JP2020028991A - Image forming device, printing method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming device, which can print a document using data suspected to be infected with computer virus while securing safety of the device.SOLUTION: An image forming device 1, when receiving job data on a job of printing a document from a print server 2 or a terminal device 3, determines whether or not the job data is infected with computer virus. When determining that the data is not infected with the virus, the device prints the document on the basis of specific item data relating to specific items, but when determining that the data is infected with the virus, prints whole parts or part of the document without being based on the specific item data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for preventing computer viruses in an image forming apparatus that prints an image prepared by a terminal device such as a personal computer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus receives print data from a terminal device such as a personal computer or a smartphone, and prints an image on a sheet.

  For security protection, upon receiving the print data from the terminal device, the image forming apparatus checks whether the print data is infected with a computer virus. Then, if it is not infected, the image is printed. However, if infected, the data for printing is deleted without printing the image.

  The following techniques have been proposed as techniques relating to computer virus checking for image forming apparatuses.

  The MFP described in Patent Literature 1 includes a plurality of control modules (scan control unit to file system unit) provided corresponding to a plurality of functions, and a virus check unit that performs a virus check on the plurality of control modules. The virus management unit, which causes the virus check unit to perform a virus check for some of the control modules, and the execution of jobs that use only control modules that have been confirmed to be free from virus by the virus check. A permitted job management unit.

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Literature 2 creates history information based on information related to the attribute of a transmission source when receiving data contaminated with a virus, and thereafter refers to the history information when receiving the data. On the other hand, if there is a virus infection history at the sender, a warning is output and the operation is forcibly terminated.

  The controller described in Patent Document 3 receives data from the terminal device 101 via a network, detects whether or not the received data contains a computer virus, and when the computer virus is detected, converts the data. The information indicating the transmitted transmission source is acquired, and the information indicating the acquired transmission source is stored. Then, the controller administrator is notified of the detection of the computer virus.

JP-A-2011-65483 JP 2006-252407 A JP 2004-259060 A

  As described above, conventionally, if data for printing is infected with a computer virus, a user cannot obtain a printed matter.

  However, if the infection source of the printing data is the terminal device that is the transmission source, the user cannot obtain a printed matter even if the user operates the terminal device and tries printing many times.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to print a document using data suspected of being infected with a computer virus while ensuring the security of an image forming apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives job data of a job for printing a document, and determines whether the job data is infected data infected with a computer virus. Determining means, and when the determination means determines that the job data is not the infected data, in the job data, prints the document based on specific item data relating to a specific item, And printing means for printing the whole or a part of the document without being based on the specific item data when it is determined that the data is infected data.

  Preferably, when the determination unit determines that the job data is the infected data, the specific item data in the job data is smaller than a first range that a user can normally specify. Generating means for generating second job data by replacing the job data with the second specified item data indicating a condition value within a second range, wherein the job data includes If it is determined by the determination means that the document is a part or all of the document based on the second job data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to print a document using data suspected to be infected with a computer virus while ensuring the security of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of an image processing system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a print server. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a terminal device. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of each of an image forming apparatus, a print server, and a terminal device. It is a figure showing an example of a condition specification screen. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list screen. It is a figure showing an example of an infection notification screen. It is a figure showing an example of a condition re-designation screen. FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing an example of a method for generating an alternative job file. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of PDF (Portable Document Format). FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a target document. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter obtained by an alternative job file. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall flow of processing by a print program. It is a figure showing an example of an infection notification screen. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list screen. It is a figure showing an example of an infection notification screen.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the image processing system 4. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the print server 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the terminal device 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system 4 includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1, a print server 2, a plurality of terminal devices 3, a communication line 41, and the like. The image processing system 4 is a system that performs a process related to an image, and prints an image on a sheet of paper and digitizes and saves an image described on the sheet of paper.

  Each device of the image processing system 4 can perform communication via the communication line 41. As the communication line 41, a so-called LAN (Local Area Network) line, a dedicated line, a public line, or the like is used.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus that is generally called an “MFP (Multi Function Peripheral)” or “MFP”, and is an apparatus that integrates functions such as copy, direct print, pull print, facsimile, scan, and document server. It is. Hereinafter, each of the image forming apparatuses 1 may be separately described as “image forming apparatus 1A”, “image forming apparatus 1B”, “image forming apparatus 1C”,. Each image forming apparatus 1 supports a common PDL (Page Description Language) and a PJL (Printer Job Language).

