Printing device and printing system for controlling authentication print jobs

A printing device includes a processor, an attribute managing part configured to be activated by the processor to communicate with a host device and to control an authentication printing job received from the host device, a memory configured to store authentication printing job data and user information extracted from the authentication printing job data, and a deleting part configured to delete the authentication printing job data and the user information stored in the memory based on predetermined results of communication between the attribute managing part and the host device. As a result, the user is not required to consider whether the time for which the authentication printing data is stored should be extended.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to, claims priority from and incorporates by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-041720, filed on Mar. 12, 2008.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to printing systems and devices, and specifically to a printing device and system for printing by a print job received from a host device.

BACKGROUND

A well-known printing device collates a password input by a user and authentication information attached to printing data (hereafter, authentication printing data), and executes print processing when the authentication print data, in which authentication information such as a password is attached, is transmitted from numerous host devices on a communication network. This printing device deletes the authentication printing data if the user does not input a password within a predetermined period of time.

In order to solve the above-described problems, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Application Publication No. 2006-231673 discloses a printing device that inquires the host device of a transmission source whether or not the output period of authentication printing data needs to be extended when the user does not provide instructions for the authentication printing data until the predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time the authentication printing data was received. When the host device does not reply to this inquiry, the printing device deletes the authentication printing data.

However, it is always necessary for the user to reply to the inquiry whether or not the output period of the authentication printing data by the printing device needs to be extended. In other words, if the user does not reply to this inquiry, the authentication printing data is deleted after the predetermined period of time has elapsed.

SUMMARY

In light of these circumstances, a printing device and a printing system of the present invention can securely store authentication printing data transmitted to the printing device without requiring the user to consider extending the output period.

In order to solve the above-stated problems, this invention provides a printing device for receiving an authentication printing data transmitted by a host device through a communication network and printing an image based on the authentication printing data on a recording medium. The device includes a receiving part configured to receive the authentication printing data and user information from the host device; a device specifying part configured to specify a position on the communication network of the host device by using the user information that was received at the receiving part; a condition monitoring part configured to monitor a device condition of the host device specified by the device specifying part; an authentication information inputting part configured to accept input authentication information by the user; a judging part configured to judge whether or not the authentication printing data and the user information need to be deleted based on a monitoring result of the condition monitoring part, and to judge whether or not to approve printing of the image based on the authentication printing data by collating the authentication information that was received by the authentication information inputting part and the user information attached to the authentication printing data; a deleting part configured to delete the authentication printing data and the user information based on the judging part; and a printing part configured to print the image on the memory medium based on the authentication printing data and based on judgment of the judging part.

The printing device of the present invention includes a device specifying part which specifies a position on the network communication of the host device. Therefore it is realized easily to identify the host device that sent the authentication printing data to the printing device and that exists on the communication network.

Additionally, the printing device can manage/control the condition of the host device by monitoring the device condition of the host device that was specified by the device specifying part. Therefore, the user does not need to consider an extension request for storing the authentication printing data as the printing device executes the processing to delete the authentication printing data and the user information received, for example, only when discrepancies/deficits occur such as when the power of the host device is turned off.

Moreover, the printing device might include an authentication information inputting part that accepts input of authentication information by the user. Therefore, the authentication information input by the user and the user information attached to/along with the authentication printing data are collated, and when they matched, the printing device can execute printing processing of the authentication printing data.

In addition, another feature of the invention includes a printing system that includes the above-described printing device, as well as an image forming device that includes a document creating part configured to accept creation of documents by the user and a controlling part configured to convert the document created at the document creating part into the authentication printing data and to transmit the authentication printing data and the user information over the communication network.

Accordingly, the document created by the user can be transmitted as the authentication printing data to the afore-mentioned printing device. Moreover, because the information processing device can transmit the user information to the printing device, user information of the information processing device also can be provided to the printing device.

According to the above printing device and printing system, it is possible to securely store the authentication printing data in the printing device without requiring the user to consider an extension regarding storing the authentication printing data that was transmitted to the printing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereafter, a printing device and a printing system are explained with reference to the drawings. In the explanation of the present embodiment, for example, a computer (hereafter, a PC) that can create user documents as a host device, and a printer as a printing device that receives the authentication printing data transmitted from the PC and prints an image based on the authentication printing data stored on a memory medium, are explained.

