JP4876910B2 - Printing system, printing method, printing apparatus, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  According to the present invention, a RIP (Raster Image Processing) processing unit that converts image data described in PDL (Page Description Language) into bitmap data includes a plurality of rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes. The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing method, a printing apparatus, and a computer program capable of charging for each rasterizer and limiting the number of times of printing.

  Here, the rasterization processing attribute refers to a RIP processing attribute that is regulated by a combination of the type of PDL for RIP processing, the print resolution, the color depth, and the like.

  In recent years, added value to printing has been recognized in the flow of paperless (environmental consideration) and quality improvement of printed images by a printer. In particular, a photograph of a famous photographer, research information in a specific field, and the like can be image content with added value that is determined to be worth payment by the user.

  Along with this, there is a need for a billing mechanism that leaves no room for unauthorized use for high-quality printing of value-added image content.

  In the conventional chargeable image content charging method, charging is performed when data is provided from an image content provider such as a server, or the image content is distributed as encrypted data and the decryption key is sent separately for a fee. You are charged.

  However, digital data can be easily replicated. Although the digital data transferred from the server to the terminal device is transferred in an encrypted state on the network, it can be easily copied after being decrypted in the terminal device.

  Therefore, data is requested from the terminal device to the server, the requested data is encrypted in the server and transmitted to the terminal device via the network, and the encrypted data is sent from the terminal device to the printer, A printing system that uses the printer for decoding has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

According to Patent Document 1, since data is sent to a printer while being encrypted, only the printer having the descrambling key can decrypt the data, and printing is performed by another printer having no descrambling key. I can't do that.
JP 2002-287919 A

  However, the conventional printing system cannot perform printing with a unique key for each rasterizer having different rasterization processing attributes. Further, it has been impossible to limit the number of printings that can be used in the printer or to charge for the number of printings.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of identifying rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes and managing printing using a unique key for each rasterizer.

  The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

(1) A printing system including a server that provides image data described in a page description language and a printer that prints the provided image data. The printer transmits image data to the server. a transmission requesting means requests transmission of the image data by designating the identification information of the rasterizing process attributes and image data is defined by a combination of the type of print resolution value and a page description language, before SL server, the Based on the rasterization processing attribute and the identification information of the image data, a determination unit that determines whether or not to print the image data requested to be transmitted from the transmission request unit, and the server is determined to be printable by the determination unit The image data is designated by the encryption key separately prepared for rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes. The transmission means for encrypting with the encryption key prepared for the rasterizer having the rasterization processing attribute and transmitting to the printer, and the encrypted image data received by the printer from the server are encrypted. A plurality of decrypting means for decrypting with the decryption key having the same content as the used encryption key, and a plurality of different rasterization processing attributes held by the printer in the image data decrypted by the decrypting means; And a converting means for converting the data into bitmap data through the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute.

( 2 ) The image data is managed as a plurality of records specified by a combination of identification information of the image data and rasterization processing attributes, and the determination unit sets whether or not the image data can be printed for each record. The printing system according to (1) , wherein the printing system is determined in consideration of a remaining printable count that is subtracted each time printing is performed.

( 3 ) A method executed by a printing system having a server for providing image data described in a page description language and a printer for printing the provided image data, wherein the printer is connected to the server. in contrast, a transmission request step of requesting transmission of the image data by designating the identification information of the rasterizing process attributes and image data is defined by a combination of the type of print resolution value and a page description language image data, before A determination step in which the server determines whether or not to print the image data requested to be transmitted from the transmission request step based on the rasterization processing attribute and the identification information of the image data; and the server performs printing in the determination step. Separately determined image data for each rasterizer with different rasterization attributes A transmission step of encrypting with the encryption key prepared for the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute and transmitting to the printer, and the printer received from the server A decryption step of decrypting the encrypted image data with an decryption key having the same content as the encryption key used for the encryption; and the image data decrypted in the decryption step by the printer A plurality of rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, and passing through the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute to convert the data into bitmap data. .

( 4 ) The image data is managed as a plurality of records specified by a combination of identification information of the image data and rasterization processing attributes, and the determination step sets whether or not the image data can be printed for each record. The printing method according to ( 3 ), wherein the printable remaining number that is subtracted every time printing is performed is further considered.

