JP6415172B2 - PRINT PROCESSING DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD FOR PRINT PROCESSING DEVICE, PRINTING SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print processing apparatus, a control method for a print processing apparatus, a printing system, and a program. In particular, the present invention relates to a secure printing system that realizes confidential printing based on print data provided with information generated from a password input by a client computer.

  Conventionally, when print data to which a password input by a client computer is added is transmitted to a print processing apparatus (printer), it is temporarily stored in the printer. There is a secure print function that enables print data to be printed only when the same password is input by a printer (see Patent Document 1). For example, the printer described in Patent Document 1 is a printer connected to a network shared by a plurality of people, and is effective when a printed matter is not desired to be seen by others or when a document including confidential matters is printed. is there. In some cases, the printer driver implements password input and print data generation on the client computer side of the secure printing system. In this case, since there is a request to set a password every time printing is performed, the normal password is saved during the print setting of the printer driver. In addition, there are applications that save print settings as part of a saved document of the application.

Japanese Patent No. 3848053

  However, when using an application that stores print settings as a part of a document stored in the application, the print password may be referred to by a third party. In other words, when the stored password is saved as a character string and the saved document is sent to the outside of the client computer, the print password is changed by analyzing the print setting in the sent saved document. Referenced by the three parties.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is difficult to refer to password information in a print setting in an external environment of the secure printing system by encrypting the print setting password with a public key. An object is to provide a print processing apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, a print processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an encryption unit that encrypts a password for confidential printing, and a print setting that describes the password encrypted using the encryption unit in a print setting. A generating unit; a reading unit that reads the encrypted password described in the print setting; a decrypting unit that decrypts the encrypted password read by the reading unit; and the decrypted password And print command generation means for generating a print command for confidential printing , wherein the decryption of the password by the decryption means is performed by a filter of a printer driver .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a print processing apparatus that makes it difficult to refer to password information in a print setting in an external environment of the secure printing system by encrypting the print setting password with a public key. Also, by encrypting the print setting password with the public key, it is possible to make it difficult to refer to the password information in the print setting in the external environment of the secure printing system.

It is a figure which shows a system configuration. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a client computer. It is a figure which shows the software structure of a client computer. It is a flowchart group showing processing of installation and print setting. It is a flowchart group showing processing of installation and print setting. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting list and print settings. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a user interface (UI) of a print setting module. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of print processing according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart of print processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration in the case of a shared printer. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration in the case of a shared printer. 12 is a flowchart of a shared printer installation process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print setting UI according to a third embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting list which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the registration process of the public key which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing system includes a client computer 100, a print server 100a, and a printer 200 that can receive print data in a page description language (PDL) format and perform normal printing and secure printing (secure printing). These can be connected and communicated via a network 300 represented by a local area network (LAN). The client computer (client device) 100 may be an information processing device including a personal computer and a mobile terminal. The printer 200 is a print processing apparatus, and may be a single function printer (SFP) having only a printing function or a multifunction printer (MFP) having a printing function, a scanning function, a copying function, and the like. The print server (server apparatus) 100a executes local printer installation processing, and various modules such as a printer driver are already arranged. The print server 100a receives a print instruction from the client computer 100 and generates a print command. Details of the print server 100a will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the client computer 100. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 controls the entire apparatus according to a program stored in the main storage device 102 or the auxiliary storage device 105. The main storage device 102 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1021 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1022. The RAM 1022 is also used as a work area when the CPU 101 performs various processes. The auxiliary storage device 105 stores an application (application) 1051, a printer driver 1052, an operating system (OS) 1053, and the like. The application 1051 and the printer driver 1052 can be added to the auxiliary storage device 105 via a CD-ROM (not shown), a USB memory, or the network 300. An input device such as a pointing device 109 typified by a keyboard 108 and a mouse / touch panel is an input device for the user to give various instructions to the computer through the input I / F 103. The output I / F 104 is an interface for outputting data to the outside, and outputs data to an output device such as the monitor 110. The printer 200 is connected through a network 300 connected through the communication I / F 106. Reference numeral 107 denotes a common data system bus for exchanging data between modules.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of software modules that operate on the client computer 100. In general, various software modules are arranged in the client computer 100. However, in the present embodiment, only software modules related to the present invention are illustrated.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a state where the printer driver 1052 is not set in the client computer 100. As applications 1051, a general application 10511 typified by word processor software and a printer driver installer 10512 that installs a printer driver on the OS are arranged. Further, a printing system 10531 and a security system 10532 exist as subsystems of the OS 1053. The printing system 10531 performs arrangement management of the printer driver 1052 and printing-related processing. The security system 10532 provides encryption-related services. FIG. 3B is a configuration diagram of the module arrangement after installation (after the printer driver 1052 is set in the client computer 100). Details will be described together with a flowchart shown in FIG.