In the first embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, a plurality of PCs100-1,100-2,100-3,100-4and a printer200are connected in a network10through an interface such as a local area network (LAN). Further, PCs100-1,100-2,100-3and100-4of the first embodiment are considered to be essentially identical.

FIG. 2is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of a PC100, which is representative of the PCs100-1-100-4, and the printer200of the first embodiment. First, the PC100, then the printer200, will be explained.

The PC100includes a display110that displays documents created by the user and various of information, a controlling part120that includes an application program and a printer driver, and the input/output part130that performs data transmission of the authentication printing data or the like.

The display110displays documents created by the user, printing setting contents, user information notifications input though the input/output part130from the printer200or the like. The display110is not limited in type, but monitors such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) can be used.

The controlling part120includes the application program as the document creating part and the printer driver. The application program operates on an operation program that is not shown in the figure, and can create text documents, drawing documents or the like based on the input instructions by the user. The application program is stored in the memory, which is not shown in the figures. The functions of the program can be realized when a central processing unit (CPU) that is not shown in the figures reads the program from the memory based on instructions by the user, and runs the program. Moreover, the printer driver, similar to the application program, operates based on the operating program and for example converts the document created by the application program into printing data formatted in readable description language for the printer200according to the input instructions by the user. Moreover, the printer driver adds user information such as a password to the converted printing data, and creates an authentication printing job in which comparison to the password is necessary in order to execute printing. Moreover, the printer driver receives a communication signal from the printer200, and returns the response with respect to the received communication signal to the printer200.

The input/output part130transmits the authentication printing job created by the printer driver of the controlling part120to the printer200, and performs transmission and reception of the communication signal.

Next, the printer200is explained. The printer200comprises an output/input I/F part210, an attribute managing part220that controls the authentication printing job, a random access memory (RAM)230, a deleting part240that deletes the authentication printing job, an inputting part250as the authentication information inputting part that receives the input of the authentication information by the user, a timer260that clocks time, a printing part270that prints images based on the authentication printing job on the recording medium, a CPU280that executes operation processing and a read only memory (ROM)290that stores a control program.

The output/input I/F part210is an interface which transmits and receives a communication signal between both sides of the printer200and PC100by network communication.

The attribute managing part220internally includes a user information detecting part221as a device specifying part, a packet transmitting part222, a judging part223and a user information managing part224. The attribute managing part220controls the authentication printing job received though the output/input I/F part210from the PC100and each address of the PC100(a position on the network, hereafter IP address). Moreover, the attribute managing part220is activated by executing the control program of the CPU280stored in the ROM290in advance. Hereafter, the user information detecting part221, the packet transmitting part222, the judging part223and the user information managing part224are explained.

The user information detecting part221extracts a terminal name, password and IP address (hereafter, user information) that are allocated to the authentication printing job transmitted from the PC100. This user information is arranged/processed as a printing waiting job in the order of the oldest to the most recent receipt times, and stored in the user information storing part232in the RAM230.

The packet transmitting part222transmits a packet in order to confirm whether or not the power of the PC100, that is, the destination of the IP address extracted from the authentication printing job by the user information detecting part221, is turned on or off. A ping command can be used for the example of the packet. The ping command is a communication test program of a simple packet that uses an echo command that is a sub command of internet control message protocol (ICMP). In short, the packet transmitting part222performs the transmission of a ping command in order to confirm whether or not the power of the PC100that exists on the network is turned on or off.

The judging part223compares the password extracted from the authentication printing job by the user information detecting part221and the password input to execute printing by the user through the inputting part250, and outputs the collated result. Moreover, the judging part223executes judging processing with respect to the processing executed at each part, and informs the user information managing part224of the results.

The user information managing part224manages the user information that is stored in the user information storing part232. Moreover, the user information managing part224performs control of the storing location of the authentication printing job stored in the authentication data storing part231.

The RAM230is random access memory that forms an operation area that is necessary when the CPU280executes the controlling program that is stored in the ROM290. For the CPU280to execute the control program stored in the ROM290, the authentication data storing part231and the user information storing part232are formed in addition to the normal operation area in RAM230. In the authentication data storing part231formed by the RAM230, the authentication printing job (authentication printing data) that is received through the input/output I/F part from the PC100is stored. Moreover, the user information storing part232is a memory area in which the user information extracted from the authentication printing job by the user information detecting part221is stored. In this user information, the IP address is controlled by the user information managing part224. Moreover, this user information is stored in the user information storing part232as the authentication control information that shows a print queue of the authentication printing job described below.

