JP2021160197A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printer, regardless of its specifications of storing, in the storage unit when receiving, even jobs containing non-printable print data, which printer can appropriately delete the accumulated jobs and effectively utilize the capacity of the storage unit so as to continue accumulating new jobs.SOLUTION: A printer performs storage printing. When a data capacity of a received new job is larger than a free space in a RAM, a control unit deletes from the RAM, non-printable print data in jobs stored in the RAM with priority over printable print data until the free space becomes larger than the data capacity (S31-35).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

It is known that the print job executed by the printing device is executed by the user moving to the printing device and logging in to the printing device for the print job transmitted from a personal computer or the like to the storage unit of the printing device and stored. For example, Patent Document 1). The print job is associated with the identification information of the user who has instructed to send the print job. When the printing device executes the print job stored in the storage unit, the user inputs the authentication information that can identify the identification information into the printing device. The printing device performs an authentication process based on the input authentication information, and when the authentication is established, permits the execution of the print job associated with the identification information of the user.

Further, in the printing apparatus, the functions that can be used for each user are limited. According to Patent Document 2, in an image forming apparatus having a repository service function, it is determined whether or not the document data received from a personal computer can be printed, and if it is determined that printing is not possible, the document data is not stored in the storage unit. Is described. The identification information of the user who has instructed to send the document data is added to the document data. The image forming apparatus determines whether or not printing is possible by referring to the user's permission function information stored in advance based on the identification information added to the document data. In the permission function information, for example, information indicating whether or not color printing is permitted for the user is stored. When a user who is not permitted to print in color sends the document data for color printing to the image forming apparatus, the document data is deleted without being stored in the storage unit. The user permission function information in Patent Document 2 is a print permission condition set for the user identification information. Of the print jobs sent by the user, print jobs that meet the print permission conditions can be printed, but print jobs that do not meet the print permission conditions cannot be printed. The print job that meets the print permission conditions is a print job that includes print data that meets the print permission conditions, and may be simply referred to as a "printable job" below. Similarly, a print job that does not meet the print permission conditions is a print job that includes print data that does not meet the print permission conditions, and may be simply referred to as a "non-printable job" below. Hereinafter, the "print job" is simply referred to as a "job".

Further, although it is not a printing device that performs storage printing, in Patent Documents 3 and 4, when the free space of the storage unit of the printing device becomes low, the oldest image data stored in the storage unit is deleted in order. Is described.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-56918 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-182467 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-94745 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-352632

In the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 2, non-printable jobs that do not match the permission function information corresponding to the print permission condition are deleted without being stored in the storage unit. However, in a printing device that performs storage printing, normally, even if the received job is a non-printable job, it is stored in the storage unit.

There are two reasons for doing this, one is that if you delete it without accumulating it, the user who sent the job cannot know what happened to the job. The other is today's universal drivers and driverlessness. If the personal computer has a dedicated driver for the printing device, it is possible to determine whether or not printing is possible by checking the settings of the printing device from the driver, and not to send the non-printable job. However, with a universal driver or driverless, it is not possible to determine whether or not printing is possible on the personal computer side, and all of them have to be transmitted.

Therefore, in the printing apparatus, there arises a problem that non-printable jobs that cannot be printed continue to stay in the storage unit, the capacity of the storage unit is compressed, and newly received jobs cannot be stored. This problem is prominent in a printing device in which the storage capacity of the storage unit is originally small.

In order to secure the free space of the storage unit, it is necessary to delete the accumulated jobs, and it is also an idea to delete them in chronological order as described in Patent Documents 3 and 4. However, among the jobs accumulated in the accumulated printing, there are printable jobs that meet the print permission conditions and printable jobs that do not meet the print permission conditions. Therefore, it cannot be said that the method of deleting the oldest ones in order is suitable for cumulative printing.

One aspect of the present invention is a specification that even a non-printable job is stored in the storage unit at the time of reception, but the non-printable print data is appropriately deleted from the stored jobs to make the capacity of the storage unit effective. The purpose is to provide a printing device that can be utilized to continuously accumulate new jobs.

In order to solve the above problems, the printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is associated with a printing unit that prints an image on a recording medium, printing data used for printing in the printing unit, and the printing data. A reception unit that receives a job including the identification information, a storage unit that stores the job received by the reception unit, an authentication information acquisition unit that acquires authentication information that can identify the identification information, and a control unit. The control unit sets print permission conditions for the identification information, and the control unit authenticates the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition unit, and the storage unit. From the print data stored in the above, a print process of printing the print data associated with the identification information specified by the authentication information authenticated by the authentication process using the printing unit. When the data capacity of the new job executed and further received by the reception unit is larger than the free capacity of the storage unit, it is stored in the storage unit until the free capacity becomes larger than the data capacity. Among the print data, the non-printable print data that does not meet the print permission condition set for the identification information is given priority over the printable print data that meets the print permission condition. It is characterized by executing a free space reservation process to be deleted from.

According to the above configuration, when the data capacity of a new job received by the reception unit is larger than the free space of the storage unit, the print data stored in the storage unit is stored until the free space becomes larger than the data capacity. The free space allocation process to be deleted is executed. In the free space securing process, the non-printable print data that does not meet the print permission condition set for the identification information is deleted from the storage unit with priority over the printable print data that meets the print permission condition.

As a result, even when the storage unit is full, new jobs can be accepted while leaving printable print data as much as possible.

In the printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the non-printable print data that does not meet the print permission condition is further divided into the non-printable print data due to the limitation of the functions that can be used by the printing unit. , Print data that cannot be printed due to exceeding the number of printable sheets per predetermined period is included, and the control unit can print unprintable due to restrictions on the functions that can be used in the free space securing process. It is also possible to have a configuration in which the data is deleted from the storage unit in preference to the print data that cannot be printed due to the number of printable sheets being exceeded.

According to the above configuration, when the non-printable print data is preferentially deleted, the non-printable print data due to the limitation of available functions is preferentially deleted among the non-printable print data. As a result, non-printable print data that may become printable after a predetermined period can be left as much as possible.

The printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention may further have a configuration in which the control unit deletes the oldest print data among the non-printable print data that is preferentially deleted in the free space securing process.

