JP4479673B2 - Image forming apparatus, terminal device for controlling the same, and communication program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that stores image data including image data from an external apparatus, stores the image data, and prints out the stored image data when a print operation is received. The present invention relates to a terminal device and a communication program.

  As an example of the image forming apparatus having the above functions, there is a facsimile apparatus having a confidential function. Further, as an image forming apparatus having a function similar to this, a network printer capable of distributing a secret document via a network is proposed in Patent Document 1 below.

When the network printer receives a print job according to the distribution by the network, it transmits a distribution mail including specific distribution information to the distribution destination user, and the distribution instruction is included in the print instruction. As long as it is configured to output a print document, it prevents the output of the print document by a person who is not the distribution destination user.
JP 2001-249776 A

  However, in the network printer according to Patent Document 1, a print instruction is received for each print job. If there are a large number of print jobs in which a specific user is specified as a distribution destination, There is a problem in that it is necessary to give a print instruction to the print job. Further, since a distribution mail including specific distribution information passes through the network, there is a possibility that the distribution information may be leaked due to eavesdropping on the network. The present invention aims to solve such problems.

  In order to solve the above problems, a first invention described in claim 1 is a storage command receiving means for receiving an image storage command including image data from an external device, an image storage means for storing image data, a print When an image accumulation command is accepted by the print operation accepting unit that accepts the operation, a user specifying unit that identifies a user who performs the print operation, and the accumulation command accepting unit, the image data included in the image accumulation command is stored in the image accumulation unit In addition, when the distribution target specified in the image accumulation command is determined, and a storage control unit that controls to store the determined distribution target in association with the image data, and a printing operation reception unit receives a printing operation The image storage means searches the image storage means for image data whose user is to be distributed by the user specifying means, and the image data whose user is the distribution target from the image storage means And a control means for controlling to print out in all extracts.

  The invention according to claim 2 further comprises user registration means according to claim 1, wherein the image accumulation command includes user identification information pre-assigned for each user as information on the distribution target, The authentication information in a predetermined format can be registered in correspondence with the user identification information, and when the user specifying means accepts the authentication information input operation, the user specifying means refers to the registered content of the user registration means and corresponds to the accepted authentication information. It is characterized by specifying user identification information.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the storage control means includes an image included in the image accumulation command with the completion of the print output by all distribution target persons designated by the image accumulation command. The data is erased from the image storage means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the apparatus further comprises a time measuring unit that measures the accumulation time of the image data in the image accumulation unit, and the storage control unit accumulates the image accumulation unit for a predetermined time or more. The image data being deleted is erased. Here, the image data may be erased as the accumulation time reaches a predetermined time.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the information processing device further includes a notification unit, and the control unit distributes the printout of the image data stored in the image storage unit at a predetermined timing. Control is performed so that the information of the subject is notified by the notification means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal device that generates an image accumulation command and transmits the image accumulation command to an external device, a generation instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction to generate the image accumulation command, and one or a plurality of distribution targets A distribution target person receiving means for accepting the designation of a person, a generation means for generating an image storage instruction including image data to be printed and a distribution target person received by the distribution target person reception means, and an image storage generated by the generation means An image accumulation command including image data and a distribution target person when a generation instruction reception unit receives a generation instruction in a state in which the distribution target person is received by the transmission unit and the distribution target person reception unit. And a control means for controlling the generated image accumulation command to be transmitted by the transmission means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for generating an image accumulation command and transmitting it to an external device. When a generation instruction is received by designating one or a plurality of distribution subjects, printing is performed. and it generates an image storage instruction including the image data and distribution subject to be output to perform the operation of transmitting the generated image storage instruction to the external device to the computer.

  According to the first to fifth aspects, when the print operation is accepted by the print operation accepting means, the image storage means searches the image storage means for the image data having the user specified by the user specifying means as the distribution target person, and extracts all of them. Printing is output. Therefore, even when a large number of image data specifying the user as a distribution target is stored by a plurality of image storage commands, all of the data can be printed out by a single printing operation. It does not take.

