Image forming apparatus, control method, and storage medium for preventing execution of stored job

An image forming apparatus configured to include an execution function of performing authentication processing on a user and executing a stored job, which is stored in a storage device in association with the user, based on a success of the authentication processing without an instruction from the user includes one or more memories, and one or more processors that execute a set of instructions to receive a job execution request to execute a job different from the stored job from an information processing terminal, and in a case where the job execution request is received and the authentication processing using user information included in the job execution request is successful, control execution of the execution function of executing the stored job without the instruction from the user to prevent the execution function from being executed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a storage medium capable of executing a print job stored in association with a user.

Description of the Related Art

With the prevalence of sophisticated mobile terminals such as a smartphone in recent years, a scan function and a print function capable of giving instructions to a printer are being provided as operating system (OS) standard functions of the mobile terminals. For example, in executing a function of transmitting a scanned document to a specified destination, a mobile terminal searches a local area network (LAN) for an image forming apparatus having a transmission function, and generates a transmission job to which a transmission destination mail address and various types of scan setting information (for example, color and two-sided scan settings) set by the user are added. The mobile terminal can instruct the found image forming apparatus to execute a series of processes for transmission by transmitting the generated transmission job to the image forming apparatus. Here, the network communication between the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus may be established based on communication protocols such as the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), near-field communication (NFC), and Bluetooth®, and can be implemented using known techniques.

An image forming apparatus may have a print function called reservation printing for security purposes. The image forming apparatus does not immediately output a print job submitted from a printer driver but first stores the print job in a hard disk area allocated as a queue for reserving print jobs in the image forming apparatus. After user authentication, the image forming apparatus lists the user's print jobs on an operation unit. The image forming apparatus prints a print job selected from the list and instructed to be printed by the user.

There is a technique called post-authentication automatic printing for automatically printing a print job of an authenticated user based on a success of the user authentication without the user's print instruction. This technique is effective as a means for efficient printing since the printing is performed without the user selecting a print job or giving a print instruction on the operation unit.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-177214 discusses a technique for executing a scan job from a mobile terminal, where the execution of a job that includes a scan operation and is registered using the mobile terminal before authentication is restricted until the authentication is completed.

According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-177214, to execute a scan job on an image forming apparatus, user authentication with the image forming apparatus is performed using a mobile terminal. Now, suppose that the setting of the foregoing post-authentication automatic printing is enabled in the image forming apparatus. Suppose also that a job such as a print job to be automatically executed based on a success of user authentication is stored, and a job execution request to execute a job different from the job is received. If user authentication with the image forming apparatus using user information included in the job execution request is successful, not only the job related to the job execution request but the stored job is also executed. This can be troublesome to the user because the job stored in advance is also executed based on the user authentication performed to execute the job instructed by the user from the mobile terminal and the user can fail to notice the output product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus configured to include an execution function of performing authentication processing on a user and executing a stored job, which is stored in a storage device in association with the user, based on a success of the authentication processing without an instruction from the user includes one or more memories, and one or more processors that execute a set of instructions to receive a job execution request to execute a job different from the stored job from an information processing terminal, and in a case where the job execution request is received and the authentication processing using user information included in the job execution request is successful, control execution of the execution function of executing the stored job without the instruction from the user to prevent the execution function from being executed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following exemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure set forth in the claims, and all combinations of features described in the exemplary embodiments are not necessarily indispensable to the solving means of the present disclosure.

FIG.1is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing system according to an exemplary embodiment. An information processing system100includes a data processing apparatus101, a wireless local area network (LAN) terminal102, an image forming apparatus104, and a cloud server105, which are connected via a network103.

The data processing apparatus101is an information processing terminal such as a smartphone. A compact terminal operating system and programs for controlling call and data communication may be run on the data processing apparatus101. Alternatively, the data processing apparatus101may be a personal computer (PC) not capable of audio control, position detection control, or mobile phone data communication. The data processing apparatus101is connected to the network103via the wireless LAN terminal102.

