Abstract:
ABSTACT OF THE DISCLOSURE When printing output data that become output objects, copyright data attached to the corresponding said output data or information on copyright managed by a copyright managing device are selectively used to execute a print processing of said output data.  
     This allows the output process to be executed based on the copyright information best suited for the corresponding output data.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to, for example, an information processing system, an information processing devices, a control method thereof, and a memory medium that has stored processing steps for executing the method so that a computer can read out, for use in a device and a system for outputting information including copyright information.  
           [0003]    2. Related Background Art  
           [0004]    Heretofore, for example, in a CD in which music data (electric data) are stored, in order to protect the copyright of the music, the scheme and so forth have been established in which duplication to a grandson generation is prohibited.  
           [0005]    However, as for copyright concerning printed matters, duplication thereof and so forth are possible in the area on which a copyright owner has no influence, and there is a problem that the copyright is not always protected.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In an example of the present invention, it is an objectivity to solve the above-mentioned tasks, when printing output data that become the output objects, by selectively using information on the copyright managed by a copyright management device or copyright data attached to the corresponding output data to execute a print processing of the corresponding output data.  
           [0007]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading the following specification and drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system in which the present invention finds application.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a host computer in said information processing system.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printer in said information processing system.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a digital copying machine in said information processing system.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a host computer in said information processing system.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a printer in said information processing system.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a digital copying machine in said information processing system.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining an example of a print data format in said information processing system.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a diagram explaining another example of copyright data being included in said print data.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating main functions of said host computer for executing a print processing of said print data.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of said host computer.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example of a dialogue for inquiring compensation of a user in the operation of said host computer.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of a charge table for use in a charge process. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained by use of the drawings.  
         [0022]    (A Whole Configuration of the Present Embodiment)  
         [0023]    The present invention finds application, for example, in an information processing system  100  shown in FIG.  1 . In the information processing system  100 , as shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 1, is given the configuration in which a host computer (WS 1)  111 , a host computer (WS 2)  112 , a printer (PT 1)  113 , a printer (PT 2)  114 , a digital copying machine (1)  115 , and a digital copying machine (2)  116  are connected via an local network  117  (hereinafter, also referred to as a network  117  for simplicity) so that each thereof can communicate with the other.  
         [0024]    In addition, in the above-mentioned FIG. 1, for simple explanation, the configuration is given in which each two of the host computers, the printers, the digital copying machines are adapted to connect over the network  117  respectively, however the connection number is not limited thereto.  
         [0025]    As with physical specifications and access procedures of the network  117 , for example, in addition to a token bus method specified in “IEEE 802.4”, a “STAR Network” having a physical topology with a star shape specified in “IEEE 802.3 10 BASE 5” or a token ring method specified in “IEEE802.5” are applicable.  
         [0026]    Also, as with a network operation system that causes the network  117  to function, for example, “Net Ware V3.1” (manufactured by Nobel) for use in a MS-DOS operating system, a MAC and so forth, or “Network Lan Manager V2. 11” for use in IBM-manufactured computers and so forth, and so forth are applicable.  
         [0027]    (A Hardware Configuration of the Host Computers  111  and  112 )  
         [0028]    Each of the host computer (WS1)  111  and the host computer (WS2)  112  is configured similarly, and for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the host computer  111  includes a CPU  221  for governing the host computer in its entirety, a cache memory  222  that is a fast-access memory for storing various kinds of data, application software programs and so forth, a magnetic disk memory  227  that is employed as a large scale memory for use mainly in the application software programs, a keyboard  224  and a mouse  225  for inputting data, commands and so forth of text editor, program development and so forth, a reset unit  226  for initializing the CPU  221 , the application software programs and so forth, an input controller  223  for controlling the input from the keyboard  224 , the mouse  225  and the reset unit  226 , a CRT  229  for displaying, a display controller  228  for controlling the display on the CRT  229 , and a communication controller  230  for carrying out the connection to the network  117 .  
         [0029]    And, each of the CPU  221 , the cache memory  222 , the input controller  223 , the magnetic disk memory  227 , the display controller  228  and the communication controller  230  is connected to the other via a data bus  231  so that each thereof can transmit/receive the data to/from the other.  
         [0030]    In the host computer  111  ( 112 ) described above, at first, the CPU  221  controls the operations of the host computer in its entirety via the data bus  231  by directly accessing the cache memory  222 , the magnetic disk memory  227 , the CRT  229  and so forth, or by accessing them via their controller.  
         [0031]    The controller  223  supplies to the CPU  221  the signals that are based on the operations by a user in the mouse  225  for executing selection of an icon on the display screen of the CRT  229  that serves as display means, the keyboard  224  for inputting data, commands and so forth, the reset button  233 , and so forth.  
