JP2003058349A - Server, data processing method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely construct a network management system capable of meeting an output request of information to be processed from an authenticated requester by automatically authenticating the requester of the information to be processed which is managed by accompanying link information. SOLUTION: The server is characterized by structure that a user managing part 207 and a ticket managing part 208 store and manage the information to be processed including prescribed link information and output restriction information on a storage device 206, authenticate the output requester and determine the propriety of the output request when the output request is made to the information to be processed which is managed from a data processor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a server device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a network,
The present invention relates to a server device, a data processing method, and a storage medium that are capable of storing and managing output information created by a plurality of data processing devices while identifying it for each user, and controlling output requests from each user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a data processing system in which a server device controls a data output request from each information processing device via a network, the process of electronically exchanging (passing) electronic data through the network is performed by transferring the data itself. It was common to attach it to an email for distribution, or place it in a place accessible to everyone.

Further, as a charging method for printers in a company connected to the information processing apparatus, there is a method of using a counter attached to each printer, or a method of managing the number of printed sheets of the user in the printer server and charging based on the number. It was common.

[0004]

A technique of including link information in a document, such as XML frequently used on the Internet, enables a plurality of data to be dynamically obtained through a network and printed. Has become.

However, various problems may occur in distributing the text including the link information in the conventional form.

For example, in the past, it was sufficient to attach the document to be distributed to the mail, but when the link information is included, it is necessary to confirm whether the distributor has access authority to each link information. There is. When the link information increases and the number of people who distribute it increases,
The confirmation work will increase synergistically. The existing technology has a problem in that it cannot provide a function that flexibly copes with such a problem.

Further, by using a technique for connecting a plurality of data such as XML, it is possible to dynamically obtain information through a network and print it. However, the cost of the information for each user,
When managing the cost of printing it collectively and flexibly,
Existing technologies cannot provide sufficient functionality.

For example, it is assumed that there is an access to the data to be charged in a text composed of XML. When printing such texts, there is a need for a system that charges not only the printing cost but also the usage fee for that information at the same time. It has been increasing in order to realize a charging system for providing various services, but in the conventional charging system,
There is a problem that it is difficult to construct such a charging system.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide predetermined link information,
Processing target information including output restriction information is stored and managed in a storage device, and when an output request is made to the processing target information managed by the data processing device, the output requester is authenticated to determine whether or not the output request can be made. By doing so, it is possible to automatically authenticate the requester for the processing target information managed along with the link information, and freely construct a network information management system that can respond to the output request of the processing target information from the legitimate output requester. It is to provide a server device, a data processing method, and a storage medium that can perform.

Further, processing target information including predetermined link information and output restriction information is stored and managed on a storage device, and when an output request is made to the processing target information managed from the data processing device, the output requester is identified. By authenticating and determining whether or not the output request is possible, by determining whether the requested output is possible according to the billing information for each output requester of each output requester and limiting the execution of the output request, Network information capable of responding to the output request of the processing target information from the legitimate output requester by automatically authenticating the requester for the processing target information managed together with the link information while considering the charging information for each user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a server device, a data processing method, and a storage medium capable of freely constructing a management system.

[0011]

A first invention according to the present invention is a server device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a network, and stores processing target information including predetermined link information and output restriction information. An information management unit (corresponding to the ticket management unit 208 shown in FIG. 2) for storing and managing on the storage device;
An authentication unit (corresponding to the user management unit 207 shown in FIG. 2) that authenticates the output requester and determines whether or not the output request can be made when an output request is made from the data processing device to the processing target information managed by the information management unit. It is characterized by having.

A second invention according to the present invention has a user management means (corresponding to the user management section 207 shown in FIG. 2) for managing individual user identification information capable of requesting processing target information on a storage device. The authentication means compares the user identification information with the output restriction information, authenticates the output requester, and determines whether or not the output request can be made.

A third invention according to the present invention is a first restricting means (a ticket managing section shown in FIG. 2) for restricting output of processing target information managed by the information managing means based on an authentication result by the authenticating means. Equivalent to 208).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first limiting means, the processing target information managed by the information managing means is based on the data creator, the expiration date, and the usable number of times in the output restriction information. It is characterized by limiting the output.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is to have an acquisition means (corresponding to the network adapter 203 shown in FIG. 2) for acquiring output information from another data processing device via the network based on the link information. Characterize.

