JP2008305345A - Data print managing device, data print management program and data print management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data print managing device capable of limiting a printing function to digital data to be printed by a desired printer by a simple procedure. <P>SOLUTION: The data print managing device receives accessing person information associated with a user and device specifying information associated with a data printer from a client terminal. Then, the data print managing device generates printing environment limitation information including the limitation information of a printing function, and outputs the printing environment limitation information to the data printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data management system for managing copyrighted digital data, and more particularly to a data management system capable of limiting the function of printing digital data.

  In recent years, with the spread of networks, DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology that restricts the use of music converted into digital data and protects copyrights is widely known. Such DRM technology is realized by various methods such as a form using a storage medium and a form incorporated in software. For example, in many cases, a DRM system is realized by encrypting digital data in a VFZ (Vector Format for Zooming) format and protecting the contents with a user ID and a password. In particular, in recent years, the VFZ format is often used in a system in which high-definition digital data is managed as content by a server, and in combination with DRM technology, the use efficiency of network resources is improved. . In the DRM system, various functions such as open / close operations, enlargement / reduction settings, quality settings for printing, storage in memory, etc. are performed on files composed of digital data by the management server. Can do. As a result, unauthorized use of copyrighted digital data is prevented.

In particular, various technologies have been developed for DRM technology that focuses on printing digital data on a printer. For example, there is a technique in which digital data is limited to a specific printer and printing on other printers is disabled. Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system including a content server that generates print job data including a printer identifier that identifies a printer, and a printer that prints print job data only when the printer identifier matches the printer identifier. ing. According to this printing system, printers that can print the print job data generated by the content server can be limited, and as a result, the print job data cannot be printed on different printers. Yes. However, in Patent Document 1, communication between a content server and a printer for specifying a printer is frequent, and in the apparatus until print job data is printed such as encryption processing in the printer. The load will increase. Also, conventionally, once digital data operated on a DRM system is once output to a non-operating printer or the like in the DRM system, it may be managed by those devices or the like. As a result, there is a problem that image processing for digital data, storage processing in a memory, and the like are out of management by the DRM system.
JP 2002-91711 A (paragraph [0007])

  Accordingly, in view of the above points, the present invention provides a data print management apparatus capable of restricting the print function for digital data printed on a desired printer by a simple procedure.

  In order to solve the above problems, a data print management apparatus according to the present invention has a data table indicating correspondence between a user and a function of printing digital data, and access information associated with the user from a client terminal, And receiving device specifying information associated with the data printing device for printing the digital data, and referring to the accessor information and the data table to generate printing environment restriction information including restriction information on the function to print, Printing environment restriction information is output to a data printing device specified by referring to the device specifying information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to limit the printing function for digital data printed on a desired printer by a simple procedure.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a data print management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a multifunction peripheral (hereinafter referred to as MFP) 1 as a data printing apparatus, a client terminal 2 operated by a user, and a DRM content server 3 as a data printing management apparatus. Here, the client terminal can constitute a DRM content server and a DRM system. For example, a general-purpose PC or the like may be used. The MFP 1 is a multi-function device in which various functions such as a printer function, a copy function, a fax function, and a scan function are combined, and each user can use it via a network. The user also has a user ID and password used for authentication. Therefore, the user can search and purchase digital data such as a digital image having a copyright (hereinafter also referred to as DRM data) from the DRM content server 3 using the client terminal 2. The DRM content server 3 is a server that operates a DRM system for copyright protection measures for DRM data, and internally includes a plurality of databases and a DRM management unit 8 that controls the overall operation of the DRM content server 3. Have. For example, when the user accesses the DRM content server 3 via the network, the DRM management unit 8 refers to the user information and manages the user's access to the content.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the DRM content server 3 includes a DRM data database (hereinafter also referred to as DRM data DB) 5, a user database 6, and a log database 7. DRM data is registered in the DRM data DB 5, and user information is registered in the user database 6. As user information, for example, access right information to DRM data, access restriction information to content detailed information, purchase information, etc. are stored for each user. In addition, as the access restriction information to the detailed information of the content, for example, information such as the maximum enlargement rate and quality level in browsing and printing, whether printing and external storage are possible, and the like are stored. The log database 7 stores history information such as the date and time when each user accessed the DRM content server 3, information of operation history such as enlargement / reduction, storage, and printing for a predetermined content.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the DRM content server 3 is connected to a DRM client terminal 4 operated by a content holder. The content holder indicates a person who manages DRM data and user information corresponding to the user who operates the client terminal 2. Using the DRM client terminal 4, the content holder can register DRM data in the DRM data DB 5 and register user information in the user database 6, for example. Further, the content holder can also acquire the billing information from the user database 6 and the history information from the log database 7, and can manage the DRM data using the system shown in FIG. 1 as the DRM system.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the printer driver of the client terminal and the DRM management unit of the DRM content server. The client terminal 2 includes a printer driver 20 as means for outputting print data to the MFP 1. The user can specify a paper feed location, resolution, paper size, paper discharge location, finishing form, and the like in the printer using the printer driver 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer driver 20 includes a device selection unit 21, a device specific function instruction unit 22, a print data output unit 23, a device specific information output unit 24, and an accessor information output unit 25. It is out. The printer driver 20 is a program used to control a printer that is a data printing apparatus. In the present embodiment, the user can use the printer driver 20 to select a desired printer on the network and set printer-specific functions such as a paper feed location. A data printing apparatus that performs a printing operation is selected by the apparatus selection unit 21, and functions unique to the data printing apparatus such as a paper supply / discharge function and a finishing function are selected by the apparatus specific function instruction unit 22. The print data output unit 23 receives the result in the device specific function instruction unit 22 and outputs information including the function specific to the data printing device to, for example, the MFP 1 selected by the device selection unit 21. In that case, the printer driver 20 also outputs print data to the MFP 1 together. Here, the print data indicates DRM data that the user has acquired in the client terminal 2 and can be printed by the data printing apparatus. The device specifying information output means 24 outputs device specifying information for specifying a data printing device that prints print data while limiting the printing environment. Further, the accessor information output means 25 accesses the DRM data and outputs accessor information specifying a user who desires printing.

