JP2009064306A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a printing system that requests an appropriate approval for printing data.
In a printing system, reviewer terminals PCb1 and PCb2 and an approver terminal PCc sequentially display print data from the printer terminal PCa or data to be printed as intermediate data, and examine and approve printing. When the print is approved at the approver terminal PCc in the end, the approver terminal PCc generates print data from the print target data and transmits it to the printer Pr. The printer Pr is based on the print data. Print. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately perform examination / approval of the suitability of printing of data to be printed from the printer terminal PCa such as a computer while reducing the individual burden.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly, to a printing system that requests examination / approval appropriate for data printing.

  When printing from a host device such as a computer to a printing device such as a printer connected to a network or directly connected, a composite device, a copying device, etc., print data is sent from the host device to the printing device together with print settings, The printing apparatus prints the print data on a sheet. In this case, the host device is equipped with a printer driver corresponding to the printing device, and a setting value is set for each print setting item displayed on the display of the host device by the user interface (UI) of the printer driver. The print setting is sent to the printing apparatus together with the print data, and the printing apparatus prints out the print data with the print setting corresponding to each print setting item.

  That is, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 15, when a user issues a document print instruction with the application 101, the computer 101 activates the UI unit 111 of the printer driver 103, and the UI unit 111 sets print settings. When a dialog is displayed on the display and the user performs print settings, the setting contents DEVMODE is passed to the application 101. When the application 101 receives DEVMODE from the UI unit 111, the application 101 passes the DEVMODE and drawing contents (drawing data) to the graphic unit 112 of the printer driver 103 via the GDI 102. The graphic unit 112 refers to the DEVMODE received from the GDI 102, creates print data reflecting print settings and print layout from the drawing data of the document instructed to be printed, and passes the created print data to the spooler 104. The spooler 104 transmits the print data received from the graphic unit 112 to the printer 120 as a printing destination via the port monitor 105. The printer 120 prints out based on the print data sent from the computer terminal 100.

  Conventionally, in a printing apparatus such as a copying apparatus, when a preview image corresponding to a print setting is displayed on the display unit and the preview image is confirmed and the print setting is changed, the preview image corresponding to the change is displayed. Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-41947 A

  However, the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 is a technique for displaying a preview image to facilitate confirmation of print settings, and can perform printing suitable for the user's intention while confirming print settings. However, the confidentiality of the data to be printed cannot be maintained, and improvement is necessary.

  In other words, the security of information has become an important issue today. In particular, in the printout of data, once the data is printed out, it is difficult to protect the confidentiality of the printed out data. In addition, it is necessary to ensure confidentiality in the data printout itself, and it is necessary to print out the data in the desired print format, desired aggregated print, etc. according to the request of the data manager, etc. There can be. In such a case, the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it cannot be appropriately and easily handled.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing system capable of easily and appropriately controlling the print output of data while enhancing security.

  The printing system according to the first aspect of the present invention sends print data or intermediate data as print target data in the order of the print request terminal to the print review terminal and the print approval terminal, and both the print review terminal and the print approval terminal are the print target. When printing of data is permitted, the print approval terminal converts the print target data into print data suitable for a print destination printing apparatus as necessary, and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus. A printing system for printing based on data, wherein the print examination terminal includes display data conversion means for converting the print target data into display data that can be displayed, and permission / printing of the display data and the print target data. Display means for displaying a screen for prompting selection of non-permission, and input of at least a print permission / non-permission examination result of the print target data in accordance with the display on the display means When the examination result is inputted from the input means, the examination data generating means for producing examination data indicating the examination result, and when the examination result of the print permission is inputted from the input means, the examination Control means for adding the examination data generated by the data generation means to the print target data and transmitting the print target data to which the examination data is added to the print approval terminal, the print approval terminal comprising: Display data converting means for converting print target data into displayable display data; display means for displaying a screen for prompting selection of permission / non-permission of printing of the display data, the examination data, and the print target data; Input means for inputting at least a print permission / non-permission approval result according to the display on the display means, and print data interpretable by the printing apparatus from the print target data Print data generation means to be generated, and control means for causing the print data generation means to generate the print data from the print target data and transmitting the print data to the printing apparatus when a print permission approval result is input from the input means. The above object is achieved.

  In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the printing system sequentially examines the print target data from the print requesting terminal at a plurality of the print examination terminals, and transmits the data to the print approval terminal. A plurality of print screening terminals sequentially perform approval / disapproval of printing of the print target data, generate the screening data indicating the screening result by each of the screening data generation means, and store the screening data The print data is added to the print target data and transmitted to the next print target terminal. The second and subsequent print screening terminals send the screening data sent from the print screening terminal before the print screening terminal to the display means. The last print examination terminal may send the print target data to which the examination data is added to the print approval terminal.

  In the case of claim 1 or claim 2, for example, as described in claim 3, the print request terminal creates examination route data that instructs examination routes of the print examination terminal and the print approval terminal. An examination route data creation means, and the examination route data created by the examination route data creation means is added to the print target data and transmitted to the print examination terminal at the head of the examination route data. All of the print examination terminals may transmit the print target data with the examination route data added to the next print examination terminal based on the examination route data, and sequentially perform examination.

  Further, in the case of claims 1 to 3, for example, as described in claim 4, the print examination terminal is configured to change the print setting when the display unit permits printing of the print target data. When the change information is input from the input means, the control means adds the change information to the print target data and sends it to the next print examination terminal or the print approval terminal. And the print approval terminal also displays an input screen for print setting change information when the display means permits printing of the print target data sent from the print examination terminal, and the print data The generation unit may generate the print data based on the change information from the print examination terminal or / and the change information input from the input unit and the print target data.

  In the case of claims 1 to 4, for example, as described in claim 5, the input unit of the print examination terminal and the input unit of the print approval terminal may use the print condition as the change information. One or more of change instruction information, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern addition instruction information, image composition instruction information, and composition instruction information of a plurality of print target data may be input.

  Further, in the case of claim 1 to claim 5, for example, as described in claim 6, the printing apparatus includes predetermined print permission information necessary for permission of print output of the print data in the print data. If added, the print output of the print data may be prohibited until the print permission information is input from a predetermined input means.

  In the case of claim 6, for example, as described in claim 7, when the print permission information is added to the received print target data, the print examination terminal prints the print target data. The permission information is added to the next print examination terminal or the print approval terminal, and the print approval terminal generates the print data when the print permission information is added to the received print target data. The means may generate the print data to which the print permission information is added and transmit it to the printing apparatus.

  According to the printing system of the present invention, the print examination terminal and the print approval terminal sequentially display the print target data from the print request terminal, examine and approve the print permission, and finally the print approval terminal. When printing is approved, the print approval terminal generates print data from the print target data and transmits it to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus prints based on the print data. Compared with the case where the print review terminal and the print approval terminal, which are managed by the administrator, etc., sequentially judge and approve whether or not the print target data can be printed out, and the burden of the print adequacy examination is handled by only one print approval terminal. While reducing individual burdens, more appropriate examination / approval for printing of the print target data can be performed, and data confidentiality can be ensured appropriately and easily.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 14 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a printing system of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system 1 to which an embodiment of the printing system of the present invention is applied.