  The direct print function is a function of receiving image data from the terminal device 3 without passing through the print server 2 and printing the image on paper.

  The pull print function is a function of downloading data uploaded from the terminal device 3 to the print server 2 from the print server 2 in accordance with a command from a user and printing an image on paper.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10a, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 10b, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 10c, an auxiliary storage device 10d, a touch panel display 10e, and an operation key panel 10f. , A network interface 10g, a modem 10h, a scan unit 10i, a print unit 10j, a finisher 10k, and the like.

  The touch panel display 10e displays a screen showing a message to the user, a screen for the user to input a command or information, a screen showing the result of processing executed by the CPU 10a, and the like. The touch panel display 10e sends a signal indicating the touched position to the CPU 10a.

  The operation key panel 10f is a so-called hardware keyboard, and includes ten keys, a start key, a stop key, a function key, and the like.

  The network interface 10g communicates with the print server 2, the terminal device 3, and the like using a protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). As the network interface 10g, a NIC (Network Interface Card) or a wireless LAN board is used.

  The modem 10h exchanges image data with a fax terminal using a protocol such as G3.

  The scanning unit 10i reads an image written on a platen glass or a sheet set on an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) to generate image data.

  The printing unit 10j prints, on paper, an image indicated by image data received from another device by the network interface 10g or the modem 10h, in addition to the image read by the scanning unit 10i.

  The finisher 10k performs post-processing as needed on the printed matter obtained by the print unit 10j. The post-processing includes a staple binding process, a punching process, a bending process, and the like.

  The ROM 10c or the auxiliary storage device 10d stores a print program 10P (see FIG. 5) for executing a direct print job and a pull print job. The print program 10P is loaded into the RAM 10b as needed, and is executed by the CPU 10a. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) is used as the auxiliary storage device 10d.

  The print server 2 is a server that mediates print data between the terminal device 3 and the image forming apparatus 1. As the print server 2, a server machine or a personal computer is used. As shown in FIG. 3, the print server 2 includes a CPU 20a, a RAM 20b, a ROM 20c, an auxiliary storage device 20d, a network interface 20e, and the like.

  The network interface 20e communicates with the image forming apparatus 1, the terminal device 3, and the like using a protocol such as TCP / IP. An NIC or a wireless LAN board is used as the network interface 20e.

  The mediation program 20P (see FIG. 5) for providing network print in cooperation with the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the ROM 20c or the auxiliary storage device 20d. The mediation program 20P is loaded into the RAM 20b as needed, and is executed by the CPU 20a. An HDD or SSD is used as the auxiliary storage device 20d.

  The terminal device 3 is a terminal device for using a service provided by the image forming apparatus 1. Hereinafter, each terminal device 3 may be distinguished and described as “terminal device 3A”, “terminal device 3B”, “terminal device 3C”,.

  As the terminal device 3, a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or the like is used. Hereinafter, a case where a notebook personal computer is used as the terminal device 3 will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal device 3 includes a CPU 30a, a RAM 30b, a ROM 30c, an auxiliary storage device 30d, a liquid crystal display 30e, a network interface 30f, a keyboard 30g, a pointing device 30h, and the like.

  The liquid crystal display 30e displays a screen for inputting a command or data, a screen for notifying a user of a message, a screen showing a result of processing by the CPU 30a, and the like.

  The network interface 30f communicates with the image forming apparatus 1, the print server 2, and the like using a protocol such as TCP / IP. An NIC or a wireless LAN board is used as the network interface 30f.

  The keyboard 30g and the pointing device 30h are input devices for an operator to input commands or data.

  The client program 30P (see FIG. 5) for using direct printing or pull printing is stored in the ROM 30c or the auxiliary storage device 30d. The client program 30P is loaded into the RAM 30b and executed by the CPU 30a. An HDD or SSD is used as the auxiliary storage device 30d.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of each of the image forming apparatus 1, the print server 2, and the terminal device 3. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the condition designation screen 51. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the job list screen 52. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the infection notification screen 53X. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the condition re-designation screen 54X. FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing an example of a method of generating the substitute job file 61S. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of PDF (Portable Document Format) data. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the target document 7. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter obtained by the substitute job file 61S.

