JP2007264756A - Drawing printing system and task management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drawing printing system for effectively preventing the leakage of drawing information without generating the increase of costs and a task management system using this drawing printing system. <P>SOLUTION: This drawing printing system is provided with a storage part for storing drawing data and a print control part for reading the drawing data from the storage part, and for preparing print data to be printed by overlapping hidden characters as a background on the print image of the drawing data, and for outputting the prepared print data to a printer. The print control part uses at least the identification information and print date of the drawing user as hidden characters, and prepares print data so that those hidden characters emerge over the whole copied drawing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a drawing printing system suitable for printing drawings and the like that require confidentiality, and a business management system using the drawing printing system.

  As a system for browsing drawing data such as design drawings, for example, a drawing data distribution system described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this drawing data distribution system, on the basis of input information acquired from a user terminal (drawing and area information selected by the user), the server extracts and creates the corresponding drawing data and stores it in the user terminal. It is configured to transmit. According to this drawing data distribution system, since only the drawing data of the part that the user desires to view can be provided to the user, the amount of data to be transmitted to the user terminal can be reduced, and this is necessary for downloading. The time can be shortened and the load applied to the user terminal can be reduced.

  However, in the above drawing data distribution system, drawing data is simply transmitted to the user terminal, so that not only drawing viewing but also drawing printing, drawing data copying, or taking out is relatively difficult. There is a problem that it is difficult to prevent the outflow of a drawing that can be easily made and requires confidentiality.

In recent years, interest in information security has been increasing more and more, for example, design drawings used for construction estimation and the like are required to be handled with great care. Under such circumstances, for example, the use of copy-preventing paper in which hidden characters such as “copy” or “copy prohibited” appear on the copy as the print medium for the design drawing has been studied. However, this type of paper is much more expensive than normal printing paper, and if the hidden characters just appear, the origin of the copied drawing should be specified when the copied drawing is leaked. Therefore, like the above drawing data distribution system, there is a problem that it is difficult to prevent outflow of drawing information.
Recently, a system has also been developed in which the above hidden characters are printed on plain paper as a background (background pattern) so that the hidden characters appear on a copy. According to such a system, it is possible to avoid an increase in cost because plain paper is used, but there remains a problem in terms of traceability as described above.
JP 2003-60818 A

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a drawing printing system capable of effectively preventing leakage of drawing information without causing an increase in cost, and a business management system using the drawing printing system. Objective.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drawing printing system that reads drawing data from a storage unit that stores drawing data, and superimposes a hidden character as a background on a print image of the drawing data. A drawing printing system having a print control unit that creates print data for printing and outputs the created print data to a printing apparatus, wherein the print control unit is at least a drawing user as the hidden character The identification data and the printing date and time are used, and the print data is created so that these hidden characters emerge over the entire copied drawing. The hidden character is a character string that does not appear on the drawing printed by the drawing printing system but appears on the copy.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the drawing printing system according to the first aspect, identification information that is not disclosed to the user is used as the identification information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the drawing printing system according to the first aspect, the print control unit changes the print pattern of the hidden character according to the security level of the drawing data or the type of the drawing. It is a feature.
Specifically, the method of changing the print pattern of hidden characters is the same character string, the method of changing the position, size, shading, quantity, etc. of the character string, and the print pattern using a different character string (For example, a method of changing a warning message or a method of increasing / decreasing additional information necessary for specifying a user according to the security level).

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a business management system comprising: the drawing printing system according to any one of the first to third aspects; a server system and a client terminal connected to the drawing printing system via a network. When the server authentication system receives user authentication information from the drawing printing system or the client terminal, the server system has a function of determining the legitimacy of the user based on the authentication information. When the drawing printing system receives a drawing print request from the client terminal, the drawing printing system transmits the authentication information of the user of the client terminal to the server system, and inquires about the validity of the user. As a result, when the validity of the user of the client terminal is confirmed, the user is identified from the authentication information of the user, and the identification is made. Print data for printing information as hidden characters is created, the created print data is transmitted to the client terminal, and a print record of the drawing is created using the identification information. is there.

  According to the present invention, since the drawing user's identification information and the printing date and time are used as the hidden characters appearing in the copied drawing, even if the copied drawing leaks, the source of the outflow can be easily identified. Can do. Therefore, the traceability of the drawing information can be improved and the leakage of the drawing information can be effectively prevented. In addition, since the hidden characters are overlaid on the print image of the drawing data as the background, plain paper can be used for printing the drawing, and the printing cost can be suppressed.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a drawing printing system according to the present invention.
The drawing printing system 10 of this embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, a display device 13, an input device 14, a storage device 15, a communication device 16, a printing device 17, and the like. A computer system is formed by connecting computers or a plurality of such computers to each other via a network.

