JP2005309882A - Print control system and method, and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a specific user to print document data from a specific printer. <P>SOLUTION: A document creator 100 transmits a registration request of the document data to a management server 12. The management server 12 stores an original document 10 and returns an identifier 14 of the document data. The document creator 100 distributes the identifier 14 to a document user 200. The document user 200 transmits a printer ID 15 to the document management server 12 and outputs a printing request. When authentication of the document user 200 and a printer 24 is completed, the document management server 12 converts the original document 10 into a printable format and transmits it to the printer 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control system and method, and a server device, and more particularly to a technique for specifying a printer on which document data is printed.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when printing electronic document data with a printer, a technique for controlling printing by adding a control command to a print job transmitted to the printer or by limiting a spool for issuing a print job is known. Thus, it is possible to prohibit printing of document data for users other than the document creator.

  For example, Patent Document 1 shown below describes adding restriction information for restricting the operation of document data when the document data is created. In the terminal that received the document data, when the user gives an operation instruction to the document data, it is determined whether the instructed operation is restricted by the restriction information. Limit operations. As a result, document operations such as printing, copying, and editing can be prohibited for users other than the electronic document creator.

  Further, this Patent Document 1 has means for storing personal data, and judges whether or not the restriction information is valid for the personal data instructed to operate, and restricts the operation instruction when it is valid. Is described. As a result, for example, in the corporate intranet, a high-level general manager class allows the restriction information to be invalidated and the operation instruction is allowed, and in other classes, the restriction information is valid and the operation instruction is prohibited. It becomes.

  Further, Patent Document 2 below discloses a technique in which a sender sends a document and print control information to a server, and a receiver prints it after authentication.

JP 2002-229939 A JP 2002-169681 A

  Recently, however, document data has become more diversified, and finer print control than ever has been required.

  For example, when a document creator distributes document data to a specific user, it is desired to specify a printer on which the document data is to be printed due to the nature of the document data, that is, the user wants to print on an arbitrary printer. Although there is a case where it is desired to prohibit the document, the document creator cannot specify the print printer in the above-described conventional technology.

  Also, when a document creator distributes document data to a specific user, due to the nature of the document data, the user wants to limit the period or number of times that the document data is printed, that is, the period or number of times that the user can print. In some cases, the document creator cannot limit the printing period or the number of printings.

  Furthermore, once a document creator adds a certain restriction, there are many cases in which he wants to change the restriction after that. However, it is difficult to change the restriction information in the above-described prior art, and there is a problem that flexibility is lacking. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a system, method, and apparatus capable of specifying a printer to be printed for each document data.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a system, method, and apparatus capable of setting printing conditions such as a printer to be printed, a printing period, and the number of times of printing for each document data and for each user. There is to do.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a system, method, and apparatus that can easily change printing conditions set for each user for each document data at an arbitrary timing.

  The present invention relates to a print control system comprising a terminal, a printer, and a management server connected to the terminal and the printer via a communication network so as to be able to send and receive data, the terminal uniquely identifying document data Means for transmitting the document identification data and printer identification data to the management server and outputting a print request, the management server storing the document data, and the document corresponding to the document identification data Means for storing a control attribute for designating a printer capable of printing data, and whether or not the document identification data and the printer identification data transmitted from the terminal match the document identification data and the printable printer of the control attribute. The document data is transmitted to the printer when it is determined that the determination means matches the determination means. And a stage.

  The present invention also provides a print control system comprising a terminal, a printer, and a management server that are connected to each other via a communication network so as to be able to send and receive data, wherein the terminal uniquely identifies document data. To the printer and to output a print request. The printer has means for transmitting the document identification data and printer identification data to the management server. The management server stores the document data. Means for storing, control means for designating a printer capable of printing the document data corresponding to the document identification data, document identification data and printer identification data transmitted from the printer, The means for determining whether the attribute matches the document identification data of the attribute and the printable printer, and the means for determining match. Means for transmitting the document data to the printer when it is determined.

