JP2006164157A - Print service system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user of a print service to obtain and print his/her desired data without registering information for using the service beforehand. <P>SOLUTION: The present invention comprises a selection information generating means for generating information for printing selected data, a one-time password generating means for generating a password which allows for using the information generated by the selection information generating means only once, and a determination means for determining whether the user can use the requested information using the password generated by the one-time password generating means when the user makes the request for printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a print service providing method and a print service using method when printing a document stored on the Internet using a print service.

  In recent years, as the environment for connecting to the Internet has expanded, various services have been provided through the Internet. Among these services, storage services have become widespread as services for storing and managing user data, company data, and copyrighted work data on a server on the Internet. In addition, a print service that prints data on the Internet using a multifunction device such as a convenience store is also being used.

  When these two services are linked and data in the storage service is printed using a print service on a convenience store multifunction device, the data stored in the storage service may be printed (for example, Patent Document 1). Or the case where the data provided from other companies, such as a company, is printed is considered. Conventionally, when realizing a service that links these services, in both the former case and the latter case, the user to use must be registered in advance as a member in order to use the service. It was.

  For example, access the print reservation home page to make a print reservation for the desired data, store the reservation information in the server in association with the user ID, and if there is a request from the output device, make a reservation from the user ID The specified data is specified, the data is transmitted to the output device, and printing is performed. As can be seen from the fact that the server manages the user ID and reservation information of the user who made the print reservation, the server manages the user information to be used.

Also, in PullPrint for electronic documents, print control information for controlling printing is generated to protect the copyright, the information is distributed to the device together with the document data, and the device is operating normally based on the information. This is a print management system that manages the number of times printing has been performed by sending the number of times printed to the server to grasp the print status of the copyrighted work. Because it is premised that the user information is managed, the user information is managed.
JP2003-140875

  As described above, in the above-described conventional technology, it is assumed that the service providing side manages user information to be used. Therefore, a user who wants to use registers information as a member before using the service. It will be necessary. For this reason, for users who are not supposed to use the service at all times, the threshold for using the service becomes high, and there is a problem that the user cannot use the service easily.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide means for using a print service to a user without using the information of the user to use. The present invention uses a selection means for selecting data to be printed by a user, a selection information generation means for generating information for printing the selected data, and information generated by the selection information generation means only once. Generated by the one-time password generation unit when a user makes a print request using the information generated by the selection information generation unit; A determination unit that determines whether or not the requested information can be used by using a password; and a provision unit that provides the user with the data selected by the selection unit when the request is correct. To do.

  Further, the providing means of the present invention includes a print completion determining means for determining whether or not printing has been completed, a print completion notifying means for notifying that printing has been completed or printing has not been completed, and a user printing. A one-time password deletion means for invalidating the one-time password generated for printing when the server receives the print completion notification from the printing apparatus that performed printing, When a notification of completion or a notification of printing failure is received from the printing device, a deletion request means for requesting deletion of the data provided to the printing device, and when a deletion request is received from the server, the printing device By having a print data deleting means for deleting the temporarily stored print data, the one-time password is invalidated upon completion of printing. Ri, if the user does not perform the printing wrong, again, characterized in that to be able to perform the printing.

  According to the present invention, a user who uses a print service can acquire and print desired data without registering information in advance to use the service. In addition, by using a one-time password necessary for using the service, it is possible to prevent a user from using the service multiple times illegally or being intercepted by another user. In addition, since it is considered that the service has been exercised upon completion of printing, it is possible for the user to use the service with peace of mind.

Example 1
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the system configuration of the first embodiment.

  A print service provider 101 that provides a print service and a storage service provider 102 that stores data to be printed are connected to the Internet network 100, respectively. There is a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 110 capable of accessing these service providers, and a plurality of devices 111 that perform print service and print desired data are connected to the Internet network 100, respectively.

  The flow of processing in this embodiment will be described. First, the user accesses the print service provider 101 using the PC 110. The print service provider 101 acquires a list of printable data among the data managed by the storage service provider 102 and presents the data to the user. The user selects desired data from the presented data and requests a means for executing the print service. The print service generates an access URL necessary for printing the requested data and one-time password information necessary for printing, and notifies the user of the information by e-mail. The user accesses the URL described in the received mail from any device 111 and inputs the one-time password, thereby receiving the desired data and printing.

