JP2002007737A - Printing system, printer client, service system, charge- calculating method for printing system and charging method for the printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a service providing side and a user side to respectively acquire appropriate charges in the service via a communication network. SOLUTION: An image is formed on recording material on the basis of the image data of a literary work, when the literary work is duplicated, a 1st charge information related to the image data and a 2nd charge information related to image formation are added, and a duplication charge related to the duplication of the literary work is calculated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fee calculation method, a charging method, a printing system, and a method for copying image data of a literary work received via a communication network onto a recording material.
It relates to a printer client and a service system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid progress of computers, image data of a work desired by a user is downloaded via a communication network such as the Internet,
There is a service that creates an image with a printer and makes a copy. The copying of copyrighted image data over this communication network is a significant flaw in the collection of copyright fees,
In order to handle a copyrighted work as image data, there is a problem that copying is easily performed and collection of a copyright fee is inadequate, which hinders its spread.

For this reason, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-103286 proposes a system in which a copyright payment program is surely paid by interrupting a copying operation by a copyright payment program.

[0004]

However, in the system disclosed in the above publication, the total amount of the copyright fee is determined by collecting the copyright fee set by the copyright holder or publisher (service provider). In such a case, a problem arises. For example, when a user downloads and copies image data of a copyrighted work via a communication network using a printer installed in a convenience store or library, the above copyright fee alone will cause a convenience store or library , It becomes difficult to obtain the usage fee.

[0005] Even if the above-mentioned copyright fee includes the above-mentioned usage fee, there is the following problem. First,
In addition, for a user who copies with a printer owned by the user, if the charge is the same as when copying with a printer installed in a convenience store, the user must pay extra for the use fee. Second, for some users, when you copy an image by enlarging or reducing it,
In spite of the difference in the amount of paper used, an appropriate fee cannot be obtained. Third, convenience stores and libraries not only differ in land costs, but also due to differences in paper purchase fees, etc., so that all convenience stores and libraries cannot have a uniform usage fee.

Of course, if not only the above usage fee can be properly acquired, but also the copyright fee, etc. cannot be properly acquired,
Such a system cannot be developed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible for a service provider and a user to obtain an appropriate fee via a communication network.

[0008]

The above object is achieved by the following means.

(1) A storage system for storing image data of a copyrighted work, and a service system for providing image data, and image data stored in the storage device are acquired via a communication network, and the acquired image data is acquired. A print client that forms an image on a recording material based on image data and duplicates a copyrighted work, and stores first fee information related to the image data on the service system side, The printer client stores second charge information related to the image formation, and calculates a copy charge related to a copy of the work based on the first charge information and the second charge information. Printing system.

(2) A storage system for storing image data of a copyrighted work, and a service system for providing image data, and image data stored in the storage device are acquired via a communication network, and the acquired image data is acquired. A print client that forms an image on a recording material based on image data and duplicates a copyrighted work, wherein the calculation of the duplication fee for duplicating the copyrighted work is set on the service system side. A print system which is configured based on first charge information relating to the image data and second charge information relating to the image formation set on the printer client side.

(3) A storage system for storing image data of a copyrighted work, and a service system for providing image data, and image data stored in the storage device are acquired via a communication network, and the acquired image data is acquired. A print client that forms an image on a recording material based on image data and duplicates a copyrighted work, wherein the print system can be set on the service system side and has a copyright related to the copyright of the copyrighted work. First fee information relating to the image data, including a fee, a data fee for converting the copyrighted work into image data, and a service fee for providing the image data;
Based on the second fee information related to the image formation, which can be set on the printer client side and includes a fee for using materials and a fee for using a machine used for image formation by the printer client, A print system for calculating a duplication fee for duplication.

(4) A printer client for forming an image on a recording material based on image data obtained from a service system via a communication network and copying a literary work, the first charge information relating to the image data and ,
A printer client that calculates a copy fee for copying a copyrighted work based on second fee information related to image formation.

(5) A service system including a storage device for storing image data of a copyrighted work and providing the image data to a printer client via a communication network, wherein the first charge information relating to the image data; A service system for calculating a copy fee for copying a copyrighted work based on second charge information relating to image formation by the printer client.

(6) A storage system for storing image data of a copyrighted work, and a service system for providing image data, and image data stored in the storage device are acquired via a communication network, and the acquired image data is acquired. A print client that forms an image on a recording material based on image data and duplicates a copyrighted work, the first charge information relating to the image data; A charge calculation method, which calculates a copy charge for copying a copyrighted work based on the second charge information.

(7) A storage system for storing image data of a copyrighted work, and a service system for providing image data, and image data stored in the storage device are acquired via a communication network, and the acquired image data is acquired. A printer client that forms an image on a recording material based on image data and duplicates a literary work, wherein the first charge information related to the image data; A charging method characterized by charging a copy fee for copying a copyrighted work calculated based on the second fee information.

(8) A storage system for storing image data of a copyrighted work, and a service system for providing image data, and image data stored in the storage device are acquired via a communication network, and the acquired image data is acquired. A printer client that forms an image on a recording material based on image data and duplicates a copyrighted work, and wherein the copyrighted work is duplicated based on the same image data. A printing system characterized in that a copying fee for copying a copyrighted work differs depending on conditions of formation.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a basic configuration of a printing system. The print system is a storage device for storing image data of a work (in the embodiment, data servers 10 and 20).
A service system 1 that provides image data;
A printer client 40 that acquires image data stored in a storage device, forms an image on a recording material based on the acquired image data, and duplicates a copyrighted work, and information between the service system 1 and the printer client 40. Communication network for sending and receiving (in the embodiment,
Internet INet).

Here, the communication network is a network such as a public analog line, digital line, dedicated line, infrared ray, satellite communication, or the like, such as LAN, WAN, or the Internet. Any network is possible, but the Internet is the most preferable. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the Internet INet will be described.

The Internet INet is a set of networks constructed by constantly connecting LANs (local area networks) laid in research institutes, public institutions, companies, etc., using WAN (wide area network) technology. It is a spontaneous, spontaneously developed network that covers the entire world. Nodes that can communicate according to a protocol (TCP / IP) used on the Internet can communicate by identifying each node. In the Internet INet, an IP address is used as an identifier for identifying each node.
(Uniform resource locator) can be used to directly specify the files stored in each node. The printer client 40, the data servers 10, 20, and the master server 30 included in the printing system described later are examples of such nodes.

The service system 1 is a service-side system that provides image data of a literary work to a user. Specifically, the service system 1 stores the image data in a storage device such as a hard disk (in the embodiment, the data server 10, 2
0) and the user side (printer client 40)
The server is configured so that the image data can be downloaded by accessing from the server. This server is connected to a communication network and has a single server (data servers 10 and 20 and a master server 30 described later).
May be operated on a single server computer) or a plurality may be used. When the service system includes a plurality of servers, the service system may be a data server having storage devices in all the servers, or a master server that manages (or grasps the state of) a plurality of data servers (this server). In this case, the master server may be singular or plural).

Hereinafter, in the service system according to the present embodiment, the data server 1 storing the image data
0, 20 and the entire service (data server 10,
An example will be described in which functions are distributed to a master server 30 that manages and ascertains 20. In this embodiment, the data servers 10 and 20 and the master server 3
0 are connected to the Internet INet, but if the data servers 10, 20, the master server 30, and the printer client 40 can communicate with each other, the data servers 10, 20 and the master server 30 are in the same LA.
N and the LAN is the Internet INet
It may be connected to.

[0022] Here, the term "work" refers to a creative expression of thoughts or feelings, which belongs to the range of literary arts, academics, or fine arts. For example, novels, screenplays, papers, lectures, etc. Works in other languages, art works, prints and other art works, and photographic works. The term “image data” refers to data of a copyrighted work by a scanner or the like, or data of a copyrighted work directly created. Specifically, digital image-converted gradation image information and character image Data including at least one of information and layout information. The format is HTML (Hyp).
er TextMarkup Language), P
DF (Portable Document Form)
at), BMP (Bitmap) and the like.

Next, the outline of the data servers 10 and 20 will be described. The data server 10 is managed and installed by a publisher or the like, and stores digital image data of a literary work, for example, a book, on a large-capacity hard disk serving as a storage unit, and receives data from the printer client 40 via the Internet INet. The image data is transmitted in response to the request. At the time of transmission, the image data is converted, compressed, and encrypted before transmission (at this time, a digital signature may be added). The data server 20 has substantially the same configuration as that of the data server 10, and stores image data different from that of the data server 10. Further, the data server 20 may be managed and installed by a publisher different from the data server 10.

