JP6514747B2 - PRINTING APPARATUS, ITS CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, its control method , and a storage medium .

  In recent years, there has been a growing demand for authentication printing in which a user sends a print job to a print server and a desired printer prints when desired by the user while securing security (for example, Patent Document 1). According to the patent document 1, the user generates a print job, transmits it to the print server by the printer driver, and transmits bibliographic information to the bibliographic server. When printing from the printer, the printer acquires and displays a list of print jobs from the bibliographic server, and the user selects his print job from the list and instructs printing. As a result, a print instruction is issued from the bibliographic server to the print server, and a print job is transmitted from the print server to the printer and printed by the printer.

Patent No. 4033857

  However, in the print system of Patent Document 1, transmission of a print job by the printer driver is a premise. In addition, in order to obtain a print job list corresponding to a user who has succeeded in authentication from the server, it is essential that the print job registered in the server contains information specifying the owner of the print job. . This is not a problem because the print job generated by the printer driver usually includes the owner name of the print job.

  However, print jobs generated without using a printer driver (a print system that generates print data uniquely and a direct print system that directly interprets and prints application files) do not contain the owner name of the print job. Sometimes. In that case, the print job is not included in the list of print jobs acquired from the server because it does not match the authenticated user name. Therefore, such a print job remains on the print server, and there is a problem that the print job can not be executed or deleted.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of setting whether printing data not associated with a job owner name can be canceled, held or printed while the holding setting is set to be effective .

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
Receiving means for receiving print data;
Storage means for storing print data received by the receiving means until a print instruction from the user is received;
A first setting unit configured to set whether or not to make a retention setting for storing the print data received by the reception unit in the storage unit until the print instruction from the user is received;
Set at least one of canceling printing of print data for which the job owner name is not set, storing in the storage means until receiving a print instruction from the user, or printing without waiting for a print instruction by the user Second setting means for
The print data is stored in the storage unit in accordance with the reception of the print data in which the job owner name is set while the retention setting is set to be valid.
The printing of the print data is canceled based on the setting by the second setting unit according to the reception of the print data in which the job owner name is not set while the retention setting is set to be valid, or Controlling either storing in the storage means until a print instruction from the user is accepted or printing without waiting for the print instruction by the user;
The print data is received without waiting for a print instruction by the user regardless of whether the job owner name is set in the print data according to the reception of the print data in the state where the retention setting is set to be invalid. Control means for controlling to print;
It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, it is possible to set whether to cancel , hold, or print the print data not associated with the job owner name while the holding setting is set to be effective.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of a printing system that accommodates an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 7A shows an example of a list of print jobs managed by the copying machine according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 7B shows an example of a print job list responding when the copying machine receives a request for a print job list. B). In the first embodiment, a diagram (A) showing an example of a print job list to which a copying machine responds when a print job list request is received, and an example of a list of users who can use the copying machine according to the first embodiment Figure (B) showing 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing by a copying machine operating as a bibliographic server in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a list of print jobs to be transmitted in S502 of FIG. 5 in response to a request for a list of print jobs in the first embodiment. A flowchart (A) explaining processing of a copying machine concerning Embodiment 2, and a flowchart (B) explaining processing of a copying machine concerning Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a screen displaying a list of print jobs received by the copying machine in the second embodiment. FIG. 8A is a view showing an example of a print job history according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a view showing an example of a print job history screen according to the third embodiment. 12 is a flowchart for describing print processing by the copying machine according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of a print setting screen according to the fourth embodiment. 14 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the copying machine according to the fifth embodiment receives print data. FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of a setting screen according to the fifth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. .

  FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing the configuration of a printing system that accommodates an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a copying machine having a data transmission function is described as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to such a copying machine, and can be applied to a printing apparatus such as a printer.

