JP2007125852A - Network printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress casual printing acts of a confidential document or the like by clearly telling the fact of monitoring printing acts to a user. <P>SOLUTION: This network printing system suppresses the leakage of information in such a manner that printed contents are accumulated in a printer as printing log information, and the tracking is made possible. The network printing system comprises an extraction means, an accumulation means, a transmission means, a retrieval means, and a means for extracting tracking objective information. In this case, the extraction means extracts/forms tracking objective information from an indicated printing content. The accumulation means accumulates/manages the information extracted by the extraction means. The transmission means transmits the tracking information extracted by the extraction means to the accumulation means. The retrieval means can retrieve/peruse the extracted information which is accumulated in the accumulation means. The means for extracting the tracking objective information extracts the tracking objective information by an extraction means which is arranged in a first information apparatus which indicates the printing. Then, a warning content is printed by an extraction warning means which is arranged in the first information apparatus which indicates the printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, and more specifically, in a system configured to include an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a printing apparatus such as a printer, particularly stores contents printed from the printing apparatus. The present invention relates to a network printing system that suppresses information leakage by enabling tracking.

  In recent years, there have been frequent incidents of leakage of confidential information such as corporate customer information. Once an information leakage incident becomes public, in addition to losing confidence in the company that caused the information leakage, there are many cases where enormous expenses are compelled for damages and responses.

  Information leak incidents are so large that they cannot be compared with conventional information leak incidents, and more appropriate information leak countermeasures are required from the information management side.

  In this background, with the progress of digitization, networking, and mobility of information, it has become possible to access a large amount of information at once, and the portability of information has improved dramatically. It is inevitable that these trends will accelerate in the future.

  Conventionally, as a technique widely used as an information leakage countermeasure, there is a method of limiting who can access confidential information by setting an access right to confidential information or a storage server for storing the confidential information.

  However, in recent years, information leakage incidents tend to have an overwhelmingly large number of intentional internal crimes by persons authorized to access confidential information, and it is no longer enough to prevent information leakage by setting access rights. It cannot be said that it is a measure against leakage.

  On the other hand, as information to be protected from information leakage, it is necessary to take into account not only a large amount of information typified by customer information of large corporations but also a small amount of information but qualitatively important information. Such information can be easily taken out as printed matter, and there is a demand for measures that are conscious of preventing information leakage in printing.

  The present invention relates to an information leakage prevention method for accumulating printed contents and enabling information tracking for this printing, particularly a network printing system.

  Means for preventing information leakage have been invented even in connection with the network printing system which is the technical field of the present invention.

  For example, print permission information is set in a document or print data to be printed, and the print permission information is referred to when printing is performed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  A method of performing user authentication to use a device connected to a network (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  The print server stores the print data in a reprintable state, acquires information such as the job name, client name, and user name, adds a time stamp, and generates a bitmap from the print data. A method of storing as a print log (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  In addition to the above, a method of acquiring a print log on the printer side and storing it in a server (for example, see Patent Document 4).

Similarly, the print server receives the print data from the client and at the same time receives information that can uniquely identify the user, generates a print log based on this print data and user information, and enables search, browsing, and reprinting. how to. (For example, refer to Patent Document 5). Various means for preventing information leakage have been proposed.
JP 2004-252784 A JP 2003-288327 A JP 2002-149371 A JP 2003-330677 A JP 2004-118243 A

  However, in the case of embedding the print permission information in the conventional example (Patent Document 1) and the one that performs user authentication (Patent Document 2), a special application and a network device such as a special printer are required. It must be used for the intended use.

  In other words, when operating in offices that handle highly confidential information such as personal information in daily work, the environment that can be applied is reduced by introducing special printing applications and network devices such as special printers. There is a problem.

  In contrast, the methods disclosed in Patent Documents 3 to 5 do not have such a limitation, and there is no major problem in operation in a general office. If limited to printing via a print server, the collection of print content information and Accumulation and tracking can be performed.

  However, in these methods of Patent Documents 3 to 5, the printing path is limited to printing via the print server. That is, it cannot cope with a transmission form in which print data is directly transmitted from a client PC to a printing device such as a printer, local port connection, connection by a network protocol, or the like. Furthermore, for printing via the print server, the print server needs to collect and generate print content information in addition to normal print processing, and multiple client PCs issue print requests to the same printer almost simultaneously. If this is the case, a decrease in printing performance is expected. Of course, since it is essential to install the print server, it is necessary to physically secure a space for installing them.

