JP4752608B2 - Image forming apparatus, confidential printing method, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a confidential printing method, and an image forming system, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that receives a print job from a terminal connected to a network and forms an image, and a confidential printing method executed by the image forming apparatus. And an image forming system including the image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, an image forming apparatus such as a printer is generally connected to a network and used. In this usage pattern, the image forming apparatus is shared by a plurality of users. For this reason, when a certain user transmits print data from a computer connected to the network to the image forming apparatus, if the image forming apparatus is installed at a location away from the computer, another user will be in front of that user. The paper on which the image is formed can be obtained from the paper discharge tray of the image forming apparatus. To cope with this problem, the image forming apparatus has a confidential print function that does not form an image of the print data until the password is input when the password is received together with the print data from the computer. According to the confidential print function, the user who sent the print data to the computer can form an image on the image forming apparatus while being near the image forming apparatus, so that the image-formed paper can be seen by others. Can be prevented (for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, regarding a password that needs to be input when an image is formed using the confidential print function, in Patent Document 1, a user inputs a print instruction, but for example, there is a technique for automatically issuing an arbitrary password using a random number. Known (for example, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3)
JP-A-6-156868 JP-A-9-240108 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-248951

  However, when a user inputs a password as in Patent Document 1, there is a tendency to use a code that is meaningful to the user such as his / her date of birth or telephone number, and a malicious third party can use a password. There was a problem that it was relatively easy to find. In Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, since the password is an enumeration of numbers that are completely meaningless, such as random numbers, it is difficult for the user to remember the password, and if the password is forgotten, it cannot be restored. Therefore, there is a problem that it becomes impossible to output a job stored in the image forming apparatus which is a confidential print. Further, in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, there is a problem that there is a risk that the password is leaked on the communication path before the user is notified from the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to set a password that can be restored only by the confidential print job transmission source instructing the confidential print in the password setting of the confidential print. To provide an image forming apparatus, a confidential printing method, and an image forming system that can be automatically set.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a confidential printing method, and an image forming system that perform password notification with reduced risk of leakage.

The present invention has been made to achieve the above-described object. According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a print job including print data, and a storage unit that stores the print job. An image forming means for forming an image, a password generating means for generating a password in accordance with a predetermined rule using information included in the print job, a writing means for associating the print job with the password into the storage means, and a password The password detection information transmitting unit that transmits the predetermined rule used for generating the print job to the transmission source that transmitted the print job, and the print job is read out from the storage unit on condition that the password is input. Output means for causing the image forming means to form an image.

According to this aspect, the received print job is stored in association with a password generated according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job, so that only the print job transmission source that instructed printing can restore the password. Can be automatically set.
In addition, since the predetermined rule used for generating the password is transmitted instead of the password itself, even if the eavesdropper is intercepted during transmission, the password cannot be derived from only the predetermined rule. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of notifying a password with reduced risk of leakage.

  Preferably, an extracting unit that extracts a keyword including a word included in confidential information from the print data, and if the keyword is extracted, the print data is written to the writing unit without causing the image forming unit to form an image of the print data. And a processing switching means for causing the image forming means to form an image of the print data when no keyword is extracted.

  According to this aspect, when a keyword including a word included in confidential information is extracted from the print data, the print data is stored without forming an image of the print data. For this reason, even if the user forgets to give an instruction for confidential printing, the print data is protected without image formation, so that it is possible to prevent the confidential information from leaking.

  Preferably, the storage means includes a specific area that is accessible on the condition that a pre-assigned password is input, and generates a specific area that is assigned with the generated password in the storage means. In addition, the writing unit writes the print job in the generated new specific area.

Preferably, further comprising a specific area information transmitting means for transmitting a specific area identification information, to the source that transmitted the print job to identify the raw made new specific region.

  Preferably, the password generation means includes a character extraction means for extracting a plurality of characters arranged at predetermined positions based on keywords from print data included in the print job, and a rearrangement means for rearranging the extracted plurality of characters. And including.

  Preferably, the password generation unit includes a character extraction unit that extracts a plurality of characters from print data included in the print job, and a rearrangement unit that rearranges the extracted characters.

  Preferably, the password generation unit determines the password using the parameter extraction unit that extracts a predetermined parameter from the print condition included in the print job, and the extracted parameter.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus performs user authentication on condition that user identification information for identifying a user and a user password predetermined in correspondence with the user identification information are input. A user authentication unit that permits the acceptance of the operation, a reception unit that receives the print job including the print data and the user identification information, an image formation unit that forms an image, and the user identification information, Storage means including a specific area accessible on the condition that the user authentication is successful by the user authentication means, and writing to write the print job in the specific area assigned corresponding to the user identification information received together with the print job Means, password generation means for generating a password according to a predetermined rule using information contained in the print job, The password changing means for changing the user password corresponding to the user identification information received together with the print job to the generated password, and the predetermined rule used for generating the password are transmitted to the transmission source that has transmitted the print job. A password detection information transmitting unit; and an output unit that reads a print job from the specific area and causes the image forming unit to form an image on the condition that the user authentication by the user authenticating unit is successful.

  According to this aspect, the print data included in the received print job is formed as an image by having a specific area that is assigned corresponding to the user identification information and accessible on the condition that the user authentication is successful. Without writing, the data is written in the specific area allocated in correspondence with the user identification information received together with the print job. In addition, since the user password for accessing the print job is changed to a password generated according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job, a password that can be restored only by the print job transmission source that instructed printing is automatically set. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be set as follows. In addition, since the predetermined rule used for generating the password is transmitted instead of the password itself, even if the eavesdropper is intercepted during transmission, the password cannot be derived from only the predetermined rule. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of notifying a password with reduced risk of leakage.

  Preferably, an extracting unit that extracts a keyword including a word included in confidential information from the print data, and if the keyword is extracted, the print data is written to the writing unit without causing the image forming unit to form an image of the print data. And a process switching means for causing the image forming means to form an image of the print data when no keyword is extracted.

  Preferably, password generation means for generating a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job, and password change means for changing a user password corresponding to the user identification information received together with the print job to the generated password And password detection information transmitting means for transmitting the predetermined rule used for generating the password to the transmission source that has transmitted the print job.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a confidential printing method includes a step of receiving a print job including print data, a step of generating a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job, and a print job Stored in association with the password, the predetermined rule used to generate the password is transmitted to the transmission source that sent the print job, and the password is input. Reading a print job and forming an image of the print data.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a confidential printing method capable of automatically setting a password that can be restored only by the print job transmission source that instructed printing.