The master server 30 is managed and installed by, for example, a management company that manages image data distribution services. The master server 30 stores data storage position information for accessing individual image data stored in the data servers 10 and 20.
Provided in response to a request from the printer client 40.

The service system 1 is constituted by the data servers 10, 20, and the master server 30, but the service system 1 may be constituted by connecting more data servers and master servers.

The printer client 40 acquires image data stored in a storage device, forms an image on a recording material based on the acquired image data, and duplicates a copyrighted work. An image forming function for forming,
This is a device having a communication function of downloading image data from the service system 1 via a communication network. The printer client 40 may have both of these functions in one image forming apparatus, or may include a printer as an image forming apparatus and a terminal device such as a personal computer. in this case,
The communication function is carried out by the terminal device, and the connection between the personal computer and the printer may be a local connection or a network connection, or a plurality of personal computers and a plurality of printers may be network-connected via a LAN (in this configuration, a plurality of personal computers may be connected). A printer client 40 is constituted by a computer and a plurality of printers).

The printer client 40 according to the present embodiment makes a service system 1 based on the data storage position information obtained by requesting the master server 30 by itself.
The image data is downloaded from the data server 10 or 20 constituting the image server, and an image is formed on a recording material based on the image data, and the copyrighted work is copied.

Here, the recording material is a material in which characters and figures are reproduced in a tangible manner. Specifically, the recording material is a sheet of recording paper cut to a predetermined size, This is a roll of paper recording paper. Copying refers to tangible reproduction by printing, photographing, copying, or other image forming methods based on image data. The copying speed is preferably an electrophotographic method, and the copying cost is preferably an inkjet method. The image copied by the printer client 40 may be slightly different from the copyrighted work due to image processing, marking, and the like performed when forming an image, compared to the copyrighted work. The download does not limit the specific procedure or the mutual operation between the data server 10 and the printer client 40, and downloads the data stored in the data server 10 to the printer client 4.
It is used to mean that 0 is acquired.

The printer client 40 is managed and installed by a convenience store or a library, etc., and can be used freely by unspecified users. The printer client 40 is installed in a business office or the like. It may be used only for a specific user, or may be owned by an individual user.

In such a printing system,
When the user accesses the master server 30 of the service system 1 from the printer client 40 and specifies a work desired by the user, the master server 30 acquires data storage position information of image data of the specified work from the master server 30. Upon obtaining the data storage position information, the printer client 40 accesses the data servers 10 and 20 of the service system 1 based on the data storage position information and downloads the image data. Then, the printer client 40 forms an image on the recording material based on the downloaded image data, and duplicates the copyrighted work. The detailed operation will be described later.

As described above, when a user copies a work, the user is charged a copy fee for copying the work, that is, pays the copy fee. Of course, at this time, the copy fee is calculated before being charged. Furthermore, before the image formation, the copy fee is calculated, so that the user can use the copy fee (in this case, the estimated amount or the estimated fee) or perform the image formation? A determination can be made. The outline of the copying fee will be described with reference to FIG. The copy fee is the first fee information set on the service system 1 side and the printer client 40.
It is calculated based on the second fee information set by the user.

The first fee information is information relating to image data of a copyrighted work. The first charge information is set corresponding to each image data and stored in the service system 1. Of course, these pieces of information may be stored in the same storage device as the image data, or may be stored in a separate storage device. In this case, the ID code (specific code) is assigned to each work (or each image data). Is assigned to each of the image data and the first fee information, so that the correspondence between the two can be obtained.

The first fee information includes a copyright fee relating to the copyright holder of the work, a data conversion fee for converting the work into image data, a service fee for providing image data, and the like.
More specifically, a copyright fee is a copyright fee obtained by a copyright holder when a copyrighted work is copied. In addition, the data conversion fee is, for example, a fee for converting a copyrighted work into digital data as a version if the work is a language work, a fee for reading the work with a scanner or the like, and the like. Is the fee obtained by the publisher (or the company that generated the image data stored in the data servers 10 and 20). The service fee is a fee required for providing the print service to the user, such as various facility costs for the service system and maintenance costs thereof, and provides the print service when the copyrighted work is copied. It is the fee that the service company gets.

As described above, the first charge information is divided into the copyright charge, the data charge, and the service charge, so that not only the respective shares are clear but also the respective charges are obtained. Can be set arbitrarily according to the content of the copyrighted work, so that each person can be left without any loss and an appropriate fee can be obtained. Also, for copyrighted works that have been copied many times by the image data provision service, the data conversion fee is amortized, so please change the setting of each fee freely, such as changing to the corresponding fee. Can be. Note that these fees may be set directly by a person who acquires each fee, or may be set by the service company by contacting the service company.

The first charge information is a charge related to image data of a copyrighted work. If the image data has a plurality of pages (a plurality of chapters), the printer client 40
May be discounted according to the page (chapter) where an image is actually formed, or the first charge information is set for each page (each chapter), and the first charge information is set for each page (chapter). The first charge information may be added by adding only one chapter. Further, when copying a plurality of image data or when copying a plurality of copies of one image data, a discount fee (discount rate) set in advance as a part of the first fee information is used.
May be discounted.

Next, the second fee information is information relating to image formation on the printer client 40 side, and a convenience store or a library where the printer client 40 is installed is set and stored in the printer client 40. The second fee information includes a fee for using a material and a fee for using a machine (such as an image forming apparatus) used when the printer client 40 forms an image of the downloaded image data on a recording material. More specifically, the usage fee of the material is a fee of the material consumed by the printer client 40 for copying, and is a fee of a recording material, a fee of a color material such as toner or ink (for a silver halide printer,
Charge for development of a developer or the like). The usage fee of the machine is a usage fee of the printer client 40 to be copied, such as an electricity fee, a fee required for binding of a post-processing device (finisher) such as center folding, binding, gluing, and a device installation fee. . Regarding the usage fee of these materials and the usage fee of the machine, the printer client 40 may detect each usage and use the actual usage as the second fee information. , Colored paper, etc.)
And the size of the recording material 1 (A3, A4, B4, B5, etc.), including these fees used per sheet.
The second charge information may be set as a unit price per sheet and multiplied by the number of sheets used for image formation to obtain second charge information (in this case, only the material use charge), or the printer client 40
The usage fee per unit operating time is set by including the usage fee of materials in the usage fee per unit operating time, and the operating time of the printer client (or the time required for image formation) is measured. Multiplied by the second fee information (in this case,
Only the usage fee for the machine) may be used.

Therefore, the printer client 40
However, recording paper of the first size / recording paper of the second size different from the first size, enlargement / reduction, single-sided image formation / double-sided image formation, color image formation / monochrome image formation, copyrighted work 1
When at least one of the functions of “image formation on one page of recording material / image formation of multiple pages on one page of recording material” is provided so that at least one function can be selected, the second fee information is based on image data. It is changed according to the function (image forming condition) selected when forming an image. In other words,
An image forming condition setting unit (such as an operation panel) provided in the printer client 40 is configured to set image forming conditions, and the second fee information is changed according to the set image forming conditions. Become.

As described above, since the second charge information can be arbitrarily set (changed) by the printer client 40, the printer client 40 is installed in accordance with the material purchase cost, the operation rate of the printer client 40, and the like. For those who do (convenience stores, libraries, etc.), they can get a reasonable income. In other words, it is possible to set a convenient fee (charge obtained by the person) according to the circumstances of each person who has installed the printer client 40. Of course, for an individual user (owned by the user), setting the second fee information to 0 yen eliminates the need to pay extra for the duplication fee. Note that these fees may be set directly by a person who acquires each fee, or may be set by the service company by contacting the service company.

The second charge information is a charge related to image formation. When a large number of copied works are provided, a discount charge (discount rate) set in advance as a part of the second charge information is applied. Discounts may be made accordingly.

As described above, the printer client 40
However, when the image is formed on the recording material based on the image data of the copyrighted work downloaded from the service system 1 and the copyrighted work is duplicated, the first fee information and the second fee information are added. Then, a copy fee for copying the work is calculated, and the calculated copy fee is charged to the user. Of course, the calculation of the copy fee (and the display on the printer client 40) is also performed before image formation.
The user looks at the display unit on which the calculated duplication fee (in this case, the estimated fee) is displayed and determines whether or not image formation can be performed even at this duplication fee. Can be. In this case, the second fee information is a fee related to image formation estimated when an image is formed, since an image is not actually formed. That is, the second fee information is calculated based on the usage fee of the material to be used and the usage fee of the machine, and the duplication fee is calculated by adding this to the first fee information.

