JP5217427B2 - Print job management apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a print job management apparatus and a program .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing system having a client terminal such as a PC (Personal Computer), a printer, and a print server that mediates print data (hereinafter referred to as “job”) transmitted from the client terminal to the printer is known. It has been.

  In this printing system, the print server manages jobs transmitted from client terminals in a storage device, and sequentially converts the managed jobs into printer jobs and transmits them to the printer. Also, in the print server, a user having the administrator authority of the print server registers other users so that a job transmitted from the client terminal is set and managed for each registered user. Yes.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of an image forming apparatus that can set an access right for each user to a spooled job.
JP 2004-345088 A

  However, in the above printing system, the user's own job transmitted from the client terminal can be browsed and operated, but the job of another person has no access right and cannot be viewed or operated. That is, since the access right is set for each user, there is no degree of freedom when sharing a job with other users.

An object of the present invention is to appropriately manage operations on job data.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation is permitted for each operation type of the job data for each job data stored in the first storage unit and the first storage unit that stores job data relating to image formation. A second storage means for storing permission information indicating a user to perform, an authentication means for performing user authentication, and the access to the job data stored in the first storage means based on an authentication result by the authentication means. 2 referring to the permission information stored in the storage means, determining means for determining an operation for each operation type of the accessed job data, and operation information indicating an operation for each operation type determined by the determining means comprising output means for outputting in response to access to the job data, and the second storage means, for each operation type of the job data, relating the time to allow the operation And the determination unit refers to the time information stored in the second storage unit based on the access time to the job data stored in the first storage unit, and determines the accessed job. The operation is determined for each operation type of data .

According to the present invention, operations for job data can be appropriately managed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

  First, an outline of a printing system 1000 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing system 1000.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1000 is configured such that the printer server 1, the terminal devices 2a and 2b, and the printer 3 are communicably connected to each other via a communication network N such as the Internet or an intranet.

  The printer server 1 is a server that mediates jobs related to printing by the printer 3 transmitted from the terminal devices 2a and 2b. Specifically, the printer server 1 manages jobs transmitted from the terminal devices 2a and 2b in a storage device, and sequentially converts the managed jobs into jobs for the printer 3 and transmits them to the printer 3. doing. In the printer server 1, the user having the administrator authority of the printer server 1 registers another user, so that the access right is set for each user who has registered the job transmitted from the terminal devices 2 a and 2 b. And manage.

  The terminal devices 2a and 2b are PC (Personal Computer), WS (Work Station), and the like. In the terminal devices 2a and 2b, for example, an application program for creating a document or editing an image is incorporated. A user edits a document or an image by operating the terminal devices 2a and 2b. In the terminal devices 2a and 2b, the edited document or image is printed by generating a job for printing based on the edited document or image and transmitting it to the printer server 1.

  The printer 3 is an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on a print job input via the communication network N by various printing methods such as an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, and a thermal transfer method.

  Next, details of the printer server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of the printer server 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer server 1 includes a CPU 11 (Central Processing Unit), a RAM 12 (Random Access Memory), a storage device 13, a display device 14, an input device 15, and a communication device 16. The above parts are electrically connected to each other by a bus 17.

  The CPU 11 centrally controls each unit of the printer server 1. The CPU 11 expands a system program stored in the storage device 13 or a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown) or the like and a program designated from various application programs in the RAM 12, and the program expanded in the RAM 12. Various processes are executed in cooperation.

  The storage device 13 is a storage such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a semiconductor memory. The storage device 13 includes a job memory 131 that sequentially stores jobs transmitted from the terminal devices 2a and 2b. The data stored in the storage device 13 includes a print image data file 132, a user information file 133, an application program 134, and the like.

  The print image data file 132 is a file for storing print image data transmitted together with a job. The print image data stored in the print image data file 132 is the document name attached to the print image data and the storage address of the data from the job transmitted together with the data and stored in the job memory 131. It is possible to refer to them. Therefore, when the jobs stored in the job memory 131 are sequentially read and converted into data for the printer 3, the printing image data referred to from the read job is also read and processed. It will be.

  The user information file 133 is a file that stores information for each user who uses the printer server 1 (details of the data structure will be described later). The user registration in the user information file 133 is performed by a registration operation by a user with administrator authority.