A sixth invention according to the present invention is characterized by having conversion means (corresponding to the data conversion unit 205 shown in FIG. 2) for converting the document data included in the processing target information into the printer description language. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the first limiting means is arranged so that when the expiration date recorded in the expiration date information included in the processing object information exceeds the expiration date, the processing object information requested to be output is output. It is characterized by suppressing output.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the first limiting means compares the usable number of times included in the processing object information with the number of usable times up to the present time, and when the usable number of times is exceeded, an output request is made. It is characterized in that the output of the processing target information is suppressed.

A ninth invention according to the present invention has a falsification status judging means (corresponding to the ticket management section 208 shown in FIG. 2) for judging whether or not the processing object information has been falsified, and the first limiting means. Is characterized in that, when the tampering state determination means determines that the processing target information has been tampered with, the output of the processing target information requested to be output is suppressed.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the user management means performs addition / deletion of a managed user and change of authentication according to a user information processing request inputted from the outside.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a billing management means for managing billing information set in the processing target information on a storage device for each user, and a cost calculation means for calculating the output cost of the processing target information for each user. A second limiting unit (shown in FIG. 8) that limits the output of the processing target information by comparing the output cost calculated by the cost calculating unit with the charging information (corresponding to the charging management unit 209 shown in FIG. 8). Charge management unit 20
(Corresponding to 9) and.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the second limiting means limits the output of the processing object information managed by the information managing means when the output cost exceeds the billing information. And

The thirteenth invention of the present invention is characterized in that the output cost is calculated from the output resource usage fee and the information usage fee.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a data processing method in a server device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a network, wherein processing target information including predetermined link information and output restriction information is stored in a storage device. At the information management step (step S302 in FIG. 6) to be stored and managed above, and at the time of an output request from the data processing device for the processing target information managed by the information management step, the output requester is authenticated to determine whether or not the output request is possible. Authentication step to decide (Fig. 7
And step S404).

A fifteenth invention according to the present invention is a user management step (step S302 in FIG. 6) of managing individual user identification information capable of requesting processing target information on a storage device.
The authentication step is characterized by comparing and identifying the user identification information and the output restriction information, authenticating the output requester, and determining whether or not the output request can be made.

The sixteenth invention according to the present invention is the first restriction step (step S305 shown in FIG. 6) for restricting the output of the processing target information managed by the information management step based on the authentication result by the authentication step. S307) is included.

In a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the first limiting step is based on the data creator in the output limiting information, the expiration date, and the usable number of times of the processing target information managed by the information managing step. It is characterized by limiting the output.

The eighteenth invention according to the present invention is characterized by having an acquisition step (step S404 shown in FIG. 7) for acquiring output information from another data processing device via the network based on the link information. .

The nineteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized by having a conversion step (step S407 shown in FIG. 7) for converting the document data included in the processing target information into the printer description language.

In a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the first restriction step, when the expiration date recorded in the expiration date information included in the processing object information is exceeded, the output of the processing object information requested to be output is performed. It is characterized by suppressing output.

In a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the first limiting step, the usable count included in the processing object information is compared with the number of uses up to the present, and an output request is made when the usable count is exceeded. It is characterized in that the output of the processing target information is suppressed.

The twenty-second invention according to the present invention has a falsification state judging step (step S413 shown in FIG. 11) for judging whether or not the processing target information has been falsified.
The restriction step is characterized in that when the tampering state determination step determines that the processing target information has been tampered with, the output of the processing target information requested to be output is suppressed.

The twenty-third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the user management step performs addition / deletion of a managed user and change of authentication in accordance with a user information processing request inputted from the outside.

A twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention is a billing management step (step S13 shown in FIG. 12) of managing billing information set in the processing target information on a storage device for each user.
2, S133), the cost calculation step of calculating the output cost of the processing target information for each user (step S411 shown in FIG. 11), and the output cost calculated by the cost calculation step and the charging information are compared, and the processing target is compared. It is characterized by having a second limiting step (steps S412 and S410 shown in FIG. 11) of limiting the output of information.

The twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the second limiting step limits the output of the processing object information managed by the information managing step when the output cost exceeds the billing information. And

The twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the output cost is calculated from the output resource use fee and the information use fee.

A twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is a server device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a network,
An information management step (step S302 in FIG. 6) of storing and managing processing target information including predetermined link information and output restriction information on the storage device, and output from the data processing device to the processing target information managed by the information management step. At the time of request, an authentication step (step S404 in FIG. 7) of authenticating the output requester to determine whether the output request is permitted and a program for executing the authentication step are recorded in a computer-readable storage medium.

The twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention is a user management step (step S30 shown in FIG. 6) of managing individual user identification information that can request processing target information on a storage device.
2), and the authentication step is characterized in that the output requester is authenticated by comparing and referring to the user identification information and the output restriction information to determine whether or not the output request is permitted.

The twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention is directed to a first limiting step (step S305 shown in FIG. 6) for limiting the output of the processing target information managed by the information managing step based on the authentication result of the authenticating step. S307) is included.

In a thirtieth invention according to the present invention, the first restriction step is for the processing target information managed in the information management step based on the data creator, the expiration date, and the usable number of times in the output restriction information. It is characterized by limiting the output.

The thirty-first invention of the present invention is characterized by having an acquisition step (step S404 shown in FIG. 7) for acquiring output information from another data processing device via the network based on the link information. .

A thirty-second aspect of the present invention is characterized by having a conversion step (step S407 shown in FIG. 7) for converting the document data included in the processing target information into the printer description language.

According to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention, in the first restriction step, when the expiration date recorded in the expiration date information included in the processing object information is exceeded, the processing object information requested to be output is output. It is characterized by suppressing output.

According to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first limiting step, the usable number of times included in the processing target information is compared with the number of usable times up to the present, and an output request is made when the usable number of times is exceeded. It is characterized in that the output of the processing target information is suppressed.

The thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention has a falsification state determination step (step S413 shown in FIG. 11) for determining whether or not the processing target information has been falsified.
The restriction step is characterized in that when the tampering state determination step determines that the processing target information has been tampered with, the output of the processing target information requested to be output is suppressed.

The thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the user management step performs addition, deletion, and authentication change processing of the managed users in accordance with the externally input user information processing request.

A thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention is a billing management step (step S13 shown in FIG. 12) for managing the billing information set in the processing target information for each user on the storage device.
2, S133), the cost calculation step of calculating the output cost of the processing target information for each user (step S411 shown in FIG. 11), and the output cost calculated by the cost calculation step and the charging information are compared, and the processing target is compared. A program for executing the second limiting step (steps S412 and S410 shown in FIG. 11) for limiting the output of information is recorded in a computer-readable storage medium.

In a thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the second limiting step, when the output cost exceeds the billing information, the output of the processing target information managed by the information managing step is restricted. It is characterized by doing.

The thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the output cost is calculated from the output resource use fee and the information use fee.

[0050]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a ticket management system capable of providing a server device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, in the present system example, a terminal 101, a ticket control server 102, printers 105 and 106, a data server 10 via a network 107.
An example in which 3, 104 are connected is shown.

The terminal 101 provides terminal functions such as sending necessary data to the ticket control server 102 when a user creates a document and creates a ticket from the document or when actually using the ticket. It is for.

The client device may be a general-purpose computer or the like, or may be a special terminal designed to provide a specific service. The client device may take various forms. It has no essential relationship with the mechanism of the system that is the subject of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is applicable regardless of the form of the client device.

The printers 105 and 106 receive the print data sent from the ticket control server 102,
It has a function of generating a desired output product from the printing capability of the device and the content of the print data and sending the success or failure of the output product to the ticket control server 102. Here, the printer 105 and the printer 1
It is needless to say that 06 is a different model and that only different printer description languages can be interpreted.

The data servers 103 and 104 include data itself and access restriction information for each data. In addition, it has a function of communicating with the ticket control server 102, authenticates the data requested by the ticket control server 102, and the user requesting the data can access the data. Can send the data you are looking for.

The ticket control server 102 provides a ticket management means and a user management means in this system. In addition, other devices (terminal 101, data server 10
3, 104, printer 105, printer 106) through the network 107 to perform user management and ticket management.

Such an implementation is just one example of an implementation of the system to which the invention refers.

Therefore, in the case other than this embodiment, the present invention is applied even when the ticket management and the user management are realized by a mode in which each printer, terminal or the like directly has the means of the ticket control server. .

Further, in the present embodiment, the detailed configuration of the network 107 for connecting to each device is not particularly mentioned. The reason is that, as described above, its implementation form has no essential relationship with the ticket management mechanism that is the subject of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to any physical implementation method of the network.

