KR20040100540A - Control method of network printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for controlling a network printer receiving print data from a client is provided to reinforce security functionality and transmit information of a receiver outputting the print data to the client transmitting the print data. CONSTITUTION: The print data and sender data are received from the client(S10). The received print/sender data is stored(S11). Receiver data is inputted to the network printer(S12). The stored print/sender data are displayed(S14). In case that at least one is selected from the displayed print data, the selected print data is output(S16). As the receiver data matched with the receiver data inputted from a receiver database registering the receiver information is read, the read received data is transmitted to the client transmitting the output print data(S17).

Description

Control method of network printer {CONTROL METHOD OF NETWORK PRINTER}

The present invention relates to a control method of a network printer, and more particularly, to a control method of a network printer that allows a sender who has transmitted print data to receive information on any receiver that has output the transmitted print data. It is about.

In general, a printer is an office device connected to a computer and outputs a result on paper. The printer receives a document or image data created or edited by the computer as print data, and converts the print language into a print language suitable for a preset printing condition. It is a device that prints on paper using dyes such as ink and toner.

These printers have recently been used as a method of increasing work efficiency by connecting to a network and being shared by many users. In the following description, a printer connected to a network and provided to be shared by various users will be described as a network printer.

A printing system having a network printer is composed of a network printer, a plurality of clients requesting printing to a network printer such as a computer, and a network connecting the network printer and the client.

However, in the printing system having such a network printer, since a large number of users use the network printer, anyone can easily obtain output such as a document output through the network printer, which may cause a security problem. That is, the network printer outputs all the print data connected through the network, and there is a problem that any user may steal, copy, corrupt, or lose it.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control method of a network printer that can enhance security functions and transmit information on any recipient that outputs print data to a client that has transmitted print data.

1 is a control block diagram of a printing system according to the present invention,

2 is a control block diagram of a network printer according to the present invention;

3 is a control flowchart of a network printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

4 is a control flowchart of a network printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a control flowchart of a network printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

10: network printer 11: printer control unit

12: network interface unit 13: printer driver

14: memory 15: operation panel

16: display unit 20: network

30: client

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method of a network printer for receiving print data from at least one client through a network, the method comprising: receiving print data and sender data from the client; Storing the received print data and the sender data; Inputting receiver data into the network printer; Displaying the stored print data and the sender data; Outputting the selected print data when at least one of the displayed print data is selected; And reading the receiver data corresponding to the input receiver data from a receiver database in which information on at least one receiver is registered, and transmitting the read receiver data to a client transmitting the output print data. It is achieved by a method of controlling a network printer.

The at least one step of displaying the stored print data and the sender data and outputting the selected print data when at least one of the displayed print data is selected may include the input receiver data being the receiver. It is preferably run if it exists in the database.

The outputting of the selected print data may include storing output information including the output time and the number of outputs.

The transmitting of the read receiver data may include transmitting the output information to a client that has transmitted the output print data.

Here, the sender data and the receiver data each include information on an output class, and the outputting of the selected print data may include output class of the sender data whose output class of the input receiver data corresponds to the selected print data. It is preferable to output the selected print data only in the same or higher grade.

In addition, the sender data and the receiver data each include information on an output class, and the displaying of the stored print data and the sender data may have a sorting class equal to or lower than that of the input receiver data. It is preferable to display only print data corresponding to the sender data.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Printing system according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, at least one network printer 10, a plurality of clients 30, such as a computer for transmitting print data to the network printer 10, network printer 10 and a network 20 connecting the clients 30.

In the memory of the client 30, for example, a hard disk drive of a computer, a printer driver for converting data created by an application program such as a document creation program into print data that can be interpreted by the network printer 10 and transmitting the data to the network printer 10 is provided. It is installed. In addition, the printer driver is preferably provided to transmit the sender data, such as the IP address of the client 30 or the ID of the client 30 set in advance, together with the print data, whereby the network printer 10 to be described later. The receiver on the side can know the information about the sender who sent the print data stored in the network printer 10 in more detail.

The network 20 interconnects a plurality of clients 30 and a network printer 10, such as a local area network (LAN), to print and sender data transmitted from the client 30 to the network printer 10. And the receiver data to be described later transmitted from the network printer 10 to the client 30.

2 is a control block diagram of a network printer 10 according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the network printer 10 includes a network 20 interface unit 12 connected to a network 20, and a printer control unit 11 for overall control of the network printer 10 according to a preset program. ), An operation panel 15 provided with a plurality of operation buttons, a display unit 16 for receiving and outputting image signals from the printer control unit 11, a memory unit 14 storing receiver information data, And a printer driver 13 for outputting print data on a sheet of paper.

The network 20 interface unit 12 connects the network printer 10 to the network 20 to enable data communication with the client 30 connected to the network 20, a so-called "network card." "Or equivalent device, including a device which enables communication between the network printer 10 and the client 30, regardless of its name.

The operation panel 15 has a plurality of operation buttons, an operation button for the receiver to input the receiver information, and when the receiver presses the operation button, the key signal is applied to the printer control unit 11, the printer control unit 11 Controls each function of the network printer 10 in response to an applied key signal.

The display unit 16 displays information about an operating state of the printer according to the image signal applied from the printer control unit 11. In addition, the print data and the sender data input from the network 20 interface unit 12 and stored in the memory unit 14 are displayed by a predetermined step to be described later.

The memory unit 14 stores a plurality of receiver data. Here, the receiver data preferably includes information such as user ID (ID), password, name, etc. for authorizing the use of the network printer 10 to a specific user. In addition, the memory unit 14 stores print data and sender data received from each client 30 through the network 20 interface unit 12.

