JP2008203999A - Recording system, recording method, recording device, host device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording system having a network recording device with a simple configuration, having an authentication function, and not requiring a large memory capacity. <P>SOLUTION: In this recording system, recording data are transmitted to the recording device from a host device via a network to perform recording. The recording device has: an input means inputting authentication data; a transfer means transferring the authentication data to the host device; and a recording means performing the recording based on the recording data transmitted from the host device. The host device has: a storage means storing the authentication data; a generation means of the recording data; a comparison means comparing the stored authentication data and the newly transferred authentication data; and a transmission means transmitting the recording data according to a comparison result thereof. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording system having a network recording device with an authentication function, and is particularly suitable when a host device such as a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) shares one recording device via a network. It relates to a recording system.

  Conventionally, a network recording apparatus is used in a configuration in which a plurality of PCs share one recording apparatus. In this network recording apparatus, recording is performed in the order in which the recording data is sent from each PC, or recording is performed in the order based on the priority information attached to the recording data. Therefore, for example, when recording a recorded material that is not desired to be viewed by others using a network recording device, immediately after the recording data is transmitted from the PC to the network recording device, the recorded material is recorded by going to the network recording device. Had to wait until. Also, if the recorded material is not collected immediately after the operator sends the recorded data to the recording device, it is left as it is, the recorded material is lost, information leaks, and further the recording medium is output to the output unit of the network recording device. There was a problem such as causing accumulation of jam.

Several proposals have been made as means for solving this problem. For example, a network recording apparatus has been proposed in which authentication data such as a password and fingerprint information is registered in advance, and recording starts for recording data to which authentication data that matches the registered authentication data is attached (Patent Document 1). And Patent Document 2). In addition, a network recording device is proposed in which a storage device is provided on a network, recording data with authentication data attached is stored in the storage device, and recording data with matching authentication data is read from the storage device (Patent Document). 3).
JP-A-6-004238 JP 2001-236198 A JP 2002-183091 A

  However, in the network recording devices having the configurations in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the recording data to which the authentication data sent from the PC is attached must be stored in the storage unit until the recording is completed. For this reason, a large memory capacity is required.

  In addition, the network recording device having the configuration described in Patent Document 3 has a configuration in which a separate storage device is provided on the network in order to reduce the memory capacity of the recording device. Specifically, the PC transmits the URL of the storage device to the recording device, and the recording device reads the recording data that matches the authentication data from the storage device of the transmitted URL. However, in this configuration, a storage device is provided outside, and the recording device must communicate with the storage device of the URL transmitted from the PC, which complicates the configuration.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a recording system having a network recording apparatus that has an authentication function, has a simple configuration, and does not require a large memory capacity. And It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording method, a recording apparatus, a host apparatus connected to the recording apparatus, and a program executed by the host apparatus.

The present invention for solving the above problems is a recording system that includes a host device and a recording device connected to a network, and performs recording by transmitting recording data from the host device to the recording device via the network. And
The recording device comprises:
First input means for inputting first authentication data as a reference for authentication;
First transfer means for transferring the first authentication data to the host device;
Second input means for inputting second authentication data for comparison with the first authentication data;
Second transfer means for transferring the second authentication data to the host device;
Recording means for recording based on recording data transmitted from the host device via the network;
Have
The host device is
First receiving means for receiving first authentication data transferred in the first transferring means;
First storage means for storing first authentication data received by the first receiving means;
Generating means for generating recording data;
Second receiving means for receiving the second authentication data transferred in the second transferring means;
Comparing means for comparing the first authentication data stored in the first storage means and the second authentication data received by the second receiving means;
Permission means for permitting transmission of the recording data generated by the generating means to the recording device via the network according to a comparison result by the comparing means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the recording data permitted by the permission means to the recording device;
It is a recording system characterized by having.

