JPH08292858A - Character output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To securely limit users of individual fonts by a simple method when characters are outputted by using outline font data. CONSTITUTION: The outline font data having control points ciphered are stored in a data holding means 31 from a ciphering processor 50. A key storage device 40 storing a key for deciphering the control points is mounted on a character output device 30. With character output information based upon a character output request Din, a data read means 33 reads the outline font data out of the data holding means 31. A data deciphering means 35 deciphers the control points of the read outline font data with the deciphering key from the key storage device 40.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character output device for outputting characters using outline font data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A character output device such as a printer which receives a character output request from a computer or a workstation and outputs a character can handle a large number of typefaces by increasing the speed of a CPU and increasing the capacity of a storage device. It has become possible to add expressiveness and facial expressions to a document by outputting characters using various types of typefaces.

However, when the number of characters is large and each character has a complicated shape such as Japanese, a great deal of labor is required to create font data for one typeface. Therefore, in order to protect the rights of the font creator,
It is considered to prevent illegal use of fonts by limiting the use of fonts. In addition, it is possible to effectively limit the use of fonts and to effectively prevent illegal use of fonts. As a result, if a large amount of fonts are sold, the price of fonts can be lowered. It will be possible.

The methods for restricting the use of fonts are roughly classified into a method of applying some restrictions when the font data is installed in the character output device and a method of restricting the use of the character output device in which the font data is installed. is there.

As the former method of limiting font data in the character output device, a method of limiting the number of times the font data can be installed in the character output device and a master disk storing the font data are used. A method of applying a protection measure to disable the copy is considered.

However, if the number of times the font data can be installed in the character output device is limited, when the data of the installation destination is lost more than the limited number of times due to an accident, the font cannot be used even though there is a right to use the font. There are drawbacks such as. Also, if you want to disable copying of a master disk that stores font data, you cannot reinstall it if the master disk cannot be read due to some accident, and you need to secure a backup in advance. There is an inconvenience that you cannot do it.

The latter method of restricting the use of the character output device in which the font data is installed is as follows. When the character output device is provided with a hardware lock and the key is stuck to the device to turn on the switch of the device. It is conceivable that the device can be operated only in the case.

In this case, however, the character output device requires a mechanism for detecting the state of a lock or a key, which increases the cost of the device and when the character output device is used by a plurality of persons. This raises the question of how to manage keys.

Therefore, as one of methods for limiting the use of a character output device in which font data is installed, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-330152, the character output device is provided with a hardware lock and key as described above. instead of,
A specific recognition code is stored in the character output device, and when outputting characters to the character output device, the recognition code is added to the character output request to the character output device,
A method has been proposed in which a character output device outputs a character in response to a character output request only when the recognition code in the character output request matches the recognition code held therein.

As another method, a specific code is assigned to each font, and a specific code is set in the character output device so that the set specific code can be applied to the font. A method of outputting characters is also considered.

[0011]

However, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-330152 limits the user of the character output device to only those who know the specific recognition code stored in the character output device. However, it does not limit the use of the individual fonts themselves, and has the drawback that it is not sufficient to protect the rights of the font creator.

A method of outputting a character in a font to which a specific code is set by setting a specific code in each character font and setting the specific code in the character output device Has the inconvenience that although the use of individual fonts can be restricted, the user of the character output device or font cannot be restricted. Further, even when the use of each font is restricted, there is a drawback that the code must be strictly managed for each character output device and for each font.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in a character output device for outputting a character using outline font data, the user of each font can be surely restricted by a simple method, and the right of the font creator can be simplified. It can be surely protected by various methods.

[0014]

According to the present invention, as a character output device, when the reference symbols of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and described later are made to correspond, data holding means for holding outline font data in which control points are encrypted is held. 31, data reading means 33 for reading out the outline font data from the data holding means 31 based on the character output information, and a decoding key input to the character output device 30 from outside the character output device 30 for reading the data. Means 33
By the data decoding means 35 for decoding the control points of the outline font data read from the data holding means 31, and the outline font data from the data decoding means 35, character data to be output is generated. And character data generation means 36.

