JP4508715B2 - Printing apparatus and method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and method, a program, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus and method that performs print approval processing, and a program and a storage medium.

  A conventional printing apparatus includes a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, a network printer function, and the like, and this is called an MFP apparatus (Multi Function Printer).

  Since the MFP apparatus has a network printer function, it can be used from a computer connected via a network, and receives an electronic data print instruction from a print job creator and prints the electronic data on a sheet.

Further, the electronic data with high confidentiality has print permission information for specifying a print job creator who is authorized to print the electronic data, and the MFP apparatus receives an instruction to print the electronic data with high confidentiality. Based on the print permission information, it is determined whether or not to execute printing according to the print job creator who transmitted the electronic data (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-7-125383

  However, setting print permission information for electronic data is time-consuming, and it is difficult for a print approver to individually respond to print instructions from a plurality of print job creators according to the situation. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and method, a program, and a storage medium that can perform a print approval process for each print job creator by a print approver in response to a print instruction from the print job creator. .

To achieve the above object, a printing apparatus of the present invention, if the print job is input, transmission for transmitting print authorization request mail for approval of printing of the input print job to the first approver It means, a first determination means for determining whether it has received a reply mail for the first of the transmitted print approval request mail from the approver, and receives a reply mail by the first discriminating means If it is determined, when said second determination means for reply mail is determined whether or not including a printing authorization information, the reply mail by the second discriminating means is determined to contain printing authorization information, the printing If the execution means for executing printing of the job and the reply mail from the first approver have not been received even after a predetermined time has passed, another print approval request mail for requesting the print job to be printed Accepted Other transmission means for transmitting to the person, third determination means for determining whether or not a reply mail to the other print approval request information transmitted from the second approver has been received, and the third determination means When it is determined that the reply mail is received by the determination means, a fourth determination means for determining whether or not the reply mail includes other print approval information; When it is determined that the print approval information is included, another execution unit that executes printing of the print job is provided.

  To achieve the above object, according to the printing method of the present invention, when a print job is input, a transmission step of transmitting a print approval request mail requesting approval of printing of the input print job to the first approver. A first determination step for determining whether or not a reply mail for the print approval request mail transmitted from the first approver has been received; and a determination that the reply mail has been received by the first determination step If the reply mail includes a print approval information, a second determination step for determining whether or not the reply mail includes print approval information; and if the reply mail includes a print approval information according to the second determination step, the print job An execution step of executing printing of the print job and another print requesting approval of printing of the print job if the reply mail is not received from the first approver even after a predetermined time has elapsed. Another transmission step of transmitting the approval request mail to the second approver, and a third step of determining whether or not a reply mail for the other print approval request information transmitted from the second approver has been received. A discriminating step; a fourth discriminating step for discriminating whether or not the reply mail contains other print approval information when it is determined that the reply mail is received by the third discriminating step; When it is determined in the determination step that the reply mail includes other print approval information, another execution step of executing printing of the print job is provided.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the print approval process can be performed for each print job creator by the print approver in response to the print instruction from the print job creator.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a printing system including a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  A printing system 300 in FIG. 1 includes a print job input personal computer (PC) 301 (first information processing apparatus), a first print approval personal computer (PC) 302 (second information processing apparatus), A second print approval personal computer (PC) 307 (third information processing apparatus), a file server 303 storing files to be printed by the print job input PC 301, and a mail server for distributing e-mails 304 and an MFP apparatus 100 (printing apparatus) in FIG. 2 described later, which are connected to each other via an Ethernet (registered trademark) bus 306.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of MFP apparatus 100 in FIG.

  2 is an I / O that controls communication with an external network, a printer engine 101 that performs image output processing of the MFP device 100, an image processing unit 105 that performs various image processing such as generation of thumbnail images, and the like. A control unit 103, and an MFP main control unit 102, which is a main controller that performs control processing of the entire MFP apparatus connected to the printer engine 101, the image processing unit 105, and the I / O control unit 123, are provided.

  The MFP apparatus 100 is also connected to an I / O control unit 103, and the operation display unit of the MFP apparatus 100 including various operation keys and various display units includes an I / O control unit 104.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of the MFP main controller 102 in FIG.

