JP2013196126A - Job control device, job control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a job control device, a job control method, and a program capable of selectively stopping execution of a job related to one user.SOLUTION: A job control device 20 for controlling execution of stored jobs includes: job execution means for reading a job from job storage means 38 which stores jobs supplied from one user in an occupancy state, and executing it; and control means 25 and 35 for making the job execution means 37 execute the job supplied from the one user until the occupancy state is canceled, and when the occupancy state is canceled, making the job execution means 37 stop the execution of the job supplied from the one user and start the execution of a job supplied from another user.

Description

  The present invention relates to a job control apparatus, a job control method, and a program.

  Conventionally, a print job received from a host computer is not immediately printed, but spooled (stored) in a print server or image forming apparatus, and after the user logs in, the spooled print job list is displayed to the user. An image forming apparatus that prints a selected print job is known. Such printing is called on-demand printing or pull printing.

  In such an image forming apparatus, when a user instructs printing of an accumulated print job, when the user inputs his / her authentication information and is authenticated based on the authentication information, the print job related to the user is displayed. Printing is allowed. For inputting authentication information, a portable recording medium such as an IC card is used.

  By the way, the user may have to leave the image forming apparatus for reasons such as a visitor after logging in to the image forming apparatus using a portable recording medium. When the logged-in user leaves the image forming apparatus, the print job is printed when the portable recording medium used for the login operation leaves to prevent information leakage due to the print job being printed by others. An image forming apparatus that stops and logs out is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The image forming apparatus is used for both on-demand printing as described above and direct printing for immediately printing a print job received from a host computer. For example, when one user is using pull printing while another user is using direct printing, the image forming apparatus is in a print waiting state as an interrupt print job other than the print job requested by one user. .

  At this time, the image forming apparatus has both a print job requested by one user and an interrupt print job requested by another user. In the conventional image forming apparatus, when printing of a print job requested by one user is stopped due to logout of one user, printing of print jobs waiting for printing by other users is also stopped. there were.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a job control apparatus, a job control method, and a program capable of selectively stopping execution of a job related to one user.

  In order to achieve the above object, claim 1 of the present application is a job control device that controls execution of accumulated jobs, and jobs submitted from one user in an occupied state and another user not in an occupied state A job execution unit that reads and executes a job from a job storage unit that stores the job, and causes the job execution unit to execute a job input from the one user until the occupation state of the one user is released, Control means for causing the job execution means to stop execution of a job submitted from the one user and start execution of a job submitted from the other user when the occupation state of the user is released It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to selectively stop execution of a job related to one user.

It is a lineblock diagram of an example of a printing system concerning this embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of an example of the print server which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 2 is a software configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of an example explaining the relationship between an additional program and an extended confidential printing program. It is a functional block diagram of an example of the printing system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram of an example of the correspondence information recorded on the correspondence information storage unit. It is a block diagram of an example of submitted job history information stored in a submitted job history storage unit. It is explanatory drawing of an example of a login management part and an extended confidential printing part. It is a functional block diagram of the other example of the printing system which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for storing print jobs by the printing system. It is an image figure of an example of the authentication information input screen which comprises a print setting screen. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example illustrating a procedure for executing a print job by the printing system. It is an image figure of an example of a print data list screen. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for acquiring a job status input to the image forming apparatus. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for stopping a submitted job of the image forming apparatus. It is an image figure of an example of a submission job list screen. It is a sequence diagram of an example showing a procedure of login processing. It is a sequence diagram of an example showing a procedure of logout processing. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a print job stop process. It is a functional block diagram of the other example of the printing system which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of another example of submitted job history information stored in a submitted job history storage unit. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of another example illustrating the procedure of a print job stop process.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
[First Embodiment]
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a printing system according to the present embodiment. In the printing system 1, a print server 10, one or more image forming apparatuses 20, an authentication server 30, and one or more client PCs 40 are connected to a network N1 such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the Internet. It is connected. The print server 10 and the authentication server 30 may be integrated into a single computer or may be distributed over a plurality of computers. Here, first, the printing system 1 will be described in accordance with the procedure for on-demand printing.

  The client PC 60 generates data (document data, image data, etc.) to be printed by application software or the like, and print data, bibliographic conditions (including printing conditions) to be printed in response to an input of a print instruction by the user. And a computer that transmits a print request to the print server 10 or the image forming apparatus 20. In the following description, it is assumed that a print job includes print data, bibliographic conditions, and a print request.

  The user inputs authentication information (for example, a user name (or user ID) and a password) when logging in to the client PC 60 or instructing printing. The client PC 60 includes or attaches the authentication information to the print job. The client PC 60 may be a device such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, a mobile phone, or a PDA (personal digital assistant) as long as it can transmit a print job.

  The print server 10 is a computer that stores a print job received from the client PC 60 in the auxiliary storage device 102. Note that when the image forming apparatus 20 stores a print job in the auxiliary storage device 203, the print server 10 is unnecessary. The print server 10 or the image forming apparatus 20 requests the authentication server 30 for authentication processing based on the authentication information received together with the print job. The authentication server 30 is a computer that executes authentication processing. The print server 10 and the authentication server 30 are shared by the image forming apparatus 20. The print server 10 and the authentication server 30 or the image forming apparatus 20 and the authentication server 30 may be configured integrally.

  The authentication server 30 transmits an authentication result indicating whether or not the user authentication is successful to the print server 10 or the image forming apparatus 20. The print server 10 or the image forming apparatus 20 stores the print job when the authentication is successful.

  When executing a print job, the image forming apparatus 20 is a printer that receives an operation instruction from a user, acquires a print job stored in the print server 10 or the image forming apparatus 20 and prints it. The image forming apparatus 20 may be a multifunction peripheral (MFP) or device equipped with one or more functions such as a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile.

  A user who uses the image forming apparatus 20 inputs authentication information using a portable recording medium such as an IC card at the time of login, or inputs authentication information from the operation panel. The image forming apparatus 20 transmits the authentication information input by the user to the authentication server 30 via the print server 10 or directly. The authentication server 30 transmits an authentication result indicating whether or not the user authentication is successful to the print server 10 or the image forming apparatus 20.

  When the authentication is successful, the image forming apparatus 20 displays a list of print jobs associated with the user name on an operation panel or the like. The image forming apparatus 20 receives a print job selection from the user, acquires the print job from the auxiliary storage device 102 of the print server 10 or the auxiliary storage device 203 of the image forming apparatus 20, and executes printing. In the case of direct printing, the client PC 60 directly transmits a print job requested by the user to the image forming apparatus 20 to be printed.