  The copying machine 1001 is accommodated in a LAN 1006 such as Ethernet (registered trademark) together with a copying machine 1002 having the same function as the copying machine 1001 and a client computer (hereinafter, PC) 1005. The copier 1001 has a copy function and a facsimile function, and also has a data transmission function of reading an original and transmitting image data of the read original to each device on the LAN 1006. It also has a PDL print function for executing and printing a print job described in PDL received from the PC 1005 connected to the LAN 1006. The copying machine 1001 has a box function of storing image data obtained by reading a document by the copying machine 1001 and image data obtained by processing a print job received from the PC 1005 connected to the LAN 1006 in a box area. have. Then, the image data stored in the box area can be printed. Further, the copying machine 1001 can receive image data obtained by the copying machine 1002 reading a document via the LAN 1006, store the received image data in the copying machine 1001, and print it. The PC 1005 can also receive image data from the copying machine 1001 via the LAN 1006 and process or edit the received image data.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the copying machine 1001 according to the embodiment. The copier 1002 is the same as the copier 1001 except that the copier 1002 does not have a function as a bibliographic server, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The controller unit 2000 is connected to a scanner 2070 which is an image input device and a printer 2095 which is an image output device. Then, control is performed to implement a copy function of printing image data obtained by reading a document by the scanner 2070 by the printer 2095. The image data obtained by the scanner 2070 is transmitted to the PC 1005 via the LAN 1006, and a print job from the PC 1005 is received and printed by the printer 2095.

  The controller unit 2000 has a CPU 2001. The CPU 2001 boots up an operating system (OS) stored in the HDD 2004 by a boot program stored in the ROM 2003. Then, various processes are executed by executing the application program stored in the HDD 2004 on the OS. A RAM 2002 is used as a work area of the CPU 2001. A RAM 2002 provides an image memory area for temporarily storing programs and image data, as well as a work area. A hard disk drive (HDD) 2004 is used to store image data and the like with a box function together with an application program.

  An operation unit I / F (operation unit interface) 2006, a network I / F (network interface) 2010, and a modem 2050 are connected to the CPU 2001 via a system bus 2007, as well as a ROM 2003 and a RAM 2002. Further, it is connected to an image bus I / F (image bus interface) 2005 that controls an interface with the image bus 2008. An operation unit I / F 2006 is an interface between the touch panel and an operation unit 2012 having a hard key, and outputs image data to be displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the operation unit 2012 to the operation unit 2012. The operation unit I / F 2006 also transmits information input by a user operation on the operation unit 2012 to the CPU 2001. A network I / F 2010 is connected to the LAN 1006, and performs input and output of information with each device on the LAN 1006 via the LAN 1006. The modem 2050 is connected to the public line 1008 and inputs and outputs information through the public line 1008.

  An image bus I / F 2005 is a bus bridge that connects a system bus 2007 and an image bus 2008 that transfers image data at high speed, and converts data structures.

  The image bus 2008 has a PCI bus or IEEE 1394. On the image bus 2008, a raster image processor (hereinafter, RIP) 2060, a device I / F 2020, a scanner image processing unit 2080, a printer image processing unit 2090, an image rotation unit 2030, and an image compression unit 2040 are provided. The RIP 2060 is a processor for expanding intermediate language data into a bitmap image. A scanner 2070 and a printer 2095 are connected to the device I / F 2020. The device I / F 2020 performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

  The scanner image processing unit 2080 corrects, processes, and edits image data input from the scanner 2070. A printer image processing unit 2090 performs image correction, halftone processing, and the like on image data to be printed. An image rotation unit 2030 rotates image data. The image compression unit 2040 compresses multivalued image data into JPEG data and binary image data into data such as JBIG, MMR, MH, etc., and performs decompression processing conversely.

Embodiment 1
In the first embodiment, a plurality of PDL print jobs (hereinafter, print jobs) are input and stored in the copying machine 1001 or the copying machine 1002 from another client computer (not shown) connected to the PC 1005 or the LAN 1006. I will explain in the premise. In the first embodiment, the copying machine 1001 also has a bibliographic server function, but the bibliographic server (information processing apparatus) may be connected to the LAN 1006 as a separate device. It does not limit the function or configuration.

  In the first embodiment, the copying machine 1001 has a function as a bibliographic server, and stores and manages a plurality of input print jobs of the copying machine 1001. Then, only the print job of the user authenticated by the device (the copying machine 1002) requesting the list of print jobs, or a print job other than the authenticated user and the print job of the user not usable by the request source device The case of acquiring the list of will be described. In addition to this, for example, the request source device may be able to obtain only a list of print jobs other than the authenticated user. Alternatively, it may be possible to obtain only a list of print jobs of users not usable by the request source device or print jobs of the user usable by the request source device.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of a list of print jobs managed by the copying machine 1001 according to the first embodiment.