         [0032]    Herein, for example, when a main power source is switch on in the host computer  111 , or when a reset button  233  attached to the main frame of the host computer  111  is pressed down, the reset unit  226  is adapted to generate the signals (reset signals) for initializing the CPU  221 , the application software being executed in the CPU, and so forth to supply them to the input controller  223 .  
         [0033]    Accordingly, it enables initialization of the CPU  221 , the application software being executed in the CPU  221 , and so forth to be carried out that the input controller  223  supplies the corresponding reset signals to the CPU  221 .  
         [0034]    In addition, the reset button  233 , as shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 2, may be mounted as a separate button, or may be adapted to share an optional switch out of a group of switches in the keyboard  224 , for example, a STOP key or a main reset button of the host computer.  
         [0035]    The display controller  228  develops the display data supplied from the CPU  221  into the data (pixel data) that are possible to display on the CRT  229  to generate the video data.  
         [0036]    Accordingly, in the CRT  229 , the image data based on the video data generated in the display controller  228  are to be displayed.  
         [0037]    The communication  230  receives/transmits the data via a interface  232  from/to each of the appliances (the printers  113  and  114 , the digital coping machines  115  and  116 , and so forth) connected over the network  117  under control of the network operating system causing the above-subscribed network  117  to function.  
         [0038]    In addition, even though the configurations of the host computer (WS1)  111  and the host computer (WS2)  112  are the same definitely, if addresses thereof are different over the network  117 , it is possible to simultaneously operate these two host computers  111  and  112 .  
         [0039]    (A Hardware Configuration of the Printers  113  and  114 )  
         [0040]    Each of the printer (PT1)  113  and the printer (PT2)  114  are configured similarly and, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the printer  1113  comprises a main controller  241  for governing the printer in its entirety, a print processing controller  245  for controlling electrostatic copying processing utilizing a laser light, a communication controller  250  for receiving the print data via the network  117 , a file memory  247  for temporarily storing the print data received from the communication controller  250 , a font memory  242  for developing the print data within the file memory  247  into the printable data, a keyboard  244  for inputting various kinds of data and commands and so forth, a reset unit  246  for initializing the main controller  241 , the application software and so forth, an input controller  243  for controlling the input from the keyboard  244  and the reset unit  246 , a liquid crystal indicator  249  for displaying, and a display controller  248  for controlling the display in the liquid crystal indicator  249 .  
         [0041]    And, each of the main controller  241 , the print processing controller  245 , the font memory  242 , the input controller  243 , the file memory  247 , the display controller  248 , and the communication controller  250  is connected to the other via the data bus  251  so that each thereof can receive/transmit the data from/to the other.  
         [0042]    In the printer  113  ( 114 ) as described above, at first, the main controller  241  is configured to include the CPU, the program memory, the data memory and so forth, and governs the operation control of the printer in its entirety by this configuration.  
         [0043]    For example, the main controller  241  receives via the network interface  252  and the communication controller  250  the print data sent from the host computer  111  or  112  via the network  117  and executes data processing such as development of the corresponding print data according to a page description language (PDL) and so forth to carry out the printer control for the printing operation together with the processing control (the control of the print processing controller  245 ) for printing on the papers the data obtained in the corresponding data processing.  
         [0044]    The input controller  243  supplies to the main controller  241  the signals based on the operation by the user in the keyboard  244  or the mouse (not shown) and so forth for inputting the data, the commands and so forth such as execution of the print processing (print execution), retrieval of the file executing the print process, or the interface initial set of the edit or the printer, or so forth.  
         [0045]    Herein, for example, when the main power source is switch on in the printer  113 , or when the reset button  253  attached to the main frame of the printer  113  is pressed down, the reset unit  246  is adapted to generate the signals (reset signals) for initializing the main controller  241 , the application software being executed in the CPU of the main controller  241 , and so forth to supply them to the input controller  243 .  
         [0046]    Accordingly, it enables initialization of the main controller  241 , the application software being executed in the CPU of the main controller  241 , and so forth to be carried out that the input controller  243  supplies the corresponding reset signals to the main controller  241 .  
         [0047]    In addition, the reset button  253 , as shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 3, may be adapted to be mounted as a separate button, or may be adapted to share an optional switch out of a group of switches in the keyboard  224 , for example, a STOP key or a main reset button of the host computer.  
         [0048]    The display controller  248  displays the data from the main controller  241  by the crystal liquid indicator  249 .  
         [0049]    For example, the controller  248  displays by the crystal liquid indicator  249  the data and the commands that are input from the keyboard  244 , or the status of the printer  113 , which are supplied from the main controller  241 .  
         [0050]    The communication controller  250  receives/transmits the data via the interface  252  from/to each of the appliances (the host computers  111  and  112 , and so forth) connected over the network  117  under control of the network operating system causing the above-described network  117  to function.  