  In addition, since the method of monitoring normal printing actions is difficult to convey to the user that the monitoring is being performed, the effect of suppressing confidential information leakage is poor. On the other hand, there is a method that not only monitors the printing activity but also checks the contents of the print data and completely suppresses the printing of confidential documents in real time, but this makes the mechanism very large and the convenience for the user is lost. End up.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and does not require a special printing application, a network device such as a special printer, or the like, and prints the printed contents without providing restrictions on the printing path. An object is to realize a network printing system that can be stored and traced.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

A network printing system that suppresses information leakage by accumulating and tracking contents printed on a printer as print log information,
Extraction means for extracting and generating tracking target information from the instructed print content;
Storage means for storing and managing information extracted by the extraction means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the tracking information extracted by the extracting means to the accumulating means;
Search means capable of searching and browsing the extracted information stored in the storage means;
A means for extracting tracking target information by an extraction means arranged in the first information device for instructing printing;
A network printing system, wherein warning contents are printed by an extraction warning means arranged in a first information device for instructing printing.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a network printing system capable of accumulating and tracking printed contents without requiring a special printing application, a network device such as a special printer, or the like, and without setting restrictions on a printing path. Can be realized.

  Furthermore, it is possible to realize the above-described network printing system that can freely determine the operation mode, such as a mode that can distribute the load during printing, or a mode that does not require other information processing equipment such as a print server. It becomes.

  Furthermore, since the intention of monitoring the printing action is clearly communicated to the user, it can be expected that casual printing actions such as confidential documents are suppressed.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below based on examples.

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

[Configuration of chasing system]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system includes a host computer 3000 connected to a network 5000, a printer 1500, a tracking information storage server 1000, and an administrator client 4000.

  The host computer 3000 receives a print request from the user, generates print data according to the content of the print request, and transmits it to the printer 1500. Further, the host computer 3000 extracts and generates tracking data that matches the print request, and transmits it to the tracking information storage server 1000.

  The printer 1500 executes print processing according to the received print data.

  The tracking information storage server 1000 registers and stores tracking data received from the host computer 3000 as a database in a storage area built in itself or other information devices.

  The administrator client 4000 is used by the system administrator to search and browse tracking data registered in the database as necessary.

  Note that the administrator client 4000 may be the same information device as the tracking information storage server 1000.

[Configuration of Host Computer 3000 and Printer 1500]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500. As long as the function of the present invention is executed, a system in which processing is performed by being connected via a network such as a LAN or WAN, whether it is a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices. Even so, the present invention can be applied.

  In the figure, a host computer 3000 includes graphics and images including processing according to each embodiment of the present invention described later based on a document processing program stored in the ROM 3 program ROM or the external memory 11. , A CPU 1 that controls execution of document processing in which characters, tables (including spreadsheets and the like) are mixed, and printing processing based on the document processing. The CPU 1 summarizes the control of each device connected to the system bus 4. The ROM 3 program ROM or the external memory 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) which is a control program for the CPU 1. The font ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores font data used for the document processing. Further, the data ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores various data used when performing the document processing or the like. The RAM 2 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 1.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. A disk controller (DKC) 7 is a hard disk (HD) or floppy (registered trademark) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), and the like. Controls access to the external memory 11 such as a disk (FD). A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via a bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500.

  The CPU 1 opens various windows registered in advance based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user can open a window related to print settings, and set the print processing method for the printer driver, including printer settings and print mode selection.

  The printer 1500 is controlled by the CPU 12. The printer CPU 12 sends an image signal as print output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14. Output.

  Further, a control program for the CPU 12 is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13. The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data used when generating the print output information. The data ROM of the ROM 13 stores information used on the computer in the case of a printer that does not have the external memory 14 such as a hard disk.

  The CPU 12 can perform communication processing with a computer via the input unit 18. Thus, information in the printer 1500 can be notified to the host computer 3000. The RAM 19 is a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, or the like for the CPU 12. Further, the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like.

  Access to the above-described external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. The input unit 18 is a switch, an LED display, or the like for operation on the operation panel described above.

  The printer 1500 may have an NVRAM (not shown) and store printer mode setting information from an operation panel (operation unit) 1501.

