JP2005165937A - Data communication method, data communication program, data communication system and data communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent the unauthorized use of equipment(concretely, printer or the like) installed in a problematic customer. <P>SOLUTION: A photograph output system for business developed by this applicant is introduced to each photo-studio being the customer of the applicant. Charging to the customer is performed according to the operating conditions of each system periodically uploaded to a center server machine 104. In this case, any legal usage fee may not be collected from a malicious customer. Then, when the operating conditions are uploaded, fixed numerals are delivered to a problem-free customer as the limit quota of the number of prints, and are set from the center server machine 104 through a print sever 100 to a printer 101. The numerals are subtracted each time one print is outputted, and when the numerals are turned to be 0, the printer 101 is disabled. Thus, it is possible to prevent a defective customer who is not able to receive the update of the limit quota from continuing to use the system afterwards. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a data communication method, a data communication program, a data communication system, and a data communication apparatus that perform electronic data communication between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus connected by a network.

  Photo studios incorporating digital cameras and electronic printers are required to process a large number of photos at high speed as well as to output individual photos with high quality. Therefore, the applicant has developed a business-use photo output system (a set of hardware and software) that is primarily intended for use in photo studios, and lends them to each photo studio as a customer and collects them via the Internet. The operating status of each system is centrally managed by a center database on the center server machine (see Patent Document 1 below).

  The applicant's subsidiaries (currently one each in Japan, the United States, and Europe. In the following, these subsidiaries are referred to as “dealers”) are output based on the operating status registered in the center database. The company collects usage fees and replenishes consumables.

JP 2003-67766 A

  As described above, since the usage fee for the above system is postpaid, there are cases where the right usage fee cannot be collected because, for example, the photo studio as a customer intentionally cancels the bank account or credit card. Some customers continue to use the system without disconnecting the system from the Internet and reporting the operating status to the center server machine (including the number of output sheets that is the basis for calculating usage fees). And even if the center has grasped such facts, there has been a problem that as long as equipment and consumables have been delivered, unauthorized use of the system by defective customers cannot be stopped.

  In order to solve the above-described problems caused by the conventional technology, the present invention can reliably prevent unauthorized use of a device (specifically a printer or the like) installed under a troubled customer. It is an object to provide a method, a data communication program, a data communication system, and a data communication apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a data communication method according to the invention of claim 1 performs electronic data communication between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus connected by a network. A data communication method to be performed, wherein the second information processing apparatus receives information about the printer controlled by the first information processing apparatus, and the second information receives the information in the reception process. A determination step for determining whether or not the printer usage limit may be updated in the processing apparatus; and when the determination step determines that the printer usage limit may be updated, A transmission step of transmitting information for specifying a limit from the second information processing apparatus to the first information processing apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the usage limit of the printer on the customer side can be arbitrarily set from the center side.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data communication method according to the first aspect, wherein the information transmitted in the transmission step is received by the first information processing apparatus. And a setting step of setting the information received in the second receiving step from the first information processing apparatus to the printer.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a customer who cannot update the use limit from the center side cannot continue to use the printer at hand beyond the limit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data communication method according to the first or second aspect, wherein, in the determination step, the printer user is not registered as a bad customer in the determination step. It is characterized in that it is determined that the usage limit may be updated.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, a defective customer who cannot update the use limit from the center side cannot continue to use the printer at hand beyond the limit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data communication method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the information specifying the use limit of the printer is the number of printable sheets or the like. It is the limit frame of the printing amount by.

  According to the invention of claim 4, a customer who cannot update the limit frame of the number of printed sheets from the center side cannot continue to use the printer at hand beyond the limit frame.

  A data communication program according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a data communication program for causing a computer to execute a data communication method for performing electronic data communication with a print server connected by a network, which is controlled by the print server. A receiving step for receiving information relating to the printer to be performed; a determining step for determining whether or not a usage limit of the printer may be updated upon reception of the information in the receiving step; and When it is determined that the usage limit may be updated, the computer is caused to execute a transmission step of transmitting information specifying the usage limit of the printer to the print server.