Another embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is a recording in which recording is performed by using a host device and a recording device connected to a network and transmitting recording data from the host device to the recording device via the network. A method,
A first input step of inputting first authentication data as a reference for authentication from the recording device;
A first transfer step of transferring the first authentication data to the host device;
A storage step of storing the first authentication data transferred in the first transfer step in a memory of the host device;
A generating step of generating recording data by the host device;
A second input step of inputting second authentication data for comparison with the first authentication data from the recording device;
A second transfer step of transferring the second authentication data to the host device;
A comparison step of comparing the first authentication data stored in the memory with the second authentication data transferred in the second transfer step by the host device;
According to the comparison result by the comparison step, a permission step for permitting transmission of the recording data generated by the generation step from the host device to the recording device via the network;
A transmission step of transmitting the recording data permitted in the permission step to the recording device;
A recording step of recording based on the recording data transmitted by the transmission step;
It is a recording method characterized by having.

Another embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problem is a recording device connected to a host device via a network,
First input means for inputting first authentication data as a reference for authentication;
First transfer means for transferring the first authentication data to the host device;
Second input means for inputting second authentication data for comparison with the first authentication data;
Second transfer means for transferring the second authentication data to the host device;
Recording means for recording based on recording data transmitted from the host device via the network;
It is a recording device characterized by having.

Another embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problem is a host device connected to a recording device via a network,
First receiving means for receiving first authentication data serving as a reference for authentication transmitted from the recording apparatus via the network;
Storage means for storing first authentication data received by the first receiving means;
Generating means for generating recording data;
Second receiving means for receiving second authentication data transmitted from the recording device via the network for comparison with the first authentication data;
Comparing means for comparing the first authentication data stored in the storage means and the second authentication data received by the second receiving means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the recording data generated by the generating means to the recording device via the network according to the comparison result by the comparing means;
It is a host device characterized by having.

Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is a program executed by a host device connected to a recording device via a network,
A first receiving process for receiving first authentication data serving as a reference for authentication transmitted from the recording apparatus via the network;
A storage process for storing the first authentication data received in the first reception process in a memory;
Generation processing for generating recording data;
A second receiving process for receiving second authentication data transmitted from the recording device via the network for comparison with the first authentication data;
A comparison process for comparing the first authentication data stored in the memory and the second authentication data received by the second reception process;
In accordance with the comparison result of the comparison process, a transmission process for transmitting the recording data generated by the generation process to the recording device via the network;
It is a program characterized by executing.

  According to the present invention, since the recording data is transmitted to the recording apparatus after it is confirmed that the authentication data matches, the network recording apparatus only needs to have a minimum memory necessary for the recording operation, and a large amount of memory is required. There is no need to have. Of course, it is not necessary to provide a storage device on the network. Further, since the authentication data can be stored on the PC side, a memory for storing the authentication data in the network recording device is not necessary. In addition, since the authentication processing can be performed by a PC having high processing capability, the recording apparatus only needs to transmit the input authentication data to the PC, and the configuration including the control program can be simplified. . Therefore, a recording system having a network recording device with an authentication function can be provided at low cost.

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

  In this specification, “recording” (hereinafter also referred to as “printing”) is not only for forming significant information such as characters and figures, but also for images on a wide range of recording media, regardless of significance. A case where a pattern, a pattern, or the like is formed or a medium is processed is also expressed. It does not matter whether it has been made obvious so that humans can perceive it visually.

  “Recording medium” refers not only to paper used in general recording apparatuses but also widely to cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, and the like that can accept ink. Shall.

