JP2008117180A - Image output control system, image output system, image output control program, and image output program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system for reducing the charges to be paid when outputting an image, and for outputting the image only to a desired person. <P>SOLUTION: The billing destination accepting means of an information processing system accepts information about the billing destination of charge necessary for outputting an image, and a condition accepting means accepts the conditions of at least one of information about an output server which outputs the image, information about a user who outputs the image and output frequency information of the image, when the billing destination pays the charge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output control system, an image output system, an image output control program, and an image output program.

Usually, when an electronic document is printed, the printing fee is often paid by the user of the printer. However, in the case of promotional information such as catalogs, etc., the issuer who issued the document has the utility of printing by printing, so if you want the end user to print even if you pay the printing fee Exists.
Several methods have been proposed for user management when providing electronic services. For example, if ID federation technology is used, an environment in which one user can use a plurality of services is provided. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 relates to a basic method of this ID federation. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 relates to a mechanism for sharing registered personal information with other services. Based on these technologies, the use of each service is authorized and the use of the service is started. If these technologies are used, various services including a printing service centering on the user ID can be used in a plurality of environments.

  As a technology related to this, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses in advance that a service user A and a service user A and When C is registered and identification information is given to each, and service user A uploads information addressed to service user C to the server using the transmission service device, it is transmitted as service information related to the transmission of the information. Service device identification information and service user A and C identification information are stored, the service user C is notified that the information is transmitted, and the service user C uses the receiving service device to output information. Transfers information to the receiving service device when requested, calculates a charge for transferring the information, and receives the service information as the information output destination. And identification information, is possible to add the information of the calculated rates are disclosed.

In addition, for example, in Patent Document 4, when business tie-ups are made between different industries using a communication network, it is an object to provide high value-added services while protecting the privacy of users. Dealer stores are connected via a communication network. Member data of rental stores is stored in addition to dealer store user data. When a user rents a CD or the like at a rental store, the sales data Among them, data related to point data is supplied to and stored in the integrated server. Also, when a user purchases a vehicle or the like at a dealer store, point data corresponding to the purchase price is supplied to and stored in the integrated server. To be issued as a coupon, and the user Argument, it is disclosed that receives the provision of such car wash.
JP 2004-078622 A JP 2001-344379 A JP 2005-026815 A JP 2001-306913 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image output control system, an image output system, an image output control program, and an image output program that can reduce the obstacle of a fee to be paid when an image is output when a specified condition is satisfied. .

The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.
[Claim 1] Specification accepting means for accepting designation relating to output of an image including designation of an image to be output;
Information relating to a billing destination for the fee for outputting the image, or information relating to an output server for outputting the image, which is a condition corresponding to the billing fee for outputting the image; Receiving means for receiving a condition including information on a user who outputs an image or one or more pieces of information on the number of times of outputting the image;
Collating means for collating whether the designation received by the designation receiving means satisfies the condition received by the receiving means;
An image output control system comprising: output control means for controlling output means for outputting an image when the collation performed by the collation means is established.

[Claim 2] It further comprises signature verification means for verifying an electronic signature added to a condition corresponding to the image,
The image output control system according to claim 1, wherein the output control unit performs control so that an image is not output when the electronic signature is not reliable as a result of verification by the signature verification unit.

[Claim 3] A billing address receiving means for receiving information about the designation of an image and the billing address of the fee for outputting the image;
One or more conditions that are conditions for charging a fee to the billing destination, information about an output server that outputs the image, information about a user who outputs the image, or information about the number of times the image is output Condition accepting means for accepting
An image receiving means for receiving an image to be output and a designation relating to the output of the image;
Image output means for outputting an image based on the designation received by the image receiving means;
Collation means for collating whether the designation received by the image receiving means satisfies a condition corresponding to the image received by the image receiving means received by the condition receiving means;
When the collation performed by the collation unit is established, output control is performed to control the image output unit to output the image as the billing destination received by the billing destination receiving unit as the billing destination for the fee for outputting the image. An image output system comprising: means.

