JPH0448323A - Print server, printer and print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To evade such an inconvenient case where the print data are exposed to the persons except a specified user by providing a stacker with which a printing form is taken out only when an input password is decided as the specific one. CONSTITUTION:The user names 401, the passwords 402 corresponding to the names 401, and the user identifiers 403 are described to a password file 400. This file 400 is stored in a fixed disk device of a name server. Then a user inputs a prescribed password 402 in order to take a printing form out of a stacker for confidential print. When a confidential print decision means decides that the input password 402 is accordant with the specified print data, the printing form can be taken out. Thus it is possible to evade an inconvenient case where the printed form is exposed to the outsiders before the due user fetches the form. As a result, the secret of the print output can be protected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an information processing device that can output print data, a print server that controls print data from one or more information processing devices, and a printer that prints print data. 7 [Conventional technology] In recent years, from the viewpoint of reducing system prices and effective use of office space, it has become necessary to share information among multiple information processing devices. Printing systems that attempt to effectively utilize print servers as resources on printing devices are beginning to be widely used.

An example of such a conventional printing system is the one described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-1149451, in which a plurality of information storage devices, a print server, and a printing device are connected. 115E, the print data is transferred to the print server according to instructions from the user of each information processing device, the user who requested the printing of the print data is automatically determined, and the printing device outputs the print data. The paper is stored in a storage section for each user.

Since the printed sheets are sorted by user, you can easily identify your own print results and give them your salt.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The above conventional technology has the following problems.

Generally, in printing systems, the information processing device and the printing device are often installed at separate locations.In such cases, print output is performed at a location nine miles away from the information processing device that issues print instructions. When printing a confidential document that must not be seen, the user should immediately go to the printing device and wait there after receiving the print instruction to prevent the printed document from being seen by others. This poses a problem in that it is troublesome for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, a print server, and a printing device capable of solving such conventional problems and preventing print data printed by a printing device from being viewed by anyone other than a specific user. , and to provide printing systems.

[Tth means to solve the problem]

The printing apparatus for achieving the above purpose includes a determining means for determining whether or not print data belongs to a predetermined specific person, and a determining means for determining whether or not print data belongs to a predetermined specific person; A paper discharging means for sorting and discharging paper into t and 40 for the specific person, and paper on which the print data of the specific person is printed are stored, a password is input, and the password is for the specific person O. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a stacker that can produce six sheets of paper only when it is determined that

Here, the printing device includes a plurality of the stackers,
A plurality of stackers may each store printed A-tubes for each print data of the specific person.

The information processing device that achieves the above purpose shall be equipped with a print setting means for setting whether or not to perform 11j&printing, which restricts the disclosure of printed sheets to persons other than specific persons. %t) characterized by

The tth print server that achieves the target sound prints the received print data to zero persons other than a predetermined specific person! Confidential printing determining means for determining whether or not confidential printing that restricts disclosure of the printed paper is set, and a printing device that prints the print data,
and a confidential printing execution instructing means for instructing to print the print data for which the confidential printing is set when execution of exhibition printing is specified.
It is 40.

Here, the confidential printing execution instructing means is configured to input a password when the execution of the confidential printing is specified, and to print the print data corresponding to the password among the print data when the confidential printing is set. It may be implemented by the printing apparatus.

Note that this print server may be equipped with all of the above-mentioned printing facilities.

[Effect]

The operation of a printing system having a printing device equipped with a stacker for confidential printing will be described.

When performing confidential printing, first, settings for performing confidential printing are set for the created print data using the information processing apparatus.

For print data for which confidential printing has been set, the printing device's confidential printing determination means identifies who is the owner of a predetermined document, and also determines whether confidential printing has been set for the print data. be done.

Based on this determination result, the paper ejecting means sorts the printed sheets into those for which history printing is set and those for which it is not, and those for which confidential printing is not set are stored in a normal stacker and stored in the confidential stacker. Items that are set to be printed are stored in one of a plurality of confidential print stackers for each print data.

When tearing out the paper stored in the confidential printing stacker, the user inputs a predetermined password.

At this time, if it is determined that the input password corresponds to the print data specified by the confidential print determining means, the paper can be removed.