  Next, FIG. 4A shows a flowchart of local printer installation processing. With reference to FIGS. 3B and 4A, a general installation process of the printer driver will be described. Unless otherwise specified, the main body of the processing in this flowchart is the printer driver installer 10512.

  First, upon receiving a startup request from the user, the OS 1053 loads the printer driver installer 10512 from the auxiliary storage device 105 to the RAM 1022 and requests the CPU 101 to execute the installation process, thereby starting the installation process (step S400). Next, the printer driver installer 10512 executes preprocessing in order to collect information relating to the installation of the printer driver, such as the IP address information of the printer that is the printing destination (step S401). Specifically, a user interface (UI) is displayed on the monitor 110, inputs from the keyboard 108 and the pointing device 109 are received, and information regarding installation is collected. Next, based on the input IP address information, the printing system 10531 is requested to create the printing port 301 (step S402). Then, the printing system 10531 is requested to install a printer driver module attached to the printer driver.

  Next, in response to the request, the printing system 10531 arranges a print setting module (print setting processing means) 10521 and a graphics filter 10522 constituting the printer driver (step S403). Then, the printing system 10531 is requested to create a print queue, and the printing system 10531 creates the print queue 302. Next, the print queue 302, the print port 301, the print setting module 10521, which is a configuration file of the printer driver, and the graphics filter 10522 are associated (step S404). Next, the printer driver installer 10512 performs post-processing of registering the current print settings in the printing system 10531 (step S405), and thereafter ends the processing (step S406).

  In the present embodiment, secure printing asymmetric key arrangement processing is performed as post-processing in step S405. FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing asymmetric key arrangement processing for secure printing. First, the printer driver installer 10512 requests the security system 10532 to generate an asymmetric key (step S410). The security system 10532 generates an asymmetric key typified by RSA encryption (step S411). In this embodiment, the asymmetric key includes a public key 310 and a secret key 311. These keys are then generated and stored within the security system 10532. Next, the printer driver installer 10512 requests the security system 10532 to provide the public key 310, and acquires the public key 310 (step S412). Then, the printing system 10531 is requested to register the acquired public key 310 as print queue information. The printing system 10531 registers a public key as print queue information (step S413). Thereafter, the process is terminated (step S414).

  Next, FIG. 5A shows a flowchart of the print setting process. This process is started when the OS 1053 loads the print setting module 10521 from the auxiliary storage device 105 to the RAM 1022 and requests the CPU 101 to execute it in response to the user's request for starting the print setting UI (step S400). Unless otherwise specified, the main body of the processing in this flowchart is the print setting module 10521.

  First, the print setting module 10521 acquires a defined setting list (step S421). Next, the current print setting registered in the printing system 10531 is obtained (step S422). In the present embodiment, the setting list includes a setting list of printing functions supported by the printer driver 1052. Then, based on the setting list, the printing function currently being set is described.

  Here, an example of the setting list 500 is shown in FIG. In the setting list 500, the Feature 501 indicates a double-sided function, and has On and Off Options as selectable options. Feature 502 is a setting for secure printing, and has On and Off options. ParamDef 503 indicates the definition of a parameter for storing a numerical value of a conventional password. In the present embodiment, it is defined that a numerical password with a minimum of 0 characters and a maximum of 24 characters can be registered in a character string. ParamDef 504 is a definition of a parameter for storing an encrypted password related to the present embodiment. This is a parameter that can specify a BASE64-format character string of 0 to 256 characters in a format representing a binary code of BASE64 as a character code.