  Preferably, the password generation means includes a character extraction means for extracting a plurality of characters arranged at predetermined positions based on keywords from print data included in the print job, and a rearrangement means for rearranging the extracted plurality of characters. And including.

  Preferably, the password generation unit includes a character extraction unit that extracts a plurality of characters from print data included in the print job, and a rearrangement unit that rearranges the extracted characters.

  Preferably, the password generation unit determines the password using the parameter extraction unit that extracts a predetermined parameter from the print condition included in the print job, and the extracted parameter.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, an image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a print job including print data. Storage means for storing a print job, image forming means for forming an image, password generation means for generating a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job, and storage means associated with the print job with a password A writing means for writing data, an output means for reading out a print job from the storage means and forming image data on the image forming means on condition that a password is input, and a predetermined rule used for generating the password. Including password detection information transmitting means for transmitting to the transmission source that has transmitted the print job. The information processing apparatus receives a password from the print job according to a predetermined rule in response to receiving a transmission unit that transmits a print job including print data to the image forming apparatus and a predetermined rule transmitted by the image forming apparatus. Password generating means for generating.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to provide an image forming system capable of automatically setting a password that can be restored only by a print job transmission source that has instructed printing. In addition, it is possible to provide an image forming system capable of password notification with reduced risk of leakage.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, image forming system 1 is configured by connecting MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 100 and PCs 200, 200 </ b> A, 200 </ b> B to network 2. The network 2 is a local area network (LAN), and may be wired or wireless. The network 2 is not limited to a LAN, and may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), or the Internet. The MFP 1 has a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, a print function, and a data storage function. The MFP 100 can communicate with the PCs 200, 200A, and 200B connected via the network 2, and executes processing according to a print job transmitted from each of the PCs 200, 200A, and 200B. The print job includes image forming conditions such as the number of prints and print data. For example, if any of PCs 200, 200A, and 200B transmits a print job, MFP 100 forms an image of print data in accordance with the image forming conditions of the print job. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, a case will be described in which MFP 100 receives a print job transmitted from PC 200 and forms an image of print data included in the print job in accordance with image forming conditions.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, MFP 1 includes information processing unit 101, facsimile unit 27, communication control unit 28, automatic document feeder (ADF) 21, image reading unit 22, image processing unit 23, and image processing unit 28. A forming unit 24, a paper feeding unit 25, and a post-processing unit 26 are included. The information processing unit 101 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 112 used as a work area of the CPU 111, a hard disk drive (HDD) 113 for storing data in a nonvolatile manner, a display Unit 114, operation unit 115, data communication control unit 116, and data input / output unit 117. The CPU 111 is connected to the data input / output unit 117, the data communication control unit 116, the operation unit 115, the display unit 114, the HDD 113, and the RAM 112, and controls the entire information processing unit 101. The CPU 111 is connected to the facsimile unit 27, the communication control unit 28, the ADF 21, the image reading unit 22, the image processing unit 23, the image forming unit 24, the paper feeding unit 25, and the post-processing unit 26, and controls the entire MFP 1. .

  The display unit 114 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro Luminescence Display), and displays an instruction menu for the user, information about acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 115 includes a plurality of keys, and accepts input of various instructions, data such as characters and numbers by user operations corresponding to the keys. Operation unit 115 further includes a touch panel provided on display unit 114. The display unit 114 and the operation unit 115 constitute an operation panel.

  The data communication control unit 116 is connected to the data input / output unit 117. The data communication control unit 116 controls the data input / output unit 117 according to an instruction from the CPU 111 and transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the data input / output unit 117. The data input / output unit 117 includes a LAN terminal 118 that is an interface for communication using a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal 119 that is a serial communication interface. Have.

  When a LAN cable for connecting to the network 2 is connected to the LAN terminal 118, the data communication control unit 116 controls the data input / output unit 117 to connect the PCs 2, 2A, 2B connected via the LAN terminal 118. Communicate with.

  When a device is connected to the USB terminal 119, the data communication control unit 116 controls the data input / output unit 117 to communicate with the connected device and input / output data. A USB memory 119A with a built-in flash memory can be connected to the USB terminal 119. The USB memory 119A stores a confidential print program, which will be described later. The CPU 111 controls the data communication control unit 116 to read the confidential print program from the USB memory 119A, and stores the read confidential print program in the RAM 112. ,Execute.

  The recording medium for storing the confidential print program is not limited to the USB memory 119A, but a flexible disk, a cassette tape, an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) / MO (Magnetic Optical Disc / MD (Mini Disc)). ) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), IC card (including memory card), optical card, mask ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electronically EPROM), etc. In addition, the CPU 111 may be a computer connected to the network 2, such as a PC 200. The confidential print program is downloaded and stored in the HDD 113, or the PC 200 writes the confidential print program in the HDD 113, and the confidential print program stored in the HDD 113 is loaded into the RAM 112 and executed by the CPU 111. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 111 but also a program in a source program format, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  The facsimile unit 27 is connected to the PSTN 13 and transmits facsimile data to the PSTN 13 or receives facsimile data from the PSTN 13. The facsimile unit 27 stores the received facsimile data in the HDD 113, converts it into print data that can be printed by the image forming unit 24, and outputs the print data to the image forming unit 24. As a result, the image forming unit 24 prints the facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 27 on a recording sheet. Further, the facsimile unit 27 converts the data stored in the HDD 113 into facsimile data, and transmits the facsimile data to a facsimile connected to the PSTN 13.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of the CPU of the MFP according to the first embodiment, together with information stored in the HDD. Referring to FIG. 3, CPU 111 has a print job reception unit 151 that receives an input of a print job transmitted from PC 200, a keyword extraction unit 152 that extracts a keyword from print data included in the print job, and a keyword extracted. A process switching unit 153 that switches processing depending on whether or not, a writing unit 154 that writes a print job to the HDD 113 and stores it in the HDD 113, a password generation unit 155 that generates a password based on the print job, and a password generation unit 155 A password detection information transmission unit 156 that transmits password detection information to be output to the PC 200 and an output unit 157 are included.