According to the above configuration, when deleting the print data accumulated from the storage unit, the oldest print data among the non-printable print data to be deleted with priority is deleted. As a result, the print data of the old job that the user who sent the job may have forgotten is deleted, so that the deletion order can be adjusted to meet the user's needs rather than deleting from the print data of the new job.

The printing device according to one aspect of the present invention further includes a display unit, and the control unit deletes non-printable print data from the storage unit in the free space securing process, and the non-printable print data. The identification information associated with, the predetermined information that the user who sent the job including the non-printable print data can identify the job, and the reason for deletion are stored in the storage unit as the first notification job information. If the control unit has the first notification job information associated with the identification information for which the authentication process has been performed when the authentication is successful, the control unit will use the predetermined first notification job information. It is also possible to execute the first notification process for displaying the information and the message indicating the reason for deletion on the display unit.

According to the above configuration, when deleting non-printable print data in the free space securing process, the identification information of the non-printable print data and predetermined information that allows the user to identify the job including the non-printable print data. And the reason for deletion are stored in the storage unit as the first notification job information. Later, when the user logs in and the authentication is successful, a message indicating the predetermined information of the first notification job information and the reason for deletion is displayed on the display unit in the first notification process.

As a result, the user identifies the job in which the print data has been deleted together with the reason for deletion for the job containing the deleted print data while deleting the print data that cannot be printed to secure the free space in the storage unit. You can be notified in the state of getting.

In the printing device according to one aspect of the present invention, the control unit further stores the identification information of the user who executed the first notification process and the notified deletion reason in the storage unit, and in the free space securing process. When deleting the non-printable print data associated with the identification information of the user whose deletion reason has been notified in the first notification process for the same reason that has been notified, the non-printable print data is deleted from the storage unit. The second notification job information includes the identification information associated with the non-printable print data, the same notified deletion reason, and the number of jobs for which the print data was deleted due to the same deletion reason. If there is the first notification job information for the same reason, the first notification job information is stored in the storage unit instead of the first notification job information. When there is the second notification job information associated with the identification information for which the authentication process has been performed, a message indicating the number of deleted jobs and the reason for deletion of the second notification job information is displayed on the display unit. It is also possible to configure the configuration to execute the second notification process.

According to the above configuration, in the free space securing process, when the non-printable print data of the user who has been notified of the reason for deletion in the first notification process is deleted for the same reason as notified, it is associated with the non-printable print data. The identified identification information, the same reason for deletion that has been notified, and the number of jobs for which print data has been deleted due to the same reason for deletion are stored in the storage unit as job information for second notification. Here, if there is first notification job information for the same reason, it is stored in the storage unit instead of the first notification job information. Later, when the user logs in and the authentication is successful, a message indicating the number of jobs deleted for the same reason for deletion and the reason for deletion in the second notification process is displayed on the display unit.

In this way, after notifying the job whose print data has been deleted together with the reason for deletion once in a state where the user can identify it, for the same reason for deletion, only the reason for deletion and the number of jobs for which the print data has been deleted are notified together. Will be done. Therefore, the capacity of the storage unit used in the job in which the print data is deleted can be further reduced.

The printing device according to one aspect of the present invention further includes a display unit, and the control unit deletes non-printable print data from the storage unit in the free space securing process, and the non-printable print data. The identification information associated with, the reason for deletion, and the number of jobs for which the print data for each reason for deletion has been deleted are stored in the storage unit as the third notification job information, and the control unit authenticates by the authentication process. At the time of success, if there is the third notification job information associated with the identification information for which the authentication process has been performed, the number of jobs for which the print data for each reason for deleting the third notification job information has been deleted and the deletion A third notification process for displaying a message indicating the reason on the display unit may be executed.

According to the above configuration, when deleting non-printable print data in the free space securing process, the identification information associated with the non-printable print data, the reason for deletion, and the number of deleted jobs for each reason for deletion are obtained. It is stored in the storage unit as the third notification job information. Later, when the user logs in and the authentication is successful, a message indicating the number of jobs for which the print data for each reason for deleting the job information for the third notification was deleted in the third notification process and the reason for the deletion is displayed. It is displayed on the display.

As a result, it is possible to notify the user of the number of jobs in which the print data for each reason for deletion has been deleted, while deleting the print data that cannot be printed to secure the free space in the storage unit.

The printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention further includes a display unit, and printing is performed by limiting the functions that can be used in the printing unit to the non-printable print data that does not meet the printing permission condition. The control unit includes the print data that cannot be printed and the print data that cannot be printed because the number of printable sheets per predetermined period is exceeded. If the free space is less than or equal to the free space of, and the print data included in the new job is print data that cannot be printed due to the limited functions that can be used, the print data of the new job is used as described above. The identification information included in the new job, the predetermined information that the user who sent the new job can identify the job, and the reason for deletion are described as the fourth notification job information while being deleted from the storage unit. When the storage unit stores the data and the control unit has the fourth notification job information associated with the identification information for which the authentication process has been performed when the authentication is successful, the control unit stores the fourth notification job. A fourth notification process for displaying a message indicating the predetermined information and the reason for deletion of the information on the display unit may be executed.

According to the above configuration, when the data capacity of the new job received by the reception unit is less than the free space of the storage unit, and the print data included in the new job is limited in the functions that can be used. If the print data cannot be printed due to this, the print data is deleted from the storage unit. Further, the identification information included in the new job, the predetermined information that the user who sent the new job can identify the job, and the reason for deletion are stored as the fourth notification job information.

Later, when the user logs in and the authentication is successful, a message indicating the predetermined information of the fourth notification job information and the reason for deletion is displayed on the display unit in the fourth notification process.

As a result, the print data that cannot be printed can be deleted as soon as possible to secure the free space in the storage unit, and the user can be notified of the job in which the print data has been deleted together with the reason for deletion.

According to one aspect of the present invention, although the non-printable job is also specified to be stored in the storage unit at the time of reception, the non-printable print data is appropriately deleted from the stored jobs to increase the capacity of the storage unit. It is possible to provide a printing device that can be effectively utilized and continuously accumulate new jobs.

