Print system managing the security of a printer shared on a...

Details Print system managing the security of a printer shared on a... Print system managing the security of a printer shared on a...

1997-11-24

2001-03-13

Dinh, Dung C. (Department: 2757)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput

Computer network managing

Computer network access regulating

C358S001130, C358S001150

Reexamination Certificate

active

06202092

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a print system for managing the security of a printer shared on a network, and more particularly, for checking whether users have the authority to print or access the security data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a security management system of this kind, a printer is managed by a server computer. Upon receipt of a request from a user to print or to read and modify security data in the server computer, the server determines whether the user has the proper authority for the requested service.
More specifically, as shown in
FIG. 5
, with respect to a request from a user for printing or reading and modifying the security data, the server computer first acquires the user ID (identifying information) of the requesting user (step S
21
in FIG.
5
), and then determines the nature of the request (whether it is a print request) (step S
22
in FIG.
5
).
If the request is to read and modify the security data, the server computer determines whether the user has authority to access the security data (step S
23
in FIG.
5
), providing an error indication if the user is unauthorized (step S
29
in FIG.
5
).
If the user is authorized for such access, the server computer allows the user to read and modify the security data via a user interface (step S
24
in FIG.
5
). If the security data is thus changed (step S
25
in FIG.
5
), the server computer saves the changes (step S
26
in FIG.
5
).
On the other hand, if the request is merely to print, the server computer determines whether the user has print authority (step S
27
in FIG.
5
), providing an error indication if not (step S
29
in FIG.
5
). If the user is authorized, the server computer executes print processing (step S
28
in FIG.
5
).
In addition to the security management system mentioned above, there also exists a system in which the authority to use a printer commonly used on a network is set with respect to each computer on the network. Printing is authorized only with respect to a print request from a computer having the proper authority, and the number of sheets of the print request is counted and recorded so that the print account of each computer on the network may be determined.
In the case of this system, when a print request is made from a computer, the number of sheets of the print request is counted by a print sheet number counting portion, and the count is transferred to a maintenance computer to be recorded. The maintenance computer records the total number of printed sheets with respect to every computer or every department the computers belong to. This technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-73128.
In the conventional security management systems described above, the required security function only determines whether or not a user may use the printer, and can not place restrictions on the printable number of sheets, the kind of paper, or which paper feeder is to be used. Neither can it restrict use of functions such as color printing, printing on both sides, and enlarged/reduced printing.
Further, although it is known to record the number of printed sheets with respect to each computer or each department the computers belong to, since the number of printed sheets per type of paper or per paper feeder and the number of times double-sided and color printing are used are not recorded with respect to every user, a manager can not determine the cumulative number of such uses, and therefore, can not manage them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a print system in which restrictions can be placed on the cumulative number of pages printed or usable printing function with respect to every user, allowing a manager to monitor use of a shared printer.
According to a print system of the present invention, the print system with a shared printer on a network comprises a data base for, corresponding to user identifying information for specifying a user of the printer, storing restricting information indicating a range of authority to use indicating the printable number of sheets and a usable function for the user with respect to the printer and for storing status of use of the printer by the user, a print validating means for, when a print request to the printer is inputted, based on print content included in the print request and on the user identifying information, referring to the data base and deciding either authorization or non-authorization of printing with the printer with respect to the print request, a print history recording means for, after printing according to the print request is executed, updating the status of use in the data base corresponding to the user identifying information included in the print request, and a means for referring to and editing the data base in response to instruction from the outside registered in advance.
The print system according to the present invention has a security data base in which authority to use a shared printer can be set with respect to individual users and, in addition, status of use with respect to every user is recorded.
More specifically, the print system according to the present invention has a means for recording and maintaining authority of every user, a means for analyzing a print request, a means for checking authority of a user, and further, a means for recording the number of sheets consumed after printing with respect to each kind of paper or paper feeder, or, a means for recording statistical information with respect to each user indicating the number of times special printing functions such as printing on both sides and color printing are used.
Further, a printer driver in the print system according to the present invention has a means for changing the authority of users and referring to and editing statistical information of status of use of a printer with respect to the security data base.
The means for recording and maintaining authority of every user of the print system according to the present invention maintains a security data base in which authority of each user and statistical information of status of use of each user are put together. The means for analyzing a print request determines information such as the number of pages to be printed, which paper feeder is used, the type of paper, and special print features. The means for checking authority of a user compares the respective requests with data maintained in the security data base and carries out verification. Only if all of the requests are validated is the requested printing executed. After printing, the means for recording statistical information with respect to every user updates the security data base.
These means make it possible to set authority to use the shared printer not in a conventional way by merely determining whether allowable or not, but in various ways such as based on the accumulated number of printed pages, the number of pages with respect to every paper feeder or variety of pages, or special printing such as printing on both sides and color print.
Further, the means for checking authority of a user verifies authority to access sensitive data. In case of a user having management authority, by the means for changing the set authority of users and reading and modifying statistical information of status of use of a printer, the content of the security data base can be displayed and edited. The changes are recorded in the security data base by the means for recording statistical information with respect to every user. These means make it possible for a manager to set authority of a user. Further, information such as the number of pages printed on each kind of paper or how often double-sided printing or color printing is used can be provided a manager for each user.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5513126 (1996-04-01), Harkins et al.
patent: 5638497 (1997-06-01), Kimber et al.
patent: 5819047 (1998-10-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 5903716 (1999-05-01), Kimber et al.
patent:

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