  The printing unit 17 is an electrophotographic engine in this embodiment. Accordingly, the print data is finally recorded on a medium such as paper by toner dots. Of course, the printing method in the present invention is not limited to such an electrophotographic method. For example, the present invention can be applied to any type of printing apparatus that performs printing by forming dots, such as an inkjet method.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration for print processing in the host computer 3000 shown in FIG. The application 201, graphic engine 202, printer driver 203, and system spooler 204 exist as files stored in the external memory 11. These are program modules that are loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the OS and modules that use the modules.

  Further, the application 201 and the printer driver 203 can be added to the HD of the external memory 11 via the FD of the external memory 11, a CD-ROM (not shown), or a network (not shown). The application 201 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed. When printing is performed from the application 201 to the printer 1500, the graphic that is similarly loaded into the RAM 2 and executable. Output (drawing) is performed using the engine 202.

  The graphic engine 202 loads the printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus such as a printer from the external memory 11 to the RAM 2, and sets the output of the application 201 in the printer driver 203. The graphic engine 202 converts a GDI (Graphic Device Interface) function received from the application 201 into a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function, and outputs the function to the printer driver 203. Based on the DDI function received from the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 converts it into a control command that can be recognized by the printer, for example, a PDL (Page Description Language). The converted printer control command is output as print data to the printer 1500 via the interface 21 via the system spooler 204 loaded into the RAM 2 by the OS.

  In addition, the printing system according to the present embodiment includes a job tracking function unit 400 in the printer driver 203. The job tracking function unit 400 may be a built-in module of the printer driver 203 or may be in the form of a library module added by individual installation.

  Further, the printer driver 203 extracts and generates tracking data by execution of the job tracking function unit 400, and sends it to the job tracking management unit 500.

  The job tracking management unit 500 receives the tracking data and transfers it to the tracking information storage server 1000. Note that the job tracking management unit 500 may process or sort the received tracking data as necessary, and further, send the tracking data to the tracking information storage server 1000 at the same time as receiving the tracking data, Alternatively, the information may be temporarily stored in a storage area such as a hard disk and transmitted to the tracking information storage server 1000 according to a transmission schedule to the tracking information storage unit 1000 specified separately.

  FIG. 4 is an extension of the system shown in FIG. 3. When the print command is sent from the graphic engine 202 to the printer driver 203, the spool system 300 once generates a spool file 303 including intermediate codes. In the system of FIG. 3, the application 201 is released from the printing process when the printer driver 203 has converted all print commands from the graphic engine 202 into printer control commands. On the other hand, in the system of FIG. 4, the spooler 302 has converted all print commands into intermediate code data and output them to the spool file 303. The latter usually requires less time. In the system shown in FIG. 4, the contents of the spool file 303 can be processed. As a result, it is possible to realize functions that the application does not have, such as enlargement / reduction or printing by reducing a plurality of pages into one page with respect to print data from the application.

  Furthermore, it is possible to print a banner page with a warning text and stamp print the warning text on each page of the document so that the intention of monitoring the printing action is clearly communicated to the user. These functions will be described in detail in the description of FIG.

  For these purposes, the system of FIG. 3 has been expanded to spool with intermediate code data as shown in FIG. In order to process the print data, settings are made from the UI control unit 203B provided by the normal printer driver 203, and the setting contents are stored in the RAM 2 or the external memory 11.

  Details of FIG. 4 will be described below. As shown in the figure, in this expanded processing method, the dispatcher 301 receives a DDI function that is a print command from the graphic engine 202. When the print command (DDI function) received by the dispatcher 301 from the graphic engine 202 is based on the print command (GDI function) issued from the application 201 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301 stores it in the external memory 11. The spooler 302 is loaded into the RAM 2 and a print command (DDI function) is sent to the spooler 302.

  The spooler 302 analyzes the received print command, converts it into an intermediate code for each page, and outputs it to the spool file 303. Further, the spooler 302 acquires processing settings (Nup, double-sided, staple, color / monochrome designation, etc.) relating to print data set for the UI control unit 203B, and stores them in the spool file 303 as a file for each job. . The spool file 303 is generated as a file on the external memory 11, but may be generated on the RAM 2. Further, the spooler 302 loads the spool file manager 304 stored in the external memory 11 into the RAM 2 and notifies the spool file manager 304 of the generation status of the spool file 303. Thereafter, the spool file manager 304 determines whether printing can be performed in accordance with the contents of the processing settings relating to the print data stored in the spool file 303.

  When the spool file manager 304 determines that printing can be performed using the graphic engine 202, the despooler 305 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2, and is described in the spool file 303 with respect to the despooler 305. The intermediate code page drawing file is instructed to be printed.

