JP5949495B2 - Printing system and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and a program.

  There is a system in which a printing apparatus prints a document in response to a request from a user (see Patent Document 1 below). In such a system, an IC card may be used for authentication in a printing apparatus. Here, if the user loses the IC card, printing may be executed even when a print request is received from the person who picked up the IC card.

JP 2007-21777 A

  The objective of this invention is providing the printing system and program which can prevent that an unauthorized user prints.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided holding means for holding, for each user, a program for selecting a storage destination for storing the user's document from a plurality of storage destinations in a given time range; A moving unit that sequentially moves a document related to the print request to a storage destination selected based on a program held in the holding unit for the user, and a user related to the print request by a specified time Providing means for providing a program held in the holding means for the user to a printing apparatus located at the specified location, wherein the printing apparatus is selected based on the program provided by the providing means According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system that obtains and prints a document relating to the user's print request from the storage location.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program that divides a document relating to a print request of a user into a plurality of parts and stores a storage location of each of the divided documents for the user in the holding unit. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising selection means for selecting based on the moving means, wherein the moving means sequentially moves the respective divided documents to the storage destination selected by the selecting means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, each of the divided documents is arranged such that the selection means has a different degree of distribution of addresses of the respective storage destinations of the divided documents according to the remaining time until the specified time. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein a storage destination is selected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus used by a user based on the user's schedule information acquired from a schedule management apparatus that manages the user's schedule information related to the print request, and a print schedule. A setting unit configured to set a date and time, wherein the providing unit includes the holding unit for the user associated with the print request in the printing apparatus set by the setting unit by the scheduled printing date and time set by the setting unit; The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a program stored in the printing system.

  The invention according to claim 5 holds a computer program for selecting, for each user, a storage location for storing the user's document from a plurality of storage locations for each user. Holding means, moving means for sequentially moving a document relating to a user's print request to a storage location selected for the user based on a user program held in the holding means, and by a specified time A program for causing a printing apparatus located at a location specified for a user related to the print request to function as a providing means for providing a user program held in the holding means for the user, The printing apparatus acquires and prints a document relating to the print request of the user from a storage location selected based on the user program provided by the providing unit. Is a program for the butterflies.

  According to the first and fifth aspects of the invention, it is possible to prevent unauthorized users from printing.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the security level can be improved as compared with a case where the document is divided and the divided documents are not held in different storage destinations.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the security level can be changed by changing the degree of distribution of the divided document according to the remaining time until the specified time.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to reduce a burden of setting a print schedule.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a network printing system according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of an information processing terminal. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of an authentication apparatus. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of a document position management apparatus. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of a schedule management apparatus. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of a document holding | maintenance apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a printer. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of an IC card and an IC card reader. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print schedule management table. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a document position management program management table. It is a figure which shows an example of a document position management table. It is a sequence diagram of the document registration process in a 1st Example. It is a sequence diagram of the document movement process in a 1st Example. It is a sequence diagram of the provision process of the document position management program in a 1st Example. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of document printing processing in the first embodiment. It is a sequence diagram of the document registration process in a 2nd Example. It is a sequence diagram of the document movement process in a 2nd Example. It is a sequence diagram of the document printing process in a 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows an example of a document position management table.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[System configuration]
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a network printing system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the network printing system 1 includes an information processing terminal 3, an authentication device 4, a document position management device 5, a schedule management device 6, a document holding device 7, and a printer 8, each device such as the Internet. Data communication is possible by connecting to the network 2. The information processing terminal 3, the authentication device 4, the document position management device 5, and the schedule management device 6 are connected to a local area network and can communicate data.

  First, an overview of processing performed in the network printing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. The information processing terminal 3 transmits user authentication information (user ID, password) to the authentication device 4 and uploads the document to be printed (print target document) to the document position management device 5 after successful user authentication. Here, the document position management apparatus 5 selects the document holding apparatus 7 that stores the document to be printed from the plurality of document holding apparatuses 7 according to the document position management program unique to the user ID, and selects the selected document holding apparatus. 7 to register a document to be printed. In addition, the document position management device 5 reselects the document holding device 7 that stores the document to be printed at a predetermined timing (for example, every predetermined time interval), and selects the reselected document holding device 7. Move the document to be printed.

