JP4670421B2 - Print file management system, management user terminal, server, print file registration program, print file management program, and print file management method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print file management system, a management user terminal, a server, a print file registration program, a print file management program, and a print file management method.

  In recent years, various documents tend to be managed as electronic data for the purpose of document management or work efficiency and space saving. At the same time, for the purpose of protecting personal information and preventing leakage of corporate information, it is required to enhance the security of digitized confidential documents.

On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a print server that determines whether or not printing is possible according to the authority of a user who has requested printing of a file.
JP-A-9-258932

  However, in the above-described system, although the security can be improved by setting the printing authority, if the user having the printing authority wants to distribute the printed document to the user having no printing authority, the user having the printing authority It is necessary to perform printing operations and distribution on the terminal. Therefore, it takes time for the user having the printing authority, and the efficiency of work is inferior. In addition, when it is desired to distribute a printed document to a user who is not authorized to print at a remote location, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of preventing information leakage because it is distributed via another person or exposed to the public.

  In addition, when a plurality of users share one printer, the printed matter is accumulated, and there is a possibility that other users can see the printed matter. In addition, there is a possibility that the printed matter is left in the shared printer and information is leaked.

  In addition, when a computerized document is shared by multiple users, a method is also envisaged in which user authentication by ID / password setting, file encryption, etc., allows a predetermined user to view, write or print data. The However, for documents that require particularly high security, it is necessary to prevent unauthorized use / falsification of data by other users, so it may not be desirable to pass the data itself to other users. .

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print file management system, a management user terminal, a server, a print file registration program, and a print that improve safety and support work efficiency. To provide a file management program and a print file management method.

According to the present invention, a management user terminal, a server, a printing apparatus, and an information device for inputting user authentication information are connected via a network, and printing is performed for a predetermined print user selected by a print management user. A print file management system that permits printing of a file, wherein the management user terminal displays a print file creation unit that creates a print file and a plurality of print users that print the print file in a selectable manner. The display means, the management user identifier of the print management user who created the print file, the print user identifier of the selected print user, and the print file are transmitted to the server, and the print management user sends a predetermined a file registration means for registering the print file that permit printing of the printing user to the server, the If it is determined that the print user other than the print management user by chromatography The information display means is designated, and a management user terminal control means for requesting user information of the printing user other than the print management user to said server, said server Requesting printing of the print file, print file storage means for storing the print file transmitted from the management user terminal, attribute information storage means for storing the management user identifier and the print user identifier as attribute information, and Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information of the print user from the information device, and the print file associated with the print user identifier corresponding to the acquired authentication information is extracted from the print file storage means. An extracting means, and transmitting the extracted print file to the printing apparatus, An output control means for printing the print file to the device, provided with a transmission unit for transmitting the user information to the management user terminal.

  According to this, the management user terminal registers the print file permitted to be printed by the print user in the server by associating the print user identifier of the print user with the print file. The server storing each print file prints the print file when the authentication information of the print user input by the information device corresponds to the print user identifier associated with the print file. For this reason, even a user who does not have the authority to create a print file can print the print file when specified by the management user terminal for the print file. Accordingly, the print management user can save the trouble of printing operation and distribution, so that the burden on the print management user can be reduced and the work efficiency can be improved. In addition, since printing cannot be performed unless specified by the print management user, both work efficiency and safety can be achieved. Moreover, since authentication is required for the printing user to print from the printing apparatus, safety can be further improved.

The present invention is an administrative user terminal that can be connected to a server that stores print files via a network, and can select a print file creation unit that creates a print file and a plurality of print users that print the print file. User information display means for displaying, a management user identifier of the print management user who created the print file, a print user identifier of the selected print user, and the print file are transmitted to the server, and the print management When it is determined that a print user other than the print management user is designated by the file registration means for registering the print file permitted to be printed by the predetermined print user in the server and the user information display means, the print management Administrative user terminal control for requesting user information of printing users other than users from the server And the stage, with a.

  According to this, the management user terminal displays the user information of the printing user so as to be selectable. Then, the print file, the management user identifier of the print management user, and the print user identifier of the selected print user are transmitted to the server, and the print file permitted to print to the selected print user is registered. For this reason, since the management user terminal can designate and register the print user who prints the print file, it is possible to omit the printing management user's printing operation and distribution.

The present invention is connectable via a network to a management user terminal that transmits a print file that is permitted to be printed by a print management user, an information device that inputs the authentication information of the print user, and a printing apparatus. A print file storage means for storing the print file transmitted from the management user terminal; a print user identifier of the print user associated with the print file; and a management user identifier of the print management user Attribute information storage means that stores the authentication information of the print user requesting printing of the print file from the information device via the network, and the acquired authentication information. The print file associated with the print user identifier corresponding to the information is stored in the print file. Extraction means for extracting from Le storing means, the extracted the print file is transmitted to the printing apparatus, and transmits an output control means for printing the print file to the printing apparatus, the user information to the management user terminal And a transmission means .