The deleting part240includes a clocking time calculating part241which obtains time information output from the timer260and which defines the time when the time information was obtained as a clocking time, a delayed deleting part242that sends deleting instructions of the authentication printing job after the predetermined period of time has elapsed, and a data deleting part243that deletes the user information when the delayed deleting part242deletes the authentication printing job. Moreover, the deleting part240is activated when the CPU280executes the control program stored in the ROM290. The clocking time calculating part241of the deleting part240calculates the elapsed time from when the packet transmitting part222transmits a ping command to the PC100until the PC100returns a response to this ping command to the printer200. Moreover, this elapsed time is calculated based on the time information output by the timer260. Further, when this elapsed time exceeds the predetermined period of time, the clocking time calculating part241outputs the fact that the timer was exceeded (hereinafter, an exceeded timer) to the delayed deleting part242. The exceeded timer is input in the delayed deleting part242when the packet transmitting part222transmits the ping command to the PC100, and the PC100does not return a response to the packet transmitting part222in the predetermined period of time. When the exceeded timer is input in the delayed deleting part242, the CPU280executes the control program stored in the ROM290in advance so that the authentication printing job that was transmitted from the PC100is deleted the PC100from the print queue. The data deleting part243executes a deleting processing of the user information of these authentication printing jobs stored in the user information storing part232when the delayed deleting part243deletes the authentication printing job.

The inputting part250accepts the input of a password by a user who desires to print the authentication printing job. The inputting part250may be for example an inputting device such as a touch panel, and an operation panel formed by a display device such as an LCD that displays an operation condition.

The timer260outputs the time information without being suspended while the printer200is activated. The time information that was output at the timer260is calculated at the clocking time calculating part241.

The printing part270, for example, is a printing engine for an electrophotographic method to print an image based on the authentication printing job (authentication printing data) received through the input/output I/F part210from the PC100based on control by the CPU280.

The CPU280is a microprocessor that controls the printer by executing the control program stored in the ROM290. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the CPU280activates the attribute managing part220and the deleting part240by executing the control program stored in the ROM290in addition to ordinarily controlling processing of the printer200.

The ROM290is a non-volatile memory medium which stores the control program executed by the CPU280. Especially, in the present embodiment, the control program by which the CPU280activates the attribute managing part220and the deleting part240are stored in the ROM290. For the ROM290, an ultra-violet erasable programmable read only memory (UV-EPROM), electronically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) or the like can be used as the non-volatile memory.

Next, the operation of the printer200and the PC100is explained. First of all, the transmission sequence of the authentication printing jobs executed between the printer200and the PC100is explained usingFIG. 3. Next, the sequence of the communication signals transmitted between the printer200and the PC100is explained usingFIG. 4. Moreover, the printer200is arranged on the left side of the drawing, and PC100is arranged on the right side. The top to bottom of the drawing shows elapsed time.

Four PCs (PC100-1, PC100-2, PC100-3and PC100-4) and the printer200are connected through the network. As shown inFIG. 3, first of all, the power of the PC100-3is turned on, and the authentication printing job C1is transmitted. At approximately the same time, the power of the PC100-1is turned on. Next, the power of the PC100-4is turned on, and the authentication printing job D1is transmitted. After this, the authentication printing job A1is transmitted from the PC100-1. At last, the authentication job D2is transmitted from the PC100-4. The transmitted authentication printing jobs sent by each of the PCs100-1-100-4are stored in the RAM230of the printer200. Here, t3inFIG. 3is defined as the time which is after the authentication jobs transmitted from the PC100-1, the PC100-3and the PC100-4were received by the printer200. At this time, the authentication printing jobs, for example, are stored in the user information storing part232as the authentication printing job control information shown inFIG. 12. The authentication printing job control information ofFIG. 12is the screen of the authentication printing job control information at the aforementioned time t3, and shows the print queue of the authentication printing jobs. This authentication printing job control information is stored in the user information storing part232. The authentication printing job control information includes “file name,” “transmission source terminal,” “password” and “IP address” as the content to specify each authentication printing job, and is stored in the user information storing part232in order of oldest to newest based on time of receipt.