  Further, the document position management device 5 acquires the schedule information of the user ID from the schedule management device 6 that manages the schedule of the user ID related to the print request, and the user of the user ID selects the document to be printed based on the acquired schedule information. Set the print schedule (printable location and date / time information, etc.) to be printed. In the present embodiment, the document position management apparatus 5 shows an example in which a print schedule is set based on the user's schedule information managed by the schedule management apparatus 6, but based on information received from the information processing terminal 3. A print schedule may be set. Then, according to the print schedule of the user ID set as described above, the document position management device 5 applies the unique ID of the user ID to the printer existing at the destination location to which the user with the user ID moves before the date and time of movement to the location. A document location management program is provided.

  Next, when the user holds the IC card 9 over, for example, the printer 8 installed outside, and requests card authentication, the printer 8 performs authentication processing based on the card authentication information (including the card ID) acquired from the IC card 9. Execute. Here, as a result of the authentication process, the printer 8 acquires an appropriate user ID corresponding to the card ID from the authentication device 4 and acquires a unique document position management program for the user ID. According to the document position management program, the document holding device 7 that is the storage destination of the print target document is specified, and the specified document holding device 7 is requested to transfer the print target document. Here, when the print target document is transferred from the document holding device 7, the printer prints out the transferred print target document.

[Hardware configuration]
In order to carry out the above processing, a configuration provided in each of the information processing terminal 3, the authentication device 4, the document position management device 5, the schedule management device 6, the document holding device 7, the printer 8, and the IC card 9 will be described.

[Information processing terminal 3]
First, the configuration of the information processing terminal 3 will be described. FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example of the information processing terminal 3. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the information processing terminal 3 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a communication unit 33, an input unit 34, and a display unit 35.

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes various arithmetic processes based on a program stored in the storage unit 32, and controls each unit of the information processing terminal 3.

  The storage unit 32 stores a control program such as an operating system of the information processing terminal 3 and data, and is also used as a work memory of the control unit 31. The program may be supplied to the information processing terminal 3 in a state of being stored in an information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory, or information may be transmitted via a data communication means such as the Internet. It may be supplied to the processing terminal 3.

  The communication unit 33 includes, for example, a network interface card, and communicates with the authentication device 4, the document position management device 5, and the like via the network interface card.

  The input unit 34 is realized by an input device such as a touch panel or a keyboard, and receives an operation input from a user.

  The display unit 35 is realized by a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and displays a result (screen) of information processing by the control unit 31.

[Authentication device 4]
FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration example of the authentication device 4. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the authentication device 4 includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a communication unit 43.

  The control unit 41 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes various arithmetic processes based on a program stored in the storage unit 42, and controls each unit of the authentication device 4.

  The storage unit 42 stores a control program such as an operating system of the authentication device 4 and data, and is also used as a work memory of the control unit 41. The program may be supplied to the authentication device 4 in a state stored in an information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, a flash memory, or the authentication device via a data communication unit such as the Internet. 4 may be supplied.

  The storage unit 42 may store, for example, authentication information (password) for each user ID, information on a user ID corresponding to the card ID of the IC card 9, and the like.

  The communication unit 43 is realized by a network interface card, and performs data communication with the information processing terminal 3, the document position management device 5 and the like via the local area network, and data communication with the printer 8 and the like via the network 2.

[Document Position Management Device 5]
FIG. 4 shows a hardware configuration example of the document position management device 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the document position management device 5 includes a control unit 51, a storage unit 52, and a communication unit 53.

  The control unit 51 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes various arithmetic processes based on a program stored in the storage unit 52, and controls each unit of the document position management device 5.

  The storage unit 52 stores a control program such as an operating system of the document position management apparatus 5 and data, and is also used as a work memory of the control unit 51. The program may be supplied to the document position management device 5 in a state stored in an information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory, or via a data communication means such as the Internet. It may be supplied to the document position management device 5. Hereinafter, an example of data and programs stored in the storage unit 52 will be described.

  The storage unit 52 stores a print schedule management table that manages print schedule information for each user ID. FIG. 9 shows an example of the print schedule management table. In the example of the print schedule management table shown in FIG. 9, the user ID, the document ID of the document to be printed, the location to be printed (region or printer identification information), and the date and time of printing (date and time zone) are stored in association with each other. The The print schedule management table may be set based on data input from the user by the information processing terminal 3 or set based on user schedule information managed by the schedule management device 6. Also good.

  The storage unit 52 stores a document position management program management table that manages a unique document position management program for each user ID. FIG. 10 shows an example of the document position management program management table. In the example of the document position management program management table shown in FIG. 10, the user ID, the program ID of the document position management program, and the program storage location are stored in association with each other.

  The storage unit 52 stores a unique document position management program for each user ID. For example, the document position management program may be a program that outputs one document holding device 7 from the list of document holding devices 7 that are storage destinations when the date and time is input as an argument. The document position management program may be a program that outputs n document holding devices 7 from the list of document holding devices 7 that are storage destinations when the date and the number of divisions n are input as arguments.

