JP4475030B2 - Information processing apparatus and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of reliably executing processing settings relating to confidentiality of image data and a computer program for realizing the information processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a function of a printer driver that controls an image forming apparatus such as a printer apparatus or a multifunction peripheral from an information processing apparatus, a function of printing a specific character string and image data on each page to be printed or an arbitrary page (hereinafter referred to as a watermark) Many products with (function) have been commercialized. This watermark function handles documents that are printed by imprinting character patterns such as “Top Secret”, “Important”, “Circuit”, “Urgent”, and “Copy prohibited” on documents that are printed by users. It is used for the purpose of calling attention (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In addition, when performing normal print processing from the information processing apparatus, there are not a few cases in which the user has already discharged paper before he / she picks up the printed material to the image forming apparatus. The printed materials of users may be mixed. At this time, there is a possibility that the printed matter output by one person may be taken away by mistake and the contents may be browsed, so that it is not suitable for printing a confidential document. Therefore, a confidential printer function is installed in a conventional printer driver, and each user registers a personal identification number on the printer driver, and the image is printed until authentication using the personal identification number is performed on the image forming apparatus side. Print data is held inside the forming apparatus.
JP 2002-77600 A

  When a document with high confidentiality and requires careful handling is printed on the image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus in which the printer driver having the two functions described above is installed, the characters “Top Secret” and “Important” are used in the watermark function. It is desirable to select a column, set a watermark to be added to the document to be printed, and set the confidential printing function so that the printed material is not accidentally taken away or viewed by others at the time of printing .

However, in the conventional These two features have been installed in the printer driver as each independent function, even after the setting of the watermark so as to call attention about the handling of the document to be printed, setting the confidential print function In some cases, there is a problem that the confidentiality of the printed matter cannot be sufficiently secured.
Further, when the user does not know that the confidential printing function is provided, the same problem occurs when the confidential printing function is not set because of the annoyance.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is detected whether or not a specific character or graphic is included in the print data received from the information processing apparatus, and when a specific character or graphic is detected, Print data is stored in a storage unit inside the image forming apparatus, and is printed when the user or administrator permits printing. However, although the image forming apparatus can be used only with characters or figures registered in advance, it is desirable that characters or figures that can be detected can be arbitrarily set according to the use environment of the image forming apparatus.

  Further, when the print data is stored in the storage unit based on the determination of the image forming apparatus, it is difficult for the user to grasp whether the print data is stored in the storage unit, which is different from the user's intention. There is a problem that it may be stored. Furthermore, in order not to store the data in the storage means, the user has to check the characters and figures used in the print data.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of information to be added to image data included in a job instructing image formation. When the selection of information is accepted, it is determined whether the selected information is predetermined information, and when it is determined that the selected information is predetermined information, the processing relating to the confidentiality of the image data is necessary. An information processing apparatus capable of prompting the setting of processing related to confidentiality of image data and ensuring the confidentiality of image data when the predetermined information is added, and the information processing apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a computer program for realizing it.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes means for receiving image data, means for receiving whether or not confidential printing of received image data is necessary, and information on whether or not the received image data is necessary, and instructs image formation based on the image data. Storage means for storing a plurality of watermark information to be added to received image data in an information processing apparatus comprising means for generating a job and means for printing the generated job on an image forming apparatus and printing it on paper A means for accepting one selection from the watermark information stored in the storage means, a means for determining whether the selected watermark information is predetermined information, and predetermined information. If it is determined, based on the information about the necessity of the confidential process that is set in advance in association to the determination information, the execution of the confidential print image data Characterized in that it comprises a means for automatically displaying a screen for prompting the setting of the confidential processing for more printing.

In the present invention, there is provided storage means for storing a plurality of watermark information to be added to image data included in a job instructing image formation, and one watermark information can be selected from the information stored in the storage means. If it is determined that the received watermark information is predetermined information, a screen for prompting the setting of confidential processing for printing the image data by executing confidential printing is automatically displayed. ing. Therefore, for example, when a specific watermark such as “top secret” or “in-house secret” is selected as information to be added to image data included in a job instructing image formation, the user is prompted to set confidential printing. And the confidentiality of the image data is ensured.

