Printing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a technology that can properly execute printing processes in a security printing function that performs print jobs associated with passwords and a storage printing function that performs print jobs associated with user identification information. [Solution] The MFP1 has a security printing function that prints print jobs 75 that include a password 83, and a storage printing function that prints print jobs 75 that include a username 85. In response to receiving a setting to execute the storage printing function (S77:YES), the MFP1 saves the received print job 75 to memory 15 without determining whether a password 83 is set for the print job 75 (S87). The CPU 12 also prints the print job 75 stored in memory 15 without receiving the password 83 via the touch panel 21.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This specification The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a function of storing a print job in a memory and starting printing by inputting authentication information from a user.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus in which a print operator performs a print operation of a print job after logging in to the image forming apparatus (for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, the print operator inputs user identification information and authentication information using the login screen of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus displays a list of documents associated with the logged-in user who has successfully authenticated. The print operator selects the document data to be printed from the displayed list of documents and causes the image forming apparatus to execute printing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] On the other hand, there is also a function of setting a password when transmitting a print job to a printing apparatus and performing password authentication associated with the print job in the printing apparatus to execute printing. In either case, the received print job is temporarily stored in a memory, and printing is started by inputting authentication information from a user. However, consideration has not been given to which function should be prioritized for an apparatus in which the two functions coexist.

[0005] This specificationThis proposal was made in light of the above-mentioned issues, and aims to provide a technology that can appropriately execute printing processes in a security printing function that executes print jobs associated with passwords and a storage printing function that executes print jobs associated with user identification information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Disclosed hereinThe printing device comprises a storage unit for storing print jobs, a communication unit, a display unit, an operation unit for receiving commands, a printing unit for printing images, and a control unit.The control unit performs a receiving process to receive the print job via the communication unit; a determination process to determine whether the print job received by the receiving process contains a password; a storage process to save the print job to the storage unit if the determination process determines that the print job contains a password; a first printing process to print the image related to the print job using the printing unit if the determination process determines that the print job does not contain a password; a first display process to display a list of jobs on the display unit showing information about the print job stored in the storage unit; a first reception process to receive the selection of the print job from the displayed list of jobs via the operation unit; a second reception process to receive a password via the operation unit; a password determination process to determine whether the password associated with the print job selected in the first reception process matches the password received in the second reception process; and, as a result of the password determination process, the password associated with the print job matches the password received in the second reception process. In a printing device that performs a security printing function, the control unit performs a third reception process to receive a setting for whether or not to perform a function provided by the printing device, including a storage printing function, in response to a determination that the dots match, the control unit performs a third reception process to receive a setting for whether or not to perform a function provided by the printing device, including a storage printing function, the storage printing function includes a fourth reception process to receive user identification information via the operation unit, and a third printing process to perform authentication of the user identification information received in the fourth reception process based on authentication data related to the authentication of the user identification information, and, in response to the success of the authentication, prints an image of the print job associated with the authenticated user identification information from among the print jobs stored in the storage unit, in which the printing unit prints the image of the print job associated with the authenticated user identification information, in response to the receiving of a setting in the third reception process to perform the storage printing function, the control unit saves the print job in the storage unit without performing the password determination process, and performs the third printing process without receiving the password for the print job stored in the storage unit via the operation unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] Disclosed herein According to the printing device, a printing device with a security printing function can be configured to execute the storage printing function. Upon receiving this configuration, the printing device will not execute the processing related to the security printing function; in other words, it will restrict the security printing function. By restricting the security printing function in response to the activation of the storage printing function, printing processes in a printing device with both functions can be performed appropriately. It should be noted that "restricting the security printing function" here includes not only cases where the security printing function is completely stopped and security printing jobs are discarded, but also cases where at least a portion of the security printing jobs are printed as storage printing jobs.

[0008] Furthermore, the technologies disclosed herein are not limited to printing apparatuses and can be implemented in various forms, such as printing control methods for controlling a printing apparatus, computer programs for implementing the functions of the apparatus or the methods described above, and recording media on which such computer programs are stored. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the MFP according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the data stored in the authentication database. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the contents of a print job described in PJL. [Figure 4] This is a sequence diagram showing the state transitions of the screen displayed on the MFP's touch panel. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart showing the contents of the main process. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart showing the details of the function configuration process. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart showing the details of the printing / storage process. [Figure 8]It is a flowchart showing the content of printing / accumulation processing. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart showing the content of standby screen display processing. [Figure 10] It is a flowchart showing the content of post-icon press processing. [Figure 11] It is a flowchart showing the content of function setting processing of the second embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a flowchart showing the content of printing / accumulation processing of the second embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, Disclosed herein The MFP1 of the first embodiment, which is an embodiment in which a printing apparatus is embodied, will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the MFP1.

[0011] (1. Configuration of MFP) The MFP1 is a multifunction peripheral having a printing function, a copying function, a scanner function, and a FAX function. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP1 includes a CPU 12, a RAM 13, a memory 15, a printing unit 16, an image reading unit 17, a FAX communication unit 18, a user interface 20, and a network interface 24, etc. These CPU 12 etc. are connected to each other by a bus 11. Further, the MFP1 includes a power supply 25 that supplies power from a commercial power supply. The power supply 25 includes a power cord and a power supply circuit (bridge diode, smoothing circuit, etc.), generates a DC power supply from the commercial power supply, and supplies power to each part included in the MFP1 via a power supply line.

[0012] Memory 15( This specification an example of the storage part) is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as NVRAM. Note that Disclosed herein the storage part is not limited to NVRAM, and may be a volatile RAM, ROM, HDD, an external storage device (such as a USB memory) connected to the MFP1, or a storage part combining them. Also, Disclosed hereinThe memory unit may be, for example, a file server connected via the network interface 24. The memory unit may also be a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. Non-transitory media include, in addition to the above examples, recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. Also, non-transitory media are tangible media. On the other hand, an electrical signal that conveys a program downloaded from a server on the Internet or the like is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a type of computer-readable medium, but is not included in non-transitory computer-readable storage media.

[0013] The memory 15 stores various programs such as the control program 71. The control program 71 is, for example, a program that comprehensively controls each part of the MFP 1. The CPU 12 executes the control program 71 and controls each part connected by the bus 11 while temporarily storing the execution result in the RAM 13. The control program 71 also includes an EWS (Embedded Web Server) program that functions as a Web server. By executing the EWS program, the CPU 12 causes the MFP 1 to function as a Web server. In addition, an authentication DB (abbreviation for database) 73 is constructed in the memory 15 of the present embodiment. As will be described later, the authentication DB 73 is, for example, data that associates the user names of login users who can log in to the MFP 1, the authorities of each user, and the email addresses of each user (see FIG. 2). In the following description, the MFP 1 that executes the control program 71 and the like by the CPU 12 may sometimes be simply described by the device name. For example, the description "the MFP 1 receives an operation input to the touch panel 21" may mean "the MFP 1 executes the control program 71 by the CPU 12 to control the touch panel 21, thereby receiving an operation input to the touch panel 21".

[0014] The printing unit 16 has a head 161 and an ink cartridge 162. The ink cartridge 162 contains ink. The head 161 ejects the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 162 onto a sheet (such as paper or an OHP). Based on the control of the CPU 12, the printing unit 16 prints an image onto the sheet using an inkjet method. Disclosed herein The printing unit 16 is not limited to an inkjet printing configuration; it may also be configured to print using other methods, such as electrophotography.

[0015] The image reading unit 17 includes a document tray (not shown) and an image sensor such as a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) or CCD (Charge-Coupled Device). The image reading unit 17 moves the CIS or the like over the document placed on the document tray to read the document and generate image data. The fax communication unit 18 transmits and receives fax data to and from other facsimile devices via a telephone line.