  In FIG. 1, in a printing system 1, a printer terminal PCa, an examiner terminal PCb, an approver terminal PCc, and a printer Pr are connected to a network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network). FIG. 1 shows a case where one printer terminal PCa, one examiner terminal PCb, one approver terminal PCc, and one printer Pr are connected to the network NW, but one printer terminal PCa, one examiner terminal is shown. The number of PCb and printer Pr is not limited to one each, and a plurality of PCb and printer Pr may be connected to each other, and the approver terminal PCc is not limited to one.

  The printer terminal (print request terminal) PCa uses, for example, a personal computer having an input unit such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse in a normal hardware configuration, and its software configuration is shown in FIG. On an OS (Operating System) such as Windows (registered trademark), an application 11, a GDI (Graphic Device Interface) 12, a printer driver 13, a spooler 14, a port monitor 15, and the like are provided.

  The printer driver 13 includes a UI (User Interface) unit 21, a graphic unit 22, an examination / approval list creation unit 23, and the like.

  This printer terminal PCa is a print control program that executes print control processing recorded on a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), a DVD (Digital Video Disk), or a flexible disk. This is constructed as a print request terminal for executing a print request process in a print approval process to be described later by loading and installing the printer driver or by incorporating the print control program into the printer driver 13.

  The application 11 is software such as document creation software, figure creation software, spreadsheet software, database software, etc. on the OS. The printing data created by the application 11 and other computers on the network NW are created by the printer. When a print command for drawing data received from a terminal or the like and stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk is issued to the application 11, the application 11 sends DEVMODE to the UI unit 21.

  Upon receipt of DEVMODE, the UI unit 21 first displays a print / examination approver setting dialog, which is a user interface for print setting and examiner / approver setting, on the display.

  Then, the UI unit 21 passes the DEVMODE of the setting contents to the application 11 when the printer performs the print setting and the setting input of the examiner and the approver in this user interface.

  When receiving the DEVMODE from the UI unit 21, the application 11 passes the DEVMODE and the drawing content (drawing data) to the graphic unit 22 of the printer driver 13 via the GDI 12.

  GDI12 is one of the programs installed in Windows that controls printers and displays, absorbs differences between models and devices, and provides the look and feel (look & feel) of each application 11 to Windows. Unify. That is, the application 11 passes the DEVMODE (structure including print settings and examiner / approver settings), GDI call and drawing data to the GDI 12, and the GDI 12 receives the drawing data and the examiner / approver information received. The data is transferred to the graphic unit 22 of the printer driver 13.

  The graphic unit 22 refers to the DEVMODE received from the GDI 12 and creates print data or print target data which is intermediate data from the drawing data of the document instructed to be printed by the application 11 and reflecting print settings and print layout. The graphic unit 22 passes the examiner / approver data to the examination / approval list creation unit 23, and the examination / approval list creation unit (examination route data creation means) 23 receives the examiner received from the graphic unit 22. A list of reviewers who approve the print data or intermediate data from the approver's data and a list of approvers who approve the print are created, and the created reviewer / approver list (examination route data) To the graphic unit 22. This reviewer / approver list is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a reviewer who performs a review on print data or intermediate data that the printer requests to print (Mr. A in review 1 and review 2 in FIG. 3). 3) and the approver (Mr. C in FIG. 3) who make the approval, and the order of examination and approval is the order from the top to the bottom of FIG.

  The graphic unit 22 attaches the examiner / approver list received from the examination / approval list creation unit 23 to the created print data or intermediate data and passes it to the spooler 14.

  The spooler 14 holds and manages the print data or intermediate data received from the graphic unit 22 and passes it to the port monitor 15. The port monitor 15 is a port to which the examiner terminal PCb is connected, in this embodiment, the network NW. Is connected to the examiner / approver list, and print data or intermediate data attached to the examiner / approver list is sent to the examiner terminal PCb, and from the approver terminal PCc. The approval notification, the disapproval notification from the examiner terminal, or the disapproval notification from the approver terminal PCc is received and passed to the spooler 14.

  That is, the data transmitted from the spooler 14 via the port monitor 15 has four data formats: print data only, print data and review / approver list, intermediate data only, intermediate data and review / approver list.

  The print data is a data format that can be printed by the printer Pr by modifying the content by transmitting the print data to the printer Pr, such as PDL (Page Description Language). The intermediate data is data before conversion from document data created by the application 11 into print data, and is intermediate language data when converting a DDI call into print data. The intermediate data has an arbitrary data format than the print data. Data in a data format that can be changed.

  The spooler 14 passes the disapproval notice, disapproval notice, and approval notice received from the port monitor 15 to the UI unit 21 of the printer driver 13, and the UI part 21 displays the approval notice received from the spooler 14 in a dialog box or the like. , It is presented to the user, the printer.

  The examiner terminal PCb uses, for example, a personal computer provided with an input unit (input means) such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse in a normal hardware configuration, and as shown in FIG. At least an examination processing application 30, a spooler 41, a port monitor 42, and the like are provided on an OS such as Windows.

  The screening processing application 30 includes a control unit 31, a data acquisition unit 32, a data storage unit 33, a preview unit 34, a UI unit 35, a screening processing unit 36, a graphic unit 37, a screening notification unit 38, and the like.

  This examiner terminal (print examination terminal) PCb shows an examination process application 30 as a print examination control program for executing a print examination process recorded on a recording medium such as a CD, CD-RW, DVD, or flexible disk. It is constructed as a print examination terminal for executing a print examination process to be described later by loading it into a hard disk or the like that is not installed.

  The control unit (control means) 31 controls the operation of the examination processing application 30, and the data acquisition unit 32 receives print data or intermediate data to be examined from the printer terminal PCa via the network NW under the control of the control unit 31. Get print target data. The data storage unit 33 includes storage means such as a hard disk, and the control unit 31 stores the print data or intermediate data to be examined acquired by the data acquisition unit 32 in the data storage unit 33.

  The control unit 31 passes the print data or the intermediate data to be approved stored in the data storage unit 33 to the preview unit 34 so as to create a bitmap image. When receiving the print data from the control unit 31, the preview unit (display data converting means) 34 generates a bitmap image from the print data, and when receiving the intermediate data, generates a bitmap image from the intermediate data. .

  When the data acquisition unit 32 receives the print data or intermediate data to be examined, the control unit 31 sends a print examination dialog (display data and print permission / non-permission selection screen, print setting) to the UI unit 35 as a user interface for print examination. Change information input screen) is displayed on the display, and printing is performed by the supervisor of the department to which the printer belongs, a network administrator, an examiner such as an information manager (hereinafter referred to as an examiner), using the print examination dialog. When examination process information such as setting change information and examination information is input, the input necessary print setting change process is performed. The UI unit 35 and the display function as display means for displaying a print examination dialog which is a user interface for print examination as a whole.

  The examination processing unit (examination data creation means) 36 obtains examination processing information from the UI unit 35, and performs examination processing and examination data creation for examining the print data to be examined or intermediate data print processing. At the same time, when the examination result input by the input unit is NG (printing disapproved), the non-permission notice is transmitted from the examination notifying unit 38 to the printer terminal PCa that has requested the examination via the network NW.