The information processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes means for generating image data in accordance with the selected watermark information, and means for combining the generated image data with the received image data. A job for instructing image formation is generated based on the image data.

In the present invention, image data is generated according to the selected watermark information, and the generated image data is combined with the image data included in the job. Accordingly, the confidential process when the watermark of a specific and information to be added to the image data included in the job is selected, and it becomes possible to prompt a setting process of encryption of the image data, the image data Confidentiality is ensured.

When the information processing apparatus according to the present invention determines that the information is predetermined, the information processing apparatus performs an encryption process on the screen based on information regarding necessity of the encryption process set in advance in association with the determined information. characterized in that in addition a screen for prompting the setting are to be displayed.

In the present invention, when the watermark information to be added to the image data is predetermined information, the fact that the image data needs to be encrypted is notified so that the confidentiality of the image data is ensured. Is done.

The information processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes means for receiving watermark information to be added to image data, and means for storing the received watermark information in the storage means.

In the present invention, since the watermark information to be added to the image data is received and the received watermark information is stored in the storage means, the confidentiality is determined based on information arbitrarily determined by the user. It is possible to determine whether or not to prompt the user to set processing related to the above, and setting according to the use environment is possible.

The information processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes means for stopping display of a screen for prompting the setting of confidential processing .

In the present invention, since it is possible to stop the display of the screen for prompting the setting of confidential processing performed when the received watermark information is predetermined information, confidential printing of image data is used. To be performed against the will of the person.

A computer program according to the present invention causes an image forming apparatus to perform image formation by printing image data on a sheet based on image data input to the computer and information relating to the necessity of confidential printing of the image data. a computer program having a step of generating a job that instructs a computer to execute the steps of: causing a plurality of watermark information predetermined receives the selection of the watermark information to be added to the image data, the computer is a selected A step for determining whether the watermark information is predetermined information, and information regarding the necessity of confidential processing set in advance in association with the determined information when the computer determines that the watermark information is predetermined information based on, for printing by execution of the confidential print image data And having a step of automatically displaying a screen for prompting the setting of the confidential process.

In the present invention, comprising a storage unit for storing a plurality of watermark information to be added to the image data included in the job to instruct the image formation, from the watermark information stored in the storage means of one watermark information When the selection is accepted and it is determined that the selected watermark information is predetermined information, the image data is determined based on information relating to the necessity of confidential processing set in advance in association with the determined watermark information. A screen for prompting the user to set confidential processing for printing by executing confidential printing is automatically displayed. Therefore, for example, when a specific watermark is selected as information to be added to the image data included in the job instructing image formation, it is possible to prompt the setting of confidential printing, and the confidentiality of the image data is ensured. The

Or According to the present invention such as, comprising a storage unit for storing a plurality of watermark information to be added to the image data included in the job to instruct the image formation, one watermark information from the information stored in the storage means When the selected watermark information is determined to be predetermined information, a screen is automatically displayed to prompt the user to set confidential processing for printing the image data by executing confidential printing. Like to do. Therefore, for example, when a specific watermark such as “top secret” or “in-house secret” is selected as information to be added to image data included in a job instructing image formation, the user is prompted to set confidential printing. The confidentiality of the image data can be ensured.

According to the present invention, image data is generated according to the selected information, and the generated image data is combined with the image data included in the job. Accordingly, the confidential process when the watermark of a specific and information to be added to the image data included in the job is selected, and it becomes possible to prompt a setting process of encryption of the image data, the image data Confidentiality can be ensured.

In the case of the present invention, when the watermark information added to the image data is predetermined information, the fact that the image data needs to be encrypted is notified, so that the confidentiality of the image data is ensured. be able to.

In the case of the present invention, the watermark information to be added to the image data is received, and the received watermark information is stored in the storage means. Therefore, based on information arbitrarily determined by the user, confidentiality is ensured. It is possible to determine whether or not to prompt the setting of such processing, and setting according to the use environment is possible.