  3, an MFP main control unit 102 includes a CPU 201 that performs various control processes such as a control process and a transmission procedure control process for each unit of the MFP apparatus 100, a ROM 202 that stores various information such as a control program and various parameters, and an electronic RAM 203 for storing temporary data for work such as data, print job information, and a storage table in which an approver ID and an approver notification destination are paired, a clock circuit 204 for counting the current time, and a battery 205 for power backup And an HDD 210 which is an auxiliary storage device of the RAM 203, and these are connected to each other via a system bus 206.

  The system bus 206 is connected to the printer engine 101, the I / O control unit 103, and the image processing unit 105.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a print approval process executed by the MFP apparatus 100 of FIG.

  This process is executed by the CPU 201 of the MFP main control unit 102 provided in the MFP apparatus 100.

  In FIG. 4, a print job of an electronic data file 601 (FIG. 5) consisting of header information 604 including a first print approver e-mail address 602 and electronic data summary 603 and an electronic data body 605 is generated by a user's print instruction. When inserted into the MFP apparatus 100 (YES in step S401), it is determined whether or not the header information 604 of the received electronic data file 601 is valid (step S402). If the header information 604 is not valid, It is determined that the approval by the print approver is not necessary for printing the electronic data file 601, and the normal printing process is immediately performed (step S418), and this process is terminated.

  If the header information 604 is valid as a result of the determination in step S402, the CPU 201 transmits the electronic data file 601 to the image processing unit 105, generates a thumbnail image of the representative page of the electronic data file 601, and generates the thumbnail image. Is stored in the RAM 203 (step S403).

  Next, using the user ID of the user who submitted the print job and the electronic data summary 603 included in the header information 604, a print approval request mail 701 (FIG. 6A) attached with the thumbnail image is created. (Step S404), this notification mail is transmitted to the first print approver e-mail address 602 (Step S405) (transmission means), the job ID 802 uniquely added to the print job, and the clock circuit 204 Job information 801 (FIG. 7) that is paired with the output mail transmission time 803 is stored in the ROM 203 (step S406). Accordingly, it is possible to make a print approval request to the approver with certainty, and it is possible to grasp the contents of the print job from the thumbnail image.

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is a reply from the first print approver PC 302 (step S407) (first determination means). If there is no reply, a print approval request mail 701 is transmitted and then a predetermined response is received. The processing of step S407 is repeated until the predetermined time elapses (NO in step S408). When the predetermined time or more has elapsed, the user ID of the user who submitted the print job, the electronic data summary 603 included in the header information 604, the first The correspondence between the first print approver name 122 and the second print approver e-mail address 123 is described, and the thumbnail image is attached using the approver list 121 (FIG. 9) stored in the file server 303. The print approval request mail 131 (FIG. 10A) is created (step S409).

  In the subsequent step S410, the print approval request mail 131 is transmitted to the second print approver e-mail address 123 (FIG. 9) (step S410), the job ID 802 uniquely added to the print job, and the clock circuit. The job information 801 (FIG. 7) that is paired with the mail transmission time 803 output by 204 is stored in the ROM 203 (step S411).

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is a reply from the second print approver PC 307 (step S412). If there is no reply, a step is performed until a predetermined time elapses after the print approval request mail 131 is transmitted. The process of S412 is repeated (NO in step S413), and when a predetermined time or more has elapsed, a denial indicating that the print job is denied to the print job input PC 301 by using the user notification destination information 804 (FIG. 8) is described. The notification mail 132 (FIG. 10B) is transmitted (step S414), and this process is terminated.

  As a result of the determination in step S407, when a print approval or print rejection mail is received from the first print approver PC 302, it is determined whether or not to approve printing from the content of the mail (step S415) (first 2) When the printing is approved, the print job print process is executed, and an approval notification mail 703 (FIG. 6C) indicating that the print job is input to the print job input PC 301 is displayed. (Step S416) (execution means), and when this process is terminated and printing is denied, a rejection notification mail 702 (FIG. 6 (FIG. 6)) indicating that the print job has been rejected is sent to the print job input PC 301. b)) is transmitted (step S414), and this process is terminated.