The outline font data in which the control points are encrypted may be limited to specific characters.

Further, the encrypted control points may be a part of the plurality of control points forming the outline font data.

[0017]

In the character output device of the present invention configured as described above, the outline holding font data in which the control points are encrypted is held in the data holding means 31, so that the font use is substantially restricted. The access right can be set for each font by being held in the data itself, and the user of each font can use the key storage device such as a floppy disk that he manages.
The individual fonts can be used by inputting the decryption key stored therein into the character output device.

Therefore, the user of each font can be managed separately from the character output device, and the user of each font can be surely restricted by a simple method.

Further, when the outline font data in which the control points are encrypted is limited to a specific character, or the encrypted control points are a part of the plurality of control points constituting the outline font data. In this case, only the control points of the outline font data of that particular character, or only some of the control points that make up the outline font data are decrypted by the decryption key, and the outline font of other characters is decrypted. The rest of the control points of the data or the plurality of control points forming the outline font data may be read out from the data holding means 31 as they are and output from the data decoding means 35 as they are. The time required is shortened, and even if the encryption is only for some characters or some control points, When the decryption key to the output device not input, since the fact that the original sentence or the original characters are not output, it is possible to restrict the user of the result, the noted individual font.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, encryption and decryption of outline font data according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The outline font data of a certain character in a certain typeface is composed of six control points P1 as shown in FIG. 6 (A).
˜P6. However, the control points P1 to P
The x and y coordinates of 6 have the values shown in the column "before encryption" in FIG. The control points P1 to P6 of the outline font data are encrypted by the encryption key.
Here, the encryption key is, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, 0, 1, 2, of the x, y coordinates before encryption of the control points P1 to P6.
The values of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are 3, 6, respectively.
It shall be converted into the values of 9, 2, 5, 8, 1, 4, 7, 0.

Therefore, x, y of each control point P1 to P6
The coordinates are converted into values as shown in the “after encryption” column in FIG. 7, and the control points P1 to P1 after this conversion, that is, after encryption are converted.
The outline font indicated by P6 is shown in FIG.
As shown by the solid line in (B), the shape is completely different from the original shape.

The encrypted control points P1 to P6 are
Decrypt with the decryption key. The decryption key is used to convert the x and y coordinate values of the control points P1 to P6 in the opposite manner to the case of encryption, that is, in the above case, as shown in FIG. X before P6 decryption (after encryption),
The values of 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 of the y coordinate are set to 9,6,3,0,7,4,1,8,5,2, respectively.
Is converted to the value of.

Therefore, x, y of each control point P1 to P6
The coordinates are converted into values as shown in the column of “after decoding” in FIG. 7, and the control points P1 to P1 after the conversion, that is, after decoding are converted.
The outline font indicated by P6 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), it becomes exactly the same as the original shape.

Therefore, when the character data to be output is generated by the outline font data in which the control points P1 to P6 are decrypted by the decryption key corresponding to the encryption key, and the character is output, the original character is output. In contrast to the output, control points P1 to P6 are generated by the decryption key.
Is not decrypted, and the outline font data in which the control points P1 to P6 remain encrypted produces the character data to be output, and when the character is output, the character or meaning completely different from the original character is recognized. No symbol is output.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a document creation system using the character output device of the present invention. The host device 20 such as a computer or a workstation and a printer, for example, of the present invention are connected via a network 10. The character output device 30 is connected to the character output device 30, and a key storage device 40, which will be described later, is attached to the character output device 30. The key storage device 40 is attached to the character output device 30. It is output.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the character output device 30 in the case of the system configuration shown in FIG.
Is a data holding means 31, a data input means 32, a data reading means 33, a key management means 34, and a data decryption means 3.
5, character data generation means 36 and character data output means 37.

The data holding means 31 holds the outline font data including the outline font data in which the control points are encrypted, and stores the control points generated in the encryption processing device 50 different from the character output device 30. Outline font data including encrypted outline font data is installed from the encryption processing device 50.