  In particular, according to claim 2, the image accumulation command includes user identification information pre-assigned for each user as distribution target information, and the image forming apparatus associates authentication information in a predetermined format with the user identification information. When the authentication information input operation is accepted, the registered content is referred to, and the user identification information for the accepted authentication information is specified. The image accumulation command includes the authentication information. Absent. Therefore, authentication information does not flow on the network, and the security of image data against eavesdropping is improved.

  In particular, according to the third aspect, the storage control unit erases the image data included in the image storage command from the image storage unit upon completion of the print output by all the distribution target persons specified in the image storage command. Therefore, there is no possibility that the area of the image accumulating means will be occupied forever by unnecessary image data.

  In particular, according to the fourth aspect, the storage control unit erases the image data stored in the image storage unit for a predetermined time or more, so that the area of the image storage unit is indefinitely used by the image data that is not expected to be printed out. There is no longer a risk of occupying it.

  In particular, according to the fifth aspect, the information of the distribution target person who has not completed the print output of the image data is notified at a predetermined timing such as maintenance, so that the administrator or the like determines when the image data is deleted. It can be used as a rough guide.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the terminal device generates an image accumulation command including the image data to be printed and the distribution target person, it is possible to prevent the output of the print document by a person who is not the distribution target person.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the program generates an image storage instruction including image data to be printed and a distribution target person, so that it is possible to prevent a print document from being output by a person who is not the distribution target.

  Hereinafter, examples of an image forming apparatus to which the first invention is applied and a terminal device to which the second invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a network printer 1 according to the embodiment, and omits components that are not particularly related to the present invention. The present invention is not limited to a network printer, but can be applied to a facsimile multifunction machine or the like.

  As shown in the block diagram, the network printer 1 includes a control unit 11 including an MPU that controls each unit, a display operation unit 13 having an authentication unit 12, and a printing unit that prints out image data on a recording sheet. 14, a communication unit 15 that receives various commands from a terminal device via a wired or wireless network N, a user registration unit 16 that registers a user who uses the network printer 1, and an image storage unit 17 that stores image data. Similar to a conventional network printer, it has a basic function of receiving image print commands from a terminal device and temporarily storing image data included in the commands in the image storage means 17 and then printing them out. Yes.

  Further, as a characteristic function of the present invention, when an image storage command is received from an external device, the image data included in the image storage command is temporarily stored, and then a predetermined print operation is received. It has a reserved printing function for printing out image data that designates the user who has performed as a distribution target.

  In order to realize the function, in terms of concept, in the above configuration, the communication unit 15 functions as an accumulation command receiving unit that receives an image accumulation command including image data from an external device, and the display operation unit 13 is a printing operation. The authentication unit 12 functions as a user specifying unit that specifies a user who performs the printing operation. In addition, when the storage command receiving unit accepts the image storage command, the control unit 11 stores the image data included in the image storage command in the image storage unit 17 and determines the distribution target person specified in the image storage command. And the storage control means for controlling to store the determined distribution target person corresponding to the image data, and when the printing operation reception means accepts the printing operation, the user specified by the user specifying means is defined as the distribution target person. The image storage means 17 is searched for image data to be performed, and the image storage means 17 functions as a control means for controlling all the image data for which the user is a distribution target to be extracted and printed out.

  The image accumulation command here is a file described in PDL (Page Description Language) or the like, and includes a plurality of pages of image data to be printed and information for designating a distribution target of the image data. . Note that an image printing command similar to the conventional one is a file described in PDL or the like, but does not include distribution target designation information.

  Here, some components will be described in more detail. The display operation unit 13 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal monitor and an LED, various operation keys, and the authentication unit 12 provided therewith is, for example, It consists of a biometric authentication device that reads fingerprints. However, the authentication unit 12 may use biometric information other than fingerprints or input a password. That is, the present invention is not limited to a specific authentication method, and a plurality of authentication methods may be used in combination.