  The graphic unit 37 attaches the examiner / approver list and the examination data to the intermediate data or the print data and passes it to the spooler 41. The spooler 41 receives the intermediate data or the attached data of the examiner / approver list and the examination data. The print data is transmitted to the next examiner terminal PCb or approver terminal PCc via the port monitor 42.

  That is, when print data and the examiner / approver list are sent from the printer terminal PCa to the next examiner terminal PCb or the approver terminal PCc from the examiner terminal PCb, as shown in FIG. When the print data is transmitted in a data format with the reviewer / approver list and the review data attached, and the intermediate data and the reviewer / approver list are sent from the printer terminal PCa, the intermediate data includes Send the data in the data format with the reviewer / approver list and review data attached.

  This examination data is data indicating the result of examination at the examiner terminal PCb. When an instruction is given to change the examination OK (permitted), NG (not permitted), and the print setting, the print setting is displayed. For example, in the case where two reviewer terminals PCb conduct a review, as shown in FIG. 6, the review result of “OK” in review 1 and “OK with background pattern” in review 2 are shown. This data shows the examination results. This background pattern is print setting change information.

  The examination notifying unit 38 obtains examination information from the UI unit 35 under the control of the control unit 31, and when the examination result is NG (printing disapproved), the printing that has requested the examination via the network NW. The disapproval notice is transmitted to the person terminal PCa.

  For the approver terminal (print approval terminal) PCc, for example, a personal computer provided with an input unit (input means) such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse is used in a normal hardware configuration. As shown, at least an approval processing application 50, a spooler 61, a port monitor 62, and the like are provided on an OS such as Windows.

  The approval processing application 50 includes a control unit 51, a data acquisition unit 52, a data storage unit 53, a preview unit 54, a UI unit 55, an approval processing unit 56, an intermediate data processing unit 57, a print data processing unit 58, a graphic unit 59, and an approval. A notification unit 60 and the like are provided.

  The approver terminal PCc reads an approval processing application 50 as a print approval control program for executing a print approval process recorded on a recording medium such as a CD, CD-RW, DVD, or flexible disk into a hard disk (not shown). In this way, it is constructed as a print approval terminal that executes a print approval process described later.

  The control unit (control unit) 51 controls the operation of the approval processing application 50, and the data acquisition unit 52 controls the examiner / approval that has been examined by the examiner terminal PCb via the network NW under the control of the control unit 51. The print data or intermediate data to be approved with the user list and examination data attached. The data storage unit 53 includes storage means such as a hard disk, and the control unit 51 stores the print data or intermediate data to be approved acquired by the data acquisition unit 52 in the data storage unit 53.

  The control unit 51 passes the print data or the intermediate data to be approved stored in the data storage unit 53 to the preview unit 54, and creates a bitmap image. When receiving the print data from the control unit 51, the preview unit (display data converting means) 34 generates a bitmap image from the print data, and when receiving the intermediate data, generates a bitmap image from the intermediate data. .

  When the data acquisition unit 52 receives print data or intermediate data to be approved, the control unit 51 receives a print approval dialog (display data and print permission / non-permission selection screen, print setting) as a user interface for print approval. Change information input screen) is displayed on the display, and an approver such as a network administrator or an information manager (hereinafter referred to as an approver) inputs print setting change information or approval information using the print approval dialog. If it is performed, the input necessary print setting change processing is performed. The UI unit 55 and the display function as display means for displaying a print approval dialog which is a user interface for print approval as a whole.

  The approval processing unit 56 acquires the approval processing information from the UI unit 55, performs an approval process for approving or disapproving the print data to be approved or the print process of intermediate data, and from the approval notification unit 60 to the network NW. The printer terminal PCa that has requested the approval via the printer sends an approval notification or a disapproval notification.

  When the data to be approved is intermediate data, the intermediate data processing unit 57 acquires the print setting change information as the approval condition acquired by the UI unit 55, and based on the print setting change information, the data storage unit For example, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern addition process for adding a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image that is not conspicuous in a printed material but becomes apparent in a copy, an aggregation process for collecting a plurality of pages into one page, A print setting change process such as a merge process for combining documents is performed.

  When the data to be approved is print data, the print data processing unit 58 acquires the print setting change information as the approval condition acquired by the UI unit 55, and based on the print setting change information, the data storage unit A print setting change process such as a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern addition process, an aggregation process, and a merge process is performed on the print data to be approved stored in 53.

  The graphic unit 59 converts the intermediate data into print data suitable for the printer Pr as the print destination and passes the print data to the spooler 61. The spooler 61 transmits the print data to the printer Pr via the port monitor 62. The intermediate data processing unit 57, the print data processing unit 58, and the graphic unit 59 function as a print data generation unit as a whole.

  The approval notification unit 60 acquires approval information from the UI unit 55 under the control of the control unit 51, and transmits an approval notification or a disapproval notification to the printer terminal PCa via the network NW.

  The printer Pr receives print data from the approver terminal PCc via the network NW, and actually performs print processing with the print setting contents of the print data. The printer Pr uses, for example, an electrophotographic printing method, and is a component necessary for recording and outputting an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method using a laser, such as a photoconductor, an optical writing unit, and a developing unit. Part, charging part, cleaning part and the like. In the case of the electrophotographic system, the printer Pr operates the optical writing unit according to the received print data to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, and supplies the toner onto the photoconductor by the developing unit and develops it. Thus, a toner image is formed. The printer Pr feeds the sheet from the sheet feeding unit between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit, transfers the toner image on the photosensitive member to the sheet, and conveys the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred to the fixing unit. Then, the image is formed by fixing the toner image on the paper by heating and pressurizing in the fixing unit.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing system 1 according to the present embodiment transmits only print data to the examiner terminal PCb and the approver terminal PCc in order and receives only the print data that has undergone the examination and approval, or undergoes the necessary print setting change processing to perform the examination and Print only approved print data.

  That is, the printer terminal PCa is a document opened by the printer 11 using the application 11 (a document created by the application 11 or a document created by another application 11 or another terminal and stored in the storage unit). When the print instruction is issued, the application 11 activates the UI unit 21 of the printer driver 13, the UI unit 21 displays a print setting dialog on the display, and the printer performs print settings. DEVMODE of setting contents is passed. When receiving the DEVMODE from the UI unit 21, the application 11 passes the DEVMODE and the drawing content (drawing data) to the graphic unit 22 of the printer driver 13 via the GDI 12. The graphic unit 22 refers to the DEVMODE received from the GDI 12, creates print data or intermediate data reflecting print settings and print layout from the drawing data of the document instructed to be printed, and creates the created print data or intermediate data To the spooler 14. The spooler 14 transmits the print data or intermediate data received from the graphic unit 22 as print target data to the examiner terminal PCb via the port monitor 15.

  That is, a conventional printer terminal such as a computer directly transmits print data to a printer connected to a network or the like. However, in the printing system 1 of this embodiment, the printer terminal PCa receives a print instruction from the printer. The print data or intermediate data of the document thus sent is not sent directly to the printer Pr but is sent to the examiner terminal PCb.

  The examiner terminal PCb is equipped with the examination processing application 30, and the examination processing application 30 performs the printing examination processing of the print target data (print data or intermediate data) requested for printing examination as shown in FIG. When printing is permitted, print target data (intermediate data or print data) to which necessary print setting change information is added is transmitted to the next examiner terminal PCb or approver terminal PCc.

