JP4757703B2 - Watermark printing management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a watermark printing management system for the purpose of preventing leakage of information in a company by embedding a watermark in a printed material according to a policy set by a system administrator.

Conventionally, a visible watermark such as “confidential” is added to a printed matter of a confidential document to prevent leakage of the document. Alternatively, a method of detecting and tracking information leakage by embedding a watermark that does not easily appear on a document but clearly appears on a copy of the document is used.
For example, Patent Document 1 has been proposed as a control system for embedding a watermark in a printed material.
JP-A-2005-38372

  However, conventionally, when embedding a watermark, whether or not to insert the watermark into the printed material depends on the setting of the printer driver of the computer connected to the printer to be printed, so the intention of embedding the watermark into the worker working on each work computer Without it, it is not possible to insert a watermark into the document.

  Even if a watermark is embedded in a document, only a character string such as “confidential” that is included in the watermark is defined, and the date, place, person, etc. of printing cannot be specified only by the character string.

  Furthermore, the known watermark printing control method has to use a printer (digital multi-function peripheral) having a special function for controlling printing, and has a problem of lack of versatility.

In view of the above situation, the present invention can forcibly insert a watermark into a printed matter regardless of the user's intention of printing, and can easily prevent leakage of confidential information due to the printed matter. The purpose is to provide a system.
In addition, even users who have been forced to insert watermarks in the above system can temporarily print without watermarks by using an externally connected device such as a USB key provided by the administrator. The object is to provide a function that makes it possible to do this.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a function capable of suppressing printing from a terminal not installed with the system when a terminal installed with the system is constructed as a print server.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configurations.
The invention according to claim 1 is a print management server that controls insertion of a watermark into a printed material in accordance with a print policy;
A printer that prints watermarks on printed materials;
A watermark printing management system including a user terminal connected to the printer and the print management server and controlling the output of the printer based on the control of the print management server;
The print management server includes a watermark print policy definition file that stores a watermark print policy that defines the presence / absence of a watermark and the type of watermark for each user or group making a print request, and the layout, position, size, etc. of the watermark Storage means for storing a watermark print definition information file that stores watermark print definition information that is the output content of the watermark;
A watermark definition information creation utility for defining the watermark print definition information,
The user terminal inquires whether or not a watermark externally connected device for storing key information is connected to the user terminal, and when the presence is confirmed, the print management is performed so that printing is performed without a watermark. A device presence inquiry means that functions not to inquire the watermark printing policy to the server;
When the presence of the watermark externally connected device for storing the key information is not confirmed, the print management server is inquired about the watermark print policy, and when the print policy “with watermark print” is received, the watermark print definition information is sent to the print management server. A watermark print driver that adds watermark print data based on the watermark print definition information to the print data created by the application when receiving the inquiry and watermark print definition information ;
A watermark print driver insertion service for applying the watermark print driver to an application;
A watermark print processor for checking whether a watermark is inserted by the watermark print driver;
A watermark print processor monitoring service for detecting a setting state of the printer and the watermark print processor;
Further, the watermark print driver includes watermark print information adding means for adding watermark print information to document data;
Watermark parameter setting means for setting a watermark parameter capable of determining whether or not a watermark is inserted in the print job parameter,
The watermark print driver insertion service includes a watermark print driver application function that inserts the watermark print driver into an application and applies the function of the watermark print driver when printing is performed.
The watermark print processor includes a print suppression function that suppresses printing when the watermark parameter of the print job parameter set by the watermark print driver does not exist.
The watermark print processor monitoring service detects a setting state of a printer and checks whether the print processor is set to something other than the watermark print processor;
According to the present invention, there is provided a watermark printing management system comprising: an assigning unit that assigns a watermark print processor when a different one is set as a result of the check.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the print management server receives a policy inquiry reception unit that receives an inquiry about a watermark print policy from the watermark print driver;
Policy reference means for referring to the watermark printing policy definition file based on the policy inquiry;
Policy transmission means for transmitting a watermark print policy as a reference result to the watermark print driver;
Definition information inquiry receiving means for receiving an inquiry about watermark print definition information from the watermark print driver;
Definition information reference means for referring to the watermark print definition information file based on the watermark print definition information;
Definition information transmitting means for transmitting watermark print definition information as a reference result to the watermark print driver,
The watermark print driver includes policy inquiry means for inquiring of the print management server for a watermark print policy,
Policy receiving means for receiving a watermark printing policy from the print management server;
Definition information query means for querying the print management server for watermark print definition information;
Definition information receiving means for receiving watermark print definition information from the print management server;
2. A watermark printing management system according to claim 1, further comprising printer output means for outputting document data to the printer.

