JPH08314648A - Network printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To increase the degree of freedom corresponding to a transmission source and improve convenience by specifying recordable conditions corresponding to the transmission source as to the printer device which records and outputs sent print data on a form. CONSTITUTION: This network printer device is equipped with a storage part 16 where the name of a user who makes an output request is registered as information showing access right and printer access information for limiting recording output by users is set, a printer system part 15 which records and outputs printing data by using control commands limited with the printer access information, an access control part 18 which reads printer access information corresponding to the user name by retrieval from the storage part 16, informs the system part 15 of it, and records and outputs the printing data under the limited recording conditions, and a network controller 19 which receives and transfers the printing data to the system part 15 and discriminates, recognizes, and reports the user name to the access control part 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device which is connected to a workstation and records and outputs print data sent to a sheet, and can be connected to a network constructed by a plurality of workstations as a network printer. The present invention relates to a printer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, workstations (hereinafter referred to as
There is known a printer device which records and outputs print data such as a document or a drawing which is created by being connected to a WS, and a plurality of WS (terminal devices) are used to effectively use printer resources. It is also widely used as a network printer that is commonly used by being connected to a connected network.

An example of this type of printer device is
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-44729, and this printer device is used as a network printer and prints out print data from WS converted into data according to a connected local area network. . On such a network, a network OS (for example, NetWare, LAN manager, etc.) is used in order to commonly use the printer device which is a shared resource.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional printer device, in the network OS used for connecting to the network, each user (transmission source) is controlled by so-called exclusive access control. Since the permission / non-permission of use is only specified by the presence or absence of the access right, fine control among authorized users, for example, depending on the character of the user such as special handling or general handling It was not possible to control the conditions for recording output, and it was not possible to make further effective use.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 realizes the designation of the recordable condition according to the sender, thereby expanding the degree of freedom of control according to the sender and improving the convenience. The purpose is to enable more effective use. An object of the present invention is to limit the costly recording output to reduce the running cost.

It is another object of the present invention to improve the versatility by facilitating the operation of designating the condition according to the sender.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is connected to a workstation,
In a printer device that prints out the print data sent from the workstation on a sheet by driving a recording unit, a recognition unit that recognizes the sender information of the print data, and a print data record that is permitted for each sender information. A setting means for setting conditions; and a control means for restricting recording of print data to recording conditions according to transmission source information in the setting means so that the print data is printed out on a sheet by the recording means. It is a feature.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the recording means includes a mechanism for recording and outputting print data by using a recording medium of a plurality of colors, and the setting means sets a recording color permitted as a recording condition. It is characterized by doing. The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the source information is grouped and set in the setting means.

Here, the transmission source information is information for identifying and recognizing a user who sends print data from a workstation, the workstation, or the like.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when recording and outputting the sent print data, for example, the transmission source information indicating the user (or WS, etc.) is recognized by the recognition means and is set correspondingly. The recording condition is read from the setting means, and the print data is recorded and output by the control means while being restricted so as to be within the recording condition. For example,
When the set recording condition is set to the print capability (opening the recording condition), the available printer control commands are not limited, and the print output of the print data as it is is allowed, while different users Limits the printer control commands that can be used, and limits the number of printouts and sheets used. Therefore, it is possible to specify the recordable condition according to the transmission source such as the user or WS.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the print data is recorded and output with the recording condition being limited by the control means to the recording color set by the setting means. Therefore,
By specifying the transmission source (user, WS, etc.) that limits the recording colors, print data can be recorded and output with inexpensive recording colors. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the transmission source information can be grouped and set in the setting means, and the input for setting the recording condition according to the transmission source (user, WS, etc.) is reduced. Therefore,
The operation of designating a recordable condition according to a transmission source such as a user or WS becomes easy.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 are views showing an embodiment of a printer device according to the present invention, and this embodiment corresponds to the invention described in claim 1 or 2. First, the configuration will be described.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a printer device configured as a network printer. The printer device 10 includes a plurality of terminal devices 11A to 11N (WS) including a so-called personal computer and a file server device. The printer device 10 is connected to the network cable 13 together with 12 to form a local area network (LAN). The printer device 10 is sent from any of the terminal devices 11A to 11N or from the file server device 12 via the network cable 13. Print data that came
It is received by the AN I / F and printed out on paper.

