JP2006268443A - Use restriction system and use restriction program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a use restriction program allowing use restriction to electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: In this use restriction system, when receiving an operation control instruction including control data from an operation control execution program executing operation control of the electronic equipment, the use restriction program stored in a storage means is started, a setting value inside the control data included in the operation control instruction is corrected such that the setting value is within a use restriction range, and a computer is made to perform processing for outputting the control data corrected with the setting value to an electronic equipment driver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a use restriction system and a use restriction program for restricting use of an electronic device such as a printing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a print control system that can specify the setting of print control conditions in a printer for each user using a printer driver (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This print control system is a print control system that controls print processing executed by a printer by a printer driver installed in the host computer. The host computer is for restricting the use of print processing functions of the printer. Stores function restriction information. The printer driver includes a detection unit that detects function restriction information, and a defining unit that defines, as print control conditions, a print processing function that can be used in print processing based on the function restriction information detected by the detection unit. ing.
JP 2004-220532 A

  However, in the print control system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a dedicated printer driver must be used, and there is a problem that management of the printer driver becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a use restriction system and a use restriction program capable of restricting use of a target electronic device using a general-purpose electronic device driver. With the goal.

  The present invention provides (a) first storage means for preliminarily storing a use restriction program for correcting a set value in control data in order to restrict use of an electronic device, and use for restricting use of the electronic device. Restriction information registration means for registering restriction range information; program generation means for generating a use restriction program reflecting the use restriction range information for the use restriction program stored in the first storage means; A server comprising an installation means for installing a use restriction program reflecting the use restriction range information; (b) an electronic device driver for controlling the operation of the electronic device; and a use restriction program installed from the server. Operation including control data from second storage means for storing and an operation control execution program for executing operation control in the electronic device When the control instruction is received, the use restriction program stored in the second storage means is started, and the setting value in the control data included in the operation control instruction is corrected to be within the use restriction range. And a host computer comprising setting value correcting means for outputting control data with the corrected setting value to the electronic device driver.

  The present invention relates to an operation control execution apparatus that causes an electronic device to perform operation control within a predetermined use restriction range in order to restrict use of the electronic device, and an electronic device driver that controls the operation of the electronic device. An operation including control data from an operation control execution program that executes operation control using the electronic device, and a storage unit that stores a use restriction program that reflects use restriction range information that restricts use of the electronic device Upon receipt of the control instruction, the use restriction program stored in the storage means is activated, and the setting value in the control data included in the operation control instruction is corrected so as to be within the use restriction range. And a set value correcting means for outputting the control data corrected to the electronic device driver.

  The present invention provides an electronic device driver that controls the operation of the electronic device and usage restriction range information that restricts the use of the electronic device in order to cause the electronic device to perform operation control within a predetermined use restriction range. A use restriction program that operates on an operation control execution device that includes a storage unit that stores a reflected use restriction program, wherein control data is obtained from the operation control execution program that performs operation control using the electronic device. When receiving the operation control instruction including, start the use restriction program stored in the storage means, and correct the setting value in the control data included in the operation control instruction to be within the use restriction range, A setting value correction process for outputting control data with a corrected setting value to the electronic device driver is performed by a computer.

According to the present invention, since the setting value in the control data is corrected so as to be within the predetermined use restriction range, the target electronic device can be used with the setting intended by the administrator. Is obtained.
In addition, since the set value in the control data is corrected so as to be within a predetermined use limit range, the corrected control data is output to the electronic device driver, so that a general-purpose electronic device driver is used. Thus, it is possible to perform operation control within the use restriction range. In addition, since the host computer executes the process of correcting the setting value in the control data so as to be within the predetermined use restriction range, the electronic device locally connected to the host computer is also within the use restriction range. Operation control can be performed.

  Hereinafter, a use restriction system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In the following description, it is assumed that the electronic device whose use is restricted is a printing device (printer). In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a management server that manages the range of use restrictions of the printing apparatus. Reference numerals 2 and 6 are printers (printing apparatuses) to be used. Reference numerals 3, 4, and 5 are personal computers (host computers) that create document data to be printed and print the created document data with the printers 2 and 6, respectively. The management server 1, the printer 2, and the personal computers 3, 4, and 5 are connected to a computer network N and can communicate with each other. The printer 6 is connected only to the personal computer 5 as a local printer.

Next, the operation of the printing system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the operation of the management server 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the printing system administrator registers the usage restriction range information of the printing apparatus with respect to the management server 1 for each login user who uses the printing system (step S1). The use restriction range information here is information such as “color printing prohibition”, “only 2 in 1 printing (printing two pages on one sheet)”, and the like, for restricting the use of the printers 2 and 6. It is. This use restriction range information is arbitrarily determined by the printing system administrator and registered in the management server 1.

  Next, when any of the personal computers 3 to 5 is logged in, the management server 1 registers the use restriction application program stored in advance in the management server 1 in association with the logged-in user. By reflecting the use restriction range information that has been registered, a use restriction application program in which the registered use restriction range information is set is generated (step S2). As a result, a use-restricted application program dedicated to the user who has logged into the management server 1 is generated. Next, the management server 1 installs a use restriction application program in which use restriction range information for each user is set on a personal computer used for logging in (here, it is assumed that the personal computer 5 is used) ( Step S3). By this operation, the use restriction application program dedicated to the logged-in user is installed in the personal computer logged into the network N.

