DIGITAL PRINTING PROCESSES AND DEVICES

Abstract

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: METHODS AND DEVICE FOR DEMATERIAL PRINTING The dematerialized printing device (13) comprises: - a means (12, 14) for connecting to a device (11) for generating the data to be printed from a document to be printed, for example, a cash register, - a screen (16), - a means (15) for generating and displaying a visible code on the screen, - a means (14, 18) for wirelessly connecting to a client's communicating handheld terminal (20), and - a means (14, 15, 18) for transmitting information representing the data to be printed to the communicating handheld terminal, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating handheld terminal. The transmission means is configured so that the communicating handheld terminal can only access the data to be printed represented by said information after receiving the visible code. Figure for the abridged version: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DEMATERIALIZED PRINTING Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to methods and a device for dematerialized printing. It applies, in particular, to the dematerialized printing of till receipts, bank card payment receipts or invoices in stores and vending machines. State of the art

[0002] During a purchase, the cashier prints a receipt and gives it to the customer. If the customer paid by bank card, the cashier asks if they would like a payment receipt. Finally, if the customer made a purchase for professional purposes or to certify the start date of a warranty period, the customer asks the cashier to print an invoice.

[0003] In all three cases, a paper copy is printed, but this copy mostly ends up in the trash (often the one placed at the store exit). This results in wasted time for both the cashier and the customer, wear and tear on the printing equipment, wasted ink and paper, and ultimately, pollution. Finally, there are instances where printers are automatic, such as those in gas stations or vending machines for goods, tickets, or other items, but they may be unable to print, either due to a lack of paper or ink, or because of a technical malfunction. In such cases, the customer cannot receive any proof of purchase or payment. Description of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

[0005] To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a dematerialized printing device, which comprises: - a means of connecting to a device for generating data to be printed from a document to be printed, for example a cash register, - a means of wireless connection with a client's communicating portable terminal, and - a means of transmitting information representative of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, this transmission means being configured so that the communicating portable terminal can only access the data to be printed represented by said information after receiving it, of a predetermined code, said code representing a connection code necessary by means of wireless connection to establish the connection with the communicating portable terminal and / or a code for decoding or deciphering information representing the data to be printed.

[0006] In embodiments, the wireless connection means between the device and the communicating portable terminal is configured to perform pairing with the communicating portable terminal only after receiving, by this connection means, from this terminal, a connection code represented by the predetermined code.

[0007] In embodiments, the device of the invention further comprises a means of generating a predetermined code and of supplying the generated code to the communicating portable terminal.

[0008] In embodiments, the generation means is configured to generate a predetermined code representative of a decoding and / or decryption key for information representative of the data to be printed.

[0009] In embodiments, the generation means is configured to generate a different code for each receipt of data to be printed by the connection means with a device for generating data to be printed.

[0010] In embodiments, the means of transmitting information representative of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal is configured to add an integrity verification code to the data to be printed.

[0011] In embodiments, the device of the invention further comprises a means of receiving professional contact details from the communicating portable terminal and of adding these professional contact details to the data to be printed.

[0012] In embodiments, the means of transmitting information representative of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal is configured to transmit this information by email or by multimedia message for mobile telephony.

[0013] In embodiments, the wireless connection means with a client's communicating portable terminal is configured to establish a connection with a terminal only for a duration less than a predetermined limit value.

[0014] In embodiments, the device of the invention further comprises a means of connection to a physical printer, configured to inhibit the transmission to the physical printer of the data to be printed if the means of connection to the communicating portable terminal has connected to a communicating portable terminal.

[0015] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a dematerialized printing process which comprises: - a step of receiving print data from a document to be printed, from a print data generation device, for example a cash register,

[0016] - a step of wireless connection with a communicating portable terminal of a client, And - a step of transmitting representative information of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal,

[0017] - only if the communicating portable terminal has received a predetermined code, a access step by the communicating portable terminal, to the data to be printed represented by said information, said code representing a connection code necessary to carry out the wireless connection step to establish the connection with the communicating portable terminal and / or a code for decoding or deciphering the information representing the data to be printed.

[0018] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method implemented by a communicating portable terminal, which comprises the following steps: - receipt of a predetermined code, - wireless connection to a device for dematerializing the printing of data from a document to be printed, - reception, from the dematerialization device, of information representative of the data to be printed, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, - only if the communicating portable terminal has received the predetermined code, an access step by the communicating portable terminal, to the data to be printed represented by said information, said code representing a connection code necessary to carry out the wireless connection step to establish the connection with the communicating portable terminal and / or a code for decoding or deciphering the information representing the data to be printed.