  According to the invention of claim 5, the use limit of the printer on the customer side can be arbitrarily set from the center side.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the data communication program according to the fifth aspect of the invention, in the determination step, when the user of the printer is not registered as a defective customer, the use limit of the printer is set. It is characterized in that it can be updated.

  According to the invention of claim 6, a defective customer who cannot update the use limit from the center side cannot continue to use the printer at hand beyond the limit.

  A data communication program according to a seventh aspect of the invention is the data communication program according to the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the information for specifying the use limit of the printer is a limit on a print amount by the printer, such as the number of printable sheets. It is a frame.

  According to the invention of claim 7, a customer who cannot update the limit frame of the number of printed sheets from the center side cannot continue to use the printer at hand beyond the limit frame.

  A data communication system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is a data communication system that performs electronic data communication between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus connected by a network. Receiving means for receiving information on the printer controlled by the information processing apparatus in the second information processing apparatus, and updating the printer usage limit in the second information processing apparatus receiving the information by the receiving means. Determining means for determining whether or not the printer use limit may be updated by the determination means, and information for specifying the printer use limit is determined as the second information. Transmitting means for transmitting from the processing apparatus to the first information processing apparatus, and receiving the information transmitted by the transmitting means at the first information processing apparatus A second receiving means that, characterized in that it comprises a setting means for setting the printer the information from the first information processing apparatus received by said second receiving means.

  According to the invention of claim 8, a customer who cannot update the use limit from the center side cannot continue to use the printer at hand beyond the limit.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the data communication system according to the eighth aspect, wherein the determination means sets a use limit of the printer when the user of the printer is not registered as a defective customer. It is characterized in that it can be updated.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a defective customer who cannot update the use limit from the center side cannot continue to use the printer at hand beyond the limit.

  A data communication system according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the data communication system according to the eighth or ninth aspect, wherein the information for specifying the use limit of the printer is a limit on a print amount by the printer, such as a printable number of sheets. It is a frame.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a customer who cannot update the limit frame of the number of printed sheets from the center side cannot continue using the printer at hand beyond the limit frame.

  A data communication apparatus according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is a data communication apparatus that performs electronic data communication with a print server connected via a network, and that receives information related to a printer controlled by the print server. Means for determining whether the use limit of the printer may be updated when the information is received by the receiving means, and the use limit of the printer may be updated by the determination means. And transmission means for transmitting, to the print server, information that specifies a use limit of the printer when it is determined.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the use limit of the printer on the customer side can be arbitrarily set from the center side.

  A data communication apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the data communication apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the determination means sets a use limit of the printer when the user of the printer is not registered as a defective customer. It is characterized in that it can be updated.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, a defective customer who cannot update the use limit from the center side cannot continue to use the printer at hand beyond the limit.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the data communication device according to the eleventh or twelfth aspect of the present invention, the information for specifying the use limit of the printer is a print amount limit such as the number of printable sheets. It is a frame.

  According to the thirteenth aspect of the invention, a customer who cannot update the limit frame for the number of printed sheets from the center side cannot continue to use the printer at hand beyond the limit frame.

  According to the data communication method, the data communication program, the data communication system, and the data communication apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent unauthorized use of a device (specifically, a printer or the like) installed under a troubled customer. There is an effect that a data communication method, a data communication program, a data communication system, and a data communication device that can be performed are obtained.

  Exemplary embodiments of a data communication method, a data communication program, a data communication system, and a data communication apparatus according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the data communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numerals 100 to 103 denote devices constituting the photo studio system installed in individual photo studios as customers. As shown in the figure, the photo studio system includes a print server machine 100, a printer 101 connected to the print server machine 100 via USB, a client machine 102 connected to the print server machine 100 via a LAN, and a digital connected to the client machine 102 via USB. The camera 103 is configured. Although only one unit is shown in the figure, each device other than the print server machine 100 usually exists in a plurality of units in the system.

