JP3481749B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for printing data from a computer, and more particularly to a printer having a charging system such as a key counter, a prepaid card, a coin rack and the like. 2. Description of the Related Art A printer provided on a network receives and accumulates data sent from a host computer and prints the data. In such a system, printing of the received data is not restricted, so that a third party can freely print. For example, in a copying machine, a key counter is used to restrict unauthorized use of the copying machine by a third party, and a billing system for collecting a fee for using the copying machine is adopted. Have been. However, since there is no such limitation in a printer on a network, there is a problem that a third party can print data without permission. That is, a network-shared printer can freely print data from many computers on a network, and thus has a problem in that users cannot be restricted and users cannot be charged. [0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, limit your Keru third party without permission print to a printer on the network, also an object to provide a printer capable of performing charging. [0006] In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a print data sent from a computer in a state where a charging unit is detachable and the charging unit is set. Printer that prints
It has a secret code generating means for generating an arbitrary secret code, the billing means includes a secret code storage means for registering the secret code, and stores the secret code in the print data sent from the computer.
The added secret code is generated by the secret code generation means.
Judge whether it matches with the generated security code,
Added to print data received from the computer
The security code generated by the security code generation means
The print process of the print data is performed only when the
Limit the user by performing, further comprising a charging detecting means for said charging means for detecting the set state, when the charging detecting means is detecting a state in which the charging means is set, the personal identification This prints the print data to which a password matching the password generated by the code generator is added. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. A key counter 40 for charging is detachable from the printer, and the key counter 40 is provided with a password data storage unit 42 for registering password data. The key counter detection circuit 12 detects that the key counter 40 has been attached, and determines whether or not printing can be performed based on the detection. The PIN code recognition circuit 16 determines whether the code added to the stored data stored in the received data storage circuit matches the PIN code input from the operation panel 20. The security code recognition circuit 16 also determines whether the code attached to the stored data stored in the received data storage circuit or the security code input from the operation panel 20 matches the security data registered in the security data storage unit 44. to decide. The received data storage circuit 18 receives and stores data sent from the host computer. The password data storage unit 44 is a storage unit for registering password data of data to be printed in advance. The operation panel 20 is an input unit where the operator inputs password data of data to be printed,
Further, the display unit displays password data of data to be printed. The print data processing circuit 14 receives the data to be printed from the reception data storage circuit 18 and performs a printing process. FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of an embodiment of the printer according to the present invention. The CPU 22 usually
The print data received from the host interface 30 is developed as a bitmap image on the RAM 26, which is a frame memory and a work memory, and the data is sent to the engine interface 32 when a print command is received. Thus, the data is printed. The timer 28 generates data from which password data is created. The ROM 24 is a memory for programs and fonts. In this embodiment, printing is performed in the following procedure.
Control is performed. First, the host computer (printer
Driver) to set the number of prints and
The driver of the embodiment is notified. CPU 22 is a host
The number of prints and number of copies set by the computer
A number of passwords is created, that is, a random number is generated based on the data output from the timer 28 to create a password, that is, password data. This personal identification data, RA
M26 and displayed on the operation panel 20.
You. The operator enters the password displayed on the operation panel 20
And enter the password from the host computer.
The Rukoto, phosphorylase as the personal identification code shown in FIG. 3
Added to the print data sent from the remote computer.
You. FIG. 4 shows a schematic flow chart of the operation of this embodiment. When the key counter 40 is set in the printer of this embodiment (step 102), the password generated as described above in the printer is displayed on the operation panel 20 as described above.
Is displayed on the operation panel 20 as shown in FIG.
4). Up data from a host computer of the present embodiment
It is received by the linter (step 106). On the host computer side, the driver specifies the user restriction mode,
The data with the password is input to the printer of this embodiment . The CPU 22 displays the security code of the data received from the host computer on the operation panel 20 ( the security code stored in the RAM 26 ).
Is determined (step 108), and if they match, a printing process is performed and the value of the key counter is counted.
Updating and updating the account (step 11)
0). If the passwords do not match, the data is discarded (step 112). That is, data without a password or data with a different password are discarded without being printed. After the printing process, the driver sends the end of the security code at the end of the data to notify the end of the job. It is detected whether the personal identification code has been completed (step 11).
4) If the end is detected, the process ends. If the end is not detected, the process returns to the printing process of step 110. Operation
Author pays based on count value of key counter
U. The user may input the personal identification code displayed on the operation panel 20 of the printer to the computer, and the personal identification code may be added to the print data. FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow of another embodiment. In this embodiment, in the above embodiment, the following
Printing control is performed in such a procedure. First, the host compilation
Printer (printer driver)
The number of copies is set and notified to the driver of this embodiment. CPU
22 is the number of prints set by the host computer
And the number of security codes corresponding to the number of copies
A random number is generated based on the data output from
To create a personal identification number, that is, personal identification data. This dark
The certificate data is stored in the RAM 26 (the password data storage unit 42),
The password is registered in the certificate data storage unit 44, and as shown in FIG.
Added to the print data sent from the remote computer.
You. The data received by the printer from the host computer is stored in the received data storage circuit 18 like a facsimile (step 122). The CPU 22 determines whether or not the key counter 40 has been set (step 12).
4) When the key counter 40 is set, the password data in the password data storage section 42 of the key counter 40 is
After confirming that the password data is stored in the data storage unit 44,
Received data specified by the input signal from the operation panel
Select the received data in the storage circuit 18 (step 12
6). The print processing of the received data specified by the input signal from the operation panel is performed, that is, the CPU 22
Of the received data in the communication data storage circuit 18
Password of the received data specified by the input signal from
Data is compared with the password data in the
Prints the specified received data only if matches
Perform the processing and count up the value of the key counter.
The charging is performed by updating the data (step 128). If the key counter 40 is not set, a timeout check of the received data is performed (step 130). In the case of a timeout, that is, when the received data exceeds a predetermined storage time, the data is discarded as a timeout. If not, the process returns to step 124 and the key counter 40
Is checked. As shown in FIG. 4, the user may be restricted by registering a password in the password data storage section 42 of the key counter 40 without using the operation panel 20 of the printer. In this case, the user may input the personal identification code assigned to the personal identification data storage unit 42 of the key counter 40 to the computer, and the personal identification code may be added to the print data. Also, the key counter 40 in the above embodiment can be realized by replacing it with a prepaid card or a coin rack. According to the present invention, by adding a personal identification code to print data, an operator needs to manage his own personal identification number in a printer on a network.
Uses only necessary security code easily and securely
Thus, the use of third parties can be restricted. Therefore, unauthorized use can be effectively prevented. In addition, a charge is collected from the user by the charging means for use, and the use can be restricted by a password. Further, the use can be restricted by the password registered in the charging means. In addition, the user can collect and use the fee from the user by the charging means, and can print out the specified data input.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating addition of a personal identification code to print data. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Key counter detection circuit 14 Print data processing circuit 16 PIN code recognition circuit 18 Received data storage circuit 20 Operation panel 22 CPU 26 RAM 28 Timer 30 Host interface 32 Engine interface 40 Key counter 42, 44 PIN data storage unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12 B41J 29/38 G06F 1/00 370

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] A charging means is detachable, and a printer for printing print data sent from a computer with the charging means set therein generates an arbitrary password code. has a personal identification code generating means, said charging means includes a personal identification code storage means for registering the identification code, co
Password added to the print data sent from the computer.
The security code generated by the security code generation means.
From the computer
The password added to the received print data is
If the password matches the password generated by the password generation means
Only in the case where the printing process of the print data is performed , a user is restricted, and further, there is provided a billing detecting unit for detecting a state in which the billing unit is set, and the billing detecting unit is set with the billing unit. when it is detecting the state, before
A printer which prints print data to which a security code matching a security code generated by a security code generation means is added.