The data input means 32 outputs a character output request Di from the host device 20 containing information on the typeface and size of the character to be output and which character is to be output.
It interprets n and outputs character output information consisting of the typeface and size of the character to be output and which character is the character to be output, and the character output information is sent to the data reading means 33. It

However, there is a case where the character output request Din does not have corresponding information on the typeface or size of the character, and in that case, the character output information is output by being supplemented by the information immediately before or the information of the initial setting value. To be done.

The data reading means 33 is the data input means 3
The outline font data of the corresponding typeface and character is read from the data holding means 31 according to the character output information from 2, and the data decoding means 3 together with the character output information.
5

The key management means 34 uses the character output information supplied from the data reading means 33 through the data decoding means 35, as will be described later, from the key storage device 40 attached to the character output device 30 as described above. The key for decrypting the encrypted control point of the outline font data read out from the data holding means 31 by the data reading means 33 and sent to the data decrypting means 35 is read out, and the key is read as described later. Key storage device 4
The key storage device 40 uses the cumulative number of characters obtained by decrypting the encrypted control points of the outline font data using the decryption key from 0 as the number of times of use of the decryption key from the key storage device 40. To write to.

In the following, unless otherwise specified as "key for encryption" or "encryption key",
The "key" is a key for decrypting the encrypted control points of the outline font data.

The data decoding means 35 sends the character output information supplied from the data reading means 33 to the key management means 34 and corresponds to the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 as described above. The key management unit 34 is caused to read the decryption key from the key storage unit 40, the decryption key read from the key storage unit 40 is taken in through the key management unit 34, and the decryption key holds the data. The encrypted control points of the outline font data read from the means 31 are decrypted, and the decrypted outline font data is sent to the character data generating means 36 together with the character output information.

Even if the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 is encrypted, the key storage device 40 is not attached to the character output device 30, or the key storage device 40 is attached. However, since the decryption key for the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 is not described in the key storage device 40, the data holding means 3
When the decryption key corresponding to the outline font data read from No. 1 cannot be obtained, the data decryption means 35 uses the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 as it is along with the character output information and the character data generation means. 36.

Further, the typeface of the characters to be output requested by the character output request Din from the host device 20 can be freely used, and the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 is encrypted. Even if not, the data decoding means 35 sends the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 to the character data generation means 36 as it is together with the character output information.

The character data generation means 36 uses the outline font data and the character output information from the data decoding means 35 to request the character output D from the host device 20.
Character data to be output in a state in which the outline shape indicated by the outline font data from the data decoding means 35 is rasterized in a size required by in is generated and sent to the character data output means 37.

The character data output means 37 is a character printing section for printing a character on the paper according to the character data from the character data generation means 36.

Although not shown in detail, the encryption processing device 50 reads out the outline font data stored therein from the data storage means, encrypts the control point with the encryption key, and encrypts the control point. The stored outline font data is stored in the data holding means 3 as described above.
Install to 1. However, as for freely usable typefaces, outline font data stored in the data storage means and not having encrypted control points is installed in the data holding means 31 as it is.

For example, with respect to the "Shin-Mincho type", "Chongming type", "Taiming type", "line typeface" and "Maru Gothic type" shown in FIG. 4, different encryption keys are used for each typeface. The outline font data in which the control points are encrypted is installed in the data holding unit 31 from the encryption processing device 50 and held in the data holding unit 31.

The key storage device 40 is composed of a data storage means, such as a floppy disk or an IC card, which can be attached to and detached from the character output device 30 and is readable and writable. By receiving the issue of the decryption key by 60, the key storage device 40 stores, in the key storage device 40, the typeface name in which the outline font data is encrypted, the decryption key for the typeface, and the typeface. The number of times the decryption key has been used is described. However, the number of times of use is determined by the key issuing device 6
It is set to zero when the decryption key is issued by 0.