         [0051]    In addition, even though the configurations of the printer (PT1)  113  and the printer (PT2)  114  are the same definitely, if addresses thereof are different over the network  117 , it is possible to simultaneously operate these two printers  113  and  114 .  
         [0052]    (A Hardware Configuration of the Digital Copying Machines  115  and  116 )  
         [0053]    Each of the digital copying machine ( 1 )  115  and the digital copying machine ( 2 )  116  comprises the copying machine function and the printer function as shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 3 respectively.  
         [0054]    For this reason, the digital copying machine  115  is configured to comprises, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, configuration units  261  to  273  that function in a similar way to the configuration units  241  to  253  shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 3 and to simultaneously comprise an image reader controller  283 , a document feeder controller  284 , a sorter controller  285  and an interface  286 .  
         [0055]    In case that the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) as described above is employed as the copying machine, upon manuscripts being set at an automatic manuscript transfer unit (not shown) mounted on a manuscript desk and upon a print button on the keyboard  264  being pressed down, the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) commences the following copying operations according to the preset copying processing procedure.  
         [0056]    At first, the document feeder controller  284  executes the control for transferring the manuscripts on said automatic manuscript transfer unit to an image reader (image reading unit, not shown).  
         [0057]    Next, the image reader controller  283  temporarily stores as the image data into the file memory  267  the information of the manuscripts transferred to said image reader by the control of the document feeder controller  284  and executes the control for supplying the corresponding image data to the print processing controller  265  for controlling the electrostatic copying processing utilizing a laser light.  
         [0058]    Accordingly, by the print processing controller  265 , the image based on the corresponding to the image data is to be transcribed and formed on the papers.  
         [0059]    Next, the sorter controller  285  executes the control for delivering from a sorter (not shown) the papers (transcript papers) on which the image is transcribed and formed by the print processing controller  265 .  
         [0060]    Also, upon finishing the volumes set by the keyboard  264  in the foregoing copying operation (completion of copying), the sorter controller  285  executes the post-processing control such as a staple (a Hotchkiss clamping process) set by the keyboard  264  and so forth.  
         [0061]    On the other hand, in case that the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) is employed as the printer, the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) functions in a similar way to the operation described by use of FIG. 3 in the above-mentioned (a hardware configuration of the printers  113  and  114 ).  
         [0062]    Namely, the main controller  261  executes the control for receiving the print data from the network  117  by the communication controller  270 , for temporarily storing the corresponding data into the file memory  267  and for developing the print data within the file memory  267  into the printable data in the font memory  262 .  
         [0063]    The sorter controller  285  executes the control for delivering from the sorter (not shown) the papers printed by the above-mentioned control in the main controller  261 .  
         [0064]    Also, upon finishing the volumes set by the keyboard  264  or the host computers  111  and  112  in the above-mentioned copying operation (completion of copying), the sorter controller  285  executes the post-processing control such as the staple set by the keyboard  264  or the host computers  111  and  112 , and so forth.  
         [0065]    As described above, in order to realize the printer function as well together with the copying function in the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ), in case that the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) is functioning as the printer, the main controller  261  receives via the network interface  272  and the communication controller  270  the print data sent from the host computers  111  or  112  via the network  117 , executes data processing such as development of the corresponding print data responding to the page description language (PDL) and so forth, and executes the printer control for the printing operation (sorting of the papers, and the control including the post process) together with the processing control (the control of the print processing controller  265 ) for printing on the papers the data obtained by the corresponding data processing.  
         [0066]    Also, in case that the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) is functioning as the copying machine, the main controller  261  controls the automatic transcript transfer unit (not shown) by the document feeder controller  284 , simultaneously reads out the image data of the transcript in the said automatic transcript transfer unit by the image reader controller  283 , and executes the processing control for the print processing while executing image processing such as graduation processing of the corresponding image data and so forth, and the printer control for the printing operation (sorting of the papers, and the control including the post process).  
         [0067]    Also, from the keyboard  264 , the commands are input indicating either that the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) is caused to function as the printer (printer mode) or that the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) is caused to function as the copying machine (copying machine mode). The input controller  263  supplies to the main controller  261  the commands input from the keyboard  264 . Thereby, the main controller  261  switches each operation in the copying machine function and in the printer function as described above based on the command modes from the input controller  263 .  
         [0068]    Also, the keyboard  264  includes the function in which the data and the commands are possible to input such as retrieve and edit of the files, or the interface initial set of the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ), or so forth when in the printer mode, and the function in which the commands and the data are possible to input that indicate the number of copying sheets, switching of single side/two sides, switching of expansion/reduction, a copying concentration set, a sorting mode set, with or without executing of the staple, copying commencement and so forth when in the copying machine mode.  
         [0069]    In addition, the mouse (not shown) and so forth might be adapted to carry out the various inputting operations in the keyboard  264 . Also, even though the configurations of the digital copying machine ( 1 )  115  and the digital copying machine ( 2 )  116  are the same definitely, if addresses over the network  117  are different, it is possible to simultaneously operate these digital copying machines  115  and  116 .  
