Image formation apparatus, control method for image formation apparatus, and program

Abstract

To provide a mechanism that can monitor unauthorized personal use of a subscription service while considering privacy.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus 101 executes a print job on the basis of print data received from a PC 102. The image formation apparatus 101 determines the presence / absence of the use of a subscription service in the print job. The image formation apparatus 101 performs control so as to provide all logs of the print jobs using the subscription service to a contractor of the subscription service. Additionally, the image formation apparatus 101 performs prescribed control so as to prevent the leakage of information related to privacy from the logs of the print jobs that do not use the subscription service.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for an image forming apparatus, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Subscription services are known that allow users to enter into a contract with a service provider and print a specified number of pages and replace consumables for a fixed fee during the contract period (see Patent Document 1). There are also known usage patterns in which the use of subscription services is determined according to the purpose. For example, a user may use a subscription service contracted by the company when printing company documents, but not use the subscription service when printing for personal use. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] US2021 / 0326083 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, in a configuration in which the subscription service contracted by a company is used or not depending on the purpose, it is possible to use the subscription service for personal use. For this reason, it is necessary to monitor the execution history of the image forming device to prevent unauthorized personal use of the subscription service. One method for monitoring the execution history is to provide the contractee of the subscription service with a log of print jobs executed by the image forming device. However, in the above configuration, even logs of personal print jobs that do not use the subscription service are provided to the contractee of the subscription service.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a mechanism that can monitor unauthorized private use of a subscription service while respecting privacy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that executes a print job based on print data received from a communication device, and is equipped with a means for determining whether or not a subscription service is used in the print job, and a means for controlling the provision of a log of the print job to a subscriber of the subscription service, wherein the means for controlling controls the provision of all logs of the print job to a subscriber of the subscription service if the print job is a print job that uses the subscription service, and performs predetermined control to prevent the leakage of privacy information from the log of the print job if the print job is a print job that does not use the subscription service. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to monitor unauthorized private use of a subscription service while respecting privacy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of a management system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the PC in FIG. [Figure 4] 11 is a sequence diagram showing a flow from when a user submits a print job until a log generated by the execution of the print job is provided to a client. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen displayed on the display unit when a user selects a personal use driver. [Figure 6] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen displayed on a display unit when a user selects a subscription service contract usage driver. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a diagram showing an example of print data generated by the PC in FIG. 1; [Figure 8] 3 is an example of a notification screen displayed on the display unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 9] 2 is a diagram showing an example of information managed by the subscription service management server of FIG. 1. [Figure 10] 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print process in S403 of FIG. 4. [Figure 11] 10. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining storage of the image log, job log, operation log, and debug log acquired in step S1004 of FIG. [Figure 12] 11 is a diagram for explaining how the consumable information acquired in S1004 of FIG. 10 is stored. FIG. [Figure 13] 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a process for transmitting a log and consumable information in S405 of FIG. 4. [Figure 14] 5 is a flowchart showing another procedure of the printing process in S403 of FIG. 4. [Figure 15] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining storage of print job logs and consumable information in the present embodiment. [Figure 16] 7 is a flowchart showing another procedure of the process of transmitting the log and the consumable item information in S405 of FIG. 4. [Figure 17] 7 is a flowchart showing still another procedure of the process of transmitting the log and the consumable item information in S405 of FIG. 4. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a flow from when a user submits a print job to when a log generated by the execution of the print job is provided to the client in a configuration in which a log is directly transmitted from the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 to a PC operated by the client. [Figure 19] 18 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the transmission control process in S1805 of FIG. 18. [Figure 20]FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a flow from when a user submits a print job to when a log generated by execution of the print job is provided to a client in a configuration in which a log and consumable information are transmitted from the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 to a PC. [Figure 21] 21 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print process in step S2003 of FIG. 20. [Figure 22] 21 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a process for transmitting a log and consumable information in step S2005 of FIG. 20. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of a management system 100 including an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In Fig. 1, the management system 100 is composed of an image forming apparatus 101, a PC (personal computer) 102, a subscription service management server 103, and a PC 104. These can communicate with each other via a network 105.

[0011] It is assumed that the image forming device 101 and the PC 102 are installed in, for example, a user's home. It is also assumed that a contract for the use of the image forming device 101 is concluded between the company where the user works and a subscription service provider for the image forming device, for one of plans A to B described later.

[0012] The subscription service management server 103 is a server that provides a subscription service for an image forming device, and is managed by a subscription service provider. The subscription service management server 103 acquires, from the image forming device 101, logs and the like that are generated when the image forming device 101 executes a print job, and manages the acquired logs.