  The storage unit 52 stores a document position management table that stores information on the storage destination of the document to be printed. FIG. 11 shows an example of the document position management table. In the example of the document position management table shown in FIG. 11, the document ID of the print target document, the user ID that is the owner of the print target document, the storage destination of the print target document, and the update date and time of the storage destination are stored in association with each other. The document position management table may be configured as a part of the document position management program or may be configured as independent data.

  The communication unit 53 is realized by a network interface card, and performs data communication with the information processing terminal 3, the authentication device 4, the schedule management device 6, and the like via the local area network, and also includes the printer 8 and the document holding device 7 via the network 2. Data communication with etc.

[Schedule management device 6]
Next, the configuration of the schedule management device 6 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a hardware configuration example of the schedule management device 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the schedule management device 6 includes a control unit 61, a storage unit 62, and a communication unit 63.

  The control unit 61 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes various arithmetic processes based on a program stored in the storage unit 62, and controls each unit of the schedule management device 6.

  The storage unit 62 stores a control program such as an operating system of the schedule management device 6 and data, and is also used as a work memory of the control unit 61. The program may be supplied to the schedule management device 6 in a state stored in an information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory, or may be scheduled via a data communication means such as the Internet. It may be supplied to the management device 6.

  The storage unit 62 stores, for example, a user schedule management table that manages a schedule for each user ID. For example, the user schedule management table stores a user ID, date and time, and schedule information (including location information) in association with each other.

  The communication unit 63 is realized by a network interface card, and performs data communication with the document position management device 5 and the like via a local area network.

[Document Holding Device 7]
FIG. 6 shows a hardware configuration example of the document holding device 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the document holding device 7 includes a control unit 71, a storage unit 72, and a communication unit 73.

  The control unit 71 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes various arithmetic processes based on a program stored in the storage unit 72, and controls each unit of the document holding device 7.

  The storage unit 72 stores a control program such as an operating system of the document holding device 7 and data, and is also used as a work memory of the control unit 71. For example, the storage unit 72 stores document data relating to a user's print request. The program stored in the storage unit 72 may be supplied to the document holding device 7 in a state of being stored in an information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, a flash memory, or the Internet. Or the like, may be supplied to the document holding device 7 via a data communication means such as.

  The communication unit 73 is realized by a network interface card, and performs data communication with the document position management device 5, the printer 8, and the like via the network 2.

[Printer 8]
FIG. 7 shows a hardware configuration example of the printer 8. As shown in FIG. 7, the printer 8 includes a control unit 81, a storage unit 82, a communication unit 83, an image forming unit 84, an operation panel 85, and an IC card reader 86.

  The control unit 81 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes various arithmetic processes based on a program stored in the storage unit 82, and controls each unit of the printer 8.

  The storage unit 82 stores a control program and data for the printer 8 and is also used as a work memory for the control unit 81. The program may be supplied to the printer 8 while being stored in an information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory, or may be supplied to the printer 8 via a data communication unit such as the Internet. It may be supplied.

  The communication unit 83 includes a network interface card, is connected to the network 2 via the network interface card, and performs data communication with the authentication device 4, the document position management device 5, the document holding device 7, and the like.

  The image forming unit 84 forms an image on a print medium (printing paper) supplied from a paper feed tray in accordance with an image forming command (print job) input from the control unit 81.

  The operation panel 85 is an input device with a display function including a display device such as a liquid crystal display and an input device such as a button type or a touch panel type. The operation panel 85 functions as an interactive interface with a user who operates the printer 8.

  The IC card reader 86 is a device that transmits and receives data to and from the IC card 9 by wireless communication and performs arithmetic processing based on the transmitted and received data. Hereinafter, a configuration example of the IC card reader 86 and the IC card 9 communicating with the IC card reader 86 will be described with reference to FIG.

[IC card 9]
FIG. 8 shows a hardware configuration example of the IC card 9 and the IC card reader 86.

  First, the configuration of the IC card 9 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the IC card 9 includes a wireless communication circuit 91, a CPU 92, a ROM 93, a RAM 94, and an EEPROM 95.

  The wireless communication circuit 91 includes an antenna and a high frequency circuit, for example, and performs wireless communication with the IC card reader 86 at a short distance (for example, within several tens of centimeters).

  The CPU 92 is a central processing unit that executes arithmetic processing and controls each part of the IC card 9 based on a control program stored in the ROM 93 and a terminal application stored in the EEPROM 95.

