Method and system for downloading encrypted font scripts to a print server

• US 6,829,707 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stephens, Mark Andrew, Marshall, Keith Alan, Roberts, Arthur Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Morse, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, ELLEN C
• Application Number:
  US09/502,506
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10-600, 713/115-205, 380/3-300, 358/1-1-, 705/26, 705/27, 705/35, 715/500
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1225 Software update, e.g. print driver, modules, plug-ins, fonts
• 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 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

A method and system for downloading encrypted double-byte font scripts to a print server. A communication element is interposed between a data processing system and a print server, where the print server does not support a bi-directional communication protocol utilized by the data processing system to download encrypted double-byte font scripts. The communication element supports data transmissions in both the bi-directional communication protocol and with the print server. To download a double-byte font script, the data processing system transmits a request to the print server through the communication element for an identifier from the print server. The print server transmits the identifier to the data processing system through the communication element. A decryption key for the double-byte font script is produced by the data processing system utilizing the identifier and downloaded with the encrypted double-byte font script to the print server through the communication element.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting encrypted double-byte font scripts from a data processing system to a print server, said method comprising:

connecting a communication element between a data processing system and a print server that does not support a bi-directional communication protocol utilized by said data processing system, wherein said communication element is capable of communicating with said data processing system and with said print server;

in response to a request for an identifier from said print server by said data processing system, transmitting said request by said communication element to said print server;

in response to said identifier request from said communication element, transmitting an identifier by said print server through said communication element to said data processing system;

utilizing said identifier by said data processing system to generate a decryption key for an encrypted double-byte font script at said data processing system; and

transmitting said encrypted double-byte font script and said decryption key from said data processing system through said communication element to said print server in which said encrypted double-byte font script is encrypted with said decryption key for printing documents at said print server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data processing system operates under a Macintosh operating system and said print server operates under an AIX operating system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said data processing system is capable of supporting POSTSCRIPT page description language and said print server is incapable of supporting POSTSCRIPT page description language.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further includes encrypting said encrypted double-byte font script via an interpreter within said print server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further includes storing said decryption key in said print server for decrypting said encrypted double-byte font script.

6. A computer program product for transmitting encrypted double-byte font scripts from a data processing system to a print server, said computer program product comprising:

program code means for connecting a communication element between a data processing system and a print server that does not support a bi-directional communication protocol utilized by said data processing system, wherein said communication element is capable of communicating with said data processing system and with said print server;

in response to a request for an identifier from said print server by said data processing system, program code means for transmitting said request by said communication element to said print server;

in response to said identifier request from said communication element, program code means for transmitting an identifier by said print server through said communication element to said data processing system;

program code means for utilizing said identifier by said data processing system to generate a decryption key for an encrypted double-byte font script at said data processing system; and

program code means for transmitting said encrypted double-byte font script and said decryption key from said data processing system through said communication element to said print serve in which said encrypted double-byte font scrip is encrypted with said decryption key for printing documents at said print server.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said data processing system operates under a Macintosh operating system and said print server operates under an AIX operating system.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said data processing system is capable of supporting POSTSCRIPT page description language and said print server is incapable of supporting POSTSCRIPT page description language.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said computer program product further includes program code means for encrypting said encrypted double-byte font script via an interpreter within said print server.

10. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said computer program product further includes program code means for storing said decryption key in said print server for decrypting said encrypted double-byte font script.

11. A system for transmitting encrypted double-byte font scripts from a data processing system to a print server, said system comprising:

means for connecting a communication element between a data processing system and a print server that does not support a bi-directional communication protocol utilized by said data processing system, wherein said communication element is capable of communicating with said data processing system and with said print server;

in response to a request for an identifier from said print server by said data processing system, means for transmitting said request by said communication element to said print server;

in response to said identifier request from said communication element, means for transmitting an identifier by said print server through said communication element to said data processing system;

means for utilizing said identifier by said data processing system to generate a decryption key for an encrypted double-byte font script at said data processing system; and

means for transmitting said encrypted double-byte font script and said decryption key from said data processing system through said communication element to said print serve in which said encrypted double-byte font scrip is encrypted with said decryption key for printing documents at said print server.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said data processing system operates under a Macintosh operating system and said print server operates under an AIX operating system.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said data processing system is capable of supporting POSTSCRIPT page description language and said print server is incapable of supporting POSTSCRIPT page description language.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said system further includes means for encrypting said encrypted double-byte font script via an interpreter within said print server.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said system further includes means for storing said decryption key in said print server for decrypting said encrypted double-byte font script.