Abstract:
A data processing device includes a storage section, a path retrieving section, a judging section, and a print job creating section. The storage section stores a path for accessing to a predefined storage area. The path retrieving section retrieves a path of a storage area storing print data to be printed. The judging section judges a relationship between the path of a predefined storage area and the path of a storage area. The print job creating section creates a secure print job containing the print data when the judging section makes a prescribed judgment that the path for accessing to a predefined storage area and the path of a storage area are in a prescribed relationship, the secure print job is transmitted to a printer for printing the print data under a restricted circumstance.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-234073 filed Sep. 11, 2008. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a print job system for creating a print job, and computer readable storage medium used therein. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Network printers have been extensively used for allowing plural computers on a network to share the printers. Some materials to be printed by such a computer may be confidential and others may not. In order to preserve the confidentiality and prevent information leakage, each computer on the network needs to be so configured that confidential information cannot be accessed and printed by an unauthorized person. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a new print job style that does not allow an unauthorized person to print confidential information. 
         [0005]    In order to attain the above and other object, the invention provides a data processing device. The data processing device includes a storage section, a path retrieving section, a judging section, and a print job creating section. The storage section stores a path for accessing to a predefined storage area. The path retrieving section is configured to retrieve a path of a storage area storing print data to be printed. The judging section is configured to judge a relationship between the path for accessing to a predefined storage area and the path of a storage area retrieved by the path retrieving section. The print job creating section is configured to create a secure print job containing the print data when the judging section makes a judgment that the path for accessing to the predefined storage area and the path of the storage area are in a prescribed relationship. The secure print job is transmitted to a printer for printing the print data under a restricted circumstance. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect, the present invention provides a printing system. The printing system includes a data processing device and a printer. The printer is communicably connected to the data processing device. The data processing device includes a storage section, a path retrieving section, a judging section, a print job creating section, and a transmission section. The storage section stores a path for accessing to a predefined storage area. The path retrieving section is configured to retrieve a path of a storage area storing print data to be printed. The judging section is configured to judge a relationship between the path for accessing to the predefined storage area and the path of the storage area retrieved by the path retrieving section. The print job creating section is configured to create a secure print job containing the print data and information about authentication of an authorized user when the judging section makes a judgment that the path for accessing to the predefined storage area and the path of the storage area are in a prescribed relationship. The transmission section is configured to transmit the secure print job. The printer includes a receiving section, a printing section, a print mode setting section, and an authentication section. The receiving section is configured to receive the secure print job transmitted from the transmission section. The print mode setting section is configured to selectively set the printing section to operate under either one of a secure print mode and a normal print mode. The authentication section is configured to perform authentication of the information about an authorized user included in the secure print job. The printing section executes printing of the secure print job when the secure print mode is set and the authentication proves to be the authorized user. 
         [0007]    According to still another aspect, the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a set of program instructions installed on and executed by a computer for controlling a data processing device. The program instructions includes storing a path for accessing to a predefined storage area, retrieving a path of a storage area storing print data to be printed, judging a relationship between the path for accessing to the predefined storage area and the path of the storage area being retrieved, creating a secure print job containing the print data when a judgment is made so that the path for accessing to the predefined storage area and the path of the storage area are in a prescribed relationship, and transmitting the secure print job to a printer for printing the print data under a restricted circumstance. 
         [0008]    According still another aspect, the present invention provides a method of creating a print job to be transmitted to a printer. The method includes storing a path for accessing to a predefined storage area, retrieving a path of a storage area storing print data to be printed, judging a relationship between the path for accessing to the predefined storage area and the path of the storage area being retrieved, and creating a secure print job containing the print data when a judgment is made so that the path for accessing to the predefined storage area and the path of the storage area are in a prescribed relationship, the secure print job being transmitted to the printer for printing the print data under a restricted circumstance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    In the drawings, 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a secure setting dialogue screen used in the embodiment of the preset invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a print job creating process on a personal computer; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4(   a ) is an explanatory diagram of the print job when a secure flag is set to “0”; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4(   b ) is an explanatory diagram of the print job when the secure flag is set to “1”; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a secure print process on a printer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    A printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 . In the following description, the term “secure print” will be used to mean printing to be performed under a secure management for minimizing a risk of leakage of confidential information contained in data to be printed. Also, the term “secure setting” will be used to mean settings to the secure print. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a printing system  10  includes a printer  12  and a plurality of personal computers  14 ,  16 , and  18  (hereinafter referred to as PC) which are communicably connected to one another by a LAN  20  (Local Area Network). The printer  12  receives a print job sent from one of the PCs and performs a print process. 
