JP2013146948A - Image processing apparatus and control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus having enhanced user-friendliness, the image processing apparatus with an automatic cancellation function, and to provide a control method thereof and a program.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus 101 requests deleted image data to an external device, when a user is authenticated after a printable time elapses from a time point acquiring the image data. Then, the apparatus acquires the image data transmitted from the external device according to the request, and performs printing by using the image data.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a control method therefor, and a program.

  The image processing apparatus accepts an operation request from a user as a job, and executes predetermined image processing such as a printing operation. Some image processing apparatuses have an automatic cancel function that automatically cancels a received job according to a situation.

  This automatic cancellation function is a function that automatically executes cancellation when a job has been in a stopped state for a certain period of time or when a requested operation cannot be executed due to the state of the image processing apparatus.

  An example of a job for which the automatic cancel function is executed is a secure print (confidential print) job.

  With secure printing, the user transmits authentication information such as image data and a password from an external device, the image processing device stores the received image data as authentication waiting data, and then the user performs an authentication operation on the image processing device. This is a function for executing printing from the beginning.

  Here, since the data storage capacity in the image processing apparatus is limited, a time-out period from job reception to user authentication operation is provided. When this timeout time is exceeded, automatic cancellation is executed. When the data storage capacity in the image processing apparatus is full at the time of job reception, automatic cancellation may be executed at the time of job reception.

  Normally, the automatic cancel function is executed without notifying the user that the job is cancelled, and the job is not retried.

  As a control method for an automatically canceled job, when the job cannot be executed immediately due to the status of the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus notifies the external apparatus of the status, and if a job execution instruction is received from the external apparatus, the job is There has been proposed a method of repeating retries until it can be executed (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there has been proposed a method of inquiring an external device about whether or not to cancel a job when automatic job cancellation occurs (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-164544 A JP-A-8-16331

  However, in the case of a function that requires a user operation on the image processing apparatus in the middle, such as the above-described secure print, a case is assumed in which the automatic cancellation is already performed when the user comes to the operation.

  On the other hand, since the conventional technique is a control method for giving an execution instruction from an external device, a retry method for a user who is operating the image processing apparatus cannot be provided. Further, the prior art is a retry control method at the time of automatic cancellation, and a method for retrying after deleting image data of a job by automatic cancellation cannot be provided.

  Therefore, when the user has already canceled the operation at the time of the operation, the user cannot retry the job on the spot and must send the image data and the authentication information again from the external device. Therefore, there is a problem that convenience is not good.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program that improve the convenience of an image processing apparatus having an automatic cancel function.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 includes authentication means for authenticating a user, acquires image data from an external apparatus, and printable time determined in advance from the time when the image data is acquired. When the user is authenticated by the authentication unit before the elapse of time, an image processing apparatus that prints using the acquired image data, the acquisition unit acquiring the image data from the external device, Storage means for storing the image data acquired by the acquisition means in a storage unit; and when the printable time has elapsed from the time when the image data was acquired by the acquisition means, the storage means stored by the storage means Deletion means for deleting image data, and after the printable time has elapsed from the time when the image data was acquired by the acquisition means, the authentication means When the user is further authenticated, a request unit that requests the external device for the image data deleted by the deletion unit, and the image transmitted from the external device in response to a request by the request unit And printing means for acquiring data and printing using the image data.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the image processing apparatus which improved the convenience of the image processing apparatus provided with the automatic cancellation function, its control method, and a program can be provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the automatic cancellation function by the memory full in a prior art. It is a figure for demonstrating the automatic cancellation function by timeout in a prior art. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the automatic cancellation process performed by the image processing apparatus in a prior art. It is a figure for demonstrating the retry process by the automatic cancellation function in the image processing apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the retry process performed by CPU in FIG. 1, and transmits a retry request | requirement by a user's operation. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the retry process transmitted by the CPU in FIG. 1 every time a fixed time passes.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an automatic cancel function for automatically canceling a job according to a situation. A job for which this automatic cancel function is executed is expressed as an automatic cancel job. Further, the process for executing the automatic cancel function is expressed as an automatic cancel process.