  The ROM 93 is a memory that can only read data. The ROM 93 stores, for example, a control program and control data for the IC card 9.

  The RAM 94 is a memory capable of writing and reading data. The RAM 94 is used as a working memory for processing by the CPU 92 and a temporary data storage area.

  The EEPROM 95 is a nonvolatile memory capable of writing and reading data. For example, card authentication information (card ID) managed by the authentication device 4 is stored in the EEPROM 95.

[IC card reader 86]
Next, a hardware configuration example of the IC card reader 86 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the IC card reader 86 includes a wireless communication circuit 861, a CPU 862, a ROM 863, a RAM 864, and an EEPROM 865. As described above, the IC card reader 86 may be provided in the printer 8.

  The wireless communication circuit 861 includes an antenna and a high frequency circuit, for example, and performs wireless communication with the IC card 9 at a short distance (for example, within several tens of centimeters).

  The CPU 862 is a central processing unit that executes arithmetic processing and controls each part of the IC card reader 86 based on a control program stored in the ROM 863, an application stored in the EEPROM 865, and the like.

  The ROM 863 is a memory that can only read data, and the ROM 863 stores, for example, a control program and control data for the IC card reader 86.

  The RAM 864 is a memory capable of writing and reading data, and the RAM 864 is used as a working memory for processing by the CPU 862 and a temporary data storage area.

  The EEPROM 865 is a nonvolatile memory capable of writing and reading data. For example, information on the printer 8 is stored in the EEPROM 865.

[Example 1]
A first embodiment relating to processing performed in the network printing system 1 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. In the first embodiment, the document to be printed is sequentially held in one document holding device 7 without dividing the document to be printed.

[Document Registration Process]
First, processing performed when registering a document to be printed in the document holding device 7 in the network printing system 1 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 12, the code of the document holding device 7 selected as the storage destination of the print target document from the document position management device 5 is denoted as 7-X.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the information processing terminal 3 receives an input of authentication information (user ID, password) from a user (S101), the information processing terminal 3 transmits the received authentication information to the authentication device 4 (S102).

  The authentication device 4 executes an authentication process based on the authentication information received from the information processing terminal 3. As a result, if the authentication is not successful (S103: N), an error is notified (S104), The process ends. On the other hand, when the authentication is successful in S103 (S103: Y), the authentication device 4 notifies the information processing terminal 3 that the authentication is permitted (S105).

  When notified of the authorization permission, the information processing terminal 3 receives an input of the print target document from the user (S106), and transmits the received print target document and the user ID to the document position management apparatus 5 ( S107). Here, the information processing terminal 3 transmits permission information indicating authentication permission together with the document to be printed and the user ID to the document position management apparatus 5, thereby permitting access to the document position management apparatus 5. That's good.

  The document position management apparatus 5 reads out the document position management program associated with the received user ID from the storage unit 52 (S108), and selects the document holding apparatus 7-X based on the read document position management program (S109). ). For example, the document position management device 5 may select the corresponding document holding device 7-X by inputting the current time as an argument to the document position management program. The document position management device 5 transmits the print target document to the selected document holding device 7-X (S110).

  The document holding device 7-X stores the print target document received from the document position management device 5 (S111), and notifies the document position management device 5 of the completion of the storage (S112).

  When the document position management apparatus 5 receives a notification of the completion of storage from the document holding apparatus 7-X, it records the storage destination of the document to be printed (S113). For example, the document position management device 5 holds the print target document in the user ID, the document ID of the document to be printed, the identification information (device ID) of the selected document holding device 7-X, and the selected document holding device 7-X. The valid period may be associated and stored in the document position management table.

[Document move processing]
Next, a process for moving a print target document from the document holding device 7 storing the print target document to another document holding device 7 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 13, the code of the document holding device 7 holding the print target document is denoted as 7-X, and the code of the document holding device 7 that will hold the print target document next. Is written as 7-Y.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the document position management device 5 determines whether or not the movement timing of the print target document has arrived (S201), and if not (S201: N), waits, If it has arrived, the process proceeds to S202. Here, the document position management device 5 determines whether or not the movement timing of the document to be printed has come within a predetermined time range from the expiration of the valid period stored in the document position management table, for example. It may be determined based on whether or not.

  The document position management apparatus 5 requests the movement of the document to be printed to the address of the document holding apparatus 7-X specified based on the identification information of the document holding apparatus 7 stored in the document position management table (S202). . At this time, the document position management device 5 may designate the document ID (for example, document name) of the document to be printed.