  As a result of the determination in step S412, when a print approval or print rejection mail is received from the second print approver PC 307, the MFP apparatus 100 determines whether or not to approve printing from the content of the mail ( In step S417), when printing is approved, print job print processing is executed, and an approval notification mail 133 (FIG. 10C) indicating that the print processing has been performed is transmitted to the print job input PC 301. At the same time, an approval notification mail 142 is transmitted to the first print approver PC 302 (step S416). When this process is terminated and printing is denied, the print job submission PC 301 is denied. A disapproval notice mail 132 (FIG. 10 (b)) stating this is transmitted (step S414), and this process ends.

  According to the process of FIG. 4, the print approval process is executed by the print approval or print rejection mail received from the first print approver PC 302 (step S415). When the approver can perform the print approval process for each print job creator and there is no reply from the first print approver PC 302 (NO in step S407), a predetermined time has passed (in step S408). YES), since the print approval process is executed by the print approval or print rejection mail received from the second print approver PC 307 (step S417), when the approver does not approve for a certain period of time, An approver can perform print approval processing.

  FIG. 12 is a view showing a modification of the electronic data file 601 in FIG.

  The electronic data 901 in FIG. 12 is obtained by changing the first print approver email address 602 to the first print approver IP address 902 in the electronic data file 601 in FIG. In S405, S407, and S415, the exchange of information related to the print approval process between the MFP apparatus 100 and the first print approver PC 302 is performed in the P2P format instead of the communication format via the server like an e-mail. Used when doing.

  According to the electronic data 901 in FIG. 12, since the notification of the approval confirmation between the MFP apparatus 100 and the print approver is performed in the P2P format, the print approval confirmation process can be performed without being affected by the delay of the mail server or the server down. Can proceed.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modification of the print approval request mail 701 in FIG.

  In the print approval request mail 152 transmitted from the CPU 210 to the first print approver PC 302, the print approval page 151 (FIG. 14) created by HTML after step S403 in FIG. 4 and stored in the HDD 210 is accessed. Only the URL for this is described.

  The first print approver confirms the contents of the electronic data file 601 to be approved for printing from the print approval page 151 and performs an approval process.

  FIG. 15 is a view showing a modification of the print approval request mail 131 of FIG.

  In the print approval request mail 162 transmitted from the CPU 210 to the first print approver PC 302, the print approval page 161 (FIG. 16) created by HTML after step S403 in FIG. 4 and stored in the HDD 210 is accessed. Only the URL for this is described.

  The second print approver confirms the contents of the electronic data file 601 to be approved for printing from the print approval page 161 and performs an approval process.

  13 and 15, the print approval request mails 152 and 162 sent by the CPU 210 to the print approver PCs 302 and 307 are created by HTML after step S403 in FIG. Since only the URL for accessing the stored print approval pages 151 and 161 is described, an interface approval system that is easy to understand for the print approver without using unnecessary network resources without using an e-mail Can be provided.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) on which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  The above-described program only needs to be able to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments by a computer, and the form includes forms such as object code, a program executed by an interpreter, and script data supplied to the OS. But you can.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, RAM, NV-RAM, floppy (registered trademark) disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, MO, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW), magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, other ROM, etc. may be used as long as they can store the above programs. Alternatively, the program is supplied by downloading from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like.

  Next, a configuration example related to the present invention will be described.

  The printing apparatus according to Configuration Example 1 related to the present invention includes a first information processing apparatus for a print job creator to submit a print job, and a second information processing apparatus for an approver to perform print approval. In each of the printing apparatuses connected to each other and receiving the print job input to the first information processing apparatus and printing the received print job, when the print job is input from the first information processing apparatus, Transmission means for transmitting print approval request information for requesting print approval of the input print job to the second information processing apparatus, and reply information to the print approval request information transmitted from the second information processing apparatus A first determination unit that determines whether the reply information is received; a second determination unit that determines whether the reply information includes print approval information when the reply information is received; and the reply information If it is including print authorization information, characterized by comprising an execution unit for executing printing of the print job.

  The printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 2 is the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 1, in which the printing apparatus is further connected to a third information processing apparatus for other print authors to approve printing, If the reply information is not received from the other information processing apparatus, other transmission means for transmitting other print approval request information for requesting approval of printing of the print job to the third information processing apparatus, and the third information Third determination means for determining whether or not reply information for the other print approval request information transmitted from the processing apparatus has been received; and when the reply information is received, the reply information indicates other print approval information. And a fourth discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not the print job is included, and another execution unit that executes printing of the print job when the return information includes other print approval information.