The wireless LAN terminal102is a wireless LAN base station having a typical network router function, and provides a Wi-Fi based wireless LAN at home or in an office. The image forming apparatus104is a digital multifunction peripheral having various job execution functions including a print function, a copy function, a scan function, and a facsimile transmission function. A user can instruct the image forming apparatus104to execute a job and execute various functions of the image forming apparatus104by operating the data processing apparatus101.

A cloud server105manages data to be used by the data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104and performs extended processing of various functions via the network103. The information processing system100according to the present exemplary embodiment may be configured without the cloud server105.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus104and the cloud server105are connected to the network103in a wired manner. However, the image forming apparatus104and the cloud server105may be wirelessly connected using the wireless LAN terminal102like the data processing apparatus101. The data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104are also capable of short-range wireless communication via wireless signals of near-field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth® Low Energy. The image forming apparatus104has connection information (such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a media access control (MAC) address) for establishing a wireless LAN connection with the image forming apparatus104in an NFC communication unit or Bluetooth® Low Energy communication unit to be described below. The data processing apparatus101obtains the connection information by short-range wireless communication. The data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104then start communication based on the obtained connection information.

FIG.2is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the data processing apparatus101according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The data processing apparatus101includes a controller unit201. The controller unit201controls various communication units including an NFC communication unit210, a Bluetooth® Low Energy communication unit211, and a wireless LAN communication unit212, and various user interface (UI) units including a microphone and speaker213, a display214, and an input device215such as a touch panel, a mouse, and a keyboard.

The controller unit201includes a central processing unit (CPU)202, a read-only memory (ROM)203, a random access memory (RAM)204, a network interface (I/F)205, an audio control unit206, a display control unit207, an input control unit208, and a storage device209, which are connected by a system bus216.

The CPU202controls the entire system of the data processing apparatus101. The ROM203stores an operating system of the data processing apparatus101and applications for controlling call and data communication. The CPU202executes various programs. The RAM204is a memory for the CPU202to execute the various programs, and a work memory area where the applications execute programs. The storage device209is a nonvolatile storage device, and records various operation mode settings and operation logs to be retained even after a restart of the data processing apparatus101.

The network I/F205is connected to the NFC communication unit210, the Bluetooth® Low Energy communication unit211, and the wireless LAN communication unit212, and performs various wireless communication controls with the image forming apparatus104and the cloud server105. The audio control unit206performs input/output control on audio data via the microphone and speaker213. The display control unit207performs output control on image data to be displayed on the display214. The input control unit208performs input control on information instructed by the user via a button or the input device215. Various applications that run on the data processing apparatus101are provided to the user using the audio control unit206, the display control unit207, and the input control unit208.

FIG.3is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus104according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The image forming apparatus104includes a controller unit301, and controls various communication units including an NFC communication unit310, a Bluetooth® Low Energy communication unit311, and a wireless LAN communication unit312, as well as an operation unit307, a scanner313, and a printer314.

If the user uses the copy function, the controller unit301controls the scanner313to obtain image data on a document, and controls the printer314to print an image on a sheet and output the sheet. If the user uses the scan function, the controller unit301controls the scanner313to obtain image data on a document, converts the image data into code data, and transmits the code data to the data processing apparatus101or the cloud server105via the network103. If the user uses the print function, the controller unit301receives print data (code data) from the data processing apparatus101or the cloud server105via the network103. The controller unit301then converts the received print data into image data, and transmits the image data to the printer314. The printer314prints an image on a sheet based on the received image data, and outputs the sheet.

The image forming apparatus104also has a facsimile (FAX) reception function of receiving data from Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and printing the data, and a FAX transmission function of transmitting scanned data to ISDN. The controller unit301stores the received print data in a hard disk drive (HDD)305, and if the user gives a print instruction for the stored print data from the operation unit307, prints the print data. The image forming apparatus104also has a reservation printing function of performing user authentication and printing only print data stored in association with the authenticated user. An instruction to execute processing in each of such functions will be referred to as a job. The image forming apparatus104performs predetermined processing based on jobs corresponding to the respective functions.

The controller unit301includes a CPU302, a RAM303, a ROM304, the HDD305, an operation unit I/F306, a network I/F308, and a device I/F309, which are connected by a system bus315.