  The print job reception unit 151 acquires a print job from the PC 200. When the data communication control unit 116 receives a print job from the PC 200, the data communication control unit 116 outputs the print job to the CPU 111. The CPU 111 acquires the print job received by the data communication control unit 116 from the PC 200, and outputs the print job to the keyword extraction unit 152 and the password generation unit 155. The print job includes image forming conditions and print data. The print data may be data stored in the HDD 113 in addition to what is received from the PC 200. In this case, the print job includes print data identification information such as a file name for specifying the print data stored in the HDD 113.

  The keyword extraction unit 152 extracts a predetermined keyword from print data included in the print job. Then, the extraction result is output to the process switching unit 153. The keywords are stored in advance in a recording medium such as the HDD 113. The keyword is included in information that needs to be kept confidential, such as the name of the project and the work name, etc. that are confidentially handled, as well as words such as “secret”, “confidential”, “confidential”, and “confidential”. Is a word. Further, personal information may be included in the keyword. The keyword is registered in advance in the MFP 100 from the operation unit 115 or the PC 200 by the user of the MFP 100 and stored in the HDD 113 of the MFP 100. The keyword extraction unit 152 extracts a keyword from the text data when the print data includes text data. When the print data is not text data but is bitmap data, for example, the print data is recognized to generate text data, and keywords are extracted from the generated text data. If the print data includes watermark information, the watermark information is extracted, and a keyword is extracted from the extracted watermark information. Further, the keyword is not limited to characters, and may be a figure, a symbol, or the like. For example, a symbol indicating secret information may be determined in advance and an image of the symbol may be stored in the HDD 113 as a keyword. The keyword extraction unit 152 performs image matching between the print data and the keyword of the image data, and extracts the keyword image from the print data. The keyword extraction unit 152 outputs the keyword extraction result from the print data to the process switching unit 153. The extraction result is whether or not a keyword has been extracted from the print data.

  The process switching unit 153 switches the process based on the extraction result input from the keyword extraction unit 152. Specifically, when an extraction result indicating that no keyword has been extracted is input from the keyword extraction unit 152, print data is output to the image forming unit 24, and the image forming unit 24 is subjected to image forming conditions. Form an image. On the other hand, when an extraction result indicating that a keyword has been extracted is input from the keyword extraction unit 152, a print job is output to the writing unit 154 without outputting the print data to the image forming unit 24. The writing unit 154 stores the print job in the HDD 113.

  The password generation unit 155 receives a print job from the print job reception unit 151. The password generation unit 155 generates a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job, outputs the generated password to the writing unit 154, and outputs the password detection information to the password detection information transmission unit 156. To do. The password detection information includes a predetermined rule used to generate a password. The password generation unit 155 generates a password when a keyword is extracted by the keyword extraction unit 152, and does not generate a password when a keyword is not extracted. Password generation by the password generation unit 155 will be described in detail later.

  When a print job is input from the process switching unit 153, the writing unit 154 stores the print job in the HDD 113 in association with the password input from the password generation unit 155. As a result, the print job 113A is stored in the HDD 113 in association with the password.

  The password detection information transmission unit 156 transmits the password detection information to the PC 200 that has transmitted the print job. The password detection information includes a predetermined rule used when the password generation unit 155 generates a password. The password detection information transmission unit 156 outputs to the data communication control unit 116 location information (for example, IP address) of the PC 200 on the network 2 and a predetermined rule used when the password generation unit 155 generates a password. Then, the data communication control unit 116 is caused to transmit a predetermined rule to the PC 200. Thereby, the PC 200 receives the predetermined rule used when generating the password. Since the password generation unit 155 generates a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job, the user of the PC 200 that has acquired the predetermined rule uses the information included in the print job according to the predetermined rule. A password can be derived.

  The output unit 157 receives a print job selection instruction stored in the HDD 113 from the operation unit 115. The output unit 157 causes the image forming unit 24 to form an image of the print data included in the print job on condition that a password stored in association with the print job in the HDD 113 is input to the operation unit 115. Specifically, the output unit 157 causes the display unit 114 to display a list of print jobs stored in the HDD 113. The print job list may display the file name of the print data included in the print job. When the user inputs a print job selection instruction to the operation unit 115, the output unit 157 receives the print job selection instruction and outputs a screen requesting input of a password to the display unit 114. When the user inputs a password to the operation unit 115, the output unit 157 accepts the input of the password, and whether or not the accepted password matches the password stored in the HDD 113 in association with the print job 113A instructed to be selected. to decide. If both passwords match, the output unit 157 reads the print job 113A from the HDD 113, outputs the print data to the image forming unit 24, and causes the image forming unit 24 to form an image according to the image forming conditions. On the other hand, if the passwords do not match, the output unit 157 displays an error message on the display unit 114 without reading the print job 113A from the HDD 113.

  When the print job receiving unit 151 receives a password together with the print job, the process switching unit 153 causes the writing unit 154 to associate the print job and the password with each other and store them in the HDD 113. In this case, the keyword extraction unit 152 does not extract keywords from the print data, and the password generation unit 155 does not generate a password.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of the confidential print process executed by the MFP according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4B is an example of the flow of the print process executed by the PC. FIG. 4A and 4B, when the user inputs a print instruction to PC 200, PC 200 accepts the print instruction (step S11). The print instruction includes designation of print data to be printed, designation of image forming conditions, and designation of whether or not to perform confidential printing. If it is specified to print confidentially, a password is accepted. Upon receiving the print instruction, the PC 200 generates a print job including the image forming conditions and print data, and stores the print job in a recording device such as an HDD (step S12). Then, the print job is transmitted to MFP 100 (step S13). If the confidential print is designated in the print instruction accepted in step S11, the PC 200 transmits the password accepted together with the print job in addition to the print job.

  MFP 100 is in a standby state until a print job is received from PC 200 (NO in step S01), and when a print job is received, the process proceeds to step S02. Then, it is determined whether or not the received print job designates confidential printing (step S02). If the confidential print is designated, the process proceeds to step S03. If the confidential print is not designated, the process proceeds to step S05.