  FIG. 6B shows an example of the print setting when the print setting 510 uses a conventional character string password. Feature 511 represents a duplex function, and On representing duplex printing is designated. Feature 512 indicates secure printing On, and a password for secure printing is set in ParamInit 513. In the present embodiment, a character string “5555” is designated as the password.

  A print setting 520 in FIG. 6C shows an example of the print setting when the encrypted password of this embodiment is used. Feature 521 represents a double-sided function, and double-sided printing On is designated. Feature 522 indicates secure printing On, and the password encrypted by ParamInit 523 is described in the BASE64 format. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the password for secure printing is described by using ParamInit 513 or ParamInit 523.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 5A, the print setting module 10521 displays the print setting UI on the monitor 110 based on the setting list and the current print setting (step S423). Then, it waits (accepts) for an input to the print setting UI by the user (step S424).

  FIG. 7 shows a print setting UI 600 that is an example of the print setting UI. A drop-down 601 is a UI control that accepts duplex printing settings. According to the definition of Feature 501, the selectors that can be set in the drop-down 601 are single-sided printing (corresponding to Off) and double-sided printing (corresponding to On). In the present embodiment, double-sided printing is set in response to the current print setting. A check box 602 is a UI control that accepts secure print settings, and has On and Off selectors in accordance with the definition of Feature 502. Similar to the duplex setting, On or Off is set in response to the current print setting. An edit box 603 is a UI control that accepts an input of a password for secure printing. In the present embodiment, the password setting state of ParamInit 513 or 523 of the current print setting is received, and the password input state is shown in hidden characters. Based on the definition of ParamDef 503, the edit box 603 checks the character type of the input password and the minimum and maximum values of the character string length. When a password that does not match the definition of ParamDef 503 is input, a warning message is displayed in the message area 604 to prompt the user to re-enter the password. A button 605 is a button for applying print settings.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 5A, the print setting module 10521 determines whether or not the print setting application button 605 has been pressed after receiving an input to the print setting UI 600 (step S425). When a button other than the print setting application button 605 has been operated (the button 605 has not been pressed) (NO), it is determined that a part of the print setting has been changed and the process proceeds to step S426. Next, a request is made to the print setting module 10521 to perform a prohibition process for confirming whether or not a selector that cannot be set simultaneously among a plurality of settings is set. When a selector that cannot be set simultaneously among a plurality of settings is set, a rounding process is performed in which the selector with the lower priority setting is changed to another selector (step S426). Thereafter, the process returns to step S423, the display of the print setting UI 600 is updated based on the print setting, and the input of the print setting UI 600 is awaited.

  On the other hand, if the print setting application button 605 is pressed in step S425 (YES), a list of print setting items is generated based on information set in the print setting UI 600 (step S427: list generation processing). Next, the print setting is registered in the printing system 10531 as the current print setting (step S428). Then, the process ends (step S429).

  FIG. 5B shows a flowchart of a password print setting generation process according to the present embodiment. This process is started as part of the print setting generation process (step S427) in FIG. 5A (step S430). First, the printing system 10531 acquires the password input in the edit box 603 of the print setting UI 600 (step S431). Next, the public key 310 is acquired from the print queue information (step S432). Then, it is determined whether or not the public key 310 has been acquired (step S433). When the public key 310 can be obtained (YES), the password is encrypted with the public key 310 (step S434: encryption means). Then, the encrypted password is character-coded with BASE64 and described as an element of ParamInit 523 shown in FIG. 6C (step S435: print setting generation unit). On the other hand, when the public key 310 cannot be obtained (NO), the password character string is written in the element of ParamInit 513 as the normal password shown in FIG. 6B, and print settings are generated (step S436). After step S435 or step S436, the process ends (step S437).

  Next, FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the printing process. This processing is executed when a print request to the OS 1053 from the general application 10511 is received and standard data to be printed including print settings is input to the print queue 302. The OS 1053 loads the graphics filter 10522 from the auxiliary storage device 105 to the RAM 1022, and requests the CPU 101 to execute the process (step S700). It should be noted that the processing subject of this flowchart is the graphics filter 10522 unless otherwise specified.