[0016] The user interface 20 includes a touch panel 21 and operation buttons such as a numeric keypad 22. The touch panel 21 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel, a light source such as an LED that emits light from the back of the liquid crystal panel, and a contact sensing film attached to the surface of the liquid crystal panel. Based on the control of the CPU 12, the user interface 20 displays various setting screens and the operating status of the device on the touch panel 21. The user interface 20 also transmits signals to the CPU 12 in response to operation inputs to the touch panel 21 and the numeric keypad 22.

[0017] The network interface 24 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface and is connected to the router 29 via a LAN cable (not shown). In this embodiment, the router 29 is connected to, for example, multiple PCs 41 and a mail server 43. The user sends a print job 75 from the PC 41 to the MFP1 by operating the PC 41. The MFP1 executes the printing process based on the print job 75 received from the PC 41. The MFP1 also has a mail receiving function that processes mail received from the mail server 43 as a print job 75 and performs tasks such as printing files attached to the mail. Note that the device that sends the print job 75 to the MFP1 is not limited to the PC 41 or the mail server 43, but may also be, for example, a mobile terminal capable of wireless communication with the MFP1. Furthermore, the network connecting the MFP1, PC 41, and mail server 43 is not limited to a wired LAN, but may also be, for example, a wireless LAN or a WAN (including the Internet).

[0018] Next, we will explain the authentication DB73 stored in memory 15. Figure 2 shows an example of data stored in the authentication DB 73. As shown in Figure 2, the authentication DB 73 registers, for example, a username 111, a PIN number 113, a print permission flag 114, a scan permission flag 115, a copy permission flag 116, and an email address 117 as a single record. In this embodiment, the authentication DB 73 has five users registered: public user (PUBLIC), "inoue", "kato", "hayashi", and "minami". The username 111 and PIN number 113 are assigned to each user, for example, by the system administrator who manages the MFP1. Each user uses this username 111 and PIN number 113 to log in to the MFP1.

[0019] Furthermore, the print permission flag 114, scan permission flag 115, and copy permission flag 116 are flag values ​​that determine whether to grant each user the right to execute the print, scan, and copy functions on the MFP1. For example, in the example shown in Figure 2, the public user and the user named "inoue" have print and scan permissions, but do not have copy permissions.

[0020] Furthermore, each record has an email address 117 associated with a username 111, a PIN number 113, etc. As described above, the MFP1 in this embodiment is capable of printing attachments of emails received from the mail server 43.

[0021] The system administrator performs actions such as adding or deleting users, changing permissions, and registering email addresses 117 to the authentication DB 73, as shown in Figure 2. For example, the MFP1 in this embodiment can accept settings for the authentication DB 73 via the EWS. For example, the system administrator operates a web browser on PC 41 and accesses the EWS of the MFP1. The MFP1 executes the settings for the authentication DB 73 based on the information received from the EWS web page. Note that the method of editing the authentication DB 73 is not limited to the method using the web server described above. For example, the MFP1 may edit the authentication DB 73 in response to operation input on the touch panel 21. Also, the data items of the authentication DB 73 shown in Figure 2 are just examples, and for example, the authentication DB 73 may have flag values ​​that grant execution privileges for the FAX function, or values ​​that limit the number of pages each user can print.

[0022] (2. Secure printing function and storage printing function) The MFP1 of this embodiment is equipped with a security printing function and a storage printing function. In the following description, as shown in Figure 1, the print job 75 for executing the security printing function will be referred to as security printing job 75A, and the print job 75 for executing the storage printing function will be referred to as storage printing job 75B.

[0023] The storage print function, upon receiving a print job 75 with user name 85 set from a PC 41 or other device, stores the received print job 75 as a storage print job 75B in the MFP1's memory 15. When a user name and PIN number are entered via the MFP1's touch panel 21, they are compared with the user name 111 and PIN number 113 (see Figure 2) registered in the authentication DB 73. If the comparison matches the user name 111 and PIN number 113 registered in the authentication DB 73, the user who performed the input operation logs into the MFP1. Upon the user logging into the MFP1, the storage print job 75B associated with the logged-in user's user name 85 is retrieved from memory 15 and printing begins.

[0024] The settings for the storage print function are configured by the system administrator using a web browser on PC41 to access the EWS on MFP1. When the setting to execute the storage print function is configured, MFP1 executes the storage print processes described in this embodiment for print jobs 75 received from external sources such as PC41. When the setting to not execute the storage print function is configured, MFP1 starts the printing process without storing the print job 75 in memory 15 upon receiving it from an external source such as PC41. Note that not storing it in memory 15 in this case means that no separate trigger is provided for starting printing, and does not include the process of temporarily storing it in memory 15 for printing. The printer driver executed on PC41 sets the user account of the user who logs into PC41 in the print job 75 and sends it to MFP1. The same string is used for the user account for logging into PC41 and the username 111 registered in the authentication DB 73.

[0025] The secure printing function is a function that stores a password-associated print job 75 in the memory 15 of the MFP1, and then executes printing of the print job 75 by having the user operate the touch panel 21 of the MFP1 and enter the password associated with the print job 75. When the PC41 executes the secure printing function, it sends a secure printing job 75A with a job name 81 and password 83 set to the MFP1. The job name 81 is, for example, the name of the print job 75 assigned by the printer driver running on the PC41. The password 83 is, for example, information (numbers, letters, etc.) set by the user on the settings screen of the printer driver running on the PC41 and associated with the secure printing job 75A.

[0026] The storage printing function and the secure printing function share the common feature of storing print jobs 75 received from an external source in memory 15 and initiating printing when the user enters authentication information on the MFP1. However, they differ in that the authentication information to be entered is a password 83 associated with the print job 75 in the secure printing function, while it is a PIN number 113 corresponding to a username 111 registered in the authentication DB 73 in the storage printing function. Furthermore, they differ in that the print job 75 to be started is the print job 75 selected by the user in the secure printing function, while it is all print jobs 75 that are to be printed in the storage printing function.

[0027] Figure 3 shows a print job 75 written in PJL (Printer Job Language) as an example. Note that the data in Figure 3 is just an example. As shown in Figure 3, for example, the header of print job 75 contains commands to set variables (such as JOB_NAME) in the following order: job name 81, username 85, password 83, transmission time, and type of writing language. MFP1 changes the processing content of the received print job 75 based on the data set in the header of the received print job 75. For example, if a valid value is set in the variable "JOB_PASSWORD" which indicates password 83, MFP1 determines that password 83 is set in the received print job 75 and treats it as a secure print job 75A. Also, for example, if a valid value is set in "PRINT_USER" which indicates username 85, MFP1 determines that username 85 is set in the received print job 75. Similarly, for printer languages ​​other than PJL, the setting status of username 85, etc. can be detected by determining the content defined in each language.

[0028] Figure 4 shows the state transitions of the screen displayed on the touch panel 21 of the MFP1. Steps S19 to S29 in Figure 4 are processes related to the login operation of the MFP1. For example, after the MFP1 is powered on and the control program 71 is executed to start the system, the MFP1 displays the standby screen 91 shown in the upper left of Figure 4 on the touch panel 21 (see Figure 1). The MFP1 displays function icons 93 for selecting functions such as fax, copy, and scan in the center of the standby screen 91. The MFP1 also displays a user display field 95 in the upper left of the standby screen 91, which displays the currently selected username. When the power is turned on, no one has logged in yet, so the MFP1 displays in the user display field 95 on the standby screen 91 that a public user has been selected, indicating that the user is logged out. When the standby screen 91 is displayed, functions (such as the scan function) can be executed according to the permissions granted to the public user (see Figure 2). The MFP1 also displays a date and time field 97 in the lower right of the standby screen 91, which shows the current time and date. Additionally, the MFP1 displays triangular icons 98 on both the left and right sides of the standby screen 91 to indicate that horizontal scrolling is possible.

