JP4665950B2 - Network printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network printer having a security print function.

  Conventionally, there is a network printer having a printing function called security printing. In security printing, for example, a print job to which a password is added is used. The network printer stores the print job with the password added in the main memory. The stored print job is output as a printed document (printed document) when the password input from the operation panel by the user matches the added password.

  In the case of normal printing, the network printer processes print jobs in the order received and outputs a print document. For this reason, there is a possibility that others can view the printed document until the user goes to pick up the output printed document. The security print is used when outputting highly confidential data as a print document. That is, in the security print, since the print document is output in a state where the user is in front of the network printer, the confidentiality of the data can be ensured.

  As described above, the print job set for the security print is stored in the main memory of the network printer until an output instruction such as a password is input. For this reason, when a large number of print jobs set for security printing are accumulated, the load on the main memory increases. In order to prevent this, the print job set for the security print is deleted from the main memory when a state where an output instruction such as a password is not input passes for a certain period of time.

  However, there is no means for notifying the user that the print job set for the security print has been automatically deleted. As a result, the user may input a password corresponding to the print job set for the deleted security print. Also, the user may forget to input an output instruction for a print job set for security printing. In this case, the original data that the user planned to print is not output as a print document.

  Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 discloses a print processing system that notifies the user that a job set for security printing has been deleted.

JP 2001-282477 A

  The print processing system disclosed in Patent Document 1 deletes a print job set for a security print when a password is not input for a print job set for a security print stored in the printer for a certain period of time. The user is notified by e-mail that the print job has been deleted.

  However, when reprinting is performed after deleting a print job set for secure printing, there is a problem that the same operation needs to be repeated once more. Further, when the user deletes the original data before the print job set for the security print is automatically deleted, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform reprinting.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a network printer that can facilitate reprinting of security prints.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a network printer, an operation unit that receives a user operation, and a first storage unit that receives and stores a print job associated with collation information. When the print instruction information that matches the collation information is input from the operation unit, the print instruction information is not input even if a predetermined time elapses after the print job is processed and the print job is received. extracts the print data included in the print job from the print job, the print job management section deletes the print job from the first storage section, prior SL user only accessible folder that has transmitted the print job in a second storage unit for storing the extracted print data, using a deletion notification indicating that the print job has been deleted, the print di to the user Comprising a notification unit for notifying deletion of the probe, wherein the print job management unit, according to reprint instruction of the user, characterized in that to create a new print job from the extracted print data .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the network printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, the network printer further includes a user information management unit that manages identification information for authenticating the user, and the verification information includes the identification information of the user. It is characterized by being.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the network printer according to the second aspect, the user information management unit manages the identification information of the user in association with an email address, and the notification unit notifies the deletion notification. In this case, the mail address of the user is transmitted as a destination.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the network printer according to the first or second aspect, the notification unit is operated by the user when the user inputs identification information of the user via the network. The deletion notification is displayed on a terminal.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the network printer according to the first or second aspect further includes a display unit that displays the deletion notification when the identification information of the user is input from the operation unit. It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 6 is a network printer, which matches an operation unit that receives a user operation, a first storage unit that receives and stores a print job associated with the collation information, and the collation information. If print instruction information is input from the operation unit, the print job is processed, and if the print instruction information is not input even after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the print job, the print job is included in the print job extracts the print data from the print job, the print data only user who sent the print job management unit that deletes the print job from the first storage unit, a pre-Symbol print job accessible folder, extracted a second storage unit that stores, and a notification unit for creating a deletion notification indicating that the print job is deleted, the second storage unit, the deleted through Was stored in the folder, the print job management unit, according to reprint instruction of the user, characterized in that to create a new print job from the extracted print data.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the network printer according to the sixth aspect, when the user inputs the identification information of the user via the network, the notification unit prints the deletion notification and the print in the folder. A storage notification indicating that the data has been stored is displayed on a terminal operated by the user.

  According to the present invention, the network printer receives and stores a print job associated with the collation information. If the print instruction information is not input even after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the print job, the network printer deletes the received print job. When a received print job is deleted, the network printer stores the print data included in the print job in a folder accessible only to the user who sent the print job, and notifies the user of a print job deletion notification. . As a result, the user can easily confirm which print job is deleted from among the print jobs set for the security print.

  Further, the network printer restores the print job from the stored print data in response to a user's reprint instruction. For this reason, it is possible to easily reprint the deleted print job.

  Further, the network printer notifies the deletion notification using mail. Alternatively, when the user logs in to the network printer, a deletion notification is displayed on the display unit of the network printer or the screen of the terminal used by the user. In this way, the network printer can notify the user that the print job has been deleted using various methods.

