JP4618665B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system in which a terminal device transmits print data to an image forming apparatus via a network and forms an image on a print medium in accordance with the print data received by the image forming apparatus.

As a first background of the present invention, before the IP network became widespread, printers were connected one-to-one with personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “personal computers”). Also, since the printer cable has a limited length, the printer was inevitably placed near the personal computer. Therefore, when an electronic document created by a user on a personal computer is printed from a printer, one printer can be used exclusively, and the printing result is also discharged near the user.
However, when the IP network becomes widespread and network printers appear, these situations change. Under an IP network environment, a plurality of personal computers can access various printers. If the IP address is known, the printer can be accessed regardless of the distance from the personal computer. As a result, from network printers, documents created by various users are printed one after another, and one's own printed documents are often buried in other people's printed documents. .
The problem of mixing other printed documents is not preferable in terms of maintaining confidentiality of documents.
For example, a malicious user may browse or take away another person's printed document without permission. Even normal users who are not so, when they sort out their own other printed documents, they often see other people's documents.
Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, a printer having a function of sorting a print document by mounting a plurality of paper discharge trays has been put on the market.
However, since the printer housing becomes larger and the cost of parts increases, it is impossible to increase the number of trays as soon as possible. After all, it depends on the user's awareness that "printed documents go immediately" The part was big.
However, the distance from the personal computer to the printer varies depending on the user. Some users are working near printers, while others are working far away. The former can reach the printer in a relatively short time, but the latter takes time. Further, a user who prints a plurality of documents often comes to collect print documents at the end after sending a whole print data. Therefore, the user cannot expect to receive the document in the order in which the printer starts printing the document. Against this background, there is a demand for a solution for a network printer to allow a user to receive his / her other print document without mistake.

As a second background of the present invention, since the advent of personal computers, printers have been used as peripheral devices for personal computers. Demand for printers for enterprises was generated if PCs were spread in the workplace, and demand for printers for homes was generated if computers were spread to general households. However, since demand for personal computers has been sluggish in recent years, stand-alone printers that do not require personal computers are being actively developed.
For example, a printer that prints an image file stored on a recording medium when a portable recording medium such as an SD card or a compact flash (registered trademark) is inserted into the printer body has appeared. If this printer is used, image files taken with a digital camera or the like can be printed directly without a personal computer.
This type of printer has a card slot for connecting to a portable recording medium in addition to means for connecting to a personal computer such as a LAN port. Both are designed to be used properly depending on the type of client (terminal that requests printing) connected to the printer. For example, when printing a document edited by the personal computer 100 as shown in FIG. 6, the print data is transferred using a LAN cable or the like as in the existing printer 101. In addition, when printing an image from a digital camera 102 or the like that stores a captured image in a removable recording medium, the removable disk 103 as a recording medium is removed from the digital camera 102 and the card slot attached to the printer 101 is attached. The print data is transferred by inserting it into.
This type of printer 101 does not have a design concept of transferring print data by using both transfer means when printing one document edited by the personal computer 100. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 7, there is no concept of transferring print data from the personal computer 100 to the printer 101 via the IP network, and transmitting sub-data for the print data to the printer 101 using the removable disk 103. In general, it is generally considered sufficient that the personal computer and the printer are connected by a LAN cable or the like. When the user operates the personal computer, the transfer of the print data is completed.
On the other hand, if the print data is to be transferred together with a portable recording medium, the user must bring the portable recording medium and move to the place where the printer is located. The print data transfer does not complete. As a result, document printing is started after the user arrives in front of the printer. For this reason, it is common to interpret a very inefficient transfer method.
However, in recent years, attempts have been made to provide users with new services by using a portable recording medium and manipulating the timing at which a network printer starts printing a document.

Further, as a third background of the present invention, since the network printer can be accessed from a plurality of personal computers, an unspecified number of users send print data at different timings. The printer then prints from one to the next. As a result, some functions devised to enhance the convenience of the printer cannot be used.
The first function is a multipurpose paper feed tray. The multi-purpose paper feed tray is a tray for supplying print media brought by the user to the printer. For example, it is used when printing on postcards, cardboard, backing paper with a seal on the back, OHP slides, etc. . When using a multipurpose paper feed tray with a network printer, it is difficult to determine when to feed paper. It is necessary to feed paper immediately before the user's document is printed. If the timing is incorrect, there is a risk that another person's document may be printed on the print medium he / she brought.
The second function is an automatic billing system. This is a system that is often used in multi-function devices installed in convenience stores and libraries, where the user puts money first and the balance decreases each time a manuscript is copied. Then, when all the manuscripts are copied, the change is returned.
If the administrator of the network printer intends to collect a printing fee from the user using the automatic charging system, it is difficult for the user to determine when to deposit. It is necessary to complete the deposit immediately before the printing of the own document, and if there is a mistake in timing, there is a risk that the document of another person will be printed with the own money.
From such a background, in order to improve the performance of the network printer, it is necessary to consider not only the printing image quality and the printing speed but also the timing to start printing.

