JPH1128850A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit a receiver to surely receive a document by maintaining confidentiality even in the case where an exclusive paper discharge portion can not be provided when a confidential or personal document is outputted. SOLUTION: When this printer receives a printing request (S1), it is judged whether or not the printing is related to a confidential or personal document (S2). When the printing request is related to a general document, normal printing is performed. When the printing request is related to the confidential or personal document (S2-yes) the printing is stopped (S3) until the receiver authorization is executed, e.g. a receiver inputs an ID or a password. When the receiver authorization is executed (S4), the data is developed (S5), then printing is performed (S6-S8). When a command indicative of the end of the document is detected (S8), the printer requests a personal/confidential print indication section to display the information about the printing completion. A printing completion indication section indicates a message of printing completion on an operation panel (S9).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus having means for responding to a case where received print data is a request for confidential printing or confidential printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 7-131620 (image output apparatus) includes a first paper discharge accumulation section whose removal is not permitted to the apparatus and a second paper ejection accumulation section existing outside the apparatus. In the case where the secret printing mode is selected, the output paper is discharged to the first paper discharge storage unit for which the removal is not permitted, so that the apparatus is used by an unspecified number of users. However, an image output device that can ensure security has been proposed. However, in the method described in this publication, it is necessary to specially provide two paper discharge storage units and a paper path switching mechanism.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-276744 (printing apparatus, printing system, and confidential printing method of the printing system), host confidential information input and transferred from the host computer and manually input from the printer. The confidentiality is checked by comparing the confidential information with the printer and starting the transfer of print data only when the request is a normal confidential print request, and by starting printing after the recipient of the confidential document can be confirmed. There has been proposed a printing apparatus that holds the printing apparatus. However, in the method described in this publication, since only the start of data transfer is instructed, it is not possible to know how far the printing has progressed, so that if the recipient leaves the output original, confidentiality cannot be maintained There is.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-83916 (a processing status display method in an image processing apparatus) discloses a method of searching for a page break command from received image data, calculating the amount of data for one page, and then storing the image data. By performing the processing for, the degree of progress for all data is calculated,
It has been proposed to indicate the waiting time to the operator, such as the amount of bytes, the ratio, the time until the printing is completed, and the like, and thereby, the ratio of the progress of the printing and the time required until the printing is completed.

[0005] In addition, in printing a general document,
Several methods have been devised for notifying the user of the expected printing end time and how much printing has progressed in the entire document (JP-A-2-147373, JP-A-3-14773).
No. 35316, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-201123) are proposed in order to save the user from wasting time and to reduce irritation. Not just. Further, in order to display the progress, a mechanism for calculating the degree of progress, which checks the total number of pages and the amount of data for printing and manages the progress of printing in advance, is required.

[0006]

In a confidential or confidential document printing system in which a recipient goes to an apparatus, performs user authentication, and then performs printing, the recipient is required to maintain confidentiality. During printing, it is considered that the printer stands by the apparatus. In such a case, if it is not sure that the printing has been completed, it may take a long time to output the next page after one page is output due to transfer or expansion of print data. The manuscript may be left behind and confidentiality may not be maintained.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and when outputting a confidential document or a confidential document, the confidentiality is maintained even if a dedicated paper output place is not provided. An object is to ensure that a recipient can receive a document while holding the document.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and determining whether the received printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing. In a printing apparatus having means for confirming a recipient of the output paper and means for controlling to start printing after the recipient can be confirmed, if the received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing. If determined, means for analyzing the print data to detect the end of printing, and displaying a message indicating that confidential printing or confidential printing has been completed on the operation panel when printing of the received printing data is completed. Characterized by having means,
In the case of confidential printing or confidential printing, a simple mechanism that detects the end of the print data and displays a message indicating the end of printing on the operation unit allows the recipient of the output paper to output the data. It is possible to know whether or not printing has been completed, so that even if the size of the print data is large and the output temporarily stops during printing, the output can be received reliably. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and a receiver of the output sheet when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing. In a printing apparatus having a means for confirming the print request and a means for controlling to start printing after the recipient can be confirmed, when the received print request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, Means for analyzing the print data to detect the end of printing, and means for outputting a sheet on which a completion message of confidential printing or confidential printing is written when printing of the received print data is completed. Instead of outputting an end message to the operation unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, by outputting a paper sheet on which a message indicating the end of printing is written, the location of the apparatus can be reduced. Even if the work panel is as hard to see, but you have to be able to know for sure the end of the print.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing, a receiver of the output sheet. In a printing apparatus having a means for confirming the print request and a means for controlling to start printing after the recipient can be confirmed, when the received print request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, A means for analyzing the print data to detect the end of the printing, and a means for sounding an alarm sound indicating the end of the confidential printing or the confidential printing when all the printing of the received printing data is completed. According to the second aspect of the invention, an additional sheet is required, but by sounding an alarm sound, it is possible to know the end of printing irrespective of the installation location while eliminating waste. Those were Unishi.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and, when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing, a receiver of the output sheet. In a printing apparatus having a means for confirming the print request and a means for controlling to start printing after the recipient can be confirmed, when the received print request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, Means for analyzing the print data to detect the end of printing, and displaying that confidential printing or confidential printing is continuing on the operation panel until the end of printing is detected (while printing of the received data is not completed). A means for displaying a message indicating the end of print data in the case of confidential printing or confidential printing. By displaying the printing is continuing, printing the recipient is that to be able to inform that it is not yet completed.