The CPU302controls the entire system of the image forming apparatus104. The RAM303is a system work memory for the CPU302to operate, and an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The RAM303also stores programs such as an operating system, system software, and application software, and data. The ROM304stores a system boot program. The HDD305is a storage unit (storage device) storing the operating system, system software, application software, image data, and setting data. The HDD305also stores scan image data read by the scanner313and print image data received from the data processing apparatus101via the network103. Job data such as the print image data received from the data processing apparatus101via the network103may be stored in an external storage. The image forming apparatus104may execute a job based on job data received from the external storage.

The operation unit I/F306is an I/F unit with the operation unit307, and outputs information to be displayed on the operation unit307to the operation unit307. The operation unit I/F306also accepts information input by the user from the operation unit307. The network I/F308is connected to the NFC communication unit310, the Bluetooth® Low Energy communication unit311, and the wireless LAN communication unit312, and performs various types of wireless communication control with the data processing apparatus101and the cloud server105. The wireless LAN communication unit312forms a wireless LAN with the data processing apparatus101via the network103. The NFC communication unit310and the Bluetooth® Low Energy communication unit311perform short-range wireless communication with the data processing apparatus101via wireless signals. The image forming apparatus104transmits and receives job setting information and image data to/from the data processing apparatus101via the network I/F308, and receives execution commands for various functions of the image forming apparatus104and executes jobs. The device I/F309connects the scanner313and the printer314for reading and printing image data to the controller unit301, and inputs and outputs the image data.

FIG.4is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the data processing apparatus101according to the present exemplary embodiment.

An application401is software to be executed by the CPU202of the data processing apparatus101, and stored in the ROM203.

A UI control unit402accepts job setting information input by the user from the input device215, and transmits the job setting information to a job setting management unit406via the input control unit208. The UI control unit402receives responses from the job setting management unit406and a job control unit407, and outputs the responses to the display214via the display control unit207. The UI control unit402further accepts user information input by the user from the input device215, and transmits the user information to an authentication setting management unit403via the input control unit208. The authentication setting management unit403transmits authentication information to a network control unit405based on the user information received from the UI control unit402. The authentication information is used in authentication processing by the image forming apparatus104to be described below via the network103.

A device connection unit404establishes short-range wireless communication such as NFC communication and Bluetooth® Low Energy communication between the data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104, and wireless LAN communication via the network103. For example, in the case of NFC communication, the user brings the NFC communication unit210of the data processing apparatus101toward and into contact with the NFC communication unit310of the image forming apparatus104, whereby short-range wireless communication is started. In the case of Bluetooth® Low Energy communication, the user brings the Bluetooth® Low Energy communication unit211of the data processing apparatus101close to the Bluetooth® Low Energy communication unit311of the image forming apparatus104. If the device connection unit404determines that the Bluetooth® Low Energy communication units211and311are located within a distance where Bluetooth® Low Energy intensity is at a certain level or higher, short-range wireless communication is started. The device connection unit404thus obtains device information about the image forming apparatus104by the user bringing the NFC or Bluetooth® Low Energy communication units of the data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104close to each other (referred to as a touch operation). The device connection unit404starts a wireless LAN connection with the image forming apparatus104via the network103based on the obtained device information.

The network control unit405transmits job settings, job execution instruction commands, image data, and user authentication information to the image forming apparatus104via the network103. The network control unit405also receives job setting information stored in the image forming apparatus104via the network103. The job setting management unit406stores job setting information input by the user from the UI control unit402and job setting information received by the network control unit405from the image forming apparatus104or the cloud server105into the RAM204or the storage device209. Here, the job setting management unit406manages such pieces of job setting information as settings frequently used by the user, or “favorite”. The job setting management unit406also manages job settings stored in the RAM204or the storage device209upon installation of the application401as “preset”.

The job control unit407generates job execution instruction information from the “favorite” and “preset” job settings registered by the job setting management unit406, and transmits a job execution request for the image forming apparatus104via the network103. The job control unit407also obtains a job execution status and device operation states of the scanner313and the printer314from the image forming apparatus104via the network103, and transmits the job execution status and the device operation states to the UI control unit402.

