# US 11,113,013 B2 · Image forming apparatus for executing secure print job

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- Number: US 11,113,013 B2
- Document ID: US11113013B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/905,315
- Filed: 2020-06-18
- Published: 2020-12-31
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-26
- Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Chigusa Tanaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11113013B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/1222: {Increasing security of the print job}
- G06F 3/1238: {Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs}
- G06F 3/1285: {Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server}
- G06F 3/1296: {Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling}
- G06F 3/1218: {Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources}
- G06F 3/1235: {caused by end of consumables, e.g. paper, ink, toner}
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a printing device, a controller that controls the printing device, and a print job management unit that executes a secure print job by the controller based on a job request from a user. The controller executes calibration of the printing device when the controller detects that a predetermined parameter measured from a previous calibration exceeds a predetermined value. The print job management unit, upon receiving a job request for the secure print job, determines whether or not a difference between a current value of the predetermined parameter and the predetermined value is less than a predetermined threshold, and if the difference is less than the predetermined threshold, the print job management unit cancels the secure print job.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
a printing device;
a controller that controls the printing device; and
a print job management unit that executes a secure print job by the controller based on a job request from a user,
wherein the controller executes calibration of the printing device when the controller detects that a predetermined parameter measured from a previous calibration exceeds a predetermined value, and
wherein the print job management unit, upon receiving a job request for the secure print job, determines whether or not a difference between a current value of the predetermined parameter and the predetermined value is less than a predetermined threshold, and if the difference is less than the predetermined threshold, the print job management unit determines whether to cancel the secure print job in accordance with a predetermined setting data that indicates whether or not the user selects job execution permission.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein when the difference is not less than the predetermined threshold, the print job management unit determines whether or not a secure print job of a different user other than the user is being executed or waiting, and
wherein when the print job management unit determines that there is no secure print job of the different user being executed or waiting, if there is a resource allowing execution of all print jobs being executed or waiting, the print job management unit executes the secure print job, and if there is no resource allowing execution of all the print jobs being executed or waiting, the print job management unit rejects the secure print job.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein when the difference is not less than the predetermined threshold and the print job management unit determines that there is no secure print job of the different user being executed or waiting, if there is no resource allowing execution of all the print jobs being executed or waiting, the print job management unit inquires of the user whether the secure print job is to be executed, and
wherein the print job management unit cancels the secure print job when execution of the secure print job is rejected by the user, and executes the secure print job when the execution of the secure print job is permitted by the user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein when the difference is not less than the predetermined threshold and the print job management unit determines that there is the secure print job of the different user being executed or waiting, the print job management unit inquires of the user whether the secure print job is to be executed, and
wherein the print job management unit cancels the secure print job when execution of the secure print job is rejected by the user, and executes the secure print job when the execution of the secure print job is permitted by the user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the predetermined setting data indicates that the user does not select whether or not to execute the job, the print job management unit cancels the secure print job, and in a case where the predetermined setting data indicates that the user selects whether or not to execute the job, the print job management unit inquires of the user whether the secure print job is to be executed, to determine whether to execute or cancel the secure print job.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein in a case where the print job management unit inquires of the user whether the secure print job is to be executed, the print job management unit cancels the secure print job when execution of the secure print job is rejected by the user, and executes the secure print job when the execution of the secure print job is permitted by the user.