According to this, the server stores the print file in the print file storage unit, and the attribute information storage unit stores the identifier of the print user permitted to print the print file and the identifier of the print management user permitted to print. Store and register print file. Further, when the print user authentication information acquired from the information device corresponds to the print user identifier associated with the print file stored in the print file storage unit, the print file is printed on the printing apparatus. For this reason, even a user who does not have the authority to create a print file can print the print file when specified by the management user using the management user terminal, thus reducing the burden on the management user and improving work efficiency. Can be achieved. Moreover, since printing cannot be performed unless specified by the management user, both work efficiency and safety can be achieved.

  In this server, based on the authentication information acquired from the information device and the attribute information associated with the print file, the attribute information including the print user identifier corresponding to the authentication information is transmitted to the information device. Attribute information transmitting means for transmitting via the network and displaying on the display unit of the information device is further provided, and the extracting means corresponds to the attribute information selected by the printing user and transmitted from the information device. The print file to be extracted is extracted from the print file storage means.

  According to this, the server transmits the attribute information of the print file corresponding to the authentication information to the information device based on the authentication information acquired from the information device. Also, a print file corresponding to the attribute information returned from the information device is extracted. For this reason, the print user can check the attribute information of the print file on the information device and determine whether or not the print file can be printed, so that the desired print file can be printed at a desired time. .

  In this server, when a user information storage unit storing user information including a transmission destination for transmitting a notification to the print user, the print file, and the print user identifier are acquired from the management user terminal Notification means for notifying that the print file has been registered based on the user information corresponding to the print user identifier.

  According to this, the server can notify the print user that the print file has been registered in the server. For this reason, since the printing user can know the registration of the print file by notification, the printing user can be supported.

  In this server, the attribute information includes period information indicating a printable period of the print file, and a period for determining whether the print file can be printed based on the period information corresponding to the print file. A judging means is further provided.

  According to this, the server further determines whether or not the print file can be printed based on the period information associated with the print file. For this reason, since a print file whose printable period has passed is not printed, safety and work efficiency can be improved.

According to the present invention, a management user terminal that is connected to a server that stores print files via a network and includes a control unit registers the print file that is permitted by a print management user to be printed by a print management user. A print file registration program for creating a print file, a user information display unit for selecting a print user for printing the print file, and a user information display unit for displaying the print file. The created print management user's management user identifier, the selected print user's print user identifier, and the print file are transmitted to the server, and the print is permitted only to the predetermined print user. a file registration means for registering a file on the server, the indicia by the user information display means If it is determined that the print user other than the administrative user is specified, and the management user terminal control means for requesting user information of the printing user other than the print management user to said server,
Make it work

  According to this, the control means of the management user terminal displays the print user in a selectable manner for the created print file according to the print file registration program. Further, the control means transmits the print user identifier of the selected print user, the management user identifier of the print management user, and the print file to the server, and registers the print file in the server in a state where printing is permitted for a predetermined print user. To do. Therefore, even a user who does not have the authority to create a print file can be printed by associating the identifier with the print file. Accordingly, it is possible to save the printing management user's troubles such as printing operation and distribution, and the burden can be reduced. In addition, since printing cannot be performed unless specified by the print management user, both work efficiency and safety can be achieved.

The present invention relates to a management user terminal that transmits a print file, an information device that inputs authentication information of a print user that prints the print file, a printing apparatus that is connected to the printing apparatus via a network and stores the print file. A server comprising file storage means, attribute information storage means for storing attribute information relating to the print file, and a management computer prints the print file only to the predetermined print user selected by the print management user. A print file management program for permitting, wherein the management computer receives the print file from the management user terminal and stores the print file in the print file storage unit, and is associated with the print file. In addition, the management user identifier of the print management user and the print user identification of the print user. Second receiving means for storing a child as attribute information in the attribute information storage means, authentication information acquiring means for acquiring the authentication information of the printing user from the information device via the network, and the acquired authentication information Extracting the print file associated with the print user identifier corresponding to the print user identifier from the print file storage means, transmitting the extracted print file to the printing apparatus, and sending the print file to the printing apparatus. It functions as output control means for printing and transmission means for transmitting the user information to the management user terminal .

  According to this, when the authentication information acquired from the information device corresponds to the print user identifier associated with the print file stored in the print file storage unit according to the print file management program, the server management computer prints the print information. Send the file to the printing device for printing. For this reason, even a user who does not have the authority to create a print file can print a print file by being designated by an administrative user using the administrative user terminal. Efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the printing user cannot print unless specified, it is possible to achieve both safety and work efficiency.

