Embedded license data file distribution and processing system

摘要

A document distribution system transfers a document from a source computer to a destination computer in the form of a print file. The print file defines the appearance of the document in a code suitable for telling a printer how to print the document. The source computer executes "license stamper" software for embedding an encoded license stamp into the print file before it is sent to the destination computer. Viewer software executed by the source computer receives and parses the print file to determine whether it contains the license stamp. If so, the viewer may generate a video display of the document defined by the print file or may print the document by sending the print file to a printer. However if the viewer receives a print file not containing the embedded license stamp, the viewer refrains from displaying or printing the document.