Image forming apparatus, method of controlling the same, and program

The present invention relates to a job re-execution function in an image forming apparatus having a user authentication function.

In Patent Document 1, when a job such as printing or sending is executed, the contents of the job (hereinafter referred to as the original job) are saved, and the job is re-executed later (hereinafter referred to as a re-execution function). An image forming apparatus has been proposed. In such a conventional technique, the contents of a job are saved for re-execution depending on whether or not the re-execution of the job is permitted at the time of executing the job. Further, as a method of allowing the user to select the re-execution of the job, it is possible to select the executed job from the print history and re-execute the selected job. Further, since the job is re-executed according to the instruction of a user having appropriate authority, whether or not the job can be re-executed is determined based on the user authentication when the job re-execution is selected.

<p num="0003"><patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-43962</text></patcit></p>

<p num="0004"> However, the prior art has the problems described below. For example, in the prior art, since only a user with appropriate authority can instruct the re-execution function, the execution feasibility of the re-execution function is determined by user authentication. On the other hand, whether or not to save the job for re-execution when the original job is executed and enable the re-execution of the job depends on whether or not the re-execution is possible for each job and whether the re-execution function is effective as an image forming device. Has been done. Therefore, even though the user authentication function is invalid, there is a problem that the job for re-execution is saved and made re-executable. Further, depending on the application that executes the job, the job can be executed by an unauthenticated user, the job saved by an indefinite user can be handled, and the job can be re-executed or deleted, for example. That is, there is a problem that the job can be re-executed even when the user is not authenticated.</p><p num="0005"> The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is an image forming apparatus for appropriately controlling the saving of processed jobs and the handling of saved jobs based on device settings and user information, and control thereof. The purpose is to provide methods and programs.</p>

<p num="0006"> The present invention is, for example, an image forming apparatus, a job executing means for executing a job related to image forming, and a job executing means.<u style="single">A setting means for enabling or disabling each of the user authentication function of the image forming apparatus and the re-execution function of re-executing a job executed by the job execution means, and the above-mentioned</u>The user authentication function is enabled and<u style="single">Said</u>When the re-execution function is enabled, it is determined that the re-execution function can be executed, and when at least one of the user authentication function and the re-execution function is disabled, the re-execution function is disabled. Is determined to be unexecutable, and when the determination means determines that the re-execution function is executable, the job information of the job executed by the job execution means is stored in the image forming apparatus. The user is authenticated when it is determined by the storage means and the determination means that the re-execution function can be executed, the user authentication is successful, and the authenticated user has the execution authority of the job. The user is provided with a control means for permitting the user to handle the job information stored by the storage means.</p>

<p num="0007"> The present invention can provide an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program that suitably control the storage of processed jobs and the handling of saved jobs based on device settings and user information.</p>

<figref num="1">It is a figure which shows the network configuration.</figref><figref num="2">It is a hardware block diagram of an image forming apparatus.</figref><figref num="3">This is an example of a setting screen for setting the user authentication function and the re-execution function.</figref><figref num="4">It is a flowchart which shows the presence / absence determination process of the re-execution function processed by an image forming apparatus.</figref><figref num="5">It is a flowchart which shows the user authentication processing which the image forming apparatus processes.</figref><figref num="6">It is a flowchart which shows the 1st job execution process which concerns on 1st Embodiment.</figref><figref num="7">It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd job execution process which concerns on 1st Embodiment.</figref><figref num="8">This is an example of a setting screen for an indefinite user according to the second embodiment.</figref><figref num="9">It is a flowchart which shows the presence / absence determination process of the re-execution function which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.</figref>

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the means for solving the invention.

&lt;First embodiment&gt; &lt;Configuration of image formation system&gt; Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. First, a configuration example of the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 101 denotes an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, which is an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) including a scanner and a printer. The MFP 102 is also an image forming apparatus having the same function.

The PC (Personal Computer) 103 is an information processing device, and is connected to the MFPs 101 and 102 via the LAN 110. In addition, it is possible to request processing to MFP101 and 102, manage the status of MFP101 and 102, and manage jobs such as scanning, printing, and copying during processing. The PC104 is an authentication server and is connected to the MFPs 101 and 102 via the LAN 110. In addition, user authentication can be performed for user authentication requests from MFP 101 and 102, and the authentication result can be returned.

It should be noted that here, there is no intention of limiting the number of each device, and only an example is shown. That is, the image forming system of the present invention may include more MFPs and PCs. Further, instead of the MFP, another image forming apparatus, for example, an SMP (Single Function Peripheral), a printer, a FAX (facsimile) apparatus, a copier, or the like may be included.