  The DRM management unit 8 includes accessor information receiving means 81, apparatus specifying information receiving means 82, apparatus specifying means 83, printing environment restriction determining means 84, and printing environment restriction information output means 85. The accessor information receiving unit 81 receives the accessor information output from the accessor information output unit 25, and the device specifying information receiving unit 82 receives the device specifying information output from the device specifying information output unit 24. The device specifying unit 83 specifies the data printing device based on the device specifying information received by the device specifying information receiving unit 82. Based on the accessor information received by the accessor information receiving unit 81, the content for limiting the printing environment is determined by the printing environment restriction determining unit 84. The printing environment restriction information output means 85 restricts the printing environment in the data printing apparatus based on the printing environment restriction contents determined by the printing environment restriction determination means 84 and the device specifying information specified by the device specifying means 83. Print environment restriction information is generated. The printing environment restriction information generated by the printing environment restriction information output unit 85 is transmitted to, for example, the MFP 1 specified by the device specifying information.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration related to the data print management system in the MFP 1. Print data is received from the printer driver 20 by the print data receiving means 11 shown in FIG. The printing environment restriction information receiving unit 12 receives the printing environment restriction information output from the DRM management unit 8. Print data received from the printer driver 20 is printed by the printing means 13, and DRM data or print data is saved by the storage means 14 which is, for example, a memory. The data storage control unit 15 determines whether or not the DRM data or the print data can be stored in the storage unit 14 of the MFP 1. If the storage is possible, the data storage control unit 15 stores the DRM data or the print data in the storage unit 14. The copyright protection measure means 16 refers to the printing environment restriction information, and determines whether each printing function is restricted or whether it can be stored in the storage means 14 or the data storage control means 15 or the printing environment restriction. The means 17 is controlled. The printing environment restriction means 17 is controlled by the copyright protection countermeasure means 16 to instruct the printing environment restriction item 18 to determine whether or not each printing function is restricted, and the printing in the printing means 13 is performed according to the determination result. Limit functions.

  The printing environment restriction item 18 determines whether or not each printing function is restricted based on a command from the printing environment restriction unit 17. In the present embodiment, the print environment restriction item 18 further includes seven means from the print permission means 181 to the print frequency restriction means 187. The print permission unit 181 determines whether to allow a print operation for print data. The resolution control unit 182 determines whether or not the print resolution can be changed for the print data, and the enlargement / reduction control unit 183 determines whether or not the data can be enlarged and reduced for the print data. The color / monochrome control means 184 determines whether color output is possible when printing the print data. The additional image control unit 185 determines whether or not to add additional data such as a watermark or a watermark indicating a use restriction of an image or a sample at the time of print output. The print period limiting unit 186 limits the printable period of print data in the MFP 1 such as date and time, for example. For example, the number-of-printing-limitation unit 187 limits the number of printable times of print data in the MFP 1.