  In step S03, MFP 100 receives the password from PC 200. Then, the print job received in step S01 and the password are associated with each other and stored in the HDD 113 (step S04).

  On the other hand, in step S05, the MFP 100 extracts keywords from the print data included in the print job received in step S01. Then, the keyword extraction result is determined (step S06). If the keyword can be extracted, the process proceeds to step S07. If the keyword cannot be extracted, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the print data included in the print job received in step S01 is output to the image forming unit 24, and an image is formed according to the image forming conditions. This is because if the print job is not designated as a confidential print and the print data does not include a keyword, it is considered that the confidentiality of the print data is not high.

  In step S07, a password is generated according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job. Then, the print job 113A is stored in the HDD 113 in association with the print job received in step S01 and the password generated in step S07 (step S08). When the print data includes a keyword, there is a high possibility that the print data includes highly confidential information. This is because the print data including the keyword should be designated as a confidential print, but corresponds to a case where the confidential print is not designated due to a user's erroneous operation or the like.

  In step S09, password detection information is transmitted to the PC 200. The password detection information includes a predetermined rule used when generating a password in step S07. The PC 200 determines whether or not password detection information has been received (step S14). If password detection information has been received, the process proceeds to step S15, and if not received, the process ends. If the password detection information is not received, the print data is formed in MFP 100, and the print process is terminated. If password detection information is received, print data is not formed in MFP 100, and the confidential print function is enabled and stored in HDD 113. Therefore, when the password detection information is received in step S15, the PC 100 reads the print job stored in step S12 and generates a password according to the password detection information received in step S14. Since the password detection information includes a predetermined rule used for generating the password, the password is generated using information included in the print job according to the predetermined rule. Since the PC 200 and the MFP 100 use the information included in the same print job to generate a password according to the same rule, the PC 200 can generate the same password as that generated by the MFP 100. In step S16, the generated password is displayed on the display. Thereby, the user of the PC 200 can know the password.

  Since there is no print job in the PCs 200A and 200B other than the PC 200, the PCs 200A and 200B cannot generate a password even if password detection information is wiretapped. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the password from being known to others.

  Here, an example is shown in which the PC 200 generates a password in step S15, but the password detection information itself may be displayed on the display without generating a password.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of output processing executed by the MFP according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, MFP 100 determines whether or not a print job selection instruction has been input (step S21). MFP 100 displays a list of print jobs stored in HDD 113 on display unit 114, and accepts a print job selection instruction when the user inputs a print job selection instruction to operation unit 115. The process waits until a selection instruction is input (NO in step S21). If the selection instruction is input, it is determined whether or not a password is required to execute the selected print job (step S22). If the selected print job is stored in association with a password, it is determined that a password is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S23. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S <b> 23, a screen requesting input of a password is output to display unit 114, and when the user inputs a password to operation unit 115, the input of the password is accepted. Then, it is determined whether or not the accepted password matches the password stored in the HDD 113 in association with the print job instructed to be selected (step S23). If the two passwords match, the print job is read from the HDD 113 (step S24), the print data is output to the image forming unit 24, and the image forming unit 24 forms an image according to the image forming conditions (step S25). On the other hand, if the two passwords do not match, error processing such as displaying an error message on the display unit 114 without reading the print job from the HDD 113 is executed (step S26).

  FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating an example of the flow of password generation processing. This password generation process is a process executed in step S07 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, CPU 111 determines whether there is a character in the vicinity of the keyword in the print data (step S31). If there is a character in the vicinity of the keyword, the process proceeds to step S35; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S35, a password is generated by combining characters located in the vicinity of the keyword in the print data. To generate a password, first, each of a plurality of characters that are elements of a password is specified with reference to the position of the keyword print data, and a plurality of characters whose positions are specified are extracted. Then, the plurality of characters whose positions are specified are rearranged in a predetermined order. For example, if the print data includes a character string “This is a confidential document.”, The keyword “confidential” is extracted from the print data. For the keyword “confidential”, the character “ko” is located 3 characters to the left, the character “re” is 2 characters to the left, the character “ha” is 1 character to the left, and the character “sentence” is 1 The character “book” is located two characters to the right. Combine these 5 characters. Specifically, the position of the keyword “confidential” is arranged in the order of one character left, one character right, two characters left, two characters right, and three characters left to generate a character string of “Written”. The rule for generating the password in step S35 includes information for specifying the positions of the plurality of characters constituting the password in the print data and the order in which the plurality of characters constituting the password are arranged. If a password is generated in step S35, the process returns to the confidential print process.

  The process proceeds to step S32 when there is no character in the vicinity of the keyword in the print data. For example, the keyword is embedded as watermark information, or the keyword is a symbol. In this case, it is determined whether characters exist in the print data. For example, if the print data is recognized and the character is extracted, the process proceeds to step S36 assuming that the character exists. If the character does not exist, the process proceeds to step S33. In step S36, a password is generated by combining characters extracted from the print data. In the generation of the password, first, the position in the print data of each of a plurality of characters that are elements of the password is specified. The position in the print data of each of a plurality of characters as password elements is specified by the page, the number of lines, and the number of characters. Generate a password by arranging the characters at the specified position. The number of pages may be arbitrarily determined from pages including characters, and the number of lines and the number of characters may be arbitrarily determined. If the character length of the password is three characters, each of the first to third characters of the password is specified by the number of pages, the number of lines, and the number of characters of the print data. For example, if there are characters on the 10th and 20th pages of the print data, the first character of the password is the character located on the 10th page, the 5th line of the print data, and the second character of the password is the print data. And the third character of the password is the character located in the tenth page, third line, and tenth character of the print data. The rule for generating a password in step S36 includes information for specifying the position in the print data of each of the plurality of characters constituting the password, and the order in which the plurality of characters constituting the password are arranged. If a password is generated in step S36, the process returns to the confidential print process.

  The process proceeds to step S33 when there is no character in the print data. In this case, in step S33, the print data is expressed in hexadecimal. Then, print data (hexadecimal) at a position separated from the keyword position by an arbitrary offset in the print data expressed in hexadecimal is assigned to the password (step S34). For example, when the print data expressed in hexadecimal notation following the keyword “confidential” is described as “0x123456789ABCD”, when an offset value of 3 bytes and a data length of 5 bytes are assigned to a password, “34567” is assigned to the password. The rule for generating a password in step S33 includes an offset value from the keyword and data length when the print data is expressed in hexadecimal. In other words, the password detection information includes a start position and an end position based on the keyword position in the print data expressed in hexadecimal. If a password is generated in step S34, the process returns to the confidential print process.

