JP2014041513A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system capable of comparing a security level of a place where image output equipment is installed with security levels of documents in job data, and selecting and printing a document that can be output by the image output equipment.SOLUTION: A printing system comprises: setting means for setting security levels of documents to documents included in print data; an image forming apparatus capable of printing print data; and setting means capable of setting a security level to the image forming apparatus. The printing system compares the security levels of the documents with the security level of the image forming apparatus, selects a document that can be output by the image forming apparatus from the documents of a plurality of security levels included in the print data, and prints the selected document.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system that manages printing of an image output device with security.

  When printing meeting materials including confidential information, if the printed material is left behind as it is or if it takes a long time to get it, there is a problem that the confidential information may be leaked. Therefore, a technology is already known in which printing is possible only at a specific security protected place by restricting printers capable of printing.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a method for selecting a print mode for output according to the security level of a print job for the purpose of selecting a printer that can output according to the security level.

  However, in the system for restricting printing disclosed in Patent Document 1, whether or not output is possible only by comparing the security level corresponding to the place where the image output device such as a printer is placed and the data security data of the job to be printed. Was judged. Therefore, if the job data includes documents with different security levels, there is a problem that printing can be performed only at a place where the document with the highest security level can be printed.

  The present invention is for solving the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to output data based on the security level of the image output device and the security level of the document in the job data. It is to provide a printing system that can select and print.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention has the following features.

  A printing system according to the present invention includes a setting unit that sets a security level of a document included in print data, an image forming apparatus that can print the print data, and security in the image forming apparatus. And a setting unit capable of setting a level, wherein a security level of the document is compared with a security level of the image forming apparatus, and a plurality of security level documents included in the print data are compared. A document that can be output by the image forming apparatus is selected and printed.

  According to the present invention, by setting the document security level, it becomes possible to print a document at a level corresponding to the location where the output device is placed from the print job. By selecting a document to be printed according to the security level of an image output device such as a printer, the document can be printed at a location with an appropriate security level.

It is a figure explaining the whole security printing system concerning this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating security settings for each document in a print job. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing for printing a document when a printer job is received. It is a flowchart which shows the process which prints the document of the security level more than a predetermined value. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for selecting a document to be output according to a user's print history. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a place where a document can be printed to an output person.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the entire security printing system according to the present embodiment. In a security printing system, a security print server 1 that manages security information, an MFP 2 (digital multifunction peripheral) that prints printed matter, and a PC 3 that issues a print request are connected via a network such as a LAN or WAN. The office area 4 has a plurality of PCs 3 and MFPs 2. The MFP 2 existing in the office area 4 can be used by anyone and has a low security level.

  There is a conference room area 5 outside the office area, and a plurality of conference rooms 6 exist. The conference room 6 may or may not have the MFP 2 installed. The MFP 2 installed in the conference room 6 is used only by members who participate in the conference held in that room, and has a high security level.

  Commonly used MFPs 2 may exist in the conference room shared area 7. This MFP 2 is used only by members who participate in a conference held in any one of the conference rooms 6 in the conference room area 5 and has a security level lower than that of the MFP 2 installed in the conference room 6, but is installed in the office. The security level is higher than that of the MFP 2.

  The security printing server 1 is a server that holds information necessary for realizing security printing, and exists outside the office area 4 and the conference room area 5. The security print server 1 holds, for example, security information for each location, location information for the MFP 2, security information for each user, security information based on the document type, and the like.

  The print request issued from the PC 3 is redirected from the MFP 2 and sent to the secure print server 1. Alternatively, a print request may be sent directly from the PC 3 to the secure print server 1.

  In the configuration diagram, software / firmware for realizing the embodiment is installed in the MFP 2 and the security print server 1. Each software / firmware operates in cooperation so as to realize the present embodiment.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating security settings for each document (hereinafter referred to as a document) in a print job.

  The print job includes a job control command 11 for controlling the job, document control command data 12 for controlling a document included in the print job, and document print data 13 which is data to be printed. Document control data 12 and document print data 13 are paired, and one print job includes a plurality of document control data 12 and document print data 13.