In other words, the second fee, and thus the duplication fee, differs depending on the function (image forming conditions) selected by the user even when the copyrighted work is duplicated based on the same image data. . More specifically, when a color image is formed, the cost (in short, the usage fee of the coloring material) is higher than when a monochrome image is formed, and when the image is formed in an enlarged manner. Is more expensive (in other words, the fee for use of the recording material, since the number of recording materials for forming the image increases, compared to the case where the image is formed by reduction).

The calculation of the copy fee is based on the first data obtained from the service system 1 via the Internet INet.
The charge information and the second charge information set by the printer client 40 may be added by the printer client 40. Conversely, the second charge information obtained from the printer client 40 via the Internet INet and the service system The service system 1 may add the first fee information set in step 1. In any case, the calculated copy fee is preferably transmitted to the other, that is, shared by both the printer client 40 and the service system 1.

Also, the copyright lasts for 50 years after the author's death (in the case of a co-authored work, after the death of the last deceased creator). When a copyrighted work is copied, it is extremely unreasonable for the user to be charged a copyright fee. for that reason,
The duration of the copyright (expiration date) is stored in the service system 1 as copyrighted information on the copyrighted work / image data for each image data, and is stored when the printer client 40 forms an image, or If the expiration date has passed when the client 40 downloads the image data, the copy fee may not include the copyright fee. That is, assuming that the copyright fee has been removed from the first fee information, the second fee information is added to obtain a copy fee.

The first charge information and the second charge information correspond to the service system 1 and the printer client 4, respectively.
Although the setting can be made directly at 0, the setting may be made from another information device (such as a personal computer) connected to the Internet INet via the Internet INet. Further, in the present embodiment, the first fee information is stored in the service system 1 and the second fee information is stored in the printer client 40, so that the degree of freedom of each setting is increased. The present invention is not limited to this, and both the first fee information and the second fee information may be stored in the service system 1 or the printer client 40.

As a method of charging, payment by a debit card or a credit card, payment by a coin vendor installed in the printer client 40 (side-by-side), cash at a convenience store installed in the printer client 40, Various methods can be used, such as cash payment to a library reception.

Next, each device (the data servers 10, 20 and the master server 3) in the print system shown in FIG.
0, Printer Client 40) One embodiment of each configuration and operation will be described.

In the following description, the printer client 40 acquires the data storage position information storing the specified image data from the master server 30 and specifies the data storage position information based on the data storage position information. The system is configured to access the image data (data servers 10 and 20) and download the image data. For example, the data storage position information of the specified image data is also stored in a CD-ROM or the like. Based on the data storage position information obtained from the CD-ROM, the specified image data (data servers 10 and 20) may be accessed to download the image data. Further, in the following description, the service system 1 confirms the result of image formation in the printer client 40 before charging, that is, performs a charging process in accordance with the success / failure of copying (result of image formation). It is preferable to be able to perform appropriate charging, but it is not always necessary to confirm the result of image formation.

The data servers 10, 20, the master server 30, and the printer client 40 can mutually execute encrypted communication by the public key system. In other words, each decrypts the digital signature of the received data with the public key of the transmission source, specifies the transmission source, prevents spoofing by other nodes, etc., and transmits the transmitted data using its own private key. Encrypt to prevent unauthorized copying by other nodes.

First, based on FIG. 3 which is a block diagram for explaining the detailed configuration of the data server 10, the configuration of the data server 10 (the data server 20 has the same configuration, and therefore the description is omitted) will be described. I do.

In FIG. 3, the data server 10 includes the main control unit 1
1, an image data storage unit 12, a data conversion unit 13, a compression unit 14, an encryption processing unit 15, a collation unit 16, and a communication unit 17, and these units are connected to each other via an internal bus.

The main control unit 11 has a central processing unit (CP)
U), a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, and the like, and controls each part and the whole of the data server 10 based on a program recorded in the auxiliary storage device.

The image data storage unit 12 has a large-capacity hard disk and stores image data. As the image data, data that can be output as one book format is collected into one file. The main control unit 11 manages the large-capacity hard disk by using an arbitrary file system, and can read and write the file relating to arbitrary image data by designating a path and a file name, for example. Further, the main controller 11 can select individual pages from image data including a plurality of pages. The storage medium included in the image data storage unit 12 is not limited to a hard disk, but may be any storage medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk. The image data storage unit 1
2 is stored together with the present code uniquely assigned to each image data.

The data conversion unit 13 converts the stored image data into an image according to the image forming conditions (image forming specifications) required by the printer client 40 and the hardware performance of the printer client 40. Convert to data. As the data conversion processing, for example, there is a page order rearrangement, which may be rearranged according to the hardware performance of the printer client 40,
Rearrangement may be performed according to image forming conditions. In particular, when it is requested to form an image for each book, that is, for all pages of the image data, it is necessary to execute the rearrangement. In the case of a page-by-page request, rearrangement may not be necessary, and it is possible to cope with printers having various configurations. Regarding the image forming conditions and hardware performance of the printer client 40, the printer client 40
Will be described later.

The compression section 14 is a printer client 40
The image forming data is compressed to a size suitable for communication by a compression processing method that can be decompressed. Any compression method may be used. Further, the data server 10 can perform a plurality of types of compression processing, and can communicate compressed image forming data with various printer clients 40.

The encryption processing unit 15 performs encryption and decryption according to the public key method as described later. Cryptographic processing unit 1
Reference numeral 5 indicates that the data transmitted by the data server 10 is added with a digital signature encrypted with its own private key, and is encrypted with the public key of the transmission destination before transmission. Further, the encryption processing unit 15 decrypts the digital signature of the received data using the public key of the transmission source, specifies the transmission source, and receives the data encrypted with the public key of the transmission source, decrypts the data with the private key of the reception unit. I do. The encryption of the image data is performed after the conversion process from the image data to the image formation data and the compression process to the image formation data.

The collating unit 16 is a printer client 40
Is verified by the master server 30. At the time of collation, the job ID (described later) received from the printer client 40 is
0, requesting collation as to whether the print job associated with the job ID is a print job approved by the master server 30, and relying on the collation result by the master server 30.

The communication unit 17 executes communication between the data server 10 and the master server 30 and communication between the data server 10 and the printer client 40 via the Internet INet according to a known protocol.

The data conversion unit 13, the compression unit 14, the encryption processing unit 15, and the collation unit 16 are not limited to the hardware configuration. The image data stored in the image data storage unit 12 by software executed by the main control unit 11 And the collation of the job ID received by the communication unit 17 is executed. Further, the data conversion unit 13 may be configured to be provided in the printer client 40 as described later.

Next, based on FIG. 4 which is a block diagram for explaining the detailed configuration of the master server 30, the configuration of the data server 10 (the data server 20 has the same configuration, and the description thereof will be omitted). explain.

In FIG. 4, the master server 30
01, authentication unit 302, image formation target specifying unit 303, fee calculation unit 304, job ID issuing unit 305, collation unit 30
6, billing processing unit 307, copyrighted work information storage unit 308, ID
Storage unit 309, encryption processing unit 310, communication unit 311, first
It has a charge information storage unit 312, and these units are connected to each other by an internal bus.

The main control unit 301 has a central processing unit (C
PU), main storage, auxiliary storage, etc.
Each part and the whole of the master server 30 are controlled based on the program recorded in the auxiliary storage device.

The authentication unit 302 is a printer client 4
If there is a login request from 0, the validity of one or both of the printer client 40 and the user operating the printer client 40 is determined. If valid, the printer client 40 can continue the procedure described later, but if not, the printer client 40 is prohibited from executing the procedure described later. Also, if there is a login request again from the printer client 40,
If the validity is newly determined and the printer client 40 is valid, the printer client 40 can execute the procedure described later.

The copyrighted work information storage unit 308 has a large capacity hard disk and stores copyrighted work information relating to a copyrighted work (image data) handled by the print system. This copyrighted work information is, for each copyrighted work (image data),
It is stored with this code so that each can be specified. The stored copyrighted work information includes the copyrighted work name,
In addition to information accompanying the copyrighted work itself, such as the name of the copyright owner and the date of copyright expiration, the name of the publisher (the name of the data
Information about the image data such as the image data format, the image data capacity, the number of colors, the number of pages (this may be information associated with the copyrighted work itself), the service provision start date, and the image data are stored. There is data storage information indicating the position where the data is located. As a result, the request main code transmitted by the printer client 40 and the data storage position information of the image data specified thereby can be specified. In the present embodiment, the data storage position information is:
This data is a combination of the IP address of the data server 10 storing each image data, the path and the file name of the image data stored in the data server 10, and further specifies an arbitrary page when the image data includes a plurality of pages. Contains the page number. The storage medium included in the copyrighted work information storage unit 308 is not limited to a hard disk, but may be any storage medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk.