According to the present invention, since it is possible to stop the display of a screen for prompting the setting of confidential processing performed when the received watermark information is predetermined information, confidential printing of image data is performed by the user. The present invention has an excellent effect, for example, that it can be prevented from being performed contrary to the will.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a connection example of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and specifically includes a personal computer, a workstation, and the like. The information processing apparatuses 10, 10, and 10 are connected to an image forming apparatus 20 such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral via a communication network N, and some information processing apparatuses 10 form an image without passing through the communication network N. It is directly connected to the device 20.

  In each information processing apparatus 10, 10,..., A computer program (printer driver) is installed in advance to secure a connection between itself and the image forming apparatus 20 and use the image forming apparatus 20 via the communication network N. For example, the printer driver is started from an arbitrary application program such as a document creation application program or a graphics creation application program, and a print job is generated based on data that the user desires to print. The The generated print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 designated by the printer driver.

When the printer driver is activated, a setting screen for performing various settings relating to generation and transmission of a print job is displayed on the display unit (see FIG. 2) of the information processing apparatus 10. The contents to be set on this setting screen include general settings such as the output destination of the printed matter, the number of printed pages, the number of copies, the paper size, and the paper type, as well as print data such as confidential processing and encryption processing. Contains settings for handling confidentiality.
Further, the printer driver can set a watermark for print data. Here, the watermark refers to a mark that a user can arbitrarily add to the print data. Examples of the mark include “important”, “confidential”, “confidential”, “circulation”, Some of them contain character strings such as “Urgent”. When the watermark is set by the printer driver, the information processing apparatus 10 synthesizes the image data designated for printing by the user and the image data designated as the watermark, and based on the obtained synthesized image. To generate a print job.

  Among such watermarks, when a watermark including character strings such as “important”, “confidential”, and “confidential” is added to the print data, it means that the print data has confidentiality. It is desirable to set processing related to confidentiality of print data such as confidential processing and encryption processing. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when a watermark including a character string indicating the confidentiality of print data is set, a display prompting the user to set processing related to the confidentiality of the print data is displayed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 10. The information processing apparatus 10 includes a CPU 11, and hardware such as a ROM 13, a RAM 14, an operation unit 15, a display unit 16, a communication unit 17, and an HDD device 18 is connected to the CPU 11 via the bus 12. Yes. The CPU 11 controls the various hardware described above by reading and executing a control program stored in advance in the ROM 13. The RAM 14 is a volatile memory, and various data generated during the execution of the control program, data input from the outside through the operation unit 15, the communication unit 17, data read from the HDD device 18, and a computer program Etc. are temporarily stored.

  The operation unit 15 includes an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a tablet, and receives user instructions for various processes. The display unit 16 is configured by a display device such as a CRT display or a liquid crystal display, and displays data input through the operation unit 15 and various data generated according to instructions from the CPU 11. The communication unit 17 has a communication interface that complies with the communication network N, and transmits a print job generated internally to the image forming apparatus 20 via the communication network N and is also transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20. Receive various information. The communication unit 17 controls transmission / reception of information via such a communication network N.

  The HDD device 18 is a storage device having a disk-shaped magnetic recording medium, and a printer driver 18a and a watermark setting table 18b are stored in a part of the storage area. The printer driver 18 a performs various settings to ensure the connection between the information processing apparatus 10 and the image forming apparatus 20, generates a print job based on a user instruction through the operation unit 15, and generates an image through the communication unit 17. A print job is transmitted to the forming apparatus 20. The watermark setting table 18b stores a plurality of watermarks that can be set by the printer driver 18a and information on processing for recommending settings for each watermark in association with each other.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 20. The image forming apparatus 20 includes a CPU 21. The CPU 21 includes a ROM 23, a RAM 24, an operation panel IF 25, an image forming unit IF 26, an HDD device 27, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 28a, a USB terminal (USB: Universal Serial Bus). Hardware such as 28b and IEEE1284 terminal 28c are connected via the bus 22. The ROM 23 stores a control program for controlling these hardware. The CPU 21 controls the hardware by reading and executing the control program, and controls the operation panel 35 through the operation panel IF 25. The image forming unit 36 is controlled through the image forming unit IF 26. The RAM 24 is a volatile memory that stores various data generated during the execution of the control program, image data obtained by developing a print job input through the NIC 28a, the USB terminal 28b, and the IEEE 1284 terminal 28c. Memorize temporarily.