  Examples of the automatic cancel job include secure print, FAX confidential reception, error recovery job due to paper-free paper jam in a print job, and a job canceled due to a response waiting timeout from an external connection device.

  Of these, in the embodiment of the present invention, the secure print described above will be described as an example, and a retry method as a retry method according to a request from the user via the operation unit and the image processing apparatus automatically at a fixed timing. How to retry is explained. A process for executing secure printing is expressed as a secure print job.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 101 includes a CPU 106, a ROM 107, a storage unit 108, an external device connection unit 102, an image conversion unit 103, a printing unit 104, and an operation unit 105.

  The external device connection unit 102 exchanges data with an external device through LAN, USB, or telephone line connection, receives image data, and transmits information to the external device.

  The image conversion unit 103 performs predetermined image processing such as color space conversion and color density on the image data acquired by the external device connection unit 102 and generates print image data to be printed by the printing unit 104. The printing unit 104 prints the print image data generated by the image conversion unit 103 on a paper medium.

  The operation unit 105 has a user interface such as a button or a display panel, and accepts an operation request from the user.

  The CPU 106 is a control unit of the image processing apparatus 101 and controls the entire image processing apparatus 101. The ROM 107 stores a control program executed by the CPU 106 and the like. The storage unit 108 is a volatile memory that stores variables of control programs executed by the CPU 106, image data, and the like.

  Next, the prior art will be described in order to clearly distinguish the prior art from the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an automatic cancel function based on memory full in the prior art.

  Note that the memory full means that there is no area for storing image data to be printed.

  In FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 202 according to the conventional technique controls the storage unit by dividing it into a secure memory 203 and another image memory 204. The secure memory 203 is an area in which image data to be printed by secure printing is stored until it is printed after authentication. Therefore, the fact that the memory is full means that there is no area for storing image data to be printed in the secure memory 203.

  If the secure memory 203 is full when receiving an execution request for the secure print job 205, the image processing apparatus 202 cancels the job using the automatic cancel function.

  Thereafter, when the user tries to perform an authentication operation on the image processing apparatus 202, the user cannot perform printing because there is no corresponding image data.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an automatic cancel function due to timeout in the prior art.

  The time-out means a time-out due to the elapse of time that can be authenticated and printed by the user in secure printing.

  In FIG. 3, the image processing apparatus 302 according to the conventional technique controls the storage unit by dividing it into a secure memory 303 and other image memory 304.

  When an execution request for the secure print job 305 is received from the external apparatus 301, image processing is performed.

  The image processing apparatus 302 has a timeout setting value for a secure print job. The image processing apparatus 302 cancels the secure print job corresponding to the image data to be printed by the secure print stored in the secure memory 303 when the timeout occurs based on the timeout setting value.

  If the user tries to perform an authentication operation with the image processing apparatus 302 after the timeout, printing cannot be performed because the corresponding image data does not exist.

  FIG. 3 shows that image data corresponding to job 1 which is one of the secure print jobs is deleted due to timeout.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of automatic cancel processing executed by the image processing apparatus in the prior art.

  In FIG. 4, the image processing apparatus 101 receives a secure print job execution request from the external apparatus to the external apparatus connection unit 102 (step 401). Next, it is determined whether or not the memory is full (step S402).

  If the result of determination in step S402 is that the memory is full (YES in step S402), execution of the secure print job is canceled (step S407), and this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S402 is that the memory is not full (NO in step S402), it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred (step S403). If the result of determination in step S403 is a timeout (YES in step S403), the process proceeds to step S407.

  On the other hand, if it is not a timeout (NO in step S403), it is determined whether or not authentication information has been input by the user (step S404). As a result of the determination in step S404, when the authentication information is not input by the user (NO in step S404), the process proceeds to step S403.