As a prior art related to the background 1, there is Patent Literature 1. According to Patent Literature 1, when a user transmits print data from a personal computer to a network printer, the user also transmits a personal identification code determined by the user. The network printer is equipped with a plurality of paper discharge trays, and print documents are discharged to different trays. When a user receives a printed document, he / she can find his / her document easily because he / she can tell the tray in which his / her printed document is stored by entering a personal identification number into the network printer.
As a prior art related to the background 2, there is Patent Document 2. According to Patent Document 2, when a user takes an image with a digital camera, the digital camera stores an image file in an external image server and stores only thumbnail images in a removable memory card. After the user finishes shooting, the user connects the memory card to the printing apparatus and determines an image to be printed while checking the thumbnail image. When the image to be printed is determined, the printing apparatus receives the image file from the image server and prints the image.
As a conventional technique related to the background 3, there is Patent Document 3. According to Patent Document 3, in a multi-function machine equipped with a multi-purpose tray and an automatic billing system, a technique for collecting the usage amount when a user copies or prints a document using the multi-purpose tray with the automatic billing system is proposed. ing.
JP 2001-322337 A JP 2002-320174 A JP 2001-293933 A

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, when a tray is added, the casing becomes large and the parts cost is excessive. This is not desirable for the user.
Further, if the technique described in Patent Document 2 is used, output from the printer is suppressed until the user appears in front of the printing apparatus, so there is no fear of mistaking other documents. However, since the application is limited when printing an image file shot or processed with a digital camera, it cannot be applied to printing a document file created on a personal computer from a network printer.
Further, when the technique described in Patent Document 3 is applied to a network printer, information for linking a printed document and a user is not managed, so no matter who deposits, it is collected as a printing fee for the next printed document. There is a risk of being done.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and aims to ensure the confidentiality of a printed document, improve convenience, obtain an optimal print start timing, and the like. An image forming system is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system in which the terminal device and the image forming apparatus are connected via a network, the terminal device edits a document file to create print data, and the identity information of the print data Means for generating sub data, means for transmitting the print data including the sub data to the image forming apparatus, and means for recording the generated sub data on a memory card. An apparatus for receiving the print data including the sub data transmitted from the terminal device; a means for storing the received print data including the sub data in a memory; and reading the sub data of the memory card. Means for reading the sub-data of the memory card, the sub-data of the print data stored in the memory Comparison, a list of matching sub-data, the button selection by the user of the print run or print cancel each sub-data of the list displayed on the display unit a screen including a print fee to be updated in response to the button operation Means for printing out print data corresponding to the sub-data selected to be printed by the user, and means for charging corresponding to the print data printed out. .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect, the sub-data to be recorded on the memory card includes at least information for specifying a date and time and information for specifying a generation source of print data. And information for identifying the terminal device that transmits the print data on the network, and information for identifying the image forming apparatus that is the transmission destination of the print data on the network. And
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first or second aspect, the image forming apparatus records a storage start time of the print data stored in the memory, the storage start time and the current time. And a means for deleting the print data after a predetermined time has elapsed in the memory.