It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the printing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user management table stored in NVRAM and the job management table stored in RAM in the printing apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the sequence from the power-on to the power-off on the premise that the storage setting is an on setting in the printing apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the job accumulation process executed in S3 of the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the free space securing processing executed in S22 of the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the deletion process of the selected target job executed in S33 of the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process of displaying and printing the accumulation job executed in S7 of the flowchart of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the rejection screen and the list screen which are displayed on the display part in the printing apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the job accumulation process executed in S3 of the flowchart of FIG. 3 in the printing apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the free space securing processing executed in S61 of the flowchart of FIG.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[Embodiment 1]
(1. Configuration of printing device)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) 1 is illustrated as an example of the printing apparatus. The MFP 1 is a multifunction device having a print function, a copy function, a scan function, a facsimile function, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes a control unit 10, a printing unit 20, an image reading unit 30, a touch panel 40, a key button unit 50 which is a physical key, a communication interface (I / F) 70, and a USB interface (I /). F) 80 is provided.

The control unit 10 performs general control on each unit of the MFP 1. The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, and an NVRAM (Non-volatile Random Access Memory) 14.

The ROM 12 stores information such as various control programs and various settings for controlling the MFP 1. The RAM 13 is a readable and writable memory used as a program area for developing a program in the ROM 12 and a work area for temporarily storing data when the CPU 11 executes a program and controls each unit. The RAM 13 is also used as an area for accumulating the print data 131 of the accumulated job, the job management table 133, and the like when the accumulation printing is effective. The job includes print data 131 and identification information 134 associated with the print data. The print data 131 for storage printing and the job management table 133 are stored in the RAM 13 as an example of the storage unit.

The NVRAM 14 is a non-volatile memory. The NVRAM 14 stores information such as storage settings and list display settings in addition to the user management table 132 described later.

The storage setting is a setting for whether or not to perform storage printing. Accumulated printing is printing in which a job received from an external device is accumulated in the RAM 13 of the MFP1 and the user logs in to the MFP1 to execute the accumulated job of the logged-in user. When the storage setting is set to ON, the control unit 10 performs storage printing. When the storage setting is set to off, the control unit 10 does not perform storage printing. When the cumulative printing is not performed, the printing unit 20 immediately executes the printing of the received job.

The list display setting is a setting for whether or not to display a list of jobs accumulated by cumulative printing on the display unit 41 when the user logs in to the MFP 1. When the list display setting is on, the control unit 10 displays the list screens D3 and D4 (see FIG. 8) described later, which display a list of accumulated jobs of the logged-in user, on the display unit 41. The user can select a job to execute printing using the list screens D3 and D4. When the list display setting is off, the control unit 10 does not display the above list screens D3 and D4 of the logged-in user on the display unit 41. In that case, the printing unit 20 immediately executes printing of all printable jobs among the jobs accumulated by the logged-in user.

Such storage settings and list display settings are set in advance by the administrator of MFP1. The administrator of the MFP1 uses the PC100 or the operation panel 60 of the MFP1 to set the storage setting to either on or off. Also, when the storage setting is turned on, either the list display setting can be set on or off.

When the control unit 10 instructs the printing unit 20 to execute the job, the printing unit 20 prints an image on a recording medium such as paper using the print data of the job. The image printing method may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

The image reading unit 30 has a scanning function for reading an image. The image reading method may be an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) method for reading an image while transporting a recording medium, or an FB (Flat Bed) method for reading an image of a recording medium placed on the upper surface of a contact glass. It may be.

The operation panel 60 is provided on the upper surface of the MFP 1. The operation panel 60 includes a touch panel 40 and a key button unit 50. The key button unit 50 has a plurality of key buttons for operating the MFP 1.

The touch panel 40 has, for example, a display unit 41 made of a liquid crystal display. The touch panel 40 can detect an instruction operation by contact or proximity with the indicator body to the display unit 41. Various specific modes of the indicator capable of performing the instruction operation can be considered, and may be, for example, a fingertip or a specific instruction device such as a stylus pen.

The display unit 41 displays a login screen for inputting authentication information that can identify the identification information 134. For example, a login screen for entering a user name and password is displayed. The user name and password entered from the login screen are used for user authentication by the control unit 10. The control unit 10 for displaying the login screen on the touch panel 40 and the touch panel 40 are examples of the "authentication information acquisition unit" of the present invention.

Further, in addition to the login screen, the display unit 41 displays a first refusal screen D1, a second refusal screen D2, a list screens D3, D4 (see FIG. 8) and the like, which will be described later. The display unit 41 of the touch panel 40 is an example of the “display unit” of the present invention.

The communication interface 70 and the USB interface 80 are connected to the control unit 10. The communication interface 70 is an interface for communication with an external device, and the communication method may be a wireless communication method or a wired communication method.

Examples of the external device include a personal computer (PC) 100 and a mobile terminal 200 of each user who uses the MFP1. Further, the PC100 of the administrator of the MFP1 is also included as an external device. The control unit 10 is communicably connected to the PC 100 and the mobile terminal 200 via the communication interface 70. Jobs transmitted from the PC 100 and the mobile terminal 200 are input to the MFP 1 via the communication interface 70. The communication interface 70 is an example of the "reception unit" of the present invention.

The USB interface 80 is a device for connecting a USB device (not shown). By connecting the USB device to the USB interface 80, the user can print the printable data stored in the USB device. Further, a card reader 300 or the like used for inputting authentication information may be connected to the USB interface 80.

The card reader 300 is a so-called card reader that reads information from a card, and includes a hardware interface (for example, a USB connector or a serial interface) that can be connected to the USB interface 80. However, the card reader 300 may be built in the MFP1. The card reader 300 may be either a contact type or a non-contact type. The card is not limited to an IC card, and may be any card such as a magnetic card that can record at least a unique card ID (card number) on each card.

In the non-contact type, the card ID is read by the card reader 300 by holding the card over the card reader 300. The card ID is authentication information that can identify the identification information 134. Once the card ID is authenticated, you can log in to MFP1. The card reader 300 connected to the USB interface 80 is another example of the "authentication information acquisition unit" of the present invention.

(2. User management table 132)
The upper part of FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the user management table 132 stored in the NVRAM 14. The user management table 132 includes the user name constituting the identification information 134, monochrome printability information, color printability information, remaining number of printable sheets (page count) information, and information indicating whether or not the initial error notification has been performed. Etc. are included. This information is user management information. Of these, information on whether or not monochrome printing is possible, information on whether or not color printing is possible, and information on the remaining number of printable sheets constitute the print permission condition. In the present embodiment, the identification information 134 is used as the user name, but the identification information 134 is not limited to the user name, and may be, for example, an IP address of a PC or the like operated by the user to send a job.