  The despooler 305 processes the page drawing file of the intermediate code included in the spool file 303 according to the job setting file including the processing setting information included in the spool file 303. Specifically, the page drawing command of the intermediate code is read, the GDI function is regenerated, and the GDI function is output again via the graphic engine 202 again.

  First, the despooler 305 secures an area (device context) for developing a bitmap in the RAM 2 and performs drawing in order to transmit the output drawing result by the GDI function to the job tracking function processing unit. The generated tracking information is converted into a format readable by the job tracking management unit 500 by the job tracking function processing unit 402 and transferred. The conversion format may be a highly compatible format such as an XML format, or may be a format in accordance with an original rule.

  Next, the despooler 305 outputs a GDI function to the dispatcher 301 via the graphic engine 202.

  When the print command (DDI function) received from the graphic engine 202 is based on the print command (GDI function) issued from the despooler 305 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301 is not the spooler 302. Then, a print command is sent to the drawing processing unit 203C.

  The drawing processing unit 203C generates a printer control command including a page description language based on the DDI function acquired from the graphic engine 202, and outputs the printer control command to the printer 1500 via the system spooler 204.

  The configuration of the print processing apparatus and the information tracking apparatus in the host computer 3000 has been described above.

[Description of system configuration]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining various operation modes of the present invention.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the simplest operation example of the present invention. A job tracking management unit 500 is provided in the host computer 3000, print data is directly transferred from the printer driver 203 to the printer 1500, and tracking data is transferred from the job tracking function unit 400 via the job tracking management unit 500 in the host computer 3000. To the tracking information management server 1000. This configuration is a minimum configuration for carrying out the present invention, and implementation in this configuration will be described unless otherwise specified in the following description.

  FIG. 6B is a diagram in which the job tracking management unit 500 is arranged in a tracking management computer 6000 different from the host computer 3000 with respect to FIG. The print data is transferred directly from the printer driver 203 to the printer 1500 as in FIG. 6A, and the tracking data is transferred from the job tracking function unit 400 to the tracking information management server 500 via the job tracking management unit 500 in the tracking management computer 6000. 1000. By adopting this configuration, the tracking information management server 1000 for tracking data can be scheduled, for example, on a day or time zone when the network load is lightened, and the load on the tracking information management server 1000 can be controlled. Become.

  FIG. 6C is a diagram in which a print server 7000 is inserted between the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500 in contrast to FIG. The print data is transferred from the printer driver 203 to the printer 1500 through the corresponding printer queue (print spooler) of the print server 7000, and the tracking data is transferred from the job tracking function unit 400 to the host computer 3000 as in FIG. Is sent to the tracking information management server 1000 via the job tracking management unit 500. By adopting this configuration, the present invention can be applied to an operation mode using the print server 7000, and by placing the printer driver 203 in the print server 7000, distribution, synchronization, and setting of the printer driver to the host computer 3000 is possible. Information can be shared. Furthermore, various settings related to the job tracking function can be collectively managed on the print server 7000, and a mechanism that prevents an unauthorized user from executing various settings of the job tracking function from changing the setting is also provided. .

  FIG. 6D is a combination of the configurations of FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C. The print server 7000 is placed between the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500, and the job tracking management unit 500 is placed in the host computer 3000. Are arranged in a separate tracking management computer 6000. The print data is transferred from the printer driver 203 to the printer 1500 through the corresponding printer queue (print spooler) of the print server 7000 as in FIG. 6C, and the tracking data is the job tracking as in FIG. 6B. The information is sent from the function unit 400 to the tracking information management server 1000 via the job tracking management unit 500 in the tracking management computer 6000. By adopting this configuration, it becomes possible to have the advantages of FIGS. 6B and 6C.

  FIG. 6E shows a print server / tracking management computer 8000 provided so that the tracking management computer 6000 and the print server 7000 shown in FIG. 6D are realized on the same computer. The print data is transferred from the printer driver 203 to the printer 1500 through the corresponding printer queue (print spooler) of the print server / tracking management computer 8000, and the tracking data is transferred from the job tracking function unit 400 to the print server / tracking management computer 8000. Is sent to the tracking information management server 1000 via the job tracking management unit 500. By adopting this configuration, in FIG. 6D, there are two computers, the tracking management computer 6000 and the print server 7000. However, by installing these computers into one of the print server / tracking management computer 8000, the installation space is reduced. And cost reduction.