  The present invention also provides a method for controlling printing of document data in a system including a terminal, a printer, and a management server connected to the terminal and the printer via a communication network so as to be able to send and receive data. Document identification data for uniquely identifying document data, printer identification data, and user identification data are transmitted to the management server and a print request is output. The management server corresponds to the document identification data. By accessing a storage device that stores a control attribute that designates a user and a printer that can print data, the document identification data, the printer identification data, and the user identification data transmitted from the terminal are converted into the document identification of the control attribute. Determine whether the data and printable printers and printable users match. Transmitting the document data to the printer when.

  The present invention also provides a method for controlling printing of document data in a system including a terminal, a printer, and a management server that are connected to each other via a communication network so that the document data can be uniquely identified from the terminal. Document identification data to be sent to the printer and output a print request, and the printer receives the document identification data, printer identification data, and identification data of the document user who outputs the print request from the terminal. The management server accesses a storage device that stores a printer that can print the document data corresponding to the document identification data and a control attribute that specifies a user, thereby transmitting the document transmitted from the printer. The identification data, the printer identification data, and the document user identification data are stored in the control attribute. It determines whether to match the document identification data and printable printer and printable user, and transmits the document data to the printer when it is determined match with.

  Further, the present invention is a server device in a system comprising a terminal, a printer, and a server device connected to the terminal and the printer via a communication network so as to be able to send and receive data, the document data transmitted from the terminal Means for receiving document identification data, printer identification data, and user identification data for uniquely identifying the document, and the management server specifies a user and a printer that can print the document data corresponding to the document identification data Means for storing control attributes, means for storing the document data, document identification data and printer identification data and user identification data transmitted from the terminal, the document identification data of the control attributes and the printable printer, and The means for determining whether or not it matches the printable user and the means for determining match. If it is determined that that, and means for transmitting the document data to the printer.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the document identification data and the printer identification data are transmitted from the terminal used by the document user and a print request is output to the management server, the management server can print them specified by the document control attribute. Compare with printer and authenticate. If the authentication is successful, the management server transmits the document data to the printer and enables printing by the printer. If the printable printer specified by the control attribute is different from the printer transmitted from the terminal, the document data is not transmitted to the printer and printing is not executed. Therefore, printing with a specific printer designated by the control attribute becomes possible. The identification data of the document user is transmitted from the terminal, and compared with a printable user having a control attribute, authentication can be performed by a specific user on a specific printer.

  Since the control attribute is stored and managed in the management server, it can be added, deleted, and changed at an arbitrary timing by accessing the management server.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform print control with respect to certain document data by a specific printer. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform print control on a specific printer by a specific user for certain document data.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a print control system according to the present embodiment. The system includes a terminal 1, a terminal 2, a document management server 12, a user database (D / B) 13, and a printer 24.

  The terminal 1 is a terminal operated by a document creator who creates document data, and is connected to the document management server 12 through a wired or wireless communication network 50 so that data can be transmitted and received. The document creator transmits document data from the terminal 1 and registers it in the document management server 12.

  The terminal 2 is a terminal operated by a user (document user) who desires printing of document data, and is connected to the document management server 12 through a wired or wireless communication network 52 so that data can be transmitted and received. The terminal 1 and the terminal 2 may be disconnected or may be connected via a communication network 54 as illustrated. The user designates the printer 24 together with the document identifier for specifying the document data to be printed from the terminal 2 to the document management server 12 and outputs a print command (print job). The document identifier is distributed online or offline from the document creator to the user. In the figure, the terminal 2 and the printer 24 are not connected, but may of course be connected.

  The document management server 12 manages a print job of document data created by the document creator, and authenticates the printer 24 in response to a request from the terminal 2. The authentication of the printer 24 in the document management server 12 means that the document data matches the printer previously set by the document creator as a printer to be printed. The document management server 12 may authenticate the document user together with the printer 24. If the authentication is successful, the document data is transmitted to the printer 24.