The present invention provides a predetermined user selected by a print management user using a system in which a management user terminal having a display, a server, a printing apparatus, and an information device for inputting user authentication information are connected via a network. Print file management method for allowing a print user to print a print file, wherein the management user terminal is capable of creating a print file and selecting a plurality of print users to print the print file Displaying on the display; sending a management user identifier of the print management user who created the print file; a print user identifier of the selected print user; and the print file to the server; Register the print file that the user has allowed to print to the server That the step determines that the print user other than the print management user is specified by the user information displaying means, the step of requesting user information of the printing user other than the print management user to the server, the server, the Storing the print file transmitted from the management user terminal in a print file storage means; storing the management user identifier and the print user identifier as attribute information; and the print user requesting printing of the print file Acquiring the authentication information from the information device, extracting the print file associated with the print user identifier corresponding to the acquired authentication information from the print file storage unit, and the extracted Send a print file to the printing device and send it to the printing device. A step of printing the serial print files, comprising the steps of: transmitting the user information to the management user terminal.

  According to this, the management user terminal displays the print user on the display in a selectable manner, associates the print user identifier of the print user with the print file, and registers the print file permitted to be printed by the print user in the server. The server storing each print file prints the print file when the authentication information of the print user input by the information device corresponds to the print user identifier associated with the print file. For this reason, even a user who does not have the authority to create a print file can print the print file when specified by the management user terminal for the print file. Accordingly, the print management user can save the trouble of printing operation and distribution, so that the burden on the print management user can be reduced and the work efficiency can be improved. In addition, since printing cannot be performed unless specified by the print management user, both work efficiency and safety can be achieved. Moreover, since authentication is required for the printing user to print from the printing apparatus, safety can be further improved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network print system S as a print file management system of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the network print system S includes a server 1. The server 1 can bidirectionally transmit / receive data to / from the management user terminal 2a used by the print management user and the print user terminal 2b used by the print user via the network N configured by a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. It is connected to the. The server 1 is connected via a network N to a printing device 3 that is a laser printer and an authentication device 4 that is an information device.

  The server 1 includes a management computer 10 as an authentication information acquisition unit, attribute information transmission unit, extraction unit, output control unit, notification unit, period determination unit, first reception unit, and second reception unit. The management computer 10 includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like, and the ROM stores programs such as a print file management program for causing the CPU to execute processing for managing printing from the printing apparatus 3. Yes.

  The server 1 also includes a user information storage unit 11 as user information storage means, and a print file storage unit 12 as print file storage means and attribute information storage means. As shown in FIG. 2, the user information storage unit 11 stores user information 13 related to each user.

  The user information 13 includes data of a user identifier 14, a user name 15, and a transmission destination 16. The user identifier 14 is user-specific data such as an employee number and a user ID of an employee who is a user. The user name 15 is data such as a name. The destination 16 stores a destination for sending a notification to the user, such as a computer name and IP address of a terminal owned by the user, an e-mail address owned by the user, and a mobile phone number.

  The print file storage unit 12 stores the print file 18 transmitted from the management user terminal 2a. The print file 18 is a file created by the management user terminal 2 a by formatting an image file or the like into a data format that can be processed by the printing apparatus 3. The print file 18 is associated with attribute data 19 as attribute information shown in FIG. The attribute data 19 includes a file identifier 19a, a management user identifier 19b, a print user identifier 19c, a printable period 19d as period information, a number of sheets 19e, a paper size 19f, and a status 19g.

  The file identifier 19 a is a unique identifier assigned to the print file 18. The management user identifier 19b is the user identifier 14 (or user name 15) of the user who created the print file 18 and registered the print file in the server 1 (hereinafter referred to as a print management user). The print user identifier 19c is a user identifier 14 (or user name 15) of a user (hereinafter referred to as a print user) who can read and print the print file 18 stored in the print file storage unit 12 of the server 1 to the printing apparatus 3. It is.

  Further, the printable period 19 d indicates a period during which the print file 18 can be read from the print file storage unit 12 and printed by the printing apparatus 3. The number of sheets 19e and the paper size 19f are setting data for the print file 18, and are data created by a print management user. The status 19g is data indicating whether or not the print file 18 has been printed. When the management computer 10 has not transmitted the print file 18 to the printing apparatus 3, the status 19g is data indicating “not output”. It has become. Then, when the print file 18 is printed by the printing apparatus 3, “not output” is changed to “output completed”.

  The management user terminal 2a is a terminal used by a print management user, and includes a control unit 20 serving as a control unit, a print file creation unit, a user information display unit, and a file registration unit, and a storage unit 21 including a RAM and a ROM. , An input operation unit 22 such as a keyboard, and a display 23 constituting user information display means. The control unit 20 includes an interface for communicating with the CPU, the server 1, and the like. In the storage unit 21, print file registration for causing the control unit 20 to execute creation of the print file 18, creation of attribute data 19 to be given to the print file 18, transmission of the print file 18 and attribute data 19 to the server 1, etc. Stores programs, etc. The control unit 20 of the management user terminal 2a converts various files created by an application for creating a document or an image into a final data format using a print file registration program or the like.

