Information processing device and program

Abstract

To allow a recipient to conceal information in printing data in a case where the printing data transmitted by a sender is printed as proxy by a delivery staff with an image formation apparatus and a printed matter is delivered to the designed recipient.SOLUTION: An information processing server 200 receives from a sender terminal device 100 recipient information that receives printing data and a printed matter, notifies a contact address of a recipient of information to the effect that concealment processing for concealing information that is desired to be concealed to a third party should be performed in the received information of the printing data, issues identification information for identifying the printing data after the concealment processing is performed by the recipient, transmits to a delivery staff terminal device 400 that delivers the printed matter a delivery request including the issued identification information and the recipient information, and transmits to an image formation apparatus 500 the printing data after the concealment processing associated with the identification information is performed when the identification information input by a delivery staff in the image formation apparatus 500 is received from the image formation apparatus 500.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system in which, when a logged-in user sends their identification information to a print management server and requests the output of print data corresponding to the user identification information, the print management server performs a masking process on an area of the print data determined by a mask level set for each image forming device, and outputs the data to the image forming device that made the output request, and the image forming device then prints the masked print data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-113153 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] To provide a method for enabling a recipient to conceal information in the print data when a delivery person prints print data transmitted by a sender using an image forming device and delivers the printed matter to a designated recipient. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The information processing device of the first aspect of the present invention comprises: a processor; The processor: receiving, from the sender's terminal device, print data and recipient information for receiving a printed matter obtained by printing the print data; notifying the contact information of the recipient specified by the recipient information to perform a concealment process for concealing information that the recipient wishes to conceal from third parties among the information in the received print data; issuing identification information for identifying the print data after the concealment process has been performed by the recipient; a delivery request including the issued identification information and the recipient information is sent to a terminal device of a delivery person who delivers the printed matter; When the image forming device receives the identification information input by the delivery person from the image forming device, the print data after the concealment process associated with the identification information is transmitted to the image forming device.

[0006] An information processing device of a second aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the first aspect described above, in which the processor generates connection information to a location where concealment processing is performed on the print data, notifies the recipient's contact information, and when the recipient has completed the concealment processing, allows the delivery request to be sent to the delivery person's terminal device.

[0007] An information processing device of a third aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the second aspect, wherein the identification information is generated when the concealment process by the recipient is completed.

[0008] An information processing device of a fourth aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the first aspect described above, in which the processor generates connection information to a location where concealment processing is performed on the print data and notifies the recipient's contact information, and if the recipient's concealment processing is not completed, prohibits the delivery request from being sent to the delivery person's terminal device.

[0009] An information processing device of a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the information processing device of the fourth aspect, the identification information is not generated unless the concealment process by the recipient is completed.

[0010] An information processing device of a sixth aspect of the present invention is any of the information processing devices of the second to fifth aspects, in which the processor also notifies the sender's terminal device of connection information to the location where the concealment processing is performed, and both the recipient and the sender perform the concealment processing on the print data.

[0011] An information processing device of a seventh aspect of the present invention is any of the information processing devices of the first to sixth aspects above, in which, after receiving the print data, the processor identifies the location within the print data where concealment processing should be performed and performs the concealment processing.

[0012] An information processing device of an eighth aspect of the present invention is any of the information processing devices of the first to seventh aspects above, wherein the processor generates information for confirming information about the area where the concealment processing has been performed for the print data on which the concealment processing has been performed.

[0013] A program according to a ninth aspect of the present invention comprises: receiving, from a sender's terminal device, print data and recipient information for receiving a printed matter obtained by printing the print data; a step of notifying a contact point of the recipient specified by the recipient information to perform a concealment process for concealing information that is desired to be concealed from third parties among the information of the received print data; issuing identification information for identifying the print data after the concealment process has been performed by the recipient; a step of transmitting a delivery request including the issued identification information and the recipient information to a terminal device of a delivery person who will deliver the printed matter; When the image forming device receives the identification information entered by the delivery person from the image forming device, the computer executes a step of transmitting the print data after the concealment process corresponding to the identification information has been performed to the image forming device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the information processing device of the first aspect of the present invention, when a delivery person prints print data sent by a sender using an image forming device and delivers the printed matter to a designated recipient, the recipient can conceal information in the print data.

