U.S. patent application number 11/259787 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for printing apparatus and its control method, job processing method, and printing system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Hideyuki Okada, Kazuhiko Ushiyama.
Application Number | 20060092453 11/259787 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36261436 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060092453 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okada; Hideyuki ; et
al. |
May 4, 2006 |
Printing apparatus and its control method, job processing method,
and printing system
Abstract
When authentication data input before execution of print
processing based on a secure print job is authenticated, a copy is
printed based on the secure print job (S1909). When print
processing for the designated number of copies is to be executed
after the print processing, the control prompts the user to input
authentication data (S1914) before the print processing. When the
authentication data is authenticated, print processing is executed
based on the secure print job for the designated number of copies
(S1916).
Inventors: |
Okada; Hideyuki;
(Kawasaki-shi, JP) ; Ushiyama; Kazuhiko;
(Edogawa-ku, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSSI, KIMMS & McDOWELL LLP.
P.O. BOX 826
ASHBURN
VA
20146-0826
US
|
Assignee: |
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Ohta-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
36261436 |
Appl. No.: |
11/259787 |
Filed: |
October 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 2201/0094 20130101;
H04N 1/00482 20130101; H04N 1/32101 20130101; H04N 1/00411
20130101; H04N 2201/3205 20130101; H04N 1/4413 20130101; H04N
1/00472 20130101; H04N 2201/3235 20130101; H04N 1/00474 20130101;
H04N 1/00477 20130101; H04N 1/00432 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/001.14 |
International
Class: |
G06K 15/00 20060101
G06K015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 29, 2004 |
JP |
2004-316308 |
Claims
1. A job processing method in a printing system includes a printing
device can accept a plurality of types of print job including a
print job of a first type and a print job of a second type, said
method comprising the steps of: enabling an execution of a
processing for data of a print job in which a trial printing was
performed by said printing device; and enabling said execution of
said processing for data of said print job in which said trial
printing was performed by said printing device, after an
authentication processing for said print job, in case that said job
in which said trial printing was performed is said job of the first
type but not said job of the second type.
2. A method comprising according to claim 1, further comprising the
steps of: prohibiting by said printing device an execution of a
printing of data of said print job in which said trial printing was
performed, in case that said job in which said trial printing was
performed is said job of the first type but not said job of the
second type and that an authentication data is not input after said
trial printing; and permitting by said printing device said
execution of said printing of data of said print job in which said
trial printing was performed, in case that said job in which said
trial printing was performed is said job of the first type but not
said job of the second type and that said authentication data is
input after said trial printing.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps
of: enabling, in case that said print job in which said trial
printing was performed is not said print job of the second type but
is said print job of the first type, an execution of printing for
data of said print job by said printing device after said
authentication processing for said job; and enabling, in case that
said print job in which said trial printing was performed is not
said print job of the first type but is said print job of the
second type, said execution of said printing for data of said print
job without executing said authentication processing.
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:
permitting, in case that said print job in which said trial
printing was performed is not said print job of the first type but
is said print job of the second type, said execution of said
printing of said print job without inputting any authentication
data after an execution of said trial printing of said job.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
enabling a user to change a setting of a printing condition for
data of said print job in which said trial printing was performed
via a user interface, as said processing for the data of said print
job in which said trial printing was performed.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
enabling an execution by said printing device of printing for data
of said job on the basis of a processing condition after changing a
setting of a processing condition for data of said print job in
which said trial printing was performed, as said processing for the
data of said print job in which said trial printing was
performed.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
enabling an execution by said printing device of printing for data
of said print job without changing a setting of a processing
condition for data of said print job in which said trial printing
was performed, as said processing for the data of said print job in
which said trial printing was performed.
8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
ending said processing for data of said print job in which said
trial printing was performed as said processing for the data of
said print job in which said trial printing was performed.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said print job of the
first type is a print job which requires authentication processing
before the start of said trial printing, and said print job of the
second type is a print job which can undergo said trial printing
without execution of said authentication processing.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step
of: starting, in case that said print job for which trial printing
is requested is not said print job of the second type but is said
print job of the first type, said trial printing after
authentication processing.
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step
of: enabling, in case that said print job for which trial printing
is requested is not said print job of the first type but is said
print job of the second type, an execution of said trial printing
without said authentication processing.
12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps
of: starting, in case that a print job for which trial printing is
requested is not said print job of the second type but is said
print job of the first type, said trial printing after
authentication processing; and permitting, in case that said print
job for which trial printing is requested is not said print job of
the second type but is said print job of the first type, and said
authentication processing executed before the start of said trial
printing is executed again after said trial printing, an execution
of said processing for data of said print job in which said trial
printing was performed.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps
of: prohibiting, in case that said print job for which trial
printing is requested is not said print job of the second type but
is said print job of the first type, start of said trial printing
without said authentication processing; and prohibiting, in case
that said print job for which trial printing is requested is not
said print job of the second type but is said print job of the
first type, and said authentication processing executed before the
start of said trial printing is not executed again after said trial
printing, an execution of said processing for data of said print
job in which said trial printing was performed.
14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps
of: enabling, in case that said print job for which trial printing
is requested is not said print job of the first type but is said
print job of the second type, an execution of said trial printing
without said authentication processing; and enabling, in case that
said print job for which trial printing is requested is not said
print job of the first type but is said print job of the second
type, an execution of said processing for data of said print job in
which said trial printing was performed, without said
authentication processing.
15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps
of: starting, in case that a print job for which trial printing is
requested is not said print job of the second type but is said
print job of the first type, said trial printing after
authentication data is input by said printing device; and
permitting, in case that said print job for which trial printing is
requested is not said print job of the second type but is said
print job of the first type, and said authentication data input by
said printing device before the start of said trial printing is
input again after said trial printing, an execution of said
processing for data of said print job in which said trial printing
was performed.
16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps
of: enabling, in case that said print job for which trial printing
is requested is not said print job of the first type but is said
print job of the second type, an execution of said trial printing
without inputting said authentication data; and enabling, in case
that said print job for which trial printing is requested is not
said print job of the first type but is said print job of the
second type, an execution of said processing for data of said print
job in which said trial printing was performed, without inputting
said authentication data.
17. The method according to claim 9, wherein said print job of the
first type is a secure print job which requires to input
authentication data before the start of said trial printing, and
said print job of the second type is a non-secure print job which
can undergo said trial printing without inputting said
authentication data.
18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps
of: enabling an execution of printing by said printing device on
the basis of a print condition set by a user for data of a print
job for which said trial printing is required; as said processing
for data of said print job in which said trial printing was
performed, enabling an execution by said printing device of at
least one of a plurality of series of operations including at least
some of a first series of operations for enabling a user to change
a setting of a print condition of said print job and enabling an
execution by said printing device of printing of said print job
under the print condition after the setting change, a second series
of operations for enabling an execution by said printing device of
printing of said print job without changing the print condition of
said print job, and a third series of operations of ending printing
of said print job; and enabling, in case that said print job in
which said trial printing was performed is not said print job of
the second type but is said print job of the first type, an
execution by said printing device of at least one of said plurality
of series of operations for data of said print job after
authentication processing for said job.
19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step
of: enabling, in case that said print job in which said trial
printing was performed is not said print job of the first type but
is said print job of the second type, an execution by said printing
device of one of said plurality of series of operations for data of
said print job without execution of said authentication
processing.
20. The method according to claim 18, wherein a plurality of print
conditions which include a first print condition associated with
the number of print copies and a second print condition different
from said first print condition associated with the number of print
copies can be set for said print job.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said second print
condition set by a user for said print job includes at least one of
a print condition associated with a print sheet size, a print
condition associated with finishing by a sheet processing device,
and a print condition associated with double- or single-sided
printing.
22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step
of: executing, in case that said printing device executes trial
printing for said print job, printing according to said second
print condition without following said first print condition.
23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step
of: executing, in case that a setting of said second print
condition is changed upon execution of said first series of
operations, printing according to said second print condition after
the setting change for a job to be processed for the number of
print copies based on said first print condition.
24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step
of: executing, in case that said second series of operations are
executed, printing according to said second print condition by said
printing device for the number of print copies corresponding to a
value obtained by subtracting the number of print copies of
printing executed for said job by said trial printing from the
number of print copies based on said first print condition.
25. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step
of: enabling, in case that said third series of operations are
executed, clear of image data of said print job in which said trial
printing was performed from a storage unit.
26. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps
of: requesting, in case that a print job for which trial printing
is requested is not said print job of the second type but is said
print job of the first type, an input of authentication data via a
user interface unit before start of said trial printing;
requesting, in case that a print job for which trial printing is
requested is not said print job of the second type but is said
print job of the first type, an input of said authentication data
again via said user interface unit before start of said processing
for data of said print job in which said trial printing was
performed.
27. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step
of: permitting, even in case that said print job in which said
trial printing was performed is not said print job of the second
type but is said print job of the first type, but in case that a
predetermined period of time has not elapsed from execution of said
trial printing, an execution by said printing device of said
processing for data of said print job in which said trial printing
was performed without execution of said authentication
processing.
28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step
of: prohibiting, in case that said print job in which said trial
printing was performed is not said print job of the second type but
is said print job of the first type, and the predetermined period
of time has elapsed from execution of said trial printing, an
execution by said printing device of said processing for data of
said print job in which said trial printing was performed without
execution of said authentication processing.
29. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step
of: executing, in case that said print job in which said trial
printing was performed is not said print job of the second type but
is said print job of the first type, and authentication data for
said job is input via a user interface unit after execution of said
trial printing, said processing for data of said print job in which
said trial printing was performed.
30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step
of: permitting, even in case that said print job in which said
trial printing was performed is not said print job of the second
type but is said print job of the first type, but in case that a
predetermined period of time has not elapsed from execution of said
trial printing, an execution of said processing for data of said
print job in which said trial printing was performed even in case
that authentication data is not input via said user interface
unit.
31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the step
of: prohibiting, in case that said print job in which said trial
printing was performed is not said print job of the second type but
is said print job of the first type, and the predetermined period
of time has elapsed from execution of said trial printing, an
execution of said processing for said print job in which said trial
printing was performed without input of authentication data using
said user interface unit.
