JP2005018690A - Information processor and method, printer and method, printing system, program storage medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a printing person to safely and surely acquire the printing result of a secret document. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 5 locks the key of a lid 53, on receipt of a command for requesting the printing of the secret document, which is transmitted through a network, and prints the secret document on the tray of the locked lid 53. When a user inserts an ID card recording an encryption command in which the command for requesting the printing of the secret document is encrypted with a secret key to a card reader 51, the encrypted command is read and decoded with a public key. The decoded encrypted command is compared with the command for requesting the printing of the secret document transmitted through the network, and when both match, the key of the lid 53 of a tray 61 is unlocked. This invention is applicable to a printing system using a network printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, a printing apparatus and method, a printing system, a program storage medium, and a program, and in particular, when printing a highly confidential document, a document printed only by a user who has instructed printing is printed. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, a printing apparatus and method, a printing system, a program storage medium, and a program that can be taken out.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Network printers that can perform printing by a plurality of computers connected via a network are becoming popular.
[0003]
In a network printer, since one network printer can respond to print requests (commands) from a plurality of personal computers connected to the network, the cost of the printer in the office can be reduced. it can.
[0004]
However, until now, any document printed by a user using the same printer can be viewed by anyone who has left it in the printer tray, so a network printer must be set up for each office department. When a network printer is shared by multiple departments, there is a risk that a highly confidential document may be seen by anyone, which has a security problem.
[0005]
Therefore, in the past, when a highly confidential document is output, the user must rush to the network printer and print it before it is seen by others until the document is printed and output to the tray. I had to. In such a case, immediately after issuing a print instruction, if a situation arises in which it is necessary to deal with another case, the user forgets that a highly confidential document has been printed, and is a highly confidential document. Nevertheless, there is a risk of forgetting a highly confidential document printed on the tray of the network printer.
[0006]
Also, when multiple people request printing at the same time, documents for multiple people will be printed one after another and mixed, so it may not be possible to find a highly confidential document and others may see it. It was.
[0007]
Furthermore, even if there are multiple network printers connected to the network, it is necessary to check the status of the network one by one in order to check which network printer is available before printing. There was a problem that it took too much.
[0008]
In view of this, a card reader is installed in a computer that requests printing, and when printing is requested, if a card is inserted, printing to the printer is not requested until the card is removed. By doing this, the user can pull out the card at the timing when nobody is using it while looking at the network printer, and go to the network printer. If the card is not pulled out, the user can print. As described above, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to perform some work after requesting printing as described above.
[0009]
As another method, after the first computer requests the fingerprint of the user who requests printing, and transmits the fingerprint information together with the printing command to the second computer that controls the printer via the network, the user Is directed to the printer and authenticates with a fingerprint to the second computer, and then the printer starts printing only when authentication is confirmed (for example, see Patent Document 1). .
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-236198 A
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the card reader is installed, the user waits in front of the network printer for printing the document that has requested printing, and there is a possibility that extra time is wasted. In addition, there is an uncertain factor in the travel time to the network printer. For example, if it is installed in a place where the network printer cannot be seen from your seat, it may not be possible to determine the exact timing to remove the card. As a result, a highly confidential document may be printed before the user arrives at the network printer and viewed by others.
[0012]
Even in the case of authentication using fingerprints, printing cannot be started until the user arrives near the printer. Therefore, the user must wait near the printer until printing starts and ends. Similarly, there was a risk of wasting extra time.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and a command transmitted to a network printer when requesting printing is used to immediately print a highly confidential document on a keyed tray. The command is encrypted with an electronic signature, and after the encrypted information is recorded on a recording medium such as an ID card, only when the printed document is taken out, the ID card is authenticated and the key is unlocked. By making it possible to retrieve, a highly confidential document can be retrieved safely and reliably only by a user who has requested printing.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a transmission unit that transmits a command requesting printing of a document to a printing device via a network, and an encryption unit that encrypts the command requesting printing of the document and generates an encrypted command And a recording means for recording the encrypted command encrypted by the encryption means on a recording medium.
