confidential printed document is seen by another person before the printer (user) takes the printed document. Therefore, authentication printing is often performed in order to ensure confidentiality.

  In order to perform authentication printing, an apparatus for inputting authentication information (hereinafter referred to as an authentication information input apparatus) such as an IC card reading apparatus and a fingerprint reading apparatus needs to be mounted on the printing apparatus. In addition, in order to perform authentication printing, it may be necessary to attach an external storage device for storing print data, and adding such a device is costly.

  On the other hand, the external storage device attached to the printing device is used for storing data for various purposes (for example, print log information, usage time for billing, consumption of consumables, etc.) in addition to storing print data. As a result, the number of cases in which an external storage device is attached is increasing. Also, for authentication information input devices such as IC card readers and fingerprint readers, authentication printing can be performed with print data stored on the host computer such as a server or client without storing print data in the printing device. The system has been developed and the installation rate is gradually increasing. However, at present, it is not as widespread as an authentication information input device is mounted on all printing devices. Therefore, in an office environment or the like, some printing apparatuses are equipped with an authentication information input device and have an authentication printing function, but other printing apparatuses do not have an authentication printing function. Has occurred.

  In such a situation, the printing apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as the authentication printing apparatus) equipped with the authentication information input apparatus is printing other printed matter, or there is a shortage of consumables such as paper / toner (developer). If the printer is in a state where it cannot be printed for some reason, for example, it is in a state where the authentication printing device can be used until other printing is completed or until consumables such as paper / toner are replenished Until this time, authentication printing cannot be performed.

  In this regard, a printing apparatus is known that includes a management unit that manages a print queue so that the print order of an authenticated print job is ahead of a general print job. (For example, Patent Document 1)

JP 2007-226565 A

  However, even if the printing apparatus includes a management unit that manages the print queue, if the printing apparatus is in a state where printing cannot be performed due to a shortage of consumables, authentication printing cannot be performed.

  In many cases, an office environment includes a plurality of printing apparatuses, and even when the authentication printing apparatus is in a state where printing is not possible, there is a situation where another printing apparatus is in a standby state in a printable state. That is, although printing itself can be performed by another printing apparatus, there is a situation in which authentication printing cannot be executed because authentication cannot be performed. Such a situation is extremely inefficient in terms of the performance of the entire plurality of printing apparatuses.

  The proxy authentication printing system according to one aspect of the present invention is an authentication printing apparatus, and an identification information receiving unit that receives designation of identification information for identifying a printing apparatus different from the authentication printing apparatus, and authenticates a user An authentication printing apparatus comprising: an authentication information receiving unit that receives an input of authentication information for performing; and a transmission unit that transmits proxy authentication printing apparatus designating information including the received authentication information and the identification information to a host computer And an authentication print data management table in which an authentication print record in which authentication information and document data are associated with each other is registered, and the proxy authentication printing device designation information from the authentication printing device And an authentication print record including authentication information that matches the authentication information included in the received proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information. Based on the identification information included in the proxy-authentication printing apparatus designation information, and the transmission destination to the other printing apparatus identified by the identification information, A specifying unit for specifying, and a transmitting unit for generating a print job from the document data of the authentication print record acquired by the acquiring unit, and transmitting the print job to the other printing apparatus using the transmission destination. A host computer.

  According to the above-described aspect, it is possible to execute authentication printing even when the printing apparatus on which the authentication information input apparatus is mounted is in a state where printing cannot be performed.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a proxy authentication printing system according to an embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the structure of the host computer based on one Embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the structure of the printing apparatus controller of an authentication printing apparatus based on one Embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the authentication print data management table based on 1st Embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart which illustrates the registration process of the authentication information performed by the control part of a host computer based on 1st Embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart which illustrates the registration process of the authentication print record to the authentication print data management table performed by the control part of a host computer based on 1st Embodiment. 3 is a diagram illustrating a printing apparatus information table according to the first embodiment. FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the host computer information table based on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a printing device designation table according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart illustrating a proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information transmission process executed by the control unit of the authentication printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates proxy authentication printing apparatus designation | designated information based on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart illustrating transmission processing of a proxy authentication print job executed by a control unit of a host computer according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the printing apparatus designation | designated table based on 2nd Embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart which illustrates the transmission process of the authentication information notification information performed by the control part of an authentication printing apparatus based on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the authentication information notification information based on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart illustrating transmission processing of proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information to a host computer, which is executed by a control unit of a printing apparatus different from the authentication printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation | designated information produced | generated by the printing apparatus different from the authentication printing apparatus based on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation flow diagram illustrating a proxy authentication print job transmission process executed by a control unit of a host computer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart illustrating an authentication print job transmission process executed by a control unit of a host computer according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation flow diagram illustrating a proxy authentication print job transmission process executed by a control unit of an authentication printing apparatus according to a third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol was attached | subjected to the corresponding element in several drawing. In the following description of some embodiments, a printing apparatus will be described as an example. However, the embodiments according to the present invention are not limited to this, and for example, a so-called composite including a copying machine, a scanner, and the like. It may be a machine.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a proxy authentication printing system 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the host computer 102 according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the printing apparatus controller 300 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 according to an embodiment.

  In the proxy authentication printing system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, a host computer 102, an authentication printing apparatus 108, and another printing apparatus 110 are connected via a network 101. The network 101 includes various connection forms such as a wired connection and a wireless connection. As shown in FIG. 1, as an authentication information input device for inputting authentication information 120 (details will be described later), some host computers 102 include an IC card reader / writer 105 and an authentication printing device 108. Is equipped with an IC card reader 107 and can read the authentication information 120 stored in the IC card 106.

  In the following description of some embodiments, data stored in the IC card 106 as the authentication information 120 and an example in which the IC card reader 107 and the IC card reader / writer 105 are used as the authentication information input device. As will be described, the authentication information 120 and the authentication information input device that can be used in the embodiment according to the present invention are not limited thereto. The authentication information 120 may be any information as long as it is defined as “information for identifying an individual”. For example, “bar code”, “two-dimensional bar code (QR code)”, “password” It may be “number”, “password”, “fingerprint”, “voiceprint”, “vein pattern” or the like. The authentication information input device for inputting the authentication information 120 is also an input device “bar code reader”, “two-dimensional barcode (QR code) reader”, “ten keyboard”, “keyboard” corresponding to each authentication information 120. A “fingerprint scanner”, “microphone”, “venous pattern scanner”, or the like may be used.

  Next, an exemplary configuration of the host computer 102 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The host computer 102 includes a control unit 202, a clock 205, an IC card reader / writer interface (R / W I / F) 207, a communication interface (I / F) 208, and a reading unit 209. Further, the host computer 102 includes an auxiliary storage device 204 and a RAM 203 as the storage unit 211, and a removable storage medium 214 can be connected to the reading unit 209. The control unit 202, the clock 205, the IC card reader / writer interface 207, the communication interface 208, the reading unit 209, the auxiliary storage device 204, and the RAM 203 are connected to each other via a bus 210, for example.

  The reading unit 209 accesses the removable storage medium 214 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 202. The removable storage medium 214 is, for example, a semiconductor device (USB memory or the like), a medium to / from which information is input / output by a magnetic action (such as a magnetic disk), a medium to / from which information is input / output by an optical action (CD-ROM, For example, a DVD).