A procedure for outputting a character in the character output device 30 described above will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step S1, the data input means 32 causes the character output request D from the host device 20.
If there is a character output request Din, it proceeds to step S2, and the data input means 32 is determined.
In step S3, the character output request Din is interpreted to generate character output information including the typeface and size of the character to be output and which character is the character to be output, and the process proceeds to step S3. Based on the output information, the data reading means 33 reads out the outline font data of the corresponding typeface and character from the data holding means 31.

Next, in step S4, the key management means 34 retrieves the decryption key corresponding to the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 from the key storage device 40, and the process proceeds to step S5. The data decryption means 35 determines whether or not there is the corresponding decryption key.

When there is a corresponding decryption key, that is, the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 is encrypted, and the key storage device 40 is attached to the character output device 30. If the decryption key for the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 is described in the key storage device 40, the process proceeds to step S6, and the data decryption means 35 uses the decryption key. The encrypted control points of the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 are decrypted by the decryption key, and the process proceeds to step S7 where the key management means 34 describes the key storage device 40. The number of times the decryption key is used is updated so that it is increased once for each character.

Further, in step S8, the character data generating means 36 generates character data to be output from the outline font data and the character output information in which the control points from the data decoding means 35 are decoded, Next, at step S9, the character data is printed on the paper by the character data output means 37 by the character data.

When the data decryption means 35 determines in step S5 that there is no corresponding decryption key, that is, when the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 is not encrypted, or the outline font is used. Even if the data is encrypted, when the key storage device 40 is not attached to the character output device 30, or even if the key storage device 40 is attached, the data storage means 31 is stored in the key storage device 40. If the decryption key for the outline font data read out from is not described, then in step S10, the data decryption means 35 causes the outline font data read out from the data holding means 31 to be directly output as character output information. It is also sent to the character data generation means 36.

Further, proceeding to step S8, the character data generating means 36 generates the character data to be output from the outline font data and the character output information from the data decoding means 35, and then step S9.
At, the character data output means 37 prints a character on the paper according to the character data.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the above-mentioned key issuing device 60. The key issuing device 60 in this example has a CPU 61, a key issuing control program to be executed by the CPU 61, and outline font data in the encryption processing device 50. ROM 62 storing a list of typefaces to be encrypted, an identification number described later, a RAM 63 used as a work area of the CPU 61, a memory 64 storing a management table described later, an operating unit 65, and an interface 66 for the operating unit 65. , A display unit 67, an interface 68 for the display unit 67, and an interface 69 for the key storage device 40.

The management table on the memory 64 is shown in FIG.
As described in (1), the typeface name in which the outline font data is encrypted, the decryption key for the typeface, the issuance limit number and the issued number of times for the decryption key are described. The issuance limit number of times is the number of key storage devices 40 that permit issuance of the decryption key for each typeface. The number of issued issues is initially zero.

A person who wants to issue a decryption key for a certain typeface uses the key storage device 4 in the key issuing device 60.
After mounting 0, the user inputs the identification number of himself / herself and the name of the typeface for which the decryption key is to be issued by the operation unit 65.
As a result, the CPU 61 of the key issuing device 60 issues the decryption key according to the procedure shown in FIG.

First, in step S21, it is determined whether or not there is a decryption key issuance request, depending on whether or not the key storage device 40 is attached to the key issuance device 60, and when there is a decryption key issuance request. In step S22, the display unit 67 displays that the identification number should be input.

In response to this, when the person who is going to receive the issuance of the decryption key inputs his or her own identification number through the operation unit 65, the CPU 61 registers the input identification number in the ROM 62 in step S23. If it is not registered, it is determined in step S24.
Then, the display section 67 displays that the decryption key cannot be issued because the identification numbers are different.

When the input identification number is registered in the ROM 62, the process proceeds to step S25, and the display unit 67 displays that the typeface name should be input. In response to this, the person who wants to receive the decryption key is operated by the operation unit 65.
When the typeface name is input by, the CPU 61 determines in step S
In 26, it is determined from the list registered in the ROM 62 whether there is a corresponding typeface. If there is no corresponding typeface, the process proceeds to step S27, and the display unit 67 displays that there is no corresponding typeface.