[0015]
Based on the printing result transmitted from the printing apparatus, the receiving means for receiving information indicating the position of the printing apparatus, and the information indicating the position of the printing apparatus received by the receiving means, the position of the printing apparatus is determined. Display means for displaying can be further provided.
[0016]
An information processing method according to the present invention includes a transmission step of transmitting a command requesting printing of a document to a printing apparatus via a network, and an encryption step of generating an encryption command by encrypting the command requesting printing of the document And a recording step of recording the encrypted command encrypted by the processing of the encryption step on a recording medium.
[0017]
The program of the first program storage medium of the present invention encrypts a command requesting printing of a document, generates an encrypted command, and records the encrypted command encrypted by the processing of the encryption step And a recording step of recording on a medium.
[0018]
The first program of the present invention encrypts a command for requesting printing of a document, generates an encrypted command, and records the encrypted command encrypted by the processing of the encrypted step on a recording medium. The recording step is executed by a computer.
[0019]
The printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives a command that requests printing of a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via a network, and a command that requests printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus. Based on this, a printing means for printing a document on a print tray with a key, a reading means for reading out an encrypted command in which a command for requesting printing of the document recorded on the recording medium is encrypted, and a decryption of the encrypted command A decryption unit that compares the encrypted command decrypted by the decryption unit with a command that requests printing of the document received by the reception unit, and printing with a key based on the comparison result by the comparison unit Key control means for controlling the key of the tray to be unlocked.
[0020]
Based on a command for requesting printing of the document, it is possible to further provide transmission means for transmitting information indicating the position of the document together with a print result indicating that the document has been printed on the keyed print tray.
[0021]
The printing method of the present invention includes a receiving step for receiving a command for requesting printing of a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via a network, and a command for requesting printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus. Based on this, a printing step for printing a document on a print tray with a key, a reading step for reading an encrypted command in which a command requesting printing of a document recorded on a recording medium is encrypted, and a decryption of the encrypted command The comparison result in the comparison step in the comparison step, the comparison step in which the decryption step to be performed, the encrypted command decrypted in the decryption step process, and the command that requests the printing of the document received in the reception step process are compared. And a key control step for controlling to unlock the key of the keyed printing tray.
[0022]
The program of the second program storage medium of the present invention includes a reading step of reading an encrypted command in which a command requesting printing of a document recorded on a recording medium is encrypted, and a decrypting step of decrypting the encrypted command The comparison step for comparing the encrypted command decrypted in the process of the decryption step with the command for requesting the printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network, and the comparison result in the process of the comparison step And a key control step for controlling to unlock the key of the keyed printing tray.
[0023]
A second program of the present invention includes a reading step of reading an encrypted command in which a command requesting printing of a document recorded on a recording medium is encrypted, a decrypting step of decrypting the encrypted command, and a decrypting step Based on the comparison result of the comparison step in the comparison step for comparing the encrypted command decrypted in the process with the command for requesting the printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network, And a key control step for controlling the unlocking of the key of the keyed printing tray.
[0024]
In the printing system of the present invention, an information processing apparatus generates a command for requesting printing of a document, a transmission unit that transmits the command to the printing apparatus via a network, and a command for requesting printing of the document to generate an encrypted command. And a recording unit that records the encrypted command encrypted by the encryption unit on a recording medium, and the printing apparatus prints a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network. Recorded on a recording medium, receiving means for receiving a request command, printing means for printing a document on a keyed print tray based on a command for requesting printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus Read means for reading out an encrypted command in which a command for requesting printing of the document is encrypted, decryption means for decrypting the encrypted command, and decryption means A control unit that compares the encrypted command that has been issued and a command that requests printing of the document received by the receiving unit, and controls to unlock the print tray based on the comparison result by the comparing unit And a key control means.
[0025]
In the information processing apparatus, method, and program of the present invention, a command requesting printing of a document is transmitted to the printing apparatus via the network, and the command requesting printing of the document is encrypted to generate an encrypted command. Then, the encrypted encryption command is recorded on the recording medium.