  The application program 134 is a file that stores program data for performing overall control of each unit of the printer server 1 in cooperation with the CPU 11. Specifically, the application program 134 is a file in which program data for processing related to a job to be described later is stored.

  The display device 14 is a device having a display screen such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The display device 14 displays various information and an operation screen on the display screen based on a display control signal output from the CPU 11.

  The input device 15 receives an operation instruction input to the printer server 1. As the input device 15, a keyboard composed of numeric keys, character keys, various function keys and the like, and a pointing device such as a mouse and a touch panel can be applied. The input device 15 outputs the input operation instruction to the CPU 11 as an operation signal.

  The communication device 16 transmits and receives data via the communication network N. The communication device 16 is a wireless communication circuit, an antenna, a communication circuit including a communication interface for performing wired communication, and the like. Under the control of the CPU 11, the communication device 16 performs data communication with the terminal devices 2a and 2b and the printer 3 connected via the communication network N using a predetermined communication protocol.

  Next, the details of the terminal devices 2a and 2b will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of the terminal devices 2a and 2b. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the functional structure of the terminal devices 2a and 2b is substantially the same. Therefore, in the following description, details of the terminal device 2a will be described, and description of the terminal device 2b will be omitted.

  The terminal device 2a includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a storage device 23, a display device 24, an input device 25, and a communication device 26. The above parts are electrically connected to each other by a bus 17.

  The CPU 21 centrally controls each unit of the terminal device 2a. The CPU 21 expands a system program stored in the storage device 23, ROM (not shown) or the like and a program designated from various application programs in the RAM 22, and cooperates with the program expanded in the RAM 22. Execute each process.

  The storage device 23 is a storage such as an HDD or a semiconductor memory. The storage device 13 stores job data 231, image data for printing 232, an application program 233, and the like.

  The job data 231 is data instructing the printing issued for each printing by the printer 3 or the like. The job data 231 includes information such as an ID uniquely assigned to identify a job, a document name, the number of copies, a user name, and condition information related to the job (details of the data structure will be described later).

  The print image data 232 is data relating to an image to be printed according to the instruction of the job data 231. The application program 233 is a file that stores program data for performing overall control of each unit of the terminal device 2 a in cooperation with the CPU 21. Specifically, the application program 233 is a file in which program data for processing related to a job to be described later is stored.

  The display device 24 is a device having a display screen such as an LCD or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube). The display device 24 displays various information and operation screens on the display screen based on the display control signal output from the CPU 21.

  The input device 25 receives input of operation instructions to the terminal device 2a, reads IC information for user authentication from a user ID with an IC tag, and the like. The input device 25 includes a keyboard composed of numeric keys, character keys, various function keys, a pointing device such as a mouse and a touch panel, a coil antenna that reads an IC tag, a communication circuit, and the like. The input device 25 outputs the input operation instruction to the CPU 21 as an operation signal. Further, the input device 25 outputs the IC information read from a user card with an IC tag to the CPU 21 as a read signal.

  The communication device 26 transmits and receives data via the communication network N. The communication device 26 is a wireless communication circuit, an antenna, a communication circuit including a communication interface for performing wired communication, and the like. The communication device 26 performs data communication with the printer server 1 connected via the communication network N under a control of the CPU 21 using a predetermined communication protocol.

  Next, the user information file 133 stored in the storage device 13 of the printer server 1 and the data structure of the job data 231 issued for each printing on the printer 3 by the terminal devices 2a and 2b and stored in the job memory 131. Will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the data structure of the user information file 133. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the data structure of job data 231.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the data structure for storing information for each user in the user information file 133 includes a user name 1331, affiliation group information 1332, password information 1333, IC information 1334, and personal information 1335. .

  The user name 1331 stores a user name for identifying the user. The affiliation group information 1332 stores information related to the group to which the user belongs. The password information 1333 stores information related to a password for authenticating the user. In the IC information 1334, IC information of a user card possessed by the user is stored. The principal information 1335 is information that can identify the user, and stores information such as an address, age, and blood type, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the data structure of the job data 231 issued for each printing by the printer 3 or the like includes a job ID 2311, a document name 2312, a transmission user name 2313, and condition information 2314.

