JP2012063864A - Printing system, terminal device, terminal control program, printing management device and printing control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system capable of preventing printed matter prepared in a shared printer from being pulled out by a third person, while suppressing introduction cost and operation cost.SOLUTION: When a printing request command designating an object file is transmitted from a portable terminal 5 to a server 3 in a printing system 1, a random number corresponding to the object file is transmitted from the server 3 to a printer 7. In the printer 7, the random number received from the server 3 is output. In the portable terminal 5, the input random number is collated with a random number stored in a file management table. When the random numbers coincide with each other, a second command for indicating print start of printing of an electronic file is transmitted from the portable terminal 5 to the server 3. In this case, the electronic file to be a print object is transmitted from the server 3 to the portable terminal 5, and the electronic file received from the server 3 is printed in the printer 7.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a terminal device, a terminal control program, a print management device, and a print control program for printing a document using a shared printer.

  Conventionally, a printing system that prints a document using a shared printer is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the network printing system described in Patent Document 1, user print data is stored in association with identification data in a server on the network. When the identification data is input by the printer, the print data corresponding to the input identification data is transferred from the server and printed by the printer. As a result, the user can obtain a hard copy of the necessary document with the nearest printer when necessary without carrying a large amount of document.

JP 2002-32205 A

  However, in the example described in Patent Document 1, a printed matter printed by a shared printer may be accidentally extracted by a third party. Therefore, it is conceivable to prevent the third party from removing the printed matter by executing user authentication with the shared printer as described above and performing printing when the user is authenticated as a legitimate user. For example, the user may hold the contactless card on which the IC chip is mounted, and user authentication may be performed based on information read from the contactless card by the shared printer.

  However, in a printing system that performs user authentication with a shared printer, a shared printer having a user authentication function, a user device for authentication (a non-contact card in the above example), and the like are required. Furthermore, it is necessary to unify the interface between the user device and the shared printer. Therefore, such a printing system may increase the introduction cost and the operation cost.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a printing system and a terminal that can realize prevention of extraction by a third party of printed matter created by a shared printer while suppressing introduction cost and operation cost. An object is to provide an apparatus, a terminal control program, a print management apparatus, and a print control program.

  A printing system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a printing system in which a terminal device, a print management device, and a printing device are connected via a network, and the terminal device is an identification unique to an electronic file. Identification information generating means for generating information, first storage control means for associating and storing the electronic file and the identification information in a first storage device, and the electronic file and the identification information from the first storage device Information transmitting means for reading and transmitting to the print management apparatus, first command transmitting means for transmitting to the print management apparatus a first command designating the electronic file to be printed, and identification for inputting the identification information The information input means, the identification information input by the identification information input means, and the identification information stored in the first storage device are collated to identify the identification information. A matching unit that determines whether or not the information matches, and a second command that instructs the printing apparatus to start printing the electronic file when the identification unit determines that the identification information matches. A second command transmission unit configured to transmit to the print management apparatus, wherein the print management apparatus associates the electronic file received from the terminal apparatus with the identification information and stores the second file in the second storage device. When the control unit and the first command received from the terminal device are received, the identification information corresponding to the electronic file designated by the first command is read from the second storage device, and is sent to the printing device. When the second command is received from the identification information transmitting means to be transmitted and the terminal device, the electronic file to be printed is read from the second storage device. And a file transmission means for transmitting to the printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus outputs identification information output means for outputting the identification information received from the print management apparatus, and the electronic file received from the print management apparatus. Is provided with file printing means for printing on a print medium.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal device stores the electronic file and identification information unique thereto in the first storage device. The print management apparatus stores the electronic file received from the terminal apparatus and identification information unique thereto in the second storage device. When the first command for designating the electronic file to be printed is transmitted from the terminal device to the print management apparatus, identification information corresponding to the electronic file to be printed is transmitted from the print management apparatus to the printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus, the identification information received from the print management apparatus is output. In the terminal device, the input identification information is collated with the identification information stored in the first storage device. If the identification information matches, the terminal device transmits a second command that instructs the print management apparatus to start printing the electronic file. In this case, the electronic file to be printed is transmitted from the print management apparatus to the printing apparatus, and the electronic file received from the print management apparatus is printed by the printing apparatus.

