JP4900137B2 - Office machine with printing function, printing log creation method and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an office device with a printing function, a printing log creation method, and a program thereof.

Conventionally, a client that generates a print log is known. For example, the client described in Patent Document 1 acquires information such as “print job ID”, “document name”, “paper size”, “number of copies”, “paper direction”, “program name”, “OS name”, and the like. To create a print log.
JP 2002-259103 A

  By the way, a print job associated with a user by a user ID and password, IC card, fingerprint authentication, etc., is printed based on the print job only when the user is successfully authenticated and enters a login state. There is known a method of authentication printing that permits the authentication. In the client described in Patent Document 1, such a method is not particularly considered, and even if a print log created by the client is managed, it is possible to distinguish between authentication printing and normal printing that does not require user authentication. It was difficult. In the case of authentication printing, it is difficult to distinguish between processing performed during one session from when the user logs in to logging out and processing performed during another session. Further, when creating logs for a plurality of printers, it is difficult to distinguish each printer.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and when printing is executed, it can be distinguished whether the printing is authentication printing or normal printing, and the printing is authentication printing. In this case, it is a main object to provide an office device with a printing function and a print log creation method capable of creating a log that can distinguish between the session and the device that performed the authentication printing.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

The office device with a printing function of the present invention is
Printing means for executing printing;
Print job acquisition means for acquiring a print job;
User authentication execution means for executing user authentication;
When the result of the user authentication executed by the user authentication execution means is successful, the login of the user is permitted, and the own device can be distinguished from the other device during one session from the login to the logout. Create a session ID including device identification information and unique index information assigned to each session, acquire a print job for authentication printing by the print job acquisition unit, and based on the acquired print job for authentication printing Authentication printing control means for controlling the printing means so that authentication printing is executed and creating an authentication print log that associates the session ID with the success or failure of the authentication printing after the end of the authentication printing;
The print job acquisition unit acquires a normal printing print job, controls the printing unit to execute normal printing based on the acquired normal printing print job, and performs normal printing after the normal printing ends. Normal print control means for creating a normal print log including success or failure;
It is equipped with.

  In this office device with printing function, when the result of the user authentication executed by the user authentication execution means is successful, the user is allowed to log in, and the other machine is not allowed during one session from logging in to logging out. Creates a session ID including unique device identification information that can be distinguished from the machine and unique index information allocated to each session, acquires a print job for authentication printing by the print job acquisition means, and acquires the acquired authentication print The printing unit is controlled so that the authentication printing is executed based on the print job for use, and the authentication print log in which the session ID is associated with the success or failure of the authentication printing is created after the end of the authentication printing. In addition, the print job acquisition unit acquires a normal print job, and controls the printing unit so that normal printing is executed based on the acquired normal print job. A normal print log including success / failure is created. By managing such an authentication print log and normal print log, it was possible to distinguish whether the print was an authentication print or a normal print when printing was performed, and the print was an authentication print In this case, it is possible to distinguish the session and the device that have performed the authentication printing. The normal printing control unit may control the printing unit so that normal printing is executed except for a period from when the user logs in until the user logs out, or after the user logs in until the user logs out. The printing unit may be controlled so that normal printing is executed at any time.

  In the office device with a printing function according to the present invention, the normal printing control unit may create a normal printing log including the success or failure of the normal printing in a format not including the session ID when generating the normal printing log. Good. By doing this, it is possible to distinguish whether the printing is authentication printing or normal printing depending on the presence or absence of the session ID.

  In the office device with a printing function according to the present invention, the authentication print control unit creates a session ID including the device identification information, the index information, and the identification information of the logged-in user when creating the session ID. Also good. By doing this, it is possible to obtain the identification information of the logged-in user from the session ID. At this time, the authentication printing control unit may further create a session ID including date information. In this way, the date when the authentication printing is performed can be obtained from the session ID.