  In the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 3, in the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 1 or 2, the print job includes header information, and a fifth determination unit determines whether the header information includes approver information. It comprises a discrimination means.

  In the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 4, in the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 3, the approver information is an e-mail address of the second information processing apparatus, and the print approval request information is an e-mail. Features.

  The printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 5 is the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 4, wherein the other print approval request information is an e-mail.

  The printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 6 is the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 3, wherein the approver information is a fixed IP address of the second information processing apparatus, and communicates with the second information processing apparatus through P2P. It is characterized by that.

  The printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 7 is characterized in that, in the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 6, communication is performed with the third information processing apparatus by P2P.

  The printing apparatus according to Configuration Example 8 is the printing apparatus according to any one of Configuration Examples 3 to 7, wherein the header information includes an approver ID, and the printing apparatus includes the approver ID and the approver. Storage means for storing a storage table paired with the notification destination information, wherein the generation means refers to the notification destination of the approver from the storage table stored in the storage means, and the notification destination of the referred approver The print approval request information is generated based on the above.

  In the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 9, in the printing apparatus described in Configuration Example 8, the approver notification destination information in the storage table is an e-mail address of the approver, and the print approval request information is an e-mail. Features.

  The printing apparatus according to Configuration Example 10 is the printing apparatus according to Configuration Example 8, wherein the approver notification destination of the storage table is the fixed IP address of the second information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus The communication is performed by P2P.

  The printing apparatus according to Configuration Example 11 is the printing apparatus according to any one of Configuration Examples 3 to 10, wherein the header information includes one of summary information and title information of the print job, and the printing apparatus Comprises thumbnail image generation means for generating a thumbnail image of the print job, and the print approval request information includes at least a user ID of the print job creator, a thumbnail image of a representative page of the print job, and the summary. Information and one of the title information.

  The printing apparatus according to Configuration Example 12 is the printing apparatus according to any one of Configuration Examples 3 to 11, wherein the header information includes one of summary information and title information of the print job. Web page creation means for creating a web page that can be browsed and includes a part of the contents of the print job, and the print approval request information includes at least the user ID of the print job creator and the web page creation URL address information of the Web page created by the means, and one of the summary information and the subject information is included.

  The printing method according to the configuration example 13 related to the present invention includes a first information processing apparatus for a print job creator to submit a print job, and a second information processing apparatus for an approver to perform print approval. In a printing method of a printing apparatus that is connected to each other and receives a print job submitted to the first information processing apparatus and prints the received print job, the print job is submitted from the first information processing apparatus. A transmission step of transmitting print approval request information for requesting approval of printing of the input print job to the second information processing apparatus, and the print approval request information transmitted from the second information processing apparatus. A first determination step for determining whether or not reply information for the print request has been received; and a second determination for determining whether or not the reply information includes print approval information when the reply information is received. A step, when the reply information comprise a printing authorization information, characterized by comprising an execution step of executing the printing of the print job.

  The printing method described in Configuration Example 14 is the printing method described in Configuration Example 13, in which the printing apparatus is further connected to a third information processing apparatus for another print author to perform print approval, When the reply information is not received from the information processing apparatus, another transmission step of transmitting other print approval request information for requesting approval of printing of the print job to the third information processing apparatus, and the third information A third determination step for determining whether or not reply information for the other print approval request information transmitted from the processing apparatus has been received; and when the reply information is received, the reply information indicates other print approval information. And a fourth determination step for determining whether or not to include the print job, and another execution step for executing printing of the print job when the return information includes other print approval information.

  The printing method described in Configuration Example 15 is the printing method described in Configuration Example 13 or 14, wherein the print job has header information, and a fifth method for determining whether the header information includes approver information. It comprises a discrimination step.

  The printing method described in Configuration Example 16 is the printing method described in Configuration Example 15, wherein the approver information is an email address of the second information processing apparatus, and the print approval request information is an email. Features.

  The printing method described in Configuration Example 17 is the printing method described in Configuration Example 16, wherein the other print approval request information is an e-mail.

  The printing method described in Configuration Example 18 is characterized in that, in the printing method described in Configuration Example 15, communication is performed with the third information processing apparatus by P2P.

  The printing method described in Configuration Example 19 is characterized in that, in the printing method described in Configuration Example 18, communication is performed with the third information processing apparatus by P2P.