[0019] Advantages, purposes and particular features of the first three aspects of the invention will become apparent from the advantages, purposes and particular features of the fourth aspect of the invention, which is the particular case where the predetermined code is transmitted by the dematerialization device which is the subject of the first aspect of the invention to the communicating portable terminal, in the form of a visible code displayed on a screen.

[0020] According to the fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a dematerialized printing device which comprises: - a means of connecting to a device for generating data to be printed from a document to be printed, for example a cash register, - a screen, - a means of generating and displaying visible code on the screen, - a means of wireless connection with a client's communicating portable terminal, and - a means of transmitting information representative of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, this means of transmission being configured so that the communicating portable terminal can only access the data to be printed represented by said information after receiving, by this terminal, the visible code.

[0021] Thanks to these provisions, the customer only needs to enter the code or take an image of the code ("scan") for the data to be printed to be accessible on their mobile communicating terminal and allow for paperless, or virtual, printing. They can then view the data, for example, to verify each amount and the date entered, or to view vouchers, game vouchers or loyalty points, transmit this data to an accounting system and / or generate an invoice.

[0022] It is noted that the visible code can be, depending on the embodiment, a connection code and / or a decryption code for the information representing the data to be printed.

[0023] In embodiments, the wireless connection means between the device and the communicating handheld terminal is configured to perform pairing with a communicating handheld terminal, this pairing requiring the reception of the code displayed on the screen by the communicating handheld terminal.

[0024] Thanks to these arrangements, only a communicating handheld terminal positioned near the screen can pair with the device and receive the information representing the data to be printed and perform a virtual print. It should be noted that the reception of the displayed code by the communicating handheld terminal can be achieved either by manual entry by its user or by taking an image (popularly called a "scan") of the displayed code.

[0025] In embodiments, the means for generating and displaying a visible code on the screen is configured to generate a code representative of a decoding and / or decryption key for information representative of the data to be printed.

[0026] Any communicating portable terminal in communication with the device can then receive the information representing the data to be printed, but only the communicating portable terminal that has received the displayed code (by manual entry or by scanning) can decipher it and produce a virtual printout of this data. Thus, other terminals that might connect to the device would not be able to decode and / or decipher the information representing the document to be printed.

[0027] In embodiments, the means for generating and displaying a visible code on the screen is configured to generate a different code for each receipt of data to be printed by means of connection with a device for generating data to be printed.

[0028] The generated and displayed code is therefore for single use only and can only be used for the data to be printed from a single document to be printed.

[0029] In embodiments, the means of transmitting information representative of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal is configured to add an integrity verification code to the data to be printed.

[0030] Thanks to these provisions, the user cannot falsify the data of the virtually printed document by adding, removing, or modifying it. For example, the integrity code is an error detection code, an error correction code, or a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code. The document thus printed is therefore a reliable accounting document.

[0031] In embodiments, the means of transmitting information representative of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal is configured to structure the data to be printed in a non-editable format.

[0032] For example, this refers to the non-editable PDF format. Thanks to these provisions, the user cannot falsify, by adding, removing or modifying, the data of the virtually printed document.

[0033] In embodiments, the device further includes a means of receiving professional contact details from the communicating portable terminal and adding these professional contact details to the data to be printed.

[0034] Thanks to these provisions, the document to be printed can constitute an invoice accessible to both the user of the mobile communicating terminal and the user of the device, for example, the store where the terminal user makes purchases. These provisions therefore fulfill the accounting requirement that an invoice be available to both users. To implement these provisions, the application dedicated to the virtual printing of documents can display a page for the user to enter their professional contact information.

[0035] In embodiments, the means of transmitting information representative of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal is configured to transmit this information by email or by multimedia message for mobile telephony.

[0036] Thanks to these provisions, the terminal user can receive the document to be printed by email or MMS. It should be noted that MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is a system for sending and receiving multimedia messages for mobile telephony, which extends the SMS (Short Message Service) capabilities include the ability to transmit photos, audio recordings, and video. To implement these features, the application dedicated to virtual document printing may display a page for users to enter their email address and / or mobile phone number.