  The printing unit 14 may be either color-compatible or monochrome-compatible, and may have a configuration similar to that of the conventional one.

  The user registration means 16 is composed of a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash ROM or a power-backed-up SRAM, and authentication information in a predetermined format such as a fingerprint is stored in user identification information (hereinafter referred to as a user ID). Registered accordingly. In the procedure, a preset administrator may execute user registration processing for the network printer 1 to set each user ID, and then the user himself / herself may store a fingerprint. . When such user registration is performed, the authentication unit 12 specifies the user ID corresponding to the authentication information by referring to the registration content of the user registration unit 16 when receiving the authentication information input operation. be able to. The user ID may be set by the administrator by operating the display operation unit 13 of the network printer 1 or through the network N. In the configuration performed through the latter network N, a web server function for providing an administrator screen for user registration may be added to the communication unit 15.

  The image accumulating unit 17 is composed of a DRAM or a hard disk, and temporarily accumulates image data included in the image print command and the image accumulation command. In particular, in the image accumulation command, the information on the user ID of the distribution target may be recorded in the image accumulation unit 17 in association with the image data. As another configuration, a distribution target person storage means for storing a distribution target person is provided separately from the image storage means 17, and the distribution target person user ID is assigned to the distribution target person by the distribution target person storage means. You may make it memorize | store with the pointer to the specific image data in it. In this case, the user ID and the image data are associated with each other via the pointer. As described above, the storage location of the user ID of the distribution target person and the method of associating the image data with the user ID of the distribution target person can be variously modified, and thus are not particularly limited.

  Next, a modified example of the network printer 1 will be described. In the first modification, the storage control unit erases the image data included in the image storage command from the image storage unit 17 with the completion of print output by all the distribution target persons specified in the image storage command. For this purpose, a flag indicating the presence / absence of print output is added to the user ID recorded as the person to whom each image data is distributed, and when the print output is made, the flag can be set and identified. You can do it.

  In still another modified example, the image storage unit 17 further includes a time measuring unit that measures the storage time of the image data, and the storage control unit erases the image data stored in the image storage unit 17 for a predetermined time or more. More specifically, the date and time at which the image data is stored is recorded in correspondence with the image data, and the storage of each image data is performed with reference to the real time clock (RTC 18) shown in FIG. The elapsed time from the date and time is calculated, and those accumulated for a predetermined time or more are identified and deleted. That is, the image data is erased as the accumulation time reaches a predetermined time. Note that the administrator may set a predetermined time as a criterion for determination in advance. The image storage command may further include date and time data of an expiration date, and the image storage command may be stored with the expiration date as the limit.

  In yet another modification, the control unit may notify information on a distribution target who has not printed out image data at a predetermined timing. More specifically, the display means provided in the display operation means 13 is used as a notification means, and the administrator performs a predetermined operation, for example, an operation that deletes a part of the stored image data as a maintenance process. In addition to the attribute information of each image data, that is, the name, size, storage date, etc. of the image data, the user ID of the distribution target who has not printed out the image data may be displayed in a list. . Further, such an operation may be accepted on an administrator screen provided by the Web server function, and a similar list display may be performed on the screen. The predetermined timing here includes the time when image data accumulated for a predetermined time or more is detected, or the arrival of an expiration date designated by the image accumulation command. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which further provides an audio | voice means and alert | reports by an audio | voice from there.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the terminal device according to the embodiment. The client machine 3 is composed of a workstation or personal computer running an OS such as Windows (registered trademark) or Linux, and is set to control and manage the network printer 1.

  That is, the client machine 3 is a terminal device that generates an image accumulation command and transmits it to an external device, that is, the network printer 1, and includes a control unit 31 configured by a CPU and the like, and a communication unit 32 that communicates with the external device. The communication program 33a for the network printer, that is, the storage means 33 for storing the printer driver in an executable manner, the operation means 34 constituted by a keyboard and a mouse, and a liquid crystal monitor, etc. The control unit 31 executes a communication program 33a described later.