[0029] In S19 of Figure 4, when the user touches the user display area 95 which displays public users, the MFP1 displays the user selection window 109 on the touch panel 21. The user selection window 109 displays the username 111 registered in the authentication DB 73.

[0030] After displaying the usernames 111 registered in the authentication DB 73 in the user selection window 109, if a user touches one of the usernames 111 in the user selection window 109, for example, the username 111 "inoue" (S21), the MFP1 displays a PIN number input window 121 for entering the PIN number 113. The MFP1 displays a numeric keypad 123 for entering the PIN number 113 and a PIN number input field 124 in the PIN number input window 121. When the PIN number 113 is entered into the PIN number input field 124 using the numeric keypad 123, the MFP1 determines whether the entered PIN number 113 matches the PIN number 113 associated with the username 111 selected in the user selection window 109 (in this case, "1111" for "inoue" in Figure 2) (S23). If the PIN numbers 113 match, the MFP1 allows the login. As will be explained in more detail later, if the MFP1 has stored the accumulated print jobs 75B associated with the logged-in user in memory 15 and the logged-in user has been granted print privileges, it prints all of the accumulated print jobs 75B (S23).

[0031] MFP1 displays the second waiting screen 91B after login. MFP1 displays the logged-in username (for example, "inoue") in the user display field 95 of the second waiting screen 91B. In this state, the logged-in user can only execute functions permitted by the authentication DB 73. Therefore, MFP1 restricts the execution privileges of each user by limiting the functions after login based on the privileges set in the authentication DB 73. For example, even if a user without copy privileges touches the copy function icon 93, the function will not be executed. Note that MFP1 does not need to display the function icons 93 of functions that the logged-in user does not have privileges for, i.e., functions that cannot be executed, on the second waiting screen 91B.

[0032] When the second standby screen 91B is displayed and the user display area 95 is touched (S25), the MFP1 displays the logout window 126. The MFP1 displays a selection key 125 in the logout window 126 for the user to choose whether to perform a logout. When the user touches the "YES" selection key 125 to instruct them to perform a logout (S27), the MFP1 displays the standby screen 91 on the touch panel 21. This completes the logout process. Also, if a certain period of time has elapsed while the MFP1 is displaying the second standby screen 91B, the MFP1 returns the display on the touch panel 21 from the second standby screen 91B back to the standby screen 91 (S29). This period of time is, for example, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

[0033] (3. Operation of MFP1) Next, the operation of the MFP1 in this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 5 to 10. Figure 5 shows the flow of the main processing for processing the print job 75. For example, after the MFP1 is powered on and the control program 71 is executed by the CPU 12 to start the system, it executes the main processing shown in Figure 5. In this specification, the sequence diagrams and flowcharts basically show the processing of the CPU 12 according to the instructions written in the program (control program 71, etc.). That is, processes such as "decision," "reception," "acquisition," "acceptance," "decision," "control," and "setting" in the following description represent the processing of the CPU 12. The processing by the CPU 12 also includes hardware control.

[0034] (3-1. Function setting process) First, the function setting process of MFP1 will be explained using Figure 6. In this embodiment, MFP1 is initially set to ON to execute the security printing function and OFF to disable the storage printing function. Then, for example, after startup, the CPU 12 executes the control program 71 and starts the management web server (EWS). System administrators log in to the MFP1's EWS from PC 41 and change various settings of MFP1. The system administrator can, for example, select items displayed on the EWS web page and click the confirmation button to perform actions such as setting the security printing function ON / OFF, setting the storage printing function ON / OFF, and registering in the authentication DB 73 as described above. Note that MFP1 may also be configured to perform actions such as setting the security printing function ON / OFF and the storage printing function ON / OFF in response to operation input from the touch panel 21 or numeric keypad 22 (see Figure 1).

[0035] Then, when the CPU 12 starts the function setting process shown in Figure 6, it determines whether or not it has received a setting change from the EWS (S51). For example, if the EWS receives an instruction to change the function setting, it notifies the program that executes the function setting process of the changes. In S51, if the CPU 12 has not received notification of an instruction to change the function setting from the EWS, that is, if there is no change in the function setting (S51: NO), it terminates the function setting process shown in Figure 6.

[0036] On the other hand, in S51, if the CPU 12 receives notification from the EWS of changes to the function settings, i.e., if there has been a change in the function settings (S51:YES), it saves the acquired changes to the function settings in memory 15 (S53) and executes S55. As a result, the MFP1 reflects the changes received by the EWS and retains those settings for subsequent startups. In S55, the CPU 12 determines whether the storage printing function is set to ON or OFF. If the CPU 12 determines that the storage printing function is set to OFF (S55:NO), it terminates the function setting process shown in Figure 6. If the CPU 12 determines that the storage printing function is set to ON (S55:YES), it executes S56. As described above, the MFP1 in this embodiment has the storage printing function set to OFF by default. Therefore, the CPU 12 does not execute the processes from S56 onwards until the storage printing function is set to ON by a system administrator or the like. Note that the MFP1 may also be configured to have the storage printing function set to ON by default.

[0037] In S56, the CPU 12 determines whether the security printing function is set to ON or OFF. If the CPU 12 determines that the security printing function is set to OFF (S56: NO), it executes S58. If the CPU 12 determines that the security printing function is set to ON (S56: YES), it saves a setting value indicating that the security printing function is set to OFF to memory 15 (S57). As a result, the MFP1 will keep the security printing function OFF even when it is started up again. Therefore, in this embodiment, the CPU 12 automatically sets the security printing function to OFF according to the setting of the storage printing function to ON. After executing S57, the CPU 12 executes S58.

[0038] Next, in the processing from S58 onwards, the CPU 12 makes a judgment about the print jobs 75 stored in memory 15. Here, after the system is started, the CPU 12 stores the print jobs 75 received from the PC 41, etc., in memory 15. For example, in S91 of Figure 8, which will be described later, the CPU 12 stores the print job 75 with the password 83 received when the security printing function is set to ON as a security printing job 75A in memory 15. Then, in S58 of Figure 6, when the storage printing function is set to ON (S55: YES), the CPU 12 makes a judgment about the print jobs 75 (security printing job 75A, etc.) stored in memory 15 and detects a print job 75 that can be processed as storage printing.

[0039] In S58, the CPU 12 determines whether or not there is a security printing job 75A among the print jobs 75 stored in memory 15. For example, the CPU 12 determines that a print job 75 among the print jobs 75 stored in memory 15 in which a valid value is set for the variable "JOB_PASSWORD" which indicates the password 83 is a security printing job 75A (S58:YES). Alternatively, the CPU 12 may set up a dedicated area in the memory 15's storage area for storing security printing jobs 75A and determine that any print jobs 75 stored in that area are security printing jobs 75A (S58:YES). If the CPU 12 determines that there is no security printing job 75A among the print jobs 75 stored in memory 15 (S58:NO), it terminates the function setting process shown in Figure 6.

[0040] Furthermore, if the CPU 12 finds that there is a security printing job 75A among the print jobs 75 stored in memory 15 (S58: YES), it determines whether or not the username 85 is set for that security printing job 75A (S59). If the CPU 12 determines that the username 85 is not set for the security printing job 75A (S59: NO), it deletes the security printing job 75A from memory 15 (S67).