According to the image forming system of the present invention, the confidentiality of the printed document can be ensured and the convenience for the user can be improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, a procedure from when a user edits or browses a document file using a personal computer and transmits print data to the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Next, a configuration example and a basic operation example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Then, the procedure from when the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment receives the print data to when the image is reproduced on the print medium will be described. Finally, the introduction example in which the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment functions effectively Will be explained. In the embodiment, a portable recording medium is referred to as a memory card.
First, a procedure from when a user edits or browses a document file using a personal computer and transmits print data to the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the user connects the memory card to the personal computer. Next, the user edits or browses the document file 51 as shown in FIG. 1 using appropriate application software, and instructs printing to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. When printing is instructed, a printer driver which is an image control apparatus is activated, and a screen 52 as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed.
Here, the user inputs print conditions such as the type and size of the print medium, the number of copies, and the print image quality on the screen 52, and presses the confirm button 53 at the lower right of the screen when all the print conditions are confirmed. When the confirm button 53 is pressed, the printer driver analyzes the document file according to the printing conditions, and creates a drawing command using a dedicated printer language. Also, information representing the identity of the drawing file such as the document file name, personal computer IP address, current time, destination IP address (hereinafter referred to as identity information) is examined.
Then, print data is created by adding identity information and printing conditions to the drawing command. When the print data for one document is completed, the print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the IP network. Further, the printer driver records at least four pieces of information such as the document file name, the IP address of the personal computer, the current time, and the destination IP address from the identity information of the drawing command to the memory card as sub-data.
When these series of operations are completed, the printer driver gives notification on a screen 54 as shown in FIG. If the user wants to print another document after confirming the notification, the user repeats the same operation. When all operations are completed, the user brings a memory card and goes to the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Next, a procedure from when the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment receives print data to when the image is reproduced on the print medium will be described. A configuration example and a basic operation example of the forming apparatus will be described.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment.
The NCU (network control unit) 1 is a unit for communicating with terminals other than its own connected to the IP network. At the time of data transmission, the transmission data is divided into packets according to the communication protocol of the IP network and output to the IP network. At the time of reception, the original received data is reproduced from the data divided into packets according to the communication protocol of the IP network.
The CIFU (card interface unit) 2 is a unit for communicating with a memory card. There are a plurality of standards for memory cards, and each standard has a different shape. Therefore, the memory card has a plurality of slots according to each shape. In addition, since there are a plurality of standards for data recording methods, data is read and written according to the respective standards. In addition to these, if there is a difference due to the standard of the memory card, it is solved by CIFU2.
The CDIC (communication control unit) 3 is a unit for smoothly performing data transfer performed between the units. The data path is switched when a Network to Memory operation or a Memory to Print operation described later is performed.
The IMAC (memory control unit) 4 is a unit for compressing / decompressing data and reading / writing print data to / from the MEM 5. The MEM (memory) 5 is a unit for storing print data. A VCU (video control unit) 6 is a unit for reproducing an image on a print medium. The position, size and color of the dots to be printed are judged, and the image is reproduced by printing those dots.

The IPU (image processing unit) 7 is a unit for optimizing the frequency characteristics and gradation characteristics of the image in accordance with the characteristics of the own device before the image is reproduced by the VCU 6. The liquid crystal touch panel 8 displays information necessary when the user uses the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and makes various settings by the user touching the display screen.
An APU (automatic payment unit) 9 is a unit for collecting a usage fee of the image forming apparatus from a user. With a bill and coin slot and a tray to return the change, the user can prepay the usage fee. It is collected each time a fee is generated, and if there is a balance at the end of all work, it is returned as change.
The process controller 10 controls the operations of the NCU1, CDIC3, VCU6, and IPU7. Make necessary settings for each, and monitor startup, termination, processing progress, etc. Further, the system controller 11 controls operations of the IMAC 4, the MEM 5, the liquid crystal touch panel 8, the clock 12, the APU 9, and the CIFU 2. Make necessary settings for each, and monitor startup, termination, and progress of processing.
The RAM 13-1 and ROM 14-1 connected to the IMAC 4 by the local bus store information necessary for the system controller 11, the IMAC 4, the liquid crystal touch panel 8, the MEM 5, the clock 12, the APU 9, and the CIFU 2 to perform processing. ing.
For example, character information and bitmap information for displaying characters and symbols on the liquid crystal touch panel 8, total amount and remaining amount of electronic image data that can be stored in the MEM 5, information input by the user from the operation unit of the liquid crystal touch panel 8, and the like are stored. Has been. If a processor is installed in the IMAC 4 or MEM 5, the liquid crystal touch panel 8, the clock 12, the APU 9, the CIFU 2, or the system controller 11, a program describing the operation is also stored here.
The RAM 13-2 and the ROM 14-2 connected to the serial bus store information necessary for the NCU 1, the CDIC 3, the VCU 6, the IPU 7, and the process controller 10 to perform processing.
For example, the protocol information for the NCU 1 to receive print data via the IP network, and the remaining amount of ink and toner used when the VCU 6 reproduces an image are stored. When a processor is mounted in the NCU 1, CDIC 3, VCU 6, IPU 7, or process controller 10, a program describing the operation is also stored here.
Here, the CIFU 2 has the function of the sub-data receiving means in the present invention, the storage means has the function of the MEM 5, the charging means has the function of the APU 9, and the specifying means and the control means are the system controller 11. Has the function, and the timepiece 12 has the function as the measuring means.