Further, in FIG. 1, a plurality of devices are connected by a single network, but these devices are connected via a plurality of networks such as the Internet. The present invention can be applied even when such a realization form is adopted.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the server device showing the first embodiment of the present invention, which corresponds to the device configuration of the ticket control server 102 shown in FIG. 1, and the main modules are data and They are connected to each other by a system bus 209 which mediates transmission and reception of control signals. These configurations are examples used in the description of the embodiments, and the present invention can be applied regardless of any restrictions as long as the items of the constituent elements of the present invention are satisfied.

In FIG. 2, the main controller 201
Is a part for operating the connected modules based on the input to the ticket control server 102.
The detailed control flow will be described later.

The document analysis unit 202 is a module for analyzing the input ticket, extracting necessary additional information and data to be printed, extracting link information from the document data, and passing it to another module.

The network adapter 203 is a device for transmitting / receiving information to / from an external device connected by the network 107. The protocol analysis unit 204 processes the data received by the network adapter 203 according to the protocol, and It is for converting into a format that can be processed by.

The data conversion unit 205 is a module for converting the document data from which the link information has been removed into the description language of the printer.

The storage device 206 is used for storing a program for operating this server and for temporarily or long-term storing the processing data that appears during the process. It is a semiconductor memory device, a magnetic recording device, or the like.

The user management section 207 is a module for managing users who use this system. It has functions such as new user registration, deletion of existing users, user authentication, and administrator settings.

The ticket management unit 208 collects necessary data into a ticket at the time of issuing the ticket, distinguishes whether the ticket is forged when used, and limits the expiration date and the number of times of use. It is a module for performing the process related to the general ticket that confirms whether it satisfies the condition.

From the ticket control server 102,
The present invention is also applied to a system in which only some of the modules, for example, the user management unit 207 and the data conversion unit 205 are taken out and mounted to enable communication with the ticket control server 102.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a ticket format handled by the ticket control server 102 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, not only document data 504 in which link information can be embedded in a normal document, but also a ticket ID 501 for identifying the ticket itself,
The information includes the address 502 of the ticket control server that issued the ticket, the creator 503, and the like.
Regarding the expiration date and the number of times of use, the ticket control server 1
Since it is managed by 02, it is not necessary to describe it in the ticket. As described above, it is possible to manage the data that can be managed by the ticket or the ticket control server by either.

Regarding the format described above in which each data is actually stored, a plurality of methods of realizing it can be considered.

However, the present invention is applicable if the above-mentioned information can be separated or added to each data by some form or means without depending on such a format form.

Further, in the present embodiment, each data stored in the above ticket must be controlled only by the document analysis section 202 of the ticket control server 102 in such a way that it can be separated. Since the ticket is deeply involved in user authentication, it is necessary to prevent tampering of these data by a third party.

However, the above-mentioned special method itself is not essential to the present invention, and any method can be applied as long as it is a method satisfying the above-mentioned requirements, and the present invention is applied to that extent. .

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of information managed by the ticket control server 102 shown in FIG. 2, and shows an example of the configuration of information managed by the ticket management unit 208 of the ticket control server 102. Correspond.

In FIG. 4, the issued tickets are centrally managed by the ticket ID, and the creator ID of each ticket, the expiration date, the counter showing how many times it has been used, and the number of times of use. It manages the upper limit value, the number of times it can be used, and whether authentication is required (y is required, n is not required). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information managed by the ticket control server 102 illustrated in FIG. 2, and corresponds to an example of a configuration of information managed by the user management unit 207 of the ticket control server 102.

In FIG. 5, each user is centrally managed by a user ID, and is related to the user such as a password for authentication, a real name, whether or not an administrator (y is an administrator, n is a non-administrator). It manages information. The administrator described here refers to a user who has the right to add or delete a user. There is also a table for checking whether the ticket has been forged here, but there are multiple possible ways to realize it, and different means and the method itself are not essential to the present invention. Therefore omitted.

Next, the ticket processing operation in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention, which corresponds to the procedure in ticket creation. Note that S3
01 to S307 indicate each step.

The user creates a document on the terminal 101 (S301), and in order to use it as a ticket, the document data and the additional information such as the expiration date and the usable number of times are collected and sent to the ticket control server 102. Send (S30
2).

Then, the ticket control server 102 receives the data sent from the terminal 101 from the network 107 through the network adapter 203 and the protocol analysis unit 204, and the sender of the data, that is, the creator of the ticket to be created. In order to identify the user, the user management unit 207 is used to authenticate the user (S303).

Information is exchanged between the ticket control server 102 and other devices through the network at all times. Therefore, when communication is performed with other devices thereafter, the network adapter 203 and the protocol analysis unit 204 are used. Shall be done.