If there is a corresponding typeface, step S
Proceeding to step 28, by issuing the decryption key for that typeface from the management table on the memory 64,
It is determined whether or not the decryption key issuance limit number for the typeface is exceeded. If the issuance limit number is exceeded, the process proceeds to step S29, and the display unit indicates that the decryption key cannot be issued because the issuance limit number is exceeded. It is indicated by 67.

If the number of times of issuance is not exceeded, the process proceeds to step S30, where the management table on the memory 64
The decryption key for the typeface is read out and written in the key storage device 40 together with the typeface name to issue the decryption key for the typeface, and further, step S31.
At 1, in the management table on the memory 64, the number of issued decryption keys for the typeface is incremented by one.

According to the above-described example, the outline font data in which the control points are encrypted is held in the data holding means 31, so that the font data itself is substantially restricted by the font use, and the individual font data is restricted. The access right can be set for each font, and the user of each font inputs the decryption key stored in the key storage device 40 managed by himself / herself into the character output device 30. Individual fonts can be used.

Therefore, the user of each font can be managed separately from the character output device 30 by the key issuing device 60 as described above, and the user of each font can be surely restricted by a simple method. be able to.

Further, by substantially limiting the use of fonts to the font data itself, the number of times the font data can be installed in the character output device 30 is limited, and the master disk storing the font data is protected. Since it is not necessary to apply it, it is possible to install font data in advance in multiple character output devices, and by installing character output devices equipped with the required fonts in multiple locations respectively,
It is possible for a person who has the right to use a font to easily construct a system that can use a required font at an appropriate place when needed, and even in that case, the use of the font is permitted and the decryption key is stored in the key storage device 40. The font can be used only by the person who has received the, so that the rights of the font creator can be surely protected.

Further, since it is not necessary to protect the master disk or the like storing the font data,
A backup of font data can be secured in case of an unexpected accident.

The character output device 3 as in the above-mentioned example.
When the number of times the font is used is described in the key storage device 40 with 0, this can be used as a material for calculating the royalty of the font.

In the above example, the outline font data is encrypted for all characters of the typeface that restricts the user, but the outline font data may be encrypted only for some specific characters. .

In this case, as shown by a chained arrow in FIG. 3, the encryption processing device 50 is changed to the character output device 30.
The key management means 34 stores the list of characters for encrypting the outline font data.

In the character output device 30, the data decryption means 35 encrypts the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 from the character list stored in the key management means 34. Whether or not the outline font data is encrypted is decrypted by the decryption key read from the key storage device 40 by the key management means 34.

Specifically, for example, only the "hiragana" outline font data can be encrypted.
In this case, because the key storage device 40 is not attached to the character output device 30, or even if the key storage device 40 is attached, the key storage device 40 has not been issued with a decryption key, the data is read from the data holding means 31. When the decryption key corresponding to the outlined outline font data cannot be obtained,
The original characters are output for unencrypted Kanji, but for the encrypted "Hiragana", characters that are completely different from the original characters or symbols that do not make sense are output. When the sentence is "," it is not a sentence such as "Today ☆ Fine weather ★ ○ ●." (☆, ★, ○, ● are symbols that do not make sense), and as a result, You can limit the users of the typeface.

When the outline font data is encrypted only for a specific character in this way,
Also in the data decoding means 35 of the character output device 30,
Since the outline font data need only be decoded for that particular character, there is an advantage that the time required for character output in the character output device 30 is shortened. Further, also in the encryption processing device 50, the time required for encryption can be shortened.

In this case, the encryption processing device 50 also encrypts the list of characters for encrypting the outline font data, and stores the encrypted character list in the key management means 34 of the character output device 30. ,
The key for decrypting the encrypted character list is stored in the memory 64 of the key issuing device 60 together with the key for decrypting the outline font data, and as described above, the key issuing device 60 transfers the key storage device 40. When the key for decrypting the outline font data is issued, the key is also issued for decrypting the character list, and the key management means 34 of the character output device 30 decrypts the key from the key storage device 40. Activation key,
By decrypting the encrypted character list, illegal use of the font can be more reliably prevented.