  On the other hand, when the authentication information is input by the user (YES in step S404), it is determined whether or not the user is authenticated based on the input authentication information (step S405). If the result of determination in step S405 is that the user has not been authenticated (NO in step S405), the process proceeds to step S403.

  On the other hand, when the user is authenticated (YES in step S405), printing is performed (step S406), and this process ends.

  The contents shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are the outline of the automatic cancel function in the image processing apparatus of the prior art.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining retry processing by the automatic cancel function in the image processing apparatus 101 of FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the storage unit 108 is controlled by being divided into a secure memory 503 and another image memory 504. The secure memory 503 is an area in which image data to be printed by secure printing is stored until it is printed after authentication. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the memory being full means that there is no area for storing image data to be printed in the secure memory 503. The other image memory 504 is an area for storing image data that is not image data to be printed by secure printing.

  The image processing apparatus 101 receives the execution request for the secure print job 505 from the external apparatus 501 and performs image processing.

  FIG. 5 shows a case where execution of the secure print job 505 is canceled, and image data 506 indicates the image data of the canceled secure print job 505.

  The external device 501 stores job information 507 when an execution request for the secure print job 505 is transmitted.

  The job information 507 includes a job identifier for identifying the secure print job 505, a device destination indicating the image processing apparatus 101, a source file indicating print source data, print settings at the time of printing, and the like.

  On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 101 stores, for example, in the storage unit 108, cancel job information 508 related to a secure print job whose execution has been canceled by the automatic cancel function.

  The cancel job information 508 includes the job identifier, the host destination indicating the external apparatus 501, the data size of image data corresponding to the canceled secure print job, and the like.

  The job information may be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 101 together with the execution request for the secure print job 505 and stored in the image processing apparatus 101 together with the cancel job information 508.

  The image processing apparatus 101 transmits a retry request 509 to the external apparatus 501 when operated by the user via the operation unit 105 or whenever the image processing apparatus 101 passes for a certain period of time.

  The retry request 509 includes the job identifier indicated in the cancel job information 508, and the external apparatus 501 again transmits a secure print job execution request according to the job information 507 corresponding to the job identifier indicated in the retry request 509. When the job information 507 is stored in the image processing apparatus 101, a retry request 509 can be transmitted using the job information 507.

  Note that when the operation unit 105 performs an operation indicating a request for deletion, or after a predetermined time has elapsed, the job information 507 and the cancel job information 508 may be controlled to be deleted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a retry process executed by the CPU 106 in FIG. 1 to transmit a retry request by a user operation.

  In FIG. 6, the external device connection unit 102 receives a secure print job execution request from an external device together with image data and the like (step S601). This step S601 corresponds to acquisition means for acquiring image data from an external device.

  At this time, at least the job identifier of the job information 507 is stored, and the host destination is stored.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the memory is full (step S602). If the result of determination in step S602 is that the memory is not full (NO in step S602), it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred (step S603). In step S602, the acquired image data is stored in the storage unit 108, and thus corresponds to a storage unit. Further, this timeout means a timeout due to elapse of a predetermined printable time from the time when image data is acquired in secure printing.

  If the result of determination in step S603 is that there is no timeout (NO in step S603), it is determined whether authentication information has been input by the user (step S604). As a result of the determination in step S604, when the authentication information is not input by the user (NO in step S604), the process proceeds to step S603.

  On the other hand, when authentication information is input by the user (YES in step S604), it is determined whether or not the user is authenticated based on the input authentication information (step S605). As a result of the determination in step S605, when the user is not authenticated (NO in step S605), the process proceeds to step S603.

  On the other hand, when the user is authenticated (YES in step S605), printing is performed (step S606), and this process is terminated. Steps S604 and 605 correspond to authentication means for authenticating the user.

  If the result of determination in step S602 is that the memory is full (YES in step S602), or if the result of determination in step S603 is timeout (YES in step S603), it is determined whether the retry function is valid (step S607). ).

