JP5195113B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that ensures the security of print data such as a form.

Today, computer networks are widely used. For example, a printing system is used in which a printing apparatus is connected to a network such as a LAN (local area network) and print data is supplied from a host device such as a personal computer (PC) to perform printing processing. Has been. In such a system, Patent Document 1 is proposed as a printing apparatus that uses an IC card to ensure security and restricts printing for each user. This patent document 1 is an invention for determining whether or not to perform printing restriction based on printing restriction information acquired from an external recording medium, and performing printing restriction for each user based on the judgment result.
JP 2007-58744 A

  However, in the above security printing, a security card such as an IC card is necessary. The security card is indispensable, and there is a risk that the security card may be used by others due to loss or the like. On the other hand, it is conceivable that print data such as a form is stored in a hard disk (HD) of a printing apparatus and printed out as necessary, but there is also a problem that it is used without permission.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a printing apparatus that registers a user who can issue a print instruction for print data such as a form, prevents unauthorized printing, and ensures the security of the form data. Is to provide.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first storage means for storing the form name and the security level of the form, the second storage means for storing the user name and the access level of the user, and the host device Receiving means for receiving print data including a form name and a user name transmitted; and determining whether information on the form name included in the print data matches a form name stored in the first storage means. A first determination unit; a second determination unit that determines whether the user name information included in the print data matches a user name stored in the second storage unit; and the first determination unit. If the form name match is not determined, normal printing is performed using the form. If the second determination unit does not determine the user name match, the access level is set to the lowest access level set in advance. so As a result of comparing the security level corresponding to the form name stored in the first storage means and the lowest access level, if the access level is equal to or higher than the security level, the print data is If the access level is lower than the security level, the print data is discarded, and if both the first and second determination means determine a match, the form name corresponds to the form name. result of comparing the access level corresponding to the security level and the user name, the access level is the security level and isotopes, or when a higher performs print processing of the form based on the print data, wherein the access level is the security level when lower than has discarding print control means the print data It can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus.

Also, the problem in the first aspect, wherein the first storage means can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus printing history corresponding to the form name is also stored.

Furthermore, according to the second invention, this can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus that prints out the printing history.

  According to the present invention, the form name and the security level are stored in the printing apparatus, the user name and the access level are stored, and when the access level is equal to or higher than the security level, the form printing process based on the print data is performed. By doing so, a printing apparatus is provided that prevents unauthorized printing and ensures the security of the form data.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In this figure, this system is composed of host devices 1 and 2 such as a personal computer (client PC) and a printing device 3, and the host devices 1 and 2 and the printing device 3 are, for example, a LAN (local area network). ).

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing apparatus 3 , which includes a CPU 4, a RAM 5, a ROM 6, a flash memory 7, a display panel 8, a key (button) 9, a printer engine 10, and a storage device (hard disk (HD)) 11. And connected to the host device 1 (and 2) via the LAN line 12. The CPU 4 performs a printing process according to a program stored in the ROM 6, and the RAM 5 functions as a work area for the CPU 4.

A form security table is registered in the flash memory 7, and an example of this table is shown in FIG. The “general ledger”, “salary schedule”, and “department-specific personnel evaluation list” shown in the figure are form names, and a security level is registered for each form name. For example, “General Ledger” has a security level “2”, “Salary Details” has a security level “3”, and “Department-Specific Personnel Review List” has a security level “1”. This security level is determined according to the importance of the form, and the smaller the security level, the more important the form.
The form security table is set by operating the key (button) 9 and displaying the security level on the display panel 8.

In the form security table shown in FIG. 3, a history attribute is set corresponding to each form name, the history attribute “1” is a setting for taking a print history, and the history attribute “0” is a print history. It is a setting that does not take. This history attribute will be described later.
On the other hand, the user definition table shown in FIG. This user definition table registers an access level corresponding to a user name, and the user name and access level are registered as a pair. For example, the access level of the user name 1 is “2”, the access level of the user name 2 is “3”, and access level information corresponding to the user name is registered as shown in FIG. Yes. This registration process is also performed by operating the key (button) 9 and displaying the access level on the display panel 8 as described above.