FIG.5is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the image forming apparatus104according to the present exemplary embodiment.

System software501is software to be executed by the CPU302of the image forming apparatus104, and stored in the RAM303.

A UI control unit502accepts job setting information input by the user from the operation unit307, and transmits the job setting information to a job setting management unit506. The UI control unit502also receives responses from the job setting management unit506and a job control unit507, and outputs the responses to the operation unit307.

An authentication unit503performs user authentication processing based on authentication information received from the data processing apparatus101, and returns the result.

A device connection unit504performs handover using the short-range wireless communication between the data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104and establishes the wireless LAN communication via the network103.

A network control unit505receives job settings, job execution instruction commands, image data, and user authentication information from the data processing apparatus101via the network103. The network control unit505also transmits job setting information stored in the image forming apparatus104to the data processing apparatus101via the network103. The job setting management unit506stores job setting information input by the user from the UI control unit502and job setting information received by the network control unit505from the data processing apparatus101or the cloud server105into the ROM203or the HDD305. Here, the job setting management unit506manages such pieces of job setting information as settings frequently used by the user, or “favorite”. The job setting management unit506also manages custom job settings stored in the RAM204or the storage device209upon installation of the system software501as “preset”. The job setting management unit506also manages job settings executed by the image forming apparatus104as “history”.

The job control unit507controls processing units such as a scan processing unit511, a copy processing unit512, a print processing unit513, and a FAX processing unit514to execute various jobs based on the received job settings. Here, the job control unit507executes various jobs based on the job settings made by the user from the operation unit307and the “favorite” and “preset” job settings registered by the job setting management unit506. The job control unit507further receives a job execution request received from the data processing apparatus101via the network103, and executes various jobs based on the received job settings and job execution instruction. The job control unit507transmits the job execution status and the device operation states of the scanner313and the printer314to the data processing apparatus101via the network103.

FIG.6is a flowchart illustrating an example of connection processing that the data processing apparatus101performs to connect to the image forming apparatus104. The operations illustrated inFIG.6are implemented by the CPU202reading programs for implementing the respective units (hereinafter, may be referred to as control modules) stored in the ROM203or the storage device209into the RAM204and executing the programs. The connection processing enables the data processing apparatus101to execute a job on the connected image forming apparatus104.

The user makes operations to obtain connection information from the image forming apparatus104by using the data processing apparatus101.FIG.18illustrates an example of a connection screen for connecting to the image forming apparatus104, displayed on the display214of the data processing apparatus101. A connection screen1801includes device connection methods1802“auto search”, “manual search”, “Quick Response (QR) Code®”, and “nearby printer”.

“Auto search” represents a method where the device connection unit404uses Wi-Fi to search for image forming apparatuses104that can communicate with the data processing apparatus101on the network103via the wireless LAN terminal102, and connect to a searched image forming apparatus104. The multicast Domain Name System (mDNS) is used to search for the image forming apparatuses104. The user selects an image forming apparatus104detected by the search, and thereby connects to the image forming apparatus104via the device connection unit404. “Manual search” represents a method for connecting to an image forming apparatus104via the device connection unit404by the user inputting identification information (such as an IP address) about the image forming apparatus104to connect from the input device215. “QR code” represents a method for connecting to an image forming apparatus104via the device connection unit404by reading a QR code containing the identification information about the image forming apparatus104with a camera mounted on the data processing apparatus101. “Nearby printer” represents a method for connecting to an image forming apparatus104via the device connection unit404by the user making an operation of bringing the NFC or Bluetooth® Low Energy communication units of the data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104close to each other.

In step S601, the device connection unit404determines whether connection information is successfully obtained. If connection information is not successfully obtained (NO in step S601), the processing returns to step S601to continue waiting for connection information to be obtained. If connection information is obtained (YES in step S601), the processing proceeds to step S602. In step S602, the device connection unit404searches for the image forming apparatus104based on the obtained connection information. In step S603, if the image forming apparatus104is found (YES in step S603), the processing proceeds to step S604. In step S604, the device connection unit404starts to connect to the image forming apparatus104. The processing ends. If the image forming apparatus104is not found (NO in step S603), the processing ends.