  The office device with a printing function of the present invention comprises mode setting means for setting a reception prohibition mode for prohibiting other users' normal printing during login of the user, and the normal printing control means is configured to use the mode setting means to When the reception prohibition mode is set, normal printing based on the normal print job may not be executed after the user logs in and logs out. In this way, normal printing of other users is not interrupted during the authentication printing, so that the user waiting for the authentication printing is not bothered by the printed matter of the normal printing.

The print log creation method of the present invention includes:
A printing log creation method by computer software of office equipment with printing function,
(A) When the result of user authentication is successful, each device permits unique device identification information that allows the user to log in and can distinguish the device from other devices during one session from login to logout. And creating a session ID including the unique index information allocated to the ID, acquiring a print job for authentication printing, executing authentication printing based on the acquired print job for authentication printing, and after completing the authentication printing Creating an authentication print log that associates the session ID with the success or failure of the authentication print;
(B) acquiring a normal printing print job, executing normal printing based on the acquired normal printing print job, and creating a normal printing log including success or failure of the normal printing after the normal printing ends; ,
Is included.

  In this print log creation method, when the result of the user authentication is successful, the user is allowed to log in, and the unique device identification that can distinguish the own device from the other device during one session from the login to the logout. Creates a session ID including information and unique index information allocated to each session, acquires a print job for authentication printing, executes authentication printing based on the acquired print job for authentication printing, and authenticates the print job After printing is completed, an authentication print log that associates the session ID with the success or failure of authentication printing is created. Also, a normal printing print job is acquired, normal printing is executed based on the acquired normal printing print job, and a normal printing log including the success or failure of the normal printing is created after the normal printing ends. By managing such an authentication print log and normal print log, it was possible to distinguish whether the print was an authentication print or a normal print when printing was performed, and the print was an authentication print In this case, it is possible to distinguish the session and the device that have performed the authentication printing. In this print log creation method, steps for realizing the above-described functions of the office machine with a print function may be added.

  The program of the present invention is for causing one or more computers to execute each step of the above-described print log creation method. This program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.), or from a computer via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or may be exchanged in any other form. If this program is executed by one computer or distributed to a plurality of computers, each step of the above-described print log creation method is executed, so that the same effect as the above-described print log creation method can be obtained. It is done.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a printing system 90 including a multifunction printer (hereinafter referred to as MFP) 10 as an embodiment of an office device with a printing function according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an external view and block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the MFP 10, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of user authentication information 68 a stored in the flash memory 68. is there.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, a printing system 90 according to the present embodiment includes client PCs 70 and 71 that create a print job connected to a network 91, and an MFP 10 that performs printing based on the print job created by the client PCs 70 and 71. , 11 and a log management device 80 for managing a print log including a print result. Here, two client PCs and MFPs are included, but only one or three or more may be included. The two client PCs 70 and 71 have the same configuration. Here, the client PC 70 will be described as an example. The client PC 70 is configured as a well-known personal computer including a CPU 72, ROM 73, RAM 74, hard disk drive (HDD) 75, network interface 76 connected to the network 91, display 77, keyboard 78, and the like. The client PC 70 has a network printing function for performing printing with the MFPs 10 and 11 connected to the network 91, and is also compatible with authenticated printing that allows only a user who has logged in to the MFPs 10 and 11 to execute printing. It is what you are doing. Specifically, an authentication print job including a user ID, a password, and an authentication flag indicating an authentication print job is created and output to the MFPs 10 and 11, or the MFPs 10 and 11 via the network 91 without user authentication. It has a function of creating a normal print job to be printed and outputting it to the MFPs 10 and 11. Here, the authentication print job and the normal print job will be described. FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of an authentication print job. As shown in the figure, a header portion 41 and print data 42 are included, and the header portion 41 includes a user ID 41a and a password 41b, and an authentication flag 41c indicating authentication printing. FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a normal print job. As shown in the figure, a header portion 43 and print data 42 are included, but the header portion 43 does not include an authentication flag or a user ID.