[0037] In some embodiments, the wireless connection means with a client's communicating portable terminal is configured to establish a connection with the terminal only for a duration shorter than a limit value after the code is displayed on the device's screen and / or until the data transmission is complete. For example, this limit value is fifteen seconds.

[0038] In embodiments, the device further comprises a means of connection to a physical printer configured to transmit the data to be printed only if the means of connection to the communicating portable terminal has not connected to a communicating portable terminal.

[0039] Thus, printing on paper is inhibited if the communicating portable terminal connects with the device but is carried out if this terminal does not connect with the device.

[0040] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a dematerialized printing method comprising: - a step of receiving data to be printed from a document to be printed, from a generation device, for example a cash register, - a step of generating and displaying visible code on a screen, - a step involving wireless connection with a client's communicating portable terminal, and - a step of transmitting representative information of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, - only if the communicating portable terminal has received the visible code, a step of access by the communicating portable terminal, to the data to be printed represented by said information.

[0041] According to a sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a method implemented by a communicating portable terminal, which comprises the following steps: - wireless reception of a visible code displayed on a screen, from a device for dematerializing the printing of data to be printed from a document to be printed, - wireless connection to the digitization device, - reception, from the dematerialization device, of information representative of the data to be printed, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, - access to the data to be printed represented by said information, via the communicating portable terminal.

[0042] The advantages, purposes and particular characteristics of these methods of the fifth and sixth aspects of the invention being similar to those of the device which is the subject of the fourth aspect of the invention, they are not recalled here. Brief description of the figures

[0043] Other advantages, purposes and particular features of the invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the device and methods of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0044] [Fig. 1] schematically represents a particular embodiment of the device that is the subject of the invention, and

[0045] [Fig.2] represents, in the form of a logic diagram, the steps of a first particular embodiment of the process which is the subject of the invention. Description of the implementation methods

[0046] The present description is given by way of non-limiting grammar, each feature of an embodiment being able to be advantageously combined with any other feature of any other embodiment.

[0047] In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a code is transmitted to a communicating handheld terminal from a print-dematerialization device independent of a data source to be printed. In other embodiments, not shown, a code is transmitted to the communicating handheld terminal from a print-dematerialization device integrated into a data source to be printed, for example, a cash register, an ATM, or a computer integrating the functions of a cash register or ATM and print-dematerialization functions.

[0048] In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the code is transmitted to the communicating handheld terminal in a visible form, via a display screen. In other embodiments (not shown), the code and / or information representing the data to be printed are received by the communicating handheld terminal via an electronic tag, for example via Near-Field Communication (NFC) or an RFID chip (Radio Frequency Identification).

[0049] The code can also be received by the communicating portable terminal by reading an invariant code, for example printed and affixed near the cash register or on an automatic dispenser.

[0050] Of course, the present invention also relates to combinations of means of communication and connection, for example with a code transmission by an electronic tag or by reading a printed code and then a transmission of information representing the data to be printed by implementing a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth protocol (registered trademarks), after pairing of the device and the terminal implementing this code.

[0051] In Figures 1 and 2, the word "casing" refers to the device 13 illustrated in [Fig.1], and the word "smartphone" refers to a portable communicating terminal 20 also illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0052] The device 13 illustrated in [Fig. 1] allows a printer 19 to be replaced by a communicating mobile terminal 20, for example a tablet computer or a smartphone (also called a smartphone or smart phone). The device 13 includes a screen 16, a central microprocessor unit 15, and wired or wireless input / output connections 12, 17, and 18 for receiving and / or sending data from a source 11 of documents to be printed to the printer 19 and the communicating mobile terminal 20. The source 11 is, for example, a cash register or a computer equipped with software reproducing the functions of a cash register.

[0053] The software of the device 13 calculates, for example randomly, a connection code that is displayed on the screen 16, either alphanumerically or graphically, for example as a sequence of alphanumeric symbols, a barcode, or a QR code (for Quick-Response Code, registered trademark). This visible code allows an application installed on the communicating handheld terminal 20 to connect uniquely and securely to the device 13. To establish the connection between the device 13 and the terminal 20, the user enters the visible code or scans the code with the communicating handheld terminal 20. Then, the application on this communicating handheld terminal 20 waits for the wireless connection with the device 13. Once this connection is established, the communicating handheld terminal 20 receives the data to be printed from the document to be printed, allowing it to be viewed.