  Thereby, only the user holding the terminal device can print the electronic file registered in advance in the print management device using the terminal device with the printing device. In other words, only a legitimate user can create a printed matter of an electronic file registered in advance in the print management apparatus with the printing apparatus. Furthermore, by enabling only a user holding the terminal device to produce a printed matter of an electronic file, advanced secure printing can be realized even if the printing device itself does not have a user authentication function. Therefore, even when the printing apparatus is used by an unspecified number of users, it is possible to prevent the printed matter created by the printing apparatus from being extracted by a third party while suppressing the introduction cost and the operation cost.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the print management device transmits print destination information including information related to the printing device that is the transmission destination of the identification information to the terminal device that is the transmission source of the first command. The terminal device may include display information for displaying the print destination information received from the print management device. According to this, even when there are a plurality of printing devices used by an unspecified number of users, the user holding the terminal device can accurately grasp the printing device on which his / her electronic file is printed.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal device includes a key generation unit that generates a variable key that is an encryption key unique to the electronic file for each electronic file, and the electronic device that is stored in the first storage device. Encryption means for encrypting a file with the variable key generated by the key generation means and a fixed key that is an encryption key unique to the terminal device stored in a third storage device, The information transmission means transmits the variable key to the print management apparatus together with the electronic file encrypted by the encryption means, and the second command transmission means determines that the identification information matches by the verification means. The fixed key is included in the second command and transmitted, and the print management device transmits the electronic file to be printed to the fixed key and the received electronic file from the terminal device. Comprising a decoding means for decoding at the variable key, the file transmission means may transmit the electronic file decoded by said decoding means.

  According to this, since the electronic file is doubly encrypted with the fixed key and the variable key, unauthorized use of the electronic file registered in the print management apparatus can be prevented. Further, it is possible to accurately authenticate whether or not the terminal device held by the user is the same as the terminal device that has registered the electronic file in the print management device, using both the identification information and the authentication key. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the printed material from being extracted by a third party.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the identification information is a variable key that is a unique encryption key for each electronic file, and the terminal device includes key generation means for generating the variable key for each electronic file; The electronic file stored in the first storage device includes the variable key generated by the key generation unit and a fixed key that is an encryption key unique to the terminal device stored in the third storage device. The information transmitting means transmits the variable key to the print management apparatus together with the electronic file encrypted by the encrypting means, and the second command transmitting means includes: When the variable key is determined to match by the collating means, the fixed key is included in the second command and transmitted, and the print management apparatus sends the electronic file to be printed Comprising a decoding means for decoding at the fixed key and the variable key received from the end device, the file transmission means may transmit the electronic file decoded by said decoding means.

  According to this, since the electronic file is doubly encrypted with the fixed key and the variable key, unauthorized use of the electronic file registered in the print management apparatus can be prevented. Further, it is possible to authenticate whether or not the terminal device held by the user is the same as the terminal device that has registered the electronic file in the print management device by a simple process using only the authentication key. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the printed material from being extracted by a third party.

  A terminal device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a terminal device connected via a network to a print management device that causes a printing device to print an electronic file, and generates identification information unique to the electronic file. Generating means; first storage control means for associating and storing the electronic file and the identification information in a first storage device; reading the electronic file and the identification information from the first storage device; Information transmitting means for transmitting to the apparatus, first command transmitting means for transmitting the first command for specifying the electronic file to be printed to the print management apparatus, identification information input means for inputting the identification information, The identification information input by the identification information input means and the identification information stored in the first storage device are collated to match the identification information. A second command for instructing the printing apparatus to start printing the electronic file when the identification information is determined to match by the collating means. 2nd command transmission means to transmit to.

  A terminal control program according to a third aspect of the present invention generates identification information unique to an electronic file in a terminal device that is a computer connected via a network to a print management apparatus that causes the printing apparatus to print the electronic file. An identification information generating step, a first storage control step of associating and storing the electronic file and the identification information in a first storage device, reading the electronic file and the identification information from the first storage device, An information transmission step for transmitting to the print management device; a first command transmission step for transmitting to the print management device a first command for specifying the electronic file to be printed; and an identification information input step for inputting the identification information. The identification information input in the identification information input step is stored in the first storage device. A collation step for collating the identification information to determine whether or not the identification information matches, and printing the electronic file by the printing device when it is determined by the collation step that the identification information matches. And a second command transmission step of transmitting a second command instructing to start to the print management apparatus.

  A print management device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a print management device that is connected to a terminal device and a printing device via a network, and causes the printing device to print an electronic file stored in the terminal device, Second storage control means for associating and storing the electronic file received from the terminal device and the identification information in a second storage device; and the first command for designating the electronic file to be printed from the terminal device. When received, the identification information corresponding to the electronic file designated by the first command is read from the second storage device and transmitted to the printing device; and the terminal device to the printing device When the second command instructing to start printing the electronic file is received, the electronic file to be printed is stored in the second storage. Reading placed et al, and a file transmission means for transmitting to the printing apparatus.

  A print control program according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is connected to a terminal device and a printing device via a network, and the print management device is a computer that causes the printing device to print an electronic file stored in the terminal device. A second storage control step of associating the electronic file received from the terminal device with the identification information and storing it in a second storage device; and the first command for designating the electronic file to be printed from the terminal device When the information is received, the identification information corresponding to the electronic file specified by the first command is read from the second storage device and transmitted to the printing device, and the printing is performed from the terminal device. When the second command instructing the apparatus to start printing the electronic file is received, It reads the child file from the second storage device, to execute a file transmitting step of transmitting to the printing apparatus.