Transmission and reception of signals as shown inFIG. 4is performed between the four PCs100-1-100-4and the printer200. Here, the times (T1and T2) shown inFIG. 4are the times calculated at the clocking time calculating part241. T1is a cycle, or ping packet transmission interval time, for the printer200to transmit the ping commands as the packet transmission means to a predetermined PC100. In detail, it is the time from transmission of the first ping command to the transmission of the next ping command. Moreover, T2is one with respect to a period in which the printer200receives the ping command responses that are sent from the PCs. In particular, it is the waiting period in which each of the PCs is capable to wait for responses to the ping commands after the printer200transmitted the ping commands to the PCs.

For example, once the printer200sends the ping commands to the PC100-1, PC100-3and PC100-4, each PC that received a ping command transmits a response of the ping command to the printer200. Moreover, the printer200transmits the ping commands to the PCs100-1,100-3and100-4again when the predetermined period of time T1elapses. The PCs100-1and100-4send the responses of the ping commands to the printer200. However, as the power is turned off at this point, the PC100-3does not transmit the response to the ping command to the printer200. When the predetermined time T1elapses, the printer200transmits the ping commands to the PCs100-1,100-3and100-4, and also informs the PC100-3that the printer200deleted the authentication printing job C1transmitted by the PC100-3as shown inFIG. 5. Moreover, this notification is sent when the power is turned off once and turned on again at the PC100-3, and the printer200transmits the first subsequent ping command.

Next, the aforementioned operation processing is explained. First of all, the processing executed by each part is explained. Then the data processing of the authentication printing job is explained.

First of all, the processing executed by the attribute managing part220is explained using the block schematic diagram ofFIG. 2and the flow diagram ofFIG. 6. The flow diagram ofFIG. 6explains the processing that is executed by the attribute managing part220, and especially the judging part223. When the ping command is transmitted and the predetermined time T1has elapsed, the user information detecting part221obtains the IP address of the PC100from the user information attached to all received authentication printing jobs. This IP address is obtained as the ping command destination that is transmitted from the printer200(S101).

Next, the packet transmitting part222transmits the ping command to the PC100that holds the IP address obtained by the user information detecting part221(S102). After the processing of the S102, the judging part223confirms whether or not the user information detecting part221reads all of the IP addresses from authentication printing jobs stored in the user information storing part232(S103). Moreover, the judgment of the judging part223is executed to specify the PC100for which the authentication printing jobs are stored in the printer200, and to detect the PC in which power is turned off among all of the PCs.

At S103, when the judging part223judges that all of the IP addresses are extracted by the user information detecting part221(S103, YES), the judging part223instructs the clocking time calculating part241to clock the time. The clocking processing of the clocking time calculating part241will be described later. When the judging part223judges the processing by the clocking time calculating part241is completed (S104, YES), the processing is completed (END).

Next, the processing regarding the clocking time is explained usingFIG. 2and the flow diagram ofFIG. 7. First of all, at S201, the judging part223judges whether or not the packet transmitting part222transmits the ping command to a PC100. Here, when the judging part223judges that the ping command is transmitted to the PC100, the judging part223instructs the clocking time calculating part241to read the time output by the timer260. The clocking time calculating part241that received the instructions to read the time starts clocking/calculating the clocking time (S202).

Next, the judging part223judges whether or not there is a response from the PC100that received the ping command (S203). Here, when there is the response with respect to the ping command from the PC100, (S203, YES), the processing by the judging part223moves to S205. On the other hand, when there is no response from the PC100(S203, NO), the processing by the judging part233moves to S204. At S204, the judging part223judges whether or not the clocking time started by the clocking time calculating part241at S202reached the predetermined time T2that is the response period time of the printer200. In detail, the judging part223judges using the difference between the time output by the timer260and the time that is output at the time of when clocking started at S202. Here, when the clocking time reaches the predetermined time T2, the processing by the judging part223moves to S205. On the other hand, when the clocking time has not reached the predetermined time T2, the processing by the judging part223will return to S203. At S205, the judging part223judges whether or not the clocking time started at S202reached the predetermined time T1, which is the transmission interval time of the ping command. Here, when the clocking time has reached the predetermined time T1, the judging part223instructs the clocking time calculating part241to complete the calculation processing of the clocking time. On the other hand, when the clocking time has not reached the predetermined time T1, the judging part223waits until reaching to the predetermined time T1.