[0054] The code is preferably displayed at the beginning of the first item entry by the cashier or a few seconds after a connected handheld terminal disconnects, to allow time for the next customer to be replaced, to whom the document to be printed is addressed. As soon as terminal 20 receives the code (manual entry or scan), the connection is established, the displayed code is replaced by a "connection established" message, and the information representing the document to be printed is sent to the connected terminal when the receipt is printed after payment. Then, again, at the end of the receipt(s), a new code is displayed.

[0055] Whether or not there has been a connection, a new code is displayed after each customer and / or at the beginning of the first item entry. For example, at least one push button 21 allows the cashier to trigger the display of a new code and / or physical printing with printer 19.

[0056] Thus, in order to reduce the number of paper receipts to be printed at checkout 11 of a supermarket, for example, the customer who has previously downloaded the application onto their mobile device 20 can, if they wish, scan the code displayed on the screen 16 of the device 13 connected to the receipt printer at the checkout 19. Once the code is read, a secure and targeted connection is established between the device 13 and the mobile device 20. The device 13 then sends the data to be printed to the mobile device 20. The application on the mobile device 20 generates a digital receipt.

[0057] The device 13 allows several types of printers to be connected with several types of connections 17, for example those known as USB (for Universal Serial Bus), serial link, I2C (for Inter-Integrated Circuit), wire-to-wire, RS232, RS485, Ethernet, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or radio at authorized frequencies.

[0058] The cashier, at the supermarket, for example, does not have to ask if the customer wants a receipt; she simply scans the code displayed by the device 13, at the checkout entrance, for example. A push button 21, or a special command sent by the printing software of the source 11, allows the cashier, if she wishes, to display a new code, change modes, and switch from standard printing to the printer to sending print data to the application on the communicating handheld terminal 20. Alternatively, the application loaded on the terminal 20 allows the customer to request a physical printout of the document to be printed.

[0059] In the case where the information representing the data to be printed from the document to be printed constitutes only a small amount of data, for example less than the storage capacity of a standardized code, for example a QR code, the displayed code can directly represent this data, possibly neither coded nor encrypted but preferably coded and / or encrypted with a key transmitted from the device 13 to the terminal 20.

[0060] The following describes elements for securing the targeted and unique connection between the device 13 and the terminal 20. In order to send the data to be printed to the corresponding communicating portable terminal 20 of the customer making the purchases corresponding to this data, the link 18 for sending the data is preferably targeted, encrypted, and unique. In all cases, a visible numeric code is generated. This generation is carried out, for example, randomly. The code is displayed on the screen 16 of the device 13 and / or on the existing screen of the source 11, in which case this screen is indistinguishable from that of the device 13. This visible code contains an encryption string and / or the connection name and / or the PIN code (for Personal identification number (or personal identification number) for login.

[0061] The application enabling the implementation of the method which is the subject of the invention, previously downloaded on the communicating portable terminal 20, accepts a connection or rejects a connection attempt which does not meet a connection criterion related to the contents of the visible code.

[0062] The device 13 initializes to connect only to a communicating handheld terminal 20, with its characteristics calculated and displayed as a code on its screen 16. The application can read these parameters from the device's screen, via the visible code, and configure the communicating handheld terminal 20 for connection. For example, the personal identification code is read directly from the device's screen and configured to authorize the connection.

[0063] In addition, preferably, a decoding and / or decryption key is also represented by the code visible on screen 16 and allows the information representing the data to be printed to be decoded and / or decrypted, information transmitted by device 13 to terminal 20. If the decoding and / or decryption is incorrect, the connection is immediately broken and another code is generated on screen 16 of device 13 for the next connection. Preferably, the application stores the printed documents virtually, or in a dematerialized form, by date, by store, etc.

[0064] In its first particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 2], the method 30 comprises, firstly, a step 31 in which, after receiving a document to be printed from the source 11 in the form of print data, the device 13 generates and displays a visible code on its screen 16 and awaits a connection request from the communicating handheld terminal 20. In a step 32, the communicating handheld terminal 20 receives the displayed visible code, either manually entered by its user or, preferably, by capturing an image of the screen 16 and reading the code's content ("scan"). If the code is not received, the method returns to step 31. If the code is received, in step 33, the device 13 establishes a targeted and secure connection with the communicating handheld terminal 20, and the print data is routed to this terminal 20 and not to the printer 19.