  The print user terminal 2b is a terminal used by the print user, and includes an interface (not shown) for communicating with a CPU, RAM, ROM, server 1 and the like, an input operation unit 26 such as a keyboard, and a display 27. ing. The print user terminal 2b includes a notification program for notifying the print user when a notification is received from the server 1. The notification program waits for reception of a notification from the server 1 and automatically displays a display for notification on the display 27 when the notification is received.

  The printing apparatus 3 includes a print processing unit and a printing mechanism (not shown). The print file 18 transmitted from the server 1 is converted by the print processing unit and printed by the printing mechanism. In the present embodiment, a plurality of printing apparatuses 3 are connected to the server 1.

  In this embodiment, the authentication device 4 is a device that reads an authentication card C (see FIG. 1) owned by the user, and is provided with the printing device 3. The authentication device 4 is associated with the printing device 3 provided side by side, and the server 1 stores a table in which the printing device 3 and the authentication device 4 are associated with each other in a storage unit (not shown). The authentication card C is an IC card, a magnetic card, or the like, and the authentication device 4 reads at least the user identifier 14 as authentication information from the authentication card C. The authentication device 4 that has acquired the user identifier 14 transmits the user identifier 14 to the server 1. The server 1 performs user authentication by collating the acquired user identifier 14 with the user information 13 stored in the user information storage unit 11.

The authentication device 4 includes a display 40 (see FIG. 9) as a display unit having a liquid crystal panel and the like, and operation switches 41 to 43 (see FIG. 9). The printing user inputs and operates the operation switches 41 to 43 in accordance with the screen displayed on the display 40, and reads and prints the print file 18 stored in the server 1.

  Next, the processing procedure of this embodiment is demonstrated according to FIG. First, in response to an input operation by the print management user, the control unit 20 of the management user terminal 2a creates the print file 18 according to the print file registration program (step S1-1). That is, when an input operation for converting an image file, a document file, or the like into a file for printing is performed by the print management user, the control unit 20 formats the files into a predetermined format using a print file registration program or the like. Then, the print file 18 is created. At this time, the print file 18 is in an inaccessible state from the print user terminal 2b or the like.

  When the print file 18 is created, the control unit 20 of the management user terminal 2a displays a setting screen (not shown) on the display 23, and determines whether or not a print user other than the print management user is designated (step S1- 2). If a user other than the print management user determines that printing is to be performed by an input operation on this screen (YES in step S1-2), user information 13 is requested from server 1 to designate the print user (step S1-2). S1-3).

  When receiving the request for the user information 13 from the management user terminal 2a, the management computer 10 of the server 1 transmits a plurality of user information 13 to the management user terminal 2a (step S1-4). At this time, the management computer 10 does not transmit all the user information 13, but transmits only the user name 15, for example.

  When receiving the user information 13, the control unit 20 of the management user terminal 2a displays the user information 13 on the display 23 according to the print file registration program (step S1-5). At this time, the control unit 20 displays a setting screen 31 shown in FIG. The setting screen 31 is provided with a user display unit 32 and a period setting unit 33. The user name 15 of each user information 13 transmitted from the server 1 is displayed on the user display unit 32. A user name 15 can be selected from the print management user's operation. The period setting unit 33 can set the storage period of the print file 18 of the server 1. For example, the date when the print file 18 is stored, the first date when the print file 18 is ready to be printed, the time when the print file 18 is stored, and the like can be input and set.

  And the control part 20 of the management user terminal 2a acquires attribute information by input operation of a printing management user according to a printing file registration program (step S1-6). Specifically, the print management user selects a print user on the user display unit 32, and sets the storage period of the print file 18 on the period setting unit 33. When the determination unit 35 is input, the management user terminal 2a sets the user identifier 14 of the print management user stored in the storage unit 21 as the management user identifier 19b, and the user name 15 selected by the user display unit 32. Is the print user identifier 19c, and these are the attribute data 19.

  Further, the control unit 20 of the management user terminal 2a displays a print setting screen (not shown) on the display 23, and the print management user sets the number of prints of the print file 18 and the paper size according to this screen. When the number of prints and the paper size are input, the management user terminal 2a includes these data in the attribute data 19 as the number 19e and the paper size 19f.

Then, the management user terminal 2a transmits the print file 18 and the created attribute data 19 to the server 1 (step S1-7). The management computer 10 of the server 1 receives the print file 18 and the attribute data 19, and associates the print file 18 and the attribute data 19 with each other according to the print management program and stores them in the print file storage unit 12 (step S1-8).
).

  Further, the management computer 10 extracts the transmission destination 16 corresponding to the print user identifier 19 c from the user information storage unit 11 based on the print user identifier 19 c included in the received attribute data 19. Then, the destination 16 is notified as a destination (step S1-9). In the present embodiment, the management computer 10 transmits a notification command, the user name 15 of the print management user, and the printable period with the computer name or IP address included in the transmission destination 16 as the transmission destination 16.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the print user terminal 2 b that has received the notification command or the like automatically displays a notification screen 36 such as “A print file has arrived” on the display 27 according to the notification program.

