JP4266291B2 - Image forming apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to trial print control of a password-added job. More specifically, when a password is set in print data received from a host apparatus, only a storage operation is performed once and an operation is performed. A confidential print function that prevents you from instructing to print or delete a document unless you select a document from the document list on the panel (operation display means) and enter a password, and only a part when printing multiple copies. The present invention relates to a control technique for an image forming apparatus having a test print function that allows a user to print first and confirm the print result and then perform the remaining print.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the image forming device, if a password is set in the print data received from the host device, only the accumulation operation is performed, and the document is printed or deleted by selecting the document from the list on the operation panel and entering the password. There is a confidential printing function. In addition, when printing a plurality of copies of a document, there is a function of storing the first part at the same time as test printing and performing reprinting using the stored data after the user confirms the print result.
[0003]
In the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-162582 relating to the prior application of the present applicant, when a job received with a password and stored in the apparatus is selected from a list on the operation panel, only a part of the print is first printed. A technique for instructing is described.
[0004]
Some image forming apparatuses that are shared and used by a plurality of users have a confidential printing function for preventing a printed matter from touching the eyes of other users as described above. For documents sent with confidential printing settings from the host device, authenticate that the user is qualified to operate the document by entering the password on the operation panel, etc., in front of the image forming device In addition, printing and deletion can be instructed.
[0005]
In the normal confidential printing function, if you want to print only a part in advance and check the print result and then print the remaining number of copies, even if it is determined that there is no need to modify by trial printing, The job has to be transmitted twice from the host device, and the user has to make two round trips between the host device and the image forming apparatus.
[0006]
In Japanese Patent Application No. 11-162582, by providing a “print” button and a “trial print” button on the confidential document list screen on the operation panel, only a part of the confidential document stored once is stored. The above-mentioned problem is solved by enabling instruction for trial printing.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the prior application technique, it is difficult to say that the “print” button and the “trial print” button must be provided on the confidential document list screen on the operation panel, and the operation is simple.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus , a control method, and a program capable of improving the operability when only part of a confidential document is test printed.
[0009]
In order to achieve this object, the present invention has the following features.
<Image forming apparatus>
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that outputs print data created by a host device, and stores the print data when a password is set in the print data received from the host device. Storage means for storing in the means, registration means for registering the print data stored in the storage means in the confidential document list, display means for displaying the confidential document list, and the confidential document list displayed on the display means. A control unit that performs print control of print data, and an input unit that inputs a password; a test field for specifying whether or not a test print designation is set in the confidential document list; A copy number field for specifying the possible designated number of copies is provided for each print data, and if there is a trial print designation in the print data, it indicates that there is a trial print designation. Identification information for distinguishing is displayed in the trial field, the number of print designation copies of the print data is displayed in the number field, and the control unit is configured to display the confidential document list displayed on the display unit from the confidential document list. When the print data in which the identification information is displayed in the test column is selected and the correct password set in the selected print data is input from the input unit, the print data is printed by one copy. Then, after the trial printing is completed, the identification information displayed in the trial column is hidden, and the number of copies obtained by subtracting 1 from the print designation number displayed in the number of copies column is displayed in the number of copies column. It is characterized by.
[0010]
<Control method>
A control method according to the present invention is a control method performed by an image forming apparatus that outputs print data created by a host device, and when a password is set in the print data received from the host device, the print method A storage step for storing data in the storage means; a registration step for registering the print data stored in the storage means in a confidential document list; a display step for displaying the confidential document list on a display means; and a display step displayed on the display means. A control step for performing print control of the print data of the confidential document list, and the confidential document list includes a test field for specifying whether or not a trial print designation is set, and printing is possible. A copy number field for specifying the designated number of copies is provided for each print data, and the display step has a test print designation when the print data has a trial print designation. Is displayed in the trial field, the number of print designation copies of the print data is displayed in the number of copies field, and the control step includes the confidential document list displayed on the display means, When the print data in which the identification information is displayed in the trial field is selected, and the correct password set in the selected print data is input from the input unit, the print data is printed by one copy. Then, after the trial printing is completed, the identification information displayed in the trial column is hidden, and the number of copies obtained by subtracting 1 from the print designation number displayed in the number of copies column is displayed in the number of copies column. It is characterized by.