[Description of job tracking print processing]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the overall processing flow of job tracking printing described in FIG.

  After the print job is started, the spool system 300 in the printer driver 203 transmits a drawing command from the graphic engine to the spooler 302 by the dispatcher 301 and stores it as a spool file 303 in step S710.

  In step S711, a drawing command is read from the spool file 303.

  In step S 712, the despooler 305 in the spool system 300 collects and generates job tracking information based on a command from the spool file manager 304, and the job tracking function processing unit 402 in the graphic engine 202 and job tracking function unit 400. To the job tracking management unit 500.

  More specifically, for example, if the received drawing command is a print start command, attribute information related to the job, environment information where printing is performed, and the like are used as tracking data. If extraction of text information is instructed to the job tracking function unit, the character string information is extracted from the text drawing command as tracking data, and image extraction is also instructed. In this case, tracing is performed by executing processing depending on the received drawing command and various settings instructed to the job tracking function unit 400, such as drawing as a bitmap image in a memory area where each drawing command is secured. Data is collected and generated and transferred to the job tracking management unit 500.

  In subsequent step S713, it is determined whether the job tracking information generation and transfer processing for one physical page has been completed. If not, the process returns to step S711.

  On the other hand, if the drawing process for one physical page is completed in step S713, the process proceeds to step S714, and a drawing command is read from the spool file 303. In step S715, the despooler 305 generates print data according to an instruction from the spool file manager 304, and the print data is written to the system spooler 204 via the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301, and the drawing processing unit 203C. Is transferred.

  In step S716, it is determined whether the printing process for one physical page is completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S711, and if completed, the process proceeds to step S717.

  If it is determined in step S717 that the print job has been completed, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step S711 to continue the process for the job. The flow of the job tracking printing process has been described above.

[Description of job tracking function UI]
FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 5C are diagrams illustrating an example of a user interface for performing settings related to job tracking.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of an initial screen of a user interface related to chasing arranged in the add-in UI control unit 401 in the printer driver 203. In this example, settings related to chasing can be performed in the property sheet “job tracking function” in the dialog.

  5A, 5B, and 5C are displayed on a dedicated tool different from the printer driver 203, and the setting information is stored in the printer driver 203. You may implement | achieve by transmitting to the add-in UI control part 401. FIG.

  In addition, for the purpose of operating this system, it is desirable that this dialog 510 be displayed only to users who are permitted to change the settings of the printer, and authentication using a password or the like is provided to open this dialog. Or limiting the execution user authority.

  The “perform job tracking” check box 511 in FIG. 5A is a check box for instructing whether the job tracking function is valid or invalid. The user can control ON / OFF of this function by operating this check box.

  The dialog 520 for performing detailed setting of the job tracking function in FIG. 5B is opened by selecting the setting button 512 in FIG. In this job tracking setting dialog, information on the destination of the tracking data and the content of the tracking data generated by the job tracking function processing unit 402 are mainly determined.

  The management client name 521 is input with the computer identification name on which the job tracking management unit 500 is operating, the identification name 522 is input with a key for distinguishing from other connections within the job tracking management unit 500, and the timeout value In 523, a timeout time used in communication with the job tracking management unit 500 is set in advance. The above three are information for transmitting the tracking data.

  If the job tracking management unit 500 is operating on the computer displaying the user interface, the management client name 521 is set with its own computer identification name, and the job tracking management unit 500 is set on another computer. Is operating, the computer identification name on which the job tracking management unit 500 is operating is input.

  The “extract text” check box 524 is a check box for instructing whether to include text character string information in the tracking data. By turning on this check box, the printer driver 203 extracts text string information as tracking data. By adding the text character string information to the tracking data, the text search after being stored in the tracking information storage server 1000 can be easily realized.

  An “extract image” check box 525 is a check box for instructing whether to include page bitmap information in the tracking data. By turning on this check box, the printer driver 203 generates a page bitmap separately from the print data. By adding the page bitmap to the tracking data, it is possible to view the image after it is stored in the tracking information storage server 1000.

  The attributes and format of the page image generated in the bit number color 526, the bit number monochrome 527, the resolution 528, the compression method 529, and the encoding method 530 can be designated in detail.

  The dialog 570 for advanced advanced setting of the job tracking function in FIG. 5C is opened by selecting the “advanced setting” setting button 513 in FIG. In this advanced setting dialog for job tracking, a banner page is added to the print data, and setting contents for stamp printing on each page are determined.