  The list of print jobs is indicated by a set of plural bibliographic information. The bibliographic information is generated, for example, when a print job is input from the PC 1005 to the copier 1001 and the copier 1001 processes the print job. The bibliographic information is generated based on the input print job and the "device information" held by the copying machine 1001. The bibliographic information is stored and managed in the RAM 2002 as a list of print jobs. As described above, the copying machine 1001 has a function as a bibliographic server.

  In FIG. 3A, a job name 300 is a name of a print job that uniquely identifies the print job. The job name is information included in the received print job. If the job name is not included in the print job, it may be generated and assigned by the copying machine 101. The job owner name 302 is information for identifying the user who generated the print job. The job owner name is information included in the print job, but if it is not included in the print job, the job owner name may not exist. The date / time 304 represents the date and time when the print job was submitted. In FIG. 3A, six bibliographic information having job names “Print Job 1” to “Print Job 6” are stored.

  For example, the bibliographic information 306 indicates that the job name is “PrintJob1”, the job owner name is “USER1”, and the date and time when the print job was submitted is “14:20:30 on February 3, 2012”. ing. Here, the job owner name 302 of the bibliographic information 310 is blank, which indicates that the print job does not include the owner name of the job. Although bibliographic information includes job name 300, job owner name 302, and date / time 304 as an example, bibliographic information is not limited to these. For example, the bibliographic information may include print settings such as color / monochrome settings for the print job, and settings such as the number of pages and number of copies of the print job. In the first embodiment, an operation of the copying machine 1001 in the case of requesting a list of print jobs from the copying machine 1002 to the copying machine 1001 having a bibliographic server function will be described.

  In FIG. 3B, the copier 1001 responds to the print job list shown in FIG. 3A when, for example, the authenticated user name is “USER2” and a print job list request is received. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a print job list.

  In FIG. 3A, of the bibliographic information 306 to the bibliographic information 316, the bibliographic information 308 and the bibliographic information 314 have the job owner name “USER2”. Therefore, in response to the print job list request, the print job list including the bibliographic information 308 and 314 is transmitted from the copying machine 1001 to the copying machine 1002 which is the request source.

  FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the processing by the copying machine 1001 operating as a bibliographic server in the first embodiment. The process shown in the flowchart is realized by the CPU 2001 executing a program developed from the HDD 2004 to the RAM 2002.

  First, in step S500, when the CPU 2001 receives a request for a list of print jobs from the copying machine 1002 via the LAN 1006, the processing proceeds to step S501. The communication protocol in this case may be unique or general, and is not particularly defined. In step S501, the CPU 2001 causes the first addition to specify a print job list including print jobs of users whose request does not match the authenticated user name and the job owner name of the print job and the copying machine 1002 can not be used. Determine if it contains information. If it is determined in S501 that the first additional information is included, the process proceeds to S502, and if not, the process proceeds to S503. In step S502, the CPU 2001 extracts a print job of a user whose authenticated user name and the job owner name of the print job do not match and which can not use the copying machine 1002, copies the print job list via the LAN 1006. Send to machine 1002 and exit.

  On the other hand, in step S503, the CPU 2001 transmits a list of print jobs in which the authenticated user name matches the job owner name of the print job to the copying machine 1002 via the LAN 1006 and ends. The list of print jobs transmitted in step S503 is, for example, a list as shown in FIG. 3B described above.

  FIG. 4B is a view showing an example of a list of users who can use the copying machine 1002 according to the first embodiment.

  The list of users who can use the copying machine 1002 can be stored in advance in the HDD 2004 or the like of the copying machine 1001 or received from the copying machine 1002 or a server (not shown) or the like at an arbitrary timing. Shall be stored in Here, an administrator (Administrator) and a plurality of users (USER1 to USER5) are registered.

  6 is transmitted in S502 of FIG. 5 in response to a request for a list of print jobs from the copier 1002 when the copier 1001 has the list of print jobs shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a list of print jobs to be executed.

  Here, it is assumed that the user name authenticated by the copying machine 1002 is "USER 2". In this case, when the authenticated user name and the job owner name of the print job do not match, and a request including the first additional information specifying the list of print jobs of the user who can not use the copying machine 1002 is received. explain.

  In FIG. 3A, the bibliographic information 306 has a job owner name “USER1” and is different from the user name “USER2” authenticated by the copying machine 1002. However, as shown in FIG. 4B, since the user "USER1" is a user who can use the copying machine 1002, the user "USER1" is not included in the list of print jobs requested this time.

