Print control device, print control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a printing control apparatus, a printing control method, and a program, for solving the following problem: a printer not for business is used for printing for business during work from home, or the like, a rule for image output to be applied to printing on a printer for business cannot be applied.SOLUTION: A printing control apparatus includes: determination means 11 for determining whether printing requested by a user using a first printer 2 not for business is for business or not; acquisition means 11 which acquires, when printing for business is determined, a rule for image output to be applied to printing on a second printer 4 for business; and reflection means 11 which reflects the rule acquired by the acquisition means to printing conditions on image output of the first printer 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus, a printing control method, and a program that can apply rules regarding image output applicable to printing on, for example, business printers owned by a company, even when printing for business purposes using a printer owned by an individual, such as a personal printer, other than for business use.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the way of working called telecommuting has been spreading. Personal computers (hereinafter also referred to as PCs) used for telecommuting are often lent from the company side, but printers are often those owned by individuals at home.

[0003] When using a printer at the workplace, restrictions on image output may be set by internal company rules for the purpose of strengthening security such as preventing leakage of confidential information, or for the purpose of saving resources in consideration of cost reduction and environmental issues.

[0004] However, when printing for business purposes using a printer owned by an individual during telecommuting, since the above-mentioned internal company rules are not applied, printing can be performed without restrictions. For this reason, there is a problem that the internal company rules determined from the viewpoints of security, cost reduction, environmental issues, etc. are nullified.

[0005] Also, in order to apply the internal company rules, it is conceivable that the user switches the printing settings between business use and personal use, but the user's work becomes complicated and time-consuming.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses a printer device in which information on whether or not to permit the use of the printer device is pre-registered according to location information, and when the printer device is used, the current location information to be used is recognized based on location information from the self-location information acquisition means, and based on that location information, the permission / denial information in memory is referred to to check whether or not the use of the printer device at that location is permitted, and if use is permitted, the print operation can be performed, and if it is not permitted, the print operation is restricted.

[0007] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology in which, when a user issues a print order, the image forming apparatus requests a business document determination system to determine whether the document to be printed is for business use or not. The business document determination system determines whether it is for business use or not based on templates, images, and words. If it is for business use, it prints the document and charges the company. If it is determined to be for personal use, it displays a warning on the display unit and prompts the user to choose between business and personal use. If it is determined to be for business use and the user selects business use, it stores the page in the document storage server and notifies the administrator terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-21847 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-207344 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 concerns restrictions on taking company-managed printers outside the company premises, and does not address how to handle cases where personally owned printers are used for business purposes.

[0010] Furthermore, while the technology described in Patent Document 2 can determine whether printing is for business use or not, it still does not describe how to handle cases where business printing is done on a personal printer, for example, that is not subject to cost management.

[0011] Therefore, when employees print business-related documents using their personal printers while working from home, company regulations do not apply, allowing for unrestricted printing and effectively negating those regulations. Patent documents 1 and 2 were unable to provide a solution to this problem.

