Printing system, print controller, printing method and computer readable medium

The printing system is provided with: a terminal that outputs print data of a print target and authentication information required for performing a print operation; an image forming unit that receives the print data and the authentication information and that prints the print data on condition that printing authority for permitting the print operation is given to the authentication information; and an authority information memory that stores printing authority information on the presence or absence of the printing authority given to each of the authentication information in the image forming unit. The terminal includes an authentication information obtaining unit that obtains the authentication information; an authority information obtaining unit that obtains the printing authority information; and a print determination unit that determines whether or not the authentication information obtained by the authentication information obtaining unit permits a specific print operation on the basis of the printing authority information obtained.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC §119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-303329 filed Nov. 8, 2006.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a printing system in which a printer is connected to a terminal, a print controller, a printing method, and a computer readable medium.

2. Related Art

Recently, a printing system in which one or plural terminals and one or plural printers are connected via a network such that one or plural printers are shared or are selected from one or plural terminals has been configured, for example, in offices.

There is such a printing system that is provided with a management server for managing use of the printers. In addition, when a user intends to perform a print operation in a specific printer, the management server confirms whether or not the user has usage authority of the printer, or whether or not the user has usage authority set in each printing function, or the like. The print operation of the printer or the use of a specific printing function is permitted to the user on condition that the user receives the authentication from the management server.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing system including: a terminal that outputs print data of a print target and authentication information required for performing a print operation; an image forming unit that receives the print data and the authentication information from the terminal and that prints the print data on condition that printing authority for permitting the print operation is given to the authentication information; and an authority information memory that stores printing authority information on the presence or absence of the printing authority given to each authentication information in the image forming unit. The terminal includes: an authentication information obtaining unit that obtains the authentication information; an authority information obtaining unit that obtains the printing authority information from the authority information memory; and a print determination unit that determines whether or not the authentication information obtained by the authentication information obtaining unit permits a specific print operation by the image forming unit on the basis of the printing authority information obtained by the authority information obtaining unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a printing system1according to a first exemplary embodiment. In the printing system1shown inFIG. 1, for example, plural client PCs (personal computers)2(2A to2C), which are examples of terminals (terminal devices), installed in a user's work space (for example, desk), plural printers4(4A to4C), which are examples of image forming units (image forming apparatuses) to print document data generated in the client PCs2on a medium such as print paper (hereinafter, referred to as “paper”), and a management server3that manages the use of the printer4by the client PC2are configured to be connected via a network5such as LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), or Internet such that interactive communication is possible. A communication line may include a telephone line or a satellite communication channel (for example, a spatial transmission channel of digital satellite broadcasting). In the printing system1according to the first exemplary embodiment, the plural client PCs2and the plural printers4are connected on the network5. Three client PCs2A to2C and three printers4A to4C are connected as an example in the configuration as shown inFIG. 1.

The client PC2has a function of making or storing document data including documents, figures, pictures, or the like. In addition, the client PC2instructs any designated printer4to print document data via the management server3. In performing the print operation, the client PC2determines whether or not the print operation is permitted, or whether or not the use of various printing functions is permitted in the printer4to be designated for printing, or the like before performing the actual print operation. In addition, in cases where performing the print operation in the printer4to be designated for printing is not permitted, using the specific printing functions in the printer4to be designated for printing is not permitted, or the like, the client PC2has a function of displaying the message regarding the non-permitted operation and a function for the setup not to permit the designation of the printer4for performing the print operation and not to permit the use of the specific printing function.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the client PC2. As shown inFIG. 2, the client PC2includes a control unit20, a document data generating unit21, a storage unit22, a printer driver23, an operation input unit24, a display unit25, an interface26, and a user ID storage unit27.

The control unit20controls the entire operation of the client PC2in accordance with a predetermined control program.

The document data generating unit21generates the document data including documents, figures, pictures, or the like or edits the stored document data in accordance with predetermined application software, or the like.

The storage unit22may be configured as, for example, hard disk drive. The storage unit22stores and saves the document data, programs, or the like.

The operation input unit24, which is an example of an authentication information receiving unit, may be configured as a pointing device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The operation input unit24receives various inputs from the user. For example, the operation input unit24receives the input of an identifying information such as a code (for example, a user ID, a password, or the like) to identify the user, the input for designating the printer4at the time of printing, or the input for setting various printing functions.

The display unit25, which is an example of a display, may be configured as, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like. The display unit25displays the document data, a print setup dialog box, or the like, which is an example of a printing function setting unit.