  The invention according to claim 3 provides the watermark print management system according to claim 1, wherein the printer is connected to the user terminal via a print server.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the watermark print definition information file stores electronic data listing a plurality of symbols including symbols indicating a layout, a position, and a size of a watermark to be inserted into the print data. 4. A watermark printing management system according to claim 1, wherein the recording format is a file record on a computer.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a print management server that controls insertion of a watermark into a printed material according to a print policy;
A printer that prints watermarks on printed materials;
A watermark printing management system including a user terminal connected to the printer and the print management server and controlling the output of the printer based on the control of the print management server;
The print management server includes a watermark print policy definition file that stores a watermark print policy that defines the presence / absence of a watermark and the type of watermark for each user or group making a print request, and the layout, position, size, etc. of the watermark Storage means for storing a watermark print definition information file that stores watermark print definition information that is the output content of the watermark;
A watermark definition information creation utility for defining the watermark print definition information,
The user terminal inquires whether or not a watermark externally connected device for storing key information is connected to the user terminal, and when the presence is confirmed, the print management is performed so that printing is performed without a watermark. A device presence inquiry means that functions not to inquire the watermark printing policy to the server;
When the presence of the watermark externally connected device for storing the key information is not confirmed, the print management server is inquired about the watermark print policy, and when the print policy “with watermark print” is received, the watermark print definition information is sent to the print management server. A watermark print driver that adds watermark print data based on the watermark print definition information to the print data created by the application when receiving the inquiry and watermark print definition information ;
A watermark print driver insertion service for applying the watermark print driver to an application;
A watermark print processor for checking whether a watermark is inserted by the watermark print driver;
A watermark print processor monitoring service for detecting a setting state of the printer and the watermark print processor;
Further, the watermark print driver includes watermark print information adding means for adding watermark print information to document data;
Watermark parameter setting means for setting a watermark parameter capable of determining whether or not a watermark is inserted in the print job parameter,
The watermark print driver insertion service includes a watermark print driver application function that inserts the watermark print driver into an application and applies the function of the watermark print driver when printing is performed.
The watermark print processor includes a print suppression function that suppresses printing when the watermark parameter of the print job parameter set by the watermark print driver does not exist.
The watermark print processor monitoring service detects a setting state of a printer and checks whether the print processor is set to something other than the watermark print processor;
As a result of the check, if a different one is set , a watermark print management system including an assigning unit for assigning a watermark print processor is provided, so that a watermark is forcibly inserted into a printed matter regardless of the user's intention of printing. This makes it possible to easily prevent leakage of confidential information due to printed matter.
In addition, printing can be suppressed when there is no watermark parameter of the print job parameter set by the watermark print driver of the watermark print processor.
Further, the user terminal inquires whether or not a watermark externally connected device for storing key information is connected to the user terminal, and when the presence is confirmed, watermark printing to the print management server is performed. Since there is a device presence inquiry means that functions so as not to make a policy inquiry, by connecting a watermark external connection device that stores key information to the user terminal, a user who is forced to perform watermark printing temporarily It is possible to print without a watermark, and it is possible to temporarily print a document that does not require insertion of a watermark, such as a document for external publication, without a watermark.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the print management server refers to a policy inquiry receiving unit that receives an inquiry about a watermark print policy from the watermark print driver, and refers to the watermark print policy definition file based on the policy inquiry. A policy reference unit that transmits a watermark print policy that is a reference result to the watermark print driver, a definition information inquiry reception unit that receives an inquiry about watermark print definition information from the watermark print driver, and the watermark The watermark print driver comprises definition information reference means for referring to the watermark print definition information file based on print definition information, and definition information transmission means for transmitting watermark print definition information as a reference result to the watermark print driver. Inquires of the print management server about the watermark printing policy A policy inquiry means; a policy reception means for receiving a watermark print policy from the print management server; a definition information inquiry means for inquiring watermark print definition information from the print management server; and a watermark print definition information from the print management server. In addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the watermark print policy and the watermark print definition information are provided from the print management server in a unified manner. The definition information receiving means and the printer output means for outputting the document data to the printer are provided. The watermark print driver can be output based on the watermark print policy and the watermark print definition information provided from the print management server.