( 5 ) Designating a rasterization attribute and image data identification information defined by a combination of the print resolution value of image data described in a page description language and the type of page description language to the server Among the transmission request means for requesting transmission of data and the encryption keys individually prepared for rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, the encryption prepared for the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute Receiving means for receiving image data encrypted with a key from a server, and decryption key having the same contents as the encryption key used for the encryption of the encrypted image data received by the receiving means A plurality of rasters having different rasterization attributes belonging to the decoding means for decoding by the decoding means and the image data decoded by the decoding means. Of Taraiza, printing apparatus through La Sutaraiza having rasterization attributes the specified comprises converting means for converting the bit map data, and characterized in that.

( 6 ) A rasterization attribute and image data identification information defined by a combination of a print resolution value of image data described in a page description language and a type of page description language are designated to the server. An encryption prepared for a rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute among a transmission request step for requesting transmission of data and an encryption key individually prepared for rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes A receiving step for receiving image data encrypted with a key from a server; and a descrambling key having the same content as the encryption key used for the encryption of the encrypted image data received in the receiving step. And the image data decoded in the decoding step are combined with different rasterization processing attributes. Of among the rasterizer, a printing method through La Sutaraiza having rasterization attributes the specified, and a step of converting the bit map data, characterized in that.

( 7 ) A rasterization attribute and image data identification information specified by a combination of a print resolution value of image data described in a page description language and a type of page description language are specified to the server. Of the transmission request procedure for requesting data transmission and the encryption key individually prepared for rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, the encryption prepared for the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute A reception procedure for receiving image data encrypted with a key from a server, and a decryption key having the same content as the encryption key used for the encryption of the encrypted image data received in the reception procedure And a plurality of rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, and the image data decoded by the decoding procedure. In a computer program to be executed through the La Sutaraiza having rasterization attributes the specified, the procedures for converting the bit map data, to the printing apparatus.

( 8 ) A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to ( 7 ) is recorded.

  According to the present invention, the RIP processing unit is configured by a plurality of rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, each rasterizer is identified, and an encryption key and a descrambling key are associated with each rasterizer. The printing can be managed with a unique key for each rasterizer. In addition, the printer can be charged for each rasterizer and the number of printings can be limited.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The printing system according to the present embodiment includes a PC 1 as a document print instruction device, a printer 2 as a printing device that prints image data based on a print instruction from the PC 1, and image data for the printer 2. And a server 3 that provides the information, and these are connected to each other via a network 4 so as to communicate with each other. Note that the PC 1 and the printer 2 may be directly connected (locally connected) between devices without going through the network 4.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PC 1 shown in FIG. The PC 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk 14, a display 15, an input device 16, and a network interface 17, which are connected to each other via a bus 18 for exchanging signals.

  The CPU 11 performs control of each part and various arithmetic processes according to the program. The ROM 12 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 13 temporarily stores programs and data as a work area. The hard disk 14 stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

  Here, an application for creating a document file and a printer driver for converting the document file into print data described in a language interpretable by the printer 2 are installed on the hard disk 14. The printer driver has a function of giving an instruction to print a document created by the document creation software of the application and an instruction to cancel printing. The printer driver includes a program for displaying an instruction screen for a print instruction and a program for displaying an instruction screen for a print cancel instruction.

  The display 15 is an LCD, a CRT display, or the like, and is used for displaying various information. The input device 16 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used for inputting various information.

  The network interface 17 is an interface for communicating with other devices via the network 4, and standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), token ring, and FDDI are used.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 2 shown in FIG. The printer 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a hard disk 24, an operation panel unit 25, a printing unit 26, and a network interface 27, which are connected to each other via a bus 28 for exchanging signals. . Of the parts of the printer 2, the parts having the same functions as those of the parts of the PC 1 are not described in order to avoid duplication.

  Here, the ROM 22 or the hard disk 24 stores normal processing programs such as RIP processing for developing print data into bitmap data described in a page description language, and print processing for printing image data on paper.

  The operation panel unit 25 includes a touch panel, a numeric keypad, a start button, a stop button, and the like, and is used for displaying various information and inputting various information. The printing unit 26 prints various data on a recording material such as paper using a known image forming process such as an electrophotographic process.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the contents of the ROM 22 and RAM 23 in the printer 2.

