JP2008299479A - Document managing and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of a document managing and printing system not allowing its user to print a document unless he or she directly owns the document and to provide print settings unrelated to security during printing. <P>SOLUTION: The document managing and printing system sends a document to be specified, including a document ID for specifying the document, from a document server to a print server, creates link applications (program requesting printing of a specific document; program including the document ID specifying the document) having the function of requesting printing to be performed, and distributes the link applications to a certain user, so that the document is sent from the document server to the print server and printed at the print server, without the user locally bringing the document using the link applications. In that case, the link applications can add print requirements unrelated to security. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In a document management printing system, in order to increase security by printing a document without being distributed to the user, a program that requests printing of a specific document is created and distributed to the user, and printing is performed according to the request of the program. It is about how to do it.

  As the demand for information protection increases, various technologies for protecting electronic documents from information leakage due to network eavesdropping and theft of distributed electronic documents have been developed.

  For example, there is a method in which an attribute based on a security policy is set as a protected document obtained by encrypting a document, and only a user who meets the conditions of the security policy acquires and prints the protected document (see Patent Document 1). However, although this method is encrypted, it is necessary to distribute the document to each user, and there is a risk of information leakage from the document distributed to many users. Also, the print settings and the like are determined in advance, and the user cannot freely change the print settings.

  In addition, there is a method of displaying and using a document managed on a server by using hypertext (see Patent Document 2). However, since information acquired by this method is distributed to the user's terminal, there is a risk of information leakage as in the method of Patent Document 1.

JP 2004-152263 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-228468

  The problem to be solved is that in the document management printing system, even if the document is not directly owned, the user can print the document, and when printing, the user is given print settings not related to security. It is possible.

  In the document management printing system according to the present invention, the computer includes: a document acquisition request unit that causes a print server to acquire a predetermined document from the document server; and a document print request unit that causes the print server to print the acquired document. A distributor terminal having a document protection function unit for creating a specific document print request program for functioning, and an information holding function unit for holding and managing the document and transmitting the predetermined document to the print server according to the document acquisition request The document server, the print server that acquires the predetermined document from the document server according to the document acquisition request, and prints the predetermined document according to the document print request, and the specific document print request program is executed The main feature is to have a reader terminal having a computer.

  The document management printing system of the present invention is the document management printing system, wherein the document protection function unit includes an encryption key generation unit that generates an encryption key for encrypting the document, and the encryption key. An encrypted document creation unit that encrypts the document using an information registration unit that registers the encrypted document, and the information holding function unit is an encryption that has a registration request from the information registration unit. An encrypted document management unit that receives and holds and manages a document, and the document print function unit acquires the encrypted document from the encrypted document management unit in accordance with a request from the specific document print request program The main feature is that it includes an encrypted document acquisition unit and a decryption unit that decrypts the encrypted document.

  The document management printing system of the present invention is the document management printing system, wherein the specific document print request program receives a print condition input by a user and notifies the document print function unit of the print condition. It has a notification function, and prints according to the input printing conditions.

  In the document management printing system according to the present invention, the computer includes: a document acquisition request unit that causes a print server to acquire a predetermined document from the document server; and a document print request unit that causes the print server to print the acquired document. A distributor terminal having a document protection function unit for creating a specific document print request program for functioning, and an information holding function unit for holding and managing the document and transmitting the predetermined document to the print server according to the document acquisition request The document server, the print server that acquires the predetermined document from the document server according to the document acquisition request, and prints the predetermined document according to the document print request, and the specific document print request program is executed And the reader terminal with the computer, the main feature is that the user who prints the document directly Without having to own the book it is possible to print, and improved security for such as a document of the leakage.