  FIG. 7 is a second diagram illustrating an example of the flow of password generation processing. This password generation process is a process executed in step S07 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 7, the image forming conditions included in the print job are classified by item (step S41). Then, using the conversion table, the image forming conditions are converted into numerical values (step S42). A password is generated by substituting the obtained numerical value into a predetermined mathematical model (step S43). The rule for generating a password in the password generation process includes an item of image forming conditions used for generating the password and a mathematical model.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conversion table for image forming conditions. Referring to FIG. 8, the conversion table stores items of the number of copies for determining the number of copies for forming an image, the item of the sheet size for determining the size of the sheet for forming the image, and the sheet among the items of the image forming conditions. A variable is defined for each of a paper feed tray item for determining a tray and a staple item for determining staple settings. For the number of copies item, the number of copies set in the image forming conditions is a variable. For example, “1” is defined in the variable X1 for “1” set in the number of copies item in the image forming conditions, and the variable X1 for “999” set in the number of copies item in the image forming conditions. “999” is defined in the table. For the paper size item, “1” is defined in the variable X2 for “A3” set as the paper size in the image forming conditions, and “2” is defined in the variable X2 for “A4”. , “3” is defined in the variable X2 for “A5”. For the item of the paper feed tray, “1” is defined in the variable X3 for “upper” set in the paper feed tray in the image forming conditions, and “2” is set in the variable X3 for “lower”. Defined. For the staple item, “1” is defined in the variable X4 for “OFF” that is set to staple in the image forming conditions, “2” is defined in the variable X4 for “1Point”, and “ “3” is defined in the variable X4 for “2Point”.

The mathematical model is expressed by the following formula, for example.
Password = X1 + 10 * X2 + 100 * X3 + 1000 * X4
The symbol * indicates multiplication.

  As described above, MFP 100 according to the first embodiment generates a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the received print job, and stores the print job in HDD 113 in association with the password. Then, on the condition that the password is input, the print job is read to form an image of the print data. For this reason, only the person who instructed to print the print data can form an image of the print data, and the paper on which the print data is formed can be obtained.

  In addition, when a keyword including a word included in confidential information is extracted from print data included in the received print job, the print job is stored without forming an image of the print data, thereby preventing leakage of confidential information. can do.

<Second Embodiment>
The MFP 100 according to the second embodiment allocates a storage area to the HDD 113 for each user or for each group in which a plurality of users such as a predetermined department are collected. Here, the storage area allocated for each user or group is referred to as a user box. In order to ensure security, the user box permits access to data stored therein on condition that a user password previously associated with the user box is input.

  FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an overview of the functions of the CPU of MFP 100 according to the second embodiment, together with information stored in HDD. Referring to FIG. 9, the difference from the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 3 is that CPU 111 includes user authentication unit 161, box management unit 163, and box information transmission unit 162.

  User authentication unit 161 authenticates a user who operates MFP 100. Here, an example in which a password is used for authentication data will be described. The authentication data may be biometric information such as fingerprints, vein patterns, irises, and voiceprints. The user authentication unit 161 performs user authentication based on user identification information and a password for identifying a user input to the operation unit 115 by the user, and outputs an authentication result to the box management unit 163.

  The box management unit 163 manages the user box 113B assigned to the HDD 113. Specifically, the generation and deletion of the user box 113B and the access to the data described in the user box 113B are controlled. Box management unit 163 includes a box generation unit 164, a writing unit 154A, and an output unit 157A.

  The box generation unit 164 receives the password from the password generation unit 155. Since the password generation unit 155 generates a password when a keyword is extracted from the print data by the keyword extraction unit 152, the box generation unit 164 generates a new password when the keyword extraction unit 152 extracts a keyword from the print data. A user box 113B is generated. The box generation unit 164 newly generates user identification information corresponding to the user box 113B to be newly generated, and the HDD 113 stores user data in which the generated user identification information and the password input from the password generation unit 155 are associated as a user password. To remember. The user authentication unit described above performs user authentication using user data stored in the HDD 113. Accordingly, the user authenticating unit 161 generates the box generating unit 164 on condition that the user identification information generated by the box generating unit 164 and the user password associated with the user identification information by the user data are input. The user box 113B can be accessed.

  When a print job is input from the process switching unit 153, the writing unit 154A writes the print job into the new user box 113B generated by the box generation unit 164. As a result, the print job is stored in the user box 113B of the HDD 113.

  When the user authentication unit 161 succeeds in authentication, the box management unit 163 permits access to the user box 113B assigned to the HDD 113 for the user identification information that has been successfully authenticated. When an instruction for selecting a print job stored in the user box 113B is input to the operation unit 115 by a user having user identification information permitted to access the user box 113B, the output unit 157A prints a print job included in the print job. The image is formed in the image forming unit 24. Specifically, the output unit 157A displays a list of print jobs stored in the user box 113B assigned to the user identification information that has been successfully authenticated, on the condition that the user authentication unit 161 has successfully authenticated. It is displayed on the display unit 114. When the user inputs a print job selection instruction to the operation unit 115, the output unit 157A receives the print job selection instruction, reads the selected print job from the HDD 113, and outputs the print data to the image forming unit 24. Then, the image forming unit 24 forms an image according to the image forming conditions.

  The box information transmission unit 162 transmits box information including user identification information corresponding to a box newly generated by the box generation unit 164 and password detection information to the PC 200 that has transmitted the print job. The password detection information includes a predetermined rule used when the password generation unit 155 generates a password.

  FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of the flow of confidential print processing executed by the MFP in the second embodiment, and FIG. 10B is executed by the PC in the second embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of print processing. Referring to FIG. 10A, the difference from FIG. 4A is that step S08 and step S09 are changed to step S07A, step S08A and step S09A. Referring to FIG. 10B, the difference from FIG. 4B is that step S14 and step S16 are changed to step S14A and step S16A, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, MFP 100 generates a new user box in HDD 113 in step S07A. The MFP 100 newly generates user identification information corresponding to the newly generated user box, and stores in the HDD 113 user data in which the generated user identification information and the password generated in step S07 are associated as a user password. This is to enable access to the newly generated user box on condition that user identification information and a user password are input.