[0041] Here, security print job 75A, for which username 85 is not set, is difficult to associate with a user and is therefore difficult to include in the stored print associated with the logged-in user. For this reason, when the stored print function is set to ON, security print job 75A, for which username 85 is not set and is not subject to stored print, may remain stored in memory 15. Also, as described above, the CPU 12 of this embodiment sets the security print function to OFF in accordance with the ON setting of the stored print function. Therefore, even if a print job 75 has a password 83 set, print job 75 for which username 85 is not set will remain stored in memory 15 until the security print function is set to ON again. Therefore, the CPU 12 of this embodiment frees up the storage area of ​​memory 15 by deleting security print job 75A for which username 85 is not set from memory 15 (S67).

[0042] The CPU 12 may also ask the user whether it is okay to delete the security print job 75A from memory 15. For example, the CPU 12 may notify the system administrator's PC 41 of the information about the security print job 75A that it has decided to delete. The CPU 12 may then be configured to execute S67 when it receives notification from the system administrator approving permission to delete.

[0043] After executing S67, CPU12 repeats the processing from S58. In this case, CPU12 determines whether there are other security printing jobs 75A in memory 15, and if there are (S58: YES), it executes the processing from S59 onwards targeting those security printing jobs 75A.

[0044] Furthermore, if the CPU 12 determines in S59 that username 85 is set for the security print job 75A (S59:YES), it determines whether the set username 85 is registered in the authentication DB 73 (S61). In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the authentication DB 73 has four usernames 111 registered, excluding "PUBLIC" and including "inoue". Therefore, in S61, the CPU 12 accesses the authentication DB 73 and determines that username 85 set for the print job 75 is one of the four usernames 111, and that it is username 111 registered in the authentication DB 73 (S61:YES). If the CPU 12 determines that username 85 for the security print job 75A is not registered in the authentication DB 73 (S61:NO), it deletes the security print job 75A from memory 15 (S67) and executes the process from S58 again. This frees up the memory space in memory 15 by deleting security print jobs 75A for unregistered users that are not subject to accumulated printing, similar to security print jobs 75A (S59:NO) for which username 85 is not set.

[0045] Furthermore, if the CPU 12 determines that the username 85 of the security printing job 75A is registered in the authentication DB 73 (S61:YES), it determines whether or not that user has printing privileges (S63). As shown in Figure 2, in the authentication DB 73 of this embodiment, users "inoue" and "hayashi" with usernames 111 have printing privileges (see printing privilege flag 114). Therefore, if the username 85 set for the security printing job 75A is "inoue" or "hayashi", the CPU 12 determines that the user has printing privileges (S63:YES) and executes S65. Also, if the CPU 12 determines that the user of the security printing job 75A does not have printing privileges (S63:NO), it deletes the security printing job 75A from memory 15 and frees up the storage area of ​​memory 15 (S67).

[0046] In S65, the CPU 12 stores the password-protected print jobs 75 that meet the conditions from S58 to S63 in memory 15 as stored print jobs 75B. As described above, the print jobs 75 that meet these conditions are security print jobs 75A with the username 85 of a registered user with printing privileges set (S58:YES, S59:YES, S61:YES, S63:YES). Therefore, in this embodiment, when the stored print function is set to ON, the CPU 12 stores the security print jobs 75A with the username 85 of a registered user with printing privileges set from the print jobs 75 stored in memory 15 at that time as stored print jobs 75B. After executing S65, the CPU 12 executes the process from S58 again.

[0047] Furthermore, when the CPU 12 automatically turns off the security printing function in accordance with the ON setting of the accumulated printing function (S57), it may also erase all print jobs 75 stored in memory 15. In this case, the CPU 12 will, for example, not execute the processes in S58 to S67, but will erase all print jobs 75 in memory 15 after executing S57. Also, if the security printing function is intentionally turned off by user operation, for example, the CPU 12 may erase all print jobs 75 stored in memory 15 at that time.

[0048] Furthermore, if the storage printing function is turned ON and then later turned OFF by the user, the CPU 12 may automatically turn ON the security printing function. For example, if the CPU 12 receives a notification from the EWS to turn OFF the storage printing function, it may turn OFF the storage printing function and automatically turn ON the security printing function. In this case, the CPU 12 may, similar to the function setting process shown in Figure 6, for example, save in memory 15 the print jobs 75 with username 85 set and password 83 set, as security printing jobs 75A. The CPU 12 may also, for example, delete the print jobs 75 with username 85 set and password 83 that are stored in memory 15, or it may continue to store them in memory 15. Alternatively, the CPU 12 may print all print jobs 75 stored in memory 15, regardless of whether password 83 is set or not.

[0049] Furthermore, the method for saving the print jobs 75 that meet the conditions in S65 as stored print jobs 75B is not particularly limited. For example, the CPU 12 may use different memory areas for storing security print jobs 75A and for storing stored print jobs 75B. In this case, the CPU 12 performs the processing in S58 to S67 on the print jobs 75 stored in the memory area for security print jobs 75A. Then, in S65, the CPU 12 saves the print jobs 75 that meet the conditions to the memory area for stored print jobs 75B. As a result, the print jobs 75 whose storage location has been moved are processed as stored print jobs 75B.

[0050] (3-2. Main Processing) The main process shown in Figure 5 is explained below. When the power is turned on, the CPU 12 executes the process shown in Figure 5. After executing the function setting process in S30 (Figure 6), the CPU 12 executes S31. In S31, the CPU 12 confirms that print job 75 has been received. As will be described later, the CPU 12 executes S41, etc., and then executes S31 again. Therefore, after the system is started, the CPU 12 periodically checks whether print job 75 has been received. Based on the confirmation result in S31, the CPU 12 determines whether print job 75 has been received (S33). If the CPU 12 determines that print job 75 has been received (S33: YES), it executes the print / storage process in S35. On the other hand, if the CPU 12 determines that print job 75 has not been received (S33: NO), it executes S37. For example, if the CPU 12 receives multiple print jobs 75, it executes the processes from S31 onwards for each print job 75 in the order in which they were received.

[0051] In S37, the CPU 12 determines whether a user has logged in. The CPU 12 determines that a user has logged in if the processes in S19 to S23 of Figure 4 have been performed. From S37 onward, the CPU 12 executes the processes related to stored printing from S19 onward in Figure 4 as described above. If the CPU 12 determines that a user has logged in (S37: YES), it determines whether there is a stored printing job 75B associated with the logged-in user among the stored printing jobs 75B stored in memory 15 (S39). If the CPU 12 determines that there is a stored printing job 75B for the logged-in user (S39: YES), the printing unit 16 executes the printing of that stored printing job 75B (S41). In this case, unlike secure printing, the password 83 is not requested when executing the print, as in S17 of Figure 4. Furthermore, in the printing process of S41, the CPU 12 prints the stored print jobs 75B associated with the logged-in user from among the print jobs 75 saved as stored print jobs 75B in S65 of Figure 6 described above. This allows printing of print jobs 75 belonging to registered users with printing privileges from among the print jobs 75 saved in memory 15 when the stored print function is set to ON. In addition, the stored print jobs 75B are automatically started to print without requiring the user to select a job or enter a password. This eliminates the complexity of user operation.

[0052] After executing S41, CPU12 repeats the process from S30. Furthermore, if no user is logged in at S37 (S37:NO), or if there is no stored print job 75B associated with the logged-in user at S39 (S39:NO), CPU12 executes the process from S30. Then, after executing the function setting process at S30, CPU12 confirms the receipt of a new print job 75 at S31 and executes the processes from S33 onwards. Note that if the stored print function is set to OFF, CPU12 does not need to execute the processes from S37 to S41 described above, i.e., the process of printing the stored print job 75B for the logged-in user in accordance with the login operation.