  First, the graphics filter 10522 acquires, from the printing system 10531, standard data to be printed, including print settings, that has been input to the print queue 302 (step S701). Next, the print setting included in the standard data is analyzed (step S702). Then, it is converted into a PDL print setting command and transferred to the printing system 10531 (step S703). Next, the printing system 10531 sends a print setting command to the printer 200 via the print port 301. Then, it is determined whether or not secure printing is off (step S704). If secure printing is off (YES), a PDL drawing command (print command) for normal printing is generated (step S709: print command generating means). Specifically, drawing in a page expressed by standard data is converted into a PDL drawing command and passed to the printing system 10531. Then, the printing system 10531 sends a print setting command to the printer 200 via the print port 301 and ends the printing process (step S710).

  On the other hand, if secure printing is on (NO), a password acquisition process described in the print settings is performed (step S705). Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. After obtaining the password described in the print settings, the graphics filter 10522 generates a random character string (step S706). A random character string and a password are concatenated to generate a hash value (step S707). Next, a PDL function setting command including a random character string and a hash value is generated and passed to the printing system 10531 (step S708). Then, the printing system 10531 sends a print setting command to the printer 200 via the print port 301. Then, as in normal printing, the drawing in the page represented by the standard data is converted into a PDL drawing command, transferred to the printing system 10531 (step S709), and the printing process is terminated (step S710).

  In the present embodiment, the security of secure printing is enhanced by generating a random character string and concatenating it with a password to generate a hash value of a different password each time. As long as the format is supported by the printer 200, the information generated from the password assigned to the PDL for secure printing may be in another format. For example, the entire PDL drawing command may be encrypted with a password. It should be noted that the PDL command generated by the printing process must match the secure printing method supported by the printer 200.

  By the way, in the future, there is a possibility that research on encryption technology will progress, and the level of security of currently supported encryption methods may be reduced. In order to cope with this situation, it may be necessary to change the secure printing method supported by the system to another method. When a password is described in the print setting, if it is converted into a state that cannot be restored to the password entered in the print setting UI and described, there is a possibility that an encryption method to be employed in the future is restricted by the conversion. In this case, it is desirable that the character string of the password input in the print setting UI is described in the print setting as recoverable information.

  Next, FIG. 9 shows a process for acquiring a password from print settings in step S705 of FIG. First, the graphics filter 10522 acquires the encrypted password from the print setting (step S721). Next, the graphics filter 10522 determines whether an encrypted password has been acquired (step S722). That is, it is confirmed whether or not the encrypted password is described in the print setting. Specifically, when an element in the format of ParamInit 523 is included, it is determined that the encrypted password is described in the print setting. If the encrypted password is described (the encrypted password can be acquired) (YES), the encrypted password is decrypted using the private key 311 held by the security system 10532 (step S723: decryption). Means). Next, it is determined whether or not the encrypted password has been successfully decrypted (step S724). If the encrypted password is successfully decrypted (YES), the decrypted password is used as a password for secure printing (step S725). On the other hand, if the decryption of the encrypted password fails (NO), no password is set as error processing (step S726).

  If the encrypted password is not described in step S722 (the encrypted password could not be acquired) (NO), the description of the normal password is acquired from the print setting (step S727). Specifically, the value of an element in the format of ParamInit 513 is acquired as a password for secure printing. After the secure printing password is determined as described above, the process ends (step S728). In the present embodiment, when decryption of the encrypted password fails, secure printing without a password is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the printing process may be stopped, for example. Alternatively, the user may set a default password in advance and temporarily enter the password when decryption fails.

  As described above, the present embodiment has described the secure printing system in which the public key is registered as the print queue information, and the password for secure printing is encrypted with the public key and described in the print settings. According to the present embodiment, by encrypting the password with the public key and describing it in the print setting, it becomes possible to make it difficult to refer to the password in the print setting in an external computer environment having no private key. .