  In FIG. 3, when an error such as a jam occurs in the printing unit 13, the error notification unit 19 receives information from the printing unit 13 and notifies the printer driver 20 of the client terminal 2 and the DRM management unit 8. Notify error information.

  Hereinafter, the operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the user instructs printing at the client terminal. In step S <b> 401, for example, the user selects desired DRM data on a print application installed in the client terminal 2. In that case, the user may have already acquired the desired DRM image data from the DRM content server 3 to the client terminal 2, or may acquire the DRM image data from the DRM content server 3 in step S401. . In step S <b> 402, the user selects a desired data printing apparatus for printing DRM data in the apparatus selection unit 21 of the printer driver 20. Here, it is assumed that the user selects MFP 1 as the data printing apparatus. In step S <b> 403, the user sets the printing function unique to MFP 1 selected in step S <b> 402 in the device unique function instruction unit 22 of the printer driver 20. For example, in the present embodiment, the user can select a paper feed location, the number of copies, a print page range, a print orientation, enlargement / reduction, rotation, layout, resolution, paper size or type, paper discharge location, sorting, stapling, etc. The finishing form of bookbinding printing can be set. Next, in step S <b> 404, the user inputs a user ID on the printer driver 20. The input user ID is used when the DRM content server 3 generates printing environment restriction information. In step S405, the user instructs printing on the desired DRM data on the printer driver 20.

  In step S <b> 406, the device specifying information output unit 24 outputs the device specifying information associated with the MFP 1 selected by the user to the DRM management unit 8. Here, for example, a printer name or an IP address that can be specified on the network may be used as the device specifying information. Further, the accessor information output unit 25 outputs the information specifying the DRM data desired by the user and the user ID input in step S404 to the DRM management unit 8 as accessor information. Here, for example, a serial number uniquely assigned to the DRM data in the DRM content server 3 may be used as the information for specifying the DRM data. In parallel with step S406, in step S407, the print data output unit 23 outputs the DRM data desired by the user to the MFP 1 together with the setting information of the print function unique to the MFP 1 set in step S403. Here, in the present embodiment, when data is transmitted / received over the network between the MFP 1, the client terminal 2, and the DRM content server 3, a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) protocol may be used. For example, data may be transmitted and received using an e-mail application that operates on the TCP protocol. In step S407, the DRM data may be compressed as a VFZ format, protected by a user ID and a password, and output to the data printing apparatus.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the DRM content server outputs print environment restriction information to the MFP. The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 shows the procedure after the accessor information and the device identification information are transmitted from the printer driver 20 to the DRM management unit 8 in step S406 shown in FIG. In step S501, the accessor information receiving unit 81 of the DRM management unit 8 receives the accessor information output from the accessor information output unit 25. Further, the device identification information receiving unit 82 of the DRM management unit 8 receives the device identification information output from the device identification information output unit 24. In step S <b> 502, the DRM management unit 8 determines the content for limiting the printing environment for printing the DRM data based on the accessor information received from the accessor information output unit 25 in the printing environment restriction determination unit 84. Here, the operation for determining the contents of the printing environment for printing the DRM data by the printing environment restriction determining means 84 will be described. FIG. 6 is a data table showing the user and the availability of the print function corresponding to the user. The DRM content server 3 has a data table as shown in FIG. 6 in advance in the user database 6, for example, and by referring to the data table, in step S502, the content for limiting the printing environment for the DRM data can be determined. it can. Here, the contents of the data table as shown in FIG. 6 may be registered in the user database 6 by the content holder shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, for example, when user A prints the desired DRM data, there is no limited printing function as shown in FIG. 6, so printing is performed in the same way as when printing general data. Can do. However, in the case of the user B, as shown in FIG. 6, the functions “enlargement / reduction of image”, “color printing”, “data storage”, and “no limit on number of printing” cannot be performed on the DRM data. Has been. Therefore, the user B cannot enlarge or reduce the DRM data and cannot print in color. Further, the user B cannot save the DRM data in a memory such as a RAM or a hard disk, and cannot print the DRM data more than a predetermined number of times. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the case of the user C, items other than “data storage” are not permitted. Therefore, the user C is not permitted to perform functions related to printing with respect to the DRM data output from the printer driver 20 to the MFP 1. Therefore, the user C can only save the DRM data in a memory such as a RAM or a hard disk of the MFP 1. Here, such DRM data stored in the RAM of the MFP 1 cannot be printed by the user C, but can be printed by another user such as the user A. As described above, the DRM management unit 8 in the DRM content server 3 can determine the content that restricts the print function according to each user by the print environment restriction determination unit 84. In parallel with step S502, in step S503, the device specifying unit 83 recognizes device specifying information such as an IP address received from the device specifying information output unit 24, and specifies the MFP 1 that performs printing. Next, in step S 504, the printing environment restriction information output unit 85 sends the printing environment restriction information including the printing environment restriction contents determined by the printing environment restriction determination unit 84 to the MFP 1 specified by the device specifying unit 83. Output.