  In the ROM 22 or the hard disk 24, a rasterizing process attribute and image data identification information are designated and a transmission request process for requesting transmission of the image data, or encrypted image data received from the server 3 is encrypted. The decryption processing for decrypting with the decryption key having the same content as the encryption key used, or the specified image data among the plurality of rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes owned by the self A program such as a process of converting to bitmap data through a rasterizer having a rasterization process attribute is stored. FIG. 4 representatively shows a document analysis unit 41, a decryption unit 42, a synthesis unit 43, and a RIP processing unit 44.

  Among these, the RIP processing unit 44 is a part that functions to convert (rasterize) print data described in PDL received from the PC 1 and the server 3 into bitmap data, and has a plurality of rasterizers 45 “having different rasterization process attributes. RIP1 to RIPn ”, and each rasterizer 45 is assigned a RIP identification ID 46“ RID101 to RID10n ”. Here, the “rasterization processing attribute” refers to a RIP processing attribute that is regulated by a combination of the type of page description language for RIP processing, print resolution, color depth, and the like. Examples of the PDL include PCL (Page Control Language), PS (PostScript (registered trademark)), and PDF (Portable Document Format). The “printing resolution” is another such as 300 dpi, 600 dpi, 2400 dpi.

  In the RAM 23, storage areas for the encrypted data 47, the PDL data 48, and the raster data 49 that are necessary in the course of the above processing, and the RIP decryption key 50 indicated as “release key 1” to “release key n” are stored. A storage area is provided. The “release key 1” to “release key n” of the RIP encryption release key 50 are the same as the encryption keys (see FIG. 7) of the key management table 38 of the server 3 described later. Is registered in advance from the server 3 and stored in the storage area of the RIP decryption key 50.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the server 3 shown in FIG. The server 3 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a hard disk 34, and a network interface 35, which are connected to each other via a bus 36 for exchanging signals. Note that, of the above-described units of the server 3, portions having the same functions as those of the above-described units of the PC 1 are not described in order to avoid redundant description.

  The ROM 32 or the hard disk 34 stores a processing program in a case where a rasterization processing attribute and image data identification information are designated from the printer 2 and a transmission request for the image data is made. The RAM 33 is provided with a charging management table 37 and a key management table 38. Furthermore, a database 39 of image contents is constructed on the hard disk 34. This database 39 stores paid image content data defined by various PDLs.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the charge management table 37. The charging management table 37 has columns of “RIP identification ID”, “charging RIP device No.”, “RIP processing attribute (print resolution / PDL)”, “content identification information”, “user”, and “printable remaining number of times”. .

  At present, the number of users registered in the server 3 is “User 1 to User 3”, and there are respective charging RIP devices “No 1 to No 3”. That is, “charging RIP device No. 1” owned by “user 1”, “charging RIP device No. 2” owned by “user 2”, and “charging RIP device No. 3” owned by “user 3” are stored in the server 3. It is registered.

  In addition, the “charging RIP device No. 1” includes three rasterizers “RIP1” to “RIP3”, the “charging RIP device No. 2” includes two rasterizers “RIP4” to “RIP5”, and the “charging RIP device No. 3”. One rasterizer “RIP6” is registered. The rasterization processing attributes that can be processed by each rasterizer 45 of the printer 2 described in FIG. 4 are determined in advance by a combination of the PDL type and the print resolution in this example, and this is indicated in the accounting management table 37 of the server 3 as “RIP processing”. It is stored in the item “Attribute”. In this example, the combination of the PDL type and the print resolution is a combination of PCL, PS, and PDF with 300 dpi, 600 dpi, and 2400 dpi.

