Network-based image forming device and print secure method thereof

A print secure printing method for network-based image forming devices which is capable of storing in a storage unit files sent from at least one user terminal connected through networks, and printing the stored files, the secure printing method comprising the steps of:

• storing a secure file and a print-authorized user's information in the storage unit if the secure file having the print-authorized user's information set therein is sent from the user terminal;
• displaying a list of the files stored in the storage unit based on a display request signal which requests to display the stored files;
• if a file is selected from the displayed list of the files, determining whether the selected file is a protected file;
• displaying a message to request an input of user information if the selected file is the protected file;
• and
• performing printing of the selected file if the user information input in response to the message matches the print-authorized user's information set in the selected file.

A network-based image forming device for storing files sent from at least one user terminal connected through networks and printing the stored files, the network-based image forming device comprising:

• an interface unit for providing a communication interface with the user terminal;
• a storage unit for storing the files sent from the user terminal through the interface unit and printing authorized pages set in the print files;
• and
• a control unit for displaying a list of the files stored in the storage unit based on a display request signal which requests a display of the stored files, and, if a file is selected from the displayed list of the files, displaying a request message to request an input of an number of pages of requested printouts for the selected file, and, if the number of pages of requested printouts as input in response to the request message fall within a range of authorized printouts set in the selected file, printing the selected file according to the number of pages of requested printouts.

A secure printing method for network-based image forming devices which is capable of storing in a storage unit files sent from at least one user terminal connected through networks and printing the stored print files, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a list of the files stored in the storage unit in response to a display request signal;
• if a file is selected from the displayed list of the files, displaying a request message to request an input of an number of pages of requested printouts for the selected file;
• and
• if the pages of requested printouts, which are input in response to the request message, fall within a range of authorized printouts set in the selected file, processing such that the selected file is printed according to the number of pages of requested printouts.