  In this embodiment, the asymmetric key arrangement process for secure printing is realized by the printer driver installer 10512. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be realized by a setting tool other than the printer driver installer 10512.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, a secure printing system in a shared printer environment will be described. The system configuration of the shared printer will be described with reference to the system configuration diagram of FIG. The difference from the first embodiment is that the local printer installation process is not executed in the client computer 100, and various modules such as the printer driver 1052 are already arranged in the print server 100a. That is. In addition, the print queue 302 is disclosed as a shared printer on the network, and is searchable from the outside.

  FIG. 10 shows a software module configuration before installing the shared printer, and FIG. 11 shows a software module configuration after installing the shared printer. The client computer 100 searches the network using the function of the OS 1053, and requests the OS 1053 of the print server 100a to use the print queue of the found shared printer, thereby executing the shared printer installation process. FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of the shared printer installation process. The shared printer installation process operates upon receiving a request to use a print queue of the shared printer from the client computer 100. The OS 1053 loads the printing system 10531 from the auxiliary storage device 105 to the RAM 1022 and requests the CPU 101 to execute it, so that the printing system 10531 starts processing (step S900). Unless otherwise specified, the subject of the processing in this flowchart is the printing system 10531 of the client computer 100.

  First, the printing system 10531 downloads the print setting module 10521 from the print server 100a, and arranges it on the client computer 100 as the printer driver 1052 (step S901). Next, the print queue 302 is created on the client computer 100 (step S902). Then, a process of associating the print server 100a with the print queue 302 of the client computer 100 is performed (step S903). With this association, the print queue 302 of the print server 100a and the print queue 302 of the client computer 100 can communicate with each other. At this time, information associated with the print queue of the print server 100 a including the public key 310 is also downloaded to the client computer 100. Then, the shared printer installation process is terminated (step S904).

  When the client computer 100 performs print settings for the shared printer, the print setting process is performed mainly by the print setting module 10521 of the client computer 100. Since the operation of the print setting process of the print setting module 10521 is the same as the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 described in the first embodiment, the description of the operation is omitted in this embodiment. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, since the public key 310 exists in the client computer 100 as related information of the print queue 302 in this embodiment, the print with the encrypted password encrypted with the public key 310 is described. A setting 520 is generated.

  Printing processing for the shared printer from the client computer 100 is started in response to a print request from the general application 10511 on the client computer 100 to the OS 1053. Specifically, the process is started when standard data to be printed including print settings is input to the print queue 302 of the client computer 100. The printing system 10531 of the client computer 100 transfers the standard data input to the print queue 302 to the print queue 302 of the print server 100a. Thereafter, the printing system 10531 of the print server 100a reacts and executes a printing process using the graphics filter 10522. Since the printing process using the graphics filter 10522 is the same as the process shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9 described in the first embodiment, the description of the operation is omitted here.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the operation in which the secure printing system according to the first embodiment is applied to the shared printer environment has been described. Thus, by associating the public key 310 with the print queue 302 in the print server 100a, the public key 310 is also registered in the print queue 302 of the client computer 100 during the shared printer installation process. Therefore, the client computer 100 in the shared printer environment can encrypt the password with the public key 310 and write it in the print settings. Note that the secret key 311 exists only in the print server on which the printing process is executed. For this reason, even when the print setting is taken out to a computer environment outside the secure printing system that does not have a secret key, it is possible to make it difficult to refer to the password in the print setting.

(Third embodiment)
The print settings provided by the conventional print setting module are expressed by binary data. Therefore, print settings that can be specified from a general application are limited to some print functions that are public common setting items. In recent years, the list of settings and print settings provided by the print setting module have become XML in text format, and it has become easier to refer to and set the list of settings and print settings from a general application than in the past. Therefore, some general applications display their own print setting UI based on the setting list and the current print setting.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the print setting UI of the general application 10511. This print setting UI 1000 is displayed on the monitor 110 when the general application 10511 receives a print setting UI display request from the user, and receives input from the keyboard 108 and the pointing device 109. Each control of the print setting UI 1000 corresponds to the same last digit of the print setting UI 600 of the print setting module 10521 shown in FIG. In addition to the print setting UI 1000, a drop-down 1006 that can specify a printer as a print output destination is added.