  Details of each of the above processes will be described below. The configuration of the print service provider 101, the storage service provider 102, and the printing device 111 that executes printing is shown in FIG. The print service provider 101 processes information provided from the communication unit 211 that transmits and receives data through the Internet and the storage service provider 102, generates data to be presented to the user, and processes a request from the user. An information processing unit 212 that performs, a one-time password generation unit 213 that generates a one-time password for performing a process requested by the user, and an access unit that requests execution of the process requested by the user. URL information generation unit 214 that generates certain URL information, information storage unit 215 that stores the issued URL information and one-time password in association with the requested data, and an email for notifying the user of the generated information It is comprised from the mail production | generation part 216 which produces | generates. The storage service provider 102 includes a communication unit 221 that transmits and receives data via the Internet, an access right information management unit 223 that manages access right information of data that may be disclosed to the print service provider 101, and information to be managed From an information management unit 224 that performs data processing using a database (DB) 231 storing information, and an information processing unit 222 that performs information processing using information in the information management unit 224 and information in the access right management unit 223 Composed. The device 111 communicates with the print service provider, converts the user input data into a format for transmitting to the print service provider 101, and analyzes data information received from the print service provider 101. And an information processing unit 242 that detects completion of data printing, manages the number of times printing is performed, and controls print processing. The print service provider 101, the storage service provider 102, and the device 111 are each connected to the Internet by a communication unit, and transmission / reception of information to / from each other is performed through the Internet.

  The user accesses the site of the print service provider 101 using the PC 110 that can be connected to the Internet. When receiving a request from the user to acquire data information that can be printed by the print service provider, the print service provider 101 can make the storage service provider 102 open to the user at that time. A data list acquisition request is transmitted from the communication unit 221. When the storage service provider 102 receives the request, the storage service provider 102 acquires access right information that can be disclosed to the print service provider that has made the request from the access right information management unit 223, and uses the access right information, The information management unit 224 acquires a list of information from the DB, and transmits the information from the communication unit 221 to the print service provider 101. The print service provider 101 uses the received data to generate a screen to be presented to the user by the information processing unit 212 and present it to the user.

  For example, when the user requests calendar information, a screen as shown in FIG. 3 is generated and presented to the user. The user selects a calendar to be printed from the presented calendar list, selects the next button, and transitions to the next processing screen.

  When a calendar is selected on the screen of FIG. 3 and the next button is pressed, the screen transitions to the screen of FIG. In the screen of FIG. 4, the user is requested to input information on how many copies of a desired calendar are to be printed and an e-mail address that is a transmission destination of information for performing a print service. The user inputs predetermined information in each input field on the screen and presses an order button to request acquisition of authority to execute the print service.

  When the above request is made from the user to the print service provider 101, the print service provider 101 requests the storage service provider 102 to acquire the data requested by the user. In the storage service provider 102, the access right information management unit 223 determines whether the requested data can be transmitted to the requested print service provider 101, and it is determined that the requested data can be transmitted. In this case, the requested data is acquired from the DB 230 and transmitted. In the print service provider 101, when the requested data can be acquired from the storage service provider 102, the data is stored in the information management unit 215, and URL information for accessing the stored data is generated by the access means generation unit 214. To do. Further, the one-time password generation unit 213 generates a one-time password that is necessary for performing processing using URL information for accessing stored data. The one-time password generated here is generated so as to have a unique value in the system. The generated URL information, one-time password information, and number of copies information are stored in the information management unit 215 together with the data acquired from the storage service. The information management unit 215 displays the stored data, the URL information, and the one-time password. Store them in association with each other as shown in FIG. Further, the generated URL information and one-time password are notified to the user by mail as shown in FIG. 7 with respect to the mail address entered by the user on the screen shown in FIG. The mail to be notified to the user is generated by the mail generation unit 216 of the print service provider 101 and is transmitted from the communication unit 211 to the mail server.

  When the mail is transmitted, the screen shown in FIG. 5 is presented to the user as the processing result, so that the request is processed normally and the mail is transmitted to the input mail address. To be notified.

  After receiving the mail transmitted from the print service provider 101, the user performs printing of desired data using an arbitrary device 111 that can connect to the Internet and perform the print service.

  For example, a case where the user executes printing using the device 111 installed in a convenience store will be described. The user inputs the URL information described in the received email using the touch panel operation unit of the device 111 installed in the convenience store as shown in FIG. When the URL information is input and the determination button is pressed, the device 111 accesses the designated URL using the communication unit 241.