FIG.7is a flowchart illustrating an example of scan job execution request processing that the data processing apparatus101performs on the image forming apparatus104. The operations illustrated inFIG.7are implemented by the CPU202reading the programs for implementing the control modules stored in the ROM203or the storage device209into the RAM204and executing the programs.

The UI control unit402obtains scan information stored in the RAM204or the storage device209of the data processing apparatus101via the job setting management unit406, and displays the scan information on the display214.FIG.19illustrates an example of a scan execution screen displayed on the display214of the data processing apparatus101. An execution screen1901displays scan information1902“color setting”, “resolution”, “scan size”, and “file format”. In the present exemplary embodiment, scan information includes a color setting, resolution, a scan size, and a file format. However, this is not restrictive. A start button1903is intended to execute a scan job. The user makes inputs from the input device215based on the scan information displayed on the display214, and presses the start button1903to issue a scan job execution request.

In step S701, the job control unit407obtains the scan information input by the user. In step S702, the job control unit407obtains user information such as a username and a password stored in the RAM204or the storage device209of the data processing apparatus101. In step S703, the job control unit407issues a remote authentication request to the image forming apparatus104. Note that in step S702, the job control unit407may obtain user information input by the user instead of the user information stored in the RAM204or the storage device209. As employed herein, remote authentication refers to authentication for authorizing a start of communication between the data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104.

In step S704, if the remote authentication is failed (NO in step S704), the processing proceeds to step S708. The job control unit407notifies the UI control unit402of the failure of the remote authentication. In step S708, the UI control unit402displays an error screen on the display214. The processing ends. On the other hand, if the remote authentication is successful (YES in step S704), the processing proceeds to step S705. In step S705, the job control unit407obtains operation control information. The operation control information is information for disabling execution of jobs other than the received job if the image forming apparatus104receives a job execution request from the data processing apparatus101. The operation control information may be information determined in advance. The operation control information may be selected by the user using the input device215based on a selection screen displayed on the display214. In step S706, the job control unit407generates job execution information from the obtained scan information, user information, and operation control information. In step S707, the job control unit407transmits the job execution information to the connected image forming apparatus104. The processing ends.FIG.20is a diagram illustrating an example of the job execution information. Job execution information2001includes a username2002, a login password2003, a scan setting2004, and operation control information2005. For example,FIG.20illustrates that the username2002is UserA, the login password2003is 1111, the scan setting2004is the same as the settings made on the scan execution screen ofFIG.19(auto, 300×300, A4, and Portable Document Format (PDF)), and operation control information2005is ON. Whether to restrict the execution of jobs other than the one related to the job execution request may be indicated by whether the operation control information2005is enabled (ON) or disabled (OFF), or by the presence or absence of the operation control information2005.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104are connected before the issuance of the scan job execution request by the user. However, the data processing apparatus101and the image forming apparatus104may be connected after the issuance of the scan job execution request by the user and before the issuance of the remote authentication request.

FIG.8is a flowchart illustrating an example of scan job execution processing performed by the image forming apparatus104. The operations illustrated inFIG.8are implemented by the CPU302reading programs for implementing the control modules stored in the ROM304or the HDD305into the RAM303and executing the programs.

In step S801, the job control unit507receives job execution information from the data processing apparatus101via the network control unit505. In step S802, the job control unit507extracts operation control information from the received job execution information. In step S803, the job control unit507stores the operation control information in the RAM303. In step S804, the job control unit507extracts user information from the received job execution information. In step S805, the job control unit507issues a local authentication request for the extracted user information to the authentication unit503. Local authentication is authentication for authorizing the user to operate the operation unit307of the image forming apparatus104. In the present exemplary embodiment, the local authentication is performed if the image forming apparatus104accepts the job execution information from the data processing apparatus101. In step S806, the job control unit507determines whether the local authentication is successful. If the local authentication is successful (YES in step S806), the processing proceeds to step S807. In step S807, the job control unit507extracts scan information from the job execution information. In step S808, the job control unit507transmits to the device connection unit504a scan execution instruction along with the extracted scan information. Scan processing is thus executed. In step S811, the job control unit507discards the operation control information stored in step S803. The processing ends. On the other hand, if the local authentication is failed (NO in step S806), the processing proceeds to step S809. In step S809, the job control unit507discards the operation control information stored in step S803. In step S810, the job control unit507transmits error information to the data processing apparatus101via the network control unit505. The processing ends.