[Claim 4] The image output system according to [Claim 3], wherein the output control unit prohibits the output of the image when the collation by the collating unit is not established.

[Claim 5] When the collation by the collating unit is not established, the output control unit uses the billing destination corresponding to the user who has received the designation received by the image receiving unit as the billing destination of the fee for outputting the image. The image output system according to claim 3, wherein the image output unit controls the image to be output.

[Claim 6] A computer,
A specification accepting means for accepting a specification relating to output of an image including specification of an image to be output;
Information relating to a billing destination for the fee for outputting the image, or information relating to an output server for outputting the image, which is a condition corresponding to the billing fee for outputting the image; Receiving means for receiving a condition including information on a user who outputs an image or one or more pieces of information on the number of times of outputting the image;
Collating means for collating whether the designation received by the designation receiving means satisfies the condition received by the receiving means;
An image output control program that causes an output unit that outputs an image to function as an output control unit that controls to output the image when the collation performed by the collating unit is established.

[Claim 7] The computer,
Further function as signature verification means for verifying the electronic signature added to the condition corresponding to the image,
The image output control program according to claim 6, wherein the output control unit performs control so that an image is not output when the electronic signature is not reliable as a result of verification by the signature verification unit.

[Claim 8] A computer,
Billing address accepting means for accepting information regarding the designation of an image and the billing address of the fee for outputting the image;
One or more conditions that are conditions for charging a fee to the billing destination, information about an output server that outputs the image, information about a user who outputs the image, or information about the number of times the image is output Condition accepting means for accepting
An image receiving means for receiving an image to be output and a designation relating to the output of the image;
Image output means for outputting an image based on the designation received by the image receiving means;
Collation means for collating whether the designation received by the image receiving means satisfies a condition corresponding to the image received by the image receiving means received by the condition receiving means;
When the collation performed by the collation unit is established, output control is performed to control the image output unit to output the image as the billing destination received by the billing destination receiving unit as the billing destination for the fee for outputting the image. An image output program that functions as means.

[Claim 9] The image output program according to claim 8, wherein the output control unit prohibits the output of the image when the collation by the collating unit is not established.

  According to the image output control system of the first aspect, it is possible to reduce an obstacle such as a fee to be paid when an image is output under a condition desired to be output, as compared with a case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the image output control system of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the image output control system of the first aspect, it is possible to prevent damage caused by forgery of the conditions added to the image.

  According to the image output system of the third aspect, it is possible to reduce an obstacle such as a fee to be paid when an image is output under a condition desired to be output, as compared with a case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the image output system of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of the image output system according to the third aspect, output that does not comply with the conditions can be suppressed.

  According to the image output system of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect of the image output system according to the third aspect, the output flexibility can be further increased.

  According to the image output control program of the sixth aspect, it is possible to reduce an obstacle such as a fee to be paid when an image is output under a condition desired to be output, as compared with a case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the image output control program of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect of the image output control program according to the sixth aspect, it is possible to prevent damage caused by forgery of the condition added to the image.