  The document management printing system of the present invention is the document management printing system, wherein the document protection function unit includes an encryption key generation unit that generates an encryption key for encrypting the document, and the encryption key. An encrypted document creation unit that encrypts the document using an information registration unit that registers the encrypted document, and the information holding function unit is an encryption that has a registration request from the information registration unit. An encrypted document management unit that receives and holds and manages a document, and the document print function unit acquires the encrypted document from the encrypted document management unit in accordance with a request from the specific document print request program Since the main feature is that it has an encrypted document acquisition unit and a decryption unit that decrypts the encrypted document, the document in the document management printing system is stored in an encrypted form in order to store the encrypted document. Wiretapping Security against etc. has been further improved.

  The document management printing system of the present invention is the document management printing system, wherein the specific document print request program receives a print condition input by a user and notifies the document print function unit of the print condition. Since the printer has a notification function and performs printing according to the input printing conditions, it is possible for the user to add printing conditions when printing.

  In the document management printing system, the document that identifies the document is that the user could not print the document without owning the document directly, and the problem that the user cannot give print settings that are not related to security when printing. A link application (specific document print request program) that transmits the specified document including the ID from the document server to the print server and makes a print execution request is created, and the link application (specific document print request program) is specified. The user can print without using the link application (specific document print request program) to bring a document locally, and the link application (specific document print request program) is not related to security. The problem was solved by accepting print condition input and allowing it to be added.

[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a document management printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a distributor PC (Personal Computer) 101 (distributor terminal) that distributes a document, a reader PC (Personal Computer) 201 (reader terminal) that prints a document, a print server 301 that performs print processing, and encryption It consists of the configuration of four devices of a document server 401 that holds documents.

  The print server 301 is also an MFP (multifunction peripheral) device and can perform printing on the print server.

  The configuration is not limited to the above embodiment, and the print server 301 and the image forming apparatus such as an MFP may have different apparatus configurations. Further, the document server 401 and the print server 301 may be configured on the same server device.

  Further, the document server 401 or the print server 301 may be mounted on the distributor PC 101. For example, the document protection function unit 110, the document server 401, and the print server 301 are mounted on one image forming apparatus. It may be.

  The following four functional units are mounted on the four devices.

  The distributor PC 101 (distributor terminal) is equipped with a document protection function unit 110 (document protection function unit).

  The reader PC 201 (reader terminal) holds a copy of the link application (specific document print request program) 210 and the link application bundled file 220 generated by the document protection function unit 110 (document protection function unit).

  The print server 301 includes a document print function unit (document print function unit).

  The document server 401 includes an information holding function unit 410.

  The four function units, the document protection function unit 110 (document protection function unit), the link application (specific document print request program) 210 and the link application bundled file 220, the document print function unit 310 (document print function unit), and the information holding function The unit 410 performs functions necessary for the present invention.

  The role of each functional unit is shown in Table 1 below.

  Each functional unit described above is further divided into functional blocks. This will be described below for each functional unit.

  The document protection function unit 110 includes functional blocks of a link application (specific document print request program) creation unit 111, an encryption key generation unit 113, an information registration unit 115, a screen display unit 117, and an encrypted document creation unit 119.

  Table 2 below shows the role of each functional block.

  Next, the link application (specific document print request program) 210 has functional blocks of a screen display function unit 211, a reader information notification function unit 213, an MFP search function unit 215, and a print setting notification function unit 217.

  The most important role of the link application (specific document print request program) 210 is to make a document acquisition request and a document print request to the print server, and the print server receives a document ID (document ID) 223 ( The document specified in (details will be described later) is acquired, and the acquired document is printed according to the document print request. The role of each other functional block is shown in Table 3 below.

  The link application (specific document print request program) 210 includes a link application bundled file 220 that holds information for specifying a document. The link application bundled file 220 includes a document ID 223 (document ID) and a document name 221 for specifying a document.

  Next, the document print function unit 310 includes functional blocks of a reader verification unit 311, an encrypted document acquisition unit 313, a print processing unit 315, a print requirement acquisition unit 317, and a decryption unit 319.

  The print requirement of the print requirement acquisition unit 317 is a print setting requirement related to security such as copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing and barcode printing, and is a compulsory additional condition that the document reader cannot change without permission.

  The role of each functional block is shown in Table 4 below.