  In step S08A, the print job received in step S01 is stored in a newly generated user box. This makes it possible to access the print job on condition that the user identification information and the user password corresponding to the user box are input, so that the security of the print job can be ensured. In step S09A, box information including password detection information and user identification information is transmitted to PC 200. The password detection information includes a predetermined rule used when generating the password in step S07, and the user identification information is user identification information newly generated corresponding to the user box generated in step S07A.

  On the other hand, the PC 200 determines whether or not user identification information and password detection information are received (step S14A). If the user identification information and password detection information are received, the process proceeds to step S15 and is received. If not, the process ends. When the user identification information and the password detection information are received, the print job stored in step S12 is read, and a password is generated according to the password detection information received in step S14A. In step S16A, the generated password and the user identification information received in step S14 are displayed on the display. Thereby, the user of the PC 200 can know the user identification information and the user password for accessing the user box of the HDD 133 of the MFP 100.

  Here, an example is shown in which the PC 200 generates a password in step S15, but the password detection information itself may be displayed on the display without generating a password.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of output processing executed by the MFP according to the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 11, MFP 100 determines whether or not the user authentication is successful (step S51). MFP 100 performs user authentication based on user identification information and a user password input by user to operation unit 115. If the user authentication is successful, the process proceeds to step S52. If the user authentication fails, the process proceeds to step S57. In step S57, the process ends without permitting access to the user box 113B of the HDD 113. For this reason, if the user authentication is not successful, the print job stored in the user box 113B is not read, so that it is possible to prevent leakage of confidential information without forming an image of the print data.

  In step S52, MFP 100 permits access to user box 113B assigned to HDD 113 corresponding to the user identification information that has been successfully authenticated. Then, it is determined whether or not a print job selection instruction has been input (step S53). If a selection instruction has been input, the process proceeds to step S54. If a selection instruction has not been input, the process proceeds to step S56. In step S54, the print job is read from the user box 113B of the HDD 113. Then, the print data included in the read print job is output to the image forming unit 24, and the image forming unit 24 forms an image according to the image forming conditions included in the read print job (step S55).

  In step S56, it is determined whether or not an input of a logout instruction for canceling the operation with the user identification information that has been successfully authenticated in step S51 is accepted. If an input of the logout instruction is accepted, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step S53.

  As described above, the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment generates a password when the print data included in the received print job includes a keyword, generates a new user box 113B in the HDD 113, and receives the received print. The print data included in the job is written into the new user box 113B that generated the print job without forming an image. The PC 200 that has transmitted the print job is instructed to transmit the print job because it transmits the password detection information including the predetermined rule used for generating the password and the user identification information corresponding to the user box 113B. Only the user can access the user box 113B. For this reason, only a user to whom user identification information is assigned can access a print job, and a sheet on which print data is formed can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment>
MFP 100 according to the second embodiment generates a new user box in HDD 113 and stores a print job in the user box if a keyword is included in the print data. MFP 100 in the third embodiment receives user identification information together with a print job, and if a keyword is included in the print data, a storage area is allocated in advance to HDD 113 corresponding to the user identification information. The print job is stored in the user box and the user password is changed.

  FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing an overview of the functions of the CPU of MFP 100 according to the third embodiment, together with information stored in HDD. Referring to FIG. 12, the difference from the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 9 is that a user identification information receiving unit 171, a password detection information transmitting unit 156 and a user identification information receiving unit 171 are added to CPU 111. A password change unit 172 is added to 163B, a box information transmission unit 162 and a box generation unit 164 are deleted, and a user box 113C corresponding to user identification information is assigned to the HDD 113 in advance.

  The user identification information receiving unit 171 acquires user identification information transmitted from the PC 200 together with the print job. When receiving the user identification information from the PC 200, the data communication control unit 116 outputs the user identification information to the CPU 111. The user identification information receiving unit 171 receives the user identification information received from the PC 200 by the data input / output unit 117, and outputs the user identification information to the box management unit 163A.

  When a print job is input from the process switching unit 153, the writing unit 154B writes the print job in the user box 113C associated with the user identification information input from the user identification information receiving unit 171. As a result, the print job is stored in the user box 113C of the HDD 113.

  When the authentication by the user authentication unit 161 is successful, the box management unit 163A permits access to the user box 113C assigned to the HDD 113 for the user identification information that has been successfully authenticated. Authentication in the user authentication unit 161 is performed when user data including user identification information and a user password is stored in the HDD 113 in advance, and the user identification information input to the operation unit 115 matches the user password. 113C can be accessed. Therefore, when the print data included in the print job includes a keyword, the print data is stored in the user box 113C of the user who has instructed transmission of the print job without forming an image. Therefore, only the user who instructed the transmission of the print job can access the print job.

  The password changing unit 172 changes the user password associated by the user data with the user identification information received by the user identification information receiving unit 171 to the password generated by the password generation unit 155. Thus, in order for the user authentication unit 161 to authenticate the user with the user identification information, the password generated by the password generation unit 155 needs to be input to the operation unit 115 as the user password.

  The password detection information transmission unit 156 transmits the password detection information to the PC 200 that has transmitted the print job. The password detection information includes a predetermined rule used when the password generation unit 155 generates a password.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of a confidential print process executed by the MFP according to the modification of the third embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, the same reference numerals are given to the same processes as the confidential print process shown in FIG. The difference from the confidential print processing shown in FIG. 4A is that step S01A is added and step S08 is changed to steps S08A and S08B. Hereinafter, differences from the confidential print processing shown in FIG. 4A will be mainly described.

  In step S01A, user identification information transmitted from the PC 200 together with the print job is received. In step S08A, the print job received in step S01 is stored in the user box 113C corresponding to the user identification information received in step S01A. In step S08B, the user password associated with the user identification information received in step S01A by the user data is changed to the password generated in step S07.

  As described above, MFP 100 according to the third embodiment has user box 113B assigned to HDD 113 corresponding to the user identification information and accessible on the condition that user authentication is successful, and has been received. The print data included in the print job is written in the user box assigned in accordance with the user identification information received together with the print job without forming an image. For this reason, since only the user of the user identification information can access the user box 113B, only the user can access the print job, and the user can obtain the paper on which the print data is formed.