  The control unit 202 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processor Unit) and has a control function and a calculation function. The storage unit 211 (for example, the auxiliary storage device 204) stores data such as document data 212, an authentication print data management table 400, and a printer information table 700 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The document data 212 is data such as a document file and image data. The authentication print data management table 400 and the printing apparatus information table 700 will be described later. The storage unit 211 also stores programs such as a printer driver 220 and a proxy authentication printing program 206 configured according to the embodiment of the present invention. The printer driver 220 includes, for example, a program for performing processing for generating a print job that can be printed by the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110 from the document data 212. The control unit 202 reads out data stored in the storage unit 211 and executes a program to execute control of each unit and various processes.

  From the clock 205, the control unit 202 can acquire time information such as the current time. For example, in one embodiment, the expiration date for deleting the data to be authenticated and printed when a specific date is reached. It may be set based on time information acquired from 205. The IC card reader / writer interface 207 is connected to the IC card reader / writer 105. The control unit 202 reads data from the IC card 106 with the IC card reader / writer 105 or writes data to the IC card 106 via the IC card reader / writer interface 207. The communication interface 208 is connected to the network 101 and transmits / receives data via the network according to instructions from the control unit 202. For example, in FIG. 1, the communication interface 208 is used as an interface when communicating with the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110.

  Next, an exemplary configuration of the printing apparatus controller 300 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The printing apparatus controller 300 includes a control unit 302, an operation panel interface (I / F) 314, an IC card reader interface (R I / F) 307, a communication interface (I / F) 308, and a video interface (I / F). 309, an engine interface (I / F) 310 is included. In addition, the printing apparatus controller 300 includes a ROM 304, a RAM 303, a nonvolatile memory (such as an HDD) 311, and the like as the storage unit 320. The control unit 302, the operation panel interface 314, the IC card reader interface 307, the communication interface 308, the video interface 309, the engine interface 310, the ROM 304, the RAM 303, and the nonvolatile memory 311 are connected to each other via, for example, a bus 312. ing.

  The operation panel interface 314 is connected to the operation panel 313. The operation panel 313 includes a display unit 350 and a key unit 351. In one embodiment, an image of a key may be displayed on the display unit 350, and the image may function as the key unit 351. The key unit 351 of the operation panel 313 receives an input from the user, and the control unit 302 acquires information input through the operation panel 313 via the operation panel interface 314. The display unit 350 is used for presenting information such as the status of the authentication printing apparatus 108 and setting information for printing processing to the user.

  The IC card reader / interface 307 is connected to the IC card reader 107. The control unit 302 acquires the data of the IC card 106 by the IC card reader 107 via the IC card reader / interface 307. The communication interface 308 is connected to the network 101 and transmits / receives data via the network according to instructions from the control unit 302. The communication interface 308 is used as an interface for communicating with, for example, the host computer 102 in FIG. 1 and another printing apparatus such as the printing apparatus 110.

  The control unit 302 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processor Unit) and has a control function and a calculation function. In the storage unit 320 (for example, the ROM 304 or the non-volatile memory 311), for example, the print program 306 related to control of print processing, the panel operation processing program 322 related to control of the operation panel 313, and the authentication information 120 from the IC card reader 107 are acquired. Are stored, such as an IC card reception processing program 305 for controlling the authentication and a proxy authentication printing program 206 configured according to the embodiment of the present invention. The storage unit 320 stores data such as a host computer information table 800 and printing device designation tables 900 and 1300 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 302 reads out data stored in the storage unit 320 and executes a program to execute control of various units such as the IC card reader 107 and the operation panel 313 and various processes. Note that the storage unit 320 (for example, the non-volatile memory 311) may be used for storing a print job sent from the host computer 102, for example.

  The video interface 309 is connected to a video controller (not shown) that controls a printer engine (not shown) based on image information included in a print job received from the host computer 102. The control unit 302, the video controller, Mediate communications. The engine interface 310 is connected to an engine unit (not shown) that outputs an image to a recording medium such as paper based on a control signal supplied from the video controller, and mediates communication between the control unit 302 and the engine unit. To do.

  In FIG. 3, the exemplary configuration of the printing device controller 300 of the authentication printing device 108 has been described. For example, the printing device controller of another printing device 110 illustrated in FIG. 1 has the same configuration. Alternatively, for example, a configuration in which the IC card reader / interface 307 is removed from the configuration of the printing apparatus controller 300 in FIG. 3 may be used. In some embodiments described below, as an example, a printing apparatus 110 that is different from the authentication printing apparatus 108 has a configuration in which the IC card reader interface 307 is removed from the configuration of the printing apparatus controller 300 in FIG. Give an explanation.

<First Embodiment>
The proxy authentication printing system 100 according to the first embodiment in the configuration described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described. First, the flow of proxy authentication printing according to the first embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, for example, when the user performs authentication printing (also referred to as confidential printing) of certain document data 212, the user performs authentication printing of the document data 212 together with specific authentication information 120 (for example, UID (Unique Identification)). Register in the data management table 400. Thereafter, the host computer 102 waits for the authentication printing until the authentication information 120 is notified from the authentication printing apparatus 108. Here, when the user inputs the authentication information 120 by holding the IC card 106 over the IC card reader 107 attached to the authentication printing apparatus 108, the input authentication information 120 is transferred from the authentication printing apparatus 108 to the host computer 102. Be notified. The host computer 102 compares the notified authentication information 120 with the authentication information 120 corresponding to the document data 212 registered in the authentication print data management table 400. If the authentication information 120 matches, a print job is generated from the document data 212 corresponding to the matching authentication information 120 and transmitted to the authentication printing apparatus 108, and printing is performed by the authentication printing apparatus 108 to complete the authentication printing. To do.

  However, in the above, when the user tries to input the authentication information 120 by holding the IC card 106 over the IC card reader 107 mounted on the authentication printing apparatus 108, the authentication printing apparatus 108 is in a state where printing is not possible. There is. The state in which the authentication printing apparatus 108 cannot print is, for example, when another print job is being printed, a consumable item such as paper / toner (developer) is insufficient, or an error such as a paper jam is displayed. It is in a state. For example, in such a case, proxy authentication printing according to the first embodiment is executed.

  When executing proxy authentication printing, the user selects the printing apparatus 110 that performs printing from the other printing apparatuses 110 in the authentication printing apparatus 108. Subsequently, when the user inputs the authentication information 120 using an IC card reader or the like of the authentication printing apparatus 108, the authentication printing apparatus 108 identifies the input authentication information 120 and the selected printing apparatus 110. Information 901 is transmitted to the host computer 102. In the host computer 102, authentication is performed by comparing the authentication information 120 received from the authentication printing apparatus 108 with the authentication information 120 registered together with the document data 212 in the authentication print data management table 400. If there is document data 212 that matches the authentication information 120, the identification information 901 transmitted from the authentication printing apparatus 108 together with the matching authentication information 120 is used to identify the printing apparatus 110 identified by the identification information 901. A corresponding printer driver 220 is specified, and a print job is generated from the document data 212 using the specified printer driver 220. The generated print job is transmitted to the printing apparatus 110 identified by the identification information 901 received from the authentication printing apparatus 108, and printing is executed there. As described above, in the first embodiment, even when the authentication printing apparatus 108 cannot print, the authentication printing apparatus 108 obtains the authentication information 120 as a proxy, and the printing process is performed by another printing apparatus 110. Authentication printing can be executed for execution.

  Details of the proxy authentication printing process of the first embodiment described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an authentication print data management table 400 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an authentication print record 405 is registered in the authentication print data management table 400. In each authentication print record 405, the record number 401, the authentication information 120 (using UID as an example), and the document data information 402 (for example, the file name of the document data 212) specifying the document data 212 to be subjected to authentication printing. And a processing state 403 indicating the execution state of the authentication printing process are associated with each other.