[0015] According to the information processing device of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a delivery request including identification information from being sent to a delivery person unless the concealment process by the person performing the concealment process has been completed.

[0016] According to the information processing device of the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the delivery person from obtaining the identification information unless the concealment process by the person performing the concealment process has been completed.

[0017] According to the information processing device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make it so that the delivery request including the identification information is transmitted to the delivery person only after the recipient has completed the concealment process.

[0018] According to the information processing device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the delivery person to obtain the identification information only after the recipient has completed the concealment process.

[0019] According to the information processing device of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the delivery person can use the image forming device to print only the print data that has been concealed by both the recipient and the sender.

[0020] According to the information processing device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, the time required for the work of concealment processing can be reduced compared to when the recipient and sender perform the concealment processing on the print data.

[0021] According to the information processing device of the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to refer to the portion of the print data that has been subjected to the concealment processing after the concealment processing.

[0022] According to the program of the ninth aspect of the present invention, when a delivery person prints print data sent by a sender using an image forming device and delivers the printed matter to a designated recipient, the recipient can conceal information in the print data. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall conceptual diagram showing an example of a document printing and delivery system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an information processing server. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an information processing server. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the process between the devices constituting the document print delivery system in chronological order. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are diagrams showing an example of concealment processing performed by a recipient, in which FIG. 7A shows manuscript data before the concealment processing, and FIG. 7B shows print data after the concealment processing, in which the concealment processing is performed on the manuscript data of FIG. 7A. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an overall conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a document print delivery system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an overall conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a document print delivery system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a concealment processing part confirmation screen that allows the user to refer to the contents of the concealed part of print data that has been concealed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] A document print delivery system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is intended to illustrate an information processing server 200 as an example of an information processing device according to the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention to the following embodiment.

[0025] Fig. 1 is an overall conceptual diagram showing an example of a document printing and delivery system 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the document printing and delivery system 10 includes a sender terminal device 100 carried by a sender, an information processing server 200, a recipient terminal device 300 carried by a recipient, a delivery person terminal device 400 carried by a delivery person, and an image forming device 500. These are all connected to each other via a network such as the Internet 600.

[0026] As will be described later, the general flow of processing in this document printing and delivery system 10 is as follows. First, manuscript data created by the sender terminal device 100 is sent to the information processing server 200, which is an information processing device. The information processing server 200 then notifies the recipient terminal device 300 to perform concealment processing to conceal information from the manuscript data that the recipient wishes to conceal from third parties. When the recipient operates the recipient terminal device 300 to connect to the manuscript data and perform concealment processing, the information processing server 200 issues identification information and sends it to the delivery person terminal device 400. When the delivery person inputs the identification information into the image forming device 500, the image forming device 500 obtains from the information processing server 200 print data that has been subjected to concealment processing on the manuscript data and is associated with the identification information, and then executes printing. Finally, the delivery person delivers the printed matter to the recipient.

[0027] The document printing and delivery system 10 may have multiple sender terminal devices 100, recipient terminal devices 300, delivery person terminal devices 400, and image forming devices 500, each of which may be connected to the Internet 600. However, in this first embodiment, for simplicity, a case will be described in which only one of each device is connected to the Internet 600.

[0028] The sender terminal device 100 is owned or operated by a sender requesting printing of manuscript data, and may be a portable terminal device such as a tablet computer or smartphone, a notebook personal computer, or a desktop personal computer. The sender operates application software installed in the sender terminal device 100 to operate the user interface of the sender terminal device 100 and create manuscript data to be printed using the image forming device 500. The sender terminal device 100 transmits the created manuscript data to the information processing server 200.

