| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the security of printing data by permitting printing of the printing data by only a printer provided in a specified area of printers which receive the printing data. <P>SOLUTION: Each of printers A-D connected to a network prepares a dedicated public key for its exclusive use and a wide-range public key to be shared with printers located in a certain specified area, and reports the exclusive public key and the wide-range public key to a server 20. The server 20 encrypts printing data D05, when the data permit printing by only a specified printer (e.g., the printer A), by use of the dedicated public key to the printer A followed by transmitting, and encrypts the printing data D05, when the data permit printing by any printers located in the specified area (e.g., printers A-C), by use of the wide-area public key of the area concerned followed by transmitting. The printing data D05 encrypted with the wide-range public key can be printed by the printers A-C located in the specified area, but not by printers out of this area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI |
