JP2015229251A - Image formation device, control method for image formation device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device which limits executing of a job that requires authentication having been received and preserved in a case where an operation part is attached/detached from a device body for use.SOLUTION: In an image formation device equipped with an operation part detachable from the image formation device, a job having an attribute for authentication and a job having an attribute for no authentication are preserved in a preserving means. Under this condition, when a print request for the job having an attribute for authentication is accepted, execution of the job for which authentication is made is controlled according to attaching/detaching condition of the operation part.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a program.

Conventionally, in an environment using a network, since the image forming apparatus main body and the user terminal are often installed apart from each other, the security for preventing the printed matter from being left on the discharge tray of the image forming apparatus is provided. There is a printing system.
In the prior art, there is a method in which authentication information for specifying a user is input to an operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus main body, and print processing is performed only when the authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication server (for example, Patent Literature 1).
Furthermore, there is a method in which authentication processing for identifying a user is added to a terminal that possesses the authentication information, and printing processing is performed only when the authentication information is matched with the authentication information referred to by the image forming apparatus main body (for example, , See Patent Document 2).
In recent years, there is an operation unit having a function of exchanging contents to be displayed by wireless communication and input information that can be operated with the image forming apparatus removed from the main body (for example, see Patent Document 3).

JP 2000-15898 A JP 2007-272858 A JP 2009-139772 A

Since the conventional security printing system inputs authentication information on the operation unit installed in the image forming apparatus main body, it is assumed that the user is in the vicinity of the paper discharge tray and prevents the printed matter from being left unattended. It was.
However, as disclosed in Patent Document 3 described above, when the operation unit is detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus and used, the user may be away from the main body of the image forming apparatus. If security printing is executed in such a situation, the user himself / herself is not near the paper discharge tray, so that there is a problem that a third party can obtain the printed matter.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to execute a job that requires authentication that is received and stored when an operation unit is used while being detached from the main body. It is to provide a mechanism that can limit this.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.
An image forming apparatus having an operation unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, comprising: a detecting unit that detects a detachment state of the operation unit; an attribute job that performs authentication; and an attribute job that does not perform authentication. A storage unit for storing, and a control unit for controlling execution of the job for performing authentication according to the attachment / detachment state of the operation unit detected by the detection unit when a print request is received for a job having the attribute for performing authentication. It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, when the operation unit is used by being attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, it is possible to limit the execution of the received and stored job that requires authentication.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of an operation part. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of UI screen displayed on an operation part. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating job replacement control. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Description of system configuration>
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this example, the operation unit 102 and the main body 101 that performs image formation processing are configured to be detachable. Note that, in the attached / detached state, the operation unit 102 and the main body 101 that performs image forming processing are configured to be capable of wireless communication.

  In FIG. 1, a main body 101 of an image forming apparatus is an apparatus that receives print data from a PC via an external interface such as a network interface or a local interface, and prints or temporarily stores it on a sheet. The internal configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the operation unit 102 detachable from the main body 101 of the image forming apparatus is used to input a command when the user uses the main body 101 and confirm contents when the user sets the main body 101. Display. When the operation unit 102 is installed in the main body 101, the operation unit 102 is connected by wired connection using a connector or near field communication (NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like). In a state where it is detached from the main body 101, information exchange between the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 is connected by wireless communication such as short-range wireless communication to medium-range wireless communication (wireless LAN, PAN, etc.). The internal configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3, and the series of operation flows will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the main body 101.
In FIG. 2, the controller unit 201 has a function of processing print data received from a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) via an external interface. The exchange of print data is performed by the network interface unit 212 and the local interface unit 213. Further, it is connected to an authentication server that centrally manages user information, and is also used for verification verification of authentication information for security printing. As the external interface, Ethernet (registered trademark), USB, or the like is assumed. The ASIC 211 has a CPU 220 built therein, executes a program stored in the ROM 214 on the RAM 215 and executes it, and mainly performs a process of passing print data to the engine unit 202.

The ROM 214 stores programs and temporarily stores user data. If there is no authentication server used for security printing or the like, a configuration in which user information is stored in the ROM 214 is also conceivable. Note that the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which user data is stored in a nonvolatile memory device such as a hard disk instead of the ROM 214. A secure job can be stored on a hard disk or the like.
The RAM 215 is an image development area and a work area for programs when processing print data. The short-range wireless control unit 217 is connected to the antenna 203, and is connected to a device having a similar interface based on a protocol for short-range wireless communication (NFC, Bluetooth, etc.). In the present embodiment, it is mainly connected to the operation unit 102, but the period not connected to the operation unit 102 can be applied in other ways.

The mid-range wireless control unit 218 is connected to the antenna 204, and is connected to a device having a similar interface based on a protocol for mid-range radio communication (such as a wireless LAN or PAN). Similar to the short-range wireless control unit 217, it is mainly connected to the operation unit 102, but it is also possible to receive print data from a PC via a network access point. Since each wireless communication interface can be connected to various devices other than the connection to the operation unit 102 as described above, the number of ports and the type of wireless communication are not limited.
The operation unit 102 is a user interface that conveys the status of the image forming apparatus to the user and receives an operation input from the user. The main body 101 and the operation unit 102 are wired with a connector via the operation unit interface 219 or wirelessly connected via a short-range wireless control unit 217 having an antenna 203.

The connection with the operation unit 102 is not limited to the above configuration as long as data communication is possible. The operation unit 102 is detachable from the main body 101. When the operation unit 102 is detached, the operation unit 102 is connected by wireless communication by the short-range wireless control unit 217 or the middle-range wireless control unit 218. The operation unit information is an image or a display command displayed on the LCD display unit 307 (FIG. 3) on the operation unit 102, and is key operation information input from the key operation unit 306 (FIG. 3) on the operation unit 102. .
When the operation unit 102 is mounted on the main body 101, operation unit information is exchanged with the operation unit 102 via the operation unit interface 219. The controller unit 201 includes an engine interface unit 216, and sends print data processed by the ASIC 211 to the engine unit 202. The main body 101 includes an engine unit 202 that prints print data from the controller unit 201 on paper. The main body 101 is composed of blocks having the above functions.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the operation unit 102 illustrated in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 3, a well-known CPU 301, ROM 302, RAM 303, short-range wireless control unit 304, and medium-range wireless control unit 305 are connected to the operation unit 102 via a bus 310. Antennas 311 and 312 are connected to the short-range wireless control unit 304 and the medium-range wireless control unit 305, respectively. The key operation unit 306 and the LCD display unit 307 are connected to the CPU 301. The ROM 302 stores a program for controlling the entire operation unit 102, and the CPU 301 executes this program.
The key operation unit 306 is used as a command input when the user uses the main body 101. The LCD display unit 307 performs a content confirmation display when the state of the main body 101 and the user sets the main body 101.

The main body connection unit 308 is a wired interface for connecting the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 with a connector and exchanging information between the ASIC 211 and the operation unit 102 via the operation unit interface 219. Although not shown, the main body connection unit 308 includes a data signal line, a control signal line, and a power supply line.
When the operation unit 102 is attached to the main body 101, power is supplied from the main body 101 to the operation unit 102 through this power supply line. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which communication is not performed by the short-range wireless control unit 304 and the medium-range wireless control unit 305 when the operation unit 102 is attached to the main body 101. At that time, power supply to the short-range wireless control unit 304 and the medium-range wireless control unit 305 is stopped. The combination of the wireless control unit to which power is supplied with the operation unit 102 mounted on the main body 101 is arbitrary depending on the configuration used.

  The battery 309 is a rechargeable secondary battery that supplies power to the entire operation unit 102. When the operation unit 102 is mounted on the main body 101, power is not supplied from the battery 309, but power is supplied from the main body 101 to the operation unit 102 via the main body connection unit 308. When the operation unit 102 is detached from the main body 101, power is supplied from the battery 309 to the operation unit 102.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is an example of normal security printing processing in which the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 are connected as shown in FIG. The following operations are executed by the CPU 220 in the ASIC 211 by expanding the program stored in the ROM 214 into the RAM 215. The ASIC 211 controls each connected module or each built-in module according to the contents to be executed.

  In the present embodiment, the secure print job (secure job) is a print job to which the confidential attribute received from the PC via the network interface unit 212 is added. For this reason, when it is determined that the confidential attribute is added to the print job, the print job is temporarily stored in the ROM 214 without executing printing. Here, the job may be expanded and held in the RAM 215. The user collates user information by operating the operation unit 102 installed in the main body 101, and can execute print processing only when authenticated.

In step S <b> 401, the CPU 220 determines whether a security print job has been selected by the user via the key operation unit 306 in the operation unit 102. In this embodiment, the CPU 220 displays job information temporarily stored in the RAM 215 on the LCD 307 to allow the user to select a desired job. In S402, user information is input by the user. At this time, the CPU 220 displays a screen for requesting input of information for authentication such as user information on the LCD 307. The user information is input by operating the key operation unit 306 or communicating with the authentication card device to which the user information is added via the short-range wireless control unit 304.
In S403, the CPU 220 determines whether or not the user information input waiting state has passed for a certain period of time. If the CPU 220 determines that no user input is received after a certain period of time, the process advances to step S404 to cancel the security print job.

In S405, when an input is received within the timeout limit in S403, the CPU 220 determines whether the input information is user information. If the CPU 220 determines that user information has been input, the process proceeds to S406.
In step S <b> 406, the user information input by the CPU 220 is collated with the user information held in the print job temporarily stored in the ROM 214 or RAM 215. Note that this process may be replaced with a login format based on user information verification when a system configuration having an authentication server is employed.

In step S407, the CPU 220 determines whether the user information matches, and as a result, the authentication is OK or the authentication is NG. If the CPU 220 determines that the authentication is OK, the process advances to step S409 to execute print processing.
On the other hand, if the CPU 220 determines that the authentication is NG in S407, the process proceeds to S408 in order to request the user to input again. In S408, the CPU 220 displays on the LCD 307 that the authentication is NG, and the process proceeds to S402 to request the user to input again.
In step S <b> 409, the CPU 220 performs appropriate image processing on the security print job stored in the ROM 214 by the ASIC 211 and expands the RAM 215. Thereafter, the CPU 220 transmits the developed print data to the engine unit 202 via the engine I / F 216.
As described above, security printing is performed in a state where the operation unit 102 is connected from the main body 101.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the present invention for explaining the operation when a security print job is executed when the main body 101 has an operation unit 102 that can be removed. The following operations are executed by the CPU 220 in the ASIC 211 after the program stored in the ROM 214 is expanded in the RAM 215 as in the flow of FIG. The ASIC 211 controls each connected module or each built-in module according to the contents to be executed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a security print processing example when the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 are not connected as shown in FIG. The following operations are executed by the CPU 220 in the ASIC 211 by expanding the program stored in the ROM 214 into the RAM 215. The ASIC 211 controls each connected module or each built-in module according to the contents to be executed.
Further, in this example, as shown in FIG. 1B, since it is assumed that the operation unit 102 is removed from the main body 101, the short-range wireless control units 217, 304, or The distance wireless control units 218 and 305 perform data communication by wireless connection. In the following processing, it is assumed that wireless connection is performed by the intermediate distance wireless control units 218 and 305.

When the operation unit 102 is detached from the main body 101, the wired connection between the operation unit interface 219 and the main body connection unit 308 via the connector is disconnected. Since the operation unit interface 219 and the main body connection unit 308 are connected to the data signal line, the control signal line, and the power supply line, the disconnection of the wired connection can be detected by a port provided in the ASIC 211. .
At this time, the ASIC 211 that has detected the disconnection of the wired connection performs a connection process with the intermediate distance wireless control unit 305 of the operation unit 102 via the intermediate distance wireless control unit 218. The operation unit 102 switches to power supply from the battery 309 at the same time as the power supplied from the main body connection unit 308 is exhausted. When the wireless connection is established, the user can operate the operation unit 102 with the same operational feeling as that of the wired connection.

  S501 waits for the user to select a secure print job via the key operation unit 306 in the operation unit 102 in order to respond to the print request, as in S401. Here, the CPU 220 displays job information temporarily stored in the ROM 214 on the LCD 307, thereby allowing the user to select a desired job. In S502, the CPU 220 determines whether the operation unit 102 has been removed.

If the CPU 220 determines that the operation unit 102 is connected, the process advances to step S503 to perform normal security printing processing. Processing from S402 corresponding to branch A shown in FIG. 4 is executed from branch A shown in FIG.
If the CPU 220 determines in S502 that the operation unit 102 has been removed, the process proceeds to S504. In step S504, as in step S402, the process waits for user information to be input by the user. At this time, the CPU 220 displays a screen for requesting input of information for authentication such as user information on the LCD 307.

The user information is input by operating the key operation unit 306 or communicating with the authentication card device to which the user information is added via the short-range wireless control unit 304.
In S505, as in S403, the CPU 220 determines whether the user information input waiting state has passed for a certain period of time. If the CPU 220 determines that there is no input from the user after a certain time, the process proceeds to S506 and the security print job is canceled.
In S507, as in S405, the CPU 220 determines whether user information has been input within a certain time indicated in S505. If the CPU 220 determines that user information has been input, the process proceeds to S508.

In S508, as in S406, the user information input by the CPU 220 is collated with the user information held in the print job temporarily stored in the ROM 214 or RAM 215. If a system configuration having an authentication server is adopted, a login format based on user information verification may be substituted.
In step S509, as in step S407, the CPU 220 determines whether authentication is OK or authentication NG as a result of checking whether the user information matches in step S508. If the CPU 220 determines that the authentication is OK, the process proceeds to S511. On the other hand, if the CPU 220 determines that the authentication is NG, the process proceeds to S510, and the CPU 220 displays the authentication NG on the LCD 307, and the process proceeds to S504 to request the user to input again.
S511 waits for execution of the printing process until the operation unit 102 is installed in the main body 101 when the authentication is OK in S509. In the operation flow of FIG. 4, the printing process is executed here. However, when the operation unit 102 is removed, the printing process is not executed and the process temporarily stands by.
At this time, if printing is not performed, the security print job stored in the ROM 214 in advance may be subjected to appropriate image processing by the ASIC 211 and developed in the RAM 215 in order to speed up subsequent processing.
At this time, the CPU 220 displays a screen prompting installation on the main body 101 on the LCD 307 of the operation unit 102. A display UI screen example is shown in FIG.
In S512, it is a step of determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed when the operation unit 102 is not connected to the main body 101. If the CPU 220 determines that the connection of the operation unit 102 is not detected by the ASIC 211 even after a predetermined time, the process proceeds to S506 and the security print job is canceled. In step S506, the CPU 220 may be configured to delete the security print job for which the print request has been made.

In S513, the CPU 220 determines whether or not the operation unit 102 is installed in the main body 101. When the operation unit 102 is connected from the main body 101, the operation unit interface 219 and the data signal line, the control signal line, and the power supply line of the main body connection unit 308 are connected. This can be detected by a port provided in the ASIC 211. Here, the ASIC 211 that has detected the wired connection switches from wireless communication with the operation unit 102 via the intermediate distance wireless control unit 218 to wired communication via the operation unit interface 219.
In S514, the CPU 220 resumes execution of the secure print job that has been kept from starting printing. Specifically, the security print job stored in the ROM 214 is subjected to appropriate image processing by the ASIC 211 and expanded in the RAM 215, and print data is transmitted to the engine unit 202 via the engine I / F 216.
As described above, if the data has already been expanded in the RAM 215 in S511, the print data can be immediately transmitted to the engine unit 202 via the engine I / F 216.

As described above, when the operation unit 102 is detached from the main body 101, there is a possibility that the user is away from the main body 101, so that the security printing is not executed as it is.
However, if the security printing is permitted, the printed material is discharged in the absence of the user, and the confidentiality of the printed material originally maintained by the security printing is impaired.
By performing the above-described operation flow, it is possible to avoid a situation where a third party other than the user himself / herself can obtain the printed material, and it is possible to maintain the confidentiality of the printed material that is originally maintained by security printing.

  In addition, when the authentication is OK and the security print job is waited in S511 in the operation flow of FIG. 5, the print job may be received before the operation unit 102 is returned to the main body 101. At that time, it may be controlled to change the order of jobs waiting to be printed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a security print processing example when the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 are not connected as shown in FIG. The following operations are executed by the CPU 220 in the ASIC 211 by expanding the program stored in the ROM 214 into the RAM 215. The ASIC 211 controls each connected module or each built-in module according to the contents to be executed.
S701 is the state of S511 after security printing is executed in a state where the operation unit 102 is detached from the main body 101. In step S <b> 702, the CPU 220 determines whether a certain time has elapsed after the operation unit 102 is not connected to the main body 101. Here, if the CPU 220 determines that the connection of the operation unit 102 has not been detected by the ASIC 211 even after a predetermined time has passed, the process proceeds to S703 to cancel the security print job. In step S <b> 704, the CPU 220 determines whether the operation unit 102 has been returned to the main body 101.

Here, when the CPU 220 determines that the connection of the operation unit 102 is detected, the security printing process is executed, and thus the replacement operation flow ends.
On the other hand, when the CPU 220 determines that the connection of the operation unit 102 is not detected, the process proceeds to S705.
In step S <b> 705, the CPU 220 determines whether another print job received from the network interface unit 212 or the local interface unit 213 is waiting for printing after the security printing is executed.

FIG. 8A shows a state in which the print job is developed in the RAM 215 and is waiting for printing. Hereinafter, the replacement process when the print job is waiting for printing will be described with reference to FIG.
If there is no particular job waiting for printing, the flow returns to the determination flow for detecting the connection of the operation unit 102 from S702.
On the other hand, if the CPU 220 determines that there is a job waiting for printing, the process proceeds to S706. In step S <b> 706, the CPU 220 switches the execution order of the security print job and the job waiting for printing immediately thereafter (subsequent). Specifically, in the execution order of FIG. 8A, the security print job is waiting for connection of the operation unit 102, and job A is waiting for printing and cannot be advanced. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the execution order of the security print job and the job A is switched, and the job A is printed. As a result, job A is executed prior to the security print job.
After the replacement process is completed, the process returns to the determination flow for detecting the connection of the operation unit 102 from S702. Thereafter, when it is detected that the operation unit 102 is connected to the main body 101, the security print job is executed before the job B in accordance with the changed execution order ((C) in FIG. 8).
If the operation unit 102 is taken out and the CPU 220 does not return to the main body 101 and determines that the next print-waiting job B is accumulated, the execution order of the security print job and the job B is similarly set. They are replaced ((D) in FIG. 8).
By executing the above operation flow, it is considered that the print job is not accumulated when the authentication is OK and the security print job is waited.
Even when the print job is replaced and overtaken, when the operation unit 102 is returned to the main body 101, printing can be executed next to the current print job.

[Second Embodiment]
In recent years, there are large image forming apparatuses for products, and the distance between the place where the operation unit 102 is installed and the discharge tray is increased. When such a machine is used, it can be assumed that security printing is performed with the operation unit 102 removed.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, an operation example in the case of adopting a configuration in which security printing is permitted according to the distance between the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 will be described. Each step is executed by the CPU 220 in the ASIC 211 by expanding the program stored in the ROM 214 into the RAM 215. The ASIC 211 controls each connected module or each built-in module according to the contents to be executed.

  Further, in the processing example shown in FIG. 9, the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 are wirelessly connected by the short-range wireless control units 217 and 311 or the middle-range wireless control units 218 and 305 respectively, as in FIG. 5. . First, when the operation unit 102 is detached from the main body 101, the wired connection between the operation unit interface 219 and the main body connection unit 308 via the connector is disconnected. Since the operation unit interface 219 and the main body connection unit 308 are connected to the data signal line, the control signal line, and the power supply line, the disconnection of the wired connection can be detected by a port provided in the ASIC 211. .