Then, from the sent document data, the document analysis unit 202 causes the external data server 10
It is confirmed whether a link to 3, 104 or the like is included (S304), and if it is determined that the link is not included, a ticket is created based on the sent document data and additional information, and the ticket is generated. After the necessary information is stored in the management unit 208, the created ticket is sent back to the terminal 101 (S306).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S304 that the link is included, the data server 103, 10
4 and check whether the ticket creator is permitted to access the target data (S305), and if it is determined that there is no problem (if it is determined that the access is permitted), the ticket Is issued (S306),
The process ends.

If a problem occurs in the above confirmation, the process proceeds to step S307, and as a error process, the user is informed of what the problem is through the terminal 101 to which the original data is sent.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, which corresponds to the procedure for actually using the created ticket. Note that S401 to S410 indicate each step.

The user who wants to use the ticket is the terminal 10
From 1, the ticket is sent to the ticket control server 102 (S401).

Then, the ticket control server 102 divides the sent ticket into document data and additional information by the document analysis unit 202, and the ticket has not been tampered with, has not expired, or has been used. The ticket management unit 208 confirms the validity such as whether the number of times of use has reached the number of times allowed (S402).

At this point, the user who sent the ticket is not necessarily authenticated. This is because the user does not have to agree with the ticket creator and the ticket can be used anonymously. Whether or not the user who actually uses the ticket is authenticated is determined by the creator for each ticket, and the ticket management unit 208 writes y or n in the authentication portion of the table as shown in FIG. 4, for example. At this time, if authentication is required, the user management unit 20
Through 7.

Here, if it is confirmed that there is no particular problem, the document analysis unit 202 divides the ticket into document data and additional information, and it is necessary to inquire the data server, that is, the second restriction. The step limits the output of the processing target information managed in the information management step when the output cost exceeds the billing information, and whether the link information is included in the document data. Is confirmed (S403), and if it is determined that it is included, authentication with the external data with the ticket creator authority is performed to the data servers 103 and 104 (S4).
04), if authenticated, obtain the necessary data (S405). Here, it is the ticket creator, not the ticket user, that is authenticated. for that reason,
Authentication at the time of actual use is already done at the time of creation, so there is little possibility that authentication will fail here.

If the above steps are repeated for all link information, or if the document data does not include link information, it means that all the data to be printed are available, and an inquiry is made in the determination at step S403. When it is determined that it is not necessary, the process proceeds to step S406, and the printers 105 and 106 to be output here are determined by the input from the ticket user.

Next, the data is converted into a printer description language suitable for the printer for output through the data conversion unit 205 (S
407).

Finally, the output destination printers 105 and 106
The converted data is sent and printed (S408).

When printing is completed, the printer
An end notification is sent to the ticket control server 102, the ticket management unit 208 adds "1" to the number of times the ticket has been used (S409), and the process ends.

On the other hand, step S402 or S404
If you decide that something is wrong with,
The location of the problem is displayed on the terminal 101, and the user is inquired about what processing is to be performed thereafter (S4
10).

As a result, the document distribution using the ticket can greatly reduce the complexity of data distribution.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to the device configuration of the ticket control server shown in FIG. The same parts as those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 8, the charge management unit 210 manages the information charge, the resource use charge, and the upper limit value as chargeable persons for each user managed by the user management unit 207 based on management data described later. It is a module to do.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of information managed by the ticket management unit 208 of the ticket control server 102 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9, the issued tickets are centrally managed by the ticket IDs, and the IDs of the creators and chargeable persons of each ticket, the expiration date,
It manages whether or not authentication is required at the time of use (y is required, n is not required).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of information managed by the charging management unit 210 of the ticket control server 102 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 10, the billing management unit 210 is centrally managed by the user ID for each user registered in the user management unit 207. The current information usage fee, resource usage fee, and upper limit of billing are set for the user ID. Information usage fee and resource usage fee are
The ticket is used and updated every time the printer prints the document data. The charge upper limit is determined by the user or the administrator.

Next, another example of the ticket use processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention, which corresponds to the ticket use processing procedure of the ticket control server 102 shown in FIG. Note that S401 to S413
Indicates each step. In addition, steps S401 to S41
0 is the same step as shown in FIG.

Further, in the present embodiment, the user creates a document in the terminal 101 in step S301 shown in FIG. 6, and further, in step S302, converts the document data into document data in order to use it as a ticket. , Collect additional information such as expiration date and charge target,
It shall be sent to the ticket control server 102.

