Image formation apparatus and method

• US 20030107756A1
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Igarashi, Yasuyuki, Dan, Koji, Fujita, Takeshi, Sawada, Nozomi, Inamoto, Mihoko
• Granted Patent: US 7,230,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing

Abstract

In an image formation apparatus that prints out print data to a sheet, a print data storage unit stores the print data, a printing unit conducts print processing to the print data stored in the print data storage unit, a password acquisition unit acquires a password for the print data from an outside of the apparatus, and a printing control unit allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the print data under condition that the password acquisition unit acquires the password for the print data.

Claims

1. An image formation apparatus comprising:

a print data storage unit that stores print data;

a printing unit that conducts print processing to the print data stored in the print data storage unit;

a password acquisition unit that acquires a password for the print data from an outside of the apparatus; and

a printing control unit that allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the print data under condition that the password acquisition unit acquires the password for the print data.

2. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a print data FIFO queue that stores the print data to be processed by the printing unit;

an entry unit that makes an entry of the print data stored in the print data storage unit, in the print data FIFO queue; and

an output control unit that outputs an instruction for a request of the password for the print data stored at a top of the print data FIFO queue, wherein

the printing control unit allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the print data first entered in the print data FIFO queue under condition that the output control unit acquires the password for the print data stored at the top of the print data FIFO queue.

3. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a condition reception unit that receives designation as to whether the password for the print data as a target to be printed needs to be acquired as a condition for starting the print processing of the printing unit, wherein

the printing control unit allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the print data under condition that the password for the print data is acquired when the condition reception unit receives the designation to require acquisition of the password for the print data.

4. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a time calculation unit that calculates a waiting time required since the entry unit makes an entry of the print data in the print data FIFO queue until the printing unit starts the print processing of the print data, wherein

the printing control unit allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the print data under condition that the password for the print data is acquired if the waiting time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time.

5. The image formation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the time calculation unit calculates a waiting time for a specified print data based on a number of sheets to which the print data is output, the print data being entered in the print data FIFO queue prior to the specified print data among the print data stored in the print data FIFO queue.

6. The image formation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the time calculation unit calculates the waiting time for a specified print data based on a number of jobs of the print data entered in the print data FIFO queue prior to the specified print data among the print data stored in the print data FIFO queue.

7. The image formation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the time calculation unit calculates the waiting time for a specified print data based on a data amount of the print data entered in the print data FIFO queue prior to the specified print data among the print data stored in the print data FIFO queue.

8. The image formation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the time calculation unit calculates the waiting time for a specified print data based on a size of a sheet to which the print data is output, the print data being entered in the print data FIFO queue prior to the specified print data among the print data stored in the print data FIFO queue.

9. The image formation apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a threshold reception unit that receives designation of a threshold of the waiting time, wherein

the printing control unit allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the print data under condition that the password for the print data is acquired if the waiting time calculated by the time calculation unit exceeds the threshold of the waiting time received by the threshold reception unit.

10. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a time measurement unit that measures an actual passage time required since the print data is entered in the print data FIFO queue until the print data reaches the top of the print data FIFO queue, wherein

the printing control unit allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the print data under condition that the password for the print data is acquired if the time measured by the time measurement unit is equal to or longer than the predetermined time.

11. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the printing control unit allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the other print data, if the predetermined time passes while the printing unit does not acquire the password for print data to be printed next, under condition that a password for the other print data entered next to the print data in the print data FIFO queue is acquired.

12. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a print data deletion unit that deletes print data if the predetermined time passes while the password for the print data to be printed next is not acquired.

13. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the entry unit returns print data positioned at the top of the print data FIFO queue, to the print data storage unit if the predetermined time passes while the password for the print data to be printed next is not acquired.

14. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the printing control unit allows the printing unit to start the print processing of the print data under condition that the password already acquired by the password acquisition unit is invalidated if an error occurs in the print processing of the printing unit and that the printing unit acquires the password for the print data after recovery from the error.

15. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the entry unit returns at least the print data as an entry at the top of the print data FIFO queue, among the print data entered in the print data FIFO queue, to the print data storage unit if an error occurs in the print processing of the printing unit.

16. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a cancellation reception unit that receives designation to cancel the print processing of at least the print data as an entry at the top of the print data FIFO queue, among the print data stored in the print data FIFO queue, if an error occurs in the print processing of the printing unit, wherein

when receiving the designation to cancel the print processing of the print data, the cancellation reception unit deletes the print data from the print data FIFO queue.

17. An image formation method comprising steps of:

conducting print processing to print data stored in a print data storage unit that stores the print data;

acquiring a password for the print data from an outside; and

starting the print processing of the print data under condition that the password for the print data is acquired.