[0013] A user can cause the image forming apparatus 101 to execute a print job by operating the operation unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 101 in FIG. 2 (to be described later) or by operating the operation unit 302 of the PC 102 in FIG. 3 (to be described later). In this embodiment, when printing a company document, the user causes the image forming apparatus 101 to execute a print job by using a subscription service with which the company has contracted. On the other hand, when performing personal printing, the user causes the image forming apparatus 101 to execute a print job without using this subscription service. In this way, in this embodiment, the user can use or not use the subscription service depending on the purpose.

[0014] A client, who is a subscriber who has signed a contract for a subscription service with a subscription service provider, operates a PC 104 to obtain a print job log from a subscription service management server 103. The client monitors for unauthorized private use of the subscription service based on the obtained print job log.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the image forming apparatus 101 includes a display unit 201, an operation unit 202, a printer unit 203, a scanner unit 204, and a controller unit 205. The display unit 201, the operation unit 202, the printer unit 203, and the scanner unit 204 are each connected to the controller unit 205.

[0016] The display unit 201 includes an LED or a liquid crystal display, and displays the contents of operations performed by the user and information about the image forming apparatus 101. The operation unit 202 includes a plurality of operation buttons, and receives various operations from the user. In addition to including a plurality of operation buttons, the operation unit 202 may also be configured as a touch display together with the display unit 201.

[0017] The printer unit 203 receives a print instruction from the controller unit 205 and prints image data sent from the controller unit 205 on paper. The printer unit 203 also switches the print speed according to a print speed instruction notified by the controller unit 205 when the image forming apparatus 101 is started up. The scanner unit 204 reads an original document according to a read instruction received from the controller unit 205, generates image data of the original document, and transmits the generated image data to the controller unit 205.

[0018] The controller unit 205 is composed of a CPU 206, a ROM 207, a RAM 208, a HDD 209, an EEPROM 210, and a network I / F 211. The CPU 206 executes a control program read from the ROM 207 or the HDD 209 to the RAM 208 to control the operation of the components connected to the controller unit 205. The ROM 207 is a read-only memory and stores a boot program and the like required for starting the system. The RAM 208 is a volatile memory and is a work memory used when executing the control program. The HDD 209 is a storage medium such as a magnetic disk and stores the control program, image data, and the like. The EEPROM 210 is a non-volatile memory and stores setting values ​​and the like required when executing the control program. The EEPROM 210 also stores a serial number for identifying the image forming apparatus 101, a print speed notified to the printer unit 203, a counter value indicating how many sheets have been printed, contract information for a subscription service, and the like. The network I / F 211 is an interface for connecting to the network 105 and performing data communication with an external device.

[0019] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the PC 102 in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3, the PC 102 includes a display unit 301, an operation unit 302, a CPU 303, a ROM 304, a RAM 305, a HDD 306, and a network I / F 307.

[0020] The display unit 301 includes an LED and a liquid crystal display, and displays the contents of operations performed by the user and information about the PC 102. The operation unit 302 includes a mouse and a keyboard, and receives various operations from the user.

[0021] The CPU 303 executes a control program read from the ROM 304 or HDD 306 to the RAM 305 to control the operation of the components of the PC 102. The ROM 304 is a read-only memory and stores a boot program and the like required for starting the system. The RAM 305 is a volatile memory and is a work memory used when the control program is executed. The HDD 306 is a storage medium such as a magnetic disk and stores the control program, image data, and the like. The control program is, for example, a control program of a print driver which is a software module for causing the image forming apparatus 101 to execute a print job from the PC 102. Two print drivers, a subscription service contract use driver and a personal use driver, are installed in the PC 102. A user selects a print driver to be used from these two print drivers according to the purpose. Specifically, when printing a company document, the subscription service contract use driver is selected, and when printing privately, the personal use driver is selected. The network I / F 307 is an interface for connecting to the network 105 and performing data communication with an external device.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a flow from when a user submits a print job until a log generated by the execution of the print job is provided to a client.

[0023] 4, first, the user operates the operation unit 302 of the PC 102 to input a print job (S (step) 401). At this time, the user selects, on a setting screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 301, a print driver that generates print data for causing the image forming apparatus 101 to execute this print job from among the subscription service contract use driver and the personal use driver.

[0024] For example, when the user selects the personal use driver on the setting screen, the print setting screen 500 in Fig. 5 is displayed on the display unit 301. Various setting values ​​used during printing are set on the print setting screen 500. For example, in the output method 501, the user can set either "print", which starts printing of print data immediately when the print data is received, or "hold print", which holds the print data without starting printing of the print data immediately when the print data is received.