  Also, bibliographic information 308 and 314 in FIG. 3A are not included in the list of print jobs requested this time because the job owner name is “USER2” and matches the authenticated user name “USER2”. .

  Further, the bibliographic information 310 in FIG. 3A does not have a job owner name and is not a user who can use the copying machine 1002, unlike the authenticated user name "USER2". Therefore, it is included in the list of print jobs requested this time.

  The bibliographic information 312 in FIG. 3A has a job owner name “USER 4”, which is different from the user name “USER 2” authenticated by the copying machine 1002. However, as shown in FIG. 4B, since the user can use the copying machine 1002, it is not included in the list of print jobs requested this time.

  In addition, the bibliographic information 316 has a job owner name “USER 6”, which is different from the authenticated user name “USER 2”, and is not a user who can use the copying machine 1002 in FIG. Included in the list of jobs.

  4A receives a print job list request from the copying machine 1002 when the user name authenticated by the copying machine 1002 is “USER2” with respect to the list of print jobs shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a print job list to which the copying machine 1001 responds in the case.

  In the first embodiment, the request specifies a print job that matches the authenticated user name and the job owner name of the print job, and a list of print jobs of users who do not match and can not use the copying machine 1002. It is assumed that 2 additional information is included.

  Among the bibliographic information 306 to 316 in FIG. 3A in this case, the bibliographic information whose job owner name is “USER 2” is the bibliographic information 308 and the bibliographic information 314. Therefore, “Printjob 2” and “Printjob 5” corresponding to the bibliographic information 308 and the bibliographic information 314 are included in the list of print jobs. Also, unlike the job owner name “USER2”, bibliographic information 310 and bibliographic information 316 are not users who can use the copying machine 1002. Therefore, “Printjob 3” and “Printjob 6” corresponding to the bibliographic information 310 and the bibliographic information 316 are included in the list of print jobs.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, among a plurality of registered print jobs, only the print job of which the authenticated user is the owner, or only the print job of which the owner is the owner except the authenticated user You can get Also, when requesting a list of such jobs, it is possible to include the print job of the user who can use the device that is the request source or the print job of the user who can not use the device of the request source.

Second Embodiment
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, an operation of the copying machine 1002 when requesting a list of print jobs from the copying machine 1002 to the copying machine 1001 having a bibliographic server function will be described. The configurations of the copying machines 1001 and 1002 and the configuration of the printing system according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 7A is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the copying machine 1002 according to the second embodiment. The process shown in the flowchart is realized by the CPU 2001 of the copying machine 1002 executing a program developed from the HDD 2004 of the copying machine 1002 to the RAM 2002.

  First, in step S700, the CPU 2001 authenticates the user and proceeds to step S701. The method of authenticating the user in S700 does not matter as long as the user name can be obtained. For example, the CPU 2001 displays a user authentication screen (not shown) on the display unit of the operation unit 2012 via the operation unit I / F 2006, and acquires user name and password input information via the operation unit I / F 2006 It does not matter how to authenticate the Further, a method of acquiring user information from a card reader (not shown) or the like included in the copying machine 1002 may be used.

  In step S701, the CPU 2001 includes the first additional information for requesting a list of print jobs of users who can not use the user name acquired in step S700 or the authenticated user name and the job owner name do not match and the copying machine 1002 can not be used. The request is sent to the copying machine 1001. Then, in step S702, when the CPU 2001 receives a list of requested print jobs from the copying machine 1001 via the LAN 1006, the processing ends.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a screen displaying a list of print jobs received by the copying machine 1002 according to the second embodiment. This screen is a list of print jobs acquired by the CPU 2001 in S702 of FIG. 7A. An example is shown that is generated based on the above and displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 2012 via the operation unit I / F 2006. A field 801 displays the user name authenticated by the copying machine 1002. In the second embodiment, the authenticated username is "USER2". Here, in the print job display column 802, a list of corresponding print jobs as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

  Reference numeral 803 denotes a character string prompting the user to select the owner of the print job to be displayed. Reference numerals 804 to 806 denote menu items for selecting the owner of the print job to be displayed, which can be selected by radio buttons. Here, the menu items are controlled such that only one of them can be selected. As long as this control is performed, the menu configuration is not limited to the radio button, and may be realized by a pull-down list or the like.