  If the above configuration is described in terms of concept, the operation unit 34 and the display unit 35 include a generation instruction reception unit that receives an instruction to generate an image accumulation command, and a distribution subject reception unit that receives designation of one or a plurality of distribution subjects. The communication unit 32 functions as a transmission unit that transmits an image accumulation command to an external device, and the control unit 31 includes image data to be printed and a distribution target received by the distribution target reception unit. It functions as a generation unit that generates an image accumulation instruction, and further includes image data and a distribution target person when the generation instruction reception unit receives a generation instruction in a state where the distribution target person is received by the distribution target reception unit. The image storage command is generated by the generation unit, and also functions as a control unit that controls the generated image storage command to be transmitted by the transmission unit.

  The communication program 33a is a program for generating an image accumulation command and transmitting it to an external device. When one or a plurality of distribution target persons are specified and a generation instruction is received, image data to be printed out And the distribution target person are generated, and the generated image accumulation instruction is controlled to be transmitted to the external device. Further, when a distribution target person is designated, by requesting a list of registered users by communicating with the network printer 1, a list of registered user lists returned is displayed, and a distribution target person is displayed from there. A distribution target person selection support function may be provided.

  Next, a system in which the network printer 1 and the client machine 3 are connected to each other will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a system diagram showing an example.

  In this system S, one network printer 1 and three client machines 3 are connected to each other by a network N, but the communication protocol is not particularly limited, and for example, TCP / IP, IPX, etc. are used. May be.

  In this system S, the basic printing process is such that the client machine 3 generates an image print command including image data to be printed and transmits it to the network printer 1, and the network printer 1 follows the image print command. The procedure of printing out the image data is performed. Hereinafter, the procedure of reserved printing using the image accumulation command will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart for explaining a reserved printing processing procedure in which a distribution target of image data is specified, which is a feature of the present invention, and shows operations of the network printer 1 and the client machine 3 in relation to each other. FIG. 5 shows an example of a reservation print screen called in the basic operation.

  Referring to this flowchart, in the network printer 1, the administrator registers the user ID of each user in advance, and each user stores his / her fingerprint data corresponding to the user ID (step 101). .

  After that, the user operates a desired application on any one of the client machines 3 to create image data and distribute the image to a plurality of distribution target persons, as shown in FIG. Call a reservation printing screen (steps 301 and 302).

  The reserved print screen 4 is displayed by calling the communication program 33a corresponding to the network printer 1 from the application software, and includes a printer column 41 for selecting a printer to be used, and a print range column 42 for specifying a print range. The printing copy number column 43 for designating the number of copies to be printed and the distribution list column 44 for designating the person to be distributed.

  In order to perform reserved printing, it is necessary to select the network printer 1 in the printer column 41. If the “property” button is operated, an option selection screen (not shown) for image quality setting, recording paper size setting, and the like is displayed.

  In the distribution list column 44, the user ID of each user registered in the network printer 1 is displayed as a registered user list. This is because the network printer 1 requests the registered user list under the control of the communication program 33a. The network printer 1 searches for registered users in response to the request, and displays a list of the search results returned as a registered user list.

  By selecting a desired user ID from the registered user list and operating the “>>” button, the selected user ID can be added to the distribution target user list. Further, if an arbitrary user ID is selected from the distribution target user list and the “<<” button is operated, the selected user ID can be deleted therefrom. In addition, if a user ID is typed in the user ID input field and then the “+” button is operated, the user ID is added to the distribution target user list. Of course, the user ID of the user may be included in the distribution target user list (steps 303 and 102).

  When the “OK” button is operated, an image accumulation command including option data, a user ID set in the distribution list, and image data (including a plurality of pages) specified by the print range is generated and transmitted to the network printer 1 ( Steps 304 and 305).

  When the network printer 1 accepts the image storage instruction, the network printer 1 stores the image data included therein, further determines the user ID of the person to be distributed, stores it in correspondence with the image data, and then prints It waits until it is operated (steps 103 and 104).