The processing of the password input by the user is explained usingFIGS. 2 and 8. Specifically, the flow diagram ofFIG. 8explains the processing of the password input by the user though the inputting part250. First of all, the password, or authentication information, is input though the inputting part250at S301. At S302, the judging part223then compares the password that was extracted as user information from the authentication printing data and the input password at S301(S302). Here, when the password matches (S302, YES), the judging part223completes the processing. On the other hand, when the password does not match (S302, NO), the processing of S301and S302is repeated.

Next, the packet processing is explained usingFIGS. 2 and 9. The flow diagram ofFIG. 9explains the processing executed by the PC100after the PC100receives the ping command transmitted from the packet transmitting part222. First of all, at S401, the input/output part130which received the ping command transmitted from the packet transmitting part222through the input/output I/F part210provides the received ping command to the controlling part120. Here, when the power of the PC100is turned on (S402, YES), the controlling part120transmits the response to the ping command to the printer200(S403). On the other hand, when the power of the PC100is turned off and the response to the ping command is not returned from the controlling part120, the delayed deleting part242instructs CPU280to delete the authentication printing data. The CPU280, upon receiving the deleting instructions, executes the control program stored in the ROM290in advance, and deletes the authentication printing job from the print queue. Moreover, at the same time, the data deleting part243deletes the user information of the authentication printing jobs stored in the user information storing part232. Further, the user information managing part224informs the PC100that the authentication printing jobs were deleted (S404).

Next, the processing executed by the PC100is explained usingFIGS. 2 and 10.FIG. 10is the flow diagram that explains processing from creation of documents as the authentication printing data of the authentication printing job to the transmission of the authentication printing job at the PC100. First, the document created by the user is accepted through the application software of the controlling part120(S501). The printer driver of the controlling part120converts the document into the printing data that is recorded in readable description language by the printer200. Moreover, the printer driver assigns the user information such as a password, the terminal name of the PC100and the IP address for specifying the position on the network of PC100to the printing data which was converted, and creates the authentication printing job in which collating using the password is necessary to execute printing (S502). Next, the printer driver instructs the input/output part130to transmit the authentication printing job. The input/output part130that received the transmission instructions transmits the authentication printing job to the printer200through the input/output I/F part210(S503).

Next, the data processing of the authentication printing job is explained usingFIGS. 2 and 11. First of all, at S601, the printer200receives the printing job transmitted by the PC100through input/output I/F part210. Next, the user information detecting part221obtains the user information assigned to the received printing job. Here, when the password is included in the user information that the user information detecting part221obtained, the judging part223judges that the received printing job is the authentication printing job (S602, YES). On the other hand, when the password is not included in the user information that the user information detecting part221obtained, the judging part223normally judges that the printing job is a printing job (S602, NO), and instructs the printing part270to execute printing (S607).

At S603, the user information managing part224stores the user information of the authentication printing job in the user information storing part232and stores the authentication printing job in the authentication data storing part231based on the judgment of the judgment part223of S602. Next, the judging part223executes the execution processing explained inFIG. 6and the clocking processing explained inFIG. 7, and judges whether or not deleting instructions were received in connection with the authentication printing job (S604). Here, when the judging part223judges that deleting instructions were not received, the judging part223judges whether or not the password was input through the inputting part250by the user (S605). Here, when the password was input by the user, the judging part223judges whether or not the password input by the user matches the password assigned by the authentication printing job (S606). When the password input by the user and the password assigned to the authentication printing job match (S606, YES), the judging part223instructs the printing part270to execute printing (S607). The printing part270that received printing instructions prints the printing data of the authentication printing job on the recording medium.

On the other hand, at S604, when the judging part223judges that deleting instructions were received for the authentication printing job (S604, YES), the authentication printing job stored in the authentication storing part231and the user information stored in the user information storing part232are deleted based on the deleting instructions sent by the CPU280and provided by the delayed deleting part242and the data deleting part243.

As stated above, according to the first embodiment, whether or not the authentication printing job remains is judged based on the power on/off condition of the PC100connected to the printer200and the network. The user can therefore securely save the authentication printing job in the printer200without being concerned about extending the saving period of the authentication printing job as long as the power of the PC100is on.