  According to the image output program of the eighth aspect, it is possible to reduce an obstacle such as a fee to be paid when an image is output under a condition desired to be output as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the image output program of the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect of the image output program according to the eighth aspect, it is possible to suppress output that does not comply with the conditions.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Overall configuration of the device)
FIG. 1 is a conceptual module configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
The module generally refers to a component such as software or hardware that can be logically separated. Therefore, the module in the present embodiment indicates not only a module in a program but also a module in a hardware configuration. Therefore, the present embodiment also serves as an explanation of a program, a system, and a method. In addition, the modules correspond almost one-to-one with the functions. However, in mounting, one module may be composed of one program, or a plurality of modules may be composed of one program. A plurality of programs may be used. The plurality of modules may be executed by one computer, or one module may be executed by a plurality of computers in a distributed or parallel environment. Hereinafter, “connection” includes not only physical connection but also logical connection.
The system includes a configuration in which a plurality of computers, hardware, devices, and the like are connected by communication means such as a network, and also includes a case where the system is realized by a single computer, hardware, devices, and the like.
Hereinafter, a user who is a corporation or an individual will be exemplified and explained as a user.
Further, as image output, image printing by a print server will be mainly exemplified and described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present embodiment includes a print server 7, a user client 10, and a control server 21, which are connected by a network 22 that is a communication line.
The print server 7 includes a print server user authentication module 1, a print image generation module 2, a print module 3, a print frequency limit module 4, a print server control module 5, and a decryption / signature verification module 6.
The print server user authentication module 1 performs user authentication when printing. The print server control module 5 is connected to the print image generation module 2 and the decryption / signature verification module 6, and checks various printing conditions and controls printing. The decryption / signature verification module 6 is connected to the print server control module 5 and decrypts the transmitted print instruction information and checks the digital signature. The printing frequency limiting module 4 records the printing frequency for specific print instruction information and limits the printing frequency. The print image generation module 2 is connected to the print server control module 5 and the print module 3, and generates a print image in response to an instruction from the print server control module 5. The print module 3 is connected to the print image generation module 2 and executes printing of the print image generated by the print image generation module 2.
The user client 10 includes a user client user authentication module 8 and a print instruction module 9.
The user client user authentication module 8 performs user authentication when issuing a print instruction. The print instruction module 9 specifies information to be printed.

The control server 21 includes a print instruction information encryption / signature module 11, a user information DB 12, a print instruction information condition setting module 13, a print instruction information generation module 14, a print server information DB 15, a billing module 16, a print instruction information DB 17, and a content DB 18. , A corporate / billing destination DB 19 and a print history DB 20.
The user information DB 12 is a database that is connected to the print instruction information generation module 14 and stores user information. The print server information DB 15 is connected to the print instruction information generation module 14 and is a database that stores information related to the print server 7. The corporation / billing destination DB 19 is connected to the print instruction information generating module 14 and the billing module 16 and is a database for storing information on the corporation and the billing destination. The content DB 18 is connected to the print instruction information generation module 14 and is a database that stores content information to be printed. The print instruction information DB 17 is connected to the print instruction information generation module 14 and is a database that stores print instruction information in which billing conditions and print conditions are added to content information. The print instruction information condition setting module 13 is connected to the print instruction information generation module 14 and receives an input from the administrator and specifies a billing condition and a printing condition for each content. The print instruction information generation module 14 is connected to the print instruction information encryption / signature module 11, the print instruction information condition setting module 13, the user information DB 12, the print server information DB 15, the print instruction information DB 17, the content DB 18, and the corporation / billing destination DB 19. In response to the instruction from the print instruction information condition setting module 13, print instruction information is generated from the content. The print instruction information encryption / signature module 11 is connected to the print instruction information generation module 14 and executes a process of encrypting the print instruction information and assigning the signature of the control server. The print history DB 20 is a database that is connected to the billing module 16 and stores history information of print processing executed by the print server 7. The billing module 16 is connected to the corporation / billing destination DB 19 and the print history DB 20, and integrates information stored in the printing history DB 20 and information stored in the corporation / billing destination DB 19 to create billing data. .

(Installation image)
FIG. 2 shows an installation image example of the print service apparatus. The print server 7 and the user client 10 are installed in an office or the like while being connected to the Internet (that is, corresponding to the network 22). The control server 21 is connected to the print server 7 and the user client 10 via the network 22. Note that an IC card reader or the like may be connected to the user client 10, and there may be a plurality of print servers 7, user clients 10, and control servers 21.

(Create print instruction information)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for creating print instruction information by designating content (such as a document). This process is a preprocess for printing executed by the administrator of the support service.
First, the administrator selects content to be used as print instruction information from the content stored in the content DB 18 in the form shown in FIG. The content has a content ID (C-0001 in the example of FIG. 4) for uniquely identifying the content, and is electronic information including text, graphics, images, and the like.
In practice, the operator selects content from files displayed in a tree structure on the left side of the management screen shown in FIG. 5 (step S302).