  As an example according to this embodiment, the conference information printing system has a configuration such as a document holding notification for document data A, a map of a meeting location for document data B, a conference material for document data C, and the like. Are arranged in order.

  The document control data 12 includes three pieces of information: a print control command 14, a security setting 15, and print history information 16. In the print control command 14, for example, a print mode and the number of copies for printing can be set.

  In the security setting 15, the security level of the document is set. For example, 1 to 5 can be set as the security level. The security level of 1 is high and the security level of 5 is low. The security information may be held in a data format such as encryption so that the security information is not rewritten from the outside. The print history information 16 holds user print history information.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for selecting text that can be output according to the security level of a document included in a specific print job. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing for printing a document when the MFP 2 receives a printer job.

  This flowchart shows the processing on the program of each MFP 2. Further, it is assumed that the security print server 1 has a process for managing a printer job separately from this process.

  When the MFP 2 receives the printer job, it acquires the security level of the MFP 2 (step S1). As security level acquisition methods, a method of presetting in the MFP 2 main body, a method of acquiring data stored in association with the MFP 2 in the secure print server 1, location information of the MFP 2, and a location in the secure print server 1 A method of calculating by correspondence with information is known.

  Next, it is determined whether or not printing is performed for the number of documents included in the print job (step S2). For each document, the security level of the document is acquired (step S3). The security level of the MFP 2 and the security level of the document are compared (step S4). If the security level of the MFP 2 is higher than the security level of the document (step S5, Yes), the document is printed (step S6).

  When the security level of the MFP 2 is lower than the security level of the document (step S5, No), the document is not printed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method for selecting text that can be output in accordance with the security level of a document included in a specific print job and the security level of the MFP 2. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing for printing a document having a security level equal to or higher than a predetermined value at the document security level and the MFP 2 security level.

  For example, the documents are arranged in a manner such as a conference opening notice, a conference location map, and conference materials. When the MFP 2 is a high security level, for example, the MFP 2 in the conference room, the conference opening notification and the conference location map are not required, and printing of conference materials is desired. For this reason, a document having a predetermined value or less is not printed from the MFP 2 installed in a place having a certain security level or higher.

  First, the security level of the MFP 2 is acquired (step S11). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the number of documents is to be printed (step S12). For each document, the security level of the document is acquired (step S13).

  Next, the security level of the MFP 2 is compared with the security level of the document (step S14). If the security level of the MFP 2 is higher than the security level of the document (step S15, Yes), it is confirmed whether the security level of the document is a predetermined value or more (step S16). The predetermined value includes a method of recording in the MFP 2 as an absolute value, a method of recording in the secure print server 1, a method of recording in the MFP 2 as a difference value from the security of the MFP 2, and a method of setting the document print control command 14. .

  If the security document is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (step S16, Yes), the document is printed (step S17).

  If the security level of the MFP 2 is lower than the security level of the document (step S15, No), or if the security document is a predetermined value or less (step S16, No), the document is not printed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of selecting a document to be output according to the security level of a document included in a specific print job, the security level of the MFP 2, and the user's print history.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selecting a document to be output according to the security level of the document, the security level of the MFP 2, and the user's print history. By giving each document a print history by the user, printing can be suppressed even for printable documents.

  First, information about an output person who is going to print in the MFP 2 is acquired (step S21). As the information acquisition means of the output person, a method of acquiring the ID number of the output person by holding the ID card possessed by the output person over the ID card reader attached to the MFP 2, or the output person ID to the MFP 2 There is a method of entering a number. In addition, there is a method in which the association between the ID number and the output person is stored in advance in the security print server 1 and acquired by the MFP 2 via a network as necessary.

  Next, the security level of the MFP 2 is acquired (step S22), and it is confirmed whether or not printing is performed for the number of documents included in the print job (step S23). For each document, the security level of the document is acquired (step S24).