The user ID storage unit27, which is an example of a user identifying information memory, stores an identifying information (user identifying information) by which the user using the client PC2is identified and specified. For example, the user identifying information includes the user ID or the password used at the time of logging in the client PC2, an account ID or the password used at the time of accessing the network5, and the like. In addition, the user ID storage unit27stores the plural user identifying information, for example, when there are plural users of using the client PC2.

The interface26controls the communication with the network5.

The printer driver23serves as a print data generating controller. That is, when the printer driver23receives a print command of the document data generated and edited by the document data generating unit21or the document data stored in the storage unit22from the control unit20, the printer driver23converts the print command from the control unit20into the print command for the printer4and then generates the print data as a print job, and the like. In addition, the printer driver23sends the generated print data and the user identifying information to the management server3via the interface26. The print data is configured to include the document data and attribute data to set various printing functions. In addition, the printer driver23has a function of determining whether or not the print operation is permitted, or whether or not the use of printing functions is permitted in the printer4to be designated for printing, or the like before performing the print operation.

The printer driver23according to the first exemplary embodiment includes a print data generating portion231, a user ID obtaining portion232, and a print determining portion233. The print data generating portion231generates the print data on the basis of the document data and the like. The user ID obtaining portion232is an example of an authentication information obtaining unit obtaining the user identifying information from the user ID storage unit27or the operation input unit24. The print determining portion233is an example of a print determination unit obtaining a printing authority information (described below) from the management server3and determining whether or not performing the print operation, using the printing function, or the like is permitted.

The print determining portion233determines whether or not performing print operation in the printer4to be designated for printing at the time of printing is permitted, or whether or not the use of the specific printing function to be set is permitted by making a reference about whether or not printing in the printer4to be designated for printing is permitted (whether or not printing authority is set) and whether or not the use of specific printing function to be used at the time of printing in the printer4is permitted (whether or not usage authority of printing function is set) for the user identifying information obtained by the user ID obtaining unit232to the printing authority information obtained from the management server3. As a result of the determination, in cases where the printing authority is set in the printer4to be designated for printing, or the usage authority is set in a specific printing function to be used, the print data generating portion231generates the print data and sends the generated print data together with the user identifying information to the printer4to be designated for printing. Alternatively, when the printing authority is not set in the printer4to be designated for printing, or the usage authority is not set in the specific printing function to be used, the print determining portion233sets the display unit25to display the message that no printing authority is set for the printer4and that no usage authority is set for the specific printing function for the notification and the like to the user. The print determining portion233sets the printer4for which the printing authority is set not to be designated and sets the printing function for which the usage authority is set not to be used.

Next, the management server3has a function of managing the use of the printer4connected to the network5. The management server3stores the information (referred to as “a printing authority information”) on whether or not each of the printers4A to4C is permitted to perform the print operation (the presence or absence of the printing authority), or whether or not the user is permitted to use the specific printing function in a specified printer4(the presence or absence of the usage authority for the printing function), which are set in response to the user identifying information. In addition, when the management server3receives the user identifying information from the client PC2, the management server3has a function of supplying the printing authority information in response to the received user identifying information to the client PC2that has sent the user identifying information.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the management server3. As shown inFIG. 3, the management server3includes an interface31, a data receiving unit32, a print control unit33, a print data storage unit34, a printing authority information storage unit35, and a data sending unit36.

The interface31controls a communication with the network5.

The data receiving unit32receives the user identifying information and the print data that has been sent from the client PC2via the network5, and outputs the user identifying information and the print data to the print control unit33.

The print control unit33receives the user identifying information and the print data that has been received by the data receiving unit32and outputs the received user identifying information and the print data to the print data storage unit34. The print control unit33controls sending of the user identifying information and the print data stored in the print data storage unit34to the printer4.

The print control unit33obtains the printing authority information in response to the received user identifying information from the printing authority information storage unit35. And then, the print control unit33sends the obtained printing authority information to the data sending unit36so as to control sending the printing authority information to the client PC2that has sent the user identifying information from the data sending unit36.

The print data storage unit34receives the user identifying information and the print data from the print control unit33and temporarily stores the received user identifying information and the print data.

The printing authority information storage unit35, which is an example of an authority information memory, stores the information on the presence or absence of the printing authority in each of the printers4A to4C set in response to the user identifying information or the information on the presence or absence of the usage authority for various printing functions in each of the printers4A to4C set in response to the user identifying information as “the printing authority information.”