  For example, referring to the first authentication print record 405, the person corresponding to “UID: 0080” is going to perform authentication printing of the document data 212 of “file name: DocA.doc”, and the printing is still unprinted. Is in a state. Further, referring to the nth record, the person corresponding to “UID: 0102” has authenticated and printed the document data 212 of “file name: DocC.doc”, and the printing has been completed. In the first embodiment, such an authentication print data management table 400 is stored in the storage unit 211 (for example, the auxiliary storage device 204) of the host computer 102.

  Next, a process for registering the authentication print record 405 in the authentication print data management table 400 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart illustrating the registration process of the authentication information 120 executed by the control unit 202 of the host computer 102 according to the first embodiment. The operation flow shown in FIG. 5 starts when, for example, the user executes the registration process of the authentication information 120 in the host computer 102.

  In step 501, the control unit 202 waits for the authentication information 120 (for example, UID: unique ID) to be input from the IC card 106 to the IC card reader / writer 105. When the authentication information 120 is input to the IC card reader / writer 105 by the user holding the IC card 106 or the like, in step 502, the control unit 202 stores the input authentication information 120 in the storage unit 211, and then This flow ends.

  Next, FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart illustrating the registration process of the authentication print record 405 to the authentication print data management table 400 executed by the control unit 202 of the host computer 102 according to the first embodiment. The operation flow shown in FIG. 6 starts when the user executes the registration process of the authentication print record 405 in the host computer 102, for example.

  In step 601, the control unit 202 accepts designation of document data 212 to be subjected to authentication printing by the user. When the user designates the document data 212, the process proceeds to step 602. In step 602, the control unit 202 associates the designated document data 212 with the user authentication information 120 stored in the storage unit 211, and generates an authentication print record 405 in “processing state 403: unprinted”. Then, it is registered in the authentication print data management table 400. Thereafter, this flow ends.

  When the authentication print record 405 is registered in the authentication print data management table 400, the control unit 202 subsequently waits for authentication printing until the authentication information 120 is notified from the authentication printing apparatus 108.

  The authentication print data management table 400 shown in FIG. 4 is created by the processing described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the authentication information 120 is stored in advance in the storage unit 211 of the host computer 102, and the authentication information 120 is read from the storage unit 211 when the authentication print record 405 is registered. The example to use was described. However, the embodiment according to the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each time the authentication print record 405 is generated, the authentication information 120 is requested to be input, and the authentication information 120 thus input is used. The authentication print record 405 may be generated.

  Next, the printing apparatus information table 700 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the host computer 102 stores a printing apparatus information table 700 in the storage unit 211.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, a printing apparatus information table 705 that is information related to a printing apparatus 110 different from the authentication printing apparatus 108 is registered in the printing apparatus information table 700. In the printing apparatus information record 705, identification information 701, printing apparatus address information 702, and printer driver information 703 are associated with each other. The identification information 701 is information for identifying another printing apparatus 110, and the name of the printing apparatus is used in the example of FIG. The printing apparatus address information 702 is information representing a transmission destination for transmitting data to another printing apparatus 110, and an IP address is used in the example of FIG. The printer driver information 703 is information for specifying the printer driver 220 for the printing apparatus 110 identified by the identification information 701 associated in the printing apparatus information record 705.

  The printer driver 220 provided in the host computer 102 may be provided for each printing device (the authentication printing device 108 and the printing device 110) used in the host computer 102, or is used in the host computer 102. When the printing apparatuses (authenticating printing apparatus 108 and printing apparatus 110) are compatible, one printer driver is provided for a plurality of compatible printing apparatuses (authenticating printing apparatus 108 and printing apparatus 110). Also good.

  In FIG. 7, for example, referring to the first printing apparatus information record 705, the printing apparatus address information 702 of the printing apparatus 110 identified by the printing apparatus name “printer A” is IP address: “192.168.1.20”. In addition, it can be seen that the type of the printer driver that can be used in the printer A is the printer driver information “driver A”. Further, when the n-th record is seen, the printing apparatus 110 identified by the printing apparatus name “printer N” has an IP address “192.168.1.23”, and a printer that can be used by the printer N. It can be seen that the type of driver is “driver C”.

  Next, the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information transmission process executed by the control unit 302 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. In the first embodiment, the authentication printing apparatus 108 stores the host computer information table 800 (FIG. 8) and the printing apparatus designation table 900 (FIG. 9) in the storage unit 320.

  The host computer information table 800 will be described with reference to FIG. The host computer information table 800 registers host address information 801 that is a transmission destination for transmitting data to the host computer 102 using the authentication printing apparatus 108. As shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, an IP address is registered as host address information 801.

  The host address information 801 stored in the host computer information table 800 includes, for example, the host address information 801 of the own apparatus in the host computer 102 when the printer driver of the authentication printing apparatus 108 is installed in the host computer 102. It may be acquired by notifying 108. The control unit 302 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 registers the notified host address information 801 in the host computer information table 800, and the host computer information table 800 shown in FIG. 8 is created.

  Next, the printing apparatus designation table 900 will be described with reference to FIG. The printing apparatus designation table 900 identifies and designates the printing apparatus 110 that executes the printing process in the proxy authentication printing process when the authentication printing apparatus 108 receives an instruction to execute the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information transmission process. The identification information 901 for this is stored. As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, a printing apparatus name is registered as identification information 901. Note that the identification information 901 of the printing apparatus designation table 900 shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to the identification information 701 described above with reference to FIG.

  The proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information transmission process executed by the control unit 302 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 according to the first embodiment using the host computer information table 800 and the printing apparatus designation table 900 described above is shown in FIG. Will be described with reference to FIG. The operation flow of FIG. 10 starts when an instruction to execute the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information transmission process is input by the user via the operation panel 313, for example.

  In step 1001, the control unit 302 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 displays the identification information 901 (in this embodiment, the printing apparatus name) registered in the printing apparatus designation table 900 shown in FIG. 9 on the display unit 350, for example. A selection of identification information 901 of a printing apparatus 110 different from the authentication printing apparatus 108 is received from the user.

  When the identification information 901 is selected in step 1001, the authentication printing apparatus 108 stores the selected identification information 901 in the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 in step 1002. Subsequently, in step 1002, the authentication printing apparatus 108 receives an input of authentication information 120 from the user. For example, the input of the authentication information 120 may be performed by holding the IC card 106 over the IC card reader 107 provided in the authentication printing apparatus 108, or, for example, the user may enter the password via the key unit 351. It may be done by inputting. The authentication printing apparatus 108 stores the input authentication information 120 in the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100. Through the processing of steps 1001 to 1004, the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 stores the identification information 901 and the authentication information 120, and the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 illustrated in FIG. 11 is generated.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, in the first embodiment, the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 stores a UID as authentication information 120 and a printing apparatus name as identification information 901.

  Subsequently, in step 1005 of FIG. 10, the authentication printing apparatus 108 sets all the host computers 102 that are using the apparatus as the transmission destination of the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100. Specifically, for example, all the host address information 801 registered in the host computer information table 800 is read and set as the transmission destination of the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100.

  In step 1006, the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 illustrated in FIG. 11 is transmitted to all the host computers 102 using the authentication printing apparatus 108, and this flow ends. In the case of transmission by a connectionless and response-free communication procedure, such as the transmission process of the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100, there is a possibility that the reception may not be performed normally depending on the state of the other party's host computer. Therefore, for example, a transmission retry may be performed such that data transmission is repeated three times at 0.1 second intervals.