  On the other hand, in step S1-2, when the control unit 20 of the management user terminal 2a determines that another user does not print by the input operation of the print management user (NO in step S1-2), the print management user himself / herself prints the print file. 18 is determined to be printed. Then, the attribute data 19 storing the user identifier 14 of the print management user is acquired as the print user identifier 19c (step S1-6). Then, the print file 18 and attribute data 19 are transmitted to the server 1 (step S1-7). At this time, the user name 15 of the print management user is stored in the print user identifier 19 c of the attribute data 19.

When the server 1 receives the print file 18 and the attribute data 19, the server 1 performs steps S1-8 and S1-9 described above.
Next, user authentication processing will be described with reference to FIG. The print user who has confirmed the notification screen 36 at the print user terminal 2 b performs user authentication using the authentication device 4. First, the authentication device 4 reads the authentication card C and acquires the user identifier 14 by the operation of the printing user (step S2-1). And the authentication apparatus 4 transmits the acquired user identifier 14 to the server 1 with the apparatus identifier of the authentication apparatus 4 (step S2-2).

  When receiving the user identifier 14, the management computer 10 of the server 1 searches the user information 13 corresponding to the user identifier 14 and determines whether or not the authentication is successful (step S2-3). If user authentication has failed (NO in step S2-3), the process ends. At this time, the authentication device 4 may display on the display 40 that the user authentication has failed.

  If the management computer 10 determines that the user authentication has been made (YES in step S2-3), the management computer 10 searches the attribute data 19 including the received user identifier 14 as the print user identifier 19c (step S2-4). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a print file 18 that can be printed by the printing user (step S2-5).

  At this time, if there is the attribute data 19 to which the received user identifier 14 is assigned, it is further determined based on the printable period 19d included in the attribute data 19 whether the printable period is satisfied. To do. That is, if the printable period 19d has not been reached or if the printable period 19d has passed, it is determined that printing is not possible.

If the management computer 10 determines that there is no print file 18 that can be printed (NO in step S2-5), the authentication device 4 that has requested authentication is notified that there is no print file 18 that can be printed (step S2-5). S2-6). Upon receiving this notification, the authentication device 4 displays a message such as “No printable print file” on the print file display 40. When the management computer 10 determines that there is a print file 18 that can be printed (
In step S2-5, YES, print execution processing is performed (step S2-7).

  Next, the print execution process will be described with reference to FIG. First, the management computer 10 of the server 1 extracts all the attribute data 19 including the user identifier 14 acquired from the authentication device 4 as the print user identifier 19 c from the print file storage unit 12. Then, the management computer 10 transmits the extracted attribute data 19 to the authentication device 4 that has requested user authentication (step S3-1).

  Upon receiving each attribute data 19, the authentication device 4 displays the attribute data 19 as a list 45 on the display 40 as shown in FIG. 9 (step S3-2). The list 45 displays the sender (print management user), printable period, number of sheets, paper size, and the like for each print file 18. In addition to the print file 18 transmitted from the print management user to the print user, the attribute data 19 includes the attribute data 19 of the print file 18 for the print management user to perform printing on itself. ing.

  The authentication device 4 waits for the print user 18 to select the print file 18 (step S3-3). When the printing user inputs the operation switches 41 to 43 and selects the attribute data 19 (print file 18) to be printed, the authentication device 4 determines that the print file 18 to be printed is selected ( In step S3-3, YES), the process proceeds to the next step 3-4. If the authentication device 4 determines that the print file 18 has not been selected by the operation of the operation switches 41 to 43 (NO in step S3-3), the process is ended as it is.

  In step S3-4, the authentication device 4 transmits the file identifier 19a and the like to the server 1 based on the selected attribute data 19, and designates the print file 18 (step S3-4).

  When the management computer 10 of the server 1 receives the file identifier 19 a and the like from the authentication device 4, the management computer 10 reads the print file 18 to which the file identifier 19 a is assigned from the print file storage unit 12. Then, the read print file 18 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 3 associated with the authentication apparatus 4 that has requested user authentication (step S3-5). When receiving the print file 18, the printing apparatus 3 converts the print file 18 and executes printing (step S3-6).

  In addition, when printing is completed, the printing apparatus 3 transmits a print completion notification to the server 1 (step S3-7). In other words, the printing apparatus 3 does not transmit a notification when printing has failed, such as a paper jam, and transmits a notification only when printing is completed normally. When receiving the notification, the management computer 10 of the server 1 updates the attribute data 19 in the print file storage unit 12 (step S3-8). That is, the management computer 10 changes the status 19g in the attribute data 19 from “not output” to “output completed”, and ends the print execution process.