32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step
of: enabling, in case that said print job in which said trial
printing was performed is not said print job of the first type but
is said print job of the second type, an execution of said
processing for said print job in which said trial printing was
performed irrespective of whether or not the predetermined period
of time elapses from execution of said trial printing.
33. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step
of: notifying, in case that said execution of said processing for
said print job in which said trial printing was performed is
prohibited according to an elapse of the predetermined period of
time from execution of said trial printing, information that
advises accordingly via said user interface unit.
34. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step
of: enabling an execution by said printing data of trial printing
of data of a job accepted from a document scanning unit of said
printing device.
35. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step
of: enabling an execution by said printing data of trial printing
of data of a job transmitted from an external device which can make
a data communication with said printing device.
36. A printing device executing a job processing method of claim
1.
37. A printing system executing a job processing method of claim
1.
38. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for
executing a job processing method of claim 1.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a printing technique for
executing print processing on the basis of a print job and, more
particularly, to a printing technique of a print job that requires
authentication processing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Upon printing (copying) a plurality of pages, a trial print
(trial copy) function which trial-prints some pages prior to main
print processing and starts print processing after it is confirmed
if the user wants to start, cancel, change, or the like the main
print processing is known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2003-208298). In terms of the nature of the trial print function,
the printing operation of a job to be processed by this function is
paused when the user confirms the trial print result or changes the
job after confirmation.
[0003] Upon printing a secure document, a secure print function
which requires authentication to output and allows to output at an
arbitrary timing so as to prevent information from leaking to a
third party when print processing starts at a position beyond
eyeshot is known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2001-341361).
[0004] The two functions, i.e., the trial print and secure print
functions are independent functions, and have no relevance to each
other. A job (secure job) which requires authentication to output,
and a job (non-secure job) which does not require any
authentication to output have a feature in that although they
require different control processes before the beginning of
execution, their control processes have no difference after their
print processes start in practice. For this reason, upon executing
the trial print processing of a secure job, when the owner of that
secure job leaves from an image forming apparatus main body for the
purpose of replenishing paper sheets for the main print processing,
toner, or the like after the job is interrupted, a third party may
manipulate the secure job which has undergone the trial print
processing and waits for post-processing. Hence, the main print
operation of the secure job may be executed, and the document
security may not be protected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the
aforementioned problems, and has as its object to provide a
technique for maintaining the security of a document to be printed
even after execution of trial print processing, when trial print
processing is to be executed based on a secure job. It is another
object of the present invention to prevent a problem such as poor
usability or the like, which is posed to maintain the security
after the trial print processing of a secure job upon execution of
the trial print processing of a job other than the secure job such
as a non-secure job, and to simultaneously realize an effect of
maintaining security even after the trial print processing of a
secure job and an effect of improving usability upon execution of
the trial print processing of a non-secure job.
[0006] In order to achieve an object of the present invention, for
example, a job processing method of the present invention comprises
the following arrangement.
[0007] That is, a job processing method in a printing system
includes a printing device can accept a plurality of types of print
job including a print job of a first type and a print job of a
second type, the method comprising the steps of:
[0008] enabling an execution of a processing for data of a print
job in which a trial printing was performed by the printing device;
and
[0009] enabling the execution of the processing for data of the
print job in which the trial printing was performed by the printing
device, after an authentication processing for the print job, in
case that the job in which the trial printing was performed is the
job of the first type but not the job of the second type.
[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic arrangement of a
printing system according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement
of an image forming apparatus 101;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows an example of the arrangement of an operation
unit 203 shown in FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on a display unit 301;
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0018] FIG. 7 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0019] FIG. 8 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0020] FIG. 9 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0021] FIG. 10 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0022] FIG. 11 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0023] FIG. 12 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0024] FIG. 13 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0025] FIG. 14 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0026] FIG. 15 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0027] FIG. 16 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0028] FIG. 17 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0029] FIG. 18 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0030] FIG. 19 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0031] FIG. 20 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0032] FIG. 21 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0033] FIG. 22 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0034] FIG. 23 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0035] FIG. 24 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0036] FIG. 25 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0037] FIG. 26 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0038] FIG. 27 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0039] FIG. 28 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0040] FIG. 29 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0041] FIG. 30 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0042] FIG. 31 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0043] FIG. 32 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301;
[0044] FIGS. 33A and 33B are flowcharts of print processing to be
executed by the image forming apparatus 101 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0045] FIGS. 34A, 34B, and 34C are flowcharts of print processing
to be executed by an image forming apparatus 101 according to the
third embodiment of the present invention;
[0046] FIGS. 35A and 35B are flowcharts of print processing to be
executed by an image forming apparatus 101 according to the second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0047] FIGS. 36A and 36B are flowcharts of print processing to be
executed by an image forming apparatus 101 according to the fourth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 37 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301; and
[0049] FIG. 38 shows a display example of an operation window (user
interface) to be displayed on the display unit 301.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0050] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described in detail in accordance with the accompanying
drawings.
First Embodiment
[0051] An image forming apparatus as a digital multi-functional
peripheral (MFP) comprising a plurality of functions (also called
modes) such as a copy function, print function, facsimile function,
and the like, and a printing system having this image forming
apparatus will be described hereinafter.
[0052] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic arrangement of the
printing system according to this embodiment. The system according
to this embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 101, server
computer 102, client computer A 103, client computer B 104, another
digital MFP 105, and Internet facsimile apparatus 106. These
apparatuses can communicate data with each other via a network 100
such as a LAN or the like. Note that the network 100 is not limited
to either a wireless or wired one.
[0053] Note that the gist of the following description is not
limited by the numbers of respective apparatuses, and a system that
can be applied to the following description is not limited to the
arrangement shown in FIG. 1 as long as the system includes the
image forming apparatus 101 and also an apparatus which can
transmit a job to this image forming apparatus 101.
[0054] The image forming apparatus 101 will be described below.
[0055] The image forming apparatus 101 has a plurality of modes
(functions) such as a copy mode, print mode, facsimile mode, and
the like. The image forming apparatus 101 can execute various kinds
of output processing of job data scanned by a scanner unit of the
self apparatus, job data output from the client computer A 103 or B
104, job data output from a scanner of the other digital MFP 105,
job data output from the Internet facsimile apparatus 106, and the
like. For example, the image forming apparatus 101 can make a
printer unit of the self apparatus execute print processing of such
job data via a storage unit such as a hard disk or the like of the
self apparatus, can transfer such job data to another apparatus via
a communication unit of the self apparatus, and so forth.
[0056] The print function of the image forming apparatus 101 will
be described below. The image forming apparatus 101 comprises an
automatic document feeder (so-called ADF) which can automatically
and continuously scan a plurality of documents in turn from the
first page side in the scanner unit of the self apparatus. Also,
the image forming apparatus 101 comprises a plurality of paper feed
units (paper feed cassettes) in the printer unit of the self
apparatus, can store print sheets of different media types
(different sizes and types of print sheets) for respective paper
feed units, and selectively feeds a sheet from the paper feed unit
of the user's choice to allow the printer unit to print.
[0057] The image forming apparatus 101 comprises a so-called sort
function of applying sort processing to print sheets printed by the
printer unit, a staple function of applying staple processing to
print sheets, a punch function of applying punch processing to
print sheets printed by the printer unit, and a saddle stitch
function of applying folding processing and bookbinding processing
to print sheets printed by the printer unit. The image forming
apparatus 101 comprises a finisher as a sheet processing device for
executing these sheet processing functions in the printer unit.
[0058] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement
of the image forming apparatus 101. The same reference numeral in
FIG. 2 denote the same parts as in FIG. 1.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 101
comprises various units such as a control unit 201, scanner unit
202, operation unit 203, memory 204, external communication unit
205, data processing unit 206, printer unit 207, hard disk 208, and
the like.
[0060] The scanner unit 202 has a document feeder such as an ADF or
the like, executes scan processing of a document image set on a
document table, and outputs the scanned image data to the data
processing unit 206.
[0061] The operation unit 203 includes a liquid crystal display
unit of a touch panel type and a button group, and the information
display for the operator of the image forming apparatus 101 and the
operation input by the operator of the image forming apparatus 101
are made via this operation unit 203. The memory 204 stores
programs and data required for the control unit 201 to control
respective units, programs and data required for the image
processing unit 101 to execute respective processes (to be
described later), various kinds of management information, and the
like.
[0062] The external communication unit 205 exchanges various data
(image data, command data, status request information, status
information, time data, and the like) with various external
apparatuses (e.g., the server computer 102, client computers A 103
and B 104, and the other digital MFP 105, shown in FIG. 1) via the
network 100.
[0063] The data processing unit 206 comprises a memory such as a
page memory or the like used upon processing image data, a
rendering unit for rendering PDL data from the image processing
unit or external apparatus to bitmap data, a
compression/decompression unit for executing compression processing
and decompression processing of data, and the like. The data
processing unit 206 appropriately processes job data (including
image data) from the scanner unit 202 or job data input from the
external apparatus via the external communication unit 205 in
accordance with output processing conditions set for that job data,
and outputs processed image data to the hard disk 208 or printer
unit 207, or to the external communication unit 205 when the data
is transmitted to the external apparatus.
[0064] The hard disk 208 comprises a storage area that can store
and hold a plurality of job data (a plurality of a series of image
data), and can store and hold job data input from the scanner unit
202 via the data processing unit 206, job data from various
external apparatuses (e.g., the server computer 102, client
computers A 103 and B 104, and the other digital MFP 105, shown in
FIG. 1), and the like. Also, the hard disk 208 saves programs and
data for making the control unit 201 execute respective processes
(to be described later) to be implemented by the image forming
apparatus 101. These programs and data saved in the hard disk 208
are read out onto the memory 204 in accordance with the control
processing of the control unit 201, and are used when the control
unit 201 executes various processes.
[0065] The printer unit 207 executes print processing of job data
input from the scanner unit 202 via the data processing unit 206,
job data from various external apparatuses (e.g., the server
computer 102, client computers A 103 and B 104, and the other
digital MFP 105, shown in FIG. 1), or job data from the hard disk
208 in accordance with print conditions set for that job.