  Further, according to the present invention, when deleting a received print job, the network printer can access the print data included in the print job and the print job deletion notification only to the user who transmitted the print job. Save to. Then, when the user accesses the folder, the network printer notifies the user that the deletion notification and the print data have been saved. As a result, the network printer can notify the user that the print job has been deleted even when the deletion notification cannot be transmitted by mail.

{First embodiment}
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, a network complex machine will be described as an example of a network printer. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system including a configuration of a network multifunction device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The network system shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a network multifunction device 1 and a plurality of personal computers (PC) 2, 2... Are connected to a local area network (LAN) 3.

  First, the configuration of the network multifunction device 1 will be described. The network multifunction device 1 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a touch panel display 13, a mail unit 14, a printer unit 15, a storage unit 16, and a communication unit 17. In the network MFP shown in FIG. 1, only functional units necessary for the description of the present embodiment are shown, and display of the scanner unit, copy unit, fax unit, and the like is omitted.

  The control unit 11 includes a microprocessor, a main memory (RAM), and the like, and performs overall control of the network multifunction device 1. The control unit 11 includes a user information management unit 111, a print job management unit 112, and a document management unit 113.

  The operation unit 12 includes a hardware key for inputting various instructions to the network MFP 1. The touch panel display 13 displays information related to the network multifunction peripheral 1 and various operation menus. The user can perform various operations of the network multifunction peripheral 1 using the operation unit 12 and the touch panel display 13 (hereinafter referred to as “main body operation unit”).

  The mail unit 14 sends a deletion notification indicating that the print job set for the security print has been deleted to the user who sent the print job by mail.

  The printer unit 15 functions as a network printer. That is, the printer unit 15 processes a print job transmitted from the PCs 2, 2,... And outputs a print document. The print job includes image data for printing (hereinafter referred to as “print data”), a file name of data to be printed, a control command for controlling the printer unit 15, and the like.

  The storage unit 16 includes a hard disk device (HDD) and the like, and a user folder assigned to each user who uses the network multifunction device 1 is created.

  The communication unit 17 transmits / receives data to / from each computer connected to the LAN 3 using a protocol such as TCP / IP.

  Next, each functional unit included in the control unit 11 will be described. The user information management unit 111 holds user management information for authenticating a user who uses the network MFP 1. For example, when the user operates the main body operation unit to use the network multifunction device 1 or when the user operates the PC 2 to access the user folder, the user information management unit 111 inputs authentication information to the user. Request. Thereby, the user information management unit 111 can manage users who use the network multifunction peripheral 1.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of user management information. As shown in FIG. 2, the user management information includes a user ID and a password that are authentication information of each user. Further, the mail address of each user and the path of the user folder are recorded in the user management information in a state associated with the user ID.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a user folder 161 is assigned to the user A. The path of the user folder 161 is “\ user \ user folder A”. When accessing the user folder 161, it is necessary to input the authentication information of the user A.

  The print job management unit 112 spools a print job transmitted from the PC 2 in a RAM (not shown), and manages the spooled print job. For example, the print job management unit 112 causes the printer unit 15 to process the print jobs for normal printing in the order in which the print jobs were spooled. Further, the print job management unit 112 spools the print job set for the security print until an instruction to start outputting the print job set for the security print (output instruction) is input.

  The document management unit 113 has a Web server function. For this reason, the user can browse the data stored in the storage unit 16 on the screen of the PC 2. Data stored in the storage unit 16 includes received mail received by the mail unit 14 and image data output by a scanner unit (not shown).

  Next, PC2, 2, ... will be described. A printer driver 21 for controlling the printer unit 15 of the network multifunction device 1 is installed in each of the PCs 2, 2,. The printer driver 21 converts data instructed by the user into print data, and generates a print job including the print data and control commands. The generated print job is transmitted to the network MFP 1.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the network MFP 1 when the security print function is used will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a print job set for security printing in the network multifunction peripheral 1.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, the network multifunction device 1 receives a print job set for security printing (step S11). Specifically, the user instructs the PC 2 to create a print job set for security printing. As a result, the printer driver 21 activates a browser or the like, and requests the user to input authentication information for logging in to the network multifunction device 1. The input authentication information is transmitted to the network MFP 1.

  When the user information management unit 111 of the network multifunction device 1 determines that the authentication information transmitted from the PC 2 is correct, the user information management unit 111 notifies the printer driver 21 that the user has logged into the network multifunction device 1. Upon receiving the login notification, the printer driver 21 creates a print job set for secure printing, and transmits the created print job to the network multifunction device 1 in association with the authentication information.

  On the other hand, when the user information management unit 111 determines that the authentication information is not correct, the user information management unit 111 notifies the printer driver 21 that the authentication could not be performed. The printer driver 21 requests the user of the PC 2 to input authentication information again.