[0029] Here, "original data" refers to file data capable of being used to form an image that has been created by sender terminal device 100 or that has been stored on a server (not shown) connected to sender terminal device 100 via a network such as the Internet 600. Such image-formable file data includes data such as document file data, image file data, and PDL-format file data converted from document files or image files for image formation, and refers to data in a state prior to the concealment process described below. Furthermore, in the following description, "print data" refers to data after the recipient has performed the concealment process described below on the original data by operating the application software, or data after the recipient has confirmed that the delivery person may view the printed matter.

[0030] The sender terminal device 100 also generates recipient information by inputting information about the recipient who will receive the printed matter produced by printing the print data or by obtaining it from another location via the network. This recipient information includes delivery destination information used for the purpose of delivering the printed matter, such as the recipient's address to which the printed matter is to be delivered, and concealment processing notification information used for notification purposes, such as an email address or SMS contact information for notifying connection information to the concealment processing web page described below. In addition, the sender operates the sender's terminal device 100 to specify the delivery person and delivery person terminal device 400 who will deliver the printed matter produced by printing the print data to the recipient.

[0031] Note that the delivery person is actually specified by specifying a delivery company that manages the delivery person who will deliver the printed matter printed by the image forming apparatus 500 to the recipient. Information about the delivery company specified in the sender terminal device 100 is sent to the information processing server 200, and the information processing server 200 selects the delivery person who will deliver the printed matter. Alternatively, when the information processing server 200 sends a delivery request to a server of the delivery company (not shown), the delivery person may be selected by the server of the delivery company, and the delivery person terminal device 400 carried by the delivery person may be identified. However, in this embodiment, for simplicity, the description will be given assuming that the sender directly specifies the delivery person and the delivery person terminal device 400.

[0032] The information processing server 200 will be described later, but it notifies the recipient to perform concealment processing on the original data received from the sender terminal device 100, issues identification information to identify the print data after concealment processing, sends a delivery request including this identification information and delivery destination information to the delivery person terminal device 400, and upon receiving the identification information from the image forming device 500, sends the print data after concealment processing that corresponds to the identification information to the image forming device 500.

[0033] The recipient terminal device 300 is held or operated by the recipient of the printed material, and may be a portable terminal device such as a tablet computer or smartphone, a notebook personal computer, or a desktop personal computer. The recipient operates application software installed on the recipient terminal device 300 to receive connection information to a concealment processing web page for performing the concealment processing from the information processing server 200. The recipient operates the recipient terminal device 300 based on this connection information, connects to the concealment processing web page, and performs the concealment processing described below on the manuscript data.

[0034] The deliveryperson terminal device 400 is carried or operated by a deliveryperson who prints the print data using the image forming device 500 and delivers the print data to a recipient. The deliveryperson terminal device 400 may be a portable terminal device such as a tablet computer or smartphone, a notebook personal computer, or a desktop personal computer. The deliveryperson terminal device 400 receives a delivery request from the information processing server 200. This delivery request includes identification information for identifying the print data after the concealment process and delivery destination information. The deliveryperson inputs this identification information into the image forming device 500 to print the print data, and then delivers the printed concealed print data to the recipient according to the delivery destination information.

[0035] The image forming device 500 is installed in a convenience store or a printing agency. As will be described later, the image forming device 500 accepts input of identification information by a delivery person and transmits the input identification information to the information processing server 200. If the transmitted identification information is correct, the information processing server 200 transmits print data after concealment processing that is associated with the identification information. The image forming device 500 prints the received print data. The delivery person then delivers the printed matter to the recipient.

[0036] Next, the information processing server 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the information processing server 200, and Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of the information processing server 200. As shown in Fig. 2, the information processing server 200 includes a CPU 201, a memory 202, a storage device 203, and a communication interface 204, each of which is connected to a control bus 205.

[0037] The CPU 201 is a control microprocessor, and controls the operation of each unit of the information processing server 200 based on a control program stored in the storage device 203 .

[0038] The memory 202 temporarily stores the document data, recipient information, and delivery person information received from the sender terminal device 100.