  In response to the movement request from the document position management apparatus 5, the document holding apparatus 7 -X reads out the print target document related to the movement request from the storage unit 72 among the print target documents to be held, and sends it to the document position management apparatus 5. The transmitted document to be printed is deleted from the storage unit 72 (S204).

  The document position management apparatus 5 reads a document position management program for the user ID of the print target document received from the document holding apparatus 7-X (S205), and creates a new print target document based on the read document position management program. The document holding device 7-Y that is the storage destination is selected (S206). Then, the document position management device 5 transmits the print target document to the selected document holding device 7-Y (S207).

  The document holding device 7-Y stores the print target document received from the document position management device 5 (S208), and notifies the document position management device 5 that the storage is complete (S209).

  When the document position management apparatus 5 receives a notification of the completion of storage from the document holding apparatus 7-Y, it records the storage destination of the document to be printed (S210). For example, the document position management device 5 associates the user ID, the document ID of the document to be printed, the identification information of the selected document holding device 7, and the valid period for holding the printing target document in the selected document holding device 7. It may be stored in a table.

  Here, the document position management device 5 determines whether or not to end the movement process for the print target document (S211). For example, the document position management device 5 may determine that the movement process for the print target document is to be ended when the print target document is deleted or the print process for the print target document is ended. If the document position management apparatus 5 does not end the movement process for the print target document (S211: N), the process returns to S201. If the movement process for the print target document ends (S211: Y), the document position management apparatus 5 performs the process. Exit.

[Providing document location management program]
Next, processing for providing a document position management program to the printer 8 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the document position management device 5 selects, for example, a user ID stored in the document position management table (S301), and requests the schedule management device 6 to transfer schedule information for the selected user ID. (S302).

  The schedule management apparatus 6 searches for schedule information managed for the user ID related to the request from the document position management apparatus 5 (S303), and transmits the searched schedule information to the document position management apparatus 5 (S304).

  The document position management device 5 sets a user ID print schedule based on the user ID schedule information received from the schedule management device 6 (S305). The document position management device 5 may store the set print schedule in the print schedule management table (see FIG. 9).

  The document position management device 5 determines whether the print preparation timing has come based on the set print schedule (S306). Here, the print preparation timing may be, for example, a timing that is a predetermined time before the scheduled start time in the print schedule. When the print preparation timing has not arrived (S306: N), the document position management apparatus 5 stands by, and when the print preparation timing has arrived (S306: Y), the document position management device 5 stores the document position management program for the user ID. Obtain (S307). The document position management program for the user ID may be specified with reference to the document position management program management table (see FIG. 10).

  The document position management device 5 selects a printer 8 that is a printing candidate based on the location information included in the schedule information of the print schedule (S308). Here, the document position management device 5 may select the printer 8 existing in the area specified based on the location information as a print candidate. If the printer 8 is designated, the designated document position management device 5 may be designated. The printer 8 may be selected as a printing candidate. Then, the document position management apparatus 5 transmits the document position management program of the user ID acquired in S307 to the selected printer 8 (S309).

  The printer 8 stores the document position management program received from the document position management apparatus 5 in association with the user ID (S310).

  The document position management apparatus may execute the sequence shown in FIG. 14 for each user ID and for each predetermined time interval.

[Document Print Processing]
Next, an example of processing performed when the user prints a document registered in the document holding device 7 with the printer 8 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 15, the code of the document holding device 7 holding the document to be printed is denoted as 7-X.

  As shown in FIG. 15, when the user holds the IC card 9 storing the authentication information over the IC card reader 86 of the printer 8, the card authentication information (user certificate, IC card 9 is stored in the IC card 9). (Including signature information encoded with the private key possessed) is transmitted to the printer 8 (S401). For example, the user certificate may include card ID (or user ID) and public key information, and the printer 8 decrypts the signature information with the public key included in the user certificate and verifies the signature. In some cases, the following processing may be executed.

  The printer 8 transmits the card ID included in the user certificate to the authentication server (S402). The authentication server searches the user ID stored in association with the card ID, and sends the searched user ID to the printer 8. Transmit (S403). Here, when the user ID is not searched, the authentication server may notify that there is no corresponding user ID.

  If a valid user ID has not been notified (S404: N), the printer 8 ends the process assuming that the authentication has not been successful, and if a valid user ID has been notified (S404: Y). The process proceeds to S405.

  Upon receiving a print instruction from the user (S405), the printer 8 reads a document position management program stored in association with the user ID related to the print request (S406). If the document location management program for the user ID has not been saved, an error may be notified and the process may be terminated.

  Based on the read document position management program, the printer 8 specifies the document holding device 7-X that stores the document related to the print instruction (S407), and prints the specified document holding device 7-X. The transfer of the target document is requested (S408).

