JP6743097B2 - Image forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, images forming device, method of controlling an image forming apparatus, and a program.

Conventionally, the image forming apparatus has a function called a box function. The image forming apparatus having the box function stores the print data transmitted by the printer driver of the PC in a storage area called a box of the hard disk. The print data stored in the box can be printed by the user at an arbitrary timing using the operation panel.

Further, in recent image forming apparatuses, the operation mode can be set to the forced retention mode for the purpose of enhancing security and suppressing leaving printed matter. The image forming apparatus that operates in the forced hold mode forcibly stores the received data in the hard disk regardless of whether the data transmitted by the PC is a print instruction or a hold instruction. .. The forcibly stored data is printed in response to a user who has sent a transmission instruction from the PC, goes to the front of the image forming apparatus, and issues a print instruction using the operation panel.

Patent Document 1 proposes an image forming apparatus that controls to forcibly hold a print job of a number of copies equal to or larger than N or a print job of a specific user.

JP, 2009-143081, A

If you force the data to be stored by operating in the forced storage mode, the data to be stored in the box will also be stored in the storage area for the temporary storage, and the user will give an instruction in front of the image forming device. Otherwise it couldn't be stored in the box.
In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means for controlling received image data to be stored in an appropriate storage area in an image forming apparatus that can operate in a forced storage mode.

One aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a network, and holds print data received from the information processing apparatus until the image forming apparatus receives a print instruction from a user. Setting means for setting the forced retention mode, which is a function for, and receiving means for receiving print data to which a print command is added or print data to which a storage command is added from the information processing device via the network,
Storage means having at least a first storage area and a second storage area, for storing print data in the first storage area or the second storage area;
Receiving means for receiving a print start instruction from the user for starting printing of the print data stored in the first storage area or the second storage area;
A printing unit that prints an image based on the print data that has received the print start instruction;
When the forced holding mode is set by the setting means and the command added to the print data is a print command, control is performed to store the print data in the first storage area, and the setting means Control means for controlling the print data to be stored in the second storage area when the command set in the forced storage mode and the command added to the print data is a storage command,
The received print data includes ID information, and the control unit sets the received print data by indicating that the ID information of the received print data indicates the information about the reception unit even when the forced holding mode is set. The feature is that data is printed.

According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus that operates in the forced reservation mode, it is possible to suitably switch to which storage area of the storage unit the received print data is stored, which improves convenience.

It is a block diagram of a stationary printing system. It is a hardware block diagram of PC. It is a hardware block diagram of MFP. It is a figure which shows the storage area of a hard disk. It is a setting screen figure of a printer driver. 5 is a list of print data stored in the forced storage area. It is a list of print data stored in the box area. 6 is a setting screen for setting a forced storage mode in the MFP. FIG. 6 illustrates print job attributes. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the MFP. It is a figure which shows the value of application ID. FIG. 6 is a screen diagram for performing pull print by designating from an operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

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

In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the MFP (multifunctional peripheral device) that operates in the forced retention mode controls in which of the forced storage area and the box storage area the print data transmitted from the PC 101 is stored. ..

FIG. 1 is an example of the configuration of a stationary printing system. 101 is a personal computer (PC). Reference numeral 102 denotes a multifunction peripheral device (MFP) in which a scanner and a printer are integrated. The PC 101 has a function of generating print data from a document by a printer driver described later and transmitting the data to the MFP 102. The MFP 102 has a function of storing print data transmitted from the PC 101 in a storage device such as a hard disk. The PC 101 and the MFP 102 are communicably connected to each other via a local area network (LAN).

In this embodiment, a system in which a PC 101 and an MFP 102 are connected via a network will be described. However, the stationary printing system is not limited to this, and may be a system connected via a USB I/F or a parallel I/F, for example. Further, the hold-and-print system may not hold the print data in the hard disk in the MFP 102, but may hold the print data in an external hard disk connected to the MFP 102. Further, the print data may be stored in a file server such as a NAS (Network Attached Storage) connected to a LAN. Further, the print data may be stored in a server that provides a cloud service on the Internet. In the present embodiment, the PC 101 will be described as an example of the information processing device. However, the information processing device is not limited to this, and may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a laptop computer. In this embodiment, the MFP 102 will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a printing apparatus having only a print function.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the PC 101. 21 is a CPU. A RAM 22 provides a work area for the CPU 21. Reference numeral 23 is an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM for storing the control program. The auxiliary storage device 23 stores a printer driver program (hereinafter, printer driver). When the CPU 21 executes the printer driver, the PC 101 generates PDL (Page Description Language) data based on the document data generated by the document creation application, and transmits the PDL (Page Description Language) data to the MFP 102.