[0053] (3-3. Printing / Storage Processing) Next, the contents of the print / storage process in S35 of Figure 5 will be explained using Figures 7 and 8. In the following explanation, the contents of the process will be omitted as appropriate, as they are the same as those of the function setting process described above. When the print / storage process is executed, a newly received print job 75 will exist in S33 of Figure 5 (S33: YES). The CPU 12 will execute the processes from S71 onwards, treating this newly received print job 75 as the print job 75 to be processed. First, in S71, the CPU 12 determines whether the print job 75 to be processed is email data or not. This determination can be made, for example, based on the data format of the print job 75 to be processed.

[0054] When CPU12 determines that the print job 75 to be processed is email data (S71:YES), it sends a password to the email address of the sender of that email. This specification An example of an email password is issued (S73). This password is password 83, which is required to perform secure printing. The CPU 12 associates the email print data (attachments, etc.) with the issued password 83 and saves it in memory 15 as a secure printing job 75A (S75). The CPU 12, for example, the data such as attachments ( This specification An example of email information related to the email is saved in the memory area of ​​memory 15 that is used to save the security printing job 75A (S75). After executing S75, CPU 12 terminates the printing / storage process shown in Figures 7 and 8.

[0055] Furthermore, if the CPU 12 determines in S71 that the print job 75 to be processed is not email data, i.e., a normal print job 75 described in PJL or similar (S71: NO), it determines whether the storage print function is set to ON (S77). If the CPU 12 determines that the storage print function is set to ON (S77: YES), it determines whether the user name 85 is set for the print job 75 to be processed (S79). If the CPU 12 determines that the user name 85 is set for the print job 75 to be processed (S79: YES), it executes S81.

[0056] Furthermore, if the CPU 12 determines that the user name 85 is not set for the print job 75 to be processed (S79: NO), it discards the print job 75 without saving it to memory 15 (S83). Therefore, when the storage print function is set to ON, if a print job 75 without the user name 85 is received, the print job 75 is discarded. This prevents the memory 15 from becoming overloaded. For example, if the storage print function is set to ON and the security print function is set to OFF on the MFP1 side, but a security print job 75A without the user name 85 is received from PC 41, the CPU 12 can delete the received security print job 75A without saving it to memory 15. As a result, while the security print function is set to OFF, it is possible to prevent the security print job 75A from being stored in memory 15 without being printed. After executing S83, the CPU 12 terminates the print / storage process.

[0057] Furthermore, in S81, the CPU 12 determines whether the username 85 set for the print job 75 to be processed is registered in the authentication DB 73. If the CPU 12 determines that the username 85 is not registered in the authentication DB 73 (S81: NO), it executes S83. This improves security by discarding the print job 75 of the unregistered user, while also freeing up storage space in memory 15.

[0058] Furthermore, if CPU 12 determines in S81 that username 85 is registered in authentication DB 73 (S81: YES), it determines whether or not the user with username 85 has print privileges (S85). If CPU 12 determines that the user does not have print privileges (S85: NO), it executes S83. This allows for the discarding of print jobs 75 for registered users without print privileges, thereby improving security and freeing up memory space in memory 15.

[0059] Furthermore, if the CPU 12 determines in S85 that the user has been granted printing privileges (S85: YES), it executes S87. In S87, the CPU 12 saves the print job 75 to be processed to the memory area of ​​the memory 15 that is used to store the stored print job 75B. The print job 75 stored in the memory 15 in S87 is printed as a stored print job 75B in S41 of Figure 5. After executing S87, the CPU 12 terminates the print / storage process. In this embodiment, the CPU 12 does not determine whether a password 83 is set for the print job 75 between S77 and S87. Therefore, when the stored print function is set to ON, even if a password 83 is set for the received print job 75, the CPU 12 will store it as a stored print job 75B if the conditions in S77 to S87 are met.

[0060] Furthermore, in S77 described above, if the CPU 12 determines that the storage print function is set to OFF (S77: NO), it determines whether or not a password 83 is set for the print job 75 to be processed (S89 in Figure 8). As shown in Figure 8, if the CPU 12 determines that a password 83 is set for the print job 75 (S89: YES), it executes S91, and if it determines that a password 83 is not set (S89: NO), it executes S93.

[0061] Furthermore, in S91, CPU 12 saves the print job 75 to be processed as a secure print job 75A in memory 15 and terminates the print / storage process. Also, in S93, CPU 12 checks the following conditions: 1) User name 85 is not set for the print job 75 to be processed, and 2) The user with user name 85 set for the print job 75 does not have print permissions. be If at least one of the above conditions is met (S93:YES), then S95 is executed. If neither of the above two conditions is met (S93:NO), then CPU12 executes S97.

[0062] In S95, CPU 12 executes the printing of the target print job 75. This causes CPU 12 to print print jobs 75 for which no password 83 and username 85 are set (S89: NO, S93: YES), i.e., print jobs 75 that do not fall under security print jobs 75A or storage print jobs 75B. In addition, in S95, CPU 12 prints print jobs 75 for which no password 83 is set, but the username 85 of a registered user with printing privileges is set (S89: NO, S93: YES). Furthermore, in S97, CPU 12 discards the target print job 75 without saving it to memory 15. This discards print jobs 75 with unregistered usernames 85 and print jobs 75 with usernames 85 of registered users without printing privileges, freeing up memory space in memory 15. After executing S95 or S97, CPU 12 terminates the printing / storage process.

[0063] (3-4. Post-icon processing) Next, the processing of the CPU 12 in secure printing will be explained using Figures 4 and 10. Figure 10 shows the post-icon pressing process after pressing the function icon 93A of the secure printing function shown in the first standby screen 91A of Figure 4. For example, in S11 of Figure 4, when the user scrolls the standby screen 91 displayed on the touch panel 21 to the left, the CPU 12 displays the first standby screen 91A on the touch panel 21. The CPU 12 displays the function icon 93A for secure printing on the first standby screen 91A. When the function icon 93A on the first standby screen 91A is touched, the CPU 12 displays the job selection window 101 (S13 in Figure 4) and starts the processing shown in Figure 10.

[0064] First, in S101 of Figure 10, the CPU 12 displays a list of job names 81 of the security printing jobs 75A accumulated in S91 of Figure 8 on the job selection window 101 of the touch panel 21 (see Figure 4). In this embodiment, in S75 of Figure 7, the CPU 12 saves the attachments of the emails for which the password 83 was issued as security printing jobs 75A. Therefore, for example, the file name of the attachment of the email for which the password 83 was issued is also displayed in the job selection window 101 as a security printing job 75A.

[0065] Next, in S103, the CPU 12 determines whether or not one of the job names 81 displayed in the job selection window 101 has been touched. The CPU 12 repeatedly executes the process in S103 until a job name 81 is touched (S103: NO). If a job name 81 is not selected after a certain period of time (for example, 30 seconds), the CPU 12 may close the job selection window 101 and return the display on the touch panel 21 to the first standby screen 91A or the standby screen 91.

[0066] When a job name 81 in the job selection window 101 is touched (S103:YES, S15 in Figure 4), the CPU 12 displays the password input window 103 shown in Figure 4 on the touch panel 21 (S105). After displaying the password input window 103, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the input of password 83 to the password input window 103 has been confirmed (S107). For example, when the password input window 103 shown in Figure 4 is displayed and the confirmation key on the numeric keypad 22 (see Figure 1) is pressed, the CPU 12 determines that the input of password 83 has been confirmed (S107:YES). The CPU 12 repeatedly executes the process in S107 until the input of password 83 is confirmed (S107:NO). If the input of password 83 is not confirmed after a certain period of time (for example, 30 seconds), the CPU 12 may close the password input window 103 and display the job selection window 101.