  The operation panel 35 includes an operation unit 35a for receiving an operation instruction from a user and a display unit 35b for displaying a set value input through the operation unit 35a. The operation unit 35a includes operation keys for accepting setting changes such as a function switching operation, the number of printed sheets, and density adjustment of the image forming apparatus 20, and the display unit 35b is a liquid crystal display device or an LED display device. A display device is provided, and various setting values set by the operation unit 35a are displayed. In addition, a touch panel type software key may be provided in a part of the display unit 35b to accept various settings.

The NIC 28a has a communication interface compliant with the communication network N, can receive data such as a print job from the information processing apparatus 10, and can transmit various data to the information processing apparatus 10 as necessary. The image forming apparatus 20 includes a USB terminal 28b and an IEEE 1284 terminal 28c, and can be directly connected to the information processing apparatus 10 by using a USB cable and a parallel cable, respectively.
The HDD device 27 is a storage device having a disk-shaped magnetic recording medium, and temporarily stores a print job received through the NIC 28a, the USB terminal 28b, and the IEEE 1284 terminal 28c.

The image forming unit 36 is, for example, a charger that charges the photosensitive drum to a predetermined potential, or a laser document that generates an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum by irradiating laser light according to image data received from the outside. A developing device that supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to make it visible, a transfer device that transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum onto paper (not shown) ), And an image desired by the user can be formed on the paper by the electrophotographic method.
In this embodiment, the image forming unit 36 is configured to perform image formation by an electrophotographic method using a laser writing unit. However, the image forming unit 36 is configured to perform image formation by an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, and a sublimation method. Of course, it may be.

Hereinafter, an operation for setting a watermark from the printer driver 18a installed in the information processing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to a screen example.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a setting screen activated by the printer driver 18a. When the printer driver 18 a installed in the HDD device 18 of the information processing apparatus 10 is activated, a setting screen 100 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 16.

In the setting screen 100, various settings can be performed using a mouse, a keyboard, and the like provided in the operation unit 15, and contents to be set can be changed by switching the tags 101 to 104. For example, the main setting screen specified by the tag 101 performs basic settings related to print processing, the paper setting screen specified by the tag 102 performs settings related to the paper to be used, and the advanced settings specified by the tag 103. On the setting screen, settings relating to the confidentiality of the print job are set, and on the screen designated by the tag 104, processing relating to the watermark is set.
An execution button 105 and a cancel button 106 are provided at the bottom of the setting screen 100. After various settings are made from each screen, when the execution button 105 is selected by operating the operation unit 15, a print job is generated based on the setting contents and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20. If the cancel button 106 is selected, the process by the printer driver 18a is terminated without generating a print job.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen for setting a watermark, in order to select a watermark setting unit 140 for determining the size and position of the watermark to be combined with the image data for printing, and the type of watermark to be combined. The watermark selection unit 141 is provided.
The watermark selection unit 141 includes a pull-down button 141a, which displays a selectable watermark by pressing the pull-down button 141a and accepts a user's selection. The selected watermark is schematically displayed on the preview display unit 140a of the watermark setting unit 140, and the slider position 140b, 140c can be slid to adjust the synthesis position for the image data for printing. When the reset button 140d is pressed, the watermark position is set at the center of the image data for printing. The watermark setting unit 140 further includes a slider button 140e for adjusting the size of the watermark and a slider button 140f for adjusting the inclination (rotation angle) of the watermark.