  The printer 24 is a printer that prints document data from the terminal 2 and is connected to the document management server 12 through a communication network 54. The printer 24 executes printing using the document data transmitted from the document management server 12.

  As described above, in the system of this embodiment, the document management server 12 performs authentication of the printer 24 designated by the document user, and if it is determined as a result of the authentication that the printer is not the printer designated by the document creator. The document data is not transmitted from the document management server to the printer, and is therefore printed only by the specific printer 24 that has been authenticated. In addition, when the printer 24 is authenticated, user authentication is also executed at the same time, so that printing by a specific printer 24 by a specific user can be permitted. Further, by supplying the printing conditions from the document management server 12 to the printer 24, the document creator can change the printing conditions stored in the document management server 12 at an arbitrary timing. The communication networks 50 to 56 may be LANs or WANs.

  Hereinafter, the print control system of the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows the flow of processing in the print control system of the present embodiment. The document creator 100 creates document data using the terminal 1. This document data is an original document 10 and is a document distributed by the document creator 100 to a document user (user) 200. First, the document creator 100 requests the document management server 12 to register a document. Specifically, a document registration request command is output from the terminal 1 to the document management server 12 through the communication network 50 together with an ID for identifying the document creator 100, document data, and document control attributes (print control information). To do. The document control attribute according to the present embodiment sets printing conditions. In addition to allowing color printing or allowing only black and white, the document control attribute restricts users who can print the original document 10 and printers that can print. Including. The document control attribute is stored in the storage device of the document management server 12. It is desirable to use a public key certificate as an ID for identifying the document creator 100.

  The document management server 12 includes an authentication unit, a document identifier generation unit, an original document storage unit, a document control attribute storage unit, and a document usage log (document usage history storage unit). Upon receiving the document registration request command, the document management server 12 authenticates the document creator 100 using the document creator 100 ID. That is, the user data stored in advance in the user D / B 13 is checked against the ID of the document creator 100 to confirm that the document creator 100 is one of the users of the system.

  After the authentication is completed, the document management server 12 stores the original document 10 and creates a document identifier 14 for uniquely identifying the original document 10 and sends it back to the terminal 1. The document identifier 14 may be created independently of the original document 10 or may be created depending on the original document 10. In the former case, for example, the document identifier 14 can be created by adding a serial number to the document creator's ID. In the latter case, the document data transmitted from the terminal 1 is processed, for example, a hash value is created. The document identifier 14 can be used. When the document identifier 14 is returned, the document management server 12 notifies the document creator 100 of the completion of document registration. Further, the document management server 12 registers in the document management repository 17 that the document has been registered. In the registration to the document management repository 17, specifically, the document identifier 14, the original document 10, and the document control attribute 18 are registered as one set. Therefore, when the document identifier 14 is given, the original document 10 and the document control attribute 18 corresponding to the document identifier 14 are specified by accessing the document management repository 17, and the printing condition of the document is determined. Become. The document registration date may be registered in the document management repository 17. The communication between the terminal 1 and the document management server 12 may be either synchronous communication such as HTTPS or asynchronous communication such as S / MIME mail, but it is preferable to encrypt the communication to ensure security.

  The document creator 100 that has received the document identifier 14 from the document management server 12 distributes the document identifier 14 to the document user 200 by an arbitrary method. One method is a method of transmitting from the terminal 1 to the terminal 2 used by the document user 200 via the communication network 54. Upon receiving the document identifier 14, the document user 200 outputs a print request to the document management server 12 using the terminal 2 in order to print the original document 10 specified by the document identifier 14. At this time, the document identifier 14 and the ID (printer 24 address) 15 of the printer 24 are transmitted to the document management server 12. Further, a user ID for specifying the document user 200 is also transmitted. It is desirable to use a public key certificate as the user ID.