<Hardware configuration>
<< Print Server 10 >>
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of a print server according to the present embodiment. The print server 10 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, and an interface device 105 that are connected to each other via a bus B.

  A program 110 for realizing processing in the print server 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 on which the program 110 is recorded is set in the drive device 100, the program 110 is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program 110 may be distributed by downloading via the interface device 105 in addition to being distributed by the recording medium 101.

  The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program 110 and also stores necessary files and data. The auxiliary storage device 102 is a nonvolatile memory such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

  The memory device 103 is a main storage device that stores the program 110 read from the auxiliary storage device 102 when an instruction to start the program 110 is given. The memory device 103 is, for example, a DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module), an SO-DIMM, or the like. The CPU 104 executes processing related to the print server 10 according to the program 110 stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is a network card of an interface (for example, Ethernet (registered trademark)) for connecting to the network N1.

<< Image Forming Apparatus 20 >>
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 20 includes a CPU 201, a memory 202, an auxiliary storage device 203, a network I / F 204, an image output unit 205, an image processing unit 206, an external device I / F 207, a display unit 208, and an operation unit 209.

  A program such as an extended confidential printing program 81 that realizes an extended confidential printing function described later in the image forming apparatus 20 is directly executed from the recording medium 120 and recorded (installed) in a nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 203 such as an HDD. ) May be executed after being done.

  The auxiliary storage device 203 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files, font data, image data, and the like. The memory 202 reads and stores the program from the recording medium 120 or the auxiliary storage device 203 when there is an instruction to start the program.

  The CPU 201 realizes functions related to the image forming apparatus 20 according to a program stored in the memory 202. The network I / F 204 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

  The display unit 208 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays an operation screen, a message, and the like. The operation unit 209 is configured with hardware buttons (keys), and receives an operation input by the user. Further, the display unit 208 may include a touch panel, and may be configured as an operation panel. The image processing unit 206 executes various types of image processing required when outputting (printing) a print job. The image output unit 205 outputs (prints) a print job.

  The external device I / F 207 is an interface for connecting to the RFID reader / writer 40 used for inputting authentication information, for example, and is configured by, for example, a USB port (USB host interface) or a serial boat. The RFID reader / writer 40 is a so-called card reader that reads information from the card 50 and includes a hardware interface (for example, a USB connector or a serial interface) that can be connected to the external device I / F 207.

  However, the RFID reader / writer 40 may be built in the image forming apparatus 20. The RFID reader / writer 40 may be either a contact type or a non-contact type. The card 50 is not limited to an IC card, and may be any card that can record a unique card ID (card number) on at least each card, such as a magnetic card. The card ID is generally referred to as a Universal ID or a Card Serial Number. Specific examples of the card 50 include a proximity card, a mifare card, a Java (registered trademark) card, and the like.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the card 50 is distributed to each user. However, a single card 50 may be shared by a plurality of users according to the level of security required for operation. The card 50 distributed to each user is not limited to one type. As described above, the RFID reader / writer 40 can be easily connected to the image forming apparatus 20 by USB or the like. Therefore, a plurality of RFID reader / writers 40 may be simultaneously connected to the image forming apparatus 20 according to the type of card 50 (Proximity card, Mifare card, Java (registered trademark) Card, etc.). In this case, a plurality of types of cards 50 can be used simultaneously.

  A recording medium mounting unit 19 is connected to the external device I / F 207. The recording medium mounting unit 19 loads the recording medium 120, reads data stored in the recording medium 120, and transmits the data to the CPU 201 or the memory 202. The recording medium 120 is, for example, a USB memory, an SD card memory, a CD-ROM, or the like.

  For example, an extended confidential printing program 81 and an additional program 82 are stored in the recording medium 120. When the user mounts the recording medium 120 in the recording medium mounting unit 19, for example, the CPU 201 receives the interrupt or the user's operation, so that the extended confidential printing program 81 and the additional program 82 stored in the recording medium 120 are stored. Run. By executing the extended confidential printing program 81, the image forming apparatus 20 provides a function of extended confidential printing described later.

  In addition, by executing the additional program 82, the image forming apparatus 20 acquires an event that the card 50 is no longer detected from the RFID reader / writer 40, requests to stop printing, and logs out the user. That is, the image forming apparatus 20 automatically stops printing the print job when the user leaves and logs out the user.

<Software configuration>
FIG. 4 is a software configuration diagram of an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 20 includes an application group 91, an API 92, a control function group 93, a resource management unit 94, an OS 95, a device driver 96, and a hardware resource 97.

  The application group 91 includes an RFID application 41, a copy application 42, a scanner application 43, a FAX application 44, a printer application 45, a stored data application 46, a web application 47, a network application 48, and a DSDK (Device Software Development Kit) 49. Each of these applications realizes various functions that are supported.

  The RFID application 41 is an application that reads information on the card 50 and writes information on the card 50. The stored data application 46 provides browsing and selection functions for image data and print data stored in the auxiliary storage device 203. The web application 47 provides a function as a browser that accesses the web server and displays various information stored in the web server on the LCD. The network application 48 provides a communication function with the print server 10, the authentication server 30, the client PC 60, and the like connected via the network N1.

  The DSDK 49 means an environment of “Device Software Development Kit” using J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition), which is Java (registered trademark) for device incorporation. Specifically, it is an environment (virtual machine) in which an application operates without depending on hardware or software, such as Java (registered trademark) VM. An extended confidential printing program 81 for realizing an extended confidential printing unit 90 described later is a DSDK application that operates on the DSDK 49. Therefore, the extended confidential printing program 81 is described in a program language that can be executed without depending on hardware or software.

  The control function group 93 includes an engine job control unit 51, a file control unit 52, a data transfer control unit 53, a communication control unit 54, an authentication device control unit 55, a user data control unit 56, a system control unit 57, and an operation A control unit 58 is included.

  The engine job control unit 51 controls the print engine 76 and the scanner engine 77 connected via the engine I / F 71. The file control unit 52 controls update, deletion, movement, and the like of various files stored in the auxiliary storage device 203. The data transfer control unit 53 performs control such as delivery of document data stored in the auxiliary storage device 203. The communication control unit 54 controls communication via the network I / F 204. The authentication device control unit 55 controls the authentication device 80 via the authentication device I / F 74. The user data control unit 56 manages user information. The system control unit 57 performs application management, session management, system screen display, LED display, resource management, application control by interruption, and the like. The operation control unit 58 controls the operation unit 209 serving as an information transmission unit between the user and the main body control.

  The memory resource management unit 59 monitors the usage status of the memory 202 and releases or secures the memory 202. The engine resource management unit 65 controls the system and manages the hardware resources 97 together with the system control unit 57.