  The job ID 2311 is a code such as a number or a character uniquely assigned to each job, and makes it possible to identify the job. The document name 2312 is a file name of image data for printing corresponding to the job. The transmission user name 2313 is information indicating a user who has generated a job and transmitted it to the printer server 1. The condition information 2314 is information indicating a permission status for each operation type regarding job operations.

  Job operation types in the condition information 2314 include job browsing display (hereinafter referred to as “browsing”), print display based on the job (hereinafter referred to as “preview”), printing based on the job, and job deletion. There are other operations such as. The condition information 2314 is information indicating permission or disapproval of the operation, permission conditions, and the like for each operation type such as browsing, preview, and printing.

  Specifically, the condition information 2314 includes condition flag information 2314a, log flag information 2314b, permitted user information 2314c, permitted group information 2314d, and the like.

  The condition flag information 2314a is information indicating the operation type (browsing, preview, printing, etc.). The log flag information 2314b is information indicating whether or not to log a job operation. The permitted user information 2314c is information indicating a user who is permitted to operate. The permitted group information 2314d is information indicating a group whose operation is permitted.

  The permitted user information 2314c and the permitted group information 2314d may include permission page information indicating a page for which the operation is permitted for the user and group permitted to perform the operation, permission time information indicating the time for which the operation is permitted, and the like. .

  Since the job data 231 has the data structure described above, in the printing system 1000, for each job data, the permission status of the operation is set for each operation type of the job data. The operation types include browsing, preview, and printing. Further, the permission status includes a user or group that permits the operation, a page that permits the operation, a time during which the operation is permitted, and the like.

  Next, processing executed by the printer server 1 and the terminal devices 2a and 2b in the printing system 1000 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a ladder chart showing processing executed by the printer server 1 and the terminal devices 2a and 2b in the printing system 1000. In the following description, processing executed under the control of the CPU 11 of the printer server 1 will be described with “A” added to the head of the reference numeral. Further, the processing executed under the control of the CPU 21 of the terminal devices 2a and 2b will be described with “B” added to the head of the reference numeral. Further, data communication between the printer server 1 and the terminal devices 2a and 2b will be described with “C” added to the head of the reference numeral.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the terminal devices 2a and 2b set the printing conditions based on the operation instruction from the input device 25, that is, the job data operation permission setting (step B1), and the operation permission is set. The job data is transmitted to the printer server 1 (steps B2 and C1). When this job data is transmitted, print image data is also transmitted.

  Here, the setting of the job data operation permission in step B1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation permission setting screen for setting permission / non-permission of the operation for each operation type of job data. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the contents of the condition information 2314 set on the operation permission setting screen.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in step B <b> 1 of FIG. 6, an operation permission setting screen for setting permission / non-permission of the operation for each operation type of job data is displayed on the display screen 260 of the display device 24. The operation permission setting screen displayed on the display screen 260 has a screen configuration including a setting area 261 and a setting area 262. In the setting area 261, for each operation type (viewing, preview, printing, operation) of a job, the user or group to be operated is set with or without checking. In the setting area 262, the presence / absence of a log, a permission page, and a permission time are set for each operation type for the user selected in the setting area 261 ("user 1" in the illustrated example).

  The job data condition information 2314 generated based on the setting on the display screen 260 is as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, in the condition information 2314, the presence / absence of log recording (ON / OFF), the permitted user or permitted group, the permitted page, and the permitted time are set for each operation type (viewing, preview, printing, operation). The For example, with respect to the operation type of printing, log recording is performed, and a user U3 and a group G2 are set as users and groups permitted to print. For the user U3, the first page is set as a page for which printing is permitted, and 18:00 to 22:00 is set as the time for which printing is permitted.

  Returning to FIG. 6, the continuation of the process will be described. The printer server 1 performs setting processing related to the user (step A1). FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating details of the setting process of the printer server 1 shown in step A1 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the setting process is started, user information is read from the user information file 133 (step A11), and the read user information is held in the RAM 12 (step A12). It is determined whether or not all user information stored in the file 133 is held in the RAM 12 (step A13). If all user information is not held, the process returns to step A11. Through this setting process, all user information stored in the user information file 133 is held in the RAM 12.

  After the setting process is performed, the printer server 1 receives the job data transmitted from the terminal devices 2a and 2b (step C2), and stores the received job data in the job memory 131 (step A2). . When this job data is received, the print image data is also received and stored in the print image data file 132.