  “Only me” 804 is selected when it is desired to display only a list of print jobs that match the user name 801. In the initial state, "only for myself" 804 is selected. “Unknown only” 805 is selected when it is desired to display only a list of print jobs that do not match the user name 801. “Myself + unknown” 806 is selected when it is desired to display both a print job that matches the user name 801 and a print job that does not match the user name 801 as a list of print jobs. In the print job list screen of FIG. 8, “unknown only” 805 is selected. Therefore, a list of print jobs as shown in FIG. 6 is acquired from the copying machine 1001.

  Reference numeral 807 denotes the number of pages currently displayed and the total number of pages. In FIG. 8, the first page of all one page is displayed. 808 is a button for displaying the previous page, and 809 is a button for displaying the next page. The all selection button 810 is used to select all the bibliographic information displayed in the print job list. The selection release button 811 is used to release the selection of the selected bibliographic information. The delete button 812 is used to delete the selected bibliographic information. The information of the print job thus deleted may be sent from the copying machine 1002 to the copying machine 1001 and used by the copying machine 1001 to delete the corresponding print job. The print start button 813 is used to start printing of the selected bibliographic information. When the job list update button 814 is pressed, printing including additional information created on the basis of any information selected from “only my own” 804, “unknown only” 805, and “own my unknown” 806 A job list request is sent to the copying machine 1001.

  Thus, the copier 1002 according to the second embodiment receives, from the copier 1001, a list of print jobs meeting the request, and updates the print job list screen based on the received list of print jobs.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in an apparatus which requests a list of print jobs, the conditions of print jobs included in the list of print jobs can be set to issue a request.

  Thus, for example, only a print job of a user authenticated by the device, only a print job of unknown user name, or a print job of an authenticated user and a list of print jobs of unknown user name are acquired. be able to. Furthermore, it is possible to acquire only print jobs of users who can use the device that issued the request, or print jobs other than users who can use the device of the generic issuer.

Third Embodiment
Next, the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, processing for requesting a list of print jobs from the copying machine 1002 to the copying machine 1001 having a bibliographic server function and printing will be described. The configurations of the copying machines 1001 and 1002 and the configuration of the printing system according to the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 7B is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the copying machine 1002 according to the third embodiment. The process shown in the flowchart is realized by the CPU 2001 of the copying machine 1002 executing a program developed from the HDD 2004 of the copying machine 1002 to the RAM 2002.

  First, in step S710, when the CPU 2001 detects that the print start button 813 (FIG. 8) is pressed via the operation unit I / F 2006, it executes printing of the print job linked to the job name of the selected bibliographic information Do. In step S711, the CPU 2001 creates a print job history including the authenticated user name and the job owner name of the print job, and ends this processing.

  FIG. 9A is a view showing an example of a print job history according to the third embodiment.

  This shows the print job history when the print job with the job name “Printjob 3” and the print job with the job name “Printjob 6” are executed from the print job list screen shown in FIG. Here, in any of the histories, the user name is the user name “USER2” authenticated by the copying machine 1002.

  FIG. 9B is a view showing an example of a print job history screen.

  The print job history screen is generated by the CPU 2001 based on the print job history acquired in S711 and displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 2012 via the operation unit I / F 2006. Here, as shown in FIG. 9A, the user name, job name, job owner name, date / time of the print job history are displayed.

  Reference numeral 901 denotes the number of pages currently displayed and the total number of pages. Here, the first page of all one page is displayed. 902 is a button for displaying the previous page, and 903 is a button for displaying the next page. The detailed information button 904 is used when the user wants to display a screen of detailed information (not shown) such as the number of output pages of the selected print job history.

  Although the print job history includes user name, job name, job owner name, and date / time as an example, the print job history is not limited to these. For example, the print job history may include information indicating whether or not the output result of the print job is normal.

  Also, the user name and the like may be displayed on the detailed information screen displayed when the detailed information button 904 is pressed. Also, by carrying out the charging process in association with the user name, it becomes possible to charge the user who has actually executed printing.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is possible to create and display a history of print job execution in association with the user who executed the print job.

Fourth Embodiment
The above-described first embodiment has been described on the premise that a PDL print job is input to the copying machine 1001 or the copying machine 1002 and stored from the PC 1005 or another client computer (not shown) connected to the LAN 1006. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, when print jobs input from another client computer are stored (stored), it is determined in the form of determining the presence or absence of the print job whose user name can not be specified.