FIGS. 4A and 4Bare diagrams illustrating examples of the printing authority information stored in the printing authority information storage unit35in a table form.FIG. 4Ais a diagram illustrating an example of the printing authority information, which is stored in the printing authority information storage unit35in a table form, on the presence or absence of the printing authority in the printers4A to4C in response to the user identifying information.FIG. 4Bis a diagram illustrating an example of the printing authority information, which is stored in the printing authority information storage unit35in a table form, on the presence or absence of the usage authority for various printing functions in the printer4which has the printing authority in response to the user identifying information.

The printing authority information on the presence or absence of the printing authority in response to the user identifying information in the printers4A to4C shown inFIG. 4Awill be described. For example, for the user ID and the password (the user identifying information) of the user_A, the print operation of the printer4A is permitted and the print operation of the printers4B and4C is inhibited. For the user ID and the password of the user_B, the print operation of the printer4B is permitted and the print operation of the printers4A and4C is inhibited. For the user ID and the password of the user_C, the print operation of the printer4C is permitted and the print operation of the printers4A and4B is inhibited. In addition, for the user ID and the password of the user_D, the print operation of the printers4B and4C is permitted and the print operation of the printer4A is prohibited.

Subsequently, the printing authority information on the usage authority for various printing functions in response to the user identifying information shown inFIG. 4Bwill be described. For example, for the user ID and the password (the user identifying information) of the user_A, output of the color printing, which is an example of the printing function, is inhibited, when the printer4A performs the print operation (seeFIG. 4Afor reference). The restricted number of the sheets for print for one time print operation taken as an example of the printing function is set to 10 sheets. In addition, performing the print operation of printing the one page document data on one side of paper (one side/one-up), which is an example of the printing function, is also inhibited. The plural pages print form where the plural pages (N pages) document data is printed on one page of a paper is represented as “N-up”. Likewise, the print form where the one page document data is printed on one page of a paper is represented as one-up.

Similarly, in the user ID and the password of the user_B, the output of the color printing is permitted when the print operation is performed in the printer4B (seeFIG. 4Afor reference). The restricted number of the sheets for print is set to 100 sheets when one time print operation is performed. In addition, the print operation of printing the one page document data on one side (one side/one-up) is inhibited.

For the user ID and the password of the user_C, the output of the color printing is permitted when the print operation is performed in the printer4C (seeFIG. 4Afor reference). The restricted number of the sheets for print is set to 100 sheets for one time print operation. In addition, the print operation of printing the one page document data on one side (one side/one-up) is permitted.

For the user ID and the password of the user_D, the output of the color printing is inhibited when the print operation is performed in the printers4B and4C (seeFIG. 4Afor reference). The restricted number of the sheets for print is set to 30 sheets for one time print operation. In addition, the print operation of the one page document data on one side (one side/one-up) is inhibited.

The printing function shown inFIG. 4Bis an example. Usage authority may be set regarding whether or not other various printing functions are permitted. For example, as a printing function, in addition to the usage authority for the number of the sheets for print in one time print operation, the usage authority for the number of the sheets for print during one month may be set by setting the period, for example, from the first to the last day of each month.

Subsequently, the data sending unit36sends the user identifying information and the print data stored in the print data storage unit34to the printer4designated for printing via the interface31on the basis of the instruction of sending the user identifying information and the print data from the print control unit33. On the basis of the sending instruction from the print control unit33, the data sending unit36sends the printing authority information obtained from the printing authority information storage unit35to the client PC2that has sent the user identifying information.

Next, the printer4prints the document on paper with the designated form on the basis of the user identifying information or the print data sent from the management server3.FIG. 5is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printers4(4A to4C). As shown inFIG. 5, the printer4includes an interface41, a data receiving unit42, a drawing process performing unit43, a page memory44, a storage unit45, an output control unit46, an operation input unit47, an authentication unit48, and a printer engine70.

The interface41controls a communication with the network5.

The data receiving unit42outputs the print data received from the management server3via the network5to the drawing process performing unit43and the output control unit46. In addition, the data receiving unit42outputs the user identifying information (the user ID, the password, and the like) received from the management server3to the authentication unit48.

The drawing process performing unit43receives the print data from the data receiving unit42and sequentially expands each object such as a character, an image, a picture, and the like of the document data included in the print data in the page memory44. Besides, when the drawing process performing unit43expands the object in the page memory44, the drawing process performing unit43decodes the coded image data, or the like.