  The log management device 80 is configured as a well-known personal computer including a CPU 82, a ROM 83, a RAM 84, a hard disk drive (HDD) 85, a network interface 86 connected to the network 91, a display 87, a keyboard 88, and the like. The log management device 80 has a function of inputting logs transmitted from the MFPs 10 and 11 via the network interface 86 and recording them in the HDD 85. Further, for example, when the administrator of the printing system 90 confirms the log, the log recorded in the HDD 85 is distinguished according to the contents according to the log list display instruction input by the administrator via the keyboard 88 and displayed. 87 has a function of displaying a list.

  The two MFPs 10 and 11 have the same configuration. Here, the MFP 10 will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 3, the MFP 10 reads a document placed on a printing mechanism 20 configured as an ink-jet full color printer mechanism that performs printing on a recording sheet S based on a print job, and a glass table 36. A reading mechanism 22 configured as a so-called flatbed full-color scanner mechanism, a fax interface (fax I / F) 24 capable of transmitting and receiving FAX information via a telephone line 92, and an external device connected to the network 91 A network interface (network I / F) 26 capable of transmitting and receiving data, a print job spool unit 30 that includes a memory, acquires a print job from the network 91 via the network I / F 26, and temporarily stores the print job; User authentication of a user who wants to log in to the MFP 10 A user authentication unit 32, an operation panel 50 for displaying various types of information on the display unit 52 and inputting user instructions through the operation of the button group 54, and a controller 60 for controlling the entire apparatus. ing. In the MFP 10, the printing mechanism 20, the reading mechanism 22, the fax I / F 24, the network I / F 26, the print job spool unit 30, the user authentication unit 32, and the controller 60 exchange various control signals and data via the bus 12. It is configured to be able to. The operation panel 50 includes a display unit 52 which is a liquid crystal display, and a button group 54 including an authentication print button 55, a login button 56, a logout button 57, a copy button (not shown), a FAX button, a scan button, a power button, and the like. Yes.

  The controller 60 is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 62, and is electrically rewritable with a ROM 64 that stores various processing programs, various data, various tables, and a RAM 66 that temporarily stores print data and the like. A flash memory 68 that retains data even when the power is turned off, and an internal communication interface 69 that enables communication with the operation panel 50 are provided. The controller 60 inputs various operation signals, various detection signals, and various data from the printing mechanism 20, the reading mechanism 22, the fax I / F 24, and the network I / F 26, and inputs a print job from the print job spool unit 30. In addition, a signal indicating success or failure of authentication is input from the user authentication unit 32, or an operation signal generated in response to the operation of the button group 54 of the operation panel 50 is input. Also, a command is output to the printing mechanism 20 to execute printing based on the print job, various control signals and various data are output to the reading mechanism 22, and the received print job is output to the print job spool unit 30. The user ID or password input by the user to the user authentication unit 32 is output, or the control signal is output to the display unit 52 of the operation panel 50. As shown in FIG. 4, the flash memory 68 stores user authentication information 68a that is referred to during user authentication. As shown in the figure, the user authentication information 68a includes a user ID for identifying the user and a password associated with the user ID, as many as the number of users who log in to the MFP 10.

  The MFP 10 configured in this way has a print function for performing printing based on a print job input from the network 91 via the network I / F 26 and a scan for reading an image of a document placed on the glass table 36 by the reading mechanism 22. Function, a copy function for printing based on the read image, a print mechanism for transmitting an image read by the reading mechanism 22 via the fax I / F 24 to an external device or receiving image data via the telephone line 92 20 has a FAX function for printing. The MFP 10 has a function of executing authentication printing and normal printing with respect to the printing function. The authentication printing is a print function that can be executed only by a user who has successfully entered the user ID and password by the MFP 10 and has logged in when the user presses the authentication print button 55 after logging in. This is a function for performing printing by the printing mechanism 20 based on the authentication print job input by the user. Further, normal printing is a normal printing function that performs printing by the printing mechanism 20 based on a normal print job.