  According to the print program 10P, the mediation program 20P, and the client program 30P, even when a computer virus infects a file of a direct print or pull print job, a user can print a printed matter of an image more safely than before. Obtainable. Hereinafter, this mechanism will be described.

  According to the print program 10P, the job receiving unit 101, the virus checking unit 102, the normal job executing unit 103, the temporary file storage unit 121, the infection notifying unit 122, the condition receiving unit 123, the substitute file generating unit 124, the substitute job shown in FIG. An execution unit 125, a file deletion unit 126, and the like are realized in the image forming apparatus 1.

  According to the mediation program 20P, the print server 2 realizes the job file storage unit 201, the job list transmission unit 202, and the job file transmission unit 203 illustrated in FIG.

  According to the client program 30P, the terminal device 3 realizes the job instruction unit 301, the infection notification unit 302, the stop response unit 303, and the condition response unit 304 shown in FIG.

  The user prepares, in the terminal device 3, data of a document to be printed by direct printing (hereinafter, referred to as “target document 7”). For example, the document is prepared by creating a document using an application such as word processing software or drawing software installed in the terminal device 3. Alternatively, it may be prepared by downloading a web page file from a server on the Internet using a web browser. Alternatively, the file may be prepared by opening a file already stored in the auxiliary storage device 30d with an application. Then, the user inputs a predetermined command to the terminal device 3.

  Then, the job instruction unit 301 executes a process of instructing execution of a direct print or pull print job, for example, as follows.

  The job instruction unit 301 causes the liquid crystal display 30e to display a condition designation screen 51 as shown in FIG.

  Here, the user specifies conditions for printing the target document 7 (number of copies, color, paper size, print surface, etc.) by operating the condition specification screen 51. In the case of direct printing, a device for printing the target document 7 (hereinafter, referred to as a “print device”) is further selected from the image forming apparatuses 1A, 1B, 1C,. For example, when printing is performed by the image forming apparatus 1B, the image forming apparatus 1B is selected. In the case of pull printing, instead of selecting the printing device, the check box for pull printing is set to “ON”.

  Further, the job instruction unit 301 issues an identifier for identifying the job as a job identifier and causes the liquid crystal display 30e to display the identifier. Then, a job file 61 for executing this job is generated based on the prepared data and designated conditions.

  The job file 61 is image data described in PDL or PJL corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1. Alternatively, if the prepared data corresponds to the selected printing device, a file including this data and data indicating the specified condition may be generated as the job file 61.

  In addition, the issued job identifier is associated with the job file 61, and the identifier (for example, the IP address) of the terminal device 3 itself is associated with the command source identifier.

  Then, when a printing device is selected, the job instruction unit 301 transmits the job file 61 to the selected printing device. When the check box is turned on, the job file 61 is transmitted to the print server 2.

  In the print server 2, the job file storage unit 201 stores the job file 61 transmitted from the terminal device 3.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the job receiving unit 101 executes a process of receiving a job as follows.

  In the case of direct printing, the job file 61 is transmitted from the terminal device 3 without passing through the print server 2. Then, the job receiving unit 101 receives the job file 61 and stores it in the file temporary storage unit 121.

  In the case of pull printing, the user instructs a job at the terminal device 3 and then visits the image forming apparatus 1. Then, the identifier of the terminal device 3 is input to the image forming apparatus 1 as a command source identifier. For example, when a job is commanded from the terminal device 3A, the IP address of the terminal device 3A is input as a command source identifier.

  Then, the job receiving unit 101 inquires the print server 2 of the job file 61 relating to the pull print job from the terminal device 3. At this time, the job receiving unit 101 transmits the inquiry data 62 indicating the input command source identifier to the print server 2.

  Upon receiving the inquiry data 62, the job list transmission unit 202 of the print server 2 searches the job file storage unit 201 for a job file 61 associated with the command source identifier indicated in the inquiry data 62. Then, list data 63 indicating the job identifier of each found job file 61 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 that is the transmission source of the inquiry data 62.

  Upon receiving the list data 63, the job receiving unit 101 causes the touch panel display 10e to display a job list screen 52 in which the job identifiers shown in the list data 63 are arranged as shown in FIG. Here, the user selects the job identifier of the job to be executed.

  Then, the job receiving unit 101 transmits to the print server 2 request data 64 indicating the input command source identifier and the selected job identifier.