         [0070]    (A Software Configuration of the Host Computers  111  and  112 )  
         [0071]    Each of the host computer (WS1)  111  and the host computer (WS2)  112 , for example, includes the software configuration as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0072]    The operating system and the various kinds of application software shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 5 are stored into the magnetic disk memory  227  that serves as a large-scale memory shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 2.  
         [0073]    Specifically, as shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 5, software  300  includes an operating system  301 , a network operating system  302 , the various kinds of application software, and a driver software group  303  to  308 .  
         [0074]    The operating system  301  executes the hardware-manner control of the host computer  111  ( 112 ) and switches execution of the application software  308 .  
         [0075]    The network operating system  302  is for executing the hardware-manner control of the network  117 , which also becomes a nucleus of the communication control.  
         [0076]    For example, the network operating system  302  receives/sends the data based on theoretical network addresses over the network  117 . Also, the network operating system  302  absorbs the packet data addressed to itself (addressed to the host computer  111  ( 112 )) over the network  117 .  
         [0077]    In the software group  303  to  308 , network driver software  303  executes the control for exchanging the data, the messages and so forth among the application software of the various appliances connected over the network  117  (the control for a network connection  309 ).  
         [0078]    A file share link protocol  304  builds the data (the application software  308 , the printer driver software  310  and so forth) obtained via the network driver software  303  into the real machine (the host computer  111  ( 112 )) and assigns virtual drives necessary for the corresponding data (the application software  308  and so forth).  
         [0079]    A printer manager  305  manages the status (printer status) information  312  ( 1 ),  312  ( 2 ), . . . ,  312 ( n ) such as the printer status, the function, the additional function, a name of the model and so forth in the printers  113  and  114  or in the digital copying machines  115  and  116  connected over the network  117 . Also, the printer manager  305  drives the predetermined printer in some cases and drives printer drivers  310  ( 1 ),  310  ( 2 ),  310 ( n ) for developing the PDL data for the determined printer in the other cases. In addition, the printer driver  310  includes a print function information acquisition unit  701  of FIG. 10 to be described later, and a user sets the printing conditions of the print data  600  in advance based on the function information of the printer  113  being controlled by the print function information acquisition unit  701 .  
         [0080]    Further, the printer manager  305  manages a print file  311  including the print data that are to be printed.  
         [0081]    The processing result and the status information by the printer manager  305  are displayed ( 313 ) on the CRT  229  via a GUI (Graphical User Interface)  307 .  
         [0082]    A reader manager  306  manages the status information such as the status, the function, the additional function, the model name of the reader and so forth in the digital copying machines  115  and  116  over the network  117 .  
         [0083]    Also, the reader manager  306  drives each of the readers in some cases, and drives the reader driver software for loading the image data into each of the readers in the other cases.  
         [0084]    Also, the reader manager  306  manages the files including the image data that are to be memorized.  
         [0085]    The processing result and the status information by the reader manager  306  are displayed ( 313 ) on the CRT  229  via the GUI  307  in a similar manner to the processing result and the status information by the printer manager  305 .  
         [0086]    (A Software Configuration of the Printers  113  and  114 )  
         [0087]    Each of the printer (PT1)  113  and the printer (PT2)  114 , for example, includes the software as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0088]    The operating system and the various kinds of application software shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 6 are stored into the memory within the main controller  241  shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 3.  
         [0089]    Specifically, as shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 6, software  400  includes an operating system  401 , a network operating system  402 , the various kinds of application software, and a driver software group  403  to  408  in a similar manner to the software configuration of the host computer  111  ( 112 ) shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 5.  
         [0090]    The operating system  401  carries out the hardware-manner control of the printer  113  ( 114 ) and switches execution of the application software  408 .  
         [0091]    The network operating system  402  is for executing the hardware-manner control of the network  117 , which also becomes a nucleus of the communication control. For example, the network operating system  402  receives/sends the data based on theoretical network addresses over the network  117 . Also, the network operating system  402  absorbs the packet data addressed to itself (addressed to the printer  113  ( 114 )) over the network  117 .  
         [0092]    In the software group  403  to  408 , the network driver software  403  executes the control for exchanging the data, the messages and so forth among the application software of the various appliances connected over the network  117  (the control for a network connection  409 ).  
         [0093]    A file share link protocol  404  builds the data (the application software  408 , the printer driver software and so forth) obtained via the network driver software  403  into the real machine (the printer  113  ( 114 )) in some cases, and assigns the virtual drives necessary for the corresponding data (the application software  408  and so forth) in other cases.  