  If the retry function is not valid as a result of the determination in step S607 (NO in step S607), the execution of the secure print job is canceled (step S608), and this process is terminated. Step S608 is a deletion unit that deletes the image data stored in the storage unit 108 in order to cancel printing using the image data when the printable time has elapsed from the time when the image data was acquired. Correspond.

  On the other hand, when the retry function is valid (YES in step S607), the cancel job information is stored (step S609). Here, the job identifier stored in step S601 and the host destination are used when storing the cancel job information.

  Next, when authentication information is input by the user (YES in step S610), it is determined whether or not the user is authenticated based on the input authentication information (step S611). If the result of determination in step S611 is that the user has not been authenticated (NO in step S611), the process proceeds to step S610.

  On the other hand, when the user is authenticated (YES in step S611), it is determined whether or not there is a free space for the data size indicated in the cancel job information in the secure memory 503 (step S612). This step S602 determines whether or not the deleted image data can be stored again in the storage unit 108 when the user is authenticated after the printable time has elapsed from the time when the image data was acquired. Corresponding to

  If the result of determination in step S612 is that there is no free space in the secure memory 503 (NO in step S612), a content indicating that the memory is full is displayed on the screen provided in the operation unit 105 (step S614), and the above step S610 is performed. Proceed to As described above, when it is determined that the image data cannot be stored in the storage unit 108 again, the deleted image data is not requested and the deleted image data cannot be stored in the storage unit again. This is clearly indicated to the user by the operation unit 105.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S612 is that there is a free space in the secure memory 503 (YES in step S612), a retry request is transmitted to the external device (step S613), and the process returns to step S601. This step S613 corresponds to request means for requesting the external device for the deleted image data when the user is authenticated after the printable time has elapsed from the time when the image data was acquired. Step S606, which is executed via step S613, corresponds to a printing unit that acquires image data transmitted from an external device in response to a request and prints the image data using the image data.

  In step S609, when the number of cancel job information to be stored reaches a preset upper limit number, new cancel job information is stored by deleting the oldest one of the stored cancel job information. It may be.

  According to the process of FIG. 6, when the user is authenticated after the printable time has elapsed from the time when the image data was acquired (YES in step S611), the deleted image data is sent to the external device. Request. In response to the request, the image data transmitted from the external device is acquired and printed using the image data (step S606), so that the user can print without returning to the external device. Therefore, according to the present invention, the convenience of the image processing apparatus provided with the automatic cancel function can be enhanced.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a retry process that is executed by the CPU 106 in FIG. 1 and transmits a retry request every time a fixed time elapses.

  In FIG. 7, the external device connection unit 102 receives a secure print job execution request from the external device (step S701). At this time, at least the job identifier of the job information 507 is stored, and the host destination is stored.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the memory is full (step S702). If the result of determination in step S702 is that the memory is not full (NO in step S702), it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred (step S703).

  If the result of determination in step S703 is that there is no timeout (NO in step S703), it is determined whether authentication information has been input by the user (step S704). If the authentication information is not input by the user as a result of the determination in step S704 (NO in step S704), the process proceeds to step S703.

  On the other hand, when authentication information is input by the user (YES in step S704), it is determined whether or not the user is authenticated based on the input authentication information (step S705). If the result of determination in step S705 is that the user has not been authenticated (NO in step S705), the process proceeds to step S703.

  On the other hand, when the user is authenticated (YES in step S705), printing is performed (step S706), and this process is terminated.

  If the result of determination in step S702 is that the memory is full (YES in step S702), or if the result of determination in step S703 is time-out (YES in step S703), it is determined whether the retry function is valid (step S707). ).

  If the retry function is not valid as a result of the determination in step S707 (NO in step S707), the execution of the secure print job is canceled (step S708), and this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the retry function is valid (YES in step S707), the cancel job information is stored (step S709). Here, the job identifier stored in step S701 and the host destination are used when storing the cancel job information.