  The printing function shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and regarding the functions generally provided by the MFP 1 that performs printing, use restrictions for each user can be defined for each function. In this embodiment, it is limited by “permitted” or “impossible”, but may be defined by a quantitative limiting method. For example, for the “high resolution” function, a numerical value allowed for each user may be set. In addition, for the “watermark” function, a watermark for each user may be defined.

  Also in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) protocol may be used when data is transmitted / received among the MFP 1, the client terminal 2, and the DRM content server 3, as in FIG. 4. Similarly to the description of FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, data may be transmitted and received using an electronic mail application that operates on the TCP protocol.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail including printing environment restriction information transmitted from the DRM content server 3 to the MFP 1 in step S504 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, this e-mail includes information indicating the mail address of the print destination MFP, the image data name, the print limit time, and the print limit count. The user can easily encrypt the content shown in FIG. 7 by using a function implemented in the e-mail application, thereby improving confidentiality.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for restricting the print function for DRM data according to the present embodiment. The copyright protection countermeasure unit 16 in the MFP 1 controls the printing environment restriction unit 17, and as a result, each unit included in the printing environment restriction item 18 is executed. In step S801, the MFP 1 receives the DRM data output from the printer driver 20 and the setting contents of the printing function unique to the MFP 1 set in step S403 shown in FIG. 4 in the print data receiving unit 11 shown in FIG. To do. In parallel with step S801, the printing environment restriction information output from the DRM management unit 8 is received by the printing environment restriction information receiving means 12 shown in FIG. 3 in step S802. In step S803, as already described, copyright protection measures are taken by the respective means included in the printing environment restriction item 18. For example, if the printing environment restriction information received from the DRM management unit 8 includes restriction information “color printing is not possible”, the color / monochrome control unit 184 determines that color printing is not possible. When detecting the determination result, the printing environment restriction unit 17 instructs the printing unit 13 to restrict color printing. As a result, in step S804, color printing is restricted and printing is performed. Here, for example, when color printing is restricted, it may be set to print in monochrome.

  Next, in step S805, it is determined whether a printing error such as a jam has occurred during printing in step S804. Here, for example, an error notification signal from the printing unit 13 may be supplied to the error notification unit 19 shown in FIG. 3 and activated when an error occurs. In that case, the error notification unit 19 recognizes the activation or deactivation of the error signal and performs the determination in step S805. If no error has occurred in step S805, the process shown in FIG. 8 is terminated. If an error has occurred, the process proceeds to step S806. In step S806, the error notification unit 19 notifies the printer driver 20 of the client terminal 2 and the DRM management unit 8 of the DRM content server 3 that the error signal has occurred via the network. Here, for example, the MFP 1 may notify the client terminal 2 and the DRM content server 3 that a print error has occurred by e-mail. Moreover, information such as the number of sheets that failed to be printed may be included as the contents of such an e-mail.

  As a copyright protection measure for DRM data, there is a case where a function to be stored in a memory or the like is restricted in addition to the case where the printing function described in FIG. 8 is restricted. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for restricting the storage function according to the present embodiment. Steps S901 and S902 are the same as steps S801 and S802 shown in FIG. In step S903, the copyright protection measure unit 16 shown in FIG. 3 determines whether or not the DRM data or the print data can be stored in the storage unit 14 in the print environment restriction information received by the MFP 1. If the DRM data can be stored in the storage unit 14, the process proceeds to step S904. If the DRM data cannot be stored, the process proceeds to step S905. In step S904, the DRM data or the print data is stored in the storage unit 14 that is, for example, a RAM or a hard disk. On the other hand, in step S905, the DRM data or the print data is not stored in the storage unit 14.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when DRM data is printed on a desired data printing apparatus on the network in which the DRM system is configured, for example, a simple method called e-mail is used to limit the print function. Is realized. As a result, each user can be made to use the copyrighted work in accordance with the permitted usage restrictions of the copyrighted work, and the copyright can be protected. In addition, communication between the DRM content server and the data printing apparatus can be simplified, and an increase in the load on the apparatus can be prevented. Further, since the data printing apparatus does not require processing such as encryption of DRM data, the data printing apparatus does not need to support the DRM system. Furthermore, for example, in a data printing apparatus, when a printing error such as a jam occurs, a method for notifying a user or the like can be unified by a technique such as e-mail, and the design as a print management system is simplified.