  The operation control unit 58 acquires a key press or a touch operation from the operation unit 209 as a key event, and transmits a key event function corresponding to the acquired key to the system control unit 57. Further, the system control unit 57 calls a drawing function in response to a request from the application group 91 or the control function group 93 and draws and outputs various screens to the operation unit 209.

  Further, the system control unit 57 detects an interrupt generated by the hardware resource 97 via, for example, the device driver 96. The device driver 96 transmits an event function corresponding to the type of interrupt to the system control unit 57. The system control unit 57 calls a drawing function according to the event function to draw a screen on the operation unit 209, or calls the application group 91 according to the event function.

  The application group 91 requests the control function group 93 to provide a function via the API 92. The control function group 93 interprets the processing request from the application group 91 and generates a hardware resource 97 acquisition request. The memory resource management unit 59 or the engine resource management unit 65 arbitrates acquisition requests. The OS (for example, LINUX (registered trademark)) 95 executes the software of the application group 91, the control function group 93, and the resource management unit 94 in parallel as processes.

  The device driver 96 requests processing to the hardware resource 97 using the engine I / F 71, the RFID I / F 72, the operation unit I / F 73, the authentication device I / F 74, and the new device I / F 75. To do. The RFID reader / writer 40 reads information from the card 50 in a non-contact manner or in contact with the card 50. The authentication device 80 is, for example, a device that acquires a hard key for inputting a password and biometric information. The new device I / F 75 is, for example, a USB interface, and can connect various new devices 83 equipped with the USB interface and use the functions. With such a configuration, the image forming apparatus 20 can centrally process processes necessary for each application in a process below the control function group 93.

  Next, the additional program 82 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the additional program and the extended confidential printing program. The additional program 82 is a program independent of the extended confidential printing program 81. There may be a plurality of additional programs 82. For this reason, two additional programs 82 are shown in FIG. Similar to the extended confidential printing program 81, the additional program 82 is a DSDK application written on a program language that runs on the DSDK 49 and can be executed without depending on hardware or software.

  The additional program 82 can control the extended confidential printing program 81. The protrusion on the upper side of the extended confidential printing program 81 schematically shows the control lever, and the protrusion extending from the lower side of the additional program 82 shows the control arm of the control lever schematically. The system control unit 57 detects a hardware interrupt generated in the RFID reader / writer 40 and notifies the additional program 82 of the event. Specifically, the system control unit 57 calls the additional program 82 itself or a function corresponding to the unset of the card 50 included in the additional program 82. The additional program 82 controls the extended confidential printing program 81 according to the called function. Specifically, the additional program 82 calls a function that the extended confidential printing program 81 has. In this way, the additional program 82 can control the execution of the extended confidential printing program 81.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus 20 adds the additional program 82 to acquire various events generated in the image forming apparatus 20 without making any changes to the existing extended confidential printing program 81, and to the acquired events. Accordingly, the start and stop of printing can be controlled for the extended confidential printing unit 90.

<Functional block>
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an example of the printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing system 1 in FIG. 6 is a mode having a print server 10. The printing system 1 in FIG. 6 represents an example in which an on-demand print request is made from the client PC 60A and a direct print request is made from the client PC 60B.

  The client PC 60A includes a print instruction reception unit 61, a print data generation unit 62, and a print request transmission unit 63. Each of these units is realized by processing that a program installed in the client PC 60A causes the CPU of the client PC 60A to execute.

  The print instruction accepting unit 61 accepts designation of document data to be printed. The print instruction receiving unit 61 also displays a screen (hereinafter referred to as a print setting screen) for setting print attribute information (also referred to as a print condition or a print setting item) on the display device of the client PC 60, and through the print setting screen. Accepts setting of print attribute information and input of print instruction. The print instruction accepting unit 61 further accepts input of user authentication information via the print setting screen. The authentication information only needs to correspond to the authentication method in the authentication server 30. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user name and password are used.

  The print data generation unit 62 generates print data for document data to be printed based on print attribute information. The print data is data described in PDL (Page Description Language) and includes print attribute information. Further, the print data generation unit 62 includes the authentication information received by the print instruction reception unit 61 in the print data (or adds it to the print data). The print request transmission unit 63 transmits a print job including print data, print attribute information, print request, and authentication information to the print server 10.

  Note that the print instruction reception unit 61 and the print data generation unit 62 are realized by, for example, a printer driver. The printer driver may be installed on the client PC 60A, or may be installed on another computer such as the print server 10. In the latter case, a printer sharing mechanism provided by an OS (Operating System) may be used.

  The print server 10 includes a print request reception unit 11, a job recording unit 14, a job storage unit 15, a job transfer unit 16, and a result reception unit 17. Each of these units is realized by processing executed by the CPU 104 by a program installed in the print server 10.

  The print request receiving unit 11 receives a print job transmitted from the client PC 60A. The job recording unit 14 generates a job ID of the print job, and records the print job in the job storage unit 15 in association with the job ID. Further, the job recording unit 14 extracts part or all of the print attribute information from the print job, and records the extracted information in the job storage unit 15 in association with the job ID as the bibliographic information of the print job. For example, bibliographic information includes printing conditions (file name, storage date and time, whether color printing or monochrome printing, paper size, etc.) and user name. Number of pages, etc. are included. The job storage unit 15 is a storage area (for example, a table or a folder) for storing a print job in the auxiliary storage device 102.

  The job transfer unit 16 transfers a print job stored (recorded) in the job storage unit 15 to the image forming device 20 in response to a request from the image forming device 20. Note that the job transfer unit 16 can selectively read information in the job storage unit 15 such as transmitting bibliographic information, transmitting a print job, transmitting bibliographic information and a print job. The result receiving unit 17 receives the print job execution result (information indicating success or failure of the print job) from the image forming apparatus 20 and deletes the print job stored in the job storage unit 15.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes an extended confidential printing unit 90, a login management unit 300, a printing unit 37, a correspondence information storage unit 23, a submitted job history storage unit 29, and a print queue 38. The extended confidential printing unit 90 includes a card ID acquisition unit 21, an authentication control unit 22, a job acquisition unit 24, a print control unit 25, a result transmission unit 26, a submission job acquisition unit 27, a submission job ID assignment unit 28, and a print stop. A request unit 35 and an input job status acquisition unit 36 are provided. The extended confidential printing unit 90 is realized by the CPU 201 executing the extended confidential printing program 81 stored in the recording medium 120.

  The login management unit 300 is realized by the CPU 201 of the image forming apparatus 20 executing the additional program 82. The login management unit 300 will be described later.