[0011]
<Program>
The program according to the present invention is a program that is executed by an image forming apparatus that outputs print data created by a host device, and the print data is set when a password is set in the print data received from the host device. Stored in the storage means, registration processing for registering the print data stored in the storage means in the confidential document list, display processing for displaying the confidential document list on the display means, and display on the display means A control field for controlling the print data of the confidential document list to be executed by the image forming apparatus, and a test field for specifying whether or not trial print designation is set in the confidential document list And a copy number column for specifying the printable designated number of copies is provided for each print data, and the display process specifies trial print for the print data. If there is, identification information for identifying that there is a trial print designation is displayed in the trial column, the number of print designation copies of the print data is displayed in the number of copies column, and the control processing is displayed on the display means. Print data in which the identification information is displayed in the trial field is selected from the displayed confidential document list, and the correct password set in the selected print data is input from the input unit. In this case, one copy of the print data is trial printed, and after the trial printing is finished, the identification information displayed in the trial column is hidden, and the number of print designation copies displayed in the copy column is one. The subtracted number of copies is displayed in the number of copies column.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a printer as an image forming apparatus of the present invention. The printer 100 includes a reception buffer 102 that receives data from a host device 101 such as a personal computer, a control unit 103 that analyzes received data and controls each part of the device, and manages and temporarily stores data in units of pages. A storage device 104 that stores the video data processed so as to be printable, a printing unit 105 that actually prints the video data on paper, and an operation display unit 106 that displays job information and printing status, and receives instructions from the operator. And a timer 107 which is a time measuring means for realizing control of processing according to time.
[0016]
Next, general confidential printing processing performed by the printer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the printer 100 receives data from the host apparatus 101 (S201), the printer 100 stores the print data in the reception buffer 102. The control unit 103 determines whether or not a password is set for the received data (S202). If the password is set (S202: YES), the print data is extracted from the reception buffer 102 and developed so as to be printable. Data is stored in the storage device 104 (S203), and document information including a password is registered in the confidential document list (S204).
[0017]
When the user selects a desired document from the confidential document list displayed on the operation display unit 106 (S205: YES), a password inquiry screen is displayed on the operation display unit 106 (S206), and the input password is set in the document. If the password matches the current password (S207: YES), a subsequent process is inquired (S208). When the processing instruction is printing of a document (S209: printing), the print data is taken out from the storage device 104 (S210), the document is printed for the designated number of copies (S211), and then stored in the storage device 104. The print data and the document information registered in the confidential document list are deleted (S212).
[0018]
If the processing instruction is to delete a document (S209: deletion), the processing skips to S212. If the processing instruction is canceled (S209: Cancel), the process returns to S205 and waits until a document is selected again. If no password is set in the data received in S201 (S202: NO), normal printing is performed (S213).
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the first control example of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the processing after the password input in S207 of FIG. 2 matches the password set in the document (S207: YES).
[0020]
If the selected document has a trial print designation (S301: YES), print data is taken out from the storage device 104 (S302), and only a part is printed (S303), and the document information in the confidential document list is set to 1 from the designated number of copies. The number of copies is changed (S304), and a standby state is entered until a document is selected again (FIG. 2: S205). If there is no trial print designation in the selected document (S301: NO), the process enters S208 in FIG. 2, and general confidential print processing is performed.
[0021]
FIG. 4 shows a display example of the confidential document list on the operation display unit 106. If you select the top document with a ★ mark in the trial field, after you enter the correct password, only 1 of 5 copies is printed, then the ★ mark disappears from the list and the number of copies is 1 Subtract 4 parts.
[0022]
In this display example, a display column indicating that trial printing is designated is provided in the confidential document list. However, it is possible to manage the list separately from the confidential document list. In this case, after partly test printing, it is deleted from the separate management list and added to the confidential document list. Hereinafter, the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate processing after only a part of the printing is performed in S <b> 303 of FIG. 3.