The storage unit45may be configured as, for example, a hard disk drive having plural storing areas for storing each of the plural document data. The storage unit45receives and stores the document data expanded in the page memory44.

The authentication unit48authenticates whether or not the print operation is permitted in the printer engine70on the basis of the user identifying information (the user ID, the password, and the like) received from the management server3.

The output control unit46controls operations of sending the document data from the storage unit45to the printer engine70, initiating the print operation, or the like on condition of the authentication in the authentication unit48on the basis of the print data received from the data receiving unit42.

The operation input unit47may be configured as, for example, an operation panel. The operation input unit47receives an input of initiating the print operation by a user.

The printer engine70may be configured as, for example, an image forming unit using electrophotography, ink-jet, or the like. The printer engine70prints the document data on a paper.

Subsequently, the print operation performed in the printing system1according to the first exemplary embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6consisting of6A and6G is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process sequence of the print operation in the printing system1according to the first exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 6, first of all, in the client PC2, the user instructs to print, for example, a predetermined document data generated in the document data generating unit21or a predetermined document data stored in the storage unit22from the operation input unit24(S101). And then, the control unit20outputs a print command of the document data to the printer driver23(S102).

In the printer driver23that receives the print command from the control unit20, the user ID obtaining portion232obtains the user identifying information (S103). In addition, the obtained user identifying information is sent to the management server3via the interface26(S104).

Specifically, in the step S103, when the user ID obtaining portion232of the printer driver23receives a print command from the control unit20, the user ID obtaining portion232requests the control unit20to display the dialog box to obtain the user identifying information, which is the information (the user authentication information) used at the time of authenticating the user in the authentication unit48of the printer4. The control unit20displays the dialog box to set the user authentication information on the display unit25when the control unit20receives the request from the printer driver23.

FIGS. 7A and 7Bare diagrams illustrating examples of the dialog boxes to set the user authentication information which is displayed on the display unit25.FIG. 7Ais a diagram illustrating a state in which an “authentication information setup” dialog box to set the user authentication information is displayed from an “initial setup” tab after displaying the “initial setup” tab in a “print setting” dialog box on the display unit25.FIG. 7Bis a diagram illustrating a state in which the “authentication information input” dialog box to set the user authentication information is displayed by checking the radio button of “display input screen of authentication for each job (J)” in the “authentication information setup” dialog box on the display unit25.

InFIG. 7A, the “authentication information setup” dialog box displays a state when the radio button of “always use the same authentication information (L)” is checked. In addition, in the “authentication information setup” dialog box, a case that a “use login name” in the column of a “specify user ID (E)” is selected is shown. In this case, “Fuji-Taro”, which is an example of the user ID used at the time of logging in the client PC2, is automatically obtained from the user ID storage unit27and is displayed in the column of “user ID (O)”. In this state, a user inputs the password in the column of “password (N)” from the operation input unit24and clicks “OK” such that the user identifying information (the user ID and the password), as the user authentication information, is inputted in the user ID obtaining portion232of the printer driver23.

When the radio button of the “display input screen of authentication for each job (J)” is checked in the “authentication information setup” dialog box shown inFIG. 7A, the “authentication information input” dialog box shown inFIG. 7Bis displayed. On this occasion, the user checks the radio button of “designate authentication ID (C)” from the operation input unit24. In addition, the user inputs the user ID in the column of the “user ID (O)” and the password in a column of the “password (N)” or inputs the account ID in a column of the “account ID (A)” and the password in the column of the “password (N).” And then, the user clicks the “OK” such that the user identifying information, as the user authentication information, is inputted in the user ID obtaining portion232of the printer driver23.

The input of the user identifying information using the “authentication information input” dialog box shown inFIG. 7Bis used when the plural users use the client PC2.

Subsequently, when the management server3obtains the user identifying information from the client PC2via the network5(S201), the obtained user identifying information is sent from the data receiving unit32to the print control unit33. The print control unit33obtains the printing authority information in response to the obtained user identifying information from the printing authority information storage unit35(S202).

The print control unit33sends the printing authority information in response to the obtained user identifying information from the data sending unit36to the client PC2, which has sent the user identifying information, via the interface31(S203).

Next, when the client PC2receives the printing authority information in response to the user identifying information via the interface26(S105), the control unit20sends the printing authority information to the printer driver23.