  The card ID acquisition unit 21 acquires the card ID read from the card 50 by the RFID reader / writer 40 from the RFID reader / writer 40. The authentication control unit 22 acquires the user name and password corresponding to the card ID from the corresponding information storage unit 23, and causes the authentication server 30 to perform authentication based on the acquired user name and password.

  The correspondence information storage unit 23 is a storage area (for example, a table) for storing correspondence information between a card ID, a user name, and a password in the auxiliary storage device 203. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an example of correspondence information recorded in the correspondence information storage unit. In the correspondence information storage unit 23 of FIG. 7, a user name, a card ID, and a password are recorded in association (associated). Therefore, the authentication control unit 22 acquires the user name and password associated with the current card ID from the correspondence information storage unit 23, thereby converting the card ID into the user name and password.

  The job acquisition unit 24 acquires a print job stored in the print server 10. The job display unit 241 displays a job list of print jobs acquired by the job acquisition unit 24 on the display unit 208. The selection receiving unit 242 receives a print job selected by the user.

  The submission job ID assigning unit 28 assigns a unique identifier (submission job ID) to each print job selected by the user received by the selection reception unit 242 and stores the submission job history information in the submission job history storage unit 29. . The submission job history storage unit 29 is a storage area for storing submission job history information including the submission job ID, submission time, and processing state in the auxiliary storage device 203. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an example of submitted job history information stored in the submitted job history storage unit. The submission job history storage unit 29 in FIG. 8 stores the submission job ID, the submission time, and the processing state in association with each other. The input job ID is a unique identifier assigned to the print job selected by the user. The input time is the time when the print job is input. The processing state is a processing state of the corresponding print job in the print engine of the image forming apparatus 20.

  The print control unit 25 causes the printing unit 37 to execute the print job to which the input job ID is assigned by the input job ID assignment unit 28. The printing unit 37 waits for print data of a print job input from inside and outside the image forming apparatus 20 and temporarily stores the received print data in the print queue 38. For example, the print unit 37 receives print data of a print job from the print control unit 25 in the image forming apparatus 20. The printing unit 37 receives print data of a print job for which a direct print request has been made from the client PC 60B outside the image forming apparatus 20. In parallel, the printing unit 37 writes and discharges the print data in an appropriate order and timing with respect to the print data temporarily stored in the print queue 38. The printing unit 37 can accept a request for temporarily suspending / resuming / stopping the print job by designating the input job ID.

  The print queue 38 is a storage unit that temporarily stores print data so that the print unit 37 appropriately processes a plurality of print data. The result transmission unit 26 transmits the execution result of the print job to the print server 10.

  The submission job acquisition unit 27 acquires the submission job history information stored in the submission job history storage unit 29. The input job display unit 271 displays the input job history information acquired by the input job acquisition unit 27 on the display unit 208. The selection accepting unit 272 accepts selection of one or more submitted jobs from the submitted job history information displayed by the submitted job display unit 271. The selection receiving unit 272 sends a print stop request for the print job corresponding to the input job whose selection has been received to the print stop request unit 35.

  The print stop request unit 35 requests the image output unit 205 to stop the print job for which a print stop request has been received from the selection receiving unit 272. The input job status acquisition unit 36 monitors the processing state of the print job in the print engine of the image forming apparatus 20. The input job status acquisition unit 36 acquires the processing state of the print job group input from the extended function printing unit 90 to the printing unit 37 from the printing unit 37 and, when the processing state is updated, the input job history storage unit 29. Update the processing status of the corresponding print job.

  The authentication server 30 includes an authentication processing unit 31 and a user DB 32. The authentication processing unit 31 and the user DB 32 are realized by processing that a program installed in the authentication server 30 causes the CPU of the authentication server 30 to execute. In response to an authentication request from the image forming apparatus 20, the authentication processing unit 31 executes authentication processing using authentication information registered in advance in the user DB 32 for each user. The user DB 32 is a database in which authentication information is recorded for each user. In addition to the authentication information, user attribute information may be recorded in the user DB 32. For example, authority information related to the function of the image forming apparatus 20 may be recorded for each user.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the login management unit and the extended confidential printing unit. FIG. 9 shows only functions mainly used for explanation. In this embodiment, the system control unit 57 manages login and logout. Management of login and logout may be performed by the system side (for example, the function control group 93) of the image forming apparatus 20, and the system control unit 57 is an example.

  The system control unit 57 includes a session management unit 571 and an event detection unit 572. The session management unit 571 manages user processing in association with the session ID until the user logs out and logs out. When the user logs in, the session management unit 571 generates a unique session ID and registers the user name, password, card ID, login time, and the like of the user in the session table in association with the session ID. When the user logs out, the session management unit 571 registers the logout time and the like in the session table and invalidates the session ID. Invalidation means, for example, that a user process based on a session ID is not accepted, and invalidation is performed, for example, by setting a flag bit indicating logout in the session table.

  In the present embodiment, “user login” is performed by the authentication control unit 22 receiving an authentication result indicating that the authentication is successful from the authentication server 30, and the system control unit 57 executing the login process. “User logout” means that the session ID is invalidated. In general, when the user inputs an operation for manually logging out from a predetermined screen from the operation unit 209, the session management unit 571 invalidates the session ID. In this embodiment, the logout request unit 302 requests the session management unit 571 to log out, so that the session ID can be invalidated. Note that such login and logout processing is an example, and the image forming apparatus 20 can appropriately include appropriate login and logout processing.

  In addition, the event detection unit 572 detects a hardware interrupt that the card 50 is unset that has occurred in the RFID reader / writer 40 and notifies the additional program 82 of an event that the card 50 is unset.

  In addition, the login management unit 300 includes a print stop request unit 301 and a logout request unit 302. The print stop request unit 301 requests the print control unit 25 to stop printing. When the logout request unit 302 receives an event notification from the event detection unit 572 that the card 50 has been unset, the logout request unit 302 requests the session management unit 571 to log out the currently logged-in user (the session ID). Invalidation).

  Note that a functional block diagram in the case of storing a print job in the image forming apparatus 20 without providing the print server 10 is as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of another example of the printing system according to the present embodiment. 10 does not include the job transfer unit 16 and the result reception unit 17 of FIG. However, since the other functions are the same as those in the case where the print server 10 is present, the following description will be made in the form in which the print system 1 includes the print server 10.

<Details of processing>
Below, the detail of the process of the printing system 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.

<When storing jobs>
A processing procedure at the time of job accumulation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure in which the printing system accumulates print jobs. The user is operating the client PC 60A.

  In step S101, the print instruction receiving unit 61 receives selection of document data to be printed, and displays a print setting screen on the display device of the client PC 60A. The print instruction reception unit 61 receives input of print attribute information and authentication information (user name and password) via the print setting screen. Note that the screen for inputting the print attribute information and the authentication information may be different. That is, the print setting screen here may be a set of a plurality of screens.