  The printer driver 21 may transmit the print job set for the security print to the network multifunction device 1 in association with the dedicated password. The dedicated password is specified by the user or specified by the network multifunction device 1.

  After receiving the print job set for secure printing (step S11), the print job management unit 112 spools the received print job as a standby job in a RAM (not shown) (step S12). The standby job is stored in a state associated with the input authentication information. Note that the standby job may be spooled in a system folder created in the storage unit 16.

  Next, the user moves to the network multifunction device 1. Then, the user operates the main body operation unit to input an output instruction for the print job set for the security print. That is, the user logs in to the network multifunction device 1 by inputting his / her authentication information from the main body operation unit. After confirming that the user has logged in, the print job management unit 112 displays a list of standby jobs transmitted by the user on the touch panel display 13. The user selects a print job set for the security print to be output from the displayed list, and inputs an output instruction.

  The print job management unit 112 instructs the printer unit 15 to print the selected standby job by detecting the input of the output instruction (Yes in step S13). The printer unit 15 processes the print job set for the security print and outputs a print document (step S14). Thereafter, the print job management unit 112 confirms the number of waiting jobs spooled. If the number of waiting jobs is 0 (Yes in step S15), the network multifunction device 1 ends the process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the standby job is still spooled (No in step S15), the network multifunction device 1 returns to the process of step S13.

  On the other hand, when the standby job output instruction is not input (No in step S13), the print job management unit 112 determines whether there is a standby job whose elapsed time after spooling exceeds a preset reference time. (Step S16).

  If there is no standby job whose elapsed time exceeds the reference time (No in step S16), the print job management unit 112 continues spooling of the standby job. On the other hand, when there is a standby job whose elapsed time exceeds the reference time (Yes in step S16), the print job management unit 112 performs processing to delete the standby job whose reference time has exceeded.

  Hereinafter, processing for deleting a standby job will be described. First, the print job management unit 112 extracts print data from a standby job that exceeds the reference time. The extracted print data is stored in the user folder of the user who created the standby job exceeding the reference time (step S17). For example, when a standby job created by the user A is deleted, the extracted print data is stored in the user folder 161. Note that the print job management unit 112 may extract a control command of the printer unit 15 and the like from the print job together with the print data, and store it in the user folder.

  Next, the mail unit 14 creates a deletion notification for notifying that the standby job exceeding the reference time has been deleted (step S18). The deletion notification includes the time when the standby job is deleted, the file name of the original data, the file name of the saved print data, and the like. In addition, the mail unit 14 acquires the mail address of the user who transmitted the standby job from the user management information.

  Thereafter, the print job management unit 112 deletes the standby job that exceeds the reference time (step S19). The mail unit 14 transmits a deletion notification by mail using the acquired mail address as a transmission destination (step S20). If the number of standby jobs is 0 after sending the mail (Yes in step S15), the network multifunction peripheral 1 ends the processing shown in FIG. On the other hand, when there is a spooled standby job (No in step S15), the network multifunction device 1 returns to the process of step S13.

  Accordingly, the user can easily know that the print job set for the security print has been deleted by checking the deletion notification mail. Further, the user can easily confirm which print job has been deleted among the print jobs set to the security print based on the description of the deletion notification.

  Next, restoration of the deleted standby job will be described. The user can restore the deleted standby job using the print data stored in the user folder. The procedure will be described below.

  First, the user logs in to the network multifunction device 1 via a browser or the like. The user accesses the user folder and instructs reprinting of the print data file stored in the user folder.

  The print job management unit 112 creates a print job set for security printing based on the stored print data and spools it as a standby job. As a result, the deleted standby job can be restored. The operation of the network multifunction peripheral 1 after restoring the standby job is the same as the processing after step S13 shown in FIG. Note that the restored standby job may be a normal print job. However, since the deleted standby job is set to secure printing, it is preferable that the print job created based on the stored print data is set to secure printing.

  As described above, the network multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment deletes a standby job that exceeds the reference time when the standby job spool time exceeds the reference time. Then, a deletion notification is transmitted by e-mail to the user who has transmitted the standby job exceeding the reference time. Thereby, even if the print job set for the security print is automatically deleted, the user can easily reprint. Further, even when the original file has already been deleted, it can be easily reprinted.

  When a standby job that exceeds the reference time is deleted, the print data is stored in a user folder that can be accessed only by the user who has transmitted the standby job that exceeds the reference time. For this reason, the confidentiality of the print data for restoration can be ensured.

{Second Embodiment}
Next, a network multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the configuration of the network multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the network multifunction peripheral 1 shown in FIG. 1, the description of each configuration is omitted.