(2-1. Printing permission conditions)
The print permission condition is a condition for determining whether or not printing using the printing unit 20 can be executed, and is set for the user name which is the identification information 134. The print permission condition is set in advance by the administrator of the MFP1 using the PC100 or the operation panel 60 of the MFP1. A job that meets the print permission conditions is a printable job, and a job that does not meet the print permission conditions is a non-printable job. In the present embodiment, a job including print data that meets the print permission conditions is simply referred to as a "printable job". Similarly, print data that does not meet the print permission conditions, that is, a job that includes print data that cannot be printed is simply referred to as a "non-printable job".

In the present embodiment, the print permission condition is composed of information on the functions that can be used by the printing unit 20 and information on the remaining number of print permission sheets. More specifically, in the user management table 132 of FIG. 2, color printing availability information is set as a function that can be used by the printing unit 20, and color printing execution possibility is set for each user name. .. Monochrome printing can be executed for all user names.

In the example of the user management table 132, the user "Andy" and the user "Deen" can print in monochrome, but are not allowed to print in color. On the other hand, the user "Bob" and the user "Chris" are permitted to perform both monochrome printing and color printing. In addition, the number of printable sheets for a predetermined period is set to 20 (pages) for all four users. Of these, the user "Bob" has reached the upper limit of the number of printable sheets, and is in a state where printing cannot be performed until the next predetermined period is entered.

With the print permission conditions set in this way, the functions that can be used for the color print jobs sent from the user "Andy" and the user "Deen" who are not allowed to print in color shall be limited. It becomes a non-printable job by. Further, the job transmitted from the user "Bob" that has reached the upper limit of the number of printable sheets is a non-printable job due to the limitation on the number of printable sheets. Hereinafter, a non-printable job due to a limited number of available functions will be referred to as a "non-printable job due to a limited number of functions", and a non-printable job due to a limited number of printable sheets will be referred to as a "non-printable job due to a limited number of sheets". It is called.

(2-2. Information indicating whether or not the initial error notification was sent)
The control unit 10 determines that an error has occurred when the stored job is a non-printable job. Further, when the stored job is a non-printable job, the control unit 10 deletes at least the print data 131 of the non-printable job. Then, when the user of the non-printable job logs in, the control unit 10 notifies that the non-printable job has been deleted together with the reason for deletion.

Such notification is performed, for example, by the control unit 10 displaying the first refusal screen D1 shown in FIG. 8 on the display unit 41. As shown in FIG. 8, the first rejection screen D1 includes "color printing is not possible" corresponding to the reason for deletion and the deleted job name "art-graphics". By visually recognizing the first rejection screen D1, the user who generated the non-printable job can know the reason for deletion and which job was deleted.

The information indicating whether or not the initial error notification has been performed is information indicating whether or not the user has been notified by displaying the first rejection screen D1. The initial error notification is set to "Not yet" when the notification is not performed, and the initial error notification is set to "Done" when the notification is performed.

In the example of the user management table 132, the user "Andy" and the user "Deen" generate an error due to the function limitation. Therefore, the user management table 132 contains information indicating whether or not the initial error notification has been performed for both the function limit and the number limit. The user "Andy", both of whom are "not yet", is in a state in which the initial error notification has not been performed for both errors. The user "Deen" whose function restriction is "completed" is in a state in which the initial error notification has already been notified for the function restriction error.

On the other hand, since the user "Bob" and the user "Chris" have the authority of color printing, no error occurs due to the function limitation. Therefore, only the information indicating whether or not the initial error notification is performed due to the number limit is described in the user management table 132. The user "Bob" whose number limit is "completed" has already been notified of the initial error notification regarding the number limit error, and the user "Chris" whose number limit is "not yet" is notified of the number limit error. The initial error notification has not been sent.

(3. Job management table 133)
The lower part of FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the job management table 133 stored in the RAM 13. The job management table 133 includes a job name, a user name, a registration time, an automatic deletion time, monochrome / color printing information, and the number of pages. This information is job management information. The job name is the name of the job given by the user. The user is the user name that sent the job and corresponds to the identification information 134. The registration time is the time when the job is received and stored in the RAM 13. The job name, user name, monochrome / color printing information, and number of pages are information included in the job.

The automatic deletion time is a time when the control unit 10 automatically deletes the job, and is set by the control unit 10. The automatic deletion time is the time when the job is deleted. The time from storing a job in the RAM 13 to deleting the job from the RAM 13 differs depending on the state of the job, that is, whether it is a non-printable job or a printable job. Further, the time until the job is deleted differs between the non-printable job due to the function limitation and the non-printable job due to the number of sheets limitation even if the job cannot be printed.

In the present embodiment, the automatic deletion time of the non-printable job due to the function limitation is set, for example, one hour after the registration time. The automatic deletion time of the non-printable job due to the number of sheets limit is set, for example, 24 hours (1 day) after the registration time. The automatic deletion time of printable jobs is set 72 hours (3 days) after the registration time.

Jobs that cannot be printed due to function restrictions cannot be printed even after a lapse of time, but jobs that cannot be printed due to the number of sheets limit can be printed when the number of printable sheets is reset after a lapse of time. Therefore, the control unit 10 sets the automatic deletion time so that the non-printable job due to the limited number of sheets remains preferentially over the non-printable job due to the function limitation. Then, for printable jobs, the automatic deletion time is set so as to remain preferentially over non-printable jobs due to the number of sheets limit.

The time until deletion according to the job state is set in advance by the administrator of the MFP1 using the PC100 or the operation panel 60 of the MFP1 in the same manner as the print permission condition of the user management table 132. The set time until deletion is stored in the NVRAM 14 in the same manner as the print permission condition.

(4. Sequence from power-on to power-off of MFP1)
Next, the sequence from power-on to power-off in MFP 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 assumes that the storage setting is on. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

The MFP1 shifts to the standby state when the power is turned on (S1). When the MFP 1 shifts to the standby state, the control unit 10 first determines whether or not it has detected the start of receiving a new job (S2). A new job is received from an external device such as the PC 100 and the mobile terminal 200 via the communication interface 70. When the start of reception is detected (S2: YES), the control unit 10 executes the job accumulation process (S3), and then returns the process to S2. The job accumulation process executed in S3 will be described later using the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 6.