The first fee information storage unit 312 has a large capacity hard disk and stores (stores) the above-mentioned first fee information. That is, for each piece of image data (along with the present code), information relating to the image data of the copyrighted work includes a copyright fee for the copyright holder of the copyrighted work, a data conversion fee for converting the copyrighted work into image data, and image data. The service fee to be provided is stored. The image data stored in the first fee information storage unit 312 is stored together with the present code uniquely assigned to each image data. The storage medium included in the first fee information storage unit 312 is not limited to a hard disk, but may be any storage medium such as an optical disk and a magneto-optical disk. Further, the first fee information storage unit 312 may be the same storage medium as the above-mentioned copyrighted work information storage unit 308. In this case, the storage area may be divided and stored. May store the first fee information.

The image forming object specifying unit 303 specifies the image data stored in the image data storage unit 12 of the data server 10 based on the request of the printer client 40,
Data storage position information corresponding to the image data is determined. In the present embodiment, since the printer client 40 specifies the image data by the request main code, the corresponding data storage position information is determined based on the target table stored in the copyrighted work information storage unit 308.

The charge calculating unit 304 determines the printer based on the second charge information transmitted from the printer client 40 and the first charge information of the specified image data stored in the first charge information storage unit 312 described later. Client 40
Calculate the duplication fee to be charged to the user who operates.

When the order information is transmitted from the printer client 40, the job ID issuing unit 305 issues a unique job ID for each print job related to the order request from the printer client 40 that has approved the estimate. The print job is a series of operations from communication of image data relating to one specified image data to billing processing, and is executed by each of the data server 10, the master server 30, the printer client 40, and between them. The communication of the image data, the image formation, the communication of the image formation result, and the charging process are assigned to any one of the print jobs. Since the communication of the image data, the image formation, the communication of the image formation result, and the billing process can be specified by the assigned job ID, the data server 10, the master server 30
However, it is possible to specify which user or printer client is responsible for various requests and processes by many printer clients and many users.

The ID storage unit 309 stores the job ID issuing unit 3
The user ID, this code, the first charge information, the estimated amount (or the second charge information, and the image set at the time of making the estimate) are sent to the job ID issued at the time of order request. Along with the formation condition) for a predetermined expiration date.

The collation unit 306 collates the job ID in response to a collation request from the data server 10 and returns a collation result to the data server 10. The collation by the collation unit 306 is performed by checking whether the job ID communicated with the collation request from the data server 10 matches the one issued by the job ID issuing unit 35 (the job ID stored in the ID storage unit 309).
Or not). Printer client 4
0 requests the data server 10 to obtain image data, the job ID issued by the job ID issuing unit 35
Is added, the data server 10 determines that the request from the printer client 40 is valid if the matching result returned from the master server 30 is valid, and if not, the request from the printer client 40 is invalid. Judge and do not respond.

The accounting unit 307 performs accounting for the printer client 40 or a user who operates the printer client 40 in accordance with the image forming result returned from the printer client 40. In the present embodiment,
The process of charging by a debit card or a credit card may be charging by cash (payment to a coin vendor or a receptionist) at a place where the printer client 40 is installed. In this case, the printer client 40 (or another information device connected to the Internet INet) transmits information indicating that the user has paid the copy fee together with the job ID, and the master server 30 receives the information. Upon confirmation, the billing process has been completed. Note that the amount charged here is calculated by the charge calculating unit 304 from the second charge information transmitted after the image formation from the printer client 40 and the first charge information when the image formation is normally performed. Duplication fee. This is because, in the present embodiment, the second fee information is not transmitted at the time of estimation, taking into account the actual image forming conditions, but if the second fee information becomes accurate (the image formation is performed at the time of estimation and at the time of image formation). The estimated amount stored in the ID storage unit 309 may be charged (if it is confirmed that the conditions are the same).

The encryption processing unit 310 performs encryption and decryption by a public key method as described later. The encryption processing unit 310 adds a digital signature encrypted with its own private key to the data transmitted by the master server 30, encrypts the data with the public key of the transmission destination, and transmits the data. In addition, the encryption processing unit 310 decrypts the digital signature of the received data with the public key of the transmission source, specifies the transmission source, and decrypts the data with the private key of itself when receiving the data encrypted with the own public key. I do.

The communication unit 311 is connected to the Internet INet.
The communication between the data server 10 and the master server 30 and the communication between the master server 30 and the printer client 40 are executed by using a known protocol.

The authentication unit 302 and the image forming object specifying unit 30
3, the charge calculation unit 304, the job ID issuing unit 305, the collation unit 306, the accounting unit 307, and the encryption unit 310 are not limited to the hardware configuration, but the copyrighted work information storage unit 308 as software executed by the main control unit 301; ID storage unit 3
09, the processing may be performed using the data in the first fee information storage unit 312, and the processing result may be transmitted to the data server 10 or the printer client 40 via the communication unit 311.

Next, the configuration of the printer client 40 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 which is a block diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the printer client 40.

In FIG. 5, the printer client 40 includes a main control unit 401, a printer information storage unit 402, an input unit 40
3, display unit 404, communication unit 405, encryption processing unit 406,
The printer includes a printer unit 407, a finisher unit 408, and an image formation failure detection unit 409, and these units are connected to each other via an internal bus.

The main control unit 401 has a central processing unit (C
PU), main storage, auxiliary storage, etc.
Each part and the whole of the printer client 40 is controlled based on a program recorded in the ROM. Note that the main control unit 401, as described later,
Also includes a calculation unit that adds the two based on the first charge information and the second charge information transmitted from the server and calculates a copy charge (in the example described below, the estimated charge before image formation). ing.

The second charge information storage unit 410 has a large-capacity hard disk and stores (stores) the above-mentioned second charge information. That is, as information relating to image formation, the downloaded image data is used when the printer client 40 forms an image on a recording material.
A usage fee of a material, a usage fee of a machine (such as an image forming apparatus), and the like are stored. The storage medium included in the second fee information storage unit 410 is not limited to a hard disk, but may be any storage medium such as an optical disk and a magneto-optical disk. Further, the second fee information storage unit 410 may be the same storage medium as the above-described printer information storage unit 402 described later, and in this case, the storage area may be divided and stored.

The printer information storage unit 402 stores information relating to the hardware performance of the printer unit 407 and the finisher unit 408. The hardware performance of the printer unit 407 includes the number of pages that the printer unit 407 can receive at one time, the paper handling on the recording paper transport path,
These are performances unique to the printer unit 407, such as selectable paper size, font type, data format (bitmap, page description language) compatible with the printer, printable resolution, and number of colors. The hardware performance of the finisher unit 408 includes, for example, whether or not binding with a front cover or a back cover, whether or not center folding, whether or not saddle stitching, whether or not glue binding, whether or not staples, and whether or not punch holes are possible. 408. The data conversion unit 13 included in the data server 10 executes conversion based on such information. The printer information storage unit 402 stores image forming conditions (described later) set from the input unit 403.
Is stored (at this time, it is stored together with the present code).

The hardware performance will be described below. For example, when the storage capacity required for storing all pages of the image data exceeds the storage capacity of the image memory provided in the printer unit 407 (described later), a memory overflow occurs when attempting to receive the entire image data. This is an item that needs to be adjusted with the data server 10 because there is a possibility. The data server 10 divides the image data into a plurality of parts according to the image memory size, and has confirmed that the image formation of one of the divided parts has been completed and that the free space of the image memory has been sufficiently secured during the image formation. In this case, transmitting the next part can prevent memory overflow, and the data conversion unit 13 of the present embodiment is configured to perform division according to the number of pages that can be temporarily stored in the printer client 40.

When the image memory overflows, the printer client 40 notifies this, and the data server 10 temporarily suspends the image data transmission, and when the free space in the image memory of the printer client 40 is secured, the image data transmission is started. The procedure to restart is also good.

For example, with respect to paper handling, in an electrophotographic laser printer, when performing double-sided copying, the first recording sheet (recording material previously cut to a predetermined size) is inverted to form an image on the back surface. Up to now, a technique for feeding a plurality of recording sheets to a circulation path including a reversing section has been known. As an example, in the case of a laser printer configured to feed five recording sheets to the circulation path, to form a two-sided image of image data consisting of ten pages, the first page (first sheet table) and the third page (2 5th page (3rd page), 7th page (4th page), 9th page (5th page), 2nd page (1st page), 4th page (2nd page) Image formation is performed in the order of the second page, the sixth page (the third page), the eighth page (the fourth page), and the tenth page (the fifth page). However, there is a possibility that overhead for rearranging the page order in the printer client 40 occurs. Therefore, the paper handling of the printer client 40 is an item that requires adjustment of the transmission procedure with the data server 10. The data server 10 performs transmission by rearranging the page order of the image data by the data conversion unit 13 according to the paper handling.

