KR100906628B1 - Print Chaser - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a printout monitoring system that allows the user to track the source of the printout for the printout when important outputs are printed and leaked to the outside through all the applications installed in the user computer (PC).

Since the application control method of the conventional application control method and the self-virtual printer driver method must be controlled for each application, the problem that needs to be newly developed and applied each time a new application is released, and the own virtual printer driver cannot be used without using the existing printer driver Printing Framework control method that can overcome the problem of virtual printer driver method that can be applied to watermark should be used as a function to track log when the document is leaked by providing log, original image, and watermark for output without restriction on application and printer driver. It is not possible to insert transparent image watermarks when using a printer driver for drawing output, such as Post Script (PS) and Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL), which provide the path and the biggest problem of the prior art. Secures printouts that would not be possible in the prior art by using the printing framework control-based Post Script and the technology of directly inserting watermarks in the HPGL language, which can overcome the problem that watermarks cannot be inserted even when printing in the form of an electronic file rather than a printer. The company aims to provide an innovative printer output monitoring system that further improves the level.

The present invention embeds a printing framework control module in each user computer connected to a network, so that the control module can detect printing execution at the time of printing through all applications installed in the computer, Print information (e.g. user ID, document name, print time, IP address, Windows account, Windows Workgroup name, printer model name, number of pages printed, number of copies, black and white / color), and print the original image file on the network. It can be saved and managed by sending to the server, and the administrator can check the output log information and output image file by using the administrator tool, and the output to be printed through the printer or similar printer (for example, virtual printer) of the user's computer The document inserts output information and text information (warning text for output document leakage) that can be recognized by the user of the output document. Printout which prints in image state by transparently inserting image information (eg, company logo, etc.) to generate an output document, and then prints out so that the print source can be checked using a watermark printed on the output document. Provide a monitoring system.

Watermark, Printer, Printout, Control Method, Source, Printout, Post Script, HPGL, Dualprint, Lattice Watermark

Description

Printer Output Monitoring System {Print Chaser}

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer output monitoring system of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the present invention.

3 is a view showing an example of a login screen in the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for generating an output type profile and designing a watermark policy according to the present invention;

5 is a view showing an example of a screen for designing a watermark type (output information, watermark image, warning phrase, etc.) for each output type profile in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for allocating a generated watermark policy by enterprise / group / department / user. FIG.

7 is a view showing an example of the output log information providing screen in the present invention.

8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen showing detailed information (output contents) of output log information according to the present invention;

9 is a view showing an example of a screen providing a statistical function in the present invention.

10A and 10B are flowcharts illustrating an execution process of an output watermark embedding method according to the present invention, FIG. 10A is a flowchart illustrating the entire printing process, and FIG. 10B is a flowchart illustrating a watermark embedding process in FIG. 10A. .

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a watermark recorded on an output in the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a watermark recorded in an electronic document (PDF format or HPGL format) instead of offline output in the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a screen in which a user can directly change and output a watermark when outputting a watermark according to the present invention. FIG.

The present invention relates to a printout monitoring system that enables tracking of the source of printing for printouts output through a printer.

With the rapid development of computer hardware, as well as the development of various applications and digital multimedia technologies, most of the work is performed through computers, and work data as well as important corporate information are stored and used on computers.

Recently, the leakage of information of companies has become a very serious social problem, and each company is implementing various security systems to prevent the leakage of such information.

As such security systems, various technologies such as file leakage prevention and document leakage prevention are being introduced. For example, it is common to determine whether to allow access according to the security level. Not only can it cause serious problems, it can also be considered defenseless against document leakage by authorized users.

The present invention is to propose a system for monitoring the leakage path for all outputs output through a printer or a virtual printer without restriction on the application and the printer driver when printing in all applications installed on the user PC.

Conventionally, such outputs (printer outputs) have limitations on printer outputs in each application unit of the user's computer or leave predetermined output information for the outputs so that tracking can be performed on the outputs of the printer outputs. The printer monitoring method is adopted.

In addition, the application control method and the virtual printer driver method are mixed to control the application when printing from a specific application or to force the use of a self-produced printer driver to insert a watermark to still control each specific application. There is a problem in that there is a functional limitation when printing, because the printer driver that is used in the printer can not be used, and the output speed is also reduced when printing.

In addition, in the same way as the conventional control method, when the actual output (document) is leaked, the print path cannot be traced using only the corresponding document, and thus the monitoring / tracking of the fundamental output cannot be performed.

In addition, since the output monitoring is performed on the printer output in each application unit, the output party can recognize this, which may cause a worker's rejection at work.

In addition, as it is executed in each application unit, as the upgrade is required for each application (application program), it is difficult to maintain the system.

In particular, in the conventional technique, transparent image watermarks cannot be inserted when printing watermarks using a driver for design drawings such as Post Script (PS) or Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL). In this case, it is impossible to identify the outflow route.

In view of the above problems, the present invention intends to propose a system for new output management based on a printing framework control.

The present invention embeds a printing framework control module in each user computer connected to a network so that the printing framework control module detects printing execution during printing through all applications installed in the computer. When detected, the output information (e.g. user ID, document name, print time, IP address, Windows account, Windows Workgroup name, printer model name, number of print pages, number of prints, black and white / colored, etc.) for the printed document Send and save the original image file to a server on the network so that the administrator can check the output log information and the output image file, and print it through a printer or similar printer (for example, a virtual printer) on the user's computer (PC). The output document to be outputted has the same output information and warning information as above. And print out the image state (for example, the company's logo, etc.) by transparently inserting the document and printing it in the image state, and then using the watermark printed on the output document. We wanted to provide a printout monitoring system that would allow us to verify the print source.

Since the application control method of the conventional application control method and the self-virtual (Virtual Printer Driver) method is to be controlled for each application, there is a problem of newly developing and applying each time a new application is released, and the existing printer driver cannot be used. Implemented as a printer framework control method that can overcome the problems of the virtual printer driver method that can be applied to watermark by forcibly using a virtual printer driver. Log, original image, and water for the printout without restriction of application and printer driver By providing a mark, it provides a tracking path when output documents are leaked.

In addition, when using a print driver such as PS (Post Script) and Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL), which are the biggest problems of the prior art, it is impossible to insert a transparent image watermark and an electronic file (not a printer) when printing. Using a method of directly inserting a watermark into the output process-based Post Script (PS) and Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL) languages, which overcomes the problem of not being able to insert a watermark even when outputting in PDF, HPGL, etc.) format. The printing source can be identified using a watermark printed on the output document for the output that is impossible in the related art.

The printer output monitoring system of the present invention,

It is composed of a user computer connected to the network and embedded with a printing framework control module, and a server that manages user information, manages watermark policy, output information, and output original image.

The printing framework control module built in the user computer,

Login Agent module that is responsible for user authentication and receives each user's watermark profile from the server and stores it in the user's computer (client),

A watermark profile management module for loading the watermark profile stored by the login agent module and managing watermark profiles and watermark items selected by the user;

A watermark generation module for inserting a watermark item (text (copyright information), output information, watermark image, etc.) designated in the watermark profile of the output of each output page;

An output image extraction module for extracting and storing output images for each output page;

An output information extraction module for extracting output information of an output document when printing is performed;

And an output log transmission module for transmitting the extracted image and information to the log server upon output.

The server,

A login service module which performs authentication by a login request of the login agent module and transmits the watermark profile assigned to the user to the user's computer (client);

An administrator service module that provides services such as user management, watermark profile management, watermark item management, and log inquiry;

And a log service module configured to store and manage an output image and output information transmitted from a user computer (client) in a database when outputting a document.

The configuration and operation of the printer output monitoring system of the present invention having such a feature will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 13.

A user computer 100 each connected to a network and having a printing framework control module 110 embedded therein, a login service performing authentication by a login request and transmitting a watermark profile assigned to the user to the user computer 100; An administrator service that provides services such as user management, watermark profile management, watermark item management, and log inquiry, and a log that stores and manages the output image and output information transmitted from the user computer 100 in the database 300 when the document is output. Server 200 performing a service, and the database 300 that stores the output information and the image file of the output transmitted by the printing framework control module 110 of the user computer 100,

The printing framework control module 110 embedded in the user computer 100 is responsible for user authentication in the user computer 100 and logs in to receive and store watermark profiles for each user from the server 200. The agent module 111, the watermark profile management module 112 for loading the watermark profile stored by the login agent module 111 and applying the watermark profile and the watermark items selected by the user, and the output of each output page. A watermark generation module 113 for inserting watermark items specified in the watermark profile, an output image extraction module 114 for extracting and storing output images for each output page, and printing An output information extracting module 115 for extracting output information of an output document, and an image and information extracted at output A is configured to include a log server 200 outputs the log transfer module 116 to be transmitted to.

The server 200 performs the authentication by the login request of the login agent module 111 and the login service module 210 for transmitting the watermark profile assigned to the user to the client, user management, watermark profile management, and watermark. It includes a manager service module 220 for providing services such as item management, log inquiry, and the log service module 230 for storing the output image and output information transmitted from the client in the database 300 when the document output. .

Such a present invention,

A printing framework control module 110 for monitoring a printing output command of each application is installed in each user computer 100 connected to a network.

The printing framework control module 110 is configured to be automatically installed from the server 200 and managed by the server 200 to be automatically upgraded.

The printing framework control module 110 has a configuration for controlling the output job to play a role as a module that is a function of watermark insertion, output image extraction, output information extraction, and output log transmission function.

For example, the printing framework control module 110 is driven through an executable file (proxtrac.exe), and the printing framework control module (Driver.dll) driven as described above controls a print job to insert and output a watermark. It acts as a module on which image extraction, output information extraction, and output log transmission functions are based.

The login agent module 111 is configured to perform user authentication in the user computer 100 and to receive a watermark profile for each user from the server 200 and store the same in the client.

The watermark profile management module 112 is configured to load the watermark profile stored by the login agent and to apply the watermark profile and watermark items selected by the user,

The watermark generation module 113 has a function of inserting the watermark items specified in the watermark profile into the output for each output page.

The watermark generation module 113 includes a post script (PS) print driver watermark module and a Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL) print driver watermark module in addition to the general printer driver watermark module.

The watermark item is divided into text (copyright information, etc.), output information, and a watermark image.

The watermark generation module 113 inserts a watermark for each page until the page output starts and the page output ends when the document output starts, and the document to be output is the HPGL (Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language) In case of output through driver, insert watermark by inserting vector image into the output source, and in case of output using PS (Post Script) driver, insert watermark directly by passing image to Post Script language. This allows watermarks to be inserted even when outputting using Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL) or Post Script (PS) drivers.

11 illustrates an example in which a watermark is printed on an output.

The output image extraction module 114 is a means for storing each output page in a predetermined format and extracting and storing the output information. The document output is started, the last page is detected, and each output page is formatted in an Enhanced Meta File (EMF) format. Or convert it to PDF file format.

The output information is extracted and stored at the end of the output document.

At this time, the extracted output information includes user ID, output document name, output time, IP address, Windows account, Windows Workgroup name, printer model name, number of print pages, number of copies, black and white / color or not.

The output log transmission module 116 is a means for transmitting the extracted image and information to the log server 200 at the time of output.

The login agent service 210 of the server 200 includes a configuration for performing authentication at the request of the login agent module 111 and transmitting a watermark profile designated to the user to the client.

The manager service module 220 includes a configuration for providing services such as user management, watermark profile management, watermark item management, and log inquiry.

The log service module 230 includes a configuration for storing and managing the output image and the output information transmitted from the user computer 100 in the database 300 when the document is output.

3 to 6 illustrate an example of an administrator screen provided by the manager service module 220.

3 shows an example of a login screen of an administrator service module.

As shown in Figure 3, the administrator is allowed to access using a predetermined ID and password.

4 illustrates an example of a screen for setting a watermark profile and a watermark policy provided to an administrator after the administrator logs in.

5 illustrates an example of a screen for designing a watermark type (output information, image information, text information, etc.) for each output profile.

6 illustrates an example of a screen for allocating the generated watermark type by transcription / group / department / user.

7 shows an example of a printer log search screen, and FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen showing detailed information for confirming printing contents in a log search.

The administrator can obtain various statistical results for the information output by the user by department, printer, and user.

9 illustrates an example of a screen that provides various statistical functions.

In this case, the manager service module 220 may access the server 200 using an external network such as the Internet at a remote location without being limited to the internal network, and may obtain the above result.

Referring to the operation of the present invention having such characteristics in detail as follows.

When the user computer 100 is driven, the embedded printing framework control module 110 is also driven.

When the user executes a printer command on the application on the computer 100, the printing framework control module 110 detects this.

When the print command is detected as described above and the output page starts, the watermark generation module 113 uses watermarks such as output information and copyright information to be printed in the form of text directly on the document, and water in the form of an image (eg, company logo). Create a mark.

The print information recorded in the watermark includes the employee ID, document number, print time, printer model name, Windows account ID, Windows user name, and the like. The copyright information includes the company's copyright information. .

Here, the employee ID (User ID) is used to the information provided from the server 200, and inserted into a certain portion of the top or bottom of each page of the output document so that the user can recognize in text form.

The image watermark is composed of an image form and is inserted in the center of the body so as to be transparently printed.

The watermark generation module 113 inserts output information, copyright information, and transparent watermark image into the output until the last page is output.

The output image extraction module 114 generates an output original image in the form of a file such as EMF, BMP, JPG, TIF, or PDF when the last page of the document output is detected.

The output information extraction module 115 extracts output information of the output document at the end of document output.

The output information generated as described above includes an output document name, a computer name and a user PC login name, an output time, an output PC IP, an output printer name, a total number of output pages, and the like, which are transmitted to the server 200 and the database 300. )

The output log transmission module 116 transmits the output original image file generated as described above and the output information generated by the output information extraction module 115 to the server 200.

The server 200 stores the output information and the output original image file in the database 300.

In this way, the printed file information is stored and managed, and a watermark is inserted so that the source of the printed document can be known.

In such a printer output monitoring system, a watermark embedding method is performed through the following process, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B.

A printing detection process of monitoring and detecting printing on a user computer 100 through a printing framework control,

When the document output starts, the process of inserting a watermark from the start of the output page to the last page output,

Detect the output page and when the last page is detected, save the original image of the printout,

Extracting output information and the like at the end of document output;

The extracted output information and the converted original image file are transmitted to the server and stored and managed in the database.

The process of inserting the watermark,

 The process of determining the printer driver for the output document, and the printer driver judgment result, the method of inserting a vector image when the output document uses the HPGL driver, and the force when using the PS (Post Script) driver The method further includes inserting an image directly into a post script.

Although the user computer 200 described in the above-described embodiments of the present invention has been described based on being configured as an internal network in an enterprise, an external network such as the Internet may be partially or entirely used as necessary.

The present invention is to install an output process monitoring program (printing framework control) on the computer in the enterprise connected to the network and to record the watermark on all documents output through it and to centrally store and manage the information to be output By applying this, it is possible to check the output information to know the overall output situation and its output contents, as well as to determine which path has been leaked using the watermark information recorded in the document even if the document is leaked.

In particular, through the printer driver used to print the design drawings such as Post Script and HPGL, a transparent watermark is inserted even during output so that the trace path can be checked when the design drawings leak out.

Claims (16)

Each computer is connected to the network, the printing framework control module 110, the user computer 100 is built-in, and the printing framework control module 110 installed in the networked user computer 100, the management control, and at the time of document output The server 200 storing and managing the output image and the output information transmitted from the printing framework control module 110 of the user computer 100 in the database 300, and the printing framework control module 110 of the user computer 100. It consists of a database 300 that stores the output information and image files of the output transmitted by the), The printing framework control module 110 embedded in the user computer 100 is responsible for user authentication in the user computer 100 and a login agent responsible for receiving and storing watermark profiles for each user from the server 200. A watermark profile management module 112 for loading the watermark profile stored by the login agent module 111 and applying a watermark profile and watermark items selected by the user, and water of outputs for each output page. A watermark generation module 113 for inserting the watermark items specified in the mark profile, an output image extraction module 114 for extracting and storing the output image for each output page, and an output when performing the output An output information extraction module 115 for extracting output information about a document, and an image and output information extracted during output; And the configuration including the output log transfer module 116 to send to the server (200), The server 200 performs the authentication by the login request of the login agent module 111 and the login service module 210 for transmitting the watermark profile assigned to the user to the user computer 100, the user management and the watermark profile. An administrator service module 220 that provides services such as management, watermark item management, and log inquiry, and a log service module that stores the output image and output information transmitted from the user computer 100 when the document is output to the database 300. Including (230), The printing framework control module 110 controls the printing framework of the operating system (OS) of the user computer 100 to monitor and detect the output of application programs, The watermark generation module 113 inserts a transparent watermark by inserting a vector image into an output document when a watermark is output using a Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL) driver, and inserting a postscript Printer output monitoring system, characterized in that to insert a transparent image watermark by passing the image directly to the PostScript when printing using a driver. The watermark item specified in the output watermark profile for each output page is classified into text (copyright information, etc.), output information, and watermark image, including an HPGL driver and a PostScript driver. Printer output monitoring system, characterized in that. The watermark of claim 1, wherein the watermark generated and inserted by the watermark generation module 113 includes a text watermark in a plain text form including copyright information and output information, and an image such as a logo of a company. An image watermark is inserted into a transparent watermark at a specific position of the text. The text watermark is inserted to be printed in text form on any part of the top or bottom of each page, and the image watermark is inserted in the form of a transparent image throughout the printing surface. Printer output monitoring system, characterized in that. delete The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image watermark generated by the watermark generation module (113) is inserted in the form of a (lattice) transparent image at specific intervals. 4. The watermark generating module 113 according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the watermark generating module 113 inserts the watermark even when outputting to an electronic file such as a document in the form of HPGL or PDF format, instead of offline output. Printer output monitoring system. The method of claim 6, wherein when inserting the watermark even when outputting to the electronic file, whether to insert the watermark in the electronic file, such as HPGL or PDF format document, the offline output of the electronic file already inserted watermark Printer output monitoring system, characterized in that the watermark is not printed twice. delete The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the output information extracted through the output information extraction module 115 includes a user ID, an output document name, an output time, an IP address, a Windows account, a Windows workgroup name, a printer. Printer output monitoring system comprising information such as model name, number of pages printed, number of copies, black and white / color output. The method of claim 1, wherein the manager service module 220 generates an output type profile (for each company, group, department, and user), and reflects the output type profile to a watermark profile to transfer the watermark into a transcription / group. Printer output monitoring system, characterized in that it is possible to change / adjust by / department / user. A printing detection process for monitoring and detecting output from a user computer through a printing framework control module; When the document output starts, the process of inserting a watermark from the start of the output page to the last page output, When the last page is detected, the process of saving the output original image as an image (EMF, JPG, BMP, PDF, etc.) file for all pages, Extracting output information at the end of document output; The extracted output information and the converted original image file are transferred to the server and stored and managed in the database. The printing detection process includes a process of monitoring and detecting an output of an application by controlling a printing framework of a user computer operating system (OS), The process of inserting the watermark may include a process of determining a printer driver for an output document, and a method of inserting a vector image when the output document uses the HPGL driver as a result of the printer driver determination. In the case of using a Post Script driver, a method of inserting a watermark in a printer output monitoring system comprising inserting an image directly into a Post Script. delete 12. The method of claim 11, wherein in the printing detection process, when printing is detected, a process of allowing a user to select a watermark type when outputting or changing a watermark type directly and outputting the data according to an administrator's policy. Watermark insertion method of the printer output monitoring system characterized in that it further comprises. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the watermark is inserted when the watermark is inserted into an electronic file such as a document in HPGL or PDF format instead of offline output. How to insert mark. 15. The electronic file of claim 14, wherein, in the process of embedding the watermark, when outputting to an electronic file, such as a document in an HPGL or PDF format, whether or not the watermark is embedded in the electronic file is displayed. The watermark insertion method of the printer output monitoring system, characterized in that the watermark is not outputted in duplicate when the offline output. delete

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