If the reception start is not detected (S2: NO), the control unit 10 then determines whether or not there is a job that is older than the automatic deletion time, that is, a job that has already passed the automatic deletion time among the accumulated jobs. Is determined (S4). If there is a job older than the automatic deletion time (S4: YES), the old job is deleted (S5). That is, the print data 131 of the old job is deleted from the RAM 13, the job management table 133 of the RAM 13 is updated, and the job management information of the old job is deleted. After that, the control unit 10 returns the process to S2.

When there is no job older than the automatic deletion time (S4: NO), the control unit 10 next determines whether or not the user has accepted the login operation to the MFP1 (S6). The control unit 10 performs an authentication process for authenticating the login screen displayed on the display unit 41 or the authentication information acquired from the card reader 300, and if the authentication process is successful, it is determined that the user has accepted the login operation to the MFP 1. When the login operation is accepted (S6: YES), the control unit 10 executes a process of displaying and printing the accumulated job (S7), and then proceeds to the process of S10. The process of displaying and printing the storage job executed in S7 will be described later using the flowchart of FIG.

When the login operation is not accepted (S6: NO), the control unit 10 next determines whether or not the initialization time of the number of prints count has come (S8). When the initialization time of the number-of-print count has been reached (S8: YES), the control unit 10 initializes the number of printed sheets of each user (S9), and then proceeds to S10. In the initialization of the printed number of each user performed in S9, the printed number of the page count of each user in the user management table 132 is initialized. That is, the page count of all users is 0/20. If the initialization time of the number of printed sheets count has not been reached (S8: NO), the process proceeds to S10.

In S10, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the power off instruction of the MFP 1 has been given. When the power off instruction is given (S10: YES), the control unit 10 ends the process when the MFP1 shifts to the power off (S11). If the power off instruction is not given (S10: NO), the control unit 10 returns the process to S2.

(5. Job accumulation processing)
Next, the flow of the job accumulation process executed in S3 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to these. In the job accumulation process, when the data capacity of the new job received is larger than the free capacity of the RAM 13, the control unit 10 executes the free space securing process and executes the free space allocation process until the data capacity of the new job becomes larger than the data capacity of the RAM 13. Secure free space. In the free space securing process, the non-printable job among the jobs stored in the RAM 13 is deleted from the RAM 13 with priority over the printable job. Also, even for the same non-printable job, the non-printable job due to the function limitation is deleted with priority over the non-printable job due to the number of sheets limit.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the job accumulation process, the control unit 10 first determines whether or not there is free space in the RAM 13 that can store a new job received (S21). When there is no free space (S21: NO), the control unit 10 executes the free space securing process (S22), and then returns the process to S21. The free space securing process executed in S22 will be described later using the flowchart of FIG.

When there is free space (S21: YES), the control unit 10 determines whether or not the received new job cannot be printed due to the function limitation (S23). When printing is not possible due to the function restriction (S23: YES), the automatic deletion time of the function restriction is set (S24), and the process proceeds to S25. In the present embodiment, the automatic deletion time of the functional restriction is one hour after the registration time.

On the other hand, when it is not impossible to print due to the function limitation (S23: NO), the control unit 10 subsequently determines whether the new job received cannot be printed due to the limited number of sheets (S26). When printing is not possible due to the number of sheets limit (S26: YES), the automatic deletion time of the number of sheets limit is set (S27), and the process proceeds to S25. In the present embodiment, the automatic deletion time of the number limit is 24 hours after the registration time.

When it is not impossible to print due to the number of sheets limit (S26: NO), since the new received job is a printable job, the control unit 10 sets the automatic deletion time of the printable job (S28), and processes in S25. Proceed. In the present embodiment, the automatic deletion time of the printable job is 72 hours after the registration time.

In S25, the received new job is stored in the RAM 13. That is, the print data 131 of the received new job is stored in the RAM 13, and the job management table 133 of the RAM 13 is updated to store the job management information of the received new job in the RAM 13. The job management table 133 includes the automatic deletion time set in S24, S27 or S28. After that, the control unit 10 ends the job accumulation process and returns the process to S2 in FIG.

(5-1. Free space securing process)
Next, the flow of the free space securing process executed in S22 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the free space securing process, the control unit 10 first determines whether or not there is a non-printable job due to function limitation among the accumulated jobs (S31). When there is a non-printable job due to the function restriction (S31: YES), the control unit 10 selects the oldest non-printable job due to the function restriction (S32). Next, the control unit 10 executes the deletion process of the selected target job (S33), and then returns the process to S21 of FIG. The deletion process of the selected target job executed in S33 will be described later using the flowchart of FIG.

On the other hand, when there is no non-printable job due to the function limitation (S31: NO), the control unit 10 determines whether or not there is a non-printable job due to the number limit among the accumulated jobs (S34). When there is a non-printable job due to the number of sheets limit (S34: YES), the control unit 10 selects the oldest non-printable job due to the limited number of sheets (S35), and proceeds to the process in S33 in the same manner as in S32.

When there is no non-printable job due to the number of sheets limit (S34: NO), the control unit 10 selects the oldest job among the accumulated jobs and deletes it from the RAM 13 (S36). After that, the control unit 10 returns the process to S21 in FIG.

The free space securing process shown in FIG. 5 is repeated until it is determined in S21 of FIG. 4 that there is free space.

(5-2. Delete processing of selected target job)
Next, the flow of the deletion process of the selected target job executed in S33 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, in the deletion process of the selected target job, the control unit 10 first deletes the print data 131 of the target job from the RAM 13 (S41).

Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the target job is a non-printable job due to functional restrictions (S42). When the job cannot be printed due to the function restriction (S42: YES), the control unit 10 determines whether or not the function restriction of the initial error notification of the user management table 132 of the user of the target job is "completed" (S). S43).

When the function restriction of the initial error notification is not "completed" (S43: NO), the user name which is the identification information 134 of the target job, the predetermined information that the user can identify the target job, and the function restriction which is the reason for deletion. Is stored in the RAM 13 as the first notification job information (S44).

In this embodiment, the job management information of the target job in the job management table 133 is left as the first notification job information. The notification job information may include at least a user name that is identification information 134 of the target job and predetermined information that allows the user to identify the target job. The predetermined information is preferably a "job name", but may be a "registration time" if the user can identify the job at the registration time.

