JP2009049898A - Printer having scanner, and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer having a scanner with improved security functions. <P>SOLUTION: The printer having a scanner includes reception means S11, S12 for receiving printing data containing a first security code for permitting printing from the outside; scanners S13, S14 for reading an image in which a second security code for permitting printing has been embedded by an electronic watermark; and printing permission means S15, S16 for permitting the printing of printing data, only when the first security code received by the reception means matches the second one read by the scanners. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer with a scanner and a printing system, and more particularly to a printer with a scanner with improved security functions and a printing system including such a printer with a scanner.

  A general printer is connected to a plurality of computers via a network. The printer prints an image in response to a print request from the connected computer.

  Here, some printers have a storage printing function. The accumulated printing function, for example, sets and transmits a user ID to an image to be printed when a print request is made from a computer. The image to be printed and the user ID are temporarily stored in the hard disk of the printer. In order to perform printing in the printer, printing is performed after a set user ID is input by an operation panel provided in the printer. With such a storage printing function, confidential printing and system permission authentication are reliably performed to improve the security function.

A technique related to the storage printing technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-228472 (Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, a user ID, a password, or the like is converted into a barcode and printed in advance. At the time of printing, the printed barcode is read by a scanner provided in the printer and input. The user ID and password are restored from the barcode.
JP 2003-228472 A

  According to Patent Document 1, a user ID used for accumulated printing is printed in advance on a pattern such as a barcode. It is easy to infer that an image printed with such a barcode pattern includes a user ID and a password. Then, there is a possibility that an image printed with a barcode pattern, such as rewriting or theft, may be abused. That is, the security function may be deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printer with a scanner having an improved security function.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing system with an improved security function.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a print permission sheet having an improved security function when printing.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a computer having an improved security function when printing.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printing program having an improved security function when printing.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium having an improved security function when printing.

  The printer with a scanner according to the present invention includes a receiving means for receiving print data including a first security code for permitting printing from the outside, and a second security code for permitting printing embedded with a digital watermark. And a print permission unit that permits printing of print data only when the first security code received by the receiving unit matches the second security code read by the scanner.

  Preferably, when the first security code received by the receiving means and the second security code read by the scanner do not match, a display means for displaying the fact is provided.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a printing system includes a printer with a scanner and a computer connectable to the printer with a scanner, and the computer includes print data including a first security code. A scanner having a transmission unit that transmits to a printer, a scanner with a scanner that receives a print data transmitted from a computer, and a scanner that reads an image in which a second security code for permitting printing is embedded with a digital watermark And a print permission unit that permits printing of print data only when the first security code received by the receiving unit matches the second security code read by the scanner.

  In still another aspect of the present invention, the print permission sheet includes an image in which a security code for permitting printing in a printer with a scanner is embedded with a digital watermark.

  In still another aspect of the present invention, the computer includes an embedding unit that embeds a security code for permitting printing in the printer with a scanner into an image with a digital watermark.

  In still another aspect of the present invention, the printing program is a printing program for causing a computer to function as an embedding unit that embeds a security code for permitting printing in a printer with a scanner into an image with a digital watermark.

  In still another aspect of the present invention, the recording medium is a computer-readable recording medium storing a printing program for causing a computer to function as an embedding unit that embeds a security code for permitting printing in a printer with a scanner into an image with a digital watermark. It is a possible recording medium.

  According to the present invention, printing of print data is permitted only when the first security code received by the receiving means matches the second security code read by the scanner. Since the second security code is embedded in the image with a digital watermark, it is impossible to recognize whether or not the second security code is embedded only by looking at the image. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the abuse of the image in which the second security code is embedded and to improve the security function.

  According to the printing system of the present invention, the print data is printed only when the first security code transmitted by the computer and received by the printer with a scanner matches the second security code read by the scanner. to approve. Since the second security code is embedded in the image with a digital watermark, the abuse of the image can be prevented and the security function can be improved.

  In addition, since the second security code is embedded in the image image with the digital watermark, the print permission paper according to the present invention recognizes whether or not the second security code is embedded only by looking at the image. I can't do it. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the abuse of the image in which the second security code is embedded and to improve the security function.

  Further, since the computer according to the present invention embeds the security code in the image with the digital watermark, the security code can be embedded in the image in a format that cannot be recognized as the security code is embedded only by looking at the image. Therefore, it is possible to prevent abuse of the image and improve the security function.

  In addition, since the printing program according to the present invention causes the computer to function to embed a security code in an image with a digital watermark, the security code is converted into an image in a format that cannot be recognized when the security code is embedded just by looking at the image. Can be embedded.

  Also, the recording medium according to the present invention is a recorded printing program that allows the computer to function to embed a security code in an image with a digital watermark. The security code can be embedded in the image.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 11 includes a printer 12 and a computer 18 connected to the printer 12.

  The printer 12 includes a printer control unit 13 that controls the entire printer 12, a scanner 14 that reads an image, a hard disk 15 that stores image data, a display screen, and simple input keys. And an interface unit 17 for connecting to the computer 18. That is, the printer 12 is a printer with a scanner. The printer 12 prints image data transmitted from the computer 18 connected via the interface unit 17. In FIG. 1, arrows indicate the flow of control signals or control data.

  Next, a case where printing is performed in the printing system 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, a case where an image in which a security code for permitting printing is embedded will be described. Here, the security code is a user ID.

  When the user ID is input to the computer 18, the user ID input to the computer 18 is converted into a digital watermark. Then, a digital watermark obtained by converting the user ID is embedded in a predetermined image. Then, the embedded image is printed. In this way, a print permission sheet in which the user ID is embedded in the image as a digital watermark is formed. That is, the computer 18 includes an embedding unit that embeds a user ID for permitting printing in the printer with scanner 12 into an image with a digital watermark.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the print permission paper formed in this way. With reference to FIG. 2, a digital watermark 22 is embedded on the entire surface of the print permission paper 21. In the print permission paper 21 according to the present invention, since the user ID as the security code is embedded in the image with the digital watermark 22, it is impossible to know what information is contained only by looking at the image. That is, it cannot be recognized whether or not the user ID is embedded. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the abuse of the image in which the user ID is embedded and improve the security function.

  Next, a case where printing is performed by making a print request from the computer 18 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer control unit 13 in this case.

  1 to 3, the printer 12 receives a print request from the computer 18 and receives print data including a user ID as a security code (step S11 in FIG. 3, hereinafter, steps are omitted). ). Here, let the received user ID be the first user ID.

  When the printer 12 receives the print data including the first user ID, the print data including the first user ID is temporarily stored in the hard disk 15 (S12).

  Next, the image of the print permission paper 21 is read by the scanner 14 (S13). In this case, the digital watermark 22 embedded in the image of the print permission paper is also read by the scanner 14.

  After reading the print permission paper 21, the user ID as the security code is restored from the digital watermark 22 (S14). Here, let the restored user ID be the second user ID.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the restored second user ID matches the first user ID stored in the hard disk 15 (S15).

  If the restored second user ID matches the first user ID stored in hard disk 15 (YES in S15), printing is permitted and the transmitted print data is printed (S16). Here, the printer control unit 13 or the like operates as a print permission unit. On the other hand, if the restored second user ID does not match the first user ID stored in hard disk 15 (NO in S15), printing is not permitted and the transmitted print data is not printed. (S17).

  In this way, the printer 12 has the receiving means for receiving print data including the first user ID for permitting printing from the computer 18 and the second user ID for permitting printing embedded in the digital watermark 22. Printing that allows printing of print data only when the scanner 14 that reads the image on the print permission paper 21 and the first user ID received by the receiving unit and the second user ID read by the scanner 14 match. Including permission means.

  The printer 12 permits printing of print data only when the received first user ID matches the second user ID read by the scanner 14. Since the second user ID is embedded in the image of the print permission paper 21 with the digital watermark 22, it is not possible to recognize whether or not the second user ID is embedded only by looking at the image. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the abuse of the image in which the second user ID is embedded and improve the security function.

  The printing program according to the present invention is a printing program for causing the computer 18 to function as an embedding unit that embeds a security code for permitting printing in the printer 12 with a scanner into an image with a digital watermark.

  Furthermore, the recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium that records a printing program for causing the computer 18 to function as an embedding unit that embeds a security code for permitting printing in the printer 12 with a scanner into an image with a digital watermark. It is a recording medium.

  If the restored second user ID does not match the stored first user ID, a message to that effect is displayed on the operation panel 16 of the printer 12, the display (not shown) of the computer 18, or the like. Also good. By doing so, it is possible to notify that the print data is not printed because the restored second user ID does not match the stored first user ID.

  In the above embodiment, the image is formed so as to embed the digital watermark 22 on the entire surface of the print permission paper 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. The digital watermark 24 may be embedded in a part of 23.

  In the above embodiment, the user ID is used as the security code. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a password, a password, or the like may be used as the security code.

  In the above embodiment, the embedding unit is included in the computer 18, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the embedding unit may be included in the printer 12.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing permission paper with which the electronic watermark was embedded in the whole surface. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer control unit when performing printing in response to a print request from a computer. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing permission paper in which the electronic watermark was embedded in part.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Printing system, 12 Printer, 13 Printer control part, 14 Scanner, 15 Hard disk, 16 Operation panel, 17 Interface part, 18 Computer, 21, 23 Printing permission paper, 22, 24 Digital watermark.

Claims (7)

Receiving means for receiving print data including a first security code for permitting printing from outside;
A scanner that reads an image in which a second security code for permitting printing is embedded with a digital watermark; and
A printer with a scanner, comprising: a print permission unit that permits printing of the print data only when the first security code received by the reception unit matches the second security code read by the scanner. 2. The printer with a scanner according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display that if the first security code received by the receiving unit does not match the second security code read by the scanner. . A printing system comprising a printer with a scanner and a computer connectable to the printer with a scanner,
The computer includes transmission means for transmitting print data including a first security code to the printer with a scanner,
The printer with a scanner includes receiving means for receiving the print data transmitted from the computer;
A scanner that reads an image in which a second security code for permitting printing is embedded with a digital watermark; and
A printing system comprising: a printing permission unit that permits printing of the print data only when the first security code received by the receiving unit matches the second security code read by the scanner. A print permission paper including an image in which a security code for permitting printing in a printer with a scanner is embedded with a digital watermark. A computer comprising embedding means for embedding a security code for permitting printing in a printer with a scanner into an image with a digital watermark. A printing program for causing a computer to function as an embedding unit that embeds a security code for permitting printing in a printer with a scanner into an image with a digital watermark. A computer-readable recording medium that records a printing program for causing a computer to function as an embedding unit that embeds a security code for permitting printing in a printer with a scanner into an image with a digital watermark.

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