[0065] Then, during a step 34, the terminal 20 waits for information representative of the data to be printed, preferably encrypted, for a duration measured by a step 36. If this information is received from the device 13, during a step 35, the terminal 20 decodes or decrypts the information, accesses the data to be printed, and generates the document to be printed. Then, during a step 37, the device disconnects from the terminal 20 or the terminal 20 disconnects from the device 13.

[0066] More generally, and according to its fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a dematerialized printing device 13, which comprises: - a means 12, 14 of connection with a device 11 for generating data to be printed from a document to be printed, for example a cash register, - a 16-inch screen, - a means 15 for generating and displaying on screen 16 a visible code, - a means 14, 18 of wireless connection with a communicating portable terminal 20 of a client, and - a means 14, 15 and 18 of transmission to the communicating portable terminal 20 of information representative of the data to be printed, after a connection has been established between the device 13 and the communicating portable terminal 20, this means of transmission being configured so that the communicating portable terminal 20 can only access the data to be printed represented by said information after receiving, by this terminal 20, the visible code.

[0067] The customer simply enters the code or takes a scan of it to make the data to be printed accessible on their mobile device, enabling paperless or virtual printing. They can then view the document, for example, to verify each amount and date entered, or to view vouchers, game vouchers, or loyalty points, transmit this data to an accounting system, and / or generate an invoice.

[0068] Thus, more generally than described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the connection of any communicating terminal to the device 13 can be opened without a connection key (password) or username, provided that the information transmitted by the device 13 only allows access to the data to be printed with data represented by the visible code, for example, a decoding and / or decryption key. The visible code can therefore be, in some embodiments, a connection code, a decoding code, and / or a decryption code for the information representing the data to be printed.

[0069] In some embodiments, the wireless connection means between the device and the communicating handheld terminal is configured to pair with a communicating handheld terminal. This pairing requires the communicating handheld terminal 20 to receive the code displayed on the screen 16 and optionally retransmit it to the device 13 in a connection request. In these embodiments, only the communicating handheld terminal 20 positioned near the screen 16 can pair with the device 13, receive the information representing the data to be printed, and perform a virtual print. Note that the reception of the code displayed on the screen 16 by the communicating handheld terminal 20 can be done by manual entry by its user or by taking an image (popularly called "scan") of the displayed code.

[0070] In some embodiments, the means for generating and displaying a visible code on the screen 16 is configured to generate a code representing a decoding and / or decryption key for the information representing the data to be printed. Any other communicating portable terminal 20 in communication with the device 13 can then receive the information representing the data to be printed, but only the communicating portable terminal 20 that has received the displayed code (by manual entry or by scanning) can decrypt it and produce a virtual printout of this data.

[0071] In some embodiments, the means for generating and displaying a visible code on the screen 16 is configured to generate a different code for each time data to be printed is received via the connection with a device for generating print data. The generated and displayed code is thus for single use only and can only be used for the print data of a single document. This code is, for example, randomly generated for each document to be printed.

[0072] In some embodiments, the means for transmitting information representative of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal is configured to add an integrity verification code to the data to be printed. Thus, the user cannot falsify the data of the virtually printed document by adding, removing, or modifying it. For example, the integrity code is an error detection code, an error correction code, or a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code printed in the document. The document thus printed is therefore a reliable accounting document.

[0073] In some embodiments, the means for transmitting information representing the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal is configured to structure the data to be printed in a non-editable format. For example, this is the non-editable PDF format. Thanks to these provisions, the user cannot falsify the data of the virtually printed document by adding, deleting, or modifying it.

[0074] In embodiments (not shown), the device further includes a means of receiving professional contact details from the communicating portable terminal and adding these professional contact details to the data to be printed.

[0075] The document to be printed can thus constitute an invoice accessible to both the user of the communicating mobile terminal and the user of the device, for example, the store where purchases are made by the terminal user. These provisions therefore fulfill the requirement that an invoice be available to both users. To implement these provisions, the application dedicated to the virtual printing of documents can display an input page to its user. of professional contact details. Note that the invoice can be generated by device 13, by source 11 (device 13 then sending it the customer's professional contact details), or by a centralized store server. The server then returns the invoice data to device 13 for printing, so that device can send it to terminal 20, or the server can send the invoice directly to the customer by email or MMS. This invoice is then accessible by terminal 20, by MMS, or if it has access to the customer's email account.