  Next, it waits for a predetermined time (predetermined time) (step S710), and determines whether or not there is a free space for the data size indicated in the cancel job information in the secure memory 503 (step S711). Step S711 corresponds to a determination unit that determines whether or not the deleted image data can be stored again in the storage unit 108 at predetermined time intervals after the image data is deleted.

  If the result of determination in step S711 is that there is no free space in the secure memory 503 (NO in step S711), the process proceeds to step S710.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S711 is that there is a free space in the secure memory 503 (YES in step S711), a retry request is transmitted to the external device (step S712), and the process returns to step S701. As described above, when it is determined that the deleted image data can be stored in the storage unit 108 again, the deleted image data is requested.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

101 Image Processing Device 102 External Device Connection Unit 103 Image Conversion Unit 104 Printing Unit 105 Operation Unit 106 CPU
107 ROM
108 Storage Unit 503 Secure Memory 504 Other Image Memory 507 Job Information 508 Cancel Job Information

Claims (5)

An authentication unit that authenticates a user, acquires image data from an external device, and when the user is authenticated by the authentication unit until a predetermined printable time elapses from the time when the image data is acquired An image processing apparatus that prints using the acquired image data,
Obtaining means for obtaining the image data from the external device;
Storage means for storing the image data acquired by the acquisition means in a storage unit;
Deletion that deletes the image data stored in the storage unit in order to cancel printing using the image data when the printable time has elapsed since the time when the image data was acquired by the acquisition unit Means,
Image data deleted by the deletion unit when the user is authenticated by the authentication unit after the printable time has elapsed from the time when the image data was acquired by the acquisition unit. Request means for requesting,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that acquires the image data transmitted from the external device in response to a request from the request unit and prints the image data using the image data. When the user is authenticated by the authentication unit after the printable time has elapsed from the time when the image data is acquired by the acquisition unit, the image data deleted by the deletion unit is stored again in the storage unit. It further comprises a determination means for determining whether it is possible,
When the determination unit determines that the deleted image data cannot be stored in the storage unit again, the request unit does not request the deleted image data, and the deleted image data The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus clearly indicates to the user that the image cannot be stored again in the storage unit. A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the image data deleted by the deleting unit can be stored again in the storage unit every predetermined time after the image data is deleted by the deleting unit;
2. The request unit requests the deleted image data when the determination unit determines that the deleted image data can be stored again in the storage unit. The image processing apparatus described. An authentication unit that authenticates a user, acquires image data from an external device, and when the user is authenticated by the authentication unit until a predetermined printable time elapses from the time when the image data is acquired A method of controlling an image processing apparatus that prints using the acquired image data,
Obtaining the image data from the external device;
A storage step of storing the image data acquired in the acquisition step in a storage unit;
Deletion of deleting the image data stored in the storage unit in order to cancel printing using the image data when the printable time has elapsed since the time when the image data was acquired by the acquisition step Steps,
The image data deleted by the deletion step with respect to the external device when the user is authenticated by the authentication unit after the printable time has elapsed since the time when the image data was acquired by the acquisition step. A request step for requesting, and
A control method comprising: a printing step of acquiring the image data transmitted from the external device in response to a request in the request step and printing using the image data. An authentication unit that authenticates a user, acquires image data from an external device, and when the user is authenticated by the authentication unit until a predetermined printable time elapses from the time when the image data is acquired A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an image processing apparatus that prints using the acquired image data,
The control method is:
Obtaining the image data from the external device;
A storage step of storing the image data acquired in the acquisition step in a storage unit;
Deletion of deleting the image data stored in the storage unit in order to cancel printing using the image data when the printable time has elapsed since the time when the image data was acquired by the acquisition step Steps,
The image data deleted by the deletion step with respect to the external device when the user is authenticated by the authentication unit after the printable time has elapsed since the time when the image data was acquired by the acquisition step. A request step for requesting, and
A program comprising: a printing step of acquiring the image data transmitted from the external device in response to a request in the requesting step, and printing using the image data.

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