  FIG. 12 is an operation flowchart illustrating a proxy authentication print job transmission process executed by the control unit 202 of the host computer 102 according to the first embodiment. The operation flow shown in FIG. 12 starts when the control unit 202 of the host computer 102 receives proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 from the authentication printing apparatus 108, for example.

  When the control unit 202 receives the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100, in step 1201, the control unit 202 refers to the authentication print data management table 400 and determines whether there is an authentication print record 405 whose processing state 403 is not processed. If there is no unprocessed authentication print record 405 in the authentication print data management table 400, step 1201 is determined No, and this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is an unprocessed authentication print record 405 in the authentication print data management table 400, step 1201 is determined as Yes, and the flow proceeds to step 1202.

  In step 1202, the control unit 202 reads the authentication information 120 and the identification information 901 from the received proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100. In step 1203, the control unit 202 adds the authentication information 120 read from the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 to the authentication print record 405 whose processing state 403 registered in the authentication print data management table 400 is unprocessed. It is determined whether there is an authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120. In other words, in step 1203, authentication of the authentication print record 405 is executed using the authentication information 120 sent from the authentication printing apparatus 108.

  When there is no authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120 (No in Step 1203), this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is an authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120 (Yes in step 1203), the processing from step 1204 is executed on the matched authentication print record 405.

  In step 1204, the control unit 202 refers to the printing apparatus information table 700, and from the printing apparatus information record 705 including the identification information 701 that matches the identification information 901 read from the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100, the printing apparatus address. Information 702 and printer driver information 703 are acquired. In the present embodiment, the acquired printing apparatus address information 702 is specified as a transmission destination to which the print job of the authentication print record 405 whose authentication information 120 matches in step 1203.

  Subsequently, in step 1205, the control unit 202 specifies the printer driver information 703 acquired in step 1204 from the document data 212 specified in the document data information 402 of the authentication print record 405 in which the authentication information 120 matches in step 1203. The printer driver 220 is used to generate a print job, and the generated print job is transmitted to the IP address specified by the printing apparatus address information 702 acquired in step 1204. Since the print job transmitted here is a normal print job, the print device 110 specified by the print device address information 702 executes normal print processing using the received print job.

  In step 1206, the processing state 403 of the authentication print record 405 that has finished transmitting the print job is changed from unprocessed to printed. In step 1207, the control unit 202 authenticates the authentication print record 405 whose processing state 403 registered in the authentication print data management table 400 is unprocessed with the authentication information 120 read from the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100. It is determined whether there is another authentication print record 405 including the information 120.

  If there is no other authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120 (No in step 1207), this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is further an authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120 (Yes in Step 1207), the flow returns to Step 1204.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the host computer 102 stores the authentication information 120 included in the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 received from the authentication printing apparatus 108 in the authentication print data management table 400. The authentication print record 405 can be authenticated by comparing with the authentication information 120 of the authentication print record 405 being stored.

  Further, by using the identification information 901 included in the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100, address information 1302 (IP) serving as a transmission destination to the printing apparatus 110 that prints the document data 212 designated by the authenticated authentication print record 405 is used. Address) and a printer driver 220 for generating a print job that can be used by the printing apparatus 110. Furthermore, since a normal print job is transmitted to the printing apparatus 110 to which the generated print job is transmitted, it is not necessary to provide the printing apparatus 110 with a special configuration for proxy authentication printing processing. Printing can be executed in the printing process.

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment, even when the authentication printing apparatus 108 cannot execute printing, the authentication printing apparatus 108 is made to perform the authentication process, and the printing process is different from the authentication printing apparatus 108. The authentication printing can be executed in order to cause the printing apparatus 110 to execute the printing.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the printer driver 220 of the printing apparatus 110 to which the print job authenticated by the proxy authentication printing process is transmitted can also be specified. Therefore, it is not necessary that the print job format is compatible between the printing apparatus 110 of the transmission destination to which the print job authenticated in the proxy authentication printing process and the authentication printing apparatus 108 is sent, and the printing apparatus of the transmission destination The type of printing apparatus that can be used as 110 is not limited. That is, for example, it is possible to specify various existing printing apparatuses as the destination printing apparatus 110 that transmits a print job that has been authenticated by the proxy authentication printing process.

  Further, the user repeatedly executes the transmission process of the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100 shown in FIG. 10 in the authentication printing apparatus 108, and designates a different printing apparatus 110 that is different each time it is executed. A plurality of proxy authentication printing device designation information 1100 having different identification information 701 may be transmitted to the host computer 102 by designating the printing device 110. In the host computer 102, an unprocessed authentication print record 405 in which the authentication information 120 from the authentication print data management table 400 matches for each of a plurality of proxy authentication printing device designation information 1100 having different identification information 701 received from the authentication printing device 108. Is acquired, and the print processing of the acquired authentication print record 405 is transmitted and printed to the printing apparatus 110 identified by different identification information 701 shown in the plurality of proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1100, respectively. . Therefore, a plurality of unprocessed authentication print records 405 registered in the authentication print data management table 400 can be distributed to a plurality of printing apparatuses and printed. That is, for example, even when the user wants to quickly perform authentication printing of a plurality of document data, a plurality of printing can be performed by one authentication printing apparatus 108 by repeatedly executing the proxy authentication printing process according to the first embodiment. Using the apparatus 110, a plurality of authentication printings can be executed in parallel, and a plurality of authentication printings can be executed quickly and without delay.

  As a matter of course, if there is compatibility between the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110 that is the transmission destination of the proxy-authenticated print job, as described in the first embodiment, FIG. The process of specifying the printer driver 220 of the destination printing apparatus 110 using the printer driver information 703 may not be performed. In the first embodiment, the printing apparatus name is used as the identification information 901. However, for example, the printing apparatus address information 702 such as an IP address may be used as the identification information 901. Is within the scope of the disclosure.

<Second Embodiment>
A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described below. In the second embodiment, for simplicity of explanation, the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110 are compatible, and a print job generated by the printer driver 220 for the authentication printing apparatus 108 is The description will be made assuming that printing can be performed by any of the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110. However, also in the second embodiment, the printer driver 220 of the printing apparatus 110 that is the transmission destination of the print job authenticated by the proxy authentication printing process is specified as in the first embodiment or by another method. It should be noted that the second embodiment can be applied even when the authentication printing device 108 and the printing device 110 are not compatible.

  First, the flow of proxy authentication printing processing according to the second embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, for example, when a user performs authentication printing of certain document data 212, the user registers the document data 212 in the authentication print data management table 400 together with information of specific authentication information 120 (for example, UID). Thereafter, the host computer 102 waits for the authentication printing until the authentication information 120 is notified from the authentication printing apparatus 108. When the authentication printing apparatus 108 is not ready for printing, the user inputs an instruction to execute authentication information notification information transmission processing in the authentication printing apparatus 108. In the transmission process of the authentication information notification information, the user selects the printing apparatus 110 that executes the printing process from among the printing apparatuses 110 different from the authentication printing apparatus 108 with the authentication printing apparatus 108. Subsequently, when the user inputs the authentication information 120 by holding the IC card 106 over the IC card reader of the authentication printing apparatus 108 or the like, the authentication printing apparatus 108 displays the authentication information notification information 1500 including the input authentication information 120. Send to the selected printing device 110. The selected printing apparatus 110 uses the authentication information 120 included in the received authentication information notification information 1500 to send the authentication information 120 to the host computer 102 as if the IC card reader 107 is attached to the own apparatus. Proxy authentication printing device designation information 1700 including address information 1702 of the own device is transmitted. The host computer 102 performs authentication by comparing the authentication information 120 received from the printing apparatus 110 with the authentication information 120 registered with the document data 212 in the authentication print data management table 400. If there is document data 212 that matches the authentication information 120, a print job is generated from the document data 212 using the printer driver 220 of the authentication printing apparatus 108. Then, the generated print job is transmitted to the printing apparatus 110 specified by the address information 1702 received from the printing apparatus 110 together with the authentication information 120. The print job transmitted to the printing apparatus 110 is printed there. As described above, in the second embodiment, the authentication information 120 acquired by the authentication printing apparatus 108 is transmitted to a printing apparatus 110 different from the authentication printing apparatus 108, and the other printing apparatus 110 transmits the authentication information. 120, the authentication information input device operates as if it is mounted and the host computer performs authentication, so that authentication printing can be executed even when the authentication printing device 108 is in a state where printing is not possible. it can.