  Further, the same names as “RID101” to “RID10n” of the RIP identification IDs 46 assigned to the rasterizers 45 in FIG. 4 are stored in the item “RIP identification ID” in FIG. Specifically, “HZ0a3wYc001” to “HZ0a3wYc003”, “WaC910AM001”, “WaC910AM002”, and “AOp97Sg5001” are listed as “RIP identification IDs” in the left column of the charging management table 37 of FIG. This RIP identification ID 46 is a value that is unique worldwide. In this example, the RIP identification ID 46 is an 8-digit alphanumeric character that is uniquely generated from the MAC address (worldwide unique) of the printer 2 and a 3-digit serial number in the printer 2. Generated from

  An example of generation of the RIP identification ID 46 is shown in FIG. The MAC address of the printer 2 is indicated by “12: 34: 56: 78: 9a: bc”, for example. FIG. 8 shows a generation example of the RIP identification ID 46 when the RIP sequence number in the printer 2 is 3. Among the “HZ0a3wYc003” that is the RIP identification ID, “HZ0a3wYc” is an alphanumeric character generated from the MAC address, and “003” is “003”, one of the RIP serial numbers 001 to 999 in the printer. Indicates.

  Next, “content identification information” is information for identifying image content stored in the database 39 of the server 3, and “PIC0001S”, “PIC0002C”, “PIC0001S”, “PIC0003S”, or the like is used. “Printable remaining number of times” indicates the remaining number of times that the user can still print in relation to billing.

  In the case of the example in FIG. 6, there are currently four types of image contents for which a fee has been paid: “PIC0001S”, “PIC0002C”, “PIC0003S”, and “PIC0003D”. However, these are different data if the rasterization processing attributes are different. That is, different data is obtained depending on the type of PDL such as PS, PCL, and PDF, and different data can be obtained by selecting an arbitrary print resolution from a plurality of print resolutions such as 300 dpi, 600 dpi, and 2400 dpi. For example, “PIC0003S” and “PIC0003D” handle the same image content but have different data because of different PDL. In the accounting management table 37, one record is formed so as to be unique by the combination of the content identification information and the RIP identification ID 46.

  In the accounting management table 37 of FIG. 6, “printable remaining number” indicates the remaining number of printable prints that have reached the present as a result of operating printing by the printer 2. For example, the number of times that the user 1 can print the image content with the identification number “PIC0001S” through the rasterizer 45 of “RIP1” is the remaining 50 times. The number of times that the user 1 can print the image content with the identification number “PIC0002C” through the rasterizer 45 of “RIP2” is the remaining three times. Further, the number of times that the user 2 can print the image content with the identification number “PIC0001S” through the rasterizer 45 of “RIP4” is the remaining 10 times. The number of times that the user 3 can print the image content with the identification number “PIC0001S” through the rasterizer 45 of “RIP6” is the remaining three times.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the key management table 38. As shown in the figure, an encryption key generated for each RIP identification ID 46 is registered in the key management table 38 of the server 3. Here, the encryption key is a 7-digit numerical value.

  Next, the operation of the printing system in the present embodiment will be described.

  “User 1” shown in FIG. 1 is a person who prints image content from the printer 2 using the client PC, and “Server operator 1” operates the server 3 that provides the image content to obtain billing income. It is a person. Although there are generally a plurality of printers 2 and client PCs 1, in this example, a mode in which a print process is performed from one client PC 1 to one printer 2 will be described.

  As described above, the printer 2 includes the RIP descrambling key 50 and the RIP identification ID 46 corresponding to each rasterizer 45 of the RIP processing unit 44. Each rasterizer 45 holds attribute information such as the type of PDL that the rasterizer 45 performs RIP processing and the print resolution. The RIP identification ID 46 is generated and registered according to the generation method described with reference to FIG. 8. The RIP identification ID is stored in advance in the content server charging management table 37 and the key when the user registers the use of the content server. Registered in the management table 38. Further, the same RIP encryption key 50 as the RIP encryption key corresponding to the RIP identification ID in the key management table 38 of the server 3 is downloaded and stored in the printer 2 in advance.

  9 to 11 are flowcharts showing the procedure of processing in the printer 2, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts showing the procedure of processing in the server 3. The algorithm shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 11 is stored as a program in a storage unit such as the ROM 22 or the hard disk 24 of the printer 2 and is executed by the CPU 21. 12 and 13 is stored as a program in a storage unit such as the ROM 32 or the hard disk 34 of the server 3 and executed by the CPU 31.