Reference numeral 24 is a display device (CRT display, liquid crystal display) for notifying a user of a message or displaying an operation screen. Reference numeral 25 is an input device (mouse, keyboard, etc.) for inputting a user command. Reference numeral 26 is a network interface card for exchanging data with other network devices via the LAN. 29 is a main bus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the MFP 102.

The MFP 102 has a control unit 200, an operation unit 206, a scanner 208, and a printer 209. The control unit 200 has a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, a HDD (hard disk drive) 204, an operation unit I/F 205, a device I/F 207, a network I/F and a bus 211.

The CPU 201 executes various types of information processing according to the control program and controls the operation unit 206, the scanner 208, and the printer 209. Further, the CPU 201 controls the network I/F 210 to perform communication processing with an external device.

The RAM 202 is a volatile storage device, and functions as a work memory used by the CPU 201 to execute various types of information processing. The ROM 203 is a non-volatile storage device and stores various control programs and setting values.

The HDD 204 has a compulsory detention area 1101 and a box area 1102, which will be described later, and accumulates the received print data as a document (hereinafter, also referred to as a reservation). The HDD 204 also stores a computer-readable program for executing a flowchart described below, setting values for determining the operation mode of the MFP 102, and the like. In the present embodiment, the HDD is described as an example of the storage unit that stores the print data, but the storage unit is not limited to the HDD and may be a nonvolatile storage unit such as an SSD (solid state drive). Good.

The programs stored in the ROM 203 and the HDD 204 are transferred to the RAM 202 and executed by the CPU 201. Further, the MFP 102 operates according to the setting values transferred from the ROM 203 or the HDD 204 to the RAM 202.

The operation unit I/F 205 monitors a user input from the operation unit 206 and transmits the input information to the CPU 201. Further, the operation unit I/F controls the operation unit 206 to display information according to an instruction from the CPU 201. The operation unit 206 is an input device that receives user operations from a touch panel, keys, and the like, and is also a display device such as an LED or LCD. The operation unit 206 may be a touch panel display that serves as both an input device and a display device. The operation unit 206 receives an input of a user name and a password as authentication information for the authentication process, and receives an input for starting printing of print data stored in the HDD 204. Note that instead of accepting the input of the authentication information by the operation unit 206, the input of the authentication information by an IC card reader (not shown) may be accepted.

The device I/F 207 is an interface for connecting the scanner 208 or the printer 209. The device I/F 207 receives image data from the scanner 208 and sends image data to the printer 209.

The scanner 208 is a device that illuminates a document and reads the reflected light as digital data. The scanner 208 includes a document table glass for reading a document one by one. Further, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) is mounted for continuously reading a plurality of stacked originals.

The printer 209 is a device that prints an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method. The printer 209 is a sheet feeding mechanism that takes out a sheet from a sheet tray, a mechanism that transfers and fixes an image, and a sheet that is ejected from the inside of the MFP 102 to the outside. It consists of a paper ejection mechanism. A finishing mechanism is an additional function of the printer 209. The finishing mechanism is called a finisher or the like. The finishing mechanism includes a mechanism for sorting printed materials by copy, stapling them, and folding the printed materials.

The MFP 102 uses the scanner 208 and the printer 209 to provide a copy function. The CPU 201 causes the scanner 208 to read an image, performs image processing on the image data read by the scanner 208, and causes the printer 209 to print the image data subjected to the image processing. The image processing may be executed by image processing hardware other than the CPU 201. In the image processing, it is possible to process the image data so as to print the image read from each of the two originals on one sheet (2 in 1).

Further, the MFP 102 provides a transmission function of transmitting the image data read by the scanner 208 via the network I/F 210, and a FAX function of transmitting the image data read by the scanner 208 via a telephone line (not shown). To provide. When the MFP 102 does not provide the copy function, the transmission function, and the FAX function, the MFP 102 does not need to include the scanner 208.

The network I/F 210 controls network communication via the LAN according to an instruction from the CPU 201. The network communication may be wired communication such as Ethernet or wireless communication such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (registered trademark). Further, the MFP 102 may have a USB I/F that communicates via a USB cable.