  Upon receiving the request data 64, the job file transmission unit 203 of the print server 2 reads from the job file storage unit 201 the job file 61 in which the command source identifier and the job identifier indicated in the request data 64 are associated, and 64 to the image forming apparatus 1 which is the transmission source.

  Then, the job receiving unit 101 receives the job file 61 and stores the job file 61 in the file temporary storage unit 121.

  As described above, the job file 61 is received by the job receiving unit 101 and stored in the file temporary storage unit 121 in both the direct print and the pull print. Hereinafter, the received job file 61 will be referred to as a “received job file 61R”.

  The virus check unit 102 determines whether the reception job file 61R is infected with a computer virus by a known method. If infected, the name and type of the computer virus are detected by a known method.

  When the virus check unit 102 determines that the reception job file 61R is not infected with the computer virus, the normal job execution unit 103 controls the print unit 10j and the like based on the reception job file 61R, and thereby the target document 7 is processed. Print on paper.

  When printing is completed, the file deletion unit 126 deletes the received job file 61R from the file temporary storage unit 121.

  When the virus check unit 102 determines that the reception job file 61R is infected with a computer virus, the infection notification unit 122 performs a process for notifying the user of the determination as follows.

  If the reception job file 61R relates to a direct print job, that is, if the reception job file 61R is transmitted without passing through the print server 2, the infection notification unit 122 is associated with the reception job file 61R. The infection notification data 65 is transmitted to the terminal device 3 having the specified command source identifier. The infection notification data 65 indicates the detected name and type in addition to the job identifier associated with the reception job file 61R.

  In the terminal device 3, when the infection notification unit 302 receives the infection notification data 65, the infection notification screen 53X for notifying that the reception job file 61R is infected with the computer virus as shown in FIG. The display is made on the liquid crystal display 30e based on this.

  Here, when canceling the job, the user clicks the cancel button 53X1 to select “cancel”. On the other hand, when continuing, "continuation" is selected by clicking the continuation button 53X2.

  When “Cancel” is selected, the cancel answer unit 303 transmits the cancel answer data 66 to the image forming apparatus 1. The stop response data 66 indicates the job identifier indicated in the infection notification data 65.

  When “continue” is selected, the condition answering unit 304 performs a process for answering the job condition as follows.

  The condition answering unit 304 closes the infection notification screen 53X and causes the liquid crystal display 30e to display a condition redesignation screen 54X as shown in FIG.

  Here, the user inputs conditions for printing the target document 7. However, as can be seen in comparison with the condition designation screen 51, the conditions that can be input on the condition redesignation screen 54X are more limited than those on the condition designation screen 51.

  The condition answering unit 304 transmits, to the image forming apparatus 1, the condition input to the condition redesignation screen 54X and the condition data 67 indicating the job identifier indicated in the infection notification data 65.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when the stop response data 66 is transmitted from the terminal device 3, the file deletion unit 126 associates the identifier of the terminal device 3 as the command source identifier and indicates the job indicated by the stop response data 66. The reception job file 61R associated with the identifier is deleted from the file temporary storage unit 121. Then, the job related to the reception job file 61R is stopped.

  On the other hand, if the reception job file 61R relates to a pull print job, that is, if the reception job file 61R is transmitted from the print server 2, the infection notification unit 122 displays the infection notification screen 53Y on the touch panel display 10e. Let it. The infection notification screen 53Y is a screen for notifying the user of infection with a computer virus, like the infection notification screen 53X (see FIG. 8).

  Here, when canceling the job, the user touches the cancel button in the infection notification screen 53Y to select “cancel”. On the other hand, when continuing, by touching the continuation button in the infection notification screen 53Y, "continuation" is selected.

  If “Cancel” is selected, the file deletion unit 126 deletes the received job file 61R from the file temporary storage unit 121. Then, the job related to the reception job file 61R is stopped.

  When “continuation” is selected, the condition receiving unit 123 performs a process for answering the job condition as follows.

  The condition receiving unit 123 closes the infection notification screen 53Y and displays the condition re-designation screen 54Y on the touch panel display 10e. The condition redesignation screen 54Y is a screen for the user to input job conditions, like the condition redesignation screen 54X (see FIG. 9). Further, similarly to the condition re-designation screen 54X, conditions that can be input are more limited than those in the condition designation screen 51. Then, the condition receiving unit 123 receives the condition input by the user on the condition redesignation screen 54Y.