  The MFP 100 can access the user box 113C on condition that user identification information and a user password included in user data corresponding to the user box 113C are input. The user password is included in the print job. The password is changed according to a predetermined rule using the information, and the predetermined rule is transmitted to the user. For this reason, only the user who knows both the predetermined rule used for password generation and the print job can know the password. Therefore, only the user who transmitted the print job can access the print job, and the confidentiality is prevented. Leakage can be prevented. Further, since the generated password itself is not transmitted, it is possible to prevent the password from being eavesdropped on the transmission path.

<Fourth embodiment>
When MFP 100 in the first embodiment includes a keyword for a print job that is not a confidential print, the MFP 100 treats the print job as a confidential print job and stores it in association with a password. MFP 100 according to the fourth embodiment associates a print job received as a confidential print job with a password generated according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job when a password corresponding to the print job is not received. It is something to remember. Hereinafter, differences from MFP 100 in the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of the CPU of the MFP according to the fourth embodiment, together with information stored in the HDD. Referring to FIG. 14, the difference from the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 3 is that keyword extracting unit 152 and process switching unit 153 are deleted, password detecting unit 181 is added, and writing unit 154A is changed. It is.

  The print job reception unit 151 acquires a print job from the PC 200. The print job received here is a confidential print job instructed to be confidential. The confidential print job includes a signal for instructing confidential printing in addition to the print data and the image forming conditions. Further, the confidential print job may include a password or may not include a password. When the data input / output unit 117 receives a confidential print job from the PC 200, the data input / output unit 117 outputs the confidential print job to the CPU 111. The CPU 111 acquires the confidential print job received from the PC 200 by the data input / output unit 117 and outputs the confidential print job to the password detection unit 181 and the password generation unit 155.

  The password detection unit 181 determines whether the confidential print job input from the print job reception unit 151 includes a password. This is because the process executed by the writing unit 154A is switched depending on whether or not the password is included. Password detection unit 181 outputs the presence or absence of a password to writing unit 154A.

  The password generation unit 155 receives a print job from the print job reception unit 151. The password generation unit 155 generates a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job, outputs the generated password to the writing unit 154, and outputs the password detection information to the password detection information transmission unit 156. To do. The password generation unit 155 generates a password when the password detection unit 181 determines that there is a password, and does not generate a password when it is determined that there is no password.

  The writing unit 154A switches processing based on the presence or absence of a password input from the password detection unit 181. Specifically, when a signal indicating the presence of a password is input from password detection unit 181, writing unit 154 associates the print data included in the confidential print job with the password and stores them in HDD 113. On the other hand, when a signal indicating no password is input from the password detection unit 181, the writing unit 154 associates the print data included in the confidential print job with the password input from the password generation unit 155 and stores it in the HDD 113. Remember. Thus, regardless of whether the confidential print job includes the password, the print job 113A is stored in the HDD 113 in association with the password.

  When the confidential print job does not include a password, the password detection information transmission unit 156 transmits the password detection information to the PC 200 that has transmitted the confidential print job.

  FIG. 15A is a diagram showing an example of the flow of confidential print processing executed by the MFP in the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 15B is executed by the PC in the fourth embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of print processing. Referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, when the user inputs a print instruction to PC 200, PC 200 receives the print instruction (step S11). The print instruction includes designation of print data to be printed, designation of image forming conditions, and designation of whether or not to perform confidential printing. When designated to perform confidential printing, a password may or may not be accepted. If the user inputs the password to PC 200, the password is accepted, but if not entered, the password is not accepted. Upon receiving the print instruction, the PC 200 generates a confidential print job including image forming conditions, print data, and information for instructing confidential printing, and stores the confidential print job in a recording device such as an HDD (step S12). . Then, the print job is transmitted to MFP 100 as a confidential print job (step S13A). When the PC 200 accepts a password in the print instruction accepted in step S11, the PC 200 transmits the password together with the print data. If the password is not accepted, the PC 200 transmits the print data without transmitting the password. .

  MFP 100 is in a standby state until a confidential print job is received from PC 200 (NO in step S01A), and when a confidential print job is received, the process proceeds to step S02. Then, it is determined whether or not the received confidential print job includes a password (step S02A). If the confidential print job includes a password, the process proceeds to step S03. If the confidential print job does not include a password, the process proceeds to step S07.

  In step S03, MFP 100 receives the password from PC 200. Then, the confidential print job received in step S01A is associated with the password and stored in the HDD 113 (step S04).

  On the other hand, in step S07, a password is generated according to a predetermined rule using information included in the confidential print job. Then, the confidential print job received in step S01A is associated with the password generated in step S07, and the print job 113A is stored in the HDD 113 (step S08).

  In step S09, password detection information is transmitted to the PC 200. The password detection information includes a predetermined rule used when generating a password in step S07. The PC 200 determines whether or not password detection information has been received (step S14). If password detection information has been received, the process proceeds to step S15, and if not received, the process ends. If password detection information is not received, the printing process is terminated. When the password detection information is received, the PC 100 reads the print job stored in step S12 in step S15 and generates a password according to the password detection information received in step S14. In step S16, the generated password is displayed on the display. Thereby, the user of the PC 200 can know the password.

  Here, an example is shown in which the PC 200 generates a password in step S15, but the password detection information itself may be displayed on the display without generating a password.

  As described above, when the received confidential print job does not include a password, MFP 100 according to the fourth embodiment generates a password in accordance with a predetermined rule using information included in the confidential print job. The print job is stored in the HDD 113 in association with the password. For this reason, it is possible to perform confidential printing without inputting a password when the user sets a confidential print job on the PC 200, thereby preventing leakage of confidential information and facilitating setting of the confidential print. Can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 100 has been described as the image forming apparatus. However, FIGS. 4A, 5, 6, 7, 10 </ b> A, 11, 13, and 15 ( It goes without saying that the invention can be understood as a confidential printing method or a confidential printing program for causing the MFP 100 to execute the processing shown in A).