  In the photo studio, various types of image processing are performed on the photograph taken by the digital camera 103 on the client machine 102. Thereafter, output to the printer 101 is performed under the control of the print server machine 100. The print server machine 100 manages the execution history and execution status of the print job, the status of the printer 101 (hereinafter, this information is referred to as “print information”), and receives an instruction from the user regularly or from the user. The information is uploaded to the center server machine 104 to be described later. In addition to the above, the print server machine 100 is connected to the center server machine 104 at any time to notify the fact when a specific error (a fatal error such as a power failure) occurs.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a center server machine managed by the applicant, and centrally manages print information uploaded from the print server machine 100 of each photo studio in a center database 300 described later.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes a dealer machine managed by a dealer in each area, which acts as a charge for each photo studio on behalf of the applicant. The dealer machine 105 connects to the center server machine 104 periodically or when instructed by the user, and receives necessary information (such as the number of output sheets per month in each photo studio) from the center database 300 described above. read out.

  Although only one photo studio system is shown in the figure, there are as many photo studio systems as there are customer photo studios, and there are as many dealer machines 105 as there are dealers (as described above, there are currently three companies). .

  Next, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the hardware configuration of the print server machine 100 and the center server machine 104 that form the core of the data communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, these servers have the same hardware configuration. In the figure, 201 indicates a CPU that controls the entire apparatus, 202 indicates a ROM that stores basic input / output programs, and 203 indicates a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU 201.

  Reference numeral 204 denotes an HDD (hard disk drive) that controls reading / writing of data with respect to the HD (hard disk) 205 under the control of the CPU 201, and 205 denotes an HD that stores data written according to the control of the HDD 204. Yes.

  Reference numeral 206 denotes an FDD (flexible disk drive) that controls reading / writing of data with respect to the FD (flexible disk) 207 under the control of the CPU 201, and reference numeral 207 denotes a removable FD that stores data written according to the control of the FDD 206. Respectively.

  Reference numeral 208 denotes a cursor, a menu, a window, or a display for displaying various data such as characters and images. Reference numeral 209 denotes an interface (I / F) between the network and the CPU 201 connected to the Internet via the communication cable 210. Each functioning network board is shown.

  Reference numeral 211 denotes a keyboard having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, and various instructions, and 212 denotes a mouse for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like. ing. Reference numeral 213 denotes a scanner that optically reads characters and images, 214 denotes a printer that prints characters and images under the control of the CPU 201, 215 denotes a CD / DVD disc that is a removable recording medium, and 216 denotes CD / CD. Reference numeral 200 denotes a disk drive for controlling the reading of data to the DVD disk 215, and 200 denotes a bus for connecting the above-described units.

  Next, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional configuration of the data communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 300 to 302 are center server machines 104, 303 to 305 are print server machines 100, 306, and 307 are functional units of the printer 101.

  A center database 300 is a database that holds print information and the like uploaded from the print server machine 100 of each photo studio as described above. Each print server machine 100 is assigned a unique ID, and the print information is registered in the center database 300 in association with the ID of the print server machine 100 that is the transmission source. With this ID, it is possible to specify from which print server machine 100 the print information in the database belongs, and thus which photo studio. The center database 300 stores print information and user information of each studio.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a defective customer list, which is a list for registering customers who have introduced the above-mentioned photo studio system and who need to prevent further use due to intentional delinquency of usage fees. It is. In this list, it is assumed that the ID of the print server machine 100 installed under the customer is listed as information for identifying the defective customer.

  Reference numeral 302 denotes an upload control unit that receives print information transmitted from an upload unit 304 of the print server machine 100 described later, registers the print information in the center database 300, and lists the print server machine 100 in the defective customer list 301. The function unit returns “credit information” necessary for the operation of the printer 101 to the upload unit 304 only when it is not for the customer who has been sent.

  This “credit information” is a limit frame of the printing amount in the printer 101, and is specifically defined by, for example, the number of printed sheets.

  As described above, the print server machine 100 of each system periodically sends print information to the center server machine 104, for example, once a day. For customers who are not registered in the defective customer list 301 at this time, , “255 (sheets)” is returned as “credit information”. As will be described later, this “credit information” is set in the printer 101 via the print server machine 100, and is counted down according to the number of prints whenever there is a print output. When this value becomes 0, the printer 101 stops its operation. Therefore, the customer in the printer 101 is not able to use the customer who has been marked as a bad customer or who has not logged up to the center server machine 104 for a long time. When the “credit information” is exhausted without being updated, the system cannot be used.