  According to the second to fifth aspects of the present invention, as in the first aspect, only the user who holds the terminal device can use the printing apparatus to store an electronic file registered in advance in the print management apparatus using the terminal device. Can be printed. In other words, only a legitimate user can create a printed matter of an electronic file registered in advance in the print management apparatus with the printing apparatus. Furthermore, by enabling only a user holding the terminal device to produce a printed matter of an electronic file, advanced secure printing can be realized even if the printing device itself does not have a user authentication function. Therefore, even when the printing apparatus is used by an unspecified number of users, it is possible to prevent the printed matter created by the printing apparatus from being extracted by a third party while suppressing the introduction cost and the operation cost.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the mobile terminal 5. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data configuration of a file management table 100. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a server 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a print management table 200. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a printer 7. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the flow of various data in the printing system 1. 5 is a flowchart showing print-related processing of the mobile terminal 5. It is a continuation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing print-related processing of the server 3. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a multifunction router 9. FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings to be referred to are used to explain technical features that can be adopted by the present invention, and are merely illustrative examples.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the overall configuration of a printing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. The printing system 1 has a configuration capable of acquiring printed matter using a printer that can be shared by a plurality of people. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of printers 7 shared by an unspecified number of users are installed in a rental office. Each printer 7 is connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) 8 to a wireless LAN router 2 installed in the rental office.

  The wireless LAN router 2 can be connected to the server 3 via the Internet 6 and can be connected to the portable terminal 5 by wireless LAN communication. The server 3 is a known print server connected to the Internet 6 and is installed outside the rental office. The portable terminal 5 is a small and lightweight terminal device that can be carried by the user, such as a notebook PC, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or an electronic paper terminal. That is, the wireless LAN router 2 can mediate data communication between the portable terminal 5 and the server 3 and data communication between the server 3 and each printer 7.

  In this embodiment, the user exemplifies a case where an electronic file including images and characters is printed by the printer 7 in the rental office. Therefore, the user registers in advance the electronic file to be printed in the mobile terminal 5 and uploads the electronic file registered in the mobile terminal 5 to the server 3. Thereafter, the user visits the rental office and inputs a print instruction for the electronic file from the portable terminal 5. At this time, if authentication based on a random number image, which will be described later, succeeds, the electronic file is printed by the printer 7 designated as the printing destination by the server 3.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the electrical configuration of the portable terminal 5 will be described. The mobile terminal 5 includes a CPU 51 that controls the mobile terminal 5. A ROM 52, a RAM 53, a flash memory 54, a communication interface (I / F) 56, a display 57, an input unit 58, and a camera 59 are connected to the CPU 51. The mobile terminal 5 can execute wireless LAN communication with an external device via the antenna 55 connected to the communication I / F 56. The ROM 52 stores a program that causes the CPU 51 to execute print-related processing (see FIGS. 8 and 9) described later. The flash memory 54 stores two different encryption keys and a file management table 100 described later.

  Two different encryption keys (encryption key A and encryption key B) are used to double-encrypt the electronic file registered in the portable terminal 5. The encryption key A is a fixed key that is commonly used for encryption of electronic files. The encryption key B is a variable key that is generated each time an electronic file is encrypted. The generation of the encryption key B and the encryption of the electronic file are also executed by the CPU 51 based on the above program.

  The data configuration of the file management table 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In the file management table 100, a file name of an electronic file registered in the mobile terminal 5 and a random number unique to the electronic file are stored in association with each other. In the example of FIG. 3, the file name “Test1.doc” of the electronic file registered in the mobile terminal 5 and the random number “we5ejh58” generated for this electronic file are set.

  The electrical configuration of the server 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The server 3 includes a CPU 31 that controls the server 3. A ROM 32, a RAM 33, an HDD 34, a communication I / F 36, a display 37, and an input unit 38 are connected to the CPU 31. The server 3 can execute wired LAN communication with an external device via the LAN port 35 connected to the communication I / F 36. The HDD 34 stores a program that causes the CPU 31 to execute a print-related process (see FIG. 10) described later, and the following print management table 200. An electronic file uploaded from the server 3 is also stored in the HDD 34.

  The data configuration of the print management table 200 will be described with reference to FIG. In the print management table 200, for each electronic file uploaded to the server 3, a record including data items related to print processing in the shared printer is registered. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the record of the electronic file “Test1.doc” uploaded from the mobile terminal 5 is registered in the print management table 200.