  The print setting process by the print setting UI 1000 is the same process as the flowchart of FIG. 5A, but is different from the first embodiment in that the processing subject is the general application 10511. Further, the prohibition process and the rounding process in step S426 are realized by the general application 10511 generating a print setting with the current setting contents of the print setting UI 600 and requesting the print setting module 10521. Similarly, the password print setting generation processing shown in FIG. 5B is also executed mainly by the general application 10511. The information disclosed to the general application 10511 is only the setting list and print settings, and the public key 310 cannot be acquired from the print queue information. Therefore, in this embodiment, the public key 310 is described as the setting list information, and the general application 10511 acquires the information in step S432. Here, FIG. 14 shows a setting list 1100 in the present embodiment. In addition to the setting list 500 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, public key information 1101 is added as an element of the setting list 1100.

  In this embodiment, when the setting list is acquired from the print setting module 10521 in step S421 in FIG. 5A, the process of the flowchart in FIG. 15 is executed. Registration processing of the public key 310 to the setting list is executed by the print setting module 10521, and the processing starts (step S1200). First, the print queue information is accessed to obtain the public key 310 (step S1201). Next, it is determined whether or not the public key 310 has been acquired (step S1202). If the public key 310 has been acquired (YES), the value of the public key 310 is converted into a character string, described as public key information 1101 in the setting list (step S1203), and the process ends (step 1204). On the other hand, if the public key 310 cannot be acquired (NO), the process is terminated as it is (step S1204).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the method for providing public key information as a part of the installation list to a general application that displays a unique print setting UI based on the setting list and the current print setting has been described. . According to the present embodiment, the password for secure printing input to the print setting UI of the general application can be encrypted with the public key related to secure printing, with the general application as the main body. As a result, it is not necessary to describe the password in the print setting as a normal password, and the security level of the password described in the print setting is improved.

(Other examples)
The present invention includes an apparatus or system configured by appropriately combining the above-described embodiments and a method thereof.
Here, the present invention is an apparatus or system that is a main body that executes one or more software (programs) that realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. Further, a method for realizing the above-described embodiment executed by the apparatus or system is also one aspect of the present invention. The program is supplied to the system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and the program is read and executed by one or more computers (CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus. That is, as one aspect of the present invention, the program itself or various storage media readable by a computer storing the program are included. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

  Moreover, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

Claims (8)

An encryption means for encrypting the confidential printing password;
Print setting generation means for writing the password encrypted using the encryption means in print settings;
Reading means for reading the encrypted password described in the print setting;
Decryption means for decrypting the encrypted password read by the reading means;
Print command generation means for generating a print command for the confidential printing using the decrypted password,
Equipped with a,
The print processing apparatus, wherein the decryption unit decrypts the password by a filter of a printer driver . When the encrypted print password cannot be acquired, the print setting generation unit describes the unencrypted password as a normal password in the print setting without encrypting the password by the encryption unit. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1 . The print processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the print command generation unit generates the print command using the normal password when an encrypted password is not described in the print setting. The print command generation means, if the encrypted the password can not be decoded by said decoding means, the printing process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an error process is performed apparatus. The print processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the print command generation unit generates the print command without a password or does not generate the print command as the error processing. A method for controlling a print processing apparatus,
An encryption process for encrypting the confidential printing password;
A print setting generation step for describing the password encrypted in the encryption step in a print setting;
A reading step of reading the encrypted password described in the print setting;
A decrypting step of decrypting the encrypted password read in the reading step;
A print command generation step for generating a print command for the confidential printing using the decrypted password;
I have a,
The method of controlling a print processing apparatus, wherein the password is decrypted by a filter of a printer driver in the decryption step . A printing system comprising: a server device that receives a print instruction from a client device and generates a print command; and a print processing device that receives the print command from the server device via a network and executes printing.
The client device is
An encryption means for encrypting the confidential printing password;
Print setting generation means for writing the password encrypted using the encryption means in print settings;
With
The server device
Reading means for reading the encrypted password described in the print setting;
Decryption means for decrypting the encrypted password read by the reading means;
Print command generation means for generating a print command for the confidential printing using the decrypted password,
A printing system comprising: The program for functioning a computer as each means of the printing processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-5 .

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