[0025] On the other hand, when the user selects the subscription service contract usage driver on the setting screen, the print setting screen 600 in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit 301. Various setting values ​​used during printing are also set on the print setting screen 600. Unlike the print setting screen 500 described above, the print setting screen 600 displays a notification indicating that the subscription service is being used. Also, unlike the print setting screen 500 described above, the print setting screen 600 has only one setting value selectable in the output method 601, which is "stored print". For example, when the user sets various setting values ​​on the print setting screen 600 and selects the OK button 602, the PC 102 generates print data 700 in FIG. 7 using the subscription service contract usage driver.

[0026] The print data 700 includes contract information 701, the number of copies 702, color setting 703, output method 704, print driver information 705, and print document data 706. The contract information 701 is information on the subscription service plan that the company has contracted with. The number of copies 702 is a setting value of the number of copies specified on the print setting screen 600. The color setting 703 is a setting value of the color mode specified on the print setting screen 600. The output method 704 is a setting value specified in the output method 601 on the print setting screen 600. The print driver information 705 is information indicating the print driver selected by the user on the setting screen, that is, the subscription service contract use driver. The print document data 706 is image data or Word data specified by the user as a print target. Note that when the user selects a personal use driver on the setting screen, for example, the setting values ​​specified on the print setting screen 500 are set in the number of copies 702, color setting 703, and output method 704, and information indicating the personal use driver is set in the print driver information 705.

[0027] Next, the PC 102 transmits the generated print data 700 to the image forming apparatus 101 (S402).

[0028] The image forming apparatus 101 that has received the print data 700 displays on the display unit 201 a print data selection screen (not shown) that allows the user to select print data. For example, when the user selects the print data 700 generated by the subscription service contract usage driver on the print data selection screen and issues an instruction to execute a print job based on the print data 700, a notification screen 800 in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 201. The notification screen 800 includes a warning notification 801 indicating that a print job that uses a subscription service is being executed. This allows the user to be given an opportunity to be aware of private use of the subscription service. When the user selects an OK button 802 on the notification screen 800, the image forming apparatus 101 performs a print process in FIG. 10 (to be described later) (S403).

[0029] When the image forming apparatus 101 executes a print process described later, multiple logs are acquired, and consumable information such as the number of printed sheets and the amount of ink used is also acquired. The logs are stored in the HDD 209, and the consumable information is stored in the EEPROM 210.

[0030] Thereafter, the subscription service management server 103 transmits a data provision request to the image forming apparatus 101 to instruct the image forming apparatus 101 to provide the log and consumables information (S404). Note that the subscription service management server 103 transmits the data provision request to other image forming apparatuses managed by the subscription service management server 103 in addition to the image forming apparatus 101.

[0031] The image forming apparatus 101 performs control to provide the log to the client. Specifically, the image forming apparatus 101 executes a process of transmitting the log and consumable information shown in Fig. 13 (to be described later) (S405), and transmits the log and the consumable information to the subscription service management server 103 in accordance with the received data provision request. The subscription service management server 103 manages the received log and consumable information.

[0032] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of information managed by the subscription service management server 103 of Fig. 1. For example, the subscription service management server 103 registers the log and consumables information received from the image forming apparatus 101 in association with the client identification information and the device serial ID of the image forming apparatus 101. The subscription service management server 103 periodically performs the process of S404 for all image forming apparatuses to be managed. In this way, the subscription service management server 103 manages the log and consumables information received from each image forming apparatus for each client.

[0033] 4, when the subscription service management server 103 receives a request to provide a log from the PC 104 operated by the client, the subscription service management server 103 transmits the log associated with this client to the PC 104 (S406). The above is the flow from when the user submits a print job to when the log generated by the execution of the print job is provided to the client.

[0034] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print process in S403 in Fig. 4. The print process in Fig. 10 is realized by the CPU 206 executing a program stored in the HDD 209 or the like.

[0035] 10, when the CPU 206 receives print data 700 from the PC 102 (S1001), it causes the display unit 201 to display the print data selection screen. When the user issues an instruction to start a print job based on the print data 700 selected on the print data selection screen, the CPU 206 starts printing based on this print data 700 (S1002). If "print" rather than "reserve print" is set in the received print data 700, printing based on this print data 700 starts immediately without receiving an instruction from the user. Next, the CPU 206 determines whether or not a subscription service is used in the print job based on the print driver information 705 included in this print data 700 (S1003).