&lt;Configuration of image forming device&gt; Next, the hardware configurations of the MFPs 101 and 102 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. An example of the hardware configuration of the MFP 101 will be described below. Since the hardware configuration of the MFP 102 is the same as that of the MFP 101, the description thereof will be omitted.

The MFP 101 includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, an LCD 203, an operation unit 204, a ROM 205, a scanner engine 206, a printer engine 207, a hard disk 208, a network I / F 209, and a card reader 210. These components are connected to each other via the system bus 220.

The program that controls the MFP101 is stored in the ROM 205, read into the RAM 202 as needed, and executed by the CPU 201. In addition to the control program, the ROM 205 and the hard disk 208 are stored with attribute information indicating the function and status of the image forming apparatus itself and the job processed by the image forming apparatus, job data to be output, and received and stored. Stores job data, etc.

Further, the CPU 201 communicates with the outside connected via the network I / F 209. The network I / F 209 may be not only an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface but also a wireless communication network I / F such as USB, IEEE1394, or Bluetooth (registered trademark). Further, the CPU 201 displays a message to the user via the LCD 203 and the operation unit 204, and receives an input from the user. Further, the CPU 201 reads the input data from the IC card or the magnetic card via the card reader 210.

In the present embodiment, unless otherwise specified, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 201 uses the system bus 220, the user input via the operation unit 204, the IC card via the card reader 210, and the magnetic. Receives input data from the card. Further, the CPU 201 comprehensively controls the RAM 202, the LCD 203, the ROM 205, the scanner engine 206, the printer engine 207, the hard disk 208, and the network I / F 209 via the system bus 220, and executes various processes.

The scanner engine 206 can execute a scan job that reads a paper document and creates image data. In addition, the printer engine 207 can execute a print job that outputs data received from the outside. Therefore, by using the scanner engine 206 and the printer engine 207, it is possible to execute a copy job for copying a paper document. Here, terms are defined for the units processed by the MFP 101 shown in FIG. A process for executing services provided by the MFP101, such as printing, scanning, copying, faxing, receiving a fax, saving a document, and sending a document, is collectively referred to as a job.

&lt;Screen example&gt; Next, with reference to FIG. 3, it is an example of a setting screen in which the MFP101 according to the present embodiment sets whether to enable the user authentication function and whether to enable the re-execution function for the user. The screen described below can also be displayed on the MFP 102. These screens are displayed on the LCD 203 when the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 executes the program stored in the ROM 205.

Screens 301, 302, and 303 show setting examples of the setting screen for the print function that can be set by the administrator of the MFP 101, respectively, and the user determines whether the user authentication function is enabled for the print function and whether the re-execution function is enabled. It is a screen to be set to. Although FIG. 3 shows a setting screen for the print function, the setting target may be a function for an executable job, and may be not limited to the print function but may be a copy function, a scan function, a document transmission function, or the like. Further, it may be configured as a setting screen common to each function.

Since "Perform user authentication" is set and "Enable re-execution" is not set on screen 301, user authentication is performed for the print function and the job re-execution function is disabled. ing. Further, when the setting of "user authentication" is removed, the screen transitions to screen 303.

Since screen 302 is set to "authenticate user" and "enable re-execution", it is set so that user authentication is performed for the print function and the job re-execution function is enabled. There is. When the setting of "Enable re-execution" is removed, the screen 301 is displayed. If the setting of "user authentication" is removed, the setting of "enable re-execution" is deleted and the screen transitions to screen 303. When the screen transitions from the screen 302 to the screen 301 or the screen 302 is performed, the image data and the job setting values saved in the hard disk 208 for re-execution of the job in S604 of FIG. 6 described later are deleted. It may be configured to do so.

The screen 303 indicates that the print function is set not to perform user authentication because "user authentication" is not set. If user authentication is not set, the print function can be executed without authentication. Therefore, if "User Authentication" is not set, "Enable Re-execution" cannot be selected. When "User Authentication" is set, the screen 301 is displayed.

&lt;Judgment of presence / absence of re-execution function&gt; Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a processing procedure for determining whether or not the re-execution function can be executed in the MFP 101 according to the present embodiment will be described. The processing described below is realized by executing the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 according to the program stored in the ROM 205.

In S401, CPU201 determines whether or not the user authentication function is valid. In the present embodiment, whether or not the user authentication function is effective is determined by whether or not "user authentication" is set on the screen shown in FIG. 3, but another configuration may be used. For example, if the job to be executed is a print job, and the print job that can be executed by MFP101 is configured so that it can be instructed to be executed only by the application with the authentication function, the user authentication function is enabled in S401. You may judge. Further, the presence / absence of the user authentication function may be determined based on whether or not valid user authentication information is set for the job to be executed. Further, as another configuration, it may be determined that the user authentication function is effective when the external device with the user authentication function is connected and enabled via the system bus 220. If it is determined that the user authentication function is valid, the process proceeds to S402. If it is determined that the user authentication function is invalid, the process proceeds to S404. In addition, when proceeding to S404, it is determined whether "Enable re-execution" is set by the screen shown in Fig. 3, and if "Enable re-execution" is set, the setting is deleted. You may try to do it.