[0039] The storage device 203 is configured with a hard disk drive (abbreviated as HDD) or a solid state drive (abbreviated as SDD), and stores a control program for controlling each unit of the information processing server 200. The storage device 203 also stores manuscript data received from the sender terminal device 100 and print data after concealment processing by the recipient. The storage device 203 also stores recipient information, delivery person information, and identification information (described later) in association with the manuscript data and print data.

[0040] The communication interface 204 controls communication to communicate with the sender terminal device 100, the recipient terminal device 300, the delivery person terminal device 400, and the image forming device 500, which are connected via the Internet.

[0041] In addition, as shown in Figure 3, the information processing server 200 performs the functions of a data receiving unit 211, a data storage unit 212, a concealment processing unit 213, a delivery request unit 214, a print request unit 215, and a fee billing unit 216 by executing a control program stored in the storage device 203.

[0042] The data receiving unit 211 receives from the sender terminal device 100 manuscript data, which is the print data before the concealment process described below, created or acquired in the sender terminal device 100, recipient information that will receive the printed matter printed with the print data after the concealment process described below, and delivery person information, and stores these in the data storage unit 212.

[0043] The data storage unit 212 stores the document data, recipient information, and delivery person information received by the data receiving unit 211 in association with each other. The data storage unit 212 also stores the print data after the concealment process described below has been performed and identification information that identifies the print data in association with each other.

[0044] The concealment processing unit 213 notifies the recipient's contact information specified by the recipient information to perform concealment processing to conceal information that the recipient desires to conceal from third parties among the information in the manuscript data, which is the print data before the concealment processing, received by the data receiving unit 211. Specifically, the concealment processing unit 213 generates connection information for connecting to a location where the manuscript data, which is the print data to be concealed, is stored or a location where the concealment processing is performed on the manuscript data, which is the print data to be concealed, and sends or notifies this connection information to the recipient's contact information, such as an email address or SMS contact, included in the concealment processing notification destination information. The connection information is, for example, a URL that identifies the location where the manuscript data is stored or the location on the network where the concealment processing is performed on the manuscript data.

[0045] The concealment processing unit 213 also accepts a connection from the recipient terminal device 300 and accepts the concealment processing for the manuscript data to be concealed. The concealment processing will be described later. When the concealment processing for the manuscript data is completed, the manuscript data is stored in the data accumulation unit 212 as print data after the concealment processing.

[0046] The concealment processing unit 213 prevents the above-mentioned identification information from being generated unless the concealment processing by the recipient is completed.

[0047] When the recipient operates the recipient terminal device 300 to connect to the information processing server 200 and ends the concealment process by the concealment processing unit 213, the delivery request unit 214 issues identification information for identifying the print data after the recipient has performed the concealment process. The identification information is print data identification information for uniquely identifying the print data after the concealment process, such as a reservation number, reservation code, or two-dimensional code. The identification information may also include authentication information such as a password.

[0048] The delivery request unit 214 prints the print data after the concealment process and transmits a delivery request to the deliveryperson terminal device 400 carried by the deliveryperson who will deliver the printed matter. When the recipient has completed the concealment process described below, the delivery request unit 214 authorizes the deliveryperson terminal device 400 to send a delivery request. This delivery request includes identification information issued by the delivery request unit 214 and delivery destination information included in the recipient information. The delivery request may be sent using email or SMS, or may be notified using specific application software.

[0049] The delivery request unit 214 may prohibit the delivery request from being sent to the deliveryperson terminal device 400 if the recipient has not completed the concealment process described below.

[0050] The print request unit 215 waits to receive the identification information from the image forming device 500. When the print request unit 215 receives from the image forming device 500 the identification information entered by the delivery person at the image forming device 500, the print request unit 215 acquires the post-concealment print data associated with the identification information, which is stored in the data storage unit 212, and transmits the print data to the image forming device 500 that transmitted the identification information, requesting printing.