[0036] In S1003, if the print driver information 705 indicates a driver using a subscription service contract, it is determined that the print job uses the subscription service, and the print process proceeds to S1004.

[0037] In S1004, the CPU 206 acquires an image log, a job log, an operation log, and a debug log, and also acquires consumable information. The image log is image information of the print document data 706. The job log is information such as the user name of the user who submitted the print job and the data name of the print document data 706. The operation log is information on the operation history such as key operations and BOX operations by the user. The debug log is a log that is output when an error occurs during execution of a print job in order to investigate the cause of the error.

[0038] Next, CPU 206 stores the acquired image log, job log, operation log, and debug log in HDD 209, and stores the acquired consumable information in EEPROM 210. In HDD 209, image logs and job logs are managed in separate files for each contract as shown in Fig. 11(a), while operation logs and debug logs are not managed for each contract as shown in Fig. 11(a). In EEPROM 210, consumable information is managed separately for each contract as shown in Fig. 12. Thereafter, the printing process ends.

[0039] In S1003, if the print driver information included in the received print data indicates a personal use driver, it is determined that the print job does not use the subscription service, and the print processing proceeds to S1005.

[0040] In S1005, CPU 206 acquires an operation log and a debug log. CPU 206 stores the acquired operation log and debug log in HDD 209. Here, the image log is image information of print document data 706 as described above. Also, the job log is information such as the user name of the user who submitted the print job and the data name of print document data 706. Due to such characteristics, the image log and job log of a print job that does not use a subscription service include information related to privacy. For this reason, in this embodiment, the image log and job log of a print job that does not use a subscription service are not stored in HDD 209. When the processing of S1005 is completed, the print processing ends.

[0041] Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the process of transmitting the log and the consumables information in S405 in Fig. 4. The process of transmitting the log and the consumables information in Fig. 13 is realized by the CPU 206 executing a program stored in the HDD 209 or the like.

[0042] In FIG. 13, when the CPU 206 receives a data provision request from the subscription service management server 103 (S1301), the process of transmitting the log and consumable information proceeds to S1302.

[0043] In S1302, CPU 206 transmits the log stored in HDD 209 and the consumables information stored in EEPROM 210 to subscription service management server 103. As described above, in this embodiment, logs including information related to privacy, specifically, image logs and job logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service, are not stored in HDD 209. For this reason, image logs and job logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service are not transmitted from image forming apparatus 101 to subscription service management server 103 or PC 104 operated by a client. When the processing of S1302 is completed, the processing of transmitting the log and consumables information ends.

[0044] According to the above-described embodiment, control is performed to provide all logs of print jobs that use the subscription service to the client. In addition, a predetermined control is performed to prevent leakage of privacy information from logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service. This makes it possible to monitor unauthorized private use of the subscription service while respecting privacy.

[0045] In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined control is a control not to acquire image logs and job logs including privacy information from among logs of print jobs that do not use a subscription service, thereby making it possible to prevent privacy information from leaking from logs of print jobs that do not use a subscription service.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, whether or not a subscription service is used in a print job is determined based on print driver information 705 included in print data 700. This makes it possible to easily determine whether or not a subscription service is used, which is necessary for monitoring unauthorized private use of a subscription service, from print data 700 used for printing.

[0047] In this embodiment, if it is determined in step S1003 that the print job does not use the subscription service, the job log, operation log, and debug log that have been subjected to the mask processing may be stored in the HDD 209.

[0048] Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing another procedure of the printing process executed by the image forming apparatus 101 in Fig. 1. The printing process in Fig. 14 is similar to the printing process in Fig. 10 described above, and the following will particularly explain the differences from the printing process in Fig. 10 described above. The printing process in Fig. 14 is also realized by the CPU 206 executing a program stored in the HDD 209 or the like, like the printing process in Fig. 10 described above.

[0049] In FIG. 14, steps S1401 to S1404 are performed, which are the same processes as steps S1001 to S1004 described above.

[0050] If it is determined in S1403 that the print job does not use the subscription service, the CPU 206 acquires logs other than the image log from among logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service. Specifically, the CPU 206 acquires a job log, an operation log, and a debug log. Next, the CPU 206 performs a masking process on the job log. Note that the masking process is a process of replacing privacy information such as "*" contained in the job log, such as the user ID, user name, job name, and data name of the print document data, with special characters to make them unidentifiable. Next, the CPU 206 stores the masked job log, operation log, and debug log in the HDD 209 (S1405), and ends this process.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined control is a control to obtain logs other than image logs from logs of print jobs that do not use a subscription service, and to perform masking processing on the job logs, thereby preventing privacy information from leaking from job logs of print jobs that do not use a subscription service.