First, a user who wants to use a ticket sends the ticket from the terminal 101 to the ticket control server 102 (S401).

Then, the ticket control server 102 divides the sent ticket into document data and additional information by the document analysis unit 202, and the ticket has not been tampered with or has not expired. Is confirmed through the ticket management unit 208 (S402). This does not necessarily authenticate the user who sent the ticket at this point. This is because the user does not have to agree with the ticket creator and the ticket can be used anonymously.

Whether or not the user who actually uses the ticket is authenticated is determined by the creator for each ticket, and the ticket management unit 208 writes y or n in the authentication portion of the table shown in FIG. 4, for example. . When authentication is required, it is performed through the user management unit 207.

If it is confirmed that there is no problem in the above steps, it is confirmed whether or not an inquiry to the data server is necessary, that is, whether the document data includes link information (S403).

If it is determined that the link information is included, the data server 103, 104 is authenticated with the external data by the ticket creator authority (S40).
4) Obtain necessary data (S405). At this time, it is confirmed whether necessary data obtained from the outside has been tampered with if necessary (S413).

Here, the authentication is performed by the ticket creator, not by the ticket user. Therefore, since the authentication when actually using it has already been performed at the time of creation, there is little possibility that the authentication will fail here. In addition, there are several possible methods for checking whether the necessary data has been tampered with, such as taking a checksum of the data, but if you can check whether the data has been tampered with,
The present invention can be applied by any method.

If the above steps are repeated for all the link information, or if the document data does not include the link information, all the data to be printed are complete.

Next, the printers 105 and 106 to be output are determined by the input from the ticket user (S40).
6). Then, the data is converted into a printer description language suitable for the printer for output through the data conversion unit 205 (S40).
7).

Since the data can be converted into printable data, the cost required for printing from the data can be calculated. Therefore, when the resource usage fee corresponding to the number of printed sheets and the data servers 103 and 104 are accessed, the information usage fee is calculated (S41).
1).

At this time, the charge management unit 210 is inquired to confirm whether the charge upper limit is exceeded (S
412).

Incidentally, step S402 or step S
If any problem occurs during the step processing of 404 or step S413, the point where the problem occurs is displayed through the terminal 101, and what kind of processing is to be performed thereafter.
Error processing for inquiring the user is performed (S410).

As a result, the information usage fee and the resource usage fee can be immediately known for each user, and the actual charging becomes easy.

Further, since it becomes possible to set a charging upper limit for each user, if resources are used too much, they cannot be used at that point. Therefore, there is no fear that the amount of money that cannot be paid will be charged, and the printer can be printed with peace of mind.

Further, it becomes easy to develop a business by combining document distribution through a network and printing by a printer, which has been difficult until now. For example, it is conceivable that the resource usage fee, that is, the paper fee and toner fee of the printer, may be made free by including an advertisement in a part of the print every time printing is performed. In the case of the above example, if the information usage fee is considered negative, it can be realized by the above mechanism.

Next, with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 12, a description will be given of the charge management process when using a ticket.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention, which shows the specific flow of step S409 in FIG. 11 and is shown in FIG. It corresponds to the charge management procedure in the ticket use process of the ticket control server 102. Note that S131 to S133 indicate each step.
In FIG. 12, when printing is completed using the ticket, the printer sends a termination notice to the ticket control server 102. Ticket management unit 20 of the ticket control server 102
8, the user ID in the table shown in FIG. 10 managed for each user is compared with the charge target person ID of the ticket to determine which user is charged (S13).
1). Then, the resource usage fee and the information usage fee in the table of the user to be charged are added by the calculated charges (S132, S133).

At this point, necessary inspections such as the charging upper limit have already been completed, so that it is not necessary to confirm them again here. Further, since it does not matter which of the resource usage fee and the information usage fee is performed first, the present invention is applied regardless of which of steps S132 and S133 is performed first.

The configuration of the data processing program that can be read by the information processing system to which the server device according to the present invention can be applied will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by an information processing system to which the server device according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not particularly shown, information for managing the program group stored in the storage medium, such as version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as the program, is stored. In some cases, an icon or the like for identification display may be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs are also managed in the above directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in a computer, or a program for decompressing the program to be installed when it is compressed may be stored.

FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 11, and FIG.
The functions shown in FIG. 12 may be performed by the host computer by a program installed from the outside. In that case, the present invention is applied even when the information group including the program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. It is a thing.

As described above, the storage medium recording the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP of the system or apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by U) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM or the like can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

[0134]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the thirty-ninth aspect, the processing target information including the predetermined link information and the output restriction information is stored and managed in the storage device, and is output when an output request is made to the processing target information managed by the data processing device. Since the requester is authenticated to determine whether the output request is permitted or not, the requester for the processing target information managed with the link information is automatically authenticated and the output of the processing target information from the legitimate output requester is performed. It is possible to freely build a network information management system that can meet the demand.

Further, processing target information including predetermined link information and output restriction information is stored and managed on the storage device, and when the output request for the processing target information managed by the data processing device is made, the output requester is Authentication is performed to determine whether or not the output request is possible, and the execution of the output request is restricted by determining whether or not the requested output is possible according to the billing information for each output requester of each user. A network capable of responding to an output request for processing target information from a legitimate output requester by automatically authenticating a requester for processing target information managed along with link information while considering billing information for each The information management system can be freely constructed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a ticket management system that can provide a server device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a ticket handled by the ticket control server shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information managed by the ticket control server shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information managed by the ticket control server illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of information managed by a ticket management unit of the ticket control server shown in FIG.

10 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of information managed by a charging management unit of the ticket control server shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the information processing system to which the server device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

102 ticket control server 201 Main controller 202 Document Analysis Department 203 network adapter 204 Protocol analysis unit 205 data converter 206 storage device 207 User Management Department 208 Ticket Management Department 209 system bus 210 Billing Management Department

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI theme code (reference) H04L 9/32 H04L 9/00 675D F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH01 HH03 HJ08 HK11 HK19 HK23 HN05 HN22 HQ14 HQ17 5B021 AA01 EE01 NN18 5B085 AC04 AE02 AE23 BG02 5J104 AA07 KA01 MA02 PA07

Claims (39)