  The storage device (storage unit) 15 of the drawing printing system 10 includes a storage area for storing various processing programs executed by the CPU 11 and control data, drawing data (for example, drawing data created by CAD software, scanner And a storage area for storing data relating to hidden characters (user identification information, affiliation, etc.) to be described later.

  The CPU (printing control unit) 11 of the drawing printing system 10 reads and executes various processing programs stored in the storage device 15, thereby (1) an input device 14 such as a scanner and various storage media (optical disc, A process of reading drawing data from a semiconductor memory or the like or acquiring drawing data from another computer via a network and storing it in a predetermined storage area of the storage device 15, or (2) inputting an instruction from the input device 14 The print data for reading the drawing data from the predetermined storage area of the storage device 15 and printing with the hidden character (invisible character string) superimposed on the background (background pattern) on the print image of the drawing data is printed. A process of creating and outputting the created print data to the printing apparatus 17 is performed.

The hidden characters include, for example, identification information that can identify a drawing user (drawing destination or recipient), printing date and time, serial number, and distribution source (a department such as a purchasing department or a totaling department, or a person in charge). Includes identifiable information, printing companies, etc. In the present embodiment, identification information not disclosed to the drawing user is used as the identification information.
As a method of embedding the hidden character in a printed matter (drawing) so that the hidden character appears in a copy, for example, it is divided into a first region forming the shape of the hidden character and a second region other than the first region. The density in both areas is approximately the same, using dots in one area that will disappear after copying due to the resolution limitations of the copier, and dots in the other area that will remain after copying. As described above, by creating a background pattern, a method of embedding the above-mentioned hidden character can be mentioned, but any method may be adopted.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the hidden character, where (a) is an original in which the hidden character is embedded, and (b) is a copy thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, a plurality of hidden characters (traceability codes) P1 are embedded as a background in the entire drawing and set so that the hidden characters P1 appear on the copy when copied. ing. In addition, at the four corners of the original, character strings P2 having the same contents as the hidden characters are printed in a normal printing form.

  The print pattern of the hidden character, such as the density and position of the hidden character, and the font to be used, can be changed according to the security level of the drawing data and the type of drawing. For example, in the case of drawings that require careful handling, the density and density of hidden characters are adjusted so that many hidden characters appear darker than normal drawings, making it difficult to read the drawings after copying. You may make it do. Regarding such drawings, it is desirable to set an expiration date in advance, obligate return by the expiration date, and dispose of with a shredder after collection.

Next, a method for browsing and distributing design drawings using the drawing printing system 10 will be described.
First, a drawing user selects a drawing to be printed and orders the drawing from a drawing provider. In selecting a drawing, a drawing user operates a computer (a computer dedicated to browsing that is prohibited from printing or taking out drawing data) connected to the drawing printing system 10 via a network, thereby drawing the drawing printing system 10. The drawings stored in the storage device 15 are browsed, and necessary drawings are selected from the drawings. When ordering the selected drawing from the drawing provider, enter the required items (eg, property name, order date, user name, desired drawing type, drawing number, delivery method, etc.) in the specified order form. The order data is transmitted to the drawing provider using, for example, data transmission by a web browser or electronic mail.

  Upon receiving drawing order data from the drawing user, the drawing provider selects drawing data to be printed, sets hidden characters (inputs user identification information, etc.) and prints from the input device 14 of the drawing printing system 10. Input operations necessary for printing the drawing, such as setting (printer, number of copies, size designation, etc.). Based on this input operation, as described above, the CPU 11 of the drawing printing system 10 reads the selected drawing data from the storage device 15 and prints it by superimposing hidden characters on the print image of the drawing data as a background. Print data is created, and the created print data is output to the printing device 17. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the printing device 17 outputs a drawing in which hidden characters are embedded in the background. The drawing provider creates a distribution record from the order data and then sends the output drawing to the drawing user using a courier service or the like.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the drawing user's identification information and the printing date and time are used as hidden characters appearing in the copied drawing. Can be easily identified. Therefore, the traceability of the drawing information can be improved and the leakage of the drawing information can be effectively prevented. In addition, since the above hidden characters are overlaid on the print image of the drawing data as a background and printed, plain paper can be used for printing the drawing, and the printing cost can be reduced.
In addition, since the original drawing can be managed with electronic data instead of a paper medium, a drawing storage space is not required, and deterioration or breakage of the drawing itself can be prevented.

[Second Embodiment]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the drawing printing system 10 is connected to a server system 20 and a plurality of client terminals 30 via a network 40 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. . The drawing printing system 10, the server system 20, and the client terminal 30 constitute a business management system according to the present invention.

  The server system 20 includes a plurality of computers (for example, a Web server, an application server, a database management server, a firewall, etc.) having a CPU, a RAM, a storage device, an input device, a display device, a communication device, and the like. They are connected to each other via a network such as a LAN.

