JP4821538B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of mounting a portable recording medium.

  The hard disk (HDD / storage device) attached to the printing apparatus stores print data and user information supplied from the host device, and it is necessary to ensure security. For this reason, in the conventional printing apparatus, the print data is encrypted and stored in the hard disk, and the personal authentication is performed to output the print data from the hard disk.

Patent Document 1 is a system that reduces the risk of security leakage of print data stored in a hard disk, stores encrypted print data in a hard disk, decrypts the print data after personal authentication, and prints it thereafter. In this configuration, print data is erased.
JP 2006-146665 A

  However, the security system of the conventional printing apparatus has the following problems. That is, when printing data is read from a hard disk (HDD), it is necessary to perform password input, fingerprint authentication, biometric authentication, and the like. For example, in password authentication, the printer cannot be used if the password is forgotten. In fingerprint authentication and biometric authentication, devices such as fingerprint detection and vein detection are required.

In addition, when encrypting print data, it is necessary to perform encryption at the time of writing the print data and to perform a decryption process at the time of reading, which takes time.
The present invention provides a printing apparatus that does not require authentication processing such as a password and does not require processing time for encryption and decryption in order to ensure the security of a hard disk (storage device).

According to the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus having a mounting unit for mounting a portable recording medium, wherein the printing apparatus includes a storage unit for storing a print file and link information unique to the printing apparatus, and a mounting unit. When the portable recording medium is attached, it is identified whether the link information is stored. If the link information is not stored, the link information is written to the portable recording medium and is different from the link information stored in the storage means. Write control means for writing the link information stored in the storage means in a storage area different from the storage area in which the registered link information is stored when the registered link information is stored in the portable recording medium And the link information stored in the mounted portable recording medium and the link information stored in the storage means are detected and matched. Only be achieved by providing a printing apparatus and a read control means for reading the print file from the storage means when.

  With this configuration, it is possible to ensure the security of the storage unit (hard disk (HDD)) of the printing apparatus and the security of the print file stored in the storage unit without performing authentication processing such as a password. Can do.

  The information indicating the storage area of the print file includes, for example, file name information, creation date information, and address information of the storage means. The link information is, for example, a printing apparatus number and format date information.

  Further, the address information of the storage means is, for example, information on the cluster number in the storage means, and the portable recording medium stores a plurality of pieces of link information corresponding to a plurality of printing apparatuses, for example.

  According to the present invention, the security of the hard disk (HDD) of the printing apparatus can be ensured without performing authentication processing such as a password, and the security of the print file stored in the hard disk can be ensured.

  Even when the print file is not encrypted, the security of the hard disk can be ensured and the print processing speed can be improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an external configuration of a multifunction peripheral (hereinafter referred to as MFP (multifunction printer / multifunction printer)) 1 used in this example. In the figure, a display operation unit (operation panel) 2 is located at the upper front of the MFP 1 and gives various setting instructions such as setting of the number of prints, density setting, size setting and the like. In addition, a plurality of stages of paper feed cassettes 3 are provided in the lower front portion of the MFP 1, and the paper feed cassettes 3 can be pulled out to the front with corresponding handles. The MFP 1 is also provided with a paper discharge unit 4, and a sheet (recording medium) that has been fed from the paper feed cassette 3 and on which an image has been formed is output to the paper discharge unit 4. In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a scanner unit.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the MFP 1. In FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes the scanner unit 5, the MFP control unit 6, and the printer unit 7. The scanner unit 5 includes a reading mechanism unit 5 a, and the document image placed on the document table is read by driving the reading mechanism unit 5 a, and document data is transmitted to the MFP control unit 6.

  The MFP control unit 6 includes an MFP main unit 8, a reading mechanism control unit 9, a display operation control unit 10, an RTC (date / time) control unit 11, a FAX communication control unit 12, a LAN communication control unit 13, and an Internet communication control unit 14. , A storage device control unit 15, and a storage device unit (HDD) 16.

The reading mechanism control unit 9 controls the mechanism of the reading mechanism unit 5 a provided in the scanner unit 5, and the document data read by the scanner unit 5 is sent to the MFP control unit 6.
The display operation control unit 10 outputs an operation signal based on an operation of a key or the like provided in the display operation unit 2 to the MFP main unit 8. The display data output from the MFP main unit 8 is displayed on the display operation unit 2. Further, the storage device control unit 15 performs data writing to the storage device unit (HDD) 16 and reading control of data stored in the storage device unit (HDD) 16. Here, the storage unit (HDD) 16 stores, for example, a print program, and also stores a print file, link information to a portable recording medium, which will be described later, and the like.

  The LAN communication control unit 13 is an interface for connecting the MFP 1 used in this example to the LAN, and the FAX communication control unit 12 supplies facsimile data to the MFP main unit 8. Further, the RTC (date / time) control unit 11 supplies date information when information is written from the portable recording medium.