[0067] When the CPU 12 determines that the input of password 83 has been confirmed (S107:YES), it checks whether the password 83 entered in the password input window 103 matches the password 83 of the selected security printing job 75A (S109, S17 in Figure 4). If the passwords 83 match (S109:YES), the CPU 12 executes printing of the security printing job 75A (S111, S107 in Figure 4). The CPU 12 then finishes the process shown in Figure 10, and for example, displays the print execution screen 107 shown in Figure 4 on the touch panel 21 while printing is in progress, and displays the standby screen 91 on the touch panel 21 when printing is complete.

[0068] On the other hand, if the password 83 does not match, the CPU 12 displays an error message on the touch panel 21 (S113). After displaying the error message for a certain period of time, the CPU 12 terminates the process shown in Figure 10 and displays the password input window 103 again. The CPU 12 then executes the process from S105 again, for example. In this way, the CPU 12 of this embodiment performs the security printing function.

[0069] (3-5. Waiting screen display process) Next, the standby screen display process that controls the display and hiding of the security printing function icon 93A in the standby screen 91, first standby screen 91A, and second standby screen 91B shown in Figure 4 will be explained with reference to Figure 9. For example, the CPU 12 executes the process shown in Figure 9 when it starts displaying the standby screen 91 or when it switches the display of the standby screen 91. More specifically, the CPU 12 executes the process shown in Figure 9 when it first displays the standby screen 91 after the MFP1 is powered on, when it displays the standby screen 91 after printing is finished, and when it displays the second standby screen 91B after logging in.

[0070] As shown in Figure 9, when the CPU 12 starts the standby screen display process, it determines whether the accumulated printing function is set to ON or OFF (S121). If the accumulated printing function is set to ON (S121: YES), the CPU 12 executes S123; if it is set to OFF (S121: NO), it executes S125.

[0071] In step S125, the CPU 12 executes a process to display the function icon 93A on the standby screen 91 shown in Figure 4. As a result, if the storage printing function is set to OFF, the function icon 93A is displayed on the first standby screen 91A corresponding to the scroll operation on the standby screen 91. The user can perform secure printing by operating the function icon 93A.

[0072] Furthermore, in S123, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the user is logged in. If the CPU 12 determines that the user is not logged in (S123: NO), it executes S125. Therefore, if the accumulated printing function is set to ON, the CPU 12 displays the function icon 93A on the first standby screen 91A, which is accessed by scrolling the standby screen 91 in the logout state.

[0073] Furthermore, if the CPU 12 determines in S123 that the user is logged in (S123:YES), it displays a second standby screen 91B that does not include the function icon 93A (S127). As a result, if the accumulated printing function is set to ON, the function icon 93A for security printing will not be displayed on the second standby screen 91B after login. As described above, if the accumulated printing function is set to ON, security printing jobs 75A will not be accumulated for anything other than email. Therefore, by hiding the function icon 93A on the second standby screen 91B, the occurrence of accidental operations can be suppressed. The CPU 12 may also print print jobs 75 related to the logged-in user, more specifically, print jobs 75 for emails from the sending address registered in the authentication DB 73 as the logged-in user's email address, in conjunction with the login operation. In this way, the CPU 12 executes display processing such as the standby screen 91.

[0074] Incidentally, MFP1 is an example of a printing device. CPU12 is an example of a control unit. Memory15 is an example of a storage unit. Touch panel21 is an example of a display and operation unit. Network interface24 is an example of a communication unit. Authentication DB73 is an example of authentication data. Usernames85,111 are an example of user identification information.

[0075] (4. Effects) As described above, the first embodiment provides the following effects. (1) In the security printing function, the CPU 12 performs a reception process (S31) to receive a print job 75 via the network interface 24, a determination process (S89) to determine whether the print job 75 received by the reception process contains a password 83, a save process (S91) to save the print job 75 to memory 15 if the determination process determines that the print job 75 contains a password 83 (S89:YES), a first printing process (S95) to print the image related to the print job 75 using the printing unit 16 if the determination process determines that the print job 75 does not contain a password 83 (S89:NO), and taps a job list showing information about the print job 75 stored in memory 15. The CPU 12 performs the following steps: a first display process (S13) which displays the information on the touch panel 21; a first reception process (S15) which accepts the selection of a print job 75 from the displayed job list via the touch panel 21; a second reception process (S17) which accepts a password 83 via the touch panel 21; a password determination process (S17) which determines whether the password 83 associated with the print job 75 selected in the first reception process matches the password 83 accepted in the second reception process; and a second printing process (S17) which, if the password determination process determines that the password 83 associated with the print job 75 matches the password 83 accepted in the second reception process, prints the print job 75 selected in the first reception process using the printing unit 16. The CPU 12 also performs a third reception process (S77) which accepts a setting on whether or not to execute the functions provided by the MFP1, including the storage print function. The stored print function includes a fourth reception process (S21) that receives a username 85 via the touch panel 21, and a third print process (S23) that, based on the authentication DB 73 related to the authentication of the username 85, performs authentication of the username 85 received in the fourth reception process, and, depending on the success of the authentication, prints the image related to the print job 75 associated with the authenticated username 85 from among the print jobs 75 stored in the memory 15 using the print unit 16.In response to receiving a setting to execute the storage print function in the third reception process (S77:YES), the CPU 12 saves the print job 75 to memory 15 without executing the password determination process (S89) (S87), and executes the third print process (S23) without receiving the password 83 for the print job 75 saved in memory 15 via the touch panel 21.

[0076] According to this, in an MFP1 with a security printing function that prints the selected print job 75 from the job list when the password 83 associated with the print job 75 matches the password 83 received via the touch panel 21, it is possible to configure the MFP1 to execute a storage printing function that prints the print job 75 associated with the authenticated username 85 when authentication by username 85 is successful. Then, in response to receiving the setting to execute the storage printing function, the MFP1 restricts the security printing function. By restricting the security printing function in response to the activation of the storage printing function, the printing process in the MFP1, which has two functions, can be executed appropriately.

[0077] Furthermore, for example, the printer driver may automatically associate the login user ID of PC41 with the print job 75 as username 85. On the other hand, the password 83 for the secure printing function must be set by the user when issuing a print command in the printer driver. By adding the storage printing function to MFP1, the same effect as the secure printing function can be obtained without setting the password 83 for each print job 75. Moreover, by restricting one of the two functions that provide the same effect, the usability for the user can also be improved.

[0078] (2) In addition, in response to receiving a setting to execute the storage printing function in the third reception process (S55) (S55:YES), the CPU 12 sets the setting to not execute the security printing function even if it does not receive a setting to not execute the security printing function in the third reception process (S57).

[0079] According to this, the security printing function is automatically turned OFF depending on whether the storage printing function is set to ON. This ensures that the storage printing function and the security printing function are executed exclusively, allowing the printing process for both functions to be performed appropriately.

[0080] (3) The CPU 12 also performs a second determination process (S81) to determine whether the username 85 associated with the print job 75 received by the reception process is registered in the authentication DB 73. If the CPU 12 determines that the setting to execute the storage printing function is enabled and the username 85 associated with the print job 75 is registered in the authentication DB 73 (S81: YES), it saves the print job 75 in memory 15 as a storage printing job 75B, which is a print job 75 to be printed in the third printing process of the storage printing function (S87). If the CPU 12 determines that the setting to execute the storage printing function is enabled and the username 85 associated with the print job 75 is not registered in the authentication DB 73 (S81: NO), it does not save the print job 75 in memory 15 (S83).