FIG.9is a flowchart illustrating an example of print job submission processing performed by the data processing apparatus101. Here, the data processing apparatus101will be described as a PC, and the print job submission processing will be described as processing for printing data generated by the application401using a printer driver. The operations illustrated inFIG.9are implemented by the CPU202reading the programs for implementing the control modules stored in the ROM203or the storage device209into the RAM204and executing the programs.

The user generates image or document data by using the application401and gives a print instruction using the input device215such as a pointing device and a keyboard while viewing the display214. In step S901, the application401accepts the print instruction. The application401displays a screen where the user selects a printer driver of an image forming apparatus to transmit a print job to on the display214. In step S902, the application401accepts the selection of the printer driver of the image forming apparatus104as that of the image forming apparatus to transmit the print job to from the user. In step S903, the application401determines whether a print setting instruction is accepted from the user. If no print setting instruction is accepted (NO in step S903), the processing proceeds to step S905. If a print setting instruction is accepted (YES in step S903), the processing proceeds to step S904. In step S904, the application401displays a setting screen of the printer driver corresponding to the image forming apparatus104.FIGS.10A and10Bare diagrams illustrating examples of screens after the print instruction.FIG.10Aillustrates an example of a screen where the user selects the printer driver of the image forming apparatus to transmit a print job to. A screen1001includes a display area1002for displaying an image of the data to be printed, and a button1003for executing printing. A list1004is intended to select the image forming apparatus to transmit the print job to and the printer driver thereof. The list1004displays the printer drivers of a plurality of image forming apparatuses installed on the data processing apparatus101by the user. The user selects a desired printer driver from the list1004. A character string1005is a pressable character string intended to display the setting screen of the printer driver selected from the list1004.FIG.10Bis a diagram illustrating an example of the setting screen of the printer driver. The user makes print settings on the setting screen. A screen1006includes a list1007of job output methods, from which “print” and “secure print” can be selected. If “print” is selected, a print job transmitted to the image forming apparatus104is output based on the print settings. “Secure print” represents a print job specified to be temporarily stored in the image forming apparatus104, and a password specified by the user is given to the print job. A button1008is intended to confirm the settings and close the screen1006. A button1009is intended to discard the settings and close the screen1006. To print a secure print job stored in the image forming apparatus104, the user selects the secure print job on the operation unit307and enters the given password, whereby the secure print job is output. After the acceptance of the user's setting instruction in step S904, then in step S905, the application401determines whether to execute printing. If the application401determines to execute printing (YES in step S905), the processing proceeds to step S906. In step S906, the application401issues a data generation request to the printer driver corresponding to the selected image forming apparatus104. The printer driver generates page description language (PDL) data based on the image or document data, document attributes such as a document name, the print settings, and the username. In step S907, the printer driver transmits the PDL data to the image forming apparatus104as a print job.

FIG.11is a flowchart illustrating an example of print job storage processing performed by the image forming apparatus104. The operations illustrated inFIG.11are implemented by the CPU302reading the programs for implementing the control modules stored in the ROM304or the HDD305into the RAM303and executing the programs.