  Here, the access level is a numerical value corresponding to the above-described security level, and a user with an access level “1” can print form data with a security level of “1” or lower. In this case, all form data Printing is possible. A user with an access level “2” can print form data with a security level of “2” or lower, and a user with an access level “3” can print only form data with a security level “3”. It is.

Next, the processing operation of this example in the printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described below.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of this example. First, the host device 1 creates a document file using an application program (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1), and converts it into print data (PDL data) by a printer driver (S2).

Next, the form name and user name information are added to the print data (S3), and the print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 3 via the spooler (S4).
On the printing apparatus 3 side, the print data supplied from the host device 1 is received (S5), information on the form name included in the print data is extracted, and it is determined whether the form name matches the form name stored in the form security table. (S6). Here, when the form names do not match (NO in S6), security is not set for the form data, and anyone can print the form, and the normal printing process is performed (S7). On the other hand, if the form names match (S6 is YES), the security level information of the corresponding form name is read (S8).

  Next, the user name information included in the print data is extracted, and it is determined whether the user name matches the user name stored in the user definition table (S9). If the user names do not match (S9 is NO), the lowest access level ("3") is set (S10). On the other hand, when the user names match (YES in S9), the information on the access level of the corresponding user name is read (S11).

  Next, the access level is compared with the security level (S12), and it is determined whether the access level is equal to or higher than the security level (S13). Here, when the access level is equal to or higher than the security level (YES in S13), the form is printed (S14). On the other hand, when the access level is lower than the security level (NO in S13), the print data is discarded to prevent unauthorized printing (S15).

For example, when the access level is “1” and the security level is “2” (S13 is YES), the form can be printed (S14). On the other hand, when the access level is “2” and the security level is “1” (S13 is NO), the print data is discarded.
As described above, according to the present example, the form name and the form security level are defined in advance, the user name and the access level are defined in advance, and the two levels are compared in the printing apparatus 3, thereby preventing unauthorized printing of the form. It is possible to prevent and secure security, and to prevent information leakage through printed matter.
(Embodiment 2)

Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.
Also in this embodiment, the system diagram of the printing system shown in FIG. 2 is used, and the host devices 1 and 2 are CPU 4, RAM 5, ROM 6, flash memory 7, display panel 8, and key (button) 9. , A printer engine 10 and a storage device (hard disk (HD)) 11. In this example, a form security table having the configuration shown in FIG.

  The form security table shown in the figure is different from the structure of FIG. 3 described above, and print processing is performed corresponding to the form names such as “General ledger”, “Salary details”, “Personnel review list by department”, etc. Are registered on a one-to-one basis. For example, for the “General Ledger” form, the user with ID 1 can execute the printing process, and the same for the “Salary Schedule” form. The user of ID1 can execute the printing process, and the user of ID2 can execute the printing process on the form of “Personnel Evaluation by Department”. The form security table is also set by operating the key (button) 9 and displaying the security level on the display panel 8.

  In the form security table of FIG. 6, a history attribute is set corresponding to each form name, the history attribute “1” is a setting for taking a print history, and the history attribute “0” is a print history. This setting is not taken. This history attribute will also be described later.

Next, the processing operation of this example in the printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described below.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of this example. First, as described above, the host device 1 creates a document file using an application program (step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1), and print data is printed by the printer driver. (PDL data) is converted (ST2).

Next, the form name and user name information are added by printing (ST3), and the print data is transmitted to the printer apparatus 2 via the spooler (ST4).
On the printer device 2 side, the print data supplied from the host device 1 is received (ST5), information on the form name included in the print data is extracted, and matches the form name information stored in the form security table. (ST6). If the form name information does not match (NO in ST6), security is not set for the form data in the same manner as described above. For example, anyone can print the form and perform normal printing processing. (ST7). On the other hand, if the form names match (YES in ST6), the security level information of the corresponding form name is read (ST8).