Instead of limiting the outline font data for encrypting the control points to a specific character as described above,
Alternatively, it may be limited to a specific character, and only a part of the control points may be encrypted without encrypting all of the plurality of control points forming the outline font data of one character.

For example, only the fifth control point P5 of the outline font data having the six control points P1 to P6 as shown in FIG. 6A is encrypted by the encryption key as shown in FIG. However, the encrypted control point P5
The outline font indicated by each of the control points P1 to P6 including is different from the original shape as shown by the broken line in FIG. 6B, and the decryption corresponding to the encryption key as shown in FIG. Character data to be output is generated by the outline font data in which the control point P5 is not decrypted by the activation key, and when a character is output, a character different from the original character or a symbol whose meaning cannot be understood is output.

In practice, for example, the control points of the fifth, the tenth, the fifteenth, ... Of the outline font data are encrypted only at a ratio of one to five. In this case, the number of the control point of the outline font data to be encrypted is stored in the key management means 34 of the character output device 30 from the encryption processing device 50.

In the character output device 30, the data decoding means 35 controls each control point of the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 from the control point number stored in the key management means 34. Is encrypted, and the encrypted control point is decrypted by the decryption key read from the key storage device 40 by the key management means 34.

Even when only some control points are encrypted as described above, the data decryption means 35 of the character output device 30 only needs to decrypt some control points. There is an advantage that the time required for character output in the device 30 is shortened. Further, also in the encryption processing device 50, the time required for encryption can be shortened.

When the number of control points per character is large, the control points can be encrypted at a rate of less than 1 in 5, and in that case, the character output device 30 outputs the characters. Time required for encryption and the encryption processing device 5
In 0, the time required for encryption can be further shortened.

As in the example shown in FIG. 3, the character output device 30
When the key storage device 40 is attached to the character storage device 40, the host device 20 and the character output device 30 are connected via the network 10 as shown in FIG. 1, and the character output device Din requests the character output device from the host device 20. In the case of the document creation system for outputting characters in 30, the operator needs to bring the key storage device 40 to the place where the character output device 30 is installed.

Therefore, in the case of the document creating system having such a network structure, as shown in FIG. 2, by mounting the key storage device 40 on the host device 20, the host device 20 decrypts the key storage device 40. The decryption key Kin is read, and the decryption key Kin is sent to the character output device 30 together with the character output request Din.
In the data decoding means 35 shown in FIG. 3, the outline font data read from the data holding means 31 can be decoded by the decoding key Kin.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, the user of each font can be surely restricted by a simple method, and the right of the font creator can be protected surely by a simple method. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a document creation system using a character output device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of a document creation system using the character output device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a character output device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format of a decryption key in a key storage device.

5 is a flow chart showing a character output procedure executed by the character output device of the example of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining encryption and decryption of outline font data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining encryption and decryption of outline font data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an encryption key.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a decryption key.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of a key issuing device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a management table in the key issuing device.

12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for issuing a decryption key, which is executed by the key issuing device in the example of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 character output device 31 data holding means 32 data input means 33 data reading means 34 key management means 35 data decryption means 36 character data generation means 37 character data output means 40 key storage device 50 encryption processing device 60 key issuing device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Data holding means for holding outline font data in which control points are encrypted, data reading means for reading out the outline font data from the data holding means by character output information, and the data reading means from outside the character output device. Data decoding means for decoding the control points of the outline font data read from the data holding means by the data reading means by a decoding key input to the character output device, and the data decoding means A character output device, comprising: character data generation means for generating character data to be output based on outline font data. 2. The character output device according to claim 1, wherein the outline font data in which the control points are encrypted is limited to a specific character. 3. The character output device according to claim 1, wherein the encrypted control points are a part of a plurality of control points forming the outline font data.