Next, a billing destination of a printing fee generated when the content is printed (that is, output) is designated. The billing destination is stored in the corporation / billing destination DB 19 in the form of FIG. The billing destination data stored in the corporation / billing destination DB 19 has, for example, an ID (S-0001 in the example of FIG. 6) for uniquely identifying the billing destination as shown in FIG. We have address to send document, name of person in charge.
When there are a plurality of billing destinations (YES in step S304), the billing destination is selected (step S306), and the billing ratio is designated (step S308). This process is repeated for all billing destinations (step S310).
In practice, the operator selects a billing corporation or the like from the billing address column on the right side of the management screen shown in FIG. 5, and designates the billing ratio.
If there is only one billing destination (NO in step S304), the billing destination is designated (step S312). At this time, the billing ratio is 1.00 (100%).

Subsequently, the conditions of the print server 7 that can print an image are designated. The print server information is stored in the print server information DB 15 in the form shown in FIG. When designating print server conditions, a specific print server 7 is selected from these (step S314). As shown in FIG. 7, the print server information includes a print server ID that uniquely identifies the print server 7, a default billing destination ID that is a billing destination ID set in advance as a billing destination, and the print server 7. And the management name which is the common name of the print server 7.
In practice, the operator selects the print server 7 from the print server column on the right side of the management screen shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the billing destination designated in step S306 and step S312 designates corporate conditions that can be paid and printed. A specific corporation is selected from the corporation information stored in the form of FIG. 8 in the corporation / billing destination DB 19 (step S316). As shown in FIG. 8, the corporate information has an ID (H-0001 in the example of FIG. 8) for uniquely identifying the corporate, etc., and has a trade name, corporate type, business type, and the like.
In practice, the operator selects a corporation from the corporation column on the right side of the management screen shown in FIG.

Further, as in step S316, the user's condition that the billing destination specified in steps S306 and S312 can pay and print is specified. A specific user is designated from the user information stored in the user information DB 12 in the form of FIG. 9 (step S318). As shown in FIG. 9, the user information has an ID (U-0001 in the example of FIG. 9) that uniquely identifies the user, and has a family name, first name, company name, department name, and the like.
In practice, the operator selects a user from the user column on the right side of the management screen shown in FIG.
As the last condition, information on the number of times of printing (number of times of printing) is designated (step S320). In practice, the operator inputs the number of times from the number-of-times restriction column on the right side of the management screen shown in FIG.

Then, a unique print instruction information ID is assigned to this print instruction information (step S322).
Next, in order to show that this print instruction information is surely sent from the control server 21, a digital signature is performed on this print information (step S324). For example, based on PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) technology, by using a private key (hereinafter, private key) corresponding to the digital certificate of the control server 21 and signing this print instruction information, It is guaranteed that this information has been created by the control server 21. Here, the description has been made using the PKI technique, but any method may be used as long as it can detect tampering or confirm authenticity.

Next, encryption is performed so that the print instruction information does not leak on the communication circuit (step S326). In this case, if the PKI technology is used to encrypt using, for example, a public key (hereinafter, public key) included in the digital certificate of the print server 7 to which printing is restricted, printing is actually permitted. It cannot be decrypted except by the print server 7. Also, if the user's public key is used for encryption, it cannot be decrypted by anyone other than authorized users.
The signed and encrypted print instruction information is stored in the print instruction information DB 17 (step S328).

  FIG. 10 is an example of print instruction information before encryption. In this example, a single billing address (billing address ID = S-0002) is designated, and printing is permitted only for a specific user (user ID = U-0002). That is, when a designated user prints content (content ID = C-0001) based on this print instruction information, a specific billing party is charged. Note that the print server 7, the corporation, and the number of times of printing are not set. Accordingly, printing may be performed by any print server 7, and there is no limit on the number of times of printing.