  The record registered in the print management table 200 includes, as data items, a request source terminal, a random number, an encryption key B, a designated printer, and the like in addition to a file name. Specifically, the request source terminal indicates identification information of the upload source terminal device. In the example of FIG. 5, identification information “T001” unique to the mobile terminal 5 is set. The random number indicates a random number generated by the uploading terminal device. In the example of FIG. 5, the random number “we5ejh58” received from the mobile terminal 5 is set. The encryption key B indicates the encryption key B generated by the upload source terminal device. In the example of FIG. 5, the encryption key B “*******” received from the mobile terminal 5 is set. ing. The designated printer indicates a shared printer designated as the print destination of the electronic file. In the example of FIG. 5, identification information “P001” unique to the printer 7 is set.

  The electrical configuration of the printer 7 will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 7 is a known network-compatible printing apparatus, and includes a CPU 71, ROM 72, RAM 73, HDD 74, LAN port 75, communication I / F 76, display 77, input unit 78, and printing unit 79. The printing unit 79 prints an electronic file or a random number image described later.

  With reference to FIG. 7, an outline of the overall processing of the printing system 1 will be described. First, the user registers an electronic file stored in another electronic device (for example, a personal computer or a digital camera) in the portable terminal 5 via a cable or an external storage medium (not shown). At this time, the portable terminal 5 generates an encryption key B unique to the registered electronic file, and the electronic file is automatically encrypted with the encryption key A and the encryption key B. That is, the mobile terminal 5 is in a state where an electronic file that has been double-encrypted with two encryption keys is registered. In addition, a random number unique to the recorded electronic file is generated and registered in the file management table 100.

  Next, the user operates the mobile terminal 5 to upload the electronic file registered in the mobile terminal 5 to the server 3 (T1). At this time, the random number and the encryption key B generated by the portable terminal 5 are also transmitted to the server 3 together. In the server 3, the uploaded electronic file record is newly registered in the print management table 200. Thereafter, when the user visits the rental office and inputs a print instruction for the electronic file from the portable terminal 5, a print request command is transmitted from the portable terminal 5 to the server 3 (T2). The print request command is a command for instructing an electronic file to be printed (hereinafter referred to as a target file).

  In the server 3, a shared printer for executing printing of the target file is determined and notified to the portable terminal 5 as a printer designation (T3). Since the designated shared printer (that is, the designated destination printer) is displayed on the portable terminal 5, the user can grasp the designated destination printer (the printer 7 in this embodiment) on which the target file is printed. The user moves to the installation location of the designated printer 7 in order to obtain a printed matter of the target file. In the server 3, a random number print command is transmitted to the designated printer 7 (T4). The random number print command is a command for instructing printing of a random number image obtained by imaging the random number received from the mobile terminal 5, and includes print data of the random number image. The printer 7 prints a random number image (in this embodiment, a QR code generated based on the random number) on a paper medium based on the random number print command.

  The user operates the portable terminal 5 to read a random number image printed on a paper medium with the camera 59 (T5). In the portable terminal 5, the random number image read by the camera 59 is converted into the original random number. Then, it is determined with reference to the file management table 100 whether or not the random number obtained by the conversion matches the random number associated with the target file. If the random numbers do not match, the process is terminated without executing the subsequent processing. On the other hand, if the random numbers match, a print execution command is transmitted from the portable terminal 5 to the server 3 (T6). The print execution command is a command for instructing start of printing of the target file, and includes the encryption key A stored in the mobile terminal 5.

  In the server 3, the target file is decrypted based on the encryption key A received from the mobile terminal 5 and the encryption key B registered in the record of the target file. A file print command is transmitted to the designated printer 7 (T7). The file print command is a command for instructing printing of the decrypted target file, and includes print data of the target file. In the designated printer 7, the target file is printed on a paper medium based on the file print command. As a result, the user can surely acquire the printed matter of the uploaded electronic file with the designated printer 7.

  With reference to FIGS. 8-10, the detail of the process respectively performed with the portable terminal 5 and the server 3 among the whole processes of the above-mentioned printing system 1 is demonstrated. Hereinafter, in order to facilitate understanding, description will be made with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 7 as appropriate.

  With reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the printing related process performed by the portable terminal 5 is demonstrated. In the present embodiment, the user operates the mobile terminal 5 to access the server 3 and starts logging in to the print service providing site. At this time, the CPU 81 executes this process based on the program stored in the ROM 52.

  In the print-related process of the portable terminal 5, a login process is first performed (S1). In the login process, authentication as to whether or not the user is a regular user of the print service is performed based on a password or the like input from the mobile terminal 5 by the user. If the user authentication is successful, the portable terminal 5 is connected to the print service providing site and can receive a service for printing the electronic file with the shared printer, and the following processing is subsequently executed. If the user authentication fails, the printing related process (see FIGS. 8 and 9) is terminated.