In this way, the printed paper cannot be taken out unless the user enters a predetermined password, so the confidentiality of the printed content can be maintained.

The above explanation is for a device equipped with multiple stackers for confidential printing, but if there is a single stacker for confidential printing, there will be multiple print data for which confidential printing has been set, and the data will already be protected. If printed paper is stored in the printing stacker, depending on the settings, the next confidential print data may be waiting to be printed until the stored paper is removed. Alternatively, they are stored one after another in a single stacker.

A printing system having a print server equipped with a confidential print determination unit will be described.

When performing confidential printing, first, the settings for performing confidential printing are set for the created print data in the information processing apparatus, as described above.

Print data for which confidential printing has been set is transferred to a print server, where it is temporarily stored.

Print data for which confidential printing is not set is immediately printed when it is transferred to the print server.

When the user wants to print print data for which confidential printing has been set, the user specifies execution of confidential printing. When confidential printing is designated, only print data for which confidential printing is determined to be set by the confidential printing determining means is printed.

Therefore, even if the information processing device and the printing device are separated, if you set up confidential printing, the print data will be printed when the user desires, so the user can immediately retrieve the printed paper. By selling the print data, the print data cannot be viewed by a third party and the confidentiality of the print data can be protected.

Note that when specifying to perform confidential printing, you are prompted to enter a password, the correspondence between this password and the confidential print data is checked, and only the corresponding confidential print data is printed, thereby increasing confidentiality. can be kept.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Note that in this embodiment, L A N (Local Area
The present invention is applied to a printing system comprising a document processing workstation connected to a network (a network) and a print server in which a printing mechanism is layered.

First, the hardware configuration of the printing system of this embodiment will be explained using FIG. 2 and FIG.

In FIG. 2, 201m and 201b are document processing work stages Aoki for creating documents, 201o is a name server for managing users of the printing system, and 202 is a print server for printing documents. It is. document processing workstations 201m and 201b;
Name server 0 and print server 202 are LAN
The document processing workstations 203 and 203 are connected to each other, and documents created by the document processing workstations 201a and 201b can be printed by the print server 20-2.

Third! ! i! 2 shows the hardware configuration of the document processing work stage engine 201, 201b, the name server 201o, and the print server 202.

First, document processing work stage 1/201 Hatake.

The hardware configuration of 201b will be explained.

10 is a central processing unit (CPt)), which executes various processing programs related to document creation and printing instructions, and controls peripheral devices; 11 is a main memo 9 (MM);
It stores various processing programs related to document creation and printing instructions, and data related to them. Reference numeral 12 denotes a video memory (Ma RAl[), whose contents are displayed on the display device 15. Instructions for editing the six documents and printing them to the print server are performed via the middle board 13 (III) and the mouse 14. be exposed. 15 is a display device (
CR1), which displays a screen for creating a document and a screen for instructing printing. 16 is a fixed disk device (III
17 is the communication control "near)" (CDR) which extracts and stores the processing logs and document files related to document creation, as well as the password file 40G to be described later.
V), which communicates with other document processing workstations 201b and the print server 202 through I, AlI2O3, and 18, which performs data transfer between these peripheral devices 11 to 17 and the central processing unit 10 (CPIJ). The name server 201o has the same hardware configuration as the document processing work stage * 7201 & e 201b, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The hardware configuration of the print server 202 will be explained.

20 is a central unit (CPt), which executes various processing programs related to printing and controls peripheral devices; 21 is a main memo 9 (MM), which executes processing programs related to printing and Such data is stored. 22
is a video memory (VRAM), the contents of which are displayed on the display device 25. Instructions regarding printing are given via the keep-do 25 (K!l) and the mask 24.

A display device (CRT) 25 displays a screen for giving instructions regarding printing. 26 is a fixed disk device (E [DD), which outputs and stores processing programs and document files related to printing, and 28 is a communication control device (CDRV), which performs document processing work through I and Al2O2. 27 is a printing device that communicates with stage 1 201m, 201b and name server 0;
These peripheral devices 21 to 28 29 print documents.
This is a bus for transferring data between the CPO 20 and the CPO 20.