  That is, the examination processing application 30 of the examiner terminal PCb waits for input of print data or intermediate data to be subjected to print examination from the printer terminal PCa (step S101), and the data acquisition unit 32 prints the print data from the printer terminal PCa. Alternatively, when intermediate data is input, the control unit 31 temporarily stores the print data or the intermediate data in the data storage unit 33 (step S102).

  Next, the examination processing application 30 creates a preview image (bitmap image) of the print data or intermediate data to be printed by the preview unit 34, displays the preview image (bitmap image) on the display, and prints the data to be printed. A print examination dialog prompting the user to input permission / prohibition and print setting change information is displayed and presented to an examiner such as an administrator (step S103), and it is checked whether printing is permitted by the examiner, that is, whether the examination is OK ( Step S104).

  When printing is not permitted in step S104, the examination processing application 30 causes the examination notification unit 38 to send a notice of non-permission to the printer terminal PCa and terminates the process (step S105).

  In step S104, when the screening is OK, the screening processing application 30 creates screening data for the screening result “OK” by the screening processing unit 36, and the control unit 31 is based on the print setting change information acquired by the UI unit 35. Whether or not the data to be printed needs to be changed (step S106). If there is no request for changing the print settings in the data to be printed, the list of examiners / approvers and the examination data are attached to the data to be printed. Then, the print target data is passed to the spooler 61, and the spooler 61 transmits the print data to the next examiner terminal PCb or the approver terminal PCc via the port monitor 62 (step S107).

  In step S106, if the data to be printed needs to be changed, the examination processing application 30 performs examination data addition processing for adding the requested print setting change contents to the examination data previously created by the examination processing unit 36. (Step S108), the examination data added to the examination data and the examiner / approver list are attached to the print target data, the print target data is passed to the spooler 61, and the spooler 61 receives the print data from the port monitor. It transmits to the approver terminal PCc via 62 (step S107).

  The data change requested for the print target data is, for example, necessary print setting change such as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern addition processing, aggregation processing, and merge processing.

  The approver terminal PCc is equipped with an approval processing application 50, and the approval processing application 50 is the print target data (print data or intermediate data) requested for print approval as shown in FIG. When the print approval process is performed on the print target data that has been reviewed, and the print is approved, the print data that has undergone the necessary print setting change process (in the case of intermediate data, the print data converted to print data) Is sent to the printer Pr for printing.

  That is, the approval processing application 50 of the approver terminal PCc waits for input of print data or intermediate data that is print target data to be printed from the examiner terminal PCb (step S201), and the data acquisition unit 52 checks the examiner. When print data or intermediate data is input from the terminal PCb, the control unit 51 temporarily stores the print data or intermediate data in the data storage unit 53 (step S202).

  Next, the approval processing application 50 creates the print approval target print data or intermediate data preview image (bitmap image) in the preview unit 54, displays the preview image on the display, and prints the print approval target data. Approval approval (approval information) and a print approval dialog prompting input of print setting change information are displayed and presented to an approver such as an administrator (step S203), and the examination result at the previous examiner terminal PCb Is displayed on the print approval dialog for use by the approver (step S204).

  The approval processing application 50 checks whether printing has been approved by the approver (step S205). If the printing is not approved, the approval notification unit 60 transmits a notification of disapproval to the printer terminal PCa, and the processing ends (step S205). S206).

  When the printing is approved in step S205, the approval processing application 50 causes the control unit 51 to print the data to be printed based on the print setting change information acquired by the UI unit 55 as intermediate data. Whether or not the data change is necessary is checked (step S207). If the data change is necessary, the intermediate data processing unit 57 performs necessary intermediate data conversion processing (step S208).

  This intermediate data conversion processing is processing for performing necessary print setting change processing such as the above-mentioned tint block addition processing, aggregation processing, and merge processing, and converting the intermediate data into print data that can be processed by the printer Pr. .

  When the print target data is not intermediate data in step S207, or when conversion processing is performed on the intermediate data in step S208, the approval processing application 50 causes the control unit 51 to display the print data as the print target data. Whether or not data change is necessary (step S209). If the data change is necessary, the print data processing unit 58 performs necessary print data conversion processing (step S210).

  This print data conversion processing performs necessary print setting change processing such as the tint block addition processing, aggregation processing, and merge processing.

  In step S209, when it is not necessary to change the data in the print data, the approval processing application 50 passes the print data for which necessary processing has been completed to the spooler 61, and the spooler 61 passes the print data to the printer Pr via the port monitor 62. (Step S211).

  In the approval processing application 50, the approval notification unit 60 acquires the approval information from the UI unit 55, transmits an approval notification to the printer terminal PCa via the network NW, and ends the process (step S212). .

  When an approval notification is sent from the approver terminal PCc, the printer terminal PCa receives the approval notification via the port monitor 15, passes it to the spooler 14, and the spooler 14 passes it to the UI unit 21 to receive the UI. The unit 21 displays the approval notification received from the spooler 14 in a dialog box or the like and presents it to the printer who is the user.

  Hereinafter, when print data is sent from the printer terminal PCa to the examiner terminal PCb, when intermediate data is sent, and when there are a plurality of (two) examiner terminals PCb, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern addition process and the merge process are performed as the print setting change. The case where it is performed and the case where the printer Pr performs the confidential printing process will be sequentially described with reference to FIGS.

  First, print data is sent from the printer terminal PCa to the examiner terminal PCb, and printing is permitted without changing the print settings. Next, the approver terminal PCc also approves printing without changing the print settings. The processing in this case will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 10, Sa1 to Sa6 indicate processing steps. When the print system 1 transmits print data from the printer terminal PCa to the examiner terminal PCb and approves the print without changing the print settings, as shown in FIG. When the user issues a print instruction for the document and the examiner / approver is set by the UI unit 21, the printer terminal PCa converts the document into print data by the printer driver 13, and the examiner / approval that is set and input. An examiner list is created by the examination / approval list creation unit 23 and attached to the print data, and the examiner / approver list (indicated as an examination approval list in FIG. 10) is attached to the examiner terminal PCb. Data is transmitted (Sa1).

  When the examiner terminal PCb receives the print data attached with the examiner / approver list from the printer terminal PCa, the examination processing application 30 causes the preview unit 34 to preview the print data (bitmap image). ) And is displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting the user to input the print permission and print setting change information of the print examination target print data is displayed.

  If the examination process application 30 of the examiner terminal PCb is permitted to print by the examiner of the examiner terminal PCb, in this case, since the print setting is not changed, the examination processing unit 36 examines “OK” as the examination data. Data is created and passed to the graphic unit 37. The graphic unit 37 attaches the examination data and the examiner / approver list (examination approval list) sent from the printer terminal PCa to the print data (Sa2). Then, the print data attached with the examination data and the examiner / approver list is transmitted to the approver terminal PCc described in the examiner / approver list via the spooler 41 and the port monitor 42 (Sa3).

  When the approver terminal PCc receives the print data attached with the examination data and the examiner / approver list from the examiner terminal PCb, the approval processing application 50 causes the preview unit 54 to preview the print data ( A bitmap image) is created and displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting input of approval (approval information) and print setting change information of the print data to be printed is displayed. The approval processing application 50 displays the examination data sent from the examiner terminal PCb in the print approval dialog.