  The server system 20 has a function of determining the legitimacy of the user based on the authentication information when receiving the user authentication information (for example, user ID, password, one-time password, etc.) from each client terminal 30. A function for executing various business processes in response to a request from the client terminal 30, a function for outputting the processing result as a file (HTML file) in a predetermined data format, and these files to the client terminal 30. It has a function to send.

  The server system 20 also includes various databases including an authentication information DB (internal authentication DB, external authentication DB) and user information DB. User authentication information (for example, user ID, password, etc.) is stored in the authentication information DB, and user attribute information (for example, name, company, title, department, user) is stored in the user information DB. And the like are stored in a state associated with the user identification information (user ID).

The client terminal 30 is configured by a known computer having a CPU, a RAM, a storage device, an input device, a display device, a communication device, a printing device, and the like.
The storage device of the client terminal 30 stores various processing programs executed by the CPU (for example, a Web browser and CAD software), a storage area for storing control data, and a storage for storing drawing data created by the CAD software. It has an area.

  Further, the CPU of the client terminal 30 transmits input data input from the input device to the server system 20 by reading and executing various processing programs stored in the storage device, or the server system 20 A process of receiving various data (such as an HTML file) from and outputting the data to a display device or the like is executed.

  Further, the CPU of the client terminal 30 transmits (uploads) the drawing data stored in the storage device to the drawing printing system 10 based on an instruction input from the input device, or browses the drawing to the drawing printing system 10. A process for transmitting a request to receive drawing display data from the drawing printing system 10 and outputting it to a display device, and a drawing printing request is sent to the drawing printing system 10 so that hidden characters are received from the drawing printing system 10. A process of receiving print data of a drawing embedded as a background and outputting it to a printing apparatus is performed.

  When the drawing printing system 10 receives a browsing request or a printing request from the client terminal 30, the drawing printing system 10 transmits authentication information of the user of the client terminal 30 to the server system 20, and processes and uses the user for validity. When the legitimacy of the person is confirmed, based on the browsing request, the drawing data is read from the storage device and displayed on the display device of the client terminal 30 (print, save, copy, In order to print the drawing data from the storage device on the basis of the above print request and overlay the hidden character as a background on the print image of the drawing data based on the above print request. Processing for generating the print data, outputting the generated print data to the client terminal 30, the browsing request, and the above And it operates to create and update a browsing record and print recording figures based on the printing request.

  Next, drawing data browsing processing and printing processing performed by the drawing printing system 10, the server system 20, and the client terminal 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

(1) Drawing Data Browsing Processing When browsing drawing data in the storage device of the drawing printing system 10 from the client terminal 30, first, a web browser is started on the client terminal 30, and the URL of the login screen of the business management system Perform input operation to specify etc. Then, the client terminal 30 performs a process of transmitting the path name of the URL, and the server system 20 that has received this transmits the display data (HTML file) of the login screen to the client terminal 30, and the client terminal 30 Processing for requesting 30 user authentication information (user ID, password, etc.) is performed. In response to this, the client terminal 30 performs a process of displaying on the display device a login screen that prompts the user to input authentication information.

Thereafter, when user authentication information is input on the login screen, the client terminal 30 transmits the user authentication information to the server system 20.
Upon receiving the user authentication information from the client terminal 30, the server system 20 determines the legitimacy of the user by comparing and collating the received authentication information with the authentication information stored in advance in the authentication information DB ( Step S1).

  As a result of the determination, if the received authentication information does not match the stored data and it is determined that the user is not valid, a status code indicating that the authentication has failed is sent to the client terminal 30 that requested the authentication. The access from the client terminal 30 is rejected. On the other hand, if both match and it is determined that the user is valid, the user is identified from the authentication information with reference to the user information DB, and then the top page corresponding to the user is displayed. Create data (HTML file etc.). That is, based on the user's attribute information etc., the user can access the business system and shared information, or the message addressed to the user, etc., and post it at a predetermined position on the top page. Create top page display data that suits your position and role. The created display data is transmitted to the client terminal 30.

  Upon receiving the top page display data from the server system 20, the client terminal 30 performs a process of displaying the top page on the display device based on the display data. When an input operation for selecting a link of the drawing printing system 10 is performed on the top page, the client terminal 30 transmits the user ID input at the time of login to the drawing printing system 10. When receiving the user ID from the client terminal 30, the drawing printing system 10 transmits the user ID to the server system 20 and executes a process for inquiring the validity of the user.

  Upon receiving a user inquiry request from the drawing printing system 10, the server system 20 checks whether the user ID received from the drawing printing system 10 is included in the currently logged-in user ID group. Determine the legitimacy of the user. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the user is not valid, a status code indicating that the authentication has failed is transmitted to the drawing printing system 10, while the user is determined to be valid. In this case, a process of transmitting a status code indicating that the authentication is successful and user attribute information to the drawing printing system 10 is executed.