[0012] This invention has been made in view of the above technical background, and aims to provide a print control device, print control method, and program that can solve the problem that when printing business-related documents using a personal printer other than a business printer, such as when working from home, the rules regarding image output that apply to printing with a business printer do not apply. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The above objectives will be achieved by the following means. (1) A means for determining whether a user's printing on a first printer that is not for business use is for business use, If the determination means determines that it is for commercial use, the acquisition means obtains rules regarding image output that apply to printing on the second printer for commercial use, A reflection means for reflecting the rules obtained by the acquisition means into the printing conditions for the image output of the first printer, A printing control device characterized by being equipped with (2) The reflection means is the print control device described in paragraph 1 above, which reflects the rules based on the printer driver. (3) The print control device described in paragraph 1 above, wherein the reflection means reflects the rules by instructing the printer driver to change the printing conditions based on an application different from the printer driver. (4) The print control device according to paragraph 1 above, wherein the reflection means reflects the rules by instructing the first printer to change the printing conditions based on an application different from the printer driver. (5) A print control device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 4 above, which includes a restricting means to restrict user modification of the reflected print conditions after the rules have been reflected in the print conditions by the reflecting means. (6) A print control device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 4 above, which includes a permission means that allows the user to change the reflected print conditions after the rules have been reflected in the print conditions by the reflection means. (7) The print control device described in paragraph 6 above, which changes the print from business print to non-business print when the user is permitted to change the reflected print conditions. (8) A print control device as described in any of paragraphs 1 to 4 above that outputs billing information when business printing by the first printer is completed. (9) A print control device according to any of paragraphs 1 to 4 above, which has a caching function by temporarily saving the rules. (10) A print control device according to any of paragraphs 1 to 4 above, which is equipped with an authentication means for identifying a user. (11) The print control device A determination step to determine whether a user's printing on a non-commercial first printer is for commercial use, If the determination step determines that it is for commercial use, the acquisition step involves obtaining the rules regarding image output that apply to printing on the second printer for commercial use. A reflection step in which the rules obtained in the acquisition step are reflected in the printing conditions for the image output of the first printer, of implement Print control method. (12) A determination step to determine whether a user's printing using a first printer that is not for business use is for business use, If the determination step determines that it is for commercial use, the acquisition step involves obtaining the rules regarding image output that apply to printing on the second printer for commercial use. A reflecting step of reflecting the rules obtained in the obtaining step in the printing conditions regarding the image output of the first printer, A program for causing a computer to execute. (13) The program according to item 12 above, which causes the computer to execute a process of reflecting the rules based on the program in the reflecting step. (14) The program according to item 12 above, which causes the computer to execute a process of reflecting the rules when the program is instructed to change the printing conditions based on an application different from the program in the reflecting step. (15) The program according to any one of items 12 to 14 above, which further causes the computer to execute a restricting step of restricting changes by the user to the reflected printing conditions after reflecting the rules in the printing conditions in the reflecting step. (16) The program according to any one of items 12 to 14 above, which further causes the computer to execute a permitting step of permitting changes by the user to the reflected printing conditions after reflecting the rules in the printing conditions in the reflecting step. (17) The program according to item 16 above, which further causes the computer to execute a step of changing the printing from business printing to non-business printing when changes by the user to the reflected printing conditions are permitted. (18) The program according to any one of items 12 to 14 above, which further causes the computer to execute a step of outputting billing information when the business printing by the first printer ends. (19) The program according to any one of items 12 to 14 above, which further causes the computer to execute a cache function by primary storage of the rules. (20) The program according to any one of items 12 to 14 above, which further causes the computer to execute an authentication step for identifying a user.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the printing control apparatus and printing control method of the present invention, it is determined whether printing by a user using a first printer other than for business use is for business use. If it is determined to be for business use, rules regarding image output applied to printing by a second printer for business use are acquired. Since the acquired rules are reflected in the printing conditions regarding the image output of the first printer, in telecommuting or the like, for example, even when performing business printing using a privately-owned printer, it is possible to apply rules within the company or the like regarding image output, and the rules will not be ignored.

[0015] Moreover, in order to apply the rules, there is no hassle of switching the printing settings between the case where the user is for business use and the case where the user is for personal use.

[0016] Also, according to the program of the present invention, it is possible to cause a computer to execute a process of determining whether printing by a user using a first printer other than for business use is for business use, acquiring rules regarding image output applied to printing by a second printer for business use if it is determined to be for business use, and reflecting the acquired rules in the printing conditions regarding the image output of the first printer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a configuration diagram of a printing system using a printing control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal device. [Figure 3] It is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the printing system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is an example of a screen for selecting whether printing is for business use. [Figure 5] It is an example of a printing setting screen in which rules are reflected in printing conditions. [Figure 6] It is an example of a screen when changing rules. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a terminal device. [Figure 8] It is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of this invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing system using a printing control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This printing system consists of equipment used by the printer at home while working remotely, and equipment installed at the workplace.

[0020] At home, there is terminal device 1 (corresponding to a print control device) and printer 2 (corresponding to the first printer), and at the workplace, there is a management server 3 and printer 4 (corresponding to the second printer), which consists of one or more MFPs (Multi-function Peripherals), etc. Terminal device 1 and management server 3 are connected by a network such as the internet.

[0021] Printer 4 is a company-owned business printer. On the other hand, Printer 2 is a personal printer owned by a user, for example, who works from home, and can communicate with Terminal 1 via wired or wireless connection. In the following explanation, Printer 2 will also be referred to as the "home printer," and Printer 4 will be referred to as the "workplace printer."

[0022] The configuration of terminal device 1 is shown in the block diagram in Figure 2. Terminal device 1 is composed of a personal computer, which is an information processing device, and includes a CPU 11 (processor), RAM 12, ROM 13, input unit 14, storage unit 15, display unit 16, network communication unit 17, authentication unit 18, etc. In this embodiment, terminal device 1 may be provided by the workplace or other organization.