  The condition receiving unit 123 receives the condition by receiving the condition data 67 from the terminal device 3.

  The substitution file generation unit 124 generates the substitution job file 61S based on the conditions received by the reception job file 61R and the condition reception unit 123 (the conditions indicated in the condition data 67 or the conditions input to the condition redesignation screen 54Y). Generate.

  Hereinafter, an example in which a document including one or a plurality of pages is prepared as the target document 7, the reception job file 61R includes the document data 61A and the job control data 61B, and the format of the document data 61A is PDF. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  Generally, PDF data is composed of a header, a body, a cross reference table, and a trailer as shown in FIG.

  The document data 61A is data representing the target document 7. That is, the image data of the target document 7. The job control data 61B is data indicating conditions for printing the target document 7 (number of copies, aggregation, paper size, print surface, etc.). That is, the data is for controlling the print unit 10j and the like so as to be printed according to the conditions.

  Various types of objects are defined in the body. As shown in FIG. 11B, these objects are hierarchized with a document catalog as a root object. These objects (particularly, the content stream) indicate the layout and content of each page of the document (the target document 7 in the present embodiment). Types of content include vectors, rasters (bitmaps), and text. In addition, thumbnails or annotations of the content may be shown.

  The substitute file generation unit 124 extracts raster content data from the document data 61A by tracing each object from the root object. For example, data of a portion sandwiched between “stream” and “endstream” is extracted. Then, the content data 61C is generated by merging the extracted data. Vector content and text content are not extracted. Also, the layout data and the job control data 61B are not extracted. The raster content data may be compressed in a format such as PNG (Portable Network Graphics), JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) or GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), or may be compressed like BMP. Not always.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a document that includes illustrations 711, 722, 732, and 733 as raster content, graphics 712 and 734 as vector content, and character strings 713 and 721 as text content, If the document is the target document 7, the data of the illustrations 711, 722, 732, and 733 are extracted, and the content data 61C is generated.

  Further, the substitute file generating unit 124 generates the job control data 61D indicating the condition received by the condition receiving unit 123.

  Then, the substitute job file 61S is generated by merging the content data 61C and the job control data 61D. The text content may be made transparent. That is, searchable PDF may be adopted as the format of the content data 61C.

  When the substitute job generating unit 124 generates the substitute job file 61S based on the reception job file 61R and the like, the substitute job execution unit 125 prints the print unit 10j and the like based on the substitute job file 61S instead of the reception job file 61R. To print an image on paper. Specifically, based on the condition indicated in the job control data 61D included in the substitute job file 61S, each content indicated in the content data 61C is printed on a sheet.

  As a result, for example, when the document shown in FIG. 12 is the target document 7, an image as shown in FIG. 13 is printed on a sheet.

  When printing is completed, the file deletion unit 126 deletes the received job file 61R from the file temporary storage unit 121.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall flow of processing by the print program 10P.

  Next, the flow of the overall processing performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  The image forming apparatus 1 executes processing according to the procedure shown in FIG. 14 based on the print program 10P.

  When receiving the job file 61 from the print server 2 or the terminal device 3 (# 11 in FIG. 14), the image forming apparatus 1 temporarily stores the received job file 61R in the file temporary storage unit 121 (# 12). Further, it is checked whether the reception job file 61R is infected with a computer virus (# 13).

  As a result of the inspection, if it is determined that the reception job file 61R is infected with a computer virus (Yes in # 14), the image forming apparatus 1 notifies the user to that effect (# 15). Specifically, if the reception job file 61R is for a direct print job, the infection notification data 65 is transmitted to the terminal device 3 that is the transmission source of the reception job file 61R. If the job is for a pull print job, an infection notification screen 53Y is displayed.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 performs a process for receiving a job condition (# 16). Specifically, if the reception job file 61R is for a direct print job, the condition data 67 is received from the terminal device 3. If the job is a pull print job, a condition re-designation screen 54Y is displayed, and the condition input by the user is accepted as the job condition.

  Then, an alternative job file 61S is generated based on the received job file 61R and the received conditions (# 17), and an image is printed based on the alternative job file 61S (# 18). After printing, the reception job file 61R is deleted from the file temporary storage unit 121 (# 19).