The CPU 201, the RAM 202, the ROM 203, the HDD 204, the operation unit I/F 205, the device I/F 207, and the network I/F 210 are connected to the bus 211.

The program executed by the CPU 201 is stored in the ROM 203 or the HDD 204, and is expanded in the RAM 202 when the MFP 102 starts up or provides a function. The CPU 201 executes the program loaded in the RAM 202.

The CPU 201 controls the operation unit I/F 205, displays a message or an operation screen on the operation unit 206, and acquires information input by the user on the operation unit 206.

The CPU 201 performs an authentication process for logging in a user who uses the MFP 102. The CPU 201 instructs the operation unit 206 to display an authentication screen to determine whether or not the user is a valid user who can use the MFP 102, and authentication information (user name and user name input by the user using the operation unit 206. Password) is acquired and user authentication is performed based on the authentication information. When the user authentication is successful, the CPU 201 acquires the setting value associated with the user (for example, the menu screen customized for the login user, the display language for the login user, etc.) and sets the screen after login. Control based on value.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the division of storage areas secured in the HDD 204. The HDD 204 is composed of a forced detention area 1101, a box area 1102, and another area 1103.

The forced storage area 1101 is a storage area for temporarily storing the print data received from the PC 101 when the MFP 102 is set to operate in the forced storage mode. The print data stored in the forced storage area 1101 can be instructed to print only by a user who is authenticated by an authentication unit (IC card authentication or keyboard authentication) from the viewpoint of security. More specifically, the print data transmitted from the PC 101 is added with the user name of the user who has logged in to the PC 101, and the user name is stored as the job owner name in the forced detention area 1101 in association with the print data. It When the job owner name of the print data stored in the forced detention area 1101 and the user name of the user authenticated by the above-described authentication process match, printing of the print data is permitted.

On the other hand, the box area 1102 is a storage area for storing print data designated to be saved in the box area by the printer driver of the PC 101. The print data stored in the box area 1102 can be printed/transmitted/edited/deleted regardless of whether or not the user is authenticated by the authentication means. However, it is possible to lock it with a password or encrypt the data if necessary.

The other area 1103 is an area other than the forced detention area 1101 and the box area 1102.

FIG. 5 is a setting screen displayed by the CPU 21 on the display device 24 of the PC 101. While displaying the setting screen 600, the user can select either printing or saving as the print data output method 601. When the user operates the input device 25 and clicks the button 602, the setting of the output method 601 becomes valid.

When printing is set as the output method 601, the printer driver of the PC 101 adds a command including the information of the output method 601, and sends it to the MFP 102. The print data to be transmitted is processed in the MFP 102 differently depending on whether the operation mode of the MFP 102 is the forced reservation mode.

Specifically, if the MFP 102 is operating in the forced retention mode, the print data is stored in the forced retention area 1101 of the HDD 204. The print data stored in the forced detention area 1101 is printed in response to the user inputting a print start instruction via the operation unit 206. As described above, when the MFP 102 is operating in the forced hold mode, the user can print the print data stored in the storage area at any timing, and the security can be improved. There is also an effect that it is possible to prevent the printed matter from being left. On the other hand, if the MFP 102 is not operating in the forced storage mode, the print data is printed as it is without being stored in the forced storage area 1101.

On the other hand, when save is set as the output method 601, the print data transmitted by the printer driver of the PC 101 is stored in the box area 1102 of the MFP. In this way, when the save method is set as the output method 601 on the PC 101 side, it is stored in the box area 1102 regardless of whether the MFP 102 is operating in the forced hold mode. With respect to the data stored in the box area 1102, the user can instruct processing such as printing, editing, and deleting via the operation unit 206.

FIG. 6 is a list of print jobs stored in the forced storage area 1101. When the MFP 102 is operating in the forced storage mode, the print job data transmitted from the PC 101 (excluding the print job designated to be stored in the box) is stored in the forced storage area 1101 of the HDD 204. Then, the CPU 201 reads out the document name, print setting, and reception time stored in the HDD 204 in association with the data in the HDD 204 and displays them on the operation unit 206. When the user selects a desired print job 701 from the list of FIG. 6 and presses the print start button 702, the CPU 201 reads the corresponding print data from the storage area of the HDD 204 and causes the printer 209 to print the print data.