[0081] According to this, even when a print job 75 associated with password 83 is received, the storage print function can be executed according to the username 85 associated with that print job 75. Furthermore, if a print job 75 with a username 85 not registered in the authentication DB 73 is received, that print job 75 is not stored in memory 15 but discarded. This prevents print jobs 75 associated with usernames 85 not registered in the authentication DB 73 from being stored in memory 15 without being printed, thus preventing the memory 15's storage space from becoming overloaded.

[0082] (4) The CPU 12 also displays a function icon 93A on the touch panel 21 for executing the print process using the security printing function (see the first standby screen 91A in Figure 4). The CPU 12 does not display the function icon 93A on the touch panel 21 in a selectable state if the setting is to execute the storage printing function and the authentication of the username 85 received by the fourth reception process is successful (S127). If the setting is to execute the storage printing function and the authentication of the username 85 received by the fourth reception process is unsuccessful, the CPU 12 displays the function icon 93A on the touch panel 21 in an operable state (S125).

[0083] According to this, when a user is performing a stored print function or similar operation after logging in, the function icon 93A for executing the secure print function will not be displayed in a selectable state, thereby suppressing the occurrence of accidental operations. Conversely, when logged out, the function icon 93A will be displayed, making it possible to perform secure printing by selecting print job 75. This allows for the proper coexistence of the two functions.

[0084] (5) When the CPU 12 receives a setting to execute the storage printing function, if there is already a print job 75 saved in memory 15 as a security print job 75A by the security printing function, the CPU 12 saves the print job 75 with the user name 85 set in memory 15 as a storage print job 75B for the storage printing function (S65).

[0085] According to this, when the setting to execute the storage printing function is enabled, the print job 75 with the username 85 already set can be processed as a storage printing job 75B. As a result, even if the security printing function is restricted according to the setting to execute the storage printing function, the print job 75 already stored in memory 15 can be printed using the storage printing function.

[0086] (6) The MFP1 also has a mail receiving function that allows it to receive and print emails. The CPU 12 performs the following in response to receiving an email: a password transmission process (S73) that sends an email password to the email address of the sender of the email; an email information storage process (S75) that stores the email information related to the received email in memory 15 in association with the email password to be sent; a second display process that displays the email information on the touch panel 21 (job selection window 101 in Figure 4); a fifth reception process (S15) that accepts the selection of the displayed email information via the touch panel 21; a sixth reception process (S17) that accepts the email password via the touch panel 21; an email password determination process (S17) that determines whether the email password associated with the email information selected in the fifth reception process matches the email password accepted in the sixth reception process; and a fourth printing process (S17) that, in response to the result of the email password determination process, determines that the email password associated with the email information selected in the fifth reception process matches the email password accepted in the sixth reception process, the printing unit 16 executes printing related to the email information. Even after CPU12 receives a setting to execute the accumulated printing function in the third reception process, it maintains the email printing function.

[0087] According to this, even if the security printing function is restricted depending on the settings for executing the stored print function, the email printing function will be maintained. Users who request printing via email may be different from the users who send print job 75 from the printer driver, etc. Therefore, by maintaining the email printing function even when the security printing function is restricted, a decrease in user convenience can be minimized.

[0088] (Second Embodiment) next, Disclosed hereinThe second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. In the following description, the same reference numerals will be used for components that are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. Figure 11 shows the contents of the function setting process in the second embodiment. In the first embodiment described above, the CPU 12 automatically turned the security printing function OFF when the storage printing function was turned ON. In contrast, the CPU 12 in the second embodiment does not automatically turn the security printing function OFF. As shown in Figure 11, the CPU 12 executes S55 and then S58.

[0089] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, when the storage printing function was set to ON, print jobs 75 that could not be saved as storage printing jobs 75B from among the security printing jobs 75A already stored in memory 15 were discarded (S67 in Figure 6). In contrast, print jobs 75 that could not be saved as storage printing jobs 75B may be kept stored as security printing jobs 75A. As shown in Figure 11, for example, if the CPU 12 determines in S59 that the username 85 is not set for security printing job 75A (S59: NO), it does not delete the print job 75 and executes the process from S58 again. In the second S58, the CPU 12 determines whether there are other security printing jobs 75A among the print jobs 75 stored in memory 15. Similarly, the CPU 12 also executes the process from S58 again in the case of an unregistered user (S61: NO) and a user without printing privileges (S63: NO). This allows the security print job 75A, which has password 83 set, to remain in memory 15 even after the storage print function is turned ON, and to be printed using security printing.

[0090] Figure 12 shows the contents of the printing / storage process in the second embodiment, which is another example of the process shown in Figure 7 in the first embodiment. Note that the printing / storage process shown in Figure 8 is the same in the second embodiment, so we will explain it using Figure 8. After the storage printing function was set to ON (S77:YES), the CPU 12 discarded print jobs 75 for which the user name 85 was not set (S79:NO) and print jobs 75 for unregistered users (S81:NO) (S83 in Figure 7).

[0091] In contrast, the CPU 12 of the second embodiment determines whether a password 83 is set for print jobs 75 in which a username 85 is not set (S79:NO) or for print jobs 75 from unregistered users (S81:NO) (S89 in Figure 8). As a result, the CPU 12 can save print jobs 75 in which a password 83 is set (S89 in Figure 8:YES) that were received after the storage print function was set to ON as security print jobs 75A (S91). In addition, even if a password 83 is not set for a print job 75 (S89:NO), the CPU 12 prints print jobs 75 in which a username 85 is not set (S93:YES, S79 in Figure 12) without saving them to memory 15 (S95 in Figure 8). As a result, even when the storage print function is set to ON, print jobs 75 received from printer drivers etc. that do not set a username 85 can be printed.

[0092] Furthermore, if the CPU 12 has set the username 85 of an unregistered user to the print job 75 (81:NO in Figure 12) and no password 83 is set for that print job 75 (S89:NO), it discards the print job 75 (S97). This enhances security by not executing the print job 75 of an unregistered user, and also frees up storage space in the memory 15. In this way, the CPU 12 of the second embodiment can execute the printing of the security printing job 75A without automatically turning off the security printing function.

[0093] (5. Effects) As described above, the second embodiment provides the following effects. (1) The CPU 12 executes a second determination process (S81) to determine whether the username 85 associated with the print job 75 received by the reception process is registered in the authentication DB 73. If the CPU 12 determines that the setting to execute the storage printing function is enabled and the username 85 associated with the print job 75 is registered in the authentication DB 73 (S81: YES), it saves the print job 75 in memory 15 as a storage printing job 75B, which is a print job 75 to be printed in the third printing process of the storage printing function (S87). If the CPU 12 determines that the setting to execute the storage printing function is enabled and the username 85 associated with the print job 75 is not registered in the authentication DB 73 (S81: NO), it saves the print job 75 in memory 15 as a security printing job 75A, which is a print job 75 to be printed in the second printing process of the security printing function (S91 in Figure 8).

[0094] According to this, even when a print job 75 associated with password 83 is received, the storage print function can be executed according to the username 85 associated with that print job 75. Furthermore, when a print job 75 with a username 85 not registered in the authentication DB 73 is received, that print job 75 is saved in memory 15 as a secure print job 75A. In other words, the security print function is exceptionally executed for print jobs 75 with usernames 85 not registered in the authentication DB 73. As a result, even if a print job 75 has an unregistered username 85 set, if it is a password-protected print job 75, it can be printed using the security print function. For example, even if the security print function is restricted on the MFP1 side, the sender of the print job 75 may not be aware that the function has been restricted unless they are notified. As a result, the sender may send a password-protected print job 75. Even in this case, by saving the print job 75 with password 83 and username 85 set as a security print job 75A or a storage print job 75B, printing can be done while maintaining security.