According to the invention described in claim 3, since the printer is connected to the user terminal via a print server, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the printer is not burdened with the user terminal. Printing is possible, and the printer is not restricted by the user terminal, and free printing is possible.
Further, the function of inhibiting printing when the watermark parameter does not exist in the print job parameter makes it possible to inhibit printing from an unauthorized terminal having no watermark print driver installed to the print server.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the watermark print definition information file stores electronic data listing a plurality of symbols including symbols indicating the layout, position, and size of the watermark to be inserted into the print data. Since the data takes a record format of a file on a computer, in addition to the effects of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, watermark information can be easily defined, data processing is easy, and Various watermark printing becomes possible.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing examples. For convenience of explanation, in the embodiment described later, the same components as those in the embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a watermark printing management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The watermark printing management system 1 includes a printing management server 2 that controls insertion of a watermark into a printed material according to a printing policy, A printer 3 that prints a watermark on a printed material, and a user terminal that connects the printer 3 locally and is connected to the print management server 2 via the network 4 and controls the output of the printer 3 based on the control of the print management server 2 And 5.

  The print management server 2 includes a watermark print policy definition file 6 that stores a watermark print policy that defines the presence / absence of a watermark and the type of watermark for each user or group that requests printing, and the layout and position of the watermark. Storage devices 8 and 9 for storing watermark print definition information files 7 for storing watermark print definition information which is the output contents of the watermark, such as size, respectively, and further for defining the watermark print definition information Watermark definition information creation utility 10.

  The user terminal 5 includes a watermark print driver 11 for adding watermark print data to print data created by an application, a watermark print driver insertion service 12 for applying the watermark print driver 11 to the application, and a watermark print driver. 11 includes a watermark print processor 13 that checks whether a watermark is inserted by the printer 11, and a watermark print processor monitoring service 14 that monitors the attachment of the printer 3 and the watermark print processor 13.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the print management server 2 includes a policy inquiry receiving unit 21 that receives an inquiry about a watermark printing policy from the watermark printing driver 11, and the watermark printing policy definition file 6 based on the policy inquiry. Policy reference means 22 for referencing, a policy transmission means 23 for transmitting a watermark print policy as a reference result to the watermark print driver 11, and a definition information inquiry reception means for receiving an inquiry for watermark print definition information from the watermark print driver 11. 24, definition information reference means 25 for referring to the watermark print definition information file 7 based on the inquiry of the watermark print definition information, and definition information transmission means 26 for transmitting the watermark print definition information as a reference result to the watermark print driver 11. And.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the watermark print driver 11 includes a policy inquiry unit 31 that inquires the print management server 2 about a watermark print policy, a policy reception unit 32 that receives a watermark print policy from the print management server 2, Definition information inquiry means 33 for inquiring watermark print definition information to the print management server 2, definition information reception means 34 for receiving watermark print definition information from the print management server 2, and watermark print information addition for adding watermark print information to document data Means 35, watermark parameter setting means 36 for setting a watermark parameter as a print job parameter, and printer output means 37 for outputting document data to the printer 3.