[0076] In some embodiments (not shown), the means for transmitting information representing the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal is configured to transmit this information to terminal 20 by email or by multimedia message for mobile telephony. Thus, the terminal user can receive the document to be printed by email or MMS. It should be noted that MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is a system for sending and receiving multimedia messages for mobile telephony, which extends the capabilities of SMS (Short Message Service) and allows, in particular, the transmission of photos, audio recordings, and video. To implement these provisions, the application dedicated to the virtual printing of documents can display a page for the user to enter their email address and / or mobile phone number.For transmission via MMS or email, device 13 has access to the internet or a telephone network. This access can be specific to each device 13, for example in the form of a SIM card (acronym for subscriber identity / identification module) inserted in the device, or it can be shared, for example via wireless communication between the device and a store server.

[0077] In some embodiments, the wireless connection means with a client's communicating portable terminal is configured to establish a connection with the terminal only for a duration shorter than a specified limit after the code is displayed on the device's screen and / or until the data transmission is complete, when no further information (contact details, email address, and / or telephone number) provided by the terminal is expected by the device. For example, this limit is fifteen seconds.

[0078] In some embodiments, the device further includes a means for connecting to a physical printer configured to transmit the data to be printed only if the means for connecting to the communicating portable terminal has not connected to a communicating portable terminal. Thus, printing is inhibited if the communicating portable terminal connects to the device, but is carried out if this terminal does not connect to the device.

[0079] According to its fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a dematerialized printing method, for example implemented by device 13, comprising: - a step of receiving data to be printed from a document to be printed, from a generation device, for example a cash register, - a step of generating and displaying visible code on a screen, - a step involving wireless connection with a client's communicating portable terminal, and - a step of transmitting representative information of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, - only if the communicating portable terminal has received the visible code, a step of access by the communicating portable terminal, to the data to be printed represented by said information.

[0080] According to its sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a method, for example implemented by a communicating portable terminal 20, which comprises the following steps: - wireless reception of a visible code displayed on a screen, from a dematerialization device for printing data to be printed from a document to be printed, - wireless connection to the dematerialization device, - reception, from the dematerialization device, of information representative of the data to be printed, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, - access to the data to be printed represented by said information, via the communicating portable terminal.

[0081] In embodiments (not shown), the code and / or information representing the data to be printed are received by the communicating portable terminal: - via an electronic tag, for example in near-field communication (or NFC for Near-Field Communication) or an RFID chip (acronym for Radio Frequency Identification for radio-frequency identification) and / or - from source 11 integrating all the functions of the dematerialization device, notably in the form of a computer equipped with peripherals for connecting to a communicating portable terminal.

[0082] In embodiments (not shown) The code can also be received by the communicating portable terminal by reading an invariant code, for example printed and affixed near the cash register or on an automatic dispenser.

[0083] Thus, in its broadest definition, the present invention relates to a dematerialized printing device, possibly integrated into a device 11 for generating data to be printed, for example a cash register, which comprises: - a means 12, 14 of connection with a data source to be printed, - a means 14, 18 of wireless connection with a communicating portable terminal 20 of a client, for example via an electronic tag, and - a means 14, 15, 18 of transmission to the communicating portable terminal, for example via an electronic tag, of information representative of the data to be printed, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, this means of transmission being configured so that the communicating portable terminal can only access the data to be printed represented by said information after receiving, by this terminal, a predetermined code, for example displayed on a screen, printed or transmitted by an electronic tag, this predetermined code representing a connection code necessary for the wireless connection means to establish the connection with the communicating portable terminal and / or a code for decoding or deciphering the information representative of the data to be printed.

[0084] In embodiments, the device further comprises a means (15) for generating a predetermined code and providing the generated code to the communicating portable terminal.

[0085] In this broadest definition, the present invention also relates to a dematerialized printing method, which comprises: - a step 31 of receiving data to be printed from a document to be printed, from a device 11 for generating data to be printed, for example a cash register or part of a cash register, - a step 32, 33 of wireless connection with a communicating portable terminal 20 of a client, - a step 34 of transmitting representative information of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, - only if the communicating portable terminal has received a predetermined code, a step 35 of access by the communicating portable terminal, to the data to be printed represented by said information, said code representing a connection code necessary to carry out the wireless connection step to establish the connection with the communicating portable terminal and / or a code for decoding or deciphering the information representing the data to be printed.