In the printer driver23that has obtained the printing authority information, when a specified printer4is designated for printing in the print setup dialog box by the user at the time of performing the print operation, the print determining portion233determines whether or not the used user identifying information (the user ID, the password, and the like) has the printing authority in the printer4designated for printing on the basis of the obtained printing authority information (S106). In this case, the printer driver23may serve as an authority information obtaining unit.

Alternatively, when the print determining portion233determines that the used user identifying information does not have the printing authority in the printer4designated for printing, the printer driver23instructs the control unit20to display the message regarding a non-permitted operation on the display unit25. As a result, the display unit25displays the dialog box notifying that the printer4designated for printing is not permitted for performing the print operation (S107). That is, the display unit25performs a display for notification.

FIG. 8is a diagram illustrating an example of the dialog box displayed for notification on the display unit25. By displaying the dialog box, such as the one shown inFIG. 8on the display unit25, the client PC2has the user recognize that performing the print operation of printing the document is not permitted in the printer4instructed to perform the print operation with the user ID and the password used in the present instruction for performing the print operation, that another user identifying information (for example, the user ID and the like) having the printing authority in the printer4designated for printing is required to be inputted again, or that the print operation should be stopped. In this manner, the client PC2urges the user to take appropriate measures.

Subsequently, when the “OK” is clicked in the dialog box shown in the step S107(S108), the process returns to the user identifying information obtaining process of the step S103. Alternatively, when a “cancel” is clicked in the dialog box shown in the step S107(S108), the print operation is stopped (S109).

In addition, in the print setup dialog box displayed thereafter, the print designation may be set to be restricted in the printer4which does not have the printing authority included in the printing authority information obtained in the step S105as long as the input of the user identifying information is not performed again.

On the other hand, in the step S106, when the used user identifying information (the user ID, the password, and the like) is determined to have the printing authority in the printer4designated for printing, the print determining portion233determines whether or not the user identifying information has the usage authority for the printing function in the printer4designated for printing on the basis of the obtained printing authority information (S110).

Alternatively, when the print determining portion233determines that the user identifying information does not have the usage authority for the specific printing function in the printer4designated for printing by users, the print setup dialog box in which the unauthorized setup of the printing function is restricted is displayed (S111).

Specifically, suppose a case that, for example, the setup of the color printing function is restricted in the printing function which is not permitted to be used on the basis of the printing authority information. In this case, as shown inFIG. 9(which is a diagram illustrating an example of the print setup dialog box in which the setup of the color printing function is restricted), the input column of a “color mode” is changed into a “black and white mode” in the print setup dialog box, and the input column of a “color mode” is a dim-out (grayed out) so as not to be changed into the color printing in the print setup dialog box (see the inside of the oval shown inFIG. 9for reference). In this manner, the modified setup in which the black and white printing operation is forced to be set and in which the color printing operation is not permitted to be performed is acknowledged to the user in advance.

Likewise, when the printing function, for example, the usage of “one side/one-up” shown inFIG. 4Bis restricted, the print setup dialog box in which the printing function of the “one side/one-up” is not permitted to be used for performing the print operation is displayed, such that changing the printing function into the two sides of paper, “2-up” as an example of “N-up”, or the like is urged.

In addition, in the print data generating portion231of the printer driver23, the print data in which, for example, the specific printing functions, such as the color printing function or “one side/one-up” printing function, are not set is generated on the basis of the input from the user in the print setup dialog box displayed in the step S111(S113).

On the other hand, in the step S110, the restriction on the printing function is not provided for the used user identifying information (the user ID, the password, and the like) in the printer4designated for printing by a user. That is, when the user identifying information is determined to have the usage authority for all printing functions, the print setup dialog box in which all printing functions are set is displayed (S112). In addition, the print data on the basis of the document data and the print form set in the print setup dialog box by a user is generated in the print data generating portion231of the printer driver23(S113).

Subsequently, the print data generated in the step S113is sent together with the user identifying information from the printer driver23to the management server3via the interface26(S114).

When the management server3receives the user identifying information and the print data from the client PC2(S204), the data receiving unit32sends the user identifying information and the print data to the print control unit33. The print control unit33temporarily stores the user identifying information and the print data in the print data storage unit34(S205). Subsequently, the print control unit33reads the user identifying information and the print data from the print data storage unit34at a predetermined timing and sends them from the data sending unit36to the printer4via the interface31(S206). On this occasion, when the plural user identifying information and print data are stored in the print data storage unit34, the print control unit33determines the output sequence of each print data.