  Next, the operation of the printing system 90 will be described. First, an operation of the client PC 70, particularly an operation of transmitting a print job by the printer driver for the MFP 10 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print job transmission processing routine executed by the CPU 72 of the client PC 70, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting dialog for the printer driver displayed on the display 77 of the client PC 70. It is. This print job transmission processing routine is stored in the ROM 73. This routine is started when the user selects printing on a printer driver operating on the client PC 70. When this routine is started, the CPU 72 first determines whether or not authentication printing is selected (step S100). Here, whether or not the authentication printing is selected is determined by whether or not the authentication printing check box is checked by the user in the print condition setting dialog 77a of the printer driver shown in FIG. Can do. If authenticated printing has not been selected, the above-described normal print job (see FIG. 2B) is created and transmitted to the printer (in this case, MFP 10) selected on the printer driver (step S110). This routine is terminated. On the other hand, if the authentication printing is selected, the above-described authentication print job (see FIG. 2A) is created and transmitted to the printer (MFP 10 in this case) selected on the printer driver (step 10). S120), this routine is finished. As shown in FIG. 6, the print condition setting dialog 77a is provided with a column for selecting a printer to execute printing. In this example, the MFP 10 is selected. Here, the authentication print job to be transmitted includes an authentication flag indicating authentication printing, and the user ID and password input in the print condition setting dialog 77a of the printer driver.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10, particularly the operation from when the user attempts to log in to the MFP 10 until logging out is described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of an authentication required process execution routine executed by the CPU 62 of the controller 60, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the session ID 44 created by the CPU 62. The authentication process execution routine is stored in the ROM 64. Further, this routine is executed when the login button 56 is pressed in the MFP 10 in a state where an input key (not shown) is operated by the user and a user ID and a password are input. When this routine is started, the CPU 62 of the controller 60 first determines whether or not the user authentication is successful by causing the user authentication unit 32 to perform user authentication based on the user ID and password input by the user (step S1). S200). Specifically, the user authentication unit 32 determines whether or not the set of the input user ID and password is included in the user authentication information 68 a stored in the flash memory 68. If the user authentication has failed, an error message indicating that the authentication has failed (for example, a character string “user authentication has failed”) is displayed on the display unit 52 (step S210), and this routine ends. On the other hand, if the user authentication is successful, the user is allowed to log in and a session ID 44 is created (S220).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the session ID 44 includes a device MAC address 44a assigned to the network I / F 26 that can distinguish the MFP 10 from other devices on the network, and the user of the logged-in user. An internal management user ID 44b that internally manages the ID by associating a shorter number with the ID, an index number 44c that is allocated for each session and that is incremented every time the user logs in, and the date on which the process was executed after the user logged in 44d. Therefore, the device MAC address 44a indicates which device (for example, MFP 10 or MFP 11) the session ID created, and the index number 44c indicates which session the session ID is created. I understand. Here, the device MAC address 44a is represented by a 4-digit hexadecimal number from 0000 to FFFF, the internal management user ID 44b is represented by a 4-digit number from 0001 to 9999, and the index number 44c is from 0000. It is represented by a 4-digit hexadecimal number up to FFFF, and the date 44d is represented by a 6-digit number from 000101 to 991231, which combines the last two digits of the year and the month and day. The session ID 44 is created by connecting these numbers in series.

  Next, the CPU 62 creates a login log indicating that the user has logged in, and transmits it to the log management device 80 via the network I / F 26 (step S230). The login log will be described later. Then, it is determined whether or not the authentication print button 55 has been pressed (step S240). If the authentication print button 55 has not been pressed, it is subsequently determined whether a copy button, FAX button, or scan button (not shown) has been pressed to input an instruction such as copy, FAX, or scan (step S250). If no instruction such as copying, FAX, or scanning has been input, it is determined whether or not the logout button 57 has been pressed (step S260). When the logout button 57 has not been pressed, the processing after step S240 is executed again.