[Claims] 1. A server device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a network, the information management means storing and managing processing target information including predetermined link information and output restriction information on a storage device, and the data. An authentication unit that authenticates the output requester and determines whether or not the output request can be made when the processing device outputs an output request for the processing target information managed by the information management unit.
A server device comprising: 2. A user management means for managing individual user identification information capable of requesting the processing target information on the storage device, wherein the authentication means compares the user identification information with the output restriction information. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the output requester is authenticated with reference to determine whether or not the output request is permitted. 3. Based on the authentication result by the authentication means,
The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a first limiting unit that limits output of the processing target information managed by the information managing unit. 4. The first limiting means limits the output of the processing target information managed by the information managing means based on the data creator, the expiration date, and the usable number of times in the output restriction information. The server device according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising an acquisition unit that acquires output information from another data processing device via the network based on the link information. 6. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a conversion unit that converts the document data included in the processing target information into a printer description language. 7. The first limiting means suppresses the output of the processing target information requested to be output when the expiration date recorded in the expiration date information included in the processing target information is exceeded. The server device according to claim 3, which is characterized in that. 8. The first limiting means compares the usable number of times included in the processing target information with the number of times of use up to the present, and outputs the processing target information requested to be output when the usable number of times is exceeded. The output is suppressed, and the output is suppressed.
The server device described. 9. The tampering state determination means for determining whether or not the processing target information has been tampered with, wherein the first limiting means determines that the processing target information has been tampered with by the tampering status determination means. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the output of the processing target information requested to be output is suppressed in the case of doing so. 10. The server device according to claim 2, wherein the user management means performs addition / deletion of managed users and change of authentication in accordance with a user information processing request inputted from outside. 11. A billing management unit that manages billing information set in the processing target information for each user on the storage device, a cost calculation unit that calculates an output cost of the processing target information for each user, and the cost calculation. The server apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second limiting unit configured to compare the output cost calculated by the unit and the billing information to limit the output of the processing target information. 12. The second limiting means limits the output of the processing target information managed by the information managing means when the output cost exceeds the billing information. 11. The server device according to item 11. 13. The output cost is calculated from an output resource usage fee and an information usage fee.
The server device described. 14. A data processing method in a server device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a network, the information management step of storing and managing processing target information including predetermined link information and output restriction information on a storage device. And an authentication step of authenticating an output requester and determining whether or not the output request can be made when an output request is made from the data processing device to the processing target information managed by the information management step. Data processing method. 15. A user management step of managing individual user identification information capable of requesting the processing target information on the storage device, wherein the authentication step compares the user identification information with the output restriction information. 15. The data processing method according to claim 14, wherein the output requester is authenticated with reference to determine whether or not the output request is permitted. 16. The data processing according to claim 14, further comprising a first limiting step of limiting the output of the processing target information managed by the information managing step based on the authentication result of the authentication step. Method. 17. The first limiting step limits the output of the processing target information managed in the information managing step based on the data creator, the expiration date, and the usable number of times in the output restriction information. The data processing method according to claim 16, wherein 18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising an acquisition step of acquiring output information from another data processing device via the network based on the link information.
Described data processing method. 19. The data processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a conversion step of converting document data included in the processing target information into a printer description language. 20. The first restricting step suppresses the output of the processing target information requested to be output when the expiration date recorded in the expiration date information included in the processing target information is exceeded. 15. The data processing method according to claim 14, which is characterized in that. 21. In the first limiting step, the usable number of times included in the processing target information is compared with the number of times of use up to the present, and when the usable number of times is exceeded, output of the processing target information requested to be output is performed. 15. The data processing method according to claim 14, wherein output is suppressed. 22. A tampering state determination step of determining whether or not the processing target information has been tampered with, wherein the first restriction step determines that the processing target information has been tampered with by the tampering state determination step. 15. The data processing method according to claim 14, wherein the output of the processing target information requested to be output is suppressed in the case of doing so. 23. The data processing method according to claim 15, wherein the user management step performs a process of adding, deleting, or changing a managed user in accordance with a user information processing request inputted from the outside. . 24. A billing management step of managing billing information set in the processing target information on the storage device for each user, a cost calculation step of calculating an output cost of the processing target information for each user, and the cost calculation. 15. The data processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a second limiting step of limiting the output of the processing target information by comparing the output cost calculated in step with the billing information. 25. The second limiting step limits the output of the processing target information managed by the information managing step when the output cost exceeds the billing information. 24. A data processing method described in 24. 26. The output cost is calculated from an output resource usage fee and an information usage fee.
Described data processing method. 27. An information management step of storing and managing processing target information including predetermined link information and output restriction information on a storage device in a server device capable of communicating with the data processing device via a network, said data processing device. When an output request is made to the processing target information managed by the information management step, the computer can read the program for executing the authentication step of authenticating the output requester and determining whether or not the output request is permitted. Storage medium. 28. A user management step of managing individual user identification information capable of requesting the processing target information on the storage device, wherein the authentication step compares the user identification information with the output restriction information. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the output requester is authenticated with reference to determine whether or not the output request is permitted. 29. The storage medium according to claim 27, further comprising a first limiting step of limiting the output of the processing target information managed by the information managing step based on the authentication result of the authenticating step. . 30. The first limiting step limits the output of the processing target information managed by the information managing step based on the data creator, the expiration date, and the usable number of times in the output restriction information. 30. The storage medium according to claim 29. 31. The method according to claim 27, further comprising an acquisition step of acquiring output information from another data processing device via the network based on the link information.
The storage medium described. 32. The storage medium according to claim 27, further comprising a conversion step of converting the document data included in the processing target information into a printer description language. 33. The first limiting step is to suppress the output of the processing target information requested to be output when the expiration date recorded in the expiration date information included in the processing target information is exceeded. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the storage medium is a storage medium. 34. The first limiting step compares the usable number of times included in the processing target information with the number of times of use up to the present time, and outputs the processing target information requested to be output when the usable number of times is exceeded. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein output is suppressed. 35. A falsification state determination step of determining whether or not the processing target information has been falsified, wherein the first restriction step determines that the processing target information has been falsified by the falsification state determination step. 28. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein the output of the processing target information requested to be output is suppressed in the case of doing so. 36. The storage medium according to claim 28, wherein in the user management step, a process of adding, deleting, and changing a managed user is performed in accordance with a user information processing request inputted from the outside. 37. A billing management step of managing billing information set in the processing target information for each user on the storage device, a cost calculation step of calculating an output cost of the processing target information for each user, and the cost calculation. 28. The storage medium according to claim 27, further comprising a second limiting step of limiting the output of the processing target information by comparing the output cost calculated in step with the billing information. 38. The second limiting step limits the output of the processing target information managed by the information managing step when the output cost exceeds the billing information. 27. The storage medium according to 27. 39. The output cost is calculated from an output resource usage fee and an information usage fee.
The storage medium described.