Method and system to erase data by overwriting after expiration or other condition

• US 8,005,936 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2007
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean; Frantz B
• Application Number:
  US11/950,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20080098038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2015 Redundant power supplies power supply failure G06F1/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen

Abstract

An approach for managing print data on printing devices includes deleting print data that has been stored on a printing device for at least a specified time. The deletion of the print data based on whether the print data has been stored on the printing device for at least the specified time may be performed regardless of whether the print has been processed and may be used in conjunction with other mechanisms for deleting print data on printing devices. The approach for managing print data on printing devices also includes deleting print data from printing devices when the print data has been processed at the printing device at least a specified number of times.

Claims

1. A printing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause;

at the printing device encrypting print data to generate encrypted print data, causing the encrypted print data to be stored on a storage device at the printing device,

the printing device determining whether a condition for deleting the encrypted print data is satisfied, and

if the printing device determines that the condition for deleting the encrypted print is satisfied, then causing the encrypted print data to be deleted from the storage device at the printing device by overwriting the encrypted data with a specified value at least a specified number of times.

2. The printing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the condition for deleting the encrypted print data includes a number of times the print data has been processed.

3. The printing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the condition for deleting the encrypted print data includes a specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

4. The printing device as recited in claim 3, further comprising a user interface for receiving from a user data that indicates the specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

5. The printing device as recited in claim 3, wherein the print data includes data that indicates the specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

6. The printing device as recited in claim 3, wherein the memory stores one or more additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause examining configuration data stored on the storage device to determine the specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

7. The printing device as recited in claim 3, wherein the encrypted print data has not yet been processed at the printing device at the time the encrypted print data has been stored on the storage device for at least the specified amount of time.

8. A computer-implemented method for managing print data at a printing device, the computer-implemented method comprising:

at the printing device encrypting print data to generate encrypted print data;

causing the encrypted print data to be stored on a storage device at the printing device;

the printing device determining whether a condition for deleting the encrypted print data is satisfied; and

if the printing device determines that the condition for deleting the encrypted print is satisfied, then causing the encrypted print data to be deleted from the storage device at the printing device by overwriting the encrypted data with a specified value at least a specified number of times.

9. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein the condition for deleting the encrypted print data includes a number of times the print data has been processed.

10. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein the condition for deleting the encrypted print data includes a specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, further comprising receiving from a user via user interface data that indicates the specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

12. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein the print data includes data that indicates the specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

13. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, further comprising examining configuration data stored on the storage device to determine the specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

14. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein the encrypted print data has not yet been processed at the printing device at the time the encrypted print data has been stored on the storage device for at least the specified amount of time.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for managing print data at a printing device, the computer-readable medium carrying instruction which, when processed by one or more processors, causes:

at the printing device encrypting print data to generate encrypted print data;

causing the encrypted print data to be stored on a storage device at the printing device;

the printing device determining whether a condition for deleting the encrypted print data is satisfied; and

if the printing device determines that the condition for deleting the encrypted print is satisfied, then causing the encrypted print data to be deleted from the storage device at the printing device by overwriting the encrypted data with a specified value at least a specified number of times.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15, wherein the condition for deleting the encrypted print data includes a number of times the print data has been processed.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15, wherein the condition for deleting the encrypted print data includes a specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes receiving from a user via user interface data that indicates the specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the print data includes data that indicates the specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, causes examining configuration data stored on the storage device to determine the specified amount of time that the encrypted print data may be stored on the storage device before deletion.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the encrypted print data has not yet been processed at the printing device at the time the encrypted print data has been stored on the storage device for at least the specified amount of time.

22. A printing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause;

print data to be stored on a storage device at the printing device,

the printing device determining whether the print data has been stored on the storage device at the printing device for at least a specified amount of time, and

if the print data has been stored on the storage device at the printing device for at least the specified amount of time, then causing the print data to be deleted from the storage device at the printing device by overwriting the print data with a specified value at least a specified number of times.

23. A computer-implemented method for processing print data at a printing device, the computer-implemented method comprising:

storing print data on a storage device at the printing device;

the printing device determining whether the print data has been stored on the storage device at the printing device for at least a specified amount of time; and

if the print data has been stored on the storage device at the printing device for at least the specified amount of time, then causing the print data to be deleted from the storage device at the printing device by overwriting the print data with a specified value at least a specified number of times.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for processing print data at a printing device, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, causes:

storing print data on a storage device at the printing device;

the printing device determining whether the print data has been stored on the storage device at the printing device for at least a specified amount of time; and

if the print data has been stored on the storage device at the printing device for at least the specified amount of time, then causing the print data to be deleted from the storage device at the printing device by overwriting the print data with a specified value at least a specified number of times.

25. A printing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause;

print data to be stored on a storage device at the printing device,

the printing device determining whether the print data has been printed, and

if the print data has been printed, then causing the print data to be deleted from the storage device at the printing device by overwriting the print data with a specified value at least a specified number of times.

26. A computer-implemented method for processing print data at a printing device, the computer-implemented method comprising:

storing print data on a storage device at the printing device;

the printing device determining whether the print data has been printed; and

if the print data has been printed, then causing the print data to be deleted from the storage device at the printing device by overwriting the print data with a specified value at least a specified number of times.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for processing print data at a printing device, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, causes:

storing print data on a storage device at the printing device;

the printing device determining whether the print data has been printed; and

if the print data has been printed, then causing the print data to be deleted from the storage device at the printing device by overwriting the print data with a specified value at least a specified number of times.