  In this case, when the approver processing application 50 of the approver terminal PCc approves printing by looking at the print data preview displayed on the approver terminal PCc and the examination data that is the examination result of the examiner terminal PCb. Since there is no print setting change, the print data processing unit 58 acquires only the print data (Sa4), and transmits the print data from the graphic unit 59 to the printer Pr via the spooler 61 and the port monitor 62 (Sa5).

  Further, the approval processing application 50 acquires the approval information and transmits an approval notification to the printer terminal PCa via the network NW (Sa6).

  When an approval notification is sent from the approver terminal PCc, the printer terminal PCa receives the approval notification via the port monitor 15, passes it to the spooler 14, and the spooler 14 passes it to the UI unit 21 to receive the UI. The unit 21 displays the approval notification received from the spooler 14 in a dialog box or the like and presents it to the printer who is the user.

  Then, when print data is sent from the approver terminal PCc, the printer Pr prints out an image based on the print data.

  Next, the intermediate data is sent from the printer terminal PCa to the examiner terminal PCb to permit printing without changing the print settings, and then the print approval is also performed without changing the print settings on the approver terminal PCc. The processing in this case will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 11, Sb1 to Sb6 indicate processing steps. When the printing system 1 transmits intermediate data from the printer terminal PCa to the examiner terminal PCb and permits printing without changing the print settings, as shown in FIG. When the user issues a print instruction for the document and the examiner / approver is set by the UI unit 21, the printer terminal PCa converts the document into print data by the printer driver 13, and the examiner / approval that is set and input. A reviewer list is created by the review / approval list creation unit 23 and attached to the print data, and the reviewer / approver list (indicated as a review / approval list in FIG. 11) is attached to the approver terminal PCb. Data is transmitted (Sb1).

  When the examiner terminal PCb receives the intermediate data attached with the examiner / approver list from the printer terminal PCa, the examination processing application 30 causes the preview unit 34 to preview the print data (bitmap image). ) And is displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting the user to input the print permission and print setting change information of the print examination target print data is displayed.

  If the examination process application 30 of the examiner terminal PCb is permitted to print by the examiner of the examiner terminal PCb, in this case, since the print setting is not changed, the examination processing unit 36 examines “OK” as the examination data. Data is created and passed to the graphic unit 37. The graphic unit 37 attaches the examination data and the examiner / approver list (examination approval list) sent from the printer terminal PCa to the intermediate data (Sb2). Then, the intermediate data attached with the examination data and the examiner / approver list is transmitted to the approver terminal PCc described in the examiner / approver list via the spooler 41 and the port monitor 42 (Sb3).

  When the approver terminal PCc receives the intermediate data attached with the examination data and the examiner / approver list from the approver terminal PCb, the approval processing application 50 uses the preview unit 54 to preview the intermediate data. A bitmap image) is created and displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting input of approval (approval information) of the print approval target intermediate data and print setting change information is displayed. The approval processing application 50 displays the examination data sent from the examiner terminal PCb in the print approval dialog.

  In this case, the approval processing application 50 of the approver terminal PCc approves the printing by checking the approver of the approver terminal PCc by checking the intermediate data preview displayed on the display and the examination data as the examination result of the examiner terminal PCb. Since the print setting is not changed, the intermediate data processing unit 57 acquires only the intermediate data, and the intermediate data is converted into print data by the graphic unit 59 (Sb4). The print data is sent to the spooler 61 and the port monitor 62. To the printer Pr (Sb5).

  Further, the approval processing application 50 acquires approval information and transmits an approval notification to the printer terminal PCa via the network NW (Sb6).

  When an approval notification is sent from the approver terminal PCc, the printer terminal PCa receives the approval notification via the port monitor 15, passes it to the spooler 14, and the spooler 14 passes it to the UI unit 21 to receive the UI. The unit 21 displays the approval notification received from the spooler 14 in a dialog box or the like and presents it to the printer who is the user.

  Then, when print data is sent from the approver terminal PCc, the printer Pr prints out an image based on the print data.

  Next, print data is sequentially sent from the printer terminal PCa to the two examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2, and printing is permitted without changing the print settings. Next, the approver terminal PCc also changes the print settings. The process in the case of printing approval will be described based on FIG. In FIG. 12, Sc1 to Sc8 indicate processing steps. When the print system 1 sequentially transmits print data from the printer terminal PCa to the examiner terminal PCb1 and the examiner terminal PCb2, and permits printing without changing the print settings, as shown in FIG. When the printer issues a document print instruction at the printer terminal PCa and the examiner / authorizer is set by the UI unit 21, the printer driver PCa converts the document into print data and inputs the settings. The examiner / approver list thus prepared is created by the examination / approval list creation unit 23 and attached to the print data, and the examiner / approver list is sent to the first (first) examiner terminal PCb1 of the examiner / approver list. Print data attached with an approver list (indicated as an examination approval list in FIG. 12) is transmitted (Sc1).

  When the examiner terminal PCb1 receives the print data attached with the examiner / approver list from the printer terminal PCa, the examination processing application 30 causes the preview unit 34 to preview the print data (bitmap image). ) And is displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting the user to input the print permission and print setting change information of the print examination target print data is displayed.

  If the examination processing application 30 of the examiner terminal PCb1 is permitted to print by the examiner of the examiner terminal PCb1, there is no change in the print setting in this case, so the examination processing unit 36 examines “OK” as the examination data. Data is created and passed to the graphic unit 37. The graphic unit 37 attaches the examination data and the examiner / approver list (examination approval list) sent from the printer terminal PCa to the print data (Sc2). Then, the print data attached with the examination data and the examiner / approver list is transmitted via the spooler 41 and the port monitor 42 to the next second examiner terminal Pcb2 described in the examiner / authorizer list. (Sc3).

  When the second examiner terminal PCb2 receives the print data attached with the examiner / approver list and the examination data from the examiner terminal PCb1, the examination processing application 30 uses the preview unit 34 to print the print data. A preview image (bitmap image) is created and displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting input of print permission and print setting change information of the print data to be printed is displayed. Further, the examination processing application 30 displays the examination data sent from the examiner terminal PCb1 on the print approval dialog.

  In this case, the examination processing application 30 of the examiner terminal PCb1 permits printing by checking the preview of the print data displayed on the display by the examiner of the examiner terminal PCb1 and the examination data as the examination result at the examiner terminal PCb1. Since there is no change in the print settings, the examination processing unit 36 creates examination data “OK” as examination data and passes it to the graphic part 37. The graphic part 37 is sent from the examination data and the examiner terminal PCb1. The reviewer / approver list (examination approval list) is attached to the print data (Sc4), and the examination data and the print data attached with the reviewer / approver list are sent via the spooler 41 and the port monitor 42. To the approver terminal PCc described in the approver / approver list (Sc5).

  When the approver terminal PCc receives the print data attached with the examination data and the examiner / approver list from the second examiner terminal PCb2, the approval processing application 50 uses the preview unit 54 to print the print data. A preview image (bitmap image) is created and displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting input of approval (approval information) of print data to be printed and print setting change information is displayed. . Further, the approval processing application 50 displays the examination data indicating the examination result at the examiner terminal PCb1 and the examiner terminal PCb2 sent from the examiner terminal PCb2 in the print approval dialog.