  In this embodiment, the client terminal instructs the data printing apparatus to print to the data printing apparatus while following the conventional DRM system method of compressing using the VFZ format and protecting with a password or the like. Can do. As a result, even when the data printing apparatus is a multi-function device such as an MFP, the user can print DRM data using the fine print function of the MFP.

In the present invention, an operating system (OS) or the like running on a computer performs part or all of actual processing based on an instruction of a program code (data print management program), and the above-described embodiment is performed by the processing. The case where the function is realized is also included. Furthermore, the present invention is also applied to the case where the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In that case, the CPU of the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the written program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. .

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a data print management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the printer driver of a client terminal, and the DRM management part of a DRM content server. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure concerning a data printing management system in a data printing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which a user instruct | indicates printing in a client terminal. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which a data printing management system outputs printing environment restriction information to a data printing apparatus. It is a data table which shows the availability of the printing function corresponding to a user and a user. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic mail including print environment restriction information transmitted from the data print management apparatus to the data printing apparatus in step S504 illustrated in FIG. 5. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which restrict | limits the printing function with respect to DRM data based on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which restrict | limits the preservation | save function based on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP
2 Client terminal 3 DRM content server 4 DRM client terminal 5 DRM data database 6 User database 7 Log database 8 DRM management unit 11 Print data receiving means 12 Printing environment restriction information receiving means 13 Printing means 14 Storage means 15 Data storage control means 16 Work Rights protection measure means 17 Print environment restriction means 18 Print environment restriction items 19 Error notification means 20 Printer driver 21 Device selection means 22 Device unique function instruction means 23 Print data output means 24 Device specific information output means 25 Accessor information output means 81 Access Person information receiving means 82 Device specifying information receiving means 83 Device specifying means 84 Printing environment restriction determining means 85 Printing environment restriction information output means 181 Printing permission means 182 Resolution control means 183 Enlargement / reduction control Stage 184 color monochrome control means 185 adds the image control unit 186 printing Limited 187 print count restriction unit

Claims (5)

A data table showing correspondence between the user and the function of printing digital data;
From the client terminal, the accessor information associated with the user, and the device identification information associated with the data printing device that prints the digital data,
By referring to the accessor information and the data table, generating printing environment restriction information including restriction information on the function to be printed,
The data printing management apparatus, wherein the printing environment restriction information is output to the data printing apparatus specified by referring to the apparatus specifying information. A data print management device according to claim 1;
Receiving the digital data from the client terminal;
Receiving the printing environment restriction information from the data printing management device;
A data printing apparatus that restricts a function of printing the digital data according to the received printing environment restriction information;
A data printing management system comprising: The data printing device according to claim 2,
Print permission means for controlling whether or not the digital data can be printed;
Resolution control means for controlling whether or not to change the printing resolution of the digital data;
Enlargement / reduction control means for controlling whether the digital data is enlarged or reduced;
Color / monochrome control means for controlling whether color printing of the digital data is possible;
Additional image control means for controlling whether data can be added to the digital data;
A printing period limiting means for limiting a period during which the digital data can be printed;
A printing frequency limiting means for limiting the number of times the digital data can be printed;
When an error occurs during printing of the digital data, at least one of error notification means for notifying the data print management apparatus and the client terminal that an error has occurred is provided. 3. The data printing management system according to claim 2, further comprising:   4. The data printing management system according to claim 2, wherein the data printing apparatus is a multifunction device. Computer
A data table showing correspondence between the user and the function of printing digital data;
From the client terminal, the accessor information associated with the user, and the device identification information associated with the data printing device that prints the digital data,
By referring to the accessor information and the data table, generating printing environment restriction information including restriction information on the function to be printed,
As a data printing management device that outputs the printing environment restriction information to the data printing device specified by referring to the device specifying information,
A data printing management program characterized in that it functions.

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