  Here, a document having a layout as shown in FIG. 14 is created by using application software installed in the PC, and paid image contents “PIC0001S” “ It is assumed that printing is performed by pasting PIC0002C and PIC0003S as shown in FIG. In the case of the charge management table 37 shown in FIG. 6, the remaining number of printable times for the image contents “PIC0001S”, “PIC0002C”, and “PIC0003S” are 50 times for “PIC0001S” and 3 times for “PIC0002C” for the user 1. Yes, “PIC0003S” is zero. Accordingly, the image contents “PIC0001S” and “PIC0002C” are printed correctly, but the image contents “PIC0003S” cannot be printed because the remaining printable count is zero. FIG. 15 shows an output example (print image) of printing at this time.

  In the print job of the document created on the PC by the user 1, as the information of the image content portion of the page, the position of the content pasting portion 51 to which the image content is pasted and the image content desired to be printed. The content identification information “PIC0001S, PIC0002C, PIC0003S” is included at least, and the PDL type and print resolution information of the image content are added as the rasterization processing attributes selected by the user 1. The image content that the user 1 desires to use and its rasterization processing attribute are selected from those previously downloaded from the server 3. As another method for instructing the position of the content pasting portion 51 and the content identification information, a content image having a low print resolution for display may be used. The type of PDL that designates the rasterization processing attribute and the print resolution may be added by a printer driver or the like.

  FIG. 9 shows the flow of processing of the printer 2 when a print job is received. In the flow of FIG. 9, printing is performed after all page processing is completed. However, printing processing may be performed sequentially as soon as page data is generated in order to improve processing speed.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 9, the CPU 21 of the printer 2 waits for the print job of the document to be received from the PC 1 via the network 4 (S101: NO).

  When a print job is received (S101: YES), the document analysis unit 41 analyzes the received print job (S102), detects that three image contents PIC0001S, PIC0002C, and PIC0003S are included, and each PDL The rasterizer 45 to be used in the RIP processing unit 44 is determined from the type and the print resolution.

  That is, after initializing the page layout of the document (S103), the document analysis unit 41 extracts information on the image content portion of the page (S104), and determines whether the image content to be printed is paid image content. Judgment is made (S105). If it is not paid image content, normal rasterization processing is performed (S106). If it is paid image content (S105: YES), the processing proceeds to “paid content processing” (S107) which is paid rasterization processing.

  FIG. 10 shows the paid content processing. The CPU 21 first acquires the type of PDL and the print resolution, which are rasterization processing attributes for which the target image content is to be processed (S201). Then, the rasterizer 45 having the same PDL type and print resolution as the target image content is searched and selected from the plurality of rasterizers 45 constituting the RIP processing unit 44 (S202).

  If there is no corresponding rasterizer 45 (S203: NO), message image data that cannot be printed is selected as raster data 49, and the process returns to step S107 (S211).

  When there is a corresponding rasterizer 45 (S203: YES), the content identification information “PIC0001S”, “PIC0002C”, “PIC0003S” of the target image content and the RIP identification ID 46 of the target rasterizer are transmitted to the server 3 (S205).

  In this way, the document analysis unit 41 transmits the content identification information and the determined RIP identification ID 46 of the target rasterizer to the server 3 via the network 4 for each printing of the image content ( S205). This means that a rasterization processing attribute is designated to the server 3 and a transmission request for image content data (image content request) is made. Then, it waits for a response from the server 3 (S207, S208).

  FIG. 12 shows processing when the server 3 receives the image content request.

  In the image content request reception process of FIG. 12, when the server 3 receives the above-mentioned image content request (S401: YES), it acquires the RIP identification ID 46 and content identification information of the rasterizer 45 from the received information (S402), and FIG. The record determined by the combination of the RIP identification ID 46 and the content identification information is searched from the charging management table 37 shown in FIG.

  If the record exists (S404: YES), the server 3 acquires the remaining printable number of times for the record (S405), and confirms that the remaining printable number is not zero (S406).

  If one or more printable remaining times remain (S406: YES), the server 3 obtains an encryption key corresponding to the RIP identification ID 46 from the key management table 38 of FIG. Image content data corresponding to the content identification information is acquired from the database 39 (S408). Then, the image content data is encrypted with the encryption key (S409), the encrypted image content data is transmitted to the printer 2 that is the request source (S410), and the process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S404 that there is no corresponding record (S404: NO), the server 3 transmits a response indicating that printing is not possible to the requesting printer 2, and ends the process (S411). If the remaining number of printable times is zero in the determination in step S406 (S406: NO), a response indicating that printing is not possible is transmitted to the requesting printer 2, and the process ends (S411).