According to the second embodiment, the transmission protocol of the user information of the PC and the obtaining of the user information of the printer differ. In detail, while the user information is extracted from the authentication printing job transmitted from the printer in the first embodiment, the printer obtains the user information regularly from the PC in the second embodiment. Moreover, in the first embodiment, judgment on whether or not to keep the authentication printing jobs depends on the response of the PC that receives the ping command after the printer sends the ping command to the PC. On the contrary, in the second embodiment, whether or not the authentication printing job transmitted from the PC should remain in the printer is determined based on whether or not the printer receives the predetermined user information in a predetermined period. Hereafter, the printing device and the printing system of the second embodiment that can utilize this type of function will be explained.

Referring toFIG. 13, a PC1100as a host device of the second embodiment includes a controlling part1120that automatically provides the user information to the printer1200as a printing device through the input/output I/F part210, and is therefore different from the PC100of the first embodiment. Moreover, the printer1200that receives the user information that is automatically provided by the PC1100is different from the printer200of the first embodiment because the printer1200creates the authentication printing information to be stored in the user information storing part1232and another user list different from the authentication printing information. In the present embodiment, like numbers are assigned to parts that are same as in the first embodiment, and only the different parts are explained.

FIG. 13is a functional block diagram showing a summarized structure of the PC1100and the printer1200of the second embodiment. First of all, the PC1100is explained, and the printer1200will be next explained.

The PC1100comprises a login setting part1140that accepts an input of a user login by the user in addition to the structure of PC1100of the first embodiment. Moreover, the PC1100includes a controlling part1120and an input/output part1130instead of the controlling part120and the input/output part130of the first embodiment, respectively. The controlling part1120includes an application program and a printer driver, and automatically provides the user information to the printer. The input/output part1130performs transmission of data such as user information and authentication printing data.

The controlling part1120includes a ROM1121that stores a control program, CPU1122that executes calculation processing and a RAM1123that forms a calculation area in the CPU1122. The ROM1121is a nonvolatile memory medium storing a basic input/output system (BIOS) program and a resident program. The BIOS program is executed by the CPU1122at the time of activating the PC1100and controls the activation of the PC1100. The resident program is continuously executed by the CPU1122while the PC1100is active, and controls the operating system and the input/output part1130. The CPU1122executes the programs stored in the ROM1121or the RAM1123, and is a microprocessor that controls the entire PC1100. The RAM1123temporarily saves the documents created by the user using an application program and the printing data of the aforementioned documents, and also maintains the user information such as a user name of the login user received by the login setting part1140.

The input/output part1130transmits the user information read from the RAM1123to the printer1200by executing the resident program stored in the ROM1121.

The login setting part1140receives the login user name of the PC1100. The login user name that was accepted by the login setting part1140is stored in the RAM1123together with the other user information.

Next, the printer1200will be explained. Unlike the structure of the printer200of the first embodiment, the printer1200includes an attribute managing part1220that controls the authentication printing job, a RAM1230and a deleting part1240.

The attribute managing part1220includes a user information receiving part1221, a condition monitoring part1222, a judging part1223, a user information managing part1224and destination information creating part1225. Hereafter, the user information receiving part1221, the condition monitoring part1222, the judging part1223, the user information managing part1224and the destination information creating part1225are explained.

The user information receiving part1221is same as the user information detecting part221of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the user information informed is arbitrarily provided from the PC1100. The accepted user information is stored in the user information storing part1232by the control of the user information managing part1224.

The condition monitoring part1222monitors whether or not the user who has transmitted the authentication printing job stored in the authentication data storing part231is still logged in to the PC1100. A judgment whether or not the user is still logged in to the PC1100is performed by the judging part1223by comparing the user list with the user information stored in the user information storing part1232as later described.

The judging part1223judges the password collation (or password match) explained in the first embodiment. Moreover, the judging part1223executes the judging processing to the processing executed by each part, and the judging result is reported to the user information managing part1224.

The user information managing part1224adds the login user name to the user information (except for the IP address) that is stored in the user information storing part1232and controls the user information. Moreover, the user information managing part1224manages the stored location of the authentication printing job in the authentication data storing part231.

The destination information storing part1225creates a user list (described later) that is a unit of the login user name, transmission destination terminal and password.