         [0094]    A printer manager  405  returns the status information such as the status, the function, the additional function, the model name of the printer  113  ( 114 ) responding to the request by the host computers  111  and  112  connected over the network  117 , the other terminals (terminals on a client side) and so forth and sends the corresponding status information at a predetermined timing to the host computers  111  and  112  connected over the network  117  and the other terminals (terminals on a client side) and so forth in the other cases.  
         [0095]    Also, the printer manager  405  stores as the file  411  into the file memory  247  the print data from the host computers  111  and  112  connected over the network  117  and the other terminals (terminals on a client side) and so forth in some cases, and controls emulation software  410  for converting the corresponding print data into the printable data, and the printer driver software for developing the PDL data for the various printers in the other case.  
         [0096]    A printer process  406  executes the control for printing in a print unit  412  the print data within the file  411  that are to be printed, which are stored by the printer manager  405 .  
         [0097]    The processing result and the status information by the printer process  406  are displayed ( 413 ) on the liquid crystal indicator  249  via the GUI  407 .  
         [0098]    (A Software Configuration of the Digital Copying Machines  115  and  116 )  
         [0099]    Each of the digital copying machine ( 1 )  115  and the digital copying machine ( 2 )  116 , for example, includes the software as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0100]    The operating system and the various kinds of application software shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 7 are stored into the memory within the main controller  261  shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 4.  
         [0101]    Specifically, as shown in the above-mentioned FIG.  7 , software  500  includes an operating system  501 , a network operating system  502 , various kinds of application software, and a driver software group  503  to  511  in a similar manner to the software configuration of the host computer  111  ( 112 ) shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 5.  
         [0102]    The operating system  501  executes the hardware-manner control of the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) and switches execution of the application software  511 .  
         [0103]    The network operating system  502  is for executing the hardware-manner control of the network  117 , which also becomes a nucleus of the communication control. For example, the network operating system  502  receives/sends the data based on theoretical network addresses over the network  117 . Also, the network operating system  502  absorbs the packet data addressed to itself (addressed to the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 )) over the network  117 .  
         [0104]    In the software group  503  to  511 , network driver software  503  executes the control for exchanging the data, the messages and so forth among the application software of the various appliances connected over the network  117  (the control for a network connection  512 ).  
         [0105]    A file share link protocol  504  builds the data (the application software  511 , the printer driver software and so forth) obtained via the network driver software  503  on the real machine (the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 )) and assigns the virtual drives necessary for the corresponding data (the application software and so forth).  
         [0106]    A printer manager  505  returns the information such as the status, the function, the additional function, the model name of the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) responding to the request by the host computers  111  and  112  connected over the network  117 , the other terminals (terminals on a client side) and so forth, and sends the corresponding status information at a predetermined timing to the host computers  111  and  112  connected over the network  117  and the other terminals (terminals on a client side) and so forth.  
         [0107]    Also, the printer manager  505  stores as the file  514  into the file memory  267  the print data from the host computers  111  and  112  connected over the network  117  and the other terminals (terminals on a client side) and so forth, and controls emulation software  513  for converting the corresponding print data into the printable data, and the printer driver software for developing the PDL data for the various printers.  
         [0108]    A printer process  506  executes the control for printing in a print unit  515  the print data that are to be printed in the file  514  which are stored by the printer manager  505 .  
         [0109]    The processing result and the status information by the printer process  506  are displayed ( 516 ) on the liquid crystal indicator  269  via the GUI  507 .  
         [0110]    An image reader manager  508  controls the document feeder (the document feeder controller  284 ) by an accessory controller  510  and executes the control for reading out the information (image data) of the transcripts transferred from the corresponding document feeder.  
         [0111]    Also, the image reader manager  508  executes nose elimination processing by the image processing unit  509  of the above-mentioned data to prepare the print data (image reader files).  
         [0112]    Also, the image reader manager  508  executes the control for directly printing the print data (image data) on the papers by the print unit  515  and for preparing the predetermined volumes of the print matters sorted in the sorter and so forth based on the set form from the user by the keyboard  264  of the digital copying machine  115  ( 116 ) and so forth.  
         [0113]    (An Operation of the Information Processing System  100 )  
         [0114]    Herein, the operation of the information processing system  100  will be explained at the time of the print processing of the print data including the copyright data.  
         [0115]    [0115]FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the print data  600  that become the print objects in the host computer  111  ( 112 ).  
         [0116]    As shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 8, the print data  600  in accordance with the present embodiment has the copyright data  610  of the corresponding image data attached to the actual data  620  (object data, herein referred to the image data) to be printed.  
         [0117]    In addition, the image data  620  that become the print objects might be, for example, the font data, the pattern data and so forth.  
         [0118]    A domain of copyright data  610 , specially, includes a domain (copyright owner name domain)  611  in which the information of the name of the copyright owner having the copyright of the image data has been set, a domain (URL domain)  612  in which the URL information has been set designating location sites of the information on the copyright over the network  117  or location sites of an acquisition method of the information on the copyright, a printing conditions domain  613  in which the printing conditions of the image data  620  have been set, and a data ID  614  assigned for the copyright owner to be able to specify the image data  620 . Also, in a date domain  615 , the final updated date or the effective limit date of the copyright data  610  have been set.  