  FIG. 10 shows a processing flow when the print service provider 101 receives a request from the device 111. When the print service provider 101 receives the request from the device 111, in step S1001, the URL information managed by the information management unit 215 checks whether or not the requested URL exists. In step S1003, it is confirmed that there is one-time password information corresponding to the request, and the request source is requested to transmit a password.

  When the device 111 receives a password request from the print service provider 101 via the communication unit 241, the information processing unit 242 analyzes the information, generates and displays a screen as shown in FIG. 9, and requests the user to enter the password. To do. The user inputs the one-time password described in the received mail and presses the enter button. When the input of the user password is completed, the input password information is converted into data for requesting the print service provider by the information processing unit 242 and transmitted to the print service provider 101.

  In step S1004, the print service provider 101 uses the received password information and the requested URL information again to make a determination using the URL information managed by the information management unit 215 and the one-time password information. If it is a password, in step S1005, data is acquired using the data storage location information associated with the information, and the acquired data and the number of copies of the data are obtained in step S1006. Send to. When the transmission is completed, the information management unit 215 stores that the predetermined information has been transmitted in step S1007.

  The user executes printing of the received data using the device 111. In the device 111, the data received by the information processing unit 242 is analyzed to acquire print copy number information, and the print management unit 243 controls print processing so that printing is performed for the number of print copies. Further, the print management unit 243 manages whether or not the printing is normally completed. When the printing for the number of copies is normally completed, the printing process of the data is once stopped, and the request from the user is stopped. Then, the information processing unit 242 generates the number of copies to be printed and information indicating that printing has been normally completed, and notifies the print service provider 101 of the information generated from the communication unit 241.

  When the print service provider 101 receives a print execution completion notification from the device 111, the print service provider 101 compares the received print copy number information with the print copy number information managed by the information management unit 215. Delete all information including one-time password information, URL information, and print data that was managed in. Furthermore, all the information is deleted and the device 111 is requested to delete the print data.

  When the device 111 receives a print data deletion request from the print service provider 101, the information processing unit 242 deletes the print data that the print management unit 243 has canceled, and cancels the request stop from the user. So that requests from users can be accepted.

  Through the above processing, the print service provider 101 obtains data managed by the storage service provider 102 and prints the data without specifying the user even when a request is made from an unspecified user. Is provided to the user, and the user can execute the service using the provided means and the one-time password.

  Furthermore, by notifying that the printing has been completed and deleting the data to be printed using the notification information, even if the service can be executed only once, the user can always execute it normally once. And

(Example 2)
Since the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment only in the generation of URL information and the information managed by the information management unit 215 of the print service provider 101, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described. To do.

  In the first embodiment, the URL information for accessing the stored data is generated by the access means generation unit 214 for the print data specified by the user. However, in the second embodiment, the URL information is fixed. Use dedicated URL information. Therefore, the information managed by the information management unit 215 of the print service provider 101 includes the storage location of the data to be printed, the generated one-time password information, the number of copies information, and the print data for the user as shown in FIG. It becomes information on whether or not it was provided.

  In the screen of FIG. 4, the user requests input of information on how many copies of a desired calendar are to be printed and an e-mail address that is a transmission destination of information for executing the print service. The user inputs predetermined information in each input field on the screen and presses an order button to request acquisition of authority to execute the print service.

  When the above request is made from the user to the print service provider 101, the print service provider 101 requests the storage service provider 102 to acquire the data requested by the user. In the storage service provider 102, the access right information management unit 223 determines whether the requested data can be transmitted to the requested print service provider 101, and it is determined that the data can be transmitted. In this case, the requested data is acquired from the DB 230 and transmitted. When the requested data can be acquired from the storage service provider 102, the print service provider 101 stores the data in the information management unit 215, and further generates a one-time password for accessing the stored data. Generated by the unit 213. The one-time password generated here is generated so as to have a unique value in the system. The generated one-time password information is stored in the information management unit 215 together with the data acquired from the storage service and the number of copies information, and the information management unit 215 stores the stored data and the one-time password in association with each other as shown in FIG. Keep it. The generated one-time password information, the fixed URL information for using the service, and the print copy number information are notified to the user by the mail as shown in FIG. 12 to the mail address entered by the user on the screen shown in FIG. To do. The mail to be notified to the user is generated by the mail generation unit 216 of the print service provider 101 and is transmitted from the communication unit 211 to the mail server.