  An add button 142, an update button 143, and a delete button 144 are provided below the watermark selection unit 141. A new watermark is registered by the add button 142, and the watermark registered by the update button 143 is registered. Correction and update are performed, and the registered watermark is deleted by the delete button 144. The slider button 146 adjusts the density of the watermark to be combined, and the font edit button 147 changes the font used for the watermark.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, a check box 145 is provided for setting whether or not the watermark setting and the confidential printing function can be linked. When the check box 145 is checked, a watermark selection field is displayed. When a watermark that designates the confidentiality of print data is selected from 141, that is, when a watermark including a character string such as “Top Secret” or “Important” is selected, the user is prompted to set confidential printing. I have to.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing details of the watermark selection unit 141. When the pull-down button 141a included in the watermark selection unit 141 is pressed, a part or all of the selectable watermarks are displayed in the pull-down menu 141b. The displayed watermark can be selected using the operation unit 15, and the selected watermark is displayed on the watermark selection unit 141 and displayed on the preview display unit 140a. If “(None)” is selected as the watermark, the selection of the watermark is cancelled.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a screen when adding a watermark. When the add button 142 is selected from the setting screen 100, an add screen 150 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and the user can arbitrarily add a selectable watermark. The addition screen 150 includes a text input field 151, a confidential print setting field 152, an encryption setting field 153, an execution button 154, and a cancel button 155.
The user can input a character string to be added as a watermark into the text input field 151 by using the keyboard provided in the operation unit 15. The confidential print setting field 152 has a selection button for accepting selection of whether or not confidential printing should be executed when the watermark is selected as a watermark to be added to image data for printing. The conversion setting field 153 has a selection button for receiving a selection as to whether or not the data after the printing process should be encrypted and stored.

Character string data input in the text input field 151, information on whether confidential printing input from the confidential print setting field 152 should be executed, and whether encryption should be performed input from the encryption setting field 153 The information is registered in the watermark setting table 18b in the HDD device 18 when the execution button 154 is pressed. When one watermark is selected from the watermark selection unit 141 on the setting screen 100 described above, the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 10 reads information on the corresponding watermark from the watermark setting table 18b. When an instruction to execute confidential processing is instructed, a setting for confidential processing is prompted, and when an instruction to encrypt is instructed, a setting for encryption is prompted. ing.
If the cancel button 155 is pressed, new information is not registered in the watermark setting table 18b, and the watermark addition process is terminated.
Also, when the update button 143 is pressed on the screen for setting a watermark shown in FIG. 4, a screen similar to the above-described additional screen 150 is displayed on the display unit 16, and the watermark change and confidential processing are necessary. The change of the information regarding the necessity and the change of the information regarding the necessity of the encryption processing are accepted.

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the watermark setting table 18b. The watermark setting table 18b stores a character string representing a watermark, information on whether confidential processing is necessary, and information on whether encryption processing is necessary in association with each other. In the example shown in FIG. 7, it is specified that confidential processing is required and that encryption processing is not required for a watermark including the character string “important”. That is, when a watermark including the character string “important” is selected on the setting screen 100, a screen for setting confidential processing is displayed on the display unit 16 to prompt the user to set the confidential processing. . Similarly, a watermark including the character string “Top Secret” indicates that both confidential processing and encryption processing are necessary to indicate that the confidentiality of the print data is high. In addition, a watermark that includes the character string “confidential” indicates that it is necessary to prevent print data from leaking outside the company, so confidential processing is not required, but encryption processing is required. Is specified.

In the following, processing when a print job is generated from the information processing apparatus 10 and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 will be described using a screen example of the printer driver 18a.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the setting screen 100 activated by the printer driver 18a. As described above, the setting screen 100 switches the plurality of tags 101 to 104 to perform various settings, and the main setting screen specified by the tag 101 accepts basic settings regarding print processing.

  The main setting screen shown in FIG. 8 includes a copy number setting field 111 for accepting an input of the number of prints, a print face selection field 112 for accepting selection of a print face, and a user setting field for storing contents set by the user. 113 includes a layout setting field 114 for setting the number of pages to be printed on one sheet of printing paper, a finishing setting field 115 for setting staple processing, and a job management button 116 for setting details of a print job.

9 and 10 are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a job management screen for setting details of a print job. When the job management button 116 is pressed on the main setting screen described above, a job management screen 160 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display unit 16.
The job management screen 160 includes a retention setting unit 161, and selects whether to execute normal printing, hold a print job after printing, hold without printing, or print a sample image. It is possible to do.