[0023]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the second control example of the present invention. After partial printing, a processing inquiry is made for the remaining number of copies (S501) without returning to the standby state again, and the process proceeds to S209 in FIG. 2 to perform the selected processing for the remaining number of copies.
[0024]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the third control example of the present invention. A processing inquiry screen for the remaining number of copies is displayed (S601), and the process waits until there is an input (S602: NO). When there is an input (S602: YES), the control unit 103 inquires about an elapsed time after displaying the processing inquiry screen on the timer 107 (S603). If a certain time has elapsed (S603: YES), the control unit 103 again. The password inquiry screen is displayed (S604), and only when the passwords match (S605: YES), the process of S209 in FIG. 2 is entered, and the process designated for the remaining number of copies is executed.
[0025]
The present invention will be described. In the present invention, while inquiring about the processing in S501 of FIG. 5 and S601 of FIG. 6, other confidential documents are selected and printed from the panel, and normal printing from the host device is not performed.
[0026]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the fourth control example of the present invention. A processing inquiry screen for the remaining number of copies is displayed (S701), another data printing disabled mode is set (S702), a user input is waited (S703), and if there is an input (S703: YES), S603 in FIG. Enter the process.
[0027]
When there is no input (S703: NO), the control unit 103 makes an inquiry to the timer 107 (S704). When a certain time has passed (S704: YES), the inquiry screen is deleted (S705). Then, the information in the confidential document list is changed to one obtained by subtracting one copy from the designated number of copies (S706), and the other data printing disabled mode is canceled (S707), and then returns to a standby state until a document is selected again (FIG. 2). : S205). Here, it is assumed that the timeout time until the password input is prompted again in the present invention is shorter than the timeout time until the processing inquiry screen of the present invention is closed.
[0028]
The present invention will be described. In the processing of S603 of FIG. 6 and S704 of FIG. 7, the user can set the time-out time to be compared with the elapsed time from the processing inquiry screen display in advance on the operation display unit 106 and save it in the storage device 104. The control unit 103 reads this set value and determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed using the timer 107.
[0029]
When the timeout time is set to 0 in the present invention, a password must be input even when a processing instruction is issued for the remaining number of copies after partial printing. When the timeout time is set to 0 in the present invention, the processing inquiry screen for the remaining number of copies is not displayed and the processing flow is the same as in the present invention.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when printing a document, both confidential printing and trial printing modes can be specified at once, so that the first print result can be obtained without transmitting a password-added document twice. Confirmation and subsequent printing can be instructed, and it is possible to save the transfer time from the host device and the user's trouble of making two round trips between the host device and the image forming apparatus. In addition, since both the confidential printing mode and the trial printing mode are set when a printing instruction is issued from the host apparatus rather than the operation display unit on the image forming apparatus, the user operability can be improved.
[0031]
According to the present invention, since it is considered that the instruction for the first test print and the remaining number of copies is performed in a series of operations in front of the image forming apparatus, the remaining number of copies is printed after the first print. By making it possible to continue the instruction, it is possible to save the user from having to select the document and input the password again.
[0032]
According to the present invention, when a certain period of time has elapsed after the password is entered once, the user may have left the image forming apparatus. By making an inquiry, it is possible to prevent other users from manipulating the document and to increase security.
[0033]
According to the present invention, when waiting for a processing instruction to be input for the remaining number of copies, other data cannot be printed, thereby reducing the risk of confidential documents being mixed with other documents or being exposed to others. Can increase security.
[0034]
According to the present invention, by providing a mode for releasing the occupation state of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent other users from waiting indefinitely.