         [0119]    In the copyright owner name domain  611 , is set the information of the copyright owner name having the copyright of the image data  620 .  
         [0120]    In the printing conditions domain  613 , is set the information on the printing conditions of the image data  620  such as a “flag as to whether or not DO NOT PRINT”, a “printable resolution range”, a “printing restriction number”, “print compensation information” and so forth.  
         [0121]    In addition, as with the form by which the information is set to the printing conditions domain  613 , it is not limited to the array expression as shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 8, and for example, may be the language form shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 9.  
         [0122]    [0122]FIG. 10 illustrates the function configuration that the most characterizes the host computer  111  ( 112 ) executing the print processing of the print data  600  to which the copyright data  610  have been attached, as shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 8.  
         [0123]    The host computer  111  ( 112 ) comprises a copyright information acquisition unit  702  for reading out the copyright data  610  from the print data  600 , a print function information acquisition unit  701  for obtaining the function information (the printing set information and so forth) of the appliance (Herein, it is to be the printer  113  over the network  117  as one example.) for use in the print processing of the image data  620  being included in the print data  600 , and a print processing unit  703  for determining the printing method based on the copyright data  610  obtained in the copyright information acquisition unit  702  and on the function information obtained in the print function information acquisition unit  701 , and for executing the print processing of the image data  620  by the printer  113  over the network  117  based on the corresponding printing method.  
         [0124]    Furthermore, over the network  117  is connected a copyright management device  704  for managing the information on the copyright of the print data  600 . The copyright management device  704  comprises a data ID management unit  705  and a copyright information storage unit  706 . Also, the host computer  111  is adapted to be able to connect to the copyright management device  704  by the theoretical addresses being designated in URL information  612  that are listed within the copyright data  610 .  
         [0125]    These copyright information acquisition unit  702 , the printing function information acquisition unit  701 , and the print processing unit  703  are the function configuration units that operate by causing the CPU  221  shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 2 to start the operating system shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 5 and the various kinds of application software.  
         [0126]    Similarly, as with the copyright management device  704 , it is configured in a similar manner to the host computers  111  and  112  as shown in FIG. 5, and the data ID management unit  705  and the copyright information storage unit  706  are the function configuration units that operate by causing the CPU  221  shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 2. to start the operating system  301  shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 5 and the various kinds of application software.  
         [0127]    [0127]FIG. 11 illustrates the operation of the host computer  111  ( 112 ) in case that by the configuration shown in above-mentioned FIG. 10, the host computer  111  ( 112 ) prints and outputs the print data  600  including the copyright data  610  by the printer  113  connected over the network  117 .  
         [0128]    In addition, as with the operation according to the flowchart of the above-mentioned FIG. 11 to be described hereinafter, it may be executed by causing the CPU  221  to start the operating system  301  or the application software  308 .  
         [0129]    Step S 701 :  
         [0130]    The printer driver  310  separates the print data  600  into the copyright data  610  (Refer to the above-mentioned FIG. 8) and the image data  620  to determine whether or not the copyright data  610  have been included in the print data  600 .  
         [0131]    By this determination, in case that the copyright data  610  have not been included in the print data  600 , the process then flows to step S 702 .  
         [0132]    Also, by this determination, in case that the copyright data  610  has been included in the print data  600 , the process then flows to step S 703 .  
         [0133]    Step S 702 :  
         [0134]    The printer driver  310  sends the image data  620  to the print processing unit  703  and prints the object print data  600  on the papers by the normal print output operation to finish the present process.  
         [0135]    Step S 703 :  
         [0136]    The printer driver  310  sends the copyright data  610  to the copyright information acquisition unit  702 .  
         [0137]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  obtains the information within the date domain  615  of the copyright data  610  to determine whether or not updating of the copyright data  610  is necessary. For example, in case that the final updated day has been stored in the date domain  615 , if the present date is within the predetermined period from the final updated data, it is determined that updating is not necessary, and if the present date is out of the predetermined period, it is determined that updating is necessary. Also, for example, in case that the effective limit date is stored in the date domain  615 , if the present date is before the effective limit date, it is determined that updating is not necessary, and if the present date is after the effective limit date, it is determined that updating is necessary.  
         [0138]    By this determination, if it is determined that updating is necessary, the process then flows to step S 704 . Also, by this determination, if it is determined that updating is not necessary, step S 704  and step S 705  are skipped to execute the process following step S 706  using the current copyright data  610  as they are.  
         [0139]    Step S 704 :  
         [0140]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  determines whether or not the URL information has been set to the URL domain  612  of the copyright data  610 .  