  In the fourth embodiment, a case where a PDL print job is input from the client computer 1005 to the copying machine 1001 will be described as an example. The configurations of the copying machines 1001 and 1002 and the configuration of the printing system according to the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the printing process by the copying machine 1001 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The process shown in the flowchart is realized by the CPU 2001 executing a program developed from the HDD 2004 to the RAM 2002.

  First, in step S1001, when the CPU 2001 receives a print job from the client computer 1005 via the LAN 1006, the processing proceeds to step S1002. The communication protocol for receiving the print job may be unique or general, and this is not particularly defined. In step S1002, the CPU 2001 analyzes the received print job and proceeds to step S1003. Usually, the print job includes a job control command such as print setting and a PDL (Page Description Language) command describing the content of the print job. The job control command includes, for example, PJL of Hewlett-Packard, and CPCA (Common Peripheral Control Architecture) of Canon. Examples of PDL commands include PostScript of Adobe and LIPS (LBP Image Processing System) of Canon. These may be any of the above and are not particularly limited. The job control command may not be added. In this case, only the PDL command is analyzed to execute the printing process.

  Next, in step S1003, the CPU 2001 determines whether the print setting for forcibly retaining the print job on the copy machine 1001 among the print settings of the copy machine 1001 stored in the RAM 2002 or the like is valid. If it is determined that the print setting is valid, the process advances to step S1004; otherwise, the process advances to step S1007 to set so as not to hold the print job. In step S1004, the CPU 2001 determines whether the print settings for only retaining the print job generated by the printer driver among the print settings of the copying machine 1001 stored in the RAM 2002 or the like are valid. If it is determined that such a print setting is valid, the process advances to step S1005; otherwise, the process advances to step S1006.

  The above-described print settings are displayed by the CPU 2001 displaying a screen as shown in FIG. 11 on the operation unit 2012 via the operation unit I / F 2006, and using the screen, the information input by the user is transmitted via the operation unit I / F 2006. And set by receiving. The information set in this way is reflected by the CPU 2001 storing it as a print setting in the RAM 2002 or the like.

  FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a print setting screen according to the fourth embodiment.

  Item 1102 is set to forcibly hold the print job. The setting is validated by checking the check box 1103, and the setting is invalidated by clearing the check box 1103. An item 1104 is set to hold only print jobs generated by the printer driver. Checking the check box 1105 enables this setting, and clearing the check box 1105 disables this setting. The print setting screen of FIG. 11 shows an example in which any setting is enabled.

  In step S1005, the CPU 2001 determines whether the print job has been generated by the printer driver. If the CPU 2001 determines in step S1005 that the print job is generated by the printer driver, the process advances to step S1006 to hold the print job, and otherwise the process advances to step S1007. Whenever a printer driver generates a print job, it adds to the job control command a specific command indicating that the printer driver has generated a print job. Thus, the CPU 2001 can determine whether the job is a print job generated by the printer driver by determining whether the specific command is added to the job control command. Here, although an example in which a specific command is added to a job control command has been described, the specific command may be added to a PDL command or both of a job control command and a PDL command.

S100 6 In CPU2001 ends the process stores the print job received in a storage device such as RAM2002 or HDD 2004. Print jobs that are stored in the storage device thus, implement user authentication in the copying machine 1001, only when the authentication is successful the user, in accordance with an instruction of the user, as possible out deletion of the print or print job It will be.

  On the other hand, in step S1007, the CPU 2001 cancels the print processing by the print job without storing the received print job in the storage device. Specifically, the CPU 2001 discards the received print data, writes an error log in the HDD 2004, and causes the printer 2095 to print an error report. The error report includes an error code indicating the type of error, date and time of reception, bibliographic information, and the like. Also, in addition to this, for example, a message such as "Could not be printed or saved because the user is unknown" may be printed.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, when a print job is received, if it is set to hold the received print job in the apparatus, the print created by the printer driver according to the setting. Only jobs can be kept.

Fifth Embodiment
In the fourth embodiment described above, when it is determined that the data (print data) of the received print job is not generated by the printer driver, the example in which the print data is canceled without being held is described. On the other hand, in the fifth embodiment, an example will be described in which it is possible to set whether or not to cancel the print data when the job owner name (document input person) included in the received print data can not be analyzed. The configurations of the copying machines 1001 and 1002 and the configuration of the printing system according to the fifth embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 12 is a flow chart for explaining the process when the copying machine 1001 according to the fifth embodiment receives print data. The process shown in the flowchart is realized by the CPU 2001 executing a program developed from the HDD 2004 to the RAM 2002. The process shown in the flowchart is started by receiving the print data transmitted from the PC 1005.