For example, with respect to selectable paper sizes, the printer unit 407 determines the paper size required for image formation of image data.
If it is not possible to select an item, there is a possibility that image formation cannot be performed at all, or the appearance of image formation may be significantly deteriorated. Therefore, it is an item that requires adjustment of the transmission procedure with the data server 10. The data server 10 can perform reduction or enlargement processing on the image data by the data converter 13 and transmit the image data in accordance with the selectable paper size.

For example, when the printer unit 407 cannot select a font type necessary for image formation of image data, the possibility that an image cannot be formed at all, the appearance of the image formation becomes extremely poor, or the font becomes This is an item that requires adjustment of the transmission procedure with the data server 10 because there is a possibility that printing of unprovided characters may not be possible. The data server 10 is a printer client 40
The data conversion unit 13 can change the font of the image data and transmit the image data in accordance with the font that can be selected or specified by the user. The type of font used for image formation of image data can be specified on the printer client 40 side. In addition to specifying any font, it is also possible to specify a bitmap and determine whether or not to add font data to image data. Can be specified.

For example, if the printer unit 407 (described later) receives image data in an unsupported data format, the printer client 40 may not be able to form an image at all. Transmission of bitmap data to a printer client capable of supporting a printer description language that can reduce the transmission capacity increases the communication capacity. Therefore, the transmission procedure must be adjusted with the data server 10. . The data server 10 can change the data format of the image data by the data conversion unit 13 according to the data format supported by the printer client 40 and transmit the image data.

For example, if the printer client 40 supports only a fixed resolution and receives image data of a resolution other than the resolution, the image may be formed in an enlarged or reduced state. If an image can be formed by interpreting the resolution of the data received by the printer client 40, a high resolution (high quality image formation can be obtained) and a low resolution (communication capacity can be reduced) are set to the printer client 40. This is an item that requires adjustment of the transmission procedure with the data server 10 because there is a possibility that the user operating the 40 may want to make a selection.
The data server 10 can change the resolution of the image data with the data conversion unit 13 according to the resolution that can be supported by the printer client 40 and transmit the image data.

For example, center folding at the finisher portion 408,
In this case, saddle stitching is possible.
In step 07, four pages are recorded on one recording material, and the four pages are overlapped by the finisher unit 408 and folded or bound at the boundary of the pages. When forming the image data of the page number N, the printer unit 407 prints the first and Nth pages on one surface of the first recording material and the second and Nth pages on the back surface.
-Image formation of the first page, 3 on one side of the second recording material
Page and N-2 page, 4th page and N on the back
When the image data is transmitted in the page order after the image formation on the third page, there is a possibility that an overhead for rearranging the page order in the printer client 40 occurs. Therefore, if the printer client 40 can perform center folding and saddle stitching, this is an item that requires adjustment of the transmission procedure with the data server 10. The data server 10 performs transmission by rearranging the page order of the image data by the data conversion unit 13 according to the recording order of each page.

The above-described paper size, font type, data format, printable resolution, presence / absence of saddle stitching and folding can be specified by the printer client 40. If specified by the printer client 40, the communication capacity required for adjustment can be reduced.

The input unit 403 is provided with operation keys for performing various operations. The user can set image forming conditions, input information for authenticating estimation, etc., and perform other operations, settings, and inputs by the user. Is performed.

The image forming conditions are the printer client 4
0 is an option that can be selected by the user who operates 0, and is a specification specified by the user. For example, recording paper of the first size / recording paper of the second size different from the first size (selection of the recording paper size), color image formation / monochrome image formation (selection of color / monochrome, and color image formation In such a case, options relating to the quality of image formation such as selection of the number of colors, selection of resolution, enlargement / reduction (selection of magnification), single-sided image formation / double-sided image formation (single-sided double-sided selection), writing Image formation of one page on one page of recording material / Monochrome image formation of multiple pages of work on one page of recording material, selection of front and back covers, presence / absence of center folding, presence / absence of saddle stitching, glue binding,
There are options related to binding, such as selection of whether to select stapling and punching, and options related to an image forming range of outputting all pages of book data or outputting a specified page.

The display unit 404 is a display means for displaying various information, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The various information includes an input result input by the user using the input unit 403 and a selectable information. Options, copyrighted work information received from the master server 30, a copy fee, an estimated fee, and the like are displayed. The input unit 403 and the display unit 404 may be integrally configured by, for example, a touch panel or the like.

The communication unit 405 is connected to the Internet INet
Client 40 and data server 1 via
0, communication between the printer client 40 and the master server 30 is executed by a known protocol.

The encryption processing unit 406 performs encryption and decryption according to the public key method as described later. The encryption processing unit 406 adds a digital signature encrypted with its own private key to the data transmitted by the printer client 40, encrypts the data with the public key of the transmission destination, and transmits the data. In addition, the encryption processing unit 406 decrypts the digital signature of the received data with the public key of the transmission source, specifies the transmission source, and receives the data encrypted with the public key of the transmission source. I do.

The printer unit 407 sequentially forms an image on a recording material based on the image data decrypted by the encryption processing unit 406. Any method can be used as long as an image can be formed based on digital data, such as an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, and a silver halide photographic method.

The finisher unit 408 performs a well-known operation such as sorting, stapling, gluing and binding, center folding, saddle stitching, etc. of the recording material on which an image has been formed based on the image data. Execute the process.

An image formation defect detection unit 409 detects a defect in image formation caused by a jam (paper jam) generated during the operation of the printer unit 407 and the finisher unit 408, lack of glue or staples, or other abnormalities. To generate a detection signal. Well-known techniques can be employed for a jam detection technology using various sensors such as an optical sensor and an actuator, a technology for detecting a lack of glue or a staple, and a technology for detecting other abnormalities.

The printer client 40 notifies the data server 10 of the result of image formation in response to the detection signal of the image formation failure detection unit 409. That is, if any detection signal indicating the failure of the image formation is issued, the failure of the image formation is notified to the data server 10, and if no such detection signal is issued, the success of the image formation is determined. Data server 10
Notify.

The cryptographic processing unit 406 is not limited to a hardware configuration, and can be used as software to be executed by the main control unit 301 to decode image data to be formed by the printer unit 407 and to transmit data via the communication unit 405. It may be configured to execute creation of a digital signature to be added.

The printer client 40 may include a data conversion unit (not shown) equivalent to the data conversion unit 13 provided in the data server 10. In this case, it is possible for the printer to execute the above-described data conversion processing applied to the image data, and the data server 10
Thus, for example, the image data stored in the image data storage unit 12 may be encrypted without any conversion processing and transmitted, or the conversion processing may be performed only by rearranging the page order and transmitting the encrypted data. Becomes possible. Needless to say, processing which is not executed by the data conversion unit 13 and which is necessary is converted by the data conversion unit of the printer client 40.

Next, the operation of the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In addition,
The encryption performed during the step, the addition of a digital signature, and the like will be described later.

A user who wants to form an image of image data operates the printer client 40 to issue a log-in request to the master server 30 constituting the service system 1 (S11). By login, the master server 3
0 and a logical communication channel between the printer client 40.

When the master server 30 receives the log-in request, it checks the validity of the log-in request. If the log-in request is valid, the master server 30 authenticates the printer client 40 (S12).
The following procedure can be executed by the printer client 40. It is determined that a login request from a user or a printer client registered in the master server 30 as a user of the print system is valid. The authentication result is notified to the printer client 40.

When the printer client 40 is authenticated, it specifies the work to be copied, and transmits the specified result (this code) of the specified work to the master server 30 (S13). In the service system 1, each image data is provided with a unique book code for each case and stored together with other information. Therefore, when the user specifies the image data, the image data is specified by the book code. This code may be stored in the printer client 40 (for example, information for specifying image data is stored in a removable storage (portable storage unit) such as a CD-ROM, and -R
This code may be specified by searching the OM. Then, the user may refer to the image formed matter or the like, or the present code provided in the master server 30 or the like may be obtained.

For example, when the present code is obtained from the master server 30, the master server 30 transmits to the printer client 40 information on the requested work (thumbnail, summary, etc.) and a comparison list of the present code. The control list may be a list that can list all image data stored by a plurality of data servers, or may be a search result based on search conditions specified by the printer client 40 side. Search criteria include
A book title, author name (author name), publisher name, Nippon Decimal Classification (NDC), etc. can be specified. Therefore, the printer client 40 can specify the copyrighted work to be copied and the present code based on the obtained list.