  FIG. 11 is another example of the print instruction information before encryption. In this example, a specific corporation (corporate ID = H-0003) is permitted to print only 10 times. If this condition is met, a specific billing party (billing party ID = S-0002) is billed. According to the corporate conditions, printing is permitted only to a specific corporate entity based on the corporate ID information of the print server information stored in the print server information DB 15 in the form shown in FIG. The print server 7 and the user are not set. Accordingly, printing may be performed by any print server 7, or anyone who belongs to the corporation may perform printing.

  FIG. 12 shows an example in which multiple billing destinations are designated. In this example, printing is permitted in a specific print server 7 (server ID = P-0004). If this condition is met, billing is performed for a plurality of billing destinations (combined billing destination ID = SX-0002). In the case of a complex billing destination, the complex billing structure stored in the form shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 13, the billing destinations of SX-0002 are distributed to the three billing destinations at the ratios of 0.500, 0.300, and 0.200, respectively. That is, the composite billing destination has pointers to a plurality of billing destinations, and the billing destination data indicated by the pointer is data composed of a pair of a billing destination ID and a billing ratio. Note that the corporate ID, user ID, and printing frequency limit are not set. Therefore, if it is the print server 7, anyone may print it many times.

(Print instructions on the user client)
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example in which the user designates print instruction information and instructs the execution of printing. Usually, it is a process of logging in to a personal computer and specifying a print target to execute printing.
First, prior to a print instruction using the user client 10 by the user, the user client 10 executes a user authentication process (step S1402). This may be normal user ID / password processing, but here, authentication is performed by holding an IC card having a near field communication function over the apparatus. The user client user authentication module 8 verifies the information contained in the IC card and authenticates if it is a correct user.
Subsequently, the authenticated user selects the information to be printed from the print instruction information (corresponding to the information shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, etc.) stored in the print instruction information DB 17 according to the print purpose. A printing destination is selected (step S1404).
Upon receiving the instruction, the print instruction module 9 issues an instruction to the control server 21 to transmit the print instruction information to the designated printing destination (print server 7), and the control server 21 having received the instruction includes the print instruction information. The print instruction is sent to the print server 7 (step S1406).

(Printing process)
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in which the print server 7 that has received a print instruction executes printing and transmits billing data to the control server 21.
First, the user performs user authentication by the print server user authentication module 1 of the print server 7 (step S1502). Here, as shown in FIG. 16, an IC card reader is connected to the print server 7, and user authentication is executed by holding the IC card over the IC card reader.

Print instruction information instructed by the user in advance is sent to the print server 7. Since this information is encrypted, the decryption / signature verification module 6 performs decryption. If it is encrypted with the user's public key, it is decrypted using the private key stored in the IC card. If it is encrypted with the public key of the print server 7, it is decrypted using the private key stored in the print server 7 (step S1504).
Further, the signature is checked, and it is verified by using the public key of the control server 21 that it is surely signed with the secret key of the control server 21 and has not been tampered with after the signature (step S1506). Here, it is possible to verify whether the certificate including the public key used for the signature is valid or not revoked.

Subsequently, the print server control module 5 checks various conditions (step S1508). If the print server condition is added to the print instruction information, whether or not the own apparatus (the print server 7 that is the print destination designated in step S1404) matches the print server condition given to the print instruction information. Check. If they do not match, the process ends.
If corporate conditions are assigned to the print instruction information, it is checked whether the corporate conditions are met (step S1510). Actually, since the print server 7 has only the print server ID, for the corporate condition, the print server information DB 15 of the control server 21 is referred to, and the corporate ID to which the print server 7 belongs is assigned to the print instruction information. Verify whether the corporate conditions are met. If they do not match, the process ends.
If the user condition is assigned to the print instruction information, it is verified whether or not the user authenticated in step S1502 matches the user condition assigned to the print instruction information (step S1512). If they do not match, the process ends. It should be noted that instead of the user authenticated in step S1502, information related to the user authenticated in step S1402 is included in the print instruction, and whether or not the user matches the user condition given in the print instruction information. You may comprise so that it may verify.
Finally, a printing frequency condition check is performed (step S1514). That is, the print frequency limit module 4 compares the number of prints to be verified with the print frequency limit so that printing is performed as many times as not exceeding the limit. When the print server condition is specified and the user condition is not specified, the number of times of printing for the collation target is the number of times of printing for the specific print instruction information stored in the print frequency limit module 4 and the user condition is specified. When the print server condition is not specified, the number of times of printing for the specific print information stored in the control server 21 or the like in the corporate unit or the user unit is used, and the print server condition and the user condition are specified. In this case, the number of times of printing for specific print instruction information stored in the printing unit restriction module 4 in units of corporations or users is used. In addition, the process which increases the printing frequency memorize | stored after printing by the frequency | count of printing is implemented.