In the fixed disk device 26 of the print server 202,
jlEl 0 As shown in the figure, the receiving program 1010
, normal print program 1020. II Exhibition Print Near' W
/ Ram 1050. Also, an operating system program 1040 for controlling these programs is stored. Note that the determination means and print execution instruction means are CPI) 20 operated by these programs.
Next, regarding the password file according to the present invention, the fourth
This will be explained using figures.

Password file 400 is name server A 201G I
It is stored in the i1 disk device 161, and a user name 401 indicating the name of each user, a password 402 and a needs identifier 403 corresponding to each user name 401 are written. The password 402 is a character string that is memorized by each user and is not disclosed to others. The print server 202 determines whether the correspondence between the user password and the password input by operating the keyboard 25 or the like of the print server 202 is the same as the correspondence between the user password 401 and the password 402 described in the password file 40 in the name data store 201o. The user is authenticated by checking for a match. The user identifier 403 is an identification symbol that corresponds one-to-one with the user name, and is generally a string of simple alphabetic characters and numbers.

Next, the document file/I-ζ will be explained using FIG.

The document file 500 consists of a document attribute section 510 and a document data section 520. The document attribute section 510 contains the name of the 7-isle beach 501, lK, which describes the name of the document 7-isle spa.
A protection attribute 502 that describes whether or not to perform exhibition printing, and a user identifier 503 that uniquely identifies the owner of the document file.
, and a data size 506 that describes the capacity of the document data 520.

Next, the structure of the print queue and confidential print queue of the print server 202 will be explained using diagram f46 and the seventh factor.

First, the print queue 600 will be explained.

The print queue 600 corresponds to a queue head 610 and each document 7 isle soo, soo, soo.
It is composed of 20.620.620. The queue head 610 and each queue block 620.620.620 are coupled to each other by pointers. Each queue block 620620.620 includes a queue block 620.
62 to refer to the direction of the head.
2. Downvoice/reference 621 for referencing the cube block 620 in the opposite direction from the head, 7-isle name 623 of the sentence IF 7-isle 500 corresponding to the cube block 620, II [protection attribute 624 of the document file 500,
and the user identifier 625 of the armpit document file 500.

As the 7-aisle name 623, protection attribute 624, and coser identifier 625, the 7-aisle name 501, protection attribute 502, and user identifier 503 shown in FIG. 5 are used as they are.

The print queue 600 is for managing the document files 500 waiting to be printed, and registering the document file 500 in the print queue 600 means that the queue block 620 in which the 7-isle name 501 of the document file 500 is written is placed at the end of the queue block 620. This means connecting to the queue block 620 of.

Further, printing is performed from the document data 52G corresponding to the first queue block 620, that is, the queue block 620 connected to the queue head 610, and when printing is performed, the queue block 620 is divided by fIJJ.

Next, the confidential print queue 700 will be explained.

The confidential print queue 700 has the same structure as the print queue 60Q (!: a queue head 710 and each queue block 7
It consists of 20,720.720. And each cue block 720.720.7204'i, down pointer 7
21, up pointer 722.7 isle name 725% protection attribute 724, and needs identifier 725. The confidential print queue 700 includes document files 50 waiting for confidential printing.
0, and registering the document file SOO in the exhibition print queue 700 means that the document file 5
Queue block 7 in which file name 501 of 00 is written
This means connecting 2Q to the last queue block 720. In addition, the first queue block 72G, that is, the queue block 72 connected to the queue head 710
Printing is performed from document data 520 corresponding to 0, and when printing is performed, the queue block 720 is deleted.

Next, document processing work stage 1 n 201 black.

In 201b, an example of a screen display when instructing confidential printing of the document file son will be described using FIG. 8.

sg is an example of a document file list display screen 800 displayed on the display device 15 shown in FIG.
Document files soo, soo, - stored in b
・Name of 804,804. - is displayed. To instruct printing of the document file 500 on this screen 800, perform the following operations. First, instruct the file name 8Q4 of the document 7 isle SOO to be printed, and then instruct the menu 801 to instruct printing. Open the pulldown menu aOS 0 Next, if you want to perform confidential printing of the document file 500, specify the confidential printing item 801, and if you want to perform normal printing, specify the normal printing item 802.