When the printer4obtains the user identifying information and the print data from the management server3via the network5(S301), the data receiving unit42outputs the print data to the drawing process performing unit43and the user identifying information to the authentication unit48. The drawing process performing unit43sequentially expands each object such as a character, an image, or the like of the document data in the print data in the page memory44(S302). When the drawing process performing unit43expands the document data in the page memory44, the drawing process performing unit43decodes the coded image data. In addition, the drawing process performing unit43stores the document data expanded in the page memory44in the storage unit45(S303).

The data receiving unit42outputs the print data to the output control unit46as well. The output control unit46sets the print form on the basis of the attribute data of the print data. Subsequently, the output control unit46reads the document data stored in the storage unit45and allows the printer engine70to print the document data with the set print form on condition of the authentication in the authentication unit48(S304).

In the printing system1according to the first exemplary embodiment, the configuration in which the client PC2determines in advance whether or not the print operation is performed in the printer4designated for printing and whether or not the printing function is used, before executing a print operation is described. In addition to such a configuration, it may be considered that, for example, the client PC2is configured to perform the print operation by modifying the setup of the printing function automatically given usage authority, while the client PC2determines whether or not the print operation is performed in the printer4designated for printing before performing the actual print operation, and does not determine whether or not the printing function is used. In this case, it may be considered that the printing function modified the setup automatically is configured to be set in advance.

As describe above, in the printing system1according to the first exemplary embodiment, the client PC2determines whether or not the print operation is permitted, or whether or not the use of printing functions is permitted in the printer4designated for printing, or the like before performing the actual print operation. In addition, at the time of performing the print operation, when performing the print operation or using specific printing functions is not permitted in the printer4designated for printing by a user, or the like, the client PC2displays the message regarding the non-permitted operation. In addition, the client PC2sets the specified printer4not to be designated or the specific printing function not to be used.

In the printing system1according to the first exemplary embodiment, the user recognizes the specific printer4that is not permitted to be used by the user in advance. Therefore, the user performs a print operation efficiently from a standpoint of the time saving by choosing the printer4that is made an instruction for performing the print operation by the user effectively.

In case of performing the print operation in the specific printer4that is set to be restricted the use of any printing function, the user also performs a print operation efficiently from a standpoint of the time saving by choosing the printing functions of the printer4that is made an instruction for performing the print operation by the user effectively. That is because the user recognizes the printing functions set to be restricted the use in advance.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

In the printing system1according to the first exemplary embodiment, the configuration in which the client PC2obtains the printing authority information from the management server3and determines whether or not the print operation is performed, whether or not the printing function is used, or the like is described. In a printing system10according to a second exemplary embodiment, a configuration in which the client PC2obtains the printing authority information from the printer4and determines whether or not the print operation is performed, whether or not the printing function is used, or the like will be described. In addition, in the same configuration as the first exemplary embodiment, the same reference numerals and signs are used and the detailed description will be omitted.

FIG. 10is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the printing system10according to the second exemplary embodiment. In the printing system10shown inFIG. 10, the client PCs (personal computers)2(2A to2C), which are examples of terminals, and the printers4(4A to4C), which are examples of image forming apparatuses to print document data generated in the client PC2on a paper are configured to be connected via the network5such that interactive communication is possible. That is, in the printing system10according to the second exemplary embodiment, the management server3according to the first exemplary embodiment is not installed, or a system configuration in which a management server3is installed but the management server3does not have the printing authority information is used. In addition,FIG. 10is a diagram illustrating the system configuration in which the management server3is not installed.

In the printing system10according to the second exemplary embodiment, each of the printers4A to4C has a function of printing documents on paper with designated forms on the basis of the print data sent from the client PC2. In addition, each of the printers4A to4C stores information on whether or not the print operation set in response to user identifying information of each of the printers4A to4C is permitted (the presence or absence of the printing authority), or information (printing authority information) on whether or not a user is permitted to use a specific printing function in each of the printers4A to4C (the presence or absence of the usage authority for the printing function). Moreover, when each of the printers4A to4C receives the user identifying information from the client PC2, each of the printers4A to4C has a function of supplying the printing authority information of each of the printers4A to4C in response to the received user identifying information to the client PC2that has sent the user identifying information.

FIG. 11is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printers4(4A to4C), according to the second exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 11, each of the printers4A to4C includes an interface41, a data receiving unit42, a drawing process performing unit43, a page memory44, a storage unit45, an output control unit46, an operation input unit47, an authentication unit48, and a printer engine70, and further includes a printing authority information storage unit80and a data sending unit49.