  Embodiments of a network recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a network recording apparatus suitable for implementing the present invention.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes a network recording apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as a recording apparatus) main body. The recording apparatus 101 in this embodiment is a multi-function printer (MFP) that can read a document by a reading unit described later, but is not limited to this. Reference numeral 102 denotes a CPU that controls the recording apparatus 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes a non-volatile memory (ROM) that stores a control program for controlling the entire recording apparatus 101, and the CPU 102 controls the entire recording apparatus according to the control program stored in the ROM 103. Reference numeral 104 denotes a memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) used for processing operations for controlling various operations. Reference numeral 105 denotes image data as recording data sent from the PC, image data optimally converted for recording, image data read by a reading unit described later, fingerprint data read for authentication, and the like. This is a buffer memory for temporary storage. A network control unit 106 performs transmission / reception of communication data such as image data and authentication data and communication control with various control devices such as a host device connected via a network. Reference numeral 107 denotes an operation unit having various operation buttons for a user (operator) to operate the network recording apparatus 101 and display means represented by an LED, an LCD, and the like. Reference numeral 108 denotes a reading unit that reads a document placed on a document table by a raster scanning method and reads a fingerprint for authentication. Reference numeral 109 denotes a recording unit for recording on a recording medium based on image data sent from the PC or image data read by the reading unit 108. A system bus 110 connects the CPU 102 and each block, and a connector 111 connects to an external network. Reference numeral 301 denotes a network represented by, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), to which various control devices are connected.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of an internal block of a PC suitable for implementing the present invention.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes a PC main body which is an example of the host device of the present invention. Reference numeral 202 denotes various application software (hereinafter referred to as applications) such as word processor software that operates on the PC. Reference numeral 203 denotes printer driver software (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver) for recording with a recording apparatus. The printer driver 203 converts the image data sent from the application 202 so as to be optimal for the recording apparatus 101, and causes the recording apparatus 101 to record the image data sent from the application 202. Further, the printer driver 203 has an authentication data comparison unit 203a. A network control unit 204 performs transmission / reception of communication data such as image data and authentication data and communication control with various control devices such as a recording device connected via a network. Although not shown, the PC 201 stores a program such as the application and a printer driver and can store authentication data and the like, a CPU that mainly performs specific control and permission based on the program, It has a memory. Further, although not shown in the figure, display means such as an LCD, instruction means such as a keyboard and pointing device, and the like are also provided.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a document table of the reading unit 108.

  Reference numeral 1081 denotes the document table itself. Reference numeral 1082 denotes a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD or a contact type sensor that performs optical reading scanning for reading by a raster scanning method for each line. A document is read by scanning in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the photoelectric conversion element 1082 (horizontal direction in the figure). Reference numeral 1083 denotes an original reading window which is an example of a reading table made of transparent glass or the like for reading an original. The operator places the original on this surface and reads the original. Reference numeral 1084 denotes a fingerprint reading window which is an example of a reading table made of transparent glass or the like for reading a fingerprint. When performing authentication, the operator presses a finger against the window to read the fingerprint. As can be seen from the drawing, the fingerprint reading window 1084 is provided separately from the document reading window 1083 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the photoelectric conversion element 1082 (scanning direction of the photoelectric conversion element 1082). . For this reason, the photoelectric conversion element 1082 can perform both document reading and fingerprint reading, but dirt attached to the glass surface when reading a fingerprint does not affect the reading of the document.

  Here, the operation when recording from the application of the PC will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PC during recording, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication control unit of the network recording device, and FIG. 10 shows the operation of the network recording device when performing authentication. It is a flowchart.

  First, when the recording data is generated by the application and an operation for recording is performed (step S105), the recording menu screen 401 of the printer driver is displayed on the monitor screen of the PC (step S110). You can set the type. At the same time, a check box 402 for setting whether or not to perform authentication is displayed as shown in FIG. If the check box 402 is checked in step S115 and the print button 403 is clicked, the process proceeds to step S125 to perform an authentication and recording operation. If the print button 403 is clicked without checking the check box 402 in step S115, authentication is not performed and a normal recording operation without security is performed (step S120). When the cancel button 404 is clicked, the recording menu screen of the printer driver disappears and recording is not performed. When the check box 402 is checked and the print button 403 is clicked, the printer driver periodically issues a command (status monitor command) for monitoring the status of the printing apparatus via the network control unit (step S125). Here, the state of the recording device indicates whether or not there is second authentication data for comparison with the first authentication data serving as a reference that is stored in the hard disk or the like by being registered. ing. In this way, the status of the recording device is monitored by referring to the recording device in order to confirm the presence or absence of the authentication data.

  When receiving the status monitor command from the PC (step S210), the recording apparatus transmits a response notifying the current state. If there is the second authentication data in step S220, a response response to which the fingerprint data is added is performed by transferring this authentication data (in this embodiment, fingerprint data) (step S250). In step S220, if there is no authentication data, a response response indicating only the state of the recording device that there is no authentication data is made (step S240).

  When the operator selects authentication and recording, after performing an operation for recording on the PC, the finger is pressed against the fingerprint reading window on the recording device, and the “ID” of the operation unit (not shown) is displayed. "Button is pressed (step S310). Then, the recording device reads the fingerprint in the fingerprint reading window (step S320) and creates authentication data (step S330).