[0026]
In the printing apparatus, method, and program of the present invention, a command requesting printing of a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus is received via the network, and printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus is requested. The document is printed on the keyed print tray, the encrypted command is read, and the encrypted command is decrypted, and the command requesting printing of the document recorded on the recording medium is read. Then, the decrypted encrypted command is compared with the command for requesting printing of the received document, and the key of the keyed print tray is controlled to be unlocked based on the comparison result.
[0027]
In the printing system of the present invention, the information processing device transmits a command requesting printing of a document to the printing device via the network, the command requesting printing of the document is encrypted, and an encrypted command is generated. The encrypted encryption command is recorded on the recording medium, and the printing device receives a command requesting printing of the document transmitted from the information processing device via the network, and is transmitted from the information processing device. Based on a command requesting printing of an incoming document, the document is printed on a print tray with a key, and an encrypted command obtained by encrypting a command requesting printing of the document recorded on the recording medium is read out. The encrypted command is decrypted, and the decrypted encrypted command is compared with the command for requesting printing of the received document, and based on the comparison result. There are, key printing tray is controlled to be allowed to unlock.
[0028]
The information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus according to the present invention may be independent apparatuses or may be blocks that perform information processing and printing.
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between constituent elements described in the claims and specific examples in the embodiments of the present invention are exemplified as follows. This description is to confirm that specific examples supporting the invention described in the claims are described in the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, even if there are specific examples that are described in the embodiment of the invention but are not described here as corresponding to the configuration requirements, the specific examples are not included in the configuration. It does not mean that it does not correspond to a requirement. On the contrary, even if a specific example is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, this means that the specific example does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. not.
[0030]
Further, this description does not mean that all the inventions corresponding to the specific examples described in the embodiments of the invention are described in the claims. In other words, this description is an invention corresponding to the specific example described in the embodiment of the invention, and the existence of an invention not described in the claims of this application, that is, in the future, a divisional application will be made. Nor does it deny the existence of an invention added by amendment.
[0031]
That is, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a transmission unit (for example, the communication unit 19 in FIG. 2) that transmits a command for requesting printing of a document to the printing apparatus via a network, and a command for requesting printing of the document. Encryption means for encrypting and generating an encrypted command (for example, the electronic signature management program 18b of FIG. 2) and recording means for recording the encrypted command encrypted by the encryption means on a recording medium (for example, FIG. 2) Card reader 3).
[0032]
The information processing method according to the present invention includes a transmission step (for example, processing in step S6 in FIG. 5) for transmitting a command for requesting printing of a document to a printing apparatus via a network, and a command for requesting printing of the document. And an encryption step for generating an encrypted command (for example, the process of step S4 in FIG. 5) and a recording step for recording the encrypted command encrypted in the process of the encryption step on a recording medium (for example, FIG. 5). In step S5).
[0033]
The first program storage medium and the first program are the same as the information processing method.
[0034]
Further, the printing apparatus of the present invention includes a receiving unit (for example, the communication unit 49 in FIG. 3) that receives a command for requesting printing of a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network, and an information processing apparatus. Based on a command for requesting printing of the transmitted document, printing means (for example, the print control program 48a and the printing unit 54 in FIG. 3) for printing the document on the keyed print tray, and recording on the recording medium A reading means (for example, the card reader 51 in FIG. 3) for reading out an encrypted command in which a command for requesting printing of the document being encrypted is encrypted, and a decrypting means (for example, the electronic signature in FIG. 3) for decrypting the encrypted command Comparison comparing the management program 48b) with the encrypted command decrypted by the decrypting means and the command for requesting printing of the document received by the receiving means Key control means (for example, lid management in FIG. 3) that controls to unlock the key of the print tray with the key based on the comparison result by the stage (for example, the electronic signature management program 48b in FIG. 3) and the comparison means And a program 48c).