[0052] In addition, in this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 101 receives a data provision request from the subscription service management server 103, the image forming apparatus 101 may control which log to send to the subscription service management server 103. In this configuration, the image forming apparatus 101 starts printing in S1002 in the print process, and then performs processing in S1004. That is, regardless of whether or not the subscription service is used, the image log, job log, operation log, and debug log of the executed print job are stored in the HDD 209, and the consumable information is stored in the EEPROM 210. At this time, in the HDD 209, the image log and job log of the print job that does not use the subscription service are managed in separate files, such as the file E1 and the file E2 in FIG. 15A. In addition, in the EEPROM 210, information on the number of printed sheets and information on the amount of ink used (for example, see data 1501 in FIG. 15B) are stored as consumable information for the print job that does not use the subscription service in association with the contract information "none". After that, the image forming apparatus 101 executes the process of transmitting the log and the consumables information shown in FIG.

[0053] Fig. 16 is a flow chart showing another procedure of the log and consumable information transmission process of S405 in Fig. 4. The log and consumable information transmission process of Fig. 16 is similar to the log and consumable information transmission process of Fig. 13 described above, and the following will particularly explain the contents that are different from the log and consumable information transmission process of Fig. 13 described above. The log and consumable information transmission process of Fig. 16 is also realized by the CPU 206 executing a program stored in the HDD 209 or the like, like the log and consumable information transmission process of Fig. 13 described above.

[0054] In Fig. 16, first, S1601, which is the same process as S1301 described above, is performed. Next, the CPU 206 determines whether the image forming apparatus 101 holds logs or consumables information of print jobs that do not use a subscription service (S1602). For example, if the file E1 or file E2 in Fig. 15(a) is stored in the HDD 209, it is determined that the image forming apparatus 101 holds logs or consumables information of print jobs that do not use a subscription service. Also, if the data 1501 in Fig. 15(b) is stored in the EEPROM 210, it is determined that the image forming apparatus 101 holds logs or consumables information of print jobs that do not use a subscription service. In these cases, the process of transmitting the logs and consumables information proceeds to S1603.

[0055] In S1603, the CPU 206 transmits logs, excluding image logs and job logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service, from the multiple logs stored in the HDD 209 to the subscription service management server 103. Here, an example will be described in which an operation log and a debug log are stored in the HDD 209 as shown in FIG. 11(b), and an image log and a job log are stored as shown in FIG. 15(a). From these logs, logs are transmitted excluding file E1 corresponding to the image log of a print job that does not use the subscription service and file E2 corresponding to the job log of this print job. Thus, in this embodiment, of the logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service, image logs and job logs that contain privacy information are not transmitted to the outside.

[0056] Also, in S1603, CPU 206 transmits consumable information excluding consumable information of print jobs that do not use the subscription service from the multiple pieces of consumable information stored in EEPROM 210 to subscription service management server 103. Here, a case where consumable information is stored in EEPROM 210 as shown in Fig. 15(b) will be described as an example. In this manner, consumable information excluding data 1501, which is consumable information of print jobs that do not use the subscription service, from the consumable information stored in EEPROM 210 is transmitted. Then, the process of transmitting the log and consumable information ends.

[0057] If it is determined in S1602 that the image forming apparatus 101 does not hold logs or consumable information for print jobs that do not use the subscription service, the process of transmitting the logs and consumable information proceeds to S1604. In S1604, the CPU 206 transmits all the logs stored in the HDD 209 and all the consumable information stored in the EEPROM 210 to the subscription service management server 103. Then, the process of transmitting the logs and consumable information ends.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined control is a control not to transmit to the outside image logs and job logs including privacy information among logs of print jobs that do not use a subscription service, thereby preventing privacy information from leaking out from logs of print jobs that do not use a subscription service.

[0059] In addition, in this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 101 receives a data provision request from the subscription service management server 103, the image forming apparatus 101 may perform control to perform mask processing on the job log of a print job that does not use the subscription service. In such a configuration, the image forming apparatus 101 performs processing of S1004 after starting printing in S1002 in the print processing. That is, regardless of whether or not the subscription service is used, the image log, job log, operation log, and debug log of the executed print job are stored in the HDD 209, and the consumable information is stored in the EEPROM 210. At this time, in the HDD 209, the image log and job log of the print job that does not use the subscription service are managed in separate files, such as the file E1 and the file E2 in FIG. 15A. In addition, in the EEPROM 210, information on the number of printed sheets and information on the amount of ink used (for example, see data 1501 in FIG. 15B) are stored as consumable information of the print job that does not use the subscription service in association with the contract information "none". After that, the image forming apparatus 101 executes the process of transmitting the log and the consumables information in FIG.