On the other hand, when the function restriction of the initial error notification is "completed" (S43: YES), the user name which is the identification information 134 of the target job, the function restriction which is the notified deletion reason, and the deletion reason are deleted. The number of jobs performed is stored in the RAM 13 as job information for the second notification (S45). Here, if the RAM 13 has the first notification job information, it is deleted.

In the present embodiment, the job management information of the target job in the job management table 133 is left as the first notification job information. Therefore, in S45, the job information for the second notification is obtained by rewriting the job name to the number of deleted jobs by using one line of the non-printable job due to the function limitation accumulated by the user of the target job in the job management table 133. I remember.

For example, when the user of the target job is "Deen", as shown in the user management table 132, "Deen" has the function restriction of the initial error notification "completed". Therefore, the control unit 10 changes the color printing job name of the user "Deen" to "2 jobs" as shown in the job management table 133. This is a state in which the user "Deen" who cannot use color printing has already sent two color printing jobs and is summarized as information of the notification job. As a result, the two rows of the job management table 133 occupied by the non-printable jobs due to the function limitation are stored in one row, so that the amount of the RAM 13 used can be further reduced.

On the other hand, if the job is not a non-printable job due to functional restrictions (S42: NO), the control unit 10 determines whether or not the limit on the number of initial error notifications in the user management table of the user of the target job is "completed" (S46). ).

When the limit on the number of initial error notifications is not "completed" (S46: NO), the same processing as in S44 is performed with the reason for deletion as the limit on the number of sheets, and the job information for the first notification is stored in the RAM 13 (S47). When the limit on the number of initial error notifications is "completed" (S46: YES), the same processing as in S45 is performed with the reason for deletion as the limit on the number of sheets, and the job information for the second notification is stored in the RAM 13 (S48).

(6. Processing to display and print the accumulated job)
Next, the flow of the process of displaying and printing the accumulated job executed in S7 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

In the process of displaying and printing the accumulated job, when the login user has deleted the non-printable job of the accumulated job, the control unit 10 identifies the reason for deletion and the job deleted by the user in the display unit 41. Notify the user by displaying a message indicating the predetermined information to be obtained. Alternatively, a message indicating the reason for deletion and the number of deleted jobs is displayed to notify the user. The login user is the user who accepted the user login operation in S6 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the process of displaying and printing the stored jobs, the control unit 10 first determines whether or not the stored jobs include non-printable jobs due to functional restrictions (S51). When there is a non-printable job due to functional restrictions (S51: YES), the control unit 10 displays a rejection screen on the display unit 41 for notifying the user that the job cannot be printed due to non-printability (S52).

In the present embodiment, if the function restriction of the initial error notification of the user management table 132 is "not yet", the control unit 10 uses the first notification job information stored in the RAM 13 to delete the reason and the job name. The first notification process for displaying a message indicating that is performed. The job name is predetermined information that allows the user to identify the deleted job.

For example, assume that the logged-in user is "Andy". As shown in the job management table 133, "Andy" accumulates color printing jobs of the job name "art-graphics". However, as shown in the user management table 132, "Andy" cannot use color printing. Therefore, the control unit 10 determines in S51 that the job with the job name "art-graphics" is a non-printable job.

Further, as shown in the user management table 132, the initial error notification of the function restriction of "Andy" is "not yet". Therefore, in S52, the control unit 10 displays the first rejection screen D1 including the message “Color printing is not possible. Art-graphics have been deleted.” Shown in FIG. 8 on the display unit 41. The OK button 43 is displayed on the first rejection screen D1. When the user touches the OK button 43, the control unit 10 erases the first rejection screen D1.

Further, in the present embodiment, if the function restriction of the initial error notification of the user management table 132 is "completed", the control unit 10 uses the second notification job information stored in the RAM 13 as the reason for deletion. Perform a second notification process that displays a message indicating the number of deleted jobs.

For example, assume that the logged-in user is "Deen". As shown in the job management table 133, "Deen" stores color printing jobs under the job name "2 jobs". However, as shown in the user management table 132, "Deen" cannot use color printing. Therefore, the control unit 10 determines in S51 that the job with the job name "2 jobs" is a non-printable job.

Further, as shown in the user management table 132, the initial error notification of the function restriction of "Deen" is "completed". Therefore, in S52, the control unit 10 displays the second rejection screen D2 including the message “Color printing is not possible. Two jobs have been deleted.” Shown in FIG. 8 on the display unit 41. The job name "2 jobs" is the number of jobs deleted for the same reason for deletion, and corresponds to the job information for the second notification. The OK button 43 is also displayed on the second rejection screen D2. When the user touches the OK button 43, the control unit 10 erases the second rejection screen D2.

After notifying the user of the existence of the non-printable job in S52, the control unit 10 sets the function restriction of the initial error notification of the user management table 132 of the logged-in user from "not yet" to "finished" (S53). .. Next, the control unit 10 deletes the print data 131 and the job management information of the non-printable job due to the function limitation of the logged-in user from the RAM 13 (S54). That is, the print data 131 is deleted from the RAM 13, the job management table 133 is updated, and the job management information is deleted. After that, the control unit 10 advances the process to S55. The processing order of S53 and S54 may be reversed.

On the other hand, in S51, when there is no non-printable job due to function limitation (S51: NO), the control unit 10 determines whether or not there is a stored job of the logged-in user (S55). When there is no storage job (S55: NO), the control unit 10 returns the process to S10 in FIG. On the other hand, when there is a stored job (S55: YES), the control unit 10 creates a list screen which is a list of stored jobs of the logged-in user based on the job management table 133, and displays it on the display unit 41 (S56). ). At this time, if a non-printable job due to the limited number of sheets is included, the control unit 10 displays the non-printable job due to the limited number of sheets in a state of being distinguished from the printable job so that it can be understood that the printable job is not possible.

For example, assume that the logged-in user is "Bob". As shown in the job management table 133, "Bob" accumulates monochrome printing jobs with the job name "businesss_mail". However, as shown in the user management table 132, "Bob" cannot be printed because it has already reached the upper limit of the number of printable sheets. Therefore, the control unit 10 displays on the display unit 41 the list screen D3 displayed in S56 in a state in which it can be seen that the job with the job name “busines_mail” shown in FIG. 8 cannot be printed. In addition to the job name, the list screen D3 includes information on the date and time when the job was registered, information on the number of pages, and the like. As these information, the job management information of the job management table 133 is used.