When the above condition check is completed, the print instruction information is sent to the print image generation module 2, and the print image generation module 2 generates a final print image (step S1516). As shown in FIG. Printing is executed (step S1518). The print example on the right side of FIG. 17 is an example in which the content shown in FIG. 4 is printed with the print instruction information shown in FIG. 10 (or FIGS. 11 and 12).
When printing is completed without any problem, the print server control module 5 stores the print history in the print history DB 20 of the control server 21 in the form shown in FIG. 18 (step S1520). As shown in FIG. 18, the print history includes a content ID with a billing destination indicating the content for which the billing destination is designated, a print server ID for uniquely identifying the print server that printed the content, and the user who performed the printing It has an ID, a paper size in printing, and the number of printed sheets.

(Billing summary processing)
FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for extracting basic data for performing billing processing from print history information.
First, a print history is extracted from the print history DB 20 (step S1902). This is, for example, a process of extracting only the history related to the billing destination whose closing date is approaching.
Next, the amount charged for each history is calculated (step S1904). This is a process of issuing a charge amount for one print history. For example, if a contract of 10 yen is used to output one sheet of paper size A4, printing 10 sheets will cost 100 yen.
If there is one billing destination in one printing process (NO in step S1906), this amount is added to the designated billing destination (step S1914). This billing address is given to the print instruction information shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and the like referenced from the print instruction information ID of the print history.

When there are a plurality of billing destinations as shown in FIG. 12 (YES in step S1906), an amount is distributed according to the billing ratio for each billing destination (step S1908). This amount is added to the designated billing address (step S1910). The above processing is repeated until there is no billing destination (step S1912).
Then, the processing from step S1904 to step S1912 or step S1914 is repeated until the target print history is completed (step S1916).
Then, the total billing amount is totaled for each billing destination (step S1918), and if there is a discount process, it is executed (step S1920). Here, the discount process is a process of reducing the amount charged when printing in large quantities.
Then, the billing module 16 merges the aggregated data with the data stored in the corporation / billing destination DB 19 to create bill data as shown in FIG. 20 (step S1922). The invoice data includes, for example, the print destination that is the management destination of the print server 7 that printed the content to which the print instruction information is added, the size, number of sheets, unit price, and the like of the paper printed there.
Based on the bill data, the bill is mailed or billing processing is executed by processing such as electronic commerce (step S1924).

In addition, although the example in which the administrator of the support service executes the preprocessing for printing has been described, the billing user may execute it. In that case, instead of using the secret key of the control server 21 as a digital signature or a secret key used for digital signature and encryption, a secret key corresponding to the billing destination may be used. When a secret key corresponding to the billing destination is used, it is preferable that the processing is performed by a billing destination information processing apparatus (not shown) connected to the Internet 22 instead of processing by the control server 21. When a secret key corresponding to the billing destination is used, the public key corresponding to the billing destination is used for decrypting the print instruction information or verifying the electronic signature.
Also, in this embodiment, the configuration is such that printing is not performed if the conditions of the print instruction information are not met, but printing is continued as it is, and billing destination information based on the user who performed printing is recorded. However, for printing in which billing destination information is recorded, billing processing may be performed using the billing destination as the billing destination instead of the billing destination corresponding to the print instruction information. Also, when creating the print instruction information, it accepts a designation as to whether or not to allow printing when the conditions are not met, and includes the designation in the print instruction information, and the billing destination at the time of the printing process and the billing process is determined accordingly. You may comprise so that it may control.
In addition, although an example of printing output as an output mode has been described, the output may be performed by recording on a recording medium as well as being modified so as to perform display display and screen projection.