  The ASIC 211 that has detected the disconnection of the wired connection performs a connection process with the short-range wireless control unit 304 included in the operation unit 102 via the short-range wireless control unit 217. The operation unit 102 switches to power supply from the battery 309 at the same time as the power supplied from the main body connection unit 308 is exhausted. When the wireless connection is established, the user can operate the operation unit 102 with the same operational feeling as that of the wired connection. Thereafter, when the user leaves the main body 101 and the short-range wireless control unit 217 of the main body cannot establish a connection with the short-range wireless control unit 304 of the operation unit 102, the ASIC 211 is unstablely connected from the short-range wireless control unit 217. Upon receiving the disconnection notification, the intermediate distance wireless control unit 218 performs connection processing with the intermediate distance wireless control unit 312 of the operation unit 102.

  The above-described state is a state in which the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 are in a short distance, and the state described later is a state in which the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 are in a medium distance. Here, the short distance wireless control unit 217 and the medium distance wireless control unit 218 are switched according to the situation. However, a configuration may be adopted in which both are connected and the medium distance is set when one of them cannot be detected. It is possible to connect with an optimum configuration in consideration of the battery and communication speed. The processing for communication control added in FIG. 9 is S901, and the other operations are the same as the operation flow in FIG.

In step S <b> 901, after the authentication is determined to be OK in step S <b> 509, the CPU 220 determines whether the wireless communication connected to the operation unit 102 is performed by the short-range wireless control unit 217 or the medium-range wireless control unit 218. Here, when the wireless connection is performed by the intermediate distance wireless control unit 218 and the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 are determined to be in the intermediate distance state, the process proceeds to S511. In step S511, the CPU 220 performs an operation flow similar to that in FIG.
On the other hand, when the CPU 220 is wirelessly connected by the short-range wireless control unit 217 and the main body 101 and the operation unit 102 are determined to be in a short-distance state, it is determined that the main body 101 is in the vicinity of the main body 101 and the process proceeds to S514. In step S514, the security printing process is executed. In addition, when returning from the middle distance area to the short distance area, the determination as to whether or not to print is not limited because it depends on how to make the print.

As described above, by performing the above-described operation flow, even if the operation unit 102 is detached, it is determined that it is a short distance and security printing is enabled.
Similarly, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a third party other than the user himself / herself can obtain the printed matter, and it is possible to maintain the confidentiality of the printed matter that is originally maintained by security printing.

In this embodiment, the short-range wireless control units 217 and 304 or the middle-range wireless control units 218 and 305 described are divided into a short distance and a medium distance for convenience. A configuration in which a plurality of IFs using wireless field communication or a plurality of IFs using medium distance wireless field communication may be employed.
Although not shown, the LCD display unit and the key operation unit of the operation unit are separated in this embodiment, but may be configured to be realized by integrating the respective functions on the touch panel.
According to each of the above embodiments, when the operation unit is removed and used, by suppressing the execution of security printing in a situation where the user is not in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus main body, the printed matter can be sent to a third party. The possibility of being browsed or taken out can be prevented, and the confidentiality of the original security printing can be maintained.

  Each process of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (program) acquired via a network or various storage media by a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

101 Image forming apparatus 102 Operation unit

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus including an operation unit that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus,
Detecting means for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the operation unit;
A storage means for storing an attribute job to be authenticated and an attribute job not to be authenticated;
A control unit that controls execution of the job to perform the authentication according to the attachment / detachment state of the operation unit detected by the detection unit when a print request for the job having the attribute to perform the authentication is received;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when it is detected that the operation unit is not attached, the control unit deletes the job with the attribute to be authenticated when a predetermined time elapses. Image forming apparatus.   When it is detected that the operation unit is not attached, the control unit switches the execution order of the attribute job to be authenticated and the attribute job not to be authenticated, and performs the subsequent authentication. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a job having an attribute not to be executed is executed in advance. A plurality of communication means for communicating with the operation unit;
A communication control means for establishing communication using any of the communication means when detecting that the operation unit is not mounted;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the communication control unit establishes communication using any one of communication units according to a distance between the image forming apparatus and the operation unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the authentication is performed by a server apparatus that communicates. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including an operation unit detachable from the image forming apparatus,
A detection step of detecting the attachment / detachment state of the operation unit;
A storage step of storing in the storage means an attribute job to be authenticated and an attribute job not to be authenticated;
A control step for controlling execution of the job for performing authentication according to the attachment / detachment state of the operation unit detected in the detection step when a print request for a job having the attribute for performing authentication is received;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7.

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