FIG. 7 is a list of print jobs stored in the box area. The MFP 102 stores the data of the print job, which is designated to be stored in the box, transmitted from the PC 101 in the box area 1102 of the HDD 204. When the instruction to display the list of FIG. 7 is input from the operation unit 206, the CPU 201 reads the job attribute of the print data from the box area 1102 of the HDD 204 and displays it on the operation unit 206. When the user selects a print job from the list of FIG. 7 and presses the print start button, the CPU 201 reads the corresponding print data from the box area 1102 of the HDD 204 and causes the printer 209 to print the print data.

FIG. 8 is a setting screen for setting the forced retention mode. When the user selects 801 and presses the 803 button, the forced retention mode is activated. When the user selects 802, the forced retention mode is invalidated. When the forced holding mode is valid, the received print data is stored in the forced holding area 1101.

Note that the set values in FIG. 8 are preset by the administrator and stored in the HDD 204, and are read into the RAM 202 when the MFP 102 is started.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the print data transmitted by the printer driver and the print job attributes associated with the print data. The application ID 901 is an ID for identifying the input source of the print job (the printer driver of the PC 101 or the application inside the MFP 102). The processing type 902 is an output method (printing or saving) designated by the printer driver of the PC 101 when the printer driver of the PC 101 is designated by the application ID. The processing type 902 is information set by the output method 601 of FIG. The job name 903 is the name of the job that prints the print data. The print settings 905 include output paper size, document size, number of copies, print orientation, and the like. The date 906 is a value indicating the reception time of print data. The job owner name 907 indicates the user name of the user who has logged in to the PC 101.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the MFP 102 receives print data from the PC 101. The steps shown in FIG. 10 are realized by the CPU 201 executing the program loaded from the HDD 204 to the RAM 202. In FIG. 10, the process starts in response to the MFP 102 receiving print data from the PC 101.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 201 will be described as executing the following steps, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, multiple CPUs may perform the following steps. Also, a processor other than the CPU may execute the following steps. Further, the CPU 201 and another processor may cooperate to execute each step.

In FIG. 10, first, when the CPU 201 detects that the print data is received from the PC 101 by the network I/F 210 (S7010), it analyzes the command added to the received print data (S7020). The command includes at least an application ID 901, a process type 902 (printing or saving), a job name 903, print settings 904, a job owner name 907, and the like. The CPU 201 extracts these pieces of information included in the command and stores them in the HDD 204 as attributes of the print job corresponding to the received print data. At this time, the information about the reception time of the print data is also stored as an attribute of the print job.

Next, the CPU 201 acquires the setting value stored in the RAM 202 in order to confirm the operation mode of the MFP (S7025). This set value is set by the administrator set on the setting screen of FIG. 8, and is read from the HDD 204 to the RAM 202 when the MFP 102 is started. Then, the CPU 201 determines whether the MFP 102 is operating in the forced print mode based on the acquired setting value (S7030). When it is determined that the printer is not operating in the forced reserve print mode (NO in S7030), the CPU 201 processes the print data according to the output method included in the command received together with the print data. Specifically, if storage in the box area 1102 is designated by the processing type 902 of the command (YES in S7050), the received print data is stored in the box area 1102 of the HDD 204 (S7060). On the other hand, if printing is designated by the process type 902 of the command received together with the print data (NO in S7050), the received print data is printed by the printer 209 (S7070).

When it is determined that the printer is operating in the forced reservation print mode (YES in step S7030), the CPU 201 determines whether the received print data is the application ID of the printer driver based on the command analyzed in step S7020 (S7032). If it is determined that the application ID is not the printer driver application ID (NO in step S7032), the CPU 201 causes the printer 209 to print the received print data without retaining it in the forced storage area 1101 (step S7070).

When it is determined that the application ID is the printer driver application (YES in S7072), the CPU 201 determines whether the received print data is data for registering a form (S7035). When it is determined that the data is data for registering a form (YES in S7035), the received print data is registered as a form (S7080).

If the CPU 201 determines that the data is not data for registering a form (NO in step S7035), the CPU 201 confirms the processing type 902 of the command received together with the print data, and thereby the output method specified by the printer driver of the PC 101. To confirm.

If box saving is designated as the output method (YES in step S7040), the CPU 201 stores print data in the box area 1102 of the HDD 204. On the other hand, if printing is designated as the output method, the CPU 201 stores the print data in the forced detention area 1101 of the HDD 204.