  The print management user appropriately requests the attribute data 19 from the server 1 using the management user terminal 2a. When the attribute data 19 is requested from the management user terminal 2a, the management computer 10 of the server 1 extracts the attribute data 19 including the user identifier 14 of the print management user as the management user identifier 19b, and sends it to the management user terminal 2a. Send. At this time, the attribute data 19 including the received user identifier 14 as the print user identifier 19c is not transmitted.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, a printing status confirmation screen 46 is displayed on the display 23 of the management user terminal 2a. On the print status confirmation screen 46, a print file list 47, a delete button 48, a change button 49, and the like are displayed. The print management user confirms the print file list 47 to confirm whether the registered print file 18 is “not output” or “already output”. If the contents of the attribute data 19 are to be changed, the attribute data 19 is changed by operating the change button 49. Further, when it is desired to delete the print file 18 such as when the status is “output”, the delete button 48 is operated to delete the print file 18 stored in the print file storage unit 12 of the server 1.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the above embodiment, the management user terminal 2a creates the print file 18 and displays the user information 13 on the display 23 in a selectable manner in order to receive the designation of the print user who prints the print file 18. I made it. Then, the management user terminal 2 a uses the selected print user identifier 19 c and management user identifier 19 b as attribute data 19 and transmits them to the server 1 together with the print file 18. The server 1 registers the print file 18 by storing the print file 18 and the attribute data 19 in the print file storage unit 12. Then, the server 1 prints the print file 18 from the printing device 3 when the user identifier 14 of the print user input by the authentication device 4 corresponds to the print user identifier 19c of the print file 18. did. Therefore, a print user who does not have the authority to create the print file 18 can print the print file 18 by being designated by the print management user. Accordingly, it is possible to omit printing operations and distribution of printed matter by the management user terminal 2a by the print management user, so that the burden on the print management user can be reduced and work efficiency can be improved. In addition, the print user cannot print the print file 18 unless specified by the print management user, and the authority is limited to the authority to read and print the print file to the printing apparatus 3. Protection safety can also be achieved. In addition, since the printing user needs to perform user authentication by the authentication device 4 in order to print, the safety can be further improved.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the management computer 10 of the server 1 transmits the attribute data 19 corresponding to the user identifier 14 received from the authentication device 4 to the authentication device 4. Further, the authentication device 4 displays the attribute data 19 on the display 40 so as to be selectable. Further, the management computer 10 of the server 1 receives the selected attribute data 19 from the authentication device 4 and transmits the designated print file 18 to the printing device 3 based on the attribute data 19. For this reason, the printing user can print the desired print file 18 at a desired time, so that work efficiency can be improved.

  (3) In the above embodiment, when the management computer 10 of the server 1 receives the print file 18 and the attribute data 19 from the management user terminal 2a, the management computer 10 checks the user information 13 and the attribute data 19 and transmits the print user. A notification command is transmitted to the destination 16. The printing user terminal 2b displays the notification screen 36 on the display 27 when receiving the notification command. For this reason, since the printing user can know the registration of the print file 18 by the notification, the printing user can be supported. Moreover, since the printing user terminal 2b automatically displays the notification screen 36, the printing user terminal 2b can notify the registration of the print file 18 quickly and reliably.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the printable period 19 d of the print file 18 is included in the attribute data 19 associated with the print file 18. Further, the management computer 10 of the server 1 determines whether or not the print file 18 is printable based on the printable period 19d corresponding to the print file 18 as well as the print user identifier 19c assigned to the print file 18. Judgment was made. For this reason, since the print file 18 whose printable date has passed is not printed, safety can be improved.

(5) In the above embodiment, the attribute data 19 includes the status 19g indicating the print status of the print file 18. Further, the management user terminal 2 a acquires the attribute data 19 of the print file 18 created by the print management user from the server 1 and displays the print status confirmation screen 46 on the display 23. For this reason, the print management user can check the print status of the print file 18 using the management user terminal 2a and change the attribute data 19 according to the status, so that the print file 18 can be managed efficiently. It can be carried out.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
The printing apparatus 3 may be an apparatus that performs printing by another printing method such as an ink jet printer or a thermal transfer printer in addition to the laser printer.

  The authentication device 4 uses a known authentication method such as biometrics authentication for authenticating personal items such as fingerprints, voiceprints, faces, eye retinas, and user authentication for inputting a password in addition to the user identifier 14. It may be. In this case, the user information 13 of the user information storage unit 11 of the server 1 stores unique data (for example, fingerprint data) for performing these authentications.

  The authentication device 4 may be an information device such as a mobile phone or a personal computer that uses a known authentication method. In this case, these information devices transmit data specifying the printing apparatus 3 that performs printing to the server 1 together with the authentication information and the attribute data 19. Therefore, the server 1 can output the print file 18 from the designated printing device 3.