  The document management server 12 that has received the print request from the terminal 2 reads the document control attribute 18 specified by the document identifier 14 from the document management repository 17. Then, it is confirmed whether the printer 24 and the document user 200 who intend to print the document match the printable printer and the printable user specified by the document control attribute specified by the document identifier 14. When the printer 24 and the document user 200 match the printable printer and printable user specified by the document control attribute 18, the document management server 12 can print the stored format of the original document 10 on the printer 24. Check if it is formatted. If the format cannot be printed by the printer 24, the document management server 12 converts it into a format printable by the printer 24 based on the document control attribute 18 (conversion to the printable document 11), and then the original document 10 (printable document 11). ) To the printer 24. Further, when the original document 10 is transmitted to the printer 24 in a printable format, the document management server 12 indicates that the original document 10 is printed as a log 20 in the document management repository 17 (printing completion and printing date and time). Are registered together with the document identifier 14.

  When the original document 10 is transmitted from the document management server 12 to the printer 24, it is desirable to encrypt it to ensure security. For this reason, the data is encrypted with the public key 16 authenticated by a predetermined certificate authority and transmitted to the printer 24. The printer 24 decrypts the encrypted original document 10, prints the original document 10, and outputs it as a print document 30.

  As described above, the original document 10 can be printed by the specific printer 24. Note that when a print request from the terminal 2 to the document management server 12 is made by mail, the document management server 12 sends the last mail sent by the document user 200 in order to prevent unnecessary print requests from being repeated. It is desirable to keep it. When a new print request mail is received, the document management server 12 compares the transmission date / time of the last mail from the document user 200 with the transmission date / time of the current mail, and this mail only when the date / time is newer. Is received and processing continues.

  The flow of the document identifier 14 and the original document 10 is summarized as follows.

<Document identifier 14>
(1) In response to a request from the document creator 100 (terminal 1), the management server 12 creates a document identifier 14.
(2) The created document identifier 14 is returned to the document creator 100 (terminal 1).
(3) The document is distributed from the document creator 100 (terminal 1) to the document user 200 (terminal 2).
(4) The document is sent from the document user 200 (terminal 2) to the document management server 12.
(5) The document management server 12 reads the original document 10 based on the document identifier 14.

<Original document 10>
(1) It is transmitted from the document creator 100 (terminal 1) to the document management server 12 and stored.
(2) In response to a request from the document user 200 (terminal 2), the document management server 12 reads it using the document identifier 14, converts it into a format printable by the printer 24, and outputs it to the printer 24.

  As described above, the original document 10 is printed only by the specific printer 24, but the original document 10 is supplied to the printer 24 after being converted into the format specified by the document control attribute 18. Various printing modes of the original document 10 can be controlled. Hereinafter, the document control attribute 18 will be described.

  If the document control attribute 18 is, for example, “printable user = document user 200, printable printer = printer 24, print condition = color”, the document management server 12 transmits color data to the printer 24, and the printer 24 The original document 10 is printed in color and output as a print document 30.

  When the document control attribute 18 is “printable user = document user 200, printable printer = printer 24, printing condition = black and white”, the document management server 12 transmits the black and white data to the printer 24, and the printer 24 Prints the original document 10 in black and white and outputs it as a print document 30.

  When the document control attribute 18 is “printable user = document user 200, printable printer = printer 24, print condition = maximum number of times printed”, the document management server 12 authenticates the user and the printer. Then, the log 20 is accessed and the number of times of printing of the document specified by the document identifier 14 is confirmed. If the document has not been printed yet, it is determined that printing is possible and the original document 10 is transmitted to the printer 24. As a result of accessing the log 20, if it has already been printed in the past, it is determined that printing is impossible and the original document 10 is not transmitted to the printer 24.

  When the document control attribute 18 is “printable user = document user 200, printable printer = printer 24, print condition = 3 months after registration of print period”, the document management server 12 authenticates the user and the printer. After that, check if the current date is within 3 months after registration. If it is within three months, it is determined that printing is possible and the original document 10 is transmitted to the printer 24. If the current date and time exceeds three months, it is determined that printing is impossible and the original document is not transmitted to the printer 24.