  Next, the security level of the MFP 2 is compared with the security level of the document (step S25). If the security level of the MFP 2 is higher than the security level of the document (step S26, Yes), the user's print history is confirmed (step S27). The user print history is managed for each document and for each user by the security print server 1, and is added to the print history information 16 of each document when the print job is transmitted to the MFP 2.

  If there is no print history of the user acquired in step S21 in the print history (step S27, Yes), the document is printed (step S28). If the document is printed, the print history information 16 is updated (step S29). This update operation means that the corresponding document has been printed, the MFP 2 transmits the corresponding output person information and the information of the output document to the secure print server 1, and the secure print server 1 adds the corresponding print history information 16. It is shown that.

  If the security level of the MFP 2 is lower than the security level of the document (No at Step S26) or if there is a user print history (No at Step S27), the document is not printed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a method for selecting a document to be output according to the security level of a document included in a specific print job, the security level of the MFP 2, and the user's print history.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selecting a document to be output according to the security level of the document and the security level of the MFP 2 and displaying the printable location to the output person when the document is not printable. It is.

  When MFP 2 receives the printer job, it acquires the security level of MFP 2 (step S31). As security level acquisition methods, a method of presetting in the MFP 2 main body, a method of acquiring data stored in association with the MFP 2 in the secure print server 1, location information of the MFP 2, and a location in the secure print server 1 A method of calculating by correspondence with information is known.

  Next, it is determined whether or not printing is performed for the number of documents included in the print job (step S32). For each document, the security level of the document is acquired (step S33). The security level of the MFP 2 is compared with the security level of the document (step S34). If the security level of the MFP 2 is higher than the security level of the document (step S35, Yes), the document is printed (step S36).

  On the other hand, if the security level of the document is lower than the security level of the MFP 2 (No in step S35) and printing of the document is not permitted, the MFP 2 searches the document security level for a place where the document can be printed. (Step S37). As a document search method, the security information set for each location in the secure print server 1 is compared with the security information of the document, and a location higher than the security of the document is selected.

  Finally, the output person is notified of the location where the document can be printed (step S38). As a notification method to the output person, a method for displaying the printable conference room 6 on the panel display of the MFP 2, a method for sending by e-mail from the MFP 2 or the security print server 1 to the output person, and printing on paper on the spot for output There are ways to do it.

1 secure print server 2 MFP
3 PC
11 Job Control Command 12 Document Control Data 13 Document Print Data 14 Print Control Command 15 Security Setting 16 Print History Information

JP 2008-158965 A

Claims (4)

Setting means for setting a security level of the document included in the print data;
An image forming apparatus capable of printing the print data;
A printing system having a setting unit capable of setting a security level in the image forming apparatus,
The security level of the document is compared with the security level of the image forming apparatus, and a document that can be output by the image forming apparatus is selected from a plurality of security level documents included in the print data and printed. A printing system characterized by that. Setting means for setting the document security level for the document included in the print data;
An image forming apparatus capable of printing the print data;
A printing system having a setting unit capable of setting a security level in the image forming apparatus,
The security level of the document is compared with the security level of the image forming apparatus, and is a document that can be output by the image forming apparatus from a plurality of security level documents included in the print data, and has a predetermined security level A printing system characterized by selecting and printing more than a document. Setting means for setting a security level of the document included in the print data;
An image forming apparatus capable of printing the print data;
Setting means capable of setting a security level in the image forming apparatus;
Detecting means for detecting an output person of the image forming apparatus;
A printing system having management means for managing a history of a document output by a detector,
The security level of the document is compared with the security level of the image forming apparatus, and is a document that can be output by the image forming apparatus from a plurality of security level documents included in the print data. A printing system characterized by selecting and outputting a document as an output. Setting means for setting a security level of the document included in the print data;
An image forming apparatus capable of printing the print data;
A printing system having a setting unit capable of setting a security level in the image forming apparatus,
The security level of the document is compared with the security level of the image forming apparatus, and a document that can be output by the image forming apparatus is selected from a plurality of security level documents included in the print data and printed. When there is a document that cannot be printed by the image apparatus, the printing system notifies the output person of the place where the image can be output.

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