[0060] Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing yet another procedure of the process of transmitting logs and consumable information executed by the image forming apparatus 101 in Fig. 1. The process of transmitting logs and consumable information in Fig. 17 is similar to the process of transmitting logs and consumable information in Fig. 13 and Fig. 16 described above, and the following will particularly describe the contents that are different from the process of transmitting logs and consumable information in Fig. 13 and Fig. 16 described above. The process of transmitting logs and consumable information in Fig. 17 is also realized by the CPU 206 executing a program stored in the HDD 209 or the like, like the process of transmitting logs and consumable information in Fig. 13 and Fig. 16 described above.

[0061] In FIG. 17, S1701, which is the same process as S1301 described above, is performed, and then S1702, which is the same process as S1602 described above, is performed.

[0062] If it is determined in S1702 that the image forming apparatus 101 holds a log or consumable information of a print job that does not use the subscription service, the process of transmitting the log and the consumable information proceeds to S1703. In S1703, the CPU 206 deletes the image log of the print job that does not use the subscription service, for example, file E1, from the HDD 209. Also in S1703, the CPU 206 deletes the consumable information of the print job that does not use the subscription service, for example, data 1501, from the EEPROM 210. Furthermore, in S1703, the CPU 206 performs mask processing on the job log of the print job that does not use the subscription service stored in the HDD 209, for example, file E2.

[0063] Next, the CPU 206 transmits all the logs stored in the HDD 209 and all the consumables information stored in the EEPROM to the subscription service management server 103 (S1704), and ends this process.

[0064] In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined control is a control to not transmit to the outside the image log among the logs acquired as the logs of the print job that does not use the subscription service, and to transmit to the outside the logs other than the image log and the job log and the job log that has been masked. This makes it possible to prevent privacy information from leaking out from the job log of the print job that does not use the subscription service.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 101 may be configured to directly transmit the log to the PC 104 operated by the client.

[0066] Fig. 18 is a sequence diagram showing the flow from when a user submits a print job to when a log generated by the execution of the print job is provided to the client in a configuration in which a log is directly transmitted from the image forming apparatus 101 in Fig. 1 to the PC 104 operated by the client. Note that the sequence in Fig. 18 is similar to the sequence in Fig. 4 described above, and the following will particularly explain the contents that differ from the sequence in Fig. 4 described above.

[0067] In Fig. 18, steps S1801 to S1803 are performed which are the same processes as steps S401 to S403 described above. In step S1803, the print process of Fig. 10 and Fig. 14 described above is performed. Next, step S1804 is performed which is the same process as step S404 described above.

[0068] Next, CPU 206 executes a transmission control process in FIG. 19, which will be described later (S1805). In S1805, CPU 206 transmits the consumables information stored in EEPROM 210 to subscription service management server 103. Also, in S1805, CPU 206 transmits the log stored in HDD 209 to PC 104 in response to a log provision request received from PC 104 operated by a client. This is the flow from when a user submits a print job until the log generated by the execution of the print job is provided to the client.

[0069] Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the transmission control process in S1805 in Fig. 18. The transmission control process in Fig. 19 is realized by the CPU 206 executing a program stored in the HDD 209 or the like.

[0070] 19, first, when the CPU 206 receives a data provision request from the subscription service management server 103 (S1901), the transmission control process proceeds to S1902. In S1902, the CPU 206 transmits the consumables information stored in the EEPROM 210 to the subscription service management server 103. Note that this consumables information is the consumables information for a print job that uses the subscription service, as described above.

[0071] Next, when CPU 206 receives a request to provide a log from PC 104 operated by a client (S1903), the transmission control process proceeds to S1904. In S1904, CPU 206 transmits the log stored in HDD 209 to PC 104. Note that, for example, when a print job using a subscription service is executed in the print process in S1803, an image log, a job log, an operation log, and a debug log are stored in HDD 209 as described above.

[0072] 10 in S1803, the operation log and debug log of the print job logs are stored in the HDD 209. Also, when a print job that does not use the subscription service is executed in the print process of Fig. 14 in S1803, the operation log, debug log, and masked job log of the print job logs are stored in the HDD 209. When the process of S1904 is completed, the transmission control process ends.

[0073] In this manner, even in a configuration in which a log is directly transmitted from the image forming apparatus 101 to the PC 104 operated by a client, unauthorized private use of the subscription service can be monitored while taking privacy into consideration.