  First, in step S1201, when the CPU 2001 receives print data from the PC 1005 via the network I / F 2010, the process advances to step S1202, and the CPU 2001 extracts the document name, job owner name, print setting, etc. assigned to the received print data. . Note that the information extracted in step S1202 may be something other than this, and may include, for example, identification information of the application that transmitted the print data, the type of PDL language, and the like. In addition, identification information or the like given by the printer driver of the PC 1005 may be included.

  Next, in step S1203, the CPU 2001 determines whether the setting stored in the RAM 2002 is a setting for forcibly saving print data. In addition, it is determined according to the setting value set on the screen of FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen according to the fifth embodiment.

  A radio button 1302 is a button for setting whether to forcibly save received print data, and when this button is checked, it is set to forcibly save received print data. Also, buttons 1303 to 1306 are buttons for setting a method of processing a print job of an unfixed user. A button 1303 is set to cancel the print job. A button 1304 is set not to cancel the print job. A button 1305 is set to save the print job. A button 1306 is set to print the print job. In the example of FIG. 13, the received print data is set to be forcibly saved, and the print job of the indeterminate user is set to be saved without being canceled. These set values are set in advance by the administrator and stored in the HDD 2004 and read out to the RAM 2002 when the copying machine 1001 is started. The CPU 2001 makes a determination in accordance with the setting value read out to the RAM 2002.

  If the CPU 2001 determines in step S1203 that the print data is not forcibly saved, the process advances to step S1209, and the CPU 2001 controls the printer 2095 to generate image data based on the received print data and print an image on a sheet. Finish.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 2001 determines in step S1203 that print data is to be stored forcibly, the process advances to step S1204. In step S1204, the CPU 2001 analyzes the information given to the print data extracted in step S1202, and determines whether it is possible to specify the job owner name of the received print data. Specifically, if the information extracted in S1202 does not include user identification information for identifying the user, the owner name of the print job is unknown, so the determination in S1204 is YES and the process proceeds to S1205. move on. Note that the determination in S1204 may be a method other than the determination based on the presence or absence of the user identification information. For example, if the user identification information is included but the user identification information can not be analyzed or the user is not authorized to log in to the copying machine 1001, YES may be determined in S1204. .

  In step S1205, the CPU 2001 determines whether to cancel printing of print data whose owner name is unknown. Here, the setting of whether or not to cancel the printing is determined according to the setting of the button 1303 on the screen of FIG. The setting value is set in advance by the administrator, stored in the HDD 2004, and read out to the RAM 2002 when the copying machine 1001 is started. When the setting value 1303 read out to the RAM 2002 is valid, the CPU 2001 determines to cancel the printing of the print data whose job owner name is unknown. If the CPU 2001 determines in step S1205 to cancel the print job, the process advances to step S1210, and the CPU 2001 discards the received print data, writes an error log in the HDD 2004, and causes the printer 2095 to print an error report. The error report includes an error code indicating the type of error, date and time of reception, and bibliographic information (such as document name). In addition to this, for example, a message such as "Could not be printed or saved because the user is unknown" may be included.

  If the CPU 2001 determines in step S1205 that printing of print data whose job owner name is unknown is not canceled, the process advances to step S1206, and the CPU 2001 determines whether to print or save the print data. The setting as to whether to print or save the print data of the user whose job owner name is unknown is determined according to the setting by the buttons 1304 to 1306 in FIG. If the CPU 2001 determines in step S1206 that the user is set to print an undefined print job without canceling it, the process advances to step S1209, the CPU 2001 controls the printer 2095, and the image based on the received print data is displayed. Print it. On the other hand, if the CPU 2001 determines in step S1206 that the setting is to save, the process advances to step S1207.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1204 that the job owner name can be identified, the processing proceeds to S1207. In step S1207, the CPU 2001 stores the print data received in step S1201 in the HDD 2004. Then, in step S1208, the CPU 2001 stores the bibliographic information extracted in step S1202 in the HDD 2004, and ends this processing.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, when the job owner name (document submitter) included in the received print data can not be analyzed, the print job is canceled or printed according to the print job. You can specify whether to save or save.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to execute.