  Next, reference numeral 303 denotes a print information database that holds the above-described print information to be uploaded to the center server machine 104.

  An upload unit 304 is a functional unit that transmits print information held in the print information database 303 to the upload control unit 302 of the center server machine 104 periodically, for example, once a day. Further, when the above-described “credit information” is received from the upload control unit 302 that has received the print information, the upload unit 304 outputs the information to the printer control unit 305 described later.

  A printer control unit 305 is a functional unit that controls the printer 101 connected to the print server machine 100. As one of the controls, there is a process of writing “credit information” received by the upload unit 304 from the upload control unit 302 of the center server machine 104 in a predetermined position in the built-in memory of the printer 101.

  A credit information storage unit 306 is a functional unit that holds “credit information” written by the printer control unit 305 of the print server machine 100.

  Reference numeral 307 denotes a printing unit, which is a functional unit that outputs specified data on a specified sheet in accordance with a print job received from the printer control unit 305 of the print server machine 100. The print unit 307 decrements “credit information” in the credit information storage unit 306 by 1 each time one sheet is output, and stops subsequent processing when the value of “credit information” reaches 0.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of data communication processing in the data communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, it is determined whether or not an upload time designated in advance, for example, 24:00 every day has arrived (step S401). Here, when the upload time has not come (step S401: No), the processing according to this flowchart is terminated. On the other hand, when the upload time comes (step S401: Yes), the upload unit 304 of the print server machine 100 extracts the print information for one day from the print information database 303, and the upload control unit 302 of the center server machine 104. (Step S402).

  Upon receiving this, the upload control unit 302 registers the information in the center database 300 (step S403), and refers to the defective customer list 301 to determine whether the print server machine 100 as the transmission source belongs to a defective customer. Determine if.

  If the ID of the print server machine 100 of the transmission source is not registered in the defective customer list 301 (step S404: No), the above-mentioned “credit information”, for example, the value 255 is used for the upload unit 304 of the print server machine 100. Is sent (replyed) to (step S405). On the other hand, if the ID of the print server machine 100 as the transmission source is registered in the defective customer list 301 (step S404: Yes), the processing according to this flowchart is terminated as it is.

  When “credit information” is returned from the center server machine 104, the upload unit 304 of the print server machine 100 that has received the instruction instructs the printer control unit 305 to store the information in the credit information storage of the printer 101. The credit information is set by writing in the unit 306 (step S406).

  Thereafter, the printing unit 307 of the printer 101 subtracts “credit information” every time one sheet is output. Unless the “credit information” is issued again from the center server machine 104 before the value reaches 0, the printer 101 becomes unusable when the “credit information” at hand is used up. It is possible to reliably prevent subsequent use by customers who do not pay or customers who deliberately misrepresent the number of output sheets.

  In the above-described embodiment, the “credit information” as a limit frame that can be printed without being approved by the center is grasped exclusively by the number of printed sheets, but the print amount is, for example, the print length, print area, It can also be defined by the number of print jobs, the number of head strokes, the paper feed length, the amount of ink used. That is, for example, a certain numerical value is credited as the ink usage amount, and the printer 101 is forcibly stopped when the value becomes zero.

  In the embodiment described above, the printer 101 waits for the natural stop of the printer 101 without updating the “credit information”. Conversely, even if there is a problem with the customer, there is a system as long as there is a balance of the “credit information”. Can continue to use. This is to give the customer a certain amount of grace (although there may be cases where the log cannot be raised to the center due to problems with the communication path, etc., it cannot always be attributed to the customer), but it is used immediately For example, a value of 0 may be transmitted as “credit information”. As a result, the system can be forcibly stopped at the moment when a defective customer connects to the center.

  In the above-described embodiment, the value 255 is uniformly given to non-defective customers. However, depending on each customer, for example, a customer who uses a large amount every day is 255, a customer who has a relatively small amount of output. The size of the limit frame may be changed to 100.