  FIG. 12 is an image diagram of an example of an authentication information input screen configuring the print setting screen. In FIG. 12, the authentication information input screen 610 has a user name input area 611 and a password input area 612. The print instruction accepting unit 61 accepts input of a user name and password via the authentication information input screen 610.

  In step S102, the print data generation unit 62 generates print data of document data to be printed according to the print attribute information, and records the input user name and password in the print data. In step S <b> 103, the print request transmission unit 63 transmits a print job including the generated print data to the print server 10. Note that the identification information (for example, IP address) of the print server 10 that is the destination of the print job is recorded in advance in the storage device of the client PC 60A.

  In step S <b> 201, the print job is received by the print request receiving unit 11 of the print server 10. In step S205, the job recording unit 14 generates a job ID and records the print job in the job storage unit 15 in association with the job ID. Further, the job recording unit 14 extracts print attribute information from the print job, and records the extracted print attribute information in the job storage unit 15 in association with the job ID as bibliographic information of the print job.

  After accumulating the print job, the user moves to the desired image forming apparatus 20. That is, since the image forming apparatus 20 that is the output destination (printing destination) is not specified when the print job is stored, any image forming apparatus 20 that is compatible with the print server 10 can be conveniently used for the image forming apparatus. 20 can be selected as an output destination.

<< When executing jobs >>
A processing procedure when the user moves to a desired image forming apparatus 20 and executes a print job will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure in which the printing system executes a print job.

  In step S <b> 401, the user sets the card 50 in the RFID reader / writer 40 for the purpose of logging in to the image forming apparatus 20. The card ID acquisition unit 21 acquires a card ID (hereinafter referred to as a current card ID) read by the RFID reader / writer 40 from the card from the RFID reader / writer 40 and records it in the memory 202.

  The setting of the card 50 to the RFID reader / writer 40 refers to information recorded on the card 50 such as insertion of the card 50 into the RFID reader / writer 40 or fraud of the card 50. / This means that the writer 40 can be read. Further, the card 50 is unset from the RFID reader / writer 40, such as when the card 50 is unset from the RFID reader / writer 40 or the card 50 is separated from the processing distance by more than the processing distance. This means that the information recorded in 50 cannot be read.

  In step S402, the authentication control unit 22 converts the current card ID into user authentication information (user name and password) using the correspondence information recorded in the correspondence information storage unit 23.

  In step S <b> 403, the authentication control unit 22 transmits an authentication request including the converted authentication information to the authentication server 30. The identification information (for example, IP address) of the authentication server 30 that is the authentication request destination is recorded in the auxiliary storage device 203 in advance.

  In step S <b> 301, the authentication processing unit 31 of the authentication server 30 receives an authentication request from the image forming apparatus 20. In step S302, the authentication processing unit 31 performs authentication by comparing the authentication information included in the authentication request with the authentication information recorded for each user in the user DB 32. In step S <b> 303, the authentication processing unit 31 returns an authentication result (information indicating the success or failure of authentication) to the print server 10.

  In step S <b> 404, the authentication control unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the authentication result from the authentication server 30. If the authentication fails (No in S405), the authentication control unit 22 rejects the login. In this case, the user cannot use the image forming apparatus 20.

  If the authentication is successful (Yes in S405), the authentication control unit 22 recognizes the login. In step S406, the authentication control unit 22 requests the system control unit 57 for login processing. The login process will be described later.

  In response to the successful login, in step S407, the job acquisition unit 24 designates the user name of the login user and transmits a request to acquire the job list of the accumulated print job to the print server 10. Identification information (for example, IP address) of the print server 10 from which the print job is acquired is registered in the auxiliary storage device 203 in advance. Also, a plurality of print servers 10 can be registered, and all the print servers 10 may be used as print job acquisition destinations, or a print server 10 that is a print job acquisition destination from among the plurality of print servers 10 may be set as a user. You may make it select.

  In step S211, the job transfer unit 16 of the print server 10 receives a job list acquisition request. In step S <b> 212, the job transfer unit 16 acquires a job list of a print job related to the user name specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15. Note that there may be only one entry in the job list. In step S <b> 213, the job transfer unit 16 returns the acquired job list to the image forming apparatus 20. An associated job ID is assigned to each print job in the job list.

  In step S408, the job acquisition unit 24 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the job list. In step S409, the job display unit 241 displays the job list on the display unit 208.

  FIG. 14 is an image diagram of an example of a print data list screen. The print data list screen 520 includes a print data list display area 521, a print button 522, a delete button 523, and the like.

  In the print data list display area 521, among the print jobs stored in the job storage unit 15, the document name, storage date / time, number of pages, and the like of the print data related to the login user are displayed in a list. When the user selects (presses) one or more print jobs, the operation control unit 58 accepts this, and the system control unit 57 displays the selected print job in reverse video. In this state, when the user selects (presses) the print button 522, the operation control unit 58 receives this notification and notifies the system control unit 57, and the system control unit 57 notifies the selection reception unit 242. When the user presses the delete button 523, the job acquisition unit 24 can request the print server 10 to delete.

  Returning to FIG. 13, when one or more print jobs to be printed are selected from the list in step S410 by the user via the operation unit 209, the job acquisition unit 24 is selected in step S411. A print data acquisition request is transmitted to the print server 10 by specifying the job ID of the print job.

  In step S214, the job transfer unit 16 of the print server 10 receives the print data acquisition request. In step S <b> 215, the job transfer unit 16 acquires the print data associated with the job ID specified in the acquisition request from the job storage unit 15. In step S <b> 216, the job transfer unit 16 returns the acquired print data to the image forming apparatus 20.

  In step S <b> 412, the job acquisition unit 24 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives print data from the print server 10. In step S <b> 413, the submission job ID assignment unit 28 assigns a submission job ID for each print job selected by the user received by the selection reception unit 242. In step S 414, the submission job ID assigning unit 28 updates the submission job history information stored in the submission job history storage unit 29.

  In step S 415, the print control unit 25 causes the printing unit 37 to execute the print job to which the input job ID is assigned by the input job ID assignment unit 28. The printing unit 37 waits for print data of a print job input from inside and outside the image forming apparatus 20 and temporarily stores the received print data in the print queue 38. In parallel, the printing unit 37 writes and discharges the print data in an appropriate order and timing with respect to the print data temporarily stored in the print queue 38.

  In step S416, when the printing unit 37 completes printing of the print data, the result transmission unit 26 specifies a job ID related to the printed print data, and transmits a message indicating the completion of printing to the print server 10.