The RAM1230includes the authentication data storing part231and the user information storing part1232. The user information storing part1232is an area where the user information accepted by the user information receiving part1221is stored. The user information is stored as the user list and authentication printing information, which is later explained as similar as the first embodiment.

The deleting part1240comprises a clocking time calculating part1241, a delayed deleting part242, data deleting part243. The clocking time calculating part1241performs calculation of an accepted cycle for the user information transmitted from the PC1100.

Next, the operation of the printer1200and PC1100is explained. First of all, the transmission sequence of authentication printing jobs executed between the printer1200and the PC1100is explained usingFIGS. 13 and 14. Then, a sequence of the transmission signal executed between the printer1200and the PC1100is explained usingFIGS. 13 and 15. Moreover, inFIGS. 14 and 15, the printer1200is arranged on the left side of the drawing, and the PC1100is arranged on the right side. Top to bottom represents sequentially elapsed time.

InFIG. 14, two PCs (PC1100-1and PC1100-2) and the printer1200are connected through the network. First, a user E logs in to the PC1100-1, then a user H logs in to the PC1100-2. The authentication printing job E1is transmitted from the PC1100-1, and the user E logs out from the PC1100-1. Next, the authentication printing job H1is transmitted from the PC1100-2. After this, the user A logs in the PC1100-1, and the authentication job A1is transmitted. At last, the authentication printing job H2is transmitted from the PC1100-2. Each authentication printing job transmitted from each PC is stored once in the RAM1230of the printer1200. Here, t103inFIG. 14is defined as the time (or time period) from when the authentication printing job from the PC1100-1or PC1100-2is received until the login user of the PC1100-1logs out. Moreover, t104ofFIG. 14is defined as the time (time period) from when the first login user logs out and another user logs in to the PC1100-1by another authentication printing job is received from the PC1100-1. At these times, the authentication printing job is stored in the user information storing part1232as the authentication printing job managing information (APJM information) shown inFIGS. 19 and 20. The APJM information shown inFIGS. 19 and 20is the screen of the APJM information at the aforementioned times t103and t104, and shows the print queue of the authentication printing job. The APJM information is stored in the user information storing part1232. FILE NAME, LOGIN USER NAME, TRANSMISSION SOURCE TERMINAL and PASSWORD are stored as the content to specify the authentication printing job in the APJM information in the user information storing part1232. Moreover, the login user and transmission source terminal at times of t103and t104are stored as the user list in the user information storing part1232that is shown inFIGS. 21 and 22. The user list shown inFIGS. 21 and 22is a user list that is stored in the user information storing part1232. The user list is composed of LOGIN USER NAME that indicates the sender of the authentication printing job and TRANSMISSION SOURCE TERMINAL that indicates the name of the transmission source of authentication printing job of PC1100, which are contents to specify the output source.

At this time, transmission of the transmission signal is performed between two PCs1100-1,1100-2and the printer1200as shown inFIG. 15. Here, the times shown inFIG. 1(T101and T102) are the times to be calculated at the clocking time calculating part1241, and T101is the cycle that the predetermined PC1100-1,1100-2provides the user information to the printer1200. Specifically, T101is the time period from when one of the PCs1100-1,1100-2provides a first notification to the printer1200until/by the one of the PCs1100-1,1100-2provides a second notification to the printer1200. T102is a cycle for monitoring the notifications of the user information with respect to all of the PCs1100-1,1100-2connected to the network and the printer1200. The user information accepted by the printer1200in each cycle is managed at the user list.

For example, when the user E logs in to the PC1100-1, the PC1100-1provides the user information concerning the login user E to the printer1200. Moreover, when the user H logs in to the PC1100-2, the PC1100-2provides the user information concerning the login user H to the printer1200. Notification of the user information to the printer1200by the PC1100-1is performed for every cycle of T101. When the user E logs out from the PC1100-1, the notification of the user information from the PC1100-1is suspended, and when another user A logs in to the PC1100-1, the PC1100-1provides the user information concerning the login user A for every T101cycle. The printer1200monitors notification of the user information for every T102cycle. The user information accepted by the printer1200for each cycle is managed at the user list.

Next, the aforementioned operation processing is explained hereafter. Only the flow diagrams different from the first embodiment are selected and used for the explanation of the operation of the present embodiment.