  Further, the watermark print driver insertion service 12 includes a watermark print driver application function 41 that applies the watermark print driver 11 to an application and calls the function of the watermark print driver 11 when the application is printed.

  Further, the watermark print processor 13 includes a print inhibition function 42 that inhibits printing when the watermark parameter of the print job parameter set by the watermark print driver 11 does not exist.

  Further, the watermark print processor monitoring service 14 detects the setting state of the printer 3 and checks whether the print processor is set to something other than the watermark print processor 13; If different ones are connected, an assigning means 44 for assigning the watermark print processor 13 is provided.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the watermark definition information creation utility 10 that creates data to be stored in the watermark print definition information file 7. The operator of the print management server 2, who is a system administrator, designates watermark print definition information to the watermark definition information creation utility 10 using the keyboard and mouse 51 while looking at the display device 52. The specified watermark printing definition information data is stored in the watermark printing definition information file 7.

FIG. 5 shows a processing flow in the watermark print management system 1 in which the watermark print driver 11 decides to add watermark print information. The flow of processing will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 1 to 3. First, when a user prints a document from the user terminal 5, the watermark print driver application function 41 of the watermark print driver insertion service 12 uses the watermark print driver application function 41. The function of the watermark print driver 11 is executed.
The watermark print driver 11 makes an inquiry about the watermark print policy to the print management server 2 through the policy inquiry means 31 (step S1).

  Upon receiving the inquiry from the watermark print driver 11 by the policy inquiry receiving unit 21, the print management server 2 refers to the watermark printing policy definition file 6 by the policy reference unit 22, and has made an inquiry by the policy transmission unit 23. The reference result of the watermark printing policy for the user is transmitted (response) to the watermark printing driver 11.

  At this time, if the user is a printing user with a watermark, “watermark printing” is transmitted (response) as the watermark printing policy, and the watermark print driver 11 receives the watermark printing policy by the policy receiving unit 32, and the definition information The inquiry unit 33 inquires the print management server 2 about the watermark print definition information (step S2).

  When the definition information inquiry reception unit 24 receives the inquiry about the watermark print definition information, the print management server 2 refers to the watermark print definition information file 7 by the definition information reference unit 25, and the definition information transmission unit 26 performs the watermark printing. The definition information is transmitted (response) to the watermark printing driver 11.

The watermark print driver 11 receives the watermark print definition information by the definition information receiving unit 34.
The watermark print driver 11 inserts watermark print information based on the watermark print definition information by the watermark print information adding means 35 (step S3), and the watermark parameter setting means 36 indicates that the watermark has been inserted into the print job parameter. A watermark parameter (step S4) to be expressed is set and output to the printer 3 by the printer output means 37 (step S5).

  At this time, the watermark print processor monitoring service 14 detects the setting state of the printer 3 by the check means 43 and checks whether a print processor (not shown) is set to something other than the watermark print processor 13. If it is set to something other than the watermark print processor 13, the watermark print processor 13 is assigned.

Next, the watermark print processor 13 checks whether the print job parameter set by the watermark print driver 11 is a valid value by the print inhibition function 42, and inhibits printing if it is not a valid value.
If the print inhibition function 42 determines that the print job parameter is a valid value, the printer 3 performs watermark printing based on the print data to which the command is added.

  If the user is a watermarkless printing user, that is, if no watermark printing is responded as the watermark printing policy, the watermark print driver 11 causes the watermark print information adding means 35 to execute a watermark based on the watermark print definition information. Without inserting print information, the watermark parameter setting means 36 sets a watermark parameter indicating no watermark insertion in the print job parameter (step S4), and outputs it to the printer 3 by the printer output means 37 (step S5).