  Details of the proxy authentication printing process of the second embodiment described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  Also in the second embodiment, the registration process of the authentication print record 405 to the authentication print data management table 400 in the host computer 102 is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. When the authentication print record 405 is registered in the authentication print data management table 400 shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 202 of the host computer 102 thereafter waits for authentication printing until the authentication information 120 is notified from the authentication printing apparatus 108. Let

  Next, the authentication information notification information transmission process in the authentication printing apparatus 108 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a printing apparatus designation table 1300 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the authentication printing apparatus 108 stores a printing apparatus designation table 1300 in the storage unit 320. The printing apparatus designation table 1300 includes identification information 1301 for identifying and designating the printing apparatus 110 that executes the printing process when the authentication printing apparatus 108 receives an instruction to execute the authentication information notification information transmission process. A record including address information 1302 for transmitting data to the printing apparatus 110 is registered. In the second embodiment, the printing apparatus name of the printing apparatus 110 is used as the identification information 1301, and the IP address is used as the address information 1302.

  FIG. 14 is an operation flowchart illustrating an authentication information notification information transmission process in the authentication printing apparatus 108 according to the second embodiment. The operation flow shown in FIG. 14 starts when the user inputs an instruction to execute the authentication information notification information transmission process via the operation panel 313 in the authentication printing apparatus 108, for example.

  In step 1401, the control unit 302 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 reads the identification information 1301 of each record from the printing apparatus designation table 1300 and presents it to the user via, for example, the display unit 350, and prints different from the authentication printing apparatus 108. Selection of device 110 is accepted from the user. The user selects the identification information 1301 of the printing apparatus 110 that is different from the authentication printing apparatus 108 from the presented identification information 1301 of the printing apparatus 110 in order to execute the printing process.

  In step 1402, the control unit 302 acquires address information 1302 (IP address) corresponding to the identification information 1301 of the selected printing apparatus 110 from the printing apparatus designation table 1300 and stores it in the authentication information notification information 1500. In the present embodiment, the control unit 302 also stores in the authentication information notification information 1500 the address information 1502 (IP address) of the authentication printing apparatus 108 stored in advance in the storage unit 320. In step 1403, the control unit 302 receives an input of authentication information 120 from the user. When the user inputs the authentication information 120 (UID) to the authentication printing apparatus 108, for example, by holding the IC card 106 over the IC card reader 107 attached to the authentication printing apparatus 108, the control unit 302 inputs the information in step 1404. The authenticated authentication information 120 is stored in the authentication information notification information 1500. As described above, the authentication information notification information 1500 in the second embodiment is created.

  An example of the authentication information notification information 1500 is shown in FIG. The authentication information notification information 1500 includes authentication information 120 input by the user, address information 1502 (IP address) of the authentication printing apparatus 108 itself acquired in step 1402, and address information 1302 of the printing apparatus 110 that executes the printing process. Stored.

  In step 1405 of FIG. 14, the control unit 302 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 indicates the created authentication information notification information 1500 in the address information 1302 (IP address) of the printing apparatus 110 that executes the printing process acquired in step 1402. Transmission is made to the transmission destination, and this flow ends.

  Next, processing for receiving the authentication information notification information 1500 by the printing apparatus 110 and transmitting the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 to the host computer 102 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The operation flow illustrated in FIG. 16 starts when the printing apparatus 110 receives the authentication information notification information 1500 from the authentication printing apparatus 108. In step 1601, the control unit 302 of the printing apparatus 110 acquires the authentication information 120 from the authentication information notification information 1500.

  Subsequently, in Step 1602, the control unit 302 uses the acquired authentication information 120 and the proxy authentication printing using the address information 1702 (for example, IP address) of the printing apparatus 110 stored in advance in the storage unit 320. Device designation information 1700 is created.

  FIG. 17 is an example of proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700. The proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 stores the authentication information 120 acquired in step 1601 and the address information 1702 (IP address) of the printing apparatus 110 itself.

  Subsequently, in step 1603 of FIG. 16, the printing apparatus 110 transmits proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 to all the host computers 102 using the apparatus. In the second embodiment, the printing apparatus 110 is host computer information including all host address information 801 of the host computer 102 using the printing apparatus 110, as in the authentication printing apparatus 108 of the first embodiment. A table 800 (FIG. 8) is stored in the storage unit 320. Therefore, by referring to the host computer information table 800, all host address information 801 of the host computer 102 using the printing apparatus 110 can be acquired.

  In step 1603, after the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 is transmitted to all the host computers 102, this flow ends.

  FIG. 18 is an operation flowchart illustrating the proxy authentication print job transmission process in the host computer 102 according to the second embodiment. The operation flow shown in FIG. 18 starts when the host computer 102 receives proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 from the printing apparatus 110.

  When receiving the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700, the control unit 202 of the host computer 102 refers to the authentication print data management table 400 in step 1801, and determines whether there is an authentication print record 405 whose processing state 403 is not processed. Determine. If there is no unprocessed authentication print record 405 in the authentication print data management table 400, step 1801 is determined as No, and this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is an unprocessed authentication print record 405 in the authentication print data management table 400, step 1801 is determined as Yes, and the flow proceeds to step 1802.

  In step 1802, the control unit 202 reads the authentication information 120 from the received proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700. In step 1803, the control unit 202 adds the authentication information 120 read from the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 to the authentication print record 405 whose processing state 403 registered in the authentication print data management table 400 is unprocessed. It is determined whether there is an authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120. In other words, in step 1803, authentication of the authentication print record 405 is executed using the authentication information 120 sent from the printing apparatus 110.

  If there is no authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120 (No in step 1803), this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is an authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120 (Yes in Step 1803), the processing after Step 1804 is executed for the authenticated authentication print record 405 with the matching authentication information 120. .

  In step 1804, the control unit 202 of the host computer 102 reads the address information 1702 from the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 received from the printing apparatus 110, and transmits the read address information 1702 (that is, the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 is transmitted). The IP address of the original printing apparatus 110) is set as the transmission destination of the print job.

  Subsequently, in step 1805, the control unit 202 uses the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110 from the document data 212 specified by the document data information 402 of the authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120 acquired in step 1803. A print job is generated using the printer driver 220 that is common to all the printers. Further, the generated print job is transmitted to the transmission destination set in step 1804 (that is, the IP address of the printing apparatus 110 as the transmission source of the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 here). Since the print job to be transmitted is a normal print job, the printing apparatus 110 that is the transmission destination executes normal print processing according to the received print job.

  Subsequently, in step 1806, the processing state 403 of the authentication print record 405 for which the print job has been transmitted is changed from unprocessed to printed. In step 1807, the control unit 202 authenticates the authentication print record 405 whose processing state 403 registered in the authentication print data management table 400 is unprocessed with the authentication information 120 read from the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700. It is determined whether there is another authentication print record 405 including the information 120.