The invention according to claim 5 is means for determining whether the received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and, when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing, the receiver of the output sheet. In a printing apparatus having a means for confirming the print request and a means for controlling to start printing after the recipient can be confirmed, when the received print request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, Means for analyzing print data to detect the end of printing, and an LED indicating that confidential printing or confidential printing is being executed, and turning on or blinking the LED until the end of printing is detected Characterized in that, instead of displaying a message on the operation panel according to the invention of claim 4, an LED is used.
Is used to make it easy to see that confidential printing and confidential printing are ongoing even when the operation panel is difficult to see.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the received print request is recognized as confidential printing or confidential printing, an ID
A printing device for confirming a recipient using a card,
In a printing device that takes in an ID card into a printing device or an input device connected to the printing device and reads authentication data, the printing device analyzes the print data and detects the end of printing. It has a means for holding and discharging after the end of printing, so that an ID for displaying the end of confidential printing or confidential printing is provided.
By simply controlling the card ejection timing, it is not necessary to provide a new mechanism in the apparatus.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a means for detecting the end of printing in a secret document or confidential document printing apparatus in which a recipient performs user authentication after going to a printing apparatus and starts printing. Means for notifying the recipient of the end of the confidential printing or confidential printing when the printing end is detected, and that the confidential printing or the confidential printing is continued to the recipient while the printing end is not detected. This means that the receiver can receive the output sheet to the last page without fail, thereby improving the confidentiality.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration to which a printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. In FIG. 2 is a print server, 3 is a printing device, and 4 is a network to which these are connected. FIG. 2 and FIG.
In the functional block diagram of the printing apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 3 includes modules (for example, a data receiving unit, a confidential / confidential determining unit, a data expanding unit, a print controlling unit,
A user confirmation unit, a print end detection unit, a confidential / confidential print display unit, etc., of which a module for performing user confirmation must be provided in the printing apparatus 3 as shown in FIG. And as shown by reference numeral 5 in FIG.
A configuration that exists outside the printing apparatus 3 and is connected to the printing apparatus 3 by some I / F may be used.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention. Hereinafter, a confidential document issued from a terminal device 1 by a printing device 3 compatible with a page description language (hereinafter referred to as PDL) such as postscript. The operation when the print request is received will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the printing device 3 receives the print request (S
1) First, it is determined whether the printing is a secret document or a confidential document (S2). If the request is for printing a general document, normal printing processing, that is, expansion and printing of print data, is performed without any special operation, and the process is terminated. Absent).

If the request is for printing a secret document or a confidential document (S2-yes), the receiver inputs an ID and a password from the apparatus, and waits until the receiver can confirm (S3). When the recipient can be confirmed (S4), the data is expanded (S5) and printed (S6 to S8). At this time,
The print end detection unit checks whether each command of the PDL is a command (ENDDOC) indicating the end of the print job (S6, S7). If a command indicating the end of the document is detected (S8), the confidential / confidential print display unit is requested to display a print end. The print end display unit displays a print end message on the operation panel (S9).