[0035]
According to the printing method of the present invention, a reception step (for example, the process of step S11 in FIG. 5) for receiving a command for requesting printing of a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network, and a transmission from the information processing apparatus. A printing step (for example, the process of step S13 in FIG. 5) for printing the document on the print tray with the key based on the command for requesting printing of the document, and printing of the document recorded on the recording medium. A read step (for example, the process of step S22 in FIG. 7) for reading out the encrypted command in which the requested command is encrypted, a decryption step (for example, the process of step S23 in FIG. 7) for decrypting the encrypted command, and decryption The encrypted command decrypted in the step process is compared with the command for requesting printing of the document received in the reception step process. A key control step (for example, FIG. 7) that controls to unlock the key of the keyed printing tray based on the comparison step (for example, the process of step S24 in FIG. 7) and the comparison result in the process of the comparison step. In step S25).
[0036]
The second program storage medium and the second program are the same as the printing method. Further, the printing system is the same as the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus described above.
[0037]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a printing system to which the present invention is applied.
[0038]
Personal computers (PCs in the figure) 2-1 and 2-2 (hereinafter referred to as PCs 2-1 and 2-2) and network printers 5-1 to 5-3 are connected via a network 1, and personal computers are connected. The computers 2-1 and 2-2 select and print any one of the network printers 5-1 to 5-3 when printing a document. In the following description, in particular, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the PCs 2-1 and 2-2 and the network printers 5-1 to 5-3, they are simply referred to as the PC 2 and the network printer 5, and the others are also the same. And In FIG. 1, the printing system is configured by two PCs 2 and three network printers 5, but the number is not limited to this, and both the PC 2 and the network printer 5 are Any number of units may be used.
[0039]
The PCs 2-1 and 2-2 are provided with card readers 3-1 and 3-2, respectively, and the ID cards 4-1 and 4-2 possessed by the users who operate the PCs 2 are inserted. Among commands related to printing, commands encrypted with a secret key can be written or read. The ID card 4 may be composed of a magnetic card, an IC (Integrated Circuit) card, or a non-contact radio communication type card. In this case, the card reader 3 corresponds to the format of the ID card 4. It will be a thing. The recording medium is not limited to a so-called ID card and may be any recording medium as long as it can record an encrypted command, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory. Also good.
[0040]
Next, the configuration of the PC 2 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 or a storage unit 18. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 appropriately stores programs executed by the CPU 11, data, and the like. The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are connected to each other by a bus 14.
[0041]
An input / output interface 15 is also connected to the CPU 11 via the bus 14. The input / output interface 15 is connected to an input unit 16 including a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone, a display unit 21 including a display, and an output unit 17 connected to a speaker. The CPU 11 executes various processes in response to commands input from the input unit 16. Then, the CPU 11 outputs an image, sound, or the like obtained as a result of the processing to the output unit 17.
[0042]
In addition, the CPU 11 controls the card reader 3 via the bus 14 and the input / output interface 15 to write the command instructed to be printed by the electronic signature management program 18 a to the ID card 4.
[0043]
Further, the CPU 11 acquires the print result and the position information transmitted from the network printer 5 via the network 1 from the communication unit 19, and based on the acquired information, the print result and the document of the network printer 5 on which the document is printed. Display location information.
[0044]
The storage unit 18 connected to the input / output interface 15 is composed of, for example, a hard disk, and stores programs executed by the CPU 11 and various data. The communication unit 19 communicates with an external device, for example, via the Internet shown in the network 1 of FIG. 1, for example, transmits a document print command to the network printer 5 of FIG. Received print results and information indicating the position of the network printer are received.
[0045]
The storage unit 18 stores programs such as a print control program 18a and an electronic signature management program 18b, and the CPU 11 reads out these programs and executes corresponding processes. Various programs will be described later.
[0046]
In addition to the above, the program stored in the storage unit 18 may be acquired via the communication unit 19 and stored in the storage unit 18.
[0047]
The drive 20 connected to the input / output interface 15 drives the magnetic disk 31, the optical disk 32, the magneto-optical disk 33, or the semiconductor memory 34 when they are mounted, and programs and data recorded there. Get etc. The acquired program and data are transferred to and stored in the storage unit 18 as necessary.