  Next, an operation for printing from a personal computer will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user of the personal computer 5 creates data to be printed on the personal computer 5 and starts an application program for executing printing. Then, the user designates data to be printed on the print execution application program and performs an operation for instructing start of printing. In response, the print execution application program outputs a print instruction including print data generated based on the print target data (step S11). When this print instruction is output, the use restriction application program installed at the time of login is started (step S12).

  The use restriction application program acquires print setting contents (such as “perform color printing”, “perform duplex printing”) included in the print data output from the print execution application program (step S13). Then, the use restriction application program compares the use restriction range information set inside with the print setting contents acquired from the print data within the use restriction range set as the use restriction range information. It is determined whether or not there is (step S14). As a result of this determination, if the print setting content is within the use restriction range, the use restriction application program outputs print data to the printer driver installed in the personal computer 5 (step S16). The printer driver interprets the output print data, converts it into data for controlling the operation of the printer 2, and outputs the data to the printer 2. The printer 2 inputs this data and executes a printing operation. As a result, printing is performed in the printer 2.

  On the other hand, if the print setting content is not within the use restriction range, the use restriction application program corrects the setting value according to the use restriction range information so that the setting value falls within the use restriction range defined by the use restriction range information. (Step S15). At this time, the use-restricted application program uses an API (Application Program Interface) that directly controls Devmode, so that the setting can be easily changed. Then, the use restriction application program outputs print data to a printer driver installed in advance in the personal computer 5 (step S16). The printer driver interprets the output print data, converts it into data for controlling the operation of the printer 2, and outputs the data to the printer 2. The printer 2 inputs this data and executes a printing operation. Thus, printing is performed based on the print data corrected within the use restriction range.

  As described above, since the setting value in the print data is corrected so as to fall within the predetermined use restriction range, the printer 2 can be used with the setting intended by the administrator. In addition, since the setting value in the print data is corrected so as to be within a predetermined use limit range, the corrected print data is output to the printer driver. Therefore, using a general-purpose printer driver, It is possible to perform printing within the use restriction range. Further, since the personal computer 5 executes the process of correcting the set value in the print data so as to be within the predetermined use restriction range, the printer 6 locally connected to the personal computer 5 is also within the use restriction range. Printing can be performed.

  In the above description, the printing system has been described as an example. However, the device whose use is restricted is not limited to the printing device, and any device may be used as long as the operation is controlled by the host computer. For example, it may be an input device such as a network home appliance (particularly, viewing restrictions such as a TV or DVD / HDD recorder), a PDA, or a pointing device.

  Further, the program for realizing the function of the processing unit in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed for use in an electronic device. Restriction processing may be performed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer system” includes a WWW system provided with a homepage providing environment (or display environment). The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the management server 1 shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing operations of the personal computers 3, 4, and 5 shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Management server, 2, 6 ... Printer (electronic device) 3, 4, 5 ... Personal computer (host computer)

Claims (3)

(A) first storage means for preliminarily storing a use restriction program for correcting a set value in the control data in order to restrict use of the electronic device;
Restriction information registration means for registering use restriction range information for restricting the use of electronic devices,
Program generation means for generating a use restriction program reflecting the use restriction range information for the use restriction program stored in the first storage means;
A server comprising an installation means for installing a use restriction program reflecting the use restriction range information;
(B) an electronic device driver that controls the operation of the electronic device;
Second storage means for storing a use restriction program installed from the server;
When an operation control instruction including control data is received from an operation control execution program that executes operation control in the electronic device, the use restriction program stored in the second storage unit is activated and included in the operation control instruction. A host computer provided with setting value correcting means for correcting the setting value in the control data to be within the use restriction range and outputting the control data in which the setting value is corrected to the electronic device driver. Characterized use restriction system. An operation control execution device for causing an electronic device to perform operation control within a predetermined use restriction range in order to restrict use of the electronic device,
An electronic device driver for controlling the operation of the electronic device;
Storage means for storing a use restriction program reflecting use restriction range information for restricting use of the electronic device;
When an operation control instruction including control data is received from an operation control execution program that executes operation control using the electronic device, the use restriction program stored in the storage unit is activated and included in the operation control instruction. A setting value correcting means for correcting the setting value in the control data to be within the use restriction range and outputting the control data in which the setting value is corrected to the electronic device driver. Execution device. In order to cause an electronic device to perform operation control within a predetermined use restriction range, an electronic device driver that controls the operation of the electronic device and a use that reflects use restriction range information that restricts the use of the electronic device A use restriction program that operates on an operation control execution device comprising a storage means for storing a restriction program,
When an operation control instruction including control data is received from an operation control execution program that executes operation control using the electronic device, the use restriction program stored in the storage unit is activated and included in the operation control instruction. The setting value is corrected so that the setting value in the control data is within the use restriction range, and the setting value correction processing for outputting the control data in which the setting value is corrected to the electronic device driver is performed by the computer. Restricted program.

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