In addition, 7 isle name 804 Yameg Knee 801.80
The instruction No. 5 is made using the mouse cursor 806 operated by the mask 14 shown in the fifth rin, and when the instruction is given, the instruction string is displayed in black and white.

Next, in the print server 202, the document file 5
An example of the screen display when instructing the print output of 00 confidential printing is @? ! This will be explained using El.

The confidential print output instruction screen 90G includes a needs name input field 901 and a password input field 9G2. The user is
Use the keyboard 15 to input the name of the name? 01 and the desired character string 903 in the password input field 902. ? Q4
Enter. On this confidential print output screen 900, when a user name 903 and a password 904 are input, after checking whether the user name 905 and password 9040 match, the confidential print specification corresponding to the input user name 905 is specified. The document file SOO is printed out.

In addition, in Figure 9 of Fuki, is the password entered? im 04
Although m< is displayed, an embodiment may also be considered in which the password being input is not displayed in order to prevent others from seeing the password being input.

Next, regarding the operation of the printing system consisting of the document geography workstations 201m and 201b, the name server 201a, and the print server 202 configured as described above,
This will be explained using FIG.

In addition, as shown in Figure 1, 100 is the document processing work 1721) 16.20 l b processing, 110a
``-o'' is the process of the print server 2+32, and 120 is the I&bottle of the name server 201a.

Users can download Document II & Kashiwaratage Ririn 201&.
File list W1m shows the document files 500 stored in the fixed disk device 16 of 201b in FIG.
Select in I300 and instruct to print (Step 1
01) At that time, if confidential printing is estimated (step 102), confidential printing is set in the protection attribute 702 of the document file SOO (step 103), and the document file 500 is sent to the print server (step 103). Step 104).

The print server 202 receives the document file 500 sent from the document processing work stage 201 Hatake, 2Q1b.
Step 1
11) Register the document file SOO in the print queue 60G. (Step 112) 11 Print Napa 2
In 02, among the document files SOO registered in the print queue 600, the document 7 file 500 for which confidential printing is not specified in the protection attribute 502 is printed sequentially as is. The specified document file 500 is in the confidential print queue 70
Register in the mouth (Step 115. Step 114)
.

The user issues an instruction for confidential printing (step 11).
6), by the keyboard 2S of the print server 202,
If the nickname 903 and password 904 are entered on the confidential print output designation screen 900 shown in FIG.
Step 117) Using the name server 201G, the user salt 905 and password 904 are verified, and the needs kicker corresponding to the user salt is obtained (step 111).
1).

The name server 2D1o checks whether the correspondence between the user password 905 and the password 904 notified from the print server 2D2 matches the correspondence between the nickname 401 and the password 402 described in the password file 400 ( Step 121), if they match, obtain the user identifier 403 corresponding to the user salt 401 and notify the print server 202J (step 12).
2).

The print server 202 selects a document file 500 having the same user identifier 503 as the user identifier acquired from the name server 201o from those registered in the confidential print queue 70G, and prints it out using the printing device 27 (step 119).

Next, detailed movements of the print taber 202 will be explained using FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

When print taper 202 detects receipt of document file 500, operating system program 104
Step 104: 0 starts the receiving program 1010.
1) Receive the document file 500 from the Bun 1 Workstation 201 Hatake, 2I, 11b. (Step 1
01j). Then print the document file 5a opening Kinney 6
00 (step 1012), and if the normal print gram 1.20 is not activated, the %print normal print gram 1
020 (step 1013), the activated normal print program 102G checks the protection attribute 624 of the queue block 620 at the head of the print queue 600 (step 1021). If confidential printing is not specified, the file name 62 of the queue block 620 is
3 is printed using the printing device 27 (step 1022), while the protection attribute 624 is printed using the printing device 27 (step 1022).
If confidential printing is set for , the corresponding document file 5oo-t is registered in the back layer print queue 7DQ, and the document file 500 is deleted from the print queue 600 (step 1025).

However, as shown in FIG. 11, the timing for registering the document file 5GO for which confidential printing is specified in the protection attribute 624 in the confidential printing queue 700 is
It is assumed that the document file 500 registered at the beginning of the document file 500 is about to be printed out.