  Instead of notifying the printer 2 that printing is not possible as described above, when the record cannot be retrieved or when the remaining printable count is zero, an image indicating that printing is not possible is sent to the printer 2. May be.

  Returning to step 207 of the printer in FIG. 10, when the server 3 receives a response to the image request from the server 3 (S207: YES), it determines whether the received data is printable data (S207: YES). S208). When encrypted image content data that is printable data is received from the server 3 (S208: YES), the decryption unit 42 of the printer 2 cancels RIP decryption belonging to the rasterizer 45 determined for the image content. Using the key 50 (downloaded in advance from the server 3), the encrypted image content data of the received data is decrypted (S209). As a result, the image content data is converted into the original PDL data 48. Next, the decrypted image content of the PDL data 48 is subjected to RIP processing by the rasterizer 45 determined for the image content, and converted into image content data in a bitmap format (S210). When this RIP process ends, the program returns to step S107 in FIG.

  In the flow of FIG. 9, the program proceeds to step S108. The synthesizing unit 43 of the printer 2 synthesizes the rasterized image content data according to the layout of the print job together with the other raster data 49 in accordance with the page layout (S108). The image content notified from the content server that printing cannot be performed is not decoded and rasterized, and is not combined. However, blank image data or arbitrary image data that indicates that printing of images cannot be printed may be combined with image content notified from the content server that printing is not possible.

  The CPU 21 checks whether there is unprocessed image content (S109). If unprocessed image content remains in the same page (S109: YES), the above steps S104 to S109 are repeated.

  If there is no unprocessed image content remaining in the same page (S109: NO), since all the image content in the same page has been combined, it is subsequently checked whether there is an unprocessed page (S110). . If there is an unprocessed page (S110: YES), the process proceeds to the next page process (S111), returns to step S103, initializes the page layout, and repeats steps S103 to S110 described above. If there are no more unprocessed pages (S110: NO), all the pages have been finally combined, so the process proceeds to step S112, where print & billing information notification processing is performed.

  FIG. 11 shows the details of the printing & billing information notification process.

  The printer 2 uses the printing unit 26 to print the page layout data in which the image content is combined (S301). Subsequently, it is checked whether or not they have been printed normally (S302).

  When printing is normally performed (S302: YES), the printer 2 calculates the number and identification information of all the image contents and the used RIP identification ID 46 by calculation (S303). Then, print completion information including the type and number of image contents used on the correctly printed page is transmitted to the server 3 and notified (S305). Then, the process returns to step 112 in FIG.

  If printing has not been performed normally (S302: NO), there is a problem in accounting, how many of all the pages are printed normally and are subject to accounting. In a relationship in which a plurality of image contents are included in the same page, charging is performed for each image content and not for each page. However, if a normally printed page is known, the image content existing in the page is included. Can be determined to be all image contents to be charged, and can be included in the calculation. Therefore, if there is a page that has failed to be printed, the printer 2 calculates the number and identification information of the image content that has been printed and the RIP identification ID 46 that has been used for all pages that have actually been printed normally. Obtained (S304). Then, “print completion information” including the type and number of image contents used on the correctly printed page is transmitted to the server 3 for notification (S305). Then, the process returns to step 112 in FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the program of the printer 2 returns from step S112 to S101 and waits for a print job to be received.

  FIG. 13 shows a flow of processing of the server 3 (print completion information reception process) when the print completion information is received.

  In the print completion information reception process flow of FIG. 13, when the server 3 receives the print completion information (S501: YES), the server 3 obtains the number and identification information of the image contents that have been printed, and the used RIP identification ID 46. Then, it is checked whether there is unprocessed image content (S503). If there is no unprocessed image content (S503: NO), the program is terminated.

  If there is unprocessed image content (S503: YES), for accounting management, the accounting management table 37 is searched for a record that matches the RIP identification ID 46 and the content identification information (S504), and whether or not there is a corresponding record. Check (S505). If there is a corresponding record (S505: YES), 1 or the number of times used for printing is subtracted from the remaining printable number of times for the corresponding record (S506). If there is no corresponding record, error processing (S507) is performed and the program is terminated.