  On the other hand, the printer unit 7 includes a printer control unit 17 and a printing mechanism unit 18. The printer unit 7 performs a printing process based on the control process of the printer control unit 17, and the printing result is output to the paper discharge unit 4. The printing mechanism unit 18 includes a print head and other mechanism units such as an image forming unit, a developing unit, and a transfer unit.

  Further, the MFP 1 of this example is provided with a connector 21 for connecting the external storage device 20, and the external storage device 20 is connected to the storage device control unit 15 via the connector 21. In the following description, in this example, the external storage device 20 will be described as an example of a USB memory.

The MFP 1 in this example is connected to a client PC (personal computer) 22 via a LAN.
FIG. 4 shows a general (conventional) data structure of a hard disk (HDD). The hard disk is divided into clusters, which are logical units, and one or a plurality of clusters are assigned according to the size of the print data, and a print file is recorded. The use state of the cluster is recorded in the cluster information. For example, the use state of n clusters (clusters 0 to n-1) is recorded by a flag indicating “unused” or “in use”. When creating a print file, the cluster information is referred to, and the print file is written in an “unused” cluster.

  Also, the name and attribute of the print file, the creation date, and the cluster information are recorded in the file information format for each print file, and each file information is managed as directory information. Note that specific print data (print file) is recorded in another area of the hard disk.

On the other hand, FIG. 1 shows the data structure of the storage device unit (HDD) 16 of this example.
As shown in the figure, the hard disk (HDD) 16 includes a cluster information area 24, a storage device information area 25, and a file data area 26.

  In the cluster information area 24, for example, the usage statuses of n clusters (clusters 0 to n-1) are recorded as “unused” or “in use”. Further, in the storage device information area 25, information for linking with the USB memory 20 is stored, and specifically, information on the printing device number and the format date is stored. The printing apparatus number is recorded as a serial number of the printing apparatus, for example, and the format date information is acquired from the RTC (date / time) control unit 11. In the file data area 26, specific print data (file data) is recorded as described above.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration of the USB memory 20.
The USB memory 20 includes a storage device management directory 30 and other data or unused area 31. Note that the USB memory 20 of this example stores information of the printing apparatus, is used for general purposes, and can store various other information. Such other information is also included in the other data.

In consideration of the case where the user uses a plurality of printing devices, a printing device directory 32 can be constructed for each printing device to be used in the storage device management directory 30. Further, file information directories of files 0 to n are set in each printing device directory, and storage device information 33 and file information 34 are recorded in each file information directory.

Here, the storage device information 33 corresponds to the storage device information shown in FIG. 1 and links the storage device unit (HDD) 16 and the storage information of the USB memory 20. In this example, the storage device information 33 includes information on a printing device number and a format date. On the other hand, the file information 34 stores file name, attribute information, creation date, next file information, number of used clusters, and used cluster number. The processing operation of this example will be described below.

  First, a process for writing information in the USB memory 20 to the storage device (HDD) 16 in the MFP 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining this process, and is executed in accordance with the control of the storage device control unit 15 described above.

  First, the storage device control unit 15 determines whether the storage device unit (HDD) 16 is installed in the MFP 1 and the USB memory 20 is attached to the MFP 1 (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). Here, when the storage device (HDD) 16 is not installed or the USB memory 20 is not attached (S1 is No), the writing process is not performed. On the other hand, if both devices are installed or installed (S1 is Yes), it is next determined whether or not the storage device management directory 30 exists in the USB memory 20 (S2).

  This processing is performed by the storage device control unit 15 searching the USB memory 20, and when the storage device management directory 30 is not established in the USB memory 20 (S2 is No), the storage device management directory is stored in the USB memory 20. 30 is created (S3).

Next, it is determined whether the same number as the printing device number is registered in the storage device management directory 30 in the USB memory 20 (S4). In this process, the storage device information of the MFP 1 is read, and it is determined whether a printing device having the same number as the printing device number exists in the storage device management directory 30 in the USB memory 20. If the same number is not registered (S4 is No), a new printing device management directory 32 is created in the storage device management directory 30 of the USB memory 20 (S5).

On the other hand, if the same number is registered (S4 is Yes), it is further determined whether or not the format date is the same as the recording in the USB memory 20 (S6). Also in this process, the storage device information of the MFP 1 is read and it is determined whether the information is the same date as the format date. If the format dates are not the same (S6 is No), the corresponding printing device management directory in the USB memory 20 is deleted, and the storage device information in the storage device unit (HDD) 16 is copied (S7).

  On the other hand, if the format date is the same as that recorded in the USB memory 20 (S6 is Yes), the cluster information 24 is checked, a necessary number of unused clusters are searched and changed to used (S8). Then, the print data is written in the area of the cluster number set as used (S9). For example, when the clusters n-3 and n-2 are unused and these two clusters are selected from the print data capacity, the areas of the clusters n-3 and n-2 in the cluster information 24 are changed to used. Further, print data is written in the area indicated by the two cluster numbers.