[0048]
Next, the configuration of the network printer 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The network printer 5 is basically the same as the configuration of the PC 2 described in FIG. That is, the CPU 41, ROM 42, RAM 43, bus 44, input / output interface 45, input unit 46, output unit 47, storage unit 48, communication unit 49, drive 50, card reader 51, magnetic disk 61, optical disk 62, network printer 5 The magneto-optical disk 63 and the semiconductor memory 64 are the CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13, the bus 14, the input / output interface 15, the input unit 16, the output unit 17, the storage unit 18, the communication unit 19, the drive 20, and the card of the PC 2 in FIG. This corresponds to the reader 3, the magnetic disk 31, the optical disk 32, the magneto-optical disk 33, and the semiconductor memory 34, and has the same function.
[0049]
However, the programs and data stored in the storage unit 48 are different from the programs and data stored in the storage unit 18 of the PC 2 in FIG. The storage unit 48 stores a print control program 48a, an electronic signature management program 48b, and a lid management program 48c, and the CPU 41 reads these programs and data as appropriate and executes processing.
[0050]
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the card reader 51 is provided in the upper part of the main body and is configured to be able to insert the ID card 4, and reads information recorded on the ID card 4.
[0051]
The lid controller 52 controls the locking or unlocking of a lid key provided on a tray for storing printed documents. That is, the lid controller 52 controls the locking or unlocking of the lid (key) 53 on each of the trays 61-1 to 61-3 of the network printer 5 shown in FIG. With such a structure, the trays 61-1 to 61-3 can store printed documents. However, the user cannot open the lid 53 unless the key of the lid 53 is unlocked. Only the user who can unlock the key of the lid 53 can take out the printed document.
[0052]
The printing unit 53 prints data for which printing has been instructed from the CPU 11 via the output unit 47 on a predetermined sheet, and outputs (prints out) the data to the tray 61 shown in FIG. The printing method of the printing unit 53 may be any method, for example, a thermal transfer method or an ink jet method.
[0053]
The display unit 55 is configured by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays an authentication result and a print state.
[0054]
Next, the various programs described in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described.
[0055]
The print control program 18a of the PC 2 is a program executed by the CPU 11 when a user instructs to print a document. The print control program 18a generates a command for requesting printing of the instructed document and controls the communication unit 19. The data is transmitted to the network printer 5 via the network 1 and supplied to the electronic signature management program 18b.
[0056]
Further, when the print control program 18a obtains the position information of the network printer 5 together with the print result information indicating that the printing transmitted from the network printer 5 is completed, the print control program 18a controls the output unit 17 to display on the display unit 21. Then, the print result and information indicating the position of the network printer 5 that has printed the document requested to be printed are displayed.
[0057]
The electronic signature management program 18b encrypts the command information requesting printing supplied from the print control program 18a using a preset secret key, and controls the card reader 3 to control the encrypted command ( (Encryption command) is written in the ID card 4.
[0058]
The print control program 48a of the network printer 5 controls the output unit 47 based on a command for requesting printing of the document transmitted from the PC 2 via the network 1, and prints a predetermined document from the printing unit 54. The printed document is output to the tray 61 including the lid 53 with the key described with reference to FIG.
[0059]
In addition, the print control program 48a transmits information indicating its own preset position to the PC 2 together with the print result.
[0060]
The electronic signature management program 48b reads the encryption command stored in the ID card 4 inserted in the card reader 51, decrypts it with the public key of the PC 2 stored in advance, and transmits it via the network 1. If it is the same as the command, the command is sent to the lid management program 48c to request that the key of the lid 53 be unlocked.
[0061]
The lid management program 48c operates the lid control unit 52 based on a command from the electronic signature management program 48b, and unlocks or locks the key of the lid 53. For example, the lid management program 48c may lock the key of the lid 53 again after a predetermined time has elapsed after unlocking. Further, when the confidential document is not a confidential document but a general document with low confidentiality, the lid management program 48c may unlock the key of the lid 53.