  The printing method according to Configuration Example 20 is the printing method according to any one of Configuration Examples 15 to 19, wherein the header information includes an approver ID, and the printing method includes the approver ID and the approver. A storage step of storing a storage table paired with notification destination information, wherein the generation step refers to the notification destination of the approver from the storage table stored in the storage step, and the notification destination of the referred approver The print approval request information is generated based on the above.

  In the printing method described in Configuration Example 21, in the printing method described in Configuration Example 20, the approver notification destination information in the storage table is an email address of the approver, and the print approval request information is an email. Features.

  The printing method described in Configuration Example 22 is the printing method described in Configuration Example 20, wherein the approver notification destination of the storage table is the fixed IP address of the second information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus The communication is performed by P2P.

  23. The printing method according to Configuration Example 23 is the printing method according to any one of Configuration Examples 15 to 22, wherein the header information includes one of summary information and title information of the print job. Includes a thumbnail image generation step for generating a thumbnail image of the print job, and the print approval request information includes at least a user ID of the print job creator, a thumbnail image of a representative page of the print job, and the summary. Information and one of the title information.

  The printing method of Configuration Example 24 is the printing method according to any one of Configuration Examples 15 to 23, wherein the header information includes one of summary information and title information of the print job, and the printing method includes: A web page creation step for creating a web page that can be browsed and includes a part of the contents of the print job, wherein the print approval request information includes at least a user ID of the print job creator and the web page creation step; The URL address information of the Web page created by the above and one of the summary information and the title information are included.

  A printing program according to Configuration Example 25 related to the present invention is provided in a first information processing apparatus for a print job creator to submit a print job and a second information processing apparatus for an approver to perform print approval. A printing program for receiving a print job that is connected to each of the first information processing apparatuses and that executes a printing method in a printing apparatus that prints the received print job. When the print job is input, a transmission module that transmits print approval request information for requesting approval of printing of the input print job to the second information processing apparatus, and the transmission from the second information processing apparatus A first determination module for determining whether or not reply information to the received print approval request information has been received; and when the reply information is received, the reply information A second determination module to determine whether to include information, if the reply information comprise a printing approval information, and characterized in that to execute the execution module for executing printing of the print job to the computer.

  The storage medium described in Configuration Example 26 related to the present invention stores the program described in Configuration Example 25.

  As described above in detail, according to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 1, the print approval request information for requesting the print approval of the print job input from the first information processing apparatus is transmitted to the second information processing apparatus. When the reply information to the print approval request information received from the second information processing apparatus includes the print approval information, the print job is printed. Therefore, in response to the print instruction by the print job creator, the approver creates the print job. A print approval process can be performed for each person.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 2, when the return information is not received from the second information processing apparatus, other print approval request information for requesting print approval of the print job is transmitted to the third information processing apparatus, When the reply information to the other print approval request information received from the information processing apparatus 3 includes other print approval information, the print job is printed. An approver can perform print approval processing.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 3, since the print job has header information and it is determined whether the header information includes approver information, the print job is analyzed by analyzing the header information of the print job. The approver of the job can be grasped.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 4, since the approver information is the e-mail address of the second information processing apparatus, the e-mail can be surely used when making a print approval request.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 5, since the print approval request information is an e-mail, it is possible to reliably make a print approval request to the approver.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 6, since the P2P communicates with the second information processing apparatus, it is possible to proceed with the print approval confirmation process without being affected by the delay of the mail server or the server down.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 7, since communication with the third information processing apparatus is performed by P2P, it is possible to confirm the print approval more reliably.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 8, since the print approval request information is generated based on the storage table in which the approver ID and the approver notification destination information are paired, the correct approver can be surely designated. .

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 9, since the approver notification destination information in the storage table is the approver's e-mail address and the print approval request information is an e-mail, the print approval request is surely made to the approver. be able to.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 10, the approver notification destination of the storage table is the fixed IP address of the second information processing apparatus, and communication with the second information processing apparatus is performed by P2P. It is possible to confirm printing approval without being affected by delays in the server or server down.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 11, since the thumbnail image of the print job is generated, the contents of the print job can be grasped from the thumbnail image.