  Next, the printer server 1 reads the print image data stored in the print image data file 132 based on the job data stored in the job memory 131, sequentially converts the print image data into a job for the printer 3, and transmits the job to the printer 3. As a result, printing using job data is executed (step A3).

  Next, processing after inquiry of job data from the terminal devices 2a and 2b to the printer server 1 will be described.

  The terminal devices 2a and 2b inquire about job data managed by the printer server 1 based on an operation instruction from the input device 25 (steps B3 and C2). When the job data is inquired, a password, IC information, or personal information necessary for user authentication is received from the input device 25 and transmitted together with the name of the inquiring user.

  Upon receiving the job data inquiry, the printer server 1 performs a job acquisition process for reading the job data stored in the job memory 131 (step A4). FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating details of job acquisition processing of the printer server 1 shown in step A4 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the job acquisition process is started, job data is read from the job memory 131 (step A41), and the read job data is held in the RAM 12 (step A42). It is determined whether or not all job data stored in 131 is held in the RAM 12 (step A43). If all job data is not held, the process returns to step A41. Through this job acquisition process, all job data stored in the job memory 131 is held in the RAM 12.

  After the job acquisition process is performed, the printer server 1 stores the user name received at the time of job data inquiry and the information (password, IC information, identity information) required for user authentication received at the time of job data inquiry. A user authentication process based on the authentication is performed (step A5), and a flag determination process based on the authenticated user is performed (step A6). FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the details of the user authentication process of the printer server 1 shown in step A5 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the user authentication process is started, the user authentication method is determined by determining any one of the password, IC information, and identity information received as information necessary for user authentication ( Step A51).

  Next, the user information file 133 is referred to based on the determined user authentication method (steps A52, A53, A54). Specifically, password information 1333 is referred to in the password-based user authentication method (step A52). In the user authentication method using IC information, the IC information 1334 is referred to (step A53). Further, in the user authentication method using the principal information, the principal information 1335 is referred to (step A54).

  Next, in step A52, A53, and A54, it is determined whether or not there is a user whose user name matches the received user name (step A55). In this determination, if there is a matching user, the user name 1331 and affiliation group information 1332 of the user are acquired (step A56). If there is no matching user, the user name and affiliation group information are not applicable (step A57).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating details of the flag determination process of the printer server 1 shown in step A6 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, when the flag determination process is started, a loop process is performed in which the processes of steps A602 to A612 are sequentially performed on all job data stored in the job memory 131.

  The contents of the loop processing are as follows. First, the condition information 2314 of the job data read from the job memory 131 is read (step A602), and the read condition information 2314 is referred to by the user name and affiliation group information acquired by user authentication. (Step A603).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the user name and group information acquired by the user authentication are permitted for each of the operation types of viewing, preview, printing, and operation in the condition information 2314 (steps A604, A606, A608). , A610).

  Specifically, in the condition flag information related to browsing of the condition information 2314, it is determined whether or not the user name and affiliation group information acquired by user authentication can be browsed (step A604). A viewing flag is set (step A605). In the determination of step A604, when permission page information is set, a viewing flag is set only on the permission page. If permission time information is set, a viewing flag is set only when the time when the inquiry is made is the permission time.

  As in steps A604 and A605, it is determined whether or not previewing is possible (step A606). If previewing is possible, a preview flag is set (step A607). Similarly to steps A604 and A605, it is determined whether printing is possible (step A608), and if printing is possible, a print flag is set (step A609). Similarly to steps A604 and A605, it is determined whether or not the operation is possible (step A610). If the operation is possible, an operation flag is set (step A611).

  Next, the flags set in steps A605, A607, A609, and A611 are added to the job data (step A612).

Returning to FIG.
By performing the above flag determination process, the printer server 1 stores, in the job memory 131, job data indicating whether or not the operation is permitted / not permitted for the operation for each operation type of the job data. To do. Next, the printer server 1 outputs all job data stored in the job memory 131 to the terminal devices 2a and 2b that have inquired (steps A7 and C3).