  After that, when receiving a status monitor command from the PC, the recording apparatus transmits a response with the read fingerprint data added (step S115).

  The printer driver periodically issues a status monitor command for a predetermined period until a response with fingerprint data added is received. In order to avoid useless communication, if a response to which fingerprint data is added does not return from the recording device within a predetermined period in step S135, error processing is performed as a timeout (step S155) and the recording job is invalidated. To. When a response with fingerprint data added is received from the recording apparatus (step S130), the sent fingerprint data is compared with the fingerprint data registered in advance in the storage means 203b by the comparison means 203a (step S140). If it is determined in step S145 that the fingerprints are identical from the comparison result of these fingerprint data, image data for recording is transmitted to the recording device (step S150). Thereafter, the recording is performed in the same procedure as the normal recording operation. If it is determined in step S145 that the fingerprint data does not match and the fingerprints are not identical, an error command is transmitted to the recording device (step S165), and the process returns to step S130 to wait for fingerprint data again.

  When receiving the error command, the recording apparatus notifies the error by the display means of the operation unit, prompts the reading of the fingerprint again, and returns to the above-described processing operation shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. When the fingerprint is read again, a response with fingerprint data added is transmitted in the same manner.

  Again, in order to avoid unnecessary communication and maintain security, the printer driver invalidates the recording job (step S170) when authentication fails a predetermined number of times (step S160).

  For simplicity, a conceptual diagram of the communication protocol for the above operation is shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a time when authentication is successful, and FIG. 7 shows a time when authentication fails.

  Next, a fingerprint data registration method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this case as well, almost the same procedure as the operation when recording from the PC application is performed. First, when the printer driver setting screen 501 is opened on the PC (step S10), a check box 502 for determining whether or not to register authentication data as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed simultaneously with various setting items (step S10). S20). If the check box 502 is checked and the execution button 503 is clicked (step S30), the printer driver periodically issues a status monitor command via the network control unit (step S125).

  The process from when the recording device receives the status monitor command issued by the PC in step S125 to when the recording device transmits a response to which the fingerprint data is added to the PC is the same as the operation when recording from the application. It is.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S130. If the response to which the fingerprint data is added within the predetermined period does not return from the recording apparatus, the operation is the same as that in the case of recording from the application. If a response to which fingerprint data is added within a predetermined period returns from the recording device, the sent fingerprint data is stored in the storage means 203b in the PC as authentication data (step S180).

  In the present embodiment, the authentication method using fingerprint data has been described. However, other authentication methods can be used. The same effect can be obtained by using a password or password that has been used conventionally. When using a personal identification number or password, the personal identification number or password may be input instead of reading the fingerprint. The same effect can be obtained even with a recording apparatus that does not have a reading unit, as long as it uses a password or password.

  In this embodiment, the reading means for reading the original is used for reading the fingerprint. However, the same effect can be obtained by using a dedicated fingerprint reading device.

  The present invention also includes a program that causes the host apparatus to execute the recording method. Specifically, as described above, a program executed by the host device connected to the recording apparatus via the network, and authentication data that serves as a reference for authentication transmitted from the recording apparatus via the network The receiving process for receiving is executed. In addition, the storage processing for storing the authentication data received by the reception processing in the memory, the generation processing for generating the recording data, and the reception for receiving the authentication data transmitted from the recording device via the network for comparison with the authentication data. Execute the process. Further, a comparison process for comparing the authentication data stored in the memory with the authentication data transmitted for comparison with the authentication data, and according to the comparison result, the recording data generated by the generation process on the recording device via the network A transmission process for transmission is executed. Furthermore, the present invention also includes a storage medium in which such a program is stored.

1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a network recording apparatus suitable for implementing the present invention. It is the figure which showed a part of internal block of PC suitable for implementation of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of a communication protocol when authentication is successful. It is an example of a check box for setting whether or not to perform authentication when performing recording. It is an example of a check box for determining whether or not to register authentication data. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a document table of a reading unit. It is a conceptual diagram of the communication protocol when authentication fails. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of PC at the time of recording. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the communication control part of a network recording device. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the network recording device at the time of authenticating. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of PC at the time of fingerprint data registration.