  According to the printing apparatus described in the configuration example 12, the print approval request information includes at least the user ID of the print job creator, the URL address information of the Web page including a part of the contents of the print job, the summary information, and the title. Therefore, it is possible to provide an interface approval system that is easy to understand for the print approver without using an e-mail and consuming unnecessary network resources.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a printing system including a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an MFP apparatus 100 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating in detail a configuration of an MFP main control unit 102 in FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart showing a print approval process executed by the MFP apparatus 100 of FIG. It is a figure used for demonstrating the electronic data file 601 thrown in by step S401 of FIG. 5A and 5B are diagrams used to explain the print approval request mail 701 created in step S404 in FIG. 4, where FIG. 5A is a print approval request mail, FIG. 4B is a denial notification mail, and FIG. Indicates the case of approval notification mail. It is a figure used for demonstrating the job information 801 stored by step S406 of FIG. It is a figure used for demonstrating the user notification destination information 804 used by FIG.4 S414. It is a diagram used to describe the second printing approver email address 123 sent in step S410 of FIG. 4A and 4B are diagrams used for explaining the approval confirmation notification mail 131 created in step S409 of FIG. 4, in which FIG. 4A is a print approval request mail, FIG. 4B is a denial notification mail, and FIG. Indicates the case of approval notification mail. 4A and 4B are diagrams used for explaining the non-repudiation notification mail 141 transmitted in step S414 of FIG. 4, where (a) shows a case of a non-repudiation notification mail and (b) shows a case of an approval notification mail. It is a figure which shows the modification of the electronic data file 601 used in the process of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the printing approval request mail 701 of Fig.6 (a). FIG. 14 is a diagram used to explain a print approval page 151 linked to a print approval request mail 152 in FIG. 13. It is a figure which shows the modification of the print approval request mail 131 of Fig.10 (a). FIG. 16 is a diagram used for explaining a print approval page 161 linked to the print approval request mail 162 of FIG. 15.

100 MFP apparatus 300 Printing system 301 Print job input PC
302 First print approver PC
303 File server 304 Mail server 307 Second print approver PC

Claims (6)

If print job is input, and transmitting means for transmitting print authorization request mail for approval of printing of the input print job to the first approver,
A first discriminating means for discriminating whether or not it receives a reply mail for the transmitted print approval request mail from the first approver,
If it is determined that it has received the reply mail by the first determination means, second determination means for the reply mail is determined whether or not including a printing authorization information,
If the reply mail is determined to contain printing approval information by the second determination means, execution means for executing a printing of the print job,
Other transmission means for transmitting another print approval request mail for requesting the approval of printing of the print job to the second approver if the reply mail is not received from the first approver after a predetermined time has elapsed. ,
Third discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a reply mail for the other print approval request information transmitted from the second approver has been received;
A fourth discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the reply mail contains other print approval information when the third discriminating unit determines that the reply mail has been received;
A printing apparatus comprising: another execution unit that executes printing of the print job when the fourth determination unit determines that the reply mail includes other print approval information . The print approval request mail includes a message that causes a specific character string to be described in a specific line of the body of the reply mail when approval is made, and includes a message that causes a specific line other than the specific character string to be described in a specific line of the body of the reply mail when not approved. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: If print job is input, a transmission step of transmitting the print authorization request mail for approval of printing of the input print job to the first approver,
A first determination step of determining whether it has received a reply mail for the transmitted print approval request mail from the first approver,
A second determination step of determining whether or not the reply mail includes print approval information when it is determined that the reply mail is received in the first determination step;
An execution step of executing printing of the print job when it is determined in the second determination step that the reply mail includes print approval information ;
Another transmission step of transmitting another print approval request mail for requesting approval of printing of the print job to the second approver if the reply mail is not received from the first approver after a predetermined time has elapsed; ,
A third determination step of determining whether or not a reply mail for the other print approval request information transmitted from the second approver has been received;
A fourth determination step of determining whether or not the reply mail includes other print approval information when it is determined that the reply mail is received in the third determination step;
A printing method comprising: another execution step of executing printing of the print job when it is determined in the fourth determination step that the reply mail includes other print approval information . The print approval request mail includes a message that causes a specific character string to be described in a specific line of the body of the reply mail when approval is made, and includes a message that causes a specific line other than the specific character string to be described in a specific line of the body of the reply mail when not approved the printing method according to claim 1, characterized. Features and to Help program that the printing method according to claim 3, causes the computer to execute. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 5 .

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