The master server 30 searches for the book code stored in the copyrighted work information storage unit 308 based on the received book code, confirms that the book code is present, and specifies the image formation target (S14). . Then, the first charge information stored together with the present code (as described above, information relating to the image data stored in the first charge information storage unit 312, such as a copyright fee, a data conversion fee, a service fee, etc.)
Is transmitted to the printer client 40 (S15), which is a fee related to the image data corresponding to the present code specified in S14. At this time, the copyrighted work information storage unit 30
8 (the copyright name, copyright owner name, copyright expiration date, publisher name, image data format, image data capacity, number of colors, number of pages, service provision started as described above) Days). Printer client 40
The main control unit 401 calculates the estimated charge by adding the first charge information transmitted from the master server 30 and the second charge information storage unit stored in the second charge information storage unit 410 (S16). ), The amount is displayed on the display unit 404 (S1).
7).

At this time, the image forming conditions set by the user through the input unit 403 (for example, as described above, the first
Size recording paper / second size recording paper different from the first size (selection of recording paper size), color image formation / monochrome image formation (color / monochrome selection, color image formation) Further select the number of colors), options related to image formation quality such as selection of resolution,
Enlargement / reduction (selection of magnification), single-sided image formation / double-sided image formation (single-sided double-sided selection), image formation of one page of work on one page of recording material / monochrome image formation of multiple pages of work on one page of recording material, cover Options for binding, such as selection of paper and back cover, presence of center fold, presence of saddle stitching, selection of glue binding, staple, punch hole punching, etc., and whether to output all pages of book data The second charge information is changed in accordance with the image formation range of whether to output or not, and the estimated charge is calculated each time, and the display unit 40
4 is displayed. In addition, for example, the second fee information storage unit 41
If the second charge information stored in 0 is set as a unit price per recording material, the unit number is multiplied by the number of pages of the copyrighted work information transmitted from the master server 30 and the unit price. Calculate the second fee information.

The display unit 404 displays information based on the copyrighted work information transmitted from the master server 30, a copyrighted work name, a copyright owner name, a copyright expiration date, a publisher name, The image data format, the amount of image data, the number of colors, the number of pages, and the date of starting service provision are also displayed. The name of the user who operates the printer client 40, the name of the person requesting the cost (name and corporate name), and contact information Are displayed.
These items can be printed by the printer unit 407 of the printer client 40.

The user operating the printer client 40 checks the contents displayed on the display unit 404, and if he or she can approve it, presses an order (S18), for example, an order button provided on the input unit 403. When an order is placed, order data is transmitted from the printer client 40 to the master server 30. The order data includes the calculated estimated fee, the image forming conditions set at that time, and this code. On the other hand, also in the ordered printer client 40, the image forming conditions, the estimated fee, and the like are stored in the printer information storage unit 402 together with the present code.

When the master server 30 receives the order data, the job ID issuing unit 305 issues a unique job ID for each print job related to the order request from the printer client 40 that has approved the estimate (S19). Then, the job ID issued by the job ID issuing unit 305
Are stored in the storage unit 309 together with the ID, the user name, the actual code, the estimated amount, and the image forming conditions transmitted at the time of order request during a predetermined expiration date. Further, in the image forming target specifying unit 303 of the master server 30,
The image data corresponding to this code transmitted from the printer client 40 is identified by specifying the position information of the image data stored in the image data storage unit 12 of the data server 10,
Data storage position information corresponding to the image data is determined. Then, the data storage position information and the job ID are transmitted to the printer client 40 (S20).

The data storage position information is a value for the printer client 40 to specify the image data stored in the data server 10. For example, if the data server 10 manages and operates individual image data as one file in a file system that supports a directory structure, an IP address that specifies the data server 10 from a large number of nodes on the Internet Then, the image data can be specified by the path to the file corresponding to the image data. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the IP
A code based on the address and the path is generated and used as data storage position information.

Upon receiving the data storage position information and the job ID, the printer client 40 accesses the data server 10 based on the data storage position information (S2).
1) Request image formation. Printer client 40
Obtains the IP address of the data server 10 to be accessed from the data storage location information.
Data server 1 that stores desired image data from a plurality of data servers 10 and 20 (see FIG. 1) connected to
It becomes possible to specify 0 for access.

When receiving an image forming request from the printer client 40, the data server 10 requests the master server 30 to collate the job ID (S22), and the master server 30 verifies the job ID corresponding to the collation request (S22). S2
3). The collation in step 23 is collation as to whether or not the following job IDs (1) and (2) match.

(1) Job ID issued by the master server 30 and transmitted to the printer client 40 and stored by the master server 30 (see S19 and S20).

(2) The job ID (S22) received by the data server 10 together with the image forming request from the printer client 40 and transmitted to the master server 30 at the time of the collation request
reference).

The job ID once issued is locked so as not to be deleted or changed by mistake before the end of the job, and the lock is released in S33 or S37 described later.

The data server 10 receives the collation result from the master server 30 and confirms it (S24). If the data server 10 receives the collation result indicating that (1) and (2) match, the printer client 40 accessed in S21 goes through S11 to S21, and the estimated fee and image data displayed in S16 are displayed. S1 after agreeing to
Trust that 8 orders have been placed. Therefore, S24
When the matching result is received, the printer client 40 is notified of the result, and the printer client 40 can execute the following procedure.

The printer client 40 transmits to the data server 10 image forming condition information Inf1 including the image forming conditions set at the time of estimation (stored in the printer information storage unit 402) and information relating to hardware performance. (S25). Note that the image forming conditions may be provided so as to be changeable at this stage. That is, in S25, prior to transmitting the image forming condition information Inf1, the display unit 4
04 is displayed again including the contents displayed in S17, such as the set image forming conditions and the names of the literary works.
The user is reconfirmed whether it is K or not. If it is OK, the image forming condition information Inf1 is transmitted. If it is NG, after the change of the image forming condition is received, the changed image forming information is included. The image forming condition information Inf1 may be transmitted.

When the data server 10 receives the image forming condition information from the printer client 40, the data server 10 transmits this code (this code may be sent at S21 or S25, or the job transmitted by the master server 30 at S23). The image data may be transmitted from the master server 30 after the ID collation), and the image data to be stored in the image data storage unit 12 is specified (S26).
The image data conversion (S27) and the encryption of the image data (S28) are executed in accordance with the image forming conditions and hardware performance (such as the performance of the printer).

When the conversion and the encryption of the image data are completed (the communication format image data Inf2 is obtained), the data server 10 transmits this to the printer client 40 (S29), and the printer client 40 receives it (S29). S30).

The printer client 40 decrypts the encrypted image data, and then executes image formation (S31). When the image formation is completed, the image formation result is transmitted to the data server 10 as image formation result information Inf3. (S32). The image formation result is a notification from the printer client 40 to the service system 1 that the image formation is successful. At the time of image formation, image formation is performed by the printer unit 407 in accordance with the image forming conditions, bookbinding is performed by the finisher unit 408, and if a paper feed failure occurs during these operations, the image formation failure detection unit 409 causes Since an error signal is issued, the printer client 40 transmits an image formation result indicating a status of image formation failure, and if no sheet feeding failure occurs, transmits an image formation result indicating a status of image formation success.

When receiving the image formation result, the data server 10 ends the print job specified by the job ID, and sends a job end notification indicating successful image formation to the master server 30 together with the job ID (S33).

On the other hand, the printer client 40
At the time of image formation in 1, the usage fee of the material and the usage fee of the machine are detected by a detection unit (not shown), and the actual usage is obtained as second fee information (for example,
The number of used recording materials may be detected, and the second charge information may be obtained by multiplying a unit price per recording material set in a form including these fees used per one sheet. , Of course, in this case, because of the presence of staples,
It goes without saying that the second fee information is added), and the second fee information relating to the actual image formation is transmitted to the master server 30 together with the job ID (S34).

The master server 30 searches the ID storage unit 309 from the job ID received together with the job end notification indicating the successful image formation from the data server 10, and acquires the first charge information stored together with the corresponding job ID. (Of course, it may be obtained from the first fee information storage unit 312). Then, the charge calculating unit 304 adds the first charge information and the second charge information transmitted from the printer client 40 to calculate a copy charge (S35). Then, based on the job ID, the calculated duplication fee is charged to the charging destination printer client 40 (S36), and the print job is terminated.