In addition, if the user has instructed confidential print output,
The operating system program 1040 starts the confidential printing program 1030 (step 1042).
The started confidential print program 1030 first displays the confidential print output instruction screen WOO shown in FIG. 9 in order to input the user password and password (step 1051). password? If 04 is input (step 1Ω52),
In order to check whether the correspondence between the user salt 905 and the password 904 matches the correspondence between the nickname 401 and the password 402 stored in the password file 400 of the name server 201o, the user salt 9
In order to obtain the user identifier 403 corresponding to 05,
User password 903 and password 904 are sent to name server 20
10 (Step 1G! %3), and after the name server 201G checks the correspondence between the user salt 905 and the password 904 and obtains the user identifier 403 corresponding to the user salt 905, the print The server 202 receives the test results and the user identifier 403 from the name server 201o (step t034).

Therefore, if this test result shows that the pair-to-two relationship between the user salt 905 and password 904 input in step 10S2 is correct (step 1035), the user identifier 403 received in step 1054 and Same user identifier 72
5 (step 1036), and.

The document files 500 having the file names 725 described in the searched queue blocks 720 are printed using the printing device 27, and after the printing, the corresponding middle knee blocks 720 are deleted from the confidential print queue 700. (Step 1057) - If the test result shows that the correspondence between the user salt 905 and the password 904 is incorrect, a message to that effect is displayed (Step 103).
8).

In other words, the user password 90s entered on the confidential print output designation screen 90 shown in FIG. 9 is the password file 4.
If it is not registered in 00, the second name is incorrect as shown in Section 121iA w, H171 page 1
200 is displayed, and the user password 90B is registered in the password file 400, but the corresponding password 402 is displayed.
If the password is different from the entered password 904, the 13th
As shown in the figure, a screen 1300 is displayed saying ``Password is incorrect''. Further, when searching for the queue block 620, if there is no queue block 720 having the same needs identifier 725 as the needs identifier 405 received in step 1034, the confidential print document of yours shown in FIG. If not, display I and screen 1400.

In the above embodiment, the name server 201o is provided,
A document processing workstation 201m, 201b, or a document processing workstation 201m, 201b, which instructs to print the password file 40G and the functions of the name taber 2oto such as checking the password 904 with the user password 905 and acquiring the needs identifier 405.
A case where it is provided in the purine donor A202 is also considered. Further, it is also possible to provide it in both the document processing work stages 17201m and 201b and the print server 202.

When the name taber 201a function is provided in each document processing workstation 201a*2Glb, the print server 202 verifies the user password 903 and password 904, and obtains the needs identifier 403 from the document processing workstation 201a*2Glb. Request stage transport 202. If the name server 201o(7) function is provided in the print server 2G2, the print taper 2Q2 is
Verification of the 59054A password 904 and acquisition of the needs identifier 403 are performed within the print server 202.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each of the document processing workstations 201m and 201k has a mechanism for setting confidential printing, and each document file 500 is provided with a protection attribute field 702 for setting whether or not to perform confidential printing. However, even if the word processing workstation does not have the concept of confidential printing,
The print server described in this embodiment can be operated as follows.

For example, there is a file system that provides, as a protection attribute of each file, an attribute that prohibits reading by anyone other than the owner of the file. Therefore, when the print server 202 receives a file whose protection attribute is set to prohibit reading by anyone other than the file owner, the print server 202 determines that the file is a file that should be printed confidentially, and performs the same process as in the previous embodiment. Let the processing take place. Additionally, if each file has an attribute that prohibits users other than the group to which the owner of the file belongs, confidential printing should also be performed for documents with such an attribute. can also be considered. Furthermore, whether the target of confidential printing is a file that has an attribute that prohibits reading by anyone other than the owner, or a file that has an attribute that prohibits printing by users other than the owner's group. Alternatively, it may be possible to select whether to disable the confidential printing function.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a confidential printing instruction is written in the protection attribute 502 of the document file 500, and the print server
02 determines whether or not to perform confidential printing by referring to the protection attribute 502, but the following embodiment can also be considered. In other words, document processing work stage】720
1m, 201b is the document file 5 for which you want to perform confidential printing
A method of transmitting a confidential printing instruction and a user identifier that uniquely identifies the user to the print server 202 before transferring the document 0 to the print server 202, and then instructing confidential printing of the document 7 isle SOO to be transferred. It is. In this case, the document file 500 includes the user identifier 505 and the security! 11
There is no need for the attribute 502 to be described.