  The terminal devices 2a and 2b receive all job data output from the printer server 1 in response to the inquiry, and perform job operation processing on the received all job data (step B4). FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating details of job operation processing of the terminal devices 2a and 2b shown in step B4 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when job operation processing is started, the presence or absence of a viewing flag is determined for all received job data (step B402). If it is determined that there is no viewing flag, the corresponding job data is stored. The loop processing that is deleted from the display (step B403) is sequentially performed, and a list display based on all received job data is performed (step B405). That is, the job data displayed as a list in step B405 is only job data with a viewing flag.

  Next, selection of job data is accepted based on an operation instruction from the input device 25 (step B406). For the job data selected in step B406, the presence or absence of a preview flag is determined (step B407). If there is no preview flag, the preview menu is invalidated (step B408). Further, it is determined whether or not there is a print flag for the job data selected in step B406 (step B409). If there is no print flag, the print menu is invalidated (step B410). Also, for the job data selected in step B406, the presence / absence of an operation flag is determined (step B411). If there is no operation flag, the operation menu (deletion / information change, etc.) is invalidated (step B412).

  That is, in the terminal devices 2a and 2b, only the operation menu for which permission is determined for the operation for each operation type of the job data in the printer server 1 is displayed on the display device 24 by executing steps B407 to B412.

  Next, an operation instruction relating to the selected job is received via an operation menu displayed on the display device 24 (step B413). That is, in step B413, only permitted operation types are accepted. For example, when only the preview is permitted, only the preview menu is displayed in the operation menu, and operations such as printing and deletion / information change cannot be performed.

Returning to FIG.
In the terminal devices 2a and 2b, the operation instruction of the selected job accepted by the job operation process is transmitted to the printer server 1 (step C4). The printer server 1 processes the job data corresponding to the selected job based on the operation instruction of the selected job transmitted from the terminal devices 2a and 2b, and returns the processing result (steps A8 and C5). The terminal devices 2a and 2b output the processing result transmitted from the printer server 1 to the display screen of the display device 24 (step B5).

  For example, when the operation instruction transmitted from the terminal devices 2a and 2b is a preview, the printing image data corresponding to the selected job is read from the printing image data file 132 and returned. When the operation instruction transmitted from the terminal devices 2a and 2b is printing, the printing image data corresponding to the selected job is read from the printing image data file 132, and printing is performed by the printer 3, and printing is performed. Completion is returned. When the operation instruction transmitted from the terminal devices 2a and 2b is an operation instruction such as job deletion, the job is deleted based on the operation instruction, and processing completion is returned.

  Here, it demonstrates using a specific example, referring FIGS. 14-16. FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the contents of the job memory 131. FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the job list L1. FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the job list L2.

  As shown in FIG. 14, it is assumed that jobs with job IDs 1 to 5 are stored in the job memory 131. Further, it is assumed that the user U1 and the user U2 in the job memory 131 belong to the group G1.

  When the user U1 operates the terminal devices 2a and 2b to inquire the job data to the printer server 1, the user ID is 1, 2, 3, 5 as shown in FIG. The job list L1 is output to the display screen of the display device 24. In other words, jobs whose browsing is permitted by the browsing flag in the job memory 131 are the users U1 and G1 as a list.

  Note that preview, print, and operation are displayed in the operation menu when a job with a job ID of 1 is selected in the job list L1. Further, only the preview is displayed on the operation menu when the job having the job ID 2 is selected. Further, when the job with the job ID 3 is selected, the operation menu is not displayed. In addition, preview and print are displayed on the operation menu when the job having the job ID 5 is selected. Therefore, the user U1 can perform only the operation displayed on the operation menu when selecting a job.

  Similarly, when the user U2 operates the terminal devices 2a and 2b to inquire the job data to the printer server 1, the user ID is 3, 4, 4, as shown in FIG. 5 is output to the display screen of the display device 24. That is, a list of jobs whose users or groups whose browsing is permitted by the browsing flag in the job memory 131 is the user U2 and the group G1 is displayed.

  As described above, the printer server 1 includes the job memory 131 that stores job data related to image formation. The job data stored in the job memory 131 has a data structure that stores permission information indicating a user who is permitted to perform the operation for each operation type.