  When the CPU 62 determines that the authentication print button 55 is pressed in step S240 while repeating the determinations in steps S240 to S260, the CPU 62 reads out the authentication print job of the logged-in user from the print job spool unit 30 ( Step S270). Here, it is assumed that the print job transmitted to the MFP 10 is temporarily stored in the print job spool unit 30 regardless of the login status of the user or the authentication print job or the normal print job. As described above, the authentication print job includes the user ID, password, and the like in the header portion 43 (see FIG. 2A), and the user ID and password of the currently logged-in user are one. The authenticated print job of this user can be specified depending on whether or not it has done so. Then, the printing mechanism 20 is caused to execute printing (authentication printing) based on the read authentication print job (step S280). Next, the print result, created session ID, user ID, date and time of printing, job type (authentication printing or normal printing), and printing parameters (number of copies, double-sided or single-sided, color or monochrome, etc.) ) Is generated and transmitted to the log management device 80 via the network I / F 26 (step S290), and the process of step S260 is executed.

  Further, when it is determined in step S250 that an instruction for copying, faxing, scanning, or the like has been input, the CPU 62 executes processing for the input instruction, and then performs success / failure of the processing, a session ID, and the processing. A log including the date / time / minute / second, the job type indicating the contents of the process and the parameters of the process is created and transmitted to the log management apparatus 80 via the network I / F 26 (step S300), and the process of step S260 is performed. Execute. Here, the processing such as copying, FAX, and scanning performed in step S300 is authentication copying, authentication FAX, authentication scanning, and the like that can be executed only by a user who has succeeded in user authentication. Since the purpose of these functions is to prevent users other than users who succeeded in user authentication from being used without permission, here it is intended for users who have failed user authentication or who have not performed user authentication itself. These functions shall be disabled. Therefore, the created log is a log of authentication copy, authentication FAX, authentication scan, and the like.

  If the CPU 62 determines that the logout button 57 has been pressed in step S260, the CPU 62 creates a logout log indicating that the user has logged out and transmits it to the log management device 80 via the network I / F 26 (step S310). This routine is terminated. Here, the logout log will be described later. As described above, when printing is performed based on an authentication print job, an authentication print log including a user ID and a session ID is created. When an authentication copy, authentication FAX, authentication scan, and the like are executed, the user ID and session ID are set. A log of these processes including them is created and transmitted to the log management device 80.

  Next, an operation of the MFP 10, particularly an operation for printing based on a normal print job will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a normal print processing execution routine executed by the CPU 62 of the controller 60. This routine is stored in the ROM 64. This routine is started every predetermined time (for example, every second) when the MFP 10 is not executing processing such as normal printing, authentication printing, authentication copying, authentication FAX, and authentication scanning. When this routine is started, the CPU 62 of the controller 60 first determines whether or not the normal print job is in the print job spool unit 30 (step S400). Here, whether or not a normal print job is in the print job spool unit 30 can be determined by whether or not there is a print job header that does not include an authentication flag. When there is no normal print job in the print job spool section 30, this routine is ended as it is. On the other hand, when the normal print job is in the print job spool unit 30, the normal print job is read (step S410), and the printing mechanism 20 is caused to execute printing (normal printing) based on the normal print job (step S420). Then, a normal print log including the print result, print date / time / minute / second, job type (normal print in this case), and print parameters is created and transmitted to the log management device 80 via the network I / F 26 ( Step S430), this routine is finished. Here, unlike the authentication print log including the user ID and the session ID, the normal print log does not include the user ID and the session ID.

