Output system and output method used in the same for printing and producing copies

• US 20010006551A1
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Published: 07/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Masaki, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network

Abstract

An output system having a data processor and an printer or other output device for outputting data in a specific format, which is sent from the data processor, to which is installed driver software for controlling the output device. Whether the data on output request passes the driver software is determined in sending data to the output device. Data are prohibited from being sent to the output device for output requests on which data bypasses the driver software.

Claims

1. An output system having a data processing device and an output device for outputting data in a specific format, which is sent from the data processing device, driver software for controlling an output device being included in the data processing device, and comprising:

a first controller for determining whether data on output request passes the driver software, in sending data to the output device; and

a second controller for prohibiting data from being sent to output device for output request on which data bypasses the driver software.

2. An output system having a data processing device and an output device for outputting data in a specific format, which is sent from the data processing device, driver software for controlling an output device being included in the data processing device, and comprising:

an encryptor for encrypting data passing the driver software, provided on the data processing device; and

a decryptor for decrypting data encrypted by the encryptor, provided on the output device.

3. An output system having a data processing device and an output device for outputting data in a specific format, which is sent from the data processing device, driver software for controlling an output device being included in the data processing device, and comprising:

a prohibiting controller for prohibiting data output to the output device by setting a value which is different from an ordinary value for outputting data to the output device, in response to a data output request to the output device from the data processing device.

4. An output system as described in

claim 3

, wherein said setting is a value stored to a specific register.

5. An output method used in an output system having a data processing device and an output device for outputting data in a specific format, which is sent from the data processing device, comprising:

determining whether data on output request passes driver software for controlling the output device, in sending data to the output device from the data processing device, said driver software incorporated in the data processing device; and

prohibiting data from being sent to output device for the request on which data bypasses the driver software.

6. An output method used in an output system having a data processing device and an output device for outputting data in a specific format, which is sent from the data processing device, comprising:

encrypting data passing the driver software included in the data processing device, on the data processing device side; and

decrypting the encrypted data, on the output device side.

7. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a program run on an output system having a data processing device and an output device for outputting in a specific format data sent from the data processing device, said program comprising steps of:

determining whether data on output request passes driver software for controlling the output device, in sending data to the output device from the data processing device, said driver software incorporated in the data processing device; and

prohibiting data from being sent to output device for the request on which data bypasses the driver software.

8. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a program run on a data processing device for sending data to an output device for outputting in a specific format, comprising steps of:

encrypting an output data from an application program run on the data processing device, and

outputting the encrypted data to the output device.

9. A computer-readable storage medium as described in

claim 8

, wherein the encripting step sets a specific password for output data from the application program.

10. A computer-readable storage medium for storing an installer program for installing driver software for using the output device to a data processing device for outputting data to an output device for output in a specific format, said installer program comprising steps of:

installing the driver software to the data processing device; and

installing a program for prohibiting data on output request from being sent to the output device, for request on which data bypasses the driver software.