         [0018]    The printer  12  is provided with a CPU  120 , a ROM  122 , a RAM  124 , a printing unit  126 , a network interface  128  (hereinafter referred to as network I/F), a monitor  130 , and an operation unit  132 . 
         [0019]    The CPU  120  governs the components contained in the print device  12 . Various programs executed by the CPU  120  are stored in the ROM  122 . The RAM  124  temporarily stores various data and is accessed by the CPU  120  when the CPU  120  executes the program stored in the ROM  122 . The various processes are executed by the programs stored in the ROM  122 . A plurality of print jobs are stored in the RAM  124  for the secure print. The printing unit  126  attends to printing of the print job. The network I/F  128  is connected to the LAN  20 . The monitor  130  displays various information. The operation unit  132  functions as an input interface for the print device  12  and includes a secure button for allowing a user to select a secure print mode. 
         [0020]    The PC  14  is provided with a CPU  140 , a ROM  142 , a RAM  144 , a network I/F  146  connected to the LAN  20 , a hard-disk  148  (hereinafter referred to as HDD), a monitor  150 , and an operation unit  152  such as a keyboard or a mouse. The HDD  148  stores an OS (Operating System)  1480 , an application software  1482  such as a word processing software, a printer driver  1484  used for the printer  12 , and a database  1486  for managing set data of the OS  1480 , application software  1482  and the printer driver  484 , e.g., a registry supplied by the OS. 
         [0021]    Each process is executed by performing each program stored in the ROM  142  or HDD  148 . To this end, the program is read from the ROM  142  or HDD  148  and placed in the RAM  144 . The OS  1480 , for example, functions to store setting data (see  FIG. 2 ) of the secure print in the database  1486 . A print file is created by executing the application software  1482 . The print job is created by executing the printer driver  1484 . The detailed configuration of the PC  14  will not be described herein because the PC  14  is the same as the well-known personal computer except for the capability of executing the following processes. The same is true with respect to the PCs  16  and  18 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a setting window  300  is displayed on the monitor  150  when the instruction for setting the printer driver  1484  into a setting mode is inputted via the operation unit  152  on the PC  14 . The setting window  300  is a part of a setting interface of the printer driver  1484 .  FIG. 2  only shows the items with respect to a secure setting which is to set the secure print. 
         [0023]    The setting window  300  includes a check box  302 , a user name box  304 , a password box  306 , a folder box  309 , a reference button  310 , an OK button  312 , and a cancel button  314 . The check box  302  is for designating whether or not to perform the secure print. When the CPU  140  detects the check in the check box  302 , the CPU  140  stores contents entered into each box in the database  1486 . 
         [0024]    The user name box is for inputting user names and a password box  306  is for inputting passwords. The inputted user name and the password are used to determine that the user is authorized to perform the secure print of the designated print job. This determination is made on the printer before the start of printing. 
         [0025]    The folder box  308  is for inputting the path to a secure folder in which the target file subject to the secure print is stored. In other word, if the print instruction is entered via the operation unit  152  with respect to the file stored in the secure folder or the file stored in the folder in lower hierarchical level than the secure folder, the CPU  140  acquires the print instruction and executes the secure print according to the print instruction. 
         [0026]    The reference button  310  is for helping the user in inputting the folder path into the folder box. The CPU  140  controls the monitor  150  to display the folders which are linked hierarchically to be (e.g., the storage area on the LAN  30  or HDD  148 ) a tree-form upon pushing the reference button  310 . When the prescribed folder displayed on the monitor  150  is selected via the operation unit  152 , the CPU  140  acquires the path of the selected folder and displays the acquired path on the folder box  308 . 
         [0027]    The OK  312  button is used for finalizing the settings on the setting window  300 . The CPU  140  registers the data inputted into the setting window  300  in the database  1486  upon pushing the OK button  312 . When the OK button  312  is pushed while a check is inputted into the check box  302 , the data indicating a secure print mode is stored in the database  1486 . 
         [0028]    The cancel button  314  is used for canceling the settings on the setting window  300  and finishing the secure setting. The CPU  140  finishes the secure setting process without registering the data in the database  1486  when the cancel button  314  is pushed. The above-mentioned data for the secure print may be stored in a specified file. 
         [0029]    The CPU  140  executes a print job creating process by using the setting data inputted through the setting window  300  and stored in the database  1486 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a target print file or a target print file name is inputted via the operation unit  152  instructing to print the target print file (S 100 ). The CPU  140  acquires the print instruction and determines whether or not the secure print mode is set (S 102 ). Specifically, the CPU  140  determines whether or not the data indicating the secure setting mode is stored in the database  1486 . 