         [0141]    By this determination, in case that the URL information has been set to the URL domain  612 , the process then flows to step S 705 .  
         [0142]    Also, by this the determination, in case that the URL information has not been set to the URL domain  612 , the next step S 705  is skipped to execute the process following step S 706  using the current copyright data  610  as they are.  
         [0143]    Step S 705 :  
         [0144]    The host computer  111  accesses the URL that has been set to the URL domain  612  by the network operating system  302  to connect to the copyright management device  704 . And, it obtains the latest copyright information of the print data  600  from the copyright information storage unit  706 , and updates the copyright data  610  by the obtained latest copyright information. Specifically, the copyright information acquisition unit  702  in FIG. 10 sends the copyright owner name  611  and the data ID  614  to the copyright management device  704  over the network  117 . On the other hand, upon the copyright management device  704  receiving the copyright owner name  611  and the data ID  614 , the data ID management unit  705  obtains the latest copyright information of the print data  600  that corresponds to the corresponding data ID stored in the copyright information storage unit  706  to send it to the copyright information acquisition  702 . The received latest copyright information is notified as the updated information to the application software  308  via the operating system  301 , and the application software  308  overwrites the updated information on the copyright data  610  within the print data  600 . Normally, the application software  308  loads the document into the cache memory  222  and the magnetic disk memory  227 , and in case that the document has been altered, it notifies the user as to whether the updated document is saved, however, in this case, it only overwrites the updated information of the copyright data  610  and does not inquire the user of confirmation on the alteration.  
         [0145]    In addition, in case that acquisition of the latest copyright information is a failure in the present S 705 , in process steps following the step S 706 , the information of the current copyright data  610  is to be employed.  
         [0146]    Step S 706 :  
         [0147]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  obtains the information within the printing conditions domain  613  of the copyright data  610 , and simultaneously obtains the printing set information (Herein, the printing set information in the printer  113 ) set by the user from the printer driver  310 .  
         [0148]    Step S 707 :  
         [0149]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  compares the printing conditions being indicated by the information within the printing conditions domain  613  of the copyright data  610  with the printing set information set by the user, by this comparison, to determine whether or not the normal printing is possible.  
         [0150]    Specifically, for example, in case that the “flag as to whether or not DO NOT PRINT” is the flag that the printing is OK, the “printable resolution range” matches the printable resolution conditions of the printer  113  being managed by the printer manager  305 , no setting to the “printing restriction number” is present (=no printing restriction) and no setting to the “printing compensation information” is present (=no charge is necessary), the determination is made that [Normal printing is possible].  
         [0151]    By this determination, in case that it has been determined that [Normal printing is possible], the process then flows to step S 721  to be described later.  
         [0152]    Also, by this determination, it has been determined that a graduation process is necessary for any item of the printing conditions domain  613  and that the normal printing is not possible, the process then flows to step S 708 .  
         [0153]    Step S 708 :  
         [0154]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  determines whether or not [DO NOT PRINT] has been set to the “flag as to whether or not DO NOT PRINT” within the printing conditions domain  613 .  
         [0155]    By this determination, in case that [DO NOT PRINT] has been set, the process then flows to step S 709 .  
         [0156]    Also, by this determination, in case that [DO NOT PRINT] has not been set, the process then flows to step S 710 .  
         [0157]    Step S 709 :  
         [0158]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  stops the print processing operation and causes the CRT  229  to display a UI (User Interface) of the effect that [Printing is impossible due to DO NOT PRINT]. And, the process then returns to the step S 701  in order to execute the process for the next print data  600 .  
         [0159]    Step S 710 :  
         [0160]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  determines whether or not [Resolution restriction] has been set to the “printable resolution range” within the printing conditions domain  613 .  
         [0161]    By this determination, in case that [Resolution restriction] has not been set for the “printable resolution range”, the process from the next step S 711  and step S 712  is skipped to flow to the step  713  to be described later.  
         [0162]    By this determination, in case that [Resolution restriction] has been set to the “printable resolution range”, the process then flows to the step S 711  to be described later.  
         [0163]    Step S 711 :  
         [0164]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  obtains from the printer driver  310  the resolution information of the printing set information that is set by the user in advance.  
         [0165]    Step S 712 :  
         [0166]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  compares the value of the resolution information obtained in the step S 711  with the value of the resolution restriction set to the “printable resolution range” within the printing conditions domain  613  to determine whether or not the printing is possible.  
         [0167]    By this determination, in case that it has been determined that it is the resolution by which the printing is impossible, in step S 709 , the copyright information acquisition unit  702  stops the print processing operation to cause the CRT  229  to display the UI of the effect that [Range of printable resolution of this writing document is xxx dpi to ooo dpi and please change set of resolution]. And, the process returns to the step S 701  in order to execute the process for the next print data  600 . In addition, thereafter, also in case that the user has altered the value of the resolution of the printing set information by the printer driver  310 , the process then returns to the step S 701  to execute the above-mentioned process again.  