The printer device 10 processes (uses) various printer control commands and drives a recording means (not shown) to record the received print data on a sheet with a recording medium of a plurality of colors or a single color to form a color image. A printer system unit (recording means) 15 for outputting a binary image and a user who has a so-called access right who is previously permitted to record and output print data. Printer access information is stored (set) and registered as a condition (recording condition) in association with each user, for example, a storage unit (setting unit) 16 including a non-volatile memory or a hard disk device, and the storage unit 16 is set. An operation unit 17 that constitutes a man-machine I / F for a user to input various information such as printer access information
If a user (sender) requesting print output of print data from any terminal device 11M has access right or is registered by searching in the storage unit 16, printer access corresponding to the access right Print data received by controlling transmission of data transmitted and received between the access control unit 18 that reads information (recording conditions) from the storage unit 16 and notifies the printer system unit 15 and the network side via the LAN I / F. To the print system unit 15, and at the same time, to identify and acquire (recognize) the information indicating the access right sent for each print output request at the time of negotiation in the network protocol, and notify the access control unit 18 (recognition means ) 19,
It has.

As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 16 stores a user name (source information) as information indicating the access right of the user.
Is input from the operation unit 17 and set and registered in the information table 20. In this information table 20, the user name is set in the area 21, and in addition, the upper limit of the number of prints (the number of recording copies) and the use Printer access information such as available fonts, available paper feed trays, and available recording colors is set in areas 21 to 25. For example, the information table of the storage unit 16
In 20A, as shown in FIG.
“SerA” is set and it is registered that the user A has the access right.
No limit on the fonts that can be used and area 25 is set to black, which is the usable recording color, and printer access information for recording conditions (limit conditions) that limit the recording output of print data for user A is set. Has been done. Further, in the information table 20S, a so-called super user (registered user) who does not limit the recording condition of the print data, that is, can use the designed print ability is registered. In addition, so-called default information (printer access information), which is the minimum recording condition used when a general user who has no user name registered and has no access right, is set in the storage unit 16. ing.

Then, the access control unit 18 searches the storage unit 16 to check whether or not there is an access right of the user who requests the print output of the print data, and reads the printer access information or the default information according to the user. By notifying the printer system unit 15, the use of the printer control command used when recording and outputting the print data is restricted and the recording condition is restricted. That is, the access control unit 18 constitutes a control means.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, when a print request is received by the network controller section 19 (step P1), the user name input by the user at the terminal device 11M by the user sent together with the print data is identified and recognized and notified to the access control section 18. After that, the print data is transferred to the printer system unit 15. .

Then, it is investigated (searched) whether the user name notified by the access control unit 18 is registered in the storage unit 16 (step P2). Although the user is not the super user (step P3), the registered user is registered. For example, in the case of the user A (step P4), the printer access information set in the information table 20A of the user A is read (acquired) from the areas 22 to 25 (step P5).
The printer system unit 15 is notified.

On the other hand, in step P3, when the user who requests printing is the super user, the process directly proceeds to step P8. If the user requesting printing is an unregistered general user in step P4, the default information set as the recording condition of the general user is read (acquired) from the storage unit 16 (step P6). The system unit 15 is notified. Note that this general user can be recognized without registering or inputting a user name.

Next, in the printer system unit 15, when the printer access information or the default information is notified, the printer control command to be used is converted based on the notification (step P7), and the printer access information and the default information are also sent. Is not notified, the transferred print data is recorded and output by executing the printer control command with the printer control command to be recorded and output according to the designed print capability (recording condition) (step P8).

Therefore, the print data is recorded and output by using the printer control command according to the printer access information based on whether the user requesting the printing is the super user, the registered user, or the general user. . That is, in the case of a super user, the print data is recorded on the paper from any paper feed tray with the required number of copies and fonts without limitation of the recording conditions, and a color image or a binary image is output. . Further, for example, a registered user A whose printer access information is shown in FIG.
In this case, even if the print data is a color image of 256 colors with 10 copies, the number of prints is 1, and a binary image with a black recording color is recorded and output with the recording conditions limited. Further, in the case of a general user, for example, a font capable of high-speed printing or a so-called backing paper-stacked paper tray on which one side has been recorded is designated, or double-sided printing is forced. As described above, print conditions are further limited and print data is recorded and output. User A
When a general user needs a plurality of copies, he / she can make a copy, and since the general user is forced to use the backing paper as a paper, resource reuse and cost can be reduced.