In addition, in the print server j02 equipped with the confidential printing function as described above, when displaying a list of documents in the print queue 600 and waiting to be printed in the 7th isle 501), as shown in FIG. indicate. In the list display 1500 of documents waiting to be printed shown in FIG.
, user salt 1503, and form 311504 are displayed, but document 7 isle SOO for which confidential printing is to be performed has its name 1.
501 and user salt 1505 are not displayed, document file 5
Make only the existence of 00 known (1501o, l5
O3o). Further, depending on the user's settings, the information 1501 to 15a4 of the document file 500 may not be displayed at all, so that even the existence of the document file 500 cannot be known. In this way, the list of print waiting documents 7 is displayed 1500
By restricting the display of information regarding documents designated for confidential printing, it is possible to further ensure confidentiality during confidential printing.

Further, if there is a document file registered in the confidential print queue of the print server 202, that is, if there is a document file waiting for confidential printing, the display screen 160G of the display device 25 is displayed as shown in FIG. like,
It is also conceivable that a message specific to confidential printing 1601 be displayed to inform the user of the existence of a document waiting for confidential printing.

In the embodiment described above, when the print server 202 receives a document file SOO to be printed confidentially, it registers the document file SOO in the confidential print queue 700 and enters the user salt 905 and password 904 for confidential printing output. If the input is made, after checking the user name 903 and the password 904, the user ID 405 corresponding to the nickname 904 and the confidential print queue 7
By printing out the Document 7 isle 500 registered in 00, the user can print out confidential documents etc. on the print server 202 without being seen by others. Also, as shown in @11g, print queue 60
There are two queues, 0 and confidential print queue 700, and the document file SO registered at the head of print queue 600 is
Immediately before O is about to be printed out, the document file SO
By checking whether or not O is confidential printing, and if confidential printing is set, registering it in the confidential printing queue 700, the document 7 isle 500 for which confidential printing is set becomes a document for which confidential printing is not set. The print server 202 prevents printing from occurring before the 7th isle 500.
Document file 500 received earlier (step 1011)
It is possible to maintain the principle of preferential printing. Also.

When the user specifies confidential print output on the print server 202 (step 116), the user is requested to input the user password and password, and the input user password and password are verified using the password 7 isle. By ilf:ing the user, multiple information processing devices can communicate.
By using a conventional security protection mechanism in network systems connected to each other by 11, a confidential printing mechanism can be realized without the need to separately provide a password or the like for confidential printing.

An example of confidential printing in a print server has been described above, but the following example is also possible.

In the above embodiment, the document 7 file 500 with confidential printing settings was stored in the fixed disk device 26 in the print server 202 and printed out according to the user's instructions (step 116). The purpose of confidential printing can also be achieved by providing the printing apparatus 1700 with a mechanism as shown in Section 1a[J. In other words, if a stacker 1701 for confidential printing is provided in addition to the stacker 1704 for normal printing, and confidential printing is set in step 1021 shown in FIG.
The corresponding sentence [Controls the paper ejection control board 1702 to eject the print results of the 7th isle 500 to the stacker 1701 for confidential printing. Then, as in the above-described embodiment, when there is an indication of confidential print output (step l 16 ), the first
After going through the processes from step 1051 to step 1054 in Figure 0, if the correspondence between the input user password and password is correct, the confidential print stacker 1701 can be opened as shown in Figure 18, and the user The printed paper 1703 can be taken out.

Furthermore, in the mechanism shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the print server 202 can only accept confidential printing from one user at a time, so as shown in FIG.
It is also conceivable to provide a plurality of confidential printing stuff cars 1701.