[0095] (2) When the CPU 12 receives a setting to execute the storage print function, if there are already print jobs 75 stored in memory 15, it processes the print job 75 with the password 83 set (security print job 75A) from among the print jobs 75 stored in memory 15 as security print job 75A, which is the print job 75 to be printed in the first print process of the security print function (S59:NO, S61:NO, S63:NO in Figure 11).

[0096] According to this, when the setting to execute the stored print function is enabled, print jobs 75 that have already been acquired and have a password 83 set can be exceptionally processed as security print jobs 75A. As a result, even if the security print function is restricted according to the setting to execute the stored print function, print jobs 75 that have already been saved in memory 15 can be printed using the security print function.

[0097] (6. Variant) still, Content disclosed herein This is not limited to the embodiments described above, This specification Needless to say, various improvements and modifications are possible as long as they do not deviate from the original intent. for example, Disclosed herein Authentication information is not limited to numbers like PINs; it can also include letters or other characters. Disclosed herein Authentication using authentication information can include authentication using information on an authentication card, or biometric authentication such as fingerprints. Furthermore, the CPU 12 does not need to perform the standby screen display process shown in Figure 9. In this case, the CPU 12 may display the function icon 93A on the second standby screen 91B after login, regardless of whether the storage printing function is ON or OFF. Furthermore, MFP1 does not need to have the functionality to receive emails or print email information. In the above embodiment, the MFP1 started printing the stored print job 75B after the user logged in. However, the MFP1 may also perform printing of the stored print jobs 75B in response to a predetermined operation on the touch panel 21 after the user has logged in. Furthermore, if NO is determined in S79 or S81 in the second embodiment, the received print job 75 may be discarded. Furthermore, although the MFP1 is equipped with a touch panel 21 as an operation unit for accepting login operations, it may also be configured to allow login operations by other methods. For example, the MFP1 may decide whether to allow login based on data received from a mobile terminal. The user may also perform the login operation by entering a username 85 and PIN number 113 on their mobile terminal and sending them to the MFP1. In this case, the communication unit that communicates with the mobile terminal is: Disclosed herein This is an example of an operating section.

[0098] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, Disclosed herein A CPU 12 that executes a predetermined program is used as the control unit, but this is not the only option. For example, the control unit may be configured with dedicated hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to operate using a combination of software processing and hardware processing. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, Disclosed herein We adopted the MFP1, a multifunction printer, as our printing device, but it is not the only option. Disclosed herein The printing device may be a printer that has only a printing function. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0099] 1 MFP (Printer), 12 CPU (Control Unit), 15 Memory (Storage Unit), 21 Touch Panel (Display Unit, Operation Unit), 16 Printing Unit, 24 Network Interface (Communication Unit), 73 Authentication DB (Authentication Data), 75 Print Jobs, 75A Security Printing Jobs, 75B Storage Printing Jobs, 83 Password, 85,111 Username (User Identification Information), 93A Function Icons.

Claims

1. A memory unit for saving print jobs, Communications Department and, Display unit and An operating unit that accepts commands, The printing section for printing images, Control unit and Equipped with, A printing apparatus that performs a security printing function, comprising: a receiving process by the control unit to receive the print job via the communication unit; a determination process to determine whether or not the print job received by the receiving process contains a password; a storage process to save the print job to the storage unit if the determination process determines that the print job contains a password; a first printing process to print the image related to the print job using the printing unit if the determination process determines that the print job does not contain a password; a first display process to display a list of jobs on the display unit showing information about the print job stored in the storage unit; a first receiving process to receive the selection of the print job from the displayed list of jobs using the operation unit; a second receiving process to receive a password via the operation unit; a password determination process to determine whether or not the password associated with the print job selected in the first receiving process matches the password received in the second receiving process; and a second printing process to print the print job selected in the first receiving process using the printing unit, in accordance with the result of the password determination process determining that the password associated with the print job matches the password received in the second receiving process. The control unit, A third reception process is executed to receive a setting on whether or not to perform the functions of the printing device, including the storage printing function. The storage and printing function includes a fourth reception process that receives user identification information via the operation unit, and a third printing process that, based on authentication data related to the authentication of the user identification information, performs authentication of the user identification information received in the fourth reception process, and, depending on the success of the authentication, prints the image of the print job associated with the authenticated user identification information from among the print jobs stored in the storage unit using the printing unit. The control unit, In response to receiving a setting to execute the storage print function in the third reception process, the print job is saved in the storage unit without executing the password determination process, and the password for the print job saved in the storage unit is not received via the operation unit before the third print process. A printing device that performs this task.

2. The control unit, The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in response to receiving a setting to execute the storage printing function in the third reception process, the setting to not execute the security printing function is made even if a setting not to execute the security printing function is not received in the third reception process.

3. The receiving process receives the print job associated with the password and the user identification information via the communication unit. The control unit, A second determination process is performed to determine whether the user identification information associated with the print job received by the reception process is registered in the authentication data. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when the setting to execute the storage printing function is configured and it is determined that the user identification information associated with the print job is registered in the authentication data, the print job is stored in the storage unit as a storage printing job which is the print job to be printed in the third printing process of the storage printing function, and when the setting to execute the storage printing function is configured and it is determined that the user identification information associated with the print job is not registered in the authentication data, the print job is not stored in the storage unit.

4. The receiving process receives the print job associated with the password and the user identification information via the communication unit. The control unit, A second determination process is performed to determine whether the user identification information associated with the print job received by the reception process is registered in the authentication data. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when the setting to execute the storage printing function is configured and it is determined that the user identification information associated with the print job is registered in the authentication data, the print job is stored in the storage unit as a storage printing job which is the print job to be printed in the third printing process of the storage printing function; and when the setting to execute the storage printing function is configured and it is determined that the user identification information associated with the print job is not registered in the authentication data, the print job is stored in the storage unit as a security printing job which is the print job to be printed in the second printing process of the security printing function.

5. The control unit, The security printing function displays a function icon on the display unit for performing the print operation. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the setting is configured to execute the storage printing function and the authentication of the user identification information received by the fourth reception process is successful, the function icon is not displayed on the display unit in a selectable state, and when the setting is configured to execute the storage printing function and the authentication of the user identification information received by the fourth reception process is unsuccessful, the function icon is displayed on the display unit in an operable state.

6. The control unit, The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when a setting to execute the storage printing function is received, if there are already print jobs stored in the storage unit as security printing jobs by the security printing function, the printing job in which the user identification information is set among the print jobs stored in the storage unit is stored as a storage printing job for the storage printing function.

7. The control unit, The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when a setting to execute the storage printing function is received, if there are already print jobs stored in the storage unit, the printing jobs stored in the storage unit that have a password set are processed as security printing jobs which are print jobs to be printed in the first printing process of the security printing function.

8. It has an email receiving function that allows you to receive and print emails. The control unit, Upon receiving the aforementioned email, a password sending process is performed to send the email password to the email address of the sender of the aforementioned email. A mail information storage process that stores the mail information related to the received mail in the storage unit in association with the password for sending the mail, A second display process that displays the aforementioned email information on the display unit, A fifth reception process in which the selection of the displayed email information is received by the operation unit, A sixth reception process that receives a password for email via the aforementioned operation unit, A password determination process that determines whether the email password associated with the email information selected in the fifth reception process matches the email password received in the sixth reception process, Based on the results of the email password determination process, if it is determined that the email password associated with the email information selected in the fifth reception process matches the email password received in the sixth reception process, a fourth printing process is performed in which the printing unit prints the email information. Execute, The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which maintains the email printing function even after receiving a setting to execute the stored printing function in the third reception process.

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