  Next, new file information is registered in the printing device management directory 32 of the USB memory 20, and the cluster number in which the print data is written is recorded (S10). By this process, a new information file directory is created in the printing device management directory 32 of the USB memory 20, and the file name, attribute information, creation date, next file information, number of clusters used, and cluster number used. Is recorded.

Next, processing for reading information from the storage device unit (HDD) 16 in the MFP 1 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
Also in this reading process, it is first determined whether the storage device (HDD) 16 is attached to the MFP 1 and the USB memory 20 is attached to the MFP 1 (step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1). Here, when the storage device (HDD) 16 is attached and the USB memory 20 is not attached (ST1 is No), the reading process is not performed.

  On the other hand, when the storage unit (HDD) 16 is installed in the MFP 1 and the USB memory 20 is installed in the MFP 1 (ST1 is Yes), the above-described storage device management directory 30 exists in the USB memory 20 next. Judgment is made (ST2).

  Here, when the storage device management directory 30 does not exist (ST2 is No), the reading process is not performed. This process is a process of reading information from the hard disk (HDD). If the storage device management directory 30 does not exist in the USB memory 20, this process is not performed.

Next, the storage device management directory 30 is searched to determine whether the same number as the printing device number is registered (ST3). This process is also the same as described above, and the storage device information of the MFP 1 is read, and it is determined whether or not a printing device having the same number as the printing device number exists in the storage device management directory 30 in the USB memory 20. Here, when the same number as the printing apparatus number is not registered (No in ST3), the reading process is not performed.

  Next, it is determined whether the format date is the same as that recorded in the USB memory 20 (ST4). Here, if the format date is not the same as the recording in the USB memory 20 (ST4 is No), the reading process is not performed.

  On the other hand, if the format dates are the same (ST4 is Yes), it is determined whether or not the corresponding file exists (ST5). If the corresponding file does not exist (ST5 is No), the read process is not performed and the corresponding file is If it exists (ST5 is Yes), the corresponding file information is searched in the printing device management directory 32 of the USB memory 20, and the file data is read according to the recorded cluster number string (ST6).

  By processing as described above, the USB memory 20 stores information that can be used only by the user who uses the USB memory 20, and a user who does not have the USB memory 20 accesses the storage unit (HDD) 16 to access it. Also, the MFP 1 cannot be used.

Accordingly, it is possible to ensure the security of the storage device unit (HDD) 16 without performing authentication of a password or the like and without performing encryption processing of the print file.
In the description of this example, an example in which the USB memory 20 is used as an external storage device has been described. It is good also as a structure.

  In this example, the MFP has been described as the printing apparatus. However, the MFP is not necessarily a multifunction machine, and may be a normal printer apparatus.

This is a specific configuration of a hard disk (HDD). 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of a multifunction machine. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an MFP 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the general data structure of a memory | storage device part (HDD). It is a figure which shows the data structure of USB memory. It is a figure explaining the processing operation of this example, and is a flowchart explaining the process which writes the information of USB memory in a memory | storage device part (HDD). It is a figure explaining the processing operation of this example, and is a flowchart explaining the process which reads data from a memory | storage device part (HDD) to USB memory.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Machine 2 ... Display / Operation Unit (Operation Panel)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Paper feed cassette 4 ... Paper discharge part 5 ... Scanner part 6 ... MFP control part 8 ... MFP main part 9 ... Reading mechanism control part 10 ... Display operation control part 11 ..RTC (date / time) control unit 12 ..FAX communication control unit 13 ..LAN communication control unit 14 ..Internet communication control unit 15 ..storage device control unit 16 ..storage device unit (HDD)
17. Printer controller 18 Printing mechanism 20 USB memory 21 Client PC
24. Cluster information area 25 Storage device information area 26 File data area 30 Storage device management directory 31 Other data or unused area 32 Printing device management directory 33 Storage device information 34 ..File information

Claims (6)

In a printing apparatus having mounting means for mounting a portable recording medium,
The printing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores a print file and link information unique to the printing apparatus;
When the portable recording medium is attached to the attachment means, it is identified whether the link information is stored, and if not, the link information is written to the portable recording medium,
When registered link information different from the link information stored in the storage means is stored in the portable recording medium, the storage means is stored in a storage area different from the storage area in which the registered link information is stored. Write control means for writing the link information stored by
Read control means for detecting the coincidence between the link information stored in the mounted portable recording medium and the link information stored in the storage means, and reading the print file from the storage means only when they match.
Printing apparatus characterized by having a. In the case where a plurality of pieces of link information are stored in the portable recording medium, the read control unit detects that any one of the link information matches the link information stored in the storage unit, and stores the storage unit The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing file is read from the printing apparatus. The portable recording medium includes information indicating a print file storage area in the storage unit of the printing apparatus corresponding to the stored link information, and the read control unit is stored in the specified storage area. printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading the print file. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the information indicating the storage area of the print file includes file name information, creation date information, and address information of the storage means. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the address information of the storage means is information on a cluster number in the storage means. The link information, the printing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the printing device unique serial number and said storage means is a format date information indicating a formatted date.