Here, in step P3, if the user requesting printing is the super user, the process directly proceeds to step P8. However, if there is an influence of the converted printer control command at the time of the previous print output, that process is performed. It goes without saying that the printer access information set in the superuser information table 20S can be read (obtained) and notified to the printer system unit 15.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording condition can be set according to the user who is the sender of the print data, and the recording output thereof is limited, so that special treatment such as special handling can be performed according to the character of the user. Recording conditions can be specified, and the degree of control freedom can be expanded. Therefore, for example, an unregistered general user can shorten the occupied time and improve the degree of effective use of the printer device 10, thus improving convenience. In addition, it is possible to reduce the cost of recording and outputting the color image to reduce the running cost.

As another mode of this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 7, the users to be registered are grouped for each recording condition to be restricted and set and registered together with the group name in the table 30 in the storage unit 16, and the area 21 of the information table 20G corresponding to the table 30 is registered. ~ 24 to group name,
It may be configured to set printer access information such as the upper limit of the number of print copies, usable fonts, and usable paper feed trays. With this configuration, the recording condition can be set only by registering the user in the group, and the input thereof can be reduced. Therefore, the operation of designating the recordable condition can be easily performed, and the present invention can be applied to a large-scale network, for example, and the versatility is improved. Note that this other aspect corresponds to the invention of claim 3.

In this embodiment, the printer 10 is connected to the network and the print data recording condition is limited according to the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
It can be applied even when connected one-on-one,
The terminal output can be effectively used by reducing the recording output time in the usage time of one user. Further, not only the recording condition is restricted according to the user, but also the recording condition is restricted and set for each of the terminal devices 11A to 11N so that the condition in which the recording output is possible is made different even in the terminal devices 11A to 11N. May be.

Further, not only the printer device but also the recording condition set in the setting means is set as the driving condition corresponding to the driving of the connected device, and the control means restricts the operation and the processing based on the driving condition. The present invention can also be applied to OA equipment, peripheral equipment, processing devices, drive devices, and the like.

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the print data sent is recorded and output, the information such as the user or WS of the transmission source is recognized and the print output of the print data is performed by the transmission source. Since the recording condition set for each information is limited, the recordable condition can be specified according to the transmission source user, WS, etc., and the degree of freedom of control is expanded. Therefore, convenience is improved. Therefore, for example, an unregistered user can shorten the occupied time and improve the degree of effective use by reducing the number of printable copies.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the print output of the print data is limited to the set print color, the print data is printed out with the inexpensive print color from the designated user or the sender such as WS. It is possible to reduce the amount of costly recording output of a color image. Therefore, running costs can be reduced.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, since it is possible to group and set transmission source information such as users and WS, it is possible to easily perform an operation of designating a recordable condition. For example, it can be applied to a large-scale network. Therefore, versatility is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram and a block diagram showing a characteristic part of an embodiment of a printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a connection diagram showing connections on the network.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram showing a structure inside a setting means for setting the recording condition.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the recording conditions.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating recording output of the print data.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another aspect, and is a structural diagram showing a structure in a setting unit thereof.

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram showing a structure in a setting unit different from that in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Printer device 11A to 11N Terminal device (workstation) 13 Network cable 15 Printer system unit (recording unit, control unit) 16 Storage unit (setting unit) 17 Operation unit 18 Access control unit (recognition unit) 19 Network controller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer connected to a workstation for recognizing source information of print data in a printer device for recording and outputting the print data sent from the workstation on a sheet by driving the recording means. Setting means for setting print data recording conditions permitted for each source information, and recording of the print data on the paper by the recording means by limiting the recording conditions of the print data to the recording conditions according to the source information in the setting means. Control means for outputting,
A network printer device comprising: 2. The recording means comprises a mechanism for recording and outputting print data using a recording medium of a plurality of colors, and the setting means sets a recording color that is acceptable as a recording condition. 1. The printer device according to 1. 3. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the source information is grouped and set in the setting means.