The data processing apparatus101transmits a print job execution request to the image forming apparatus104. In step S1101, the network control unit505accepts a print job. The network control unit505transmits the print job to the job control unit507. In step S1102, the job control unit507receives the print job, and determines whether the print job includes a storage setting. A print job including a storage setting refers to one for which “secure print” is specified as the output method on the setting screen of the printer driver. If the print job includes the storage setting (YES in step S1102), the processing proceeds to step S1105. If the print job does not include the storage setting (NO in step S1102), the processing proceeds to step S1103. In step S1103, the job control unit507determines whether a print job storage setting of the image forming apparatus104is enabled. The print job storage setting is made with respect to each image forming apparatus, and stored in the RAM303or the HDD305. If the print job storage setting of the image forming apparatus104is disabled (NO in step S1103), the processing proceeds to step S1108. If the print job storage setting of the image forming apparatus104is enabled (YES in step S1103), the processing proceeds to step S1104. In step S1104, the job control unit507further determines whether the print job matches an exception condition for printing. An exception condition refers to a condition to perform processing other than storage processing even if the print job storage setting of the image forming apparatus is enabled. A plurality of exception conditions is set for the image forming apparatus104in advance by an administrator before printing is performed.

FIG.12is a diagram illustrating an example of an exception condition setting screen. In the present exemplary embodiment, using an IP address of a specific PC as a condition, an exception condition to not store and print a print job from the PC having the specified IP address will be described to be set. An exception condition setting screen1201includes an area1202for inputting a condition name, where a condition name “CONDITION 1” is specified. An area1203is intended to select a type, where an exception condition, like a specific submission job owner name, a specific submission source IP address, or a specific job submission method (such as Line Printer Remote (LPR) and the File Transfer Protocol (FTP)), is selected. InFIG.12, “IP address” is selected. An area1204is intended to select processing for a job matching the condition selected in the area1203. Examples of the processing include printing and cancellation. InFIG.12, “print” is selected. An area1205is intended to input a specific condition based on the type of condition. InFIG.12, since the type is an IP address, an area for inputting an IP address is displayed as the area1205. The IP address of a core system “192.168.8.8” is specified in the area1205. A cancel button1206is intended to discard the settings. An OK button1207is intended to confirm the settings. If the OK button1207is pressed, the settings are stored in the RAM303or the HDD305.

Return to the description ofFIG.11. In step S1104, if the print job matches the exception condition (YES in step S1104), the processing proceeds to step S1108. On the other hand, if the print job does not match the exception condition (NO in step S1104), the processing proceeds to step S1105. In step S1105, the job control unit507analyzes the print job to extract bibliographic information. In step S1106, the job control unit507stores the print job in the HDD305. In step S1107, the job control unit507stores the extracted bibliographic information in the HDD305in association with the user.FIG.13is a diagram illustrating an example of a bibliographic information table. A bibliographic information table1301for user UserA includes, as submission information about a print job, a date and time1302of submission of the print job, an IP address1303of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is submitted, and a storage location1304of the submitted print job. The bibliographic information table1301also includes, as attribute information about the print job, a print job name1305, a print setting1306, the number of pages1307of the print job, the presence or absence of a printing password1308, and a printing state1309indicating whether the print job is printed. Return to the description ofFIG.11. If the processing of step S1105, S1106, or S1107fails due to reasons such as insufficient free space of the HDD305, the processing ends. If the bibliographic information is successfully stored, the processing ends. If, in step S1103, the print job storage setting of the image forming apparatus is disabled (NO in step S1103), or if, in step S1104, the print job matches the exception condition (YES in step S1104), the processing proceeds to step S1108. In step S1108, the job control unit507executes the print job.

In such a manner, the print job storage processing is performed.

FIG.14is a flowchart for describing post-local-authentication automatic print processing performed by the image forming apparatus104. The operations illustrated inFIG.14are implemented by the CPU302reading the programs for implementing the control modules stored in the ROM304or the HDD305into the RAM303and executing the programs.

As employed herein, the post-local-authentication automatic print processing refers to processing for automatically executing a print job stored in the HDD305of the image forming apparatus104by the storage processing illustrated inFIG.11based on execution of local authentication. If the job execution information received by the image forming apparatus104from the data processing apparatus101includes operation control information, the image forming apparatus104controls the local authentication-based automatic print processing not to be executed.

In step S1401, the authentication unit503performs local authentication processing based on the login information input by the user from the operation unit307and a user management table stored in the HDD305.FIG.15is a diagram illustrating an example of a login screen. The login screen includes an input area1501for a username, an input area1502for a login password, an input area1503for a login destination, and a button1504for performing login using the input username and login password. A cancel button1505is intended to close the login screen.FIG.16is a diagram illustrating an example of the user management table. A user management table1601includes a username1602, a login password1603, and a role1604indicating the user's authority.