[0051] When the print request unit 215 sends print data to the image forming device 500, the billing unit 216 performs a billing process for the sender. Specifically, the billing unit 216 calculates a fee determined according to the amount of manuscript data and the recipient's delivery address information, and sends billing information including the fee information to the sender terminal device 100. Alternatively, the billing unit 216 accumulates information on print delivery requests made by the sender over a certain period of time, calculates an amount corresponding to that, and bills the sender.

[0052] Next, the image forming apparatus 500 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 500, and Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 500. As shown in Fig. 4, the image forming apparatus 500 includes a CPU 501, a memory 502, a storage device 503, an input device 504, a display device 505, an image forming unit 506, and a communication interface 507, each of which is connected to a control bus 508.

[0053] The CPU 501 is a control microprocessor, and controls the operation of each part of the image forming apparatus 500 based on a control program stored in the storage device 503 .

[0054] The memory 502 temporarily stores print data to be printed by the image forming unit 506 of the image forming apparatus 500 .

[0055] The storage device 503 is configured by a hard disk drive (abbreviated as HDD) or a solid state drive (abbreviated as SDD), and stores a control program for controlling each unit of the image forming apparatus 500.

[0056] The input device 504 is a touch panel formed on the surface of the display device 505, which will be described later, and the delivery person can operate the touch panel to receive input of identification information by the delivery person and to perform menu operations when forming an image. In addition to the touch panel, the input device 504 may include a mechanical input device such as an input keyboard or input buttons that is provided in the image forming apparatus 500 or arranged separately.

[0057] Display device 505 is a liquid crystal display provided in image forming device 500, and displays various screens including messages for delivery personnel and menu screens for operating image forming device 500.

[0058] The image forming unit 506 executes the print processing of the document data transmitted from the information processing server 200 as the process to be performed, and prints the print data to be delivered by the delivery person on a recording medium such as paper.

[0059] The communication interface 507 controls communication to communicate with the information processing server 200 connected via the Internet 600 through a LAN cable (not shown) or via a wireless LAN.

[0060] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the image forming device 500 performs the functions of a print waiting unit 511, a print data request unit 512, a data receiving unit 513, and an image forming unit 514 by executing a control program stored in the storage device 503.

[0061] The print standby unit 511 displays a standby screen and a menu screen on the display device 505, and waits for the delivery person to operate the input device 504 to input identification information.

[0062] When the delivery person operates the input device 504 to input the identification information, the print data request unit 512 transmits the identification information to the information processing server 200 and requests the print data.

[0063] The data receiving unit 513 receives the post-concealment processing print data associated with the identification information from the information processing server 200 and temporarily stores it in the memory 502 .

[0064] The image forming section 514 controls the image forming unit 506 to print the post-concealment print data acquired from the information processing server 200 onto a recording medium such as paper.

[0065] Next, the overall processing flow of the document print delivery system 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the processing between the devices constituting the document print delivery system 10 in chronological order.

[0066] First, the sender creates or acquires manuscript data by operating the sender terminal device 100. The sender also inputs or specifies recipient information, including delivery destination information and concealment processing notification destination information, into the sender terminal device 100.

[0067] In step S601 of FIG. 6, the sender terminal device 100 transmits the document data, the recipient information, and the delivery person information to the information processing server 200.

[0068] In step S602, the information processing server 200 stores the manuscript data, recipient information, and delivery person information received from the sender terminal device 100 in association with each other, and the concealment processing unit 213 generates connection information to the location where the manuscript data is stored, such as location information on the network, such as a URL.

[0069] In step S603, the concealment processor 213 of the information processing server 200 notifies the recipient's contact information identified by the recipient information to perform the concealment process. For example, the concealment processor 213 notifies the recipient's contact information of connection information to a location where the concealment process is performed on the manuscript data to be concealed, as generated in step S602. The connection information to the location where the manuscript data is concealed is location information on the network where the manuscript data is stored, as described above. However, it may also be location information of an editing location set up separately from the manuscript data storage location for concealing the manuscript data, specifically, including a URL indicating the location information. The notification to the recipient's contact information is performed by sending the location information to the recipient's email address or SMS contact information. Alternatively, specific application software may be used to notify the recipient terminal device 300 itself within the application software that the concealment process is possible, allowing the recipient to operate the application software in accordance with the notification to perform the concealment process.