The user operates the printer client 40 to transmit a logout request to the master server 30 (S
37), upon receiving the logout request, the master server 30 performs authentication (S38), and the authentication result is notified to the printer client 40 (S39). By the logout, the secured communication channel between the master server 30 and the printer client 40 is disconnected.

In the present embodiment, even if an image formation request is issued again based on the job ID of a print job that has been successfully completed, both the data server 10 and the master server 30 ignore this request.

Since the master server 30 can determine the success or failure of image formation from the image formation result when executing the charging process in S36, for example, for a print job for which image formation has failed, the amount indicated by the estimated fee is reduced. It is possible to set the conditions of the charging process so that the charging is performed or the charge is free regardless of the presented amount. It is desirable that the conditions of the billing process at the time of image formation failure be displayed on the display unit 404 of the printer client 40 together with the estimated fee and clearly indicated to the user. Further, in the above-described example, the duplication fee is calculated from the second fee information and the first fee information based on the actually used fee, and the fee is charged. The estimated fee may be charged without calculating the fee after formation.

When a plurality of image data are to be formed, the processing from S21 to S30 may be set as a loop, and the processing of one image data may be executed for each loop. For example, when processing three pieces of image data (corresponding to three books), the three pieces of image data are specified up to S20 (each job ID is issued).
The loop for receiving the image data one by one is repeated three times from 21 to S30, and the processing subsequent to the image formation of the three image data is executed after S31.

In this case, the start of the loop is not limited to S21, but may be any of S13 to S21, and the end of the loop may be any of S30 to S32. By selecting the step to start the loop, the printer client 4
A configuration in which 0 performs estimation for each image data, a configuration in which one estimation for presenting an estimated amount of money for three image data, a configuration in which a job ID is received for each image data, and the like can be selected.

By selecting a step for ending the loop, the printer client 40 receives image data one by one and executes image formation and transmission of an image formation result for three image data once. 4
0 is a configuration in which the image data is formed one by one and the image formation result relating to the three image data is transmitted, and a configuration in which the printer client 40 forms the image data one by one and transmits the image formation result one by one. Can be selected.

When the image data is formed for each page, the process from S25 to S30 may be set as a loop, and the process for one page of image data may be executed for each loop. For example, in the case of processing image data of three pages, following the processing up to S24, S25
In steps S30 to S30, a loop for processing from setting transmission of image forming specifications for each page to reception of image data for each page is repeated three times, and after S31, processing subsequent to image formation of image data of three pages is executed.

In this case, the start of the loop is not limited to S25, but may be any of S25 to S28, and the end of the loop may be any of S30 to S32. By selecting the step to start the loop, the printer client 4
0 can select a configuration in which the setting transmission of the image forming specification is performed for each page, a configuration in which the setting transmission is common to all pages, and the like.

By selecting the step to end the loop, the printer client 40 receives the image data one page at a time, and executes once the image formation and the transmission of the image formation result for the three pages of image data. A configuration in which the client 40 forms the image data one page at a time and transmits the image formation result for the three pages of image data once, and the printer client 40 forms the image data one page at a time and It is possible to select a configuration for transmitting the image formation result at a time.

By notifying the service system 1 of the image formation result in this way, it is possible to take measures such as changing the conditions of the billing process based on the image formation result. Services that are satisfactory to the user can be provided.

Further, if the conditions of the charging process are changed based on the image formation result, not only the copyright protection is realized, but also a service can be provided based on the charging conditions that are satisfactory to the user.

It is needless to say that the calculation of charges in S16 and S35 may be performed by the master server 30 and the printer client 40, respectively.

Next, an explanation will be given of the encryption performed when the data servers 10, 20, the master server 30, and the printer client 40 exchange information (communication) in the above-described flow.

In this embodiment, the Internet INe
In all of the data (information) transmitted through t,
Although it is encrypted, at least one of the image data, the first fee information, and the second fee information to be transmitted may be encrypted. Is preferred). It is preferable that a digital signature encrypted with an encryption key is given to the transmitted information. That is, the data servers 10, 20, the master server 30, and the printer client 40 are configured to be able to mutually execute encrypted communication by the public key system, and each of them transmits a digital signature related to received data to the public of the transmission source. The transmission source is identified by decrypting with a key to prevent spoofing by another node, and the outgoing data is encrypted with its own secret key to prevent unauthorized copying by another node.

The encryption will be described in detail.
The data to be transmitted is added with a digital signature encrypted with its own secret key, and is encrypted with the public key of the transmission destination before transmission. Further, the transmission destination decrypts the digital signature of the received data with the public key of the transmission source to specify the transmission source, and upon receiving the data encrypted with its own public key, decrypts it with its own private key.

Here, the digital signature is a code in which the characteristic value of the data to be transmitted is encrypted with the private key of the transmission source, and the transmission destination decrypts this part with the public key of the transmission source.
Check whether the value matches the characteristic value of the transmitted data. This makes it possible to confirm that the transmission source is indeed the correct partner (no other person has impersonated the transmission source), and furthermore, it can be confirmed that the request content has not been falsified. For calculating the feature value, a hash value by MD5 or another method is used.

The specific contents of the digital signature include, for example, random data (a random value of 8 bytes or more),
A structure in which the date and / or time, the name of the signer, and the characteristic value of the data to be transmitted are encrypted with the private key of the signer (usually the sender) can be used.

In some cases, the signature may be signed by another signer different from the requester. For example, when a request is made to the system for the first time, a new printer client is registered by signing a specific signer already trusted by the service system 1.

Further, by confirming that the date and time are later than the generation time of the data to be transmitted and within a predetermined time, it is possible to increase the accuracy of certifying the validity of the signature.

The transmission destination is to decrypt such encrypted and digitally signed data with its own private key, and to confirm the transmission destination and to decrypt the digital signature (decryption of the characteristic value). Do with.

In the embodiment described above, the data servers 10, 20, the master server 30,
Although the description has been given of the network configuration in which the printer client 40 can identify and communicate with each other by the Internet INet, the print system of the present invention employs the
0, the master server 30, and the printer client 40 can employ any network configuration other than the Internet INet as long as they can communicate with each other. For example, each node may be connected by a dedicated line or a public line. In another configuration, the data server 10 and the master server 30 may be on the same LAN, and the printer client 40 may be connected to the LAN by a dedicated line or a public line.

Furthermore, the data server 10 and the master server 30 may exist on the same LAN, and the LAN and the printer client 40 may be connected to the Internet INet. Further, the data server 10 and the master server 30 can be operated on one server computer.

The data server 10 described with reference to FIG.
Are the main control unit 11 and the data conversion unit 1 on one server.
3, the description includes an example including the compression unit 14, the encryption processing unit 15, the communication unit 17, the collation unit 16, and the image data storage unit 12. However, these units may be distributed to a plurality of servers. For example, if a configuration is adopted in which a plurality of servers are each provided with a hard disk serving as the image data storage unit 12 and each hard disk is mounted on the file system of one server, the data server 10 is configured by the plurality of servers. . Further, if a configuration is provided in which a server including any one or more of the data conversion unit 13, the compression unit 14, and the encryption processing unit 15 is provided in addition to the server including the image data storage unit 12, the plurality of servers Configures the data server 10.

The master server 30 described with reference to FIG.
The main control unit 301, the authentication unit 302,
An image forming object specifying unit 303, a charge calculating unit 304, a job ID issuing unit 305, a collating unit 306, a charging unit 307,
Although the description includes an example including the copyrighted work information storage unit 308, the ID storage unit 309, the encryption processing unit 310, the communication unit 311, and the first fee information storage unit 312, these units may be distributed to a plurality of servers. is there.

The main control unit 301, the authentication unit 302, the image forming object specifying unit 303, the charge calculating unit 304, the job I
There are a plurality of master servers 30 each including a D issuing unit 305, a collating unit 306, a charging unit 307, a copyrighted work information storage unit 308, an ID storage unit 309, an encryption processing unit 310, a communication unit 311, and a first charge information storage unit 312. You may. When a plurality of master servers 30 exist, the user operates the printer client 40 to
0 may be freely selected.

The printer client 40 described with reference to FIG. 5 includes a main control unit 401 on one printer machine.
Input unit 403, display unit 404, communication unit 405, printer information storage unit 402, encryption processing unit 406, image formation failure detection unit 409, printer unit 407, finisher unit 40
8, the second charge information storage unit 410 has been described as an example, but these units may be configured by a personal computer as an example of the information processing apparatus of the present invention and a printer connected to the personal computer.
In this configuration, a printer client 40 is constituted by a personal computer and a printer. The connection between the personal computer and the printer may be a local connection or a network connection, or a plurality of personal computers and a plurality of printers may be network-connected via a LAN. In this configuration, the printer client 40 includes a plurality of personal computers and a plurality of printers.