  If the document holding device 7-X holds the print target document related to the request from the printer 8, the document hold device 7-X transmits the held print target document to the printer 8 (S409). If the document holding device 7-X does not hold the document to be printed according to the request from the printer 8, the document holding device 7-X may notify the error and end the processing.

  When the printer 8 receives the print target document from the document holding device 7-X, the printer 8 executes print processing for the received print target document (S410) and ends the processing.

  According to the first embodiment described above, the document to be printed moves from one document print device to another in accordance with the time according to the document position management program for the user ID. Unless the position management program is used, it is difficult to specify the document holding device 7 holding the document to be printed.

[Example 2]
Next, a second embodiment relating to processing performed in the network printing system 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the document to be printed is divided and the documents are sequentially held by a plurality of document holding devices 7. Also in the second embodiment, the document position management program providing process is executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and therefore the description of the sequence diagram of this process is omitted.

[Document Registration Process]
First, processing performed when registering a document to be printed in the document holding device 7 in the network printing system 1 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 16, the sign of the document holding device 7 selected as the storage location of the print target document from the document position management device 5 is 7-Xi (i is a variable, and an arbitrary integer from 1 to n). ).

  As illustrated in FIG. 16, when the information processing terminal 3 receives an input of authentication information (user ID, password) from the user (S501), the information processing terminal 3 transmits the received authentication information to the authentication device 4 (S502).

  The authentication device 4 executes an authentication process based on the authentication information received from the information processing terminal 3. As a result, if the authentication is not successful (S503: N), an error is notified (S504), The process ends. On the other hand, when the authentication is successful in S503 (S503: Y), the authentication device 4 notifies the information processing terminal 3 that the authentication is permitted (S505).

  When notified of authentication permission, the information processing terminal 3 receives an input of a print target document from the user (S506), and transmits the received print target document and a user ID to the document position management device 5 ( S507). Here, the information processing terminal 3 transmits permission information indicating authentication permission together with the document to be printed and the user ID to the document position management apparatus 5, thereby permitting access to the document position management apparatus 5. That's good.

  The document position management apparatus 5 reads out the document position management program associated with the received user ID from the storage unit 52 (S508), and sets the number n (n is an integer of 2 or more) of the document to be printed (S509). ). The division number n may be determined in advance or may be set based on a random number.

  The document position management device 5 divides the print target document into n (S510), and n document holding devices 7-Xi (i) based on the read document position management program and the set division number n. Is a variable and is an arbitrary integer from 1 to n (S511). For example, the document position management device 5 inputs the number n of divisions and the current time as arguments to the document position management program, so that the corresponding n document holding devices 7-Xi (i is an arbitrary variable 1 to n) (Integer) may be selected. Here, the document position management device 5 may select a group including the n document holding devices 7 so that the distributed value of the addresses is equal to or greater than a threshold value (or the maximum value). Here, the address dispersion value may be calculated as the total number of hops calculated for all IP address pairs of the document holding device 7 included in the selected group.

  The document position management apparatus 5 transfers the print target document divided into n pieces (each divided document (i / n), i is an integer of 1 to n as a variable) to the corresponding document holding apparatus 7-Xi. Each is transmitted (S512). The divided document (i / n) indicates the i-th divided document when the print target document is divided into n.

  The document holding device 7-Xi stores the divided document (i / n) received from the document position management device 5 (S513), and notifies the document position management device 5 of the completion of the storage (S514).

  When the document position management apparatus 5 receives a notification of the completion of storage from the document holding apparatus 7, it records the storage destination of the document to be printed (S515). For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the document position management device 5 holds the document to be printed in the document ID of the print document, the identification ID of the divided document (division ID and the number of divisions), the storage destination of the divided document, and the storage destination. The valid period may be stored in the document position management table in association with each other.

[Document move processing]
Next, a process for moving a print target document from the document holding device 7 storing the print target document to another document holding device 7 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 17, the code of the document holding device 7 holding the divided document (i / n) of the print target document is denoted as 7-Xi, and then the divided document ( The code of the document holding device 7 that holds i / n) is expressed as 7-Yi.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the document position management device 5 determines whether or not the movement timing of the document to be printed has arrived (S601), and if not (S601: N), waits for If it has arrived, the process proceeds to S602. Here, the document position management device 5 determines whether or not the movement timing of the document to be printed has come within a predetermined time range from the expiration of the valid period stored in the document position management table, for example. It may be determined based on whether or not.

