Systems and methods for secure printing

• US 20020065729A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Guillemin, Gustavo M., Rosti, Shawn, Reardon, Laura I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,120,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output

Abstract

A preferred printing system includes a printer configured to communicatively couple with a workstation, which incorporates a first code entry device for receiving first coding information from a user. The printer incorporates a second code entry device that is configured to receive second coding information from the user. Additionally, the printer is configured to print data in response to correlating the first coding information received at the first code entry device with the second coding information received at the second code entry device. Devices, methods and computer readable media also are provided.

Claims

1. A printing system for use with a workstation having a first code entry device, the workstation being configured to transmit print data for printing, the first code entry device being configured to receive first coding information from a user, said printing system comprising:

a printer configured to communicatively couple with the workstation and having a second code entry device, said second code entry device being configured to receive second coding information from the user, said printer being configured to print the print data in response to correlating the first coding information received at the first code entry device with said second coding information received at said second code entry device.

2. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the first coding information and said second coding information correspond to physiological pattern information of the user.

3. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the first coding information and said second coding information correspond to fingerprint information of the user.

4. The printing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface configured to communicate with the workstation, said user interface having a secure-enable mode such that, when the user selects said secure-enable mode, the workstation is enabled to receive the first coding information.

5. The printing system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for enabling the workstation to receive the first coding information.

6. The printing system of claim 2, wherein each of the first code entry device and said second code entry device is a fingerprint reader configured to generate fingerprint information corresponding to a fingerprint of the user.

7. The printing system of claim 2, wherein each of the first code entry device and said second code entry device comprises means for generating fingerprint information corresponding to a fingerprint of the user.

8. A printing security system for use with a workstation and a printer, the workstation being configured to communicatively couple with the printer, the workstation being configured to transmit print data to the printer for printing, said printing security system comprising:

a first code entry device configured to communicatively couple with the workstation, receive first coding information from the user, and provide the first coding information to the workstation; and

a second code entry device configured to communicatively couple with the printer, receive second coding information from the user, and provide the second coding information to the printer such that the printer is enabled to print the print data in response to said first coding information received at said first code entry device corresponding to said second coding information received at said second code entry device.

9. The printing security system of claim 8, wherein said first coding information and said second coding information correspond to physiological pattern information of the user.

10. The printing security system of claim 8, wherein said first coding information and said second coding information correspond to fingerprint information of the user.

11. The printing security system of claim 8, further comprising:

a user interface configured to communicate with the workstation, said user interface having a secure-enable mode such that, when the user selects said secure-enable mode, the workstation is enabled to receive said first coding information.

12. The printing security system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for enabling the workstation to receive the first coding information.

13. The printing security system of claim 9, wherein each of the first code entry device and said second code entry device is a fingerprint reader configured to generate fingerprint information corresponding to a fingerprint of the user.

14. The printing security system of claim 9, wherein each of said first code entry device and said second code entry device comprises means for generating fingerprint information corresponding to a fingerprint of the user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving first coding information comprises:

providing a first code entry device configured to communicatively couple with the workstation;

receiving the first coding information, at the first code entry device, from the user; and

providing the first coding information from the first code entry device to the workstation.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving second coding information comprises:

providing a second code entry device configured to communicatively couple with the printer;

receiving the second coding information, at the second code entry device, from the user; and

providing the first coding information from the second code entry device to the printer.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first coding information and the second coding information correspond to physiological pattern information of the user.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving first coding information comprises:

providing a user interface configured to communicate with the workstation, the user interface having a secure-enable mode such that, when the user selects the secure-enable mode, the workstation is enabled to receive the first coding information.

15. A method for providing secure printing between a workstation and a printer, the workstation being configured to transmit print data to the printer for printing, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving first coding information, at the workstation, from a user;

enabling print data and the first coding information to be transmitted to the printer;

receiving second coding information, at the printer, from the user;

comparing the first coding information with the second coding information; and

if the first coding information corresponds to the second coding information, enabling printing of the print data at the printer.

20. A computer readable medium having a computer program for providing secure printing between a workstation and a printer, the workstation being configured to transmit print data to the printer for printing, said computer readable medium comprising:

logic configured to receive first coding information, at the workstation, from a user;

logic configured to receive second coding information, provided at the printer, from the user;

logic configured to compare the first coding information with the second coding information; and

logic configured to enable printing of the print data at the printer if the first coding information corresponds to the second coding information.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the logic configured to receive first coding information comprises:

a first code segment configured to provide a user interface at the workstation, the user interface having a secure-enable mode such that, when the user selects the secure-enable mode, the workstation is enabled to receive the first coding information.