  Finally, the information holding function unit 410 includes functional blocks of an encrypted document management unit 411, a reader information management unit 413, a print requirement derivation unit 415, and a security attribute management unit 417.

  The role of each functional block is shown in Table 5 below.

  The encrypted document management unit 411 of the information holding function unit 410 manages the encrypted document using the management table shown in Table 6 below. The table holds a document ID 223 for identifying a document and a document name 221 corresponding to the document ID 223 as data.

[Operation flow 1; Creation of link application (specific document print request program)]
An operation flow when creating the link application (specific document print request program) 210 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  S1: The distributor 100 activates the document protection function unit 110 in the distributor PC 101 in order to start creating a link application.

  S2: The document protection function unit 110 displays a screen for registering a document on the screen display unit 117.

  S3: The distributor 100 registers the document on the screen displayed on the screen display unit 117. At the time of registration, security attributes (settings such as a document viewing permitter) for the document are also set.

  S4: The document protection function unit 110 acquires the document name.

  S5: The document protection function unit 110 calls the encryption key generation unit 113 to acquire the encryption key.

  S6: The encryption key generation unit 113 generates an encryption key and passes the encryption key to the document protection function unit 110.

  S7: The document protection function unit 110 calls the encrypted document creation unit 119 with the document and the encryption key as parameters to obtain the encrypted document and passes the parameters.

  S8: The encrypted document creation unit 119 encrypts the document using the passed encryption key, and returns the encrypted document to the document protection function unit 110.

  S9: The document protection function unit 110 generates a document ID.

  S10: The document protection function unit 110 calls the information registration unit 115 to register the encrypted document received in S8, and passes the document ID, the encrypted document, the security attribute, and the encryption key.

  S11: The information registration unit 115 transmits the received encrypted document to the information holding function unit 410 and registers it. At the time of registration, the document ID, encrypted document, security attribute, and encryption key are passed to the information holding function unit 410.

  S12: The document protection function unit 110 calls the link application creation unit 111 to acquire the link application, and passes the document name and document ID parameters.

S13: The link application creation unit 111 creates the link application bundled file 220. The document name 221 and the document ID 223 are embedded in the link application bundled file, but the actual document is not included regardless of whether it is encrypted. S14: The link application creating unit 111 A copy of the application (specific document print request program) 210 is generated. The generated link application (specific document print request program) 210 and link application bundled file 220 are held in the document protection function unit and can be accessed by the distributor.

  Through the above series of operations, the distributor 100 designates a document to be distributed, encrypts the document, and generates a link application bundled file 220 and a link application (specific document print request program) corresponding to the document.

  Thereafter, the distributor gives the link application (specific document print request program) 210 and the link application bundled file 220 to the reader 200, or the reader 200 may be a server (the document server 301, The file may be copied from a server, etc.

[Operation flow 2; printing using a link application (specific document print request program)]
Next, the flow until the reader 200 prints the encrypted document using the link application (specific document print request program) 210 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  S21: The reader 200 activates a link application (specific document print request program) 210 for creating an encrypted document.

  S22: The MFP search unit 215 of the link application (specific document print request program) 210 searches for an MFP (multifunction device) on the network.

  S23: The screen display unit 211 of the link application (specific document print request program) 210 displays MFP location information and a screen for inputting reader information.

  S24: The reader 200 inputs reader information (user name, password) on the displayed screen.

  S25: The reader information and MFP location information input to the screen display unit 211 of the link application (specific document print request program) 210 are displayed.

  S <b> 26: The link application (specific document print request program) 210 acquires the document ID 223 from the link application bundled file 220.

  S27: The link application (specific document print request program) 210 notifies the reader information in order to obtain a collation result based on the reader information and the document ID as to whether or not the user has the right to access the document indicated by the document ID. Part 213 is called.

  S28: The reader information notification unit 213 passes the reader information (user name, password, document ID) to the document print function unit 310 of the document server 301.