  When the email is sent, the screen shown in Fig. 5 is presented to the user as the processing result, so that the request is processed normally and the email is sent to the entered email address. To be notified.

  After receiving the mail transmitted from the print service provider 101, the user performs printing of desired data using an arbitrary device 111 that can connect to the Internet and perform the print service.

  For example, a case where the user executes printing using the device 111 installed in a convenience store will be described. The user inputs the fixed URL information described in the received mail using the touch panel operation unit of the device 111 installed in the convenience store as shown in FIG. When the fixed URL information is input and the determination button is pressed, the device 111 accesses the designated URL using the communication unit 241.

  FIG. 13 shows a processing flow when the print service provider 101 receives a request from the device 111. When the print service provider 101 receives the request from the device 111, it checks in step S1001 whether it matches the fixed URL information. If it matches, in step S1002, the one-time password is transmitted to the request source. Request.

  When the device 111 receives a password request from the print service provider 101 via the communication unit 241, the information processing unit 242 analyzes the information, generates and displays a screen as shown in FIG. 9, and requests the user to enter the password. To do. The user inputs the one-time password described in the received mail and presses the enter button. When the input of the user password is completed, the input password information is converted into data for requesting the print service provider by the information processing unit 242 and transmitted to the print service provider 101.

  In step S1003, the print service provider 101 determines whether the received password information exists in the one-time password information managed by the information management unit 215. If there is, the print service provider 101 determines in step S1004 the one-time password information. Data is acquired using the data storage location information associated with the time password information, and the acquired data and the information on the upper limit number of times of printing of the data are transmitted to the device 111 in step S1005. When the transmission is completed, the information management unit 215 stores that the predetermined information has been transmitted in step S1006.

  Subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment, and processing by user printing and print completion notification is performed.

  In the second embodiment, the URL information is fixed for each service. For example, instead of allowing the user to input URL information, URL information of a plurality of services is stored in the device, and the URL information list includes It is also possible to save the trouble of inputting URL information by letting the user select from.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a system. 1 is a configuration diagram of a print service provider, a storage service provider, and a printing device. Screen example 1 of print data specifying process Screen example 2 of print data specifying process Screen example 3 of print data specifying process An example of information managed by the print service provider. An example of the email text when sending email. Screen example 1 of printing device. Screen example 2 of printing device 10 is a flowchart of print document identification processing and request processing. An example of information managed by the print service provider in the case of the second embodiment. The example of the mail text at the time of the mail notification in the case of 2nd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of print document identification processing and request processing in the case of the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Internet network
101 Print service provider server that provides print services
102 Storage service provider server providing storage services
103 User's PC
111, 112 Devices that perform printing
211 Data communication part of print service provider
212 Information processing section of print service provider
213 One-time password information generator of print service provider
214 Print service provider URL information generator
215 Print Service Provider Generation Information Management Unit
216 Print service provider email information generator
221 Data communication part of storage service provider
222 Information processing department of storage service provider
223 Data Access Rights Information Management Department of Storage Service Provider
224 Data Information Management Department of Storage Service Provider
231 Database that stores storage service provider data
241 Data communication part of the device that executes printing
242 Information processing unit of the device that performs printing
243 Print processing management unit of the device that executes printing

Claims (2)

In a system for printing data stored on the Internet using a printing device that can be connected to a network,
The selection means for selecting data to be printed by the user, the selection information generation means for generating information for printing the selected data, and the information generated by the selection information generation means can be used only once. When the user makes a print request using the information generated by the selection information generating unit, the password generated by the one-time password generating unit is used. Print service comprising: determination means for determining whether or not requested information can be used; and provision means for providing data selected by the selection means to a user when the request is correct system.   Further, a print completion determination unit that determines whether printing has been completed, a print completion notification unit that notifies that printing has been completed or has not been completed, and a printing apparatus that has performed printing by the user, After the server receives the print completion notification, if it is a print completion notification, a one-time password deletion means for invalidating the one-time password generated for printing, and a print completion notification or printing failure When a notification is received from the printing device, the deletion request means for requesting deletion of the data provided to the printing device, and the print data temporarily stored in the printing device when the deletion request is received from the server The print service system according to claim 1, further comprising: a print data deleting unit that deletes the print data.

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