  Here, the log transmitted to the log management device 80 and stored in the HDD 85 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a log 85 a stored in the HDD 85 of the log management device 80. As shown in the figure, the received logs are recorded in time series. The first log shown is a log-in log, and a user with a user ID “01234567” successfully logs in at 12:34:56 on July 27, 2007, and the session ID created at that time is logged in. Is “63C400010123070727”. The next log is an authentication copy log, and a user with a user ID “01234567” succeeded in authentication copy on both sides in color at 12:35:10 on July 27, 2007, and the session at that time The ID is “63C400010123070727”. Since the session ID is the same as that of the first log, it represents an authentication copy performed during the session until the user who logged in with the first log logs out. Further, the next log is an authentication FAX log, which is the same as the above copy log except that the job type is FAX instead of copy and the parameter is a FAX parameter (number of transmissions is 3). Represents meaning. Further, the next log is a normal printing log, which indicates that normal printing of three copies on one side in color was successful at 12:36:30 on July 27, 2007. Session ID and user ID information is not included. The next log is an authentication printing log, and the user with the user ID “01234567” succeeded in the authentication printing of 5 copies on one side in color at 12:37:05 on July 27, 2007, and the session at that time The ID is “63C400010123070727”. The next log is a logout log, and the user ID “01234567” logs out at 12:38:15 on July 27, 2007, and the session ID when logging out is “63C40001012307707”. Represents. Next, the next log is a login log, and a user with a user ID “01234567” logs in at 13:34:56 on July 27, 2007, and the session ID when logging in is “63C400010124070727”. Represents. As described above, since the sessions are different, the number of the portion representing the index number in the session ID is increased to “0124” by 1 from the previous “0123”. This makes it possible to distinguish between sessions. The subsequent log is an authentication printing log, which is the same as the authentication printing log described above except that the session ID, date, and parameters are different. Further, the next log is a logout log, which is the same as the logout log described above except that the session ID and date / time are different. As described above, the normal printing log and the authentication printing log performed during the session differ in the presence / absence of a session ID, the presence / absence of a user ID, the job type, and the like. The last log shown is a log when the user is not logged in to the MFP 10, and represents the same meaning as the normal printing log described above except that the date and time are different and the number of copies is one. Yes.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The MFP 10 of this embodiment corresponds to an office device with a printing function of the present invention, the printing mechanism 20 corresponds to a printing unit, the print job spool unit 30 corresponds to a job acquisition unit, and the user authentication unit 32 uses a user authentication execution unit. The controller 60 corresponds to an authentication print control unit and a normal print control unit. In the present embodiment, an example of the print log creation method of the present invention is also clarified by describing the operation of the MFP 10.