When the printer client 40 is composed of a personal computer and a printer, it is desirable that the encryption processing unit 406 be provided in the printer. Further, if a hardware or software module for performing decryption is provided on the printer side, the entire encryption processing unit 406 may not be provided on the printer side. If the personal computer is provided with the module for performing the decryption, it is possible that the received image data can be copied.However, if the printer is provided with the module, the received image data can be copied. There is almost no possibility.

The billing is performed by the printer client 40.
It is preferable to check the result of the image formation in the above, that is, to perform the charging process according to the success / failure of the copy (result of the image formation), so that appropriate charging can be performed. do not have to. For example, S18
After the order is received, a charging process may be performed, and if the end of the charging process is confirmed, printing may be enabled. Of course, the printing may be interrupted in the middle of the printing, and the printing may be resumed after the accounting process is performed.

In the above embodiment, the image data is also encrypted with the public key and transmitted. However, before transmitting the text, the database transmits the common secret key for the common key encryption method. Thus, it is also possible to perform encryption using common key encryption.

In this case, it is desirable to generate a different secret key for each transmission of the text information in the database.
When there is a large amount of image data, the common key cryptosystem requires a smaller amount of processing for encryption, so that high-speed processing can be performed.

In the above embodiment, the public key cryptosystem is assumed. However, each printer client 40 and the service system 1 (the data servers 10, 20, the master server 3
0), different common secret key encryption schemes can be used. As a specific encryption method, DES, AES, triple DES, RSA, or the like can be used as is known. In this case, the signature is ANSIX9.
30 can also be used.

Further, SHA-1 or MD5 can be used in order to obtain the above-mentioned characteristic value at the time of signature.

ECDSA can be used for encryption and signature. There are the following documents regarding the encryption technology, which can be applied as the encryption technology of the present invention.

Reference Document (1) "Digital Signature and Encryption Technology", first edition, December 24, 1997, Author: Wick Ford Michael Baum, Translator: Yamada
Shinichiro, supervision: VeriSign Japan, publisher: Yukio Miwa, editor: Koji Suzuki, publisher: Pearson Education Reference, Inc. (2) "PGP encrypted mail and electronic signature" April 15, 1996, first edition, author: Sim
son Garfinkel, translator: Kazuhiko Yamamoto, translator: Unitech, publishing and editing: Yumiko Kawamura, editing and production: Spec Co., Ltd., publishing office: O'Reilly Japan Co., Ltd., release: Ohmsha Co., Ltd.

[0157]

According to the present invention, it is possible for a service provider and a user to obtain an appropriate fee through a communication network.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a basic configuration of a print system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a breakdown of a copy fee.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a data server.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a master server.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a printer client.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the print system according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Service system 10, 20 Data server 12 Image data storage unit 30 Master server 304 Charge calculation unit 312 First charge information storage unit 40 Printer client 401 Main control unit 410 Second charge information storage unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B41J 5/30 B41J 5/30 B 5J104 29/38 29/38 Z G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 K 13 / 00540 13/00 540S G09C 1/00 660 G09C 1/00 660B H04N 1/44 H04N 1/44 (72) Inventor Toshihiko Nakazawa 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Yamazaki Hirohiko 2970 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AQ05 AQ06 AR01 AR03 AS02 AS06 HQ12 HR07 2C087 AA15 AA18 AB06 AB08 AC07 AC08 BA03 BA07 BD06 BD40 BD55 DA13 5B021 AA05 BB01 BB09 CC09 FF02 GG02 5C075 AB90 CD07 EE03 FF03 FF90 5J104 AA01 AA07 AA09 JA21 KA01 LA03 LA06 MA02 PA11

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A service system for providing image data, comprising: a storage device for storing image data of a work; acquiring image data stored in the storage device via a communication network; A print client that forms an image on a recording material based on data and duplicates a literary work, wherein the service system includes:
Storing fee information; storing, on the printer client side, second fee information relating to the image formation; calculating a copy fee relating to copying of the work based on the first fee information and the second fee information; A printing system characterized by: 2. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the first charge information can be set on the service system side. 3. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the first fee information includes a copyright fee related to a copyright of the work. 4. When the printer client forms an image, if the expiration date of the copyright on the work has passed, the copy fee does not include the copyright fee. The printing system according to 1. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first fee information includes at least one of a data fee for converting the copyrighted work into image data and a service fee for providing the image data. 5. The print system according to any one of 4. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second fee information is at least one of a material usage fee and a machine usage fee used when the printer client forms an image. 2. The printing system according to claim 1. 7. The print system according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the material use fee and the machine use fee can be set on the printer client side. 8. Before the image formation by the printer client is performed, the duplication fee is calculated based on at least one of a usage fee of a material that will be used and a usage fee of a machine. 8. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the fee is displayed on the printer client. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the image formation is performed by the printer client, the duplication fee is calculated based on at least one of a usage fee of a used material and a usage fee of a machine. The print system according to claim 6. 10. The print system according to claim 8, wherein a charging process is performed based on the calculated copy fee. 11. The printer client is provided so as to be capable of selecting an image forming condition, wherein the second fee information is changed according to the image forming condition selected when forming an image based on the image data. The print system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein 12. The printer client according to claim 1, wherein the printer client has a plurality of printers, and calculates a fee for copying a work in the plurality of printers.
The printing system according to any one of the preceding claims. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first fee information is transmitted from the service system to the printer client via the communication network, and the printer client calculates the duplication fee.
13. The print system according to any one of claims 12 to 12. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second fee information is transmitted from the printer client to the service system via the communication network, and the service system calculates the duplication fee. 13
The print system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 15. An image forming result and the second charge information are transmitted from the printer client to the service system via the communication network after the printer client forms an image. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the system calculates the duplication fee. 16. A service system for providing image data, comprising: a storage device for storing image data of a literary work; and acquiring image data stored in the storage device via a communication network; A print client that forms an image on a recording material based on data to duplicate a work, wherein a calculation of a copy fee for the copy of the work is set on the service system side. A printing system, wherein the printing is performed based on first fee information relating to the image data and second fee information relating to the image formation set on the printer client side. 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the image data, the first fee information, and the second fee information transmitted via the communication network is encrypted. 17. The print system according to any one of items 16. 18. A digital signature encrypted with an encryption key is given to at least one of the image data, the first fee information, and the second fee information transmitted via the communication network. The print system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the print system is provided. 19. A service system comprising a storage device for storing image data of a copyrighted work, and a service system for providing the image data; and acquiring the image data stored in the storage device via a communication network; A print client that forms an image on a recording material based on data and duplicates a copyrighted work, wherein the print system is configurable on the service system side and includes a copyright fee related to the copyright of the copyrighted work. First fee information relating to the image data, including a data fee for converting the copyrighted work into image data and a service fee for providing the image data; and Second fee information relating to the image formation, including a fee for using materials used for forming and a fee for using a machine; , A copy fee for a copy of a work is calculated based on the print fee. 20. A printer client which forms an image on a recording material based on image data obtained from a service system via a communication network to copy a literary work, comprising: first fee information relating to the image data; A printer client that calculates a copy fee for copying a copyrighted work based on second fee information related to image formation. 21. A service system comprising a storage device for storing image data of a copyrighted work, and providing the image data to a printer client via a communication network, wherein the first charge information relating to the image data, A service system for calculating a copy fee for copying a copyrighted work based on second fee information relating to image formation by a printer client. 22. A service system including a storage device for storing image data of a copyrighted work, wherein the service system provides image data.
A printer client that acquires image data stored in the storage device via a communication network, forms an image on a recording material based on the acquired image data, and duplicates a copyrighted work. A charge calculation method, comprising: calculating a copy charge for copying a copyrighted work based on first charge information related to the image data and second charge information related to the image formation. Method. 23. A service system comprising a storage device for storing image data of a work, the service system providing image data,
A printer client that acquires image data stored in the storage device via a communication network, forms an image on a recording material based on the acquired image data, and duplicates a copyrighted work. A charging method, wherein a charge for copying a copyrighted work calculated based on first charge information related to the image data and second charge information related to the image formation is charged. How to bill. 24. The charging method according to claim 23, wherein the charging is performed after the printer client finishes copying the copyrighted work. 25. A service system for providing image data, comprising: a storage device for storing image data of a copyrighted work; and acquiring image data stored in the storage device via a communication network; A print client that forms an image on a recording material based on data to duplicate a work, and wherein the image formation is performed even when the work is duplicated based on the same image data. A print fee for copying a copyrighted work differs depending on the conditions of the print system.