[0086] Still within this broadest definition, the present invention also relates to a method implemented by a communicating portable terminal 20, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - reception of a predetermined code, 32 - wireless connection 33 to a print dematerialization device 13 printable data from a document to be printed, - reception 34, from the dematerialization device, of information representative of the data to be printed, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, - only if the communicating portable terminal has received the predetermined code, a step 35 of access by the communicating portable terminal, to the data to be printed represented by said information, said code representing a connection code necessary to carry out the wireless connection step to establish the connection with the communicating portable terminal and / or a code for decoding or deciphering the information representing the data to be printed.

Claims

Demands

1. A dematerialized printing device (13), characterized in that it comprises: - a means (12, 14) for connecting to a device (11) for generating print data for a document to be printed, for example a cash register, - a means (14, 18) for wireless connection to a communicating portable terminal (20) of a client, and - a means (14, 15, 18) for transmitting to the communicating portable terminal information representing the data to be printed, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, this transmission means being configured so that the communicating portable terminal can only access the print data represented by said information after receiving, by this terminal, a predetermined code,said code representing a visible connection code necessary for the wireless connection means to establish a connection with the communicating portable terminal and / or a code for decoding or decrypting information representing the data to be printed, and - a means (14, 17) for connecting to a physical printer (19), configured to inhibit the transmission of the data to be printed to the physical printer, such that the physical printer prints the data to be printed if and only if the means (14, 18) for connecting to the communicating portable terminal (20) has connected to a communicating portable terminal.

2. Device (13) according to claim 1, wherein the wireless connection means (14, 18) between the device and the communicating portable terminal (20) is configured to perform pairing with the communicating portable terminal only after receiving by this connection means, from this terminal, a connection code represented by the predetermined code.

3. Device (13) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further comprising a means (15) for generating a predetermined code and supplying the generated code to the communicating portable terminal.

4. Device (13) according to claim 3, wherein the generation means (15) is configured to generate a predetermined code representative of a key for decoding and / or decrypting information representative of the data to be printed.

5. Device (13) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the generation means (15) is configured to generate a different code for each receipt of data to be printed by the connection means (12, 14) with a device (11) for generating data to be printed.

6. Device (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means (14, 15, 18) for transmitting representative information of the data to be printed to the communicating portable terminal (20) is configured to add an integrity verification code to the data to be printed.

7. Device (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a means (14, 18) for receiving business contact details from the communicating portable terminal (20) and for adding these business contact details to the data to be printed.

8. Device (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the means (14, 15, 18) for transmitting to the communicating portable terminal (20) information representative of the data to be printed, is configured to transmit this information by email or by multimedia message for mobile telephony.

9. Device (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the means (14, 18) for wireless connection with the communicating portable terminal (20) of a client is configured to establish a connection with a terminal only for a duration less than a predetermined limit value.

10. A method (30) of dematerialized printing, characterized in that it comprises: - a step (31) of receiving data to be printed from a document to be printed, from a device (11) for generating data to be printed, for example a cash register, - a step (32, 33) of wireless connection with a communicating portable terminal (20) of a customer, and - a step (34) of transmitting to the communicating portable terminal information representative of the data to be printed, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating portable terminal, - only if the communicating portable terminal has received a predetermined code, a step (35) of access by the communicating portable terminal, to the data to be printed represented by said information, said code representing a visible connection code necessary to perform the wireless connection step to establish the connection with the communicating handheld terminal and / or a code for decoding or decrypting the information representing the data to be printed, and - a connection step to a physical printer, configured to inhibit the transmission to the physical printer of the data to be printed, such that the physical printer prints the data to be printed if and only if a connection with a client's communicating handheld terminal has been made during the connection step.

11. A method (30) implemented by a communicating handheld terminal (20), characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - receiving (32) a predetermined code, - wireless connection (33) to a device (13) for dematerializing the printing of data to be printed from a document to be printed, - receiving (34), from the dematerialization device, information representative of the data to be printed, after a connection has been established between the device and the communicating handheld terminal, - only if the communicating handheld terminal has received the predetermined code, a step (35) of access by the communicating handheld terminal to the data to be printed represented by said information,said code representing a visible connection code necessary to perform the wireless connection step to establish the connection with the communicating portable terminal and / or a code for decoding or decrypting information representing the data to be printed, and - a connection step to a physical printer (19), configured to inhibit the transmission to the physical printer of the data to be printed, such that the physical printer prints the data to be printed if and only if a connection with a client's communicating portable terminal has been established during the connection step.

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