[0070] When the recipient obtains the connection information for performing the concealment process, in step S604, the recipient operates the recipient terminal device 300 to connect to the storage location of the manuscript data using the connection information, and performs the concealment process. The method of the concealment process will be described later.

[0071] When the concealment process by the recipient is completed, in step S605, the delivery request unit 214 of the information processing server 200 issues identification information associated with the print data after the concealment process has been performed on the manuscript data. The delivery request unit 214 may monitor the status of the concealment process and may not issue identification information unless the concealment process by the recipient is completed.

[0072] In step S606, the delivery request unit 214 of the information processing server 200 includes the issued identification information and the delivery destination information included in the recipient information in a delivery request and sends it to the deliveryperson terminal device 400. The delivery request unit 214 may not send this delivery request to the deliveryperson terminal device 400 unless the above-mentioned concealment process by the recipient is completed.

[0073] In step S607, the delivery person operates the input device 504 of the image forming apparatus 500 to input the identification information included in the delivery request.

[0074] In step S608, the print data request unit 512 of the image forming apparatus 500 transmits the input identification information to the information processing server 200 and requests the print data.

[0075] In step S609, upon receiving the identification information from the image forming apparatus 500, the print request unit 215 of the information processing server 200 identifies the post-concealment print data corresponding to the identification information from the data storage unit 212. Then, in step S610, the print request unit 215 of the information processing server 200 transmits the identified print data to the image forming apparatus 500 that transmitted the identification information, and requests printing.

[0076] In step S611, when the data receiving unit 513 of the image forming device 500 receives the print data after the concealment process, the data receiving unit 513 prints the print data on paper using the image forming unit 514. Next, the delivery person places the printed matter in an envelope or the like, and delivers the printed matter to the delivery address of the recipient indicated by the delivery address information included in the delivery request.

[0077] In step S612, the billing unit 216 of the information processing server 200 calculates the fee corresponding to the print data transmitted to the image forming apparatus 500, charges the sender terminal device 100, and ends the process.

[0078] Next, the concealment processing that the concealment processing unit 213 of the information processing server 200 executes after accepting a connection from the recipient terminal device 300 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the concealment processing performed by the recipient, with Fig. 7(A) showing manuscript data before the concealment processing, and Fig. 7(B) showing print data after the concealment processing, in which the manuscript data of Fig. 7(A) has been subjected to the concealment processing.

[0079] 7A, manuscript data 710 includes a main text 711 and confidential information 712. The confidential information 712 includes a password 713, an address 714, a telephone number 715, a name 716, a company name 717, and an email address 718.

[0080] 7(B), the recipient operates the recipient terminal device 300 to control the concealment processing unit 213 of the information processing server 200 to perform a concealment process to make at least a portion of the confidential information 712 unreadable when printed. The concealment process is a masking process in which all of the password 713, address 714, telephone number 715, name 716, company name 717, and email address 718 are blacked out or converted into different characters or symbols to make the relevant portions unreadable. Alternatively, the concealment process may be a masking process in which the item names of the password 713, address 714, telephone number 715, name 716, company name 717, and email address 718 themselves remain in the original data state, and only the actual confidential data portions are made unreadable, or a masking process in which only a portion of the actual confidential data portions is made unreadable may be performed.

[0081] In addition to the confidential information 712, the recipient may optionally specify and conceal any content that the recipient would not want a third party, such as a delivery person, to see.

[0082] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is an overall conceptual diagram showing an example of a document print delivery system 10A of the second embodiment. When comparing the document print delivery system 10A of the second embodiment with the document print delivery system 10 of the first embodiment, the two have the same configuration except that the document print delivery system 10A of the second embodiment is able to allow the sender as well as the recipient to perform the concealment process. In other words, in the second embodiment, both the recipient and the sender perform the concealment process on the manuscript data, which is the print data before the concealment process. Therefore, the following description will use the same reference numerals for the components that are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0083] When the information processing server 200 receives the manuscript data from the sender terminal device 100, the information processing server 200 executes the concealment process to the place where the concealment process is performed. The connection information is notified not only to the recipient's email address and SMS contact, but also to the sender terminal device 100. The connection information may be notified to the sender terminal device 100 itself, or may be sent to the sender's email address and SMS contact.