  When the document control attribute 18 is “printable user = document user 200, printable printer = printer 24, print condition = secondary distribution prohibited (TrustMarking)”, the document management server 12 authenticates the user and the printer. After that, the data is transmitted to the printer 24 in a data format prohibiting secondary distribution. It should be noted that the printer 24 is premised on a printer capable of secondary distribution prohibition printing, and it can be said that it is meaningful to specify the printer here. In other words, when secondary distribution is prohibited, printing should be performed by a printer that enables secondary distribution prohibition printing. In this embodiment, printing that designates a specific printer is possible. It becomes possible.

  The case where the document control attribute 18 is “printable user = document user 200, printable printer = printer 24, print condition = overlay printing” is the same as in the case of secondary distribution prohibited printing. That is, the document management server 12 authenticates the user and the printer and then transmits them to the printer 24 in the overlay print format. The printer 24 outputs a print document 30 by performing predetermined background printing, for example, background printing of confidential characters in accordance with overlay printing conditions. The printer 24 is assumed to be a printer capable of overlay printing, and it is meaningful to specify the printer here.

  Further, the document control attribute 18 is “printable user = document user 200, printable printer = printer 24, print condition = color printing when the document user 200 is a section manager or higher, and monochrome printing otherwise”. , After authenticating the user and the printer, the document management server 12 further accesses the user D / B 13 to determine whether or not the document user 200 is a section manager or higher. When the document user 200 is more than the section manager, the document user 200 is transmitted to the printer 24 in the color format. If the document user 200 is not equal to or higher than the section manager, the document management server 12 transmits it to the printer 24 in the monochrome format.

  On the other hand, when the document control attribute 18 is “printable user = document user 201 (not shown), printable printer = 25 (not shown), printing condition = black and white”, the document user 200 (terminal 2) Since the transmitted user ID does not match the document user 201 and the printer 24 does not match the printer 25, the document management server 12 does not transmit the original document 10 to the printer 24, and printing by the printer 24 is prohibited.

  In this embodiment, since the document control attribute 18 is stored and managed in the document management server 12, the document control attribute 18 can be added, deleted, or changed at an arbitrary timing by accessing the document management server 12. Is possible. Therefore, for example, a control attribute for background printing of confidential characters is set as overlay printing, but the characters can be changed after document distribution. In addition, the control attribute for black and white printing has been set when it is not equal to or higher than the section manager, but it is easy to change to color printing even when it is not equal to or higher than the section manager after document distribution. Specifically, the document manager 300 having the authority to access the document management server 12 may access the document management server 12 using a terminal and change the document control attribute 18. The same applies when the printable user or the printable printer is changed.

Second Embodiment
In the above embodiment, the document user 200 cannot know the contents of the original document 10 until printing is performed by the printer 24. In many cases, the document user 200 wants to confirm what kind of document the user intends to print before printing. When printing a certain document, it is considered a normal routine to first display the document data on the monitor screen of the terminal 2 and confirm the contents, and then print it with a printer. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration in which the document user 200 can check the original document 10 before printing will be described.

  The document creator 100 creates document data using the terminal 1. This document data is an original document 10 and is a document distributed by the document creator 100 to a document user (user) 200. First, the document creator 100 makes a document registration request to the document management server 12 as in the first embodiment. Specifically, a document registration request command is output from the terminal 1 to the document management server 12 through the communication network 50 together with an ID for identifying the document creator 100, document data, and document control attributes (print control information). To do. The document control attribute is stored in the storage device of the document management server 12.

  Upon receiving the document registration request command, the document management server 12 authenticates the document creator 100 using the document creator 100 ID. That is, the user data stored in advance in the user D / B 13 is checked against the ID of the document creator 100 to confirm that the document creator 100 is one of the users of the system.