  In the above embodiment, the attribute data 19 of the print file 18 is updated when printing is completed. Moreover, although the management user terminal 2a can browse the attribute data 19, these may be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not another user prints in step S1-2, but this process may be omitted. When the print management user himself / herself performs printing, the server 1 may not notify the management user terminal 2a and may omit step S1-9.

  In the above embodiment, the destination 16 of the user information 13 is stored with an IP address or the like, but may be an e-mail address. In this case, the management computer 10 of the server 1 transmits an email notifying that the print file 18 has arrived at the server 1 with the email address as the destination.

  In the above embodiment, the management computer 10 of the server 1 may delete the print file 18 after the printing apparatus 3 has printed the print file 18. Further, the server 1 may provide a certain period from when the print file 18 is printed to when it is deleted.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of printing apparatuses 3 are connected, but one printing apparatus 3 may be used.
In the above embodiment, the printing device 3 used by the printing user may be fixed. For example, a unique identifier such as an IP address of the printing apparatus 3 used by the printing user is stored in the user information 13, and the server 1 prints a print file only when authentication is performed from the authentication apparatus 4 corresponding to the printing apparatus 3. 18 printings may be permitted.

In the above embodiment, the management user terminal 2a and the print user terminal 2b may be devices such as mobile phones or terminals other than personal computer terminals.
In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus 3 may use a printing apparatus that has both the function of the printing apparatus 3 described above and the function of the authentication apparatus 4. In this case, the printing apparatus 3 includes an input operation unit, and transmits the input authentication information to the server 1. The printing apparatus 3 includes a display 40, displays the attribute data 19 received from the server 1 on the display 40, and transmits the attribute data 19 selected by the printing user using the input operation unit to the server 1. Further, the print file 18 received from the server 1 is printed.

In the above embodiment, the management user terminal 2 a may include the user information storage unit 11. In this case, the request for the user information 13 in step S1-3 is not performed.
In the above embodiment, the management user terminal 2 a includes the user information storage unit 11 and the print file storage unit 12 and may have the function of the server 1. That is, the management user terminal 2 a may create the print file 18 and attribute data 19, store the print file 18 and attribute data 19, perform user authentication, and send the print file 18 to the printing apparatus 3.

  In the above embodiment, the printing device 3 may have the function of the management user terminal 2a, the function of the authentication device 4, and the function of the server 1. That is, the printing apparatus 3 includes a user information storage unit 11, a print file storage unit 12, an input operation unit 22, a display 40, a control unit 20, and a management computer 10. Then, the printing apparatus 3 creates the print file 18 and attribute data 19, accumulates the print file 18 and attribute data 19, performs user authentication, and prints the print file 18. In this case, the print management user and the print user perform an input operation on the printing apparatus 3. At this time, the print file 18 stored in the printing apparatus 3 may be output from another printing apparatus connected to the printing apparatus 3 via a LAN or the like.

1 is a schematic diagram of a network print system according to an embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the user information stored in the user information storage part of a server. Explanatory drawing of the attribute data stored in the print file storage part of the server. Explanatory drawing of the process sequence of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process sequence of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process sequence of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed on the display of the management user terminal. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed on the display of a printing user terminal. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed on the display of the authentication apparatus. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed on the display of the management user terminal.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Server, 2a ... Management user terminal, 2b ... Printing user terminal, 3 ... Printing apparatus, 4 ... Authentication apparatus as information equipment, 10 ... Authentication information acquisition means, Attribute information transmission means, Extraction means, Output control means, Notification Means, period determination means, management computer as first receiving means and second receiving means, 11... User information storage section as user information storage means, 12... Print file storage section as print file storage means and attribute information storage means , 13 ... user information, 16 ... transmission destination, 18 ... print file, 19 ... attribute data as attribute information, 19b ... management user identifier, 19c ... print user identifier, 19d ... printable period as period information, 20 ... control Means, print file creation means, user information display means, control section as file registration means, 23... Constitute user information display means Display, 31 ... setting screen as an image, 40 ... display as a display unit, N ... network, the network print system of the S ... print file management system.

Claims (9)