The flowchart of FIG. 10 has been described above.

The print data stored in the forced storage area 1101 or the box area 1102 can be instructed by the user to start printing at any timing from the list of FIG. 6 or 7 displayed on the operation unit 206.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing data stored in the HDD 204 as attributes of the received print job. 9 is an example of a value of an application ID 901 of a print job attribute. The value of the application ID 901 of the print job input from the printer driver is 0001-10992 (1201). The value of the application ID 901 of the job input from the operation unit 206 of the MFP 102 is 0002-12123 (1202).

FIG. 12 is a (pull print) screen for designating and printing a document in the PC 101 from the operation unit 206 of the MFP 102 (1300). The screen of FIG. 12 is a screen displayed on the operation unit 206. The MFP 102 temporarily stores the document 1301 in the PC 101 in the RAM 202 via the network 311. The MFP 102 also reads the document 1301 stored in the RAM 202 and displays it on the operation unit 206. When the user presses the print button 1302, the MFP 102 converts the document 1301 into print data and prints with the printer 209. There are other forms of pull printing, but they are omitted in the present invention.

According to the present embodiment, regarding the print data transmitted from the PC 101, the print data designated to be stored in the box by the printer driver is retained in the box area instead of the forced detention area. As a result, the print job instructed by the user to be explicitly retained on the PC 101 side and the print job that is forcibly retained according to the operation mode of the MFP 102 can be managed separately, which is convenient for the user. Is improved.

Further, according to this embodiment, the same data is not redundantly stored in the forced storage area 1101 and the box area 1102. However, when the command added to the print data transmitted from the PC 101 includes both the print designation and the save designation, the MFP 102 prints the print in both the forced detention 1101 and the box area 1102. Data may be stored.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in a printing system in which a document 1301 in another information processing apparatus is designated by the operation unit 206 of the MFP 102 and pull-printed, the input job is printed without being held in the temporary storage area. Therefore, the convenience is improved.

(Other embodiments)
The object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium storing a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a device (or system), and a program stored in the storage medium by a computer (CPU, MPU) of the device (or system). This is the process of reading the code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. Further, the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention. The storage medium may be, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). Further, the storage medium may be a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc, a flash memory, a memory card, or the like. Further, one or a plurality of functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by one processor, a plurality of processors, or a plurality of computers on a network.

101 PC
102 MFP
201 CPU
204 HDD
206 Operation unit 209 Printer 1101 Forced storage area 1102 Box area

Claims (2)

An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a network,
Setting means for setting a forced holding mode which is a function for holding the print data received from the information processing apparatus until the image forming apparatus receives a print instruction from the user;
Receiving means for receiving print data added with a print command or print data added with a storage command from the information processing device via the network,
Storage means having at least a first storage area and a second storage area, for storing print data in the first storage area or the second storage area;
Receiving means for receiving a print start instruction from the user for starting printing of the print data stored in the first storage area or the second storage area;
A printing unit that prints an image based on print data that has received the print start instruction;
When the forced holding mode is set by the setting means and the command added to the print data is a print command, control is performed to store the print data in the first storage area, and the setting means Control means for controlling the print data to be stored in the second storage area when the command set in the forced storage mode and the command added to the print data is a storage command,
The received print data includes ID information,
Even if the control unit is set to the forced reservation mode, the received print data is printed by the ID information of the received print data indicating the application ID of the printer driver. apparatus. An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a network,
Setting means for setting a forced holding mode which is a function for holding the print data received from the information processing apparatus until the image forming apparatus receives a print instruction from the user;
Receiving the first print data set to print in the printer driver output method of the information processing apparatus or the second print data set to save in the printer driver output method from the information processing apparatus via the network Receiving means to
Storage means having at least a first storage area and a second storage area, for storing print data in the first storage area or the second storage area;
Accepting means for accepting a print start instruction from the user for starting the printing of the print data stored in the first storage area or the second storage area;
A printing unit that prints an image based on the print data that has received the print start instruction; and the first storage that has been set to the forced hold mode by the setting unit and has received the first print data. When the first print data is stored in the area, the forced holding mode is set by the setting unit, and the second print data is received, the received second print data is stored in the second storage area. And a control means for controlling to store in
The received print data includes ID information, and the control unit indicates the received print data by indicating the application ID of the printer driver even if the control unit is set to the forced retention mode. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image is printed.

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