  After the authentication is completed, the document management server 12 stores the original document 10 and creates a document identifier 14 for uniquely identifying the original document 10 and sends it back to the terminal 1. When the document identifier 14 is returned, the document management server 12 notifies the document creator 100 of the completion of document registration. Further, the document management server 12 registers in the document management repository 17 that the document has been registered. In the registration to the document management repository 17, specifically, the document identifier 14, the original document 10, and the document control attribute 18 are registered as one set.

  Further, the document management server 12 determines whether or not the document user 200 has the reference right set in the document control attribute 18 of the original document 10, and if the reference right is set, the original document 10 is encrypted. It encrypts using the key and creates the encrypted document 22. As the encryption key, for example, a public key of a printable user specified by the document control attribute 18 can be used. The user's public key may be stored in advance in the user D / B 13. At the time of encryption, a browse document in which the user's print right and edit right are deleted is created, and the browse document data is encrypted.

  The document creator 100 that has received the document identifier 14 from the document management server 12 distributes the document identifier 14 to the document user 200 by an arbitrary method. The document user 200 that has received the document identifier 14 prints the document identifier 14 from the terminal 2 in order to confirm the contents of the original document 10 when printing the original document 10 specified by the document identifier 14. The request (browsing request) for the encrypted document 22 is output. Upon receiving this request, the document management server 12 reads the encrypted document 22 corresponding to the document identifier 14 and returns it to the document user 200 (terminal 2). The document user 200 decrypts the encrypted document 22 using its own private key corresponding to the public key used when the original document 10 is encrypted in the document management server 12 and displays it on the screen of the terminal 2. Check the contents. The document user 200 confirming the contents of the original document 10 outputs a print request to the document management server 12 using the terminal 2. At this time, the document identifier 14 and the ID 15 of the printer 24 are transmitted to the document management server 12. Further, a user ID for specifying the document user 200 is also transmitted.

  The subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment, and the document management server 12 that has received the print request from the terminal 2 reads the document control attribute 18 specified by the document identifier 14 from the document management repository 17. Then, it is confirmed whether the printer 24 and the document user 200 who intend to print the document match the printable printer and the printable user specified by the document control attribute specified by the document identifier 14. When the printer 24 and the document user 200 match the printable printer and printable user specified by the document control attribute 18, the document management server 12 can print the stored format of the original document 10 on the printer 24. Check if it is formatted. If the format cannot be printed by the printer 24, the document management server 12 converts it into a format printable by the printer 24 based on the document control attribute 18 (conversion to the printable document 11), and then the original document 10 (printable document 11). ) To the printer 24. The conversion to the printable document 11 may be executed when the original document 10 is encrypted. Further, when the original document 10 is transmitted to the printer 24 in a printable format, the document management server 12 indicates that the original document 10 is printed as a log 20 in the document management repository 17 (printing completion and printing date and time). Are registered together with the document identifier 14.

  According to the present embodiment, the document user 200 transmits a browsing request to the document management server 12 using the document identifier 14 to confirm the contents of the original document 10 and then designates the printer 24 to the document management server 12. Print request can be sent.

<Third Embodiment>
In the second embodiment described above, the encrypted document 22 is transmitted from the document management server 12 to the document user 200 in response to a browsing request from the document user 200. However, the original document 10 is not encrypted. A thumbnail that is a reduced image of the document 10 may be created and transmitted to the document user 200.