On the list screen D3, a delete key for deleting the job, a print key for instructing the printing of the job, an exit key for ending the screen display, and the like are also displayed.

As another example, it is assumed that the logged-in user is "Andy". As shown in the job management table 133, "Andy" accumulates color printing jobs with the job name "art-graphics". However, as shown in the user management table 132, "Andy" cannot use color printing, and the print data 131 has already been deleted. In such a case, in S55, the control unit 10 determines that there is no accumulated job of the logged-in user and returns the process to S10 in FIG. 3, so that the list screen is not displayed on the display unit 41.

As yet another example, assume that the logged-in user is "Chris". As shown in the job management table 133, "Chris" accumulates color printing jobs with the job name "callender". Then, as shown in the user management table 132, "Chris" can already use color printing and has not reached the upper limit of the number of printable sheets. Therefore, in S56, the control unit 10 displays the list screen D4 displayed in a state in which the job with the job name “callender” shown in FIG. 8 can be selected on the display unit 41. In addition to the job name, the list screen D4 also includes information on the date and time when the job was registered, information on the number of pages, and the like, and a delete key, a print key, an end key, and the like are also displayed. By selecting "callender" and touching the print key, the job of "callender" can be printed. Touching the print key is the print start operation.

The control unit 10 determines whether or not the printable job is selected on the list screens D3 and D4 and the print start operation is performed (S57). When a printable job is selected and a print start operation is performed (S57: YES), the control unit 10 executes the print process of the selected job using the print unit 20 (S58). After that, the control unit 10 deletes all the information of the job that executed the print process from the RAM 13 (S59), and advances the process to S60.

On the other hand, when the printable job selection and the print start operation are not performed (S57: NO), the control unit 10 advances the process to S60. In S60, it is determined whether or not the end operation of the list screens D3 and D4 has been performed, and if it is performed (S60: YES), the process is returned to S10 in FIG. 3 and if it is not performed (S60: NO). Returns the process to S57. Touching the end key of the list screens D3 and D4 is the end operation of the list screens D3 and D4.

(effect)
According to the above configuration, when the data capacity of the received new job is larger than the free space of the RAM 13, the free space securing process for deleting the print data stored in the RAM 13 until the free space becomes larger than the data capacity. Is executed. In the free space securing process, the non-printable job is deleted from the RAM 13 with priority over the printable job. More specifically, the print data included in the non-printable job is deleted from the RAM 13 in preference to the print data included in the printable job. As a result, even when the RAM 13 is full, new jobs can be accepted while leaving as many printable jobs as possible.

Moreover, when deleting the non-printable job with priority, the non-printable job due to the function limitation is deleted with priority over the non-printable job due to the limited number of sheets. More specifically, the print data that cannot be printed due to the function limitation is deleted with priority over the print data that cannot be printed due to the number of sheets limitation. As a result, it is possible to leave as many non-printable jobs as possible with a limited number of sheets that may become printable after a predetermined period of time.

Further, when deleting the non-printable job, the print data 131 is deleted, and the identification information 134, the predetermined information, and the reason for deletion are stored in the RAM 13 as the first notification job information. The predetermined information is information such as a job name that allows the user to identify the job. Later, when the user logs in and the authentication is successful, a message indicating the predetermined information of the first notification job information and the reason for deletion is displayed on the display unit 41 in the first notification process. As a result, while deleting the non-printable job to secure the free space of the RAM 13, the deleted non-printable job can be notified together with the reason for deletion in a state in which the user can identify the deleted job.

Further, when the non-printable job of the user who has been notified of the reason for deletion in the first notification process is deleted for the same reason as notified, the print data 131 is deleted and the following three pieces of information are used as the job information for the second notification. Store in RAM 13. That is, the identification information 134, the same reason for deletion that has been notified, and the number of jobs for which print data has been deleted due to the same reason for deletion are stored in the RAM 13 as job information for the second notification. If there is first notification job information for the same reason, it is stored in the RAM 13 instead of the first notification job information. Later, when the user logs in and the authentication is successful, a message indicating the number of jobs deleted for the same reason for deletion and the reason for deletion in the second notification process is displayed on the display unit 41. In this way, after notifying the job whose print data has been deleted together with the reason for deletion once in a state where the user can identify it, for the same reason for deletion, only the reason for deletion and the number of jobs for which the print data has been deleted are notified together. Will be done. Therefore, the capacity of the RAM 13 used in the job in which the print data is deleted can be further reduced.

[Embodiment 2]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For convenience of explanation, the members having the same functions as the members described in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

In the MFP 1 of the first embodiment, the control unit 10 sets the automatic deletion time and stores it in the RAM even when the new job received is a non-printable job due to the function limitation in the job accumulation process (FIG. 6). S23, S24) of the flowchart of 4. On the other hand, in the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, another job accumulation process (2) shown in FIG. 9 is executed, and this point is different. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 are designated by the same step numbers, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the received new job cannot be printed due to the function limitation (S23). When printing is not possible due to functional restrictions (S23: YES), the received print data 131 of the new job is deleted (S62). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the function restriction of the initial error notification of the user management table 132 of the user of the new job is "completed" (S63).

When the function restriction of the initial error notification is not "completed" (S63: NO), the control unit 10 advances the process to S24. On the other hand, when the function restriction of the initial error notification is "completed" (S63: YES), the user name which is the identification information 134 of the new job, the function restriction which is the notified deletion reason, and the deletion reason are printed. The number of jobs whose data has been deleted is stored in the RAM 13 as the fourth notification job information (S64). In S52 of the process of displaying and printing the accumulated job shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 10 displays a message indicating predetermined information of the fourth notification job information and the reason for deletion on the display unit 41 for the fourth notification. Execute the process.

As described above, in the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 10 already deletes the print data 131 at the time of receiving the non-printable job due to the function limitation. Therefore, in the free space securing process, the free space of the RAM 13 does not increase so much even if the remaining information of the non-printable job due to the function limitation is deleted. Therefore, in the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 10 executes another free space securing process (2) shown in FIG. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 are assigned the same step numbers and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 10 proceeds to S34 without performing S31 and S32 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 in the free space securing process (2). That is, the oldest non-printable job due to the number of sheets limit is selected and deleted from the beginning.