  In step S217, the result receiving unit 17 of the print server 10 receives a message indicating completion of printing. In step S218, the result receiving unit 17 deletes the print job corresponding to the job ID specified in the message from the job storage unit 15. By deleting the print job upon completion of printing, it is possible to suppress an increase in storage area consumption in the job storage unit 15. However, the deletion of the print job may be performed periodically. In this case, at the timing of step S218, flag information indicating that it is a deletion target may be given to the print job. In the periodic deletion process, the print job to which the flag information is assigned may be deleted.

  In step S219, the result receiving unit 17 updates the bibliographic information corresponding to the job ID specified in the message indicating the completion of printing. For example, the result receiving unit 17 adds the date and time of printing to the bibliographic information.

  In the above description, the example in which the authentication information input in the client PC 60 is included in the print job and transmitted to the print server 10 has been described. However, the transfer of the print job and the authentication information may be performed separately. For example, the authentication information may be transferred first, and the print data may be transferred when the authentication is successful. That is, the authentication information may be transferred before the print recording or the like is executed by the job recording unit 14.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for acquiring the input job status of the image forming apparatus. The submission job status acquisition procedure of FIG. 15 is periodically executed to update the submission job history information stored in the submission job history storage unit 29 to the latest state.

  In step S420, the submission job status acquisition unit 36 sets 1 to A having an initial value 0. In step S <b> 421, the input job status acquisition unit 36 acquires the processing state (status) of the Ath print job in the print engine of the image forming apparatus 20.

  In step S422, the input job status acquisition unit 36 has changed the processing state of the Ath print job acquired in step S421 from the processing state of the Ath print job stored in the input job history storage unit 29. Determine whether or not.

  If there is a change from the processing state of the Ath print job stored in the input job history storage unit 29, the input job status acquisition unit 36, in step S423, stores the Ath print job stored in the input job history storage unit 29. Is updated to the processing state of the A-th print job acquired in step S421.

  In step S424, the submission job status acquisition unit 36 adds 1 to A. In step S425, the input job status acquisition unit 36 determines whether the processing state of the Ath print job is stored in the input job history storage unit 29, in other words, whether the check in step S422 has been completed for all input jobs. judge.

  If the check in step S422 has been completed for all submitted jobs (Yes in S425), the submitted job status acquisition unit 36 terminates the processing in FIG. If there is a submitted job that has not been checked in step S422 (No in S425), the submitted job status acquisition unit 36 returns to step S421 and continues processing.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for stopping the input job of the image forming apparatus. The submitted job stop procedure in FIG. 16 displays a list of submitted jobs, accepts selection of one or more submitted jobs from the submitted job list, and issues a print stop request for the accepted submitted job. Note that it is assumed that the process in FIG. 16 is performed in a logged-in state.

  In step S430, the submission job acquisition unit 27 acquires the submission job history information from the submission job history storage unit 29 as a submission job list. In step S 431, the input job display unit 271 displays the input job list acquired by the input job acquisition unit 27 on the display unit 208.

  In step S432, the selection receiving unit 272 receives a selection of one or more input jobs from the input job history information displayed by the input job display unit 271. In step S433, the selection receiving unit 272 issues a print stop request for the print job corresponding to the input job for which selection has been received to the print stop request unit 35.

  In step S <b> 434, the print stop request unit 35 requests the image output unit 205 to stop the print job that has been requested by the selection receiving unit 272. The printing unit 37 stops the print job that has been requested to be stopped by the print stop request unit 35. The submission job status acquisition unit 36 monitors the processing state of the print job in the print engine of the image forming apparatus 20 and stores the submission job history information in the submission job history storage unit 29 so that the print job requested to be printed is deleted. Update.

  FIG. 17 is an image diagram of an example of the submitted job list screen. The submitted job list screen 530 includes a submitted job list display area 531, a cancel (stop) button 532, and the like. In the input job list display area 531, among the input (printing) jobs stored in the print queue 38, the document name, storage date / time, number of pages, processing state, etc. of the print data relating to the login user are displayed as an input job list. The

  When the user selects (presses) one or more print jobs, the operation control unit 58 accepts this, and the system control unit 57 displays the selected print job in reverse video. In this state, when the user selects (presses) the cancel button 532, the operation control unit 58 receives this and notifies the system control unit 57, and the system control unit 57 notifies the selection reception unit 272. In this way, the user can confirm the processing status of the submitted job and give an instruction to stop printing the submitted job from the submitted job list screen 530.

《Login processing》
FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the login process. In step S405 of FIG. 13, if the authentication is successful, the authentication control unit 22 requests login processing from the session management unit 571 via the API 92 in step S1010. This login request includes a user name, a password, and a card ID.

  In step S1020, the session management unit 571 generates a session ID and registers the session ID, the user name, the password, and the card ID in the session table. In step S1030, when the session management unit 571 starts a session, the session management unit 571 notifies the authentication control unit 22 of a completion notification indicating that the login process has been completed. A session ID is included in the completion notification.

  When acquiring the completion notification, the authentication control unit 22 requests the job acquisition unit 24 and the like to perform the processing from S407 onward, assuming that the execution of the print job is permitted. The extended confidential printing unit 90 notifies the system control unit 57 of this session ID, for example, when executing printing. If the session ID is valid, the session management unit 571 permits a processing request from the extended confidential printing unit 90 and executes a print job.

<Unset card 50>
A case where the user leaves the image forming apparatus 20 during execution of extended confidential printing (during login) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the procedure of logout processing. The sequence diagram of FIG. 19 shows a procedure in which the image forming apparatus 20 performs logout processing with the unset of the card 50 as a trigger.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is, for example, in a stage where printing is being executed or waiting for an execution instruction to be received. When the user leaves the image forming apparatus 20, the card 50 is unset from the RFID reader / writer 40.

  In step S2010, the device driver 96 of the RFID reader / writer 40 notifies the event detection unit 572 of an event that the card has been unset. The device driver 96 of the RFID reader / writer 40 notifies the event function disconnect () to the event detection unit 572, for example.

  In step S2020, the event detection unit 572 calls the print stop request unit (for example, disconnectEvent ()) 301 of the additional program 82 in accordance with this event function. As a result, the additional program 82 has acquired notification of an event that the card 50 has been unset.

  In step S2030, the print stop request unit 301 sends a print stop request to the print control unit 25. For example, the print stop request unit 301 makes a print stop request by calling a function cancel () included in the extended confidential printing unit 90.

  When receiving the print stop request, the print control unit 25 requests the print unit 37 to stop the print job after causing the print stop request unit 35 to perform the processing of the flowchart of FIG. The printing stop procedure differs depending on whether the image forming apparatus 20 has started printing (a series of controls for printing such as a paper feed motor, a photosensitive drum, a secondary transfer motor, a fixing motor has started). .