Next, in S402, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the setting of the re-execution function is valid depending on whether or not "enable re-execution" is set by the screen as shown in FIG. If "Enable re-execution" is set, it is determined that the setting of the re-execution function is valid, and the process proceeds to S403. On the other hand, if "Enable Re-execution" is not set, the process proceeds to S404.

In S403, the CPU 201 determines that the re-execution function can be executed and ends the process. On the other hand, in S404, the CPU 201 determines that the re-execution function cannot be executed and ends the process.

&lt;User authentication&gt; Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a user authentication process that the MFP 101 according to the present embodiment processes based on the information input from the outside will be described. The processing described below is realized by executing the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 according to the program stored in the ROM 205.

In S501, the CPU 201 receives the authentication information input from the user via the operation unit 204. The authentication information is input data for user authentication, and in the present embodiment, indicates an ID for identifying the user (user ID) and a password determined in advance for authenticating the user. Here, the configuration of the authentication information is not limited to the above-mentioned user ID and password, and any input data that can be collated with the authentication management information in the next S502 may be used. The method of inputting the authentication information accepted by the S501 may be a method of inputting from an IC card or a magnetic card via a card reader 210, in addition to the user input via the operation unit 204.

Next, in S502, the CPU 201 collates the authentication information input in S501 with the authentication management information stored in the hard disk 208 in advance. Here, it is assumed that the authentication management information is stored in the hard disk 208 in advance, but the authentication management information does not need to be stored in the MFP 101. For example, the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 may transmit the authentication information input and received by the S401 via the network I / F 209 to the authentication server PC 104, and the next S503 may be determined based on the authentication result received from the PC 104. In this case, the PC104 collates the authentication information transmitted from the MFP101 and received via the LAN 110 with the authentication management information held in advance by the PC104, and transmits the collation result to the MFP101.

Next, in S503, the CPU 201 determines the collation result in S502, proceeds to S504 if the collation succeeds, and proceeds to S505 if the collation fails. In S504, the CPU 201 sets the authentication success as a result of the user authentication, and ends the process. On the other hand, in S505, the CPU 201 sets an authentication failure as a result of user authentication, and ends the process.

&lt;First job execution process&gt; Next, the first job execution process processed by the MFP 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the first job execution process indicates the first execution process in the received job (original job). The processing described below is realized by executing the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 according to the program stored in the ROM 205.

In S601, the CPU 201 executes an image forming process according to a job received via the network I / F 209 or the operation unit 204. Subsequently, in S602, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the job to be executed is designated to be re-executable. If re-execution is specified for the job, it is determined that re-execution is permitted as the job setting, and the process proceeds to S603. If re-execution is not specified for the job, it is determined that re-execution is not permitted in the job settings and the process ends.

In S603, the CPU 201 performs a determination process of whether or not the re-execution function described in FIG. 4 is executable, and when it is determined that the re-execution function is executable, the process proceeds to S604 and the re-execution function is executed. If it is determined that it is not possible, the re-execution job is not executed and the process ends. Subsequently, in S604, the CPU 201 saves the job information for re-executing the job received and processed in S601 in the hard disk 208 in an executable format such as the processed image data and the job setting value, and performs the processing. finish. In the format of saving to the hard disk 208, the information of the user who is authenticated at the time of job execution may be included.

In the present embodiment, only when re-executability is specified in S602, the image data processed by the job, the setting value of the job, and the like are saved in a re-executable format. As a form, S602 may not be implemented. For example, if the re-execution function is determined to be effective by the judgment of S603, the processing of S604 can be executed, and the image data and job setting values can be saved for re-execution regardless of the user's instruction. it can.

&lt;Second job execution process&gt; Next, the second job execution process processed by the MFP 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Here, the second job execution process indicates the second and subsequent re-execution processes using the save job that saved the previously received job (original job). The processing described below is realized by executing the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 according to the program stored in the ROM 205.

The process described below is executed when the execution instruction reflecting the function settings for the MFP 101 described in FIG. 3 is not given. For example, "Enable re-execution" is set on the screen shown in Fig. 3, and after the image data and job settings are saved for re-execution by the process in Fig. 6, LAN110 is set from PC103 to MFP101. It is executed when the execution instruction of the re-execution job is given via. In particular, it is executed when the image data saved for re-execution or the setting value of the job is saved even if the setting of "Enable re-execution" is deleted on the screen shown in Fig. 3.