[0084] The concealment processing unit 213 accepts connections from both the recipient terminal device 300 and the sender terminal device 100, and performs concealment processing on the manuscript data to be concealed. Note that the acceptance of connections from the recipient terminal device 300 and the sender terminal device 100 may be performed separately or simultaneously. That is, the connection from the sender terminal device 100 may be accepted first, and only after the concealment processing by the sender is the connection from the recipient terminal device 300 accepted, and the concealment processing by the recipient is performed. Conversely, the connection from the recipient terminal device 300 may be accepted, and only after the concealment processing by the recipient is the connection from the sender terminal device 100 accepted, and the concealment processing by the sender is performed. Furthermore, the connection from both the recipient terminal device 300 and the sender terminal device 100 may be accepted simultaneously, allowing both the recipient and the sender to perform concealment processing simultaneously.

[0085] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is an overall conceptual diagram showing an example of a document print delivery system 10B of the third embodiment. When comparing the document print delivery system 10B of the third embodiment with the document print delivery system 10 of the first embodiment, they are the same except that when manuscript data is sent from the sender terminal device 100 to the information processing server 200, a mechanical concealment process is executed before the recipient performs the concealment process. Therefore, the following description will use the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment for each component.

[0086] The data receiving unit 211 of the information processing server 200 receives the manuscript data from the sender terminal device 100. After the data receiving unit 211 receives the manuscript data, which is print data before concealment processing, the concealment processing unit 213 analyzes the contents of the manuscript data, identifies the portions in the manuscript data that should be concealed, and performs the concealment processing. The portions that should be concealed are portions that contain confidential information such as passwords, addresses, telephone numbers, and names. When the concealment processing unit 213 identifies the portions that should be concealed, it performs the concealment processing on those portions. This concealment processing is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0087] When the mechanical concealment process is completed, the concealment processor 213 generates connection information and sends the connection information to the recipient's email address or SMS contact address.

[0088] The recipient operates the recipient terminal device 300 to add concealment processing or cancel the concealment processing so that the original content can be identified, and then ends the concealment processing.

[0089] Next, a modification of the first to third embodiments will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a concealment processing part confirmation screen that allows the contents of the concealed part to be referred to for print data that has been subjected to concealment processing. In this modification, the concealment processing part 213 of the information processing server 200 generates information for confirming information about the concealed part for the print data after the concealment processing has been performed.

[0090] Specifically, when the recipient finishes the concealment process, the concealment processing unit 213 of the information processing server 200 generates a concealment process location confirmation screen 1000 shown in Fig. 10 and stores it in the data storage unit 212. Then, location information where this concealment process location confirmation screen 1000 is stored, that is, connection information for checking the concealment process location confirmation screen 1000, is sent to the recipient's contact information specified by the concealment process notification destination information included in the recipient information described above.

[0091] The concealment processing part confirmation screen 1000 includes a print image 1010 of what the print data after concealment processing will look like when printed, and a list of contents of the concealment processing parts 1020. The print image 1010 shows the concealment processing parts performed by the recipient and / or sender in a blacked-out state that makes them illegible. Each concealment processing part is marked with a reference symbol [1] to [N].

[0092] The list of contents of concealed portions 1020 contains, in each of concealed portions [1] to [N], confidential information that was originally written in the manuscript data, such as a password, address, telephone number, name, company name, email address, etc. The recipient can understand the original contents of the concealed portions by visually checking this concealment portion confirmation screen 1000.