  In step S602, the document position management apparatus 5 divides the print target document for each of the n document holding apparatuses 7-Xi specified based on the identification information of the document holding apparatus 7 stored in the document position management table. A request to move the document (i / n) is made (S602). At this time, the document position management device 5 may designate the document ID (for example, document name) of the document to be printed.

  In response to the movement request from the document position management apparatus 5, the document holding device 7 -Xi reads out the divided document (i / n) of the document to be printed related to the movement request from the storage unit 72 among the held documents, The document is sent to the document position management apparatus 5 (S603), and the divided document (i / n) of the sent print target document is deleted from the storage unit 72 (S604).

  The document position management apparatus 5 integrates the divided documents acquired from the respective document holding apparatuses 7-Xi (S605), and restores the original print target document. Then, the document position management apparatus 5 reads out the document position management program associated with the user ID corresponding to the print target document from the storage unit 52 (S606), and the division number n of the print target document (n is an integer of 2 or more) ) Is set (S607). The division number n may be the same value every time or may be changed each time.

  The document position management apparatus 5 divides the document to be printed into n (S608), and n document holding apparatuses 7-Yi (i) based on the read document position management program and the set division number n. Is a variable and is an integer from 1 to n (S609). For example, the document position management apparatus 5 may select the corresponding n document holding apparatuses 7-Yi by inputting the division number n and the current time as arguments to the document position management program. Here, the document position management device 5 may select the group of the document holding devices 7 so that the address dispersion value is equal to or larger than the threshold value (or the maximum value). Here, the threshold value of the address dispersion value may be updated according to the remaining time until the scheduled printing time of the document to be printed. Specifically, the relationship between the remaining times T1, T2 and T3 is T1> T2> T3, the threshold TH1 (for example, 0.66 to 1 hop) when the remaining time is T1, and the threshold when the remaining time is T2. When TH2 (for example, 0.33 to 0.66 hops) and threshold TH3 (for example, 0 to 0.33 hops) when the remaining time is T3, each threshold is set so that TH1 <TH2 <TH3. Thus, as the scheduled printing time approaches, the degree of dispersion of the addresses of the selected document holding device 7 decreases. Similarly, the document position management device 5 may reduce the number of divisions of the print target document as the scheduled print time approaches.

  The document position management device 5 sends the print target documents divided into n (each divided document (i / n), i is a variable and an integer from 1 to n) to the corresponding document holding device 7-Yi. Each is transmitted (S610). The divided document (i / n) indicates the i-th divided document when the print target document is divided into n.

  The document holding device 7-Yi stores the divided document (i / n) received from the document position management device 5 (S611), and notifies the document position management device 5 of the completion of the storage (S612).

  When the document position management apparatus 5 receives a notification of the completion of storage from the document holding apparatus 7-Yi, it records the storage destination of the document to be printed (S613). For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the document position management apparatus 5 associates the document ID of the print document, the identification ID of the divided document, the storage destination of the divided document, and the effective period for holding the print target document in the storage destination. It may be stored in the position management table.

  Next, the document position management device 5 determines whether or not to end the movement process for the document to be printed (S614). For example, the document position management device 5 may determine that the movement process for the print target document is to be ended when the print target document is deleted or the print process for the print target document is ended. If the movement processing for the print target document is not finished (S614: N), the document position management apparatus 5 returns to S601, and if the movement processing for the print target document is finished (S614: Y), the processing is performed. Exit.

[Document Print Processing]
Next, an example of processing performed when the user prints a document registered in the document holding device 7 with the printer 8 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 18, the code of the document holding device 7 that holds the divided documents (i / n) of the document to be printed is denoted by 7-Xi (i is a variable, and an arbitrary number from 1 to n). (Integer).

  As shown in FIG. 18, when the user holds the IC card 9 storing the authentication information over the IC card reader 86 of the printer 8, the card authentication information (user certificate, IC card 9 is stored in the IC card 9). (Including signature information encoded with the private key possessed) is transmitted to the printer 8 (S701). For example, the user certificate may include card ID (or user ID) and public key information, and the printer 8 decrypts the signature information with the public key included in the user certificate and verifies the signature. In some cases, the following processing may be executed.

  The printer 8 transmits the card ID included in the user certificate to the authentication server (S702), the authentication server searches the user ID stored in association with the card ID, and sends the searched user ID to the printer 8. Transmit (S703). Here, when the user ID is not searched, the authentication server may notify that there is no corresponding user ID.

  If a valid user ID is not notified (S704: N), the printer 8 terminates the process assuming that the authentication is not successful, and if a valid user ID is notified (S704: Y). , The process proceeds to S705.