  The network multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment is different from the network multifunction peripheral according to the above-described embodiment in that the created deletion notification is stored in the user folder in step S18 shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the network multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3, focusing on differences from the operation of the network multifunction peripheral described in the above embodiment. The processing from steps S11 to S17 shown in FIG. In the network multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment, the document management unit 113 creates a deletion notification instead of the processing shown in step S18, and stores it in the user folder. Thereafter, the print job management unit 112 deletes the standby job that exceeds the reference time (step S19). Further, the process shown in step S20 is not performed.

  After the standby job is deleted, the user can confirm the deletion notification by accessing the user folder. That is, when the user displays a list of user folders on the screen of the PC 2, the document management unit 113 notifies the deletion notification and that the print data is newly saved in the user folder. By confirming the deletion notification, the user can easily confirm which print job has been deleted among the print jobs set for the security print.

  When the user who has transmitted the standby job logs in by operating the main body operation unit, a pop-up indicating that the standby job has been deleted may be displayed on the touch panel display 13. Alternatively, when the user logs in via a browser, a pop-up indicating that the standby job has been deleted may be displayed. In this case, the content displayed in the pop-up does not have to be the same content as the deletion notification. For example, the time when the standby job is deleted and the file name of the original data may be displayed.

  As described above, the network multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment can confirm the deletion notification even by a user who does not have an email address by storing the deletion notification in the user folder. In addition, the deletion notification may be stored in the user folder when the mail unit 14 of the network MFP 1 cannot transmit the mail.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, when the deleted standby job is restored, the user operates the PC 2 to restore it. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the deleted standby job may be restored by operating the main body operation unit of the network MFP 1. Specifically, the user who has confirmed the deletion notification moves to the network multifunction device 1 and operates the main body operation unit to log in to the network multifunction device 1. After logging in, the user selects print data stored in the user folder and instructs reprinting. In response to the reprint instruction, the print job management unit 112 creates a print job for the print data. In this case, since there is a user in front of the network multifunction peripheral 1, the standby job set for the security print may be restored as a print job for normal printing.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, it has been described that the user can access the user folder created in the storage unit 16 using the authentication information for logging in to the network multifunction device 1. Not limited to. For example, a unique ID and password may be set for each user folder. In this case, the user information management unit 111 may manage the authentication information of the network multifunction device 1 in association with the user ID and password for accessing the user folder.

1 is a configuration diagram of a network system including a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of user management information. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a print job set for security printing in the network multifunction peripheral 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network multifunction device 11 Control part 12 Operation part 13 Touch panel type display 14 Mail part 15 Printer part 16 Storage part 17 Communication part 111 User information management part 112 Print job management part 113 Document management part

Claims (7)

An operation unit for receiving user operations;
A first storage unit that receives and stores a print job associated with the verification information ;
When print instruction information that matches the collation information is input from the operation unit, when the print job is processed and the print instruction information is not input even after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the print job, A print job management unit for extracting print data included in the print job from the print job and deleting the print job from the first storage unit ;
A second storage unit in which only the user who has transmitted the previous SL print job accessible folder stores the extracted print data,
A notification unit for notifying the user of the deletion of the print job using a deletion notification indicating that the print job has been deleted;
With
The network printer, wherein the print job management unit newly creates a print job from the extracted print data in response to a reprint instruction from the user. The network printer according to claim 1, further comprising:
A user information management unit for managing identification information for authenticating the user;
With
The network printer, wherein the collation information is identification information of the user. The network printer according to claim 2, wherein
The user information management unit manages the identification information of the user in association with an email address,
The network printer according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit transmits the deletion notification by an e-mail having the e-mail address of the user as a transmission destination. The network printer according to claim 1 or 2,
The network printer, wherein the notification unit displays the deletion notification on a terminal operated by the user when the user inputs identification information of the user via a network. The network printer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
A display unit that displays the deletion notification when the identification information of the user is input from the operation unit;
A network printer comprising: An operation unit for receiving user operations;
A first storage unit that receives and stores a print job associated with the verification information ;
When print instruction information that matches the collation information is input from the operation unit, when the print job is processed and the print instruction information is not input even after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the print job, A print job management unit for extracting print data included in the print job from the print job and deleting the print job from the first storage unit ;
A second storage unit in which only the user who has transmitted the previous SL print job accessible folder stores the extracted print data,
A notification unit for creating a deletion notification indicating that the print job has been deleted;
With
The second storage unit stores the deletion notification in the folder,
The network printer, wherein the print job management unit newly creates a print job from the extracted print data in response to a reprint instruction from the user. The network printer according to claim 6.
When the user inputs identification information of the user via a network, the notification unit sends a storage notification indicating that the deletion notification and the print data are stored in the folder to a terminal operated by the user. A network printer characterized by being displayed.

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