[0093] The connection information to the concealment processing location confirmation screen 1000 may be sent to the recipient's contact information when the concealment processing is completed, or when the print data is obtained from the information processing server 200 by the delivery person operating the image forming device 500. Also, a validity period during which the concealment processing location confirmation screen 1000 can be referenced, or a storage period during which the concealment processing location confirmation screen 1000 is stored, may be set, and the screen may be referenced using the connection information to the concealment processing location confirmation screen during the validity period or storage period, and may become inaccessible upon expiration of the validity period or storage period, or the data for the concealment processing location confirmation screen itself may be deleted. The connection information to the concealment processing location confirmation screen 1000 may also be sent to the sender's terminal device so that the sender can view the concealment processing location confirmation screen 1000.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the delivery request unit 214 of the information processing server 200 transmits delivery destination information when transmitting a delivery request to the delivery person terminal device 400, and the delivery person delivers the printed matter to the recipient based on that information. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, when the print request unit 215 transmits print data to the image forming device 500, the delivery destination information may be transmitted to the image forming device 500, and the image forming device 500 may print the delivery destination information together with the print data.

[0095] In each of the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0096] Furthermore, the operations of the processor in each of the above embodiments may be performed not only by a single processor but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments and may be changed as necessary. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 10, 10A, 10B Document Printing and Delivery System 100 Sender terminal device 200 Information Processing Server 202 memory 203 Storage device 204 Communication Interface 205 Control Bus 211 Data receiving unit 212 Data Storage Unit 213 Concealment Processing Unit 214 Delivery Request Department 215 Printing Request Department 216 Billing Department 300 Recipient terminal device 400 Delivery person terminal device 500 Image forming device 502 memory 503 Storage device 504 Input Device 505 Display device 506 Image forming unit 507 Communication Interface 508 control bus 511 Printing Standby Unit 512 Print data request section 513 Data receiving unit 514 Image forming unit 600 Internet

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: receiving, from the sender's terminal device, print data and recipient information for receiving a printed matter obtained by printing the print data; notifying the contact information of the recipient specified by the recipient information to perform a concealment process to conceal information that the recipient wishes to conceal from third parties among the information in the received print data; issuing identification information for identifying the print data after the concealment process has been performed by the recipient; a delivery request including the issued identification information and the recipient information is sent to a terminal device of a delivery person who delivers the printed matter; When the image forming device receives the identification information input by the delivery person from the image forming device, the print data after the concealment process associated with the identification information is transmitted to the image forming device. Information processing device.

2. The processor: generating connection information to a location where a concealment process is performed on the print data, and notifying the recipient of the connection information; 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the concealment process by the recipient is completed, the delivery request is permitted to be transmitted to the terminal device of the delivery person.

3. The information processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the identification information is generated when the concealment process by the recipient is completed.

4. The processor: generating connection information to a location where a concealment process is performed on the print data, and notifying the recipient of the connection information; 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein if the concealment process by the recipient is not completed, the delivery request is prohibited from being sent to the terminal device of the delivery person.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the identification information is not generated unless the concealment process by the recipient is completed.

6. 6. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the processor also notifies the sender's terminal device of connection information to the location where the concealment process is performed, and both the recipient and the sender perform the concealment process on the print data.

7. 7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein, after receiving the print data, the processor identifies a portion of the print data where concealment processing should be performed, performs the concealment processing, and, after the concealment processing is completed, notifies the recipient to perform further concealment processing.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor generates information for confirming information about the portion of the print data that has been subjected to the concealment processing.

9. receiving, from a sender's terminal device, print data and recipient information for receiving a printed matter obtained by printing the print data; a step of notifying a contact point of the recipient specified by the recipient information to perform a concealment process for concealing information that is desired to be concealed from third parties among the information of the received print data; issuing identification information for identifying the print data after the concealment process has been performed by the recipient; a step of transmitting a delivery request including the issued identification information and the recipient information to a terminal device of a delivery person who will deliver the printed matter; receiving, from the image forming device, the identification information input by the delivery person, the image forming device; and transmitting, to the image forming device, print data after the concealment process associated with the identification information; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

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