  S 29: The document print function unit 310 passes the reader information (user name, password) to the reader verification unit 311.

  S30: The reader verification unit 311 passes the reader information (user name, password) to the information holding function unit 410 of the document server 401 in order to verify the reader information.

  S31: The information holding function unit 401 uses the reader information management unit 413 to check whether or not the reader is a registered reader, returns the verification result to the reader verification unit 311 of the document server 301, and returns the result to the document Received by the print function unit 310.

  S32: The document print function unit 310 calls the print requirement acquisition unit 317 in order to request acquisition of print requirements (print setting requirements related to security such as copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing and barcode printing), and reader information (user name, password) , Document ID).

  S33: The printing requirement acquisition unit 317 passes the reader information (user name, password, document ID) to the information holding function unit 410 and derives the printing requirement.

  S34: The information holding function unit 410 uses the printing requirement deriving unit 415 to derive printing requirements. The derived print requirements are returned to the document print function unit 310, and finally returned to the link application (specific document print request program) 210 of the reader PC 201.

  S35: The link application (specific document print request program) 210 acquires the document name 221 from the link application bundled file 220.

  S 36: A print setting screen including print requirements is displayed on the screen display unit 211 of the link application (specific document print request program) 210. FIG. 2 shows an example of the print setting screen.

  S37: The reader 200 performs print settings on the print setting screen.

  S38: The link application (specific document print request program) 210 acquires print settings from the screen display unit 211.

  S39: The link application (specific document print request program) 210 calls the print setting notification unit 217 to perform printing, and passes the document ID, print settings, and print requirement parameters.

  S40: The print setting notification unit 217 passes the parameter received in S39 to the document print function unit 310 of the document server 301.

  S41: The document print function unit 310 calls the encrypted document acquisition unit 313 and passes the document ID.

  S42: When the encrypted document acquisition unit 313 passes the document ID to the information holding function unit 410 of the document server 401 and requests acquisition of the encrypted document, the encrypted document management unit 411 of the information holding function unit 410 performs encryption. Get a document. The acquired encrypted document is transferred from the information holding function unit 410 to the document printing function unit 310.

  S43: The document print function unit 310 requests the information holding function unit 410 to obtain a decryption key based on the document ID, and the information holding function unit 410 sends the decryption key (encryption key) to the document print function unit 310. hand over.

  S44: The document print function unit 310 passes the decryption key (encryption key) and the encrypted document acquired in S43 to the decryption unit 319.

  S45: The decryption unit 319 decrypts the encrypted document using the received decryption key (encryption key). The decrypted document is returned to the document print function unit 310.

  S <b> 46: The document print function unit 310 gives a print instruction by passing the document, print requirements, and print settings to the print processing unit 315.

  S 47: The print processing unit 315 performs printing in the MFP (the same apparatus as the print server in the embodiment) 301.

  Through the series of operations described above, the reader 200 prints the encrypted document using the link application (specific document print request program).

[Effect of Example]
The document management system according to the embodiment of the present invention enables the following.

  In the conventional document management printing system, the user (reader) who performs printing brings the corresponding document onto the user's local PC (Personal Computer) and sends it to the printer for printing. There was a risk of document leakage due to network eavesdropping or theft of information from the reader's PC (Personal Computer). In this document management system, no document is sent to the reader's PC. Security has increased.

  Further, since printing cannot be executed without a link application (specific document print request program) for printing a document, only that user can print by passing it to a specific user.

  Even if the link app (specific document print request program) is stolen, printing cannot be performed unless the user is collated when the link app (specific document print request program) is executed. When done properly, confidentiality is preserved.

  The link application (specific document print request program) can execute printing without changing the security-related printing requirements set at the time of document registration, so users such as “copy prohibited” and “confidential handling” for copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing Depending on the case, it is possible to set a mandatory printing requirement for modification. As a result, even if the medium is printed on paper, security according to the above printing requirements is maintained.

  Further, since the link application (specific document print request program) can set additional conditions such as aggregation and double-sided printing different from the compulsory printing requirement, the user can set these items. is there.