Next, operation examples of the Network to Memory operation, the Memory to Print operation, the Negotiation operation, and the Search operation, which are basic operations of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, will be described.
The network to memory operation is an operation for accumulating print data sent from a personal computer or the like via an IP network in the MEM 5. First, when the NCU 1 receives data from the IP network, the original print data is restored from the received data and transferred to the CDIC 3 according to the communication protocol. The CDIC 3 transfers the received print data to the IMAC 4.
The IMAC 4 divides the received print data into drawing commands, identity information, and printing conditions, and stores them in the MEM 5 respectively. While performing the Network to Memory operation, the states of the IMAC 4 and the MEM 5 are sequentially notified to the system controller 11. Further, the states of the CDIC 3 and the NCU 1 are sequentially notified to the process controller 10. When the drawing command, the identity information, and the printing conditions are saved, the system controller 11 checks the current time from the clock and saves it in the RAM 13-1 as the print data saving start time.
The Memory to Print operation is an operation for reproducing an image on a print medium according to the print data stored in the MEM 5. First, the IMAC 4 reads the drawing command and printing conditions from the MEM 5 and transfers them to the CDIC 3. The CDIC 3 creates bitmap data from the drawing command transferred from the IMAC 4 and transfers it to the IPU 7. Further, the image processing parameters are extracted from the printing conditions transferred from the IMAC 4 and transferred to the IPU 7.
The IPU 7 performs image processing on the bitmap data according to the image processing parameter and transfers it to the VCU 6. The VCU 6 reproduces the image on the print medium according to the bitmap data received from the IPU 7. During operation, the status of the CDIC 3, the IPU 7 and the VCU 6 is notified to the sequential process controller 10, and the status of the IMAC 4 and MEM 5 is notified to the sequential system controller 11. When the reproduction of the image by the VCU 6 is finished, the system controller 11 displays that on the liquid crystal touch panel 8.

The search operation is an operation for searching for specific print data from the MEM 5. First, the system controller 11 reads the identity information of the drawing data from the memory card connected to the CIFU 2, and transfers the identity information to the IMAC 4 if the transmission destination address is the own device. The IMAC 4 accesses the MEM 5 and collates the identity information received from the system controller 11 with the identity information recorded in the MEM 5. In order to improve the search accuracy, at least three types of document file name, IP address of the transmission source personal computer, and transmission time are collated.
For example, when a plurality of users browse and print a document file shared on the IP network, it is expected that a plurality of print data generated from the same document file is transferred. As for the transmission time, the print data may be transmitted by accident at the same time.
However, if each user uses a different personal computer, since the IP address of the transmission source is different, one print data can be specified. If a plurality of users are using one personal computer alternately, the IP address of the transmission source is the same, but the transmission time is different, so that one print data can be specified. When the collation is completed, the IMAC 4 notifies the collation result to the system controller 11.

The Negotiation operation is a negotiation operation that the image forming apparatus of the present invention performs with the user.
First, when a user connects a memory card to the CIFU 2, the system controller 11 performs a search operation and searches the MEM 5 for print data transmitted by the user. Since the memory card connected to the CIFU 2 is brought by the user himself, it is considered that the print data retrieved from the identity information recorded on the memory card is transmitted from the personal computer by the user himself / herself.
When the search is completed, the system controller 11 displays the search result and information necessary for negotiation on the liquid crystal touch panel 8 (see FIG. 5).
The negotiation performed here is to decide whether to execute / stop the printing process. After confirming the displayed content, the user can determine whether or not to reproduce the print data for each print data. If there is information whose contents change depending on the user's operation, such as a printing fee, the contents displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 8 are updated each time.
When all the operations are completed, the user presses the confirm button 81 shown in FIG. When the confirm button 81 is pressed, the system controller 11 saves the negotiation result in the RAM 13-1, and confirms that the amount of money put into the APU 9 is equal to or more than the printing price. If the amount less than the printing fee has been entered, the user is notified of this fact and prompted to deposit. In this case, the user can make a determination again about the execution / cancellation of the printing process.
As a reason for canceling printing by the Negotiation operation, the user may modify the original document file after sending the print data and send the print data again. In this case, the old print data does not need to be reproduced, and printing may be stopped. In addition, if the printing price exceeds the expected amount, it may be possible to cancel printing for a document that is less necessary.
Based on these basic operations, a procedure from when the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment receives print data from a personal computer until the image is reproduced on the print medium will be described.