FIG. 6 is a watermark definition information setting dialog, which is displayed on the display device 52 when the watermark definition information creation utility 10 is activated.
In the figure, a column 501 is a layout designation box for selecting whether the watermark information is arranged continuously in a grid pattern or only one is arranged at one place like “single” shown in the figure. . A field 502 is a position designation field for designating a position for printing a watermark.

A column 503 is a rotation angle designation column for designating the inclination of the watermark characters. A column 504 is a character size designation column for designating the character size of the watermark. A column 505 is a line spacing designation field for designating a line spacing when the watermarks are continuously arranged. A field 506 is a density pattern designation field for designating the density of watermark characters.
A box 507 is a fixed character designation check box. When this box is checked, the character string designated in the character string designation column 508 is output as a fixed character. A box 509 is a login ID designation check box. When this check box is checked, the login ID is output as a fixed character.

A box 510 is a domain specification check box. When this check box is checked, the domain is output as a fixed character. A box 511 is a date / time specification check box. When this check box is checked, the date / time is output as a fixed character.
A box 512 is a machine name designation check box. When this check box is checked, the machine name is output as a fixed character. A box 513 is an IP address specification check box. When this check box is checked, the IP address is output as a fixed character.

A button 514 is a read button. When the read button 514 is clicked, the watermark print definition information file 7 is read and the stored information is displayed in a dialog.
The button 515 is a save button. When the save button 515 is clicked, the watermark print definition information specified in the dialog is saved in the watermark print definition information file 7.

The button 516 is a preview button. When the preview button 516 is clicked, a watermark definition information print preview dialog described later is displayed on the display device 52.
A button 517 is a test print button 517. When the test print button 517 is clicked, the currently designated watermark print definition information is test-printed on the printer 3.
The button 518 terminates the watermark definition information creation utility 10 when the end button 518 is clicked with the end button 518.

  FIG. 7 shows electronic data created by the watermark definition information creation utility 10 and stored in the watermark print definition information file 7. This electronic data shows the layout, position and size of the watermark to be inserted into the print data. A plurality of symbols including symbols are enumerated and generated in a file record format on a computer.

FIG. 8 shows a watermark definition information print preview dialog displayed on the display device 52.
In the figure, an area 601 is a preview display area that displays an output format when printing is performed with information specified in the watermark definition information setting dialog shown in FIG.

A button 602 is a print button 602. When the print button 602 is clicked, the printer 3 prints the currently displayed preview format.
A button 603 enlarges the preview image when the enlarge button 603 is clicked by the enlarge button 603.

When the reduction button 604 is clicked on the reduction button 604, the enlarged preview image is restored.
When the close button 605 is clicked on the close button 605, the screen returns to the watermark definition information setting dialog shown in FIG.

Thus, since the watermark printing management system 1 is printed based on the watermark printing policy transmitted from the printing management server 2, it is possible to forcibly insert the watermark into the printed matter regardless of the user's intention to print. This makes it possible to easily prevent leakage of confidential information due to printed matter.
Further, the watermark printing management system 1 can provide the watermark printing policy and the watermark printing definition information from the printing management server 2 in a unified manner, and the watermark printing policy and the watermark printing definition information provided from the printing management server 2 can be provided. Based on this, the watermark print driver 11 can be output.

  Further, in the watermark printing management system 1, the watermark printing definition information file 7 stores electronic data listing a plurality of symbols including symbols indicating the layout, position, and size of the watermark to be inserted into the print data. Since this electronic data takes the record format of the file on the computer, the watermark information can be easily defined by the electronic data in the record format, the data processing is easy, and various watermark printing is possible.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a function in which the user who is set to forcibly insert a watermark and print in the watermark print management system 1 temporarily prints without a watermark.
The user terminal 5 inquires whether the watermark external connection device 16 storing key information such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) key provided by the administrator is connected to the user terminal 5 and exists. When it is confirmed, a device presence inquiry means 45 is provided which functions so as not to make an inquiry about the watermark printing policy to the print management server 2.
On the other hand, the watermark externally connected device 16 is a device of the watermark externally connected device that stores the key information 46 set by the administrator of the print management server 2 and the key information 46 from the device presence inquiry means 45. A device presence confirmation receiving unit 48 that receives a presence confirmation signal, and a device presence confirmation transmission unit 49 that transmits a signal indicating the presence of a watermark externally connected device that stores key information in response to the device presence confirmation signal.