Explanation of symbols

101 Recording Device 105 Buffer Memory 106 Network Control Unit 108 Reading Unit 109 Recording Unit 201 PC (Personal Computer)
203 Printer Driver Software 203a Comparison Unit 203b Storage Unit 204 Network Control Unit 301 Network 1082 Photoelectric Conversion Element 1084 Fingerprint Reading Unit

Claims (8)

A recording system that includes a host device and a recording device connected to a network, performs recording by transmitting recording data from the host device to the recording device via the network,
The recording device comprises:
First input means for inputting first authentication data as a reference for authentication;
First transfer means for transferring the first authentication data to the host device;
Second input means for inputting second authentication data for comparison with the first authentication data;
Second transfer means for transferring the second authentication data to the host device;
Recording means for recording based on recording data transmitted from the host device via the network;
Have
The host device is
First receiving means for receiving first authentication data transferred in the first transferring means;
First storage means for storing first authentication data received by the first receiving means;
Generating means for generating recording data;
Second receiving means for receiving the second authentication data transferred in the second transferring means;
Comparing means for comparing the first authentication data stored in the first storage means and the second authentication data received by the second receiving means;
Permission means for permitting transmission of the recording data generated by the generating means to the recording device via the network according to a comparison result by the comparing means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the recording data permitted by the permission means to the recording device;
A recording system comprising: The recording apparatus further includes second storage means for storing second authentication data input by the second input means,
The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the host device further includes inquiry means for making an inquiry to the recording device in order to confirm whether or not the second authentication data has been input. The first input means and the second input means comprise reading means for reading a fingerprint of a user of the recording device,
The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the first authentication data and the second authentication data are data obtained by reading the fingerprint by the reading unit.   4. The reading unit according to claim 3, wherein the reading unit includes an optical reading scanning unit that performs both document reading and fingerprint reading, and further includes a reading table that separately performs the document reading and the fingerprint reading. Recording system. A recording method that uses a host device and a recording device connected to a network, sends recording data from the host device to the recording device via the network, and performs recording.
A first input step of inputting first authentication data as a reference for authentication from the recording device;
A first transfer step of transferring the first authentication data to the host device;
A storage step of storing the first authentication data transferred in the first transfer step in a memory of the host device;
A generating step of generating recording data by the host device;
A second input step of inputting second authentication data for comparison with the first authentication data from the recording device;
A second transfer step of transferring the second authentication data to the host device;
A comparison step of comparing the first authentication data stored in the memory with the second authentication data transferred in the second transfer step by the host device;
According to the comparison result by the comparison step, a permission step for permitting transmission of the recording data generated by the generation step from the host device to the recording device via the network;
A transmission step of transmitting the recording data permitted in the permission step to the recording device;
A recording step of recording based on the recording data transmitted by the transmission step;
A recording method comprising: A recording device connected to a host device via a network,
First input means for inputting first authentication data as a reference for authentication;
First transfer means for transferring the first authentication data to the host device;
Second input means for inputting second authentication data for comparison with the first authentication data;
Second transfer means for transferring the second authentication data to the host device;
Recording means for recording based on recording data transmitted from the host device via the network;
A recording apparatus comprising: A host device connected to the recording device via a network,
First receiving means for receiving first authentication data serving as a reference for authentication transmitted from the recording apparatus via the network;
Storage means for storing first authentication data received by the first receiving means;
Generating means for generating recording data;
Second receiving means for receiving second authentication data transmitted from the recording device via the network for comparison with the first authentication data;
Comparing means for comparing the first authentication data stored in the storage means and the second authentication data received by the second receiving means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the recording data generated by the generating means to the recording device via the network according to the comparison result by the comparing means;
A host device characterized by comprising: A program executed on a host device connected to a recording device via a network,
A first receiving process for receiving first authentication data serving as a reference for authentication transmitted from the recording apparatus via the network;
A storage process for storing the first authentication data received in the first reception process in a memory;
Generation processing for generating recording data;
A second receiving process for receiving second authentication data transmitted from the recording device via the network for comparison with the first authentication data;
A comparison process for comparing the first authentication data stored in the memory and the second authentication data received by the second reception process;
In accordance with the comparison result of the comparison process, a transmission process for transmitting the recording data generated by the generation process to the recording device via the network;
A program characterized in that is executed.

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