In the above example, the display means of the end of printing is
Although a method of outputting a print end message to the operation panel is adopted, a method of printing an end message or sounding an alarm sound indicating the end of printing may be used instead.

Second Embodiment (Inventions of Claims 4 and 5) Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, a print indicating that the print is continued until the secret print or the confidential print is completed. The operation of the system will be described. The operation from when the printing device 3 receives the print request to when the recipient of the output paper is confirmed is as described in S1 to S4 of the first embodiment. When the recipient can be confirmed (S4-yes), the data is expanded and printed (S6 to S9), and the fact that a confidential document or a secret document is being printed is displayed (S6).
5). Here, as means for indicating that printing is being performed, a message indicating that confidential printing or confidential printing is being continued is displayed on the operation panel. -If an LED is provided on the device to indicate that confidential printing or confidential printing is being executed, turn on this LED, or
Flash. And so on. The print end detecting unit checks whether each command of the PDL is a command (ENDDOC) indicating the end of the print job (S9). Here, if a command indicating the end of the document is detected (S9-yes), the secret printing,
The display indicating that confidential printing is continuing is ended (S10), and printing is ended.

In the first embodiment, an example of displaying the end of printing has been described, and in the second embodiment, an example of displaying that printing has been continued has been described. However, the printing apparatus may perform both of them. . That is, when confidential printing or confidential printing is started, it indicates that confidential printing or confidential printing is being performed, and when the printing is completed, it indicates that confidential printing or confidential printing has been completed.

Third Embodiment (Invention of Claim 6) Next, referring to FIG. 6, means for inserting an ID card into the printing device 3 or an input device connected to the printing device 3 to perform user authentication. The operation of the printing system having the above will be described. When the printing device 3 receives the print request (S
1) First, it is determined whether the printing is a secret document or a confidential document (S2). If the request is for printing a general document, normal print processing, that is, development and printing of print data, is performed without any special operation, and the process ends. If the request is for printing a secret document or a confidential document (S2-yes), the process waits for the recipient to insert an ID card into the printing device 3 or an input device connected to the printing device 3 (S3). . When the ID card is inserted, it is determined whether or not the recipient of the print-requested document is correct (S
4). If the user is other than the recipient (S4-n
o), immediately discharge the ID card (S5), and return to the ID card insertion standby state. If it is confirmed that the recipient of the print document is the recipient (S4-yes), the process proceeds to the data development step (S6) with the ID card kept as it is. Thereafter, data is developed and printing is performed while detecting whether or not the command indicates the end of printing, similarly to the operation of the first embodiment (S6 to S9). When the print end command is detected (S9-yes), the ID card is ejected (S10), and the process ends.