  When the approver processing application 50 of the approver terminal PCc approves printing by looking at the print data preview displayed on the approver terminal PCc and the examination data that is the examination result at the examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2, In this case, since there is no change in the print settings, the print data processing unit 58 acquires only the print data (Sc6), and transmits the print data from the graphic unit 59 to the printer Pr via the spooler 61 and the port monitor 62 (Sc7). ).

  The approval processing application 50 acquires approval information and transmits an approval notification to the printer terminal PCa via the network NW (Sc8).

  When an approval notification is sent from the approver terminal PCc, the printer terminal PCa receives the approval notification via the port monitor 15, passes it to the spooler 14, and the spooler 14 passes it to the UI unit 21 to receive the UI. The unit 21 displays the approval notification received from the spooler 14 in a dialog box or the like and presents it to the printer who is the user.

  Then, when print data is sent from the approver terminal PCc, the printer Pr prints out an image based on the print data (Sc9).

  Next, the print data is sequentially sent from the printer terminal PCa to the two examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2, and the print setting change process is performed by adding the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and the monochrome process and approving the print. Based on In FIG. 13, Sd1 to Sd9 indicate processing steps. When the print system 1 sequentially transmits print data from the printer terminal PCa to the examiner terminal PCb1 and the examiner terminal PCb2, and performs print permission with the change of the print setting, as shown in FIG. When the printer issues a document print instruction at the terminal PCa and the examiner / authorizer is set by the UI unit 21, the printer driver PC 13 converts the document into print data and the setting is input. The reviewer / approver list is created by the review / approval list creation unit 23 and attached to the print data, and the reviewer / approver list ( In FIG. 13, the print data attached with the examination approval list is transmitted (Sd1).

  When the examiner terminal PCb1 receives the print data attached with the examiner / approver list from the printer terminal PCa, the examination processing application 30 causes the preview unit 34 to preview the print data (bitmap image). ) And is displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting the user to input the print permission and print setting change information of the print examination target print data is displayed.

  In this case, the examination process application 30 of the second examiner terminal PCb2 specifies that the addition of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is specified in the print setting change information as the print setting change by the examiner of the examiner terminal PCb1 and printing is permitted. Since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added as the print setting change, the examination processing unit 36 creates examination data “OK” as the examination data on the condition that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added, and passes it to the graphic unit 37. The examination data and the examiner / approver list (examination / approval list) sent from the printer terminal PCa are attached to the print data (Sd2), and the print data is attached with the examination data and the examiner / approver list. Is transmitted to the next examiner terminal Pcb2 described in the examiner / approver list via the spooler 41 and the port monitor 42 (Sd3).

  When the examiner terminal PCb2 receives the print data attached with the examiner / approver list and the examination data from the examiner terminal PCb1, the examination processing application 30 causes the preview unit 34 to preview the print data ( Bitmap image) is created and displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog prompting input of print permission and print setting change information for the print data to be printed is displayed. Further, the examination processing application 30 displays the examination data sent from the examiner terminal PCb1 on the print approval dialog.

  The examination processing application 30 of the examiner terminal PCb1 looks at the preview of the print data displayed on the display by the examiner of the examiner terminal PCb1 and the examination data which is the examination result at the examiner terminal PCb1, and performs monochrome processing as a print setting change. If the print setting change information designates and approves the printing, in this case, since there is a monochrome process as the print setting change, the examination processing unit 36 obtains “OK” examination data as the examination data under the condition of the monochrome process. The examination data to be added is created and passed to the graphic unit 37. The graphic unit 37 attaches the examination data and the examiner / approver list (examination approval list) sent from the examiner terminal PCb1 to the print data. (Sd4), print data to which the examination data and the examiner / approver list are attached is sent to the spooler 41 and the port module. Via the data 42 is sent to the next approver terminal PCc listed in the examiner and approval list (Sd5).

  When the approver terminal PCc receives the print data attached with the examination data and the examiner / approver list from the second examiner terminal PCb2, the approval processing application 50 uses the preview unit 54 to print the print data. A preview image (bitmap image) is created and displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting input of approval (approval information) of print data to be printed and print setting change information is displayed. . Further, the approval processing application 50 displays the examination data indicating the examination result at the examiner terminal PCb1 and the examiner terminal PCb2 sent from the examiner terminal PCb2 in the print approval dialog.

  When the approver processing application 50 of the approver terminal PCc approves printing by looking at the print data preview displayed on the approver terminal PCc and the examination data that is the examination result at the examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2, In this case, since there are copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image addition and monochrome processing as print setting changes, the print data processing unit 58 performs print processing for performing image processing for adding a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to print data and image processing for converting to a monochrome image Data change processing is performed (Sd6), and print data is transmitted from the graphic unit 59 to the printer Pr via the spooler 61 and the port monitor 62 (Sd7).

  Further, the approval processing application 50 acquires the approval information and transmits an approval notification to the printer terminal PCa via the network NW (Sd8).

  When an approval notification is sent from the approver terminal PCc, the printer terminal PCa receives the approval notification via the port monitor 15, passes it to the spooler 14, and the spooler 14 passes it to the UI unit 21 to receive the UI. The unit 21 displays the approval notification received from the spooler 14 in a dialog box or the like and presents it to the printer who is the user.

  The printer Pr prints out an image based on the print data when the print data to which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added and monochrome processed is sent from the approver terminal PCc (Sd9).

  Next, in the case where the examination process is performed by the two examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2, the approval process is performed by the approver terminal PCc, and the confidential printing process for requesting the keyword input for the printing by the printer Pr is performed. Based on In FIG. 14, Se1 to Se10 indicate processing steps.

  In this case, the printer Pr has a confidential printing function for performing printing on condition that a predetermined keyword (printing permission information) given to the print data, for example, a user code is input. When print data to which a user code is assigned is received, the print data is printed on condition that the user code assigned to the print data is input from an input unit (input means) of the printer Pr. The examiner terminals PCb1, PCb2 and the approver terminal PCc are such that the examination processing application 30 and the approval processing application 50 have a confidential print designation function, and print data to which a user code is given from the printer terminal PCa. Alternatively, the intermediate data is sequentially sent to the next terminals PCb2, PCc and printer Pr.

  That is, when the printing system 1 performs a confidential printing process that requires a keyword input for printing on the printer Pr, as shown in FIG. 14, a printing instruction is issued by the printer at the printer terminal PCa. When the user code is input, the printer terminal PCa converts the document into print data by the printer driver 13 and adds the input user code to the print data. It transmits to terminal PCb1 (Se1).

  When the examiner terminal PCb1 receives print data to which the examiner / approver list and the user code are added from the printer terminal PCa, the examination processing application 30 causes the preview unit 34 to preview the print data ( Bitmap image) is created and displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog prompting input of print permission and print setting change information for the print data to be printed is displayed.