  When the drawing printing system 10 receives the status code indicating the authentication failure, the drawing printing system 10 transmits an error message to the client terminal 30 and rejects the access request from the client terminal 30. On the other hand, when a status code indicating successful authentication is received, a list of drawing data that can be viewed by the user (drawing data that the user has the authority to view) is created based on the attribute information of the user. Display data is transmitted to the client terminal 30 (step S2).

  Upon receiving display data from the drawing printing system 10, the client terminal 30 performs processing for displaying a list of drawing data on the display device based on the display data. Thereafter, when an input operation for selecting one from the list of drawing data is performed, a request for browsing the selected drawing is transmitted to the drawing printing system 10 together with the user ID input at the time of login.

  Upon receiving a browsing request from the client terminal 30, the drawing printing system 10 authenticates the user in the same procedure as described above, and then creates a browsing record of the user (recording of the viewed drawing, date, etc.). At the same time, the drawing data requested to be read is read from the storage device, and the display data (HTML file prohibited to print, save, copy, image capture, etc.) is created and displayed. Display data is transmitted to the client terminal 30 (step S3). When the client terminal 30 receives the display data of the drawing from the server system 20, the client terminal 30 performs a process of opening a new browser window (a window in which no toolbar is displayed and right-clicking is prohibited) and displaying the drawing on the display device.

(2) Print processing of drawing data When a drawing is printed on the client terminal 30, an input operation (for example, requesting printing of the drawing in a state where the drawing is displayed on the display device of the client terminal 30 as described above) , An operation of left-clicking a dedicated print button provided on the display screen). Then, the client terminal 30 transmits the drawing print request and the user ID to the drawing printing system 10.

  Upon receiving a print request from the client terminal 30, the drawing printing system 10 authenticates the user in the same procedure as described above, and then creates a print record (record of the printed drawing, date and time) of the user. At the same time, print data (background image data and control data for printing this on the background of the drawing data) is created to overlay and print hidden characters on the print image of the requested drawing data as a background. Then, the created print data is transmitted to the client terminal 30 (step S4). For remote printing via this network, for example, IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) using the HTTP protocol is used. In addition, as the hidden character, a user ID extracted from user authentication information or attribute information or similar user identification information is used, and the printing date and time, the identification code (IP address, MAC address) of the client terminal 30 are used. Etc.), serial numbers, etc. are used. When the client terminal 30 receives the print data from the server system 20, the client terminal 30 performs a process of outputting the print data to the printing apparatus. As a result, the printing device of the client terminal 30 outputs a drawing in which hidden characters are embedded in the background.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, like the first embodiment described above, the identification information of the user of the drawing is used as the hidden character, so even if the copied drawing leaks, The outflow source can be easily identified. Therefore, the traceability of the drawing information can be improved and the leakage of the drawing information can be effectively prevented.
In addition, the user is identified from the authentication information input at the time of login, and the drawing can be viewed and printed from the client terminal 30 within the range of the authority of the user, so that the security of the drawing data is enhanced. At the same time, the convenience of the drawing user can be improved.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a drawing printing system according to the present invention. An example of a hidden character is shown. (A) is an original in which the hidden character is embedded, and (b) is a copy thereof. It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the business management system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the browsing and printing process of drawing performed by the drawing printing system and server system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 Drawing Printing System 11 CPU (Print Control Unit)
15 Storage device (storage unit)
17 Printing device 20 Client terminal 30 Server system

Claims (4)

A storage unit for storing drawing data;
Print control that reads drawing data from the storage unit, creates print data for printing with overlaying hidden characters on the print image of the drawing data, and outputs the created print data to the printing apparatus A drawing printing system comprising:
The print control unit uses at least the drawing user's identification information and the printing date and time as the hidden character, and creates print data so that the hidden character appears over the entire copied drawing. Drawing printing system.   The drawing printing system according to claim 1, wherein identification information that is not disclosed to a user is used as the identification information.   The drawing printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing control unit changes a printing pattern of the hidden character according to a security level of drawing data or a drawing type. A business management system comprising the drawing printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a server system and a client terminal connected to the drawing printing system via a network,
The server system is
When receiving user authentication information from the drawing printing system or the client terminal, it has a function of determining the legitimacy of the user based on the authentication information;
The drawing printing system
Upon receiving a drawing print request from the client terminal, the authentication information of the user of the client terminal is transmitted to the server system to inquire about the legitimacy of the user, and as a result, the user of the client terminal When the validity is confirmed, the user is identified from the user authentication information, print data for printing the identification information as a hidden character is created, and the created print data is stored in the client terminal. A business management system characterized in that a print record of a drawing is created using the identification information.

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