According to the above configuration, the non-printable job can be deleted as soon as possible to secure the free space of the RAM 13, and the user can be notified of the job from which the print data has been deleted together with the reason for deletion.

[Modification example]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described first and second embodiments, information indicating whether or not the initial error notification has been performed is stored, and a predetermined job name or the like that allows the user to identify the deleted job of the print data together with the reason for deletion is stored. The first rejection screen D1 of the message indicating the information is displayed on the display unit 41. However, the third rejection screen D2 of the message indicating the reason for deletion and the number of jobs for which the print data has been deleted is displayed on the display unit 41 without storing the information indicating whether or not the initial error notification has been performed. Notification processing may be executed.

In the free space securing process, the print data that cannot be printed is deleted, and the identification information 134, the reason for deletion, and the number of jobs for which the print data for each reason for deletion are deleted are stored in the RAM 13 as job information for the third notification. As a result, it is possible to notify the user of the number of jobs for which the print data for each reason for deletion has been deleted, while deleting the non-printable jobs and securing the free space of the RAM 13.

[Example of realization by software]
Among the control blocks of the MFP 1, the control unit 10 may be realized by hardware which is a logic circuit formed in an IC chip or the like which is an integrated circuit, or may be realized by software.

In the latter case, the MFP 1 includes a computer that executes the instructions of a program that is software that realizes each function. The computer includes, for example, one or more processors and a computer-readable recording medium that stores the program. Then, in the computer, the processor reads the program from the recording medium and executes it, thereby achieving the object of the present invention. As the processor, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) can be used. As the recording medium, a "non-temporary tangible medium", for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) or the like, a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. Further, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the above program may be further provided. Further, the program may be supplied to the computer via a communication network, a broadcast wave, or the like, which is an arbitrary transmission medium capable of transmitting the program. It should be noted that one aspect of the present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the above program is embodied by electronic transmission.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and the embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 MFP
10 Control unit 11 CPU
13 RAM
20 Printing unit 40 Touch panel 41 Display unit 100 PC
131 Print data 132 User management table 133 Job management table 134 Identification information 200 Mobile terminal 300 Card reader D1 First rejection screen D2 Second rejection screen D3, D4 List screen

Claims (7)

A printing unit that prints images on a recording medium,
A reception unit that accepts jobs including print data used for printing in the print unit and identification information associated with the print data, and a reception unit.
A storage unit that stores the job received by the reception unit, and a storage unit that stores the job.
An authentication information acquisition unit that acquires authentication information that can identify the identification information,
With a control unit
The control unit sets print permission conditions for the identification information, and sets the print permission condition.
The control unit
The authentication process for authenticating the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition unit, and
A print process for printing print data associated with the identification information specified by the authentication information authenticated by the authentication process from the print data stored in the storage unit using the print unit. And, and then
When the data capacity of the new job received by the reception unit is larger than the free capacity of the storage unit, the print data stored in the storage unit is included until the free space becomes larger than the data capacity. The free space for deleting the non-printable print data that does not meet the print permission condition set for the identification information from the storage unit in preference to the printable print data that meets the print permission condition. A printing device characterized by performing a securing process. The non-printable print data that does not meet the print permission conditions includes the non-printable print data due to the limitation of the functions that can be used by the printing unit and the number of printable sheets per predetermined period. Includes non-printable print data,
In the free space securing process, the control unit preferentially stores the print data that cannot be printed due to the limitation of the functions that can be used over the print data that cannot be printed due to the number of printable sheets being exceeded. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is deleted from the unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit deletes the oldest print data among the non-printable print data that is preferentially deleted in the free space securing process. Equipped with a display
In the free space securing process, the control unit deletes the non-printable print data from the storage unit, and also performs a job including the identification information associated with the non-printable print data and the non-printable print data. Predetermined information that allows the transmitting user to identify the job and the reason for deletion are stored in the storage unit as first notification job information.
When the authentication by the authentication process is successful, the control unit has the predetermined information of the first notification job information, if there is the first notification job information associated with the identification information for which the authentication process has been performed. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a first notification process for displaying a message indicating "and the reason for deletion" is executed on the display unit. The control unit
The identification information of the user who executed the first notification process and the reason for deletion notified are stored in the storage unit.
In the free space securing process, when the non-printable print data associated with the identification information of the user whose deletion reason has been notified in the first notification process is deleted for the same reason that has been notified, the non-printable print The data is deleted from the storage unit, and the identification information associated with the non-printable print data, the same notified deletion reason, and the number of jobs for which the print data is deleted due to the same deletion reason are added. It is stored as the second notification job information, and if there is the first notification job information for the same reason, it is stored in the storage unit instead of the first notification job information.
When the authentication by the authentication process is successful, the control unit deletes the second notification job information if there is the second notification job information associated with the identification information for which the authentication process has been performed. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a second notification process for displaying a message indicating "and the reason for deletion" is executed on the display unit. Equipped with a display
In the free space securing process, the control unit deletes the non-printable print data from the storage unit, and at the same time, the identification information associated with the non-printable print data, the reason for deletion, and the print data for each reason for deletion. The number of deleted jobs is stored in the storage unit as the third notification job information.
When the authentication by the authentication process is successful, the control unit determines the reason for deleting the third notification job information when there is the third notification job information associated with the identification information for which the authentication process has been performed. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a third notification process for displaying a message indicating the number of jobs whose print data has been deleted and a reason for deletion is executed on the display unit. Equipped with a display
The non-printable print data that does not meet the print permission conditions includes the non-printable print data due to the limitation of the functions that can be used by the printing unit and the number of printable sheets per predetermined period. Includes non-printable print data,
The control unit
Printing is not possible because the data capacity of the new job received by the reception unit is less than or equal to the free space of the storage unit and the functions that can use the print data included in the new job are restricted. In the case of the print data of the new job, the print data of the new job can be deleted from the storage unit, and the identification information included in the new job and the user who sent the new job can identify the job. The predetermined information and the reason for deletion are stored in the storage unit as the fourth notification job information.
When the authentication by the authentication process is successful, the control unit has the predetermined information of the fourth notification job information, if there is the fourth notification job information associated with the identification information for which the authentication process has been performed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fourth notification process for displaying a message indicating "and the reason for deletion" is executed on the display unit.

Images