  If there is no other authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120 (No in step 1807), this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is another authentication print record 405 including the matching authentication information 120 (Yes in Step 1807), the flow returns to Step 1804.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the host computer 102 stores the authentication information 120 included in the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700 received from the printing apparatus 110 in the authentication print data management table 400. The authentication print record 405 is authenticated by comparing with the authentication information 120 of the existing authentication print record 405. The host computer 102 generates a print job from the document data 212 specified by the authenticated authentication print record 405 and sends it back to the printing apparatus 110, where printing is executed. Therefore, even if the authentication printing apparatus is in a state where printing cannot be executed for some reason, the authentication printing can be executed. Also, the authentication information 120 input by the authentication printing apparatus 108 is transferred to a printing apparatus 110 that is different from the authentication printing apparatus 108, and the printing apparatus 110 that has received the authentication information 120 is as if the authentication information input apparatus is an own apparatus. Since it behaves as if it is attached to the host computer 102 and transmits the transferred authentication information 120, it is necessary to implement the proxy authentication printing process according to the second embodiment to the host computer 102. Only a few changes are required.

  Note that, as described above, in the second embodiment, for simplicity of explanation, the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110 are compatible, and a print job generated using the same printer driver 220 is used. In the above description, it is assumed that printing can be performed by any of the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110. However, also in the second embodiment, for example, a table in which the address information 1702 (IP address) and the printer driver information 703 are associated with each other, such as the printing apparatus information table 700 shown in FIG. By providing the storage unit 211, the type of the printer driver 220 can be specified. That is, the address information 1702 (IP address) is used in the same manner as the identification information 701 in the first embodiment, and the printer driver information 703 is acquired from the printing apparatus information table 700, thereby specifying the type of the printer driver 220. it can.

  Furthermore, it corresponds to the printing apparatus 110 that has notified the IP address using the IP address notified from the printing apparatus 110 and information held by the operating system (OS) of the host computer 102 in the second embodiment. The printer driver 220 to be specified may be specified. For example, when the OS of the host computer 102 manages the port, the port used for communication with the printing apparatus 110 may be identified from the IP address notified from the printing apparatus 110 in this embodiment. Is possible. It is also possible to specify the printing apparatus 110 (a plurality of) set to use the port from the specified port. On the other hand, for example, when the OS monitors the state of the printing apparatus 110, the OS can specify the model of the printing apparatus 110 to be monitored. Therefore, by selecting the printing device 110 of the model specified by monitoring from the printing devices 110 (plural) specified by the port, printing that has notified the proxy authentication printing device designation information 1700 from the IP address. The printer driver 220 corresponding to the device 110 can be identified. In this case, in order to specify the printer driver 220 of the printing apparatus 110 that has notified the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1700, for example, the printer driver information 703 such as the printing apparatus information table 700 shown in FIG. 7 is acquired. There is no need to provide the storage unit 211 of the host computer 102 with a table or the like.

  Furthermore, as another embodiment, when the user tries to register the document data 212 together with the authentication information 120 in the authentication print data management table 400 in order to perform the authentication print of the document data 212, the authentication print is already performed. The device 108 may know that it is not ready to print. For example, the user knows that another user is printing another document data 212 with the authentication printing apparatus 108, or the user knows that the toner of the authentication printing apparatus 108 has run out. In this case, when registering the authentication print record 405 in the authentication print data management table 400, it is conceivable that the user can specify the printing apparatus 110 that executes the printing process. In this way, only the authentication information 120 input by the user needs to be transmitted from the authentication printing apparatus 108 to the host computer 102, and the host computer 102 uses the received authentication information 120 to authenticate the authentication print record 405. Then, the proxy authentication printing process is executed by transmitting the print job generated using the printer driver 220 of the printing apparatus 110 to the printing apparatus 110 specified when the authentication print record 405 is registered. it can.

  In the second embodiment, the authentication information notification information 1500 includes the authentication information 120, the address information 1502 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 itself, and the address information of the printing apparatus 110 that is the transmission destination of the authentication information notification information 1500. However, the embodiment according to the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only the authentication information 120 is included in the authentication information notification information 1500 and another selected printing apparatus 110 is selected. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the proxy authentication printing process according to the second embodiment can be realized even if it is transmitted to.

<Third Embodiment>
Subsequently, the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13, 19 and 20. Note that in the third embodiment, the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110 are compatible, and a print job generated using the same printer driver 220 is sent to either the authentication printing apparatus 108 or the printing apparatus 110. It is assumed that printing is possible even with the printing apparatus. First, the flow of proxy authentication printing processing according to the third embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, for example, when a user performs authentication printing of certain document data 212, the user registers the document data 212 in the authentication print data management table 400 together with information of specific authentication information 120 (for example, UID). Then, the host computer 102 generates a print job including the authentication information 120 from the registered document data 212 and the authentication information 120 and transmits the print job to the authentication printing apparatus 108. Here, when the authentication printing apparatus 108 is in a state where printing cannot be performed, the user executes proxy authentication print job transmission processing in the authentication printing apparatus 108. In the proxy authentication print job transmission process, the user selects the printing apparatus 110 that performs printing from the other printing apparatuses 110 in the authentication printing apparatus 108. Subsequently, when the user inputs authentication information 120 using an IC card reader or the like of the authentication printing apparatus 108, the authentication printing apparatus 108 receives the authentication information 120 that has been input and the authentication included in the print job received from the host computer 102. The authentication is performed by comparing with the information 120. If there is a print job that matches the authentication information 120, the matched print job is transmitted to another selected printing apparatus 110, and printing is executed there. As described above, in the third embodiment, the authentication printing apparatus 108 executes only the authentication process and transfers the authenticated print job to another printing apparatus, so that the authentication printing apparatus 108 cannot print. Even in some cases, authentication printing can be executed.

  The details of the proxy authentication printing process of the third embodiment described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. 13, 19, and 20. FIG.

  FIG. 19 is an operation flowchart illustrating an authentication print job transmission process executed by the control unit 202 of the host computer 102 according to the third embodiment. The operation flow of FIG. 19 starts when the user registers the authentication print record 405 in the authentication print data management table 400 shown in FIG.

  In step 1901, the control unit 202 of the host computer 102 generates a print job including the authentication information 120 based on the authentication print record 405 registered in the authentication print data management table 400. In step 1902, the control unit 202 transmits the print job generated in step 1901 to the authentication printing apparatus 108, changes the processing state 403 of the authentication print record 405 for which transmission has been completed, to Ends.

  When the authentication printing apparatus 108 receives a print job including the authentication information 120 from the host computer 102, the print job including the received authentication information 120 is stored in the storage unit 320. When a plurality of print jobs including authentication information 120 are sent from the host computer 102, all the received print jobs are stored in the storage unit 320.

  Next, a proxy authentication print job transmission process by the authentication printing apparatus 108 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 20. In the third embodiment, the authentication printing apparatus 108 stores a printing apparatus designation table 1300 illustrated in FIG. 13 in the storage unit 320, for example. The printing apparatus designation table 1300 includes identification information 1301 for identifying and designating the printing apparatus 110 that executes the printing process when the authentication printing apparatus 108 receives an instruction to execute the proxy authentication print job transmission process. A record including address information 1302 for transmitting data to the printing apparatus 110 is registered. In the third embodiment, the printing apparatus name of the printing apparatus 110 is registered as the identification information 1301, and the IP address is registered as the address information 1302.