  After execution of step S1, it is determined whether or not an electronic file is designated (S3). For example, the user operates the portable terminal 5 and designates an electronic file imported from an external device (for example, a PC) or a network. When the electronic file is designated (S3: YES), the encryption key A is read from the flash memory 54 (S5). Further, an encryption key B unique to the designated electronic file is randomly generated by a known method (S7). The designated electronic file is double-encrypted using the encryption key A read in step S5 and the encryption key B generated in step S7 (S9).

  After execution of step S9, a random number unique to the designated electronic file is randomly generated by a known method (S11). The random number generated in step S11 is stored in the file management table 100 (see FIG. 3) together with the file name of the corresponding electronic file. And the upload process with respect to the server 3 is performed (S13). Specifically, the encryption key B generated in step S7, the electronic file encrypted in step S9, and the random number generated in step S11 are uploaded to the server 3. Note that the electronic file uploaded to the server 3 is deleted from the portable terminal 5.

  In the present embodiment, the user logs in to the service providing site of the server 3 by operating the portable terminal 5 in order to print the electronic file having the file name “Test1.doc” with the shared printer. In the portable terminal 5, the electronic file is encrypted with the encryption key A stored in advance and the encryption key B generated in step S7. Further, a random number “we5ejh58” is generated, and a new record is registered in the file management table 100 (see FIG. 3). The encrypted electronic file is uploaded to the server 3 together with the encryption key B and the random number “we5ejh58” (see T1 in FIG. 7).

  After execution of step S13, or when no electronic file is designated (S3: NO), it is determined whether or not there is a file printing instruction (S15). For example, the user operates the mobile terminal 5 to designate a target file from among uploaded electronic files and input a “print start” button. In the portable terminal 5, when the input of the “print start” button is detected, it is determined that there is an instruction for file printing (S15: YES). In this case, the print request command is transmitted to the server 3 (S17), the printer designation returned from the server 3 is received (S19), and the designated printer indicated by this printer designation is displayed (S21).

  In the present embodiment, in order to start printing of the electronic file uploaded to the server 3 by the shared printer, the user designates the file name “Test1.doc” and inputs the “print start” button. In the portable terminal 5, a print request command for instructing “Test1.doc” as the target file is transmitted to the server 3 (see T2 in FIG. 7). Further, based on the printer designation received from the server 3, the printer 7 “P001” is displayed on the display 57 as the designated printer (see T3 in FIG. 7). Accordingly, the user can grasp that the target file is started to be printed by the printer 7. The printer 7 outputs a paper medium on which the above random number image is printed. The user reads the random number image printed on the paper medium using the camera 59 of the portable terminal 5 (see T5 in FIG. 7).

  After execution of step S21, it is determined whether a random number image has been read from the camera 59 (S23). When the random number image is read (S23), the random number image is converted into the original random number (S25) in the same manner as a known QR code. Whether the converted random number matches the random number associated with the target file is determined based on the file management table 100 (see FIG. 3) (S27). If the random numbers match, a print execution command including the encryption key A stored in the mobile terminal 5 is transmitted to the server 3 (S29).

  In the present embodiment, when the user reads a random number image printed by the designated printer 7 “P001” with the camera 59, the mobile terminal 5 acquires the original random number “we5ejh58” based on the random number image. This random number matches the random number associated with the electronic file “Test1.doc” in the file management table 100 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the print execution command of the electronic file “Test1.doc” including the encryption key A is transmitted to the server 3 (see T6 in FIG. 7).

  After execution of step S29, it is determined whether or not there is a logout instruction (S31). Whether there is a logout instruction in any of the case where there is no file printing instruction (S15: NO), the case where no random number image is read (S23: NO), and the case where the random numbers do not match (S27: NO) Is determined (S31). For example, when logging out from the service providing site of the server 3, the user operates the mobile terminal 5 and inputs an “end” button. In the portable terminal 5, when the input of the “end” button is detected, it is determined that there is a logout instruction (S31: YES). In this case, logout processing is executed, and the mobile terminal 5 is disconnected from the service providing site of the server 3 (S33). After execution of step S33, the print-related processing (see FIGS. 8 and 9) of the mobile terminal 5 is terminated. On the other hand, when there is no logout instruction (S31: NO), the process returns to step S3.

  With reference to FIG. 10, a print-related process executed by the server 3 will be described. This process is continuously and repeatedly executed by the CPU 31 based on a program stored in the ROM 32.

  In the printing-related process of the server 3, it is first determined whether or not there is an upload (S51). If there is an upload from the terminal device (S51: YES), the received data is stored in the HDD 34 (S53). Specifically, the electronic file transmitted in the upload process in step S13 is stored in a predetermined storage area of the HDD 34. Further, a new record is registered in the print management table 200 based on various data transmitted by the upload process (see FIG. 5).