  Upon receiving a print instruction from the user (S705), the printer 8 reads a document position management program stored in association with the user ID related to the print instruction (S706). If the document location management program for the user ID has not been saved, an error may be notified and the process may be terminated.

  The printer 8 specifies n document holding devices 7-Xi (i is a variable and is an arbitrary integer from 1 to n) storing documents related to print instructions based on the read document position management program. Then (S707), each of the identified document holding devices 7-Xi is requested to transfer the divided document (i / n) of the document to be printed (S708).

  When each of the document holding devices 7 -Xi holds the divided document (i / n) of the document to be printed according to the request from the printer 8, the held divided document (i / n) is stored in the printer 8. (S709). If the document holding device 7-Xi does not hold the document to be printed according to the request from the printer 8, the document holding device 7-Xi may notify the error and end the processing.

  Upon receiving the divided document (i / n) from each of the document holding devices 7-Xi, the printer 8 integrates the received divided documents (i / n) (S710), restores the original print target document, Print processing of the restored document to be printed is executed (S711), and the processing ends.

  According to the processing according to the second embodiment described above, the print target document is divided and held by the plurality of document holding devices 7, so that it is more appropriate than the processing according to the first embodiment. Unless a document position management program with a user ID is used, it is more difficult to specify the document holding device 7 that holds the document to be printed.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the document position management device 5 acquires the print target document from the document holding device 7 and moves it to another document holding device 7. However, the document holding device 7 moves the print target document. You may order as follows.

1 network printing system, 2 network, 3 information processing terminal, 4 authentication device, 5 document position management device, 6 schedule management device, 7 document holding device, 8 printer, 9 IC card, 31 control unit, 32 storage unit, 33 communication Unit, 34 input unit, 35 display unit, 41 control unit, 42 storage unit, 43 communication unit, 51 control unit, 52 storage unit, 53 communication unit, 61 control unit, 62 storage unit, 63 communication unit, 71 control unit, 72 storage unit, 73 communication unit, 81 control unit, 82 storage unit, 83 communication unit, 84 image forming unit, 85 operation panel, 86 IC card reader, 91 wireless communication circuit, 92 CPU, 93 ROM, 94 RAM, 95 EEPROM 861 Wireless communication circuit, 862 CPU, 863 ROM, 864 RAM, 865 EEPROM.

Claims (6)

A printing device;
Holding means for holding, for each user, a program for selecting a storage destination for storing the user's document from a plurality of storage destinations in a given time range;
Moving means for sequentially moving a document relating to a user's print request to a storage location selected based on a program held in the holding means for the user;
Before the specified time, the printing apparatus located in the location specified for the user according to the print request, includes a providing means for providing a program which is held in the holding means for the user, and
The printing system, wherein the printing apparatus acquires and prints a document related to the user's print request from a storage destination selected based on a program provided by the providing unit. The image processing apparatus further includes a selection unit that divides the document relating to the print request of the user into a plurality of parts and selects a storage destination of the divided divided documents for the user based on a program held in the holding unit. ,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit sequentially moves the respective divided documents to the storage destination selected by the selecting unit. The selection unit selects each storage destination of the divided document so that the degree of dispersion of the storage destination addresses of the divided document differs according to the remaining time until the specified time. The printing system according to claim 2. The printer further includes a printing apparatus used by the user based on the schedule information of the user acquired from the schedule management apparatus that manages the schedule information of the user related to the print request, and a setting unit that sets a scheduled print date and time. ,
The providing means provides a program held in the holding means for the user related to the print request to the printing apparatus set by the setting means by the scheduled printing date and time set by the setting means. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is a printing system. Computer
Holding means for holding, for each user, a user program for selecting a storage destination for storing the user's document from a plurality of storage destinations in a given time range;
Moving means for sequentially moving a document relating to a user's print request to a storage location selected for the user based on a user program held in the holding means;
To cause a printing apparatus located at a location specified for a user related to the print request to function as a providing unit that provides a user program held in the holding unit for the user by a specified time The program of
The printing apparatus acquires and prints a document relating to a print request of the user from a storage destination selected based on the user program provided by the providing unit. Holding means for holding, for each user, a program for selecting a storage destination for storing the user's document from a plurality of storage destinations in a given time range;
Moving means for sequentially moving a document relating to a user's print request to a storage location selected based on a program held in the holding means for the user;
Providing means for providing a program held in the holding means for the user to a printing apparatus located at a location specified for the user related to the print request by a specified time;
A document location management device comprising:
The printing device acquires and prints a document related to the user's print request from the storage location selected based on the program provided by the providing unit.
A document position management device characterized by that.

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