[0074] In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 101 may be configured to transmit the log and consumable information to the PC 102.

[0075] Fig. 20 is a sequence diagram showing the flow from when a user submits a print job to when a log generated by the execution of the print job is provided to a client in a configuration in which a log and consumable information are transmitted from the image forming apparatus 101 in Fig. 1 to the PC 102. Note that the sequence in Fig. 20 is similar to the sequence in Fig. 4 described above, and the following will particularly describe the differences from the sequence in Fig. 4 described above. Note that in Fig. 20, it is assumed that the subscription service management server 103 has acquired address information of the PC 102 managed by the client when a subscription service contract is concluded.

[0076] In Fig. 20, first, S2001 and S2002, which are the same processes as S401 and S402 described above, are performed. Next, the image forming apparatus 101 executes the print process of Fig. 21 described later (S2003). In S2003, the image forming apparatus 101 performs printing based on the print data received from the PC 102, stores a log generated in this printing in the HDD 209, and stores the consumable information generated in this printing in the EEPROM 210. In addition, the image forming apparatus 101 transmits the log stored in the HDD 209 and the consumable information stored in the EEPROM 210 to the PC 102.

[0077] Thereafter, the subscription service management server 103 transmits a data provision request to the PC 102, instructing the PC 102 to provide the log and consumables information, based on the address information acquired when the subscription service contract was concluded (S2004).

[0078] The PC 102 performs a process of transmitting the log and consumable information in Fig. 22 (described later) (S2005), and transmits the log and consumable information of the image forming apparatus 101 in accordance with the data provision request to the subscription service management server 103. The subscription service management server 103 manages the received log and consumable information as shown in Fig. 9 described above.

[0079] When the subscription service management server 103 receives a request to provide a log from the PC 104 operated by the client, it transmits the log associated with this client to the PC 104 (S2006). The above is the flow from when the user submits a print job to when the log generated by the execution of the print job is provided to the client.

[0080] Fig. 21 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the print process of S2003 in Fig. 20. The print process in Fig. 21 is similar to the print process in Fig. 10 described above, and the following will particularly explain the differences from the print process in Fig. 10. The print process in Fig. 21 is realized by the CPU 206 executing a program stored in the HDD 209 or the like, similar to the print process in Fig. 10 described above.

[0081] 21, steps S2101 to S2105 are performed, which are the same processes as steps S1001 to S1005 described above. Next, CPU 206 transmits the log stored in HDD 209 and the consumables information stored in EEPROM 210 to PC 102 (S2106), and ends this process. Thus, in this embodiment, every time image forming apparatus 101 executes a print job, the log and consumables information acquired by the execution of the print job are transmitted to PC 102. PC 102 stores the log and consumables information received from image forming apparatus 101 in HDD 306.

[0082] Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the process of transmitting the log and the consumables information in S2005 in Fig. 20. The process of transmitting the log and the consumables information in Fig. 22 is realized by the CPU 303 of the PC 102 executing a program stored in the HDD 306 or the like.

[0083] In FIG. 22, when the CPU 303 receives a data provision request from the subscription service management server 103 (S2201), the process of transmitting the log and consumable information proceeds to S2202.

[0084] In S2202, the CPU 303 transmits the log and consumables information stored in the HDD 306 to the subscription service management server 103. Here, for example, if a print job using the subscription service is executed in the print processing in S2003, the image log, job log, operation log, and debug log are stored in the HDD 306 as described above. On the other hand, if a print job not using the subscription service is executed in the print processing in S2003, the operation log and debug log are stored in the HDD 306 as described above from among the logs of the print job. For this reason, the image log and job log of the print job not using the subscription service are not transmitted from the PC 102 to the subscription service management server 103. When the processing in S2202 is completed, the processing of transmitting the log and consumables information ends.

[0085] In this manner, in this embodiment, even in an environment in which the image forming apparatus 101 cannot directly communicate with the subscription service management server 103, unauthorized private use of the subscription service can be monitored while taking privacy into consideration.