Furthermore, if there is a printed sheet in the confidential print stacker 1701, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to notify users of the existence of

In this embodiment, when the print server 202 receives a document file soQ to be printed confidentially, it discharges the print result of the document 7 isle Saa to the stacker 1701 for confidential printing, and sends the user salt qas for confidential printing output. When the password 904 is entered, the user is allowed to take out the printed paper 1705 from the confidential printing stacker 1701 after checking the user password 905 and the password 904. , the print server 202 can print out confidential documents and the like without being seen by others.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, paper on which print data set for confidential printing is printed is stored in the confidential printing stacker, and the paper is stored in the stacker until a predetermined password is entered. Since the paper cannot be removed, the confidentiality of print data set for confidential printing can be maintained.

Furthermore, according to a print server equipped with a confidential print determination means, even if the installation location of the information processing device that instructs printing and the printing device that actually prints are located at the same time, the print server can print when the user desires. Since it is possible to print on a print server configured for confidential printing, the information processing device 31 prints immediately after issuing a print instruction, and before the user goes to pick up the printed paper, a third party no one can see it,
Print data can be kept confidential.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The first al is the 7th couch of the printing process of the printing system,
21st! lI is a print server and document processing work stage officer! ! ! ! Figure 3 is a hardware diagram of the document processing work stage 3, name server, and print server. Figure 4 is a diagram explaining the structure of the password file. Figure 5 is a diagram explaining the structure of the document file. ,
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the print queue, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the confidential print queue, FIG. g8 is an explanatory diagram of the document file list display screen, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the confidential print output instruction screen. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the print processing of the print server, Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of the sentence 1 file in the print server, and jll 21i10-Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the error message display of the print server. , 1st
Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a document waiting to be printed - electronic screen, i [Figure 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display of waiting for confidential printing, Figure 17 is an overall side view of the printing device, and Figure 18 is an overall perspective view of the printing device. figure,
$1i19 Figure is an overall perspective view of a printing device according to another embodiment. 201m, 201b...-=Document! & buried work stage l), 202...Print server, 40
0...--Password file, 500...
-Document file, 60 copies...Print queue
700--Confidential print queue WOO...Confidential print output instruction screen, 1010...Reception program, 1020...Normal print program, 1030--Confidential print program ,
1040--Operating system program, 1500--List display screen of documents waiting to be printed, 27,1700.1900...
...Printing device, 1701----, stacker for confidential printing.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Judgment means for judging whether print data belongs to a predetermined specific person; a paper discharging means for sorting and discharging paper into paper and non-paper, and storing paper on which print data of the specific person is printed;
A printing apparatus comprising: a stacker from which the paper can be taken out only when a password is input and it is determined that the password belongs to the specific person. 2. Confidential print determination means for specifying to whom the print data belongs among predetermined persons and determining whether the print data is for which confidential printing is requested; and the confidential print determination unit. a paper discharging means for distributing the printed paper into those for which confidential printing is desired and those for which confidential printing is not desired according to the determination result of the means, and further distributing the printed paper for each print data for which confidential printing is desired; Paper sheets printed for each print data for which confidential printing is requested are stored, a password is input, and it is determined that the password corresponds to the print data specified by the confidential printing determining means. A printing apparatus comprising: a plurality of stackers for confidential printing from which the paper can be taken out only when the paper is removed. 3. An information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a confidential printing setting means for setting whether or not to perform confidential printing that restricts disclosure of printed sheets to persons other than specific persons. 4. Confidential printing determining means for determining whether or not the received print data is set for confidential printing that restricts disclosure of the printed paper to anyone other than a predetermined specific person; Confidential printing execution instructing means for instructing a printing device that prints print data to print the print data for which the confidential printing is set when the execution of the confidential printing is specified. print server. 5. Confidential printing determining means for determining whether or not the received print data is set for confidential printing that restricts the disclosure of the printed paper to persons other than a predetermined specific person; When the execution of the confidential printing is specified for a printing device that prints print data, by inputting a password, printing of the print data corresponding to the password among the print data for which the confidential printing is set is performed. A print server comprising: confidential printing execution instruction means. 6. The print server according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising the printing device. 7. One or more information processing devices according to claim 3, and claim 4
or 5. A printing system, wherein the print server according to 5 and a printing device are connected to each other so as to be able to send and receive signals. 8. One or more information processing devices according to claim 3, and claim 1
Alternatively, a printing system comprising the printing apparatus according to item 2 and a print server that controls signals from one or more of the information processing apparatuses and outputs the signals to the printing apparatus.