  The examination processing application 30 of the examiner terminal PCb1 specifies that the addition of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is specified in the print setting change information as the print setting change by the examiner of the examiner terminal PCb1, and printing is permitted in this case. Since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added as a change, the examination processing unit 36 creates examination data “OK” as the examination data on the condition that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added, and passes the examination data to the graphic unit 37. The data and the examiner / approver list (examination approval list) and user code sent from the printer terminal PCa are attached to the print data (Se2), and the examination data, the examiner / approver list and user code are attached. The next examiner terminal Pcb described in the examiner / approver list is sent to the print data via the spooler 41 and the port monitor 42. To send to the (Se3).

  When the examiner terminal PCb2 receives the print data attached with the examiner / approver list, the examination data, and the user code from the examiner terminal PCb1, the examination processing application 30 causes the preview unit 34 to transmit the print data. A preview image (bitmap image) is created and displayed on the display, and a print approval dialog for prompting input of print permission and print setting change information of the print data to be printed is displayed. Further, the examination processing application 30 displays the examination data sent from the examiner terminal PCb1 on the print approval dialog.

  The examination processing application 30 of the examiner terminal PCb1 looks at the preview of the print data displayed on the display by the examiner of the examiner terminal PCb1 and the examination data which is the examination result at the examiner terminal PCb1, and performs monochrome processing as a print setting change. In this case, since monochrome processing is performed as the print setting change, the examination processing unit 36 obtains “OK” examination data on the condition of monochrome processing as examination data. The examination data to be added is created and passed to the graphic unit 37. The graphic unit 37 prints the examination data, the examiner / approver list (examination approval list) and the user code sent from the examiner terminal PCb1. (Se4), printing with the screening data, reviewer / approver list, and user code attached The chromatography data via the spooler 41 and the port monitor 42 transmits the next approver terminal PCc listed in the examiner and approval list (Se5).

  When the approver terminal PCc receives the examination data, the examiner / approver list, and the print data attached with the user code from the second examiner terminal PCb2, the approver terminal, the examiner / approver list, The print data provided with the user code is stored in the data storage unit 53, and the approval processing application 50 creates a preview image (bitmap image) of the print data in the preview unit 54 and displays it on the display. A print approval dialog for prompting input of approval (approval information) of print approval of the print data to be printed and print setting change information is displayed. Further, the approval processing application 50 displays the examination data indicating the examination result at the examiner terminal PCb1 and the examiner terminal PCb2 sent from the examiner terminal PCb2 in the print approval dialog.

  When the approver processing application 50 of the approver terminal PCc approves printing by looking at the print data preview displayed on the approver terminal PCc and the examination data that is the examination result at the examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2, In this case, since there are copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image addition and monochrome processing as print setting changes, the print data processing unit 58 performs print processing for performing image processing for adding a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to print data and image processing for converting to a monochrome image. A data change process is performed, a user code is attached (Se6), and print data to which the user code is attached is transmitted from the graphic unit 59 to the printer Pr via the spooler 61 and the port monitor 62 (Se7).

  Further, the approval processing application 50 acquires the approval information and transmits an approval notification to the printer terminal PCa via the network NW (Se8).

  When an approval notification is sent from the approver terminal PCc, the printer terminal PCa receives the approval notification via the port monitor 15, passes it to the spooler 14, and the spooler 14 passes it to the UI unit 21 to receive the UI. The unit 21 displays the approval notification received from the spooler 14 in a dialog box or the like and presents it to the printer who is the user.

  Then, the printer Pr determines that confidential printing is designated when print data to which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added and monochrome processed and the user code is attached is sent from the approver terminal PCc. The print data is stored in a hard disk (HDD) or the like, waits for a user code to be input from the operation unit of the printer Pr, and when the user code is input, the input user code is converted into print data. Judge whether it matches with the assigned user code. When the user codes match, the printer Pr determines that an appropriate user code has been input (Se9), and prints the stored print data (Se10).

  In the above description, the print data to which the user code is assigned is sequentially transmitted from the printer terminal PCa to the examiner terminals PCb1, PCb2 and the approver terminal PCc, and the examiner terminals PCb1, PCb2 add the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. Although the case where the print setting change of the monochrome processing is performed and transmitted to the printer Pr has been described, the present invention is not limited to the case where the print setting is changed, and similarly, when the print setting is transmitted to the printer Pr without changing the print setting, Similarly to the above, the print code to which the user code is added is transmitted to the printer Pr. The examiner terminals PCb1, PCb2, and the approver terminal PCc also finally transmit the intermediate data to the approver terminal PCc even when intermediate data to which the user code is added is transmitted from the printer terminal PCa. Then, the print data is converted into the print data having the necessary print setting change, and the print data with the user code added is generated and transmitted to the printer Pr.

  As described above, in the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2 and the approver terminal PCc sequentially display the print data from the printer terminal PCa or the print target data of the intermediate data, and permit printing. When the approval / disapproval is examined and approved, and the print is finally approved by the approver terminal PCc, the approver terminal PCc generates print data from the print target data and transmits it to the printer Pr. And printing based on the print data.

  Accordingly, whether or not printing of data to be printed from the printer terminal PCa such as a computer is sequentially reviewed and approved by the reviewer terminals PCb1 and PCb2 and the approver terminal PCc managed by the reviewer such as the manager or the approver. Thus, it is possible to perform more appropriate examination / approval for the printing of the print target data while reducing the individual burden compared to the case where the burden of examination of printing suitability is performed by only one approver terminal PCc. Can be secured appropriately and easily.

  Further, the printing system 1 of the present embodiment sequentially examines data to be printed from the printer terminal PCa at the plurality of examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2, and transmits the data to the approver terminal PCc. The plurality of examiner terminals PCb1, The PCb 2 sequentially examines whether printing of the print target data is permitted or not, generates the examination data indicating the examination result in each examination processing unit 36, and adds the examination data to the print target data. The second and subsequent examiner terminals PCb2 display the examination data sent from the examiner terminal PCb1 before the examiner terminal PCb2 on the display. Then, the last examiner terminal PCb2 transmits the print target data to which the examination data is added to the approver terminal PCc.

  Therefore, it is possible to examine and approve print target data via a plurality of examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2 and the approver terminal PCc, and further reduce the burden of examination on the approver terminal PCc, It is possible to perform more appropriate examination and approval for data printing, and it is possible to ensure data confidentiality more appropriately and easily.

  Furthermore, in the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the printer terminal PCa uses the examiner / approver list, which is examination route data indicating the examination route of the examiner terminals PCb1, PCb2, and the approver terminal PCc. Created by the creating unit 23, adds the created examiner / approver list to the print target data, and transmits it to the examiner terminal PCb1 at the head of the examiner / approver list. All the examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb1 in the list transmit the data to be printed with the examiner / approver list added to the next examiner terminal PCb2 based on the examiner / approver list, and sequentially perform the examination. Is going.

  Therefore, it is possible to print by performing the examination and approval in the examination order intended by the print requester, more appropriate examination and approval for the printing of the data to be printed, and more confidentiality of the data. It can be secured easily.

  The printing system 1 according to the present embodiment displays an input screen for changing print setting information when the examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2 permit printing of print target data on the display by the UI unit 35. When the change information is input, the input change information is added to the print target data and transmitted to the next examiner terminal PCb2 or the approver terminal PCc, and the approver terminal PCc uses the UI unit 55 to transmit the change information. The display of the print setting change information when the printing of the print target data sent from the examiner terminal PCb is permitted is displayed on the display. When the change information is input, the intermediate data processing unit 57 or After the print data processing unit 58 performs data processing based on the print target data and the change information, the graphic unit 59 generates print data.

  Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately control the print output form of data to be printed from the printer terminal PCa such as a computer in the examination process at the examiner terminals PCb1 and PCb2 and the approval process at the approver terminal PCc. Can be secured more appropriately.

  Furthermore, the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes, as print setting change information when printing of print target data is permitted, print condition change instruction information, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern addition instruction information, image composition instruction information, and a plurality of the print targets. One or more pieces of data composition instruction information are input.

  Therefore, the print output form of the print target data from the printer terminal PCa such as a computer can be appropriately regulated by the approver such as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern and the image composition, and the confidentiality of the data can be more appropriately ensured. .

  The printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the printer Pr includes a user code as a predetermined keyword (print permission information) necessary for permitting print output of the print data, Until the code is input, the confidential print function processing for prohibiting the print output of the print data is performed.

  Therefore, it is possible to further ensure data confidentiality by making the data printing more appropriate.

  In the printing system 1 of this embodiment, when the user code is included in the print target data from the printer terminal PCa, the examination server terminals PCb1 and PCb2 sequentially send the print target data including the user code. When the user code is included in the print target data from the printer terminal PCa, the approver terminal PCc generates print data including the user code and transmits it to the printer Pr.

  Therefore, the confidential printing function in data printing can be appropriately ensured, and the data confidentiality can be further ensured.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be used in a printing system that requests examination / approval appropriate for printing on a printing apparatus such as a printer for data from a terminal such as a computer.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The figure which shows the principal part of the software structure of the printer terminal of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the examiner and the approver list created by the examination and approval list creation part of FIG. The figure which shows the principal part of the software structure of the examiner terminal of FIG. The figure which shows the data format produced | generated with the examiner terminal of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the examination data produced | generated by the examiner terminal of FIG. The figure which shows the principal part of the software structure of the approver terminal of FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a print examination process by examination process software of the examiner terminal in FIG. 4. 8 is a flowchart showing print approval processing by an approval processing application of the approver terminal of FIG. Explanatory drawing of a print examination / approval process in the case where print data is sequentially sent from a printer terminal to an examiner terminal and an approver terminal and printing is permitted / approved without changing print settings. Explanatory drawing of the print examination / approval process in the case where intermediate data is sequentially sent from the printer terminal to the examiner terminal and the approver terminal and printing is permitted / approved without changing the print settings. Explanatory drawing of the print examination / approval process when print data is sequentially sent from the printer terminal to the two examiner terminals and the approver terminal and printing is permitted / approved without changing the print settings. Explanatory drawing of the print examination / approval process in the case where print data is sequentially sent from the printer terminal to two examiner terminals and the approver terminal and printing is permitted / approved on the condition that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image addition and the monochrome process are performed. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of print examination / approval processing when performing confidential printing processing that requests keyword input for printing by a printer. The principal part block block diagram of the conventional printing system.

Explanation of symbols

1 printing system NW network PCa printer terminal PCb1, PCb2 examiner terminal PCc approver terminal Pr printer 11 application 12 GDI
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Printer driver 14 Spooler 15 Port monitor 21 UI part 22 Graphic part 23 Examination / approval list creation part 30 Examination processing application 31 Control part 32 Data acquisition part 33 Data storage part 34 Preview part 35 UI part 36 Examination processing part 37 Graphic part 38 Review notification unit 41 Spooler 42 Port monitor 50 Approval processing application 51 Control unit 52 Data acquisition unit 53 Data storage unit 54 Preview unit 55 UI unit 56 Approval processing unit 57 Intermediate data processing unit 58 Print data processing unit 59 Graphic unit 60 Approval notification unit 61 Spooler 62 Port monitor

Claims (7)

  When print data or intermediate data is sent as print target data in the order from the print request terminal to the print examination terminal and print approval terminal, and the print examination terminal and the print approval terminal both permit printing of the print target data, the print A printing system in which an approval terminal converts the print target data into print data suitable for a printing apparatus as a printing destination as necessary, transmits the print data to the printing apparatus, and prints based on the print data by the printing apparatus. The print examination terminal displays a display data conversion means for converting the print target data into displayable display data, and a screen for prompting selection of permission / non-permission of printing of the display data and the print target data. Means for inputting at least an examination result indicating whether printing of the print target data is permitted or not according to the display on the display means; Is entered, examination data generation means for generating examination data indicating the examination results, and when examination results for printing permission are inputted from the input means, the examination data generated by the examination data generation means is printed. Control means for transmitting the print target data to which the examination data is added to the target data, to the print approval terminal, and the print approval terminal converts the print target data into display data that can be displayed. Display data conversion means, display means for displaying a screen for prompting selection of permission / non-permission of printing of the display data, the examination data, and the print target data, and at least the print target according to the display of the display means An input means for inputting a result of approval / non-permission of printing of data, a print data generation means for generating print data interpretable by the printing apparatus from the print target data, and the input And a control unit that causes the print data generation unit to generate the print data from the print target data and transmit the print data to the printing apparatus when a print permission approval result is input from the unit. Printing system.   The printing system sequentially examines the print target data from the print requesting terminal at a plurality of print examination terminals and transmits the print target data to the print approval terminal. The plurality of print examination terminals print the print target data. Permit / non-permit screening is performed in sequence, the screening data generation means generates the screening data indicating the screening result, and adds the screening data to the print target data to the next print target terminal. The second and subsequent print examination terminals display the examination data sent from the print examination terminal before the print examination terminal on the display means, and the last print examination terminal displays the examination data. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print target data to which is added is transmitted to the print approval terminal.   The print requesting terminal includes examination route data creating means for creating examination route data for instructing examination routes of the print examination terminal and the print approval terminal, and the examination route data created by the examination route data creating means It is added to the print target data and transmitted to the print examination terminal at the head of the examination route data, and all the print examination terminals of the examination route data are sent to the next print examination terminal based on the examination route data. 3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print target data to which the examination route data is added is transmitted to perform examination sequentially.   The print examination terminal also displays an input screen for print setting change information when the display means permits printing of the print target data, and the control means receives the change information from the input means. Then, the change information is added to the print target data and transmitted to the next print examination terminal or the print approval terminal. The print approval terminal receives the display means from the print examination terminal. An input screen for print setting change information when printing of the print target data is permitted is also displayed, and the print data generation means is input from the change information from the print examination terminal and / or from the input means. 4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data is generated based on the change information and the print target data.   The input unit of the print examination terminal and the input unit of the print approval terminal include, as the change information, print condition change instruction information, tint block addition instruction information, image composition instruction information, and a plurality of print target data composition instructions The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one or more pieces of information are input.   When the print data includes predetermined print permission information necessary for permitting print output of the print data, the printing apparatus prints the print data until the print permission information is input from a predetermined input unit. 6. A printing system according to claim 1, wherein printing output of data is prohibited.   When the print permission information is added to the received print target data, the print review terminal adds the print target data to the next print review terminal or the print approval terminal with the print permission information added. When the print permission information is added to the received print target data, the print approval terminal generates the print data to which the print permission information is added, and prints the print permission information. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the printing system is transmitted to the apparatus.

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