[0086] The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0087] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configurations and methods. (Configuration 1) An image forming device that executes a print job based on print data received from a communication device, comprising: a means for determining whether a subscription service is used in the print job; and a means for controlling the provision of a log of the print job to a subscriber of the subscription service, wherein the means for controlling controls the provision of all logs of the print job to a subscriber of the subscription service if the print job is a print job that uses the subscription service, and performs predetermined control to prevent the leakage of privacy information from the log of the print job if the print job is a print job that does not use the subscription service. (Configuration 2) The image forming apparatus according to configuration 1, wherein the control means performs control to provide a log obtained when executing the print job to a subscriber of the subscription service, and the predetermined control is control not to obtain logs including information regarding the privacy among logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service. (Configuration 3) An image forming apparatus as described in Configuration 1, further comprising a storage means, wherein the log of the print job includes at least an image log including image information of print document data constituting the received print data, and a job log including a user name of a user who instructed the execution of the print job and a data name of the print document data, and the predetermined control is control to obtain logs other than the image log from among logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service, store the obtained logs in the storage means, and perform mask processing on the job log stored in the storage means, and the control means controls to provide the logs stored in the storage means to a subscriber of the subscription service. (Configuration 4) The image forming apparatus according to configuration 1, wherein the predetermined control is a control not to transmit to the outside any log of a print job that does not use the subscription service, the log including information regarding privacy. (Configuration 5) The image forming apparatus described in configuration 1, characterized in that the print job log includes at least an image log including image information of the print document data that constitutes the received print data, a job log including the user name of the user who instructed the execution of the print job and the data name of the print document data, and other logs, and the specified control is control to not send the image log to the outside, and to send the other logs and a job log that has been masked, among the logs obtained as logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service, to the outside. (Configuration 6) The image forming device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, further comprising: a reservation printing function for holding print data when print data is received without immediately printing the print data; and a means for displaying a warning notification indicating that a print job using the subscription service is to be executed upon receiving an instruction from a user to execute a print job based on the held print data and which uses the subscription service. (Configuration 7) An image forming device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that the determining means determines whether or not a subscription service is used in a print job based on the print data based on information contained in the print data that indicates a print driver used to generate the print data. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 101 Image forming device 102 PC 206 CPU 209 HDD 700 print data 705 Print Driver Information

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus that executes a print job based on print data received from a communication device, means for determining whether or not a subscription service is used in the print job; a means for controlling the provision of the print job log to a subscriber of the subscription service; The image forming device is characterized in that the control means, when the print job is a print job that uses the subscription service, controls to provide all logs of the print job to a subscriber of the subscription service, and, when the print job is a print job that does not use the subscription service, performs predetermined control to prevent the leakage of privacy information from the print job logs.

2. the control means controls to provide a log acquired when the print job is executed to a subscriber of the subscription service; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined control is a control not to acquire a log including the privacy information from among logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service.

3. Further comprising a storage means, the print job log includes at least an image log including image information of print document data constituting the received print data, and a job log including a user name of a user who instructed execution of the print job and a data name of the print document data; the predetermined control is a control of acquiring logs other than the image log from logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service, storing the acquired logs in the storage means, and performing a mask process on the job log stored in the storage means; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the provision of the log stored in the storage unit to a subscriber of the subscription service.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined control is a control not to transmit to an outside a log including the privacy information, among logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service.

5. the print job log includes at least an image log including image information of print document data constituting the received print data, a job log including a user name of a user who instructed execution of the print job and a data name of the print document data, and other logs; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the specified control is a control for not sending to the outside the image log among the logs obtained as logs of print jobs that do not use the subscription service, and for sending to the outside the other logs and the job log that has been masked.

6. a reservation printing function for holding the print data when the print data is received without immediately printing the print data; The image forming device according to claim 1, further comprising a means for displaying a warning notification indicating that a print job that uses the subscription service is being executed in response to receiving an instruction from a user to execute a print job based on the stored print data and that uses the subscription service.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the determining means determines whether or not a subscription service is used in a print job based on the print data based on information contained in the print data that indicates a print driver used to generate the print data.

8. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus that executes a print job based on print data received from a communication device, comprising: determining whether a subscription service is used in the print job; and controlling the print job log to be provided to a subscriber of the subscription service; The control process of the image forming device is characterized in that, if the print job is a print job that uses the subscription service, the control step performs control to provide all logs of the print job to a subscriber of the subscription service, and, if the print job is a print job that does not use the subscription service, the control step performs predetermined control to prevent the leakage of privacy information from the print job logs.

9. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method for an image forming apparatus that executes a print job based on print data received from a communication device, comprising: The method for controlling the image forming apparatus includes: determining whether a subscription service is used in the print job; and controlling the print job log to be provided to a subscriber of the subscription service; The program is characterized in that the control process performs control to provide all logs of the print job to a subscriber of the subscription service if the print job is a print job that uses the subscription service, and performs predetermined control to prevent the leakage of privacy information from the print job logs if the print job is a print job that does not use the subscription service.

Images