In S701, the CPU 201 performs a determination process of whether or not the re-execution function described in FIG. 4 is executable, and if it is determined that the re-execution function is executable, the process proceeds to S702. On the other hand, if it is determined that the re-execution function cannot be executed, the re-execution job is not executed, a screen indicating that the re-execution function cannot be executed is displayed on the LCD 203, and the process ends.

In S702, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the user authentication process described with reference to FIG. 4 has been executed. If the user authentication process has been executed, the process proceeds to S703 in order to proceed with the subsequent processing as a job of the user authenticated by the executed user authentication process. If the user authentication process has not been executed, the process ends.

In S703, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the user authenticated by the user authentication process is granted the re-execution authority of the job. Regarding the job re-execution authority, for example, the user information (job owner) that instructed the first job execution process corresponding to the job to be re-executed and the user information authenticated in the second job execution process. Judge by collation. In addition, the execution authority may be managed for each user, the execution authority of the user may be managed for each job, or the execution authority may be determined by a combination thereof. If it is determined that the user has the right to re-execute the job, the process proceeds to S704, and S704 re-executes the specified job to complete the process. If it is determined that the user does not have the execution authority, the re-execution job is not executed, the LCD 203 displays a screen indicating that the user does not have the re-execution authority, and the process ends.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the MFP101 may determine whether the user authentication function is valid, and if the user authentication function is invalid, the re-execution function may be disabled. it can. When the re-execution function is disabled, it can be configured not to execute the job save process that enables the job to be re-executed. In addition, even if a job re-execution is instructed from the outside via the network I / F 209, the job re-execution can be configured not to be processed. Therefore, the re-execution of the job can be instructed and executed only by the appropriate user authority based on the user authentication. Although the re-execution of the job has been described in the present embodiment, the deletion process of the saved job can be controlled in the same manner. That is, the present invention can suitably control access to the saved job.

&lt;Second embodiment&gt; Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. Here, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described. Therefore, description of the same configuration and technology as in the first embodiment will be omitted. First, referring to FIG. 8, in addition to the settings described in FIG. 3, whether the MFP101 according to the present embodiment enables an indefinite user for the user, and permits the indefinite user to execute the re-execution job. The setting screen for setting whether or not to perform is described. Here, the undefined user means that, for example, when the user authentication function is enabled, appropriate user authentication information cannot be set for a print job submitted from an external PC 103 via the network I / F 209 (specific). (Not) Indicates the user. That is, when the indefinite user is enabled, the authentication is successful even if the information received by S501 is not included in the authentication management information.

Screens 801 to 803 are for enabling job execution by authentication using a default indefinite user only for the corresponding job type. In the present embodiment, the indefinite user also includes a guest user. A guest user is a user account that enables the MFP 101 to be used even for users who do not store user information that can be authenticated as authentication management information in advance on the hard disk 208 of the MFP 101 when the user authentication function is enabled. Is.

Screens 801 to 803 are print function setting screens that can be set by the administrator. "Enable indefinite user" indicates a setting of whether to allow user authentication by a default user who does not specify a user when authenticating a user. Further, "executable by an indefinite user" indicates a setting of whether or not to allow an execution instruction of a re-execution job when the user is authenticated as the above-mentioned indefinite user.

On the screen 801, when "Undefined user execution is possible" is set, the screen 802 is displayed. On the screen 802, when the setting of "enable indefinite user" is removed, the setting of "executable indefinite user" is deleted, and then the screen 803 is displayed. Note that the job image data and job setting values that can be re-executed by an indefinite user may be deleted when transitioning to screen 803. On the screen 803, when "Enable indefinite user" is set, the screen 801 is displayed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, in addition to the first job execution process and the second job execution process described in FIGS. 6 and 7, a job execution instruction by an indefinite user is given based on the settings described in FIG. The process of determining whether or not to process will be described. The flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is processed when the user is authenticated as an indefinite user by the user authentication process described in FIG. The processing described below is realized by executing the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 according to the program stored in the ROM 205.

Since S901 and S902 have the same determination as S401 and S402 described in FIG. 4, respectively, the description thereof will be omitted. In S903, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the job re-execution by the indefinite user is effective depending on whether or not "indefinite user execution is possible" is set by the screen shown in FIG. If "indefinite user execution is possible" is set, the process proceeds to S904, and the CPU 201 determines that the re-execution function for the indefinite user is effective. On the other hand, if "indefinite user execution possible" is not set, the process proceeds to S905, the CPU 201 determines that the re-execution function for the indefinite user is invalid, and ends the process.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the MFP101 determines whether or not the job can be re-executed by the indefinite user, and even if the indefinite user is effectively set, the job re-execution is appropriate. It can be instructed and executed only by the authority of the user.

&lt;Other embodiments&gt; The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads the program. This is the process to be executed.