  Note that the data communication method described in the above embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  As described above, the data communication method, the data communication program, the data communication system, and the data communication apparatus according to the present invention are effective when the system delivered to the customer is used at a post-payment. It is suitable when it is necessary to prevent unauthorized use of the system by bad customers.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the data communication system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the hardware constitutions of the print server machine 100 and the center server machine 104 which make the core of the data communication system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the function structure of the data communication system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the data communication process in the data communication system concerning embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Print server machine 101 Printer 102 Client machine 103 Digital camera 104 Center server machine 105 Dealer machine 200 Bus 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 HDD
205 HD
206 FDD
207 FD
208 Display 209 I / F
210 Communication cable 211 Keyboard 212 Mouse 213 Scanner 214 Printer 215 CD / DVD disk 216 Disk drive 300 Center database 301 Bad customer list 302 Upload control unit 303 Print information database 304 Upload unit 305 Printer control unit 306 Credit information storage unit 307 Printing unit

Claims (13)

A data communication method for performing electronic data communication between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus connected by a network,
A receiving step of receiving information on a printer controlled by the first information processing apparatus at the second information processing apparatus;
A determination step of determining whether or not the use limit of the printer may be updated in the second information processing apparatus that has received the information in the reception step;
When it is determined in the determination step that the use limit of the printer may be updated, information specifying the use limit of the printer is transmitted from the second information processing apparatus to the first information processing apparatus. Sending process;
A data communication method comprising: Furthermore, a second reception step of receiving the information transmitted in the transmission step in the first information processing apparatus;
A setting step for setting the information received in the second reception step from the first information processing apparatus to the printer;
The data communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:   3. The determination according to claim 1, wherein the determination step determines that the use limit of the printer may be updated when the user of the printer is not registered as a defective customer. Data communication method.   The data communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information specifying the use limit of the printer is a limit frame of a print amount by the printer, such as a printable number of sheets. A data communication program for causing a computer to execute a data communication method for performing electronic data communication with a print server connected via a network,
A receiving step of receiving information about a printer controlled by the print server;
A determination step of determining whether or not the use limit of the printer may be updated when the information is received in the reception step;
A transmission step of transmitting, to the print server, information specifying the printer usage limit when it is determined that the printer usage limit may be updated in the determination step;
A data communication program for causing a computer to execute.   6. The data communication program according to claim 5, wherein the determination step determines that the use limit of the printer may be updated when the user of the printer is not registered as a defective customer.   7. The data communication program according to claim 5, wherein the information specifying the use limit of the printer is a limit frame of a print amount by the printer, such as an outputable number of sheets. A data communication system that performs electronic data communication between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus connected by a network,
Receiving means for receiving information on a printer controlled by the first information processing apparatus in the second information processing apparatus;
Determining means for determining whether or not the use limit of the printer may be updated in the second information processing apparatus that has received the information by the receiving means;
When the determination unit determines that the use limit of the printer may be updated, information specifying the use limit of the printer is transmitted from the second information processing apparatus to the first information processing apparatus. A transmission means;
Second receiving means for receiving the information transmitted by the transmitting means in the first information processing apparatus;
Setting means for setting the information received by the second receiving means from the first information processing apparatus to the printer;
A data communication system comprising:   9. The data communication system according to claim 8, wherein the determination unit determines that the use limit of the printer may be updated when the user of the printer is not registered as a defective customer.   10. The data communication system according to claim 8, wherein the information specifying the use limit of the printer is a limit frame of a print amount by the printer, such as an outputable number of sheets. A data communication device that performs electronic data communication with a print server connected via a network,
Receiving means for receiving information about the printer controlled by the print server;
Determining means for determining whether or not the use limit of the printer may be updated when the information is received by the receiving means;
A transmission unit that transmits information specifying the printer usage limit to the print server when it is determined by the determination unit that the usage limit of the printer may be updated;
A data communication apparatus comprising:   12. The data communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the determination unit determines that the use limit of the printer may be updated when the user of the printer is not registered as a defective customer. 13. The data communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information specifying the use limit of the printer is a limit frame of a print amount by the printer, such as a printable number of sheets.

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