A management user terminal, a server, a printing device, and an information device for inputting user authentication information are connected via a network, and print a print file to a predetermined print user selected by the print management user. A print file management system to permit, wherein the management user terminal is
A print file creation means for creating a print file;
User information display means for selectively displaying a plurality of print users who print the print file;
The management user identifier of the print management user who created the print file, the print user identifier of the selected print user, and the print file are transmitted to the server. File registration means for registering the print file permitted to be printed in the server;
A management user terminal control unit that requests user information of a print user other than the print management user when the user information display unit determines that a print user other than the print management user is designated ;
The server is
Print file storage means for storing the print file transmitted from the management user terminal;
Attribute information storage means for storing the management user identifier and the print user identifier as attribute information;
Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information of the print user who requests printing of the print file from the information device;
Extraction means for extracting the print file associated with the print user identifier corresponding to the acquired authentication information from the print file storage means;
Output control means for transmitting the extracted print file to the printing apparatus and causing the printing apparatus to print the print file;
Transmitting means for transmitting the user information to the management user terminal;
A print file management system comprising: An administrative user terminal that can be connected to a server that stores print files via a network,
A print file creation means for creating a print file;
User information display means for selectively displaying a plurality of print users who print the print file;
The management user identifier of the print management user who created the print file, the print user identifier of the selected print user, and the print file are transmitted to the server, and the print management user sends the predetermined print user File registration means for registering the print file permitted to be printed in the server;
A management user terminal control unit for requesting user information of a print user other than the print management user to the server when it is determined that a print user other than the print management user is designated by the user information display unit;
An administrative user terminal comprising: A management user terminal that transmits a print file permitted to be printed by a predetermined print user by a print management user; an information device that inputs authentication information of the print user; and a server that can be connected to the printing apparatus via a network. ,
Print file storage means for storing the print file transmitted from the management user terminal;
Attribute information storage means for storing, as attribute information, a print user identifier of the print user and a management user identifier of the print management user associated with the print file;
Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information of the print user who requests printing of the print file from the information device via the network;
Extraction means for extracting the print file associated with the print user identifier corresponding to the acquired authentication information from the print file storage means;
Output control means for transmitting the extracted print file to the printing apparatus and causing the printing apparatus to print the print file;
Transmitting means for transmitting the user information to the management user terminal;
A server characterized by comprising: The server according to claim 3,
Based on the authentication information acquired from the information device and the attribute information associated with the print file, the attribute information including the print user identifier corresponding to the authentication information is transmitted to the information device via the network. Further comprising attribute information transmitting means for displaying on the display unit of the information device,
The server, wherein the extraction unit extracts the print file corresponding to the attribute information selected by the printing user and transmitted from the information device from the print file storage unit. In the server according to claim 3 or 4,
User information storage means for storing user information including a transmission destination for sending a notification to the printing user;
When the print file and the print user identifier are acquired from the management user terminal,
The server further comprising a notification means for notifying that the print file is registered based on the user information corresponding to the acquired print user identifier. In the server according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The attribute information includes period information indicating a printable period of the print file,
A server further comprising period determining means for determining whether or not the print file can be printed based on the period information corresponding to the print file. Print file for registering the print file, which is connected to the server storing the print file via the network, and the management user terminal having the control means permits the print of the predetermined print user by the print management user to the server A registration program,
The control means;
A print file creation means for creating a print file;
User information display means for selectively displaying a plurality of print users who print the print file;
The management user identifier of the print management user who created the print file, the print user identifier of the selected print user, and the print file are transmitted to the server, and printing is performed only for the predetermined print user. File registration means for registering the permitted print file in the server;
A management user terminal control unit for requesting user information of a print user other than the print management user to the server when it is determined that a print user other than the print management user is designated by the user information display unit;
A print file registration program characterized by being made to function. A management user terminal that transmits a print file; an information device that inputs authentication information of a print user that prints the print file; a print file storage unit that is connected to the printing apparatus via a network and stores the print file; A server having attribute information storage means for storing attribute information relating to the print file and a management computer for permitting only the predetermined print user selected by the print management user to print the print file; A print file management program,
The management computer,
First receiving means for receiving the print file from the management user terminal and storing it in the print file storage means;
A second management user identifier associated with the print file and a print user identifier of the print user are stored in the attribute information storage unit as attribute information.
Receiving means;
Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information of the print user from the information device via the network;
Extraction means for extracting the print file associated with the print user identifier corresponding to the acquired authentication information from the print file storage means;
Output control means for transmitting the extracted print file to the printing apparatus and causing the printing apparatus to print the print file;
Transmitting means for transmitting the user information to the management user terminal;
A print file management program characterized by being made to function. Using a system in which a management user terminal having a display, a server, a printing apparatus, and an information device for inputting user authentication information are connected via a network, a predetermined printing user selected by a printing management user A print file management method that permits printing of a print file,
The management user terminal is
Creating a print file;
A plurality of print users for printing the print file are selectably displayed on the display;
The management user identifier of the print management user who created the print file, the print user identifier of the selected print user, and the print file are transmitted to the server. Registering the print file permitted to be printed in the server;
If it is determined that a print user other than the print management user is designated by the user information display means, requesting user information of a print user other than the print management user to the server;
The server is
Storing the print file transmitted from the management user terminal in a print file storage means;
Storing the management user identifier and the print user identifier as attribute information;
Obtaining the authentication information of the printing user requesting printing of the print file from the information device;
Extracting the print file associated with the print user identifier corresponding to the acquired authentication information from the print file storage means;
Transmitting the extracted print file to the printing device and causing the printing device to print the print file;
Transmitting the user information to the management user terminal;
A print file management method comprising:

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