The printing authority information storage unit80, which is an example of the authority information memory, stores information on the presence or absence of the printing authority in each of the printers4A to4C set in response to the user identifying information, or the information on the presence or absence of the usage authority for the printing function in each of the printers4A to4C set in response to the user identifying information as the “printing authority information” in each of the printers4A to4C.

FIGS. 12A and 12Bare diagrams illustrating examples of the printing authority information stored in the printing authority information storage unit80of the printer4A as an example among the printers4A to4C in a table form.FIG. 12Ais a diagram illustrating an example of the printing authority information, which is stored in the printing authority information storage unit80of the printer4A as an example among the printers4A to4C in a table form, on the presence or absence of the printing authority in the printer4A in response to the user identifying information.FIG. 12Bis a diagram illustrating an example of the printing authority information, which is stored in the printing authority information storage unit80of the printer4A as an example among the printers4A to4C in a table form, on the presence or absence of the usage authority for various printing functions in the printer4A in response to the user identifying information.

The printing authority information on the presence or absence of the printing authority in response to the user identifying information in the printer4A shown inFIG. 12Awill be described. For example, for the user ID and the password (user identifying information) of the user_A and for the user ID and the password of the user_C, the print operation is permitted in the printer4A. In contrast, for the user ID and the password of the user_B and for the user ID and the password of the user_D, the print operation is inhibited in the printer4A.

In addition, the printing authority information on the usage authority of various printing functions in response to the user identifying information in the printer4A shown inFIG. 12Bis the same as the one described inFIG. 4Baccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

When the printer4receives the user identifying information from the client PC2, the output control unit46reads the printing authority information set in response to the received user identifying information from the printing authority information storage unit80and then sends the printing authority information from the data sending unit49to the client PC2that has sent the user identifying information via the interface41.

Subsequently, the print operation performed in the printing system10according to the second exemplary embodiment will be described.

FIG. 13consisting of13A and13B is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process sequence of the print operation in the printing system10according to the second exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 13A, first of all, in the client PC2, the user instructs to print, for example, a predetermined document data generated in the document data generating unit21or a predetermined document data stored in the storage unit22from the operation input unit24(S401). And then, the control unit20outputs a print command of the document data to the printer driver23(S402).

In the printer driver23that receives the print command from the control unit20, the user ID obtaining portion232obtains the user identifying information (S403). Regarding the method for obtaining the user identifying information by the user ID obtaining portion232, it is the same as the one described in the first exemplary embodiment. In addition, the obtained user identifying information is sent to all printers4(4A to4C) connected to the network5via the interface26(S404).

Subsequently, when each of the printers4obtains the user identifying information from the client PC2via the network5(S501), the obtained user identifying information is sent from the data receiving unit42to the output control unit46. The output control unit46obtains the printing authority information regarding the printer4in response to the obtained user identifying information from the printing authority information storage unit80(S502).

The output control unit46sends the printing authority information regarding the printer4in response to the obtained user identifying information from the data sending unit49to the client PC2, which has sent the user identifying information, via the interface41(S503).

Next, when the client PC2receives the printing authority information regarding the printers4A to4C in response to the user identifying information via the interface26(S405), the control unit20sends the printing authority information to the printer driver23.

In the printer driver23that has obtained the printing authority information regarding the printers4A to4C, when a specified printer4is designated for printing in the print setup dialog box by the user at the time of performing the print operation, the print determining portion233determines whether or not the used user identifying information (the user ID, the password, and the like) has the printing authority in the printer4designated for printing on the basis of the obtained printing authority information regarding each of the printers4A to4C (S406). In this case, the printer driver23may serve as the authority information obtaining unit.

Alternatively, when the print determining portion233determines that the used user identifying information does not have the printing authority in the printer4designated for printing, the printer driver23instructs the control unit20to display the message regarding a non-permitted operation on the display unit25. As a result, the display unit25displays the dialog box notifying that the printer4designated for printing is not permitted for performing the print operation (S407). That is, the display unit25performs a display for notification. The display for notification at the step S407is performed in the dialog box that is the same as one described in the first exemplary embodiments (SeeFIG. 8as a reference).

Subsequently, when the “OK” is clicked in the dialog box shown in the step S407(S408), the process returns to the user identifying information obtaining process of the step S403. Alternatively, when a “cancel” is clicked in the dialog box shown in the step S407(S408), the print operation is stopped (S409).