[0066] Even during a print operation of a given print job executed
by the printer unit 207, print job data (image data) can be
accepted from the external apparatuses (e.g., the server computer
102, client computers A 103 and B 104, and the other digital MFP
105, shown in FIG. 1) and the scanner unit 202 of the self
apparatus, and the accepted job data are sequentially saved in the
hard disk 208. Independently of and parallel to the print operation
of a job by the printer unit 207, the input operations of other
jobs from the scanner unit 202 and external apparatuses (e.g., the
server computer 102, client computers A 103 and B 104, and the
other digital MFP 105, shown in FIG. 1) and storage processing of
these jobs in the hard disk 208 can be executed.
[0067] In the following description, of any jobs of the copy
function, print function, and facsimile function, a job which is to
undergo print processing by the printer unit 207 will be
generically called a "print job".
[0068] The control unit 201 includes a processor such as a CPU,
MPU, or the like, controls the operations of the respective units,
and executes respective processes (to be described later) to be
implemented by the image 5, processing apparatus 101.
[0069] In this embodiment, all the units shown in FIG. 2 are
equipped in the image forming apparatus 101. However, the present
invention is not limited to this, and some of these units may be
externally arranged. As such arrangement, an arrangement which
equips a storage unit such as the hard disk 208 or the like as an
external device, an arrangement that houses respective units in
independent housings, and the like are available. The following
description can be applied to systems with these arrangements.
[0070] In order to recognize the operation states of these units,
the control unit 201 can issue query data to the respective units
and can receive reply result data, thus recognizing the status of
each unit. The control unit 201 can acquire and recognize various
kinds of status information. For example, the control unit 201
confirms information as to whether or not the document scan
processing of the scanner unit 202 is in progress, information as
to whether or not a document jam has occurred, and the like on the
basis of status information from the scanner unit 202. Also, the
control unit 201 confirms information as to whether or not
read/write processing of job data of the hard disk 208 is in
progress and the like on the basis of status information from the
hard disk 208. Furthermore, the control unit 201 confirms
information as to whether or not the print processing of the
printer unit 207 is in progress, information as to whether or not
an error has occurred, and the like on the basis of information
from the printer unit 207. Moreover, the control unit 201 confirms
information as to whether or not reception of external data of the
external communication unit 205 is in progress, information as to
whether or not data transfer to an external apparatus of the
external communication unit 205 is in progress, and the like on the
basis of in formation from the external communication unit 205.
[0071] The operation unit 203 controlled by the control unit 201
will be described below using FIG. 3.
[0072] FIG. 3 shows an example of the arrangement of the operation
unit 203 shown in FIG. 2. The same reference numerals in FIG. 3
denote the same parts as in FIG. 2.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 3, the operation unit 203 comprises a
display unit 301 and button group 302. The display unit 301
comprises a liquid crystal type touch panel, and has a function of
displaying various kinds of information, button icons, and the
like, and a function of detecting a position designated on the
display screen, and notifying the control unit 201 of that
position. Note that the arrangement of the operation unit 203 is
not limited to such specific arrangement, and the operation unit
203 need only have a function of displaying information, and a
function of inputting various instructions.
[0074] The button group 302 will be described below. A key 303 is
used to instruct to turn on/off the power supply of the image
forming apparatus 101. Every time the operator presses the key 303,
the power supply of the image forming apparatus 101 is switched to
either ON/OFF. A start key 304 is used to instruct execution of
processing. Keys 305 are used to input various numerical values as
a numeric keypad. For example, the keys 305 can be used to input
and set the number of print copies and the like. A user key 306 is
used to input instructions for displaying various user mode setting
windows for initial settings, administrator settings, timer
settings, and the like. Note that the button group 302 includes an
indicator used to notify the operation that data reception is in
progress, an indicator used to notify the operator of occurrence of
an error by flickering, an indicator used to notify the operator
that the power supply is ON, and the like.
[0075] Various operation window examples to be displayed on the
display unit 301 in the operation unit 203 under the display
control of the control unit 201, and various operation control
examples based on user's operations made via these windows will be
described below using FIGS. 4 to 32.
[0076] FIGS. 4 to 32 show display examples of operation windows
(user interfaces) to be displayed on the display unit 301 shown in
FIG. 3.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 4, a display window 400 to be displayed on
the liquid crystal display unit 301 is roughly classified into
three display components. Note that FIG. 4 is a view for roughly
explaining the configuration of the display window, and does not
illustrate all components to be displayed on an actual display
window.
[0078] Reference numeral 401 denotes a function selection area
which comprises operation instruction keys (operation buttons) used
by the operator to select a desired one of a plurality of operation
modes (also called functions) of the image forming apparatus 101,
which include a copy mode, transmission mode, facsimile mode, box
mode, expanded mode, and the like.
[0079] Reference numeral 402 denotes a processing condition setting
area which comprises operation instruction keys used by the
operator to set various processing conditions (e.g., print setting
parameters, see FIG. 5) for job data (image data) to be processed
in the operation mode selected by the operator using the function
selection area 401.
[0080] Reference numeral 403 denotes a status display area which
allows the operator to be notified of and confirm various kinds of
status information (including operation status information such as
image data loading in progress, print in progress, and the like,
various kinds of error information such as a document jam, print
sheet jam, staple jam, and the like, various kinds of warning
information such as out-of-toner, out-of-paper, and the like, and
so forth) indicating the operation states of the image forming
apparatus 101.
[0081] In this manner, the contents of the display window to be
displayed on the display unit 301 have these three display
components. The processing condition setting area 402 undergoes
display control to have display contents according to the mode
selected on the function selection area 401. The function selection
area 401 undergoes display control to be able to function after
transition to another window (for example, an operation window that
displays the function selection area 401 even after transition to
another window, and allows the operator to select a function). The
status display area 403 undergoes display control to allow the user
to always confirm status information of the image forming apparatus
even after transition to any window (the status line (display area)
403 is displayed independently of a window to be switched).
[0082] This image forming apparatus 101 has a copy mode which
controls the printer unit 207 to print job data (also called image
data) from the scanner unit 202 via a memory such as the hard disk
208 or the like. Also, the image forming apparatus 101 has an
external print mode which controls the printer unit 207 to print
job data from an external apparatus such as the client computer A
103 or B 104, the other digital MFP 105, facsimile apparatus 106,
or the like via a memory such as the hard disk 208 or the like. The
image forming apparatus 101 has a box mode which stores job data
output from the scanner unit 202 and job data output from the
external apparatus in a predetermined storage area (also called a
box area) in the hard disk 208, allows the user to select desired
job data from the operation unit 203 after the job data area stored
in the box, and controls the printer unit 207 to print the selected
job data or controls the external communication unit 205 to
transmit the job data to the external apparatus. In this manner,
the image forming apparatus 101 of this embodiment comprises a
plurality of operation modes including at least two operation
modes. However, this embodiment is not limited to this, and may be
applied to a single-function image forming apparatus having only
one of these operation modes.
[0083] Print processing to be executed by the image forming
apparatus 101 will be described below. A print job input to the
hard disk 208 of the image forming apparatus 101 is the one
transmitted from the external apparatus or the one input from the
scanner unit 202 of the self apparatus. Print jobs input to the
hard disk 208 are sequentially stored in the hard disk 208, and
include a "secure job" and "non-secure job".
[0084] The "secure job" allows to be printed only when an input
password is authenticated. For example, in this embodiment, job
data accepted from a data generation source such as an external
apparatus (e.g., a computer or the like or another image forming
apparatus or the like) and/or the scanner unit of the self
apparatus is held in a memory such as the hard disk of the self
apparatus or the like without being immediately printed by the
printer unit. After the job data is stored in the memory, the user
who wants to print that job inputs authentication data such as a
password or the like via a user interface such as the operation
unit of this image forming apparatus or the like. Under the
condition that the authentication data that matches authentication
data set in advance for that job is input via the user interface of
the image forming apparatus, the controller of the image forming
apparatus controls to execute print processing of the job data held
in the hard disk. In other words, the secure job is a job which is
held in the memory of the image forming apparatus in a locked state
unless appropriate authentication processing (including processing
for prompting the user to input authentication data which matches
that for the job held in the memory on the image forming apparatus
side) is executed by the image forming apparatus, and is prohibited
from being freely read out from the memory and printed.
[0085] On the other hand, when print processing is to be done based
on the "non-secure job", no password input is required. That is,
for example, a job in a normal print mode corresponds to this job.
In other words, the "non-secure job" is a job which is allowed to
be automatically printed (without any intervention of the operator
such as an explicit print instruction or the like to be issued
after the operator inputs the job to the memory) without any
authentication processing or the like executed by the image forming
apparatus after the job is input to the memory.
[0086] Hence, for example, when the client computer A 103 transmits
a print job to the image forming apparatus 101, the client computer
A 103 allows the user on the computer side to set via a printer
driver or the like to be displayed on, e.g., the display of the
computer whether or not this job is a secure or non-secure job.
When this job is to be set as a secure job, the user on the
computer side determines a password via, e.g., the printer driver,
and the computer transmits the print job to this image forming
apparatus while appending command data indicating a job in a secure
print mode to the job data (document data to be printed. The image
forming apparatus 101 sequentially stores the received job data in
the hard disk 208 in the form of a queue.
[0087] After a job is stored in the hard disk 208, the user may set
this job to be a secure job using the operation unit 203. In this
case, the user sets a password by making the same operation as that
made on the computer A 103 side. After the password is set, the
control unit 201 appends this password to the job data, thus
setting this job as a secure job.
[0088] A storage area for holding data to be stored in a "box"
(corresponding to a folder) is assured in advance on the hard disk
208, and there are a plurality of such "boxes". For example, when
operator A creates box A, and when operator A operates the image
forming apparatus 101 to receive a print job from the scanner unit
202, this job data is stored in box A. Whether or not the operator
of the image forming apparatus 101 is operator A may be determined
by prompting the operator to input a password before use of this
apparatus, and if the password is authenticated, it may be
determined that the operator is operator A. Therefore, a "box for
storing secure jobs" and a "box for storing non-secure jobs" may be
set for respective boxes. In this case, jobs stored in the box set
as the "box for storing secure jobs" are namely secure jobs.