  Next, a proxy authentication print job transmission process of the authentication printing apparatus 108 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The operation flow in FIG. 20 starts when the user inputs an instruction to execute a proxy authentication print job transmission process in the authentication printing apparatus 108.

  In step 2001, the control unit 302 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 reads the identification information 1301 of each record from the printing apparatus designation table 1300 and presents it to the user via, for example, the display unit 350, and prints different from the authentication printing apparatus 108. The selection of the identification information 1301 of the device 110 is received from the user. The user selects the identification information 1301 of the printing apparatus 110 that executes the printing process from the identification information 1301 of the printing apparatus 110 that is presented. In step 2002, the control unit 302 acquires address information 1302 corresponding to the identification information 1301 of the selected printing apparatus 110 from the printing apparatus designation table 1300.

  Subsequently, in step 2003, the control unit 302 receives an input of authentication information 120 from the user. When the user inputs the authentication information 120 to the authentication printing apparatus 108, in step 2004, the control unit 302 searches for a print job stored in the storage unit 320 using the input authentication information 120 and inputs the input authentication information. It is determined whether there is a print job including the authentication information 120 that matches the information 120. If there is no print job including the matching authentication information 120 (No in step 2004), this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is a print job including the matching authentication information 120 (step 2004 is Yes), the flow proceeds to step 2005 assuming that the print job is authenticated.

  In step 2005, the control unit 302 transmits a print job including the matching authentication information 120 to the printing apparatus 110 that is the transmission destination indicated by the address information 1302 acquired in step 2002.

  Subsequently, in step 2006, the control unit 302 searches the print job stored in the storage unit 320 again using the authentication information 120 input in step 2003, and the print job including the matching authentication information 120 is stored. It is determined whether there is another in the unit 320. When there is no other print job including the matching authentication information 120 (No in step 2006), this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is another print job including the matching authentication information 120 (Yes in Step 2006), the flow returns to Step 2005.

  The printing apparatus 110 that has received the authenticated print job transmitted from the authentication printing apparatus 108 in step 2005 of FIG. 20 executes printing of the received print job by normal printing processing. As described above, in the third embodiment, since the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the printing apparatus 110 are compatible, a print job generated using the same printer driver 220 is authenticated. Printing can be performed by any of the printing apparatuses 108 and 110. Therefore, the print job authenticated by the authentication printing apparatus 108 is transferred to the printing apparatus 110 selected by the user, and is printed there by normal printing processing.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the print job including the authentication information 120 is stored in the authentication printing apparatus 108 and the authentication is executed by the authentication printing apparatus 108 instead of the host computer 102. Then, when the print job including the authentication information 120 stored in the authentication printing apparatus 108 is authenticated by the authentication printing apparatus 108, the print job is directly transferred to another printing apparatus 110 and printed. Therefore, the proxy authentication printing process according to the third embodiment can be more easily implemented and executed as compared with the first and second embodiments.

  As described above, in any of the first to third embodiments, authentication is performed by proxy using the authentication information 120 input by the authentication printing apparatus 108, and the authenticated print job is printed in another print. Printed by the device 110. Therefore, even if the authentication printing apparatus is in a state where printing cannot be executed for some reason, the authentication printing can be executed.

  The proxy authentication printing program 206 describing the procedure of the operation flow shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 10, 12, 14, 16, 16, 18, 19, and 20 described in the above embodiment. For example, it is stored in the storage unit 211 of the host computer 102, the authentication printing device 108, and the storage unit 320 of another printing device 110. Then, the control unit 202 of the host computer 102, the control unit 302 of the authentication printing apparatus 108, and the control unit 302 of the printing apparatus 110 other than the authentication printing apparatus 108 receive the proxy authentication printing program 206 from the storage unit 211 or the storage unit 320. 5, 6, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, and 20 may be executed.

  In some embodiments, the storage unit 211 of the host computer 102 stores a proxy authentication printing program 206 describing the procedure of the operation flow shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 12, 18, and 19. Has been. In addition, the storage unit 320 of the authentication printing apparatus 108 stores a proxy authentication printing program 206 describing the procedure of the operation flow shown in FIGS. 10, 14, and 20. In addition, the proxy authentication printing program describing the procedure of the operation flow shown in FIG. 16 is stored in the storage unit 320 of the printing apparatus 110 that is a candidate for executing the printing process in the proxy authentication printing process. 206 is stored.

These proxy authentication printing programs 206 are provided to the host computer 102, the authentication printing apparatus 108, and the printing apparatus 110 of the proxy authentication printing system 100 in the following form, for example.
(1) Installed in advance in the storage unit 211 and the storage unit 320.
(2) Provided by the removable storage medium 214.
(3) Provided from the program server.

  Several embodiments have been described above. However, the embodiments according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be understood as including various modifications and alternative forms of the above-described embodiments. For example, it will be understood that various embodiments can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Further, it will be understood that various embodiments according to the present invention can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. Alternatively, various implementations according to the present invention may be made by deleting or replacing some components from all the components shown in the embodiment, or adding some components to the components shown in the embodiment. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the form may be implemented.