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

<Appendix>
(1) When the receiving unit receives a confidential print job, the receiving unit further includes a password detecting unit that detects whether the confidential print job includes a password,
The password generation means generates a password on the condition that no password is detected by the password detection means,
The writing unit writes the print job in the storage unit in association with the password generated by the password generation unit when the password detection unit detects that there is no password, and the password detection unit detects presence of the password. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job is written in the storage unit in association with a password included in the confidential print job. According to this aspect, when a confidential print job does not include a password, a password generated according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job is stored in association with the print job. Even without entering a password, the print data is protected without image formation. For this reason, the operation of the confidential print instruction can be facilitated.

1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of an image forming system in an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of the CPU of the MFP according to the first embodiment, together with information stored in the HDD. FIG. (A) is a diagram showing an example of the flow of confidential print processing executed by the MFP in the first embodiment, and (B) is a diagram showing an example of the flow of print processing executed by the PC. is there. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of output processing executed by the MFP according to the first embodiment. It is a 1st figure which shows an example of the flow of a password production | generation process. It is a 2nd figure which shows an example of the flow of a password production | generation process. It is a figure which shows an example of the conversion table of image formation conditions. 10 is a functional block diagram showing an overview of functions of a CPU of MFP 100 according to the second embodiment, together with information stored in HDD. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a confidential print process executed by an MFP in the second embodiment together with a print process executed by a PC. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of output processing executed by the MFP according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of a CPU of an MFP according to a third embodiment together with information stored in an HDD. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of confidential print processing executed by an MFP according to a third embodiment. FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of a CPU of an MFP according to a fourth embodiment together with information stored in an HDD. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of confidential print processing executed by an MFP according to a fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system, 2 Network, 22 Image reading part, 23 Image processing part, 24 Image forming part, 25 Paper feeding part, 26 Post-processing part, 27 Facsimile part, 28 Communication control part, 101 Information processing part, 113A Print job 113B, 113C User box, 114 Display unit, 115 Operation unit, 116 Data communication control unit, 117 Data input / output unit, 119A USB memory, 151 Print job reception unit, 152 Keyword extraction unit, 153 Process switching unit, 154, 154A , 154B writing unit, 155 password generation unit, 156 password detection information transmission unit, 157, 157A output unit, 161 user authentication unit, 162 box information transmission unit, 163, 163A, 163B box management unit, 164 box generation unit, 171 User identification Information receiving unit, 172 Password changing unit, 181 Password detecting unit.

Claims (14)

Receiving means for receiving a print job including print data;
Storage means for storing the print job;
An image forming means for forming an image;
Password generating means for generating a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job;
Writing means for writing the print job to the storage means in association with the password;
Password detection information transmitting means for transmitting the predetermined rule used for generating the password to a transmission source that has transmitted the print job;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an output unit that reads the print job from the storage unit and causes the image forming unit to form an image on the condition that the password is input. Extracting means for extracting a keyword including a word contained in confidential information from the print data;
When the keyword is extracted, the image forming unit does not form the print data, and the writing unit writes the print data. When the keyword is not extracted, the image forming unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a process switching unit that forms an image of the print data. The storage means includes a specific area accessible on condition that a pre-assigned password is input,
A specific area generating means for generating a new specific area to which the generated password is assigned in the storage means;
It said writing means writes the print job on the generated new specific region, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The specific area identification information for identifying new specific area are pre SL generated, further comprising a specific area information transmitting means for transmitting to the sender having transmitted the print job, the image according to claim 3 Forming equipment. The password generating means for extracting a plurality of characters arranged at predetermined positions with reference to the keyword from print data included in the print job;
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising, a Nami換means rearranging the extracted plurality of characters. The password generating means is a character extracting means for extracting a plurality of characters from print data included in the print job;
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising, a Nami換means rearranging the extracted character. The password generation means includes parameter extraction means for extracting predetermined parameters from print conditions included in the print job;
Determining the password by using the extracted parameters, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3. User authentication means for authenticating a user and accepting an operation on condition that user identification information for identifying a user and a user password predetermined in correspondence with the user identification information are input; and
Receiving means for receiving a print job including print data and the user identification information;
An image forming means for forming an image;
Storage means including a specific area allocated in correspondence with the user identification information and accessible on the condition that user authentication is successful by the user authentication means;
Writing means for writing the print job to the specific area assigned corresponding to the user identification information received together with the print job;
Password generating means for generating a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job;
Password changing means for changing the user password corresponding to the user identification information received together with the print job to the generated password;
Password detection information transmitting means for transmitting the predetermined rule used for generating the password to a transmission source that has transmitted the print job;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an output unit that reads the print job from the specific area and causes the image forming unit to form an image on the condition that user authentication by the user authentication unit is successful. Extracting means for extracting a keyword including a word contained in confidential information from the print data;
When the keyword is extracted, the image forming unit does not form the print data, and the writing unit writes the print data. When the keyword is not extracted, the image forming unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a process switching unit that forms an image of the print data. Receiving a print job including print data;
Generating a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job;
Storing the print job in association with the password;
Transmitting the predetermined rule used for generating the password to a transmission source that has transmitted the print job;
And a step of reading out the stored print job and forming an image of the print data on condition that the password is input. The password generation step includes: extracting a plurality of characters arranged at predetermined positions with reference to the keyword from print data included in the print job;
The confidential printing method according to claim 10 , further comprising: rearranging the plurality of extracted characters. The password generating step includes extracting a plurality of characters from print data included in the print job;
The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of rearranging the extracted characters. The password generation step includes extracting predetermined parameters from print conditions included in the print job;
The method according to claim 10 , further comprising: determining the password using the extracted parameter. An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a print job including print data;
Storage means for storing the print job;
An image forming means for forming an image;
Password generating means for generating a password according to a predetermined rule using information included in the print job;
Writing means for writing the print job to the storage means in association with the password;
An output unit that reads the print job from the storage unit and causes the image forming unit to form an image of the print data on condition that the password is input;
Password detection information transmission means for transmitting the predetermined rule used for generating the password to a transmission source that has transmitted the print job,
The information processing apparatus includes: a transmission unit that transmits a print job including print data to the image forming apparatus;
An image forming system comprising: a password generation unit configured to generate the password from the print job according to the predetermined rule in response to receiving the predetermined rule transmitted by the image forming apparatus.

Images