         [0030]    If the CPU  140  determines that the data indicating secure print mode is not stored in the database  1486  (S 102 :NO), the routine advances to S 108 , whereas if the CPU  140  determines that the data indicating secure print mode is stored in the database  1486  (S 102 :YES), the CPU  140  identifies the folder of the target print file which is to be printed (S 104 ). The CPU  140  acquires the path lead to the target print file using a predetermined function applied by the OS  1480 . 
         [0031]    In S 106 , the CPU  140  determines whether or not the folder storing the target print file is the secure folder. Specifically, the CPU  140  determines the relationship between the path acquired in S 104  and the path of the secure folder stored in the database  1486  (S 106 ). If the path of the folder storing the target print file includes the path of the secure folder, i.e., the target print file is stored in the secure folder or the folder which is lower hierarchical level than the secure folder, the CPU  140  determines YES in S 106 , whereas the path of the folder storing the target print file does not include the secure folder, the CPU  140  determines NO in S 106 . 
         [0032]    If the CPU  140  determines NO in S 106 , the CPU  140  sets a secure flag into “0” (S 108 ) and attaches the secure flag set in S 108  to a header of the print job. If the CPU  140  determines YES in S 106 , the CPU  140  sets the secure flag into “1” (S 112 ), and the CPU  140  acquires the authentication information such as the user name, the password from the registry (S 114 ). Subsequently, the CPU  140  attaches the secure flag set in S 112  and the authentication information obtained in S 114  to the header of the print job (S 116 ). 
         [0033]      FIG. 4(   a ) shows the print job created in S 110  (hereinafter referred to as print job (a)), and  FIG. 4(   b ) shows the print job created in S 116  (hereinafter referred to as print job (b)). The print job (a) includes print data, the print job itself including a setting of the print, for example a paper size and data designating a monochromatic print or a color print, and the secure flag set to “0” in S 108  and indicating a normal print. In the normal print, the printing process starts in data receiving order without performing the authentication in the printer  12 . The secure flag is described in the header of the print job (a). 
         [0034]    The print job (b) includes a print data, the print job itself which is the same construction as the print job (a), the secure flag set to “1”, and the authentication information including the user name and the password. Similarly to the print job (b), the secure flag and the authentication information are described in the header of the print job (b). 
         [0035]    In S 118 , the CPU  140  transmits the print job (a) or (b) toward the printer  12 . The CPU  140  controls the network I/F  146  and transfers an address of the printer  12  to the LAN  30 , thereby transferring the print job (a) or (b). 
         [0036]    The CPU  120  of the printer  12  executes the secure print process by performing the program stored in the ROM  122  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Before executing the secure print process in printer  12 , the print job (b) is transmitted to the printer  12  (see S 118  in  FIG. 3 ) and the CPU  120  receives the print job (b) by controlling the network I/F  128 , and at least one of the received print job (b) is stored in the RAM  124 . 
         [0037]    When the CPU  120  receives the print job (a) via the network I/F  128 , the print job (a) is printed in the printing unit  126  without performing the secure print process described below. That is, the CPU  120  determines according to the value of the secure flag included in the header whether the received print job is the print job (a) or the print job (b). If the CPU  120  determines that the print job is the print job (a), the print process is executed (the same process as S 218  in  FIG. 5 ) without executing the process shown in  FIG. 5 , whereas if the CPU  120  determines that the print job is the print job (b), the process shown in  FIG. 5  is executed in the printer  12 . 
         [0038]    When a user who has already transmitted the print job (b) pushes the secure print button provided on the operating unit  132 , the CPU  120  sets the printer  12  into the secure print mode and acquires a secure print start instruction. The CPU  120  starts the process as shown in  FIG. 5 . The CPU  120  controls the monitor  130  to display a user name input message so as to prompt the user to input the user name (S 202 ). Then, the CPU  120  waits until the completion of this input (S 204 :NO, S 202 ). As to the input of the user name, the CPU  120  retrieves the user name described in the header of the print job (b) and displays the user name in a selectable list-form. The user can select the user name on the list by the operating unit  132  or input the user name directly by a numeric keyboard which is included in the operation unit  132  and can input the alpha-numerals. 
         [0039]    When the input of the user name is completed and the CPU  120  acquires the data indicating the selected user name (S 204 :YES), the CPU  120  controls the monitor  130  to display a password input message so as to prompt the user to input the password (S 206 ). Then the CPU  120  waits until the completion of this input (S 208 :NO, S 206 ). The input of the password is executed via the numeric keyboard. 