  A “print as a banner page” check box 571 is a check for instructing whether or not to print a banner page with a sentence that tells the user to extract print data for job tracking at the beginning or end of the page. Is a box. Well, the text follows 576 which will be described later.

  The “print stamp on each page” check box 572 determines whether or not to draw a stamp according to the settings from 573 to 584 on each page in order to inform the user that print data is extracted for job tracking. It is a check box to indicate.

  A “print stamp only on the first page” check box 573 is a check box for instructing whether or not to restrict the function of the 572. Checking 572 prints stamps on all pages, but checking 573 also restricts stamp printing to only the first page.

  A “print on the back side” check box 574 is a check box for instructing whether or not to restrict the function of the 572. By checking both 572 and 574, double-sided printing is performed, and the page drawing intended by the application is printed on the front surface and the stamp is printed only on the back surface.

  The “print outside the effective print area and reduce the page” check box 575 is an instruction box for instructing whether or not to finely reduce the rendering of the page intended by the application. If only the page drawing intended by the application is reduced, an area in which the application cannot draw is generated. By drawing a stamp there, it is possible to prevent the stamp and the application drawing from overlapping each other.

  In the following, details of stamp drawing settings from 576 to 584 are designated.

  A stamp character string is designated by 576.

  A font face name for drawing a stamp character string is designated by 577.

  A font style for drawing a stamp character string is designated by 578. The font style can be selected from four types: standard, italic, bold, and italic bold.

  In 579, the number of points of the font when the stamp character string is drawn is designated.

  A font color for drawing a stamp character string is designated by 580. Here, the default color is specified, but a method of inputting RGB values may be used.

  581 designates a stamp printing method. When “Watermark Print” is selected, the stamp is printed translucently. If “overlay printing” is selected, the color specified in 580 is printed in a single color so as not to show through.

  By 582, it is specified whether or not the stamp is surrounded by a line. When “Round circle” is selected, the stamp is circled and printed. When “Square box” is selected, the stamp is printed with a square box. When “None” is selected, the stamp is printed without being surrounded by a line.

  A position for drawing the stamp is designated by 583.

  An angle for drawing the stamp is designated by 584.

  Reference numeral 585 indicates a preview display according to a stamp drawing method from 576 to 584.

  Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (copier, printer, facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system consisting of a plurality of devices (eg, computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). May be.

  Another object of the present invention is to store a storage medium storing a program code for realizing the procedure of the flowchart shown in the above-described embodiment, and a program code stored in the storage medium by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus. It is also achieved by reading and executing.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instruction of the program code. Also included is a case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a host computer 3000 and a printer 1500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows one structure for the printing process in the host computer 3000 The figure which shows one structure for the printing process in the printer driver 203 The figure which shows an example of the initial screen of the user interface regarding the job tracking function The figure which shows an example of the initial screen of the user interface regarding the job tracking function The figure which shows an example of the initial screen of the user interface regarding the job tracking function The figure which shows the structural example of this invention The figure which shows the structural example of this invention The figure which shows the structural example of this invention The figure which shows the structural example of this invention The figure which shows the structural example of this invention The flowchart which shows the whole process outline | summary of this invention

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 System bus 5 Keyboard controller (KBC)
6 CRT controller (CRTC)
7 Disk controller (DKC)
8 Printer controller (PRTC)
9 Keyboard (KB)
10 CRT display 11 External memory 21 Bidirectional interface 201 Application 202 Graphic engine 203 Printer driver 204 System spooler 300 Spool system 301 Dispatcher 302 Spooler 303 Spool file 304 Spool file manager 400 Job tracking function unit 401 UI control unit 500 Job tracking management unit 1000 Tracking Information Storage Server, Tracking Information Management Server 1500 Printer 3000 Host Computer 4000 Administrator Client 5000 Network 6000 Tracking Management Computer 7000 Print Server 8000 Print Server / Tracking Management Computer

Claims (1)

A network printing system that suppresses information leakage by accumulating and tracking contents printed on a printer as print log information,
Extraction means for extracting and generating tracking target information from the instructed print content;
Storage means for storing and managing information extracted by the extraction means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the tracking information extracted by the extracting means to the accumulating means;
Search means capable of searching and browsing the extracted information stored in the storage means;
A means for extracting tracking target information by an extraction means arranged in the first information device for instructing printing;
A network printing system, wherein warning contents are printed by an extraction warning means arranged in a first information device for instructing printing.