  After execution of step S53, or when there is no upload (S51: NO), it is determined whether a print request command has been received (S55). When the print request command is received from the terminal device (S55: YES), the printer designation is transmitted to the request source terminal (S57). The designated printer indicated by the printer designation satisfies the conditions such as whether or not another file is being printed, the distance from the requesting terminal, and the ability to print the target file from among a plurality of candidate printers. May be selected. Further, a random number is read from the record of the target file registered in the print management table 200, and a random number image obtained by converting the random number into a QR code is generated (S59). A random number print command including the print data of the generated random number image is transmitted to the designated printer (S61).

  In the present embodiment, when a print request command is received from the mobile terminal 5, “P001” is designated as the print destination among the plurality of printers 7. Therefore, the designated printer “P001” is also set in the record of the target file “Test1.doc” registered in the print management table 200 (see FIG. 5). Then, a random number image of the random number “we5ejh58” included in the record of the target file is generated and converted into print data corresponding to the printer 7 “P001”. A random number print command including this print data is transmitted to the printer 7 “P001” (see T4 in FIG. 7). In the printer 7 “P001”, the random number image of the random number “we5ejh58” is printed on the paper medium based on the random number print command.

  After execution of step S61 or when no print request command has been received (S55: NO), it is determined whether a print execution command has been received (S63). When the print execution command is received from the terminal device (S63: YES), the encryption key B is read from the record of the target file registered in the print management table 200 (S65). The target file stored in step S53 is decrypted with the encryption key A and the read encryption key B included in the print request command (S67). Based on the decrypted target file, print data corresponding to the print format of the designated printer is generated, and a file print command including this print data is transmitted to the designated printer (S69). After execution of step S69, the process returns to step S51.

  In the present embodiment, when a print execution command is received from the mobile terminal 5, the encryption key B included in the record of the target file “Test1.doc” registered in the print management table 200 is read. The read encryption key B is used for decrypting the target file together with the encryption key A included in the print request command. The decrypted target file is converted into print data corresponding to the printer 7 “P001”, and a file print command including this print data is transferred to the printer 7 “P001” (see T6 in FIG. 7). The printer 7 “P001” prints the electronic file “Test1.doc” on a paper medium based on the print data.

  As described above, according to the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 5 stores the electronic file and a random number unique to the electronic file in the file management table 100. The server 3 stores the electronic file received from the portable terminal 5 and a random number unique to the electronic file in the print management table 200. When a print request command specifying a target file is transmitted from the portable terminal 5 to the server 3, a random number corresponding to the target file is transmitted from the server 3 to the printer 7. In the printer 7, the random number received from the server 3 is output. In the mobile terminal 5, the input random number is collated with the random number stored in the file management table 100. If the random numbers match, a second command instructing the start of printing of the electronic file is transmitted from the portable terminal 5 to the server 3. In this case, the electronic file to be printed is transmitted from the server 3 to the portable terminal 5, and the electronic file received from the server 3 is printed by the printer 7.

  Thereby, only the user holding the portable terminal 5 can print the electronic file registered in advance in the server 3 using the portable terminal 5 by the printer 7. In other words, only a legitimate user can create a printed matter of an electronic file registered in advance in the server 3 with the printer 7. Furthermore, by allowing only the user holding the portable terminal 5 to produce a printed matter of an electronic file, advanced secure printing can be realized even if the printer 7 itself does not have a user authentication function. Therefore, even when the printer 7 is used by an unspecified number of users, it is possible to prevent the printed matter created by the printer 7 from being extracted by a third party while suppressing the introduction cost and the operation cost.

  Further, since the printer 4 as the printing destination is notified to the mobile terminal 5, even when there are a plurality of printers 7 used by an unspecified number of users, the user holding the mobile terminal 5 prints his / her electronic file. It is possible to accurately grasp the printer 7 to be used. Further, since the electronic file is double-encrypted with the fixed key and the variable key, unauthorized use of the electronic file registered in the server 3 can be prevented. Furthermore, it is possible to accurately authenticate whether or not the mobile terminal 5 held by the user is the same as the terminal device that has registered the electronic file in the server 3 using both the random number and the authentication key. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the printed material from being extracted by a third party.

  In the above embodiment, the mobile terminal 5 corresponds to a “terminal device” of the present invention, and the server 3 corresponds to a “print management device” of the present invention. The CPU 51 that executes step S11 corresponds to the “identification information generating unit” and the “first storage control unit” of the present invention, respectively. The CPU 51 that executes step S13 corresponds to the “information transmitting unit” of the present invention. The CPU 51 that executes step S17 corresponds to the “first command transmission unit” of the present invention. The CPU 51 that executes steps S23 to S25 corresponds to “identification information input means” of the present invention. The CPU 51 that executes step S27 corresponds to the “collation unit” of the present invention. The CPU 51 that executes step S29 corresponds to the “second command transmission unit” of the present invention. The CPU 31 executing step S53 corresponds to the “second storage control unit” of the present invention. The CPU 31 executing step S61 corresponds to the “identification information transmitting unit” of the present invention. The CPU 31 executing step S69 corresponds to the “file transmission unit” of the present invention. The printing unit 79 corresponds to “identification information output unit” and “file printing unit” of the present invention.