In addition, in the print setup dialog box displayed thereafter, the print designation may be set to be restricted in the printer4which does not have the printing authority included in the printing authority information obtained in the step S405as long as the input of the user identifying information is not performed again.

On the other hand, in the step S406, when the used user identifying information (the user ID, the password, and the like) is determined to have the printing authority in the printer4designated for printing, the print determining portion233determines whether or not the user identifying information has the usage authority for the printing function in the printer4designated for printing on the basis of the obtained printing authority information regarding each of the printers4A to4C (S410).

Alternatively, when the print determining portion233determines that the user identifying information does not have the usage authority for the specific printing function in the printer4designated for printing by users, the print setup dialog box in which the unauthorized setup of the printing function is restricted is displayed (S411).

In addition, in the print data generating portion231of the printer driver23, the print data in which, for example, the specific printing functions such as the color printing function or “one side/one-up” printing function are not set is generated on the basis of the input from the user in the print setup dialog box displayed in the step S411(S413).

On the other hand, in the step S410, the restriction on the printing function is not provided for the used user identifying information (the user ID, the password, and the like) in the printer4designated for printing by a user. That is, when the user identifying information is determined to have the usage authority for all printing functions, the print setup dialog box in which all printing functions are set is displayed (S412). In addition, the print data is generated on the basis of the document data and the print form set in the print setup dialog box by a user, in the print data generating portion231of the printer driver23(S413).

Subsequently, the print data generated in the step S413is sent together with the user identifying information from the printer driver23to the printer4via the interface26(S414).

When the printer4obtains the user identifying information and the print data from the Client PC2via the network5(S504), the data receiving unit42outputs the print data to the drawing process performing unit43and the user identifying information to the authentication unit48. The drawing process performing unit43sequentially expands each object, such as a character, an image, or the like, of the document data in the print data in the page memory44(S505). When the drawing process performing unit43expands the document data in the page memory44, the drawing process performing unit43decodes the coded image data. In addition, the drawing process performing unit43stores the document data expanded in the page memory44in the storage unit45(S506).

The data receiving unit42outputs the print data to the output control unit46as well. The output control unit46sets the print form on the basis of the attribute data of the print data. Subsequently, the output control unit46reads the document data stored in the storage unit45and allows the printer engine70to print the document data with the set print form on condition of the authentication in the authentication unit48(S507).

In this manner, the printing system10according to the second exemplary embodiment, each of the printers4A to4C stores the information on the presence or absence of the printing authority in each of the printers4A to4C set in response to the user identifying information, or the information on the presence or absence of the usage authority for the printing function in each of the printers4A to4C set in response to the user identifying information as the printing authority information in each of the printers4A to4C. In addition, when each of the printers4A to4C receives the user identifying information from the client PC2, the printing authority information in each of the printers4A to4C in response to the received user identifying information is supplied to the client PC2that has sent the user identifying information.

At the time of performing the print operation, the client PC2determines whether or not the print operation is permitted, whether or not the use of printing functions is permitted in the printer4designated for printing, or the like before performing the actual print operation on the basis of the printing authority information supplied from each of the printers4A to4C. At the time of performing the print operation, when performing the print operation in the printer4designated for printing by a user, using specific printing functions in the printer4designated for printing by a user, or the like is not permitted, the client PC2displays the message regarding the non-permitted operation. In addition, the client PC2sets the specified printer4not to be designated or the specific printing function not to be used.

In the printing system10according to the second exemplary embodiment, the user recognizes the specific printer4that is not permitted to be used by the user in advance. Therefore, the user performs a print operation efficiently from a standpoint of the time saving by choosing the printer4that is made an instruction for performing the print operation by the user effectively.

In case of performing the print operation in the specific printer4that is set to be restricted the use of any printing function, the user also performs a print operation efficiently from a standpoint of the time saving by choosing the printing functions of the printer4that is made an instruction for performing the print operation by the user effectively. That is because the user recognizes the printing functions set to be restricted the use in advance.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiments, it is also possible to record a program corresponding to the flowcharts shown inFIG. 13in an information recording media such as a flexible disk, or obtain and record the program corresponding to the flowchart by a network such as the Internet or by telephone communication, the program is read out and executed by using a general-purpose computer such as a microcomputer etc. and thereby makes the computer function as the printer driver23according to the exemplary embodiments.