When the print data is received via the IP network, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment accumulates the print data in the MEM 5 by a Network to Memory operation. Thereafter, the user moves to the front of the image forming apparatus and connects the memory card to the CIFU 2. Also, money is put into APU9. When the memory card is inserted, the print data is searched from the MEM 5 by the Search operation, and whether the print data should be printed or not is confirmed by the Negotiation operation.
Here, for the print data instructed to stop printing, the corresponding print is deleted from the MEM 5 and the corresponding sub data is deleted from the memory card. For print data instructed to execute printing, an image is reproduced on a print medium by a Memory to Print operation. That is, the image is reproduced on the print medium in the order in which the sub data is received from the memory card.
Next, the optimization process of MEM5 performed periodically will be described. In network printers shared by an unspecified number of people, there are always people who leave printed documents. As a result, printed documents that have lost their destination are loaded around the paper discharge tray of the printer, and someone regularly cleans them and throws them away in the trash. If this mishap is applied to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, there should be a person who does not bring a memory card while sending print data to the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
As a result, some print data is left behind in the MEM 5, which may cause the remaining capacity of the MEM 5 to decrease. In the case of existing network printers, the printed document loses its place, so it takes up space and looks bad. Nor can you protect confidentiality from third parties.
On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, printing of a document is not started until a user appears, so that an electronic document is left behind. Further, when performing the Network to Memory operation, the time when each print data is stored in the MEM 5 is recorded in the RAM 13-1. Therefore, the system controller 11 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment periodically checks the current time from a clock, and print data stored in the MEM 5 for more than a certain time is regarded as a neglected document and deleted.

Next, introduction examples of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be introduced. The network environment in which the image forming apparatus functions most effectively is a case where there is an access point (hereinafter referred to as a hot spot) that anyone can use.
For example, if only people who are acquainted with each other share a network printer, such as an in-house LAN, even if a document output from the printer is seen by another employee, it does not cause a security leak. However, if people who are not acquainted with each other share a network printer, printing of the document may start before their eyes reach, and other printed documents may be mixed in the paper output tray. I can't print with peace of mind.
In recent years, hot spots are increasing mainly in urban areas. If you have a notebook computer, you can connect to the IP network regardless of location, so the use is expanding mainly by businessmen who are often out. In addition, restaurants have been set up inside the store in anticipation of the effect of attracting customers due to hot spots.
However, as hotspots increase, services that can simply connect to an IP network have become difficult to differentiate from other hotspots. Therefore, it is necessary to add value to hotspots by adding connection services to network devices such as scanners and printers.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention functions effectively with such a hot spot. Most hot spots perform user authentication to prevent unauthorized access. However, since user authentication is exchanged between the user and the hot spot provider, the users are not connected in a trust relationship. Therefore, if an existing network printer is shared, it is not possible to print a document with peace of mind.
In particular, among businessmen, there are people who are connected to a work network via VPN (Virtual Private Network) and edit and view confidential documents. Despite the fact that strong security measures have been taken up to the personal computer at hand, there is no point in protecting your document from a third party when it is output to a print medium. If this image forming apparatus is used, the document can be printed only before it is viewed, so that the user can print with confidence.

It is a figure which shows a document preparation application. It is a figure which shows the display screen of a personal computer (the 1). It is a figure which shows the display screen of a personal computer (the 2). 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the display screen of a liquid crystal touch panel. It is a figure which shows the usage condition which prints the printing data of a personal computer and a digital camera in the printer provided with the card slot. It is a figure which shows the use aspect which prints the printing data and sub data of a personal computer in the printer provided with the card slot.

Explanation of symbols

2 CIFU, 5 MEM, 9 APU, 11 System controller, 12 Clock

Claims (3)

In an image forming system in which a terminal device and an image forming apparatus are connected via a network,
The terminal device edits a document file to create print data, and generates sub-data that is identification information of the print data, and transmits the print data including the sub-data to the image forming apparatus And means for recording the generated sub-data on a memory card,
The image forming apparatus includes: means for receiving the print data including the sub data transmitted from the terminal apparatus; means for storing the print data including the received sub data in a memory; A means for reading data, and the sub-data of the read memory card is compared with the sub-data of the print data stored in the memory , and a list of matching sub-data is printed for each sub-data of the list A button for allowing the user to select execution or print cancellation, means for displaying a screen including a printing fee updated in response to the button operation, and printing corresponding to the sub-data selected for printing by the user Means for printing out data, and means for charging in accordance with the printout data printed out,
An image forming system.   The sub-data to be recorded on the memory card includes at least information for specifying the date and time, information for specifying the print data generation source, and the terminal device that transmits the print data on the network. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising information for identifying the image forming apparatus to which the print data is transmitted on the network.   The image forming apparatus includes means for recording a storage start time of print data stored in the memory, and means for comparing the storage start time with a current time and deleting print data for which a predetermined time has elapsed in the memory. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising:

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