First of all, the processing executed by the attribute managing part1220is explained usingFIGS. 13 and 16. The flow diagram ofFIG. 16explains the processing executed by the attribute managing part1220, and particularly by the judging part1223and the user information managing part1224. At S1101, the user managing part1224obtains notification that clocking by the clocking time calculating part1241has started. At S1101, when the clocking by the clocking time calculating part1241has started (S1101, YES), the condition monitoring part1222continues to accept the user information from the PC1100. When the condition monitoring part1222receives the user information from the PC1100(S1102), then the user information managing part1224obtains the notification that the clocking of clocking time was completed from the clocking time calculating part1241(S1103). When the notification of completion of clocking is received from the clocking time calculating part1241, the user information managing part1224instructs a destination information creating part1225to create a user list. The destination information creating part1225creates the user list for one cycle of the user information that was received at S1102, and stores the created user list in a user information storing part1232(S1104). Next, the judging part1223reads the user information of the optional user from the user list (S1106), and judges whether or not the user information is stored as a print queue of the authentication printing job in the user information storing part1232(S1107). Here, when the user information is stored, the processing at the judging part1223moves to S1109(S1107, YES). When the used information is not stored, a deleting instructions of the authentication printing job including the user information is sent, and the information is deleted based on the deleting instructions sent to CPU280by the delayed deleting part242and the data deleting part243(S1108). Next, the judging part1223confirms whether or not all user information listed on the user list stored in the user information storing part1232is read (S1109). Here, when it is judged that all user information is read (S1109, YES,) the judging part completes the processing. When all user information is not read, (S1109, NO), the processing at S1106-1108is repeated.

Next, processing of the clocking time usingFIG. 17is explained. The clocking time calculating part1241starts clocking based on the output time by the timer260when clocking of the previous clocking time is completed. This calculation is performed for the period of monitoring interval of the user information defined at T102(S1201). Next, the clocking time calculating part1241judges whether or not the clocking time started at S1201reaches the predetermined time T102(S1202). When the clocking time reaches the predetermined time T102(S1202, YES), the processing of the clocking time calculating part1241is completed (S1203).

On the other hand, when the clocking time does not reached the predetermined time T102at S1202, the processing of the clocking time calculating part1241returns to S1202.

Next, a user information notification processing to the printer1200and deleting notification processing of authentication printing data from the printer1200at the PC1100are explained usingFIG. 18. The user information notification processing is an alternative processing with h respect to the response to the ping command described in the first embodiment. The user information is notified to the printer1200by the CPU1122executing the resident program stored in the ROM1121. First of all, when the power of PC1100is turned on (S1301YES), and the user is logged in the PC1100through the login setting part1140(S1302, YES), the CPU1122activates the resident program stored in ROM1121in order to provide the user information to the printer1200. The activated stationed program reads the user information stored in RAM1123(S1303). Here, the user information indicates the login user name and the terminal name. Next, the user information read from RAM1123is informed to the printer1200through the input/output part1130. This notification of the user information is informed to the printer1200by CPU1122to activate the resident program for every predetermined time T101(S1304). At S1304, the judging part1223of the printer1200that received the notification of user information judges whether or not the user who newly logs in the PC1100is the user who left the authentication printing job in the printer1200when previously logged out (S1305, AUTHENTICATION PRINTING JOB REMAIN?). Here, if the user who newly logs in to the PC1100is the user who left the authentication printing job in the printer1200when previously logged out, the authentication printing job notifies the PC1100that the authentication printing job has been deleted (S1306). The PC1100that received the notification displays the same on the display screen1110.

As stated above, according to the second embodiment, whether or not the authentication job remains is determined based on the user's login or logout from the PC1100that is connected through the printer1200and the network. Even when there are many users who share one PC1100, the authentication printing jobs of the users who are logged in to the PC1100can be securely saved in the printer1200while maintaining security of each user's authentication printing job.

In the explanation of the present embodiment, a PC was used as the host device. However, this invention can be used for a system that uses a printer server, work station or the like. Moreover, although the printer is used as a printing device, an MFP, facsimile, a copying machine or the like can be used. Further, the network as a communication path that connects the image processing device and the image forming device is explained; however other communication paths such as RS 232C, IEEE 1284 or USB can be used.