[0062]
Next, confidential document printing processing by the printing system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0063]
In step S1, the print control program 18a of the PC 2 determines whether or not the printing of the confidential document is instructed, and repeats the process until the printing of the confidential document is instructed. For example, when the input unit 16 is operated by the user and a command for requesting to print a predetermined document as a confidential document is input, it is determined that there is an instruction to print the confidential document, and the process is performed in step S2. Proceed to
[0064]
In step S <b> 2, the print control program 18 a controls the output unit 17 to display a screen for requesting the user to insert the ID card 4 into the card reader 3 on the display unit 21.
[0065]
In step S3, the print control program 18a makes an inquiry to the card reader 3, determines whether or not the ID card 4 is inserted, and repeats the processing until it is determined that the card is inserted.
[0066]
In step S3, for example, when the user who has instructed printing inserts his / her ID card 4 into the card reader 3, the card reader 3 detects the ID card 4 and transmits this information to the print control program 18a. The print control program 18a determines that the ID card 4 has been inserted into the card reader 3, and the process proceeds to step S4.
[0067]
In step S4, the print control program 18a controls the electronic signature management program 48b to encrypt a command for requesting printing of a predetermined document as a confidential document with a preset secret key.
[0068]
In step S5, the print control program 18a outputs the encrypted command generated by the electronic signature management program 18b to the card reader 3, and further records it on the ID card 4 inserted now.
[0069]
In step S <b> 6, the print control program 18 a controls the communication unit 19 to transmit a request command (unencrypted command) for printing a predetermined document as a confidential document to the network printer 5 via the network 1. .
[0070]
In step S11, the print control program 48a of the network printer 5 controls the communication unit 49 to determine whether or not a print command has been transmitted, and the process is repeated until it is transmitted. For example, when a command requesting printing of a confidential document is transmitted by the process of step S6, when the communication unit 49 receives a command requesting printing of the confidential document, the print control program 48a prints the confidential document. It is determined that the requested command has been received, and the process proceeds to step S12.
[0071]
In step S12, the print control program 48a controls the lid management program 48c to issue a command to lock the lid control 52 of the lid 53 corresponding to the tray 61 on which the confidential document is to be printed. As a result, in step S12 and subsequent steps, the lid 53 of the tray 61 on which the confidential document is printed is locked and cannot be taken out even if the printed matter is output on the tray 61. This is not the case for the tray 61 on which the confidential document is not printed.
[0072]
In step S <b> 13, the print control program 48 a controls the output unit 47 in accordance with the transmitted command, prints the confidential document from the print unit 54, and outputs the print result to the predetermined tray 61.
[0073]
In step S14, the print control program 48a controls the communication unit 49 to transmit information indicating its own position together with the print result to the PC 2 that has transmitted a command indicating a print request. At this time, the print control program 48a controls the electronic signature management program 48b to store the transmitted command.
[0074]
The transmitted information is, for example, information on the position on the floor where the network printer 5 is installed. Further, when there are a plurality of trays, the information regarding which tray 61 is output may be transmitted as position information.
[0075]
In step S <b> 7, the print control program 18 a of the PC 2 controls the communication unit 19 to obtain position information together with the print result transmitted from the network printer 5 via the network 1.
[0076]
In step S <b> 8, the print control program 18 a displays information indicating the position of the network printer 5 that printed the confidential document on the display unit 21 together with the print result transmitted from the network printer 5.
[0077]
In this case, a display screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit 21, for example.
[0078]
That is, in FIG. 6, “printed on the following black circle printer” is displayed at the top of the screen, printing is finished, and circles P1 to P3 are displayed on the floor diagram A in FIG. Of the three network printers, the network printer at the position of the black circle in the upper left in the figure indicates that the desired confidential document has been printed.