  On the other hand, if the inspection shows that the reception job file 61R is not infected with the computer virus (No in # 14), the image forming apparatus 1 prints the target document 7 based on the reception job file 61R as before. (# 20). After printing, the reception job file 61R may be deleted from the file temporary storage unit 121.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to print the target document 7 using data suspected to be infected with a computer virus while ensuring the security of the image forming apparatus 1.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the infection notification screen 53Z. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the job list screen 52Z. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of the infection notification screen 53X.

  In the present embodiment, vectors, rasters, and texts have been described as examples of content types. Then, the substitute file generation unit 124 extracts only the data of the raster content. However, text content data may be extracted.

  Also, contents reproduced based on the script (for example, flash contents) are not extracted similarly to vector contents. If the document data 61A is searchable PDF data, so-called transparent text is not extracted as in the case of vector contents.

  In the present embodiment, when the virus check unit 102 detects that the reception job file 61R is infected with a computer virus, the substitute file generation unit 124 re-designates the received job file 61R on the condition re-designation screen 54X or 54Y. The alternative job file 61S is generated based on the conditions thus set.

  However, the substitute file generating unit 124 may generate the file based on a condition determined in advance by the administrator. For example, the alternative job file 61S may be generated on condition that the number of copies to be printed is “1”, “2in1” or “4in1”, and printing on both sides is performed. In this case, as the job control data 61D, a code of "@PJL SET COPY = 1" and a code of "@PJL SET NUP = 2" or a code of "@PJL SET NUP = 4" and a code of "@PJL DUPLEX = ON" Is generated by the substitute file generation unit 124. Alternatively, a default value may be used as a condition value for all items. Similarly, the condition value of each item of the finisher 10k may be used. For example, condition values such as punch holes and offsets may be set to “off”. Also, the PCL may leave only the command of the page description, and delete or invalidate the macro and the paper control (Paper Source Command).

  Further, at this time, the infection notification unit 122 may notify the user that the reception job file 61R is infected with a computer virus and that the conditions are changed as described above and printing is performed.

  The notification may be performed by transmitting the infection notification data 65 to the terminal device 3 or by displaying the infection notification screen 53Y on the touch panel display 10e, or by transmitting an e-mail to the terminal device 3 of the job requester. It may be performed, or may be performed by outputting a log to the terminal device 3 or the touch panel display 10e.

  Alternatively, the user may be notified that the condition can be reset or the default can be applied within a predetermined range, and the user may be allowed to select one of them.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, when a computer virus is detected, the user can specify “none” as an aggregation option. However, the user cannot specify “none”. You may. That is, the aggregation may be necessarily applied.

  In the present embodiment, when the reception job file 61R is a file for a direct print job and a computer virus is detected by the virus check unit 102, the infection notification unit 122 is the transmission source of the reception job file 61R. The infection notification data 65 was transmitted to the terminal device 3. After that, the condition receiving unit 123 receives a new condition by receiving the condition data 67 from the terminal device 3.

  However, in this case, instead of receiving the condition data 67 from the terminal device 3, the condition receiving unit 123 may receive a condition as follows, as in the case of pull printing.

  The file temporary storage unit 121 associates a virus detection flag with each of the reception job files 61R. The default value of the virus detection flag is “0”. When a computer virus is detected from a certain reception job file 61R, the value of the virus detection flag of the reception job file 61R is updated to “1”.

  In the terminal device 3, upon receiving the infection notification data 65, the infection notification unit 302 displays an infection notification screen 53Z as shown in FIG. 15 on the liquid crystal display 30e instead of the infection notification screen 53X (see FIG. 8). The user goes to the image forming apparatus 1 to execute a job and inputs a predetermined command to the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when a predetermined command is input, the condition receiving unit 123 searches the file temporary storage unit 121 for a reception job file 61R having a virus detection flag value of “1”. Then, a job list screen 52Z indicating the job identifier associated with the found reception job file 61R as shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the touch panel display 10e. Here, the user selects the job identifier of the job to be executed.

  Further, the condition receiving unit 123 causes the touch panel display 10e to display a condition redesignation screen 54Z instead of the job list screen 52Z. The condition re-designation screen 54Z is a screen for the user to input job conditions, like the condition re-designation screen 54X shown in FIG. Here, the user inputs conditions. Then, the condition receiving unit 123 receives the input condition.