  The CPU 31 executing step S57 corresponds to the “print destination information transmitting unit” of the present invention. The display 57 corresponds to the “display unit” of the present invention. The CPU 51 that executes step S7 corresponds to the “key generation means” of the present invention. The CPU 51 that executes step S9 corresponds to the “encryption unit” of the present invention. The CPU 31 executing step S67 corresponds to the “decryption means” of the present invention.

  Step S11 corresponds to the “identification information generation step” and the “first storage control step” of the present invention, respectively. Step S13 corresponds to the “information transmission step” of the present invention. Step S17 corresponds to the “first command transmission step” of the present invention. Steps S23 to S25 correspond to the “identification information input step” of the present invention. Step S27 corresponds to the “collation step” of the present invention. Step S29 corresponds to the “second command transmission step” of the present invention. Step S53 corresponds to the “second storage control step” of the present invention. Step S61 corresponds to the “identification information transmission step” of the present invention. Step S69 corresponds to the “file transmission step” of the present invention.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The change in the range which does not change the summary of invention is possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the random number image is printed by the designated printer 7, but the random number image may be displayed on the display 77. Further, instead of the random number image, the random number may be printed or displayed as it is by the designated printer 7. In this case, instead of image reading by the camera 59, the user may manually input a random number from the input unit 58.

  In the above embodiment, the printing system 1 using both a random number and an authentication key (a fixed key and a variable key) has been exemplified. However, the variable key may also serve as a random number without using a random number. Good. Specifically, in the mobile terminal 5, step S11 is not executed, and the encryption key B is stored in the file management table 100 in association with the electronic file. In the server 3, no random number is set in each record of the print management table 200.

  In step S59, an image obtained by QR coding the encryption key B is generated as a random number image. In steps S23 to S27, the read random number image is converted into the encryption key B, and it is determined whether or not it matches the encryption key B registered in the file management table 100. Thereby, it is possible to authenticate whether or not the mobile terminal 5 held by the user is the same as the terminal device that has registered the electronic file in the server 3 by a simple process using only the authentication key.

  Further, the system configuration of the printing system 1 can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, instead of providing the server 3 and the wireless LAN router 2, a multi-function router 9 having these functions integrally may be provided. The multi-function router 9 includes various communication interfaces (LAN I / F 95, wireless LAN I / F 96, WAN I / F 97, USB I / F 98) in addition to the CPU 91, ROM 92, RAM 93, and flash memory 94. The multi-function router 9 can communicate with a plurality of printers 7 and portable terminals 5 through these communication interfaces. The ROM 92 stores a program for executing the printing related process shown in FIG. A print management table 200 is stored in the flash memory 94. Even when such a configuration is adopted, secure printing similar to that in the above embodiment can be realized. In this modification, the multi-function router 9 corresponds to the “print management apparatus” of the present invention.

  Although not shown, in the printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a multifunction router 9 (FIG. 11) may be installed instead of the wireless LAN router 2. In this case, some of the processes and functions executed by the server 3 may be executed by the multi-function router 9. For example, in the server 3, steps S51 to S53 are executed, and the electronic file and the print management table 200 are managed. On the other hand, in the multi-function router 9, steps S55 to S63 are executed, and the electronic file and the print management table 200 managed by the server 3 are accessed as necessary. That is, only data management is executed in the server 3, and only processing for the portable terminal 5 and the printer 7 is executed in the multi-function router 9. Such distributed processing can reduce the processing load of the printing system 1. In this modification, the server 3 and the multifunction router 9 correspond to the “print management apparatus” of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 2 Wireless LAN router 3 Server 4 Printer 5 Mobile terminal 6 Internet 7 Printer 9 Multifunctional router 9
31 CPU
51 CPU
57 Display 59 Camera 100 File management table 200 Print management table

Claims (8)