[0035]
According to the present invention, the user's operability can be improved by allowing the user to freely set the timeout time after the inquiry screen is displayed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a printer as an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of general confidential printing processing performed by a printer.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a first control example of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a confidential document list on the operation display unit.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a second control example of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a third control example of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a fourth control example of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Printer 101 Host Device 103 Control Unit (Control Unit)
106 Operation display section (operation display means)

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus that outputs print data created by a host device ,
Storage means for storing the print data in a storage means when a password is set in the print data received from the host device;
Registration means for registering print data stored in the storage means in a confidential document list;
Display means for displaying the confidential document list;
Control means for performing print control of print data of the confidential document list displayed on the display means;
An input means for entering a password;
Have
In the confidential document list,
A trial field for specifying whether or not trial print designation is set,
A copy number field for specifying the printable designated number of copies is provided for each print data, and when the print data has a trial print designation, identification information for identifying that there is a trial print designation Is displayed in the trial field, the print designation number of the print data is displayed in the number field.
The control means includes
Print data in which the identification information is displayed in the trial column is selected from the confidential document list displayed on the display means, and the correct password set in the selected print data is input. When the data is input from the means, the print data is trial printed by one copy, and after the trial printing is finished, the identification information displayed in the test column is hidden, and the print displayed in the copy column is displayed. An image forming apparatus, wherein the number of copies obtained by subtracting 1 from the designated number of copies is displayed in the number of copies column. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means, after the test printing ended, query processing instructions against the remaining copies to the user, when the processing instruction received from the user is printing, the remaining number of copies , Delete the print data stored in the storage means and the print data registered in the confidential document list,
If the processing instruction received from the user is deletion, the print data stored in the storage means and the print data registered in the confidential document list are deleted,
An image forming apparatus that displays the confidential document list when a processing instruction received from a user is cancel. Constant in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means, after trial printing ends, displays a processing instruction screen for inquiring the processing instruction against the remaining copies to the user, with respect to the processing instruction screen An image forming apparatus that prompts for a password when a process instruction is input from the process instruction screen after a time input is not performed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control means, wherein when the instruction input waiting processing for the remaining number of copies, the image forming apparatus and inhibits the permission of the other print data printing . A control method performed by an image forming apparatus that outputs print data created by a host device,
  An accumulation step of accumulating the print data in a storage means when a password is set in the print data received from the host device;
  A registration step of registering the print data stored in the storage means in a confidential document list;
  A display step of displaying the confidential document list on a display means;
  A control step of performing print control of print data of the confidential document list displayed on the display means,
  In the confidential document list,
  A trial field for specifying whether or not trial print designation is set,
  A copy number field for specifying the number of copies that can be printed is provided for each print data.
  The display step includes
  If there is a trial print designation in the print data, identification information for identifying that there is a trial print designation is displayed in the trial column, and the print designation number of the print data is displayed in the number of copies column,
  The control step includes
  Print data in which the identification information is displayed in the trial column is selected from the confidential document list displayed on the display means, and the correct password set in the selected print data is input means. When the input is input from the printer, the print data is printed by one copy, and after the test print is finished, the identification information displayed in the test column is hidden, and the print designation displayed in the copy column is displayed. A control method, wherein the number of copies obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of copies is displayed in the number of copies column. A program to be executed by an image forming apparatus that outputs print data created by a host device,
  An accumulation process for accumulating the print data in a storage means when a password is set in the print data received from the host device;
  A registration process for registering the print data stored in the storage means in a confidential document list;
  Display processing for displaying the confidential document list on a display means;
  A control process for performing print control of print data of the confidential document list displayed on the display unit, and causing the image forming apparatus to execute,
  In the confidential document list,
  A trial field for specifying whether or not trial print designation is set,
  A copy number field for specifying the number of copies that can be printed is provided for each print data.
  The display process includes
  If there is a trial print designation in the print data, identification information for identifying that there is a trial print designation is displayed in the trial column, and the print designation number of the print data is displayed in the number of copies column,
  The control process is
  Print data in which the identification information is displayed in the trial column is selected from the confidential document list displayed on the display means, and the correct password set in the selected print data is input means. When the input is input from the printer, the print data is printed by one copy, and after the test print is finished, the identification information displayed in the test column is hidden, and the print designation displayed in the copy column is displayed. A program characterized in that the number of copies obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of copies is displayed in the number of copies column.

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