[0023] The CPU 11 comprehensively controls the entire terminal device 1 by operating based on various software such as the operating system (also simply called OS), printer drivers, and other applications. In particular, in this embodiment, it performs printing-related processing between the home printer 2 and the management server 3 based on the printer driver. Specifically, it determines whether the user's printing from the home printer 2 is for business use, and if it is determined to be for business use, it obtains the rules regarding image output that apply to printing on the workplace printer 4 from the management server 3, and reflects the obtained rules in the printing conditions for image output of the home printer 2. A detailed explanation will be given later.

[0024] RAM12 is memory that provides a workspace for the CPU11 when it executes the program.

[0025] ROM13 is memory that stores programs for operating the CPU11, related settings, and other data.

[0026] The input unit 14 consists of a mouse, touch panel, or the like, used for user operation.

[0027] The storage unit 15 consists of a hard disk drive or SSD (Solid State Drive), and is a memory that stores the OS, printer drivers, various applications, and other data.

[0028] The display unit 16 displays various screens and messages for the user, such as operation screens and documents / images to be printed, and is composed of a display device such as a liquid crystal display.

[0029] The network communication unit 17 functions as a communication interface for communicating with the home printer 2 and the management server 3. Information is sent and received from the management server 3 via HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) communication.

[0030] The authentication unit 18 compares user information such as the ID and password entered by the user with authentication information held in the terminal device 1 and performs user authentication. Alternatively, instead of the terminal device 1 holding the authentication information, another authentication server may hold the authentication information, the terminal device 1 may send the entered user information to the authentication server, the authentication server performs user authentication, and the terminal device 1 receives the authentication result.

[0031] Terminal device 1 has the aforementioned printer driver installed, and printing can be performed on home printer 2 according to the instructions of this printer driver. Specifically, the user opens the file to be printed from various applications such as a document creation application on the screen of terminal device 1, sets the paper size, single-sided / double-sided printing, color / monochrome and other print settings using the printer driver, and then issues a print command.

[0032] Meanwhile, the management server 3 located in the workplace stores the rules regarding image output set within the company (hereinafter also referred to as "company rules") and manages the usage status of the workplace printers 4 in accordance with these company rules. The management server 3 also has a web server that can receive and execute requests via HTTP requests from terminal devices 1. Note that the functions of the management server 3 may be performed by any of the workplace printers 4.

[0033] When the management server 3 receives an HTTP request from terminal device 1 to send the company rules, it sends the company rules to terminal device 1. [First Embodiment] Next, the operation of the printing system shown in Figure 1 will be explained with reference to the sequence diagram in Figure 3. 1. Selection of printed materials The user operates terminal device 1, launches the printer driver within terminal device 1, and selects the document to print.

[0034] Specifically, the user opens the file to be printed from various applications such as a document creation application on the screen of terminal device 1, and uses the printer driver to set print settings such as paper size, single-sided / double-sided printing, and color / monochrome. At this time, in order to determine whether it is a business print job, a screen is provided in the printer driver that allows the user to select whether it is a business print job.

[0035] Figure 4 shows an example of selection screen G1. In screen G1 of Figure 4, the "Login" button 41 is displayed for printing using a company account for business purposes. When the user selects this "Login" button 41, the CPU 11 determines that it is a business print based on the printer driver and connects to the company's management server 3. To avoid the need to select each time, the device information of the home printer 2 (unique serial number, model name, and employee username) can be registered in advance on the company's management server 3. This registration can be done by selecting the "Home Printer Settings" button 42 displayed on screen G1 of Figure 4.

[0036] Note that determining whether printing from home printer 2 is for business use is not limited to whether the "Login" button 41 is selected. For example, printing during business hours may be considered for business use, or it may be considered for business use based on the content and location of the file being printed.

[0037] Furthermore, to maintain confidentiality, the authentication unit 18 may authenticate whether the user is an employee (a method such as password authentication using the company account as ID information is conceivable), and communication may only be accepted after the user's identity has been confirmed. 2 and 3. Obtaining company regulations After determining that it is a business print job and connecting to management server 3, CPU 11 retrieves from management server 3 the company's internal rules regarding image output that are used within the company and apply to printing on workplace printer 4, based on the printer driver. As mentioned above, the communication method between terminal device 1 and management server 3 at this time is HTTP(S) communication.