  1001, 1002 ... copier, 1005 ... PC, 2001 ... CPU, 2002 ... RAM, 2003 ... ROM, 2004 ... HDD, 2012 ... operation unit,

Claims (15)

Receiving means for receiving print data;
Storage means for storing print data received by the receiving means until a print instruction from the user is received;
A first setting unit configured to set whether or not to make a retention setting for storing the print data received by the reception unit in the storage unit until the print instruction from the user is received;
Set at least one of canceling printing of print data for which the job owner name is not set, storing in the storage means until receiving a print instruction from the user, or printing without waiting for a print instruction by the user Second setting means for
The print data is stored in the storage unit in accordance with the reception of the print data in which the job owner name is set while the retention setting is set to be valid.
The printing of the print data is canceled based on the setting by the second setting unit according to the reception of the print data in which the job owner name is not set while the retention setting is set to be valid, or Controlling either storing in the storage means until a print instruction from the user is accepted or printing without waiting for the print instruction by the user;
The print data is received without waiting for a print instruction by the user regardless of whether the job owner name is set in the print data according to the reception of the print data in the state where the retention setting is set to be invalid. Control means for controlling to print;
A printing apparatus characterized by having: A management unit that manages the print data stored in the storage unit in association with the job owner name set in the received print data;
An authentication unit that authenticates the user based on the user database;
Among the print data stored in the storage unit, print data associated with the job owner name corresponding to the user authenticated by the management unit, and print data not associated with the job owner name are listed. Additionally a display control unit that can be displayed,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit performs control to print the print data selected from the list displayed by the display control unit. Any print data job owner name not associated in the printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the job owner name in the print data received by the receiving means is the print data that has not been set. The display control means can selectively display the print data associated with the job owner name corresponding to the authenticated user and the print data not associated with any job owner name. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the printing apparatus is provided. The display control means displays both print data associated with the job owner name corresponding to the authenticated user and print data associated with no job owner name, and displays only one of them. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it is possible to selectively execute. In the list, characterized in that said authenticated print data managed by associated with the user has information, print data that is not associated with any of the job owner name is arranged to be identified The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5 . The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6 , wherein in the list display, a print execution instruction based on desired print data is possible. A control method of the printing apparatus,
A receiving step of receiving print data;
A storage step for storing the print data received in the reception step in a memory until receiving a print instruction from the user ;
A first setting step of setting whether or not to make a retention setting for storing the print data received in the reception step in the memory until receiving a print instruction from the user;
Setting at least one of canceling printing of print data for which a job owner name is not set, storing the print data in the memory until receiving a print instruction from the user, or printing without waiting for a print instruction by the user 2 setting process,
The print data is stored in the memory according to the reception of the print data in which the job owner name is set while the retention setting is set to be valid,
The printing of the print data is canceled based on the setting of the second setting step according to the reception of the print data in which the job owner name is not set while the retention setting is set to be valid, or Control of storing in the memory until a print instruction from the user is received, or printing without waiting for the print instruction by the user;
The print data is received without waiting for a print instruction by the user regardless of whether the job owner name is set in the print data according to the reception of the print data in the state where the retention setting is set to be invalid. A control step of controlling to print;
A control method characterized by comprising: A management step of managing the print data stored in the memory in association with the job owner name set in the received print data;
An authentication step of authenticating the user based on the user database;
Among the print data stored in the memory, a list of print data associated with the job owner name corresponding to the authenticated user in the management process, and print data not associated with the job owner name And a display control process that can be displayed .
9. The control method according to claim 8 , wherein the control step controls to print the print data selected from the list displayed in the display control step. 10. The control method according to claim 9, wherein the print data not associated with any job owner name is print data in which no job owner name is set in the print data received in the receiving step. The display control step can selectively display print data associated with a job owner name corresponding to the authenticated user and print data associated with no job owner name. The control method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: The display control step displays both print data associated with the job owner name corresponding to the authenticated user and print data associated with no job owner name, and displays only one of them. The control method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, which is capable of selectively executing and. In the list, characterized in that said authenticated print data managed by associated with the user has information, a print data either of job owner name is not associated is disposed to be identified The control method according to any one of claims 9 to 12 . The control method according to any one of claims 9 to 13 , wherein, in the list display, a print execution instruction based on desired print data is possible. A program for causing a computer to function as each means of the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .

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