[0079]
As a result of such processing, the confidential document is printed on the tray 61 provided with the locked lid 53, so that it is possible to complete the printing while keeping the confidential document in an unremovable state. Securely print confidential documents. Further, since it is easy to grasp the position of the network printer 5 on which the confidential document is printed, the user can print out the confidential document with peace of mind. In addition, since printing is performed immediately after a command requesting printing of a confidential document is received, it is not necessary for the user to wait from the start to the end of printing in front of the network printer 5.
[0080]
Next, an unlocking process of the lid 53 for causing the printed confidential document to be taken out will be described.
[0081]
In step S21, the print control program 48a of the network printer 5 inquires of the card reader 51, determines whether or not the ID card 4 has been inserted, and repeats the processing until it is determined that the card has been inserted. For example, the user removes the ID card 4 in which the encrypted command is recorded from the card reader 3 by the process of step S5 described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When it is inserted, it is determined that the ID card 4 has been inserted, and the process proceeds to step S22.
[0082]
In step S22, the print control program 48a controls the card reader 51 to read and obtain an encrypted command (encrypted command) recorded on the ID card 4.
[0083]
In step S23, the print control program 48a controls the electronic signature management program 48b to decrypt the encrypted command with the public key of the PC2.
[0084]
In step S24, the print control program 48a controls the electronic signature management program 48b to store the command transmitted from the PC 2 stored in the process of step S14 described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The commands decoded in the process of step S23 are compared to determine whether they match.
[0085]
If it is determined in step S24 that the command transmitted from the PC 2 matches the command decrypted in step S23, the print control program 48a operates the PC 2 to request printing of the confidential document. In step S25, the lid control unit 52 is controlled to unlock the key of the lid 53, and the output unit 47 indicates that the authentication is OK. Is controlled and displayed on the display unit 55.
[0086]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S24 that the command transmitted from the PC 2 does not match the command decrypted in step S23, the print control program 48a operates the PC 2 to request printing of the confidential document. In step S25, the output unit 47 is controlled to display on the display unit 55 that the authentication is NG in step S25. At this time, since the key of the lid 53 remains locked, the confidential document cannot be taken out.
[0087]
As a result, if only the user who requests printing of the confidential document by operating the PC 2 does not insert the ID card 4 in which the regular encrypted command is recorded into the card reader 51 of the network printer 5, the confidential document is Since it cannot be taken out, a confidential document can be taken out safely. Further, since the printing of the confidential document is executed immediately after the command for printing the confidential document is sent, the user who has requested the printing of the confidential document does not have to wait from the start to the end of printing in front of the network printer 5. , No time wasted. In addition, since it is such a mechanism, for example, even if the network printer 5 completes printing and goes to collect confidential documents, it cannot be taken out by others, so it is safe and reliable. It becomes possible to take out confidential documents.
[0088]
The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processes is executed by software, a program constituting the software may execute various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, it is installed from a program storage medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like.
[0089]
This program storage medium is provided not only for the storage units 18 and 48 in which the program is recorded, but also for computers provided in advance in the PC 2 and the network printer 5 shown in FIGS. Separately, magnetic disks 31 and 61 (including flexible disks) and optical disks 32 and 62 (CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) on which the program is recorded are distributed to provide a program to the user. , DVD (including Digital Versatile Disk), magneto-optical disks 33 and 63 (including MD (Mini-Disc) (registered trademark)), or semiconductor memory 34 and 64 (including Memory Stick) Composed That.
[0090]
In the present specification, the step of describing the program stored in the program storage medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series in the order described, but of course is not necessarily performed in time series. This includes processing that is executed manually or individually.
[0091]
Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.