  According to the MFP 10 of the present embodiment described above in detail, the session ID including the device MAC address and the unique index number assigned to each session and the success or failure of the authentication printing during one session from the login to the logout Are created, and a normal print log including the success or failure of normal printing is created. Therefore, by managing these print logs, it is possible to distinguish whether the printing was authenticated printing or normal printing when printing was performed, and if the printing was authenticated printing, It is possible to distinguish a session and a device that have performed authentication printing. Further, since the normal print log is created in a format that does not include the session ID, it is possible to distinguish whether authentication printing or normal printing has been performed depending on the presence or absence of the session ID. Furthermore, since the session ID including the MAC address, the index number, and the user ID of the logged-in user is created, the user ID of the logged-in user can be obtained from the session ID. Furthermore, since a session ID including date information is created, the date when authentication printing was performed can be obtained from the session ID.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, user authentication is performed using a user ID and a password. However, user authentication may be performed by a method other than this. For example, user authentication may be executed using an IC card, or user authentication may be executed using a user's fingerprint. In these cases, it is assumed that the authentication ID stored in the IC card, the user's fingerprint information, and the like are included in the user authentication information 68a stored in the flash memory 68 in association with the user.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 10 has functions such as normal printing, authentication printing, authentication copy, authentication FAX, and authentication scan, and creates logs thereof. However, the authentication that transmits the scanned image by e-mail is performed. A scan-to-mail function and a PC fax function for acquiring a FAX document prepared in the client PCs 70 and 71 via the network I / F 26 and transmitting them to an external device connected to the telephone line 92 via the fax I / F 24. It is also possible to create a log including the results of processing by these functions, the session ID, and the device MAC address. When these functions are provided, a configuration corresponding to each function, for example, an input key for a FAX number or a mail address is provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, in addition to the printing function, functions such as an authentication copy, an authentication FAX, and an authentication scan are provided. However, functions other than these printing functions may not be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the print job spool unit 30 and the user authentication unit 32 are built in the MFP 10, but either or both of them are independent of the MFP 10 and the print job spool device or the user authentication. It is good also as what was installed outside as an apparatus. When the print job spool device is installed outside, the MFP 10 may include a print job transfer unit that acquires a temporarily stored print job from the print job spool device. It may be built in the job spool device, or may be independent of the MFP 10 or the print job spool device as the print job transfer device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the device MAC address is used as unique device identification information that can distinguish the own device from other devices. However, any information that can distinguish the own device from other devices is used. Also good. For example, an IP address may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the session ID includes the internal management user ID 44b associated with the user ID. However, the session ID may not include the user ID or may include the user ID as it is. Further, the above-described authentication ID associated with the user ID may be included.

  In the above-described embodiment, the session ID includes the date 44d. However, the session ID may not include the date 44d. In addition to the date, it may be included up to hour, minute, and second, so that a more unique session ID can be created.

  In the above-described embodiment, the session ID 44 includes the device MAC address 44a, the internal management user ID 44b, the index number 44c, and the date 44d, but may further include information for identifying the application that created the log. Good. For example, when the above-described authentication printing, normal printing, authentication copying, authentication FAX, authentication scanning, etc. are executed by different applications, each includes a unique number (for example, a 4-digit number). It is good. In this way, it is possible to know the application that created the log from the session ID.

  In the above-described embodiment, regardless of whether or not the user is logged in to the MFP 10, the normal print processing execution routine shown in FIG. However, the normal print processing execution routine may not be executed until the user logs out from the MFP 10 until the user logs out. . In addition, it is possible to provide a reception prohibition mode in which the normal printing process execution routine is not executed until the user logs out and the normal printing of other users is prohibited. In this case, a reception prohibition switch (not shown) that sets the reception prohibition mode may be provided. In such a case, when another user is logged in, even if there is a normal print job in the print job spool unit 30, the normal print job is not read and printed, and during the authentication printing, Since normal printing of other users is not interrupted, a user waiting for authentication printing is not bothered by the printed matter of normal printing. Here, the reception prohibition switch corresponds to the mode setting means of the present invention.

  In the embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 2, the authentication print job (FIG. 2A) includes the user ID 41a, the password 41b, and the authentication flag 41c, but the user ID 41a, the authentication flag 41c, and the like. May be included, or the above-described authentication ID and authentication flag 41c may be included. In these cases, the authenticated print job of the logged-in user is specified by the user ID 41a or the authentication ID.