  Since the user interface of the link application (specific document print request program) can be designed freely, according to the level of the user, for example, it can be a very simple print application, or it can be a highly-configured print application, It is possible to add various user verification conditions.

[Others]
In this embodiment, the document is always stored after being encrypted, but the simpler system stores the document without encrypting it or simply compresses and stores it. It may be used as such a simple system.

  In this embodiment, the final output method is printing. However, the printing method is not limited to printing, and may be FAX transmission, document transmission by e-mail, or the like.

  In some cases, such as when the security level is not high, it may be possible to display on the reader PC.

1 is a functional block diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 1). FIG. It is an example of the print setting screen displayed on reader PC201 of the example of the present invention (example 1). FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for creating a link application (specific document print request program) (Example 1); FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram until a reader prints a document using a link application (specific document print request program) (Example 1).

Explanation of symbols

1 Document Management System 101 Distributor PC (Distributor Terminal)
110 Document Protection Function Unit (Document Protection Function Unit)
111 Link application creation unit 113 Encryption key generation unit 115 Information registration unit 119 Encrypted document creation unit 201 Reader PC (Reader terminal)
210 Link application (specific document print request program)
213 Reader information notification unit 217 Print setting notification unit 223 Document ID (document ID)
301 Print server (MFP; includes MFP functions)
310 Document Print Function Unit (Document Print Function Unit)
311 Reader verification unit 313 Encrypted document acquisition unit 317 Print requirement acquisition unit 319 Decryption unit 401 Document server 410 Information holding function unit 411 Encrypted document management unit 413 Reader information management unit 415 Print requirement derivation unit

Claims (6)

Specific document print request program for causing a computer to function as a document acquisition request unit that causes a print server to acquire a predetermined document from the document server and a document print request unit that causes the print server to print the acquired document A distributor terminal having a document protection function part for creating
The document server having an information holding function unit that holds and manages a document and transmits the predetermined document to the print server according to the document acquisition request;
Acquiring the predetermined document from the document server according to the document acquisition request, and printing the predetermined document according to the document print request;
A document management printing system comprising: a reader terminal having a computer that executes the specific document print request program. The document management printing system according to claim 1,
The document management function system includes a document ID for specifying the predetermined document as data when the specific document print request program is created. The document management printing system according to claim 1 or 2,
The document protection function unit includes: an encryption key generation unit that generates an encryption key for encrypting the document;
An encrypted document creation unit that encrypts the document using the encryption key;
An information registration unit for registering the encrypted document,
The information holding function unit includes an encrypted document management unit that receives and holds an encrypted document having a registration request from the information registration unit, and
The document print function unit, according to a request of the specific document print request program, an encrypted document acquisition unit that acquires the encrypted document from the encrypted document management unit;
A document management printing system comprising: a decrypting unit configured to decrypt the encrypted document. A document management printing system according to claim 3,
The specific document print request program has a reader information notification function for receiving user information and notifying the user information in order to perform user verification,
The document printing function unit includes a reader verification unit that receives the user information notified by the reader information notification unit and performs user verification,
The information holding function unit includes a reader information management unit for confirming whether the user collated by the reader collation unit has an access right to the document specified by the specific document print request program,
The document management printing system, wherein printing of the document is permitted only when the user collated by the reader collation unit has an access right to the document specified by the specific document print request program. The document management printing system according to claim 3 or 4,
The information holding function unit has a printing requirement deriving unit that holds printing requirements that are security items at the time of printing for each document to be held and managed,
The document printing function unit includes a printing requirement acquisition unit that, when printing the document, acquires the printing requirement of the document from the printing requirement deriving unit and performs printing according to the printing requirement;
A document management printing system that performs printing in accordance with the printing requirements when printing. The document management printing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The specific document print request program has a print setting notification function that accepts input of print conditions by a user and notifies the print conditions to the document print function unit.
A document management printing system for performing printing in accordance with the input printing conditions.

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