[0038] When company regulations are not frequently changed, the terminal device 1 may be equipped with a cache function that temporarily stores the acquired company regulations in, for example, the temporary storage area of ​​the memory unit 15, and then quickly retrieves and uses them from the temporary storage area when the company regulations are needed again. Such a cache function avoids the hassle of retrieving company regulations from the management server 3 each time business printing is performed. 4. Changing settings Based on the printer driver, CPU11 reflects the acquired company regulations in the printing conditions for home printer 2. This means that the settings selected in the printer driver are automatically changed to conform to the company regulations.

[0039] Figure 5 shows the print settings screen G2, which reflects the company regulations in the print conditions. In this embodiment, we will explain the case where "double-sided printing and watermark (confidential) printing" are set as the company regulations. As shown in screen G2 of Figure 5, the print type is set to "double-sided" and the "watermark" function is turned on. The double-sided printing and watermark settings are programmed so that the user cannot change them. In screen G2 of Figure 5, the "print type" and "watermark" setting items are marked with a lock icon, indicating that the settings cannot be changed.

[0040] For print settings that are not subject to company regulations, users can change them as needed. For example, they can change the number of copies to print from 1 to 2.

[0041] Furthermore, the printer driver may be configured to allow users to change the settings of company regulations. In this case, it is best to change the determination of whether the print job is for business use from business use to personal use, and to waive subsequent billing processes.

[0042] Figure 6 shows screen G3 when permission is granted to change internal company regulations. On this screen G3, the option to change the internal company regulations for "double-sided printing" is selected. A message is also displayed stating that any difference in counter values ​​between output compliant with internal regulations and output after the setting change will be at the employee's expense. It should be noted that "watermark" is a security item, so it is desirable to prevent its setting from being changed.

[0043] Alternatively, instead of using the printer driver on terminal device 1, an administrator console could be built within the company, allowing administrators to change settings from there.

[0044] In this way, by allowing users to change settings that comply with company regulations, it is possible to respect the wishes of users who want to print, even at their own expense. 5.Printing instructions The printer driver reflects company regulations in the print settings, and then sends a print command to home printer 2. 6 and 7. Print completion notification When printing from home printer 2 is successfully completed, a print completion notification is sent from home printer 2 to terminal device 1. Based on the print driver, the CPU 11 of terminal device 1 receives this print completion notification and then sends the print execution result, including print conditions and the number of pages printed, as billing information, to the management server 3.

[0045] Upon receiving the print execution results, the management server 3 counts (and charges) the number of printed pages as being for the user or the organization to which this user belongs. The user can then settle this charge.

[0046] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the terminal device 1 in the first embodiment described above. This operation is performed by the CPU 11 of the terminal device 1 operating according to the printer driver.

[0047] Step S01 determines whether the print job is for business use. If it is not for business use (NO in Step S01), a normal print job is performed. In other words, after setting the print settings based on the user's input in Step S02, a print command is sent to home printer 2 in Step S03, and the process ends.

[0048] If it is for business printing (YES in step S01), user authentication is performed in step S04, and it is checked in step S05 whether the caching function is enabled. If the caching function is enabled (YES in step S05), in step S06, the company rules are retrieved from the temporary storage area, and then the process proceeds to step S09. If the caching function is not enabled in step S05 (NO in step S05), the internal management server 3 is accessed in step S07, the company rules are retrieved from management server 3 in step S08, and then the process proceeds to step S09.

[0049] In step S09, the settings specified in the company regulations are reflected in the print settings values ​​of the printer driver and also in the settings screen (UI). Next, after setting the print settings in step S10, a print command is sent to home printer 2 in step S11, and a print completion notification is received from home printer 2 in step S12.

[0050] Next, in step S13, it is determined whether the billing function of the management server 3 is enabled. If it is enabled (YES in step S13), the print execution result is sent to the management server 3 in step S14. If the billing function is not enabled (NO in step S13), the process ends without sending the print execution result.

[0051] Thus, in this embodiment, it is determined whether the user's printing using the home printer 2 is for business purposes, and if it is determined to be for business purposes, the company's internal rules regarding image output that apply to printing on the workplace printer 4 are obtained. Since the obtained rules are then reflected in the printing conditions for image output of the home printer 2, the company's internal rules regarding image output can be applied even when the user performs business-related printing using their home printer 2 while working from home, and the rules are not rendered invalid.