  That is, the document management server 12 creates a thumbnail from the original document 10 when the user's reference right is set in the document control attribute 18 of the original document 10. The created thumbnail is returned to the document user 200 in response to a browsing request from the document user 200. The document user 200 can know the outline of the original document 10 by referring to the thumbnail. Similar to the second embodiment, the thumbnail may be encrypted with the public key of the document user 200 or may not be encrypted. In order to prevent falsification of thumbnails, the signature may be sent with the private key of the document management server 12 and transmitted to the document user 200.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, printing by a specific printer by a specific user is possible. In addition, by specifying various document control attributes, it is possible to print under a specific printing condition by a specific printer by a specific user. Furthermore, since the document control attribute is stored and managed in the document management server 12, printing conditions can be added, deleted, or changed at any timing, specifically even after document distribution.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, in this embodiment, the document user 200 outputs a print request to the document management server 12 using the document identifier 14 and the ID 15 that identifies the printer 24. However, the terminal 2 and the printer 24 are connected via a communication network. Then, the document user 200 may output a print request from the terminal 2 to the printer 24, and the printer 24 may transmit the document identifier 14, printer ID 15, and document user ID to the document management server 12. The document management server 12 authenticates in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and returns the original document 10 (printable document 11) to the printer 24 when the authentication is completed.

It is a conceptual lineblock diagram of a system concerning an embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the process of embodiment. It is a typical explanatory view showing the flow of processing of other embodiments.

Explanation of symbols

  1 terminal (document creator terminal), 2 terminal (document user terminal), 10 original document, 11 printable document, 12 document management server, 13 user database (D / B), 14 document identifier, 15 printer ID, 17 document Management repository, 18 Document control attribute, 20 Document usage log, 24 Printer, 30 Print document, 100 Document creator, 200 Document user, 300 Document administrator.

Claims (21)