  Thus, when printing on the user terminal 5, the watermark print driver 11 uses the device presence inquiry means 45 to inquire (inquire) the presence of the watermark external connection device 16 in which the key information 46 is stored. Send a device presence confirmation signal. The watermark external connection device 16 receives the inquiry of the watermark print driver 11 by the device presence confirmation receiving unit 48 and returns the result by the device presence confirmation transmission unit 49 (the watermark external connection device 16 in which the key information 46 is stored is returned). Send existing signal).

  When the watermark print driver 11 receives a result indicating that the watermark external connection device 16 exists from the watermark external connection device 16, the watermark print driver 11 does not inquire the watermark management server 2 and prints without watermark. That is, when the watermark external connection device 16 is connected to the user terminal 5, printing is temporarily performed without the watermark. When the watermark external connection device 16 is not connected to the user terminal 5, Watermark printing is performed.

  In FIG. 10, reference numeral 61 denotes a watermark printing management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The watermark printing management system 61 is a user terminal 5 in the watermark printing management system (1 in FIG. 1). The printer 3 connected locally is disconnected from the user terminal 5 and connected to the print server 62 connected to the network 4. In the watermark printing management system 61, an unintroduced terminal 15 in which the watermark printing driver 11 is not installed is connected to the network 4.

  In the watermark printing management system 61, the processing flow in which the watermark printing driver 11 determines the addition of the watermark printing information is the same as that shown in FIG. However, the print data is sent to the printer 3 via the print server 62 and printed.

  Thus, since the watermark print management system 61 is printed based on the watermark print policy transmitted from the print management server 2 in the same manner as the watermark print management system 1, it is compulsory regardless of the user's intention to print. Therefore, it is possible to insert a watermark into the printed material, and it is possible to easily prevent leakage of confidential information due to the printed material.

  Further, since the watermark parameter set by the watermark parameter setting means 36 by the watermark print driver 11 does not exist in the print job parameter instructed to be printed from the non-introduced terminal 15, the print suppression function of the watermark print processor 13 in the print server 62 By 42, it is determined that the printing is invalid, and printing is suppressed.

  Further, since the printer 3 is connected to the print server 62, printing by the printer 3 can be performed without imposing a burden on the user terminal 5, and the printer 3 can be freely printed without being restricted by the user terminal 5. Is possible.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a watermark printing management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is the schematic which shows the function of the printing management server of the watermark printing management system by this invention. (A) It is the schematic which shows the function of the watermark printing driver of the watermark printing management system by this invention. (B) It is the schematic which shows the function of the watermark printing driver insertion service of the watermark printing management system by this invention. (C) It is the schematic which shows the function of the watermark print processor of the watermark printing management system by this invention. (D) It is the schematic which shows the function of the watermark print processor monitoring service of the watermark printing management system by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the watermark definition information creation utility of the watermark printing management system by this invention. It is a processing flow in which the watermark print driver of the watermark print management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention decides to add watermark print information. It is a watermark definition information setting dialog of the watermark definition information utility of the watermark printing management system according to the present invention. It is a data record of the watermark printing definition information file of the watermark printing management system according to the present invention. It is a watermark definition information print preview dialog of the watermark print management system according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the function which invalidates a forced watermark function temporarily by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the watermark printing management system of 2nd Example by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,61 Watermark Print Management System 2 Print Management Server 3 Printer 5 User Terminal 6 Watermark Print Policy Definition File 7 Watermark Print Definition Information File 10 Watermark Definition Information Creation Utility 11 Watermark Print Driver 12 Watermark Print Driver Insert Service 13 Watermark Print Processor 14 Print Processor monitoring service 16 External connection device for watermark 21 Policy inquiry receiving means 22 Policy reference means 23 Policy sending means 24 Definition information inquiry receiving means 25 Definition information reference means 26 Definition information sending means 31 Policy inquiry means 32 Policy receiving means 33 Definition information inquiry Means 34 Definition information receiving means 35 Watermark print information adding means 36 Printer output means 37 Watermark parameter setting means 41 Watermark print driver application function 42 Print inhibition function 4 Check means 44 allocating means 45 devices exist query unit 46 key information 62 print server