For example, when the button 161a is selected, a print job for causing the image forming apparatus 20 to execute a printing process is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20, so that a normal printing process is executed. When the button 161 b is selected, a print job is generated that instructs to encrypt the image data used for printing and hold it in the image forming apparatus 20. In this case, the user can reuse the image data held in the image forming apparatus 20, and can perform reprinting using the same image data after the printing is completed. Furthermore, when the button 161c is selected, a print job instructing confidential processing is generated. That is, the print job transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 is temporarily stored, and a print job instructing to start printing is generated after authentication by the user. Further, when the button 161d is selected, a print job is generated based on the sample image data prepared in advance by the printer driver 18a and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20, and the image forming apparatus 20 uses the sample image. The printing process using is executed. Note that the user can cancel the selection of the buttons 161a to 161d.

In addition to the retention setting unit 161, the job management screen 160 includes a check box 162 for notifying the end of the print job, a reset button 163 for returning the content input to the job management screen 160 to a standard state, and a department number The job definition unit 165 has a department number input field 164 for inputting a user name, a user name input field 165a for inputting a default user name, and a job name input field 165b for inputting a job name.
An execution button 166 and a cancel button 167 are arranged at the bottom of the job management screen 160. When the execution button 166 is pressed, the contents set on the job management screen 160 are stored in a predetermined storage area of the HDD device 18. When the cancel button 167 is pressed, the job management screen 160 is closed without storing the set contents.

In the present embodiment, when a watermark such as “important” or “confidential” is selected from the pre-registered watermarks, that is, it is specified in the watermark setting table 18b that confidential processing should be executed. When the watermark is selected, the confidential processing is turned on by automatically selecting the button 161c as shown in FIG. 10, and the password input field 161e is displayed on the retention setting unit 161. Prompts the person to enter a password. The personal identification number input in the personal identification number input field 161e is used when authenticating the user on the image forming apparatus 20 side when executing confidential processing.
In addition, when a watermark such as “confidential” or “confidential” is selected from among the watermarks, that is, a watermark for which encryption processing is designated in the watermark setting table 18b is selected. , Button 161b is automatically selected to turn on encrypted printing and display on the display unit 16 that encrypted printing is valid.

  FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flowcharts for explaining a processing procedure when generating a print job. When the printer driver 18a installed in the HDD device 18 of the information processing apparatus 10 is activated (step S1) and a print job is generated by the printer driver 18a, the CPU 11 selects a watermark to be included in the print job to be generated. It is judged whether it is (step S2). Specifically, it is determined whether one watermark is selected from the watermark selection unit 141 on the setting screen 100 prepared by the printer driver 18a.

If the watermark is not selected (S2: NO), a print job is generated according to the contents set by the printer driver 18a (step S11), and the generated print job is designated by the printer driver 18a. (Step S12).
If a watermark is selected (S2: YES), whether a confidential link is specified for the selected watermark, that is, whether or not confidential processing is to be executed in the watermark setting table 18b. It is determined whether or not (step S3).

If it is determined that the confidential link is not designated (S3: NO), the process proceeds to step S7 described later.
If it is determined that the confidential link is designated (S3: YES), the CPU 11 then determines whether or not the confidential setting has been made (step S4). The confidential setting is made by determining that the radio button 161c has been selected on the job management screen 160, that the personal identification number has been entered in the personal identification number input field 161e and that the execution button 166 has been pressed.

If it is determined that the confidential setting has been completed (S4: YES), the process proceeds to step S7 described later.
If it is determined that the confidential setting has not been completed (S4: NO), confidential printing (button 161c) is turned on (step S5), and the job management screen 160 is displayed to display a screen for inputting a personal identification number on the display unit 16. (Step S6). Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not an encryption link is designated for the selected watermark, that is, whether or not it is designated in the watermark setting table 18b that encryption processing should be executed (step S7). ).