  When the printing unit 37 has already started printing, for example, the printing unit 37 requests the system control unit 57 to execute the same processing as when the “clear / stop” key of the operation unit 209 is pressed. . Therefore, the system control unit 57 stops the subsequent print job when printing on the already transported paper is completed without newly taking out the paper from the paper feed tray. If the printing unit 37 has not started printing, the printing unit 37 immediately stops the print job.

  In step S2050, the print control unit 25 notifies the print stop request unit 301 of the processing result of the print stop request. Accordingly, the login management unit 300 detects that printing has been stopped. In step S2060, the print stop request unit 301 notifies the device driver 96 of the RFID reader / writer 40 of the processing result of the print stop request.

  When the print stop request unit 301 receives the processing result of the print stop request, the print stop request unit 301 calls the logout request unit 302 in step S2070. The logout request unit 302 requests the session management unit 571 to perform logout processing. For example, the logout request unit 302 requests logout by calling a function logout () included in the session management unit 571.

  In step S2080, the session management unit 571 performs logout processing. For example, the session management unit 571 invalidates the session ID of the session table by setting a flag bit indicating logout in the session table corresponding to the currently logged-in user. Therefore, this user has logged out.

  In step S2090, the session management unit 571 notifies the logout request unit 302 of the processing result of the logout process. If print data has been downloaded to the image forming apparatus 20, the system control unit 57 deletes the user's print data upon logout. When the print server 10 is not included in the print system 1, the system control unit 57 does not delete the print data.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print job stop process. The print job stop processing procedure of FIG. 20 refers to the submitted job history information stored in the submitted job history storage unit 29 when performing logout processing, and among the print jobs stored in the print queue 38, A print job to be stopped can be selectively stopped.

  In step S441, the print stop request unit 35 sets 1 to A having an initial value 0. In step S442, the print stop request unit 35 refers to the submitted job history information in the submitted job history storage unit 29 and acquires the processing state (status) of the Ath print job.

  In step S443, the print stop request unit 35 determines whether the processing state of the Ath print job acquired in step S442 is before printing (waiting for printing). If the processing state of the Ath print job acquired in step S442 is before printing, the print stop request unit 35 determines in step S444 that the Ath print job acquired in step S442 is a print job to be stopped. .

  If the processing state of the A-th print job acquired in step S442 is not before printing, the print stop request unit 35 does not perform the process of step S444. In step S445, the print stop request unit 35 adds 1 to A. In step S446, the print stop request unit 35 determines whether the processing state of the Ath print job is stored in the input job history storage unit 29, in other words, whether the check in step S443 has been completed for all input jobs. To do.

  If the check in step S443 has been completed for all the input jobs (Yes in S446), the print stop request unit 35 ends the process of FIG. If there are still input jobs that have not been checked in step S443 (No in S446), the print stop request unit 35 returns to step S442 and continues processing.

<Summary>
As described above, when the user unsets the card 50 from the RFID reader / writer 40, the image forming apparatus 20 executes print stop processing and logout processing of a print job related to the user as a series of processing. Therefore, even if there is a sudden need, the user can ensure the security of the print job by simply unsetting the card 50 and leaving the image forming apparatus 20.

According to the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment, a print job related to a user can be selectively stopped, so that the convenience of stopping a print job in on-demand printing can be improved.
[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, the print job unit 39 is added directly to the configuration of the printing system 1 in FIG. 6 shown in the first embodiment, and the input job history information stored in the input job history storage unit 29 is added. Is an extension of. Since the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for a part thereof, the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 21 is a functional block diagram of another example of the printing system according to the present embodiment. In the printing system 1 of FIG. 21, a print filter unit 39 is added directly to the extended function printing unit 90 of the image forming apparatus 20 in addition to the configuration of FIG. 6.

  The direct print filter unit 39 supplements the print job requested by the client PC 60B without using the extended function printing unit 90, and stores the print job information in the input job history storage unit 29. Further, the direct print filter unit 39 transmits the supplemented print job to the printing unit 37.

  Also, the submitted job history information stored in the submitted job history storage unit 29 is expanded as shown in FIG. FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram of another example of submitted job history information stored in the submitted job history storage unit. The input job history storage unit 29 in FIG. 22 stores the input job ID, the input time, the input type, and the processing state in association with each other. The input job history information in FIG. 22 differs from the input job history information in FIG. 8 in that it has an input type. The input type indicates whether the input job is on-demand printing via the extended confidential printing unit 90 or direct printing received from the client PC 60B. In FIG. 8, on-demand printing is represented by extended confidential printing. Direct printing is represented by direct printing.

  In the printing system 1 shown in FIG. 21, the extended confidential printing unit 90 pauses (leaves waiting for printing) a direct printing print job submitted while a user is logged in (using on-demand printing). Keep it. Further, the extended confidential printing unit 90 performs a print job stop process as shown in FIG. 23 when logging out.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart of another example showing the procedure of a print job stop process. The print job stop processing procedure in FIG. 23 refers to the submitted job history information stored in the submitted job history storage unit 29 when performing logout processing, and among the print jobs stored in the print queue 38, A print job to be stopped (a print job related to a user who logs out) is selectively stopped. Further, in the print job stop processing procedure of FIG. 23, all of the direct print print jobs that are input while the user is logged in are restarted after a predetermined time from logout. Output without mixing with print jobs.

  In step S451, the print stop request unit 35 sets 1 to A having an initial value 0. In step S452, the print stop request unit 35 refers to the submitted job history information in the submitted job history storage unit 29 and acquires the processing state (status) of the Ath print job.

  In step S453, the print stop request unit 35 determines whether the processing state of the Ath print job acquired in step S452 is before printing. If the processing state of the Ath print job acquired in step S452 is before printing, the print stop request unit 35 proceeds to step S454, and the input type of the Ath print job acquired in step S452 is extended confidential printing. It is determined whether or not there is.

  If the input type of the Ath print job acquired in step S452 is extended confidential printing, the print stop request unit 35 determines in step S455 that the Ath print job acquired in step S452 is a print job to be stopped. . If the processing state of the A-th print job acquired in step S452 is not before printing or the input type is not extended confidential printing, the print stop request unit 35 does not perform the process of step S455.

  In step S456, the print stop request unit 35 adds 1 to A. In step S457, the print stop request unit 35 determines whether the processing state of the Ath print job is stored in the input job history storage unit 29, in other words, whether the checks in steps S453 and S454 have been completed for all input jobs. Determine. If the checks in steps S453 and S454 have been completed for all the input jobs (Yes in S457), the print stop request unit 35 performs the processing from step S458 onward. If input jobs that have not been checked in Steps S453 and S454 remain (No in S457), the print stop request unit 35 returns to Step S452 and continues processing.