  Further, the printer server 1 performs user authentication when accessing the job data stored in the job memory 131 in cooperation with the application program 134 and the CPU 11 (step A5: user authentication process), and the authentication result. Based on the above, the permission information stored in the job data is referred to, and the operation for each operation type of the accessed job data is determined (step A6: flag determination process). Then, operation information (flag) indicating the operation for each determined operation type is output corresponding to the access to the job data (step A7: job data output).

  For this reason, in the printing system 1000 including the printer server 1 and the printer server 1, for each operation type (viewing, preview, printing, other operation) of the job, an operation for another user is performed based on permission information indicating a user who permits the operation. Since permission can be given, when a job related to printing is managed for each user, the job can be shared between users.

  Further, the printer server 1 stores time information related to a time during which the operation is permitted for each operation type of the job data, and based on the time information and the access time to the job data, the accessed job data is stored. Determine the operation for each operation type.

  For this reason, the printer server 1 can determine the operation type of the job data when the job data is accessed based on the time permitted for the operation set for each operation type of the job data. For example, it is effective when the time to be permitted differs depending on the operation type, and it is possible to set the browsing time of job data.

  Further, the printer server 1 stores page information related to a page for which the operation is permitted for each operation type of the job data, and refers to the page information when accessing the job data, so that each operation type of the job data is referred to. Is determined for each page.

  For this reason, when there is access to the job data, the printer server 1 can permit / disallow the operation for each operation type of the job data for each page. For example, print preview based on job data is effective when only a predetermined page is desired.

  Note that the description in the above-described embodiment shows an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration and operation in the embodiment described above can be changed as appropriate.

  For example, the above description discloses an example in which a ROM is used as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this example. As other computer-readable media, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied. The present invention is also applicable to the case where program data according to the present invention is provided via a communication line.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of a printer server. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows typically the functional structure of a terminal device. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the data structure of a user information file. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the data structure of job data. 6 is a ladder chart showing processing executed by a printer server and a terminal device in the printing system. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the operation permission setting screen which sets permission / non-permission of the said operation for every operation type of job data. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the content of the condition information set on the operation permission setting screen. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a setting process executed by a printer server. 6 is a flowchart illustrating job acquisition processing executed by a printer server. 5 is a flowchart illustrating user authentication processing executed by a printer server. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flag determination process executed by the printer server. It is a flowchart which illustrates the job operation processing performed with a terminal device. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the content of the job memory. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the job list output on the display screen of a display apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the job list output on the display screen of a display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1000 Printing System 1 Printer Server 2a, 2b Terminal Device 3 Printer N Communication Network 131 Job Memory 132 Printing Image Data File 133 User Information File 134 Application Program 231 Job Data 232 Printing Image Data 233 Application Program 260 Display Screen

Claims (3)

First storage means for storing job data relating to image formation;
Second storage means for storing permission information indicating a user who permits the operation for each operation type of the job data, for each job data stored in the first storage means;
An authentication means for performing user authentication;
When accessing the job data stored in the first storage unit, the permission information stored in the second storage unit is referred to based on the authentication result by the authentication unit, and each operation type of the accessed job data is Determining means for determining the operation of
An output unit that outputs operation information indicating an operation for each operation type determined by the determining unit in response to access to the job data;
The second storage means stores time information related to a time during which the operation is permitted for each operation type of the job data,
The determining means refers to the time information stored in the second storage means based on the access time to the job data stored in the first storage means, and for each operation type of the accessed job data. A print job management apparatus characterized by determining an operation. The second storage means stores, for each operation type of the job data, page information related to a page that permits the operation,
The determining unit refers to the page information stored in the second storage unit when accessing the job data stored in the first storage unit, and displays an operation for each operation type of the accessed job data as a page. The print job management apparatus according to claim 1, which is determined every time. A computer of a print job management apparatus that manages job data related to image formation,
Storage means for storing permission information indicating a user who permits the operation for each operation type of the job data, for each job data;
An authentication means for performing user authentication,
Determining means for determining an operation for each operation type of the accessed job data by referring to the permission information stored in the storage means based on an authentication result by the authenticating means when accessing the job data;
Function as output means for outputting operation information indicating an operation for each operation type determined by the determination means in response to access to the job data;
For each operation type of the job data, the storage unit stores time information related to a time during which the operation is permitted, and the determination unit is stored in the storage unit based on an access time to the job data. A program for referring to time information and functioning to determine an operation for each operation type of the accessed job data.

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