[0022]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and determining whether the received printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing. When a received printing request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing in a printing apparatus having means for confirming the recipient and means for controlling to start printing after confirming the recipient And a means for analyzing print data to detect the end of printing and a means for displaying a message indicating that confidential printing or confidential printing has been completed on the operation panel when printing of all received print data is completed. In the case of confidential printing or confidential printing, a simple mechanism that detects the end of print data is displayed by displaying a message indicating the end of printing on the operation unit. The recipient can know whether or not the output of the data has been completed. Also, even when the size of the print data is large and the output temporarily stops during the printing, the output can be reliably received.
The confidentiality of the documents is also high.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and, when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing, a receiver of the output sheet. In a printing apparatus having a means for confirming the print request and a means for controlling to start printing after the recipient can be confirmed, when the received print request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising means for analyzing print data and detecting the end of printing, and means for outputting a sheet on which a print completion message of confidential printing or confidential printing is written when printing of all received print data is completed. By outputting a sheet on which a message indicating the end of printing is output instead of outputting an end message to the operation unit according to the invention, the operation panel is difficult to see due to the installation location of the apparatus. Even when the can reliably know the end of the print.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and, when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing, a receiver of the output sheet. In a printing apparatus having a means for confirming the print request and a means for controlling to start printing after the recipient can be confirmed, when the received print request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, The invention according to claim 2 has means for analyzing print data and detecting the end of printing, and means for sounding an alarm sound indicating the end of confidential printing or confidential printing when printing of all received print data is completed. In contrast to the case where one sheet of paper is required, an alarm sound is emitted, so that the end of printing can be known irrespective of the installation location while eliminating waste of paper.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and a receiver of the output sheet when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing. In a printing apparatus having a means for confirming the print request and a means for controlling to start printing after the recipient can be confirmed, when the received print request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, Means for analyzing the print data to detect the end of printing, and displaying that confidential printing or confidential printing is continuing on the operation panel until the end of printing is detected (while printing of the received data is not completed). A simple mechanism that detects the end of print data in the case of confidential printing or confidential printing, while printing is ongoing while printing is not detected. By displaying that there can notify that printing the recipient has not yet ended.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and, when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing, a receiver of the output sheet. In a printing apparatus having a means for confirming the print request and a means for controlling to start printing after the recipient can be confirmed, when the received print request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, It has means for analyzing the print data to detect the end of printing, and an LED indicating that confidential printing or confidential printing is being performed, and the LED is turned on or flashed until the end of printing is detected. Instead of displaying a message on the operation panel according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by using an LED, secret printing and confidential printing can be continued even when the operation panel is difficult to see. It is easy to understand that it is.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the received print request is recognized as confidential printing or confidential printing, an ID
A printing device for confirming a recipient using a card,
In a printing device that takes in an ID card into a printing device or an input device connected to the printing device and reads authentication data, the printing device analyzes the print data and detects the end of printing. Since there is a means for holding and discharging after the end of printing, it is only necessary to control the timing of discharging the ID card to display the end of confidential printing or confidential printing, and it is not necessary to provide a new mechanism in the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system to which a printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram (in a user confirmation unit) of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 (external to a user confirmation unit).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation according to claims 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation according to claims 4 and 5;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of claim 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 terminal device 2 print server 3 printing device 4
... Network, 5 ... User confirmation unit.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and, when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing, for confirming a recipient of the output sheet. A printing apparatus that has means for controlling printing so that printing can be started after a recipient can be confirmed. If the received printing request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, the printing data is analyzed. And a means for displaying a message indicating that confidential printing or confidential printing has been completed on the operation panel when printing of all received print data is completed. 2. A means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and, when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing, for confirming a recipient of the output sheet. A printing apparatus that has means for controlling printing so that printing can be started after a recipient can be confirmed. If the received printing request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, the printing data is analyzed. And a means for outputting a sheet on which an end message of confidential printing or confidential printing is written when printing of all received print data is completed. 3. A means for determining whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and for confirming a recipient of the output sheet when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing. A printing apparatus that has means for controlling printing so that printing can be started after a recipient can be confirmed. If the received printing request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, the printing data is analyzed. And a means for sounding an alarm sound indicating the end of confidential printing or confidential printing when printing of all received print data is completed. 4. A means for judging whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and for confirming a recipient of the output sheet when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing. A printing apparatus that has means for controlling printing so that printing can be started after a recipient can be confirmed. If the received printing request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, the printing data is analyzed. Means for detecting the end of printing by means of
A printing apparatus comprising means for displaying a message indicating that confidential printing or confidential printing is ongoing on an operation panel. 5. A means for judging whether a received print request is confidential printing or confidential printing, and for confirming a recipient of the output sheet when the printing request is confidential printing or confidential printing. A printing apparatus that has means for controlling printing so that printing can be started after a recipient can be confirmed. If the received printing request is determined to be confidential printing or confidential printing, the printing data is analyzed. Printing means for detecting the end of printing, and an LED indicating that confidential printing or confidential printing is being executed, and turning on or blinking the LED until the end of printing is detected. apparatus. 6. A printing device for confirming a recipient using an ID card when the received print request is recognized as confidential printing or confidential printing, wherein the ID card is transmitted to the printing device or the printing device. Means for analyzing print data and detecting the end of printing in a printing apparatus for reading authentication data by taking it into a connected input device, and means for holding an ID card until printing is completed and discharging the ID card after printing is completed A printing apparatus comprising: