KR20060116061A - Security printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

A secure printing method is provided to prevent leakage of documents by making responsibility for the printed documents clear, as the document is printed after the user is authenticated when document printing is requested and a face photo of the authenticated user is printed to the printing sheet. The face photo, personal information, and photo comparison area information of the user are respectively registered to a printer driver and a printer. In case that a printing command for the document is inputted, the face photo, the personal information, and the photo comparison area information registered to the printer driver, and the document are converted into printing data recognizable in the printer, and the printing data is transferred to the printer(S720). The printer checks whether a part corresponding to a photo comparison area of the face photo received from the printer driver is matched with the face photo registered to the printer(S730). In the case that both parts are matched, the document, and the face photo and the personal information of the user are printed to the printing sheet(S740).

Description

SECURITY PRINTING METHOD {SECURITY PRINTING METHOD}

1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional security printing system,

2 is a block diagram of a secure printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a view showing a user interface of a registration request email used in a secure printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a view showing a user interface of a printer authentication registration menu used in a secure printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

 5 is a view showing an example of a printed matter printed by a secure printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart of a printer user registration process in a secure printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

7 is a flowchart of a document printing process in the secure printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

110: user computer 111: display unit

112: input unit 113: application unit

114: storage unit 115: printer driver

115-1: UI section 115-2: Authentication information register

115-3: Email sending section 115-3: Print data converting section

120: administrator computer 130: email server

140: management server 150: printer

152: registration information storage unit 153: printer control unit

154: printing unit 160: network

The present invention relates to a secure printing method, and more particularly, to a secure printing method that can enhance user's security by performing user authentication using a user's face picture and printing the user's face picture on printing paper.

Recently, most companies use computers to work. Each computer is connected to a network through a LAN or WAN. As a result, confidential data such as documents and drawings, which should be used only in the company, are being stolen, leaked, or lost through the network.

Accordingly, in order to prevent the leakage or loss of confidential documents or drawings of the company, the security printing method that allows only authorized persons to print documents created on a computer by a printer connected to a network Interest is growing day by day.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional security printing system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional secure printing system 10 includes a computer 11, an authentication server 12, and a printer 13.

When a user in the company requests printing of a document created by using an application program installed on the computer 11, the printer driver of the computer 11 requests authentication of the user to the authentication server 12.

When an authentication request is made for the user from the printer driver, the authentication server 12 inputs authentication information such as an ID and a password to the user who requested printing so as to determine whether the user requesting printing is a legitimate user who can output a confidential document. After the determination, if the user is a legitimate user, the printer driver of the computer 11 is notified.

When the printer driver authenticates the user by the authentication server 12, the printer driver converts the document requested by the user to a printer language interpretable by the printer 13 and transmits the print job.

Such a conventional secure printing system has an effect of preventing the document from being leaked, copied or lost to some extent by allowing only an authenticated user to output the document.

However, such a conventional secure printing system has a problem that a user needs to input authentication information each time a print job is requested, and a cumbersome process of requesting authentication to the authentication server is required every time. In addition, if the authentication server is down or does not operate due to a power-off state or the like, authentication of the user cannot be obtained, so even a legitimate user cannot print a document. In addition, there is a problem that it is almost impossible to determine the responsible location when the document is lost or leaked because it is not known who printed the printed matter.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to determine whether the user is a legitimate user when requesting the printing of the document to print the document after authentication, and to display the user's face picture on the printed material to clarify the material responsible for the printed document It is to provide a secure printing method that can prevent the leakage of documents.

In order to solve the above problems, a security printing method using a user computer installed with a printer driver according to the present invention and a printer for printing a document transmitted from the user computer includes user face photos, user personal information, and photo comparison area information. Registering the printer driver and the printer with each other, and when a print command for a predetermined document is input, the user face photograph, user personal information, photo comparison area information, and the document registered in the printer driver are stored in the printer. Converting the print data into recognizable print data and transmitting the converted print data; and determining whether the user face picture transmitted from the printer driver and the portion corresponding to the picture comparison area of the user face picture registered in the printer match each other; If the result of the determination is correct, the document, the User and a face picture and the step of printing on print media to the user personal information.

The registration step may include receiving and registering the user face picture and the user personal information from the printer driver, and registering a registration request email including the input user face picture and the user personal information with a predetermined administrator email address. Requesting a printer user registration by sending a message to the user; and receiving the photo comparison area information on the registration request e-mail when the printer user registration request is accepted, the set photo comparison area information, the face image of the user, Transmitting the user personal information to the printer and a predetermined manager server and registering the user personal information; and receiving the photo comparison area information registered at the manager server and registering the user personal information in the printer driver.

In addition, the user personal information preferably includes at least one of a user name and a user computer IP address.

In addition, the user's face photograph and the user's personal information is preferably printed on either side of the top and bottom of the printing paper.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in more detail of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a secure printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the secure printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a user computer 110, an administrator computer 120, an email server 130, management server 140 connected to each other via a network 160 ) And a printer 150.

The network 160 refers to almost any type of communication network that can be connected by wire or wirelessly, and may include, for example, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a telecommunication network (WAN), and the like.

The user computer 110 refers to a computer used by a user who wants to print a document to be printed, and includes a display unit 111, an input unit 112, an application program unit 113, a storage unit 114, a computer control unit 117, and a printer. The driver 115 and the PC interface unit 116 are included.

The display unit 111 displays various application program user interfaces, a printer driver user interface, etc. under the control of the computer controller 117, and a monitor may be applied.

The input unit 112 receives a user command for setting or selecting various functions supported by the user computer 110. As the input unit 112, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like may be applied. When various commands are input through the input unit 112, the computer controller 117 controls the internal components based thereon.

The application program 113 performs the creation and editing of various print target documents, and may be implemented in a word processor such as Hangul Hangul, Hunminjeongeum, Excel for calculation of accounting, Photoshop, etc. for drawing.

The storage unit 114 stores various programs and print data necessary for implementing the functions of the user computer 110. In particular, the storage unit 114 according to the present invention stores the print target documents created by the application program unit 113.

The printer driver 115 receives a user's face photo, user personal information (company name, department name, user name, user computer IP address, user email address), administrator email address, printer IP address, and has a user interface as shown in FIG. 3. The registration request email 300 is generated and sent to the administrator's e-mail address to request the printer user registration from the administrator. In addition, the printer driver 115 converts the print target document, the user's face photograph, user personal information, and photo comparison area information into print data recognizable by the printer 150 and transmits the converted print data.

Here, the photo comparison area information corresponds to a match between the user face photograph stored in advance and the user face photograph included in the print data in order to confirm whether the printer 150 is a legitimate user before performing a print job on the document to be printed. Whether or not to say information about the area of the user's face photograph used in the comparison.

In more detail, the printer driver 115 includes a UI unit 115-1, an authentication information registration unit 115-2, an e-mail sending unit 115-3, and a print data converting unit 115-4.

The UI unit 115-1 generates a user interface window 400 as shown in FIG. 4 when the user drives the printer driver 115 and selects a 'printer authentication registration' menu of 'printer registration information'. The display unit 111 displays the user's face photo, user personal information (company name, department name, user name, user computer IP, user email), administrator email address, and printer IP address.

The authentication information registration unit 115-2 registers the user's face photograph and the user's personal information input through the user interface window 400, and accesses the management server 140 when receiving the registration acceptance email sent from the administrator. Register to receive photo comparison area information.

When the e-mail sending unit 115-3 receives a user's face picture, user personal information, an administrator's e-mail address, and a printer IP address through the user interface window 400, the user's face picture and user registration information are included as the administrator's e-mail address. Create and send the registered registration email (300).

When a print command is input through the input unit 112, the print data converting unit 115-4 prints the user's face photograph, user personal information, and photo comparison area information read from the print target document and the authentication information registration unit 115-2. The data is converted into print data and transmitted to the printer 150. In this case, the print data converter 115-4 may set the position such that the user's face photograph and the user's personal information are displayed on a certain region of the printed matter, for example, one side of the top or bottom of the printed paper. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter printed according to the present invention, and illustrates a case in which the user face photograph 510 and the user personal information 520 are located at the bottom of the printing paper 500 and printed.

In the PC interface unit 116, the user computer 110 is connected to the network 160 to exchange various printing-related data information with the manager computer 120, the e-mail server 130, the management server 140, and the printer 150. It is in charge of the passage.

The manager computer 120 refers to a computer used by an administrator who manages a secure printing system. The manager computer 120 receives information on whether a printer user registration request is accepted and a photo comparison area information from an administrator who checks the registration request e-mail 300. In addition, when the administrator accepts the printer user registration request, the administrator computer 120 transmits the user's face photo, user personal information, and photo comparison area information to the printer 150 and the management server 140, and the user ' Send a registration acceptance email.

The management server 140 registers the user's face photo, user personal information, photo comparison area information, etc., which is requested to register a printer user, from the administrator computer 120 and receives a 'registration acceptance email'. In accordance with the request of the authentication information registration unit 115-2 of the picture comparison area information is provided. The email server 130 is responsible for relaying email between the user computer 110 and the administrator computer 120.

When there is a print job request for the print target document from the user computer 110, the printer 150 checks whether the user who requested the print job is a legitimate user and then performs a print job for the print target document.

In more detail, the printer 150 includes a printer interface unit 151, a registration information storage unit 152, a printer control unit 153, and a printing unit 154.

In the printer interface unit 151, the printer 150 is connected to the network 160 to exchange various printing-related data information with the manager computer 120, the e-mail server 130, the management server 140, and the user computer 110. It is in charge of the passage.

The registration information storage unit 152 registers the user face picture, user personal information, and picture comparison area information transmitted from the manager computer 120.

The printer controller 153 controls the overall operation of the printer 150. In particular, the printer control unit 153 according to the present invention is whether the user face picture transmitted from the user computer 110 and the portion corresponding to the picture comparison area of the user face picture stored in the registration information storage unit 152 coincide with each other. If so, the printer 154 controls the printing unit 154 to print the print target document, the face of the user, and the user's personal information on the printing paper.

The print unit 154 performs a print job based on the print data transmitted from the user computer 110 under the control of the printer controller 153.

6 is a flowchart of a printer user registration process in the secure printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 to 6, first, a user who wants to register a user of a printer drives a printer driver 115 installed in a user computer 110 to display a 'printer authentication registration' item on the 'printer registration information' screen 400 ( If the user's face photo and user personal information (company name, department name, user name, user computer IP address, user email address), administrator email address, and printer IP address are input in step 410 (S610), the computer control unit 117 authenticates the user. A user as shown in FIG. 3 including a user face picture and user personal information registered in the information registering unit 115-2 (S615) and controlling the e-mail sending unit 115-3. The registration request email 300 having the interface is generated and sent to the administrator email address (S620).

Subsequently, the manager computer 120 accesses the e-mail server 130 and checks the user's face photograph and user personal information included in the 'registration request e-mail' 300 to the administrator, and receives whether to accept the printer user registration request. S625).

The administrator computer 120, the administrator clicks the 'area selection' button 310 of the 'registration request e-mail' (300) and set the photo comparison area 321 in the user face picture 320 (S630), administrator password After entering the administrator server IP address and clicking the 'Accept registration' button 330, the management server 140 and the printer 150 transmits and registers the user's face photo, user personal information and photo comparison area information ( S635). Here, the setting of the picture comparison area may be set by dragging a mouse on the user's face picture or by directly inputting the picture comparison area coordinates in the 'area coordinate input' field 340.

Next, the administrator computer 120 generates and sends a 'registration acceptance email' to the email address of the user who requested the printer user registration (S640).

 If the administrator checks the user's face photo and user authentication information, and then clicks the 'Reject Registration' button 350 in the 'Registration Request Email' 300 to reject the user's use of the printer, the administrator computer 120 The input window (not shown) for inputting the reason for rejection is displayed, the reason for registration rejection is input from the administrator, and a 'rejection rejection email' including a message of the reason for rejection of authentication is sent to the corresponding user (S650).

Next, when the user computer 110 receives the 'registration acceptance email' sent from the administrator by accessing the e-mail server 130, the user computer 110 accesses the management server 140 and receives the photo comparison area information to receive the authentication information registration unit 115. -2) to register (S645). If there are a plurality of printer drivers installed in the user computer 110, the printer driver is selected by the user and the picture comparison area information is registered in the authentication information registration unit of the selected printer driver. As a result, user face photographs, user personal information, and photo comparison area information are registered in the printer driver 115 and the printer 150, respectively.

7 is a flowchart of a document printing process in the secure printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 to 7, first, when a print command for a print target document created on the application program unit 113 is input from the user (S710), the print data conversion unit 115-4 is an authentication information registration unit. The user's face photograph, the user's personal information, the photo comparison area information, and the print target document read from the user 115-2 are converted into print data recognizable by the printer 150 and transmitted (S720). In this case, the print data converter 115-4 may set the position such that the user's face photograph and the user's personal information are displayed on a certain region of the printed matter, for example, one side of the top or bottom of the printed paper.

Thereafter, the printer controller 153 determines whether the user face picture transmitted from the user computer 110 and the part corresponding to the picture comparison area in the user face picture registered in the registration information storage unit 152 match (S730). ).

As a result of the determination, when the face of the user matches, the printer controller 153 controls the printing unit 154 to perform a print job of printing the document to be printed, the face of the user, and the user's personal information on the printing paper (S740).

As a result of the determination, when the user's face photo is inconsistent, the printer controller 153 transmits a 'non-printable' message to the user computer 110 and ends the print job (S750).

As described above, according to the present invention, once a printer user is registered by an administrator, authentication of a user can be performed in the printer without an authentication server. There is an advantage that a cumbersome process that needs to be entered can be omitted.

In addition, since the photo comparison area information is matched with the user photo face registered in the printer, even if the user photo face is lost, it is possible to prevent others from stealing the user authentication.

In addition, since the user's face picture is printed on the printed matter, it is possible to easily identify who is the printout of the printed matter, thereby preventing the user from accidentally leaking or neglecting the printed output.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. I will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

Claims (4)

In the secure printing method using a user computer installed with a printer driver, and a printer for printing a document transmitted from the user computer, Registering user face pictures, user personal information, and picture comparison area information with the printer driver and the printer, respectively; Converting and transmitting the user's face photograph, user personal information, photo comparison area information, and the document into print data recognizable by the printer when a print command for a predetermined document is input; Determining whether a user face picture transmitted from the printer driver and a portion corresponding to the picture comparison area of the user face picture registered in the printer match each other; And, Printing the document, the user's face photograph, and the user's personal information on a printing paper when the determination result is matched; Secure printing method comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration step, Receiving the user's face photograph and the user's personal information from the printer driver and registering the user's face photo; Requesting a printer user registration by sending a registration request email including the input face image and user personal information to a predetermined administrator email address; If the printer user registration request is accepted, setting the photo comparison area information on the registration request e-mail; Transmitting the registered picture comparison area information, the face image of the user, and the user personal information to the printer and a predetermined administrator server; And, Receiving the picture comparison area information registered in the manager server and registering the information in the printer driver; Secure printing method comprising a. The method of claim 1, And the user personal information includes at least one of a user name and a user computer IP address. The method of claim 1, The user's face photograph and the user's personal information is printed on any one of the top and bottom of the printing paper.

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