  Thereafter, when the user performs a printing operation, the user requests input of a user ID and a fingerprint, and when these are input, the input user ID and fingerprint are compared with those registered in the user registration means 16. Contrast. As a result, if the authentication is successful, image data in which the user is a distribution target is retrieved, and all such image data is extracted and printed out. Therefore, even if a specific user is designated as a distribution target by a plurality of image accumulation commands, the user can print out all image data by performing a single printing operation. If authentication fails, the printing operation is invalidated, an error is notified, and nothing is printed out. In the user authentication, only the fingerprint input may be requested, and the user ID may be automatically determined with reference to the user registration unit 16 (steps 105 to 108).

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The block diagram explaining the schematic structure of the terminal device by this invention. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a network having an image forming apparatus and a terminal device. 6 is a schematic flowchart for explaining a basic operation of a printing process in which a distribution target person is specified. An example of an operation screen for specifying the distribution target.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Control part (control means, memory | storage control means)
12 Authentication means (user identification means)
13 Display operation means (print operation acceptance means)
15 Communication means (accumulation command acceptance means)
16 User registration means 17 Image storage means 18 Timekeeping means 3 Terminal device 31 Control unit (generation means, control means)
32 Communication means (transmission means)
33a Communication program 34, 35 Operation means, display means (generation instruction reception means, distribution target reception means)

Claims (7)

An accumulation command receiving means for receiving an image accumulation command including image data from an external device;
Image storage means for storing image data;
A printing operation receiving means for receiving a printing operation;
A user specifying means for specifying a user who performs a printing operation;
When accepting an image storage command in the storage command receiving means stores the image data included in the image storage instruction to the image storage unit, determines the distribution target person specified in the image storing command, and determines Storage control means for controlling the distribution target person to store corresponding to the image data;
When accepting the printing operation in the printing operation receiving means, wherein the user image data to be distributed subject to the specified user at a specific means to find in the image storage means, said image storage means the user distribution target person from An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls to extract and print out all the image data. In claim 1,
A user registration unit;
The image accumulation command further includes user identification information allocated in advance for each user as information on a distribution target person,
The user registration means can register authentication information in a predetermined format in correspondence with user identification information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the user specifying unit receives an authentication information input operation, the user specifying unit refers to the registration content of the user registration unit and specifies user identification information corresponding to the received authentication information. In claim 1 or 2,
It said storage control means, with the completion of the printout by all distribution subjects specified by said image storage instruction, characterized by erasing the image data included in the image storage instruction from the image storage unit Image forming apparatus. In any one of Claims 1-3,
Further comprising time measuring means for measuring the storage time of the image data in the image storage means,
It said storage control means, the image forming apparatus characterized by erasing the image data stored a predetermined time or more in the image storage means. In any one of Claims 1-4,
Further comprising a notification means,
Wherein, at a predetermined timing, an image forming apparatus and controls the distribution target person information printed output of the image data is not completed in the image storage unit so as to notify by the notification means . A terminal device that generates an image accumulation command and transmits it to an external device,
Generation instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction to generate an image accumulation instruction;
A distribution recipient receiving means for accepting designation of one or more distribution recipients;
A generating means for generating an image storage instruction including a distribution subject received by the distribution target person receiving unit and to be printed out image data,
Transmission means for transmitting an image storage command generated by said generating means to said external device,
In a state in which received a distribution target person in said distribution target person receiving unit, if the received instruction to generate by the generation instruction receiving unit, an image storage instruction including the image data and distribution subject causes generated in the generation means, terminal device comprising the generated image storing command and control means for controlling to transmit at the transmission unit. A program for generating an image accumulation command and sending it to an external device,
When receiving the generation instruction by specifying one or more distribution subjects, transmission and generates an image storage instruction including a distribution target person and the image data to be printed out, the generated image storage instruction to the external device A program that causes a computer to execute the action to be performed .

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