If the local authentication is failed (NO in step S1401), the processing proceeds to step S1409. In step S1409, the authentication unit503performs error processing. The processing ends. If the local authentication is successful (YES in step S1401), the processing proceeds to step S1402. In step S1402, the authentication unit503notifies the job control unit507of the success of the local authentication and information about the authenticated user (login user). Receiving the notification that the local authentication is successful from the authentication unit503, the job control unit507determines whether there is a setting to perform automatic printing after local authentication. Whether to perform automatic printing after local authentication is set by an administrator user from the operation unit307.FIG.17is a diagram illustrating an example of a post-local-authentication automatic printing setting screen. A screen1701includes a checkbox1702for whether to enable post-local-authentication automatic printing. If the checkbox1702is checked, the post-local-authentication automatic printing is enabled. An OK button1703is intended to confirm the setting and close the screen1701. The setting of the post-local-authentication automatic printing is made for each image forming apparatus, and stored in the RAM303or the HDD305. If there is no setting to perform the post-local-authentication automatic printing (NO in step S1402), the processing ends. If there is a setting to perform the post-local-authentication automatic print setting (YES in step S1402), the processing proceeds to step S1403. In step S1403, the job control unit507obtains the operation control information stored in the RAM303in step S803. In step S1404, the job control unit507determines whether operation control is on. If the operation control is on (YES in step S1404), or equivalently, if a scan job execution request is received from the data processing apparatus101and jobs other than the received job are controlled not to be executed, the processing ends. In other words, the automatic printing based on the local authentication is not executed. If the operation control is off (NO in step in step S1404), i.e., if no scan job execution request is received from the data processing apparatus101, the processing proceeds to step S1405. In step S1405, the job control unit507obtains a list of bibliographic information associated with the information about the login user notified by the authentication unit503. In step S1406, the job control unit507determines a print job or jobs to be automatically printed from the obtained list of bibliographic information. In the present exemplary embodiment, a print job to be automatically printed refers to one where the password1308is no and the printing state1309is print standby in the bibliographic information table1301. However, this is not restrictive. In step S1407, if the job control unit507determines that there is no print job to be automatically printed (NO in step S1407), the processing ends. If the job control unit507determines that there is a print job to be automatically printed (YES in step S1407), the processing proceeds to step S1408. In step S1408, the print processing unit513performs print processing based on instructions from the job control unit507. The processing ends.

In such a manner, the post-local-authentication automatic print processing is performed. After the scan processing is performed by the image forming apparatus104based on the job execution request in step S808, the UI control unit402of the data processing apparatus101may provide a display for notifying that a print job or jobs associated with the user is/are stored in the HDD305of the image forming apparatus104. The UI control unit402may further provide a display for accepting a user instruction to execute the print job(s) associated with the user. If an execution instruction for the print job(s) is accepted after the execution of the scan processing based on the job execution request, the UI control unit502performs the print processing. This enables the user to check the presence of a print job or jobs on standby and then give instructions to execute the print job(s) after the execution of the scan processing based on the job execution request.

The present exemplary embodiment has dealt with a method where the image forming apparatus104controls the processing supposed to be automatically executed based on a local authentication not to be executed based on the operation control information included in a job execution request for a scan from the data processing apparatus101.

Instead of the operation control information, the data processing apparatus101may include an identifier of the own apparatus into the job execution request. The image forming apparatus104may control the processing supposed to be automatically executed based on a local authentication not to be executed based on the inclusion of the identifier of the data processing apparatus101.

InFIG.7, the data processing apparatus101is described to transmit a scan job execution request to the image forming apparatus104. However, the job content is not limited to a scan. For example, the job execution request may relate to other processing such as printing and FAX transmission.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, a print job different from a job instructed by the user from the image processing terminal can be prevented from being executed based on user authentication performed to execute the instructed job.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-026674, filed Feb. 22, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.