The following additional notes are disclosed with respect to several embodiments according to the present invention, including the first to third embodiments described above.
(Appendix 1)
An authentication printing device,
An identification information receiving unit that receives designation of identification information for identifying a printing device different from the authentication printing device;
An authentication information receiving unit that receives input of authentication information for authenticating the user;
A transmission unit for transmitting the received authentication information and proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information including the identification information to a host computer;
An authentication printing apparatus, and
A host computer comprising:
An authentication print data management table in which an authentication print record in which authentication information and document data are associated with each other is registered;
A receiving unit that receives the proxy authentication printing device designation information from the authentication printing device;
An acquisition unit that acquires an authentication print record including authentication information that matches the authentication information included in the received proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information from the authentication print data management table;
Based on the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information, a specifying unit for specifying a transmission destination to the other printing device identified by the identification information;
A transmission unit that generates the print job from the document data of the authentication print record acquired by the acquisition unit, and transmits the print job to the other printing apparatus using the transmission destination;
A host computer comprising:
Including proxy authentication printing system.
(Appendix 2)
A printing apparatus that associates the identification information, the address information of the printing apparatus identified by the identification information, and a printer driver for generating a print job usable in the printing apparatus from the document data; An information table;
The specifying unit sets the address information associated with the identification information in the printing apparatus information table as the transmission destination to the other printing apparatus,
The transmission unit of the host computer uses the printer driver associated with the identification information included in the received proxy authentication printing device designation information in the printing device information table, and acquires the authentication acquired by the acquiring unit. The proxy authentication printing system according to appendix 1, wherein the print job is generated from document data of a print record.
(Appendix 3)
A proxy authentication printing device,
An identification information receiving unit that receives designation of identification information for identifying a printing apparatus different from the proxy authentication printing apparatus;
An authentication information receiving unit that receives input of authentication information for authenticating the user;
A transmission unit for transmitting the received authentication information and proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information including the identification information to a host computer;
A proxy authentication printing apparatus.
(Appendix 4)
In the host computer, the authentication information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information is used for authentication of document data to be authenticated and printed,
The print job generated from the authenticated document data is transmitted to the other printing device identified by the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information and printed, and the print job is printed. Proxy authentication printing device.
(Appendix 5)
The host computer specifies a transmission destination to the other printing device for transmitting the print job to the other printing device based on the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information. 4. The proxy authentication printing apparatus according to 4.
(Appendix 6)
The appendix 4 and 5, wherein the host computer specifies a printer driver for generating the print job to be transmitted to the other printing apparatus based on the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information. Proxy authentication printing device.
(Appendix 7)
On the computer,
Receiving, from the authentication printing apparatus, proxy authentication printing apparatus designating information including authentication information for authenticating a user and identification information for identifying a printing apparatus different from the authentication printing apparatus;
Authentication printing including authentication information that matches the authentication information included in the received proxy authentication printing device designation information from the authentication print data management table in which authentication print records in which authentication information and document data are associated with each other are registered An acquisition step for acquiring records;
A specifying step of specifying a transmission destination to the other printing device identified by the identification information based on the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information;
A transmission step of generating a print job from the document data of the authentication print record acquired in the acquisition step, and transmitting the print job to the other printing apparatus using the transmission destination;
Proxy authentication printing program to execute.
(Appendix 8)
A method for controlling a proxy authentication printing apparatus, comprising:
An identification information receiving step for receiving designation of identification information for identifying a printing apparatus different from the proxy authentication printing apparatus;
An authentication information acceptance step for accepting input of authentication information for authenticating the user;
Transmitting the proxy authentication printing apparatus designating information including the received authentication information and the identification information to a host computer;
Including a method.
(Appendix 9)
A proxy authentication printing device,
An identification information receiving unit that receives designation of identification information for identifying a printing apparatus different from the proxy authentication printing apparatus;
An authentication information receiving unit that receives input of authentication information for authenticating the user;
A transmitting unit for transmitting authentication information notification information including the received authentication information to the other printing apparatus identified by the received identification information;
A proxy authentication printing apparatus.
(Appendix 10)
A proxy authentication printing device,
A receiving unit for receiving a print job including authentication information from a host computer;
An authentication information receiving unit that receives input of the authentication information;
An identification information receiving unit that receives designation of identification information for identifying a printing device different from the proxy authentication printing device;
An authentication unit that authenticates the print job using the authentication information received by the authentication information reception unit and the authentication information included in the print job;
A transmission unit that transmits the authenticated print job to another printing apparatus identified by the identification information received by the identification information reception unit;
including,
Proxy authentication printing device.
(Appendix 11)
The proxy authentication printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, 9, and 10, wherein the identification information is an IP address of the another printing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Proxy authentication printing system 101 Network 102 Host computer 105 IC card reader / writer 106 IC card 107 IC card reader 108 Authentication printing apparatus 110 Printing apparatus 120 Authentication information 202 Control part 203 RAM
204 Auxiliary storage device 205 Clock 207 IC card reader / writer interface 208 Communication interface 209 Reading unit 210 Bus 211 Storage unit 212 Document data 214 Removable storage medium 220 Printer driver 300 Printing device controller 302 Control unit 303 RAM
304 ROM
307 IC card reader interface 308 communication interface 309 video interface 310 engine interface 311 non-volatile memory 313 operation panel 314 operation panel interface 320 storage unit 350 display unit 351 key unit 400 authentication print data management table 401 number 402 document data information 403 processing Status 405 Authentication print record 700 Printing device information table 701 Identification information 702 Printing device address information 703 Printer driver information 705 Printing device information record 800 Host computer information table 801 Host address information 900 Printing device designation table 901 Identification information 1100 Proxy authentication printing device designation Information 1300 Printing device designation table 1301 Identification information 1302 Address information 500 authentication information notification information 1502 address information 1700 proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information 1702 address information

Claims (11)

An authentication printing device,
An identification information receiving unit that receives designation of identification information for identifying a printing device different from the authentication printing device;
An authentication information receiving unit that receives input of authentication information for authenticating the user;
A transmission unit for transmitting the received authentication information and proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information including the identification information to a host computer;
An authentication printing apparatus, and
A host computer comprising:
An authentication print data management table in which an authentication print record in which authentication information and document data are associated with each other is registered;
A receiving unit that receives the proxy authentication printing device designation information from the authentication printing device;
An acquisition unit that acquires an authentication print record including authentication information that matches the authentication information included in the received proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information from the authentication print data management table;
Based on the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information, a specifying unit for specifying a transmission destination to the other printing device identified by the identification information;
A transmission unit that generates the print job from the document data of the authentication print record acquired by the acquisition unit, and transmits the print job to the other printing apparatus using the transmission destination;
A host computer comprising:
Including proxy authentication printing system. A printing apparatus that associates the identification information, the address information of the printing apparatus identified by the identification information, and a printer driver for generating a print job usable in the printing apparatus from the document data; An information table;
The specifying unit sets the address information associated with the identification information in the printing apparatus information table as the transmission destination to the other printing apparatus,
The transmission unit of the host computer uses the printer driver associated with the identification information included in the received proxy authentication printing device designation information in the printing device information table, and acquires the authentication acquired by the acquiring unit. The proxy authentication printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print job is generated from document data of a print record. A proxy authentication printing device,
An identification information receiving unit that receives designation of identification information for identifying a printing apparatus different from the proxy authentication printing apparatus;
An authentication information receiving unit that receives input of authentication information for authenticating the user;
A transmission unit for transmitting the received authentication information and proxy authentication printing apparatus designation information including the identification information to a host computer;
A proxy authentication printing apparatus. In the host computer, the authentication information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information is used for authentication of document data to be authenticated and printed,
The print job generated from the authenticated document data is transmitted to the other printing device identified by the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information and printed. Proxy authentication printing device.   The host computer specifies a transmission destination to the other printing device for transmitting the print job to the other printing device based on the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information. Item 5. The proxy authentication printing apparatus according to Item 4.   The host computer specifies a printer driver for generating the print job to be transmitted to the other printing device based on the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information. The proxy authentication printing device described. On the computer,
Receiving, from the authentication printing apparatus, proxy authentication printing apparatus designating information including authentication information for authenticating a user and identification information for identifying a printing apparatus different from the authentication printing apparatus;
Authentication printing including authentication information that matches the authentication information included in the received proxy authentication printing device designation information from the authentication print data management table in which authentication print records in which authentication information and document data are associated with each other are registered An acquisition step for acquiring records;
A specifying step of specifying a transmission destination to the other printing device identified by the identification information based on the identification information included in the proxy authentication printing device designation information;
A transmission step of generating a print job from the document data of the authentication print record acquired in the acquisition step, and transmitting the print job to the other printing apparatus using the transmission destination;
Proxy authentication printing program to execute. A method for controlling a proxy authentication printing apparatus, comprising:
An identification information receiving step for receiving designation of identification information for identifying a printing apparatus different from the proxy authentication printing apparatus;
An authentication information acceptance step for accepting input of authentication information for authenticating the user;
Transmitting the proxy authentication printing apparatus designating information including the received authentication information and the identification information to a host computer;
Including a method. A proxy authentication printing device,
An identification information receiving unit that receives designation of identification information for identifying a printing apparatus different from the proxy authentication printing apparatus;
An authentication information receiving unit that receives input of authentication information for authenticating the user;
A transmitting unit for transmitting authentication information notification information including the received authentication information to the other printing apparatus identified by the received identification information;
A proxy authentication printing apparatus. A proxy authentication printing device,
A receiving unit for receiving a print job including authentication information from a host computer;
An authentication information receiving unit that receives input of the authentication information;
An identification information receiving unit that receives designation of identification information for identifying a printing device different from the proxy authentication printing device;
An authentication unit that authenticates the print job using the authentication information received by the authentication information reception unit and the authentication information included in the print job;
A transmission unit that transmits the authenticated print job to another printing apparatus identified by the identification information received by the identification information reception unit;
including,
Proxy authentication printing device.   The proxy authentication printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 9, and 10, wherein the identification information is an IP address of the another printing apparatus.