[0092]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a confidential document can be safely and reliably extracted without being seen by others using a network printer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a printing system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PC shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the network printer in FIG. 1;
4 is a diagram showing an overview of the network printer of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a confidential document printing process.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen that displays a print result.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a lid unlocking process.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network, 2,2-1,2-2 PC, 3,3-1,3-2 Card reader, 4 ID card, 5,5-1 to 5-3 Network printer, 18 memory | storage part, 18a Print control program , 18b electronic signature management program, 48 storage unit, 48a printing control program, 48b electronic signature management program, 48c key management program, 51 card reader, 52 lid control unit, 53 lid (key)

Claims (11)

Transmitting means for transmitting a command for requesting printing of a document to a printing apparatus via a network;
An encryption means for encrypting a command for requesting printing of the document and generating an encrypted command;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a recording unit that records the encrypted command encrypted by the encryption unit on a recording medium. Receiving means for receiving a print result transmitted from the printing apparatus and information indicating a position of the printing apparatus;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a position where the printing apparatus exists based on information indicating the position of the printing apparatus received by the receiving means. A transmission step of transmitting a command requesting printing of the document to the printing apparatus via the network;
An encryption step of encrypting a command requesting printing of the document and generating an encrypted command;
A recording step of recording the encrypted command encrypted in the processing of the encrypting step on a recording medium. An encryption step for encrypting a command requesting printing of the document and generating an encrypted command;
And a recording step of recording the encrypted command encrypted by the processing of the encryption step on a recording medium. A program storage medium storing a computer-readable program. An encryption step for encrypting a command requesting printing of the document and generating an encrypted command;
A program for causing a computer to execute a recording step of recording an encryption command encrypted by the processing of the encryption step on a recording medium. Receiving means for receiving a command for requesting printing of a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network;
Printing means for printing the document on a keyed print tray based on a command for requesting printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
Reading means for reading out an encrypted command in which a command for requesting printing of the document recorded in the recording medium is encrypted;
Decryption means for decrypting the encrypted command;
Comparing means for comparing the encrypted command decrypted by the decrypting means with a command for requesting printing of the document received by the receiving means;
A printing apparatus comprising: a key control unit that controls to unlock the key of the keyed printing tray based on the comparison result by the comparison unit. The apparatus further comprises: a transmission unit configured to transmit information indicating the position of the document together with a print result indicating that the document is printed on a print tray with a key based on a command requesting the printing of the document. The printing apparatus according to 6. A reception step of receiving a command for requesting printing of a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network;
A printing step of printing the document on a keyed print tray based on a command for requesting printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
A reading step of reading out an encrypted command in which a command for requesting printing of the document recorded on the recording medium is encrypted;
A decrypting step of decrypting the encrypted command;
A comparison step for comparing the encrypted command decrypted in the process of the decryption step with a command for requesting printing of the document received in the process of the reception step;
And a key control step of controlling to unlock the key of the keyed print tray based on the comparison result in the process of the comparison step. A reading step of reading out an encrypted command in which a command requesting printing of a document recorded on a recording medium is encrypted;
A decrypting step of decrypting the encrypted command;
A comparison step for comparing the encrypted command decrypted in the processing of the decryption step with a command for requesting printing of a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network;
And a key control step for controlling to unlock the key of the keyed printing tray based on the comparison result in the process of the comparison step. Program storage medium. A reading step of reading out an encrypted command in which a command requesting printing of a document recorded on a recording medium is encrypted;
A decrypting step of decrypting the encrypted command;
A comparison step for comparing the encrypted command decrypted in the processing of the decryption step with a command for requesting printing of a document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network;
A program that causes a computer to execute a key control step for controlling to unlock a key of a keyed printing tray based on the comparison result in the processing of the comparison step. In a printing system consisting of an information processing device and a printing device connected via a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Transmitting means for transmitting a command for requesting printing of a document to the printing apparatus via the network;
An encryption means for encrypting a command for requesting printing of the document and generating an encrypted command;
Recording means for recording the encrypted command encrypted by the encryption means on a recording medium,
The printing apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving a command for requesting printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network;
Printing means for printing the document on a keyed print tray based on a command for requesting printing of the document transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
Reading means for reading out an encrypted command in which a command for requesting printing of the document recorded in the recording medium is encrypted;
Decryption means for decrypting the encrypted command;
Comparing means for comparing the encrypted command decrypted by the decrypting means with a command for requesting printing of the document received by the receiving means;
A printing system comprising: a key control unit that controls to unlock the key of the printing tray based on the comparison result by the comparison unit.

Images