[0052] Moreover, users don't have to go through the hassle of switching print settings depending on whether it's for business or personal use, in order to comply with company regulations. [Second Embodiment] Next, other embodiments of this invention will be described.

[0053] In the first embodiment, the CPU 11 of terminal device 1 acquired internal rules based on the printer driver. In contrast, in the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, a different application (simply labeled as "app" in Figure 8) 1b is installed on terminal device 1, distinct from the printer driver 1a. The CPU 11 then operates based on this application 1b, communicating with the management server 3 to acquire internal rules, and instructing the printer driver 1a to change its settings based on the acquired internal rules.

[0054] In other words, the print settings for home printer 2 are determined based on printer driver 1a, but company regulations are obtained based on application 1b. Then, application 1b instructs printer driver 1a to change its settings so that the print settings made by printer driver 1a conform to the company regulations, thereby reflecting the company regulations in the print settings.

[0055] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 9, application 1b may reflect company rules in the print settings by directly instructing the home printer 2 to change the print settings, rather than involving the printer driver 1a.

[0056] Instructions to the printer driver 1a and home printer 2 based on application 1b can be controlled using the IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) protocol. This allows for common commands to be used even if, for example, the workplace printer 4 and home printer 2 are manufactured by different companies, as long as the printer driver complies with the IPP protocol. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 1. Terminal device 2. Home printer (first printer) 3. Management Server 4. Workplace printer (second printer) 1a Printer driver 1b Application 11 CPU 12 RAM 13 Storage section 14 Display section 15 Input section 16 Communications Department 141 Login button

Claims

1. A means of determining whether a user's printing on a non-commercial first printer is for commercial use, If the determination means determines that it is for commercial use, the acquisition means obtains rules regarding image output that apply to printing on the second commercial printer, A reflection means for reflecting the rules obtained by the acquisition means into the printing conditions for the image output of the first printer, A printing control device characterized by being equipped with

2. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection means reflects the rules based on the printer driver.

3. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection means reflects the rule by instructing the printer driver to change the printing conditions based on an application different from the printer driver.

4. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection means reflects the rules by instructing the first printer to change the printing conditions based on an application different from the printer driver.

5. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a restricting means for restricting user modification of the reflected print conditions after the rules have been reflected in the print conditions by the reflecting means.

6. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a permission means that allows the user to modify the reflected print conditions after the rules have been reflected in the print conditions by the reflection means.

7. The print control device according to claim 6, which changes the print from business-use print to non-business-use print when the user is permitted to change the reflected print conditions.

8. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which outputs billing information when business printing by the first printer is completed.

9. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is equipped with a cache function by temporarily saving the aforementioned rules.

10. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising authentication means for identifying a user.

11. A print control device, A determination step to determine whether a user's printing on a non-commercial first printer is for commercial use, If the determination step determines that it is for commercial use, the acquisition step involves obtaining the rules regarding image output that apply to printing on the second commercial printer, A reflection step in which the rules obtained in the acquisition step are reflected in the printing conditions for the image output of the first printer, A print control method that implements the following.

12. A determination step to determine whether a user's printing on a non-commercial first printer is for commercial use, If the determination step determines that it is for commercial use, the acquisition step involves obtaining the rules regarding image output that apply to printing on the second commercial printer, A reflection step in which the rules obtained in the acquisition step are reflected in the printing conditions for the image output of the first printer, A program that causes a computer to execute something.

13. The program according to claim 12, wherein in the reflection step, the program causes the computer to perform a process to reflect the rules based on the program.

14. The program according to claim 12, wherein in the reflection step, the computer is instructed to reflect the rules by a change in printing conditions based on an application different from the program.

15. A program according to any one of claims 12 to 14, which causes the computer to further perform a restriction step that restricts user modification of the reflected print conditions after the reflection step has reflected the rules to the print conditions.

16. A program according to any one of claims 12 to 14, which causes the computer to further perform an authorization step that allows the user to modify the reflected print conditions after the reflection step has reflected the rules to the print conditions.

17. The program according to claim 16, which causes the computer to further perform the step of changing the print from business print to non-business print if the user is permitted to change the reflected print conditions.

18. The program according to any one of claims 12 to 14, which causes the computer to further perform the step of outputting billing information when the business printing by the first printer is completed.

19. A program according to any one of claims 12 to 14, which causes the computer to further perform a caching function by temporarily saving the aforementioned rules.

20. A program according to any one of claims 12 to 14, which causes the computer to further perform an authentication step to identify a user.

Images