[0089] In any case, print job data are sequentially saved in the
hard disk 208.
[0090] When the user selects "copy" on the function selection area
401, print job data is registered by enqueuing it in a queue; when
the user selects "box", print job data is registered in one of
boxes.
[0091] Print processes to be executed when "copy" is selected (copy
mode) and when "box" is selected (box mode) will be respectively
explained below.
[0092] An example when the image forming apparatus 101 of this
embodiment executes job processing using its trial print function
under the control of the control unit 201 of this apparatus will be
described below. The following description will be given using a
job in the copy mode that controls the printer unit 207 to print
job data input from the scanner unit 202 of the image forming
apparatus via the hard disk 208 of the apparatus.
[0093] When the user selects the copy mode on the operation unit
203, the control unit 201 controls the display unit 301 of the
operation unit 203 to display the operation window shown in FIG. 4
in response to this selection. The control unit 201 controls the
display unit to display a display window to allow the user to set
various print conditions for a job to be output such as a setting
of an output paper size, a setting of the number of output copies,
a setting of a print magnification, a print setting of double- or
single-sided printing, a finishing setting associated with an
instruction for applying at least one sheet processing of sort
processing, staple processing, punch processing, and bookbinding
processing to printed sheets, and the like of the job to be
printed. When the user presses an applied mode key on the window of
FIG. 4, a display window shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, and allows
the user to set various other print conditions (various settings
such as continuous page copy, cover paper/inserting paper,
reduced-scale layout, and the like) which are not displayed on the
window of FIG. 4.
[0094] Assume that the user has made various settings as follows as
print conditions for a job (a job including four pages of a
document) while displaying the operation window shown in FIG. 4 on
the display unit 301.
[0095] (Condition 1) "5" copies are set as the number of output
copies using the numeric keypad 305 of the operation unit 203.
[0096] (Condition 2) An output magnification is equal to the
document image size (100%).
[0097] (Condition 3) "Staple" is set as the finishing setting via a
touch panel key.
[0098] (Condition 4) "Double-sided printing" is set as a setting
for faces to be printed via a touch panel key.
[0099] Assume that the user sets a series of print conditions
having a plurality of print condition parameters for the job data
including image data for four pages to be output via the operation
window of FIG. 4 and the like. In response to this, the control
unit 201 controls to display a setting window shown in FIG. 6 to
allow the operator to confirm the contents set for the job, and can
accept an instruction for making this image forming apparatus
execute a trial print operation of the job from the user via a
trial copy key (also called a trial print key) 1 on the window of
FIG. 6.
[0100] As can be seen from comparison between the windows shown in
FIGS. 4 and 6, the control unit 201 controls to display the trial
print (trial copy) key 1 on the operation window of FIG. 6. When
the setting contents of the print conditions set by the user
includes conditions that the number of output copies is 2 or more,
the finishing setting such as staple, sort, or the like is ON, and
so forth, the control unit 201 controls to display the trial print
key 1 on the operation unit, and allows the user to instruct to
execute trial print processing according to the set print
conditions via the trial print key.
[0101] In this way, according to this embodiment, when the above
condition is met (at least one of when the set number of output
copies is 2 or more and when the finishing setting is ON), the
control is made to display the trial print key 1 (see the UI in
FIG. 6) to permit execution of the trial print function.
[0102] On the other hand, if the above condition is not met (at
least one of when the set number of output copies is 1 and when the
finishing setting is OFF), the control is made to prohibit the
trial print key from being displayed on the display unit 301 to
prohibit execution of the trial print function. For example, first
of all, when the number of output copies is 1, the print operation
remains the same independently of trial or main print processing.
Even when the settings of the print conditions are changed to redo
printing, the user can easily change the settings of the print
conditions. In addition, if the number of print copies is only one
in the first place, no wasteful output occurs. Hence, paying
attention to these facts, this specification is determined with due
considerations to the user so as not to introduce extra confusion
to him or her.
[0103] The description will revert to FIG. 6. When the user inputs
a trial print execution instruction by pressing the trial print key
1 on the window and then presses the start key 304 of the operation
unit 203 in FIG. 3 while the display window in FIG. 6 is displayed
on the display unit 301, the control unit 201 controls the image
forming apparatus to execute the following trial print operation of
the job.
[0104] The control unit 201 starts scan processing of document
image data for four pages of the job, which are set on the document
feeder of the scan unit 202 starts, and sequentially stores data in
the hard disk 208 page by page. As processing of the job having the
image data for four pages stored in the hard disk 208, a
magnification is set to be an equal magnification (equal to the
document image size), the first and second pages of the job are
printed on two faces of the first print sheet (A4-size print
sheet), the first print sheet is exhausted onto a processing tray
with the first page facing down (to be exhausted in a face-down
state), the third and fourth pages of the job are recorded on the
observe and reverse faces of the second print sheet (A4-size print
sheet), and the second print sheet is exhausted in a similar
exhaust mode. When the two print sheets are stacked on the
processing tray, the control unit 201 controls a stapler of the
finisher to apply staple processing to a bundle of sheets including
the two print sheets. Upon determination of completion of the
processing based on information from an exhaust sensor, the control
unit 201 pauses the print operation of the job.
[0105] As described above, in the trial print mode, the control
unit 201 controls the image forming apparatus to execute the print
operation of the job according to print conditions based on the
plurality of print condition parameters set by the user while
ignoring the print setting associated with the number of output
copies. That is, in the trial print mode, the control unit 201
controls to process the job under the print conditions: the
magnification=100%, the paper size=A4 size, double-sided
printing=ON, staple=ON, and the number of output copies=1.
[0106] Note that the control unit 201 controls the display unit 301
to display an operation window of FIG. 7, so as to notify the user
of the job processing status during the trial print operation. In
this example, the job is processed as a receipt number "0006", and
the window in FIG. 7 notifies the user that the number of print
copies is 1, and the print operation of the image of the first page
of the job is now in progress.
[0107] In this embodiment, the user confirms the output product for
one copy to check if it is a desired print result. After that,
various instructions can be selectively accepted from the user via
the display unit 301 of the operation unit 203, so as to continue
the print operation of the job intact without changing the settings
of the print conditions, to redo the print operation by changing
the settings of the print conditions, or to cancel the print
processing itself of this job.
[0108] Note that if the user inputs a print execution instruction
via the start key 304 of the operation unit 203 without pressing
the trial print key 1 on the window of FIG. 6, i.e., without
inputting any trial print operation instruction, the control unit
201 controls to execute print processing in accordance with all the
print conditions set by the user as the print operation of the job
in response to this input. That is, in this example, the control
unit 201 controls to process the job under the print conditions:
the magnification=100%, the paper size=A4 size, double-sided
printing=ON, staple=ON, and the number of output copies=5.
[0109] In this embodiment, as described above, both a job in the
secure print mode which permits to start print processing after the
user executes authentication processing (e.g., input of
authentication data) via the operation unit 203 of the image
forming apparatus before execution of the print processing, and a
job in the non-secure print mode which permits to start print
processing without requiring the user to execute authentication
processing (e.g., input of authentication data) via the operation
unit 203 of the image forming apparatus before execution of the
print processing can be accepted. In addition, the user can set the
secure or non-secure print mode for a job to be processed.
Furthermore, the user can also set whether or not the
aforementioned trial print mode is set for the job to be
processed.
[0110] With this arrangement, when it is determined that a job set
with the trial print mode is a secure job for which the user sets
the secure print mode, the control unit 201 controls to execute
authentication processing, which is executed before the beginning
of the trial print processing, again after it executes the
aforementioned trial print operation in the trial print mode and
before it accepts the aforementioned instruction (various
instructions selectively input from the user after execution of the
trial print processing, so as to change the settings of the print
conditions, to continue the print operation for the remaining
number of output copies without under the print conditions intact,
or to cancel the print processing).
[0111] On the other hand, when it is determined that a job set with
the trial print mode is a non-secure job for which the user does
not set the secure print mode, the control unit 201 controls to
prohibit the authentication processing during a period after it
executes the trial print operation in the trial print mode and
before it receives the above instruction for the trial-printed job
from the user, thus accepting the instruction from the user.
[0112] That is, if the job is a secure print job, the control unit
201 controls to switch the display contents of the display unit 301
of the operation unit 203 from the job processing status window
shown in FIG. 7 to a password input request window (not shown) in
response to, e.g., completion of the trial print operation. Then,
the control unit 201 prohibits the setting window in FIG. 8 from
being displayed unless the user inputs, via this authentication
data input request window (not shown), authentication data which
matches authentication data such as a password or the like, which
was input before the beginning of the trial print operation as a
condition for permitting to start the trial print operation. In
this way, the control unit 201 controls to prohibit the image
forming apparatus from executing various processes (to change print
settings, to start main print processing without changing any
settings, or to cancel the print processing itself) for the job
after the trial print processing of the trial-printed secure job.
On the other hand, when the user inputs, via the authentication
data input request window (not shown), authentication data which
matches authentication data such as a password or the like which
was input before the beginning of the trial print operation as a
condition for permitting to start the trial print operation of the
job, the control unit 201 controls to switch the display contents
of the display unit 301 from the password input request window to
the setting window in FIG. 8, so as to selectively accept various
instructions from the user via that window, and controls to permit
to execute processing (to change settings, to execute main print
processing for printing the remaining number of copies, or to
cancel print processing) according to the instruction from the user
for the trial-printed secure job.
[0113] Furthermore, if the job is a non-secure print job, the
control unit 201 controls to switch the display contents of the
display unit 301 of the operation unit 203 from the job processing
status window in FIG. 7 directly to the operation window in FIG. 8
while prohibiting display of the authentication data input request
window (not shown), so as to selectively accept various
instructions from the user via that window, and controls to permit
to execute processing (to change settings, to execute main print
processing for printing the remaining number of copies, or to
cancel print processing) according to the instruction from the user
for the trial-printed non-secure job.