  In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the authentication print job (FIG. 2A) and the normal print job (FIG. 2B) are included, and whether or not the authentication flag 41c is included in the header portion. However, these two types of print jobs are distinguished by transmitting and receiving the authentication print job and the normal print job using different ports in the client PC 70 and the MFP 10 without adding the authentication flag 41c. Alternatively, these two types of print jobs may be distinguished depending on whether a user ID or password is included without adding the authentication flag 41c.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printing mechanism 20 is a mechanism that employs an ink jet method, but an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member by a laser, an LED, or the like, and the toner adhered according to the electrostatic latent image is recorded. A mechanism that employs a method of printing by transferring to paper may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as the MFP 10. However, the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the user can log in, can perform normal printing and authentication printing, and has information for identifying a device. You may apply to FAX etc. which were provided. Further, although described in the form of the MFP 10, it may be a form of a print log creation method or a form of a program of this print log creation method.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a printing system 90. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an authentication print job and a normal job. FIG. 2 is an external view and a block diagram of a schematic configuration of an MFP. Explanatory drawing of the user authentication information 68a memorize | stored in the flash memory 68. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print job transmission processing routine. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting dialog of a printer driver. The flowchart which shows an example of an authentication required process execution routine. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of session ID. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a normal print processing execution routine. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a log 85a stored in the HDD 85. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  10, 11 Multi-function printer (MFP), 12 bus, 20 printing mechanism, 22 reading mechanism, 24 fax interface (fax I / F), 26 network interface (network I / F), 30 print job spool unit, 32 user authentication Part, 41, 43 header part, 41a user ID, 41b password, 41c authentication flag, 42 print data, 44 session ID, 44a device MAC address, 44b internal management user ID, 44c index number, 44d date, 50 operation panel, 52 Display unit, 54 button group, 55 authentication print button, 56 login button, 57 logout button, 60 controller, 62 CPU, 64 ROM, 66 RAM, 68 flash memory, 68a user authentication Information, 69 Internal communication interface, 70, 71 Client PC, 72 CPU, 73 ROM, 74 RAM, 75 Hard disk drive (HDD), 76 Network interface, 77 Display, 77a Print condition setting dialog, 78 Keyboard, 80 Log management device, 82 CPU, 83 ROM, 84 RAM, 85 hard disk drive (HDD), 85a log, 86 network interface, 87 display, 88 keyboard, 90 printing system, 91 network, 92 telephone line.

Claims (7)

Printing means for executing printing;
Print job acquisition means for acquiring a print job;
User authentication execution means for executing user authentication;
When the result of the user authentication executed by the user authentication execution means is successful, the login of the user is permitted, and the own device can be distinguished from the other device during one session from the login to the logout. Create a session ID including device identification information and unique index information assigned to each session, acquire a print job for authentication printing by the print job acquisition unit, and based on the acquired print job for authentication printing Authentication printing control means for controlling the printing means so that authentication printing is executed and creating an authentication print log that associates the session ID with the success or failure of the authentication printing after the end of the authentication printing;
The print job acquisition unit acquires a normal printing print job, controls the printing unit to execute normal printing based on the acquired normal printing print job, and performs normal printing after the normal printing ends. Normal print control means for creating a normal print log including success or failure;
Office equipment with printing function. The normal printing control means creates a normal printing log including success or failure of the normal printing in a format not including the session ID when creating the normal printing log.
The office device with a printing function according to claim 1. The authentication print control unit creates a session ID including the device identification information, the index information, and the identification information of the logged-in user when creating the session ID.
The office device with a printing function according to claim 1 or 2. The authentication printing control unit further creates a session ID including date information.
The office device with a printing function according to claim 3. The office device with a printing function according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A mode setting means for setting a reception prohibition mode for prohibiting normal printing of other users during user login,
The normal print control means does not execute normal printing based on the normal print job until the user logs out after the user logs in when the acceptance prohibition mode is set by the mode setting means.
Office equipment with printing function. A printing log creation method by computer software of office equipment with printing function,
(A) When the result of user authentication is successful, each device permits unique device identification information that allows the user to log in and can distinguish the device from other devices during one session from login to logout. And creating a session ID including the unique index information allocated to the ID, acquiring a print job for authentication printing, executing authentication printing based on the acquired print job for authentication printing, and after completing the authentication printing Creating an authentication print log that associates the session ID with the success or failure of the authentication print;
(B) acquiring a normal printing print job, executing normal printing based on the acquired normal printing print job, and creating a normal printing log including success or failure of the normal printing after the normal printing ends; ,
Print log creation method including   A program for executing each step of the print log creating method according to claim 6 on one or a plurality of computers.

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