  Thereafter, the substitute file generating unit 124 generates the substitute job file 61S based on the reception job file 61R associated with the job identifier selected on the job list screen 52Z and the condition input on the condition re-designation screen 54Z. . The method of generating the substitute job file 61S is as described above. Then, the substitute job execution unit 125 executes the job using the substitute job file 61S instead of the reception job file 61R, and the file deletion unit 126 deletes the reception job file 61R from the file temporary storage unit 121.

  Alternatively, the user operates another terminal device 3 instead of operating the image forming apparatus 1 to execute the job, thereby executing the job based on the reception job file 61R in which the computer virus is detected. Is also good. Hereinafter, the processing in this case will be described by taking as an example the case where the image forming apparatus 1 that is trying to execute a job is the image forming apparatus 1A and the other terminal apparatus 3 is the terminal apparatus 3B.

  The user inputs a predetermined command to the terminal device 3B and specifies the image forming device 1A. Then, the terminal device 3B requests the list from the image forming apparatus 1A.

  When receiving the request from the terminal device 3B, the condition receiving unit 123 of the image forming apparatus 1A searches the file temporary storage unit 121 for a reception job file 61R having a virus detection flag value of “1”, and the terminal device 3B. Notify to

  The terminal device 3B displays a job list screen indicating the notified job identifier. This job list screen is similar to the job list screen 52Z (see FIG. 16). Here, the user selects the job identifier of the job to be executed.

  Further, the terminal device 3B displays a condition re-designation screen instead of the job list screen. This condition re-designation screen is a screen for the user to input job conditions, like the condition re-designation screen 54X shown in FIG. Here, the user inputs conditions.

  Then, the terminal device 3B returns the selected job identifier and the input condition to the image forming apparatus 1A.

  The substitute file generation unit 124 generates the substitute job file 61S based on the reception job file 61R associated with the job identifier returned from the terminal device 3B and the condition returned from the terminal device 3B. The method of generating the substitute job file 61S is as described above. Then, the substitute job execution unit 125 executes the job using the substitute job file 61S instead of the reception job file 61R, and the file deletion unit 126 deletes the reception job file 61R from the file temporary storage unit 121.

  A process of notifying a job identifier from the image forming apparatus 1A to the terminal device 3B, a process of displaying a job list screen and a condition re-designating screen in the terminal device 3B, and forming a selected job identifier and a designated condition from the terminal device 3B. The process of returning to the device 1A may be realized by a dedicated application, or may be realized by existing web technologies (web server and web browser technologies). In the latter case, the image forming apparatus 1A (web server) may transmit the job list screen and the condition re-designation screen as web pages to the terminal device 3B (web browser). The web page may be described in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) or CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).

  Note that there is a possibility that the terminal device 3 that is the transmission source of the job file 61 is a source of computer virus infection. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 or the server collects information on the application status of the anti-virus tool in each terminal device 3 (for example, the applied version, the date and time of the latest virus scan, the result thereof, and the like). The safety of No. 3 may be evaluated. Then, only the terminal device 3 having a certain level of security may be used by the user as the other terminal device 3 described above.

  In the present embodiment, when a computer virus is detected from the reception job file 61R, as shown in FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal device 3 present information about the computer virus to the user. Part of the content printed by the reception job file 61R may be presented. For example, when the document illustrated in FIG. 12 is the target document 7, as illustrated in FIG. 17, thumbnails 711s, 722s, 732s, and 733s of the illustrations 711, 722, 732, and 733 may be presented. . Alternatively, an image printed by the alternative job file 61S as shown in FIG. 13 may be displayed as a preview image.

  At this time, the display target may be changed according to the security level of the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the higher the security level, the smaller the size of the thumbnail or the lower the resolution may be displayed. Alternatively, when the target is text, the higher the security level, the fewer the displayed portion may be. For example, when the security level is low, the first three lines are displayed, but when the security level is high, only the first one line may be displayed. If the security level is higher than a predetermined value, printing may be stopped.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 may store the preview image or the thumbnail in the box as the image data in the JPEG, GIF, or PNG format. At this time, it is desirable to unify parts other than the identifier of the file name. For example, if the file name of the reception job file 61R is “ABC.pdf”, a file such as “ABC.jpg”, “ABC.gif”, or “ABC.png” is added and saved.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the job file 61 is transmitted from the terminal device 3 has been described as an example. However, the image forming apparatus 1 may store the file stored in the box of the image forming apparatus 1 or another image forming apparatus 1. May be handled similarly to the job file 61. In this case, when a computer virus is detected from the job file 61, it is desirable to delete the job file 61 from the box or to perform a process of removing the computer virus from the job file 61.