[0114] Referring back to FIG. 8, the control unit 201 controls to
display, on the display unit 301, the operation window in FIG. 8,
which comprises a key used to accept, from the user, an instruction
for changing the settings of the print conditions as a process to
be executed for the trial-printed job (a setting change key 2 in
FIG. 8), a key used to accept, from the user, an instruction for
executing the main print operation without changing any settings of
the print conditions (a print start key in FIG. 8), and a key used
to accept, from the user, an instruction for canceling the print
processing itself of the job (a cancel key in FIG. 8).
[0115] As for the timing at which the control unit 201 controls to
display the operation window in FIG. 8, for example, when, for
example, the job which is to undergo the trial print processing is
a non-secure print job, the control unit 201 controls to display
the operation window in FIG. 8 in response to confirmation of
completion of the trial print processing by a detection unit in
various devices. On the other hand, when the job which is to
undergo the trial print processing is a secure print job, the
control unit 201 controls to display the operation window in FIG. 8
in response to confirmation of completion of the trial print
processing and of re-execution of authentication processing, which
was executed by the image forming apparatus before the beginning of
the trial print processing of the job, after completion of the
trial print processing (e.g., re-input of the password, which was
input by the user via the operation unit 203 before the trial print
processing as a condition for permitting to start the trial print
processing, via the password input request window displayed after
completion of the trial print processing).
[0116] After the window shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, the following
operation is executed. The following explanation will be given
using the job with the receipt number "0006" including four pages,
which has been explained using FIGS. 4 to 7.
[0117] As described above, the trial-printed job with the receipt
number "0006" was set by the user with the plurality of print
condition parameters "the number of output copies: 5, output paper:
A4 size, magnification: equal magnification (100%), finishing
setting: staple=ON, double-sided printing setting: double-sided
printing=ON" as print conditions, before execution of the trial
print processing in response to an instruction from the key 1 on
the display window of FIG. 6.
[0118] Under such conditions, assume that the user presses the
"print start" key via the window in FIG. 8 and inputs an
instruction for starting the print operation as a main print
operation under the print conditions intact without changing any
settings of the print conditions. In this case, the control unit
201 controls to execute the print operation without changing any
settings of the print conditions set by the user using image data
of the job held in the hard disk 208.
[0119] In this case, the control unit 201 controls to execute print
processing under the print conditions "output paper: A4 size,
magnification: equal magnification (100%), finishing setting:
staple=ON, double-sided printing setting: double-sided printing=ON"
of those set by the user, except that the number of output copies
is only 4. That is, although the user designated the number of
print copies=5 in the above settings, the control unit 201 does not
adopt this numerical value, and controls to execute the print
operation for the number of output copies obtained by subtracting
one from the number of print copies designated by the user (in this
example, 5-1=4 (copies)) under the user's print conditions except
for the setting of the number of print copies.
[0120] This is because the user instructs the print operation since
he or she can obtain a desired print result without particularly
changing the print conditions as a result of the trial print
operation, and a copy output by the trial print operation can be
handled as one of final products, i.e., this is a specification
that considers minimizing wasteful outputs as a user's merit. That
is, in this example, since both the print results for the remaining
four copies which are output without changing any settings and the
print result for one copy output by the trial print operation are
adopted, the user can consequently obtain desired output results
for five copies.
[0121] The control unit 201 controls to execute such series of
processes (to be also referred to as a first sequence hereinafter)
in response to depression by the user of the "print start" key on
the display window in FIG. 8 which is permitted to be displayed on
the display unit 301 under the condition that various conditions
described above are met (the condition that the trial-printed job
is a non-secure job, or the condition that the trial-printed job is
a secure job and the authentication processing for that secure job
is executed after the trial print operation) after execution of the
trial print operation.
[0122] FIG. 15 shows a window that notifies the user of the print
status when the main print operation is started without changing
any settings after the trial print operation. In this example, the
user is notified that the number of output copies for the job with
the receipt number "0006" is changed to "4" since no settings are
required to change after the trial print operation, and the print
operation of the first page of the second copy is now in
progress.
[0123] On the other hand, when the user inputs the setting change
instruction of the job with the receipt number "0006" by pressing
the "setting change" key 2 on the window in FIG. 8, the control
unit 201 controls to display, e.g., a display window in FIG. 9 on
the display unit 301 and to allow the user to change the settings
of the print conditions of the job in response to this instruction.
In the example of FIG. 9, the user can change the number of output
copies, the setting of paper sheets used in the job, that of a
print density, that of a binding margin, that of finishing, and
that of double- or single-sided printing. Since this job is
initially set with "5" copies as the number of output copies, the
control unit 201 controls the display unit 301 to display "5" as a
default value in correspondence with the number of output copies
set by the user before the trial print operation, as shown in FIG.
9, even when the setting of the number of output copies is to be
changed.
[0124] On the window of FIG. 9, when the user wants to change the
setting of finishing of a series of print conditions including a
plurality of print conditions of the trial-printed job with the
receipt number "0006", he or she presses a "sorter" key 3 on the
window of FIG. 9. In response to this user's operation, the control
unit 201 switches the display contents to a window of FIG. 10 to
allow the user to change the setting to another finishing mode
(e.g., to change the setting from staple=ON to punch=ON or the
like) or to select a setting to cancel the finishing setting itself
(in this example, to change the finishing setting from "staple=ON"
to "staple=OFF").
[0125] Likewise, when the user presses a key 4 on the window of
FIG. 9, the control unit 201 switches the display contents to a
window of FIG. 11, and allows the user to change various settings
associated with double-sided printing (e.g., to change a binding
direction, or to cancel double-sided printing itself and to change
a setting to single-sided printing, or the like) via the window of
FIG. 11 and the like.
[0126] Assume that the user changes the setting from "double-sided
printing=ON" to "single-sided printing=ON" as a setting change of
the job.
[0127] In response to completion of the user's setting change, the
control unit 201 controls to display a window of FIG. 12 on the
display unit 301. As the difference between FIGS. 9 and 12, when
the setting change window is displayed for the first time, the key
4 is enabled (ON display state) to indicate the setting
"double-sided printing=ON", while the key 4 is disabled to cancel
"double-sided printing=ON", i.e., to set "single-sided printing=ON"
in FIG. 12. When the user presses a "close" key 5 in FIG. 12, the
control unit 201 controls to display a window of FIG. 13 on the
display unit 301. When the user then presses a "print start" key 6
in FIG. 12, the control unit 201 controls the image forming
apparatus to execute print processing according to the print
conditions whose settings are changed by the user after the
aforementioned trial print operation.
[0128] That is, in this example, the print processing of the job
with the receipt number "0006" is processed under the print
conditions "the number of output copies: 5, output paper: A4 size,
magnification: equal magnification (100%), finishing setting:
staple=ON, double-sided printing setting: double-sided printing=OFF
(single-sided printing=ON)". Note that the number of output copies
in this case remains unchanged from "5 copies" unlike in the case
of no setting change. Unlike in the above case, since the user who
confirmed the trial print result inputs the setting change
instruction, it is assumed that the trial-printed print product is
not counted as a final product, and the job is printed again for
five copies as the number of output copies which is designated
initially. In this way, the operability is improved. However, when
the number of output copies is changed on the window of FIG. 9,
print processing is executed in accordance with the changed number
of output copies.
[0129] The control unit 201 controls to execute such series of
processes (to be also referred to as a second sequence hereinafter)
in response to depression by the user of the "setting change" key
on the display window of FIG. 8, which is permitted to be displayed
on the display unit 301 under the condition that various conditions
described above are met (the condition that the trial-printed job
is a non-secure job, or the condition that the trial-printed job is
a secure job and the authentication processing for that secure job
is executed after the trial print operation) after execution of the
trial print operation.
[0130] FIG. 14 shows a window during execution of the main print
processing after the job settings have been changed. In this
manner, the user is notified of the print status of the job to be
processed with the receipt number "0006". For example, in this
case, the user is notified that since the settings have been
changed, the number of output copies is "5 copies", and the print
operation of the first page of the second copy is now in
progress.
[0131] Upon depression of a key 1302 on the window of FIG. 13, the
control unit 201 controls to execute trial print processing again
for the job with the receipt number "0006" under the print
conditions after the setting change, except for the number of
output copies is 1. In this way, since the loop control is executed
to perform trial print processing again under the print conditions
after the setting change even when the settings have been changed
after the trial print operation, the usability can be further
improved.
[0132] On the other hand, when the user presses the "cancel" key on
the window of FIG. 8, the control unit 201 controls the print
processing itself of the trial-printed job with the receipt number
"0006" and ends all processes. In this case, the control unit 201
controls to return the display contents on the display unit 301 to
the initial window (that of FIG. 4), and also to clear the image
data of the job with the receipt number "0006" from the hard disk
208.
[0133] The control unit 201 controls to execute such series of
processes (to be also referred to as a third sequence hereinafter)
in response to depression by the user of the "cancel" key on the
display window of FIG. 8, which is permitted to be displayed on the
display unit 301 under the condition that various conditions
described above are met (the condition that the trial-printed job
is a non-secure job, or the condition that the trial-printed job is
a secure job and the authentication processing for that secure job
is executed after the trial print operation) after execution of the
trial print operation.
[0134] As described above, in this embodiment, the control unit 201
controls the image forming apparatus to selectively execute, as
processes for a trial-printed job, a series of operations (first
sequence) "the settings of print conditions are changed, and main
print processing is then executed", a series of operations (second
sequence) "main print processing is executed intact without
changing the print conditions", or an operation (third sequence)
"the print processing itself is canceled" on the basis of the
user's instruction input via the window of FIG. 8 and the like.
When a job which is to undergo trial print processing is a secure
job, the control unit 201 permits to execute such operations for
the trial-printed job under the condition that the authentication
processing including the user's intervention operation is executed
after the trial print processing (the same authentication
processing as that executed before the beginning of the trial print
operation is executed again after the trial print operation). On
the other hand, when the authentication processing including the
user's intervention operation is not executed after the trial print
operation, the control unit 201 controls to prohibit the job
operations after the trial print operation of the secure job. In
addition, when a job which is to undergo trial print processing is
a non-secure job, the control unit 201 permits to execute the
execute such operations for the trial-printed job without executing
any authentication processing including the user's intervention
operation.
[0135] With this arrangement, in this embodiment, even when trial
print processing is executed based on a secure job, the security of
a document to be printed can be maintained, and the security of a
secure job can be continuously maintained even after execution of
the trial print processing. In addition, a problem of, e.g., poor
usability upon trial printing of a job other than a secure job
(e.g., a non-secure job) so as to maintain the security after the
trial print processing of a secure job can be prevented. Hence,
both the effect of maintaining security even after a secure job is
trial-printed, and the effect of improving usability upon
trial-printing of a non-secure job can be achieved at the same
time.
<Box Mode>
[0136] FIG. 16 shows a display example of a window which is used to
display a list of boxes provided for respective operators of the
image forming apparatus 101, is displayed upon selection of "box"
on the function selection area 401. FIG. 16 displays three boxes
"nagashima", "ushiyama", and "hara". That is, these three boxes are
those for three operators, respectively. These boxes are assigned
user names. Note that a key mark appears on a box 7 "ushiyama", and
it indicates that a password input is required upon printing a job
stored in this box. That is, secure jobs are stored in the box
"ushiyama".
[0137] On the other hand, no key marks appear on boxes "nagashima"
and "hara" on the window of FIG. 16. Contrary to the box
"ushiyama", this means that no password input are required upon
printing jobs stored in these boxes. That is, print jobs stored in
these boxes correspond to non-secure print jobs.
[0138] As described above, in this embodiment, a plurality of
virtual boxes are assured in the hard disk 208 of the image forming
apparatus, and the user can register as an initial setting whether
"to set/not to set a password" for each box. In this embodiment, a
job stored in a box with a password is handled as a secure print
job, and a job stored in a box without any password is handled as a
non-secure print job.
[0139] In this embodiment, whether a job is a secure or non-secure
job is determined not only for respective boxes, but also for each
print job. For example, when a host computer generates a print job
via a printer driver, as described above, the user can set for each
job on the printer driver whether a job is a secure or non-secure
job. In this manner, the arrangement to be adopted is not
particularly limited.
[0140] When the operator designates the box 7 with a finger, the
control unit 201 detects this designation, and switches the window
of the display unit 301 to that shown in FIG. 17. In FIG. 17,
reference numeral 8 denotes a window used to input a password;
1701, a field for inputting a password; and 1702, a button icon
used to instruct authentication of the password when this button
icon is designated after the password is input.
[0141] When the operator inputs a password to the field 1701 using
the operation unit 203 and designates the button icon 1702, the
control unit 201 detects this designation, and authenticates the
password input to the field 1701. This authentication processing is
executed by collating a password which is assigned to this box (box
"ushiyama") in advance with that input to the field 1701.
[0142] If the password input to the field 1701 is authenticated (if
it matches with the password assigned to the box "ushiyama"), the
control unit 201 detects this, and switches the display content of
the display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG. 18.
[0143] The window shown in FIG. 18 displays a list 9 used to
display a list of jobs held in the box "ushiyama", and the operator
selects a job to be printed from those (three jobs in FIG. 18)
displayed in the list 9 using the operation unit 203. In the
following description, assume that, for example, the operator
selects a job with a document name "document2". Upon selection of a
job, the control unit 201 detects it, and executes processing for
switching display contents of the display unit 301 to a window
shown in FIG. 19.
[0144] When the operator designates a "print" button icon 10 with a
finger, the control unit 201 detects this, and executes processing
for switching display contents of the display unit 301 to a window
shown in FIG. 20.
[0145] Referring to FIG. 20, reference numeral 11 denotes a button
icon used to change print settings. When the operator designates
this button icon 11 with a finger, the control unit 201 detects
this, and executes processing for switching display contents of the
display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG. 21. The window shown in
FIG. 21 allows the operator to make a sorter setting, a setting
associated with the print face such as double- or single-sided
printing, a setting of the number of print copies, and the like. In
this case, the operator sets a sorter setting to be "punch sort", a
setting of double-sided printing to be "ON", and a setting of the
number of print copies to be "12". After such settings, the control
unit 201 detects this, and switches display contents of the display
unit 301 to a window shown in FIG. 22.
[0146] When the operator designates a "print start" button image on
the window of FIG. 22, the control unit 201 detects this, switches
display contents of the display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG.
23, and executes print processing based on a print job.
[0147] Also, in FIG. 22, reference numeral 13 denotes a button icon
used to instruct trial print (trial copy) processing. When the
operator designates this button icon with a finger, he or she can
instruct to execute trial print processing of a job selected from
the list 9. When the operator designates this button icon 13 with a
finger or the like, the control unit 201 detects this, and switches
display contents of the display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG.
24. When the operator designates a "print start" button icon, the
control unit 201 detects this, switches display contents of the
display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG. 25, and executes trial
print processing. Executing the trial print processing is to print
one copy according to the job selected from the list 9. The number
of copies to be printed is not limited to one, but it is the number
of copies equal to or smaller than the number of print copies set
by the operation unit 203.
[0148] Upon completion of the print processing for one copy, the
control unit 201 detects this, switches display contents of the
display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG. 26, and prompts the
operator to input a password required to grant a permission to the
subsequent processes. In FIG. 26, reference numeral 14 denotes a
window used to input a password; 2601, a field for inputting a
password; and 2602, a button icon used to instruct authentication
of the password when this button icon is designated after the
password is input. When the print job is not a secure job, the
window in FIG. 26 does not appear.
[0149] When the operator inputs a password to the field 2601 using
the operation unit 203 and designates the button icon 2602, the
control unit 201 detects this designation, and authenticates the
password input to the field 2601. This authentication processing is
as described above. If the password input to the field 2601 is
authenticated, the control unit 201 detects this, and switches the
display content of the display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG.
27. When the print job is not a secure job, the window shown in
FIG. 27 is displayed directly without displaying the window in FIG.
26.
[0150] The operator confirms the print settings by checking one
copy printed by the trial print processing. If the operator wants
to change the settings, he or she designates a button icon 15.
[0151] Upon detection of designation of the button icon 15, the
control unit 201 switches the display content of the display unit
301 to a window shown in FIG. 28, and displays a GUI used to make
settings such as a setting of sorter, a setting associated with the
print face such as double- or single-sided printing, and the like
in the same manner as the settings on the window shown in FIG. 22.
In this case, the operator changes the setting of sorter to "staple
sort", as shown in FIG. 29. Upon completion of such setting, when
the operator designates a button icon 16, the control unit 201
detects this, and switches the display content of the display unit
301 to a window shown in FIG. 30.
[0152] After execution of the trial print processing, the operator
can change various settings associated with print processing. The
setting contents are stored in the memory 204 as data. Note that an
item to be re-set is not limited to this.
[0153] When the operator designates a button icon 18 on the window
shown in FIG. 30, the same processing as the above trial print
processing is executed. On the other hand, when the operator
designates a button icon 17 or a "print start" button on the window
of FIG. 27, the control unit 201 detects this, switches the display
content of the display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG. 31, and
executes processing for printing the print job selected from the
list 9.
[0154] On the other hand, if no settings are changed after the
trial print processing, when the operator designates a button icon
18, the control unit 201 detects this, switches the display content
of the display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG. 32, and executes
processing for printing the print job selected from the list 9.
[0155] That is, the number of print copy is 12, as shown in the
window of FIG. 22. However, when no settings are changed, since the
previously printed one copy can be used, the remaining 11 copies
need only be printed. However, when settings are changed, since the
previously printed one copy is invalid, 12 copies are printed from
the beginning.
<Copy Mode>
[0156] Print processing in the copy mode will be described below.
As described above, in case of the copy mode, print jobs are
sequentially enqueued in the form of a queue in the hard disk 208,
and are selected as an object to be printed in turn from the first
one. Therefore, the control unit 201 refers to the first print job,
and determines whether or not this job is a secure job. In this
determination processing, for example, if the print job is a secure
job, a password is appended to this print job. If appending of the
password is detected, the control unit 201 detects this, and
displays the window shown in FIG. 17 as the display contents of the
display unit 301.
[0157] The control unit 201 can collate the appended password with
that which is input to the field 1701. In any case, the processing
for prompting the operator to input a password and collating it
remains the same irrespective of the input mode of the print
job.
[0158] If the password input to the field 1701 is authenticated (if
it matches with the password appended to the print job), the
control unit 201 detects this, and switches the display contents of
the display unit 301 to the window shown in FIG. 6. When the print
job is not a secure job, the control unit 201 directly displays the
window shown in FIG. 6 without displaying the window shown in FIG.
17.
[0159] The operator sets the number of copies, paper sheet,
magnification, and the like of the job on this window using the
operation unit 203.
[0160] Referring to FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a button
image used to instruct trial print (trial copy) processing. When
the operator designates this button icon with a finger, he or she
can instruct to execute trial print processing of a print job. When
the operator designates this button icon 1 with a finger or the
like, the control unit 201 detects this, switches display contents
of the display unit 301 to the window shown in FIG. 7, and executes
trial print processing. Executing the trial print processing is to
print one copy according to the print job. The number of copies to
be printed is not limited to one, but it is the number of copies
equal to or smaller than the number of print copies set on the
window in FIG. 6 using the operation unit 203.
[0161] Upon completion of the print processing for one copy, the
control unit 201 detects this, switches display contents of the
display unit 301 to the window shown in FIG. 17, and prompts the
operator to input a password required to grant a permission to the
subsequent processes.
[0162] When the operator inputs a password to the field 1701 using
the operation unit 203 and designates the button icon 1702, the
control unit 201 detects this designation, and authenticates the
password input to the field 1701. If the password input to the
field 1701 is authenticated, the control unit 201 detects this, and
switches the display content of the display unit 301 to a window
shown in FIG. 8. If the print job is not a secure job, the control
unit 201 directly displays the window shown in FIG. 8 without
displaying the window shown in FIG. 17.
[0163] The operator confirms the print settings by checking one
copy printed by the trial print processing. If the operator wants
to change the settings, he or she designates a button icon 2 shown
in FIG. 8.
[0164] Upon designation of the button icon 2, the control unit 201
detects this, switches the display content of the display unit 301
to a window shown in FIG. 9, and displays a GUI used to change
settings of, e.g., the number of copies, density, finishing, and
the like. When the operator designates a button icon 3 used to
input an instruction for switching a sorter, the control unit 201
detects this, and switches the display content of the display unit
301 to a window shown in FIG. 10. The window shown in FIG. 10 is a
GUI window used to select a sorter to be used. When the operator
designates one of buttons 1001 to 1004 used to designate the sorter
to be used, he or she can designate the sorter to be used, and the
display contents of the display unit 301 are switched to a window
shown in FIG. 12. When still another setting is to be referred to,
the operator can designate a button icon 1005 or 1006.
[0165] On the other hand, when the operator designates a button
icon 4 used to instruct double-sided copy on the window shown in
FIG. 9, the control unit 201 detects this, and switches the display
content of the display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG. 11. The
window shown in FIG. 11 is a GUI window used to select details of
the double-sided copy mode. When the operator designates one of
button icons 1101 and 1102 as details of the double-sided copy
mode, and then designates a button icon 1103, the control unit 201
detects this, and switches the display content of the display unit
301 to a window shown in FIG. 12.
[0166] After execution of the trial print processing, the operator
can change various settings associated with print processing. The
setting contents are stored in the memory 204 as data. Note that an
item to be re-set is not limited to this.
[0167] When the operator designates a button icon 5 on the window
shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 201 detects this, and switches
the display content of the display unit 301 to a window shown in
FIG. 13.
[0168] When the operator designates a button icon 6 on the window
shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 201 detects this, switches the
display content of the display unit 301 to a window shown in FIG.
14, and executes print processing of a job to be printed under the
previously set print conditions. In this case, the number of copies
to be printed is that which is initially set or that which is
re-set in the re-setting processing.
[0169] When the operator wants to change the settings again before
he or she designates the button icon 6, he or she can designate a
button icon 1301 to execute the same processing as that upon
instructing the re-setting processing. Furthermore, when the
operator wants to execute trial print processing, he or she can
designate a button icon 1302 to execute the aforementioned trial
print processing.
[0170] When the re-setting processing is skipped, since the copy
previously printed by the trial print processing need not be
printed again, the print processing is executed for the number of
copies obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of print copies
set on the window in FIG. 6 using the operation unit 203. In this
case, the display window shown in FIG. 15 is displayed in place of
that in FIG. 14.
[0171] With the above processing, when a print job is a secure job
and the operator leaves the image forming apparatus 101 after this
print job is printed by the trial print processing, processing for
"printing for the designated number of copies" to be executed after
the trial print processing cannot be started without password
authentication. Hence, even when trial print processing and
processing for "printing for the designated number of copies" are
executed based on a secure job, the security for the print job can
be maintained.
[0172] FIGS. 33A and 33B are flowcharts of the aforementioned print
processing to be executed by the image forming apparatus 101. Note
that programs and data for making the control unit 201 execute the
processing according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 33A and 33B are
saved in the hard disk 208, and are loaded onto the memory 204
under the control of the control unit 201. When the control unit
201 executes processing using these programs and data, the image
forming apparatus 101 can implement print processing to be
described below.
[0173] Upon detection of a print job input from the external
apparatus or the scanner unit 202 of the self apparatus (step
S3301), the control unit 201 executes processing for saving this
print job in the hard disk 208 (step S3302). Upon saving the print
job, when the operator selects "box" from the function selection
area 401, the print job is stored in the box of the operator who is
currently using the image forming apparatus 101. On the other hand,
when the operator selects "copy", the print job is sequentially
stored in the queue assured in the hard disk 208. Also, this print
job is appended with data of print conditions (output settings such
as the number of print copies, and the like).
[0174] It is checked if data of all input print jobs are saved in
the hard disk 208 (step S3303). If data of all input print jobs are
saved, the flow advances to step S3304. In case of the box mode,
the control unit 201 executes processing for specifying a job to be
printed by accepting an input of the operation for opening one of
boxes using the operation unit 203. In case of the copy mode, the
control unit 201 executes processing for specifying the first job
in the queue as a job to be printed (step S3304).
[0175] In case of the box mode, it is determined whether or not the
box to be accessed by the operator using the operation unit 203 is
a box that stores secure jobs. In case of the copy mode, it is
checked if the first job in the queue is a secure job (step
S3305).
[0176] If the box to be accessed is not a box which stores secure
jobs, or if the first job in the queue is not a secure job, the
flow advances to step S3308. On the other hand, if the box to be
accessed is a box which stores secure jobs, or if the first job in
the queue is a secure job, the flow advances to step S3306 to
display the window shown in FIG. 17 on the display screen of the
display unit 301 and to wait for a password input (step S3306). A
password input to the field 1701 on this window is collated with
that pre-set for this box (or a password appended to the job to be
printed), and it is checked if these two passwords match (step
S3307). If the two passwords match, the flow advances to step
S3308.
[0177] Upon completion of the above processing, in case of the box
mode, the control unit 201 displays the window shown in FIG. 18 on
the display screen of the display unit 301 and prompts the operator
to select a job to be printed. When the operator selects a job and
designates the button icon 10, the control unit 201 displays the
window shown in FIG. 20 on the display screen of the display unit
301 and makes print preparation (step S3308). On the other hand, in
case of the copy mode, the control unit 201 displays the window
shown in FIG. 6 on the display screen of the display unit 301,
accepts the settings of print conditions on this window as needed,
and makes print preparation (step S3308).
[0178] It is checked if a trial print instruction is issued (step
S3309). In case of the box mode, it is checked if the operator
designates the button icon 13 on the window in FIG. 22 and then
designate the "print start" button icon in FIG. 24. On the other
hand, in the copy mode, it is checked if the operator designates
the button icon 1 in FIG. 6.
[0179] If the operator designates no trial print instruction, and
designates a print operation start instruction using the button
group 302 on the operation unit 203, the flow advances to step
S3310, and the control unit 201 reads out the previously specified
print job from the hard disk 208 and executes print processing in
accordance with the designated print conditions (step S3310).
[0180] On the other hand, if the operator designates the trial
print instruction, the flow advances to step S3311, and the control
unit 201 reads out the previously specified print job from the hard
disk (HDD) 208 and prints that print job for one copy (step
S3311).
[0181] The print processing is done by outputting the processing
result of data of the print job by the data processing unit 206 to
the printer unit 207. Since the actual print operation is known to
those skilled in the art, a description thereof will be omitted.
Upon completion of the print processing for one copy, the control
unit 201 pauses the print processing (step S3312), and checks if
the print job is a secure job by executing the same processing as
that in step S3305 (step S3313). If the print job is not a secure
job, the flow advances to step S3316.
[0182] On the other hand, if the print job is a secure job, the
flow advances to step S3314, and the control unit 201 displays the
window shown in FIG. 26 (box mode) or FIG. 17 (copy mode) on the
display screen of the display unit 301. The control unit 201 waits
for a password input, and executes the same processing as in step
S3307, thus authenticating the input password (step S3315). If the
input password is authenticated, the flow advances to step
S3316.
[0183] In step S3316, the control unit 201 displays the window
shown in FIG. 27 (box mode) or FIG. 8 (copy mode) on the display
screen of the display unit 301 (step S3316).
[0184] If the operator designates a "cancel" button image on this
window (step S3317), the flow advances to step S3318, and the
control unit 201 executes processing for clearing the print job to
be printed from the memory 204 and hard disk 208 (step S3318), thus
ending this processing.
[0185] If the operator designates a "print start" button image on
this window (step S3319), the flow advances to step S3320, and the
control unit 201 executes print processing on the basis of the
print job to be printed (step S3320). Note that the number of
copies to be printed is that obtained by subtracting 1 from the
number of copies which is previously set.
[0186] On the other hand, if the operator designates a "setting
change" button image on this window (step S3321), the flow advances
to step S3322, and the control unit 201 displays the window
associated with the setting change (step S3322). If the operator
designates a button icon for a predetermined change on this window,
the control unit 201 displays a window accordingly to accept
various change instructions (step S3323).
[0187] Upon completion of the change processing, since the control
unit 201 displays the window shown in FIG. 30 (box mode) or FIG. 13
(copy mode) on the display screen of the display unit 301, if the
operator designates a "print start" button image on this window
(step S3324), the flow advances to step S3325 to execute print
processing based on the print job to be printed (step S3325). Note
that the number of copies to be printed is that which is set
previously or that which is changed in step S3323. On the other
hand, if the operator does not designate the "print start" button
image, the flow returns to step S3316 to repeat the subsequent
processes.
[0188] After the print processing in step S3325, the control unit
201 clears the data of the print job from the memory 204 and hard
disk 208 and ends this processing.
[0189] With the above processing, the security of the secure job
can be maintained.
[0190] Also, in this embodiment, password authentication is made to
authenticate the operator who wants to print a secure job so as to
maintain the security of the secure job. Alternatively,
authentication may be made using living body information such as a
retina pattern, voice, fingerprints, and the like of the operator
in place of the password. In this case, the image forming apparatus
101 requires a mechanism for scanning living body information of
the operator and matching it with living body information appended
to a print job.
[0191] As a data input mode for authentication, a contact type ID
card for personal recognition may be used.
Second Embodiment
[0192] In this embodiment, when print settings are changed after
trial print processing, and the trial print processing is executed
again, the control prompts the operator to input a password
again.
[0193] FIGS. 35A and 35B are flowcharts of print processing
according to this embodiment. Note that the same step numbers in
FIGS. 35A and 35B denote the same steps as those in FIGS. 33A and
33B, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0194] After the print settings are changed in step S3323, if the
operator designates the trial print or print start button icon on
the window shown in FIG. 30 (box mode) or FIG. 13 (copy mode), the
flow returns to step S3309 to repeat the subsequent processes.
[0195] More specifically, when the print settings are changed and
trial print processing is executed, a password input is required
anew.
[0196] In this embodiment as well, as a data input mode for
authentication, a method of using a contact type ID card for
personal recognition may be used. When a non-contact type ID card
for personal recognition and card reader are used, it is recognized
that the operator is around a printer as well as personal
authentication. If the card reader cannot recognize the ID card,
i.e., if the operator leaves his or her seat, a window shown in
FIG. 37 is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 301
to implement a scheme that prohibits a job from being restarted by
a person other than an original.