Next, the user name information included in the print data is extracted, and it is determined whether the user name matches the user name stored in the form security table (ST9).
If the user names do not match (NO in ST9), the print data is discarded to prevent unauthorized printing because the user is not permitted to print (S10). On the other hand, if the user names match (YES in ST9), the form is printed (ST11).

  For example, when the user ID1 executes the printing process for the “general ledger” form, printing is possible. When the user ID2 executes the printing process for the “general ledger” form, the form data is Discarded. Further, when the ID1 user executes the printing process for the “salary schedule” form, printing is possible, and when the ID3 user executes the printing process for the “salary schedule” form, the form data is Discarded.

  As described above, even in this example, the form name and the user name authorized for printing can be defined in advance and registered in the form security table, ensuring the security of the form data and unauthorized printing. Can be prevented, and information can be prevented from leaking through the printed matter.

FIG. 8 shows a form security table as a modification of the present embodiment. In the example shown in the figure, unlike the configuration shown in FIG. 6 described above, print processing can be performed in correspondence with the form names such as “General Ledger”, “Salary Details”, “Personnel Examination List”. A plurality of users are registered. For example, for the “general ledger” form, the ID1, ID3, and ID4 users can execute the printing process, and for the “salary schedule” form, the ID1, The ID4 user can execute the printing process, and the ID2 and ID5 users can execute the printing process for the “Personnel-specific personnel evaluation list”.
(Embodiment 3)

Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described.
This embodiment also uses the system diagram of the printing system shown in FIG. 2 described above, and corresponds to the history attribute configuration corresponding to each form name shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6, and FIG. To do.

  That is, as described above, in each form security table, a history attribute is set corresponding to each form name, the history attribute “1” is a setting for taking a print history, and the history attribute “0” is set. This setting does not take a print history. Therefore, for example, history attributes are acquired for important forms, and information such as printing date / time, form name, number of printed sheets, user name, etc. is recorded as printing history, and unauthorized printing is executed by checking this history later. The user name and the date and time of the attempt are clarified, so that illegal printing can be prevented indirectly and security can be ensured.

  Further, the history corresponding to the form names shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 8 can be printed out as necessary to provide evidence of illegal printing. In other words, the security administrator confirms the above history and prints out the information including the discarded information in order to clarify the illegal facts based on the information such as the printing date / time, form name, number of printed sheets, and user name. To clarify the user name and date and ensure security.

It is a figure explaining the structure of a host apparatus. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system illustrating an embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a form security table. It is a figure explaining the structure of a user definition table. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the form security table of Embodiment 2. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to the second embodiment. It is a figure explaining the structure of a user definition table. It is a figure explaining the modification of Embodiment 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, ... Host device 3 ... Printing device 4 ... CPU
5 ... RAM
6 ... ROM
7 ... Flash memory 8 ... Display panel 9 ... Key (button)
10. Printer engine 11 Storage device (hard disk (HD))
12. LAN line

Claims (3)

First storage means for storing a form name and a security level of the form;
Second storage means for storing a user name and an access level of the user;
Receiving means for receiving print data transmitted from a host device and including a form name and a user name;
First determination means for determining whether information on the form name included in the print data matches a form name stored in the first storage means;
Second determination means for determining whether information on the user name included in the print data matches a user name stored in the second storage means;
If the first determination means does not determine the match of the form name, perform normal printing using the form,
If the second determination means does not determine whether the user names match, the security level corresponding to the form name stored in the first storage means after setting the access level that is the lowest access level set in advance. When the access level is equal to or higher than the security level, the form is printed based on the print data, and the access level is lower than the security level. When the print data is discarded,
The first, if the second determination means determining a match together, the results of comparing the access level corresponding to the security level and the user name corresponding to the form name, the access level is the security level and isotopes, or higher wherein performs print processing of the form based on the print data, and discarding the print control means to the print data is lower than the access level the security level when it is,
A printing apparatus comprising: Wherein the first storage unit, the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print history corresponding to the form name is also stored. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing history is printed out.

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