A printing control system comprising a terminal, a printer, and a management server connected to the terminal and the printer via a communication network so as to be able to send and receive data,
The terminal
Means for transmitting document identification data and printer identification data for uniquely identifying document data to the management server and outputting a print request;
The management server
Means for storing the document data;
Means for storing a control attribute for designating a printer capable of printing the document data corresponding to the document identification data;
Means for determining whether the document identification data and the printer identification data transmitted from the terminal match the document identification data and the printable printer of the control attribute;
Means for transmitting the document data to the printer when the determination means determines that they match,
A printing control system comprising: The system of claim 1, wherein
The output means of the terminal further transmits identification data of a document user who outputs the print request from the terminal to the management server,
The storing means of the management server stores a control attribute for designating a printer and a user capable of printing the document data, corresponding to the document identification data as the control attribute,
The determination means of the management server is configured such that the document identification data, the printer identification data, and the document user identification data transmitted from the terminal match the document identification data, the printable printer, and the user identification data of the control attribute. A print control system characterized by determining whether or not. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:
A document creator terminal connected to the management server via a communication network so as to be able to send and receive data;
The document creator terminal
Means for transmitting the document data to the management server and outputting a document registration request;
Means for receiving the document identification data from the management server;
Have
The management server
Means for creating the document identification data in response to the document registration request;
Means for transmitting the document identification data to the document creator terminal;
A printing control system comprising: The system according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
The terminal
Means for transmitting the document identification data to the management server and outputting a document data browsing request;
Means for receiving browsing data of the document data transmitted from the management server;
Means for displaying the browsing data on a screen;
Have
The management server
Means for creating browsing data from the document data;
Means for returning the browsing data to the terminal in response to the browsing request from the terminal;
A printing control system comprising: The system of claim 4, wherein
The management server
Means for storing public key data of a document user who outputs the browsing request from the terminal;
Means for encrypting the browsing data using the public key data;
And the management server returns encrypted browsing data to the terminal. The system of claim 4, wherein
The printing control system according to claim 1, wherein the browsing data is data in which a printing right and an editing right are deleted from the document data. The system of claim 4, wherein
The print control system, wherein the browsing data is thumbnail data of the document data. A print control system comprising a terminal, a printer, and a management server connected to each other via a communication network so as to be able to send and receive data
The terminal
Means for transmitting document identification data for uniquely identifying document data to the printer and outputting a print request;
The printer includes means for transmitting the document identification data and printer identification data to the management server;
The management server
Means for storing the document data;
Means for storing a control attribute for designating a printer capable of printing the document data corresponding to the document identification data;
Means for determining whether the document identification data and the printer identification data transmitted from the printer match the document identification data of the control attribute and the printable printer;
Means for transmitting the document data to the printer when the determination means determines that they match,
A printing control system comprising: The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The control attribute of the management server includes condition data for specifying a printing mode in the printer,
The print control system, wherein the management server transmits the document data to the printer based on the condition data. The system of claim 9, wherein
The condition data includes printing frequency limit data,
The management server
Means for storing the number of times printing is performed when the document data is transmitted to the printer;
Means for prohibiting transmission of the document data when the number of times of printing exceeds the number of times of printing;
A printing control system comprising: The system of claim 9, wherein
The condition data includes printing period restriction data,
The management server
Means for prohibiting transmission of the document data when a date and time for transmitting the document data to the printer exceeds the print period limit;
A printing control system comprising: The system of claim 9, wherein
The condition data includes secondary distribution prohibited print data,
The print control system, wherein the management server converts the document data according to the secondary distribution prohibited print data and transmits the converted document data to the printer. The system of claim 9, wherein
The condition data includes overlay print data,
The print control system, wherein the management server converts the document data according to the overlay print data and transmits the converted document data to the printer. A method for controlling printing of document data in a system including a terminal, a printer, and a management server connected to the terminal and the printer via a communication network so as to be able to transmit and receive data
Sending document identification data for uniquely identifying document data from the terminal, printer identification data, and user identification data to the management server and outputting a print request;
The management server accesses a storage device that stores control attributes for designating a user and a printer that can print the document data corresponding to the document identification data, so that the document identification data transmitted from the terminal and the It is determined whether the printer identification data and the user identification data match the document identification data of the control attribute, the printable printer, and the printable user, and if they match, the document data is transmitted to the printer. A printing control method. The method of claim 14, wherein
Prior to the print request, the terminal sends the document identification data to the management server to output a document data browsing request,
The management server transmits browsing data created from the document data in response to the browsing request from the terminal to the terminal,
The printing control method, wherein the terminal displays the browsing data on a screen. The method according to any of claims 14 and 15,
The control attribute includes condition data for specifying a printing mode in the printer,
The print control method, wherein the management server transmits the document data to the printer based on the condition data. A method for controlling printing of document data in a system including a terminal, a printer, and a management server connected to each other via a communication network so as to be able to send and receive data
Sending document identification data for uniquely identifying document data from the terminal to the printer and outputting a print request;
The printer transmits the document identification data, the printer identification data, and identification data of a document user who outputs a print request from the terminal to the management server,
The management server accesses a storage device that stores a control attribute for designating a printer and a user that can print the document data corresponding to the document identification data, and the document identification data transmitted from the printer, and It is determined whether or not the printer identification data and the document user identification data match the document identification data of the control attribute, the printable printer, and the printable user, and if it matches, the document data is transferred to the printer. A printing control method characterized by transmitting. A server device in a system comprising a terminal, a printer, and a server device connected to the terminal and the printer via a communication network so as to be able to send and receive data,
Means for receiving document identification data for uniquely identifying document data, printer identification data, and user identification data transmitted from the terminal;
The management server stores a control attribute for designating a user and a printer capable of printing the document data corresponding to the document identification data;
Means for storing the document data;
Means for determining whether the document identification data, the printer identification data, and the user identification data transmitted from the terminal match the document identification data of the control attribute, the printable printer, and the printable user;
Means for transmitting the document data to the printer when the determination means determines that they match,
The server apparatus characterized by having. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:
Means for creating browsing data from the document data;
Means for transmitting the browsing data to the terminal;
The server apparatus characterized by having. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
Means for storing the public key data of the document user;
Means for encrypting the browsing data using the public key data;
And transmitting the encrypted browsing data to the terminal. The apparatus of claim 18.
The control attribute includes condition data for specifying a printing mode in the printer,
further,
Means for converting the document data into a format printable by the printer based on the condition data when it is determined by the determination means to match;
The server apparatus transmits the document data converted into a printable format to the printer.

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