  In this way, the server 3 counts down the remaining printable number in the charge management table 37 according to the type and number of image contents that are normally printed notified from the printer 2. This printable remaining number is stored and managed for each record regulated by a combination of the identification information of the image content and the RIP identification ID 46. Therefore, even if the same printer 2 is used, if the printing is continued, the number of printings Is restricted and billing management is performed.

  In the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, in response to the document instruction (FIG. 14) from the PC, the print image is “PIC0001S” and “PIC0001S” of the image contents with the remaining printable number of times as shown in FIG. 15. Although “PIC0002C” is correctly printed, “PIC0003S” of the image content whose remaining printable number of times is zero ends in a state where printing is not performed.

  According to the above embodiment, the RIP processing unit 44 has a plurality of rasterizers 45 having different rasterization processing attributes, and the image content is a unique key belonging to the rasterizer 45 registered in advance in the RIP processing unit 44 (an encryption key and an encryption key). The decryption key is encrypted and decrypted by the decryption key. Therefore, regardless of whether or not the printers 2 are the same, the rasterizer 45 other than the designated rasterizer 45 has no means for decoding and printing a high-resolution image. Further, since the charging information can be registered in the image content server 3 along with the printing, it is possible to surely grasp and charge the number of times the paid image content has been printed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the printer 2 receives the image data from the server 3 for each printing of the image content. Instead of this, the information of the image content desired to be used and the printing thereof are used. Image data may be received by collectively sending the number of times to the server 3. In that case, the server 3 controls charging management so that printing can be performed only for the number of times for which charging has been performed. For example, if there is a print request for three times even though the remaining printable number is 1, a configuration may be made such that one image is printable and the remaining two images are notified as unprintable.

   In the above embodiment, all contents are stored in the content server, and data is transmitted via the client PC 1 or the printer 2 via the network 4. However, frequently used data is encrypted. The image contents may be downloaded in advance into the printer 2 and stored in a database. In the case of this form, when a document is created by the client PC, it is searched from the database 39 in the printer 2 and used instead of inquiring to the image content server 3. Further, it is not necessary for the printer 2 to acquire encrypted image content data from the server 3. As a result, the overhead of network communication is reduced, so that the speed of document creation and printing processing is improved.

  In addition to the PC, other devices such as a dedicated terminal device may be used as the print job transmission device. In addition to the printer 2, other devices such as a copying machine and an MFP (MFP: Multi Function Peripheral) may be used as the printing device.

  The means and method for performing various processes in the printing system according to the present embodiment can be realized by either a dedicated hardware circuit or a programmed computer. The program may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk or CDROM, or may be provided online via a network 4 such as the Internet. In this case, the program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred to and stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk. The program may be provided as a single application software, or may be incorporated into the software of the device as one function of the device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of PC of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of ROM and RAM of the printer of FIG. 3. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the accounting management table of a server. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the key management table of a server. It is the figure which showed the example of a production | generation of RIP identification ID. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating processing of a printer when a print job is received. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of paid content processing in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of printing & billing information notification processing in FIG. 9. It is the figure which showed the image content request | requirement reception process in a server. It is the figure which showed the print completion information reception process in the server. It is the figure which illustrated the document produced by PC. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state where image content is printed on the document of FIG. 14 in consideration of the remaining printable number of times.

Explanation of symbols

1 PC,
2 printer,
3 servers,
4 network,
11 CPU,
12 ROM,
13 RAM,
14 hard disk,
15 display,
16 input devices,
17 network interface,
18 Bus,
21 CPU,
22 ROM,
23 RAM,
24 hard disk,
25 Operation panel section,
26 printing department,
27 network interface,
28 Bus,
31 CPU,
32 ROM,
33 RAM,
34 Hard disk,
35 network interface,
36 bus,
37 Billing management table,
38 Key management table,
39 database,
41 Document analysis department,
42 decryption unit,
43 Synthesizer,
44 RIP processing unit,
45 Rasterizer,
46 RIP identification ID,
47 Encrypted data,
48 PDL data,
49 raster data,
50 RIP decryption key,
51 Content pasting portion.