If it is determined that the encrypted link is not designated (S7: NO), the process proceeds to step S11 to perform print job generation processing and transmission processing.
If it is determined that the encrypted link is designated (S7: YES), it is determined whether or not the encryption setting has been completed (step S8). If it is determined that the encryption setting has been completed (S8: YES), that is, if the button 161b is selected and the execution button 166 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S11 to generate and transmit a print job. .

  If it is determined that the encryption setting has not been completed (S8: NO), the encrypted printing (button 161b) is turned on (step S9), and the fact that the encrypted printing is valid is displayed on the display unit 16 (step S9). S10). Then, the CPU 11 generates a print job according to the contents set on the setting screen 100 and the job management screen 160 prepared by the printer driver 18 a, and transmits the generated print job to the image forming apparatus 20.

In this manner, in the present embodiment, since the to prompt the settings of confidential printing process, and encrypted printing in accordance with the watermark selected by the user, is possible to prevent forgetting to these settings This ensures the confidentiality of the print data.

  In this embodiment, the user can arbitrarily set the linkage between the selected watermark and the confidential printing function by using the check box 145 of the setting screen 100 prepared by the printer driver 18a. However, it goes without saying that a configuration in which the two are forcibly linked may be used. That is, when a screen in which the check box 145 is deleted from the setting screen 100 is displayed and a watermark that specifies that confidential processing is required in the watermark setting table 18b is selected, FIG. It is also possible to always display the job management screen 160 as shown so as to accept settings relating to confidential processing.

  In this embodiment, a character string is selected as a watermark. However, image data such as image data prepared in advance by the printer driver 18a or image data arbitrarily created by the user is selected. Of course, it may be.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a connection of the information processing apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a block diagram explaining the internal structure of an information processing apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen activated by a printer driver. It is a schematic diagram which shows the detail of a watermark selection part. It is a schematic diagram explaining the example of a screen at the time of adding a watermark. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a watermark setting table. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen activated by a printer driver. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a job management screen for setting details of a print job. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a job management screen for setting details of a print job. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when generating a print job. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when generating a print job.

Explanation of symbols

10 Information processing apparatus 11 CPU
12 bus 13 ROM
14 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Operation part 16 Display part 17 Communication part 18 HDD apparatus 18a Printer driver 18b Water mark setting table 20 Image forming apparatus

Claims (6)

Means for receiving image data, means for receiving whether or not confidential printing of the received image data is necessary, means for generating a job including information on whether or not it is received and instructing image formation based on the image data, and In an information processing apparatus comprising means for printing a sheet by outputting a job to an image forming apparatus,
Storage means for storing a plurality of watermark information to be added to the received image data;
Means for accepting one selection from the watermark information stored in the storage means;
Means for determining whether the selected watermark information is predetermined information;
If it is determined that the information is predetermined , the confidential processing setting for causing the image data to be printed by executing the confidential printing is set based on the information regarding the necessity of the confidential processing set in advance in association with the determined information. An information processing apparatus comprising: means for automatically displaying a screen for prompting. The apparatus further comprises means for generating image data in accordance with the selected watermark information and means for combining the generated image data with the received image data, and forming an image based on the image data obtained by combining. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a job to be instructed is generated. If it is determined that the information is predetermined, a screen for prompting the setting of the encryption process is added to the screen based on the information regarding the necessity of the encryption process set in advance in association with the determined information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is displayed . 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for receiving watermark information to be added to the image data; and means for storing the received watermark information in the storage means. Information processing device.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for stopping display of a screen for prompting setting of confidential processing. Causing the computer to generate a job for instructing the image forming apparatus to form an image by printing the image data on paper based on the input image data and information relating to the necessity of confidential printing of the image data. In a computer program having
A computer, the steps of causing receives a selection of a predetermined plurality of watermark information from a watermark information to be added to the image data,
Causing the computer to determine whether the selected watermark information is predetermined information;
If the computer determines that the information is predetermined information, a confidential process for causing the computer to print the image data by executing confidential printing based on information relating to the necessity of confidential processing set in advance in association with the determined information . And a step of automatically displaying a screen for prompting the setting.

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