  Note that the hardware configuration of a computer on which the program according to the present embodiment is executed is a general computer as shown in FIG. 21, and specifically, a personal computer, a computer that can be a server, or the like. A CPU 2101 for executing programs such as a print server user authentication module 1, a print image generation module 2, a user client user authentication module 8, a print instruction module 9, a print instruction information generation module 14, a print instruction information encryption / signature module 11, and the like; A RAM 2102 for storing the program and data, a ROM 2103 for storing a program for starting the computer, an HD 2104 as an auxiliary storage device, an input device 2106 for inputting data such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a CRT And an output device 2105 such as a liquid crystal display, a communication line interface 2107 for connecting to a communication network, and a bus 2108 for connecting them to exchange data. A plurality of these computers may be connected to each other via a network.

  Note that the hardware configuration illustrated in FIG. 21 illustrates one configuration example, and the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 21, and is a configuration that can execute the modules described in the present embodiment. I just need it. For example, some modules may be configured with dedicated hardware (for example, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc.), and some modules are in an external system and connected via a communication line In addition, a plurality of the systems shown in FIG. 21 may be connected to each other via communication lines so as to cooperate with each other. In addition to personal computers, information appliances, copiers, fax machines, scanners, printers, multifunction machines (also called multi-function copiers, which have functions of scanners, printers, copiers, fax machines, etc.), etc. It may be incorporated in.

In the above embodiment, the data structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 18 is a table structure, but is not limited to this, and may be a link structure or the like. The data items are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 7 and 18 and may include other data items.
In the above embodiment, image printing by the print server 7 is shown as image output. However, image output to a display may be used.

Note that the described program may be stored in a recording medium, or the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the above-described program can also be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording the program”.
The “computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded” refers to a computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded, which is used for program installation, execution, program distribution, and the like.
The recording medium is, for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD), which is a standard established by the DVD Forum, such as “DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM,” and DVD + RW. Standards such as “DVD + R, DVD + RW, etc.”, compact discs (CDs), read-only memory (CD-ROM), CD recordable (CD-R), CD rewritable (CD-RW), etc. MO), flexible disk (FD), magnetic tape, hard disk, read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable and rewritable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, random access memory (RAM), etc. It is.
Then, the program or a part thereof may be recorded on the recording medium and stored, distributed, or the like. Also, by communication, for example, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wired network used for the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, etc., or wireless communication It may be transmitted using a transmission medium such as a network or a combination thereof, or may be carried on a carrier wave.
Furthermore, the above program may be a part of another program, or may be recorded on a recording medium together with a separate program. Moreover, it may be divided and recorded on a plurality of recording media.

It is a conceptual module block diagram about the structural example of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of installation of a printing service apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example for creating print instruction information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a content. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a management screen which produces printing instruction information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the corporate information memorize | stored in corporate and billing destination DB. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the data memorize | stored in print server information DB. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the corporate information memorize | stored in corporate and billing destination DB. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the user information memorize | stored in user information DB. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the printing instruction information before encryption. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the printing instruction information before encryption. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the printing instruction information before encryption. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the compound bill structure memorize | stored in corporation | corporation and billing destination DB. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for instructing execution of printing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example in a print server. It is explanatory drawing which shows the usage example of IC card in a print server. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of execution of printing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the printing history information memorize | stored in printing history DB. It is a flowchart which shows the process example which extracts the basic data for performing a billing process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the produced invoice data. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the computer which implement | achieves this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Print server user authentication module 2 ... Print image generation module 3 ... Print module 4 ... Print frequency limit module 5 ... Print server control module 6 ... Decryption / signature verification module 7 ... Print server 8 ... User client user authentication module 9 ... Print Instruction module 10 ... User client 11 ... Print instruction information encryption / signature module 12 ... User information DB
13 ... Print instruction information condition setting module 14 ... Print instruction information generation module 15 ... Print server information DB
16 ... billing module 17 ... print instruction information DB
18 ... Content DB
19 ... Corporate and billing DB
20 ... Print history DB
21 ... Control server 22 ... Network