  In addition, the configuration of the image processing system 4, the image forming apparatus 1, the print server 2, and the terminal device 3 as a whole or each unit, the processing content, the processing order, the data configuration, the screen field configuration, etc. are in accordance with the gist of the present invention. Can be changed as appropriate.

1 Image forming apparatus 10e Touch panel display (display)
101 Job receiving unit (receiving means)
102 virus checker (determination means)
103 Normal Job Execution Unit (Printing Means)
123 condition receiving unit (receiving means, second presenting means)
124 Alternative file generation unit (generation means)
125 Alternative job execution unit (printing means)
7 Target Document 61 Job File (Job Data)
61B Job condition data (specific item data)
61D job control data (second specified item data)
61R reception job file (job data)
61S Alternative job file (second job data)
3 Terminal device

Claims (17)

Receiving means for receiving job data of a job for printing a document;
Determining whether the job data is infected data infected with a computer virus,
If the determination unit determines that the job data is not the infected data, the document is printed based on specific item data relating to a specific item in the job data. Printing means for printing all or part of the document without being based on the specific item data,
An image forming apparatus comprising: When the determination unit determines that the job data is the infected data, the specific item data in the job data is a second range narrower than a first range that a user can normally specify. Generating means for generating second job data by replacing with second specific item data indicating a condition value within the range,
Has,
The printing unit, when the job data is determined to be the infected data by the determination unit, prints a part or the entire part of the document based on the second job data,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The job data includes first image data representing a first image that is a part of the document by a bitmap, and second image data representing a second image that is another part of the document by a vector. And
The generating means generates the second job data so that the second image data is excluded,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The job data includes first image data representing a first image that is a part of the document by a bitmap, and second image data representing a second image that is another part of the document by a vector. And
The generating means converts the second image data into third image data representing the second image in a bitmap, and replaces the second image data with the third image data. Generate the second job data,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The condition value is fixed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. Receiving means for receiving a value specified by the user as the condition value,
The generating unit generates the second job data by using data indicating the condition value specified by the user as the second specific item data,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. Presentation means for presenting a message to the user when the job data is determined to be the infected data by the determination means,
Has,
The receiving means receives the condition value after the message is presented to the user by the presenting means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. The condition value is a number of copies of the document to be printed.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The document has a plurality of pages,
The condition value is the number of pages to be printed on one side of the sheet.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. When the job data is determined by the determination unit to be the infected data, the second presentation unit that presents the job data together with other job data that is the infected data,
Has,
The printing unit, when the job data is selected by the user, prints all or part of the document based on the second job data,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The presenting means presents the job data and the other job data by transmitting a list in which respective options are arranged to a terminal device as a web page,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10. Has a display,
The presenting means presents the job data and the other job data by displaying a list on which respective options are arranged on the display.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10. The job data is described in PDF (Portable Document Format),
The generation unit generates the second job data by tracing a plurality of objects constituting the job data from a root object.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. Previewing means for displaying an image printed by the second job data before the printing means prints the document;
An image forming apparatus according to claim 2. Before the printing unit prints the document, the document is displayed with a part thereof concealed according to the level of security.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 2. Receive the job data of the job to print the document,
Determine whether the job data is infected data infected with a computer virus,
If it is determined that the job data is not the infected data, the document is printed based on specific item data relating to a specific item in the job data, but if it is determined that the job data is the infected data, , Print all or part of the document without reference to the specifics data,
A printing method, characterized in that: Causing the image forming apparatus to execute a receiving process of receiving job data of a job for printing the document,
Causing the image forming apparatus to execute a determination process of determining whether the job data is infected data infected with a computer virus,
When it is determined that the job data is not the infected data, a first print process of printing the document based on specific item data related to a specific item in the job data is executed by the image forming apparatus. Let
When the job data is determined to be the infected data, causing the image forming apparatus to execute a second print process of printing all or a part of the document without being based on the specific item data;
A computer program characterized by the above-mentioned.

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