A printing system in which a terminal device, a print management device, and a printing device are connected via a network,
The terminal device
Identification information generating means for generating identification information unique to the electronic file;
First storage control means for storing the electronic file and the identification information in association with each other in a first storage device;
Information transmitting means for reading the electronic file and the identification information from the first storage device and transmitting the read information to the print management device;
First command transmission means for transmitting a first command for designating the electronic file to be printed to the print management apparatus;
Identification information input means for inputting the identification information;
Collation means for collating the identification information input by the identification information input means with the identification information stored in the first storage device to determine whether or not the identification information matches;
Second command transmission means for transmitting, to the print management apparatus, a second command for instructing the printing device to start printing the electronic file when the collation means determines that the identification information matches. Prepared,
The print management apparatus includes:
Second storage control means for associating and storing the electronic file received from the terminal device and the identification information in a second storage device;
When the first command received from the terminal device is received, the identification information corresponding to the electronic file specified by the first command is read from the second storage device and transmitted to the printing device A transmission means;
File receiving means for reading out the electronic file to be printed from the second storage device and transmitting it to the printing device when the second command is received from the terminal device;
The printing apparatus includes:
Identification information output means for outputting the identification information received from the print management apparatus;
A printing system comprising: a file printing unit that prints the electronic file received from the print management apparatus on a print medium. The print management apparatus includes a print destination information transmission unit configured to transmit print destination information including information on the print apparatus that is a transmission destination of the identification information to the terminal apparatus that is a transmission source of the first command.
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device includes display means for displaying the printing destination information received from the print management device. The terminal device
Key generation means for generating a variable key, which is an encryption key unique to the electronic file, for each electronic file;
The electronic file stored in the first storage device includes the variable key generated by the key generation unit and a fixed key that is an encryption key unique to the terminal device stored in the third storage device. And encryption means for encrypting,
The information transmission means transmits the variable key to the print management apparatus together with the electronic file encrypted by the encryption means,
The second command transmission means transmits the fixed key included in the second command when the identification information is determined to match by the verification means,
The print management apparatus includes:
Decrypting means for decrypting the electronic file to be printed with the fixed key and the variable key received from the terminal device;
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the file transmission unit transmits the electronic file decrypted by the decryption unit. The identification information is a variable key that is a unique encryption key for each electronic file,
The terminal device
Key generating means for generating the variable key for each electronic file;
The electronic file stored in the first storage device includes the variable key generated by the key generation unit and a fixed key that is an encryption key unique to the terminal device stored in the third storage device. And encryption means for encrypting,
The information transmission means transmits the variable key to the print management apparatus together with the electronic file encrypted by the encryption means,
The second command transmission means transmits the fixed key included in the second command when the variable key is determined to match by the verification means,
The print management apparatus includes:
Decrypting means for decrypting the electronic file to be printed with the fixed key and the variable key received from the terminal device;
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the file transmission unit transmits the electronic file decrypted by the decryption unit. A terminal device connected via a network to a print management device that causes the printing device to print an electronic file,
Identification information generating means for generating identification information unique to the electronic file;
First storage control means for storing the electronic file and the identification information in association with each other in a first storage device;
Information transmitting means for reading the electronic file and the identification information from the first storage device and transmitting the read information to the print management device;
First command transmission means for transmitting a first command for designating the electronic file to be printed to the print management apparatus;
Identification information input means for inputting the identification information;
Collation means for collating the identification information input by the identification information input means with the identification information stored in the first storage device to determine whether or not the identification information matches;
Second command transmission means for transmitting, to the print management apparatus, a second command for instructing the printing apparatus to start printing the electronic file when the collation means determines that the identification information matches. A terminal device comprising the terminal device. To a terminal device that is a computer connected via a network to a print management device that causes the printing device to print an electronic file,
An identification information generating step for generating identification information unique to the electronic file;
A first storage control step of storing the electronic file and the identification information in association with each other in a first storage device;
An information transmission step of reading out the electronic file and the identification information from the first storage device and transmitting the read information to the print management device;
A first command transmission step of transmitting a first command designating the electronic file to be printed to the print management device;
An identification information input step for inputting the identification information;
A collation step of collating the identification information input in the identification information input step with the identification information stored in the first storage device to determine whether or not the identification information matches;
A second command transmission step of transmitting, to the print management device, a second command for instructing the printing device to start printing the electronic file when it is determined in the collating step that the identification information matches. A terminal control program that is executed. A print management device connected to a terminal device and a printing device via a network and causing the printing device to print an electronic file stored in the terminal device,
Second storage control means for associating and storing the electronic file received from the terminal device and the identification information in a second storage device;
When the first command designating the electronic file to be printed is received from the terminal device, the identification information corresponding to the electronic file designated by the first command is read from the second storage device, and Identification information transmitting means for transmitting to the printing apparatus;
When the second command instructing the printing device to start printing the electronic file is received from the terminal device, the electronic file to be printed is read from the second storage device and transmitted to the printing device. And a file transmission means for printing. A print management device, which is a computer connected to a terminal device and a printing device via a network and causing the printing device to print an electronic file stored in the terminal device,
A second storage control step of storing the electronic file received from the terminal device and the identification information in association with each other in a second storage device;
When the first command designating the electronic file to be printed is received from the terminal device, the identification information corresponding to the electronic file designated by the first command is read from the second storage device, and An identification information transmission step to be transmitted to the printing device;
When the second command instructing the printing device to start printing the electronic file is received from the terminal device, the electronic file to be printed is read from the second storage device and transmitted to the printing device. And a file transmission step for executing a print control program.

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