Third Embodiment
[0197] In this embodiment, upon executing the processing in step
S3316 in the processing according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 33A
and 33B, no password input is required before this processing.
However, if a no-operation input time period for the window
displayed in step S3316 (the window shown in FIG. 27 (box mode) or
FIG. 8 (copy mode)) continuously elapses for a predetermined period
of time or more, authentication is made again.
[0198] FIGS. 34A, 34B, and 34C are flowcharts of print processing
according to this embodiment. Note that the same step numbers in
FIGS. 34A, 34B, and 34C denote the same steps as those in FIGS. 33A
and 33B, and a description thereof will be omitted. After the
processing in step S3312, that in step S3316 is executed. In this
case, it is checked if a no-operation input time period for the
window shown in FIG. 27 (box mode) or FIG. 8 (copy mode)
continuously elapses for a predetermined period of time or more
(step S3402). The time measurement is attained by the internal
timer of the control unit 201.
[0199] If the no-operation input time period falls within the
predetermined period of time, the processes in step S3317 and
subsequent steps are executed; otherwise, the flow advances to step
S3313 to check if the print job is a secure print job. If the print
job is not a secure job, the flow advances to step S3404, and the
control unit 201 continues to display the window shown in FIG. 27
(box mode) or FIG. 8 (copy mode) and executes the processes in step
S3451 and subsequent steps. Since the processes in step S3451 and
subsequent steps are the same as those in step S3317 and subsequent
steps, a description thereof will be omitted.
[0200] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3313 that
the print job is a secure job, the flow advances to step S3403, and
the control unit 201 clears the window shown in FIG. 27 (box mode)
or FIG. 8 (copy mode) (step S3403), and displays a password input
window shown in FIG. 38 to prompt the operator to input a password
(step S3405). In FIG. 38, reference numeral 3800 denotes a window
used to input a password; 3801, a field for inputting a password;
and 3802, a button icon used to instruct authentication of the
password when this button icon is designated after the password is
input.
[0201] When the operator inputs a password in the field 3801 using
the operation unit 203 and designates the button icon 3802, the
control unit 201 detects this, and authenticates the password input
to the field 3801. This authentication processing is the same as
that described above. If the password is authenticated, the flow
returns to step S3316 via step S3315 to repeat the subsequent
processes.
[0202] In this embodiment as well, as a data input mode for
authentication, a method of using a contact type ID card for
personal recognition may be used. When a non-contact type ID card
for personal recognition and card reader are used, it is recognized
that the operator is around a printer as well as personal
authentication. If the card reader cannot recognize the ID card,
i.e., if the operator leaves his or her seat, a window shown in
FIG. 37 is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 301
to implement a scheme that prohibits a job from being restarted by
a person other than an original.
Fourth Embodiment
[0203] The print processing according to this embodiment is
substantially the same as that in FIGS. 33A and 33B, except for
processes in step S3317 and subsequent steps. That is, if no
operation input is made for a predetermined period of time after
the change processing, the control prompts the operator to input a
new password.
[0204] FIGS. 36A and 36B are flowcharts of processes in step S3317
and subsequent steps in the print processing according to this
embodiment. Note that the same step numbers in FIGS. 36A and 36B
denote the same steps as those in FIGS. 33A, 33B, 34A, 34B, and
34C, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0205] After the change processing in step S3321, if the setting
are changed, the flow advances to step S3322, and the control unit
201 displays the window shown in FIG. 21 (box mode) or FIG. 9 (copy
mode) on the display screen of the display unit 301 to accept
various changes. It is then checked if a no-operation input time
period continuously elapses for a predetermined period of time or
more after this window is displayed (step S3602).
[0206] As a result of this checking processing, if a no-operation
input time period continuously elapses for a predetermined period
of time or more after the window shown in FIG. 21 (box mode) or
FIG. 9 (copy mode) is displayed on the display screen of the
display unit 301, the flow advances to step S3313 to check if the
print job is a secure job. If the print job is not a secure job,
the flow advances to step S3600 to check if the operator designates
a "close" button icon. If the operator designates a "close" button
icon, the flow advances to step S3651.
[0207] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3313 that
the print job is a secure job, the flow advances to step S3603, and
the control unit 201 clears the window shown in FIG. 21 (box mode)
or FIG. 9 (copy mode) (step S3603), and displays a password input
window shown in FIG. 38 to prompt the operator to input a password
(step S3405).
[0208] When the operator inputs a password in the field 3801 using
the operation unit 203 and designates the button icon 3802, the
control unit 201 detects this, and authenticates the password input
to the field 3801. This authentication processing is the same as
that described above. If the password is authenticated, the flow
returns to step S3322 via step S3315 to repeat the subsequent
processes.
[0209] On the other hand, if a no-operation input time period does
not continuously elapse for a predetermined period of time or more
after the window shown in FIG. 21 (box mode) or FIG. 9 (copy mode)
is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 301, the
flow advances to step S3604 to check if the operator designates a
"close" button icon. If the operator designates a "close" button
icon, the flow advances to step S3316, and the control unit 201
displays the window shown in FIG. 27 (box mode) or FIG. 8 (copy
mode) on the display screen of the display unit 301 (step
S3316).
[0210] If the operator designates a "cancel" button image on this
window (step S3605), the flow advances to step S3610, and the
control unit 201 executes processing for clearing the print job to
be printed from the memory 204 and hard disk 208 (step S3610), thus
ending this processing.
[0211] If the operator designates a "print start" button image on
this window (step S3606), the flow advances to step S3608, and the
control unit 201 executes print processing on the basis of the
print job to be printed (step S3608). Note that the number of
copies to be printed is that which is previously set. Then, the
control unit 201 executes processing for clearing the print job to
be printed from the memory 204 and hard disk 208 (step S3609), thus
ending this processing.
[0212] On the other hand, if the operator designates a "setting
change" button image on this window (step S3607), the flow advances
to step S3322 to repeat the aforementioned processes.
[0213] Since the processes in steps S3651 and subsequent steps are
the same as those in steps S3316 and subsequent steps, a
description thereof will be omitted.
[0214] In this embodiment as well, as a data input mode for
authentication, a method of using a contact type ID card for
personal recognition may be used. When a non-contact type ID card
for personal recognition and card reader are used, it is recognized
that the operator is around a printer as well as personal
authentication. If the card reader cannot recognize the ID card,
i.e., if the operator leaves his or her seat, a window shown in
FIG. 37 is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 301
to implement a scheme that prohibits a job from being restarted by
a person other than an original.
[0215] The above description has been given mainly for a case
wherein the print job is a secure job. When the print job is a
non-secure job, no processes associated with input and
authentication of a password are required in the above
description.
[0216] That is, upon handling data of a job set with a trial print
function, when the job to be processed by the trial print function
is a non-secure print job, a control unit of the image forming
apparatus controls to display, on an operation unit of the image
forming apparatus, an operation window for prompting the user to
select to change settings of print conditions of the job, to
continuously print the job for the remaining number of output
copies without changing the settings, or the like without executing
any authentication processing (e.g., by controlling to prohibit an
authentication data request window from being displayed) in
response to trial print processing of the job executed by the image
forming apparatus. When the user issues a print setting change
instruction of the job via the operation window, the control unit
controls to print the print job under the print conditions after
the setting change for the number of output copies designated
initially (i.e., for the number of print copies initially set by
the user via the operation unit before execution of the trial print
processing in this example).
[0217] On the other hand, when the user instructs to continue print
processing without changing the settings via the window, the
control unit controls to print for the number of output copies
obtained by subtracting the number of copies output by the trial
print processing from the initially set number of output copies
under the initially designated print conditions (corresponding to
various print setting conditions at least other than the number of
print copies such as a paper size setting, a print setting required
to specify double- or single-sided printing, a setting associated
with sheet processing such as staple processing, sort processing,
or the like, an image layout processing setting, and the like).
[0218] In this manner, when a non-secure job undergoes trial print
processing, the control unit controls to prohibit the image forming
apparatus from executing authentication processing unlike a secure
job after execution of the trial print processing, controls to
directly display, on the operation unit of the image forming
apparatus, the operation window for that job (a user interface
window used to execute an operation for changing the settings of
the print conditions, to continuously execute print processing
without changing the settings of the print conditions, or the
like), controls to accept a desired instruction from the user via
the UI, and controls the image forming apparatus to execute the
operation based on the instruction.
[0219] This arrangement can prevent occurrence of new problems
(e.g., a non-secure job is affected by the specification for
maintaining security upon executing trial print processing of a
secure job, and when a non-secure job is to undergo trial print
processing, authentication processing such as an input request of a
password or the like is required to give users of non-secure jobs
extra troubles).
[0220] As described above, this embodiment does not adopt a
specification that merely maintains security of a secure job after
the trial print processing, but it can prevent occurrence of new
problems such as poor usability and the like upon executing trial
print processing of a non-secure job, and can realize both the
effect of maintaining security even after the trial print
processing of a secure job, and the effect of improving usability
upon executing the trial print processing of a non-secure job.
Hence, this embodiment can provide a flexible system which
considers use environments of the image forming apparatus, various
needs from users, and the like.
Other Embodiments
[0221] The objects of the present invention are also achieved when
a CPU or MPU of a camera reads out and executes a program code from
a recording medium (or storage medium), which records a program
code of a software program that can implement the functions of the
above-mentioned embodiments. In this case, the program code itself
read out from the recording medium implements the functions of the
above-mentioned embodiments, and the recording medium which stores
the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0222] The functions of the above-mentioned embodiments may be
implemented not only by executing the readout program code by the
camera, but also by some or all of actual processing operations
executed by an operating system (OS) running on the camera on the
basis of an instruction of the program code.
[0223] Furthermore, the functions of the above-mentioned
embodiments may be implemented by some or all of actual processing
operations executed by a CPU or the like arranged in a function
extension card or a function extension unit, which is inserted in
or connected to the camera, after the program code read out from
the recording medium is written in a memory of the extension card
or unit.
[0224] When the present invention is applied to the recording
medium, that recording medium stores program codes corresponding to
the aforementioned flowcharts.
[0225] As many apparently widely different embodiments of the
present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in
the claims.
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0226] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2004-316308 filed on Oct. 29, 2004, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
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