Claims (4)

A print management server that controls the insertion of watermarks into the printed material according to the print policy
A printer that prints watermarks on printed materials;
A watermark printing management system including a user terminal connected to the printer and the print management server and controlling the output of the printer based on the control of the print management server;
The print management server includes a watermark print policy definition file that stores a watermark print policy that defines the presence / absence of a watermark and the type of watermark for each user or group making a print request, and the layout, position, size, etc. of the watermark Storage means for storing a watermark print definition information file that stores watermark print definition information that is the output content of the watermark;
A watermark definition information creation utility for defining the watermark print definition information,
The user terminal inquires whether or not a watermark externally connected device for storing key information is connected to the user terminal, and when the presence is confirmed, the print management is performed so that printing is performed without a watermark. A device presence inquiry means that functions not to inquire the watermark printing policy to the server;
When the presence of the watermark externally connected device for storing the key information is not confirmed, the print management server is inquired about the watermark print policy, and when the print policy “with watermark print” is received, the watermark print definition information is sent to the print management server. A watermark print driver that adds watermark print data based on the watermark print definition information to the print data created by the application when receiving the inquiry and watermark print definition information ;
A watermark print driver insertion service for applying the watermark print driver to an application;
A watermark print processor for checking whether a watermark is inserted by the watermark print driver;
A watermark print processor monitoring service for detecting a setting state of the printer and the watermark print processor;
Further, the watermark print driver includes watermark print information adding means for adding watermark print information to document data;
Watermark parameter setting means for setting a watermark parameter capable of determining whether or not a watermark is inserted in the print job parameter,
The watermark print driver insertion service includes a watermark print driver application function that inserts the watermark print driver into an application and applies the function of the watermark print driver when printing is performed.
The watermark print processor includes a print suppression function that suppresses printing when the watermark parameter of the print job parameter set by the watermark print driver does not exist.
The watermark print processor monitoring service detects a setting state of a printer and checks whether the print processor is set to something other than the watermark print processor;
An watermark printing management system comprising: an assigning unit that assigns a watermark print processor when a different one is set as a result of the check. The print management server includes a policy inquiry reception unit that receives an inquiry about a watermark print policy from the watermark print driver;
Policy reference means for referring to the watermark printing policy definition file based on the policy inquiry;
Policy transmission means for transmitting a watermark print policy as a reference result to the watermark print driver;
Definition information inquiry receiving means for receiving an inquiry about watermark print definition information from the watermark print driver;
Definition information reference means for referring to the watermark print definition information file based on the watermark print definition information;
Definition information transmitting means for transmitting watermark print definition information as a reference result to the watermark print driver,
The watermark print driver includes policy inquiry means for inquiring of the print management server for a watermark print policy,
Policy receiving means for receiving a watermark printing policy from the print management server;
Definition information query means for querying the print management server for watermark print definition information;
Definition information receiving means for receiving watermark print definition information from the print management server;
2. The watermark printing management system according to claim 1, further comprising printer output means for outputting document data to the printer. 3. The watermark print management system according to claim 1, wherein the printer is connected to the user terminal via a print server. The watermark print definition information file stores electronic data listing a plurality of symbols including symbols indicating the layout, position, and size of the watermark to be inserted into the print data, and the electronic data has a record format of the file on the computer. The watermark print management system according to claim 1, wherein the watermark print management system is used.

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