         [0040]    The password input operation is fixed via the operation unit  132  and the CPU  120  acquires the inputted password (S 208 :YES). The CPU  120  determines whether or not the password inputted in S 208  meets the password described in the header of the print job (b) including the user name inputted in S 204  (S 210 ). If the password does not meet with each other (S 212 :NO), the process is ended while displaying a relevant message. With this configuration, the print job (b) stored in the RAM  124  is not printed. 
         [0041]    If the password inputted in S 208  meets the password described in the header of the print job (b) (S 212 :YES), the CPU  120  retrieves the print job (b) which is determined YES in S 212  and controls to display all of the retrieved print jobs (b) in the list-form on the monitor  130  (S 214 ). Specifically, the CPU  120  retrieves the print job (b) accumulated in the RAM  124 , when the password and user name are matched. In the list displayed on the monitor  130 , the target file name and user name may be related with each other, or a job name and the user name may be related with each other. The CPU  120  waits until the selection of one of the printer jobs (b) (S 216 :NO, S 214 ). When one of the print jobs (b) is selected (S 216 :YES), the CPU  120  executes the print process with respect to the selected print job (b) (S 218 ) in the printing unit  126 , and ends the process. 
         [0042]    In the embodiment, the CPU  140  of the PC  14  determines whether or not the print job transmitted to the printer  12  belongs to the objective of the secure print according to the relationship between the path of the secure folder stored as the secure setting in the database  1486  and the path of the folder storing the target print file (S 106  in  FIG. 3 ). If the CPU  140  determines that the target print file belongs to the objective of the secure print (S 106 :YES), the secure flag (set to “1”) indicating the objective of the secure print is automatically attached to the header of the print job (S 112 ). With this configuration, the user can execute the secure print without the determination whether or not to execute the secure print on a printing basis. When the secure print and the normal print are executed together, the operation burden of the user can be reduced. 
         [0043]    In this embodiment, the secure folder designated in the folder box  308  and the file lower hierarchical level than the secure folder are determined to the objective of the secure print in S 106 . With this configuration, since the path of all folders storing the respective target print files to be printed as the secure print need not to store in the RAM  144 , the storing area of the RAM  144  is used efficiently. 
         [0044]    While the invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiment thereof, if would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the attached claims. 
         [0045]    In the embodiment, the user needs to input the user name and password into the user name box  304  and the password box  306 , respectively. However, present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, if the OS  1480  is configured to prompt inputting the user name and the password to authorize the start-up of the PC  14 , the user name and the password for activating the OS  1480  are stored in the database  1486 . When the setting window  300  is displayed on the monitor  150 , the CPU  140  can display the user name and the password for activating the OS  1480  on the user name box  304  and the password box  306  at the setting window  300  by acquiring the user name and the password from the database  1486 , thereby reducing the burden on the user for inputting the user name and the password. 
         [0046]    Further in the embodiment, the secure folder designated in the folder box  308  and the file lower hierarchical level than the secure folder are determined to the objective of the secure print in S 106 . However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the secure folder designated in the folder box  308  may be determined to be the objective of the secure print. The determination in S 106  is performed based on whether or not the path of the folder storing the target print file meets the path of the secure folder. 
         [0047]    Further in the embodiment, the secure folder path lead to the file which is the objective of the secure print is inputted in the folder box  308 . However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a folder path lead to a file which is not the objective of the secure print may be inputted in the folder box  308  (hereinafter referred to non-secure folder) and stored in the database  1486 . If the path of the folder lead to the target print file includes the path of the non-secure folder, i.e., the target print file is stored in the non-secure folder or the folder lower hierarchical level than the non-secure folder, the CPU  140  may determine NO in S 106 , whereas if the path of the folder storing the target print file does not include the path of the non-secure folder, the CPU  140  may determine YES in S 106 . 
         [0048]    Further in this embodiment, if the password does not meet with each other (S 212 :NO), the process as shown in  FIG. 5  is ended. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, if the password does not meet with each other, the message prompting the user to input the password may be displayed on the monitor  130  again and the routine may return to S 206 . The construction in which the password can input repeatedly is preferably employed in a situation that the password is inputted erroneously. In this situation, since the process shown in  FIG. 5  does not need to execute from the beginning, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user to print the secure print. The input of the password a plurality of times, for example three times, can be acceptable (if the determination in S 212  is NO, the routine returns to S 206 ), whereas the negative determination in S 212  is repeated at three times consecutively (S 212 :NO), the process may be ended. With this configuration, both ensuring the security and reducing the burden of the user can be achieved. 
         [0049]    Further in the embodiment, the CPU  140  executes the print job creating process as shown in  FIG. 3  using the printer driver  1484 . However, the program configured of the print function in the application software  1482  may execute the print job creating process.