  In step S458, the print stop request unit 35 waits for a predetermined time. In step S459, the print stop request unit 35 restarts printing of all input jobs whose input type is other than extended confidential printing (direct printing).

<Summary>
As described above, by providing the direct print filter unit 39, it is possible to output the mixed print job for extended confidential printing and the print job for direct printing without being mixed. Also, by providing the direct print filter unit 39, the flexibility of print job control in an environment where extended confidential printing and direct printing are mixed can be expanded.

  According to the communication system 1 according to the second embodiment, since a print job for direct printing can be output after selectively stopping a print job related to the user, the convenience of stopping the print job in extended confidential printing is possible. Can be further improved.

  In the present invention, printing is exemplified as an output form. However, the present invention is not limited to printing but can be applied to other outputs. For example, instead of print output by the MFP 300, display output by a projector may be used. That is, the present invention can be applied to any device having an output function such as printing / display.

  The present invention uses the device when the user uses the device in a form in which the device is used after authentication (login) and a form in which the user uses the device remotely without requiring authentication. It is an invention that can be appropriately controlled.

  The device is an output device that executes output such as printing and display based on electronic data. According to the present invention, the output device is operated by a user who is authenticated in the output device (logged in). Sometimes, output control and output stop of a job whose output is requested by the user's operation and a job whose output is requested by another user other than the user (by a user device used by another user) are appropriately controlled. I can do it.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Note that the job described in the claims corresponds to a print job. The job control apparatus corresponds to the image forming apparatus 20. The occupied state corresponds to the login state. The information storage means corresponds to the input job history storage unit 29. The identifier assigning means corresponds to the input job ID assigning unit 28. Other users who are not in the occupied state correspond to users who have made direct print requests. Job storage means corresponds to the print queue 38. The job execution unit corresponds to the printing unit 37. Release of the occupied state corresponds to logout. The control means corresponds to the print control unit 25 and the print stop request unit 35. The input job processing status acquisition means corresponds to the input job status acquisition unit 36. The job control means corresponds to the print control unit 25. The job stop request unit corresponds to the print stop request unit 35.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 10 Print server 11 Print request receiving part 14 Job recording part 15 Job storage part 16 Job transfer part 17 Result receiving part 19 Recording medium mounting part 20 Image forming apparatus 21 Card ID acquisition part 22 Authentication control part 23 Corresponding information storage part 24 Job acquisition unit 25 Print control unit 26 Result transmission unit 27 Submitted job acquisition unit 28 Submitted job ID assigning unit 29 Submitted job history storage unit 30 Authentication server 31 Authentication processing unit 32 User DB
35 Print Stop Request Unit 36 Submitted Job Status Acquisition Unit 37 Printing Unit 38 Print Queue 39 Direct Print Filter Unit 40 RFID Reader / Writer 50 Card 60, 60A, 60B Client PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 61 Print instruction | indication reception part 62 Print data generation part 63 Print request transmission part 81 Extended confidential printing program 82 Additional program 90 Extended confidential printing part 100 Drive apparatus 101 Recording medium 102 Auxiliary storage apparatus 103 Memory apparatus 104 CPU
105 Interface Device 110 Program 120 Recording Medium 201 CPU
202 Memory 203 Auxiliary Storage 204 Network I / F
205 Image output unit 206 Image processing unit 207 External device I / F
208 display unit 209 operation unit 241 job display unit 242 selection reception unit 271 input job display unit 272 selection reception unit 300 login management unit 301 print stop request unit 302 logout request unit 571 session management unit 572 event detection unit B bus N1 network

JP 2011-60239 A

Claims (9)

A job control device that controls execution of accumulated jobs,
A job execution unit that reads and executes a job from a job storage unit that stores jobs submitted from one user in the occupied state and other users not in the occupied state;
The job execution unit executes the job input from the one user until the occupation state of the one user is released. When the occupation state of the one user is released, the job execution unit causes the one job execution unit to execute the job. And a control unit that stops execution of a job submitted by a user and starts execution of a job submitted by the other user. A unique identifier is assigned to a job submitted from one user in the occupied state, and further includes an identifier assigning unit that stores information that associates the identifier and the processing state of the job in an information storage unit
The control means includes
When the occupation state of the one user is released, based on the information held in the information holding unit, the job execution unit stops the execution of the job input from the one user, and from the other user The job control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein execution of the submitted job is started. The identifier assigning means stores, in the information storage means, information in which at least a job execution waiting state is associated with the identifier as a processing state of the job,
When the occupation state of the one user is released, the control means causes the job execution means to send the job processing state to the job execution waiting state based on the information held in the information holding means. The job control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein execution of a job input from one user is stopped. The identifier assigning unit holds the information that associates the identifier, the processing state of the job, and a submission type indicating whether the job is submitted from the one user or the job submitted from the other user. Stored in the means,
When the exclusive state of the one user is released, the control unit is configured to, based on the information held in the information holding unit, in the job execution unit, the job processing state is the job execution waiting state, 4. The job control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein execution of the job indicating that the input type is a job input from the one user is stopped. The processing state of the job stored in the job storage unit is acquired from the job execution unit, and the processing state of the job stored in the information holding unit is updated with the acquired processing state of the job The job control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a job processing state acquisition unit. The control means causes the job execution means to execute a job input from the one user until the occupation state of the one user is released, and
When the occupation state of the one user is released, based on the information held in the information holding unit, the job execution unit stops the execution of the job input from the one user, and from the other user 6. The job control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising job stop requesting means for starting execution of a submitted job. The job control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job control apparatus is an image forming apparatus, and the job is a print job. A job control method executed by a job control device that controls execution of accumulated jobs,
A job execution step of reading and executing a job from a job storage unit that stores a job submitted from one user in the occupied state and another user not in the occupied state;
The job execution step executes a job submitted by the one user until the occupation state of the one user is released, and when the occupation state of the one user is released, the job execution step A job control method comprising: stopping execution of a job submitted from one user and starting execution of a job submitted from the other user. A job control device that controls the execution of stored jobs.
A job execution unit that reads and executes a job from a job storage unit that stores jobs submitted from one user in the occupied state and other users not in the occupied state;
The job execution unit executes the job input from the one user until the occupation state of the one user is released. When the occupation state of the one user is released, the job execution unit causes the one job execution unit to execute the job. A program for stopping execution of a job submitted by a user and functioning as control means for starting execution of a job submitted by the other user.

Images