The control method of the network printer 10 according to the present invention by the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when a user of the client 30, that is, a sender, wants to output the document or image data created or edited through the application program of the client 30 to the network printer 10, a printer command of the application program is executed. The application program transmits the document or image data that the sender wants to output to the printer driver, and the printer driver converts the received document or image data into print data that can be interpreted by the network printer 10 and transmits it to the network 20. . At this time, the printer driver of the client 30 transmits sender data such as the IP address of the client 30 or a predetermined ID together with the print data.

Then, the interface unit 12 of the network printer 10 receives the print data and the sender data transmitted from the client 30 through the network 20 (S10), the printer control unit 11 receives the received print The data and the sender data are stored in the memory unit 14 (S11). Here, when print data and sender data are received from one client 30 or a plurality of clients 30, the received plurality of print data and sender data are kept in the state of being sequentially stored in the memory unit 14.

At this time, when a specific recipient inputs recipient data, for example, an ID and a password, to the network printer 10 through the operation panel 15 (S12), the printer control unit 11 and the recipient data previously registered in the recipient database. It is determined whether or not matching by comparing the input receiver data (S13).

Then, when the receiver data registered in advance in the receiver database and the input receiver data do not match, the printer control unit 11 displays an error message through the display unit 16 (S18). On the other hand, when the receiver data registered in advance in the receiver database and the input receiver data match, the printer control unit 11 displays the print data and the sender data stored in the memory unit 14 on the display unit 16 (S14). ). Here, the receiver selects the print data desired to be output from the print data and the sender data displayed on the display unit 16 (S15), and the printer control unit 11 outputs the print data selected by the receiver (S16).

Then, the printer control unit 11 reads the receiver data corresponding to the receiver data input through the operation panel 15 from the receiver database, and transmits the print data output by the printer driver 13 to the client 30. That is, the receiver data read from the receiver database is transmitted through the network 20 through the IP address included in the transmitter data (S17).

Meanwhile, a control method of the network printer 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same steps as the control method of the network printer 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and a description thereof will be omitted.

When the printer control unit 11 of the network printer 10 outputs the print data selected by the receiver, the printer unit 11 outputs the output information including information on the output time, the number of outputs, and the range of the output of all the print data. The data is stored in (14). Then, when the receiver data is transmitted to the client 30, the stored output information is transmitted together (S21). As a result, the sender of the print data can check not only the receiver but also the output information such as the output time, the number of prints, and the output range of the entire print data.

Meanwhile, a control method of the network printer 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same steps as the control method of the network printer 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The sender data and the receiver data of the network printer 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention further include information on an output class, and the printer control unit 11 at the step before outputting the print data selected by the receiver. In step S30, the selected print data is output only when the output class of the receiver is equal to or higher than the output class of the sender by comparing the output class of the receiver with the output class of the sender (S16). On the other hand, when the output class of the receiver is lower than the output class of the sender, the printer control unit 11 outputs an error message through the display unit 16 (S31). As a result, the print data received from the client 30 can be output only by a receiver having a security level of a certain level or higher, thereby improving the security of the network printer 10.

The network printer 10 according to the above-described embodiment is provided to display the stored print data and the sender data when the receiver data input by the specific receiver exists in the receiver database, but the stored print data and the sender data are displayed, If the receiver data input by the receiver does not exist in the receiver database, the output of the print data may be limited.

In addition, the network printer 10 according to the above-described embodiment is provided so that the print data selected by the receiver is not output when the output class of the receiver is lower than the output class of the sender, but the printer control unit 11 inputs the receiver data. If so, it may be arranged to display only print data and sender data of a grade that the receiver can output, that is, only print data and sender data received from the client 30 having an output grade that is lower or lower than the receiver's output grade. .

In this way, the step of receiving print data and sender data from the client 30, storing the received print data and sender data, inputting the receiver data, and a receiver to which the input receiver data is registered in advance. Displaying stored print data and sender data when present in a database; outputting selected print data when at least one of the displayed print data is selected; and recipient data corresponding to recipient data input from a recipient database. By providing a network printer 10 for performing the step of transmitting the read recipient data to the client 30 to send the print data output by reading the output, the security function is enhanced, to any recipient that output the print data Information about print data sent Sent to the client 30, it is possible to obtain information about the sender to the receiver has output the print data that they transmit.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a control method of a network printer which is enhanced in security and capable of transmitting information on an arbitrary receiver that outputs print data to a client that has transmitted print data.

Claims (6)

A control method of a network printer for receiving print data from at least one client through a network and printing the same, Receiving print data and sender data from the client; Storing the received print data and the sender data; Inputting receiver data into the network printer; Displaying the stored print data and the sender data; Outputting the selected print data when at least one of the displayed print data is selected; And reading the receiver data corresponding to the input receiver data from a receiver database in which information on at least one receiver is registered, and transmitting the read receiver data to a client transmitting the output print data. A control method for a network printer, characterized in that The method of claim 1, Displaying at least one of the stored print data and the sender data; and if at least one of the displayed print data is selected, outputting selected print data to the receiver database. A control method of a network printer, characterized in that executed when there is. The method of claim 1, And outputting the selected print data comprises storing output information including an output time and an output number of copies. The method of claim 2, And transmitting the read receiver data comprises transmitting the output information to a client that has transmitted the output print data. The method of claim 1, The sender data and the receiver data each include information on an output class, The outputting of the selected print data may include outputting the selected print data only when an output class of the input receiver data is the same as or higher than an output class of the sender data corresponding to the selected print data. How to control the printer. The method of claim 1, The sender data and the receiver data each include information on an output class, The displaying of the stored print data and the sender data may include displaying only print data corresponding to sender data having a sorting grade equal to or lower than an output class of the input receiver data.