Claims (8)

A printing system having a server for providing image data described in a page description language and a printer for printing the provided image data,
The printer makes a transmission request for the image data to the server by designating rasterization attributes and image data identification information defined by a combination of the print resolution value of the image data and the type of page description language. A transmission requesting means,
Before SL server, and determining means on the basis of the identification information of the rasterizing process attributes and image data to determine whether to print the image data a transmission request from said transmission request means,
Among the encryption keys individually prepared for rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, the server determines the image data determined to be printable by the determination means for the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attributes. Transmitting means for encrypting with the encryption key prepared in the step and transmitting to the printer;
Decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted image data received from the server by the printer using the decryption key having the same content as the encryption key used for the encryption;
The printer passes the image data decoded by the decoding means to bitmap data through a rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute among a plurality of rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes. Conversion means for converting,
A printing system characterized by that. The image data is managed as a plurality of records specified by a combination of identification information of the image data and rasterization processing attributes,
It said determining means, whether the image data printing, further determined in consideration of the printable remaining number of times set and printed on each of the record is subtracted each time it is done, it in claim 1, wherein The printing system described. A method executed in a printing system having a server for providing image data described in a page description language and a printer for printing the provided image data,
The printer requests the server to transmit the image data by specifying the rasterization attribute and the identification information of the image data specified by the combination of the print resolution value of the image data and the type of page description language A request to send step,
Before SL server, the determining step on the basis of the identification information of the rasterizing process attributes and image data to determine whether to print the image data a transmission request from the transmission requesting step,
Among the encryption keys individually prepared for rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, the image data determined to be printable by the server in the determination step is used for the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute. A transmission step of encrypting with an encryption key prepared in step S1 and transmitting to the printer;
A decrypting step in which the printer decrypts the encrypted image data received from the server with an decryption key having the same content as the encryption key used for the encryption;
The printer passes the image data decoded in the decoding step through a rasterizer having a specified rasterization processing attribute among a plurality of rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, and converts the image data into bitmap data. Converting
A printing method characterized by the above. The image data is managed as a plurality of records specified by a combination of identification information of the image data and rasterization processing attributes,
4. The determination step according to claim 3 , wherein whether or not image data can be printed is determined in consideration of a remaining printable number set for each record and subtracted every time printing is performed. The printing method described. Sending the image data to the server by specifying the rasterization attribute and image data identification information defined by the combination of the print resolution value of the image data described in the page description language and the type of page description language A transmission request means for making a request;
Among the encryption keys individually prepared for rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, image data encrypted with the encryption key prepared for the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute is stored in the server. Receiving means for receiving from,
Decryption means for decrypting the encrypted image data received by the reception means with an decryption key having the same content as the encryption key used for the encryption;
The image data decoded by said decoding means, among the self multiple rasterizer different rasterization processing attribute held, through La Sutaraiza having rasterization attributes the specified is converted into bitmap data Conversion means,
A printing apparatus characterized by that. Sending the image data to the server by specifying the rasterization attribute and image data identification information defined by the combination of the print resolution value of the image data described in the page description language and the type of page description language A send request step to make a request;
Among the encryption keys individually prepared for rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, image data encrypted with the encryption key prepared for the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute is stored in the server. Receiving step to receive from,
A decryption step of decrypting the encrypted image data received in the reception step with an decryption key having the same content as the encryption key used for the encryption;
The image data decoded by said decoding step, among the different rasterizer of rasterization processing attributes, through La Sutaraiza having rasterization attributes the specified, and converting the bit map data, the Have
A printing method characterized by the above. Sending the image data to the server by specifying the rasterization attribute and image data identification information defined by the combination of the print resolution value of the image data described in the page description language and the type of page description language Send request procedure to make a request;
Among the encryption keys individually prepared for rasterizers having different rasterization processing attributes, image data encrypted with the encryption key prepared for the rasterizer having the specified rasterization processing attribute is stored in the server. Receiving procedure to receive from,
A decryption procedure for decrypting the encrypted image data received in the reception procedure with a decryption key having the same content as the encryption key used for the encryption;
The image data decoded by said decoding procedure, among the different rasterizer of rasterization processing attributes, through La Sutaraiza having rasterization attributes the specified, the procedures for converting the bit map data,
A computer program for causing a printing apparatus to execute. A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 7 is recorded.

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