Claims (9)

A specification accepting means for accepting a specification relating to output of an image including specification of an image to be output;
Information relating to a billing destination for the fee for outputting the image, or information relating to an output server for outputting the image, which is a condition corresponding to the billing fee for outputting the image; Receiving means for receiving a condition including information on a user who outputs an image or one or more pieces of information on the number of times of outputting the image;
Collating means for collating whether the designation received by the designation receiving means satisfies the condition received by the receiving means;
An image output control system comprising: output control means for controlling output means for outputting an image when the collation performed by the collation means is established. Further comprising signature verification means for verifying an electronic signature added to the condition corresponding to the image,
The image output control system according to claim 1, wherein the output control unit performs control so that an image is not output when the electronic signature is not reliable as a result of verification by the signature verification unit. Billing address accepting means for accepting information regarding the designation of an image and the billing address of the fee for outputting the image;
One or more conditions that are conditions for charging a fee to the billing destination, information about an output server that outputs the image, information about a user who outputs the image, or information about the number of times the image is output Condition accepting means for accepting
An image receiving means for receiving an image to be output and a designation relating to the output of the image;
Image output means for outputting an image based on the designation received by the image receiving means;
Collation means for collating whether the designation received by the image receiving means satisfies a condition corresponding to the image received by the image receiving means received by the condition receiving means;
When the collation performed by the collation unit is established, output control is performed to control the image output unit to output the image as the billing destination received by the billing destination receiving unit as the billing destination for the fee for outputting the image. An image output system comprising: means. The image output system according to claim 3, wherein the output control unit prohibits the output of the image when the collation by the collating unit is not established. When the collation by the collating unit is not established, the output control unit uses the billing destination corresponding to the user who has received the designation accepted by the image accepting unit as the billing destination for the fee for outputting the image. The image output system according to claim 3, wherein control is performed so that the image is output by the control unit. Computer
A specification accepting means for accepting a specification relating to output of an image including specification of an image to be output;
Information relating to a billing destination for the fee for outputting the image, or information relating to an output server for outputting the image, which is a condition corresponding to the billing fee for outputting the image; Receiving means for receiving a condition including information on a user who outputs an image or one or more pieces of information on the number of times of outputting the image;
Collating means for collating whether the designation received by the designation receiving means satisfies the condition received by the receiving means;
An image output control program that causes an output unit that outputs an image to function as an output control unit that controls to output the image when the collation performed by the collating unit is established. The computer,
Further function as signature verification means for verifying the electronic signature added to the condition corresponding to the image,
The image output control program according to claim 6, wherein the output control unit performs control so that an image is not output when the electronic signature is not reliable as a result of verification by the signature verification unit. Computer
Billing address accepting means for accepting information regarding the designation of an image and the billing address of the fee for outputting the image;
One or more conditions that are conditions for charging a fee to the billing destination, information about an output server that outputs the image, information about a user who outputs the image, or information about the number of times the image is output Condition accepting means for accepting
An image receiving means for receiving an image to be output and a designation relating to the output of the image;
Image output means for outputting an image based on the designation received by the image receiving means;
Collation means for collating whether the designation received by the image receiving means satisfies a condition corresponding to the image received by the image receiving means received by the condition receiving means;
When the collation performed by the collation unit is established, output control is performed to control the image output unit to output the image as the billing destination received by the billing destination receiving unit as the billing destination for the fee for outputting the image. An image output program that functions as means. The image output program according to claim 8, wherein the output control unit prohibits the output of the image when the collation by the collating unit is not established.

Images