         [0168]    Also, by this determination, in case that it has been determined that it is the resolution by which the printing is possible, the process then flows to sep S 713 .  
         [0169]    In addition, when the user sets the printing set information by the printer driver  310 , the printable resolution of the printer  113  that has been managed in the printing function information acquisition unit  701  is notified to the user, and the user sets the resolution by selecting the desirable resolution from among the notified resolutions. In the case of the printer  114  and the digital copying machines  115  and  116 , it is the same.  
         [0170]    Step S 713 :  
         [0171]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  determines whether or not [Number of printing] has been set to the “number of printing restriction ”within the printing conditions domain  613 .  
         [0172]    By this determination, in case that [Number of printing] has not been set to the “number of printing restriction”, the process from the next step S 714  and step S 715  is skipped to flow as it is to the step S 716  to be described later.  
         [0173]    By this determination, in case that [Number of printing] has been set to the “number of printing restriction”, the process then flows to the step S 714 .  
         [0174]    Step S 714 :  
         [0175]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  determines whether or not the value of [Number of printing] set to the “number of printing restriction” within the printing conditions domain  613  is “0”. By this determination, in case that [Number of printing] is “0”, it recognizes that the printing is impossible.  
         [0176]    Also, in case that [Number of printing] is not “0”, it determines whether or not the value that is left by the number printed at this time subtracted from the corresponding [Number of printing] is more than “0”. By this determination, it recognizes that the printing is impossible in case that the number of the printing restriction is under “0”, and recognizes that the printing is possible in case that it is more than By this determination, in case that it has been recognized that the printing is impossible, in the foregoing step S 709 , the print processing operation is stopped, and the CRT 229  is caused to display the effect that [It is impossible to print due to restriction to number of printing]. And, the process then returns to the step S 701  in order to execute the process for the next print data  600 . In addition, thereafter, also in case that the user has altered the printing volume of the printing conditions by the printer driver  310 , the process then returns to the step S 701  to execute the foregoing process again.  
         [0177]    Also, by this determination, in case that it has been recognized that the printing is possible, the process then flows to the step S 715 .  
         [0178]    Step S 715 :  
         [0179]    The value calculated at the time of the determination in the step S 714  is caused to be a new [Number of printing] to update and set “number of printing restriction”. (In FIG. 11, as an example, the case is illustrated in which the printing volume of this time is [1].  
         [0180]    Specifically, the calculated value mentioned above is notified to the application software  308  via the operating system  301  from the printer manager  305 . And, the application software  308  sets this value to “number of printing restriction” of the printing conditions domain  613  of the copyright data  610 . In addition, the operation of the storage of the copyright data is the same as that of the step S 705 .  
         [0181]    Also, the application software  308  accesses the URL that has been set in the URL domain  612  to notify the copyright information management device  704  of the newly-set [Number of printing]. Thereafter, the process then flows to the next step S 716 .  
         [0182]    In addition, the copyright information management device  704  that is notified thereof updates the corresponding copyright information stored in the copyright information storage unit  706 .  
         [0183]    Step S 716 :  
         [0184]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  determines whether or not [Compensation information] has been set to “printing compensation information” within the printing conditions domain  613 .  
         [0185]    By this determination, in case that [Compensation information] has not been set, since the charge to the copyright of the image data  620  does not occur, the process then flows to step S 721  to be described later to carry out the print processing of the image data  620 .  
         [0186]    By this determination, in case that [Compensation information] has been set, the process then flows to step S 717 .  
         [0187]    Step S 717 :  
         [0188]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  obtains [Compensation information] that has been set to “printing compensation information” within the printing conditions domain  613 , and notifies the user of the corresponding compensation, for example, by the dialogue as shown in FIG. 12 to inquire as to whether the printing is carried out.  
         [0189]    Step S 718 :  
         [0190]    The copyright information acquisition unit  702  waits for the event from the user that responds to inquiry into the user in the step S 717 .  
         [0191]    Step S 719 :  
         [0192]    Upon the event of [Yes] (Please print: request of the printing commencement) or [No] (No printing) being returned from the user by the dialogue shown in FIG. 12, the copyright information acquisition unit  702  determines whether or not the corresponding event is the request of the printing commencement. By this determination, in case that it is not the request of the printing commencement, in the foregoing step S 709 , the print processing operation is stopped, and the CRT 229  is caused to display the effect that [Printing is stopped]. And, the process then returns to the step S 701  in order to execute the process for the next print data  600 .  
         [0193]    By this determination, in case that it is the request of the printing commencement, namely in case that it is the instruction by the user that he/she carries out the printing by payment of the compensation, the process then flows to step S 720 .  
         [0194]    Step S 720 :  
         [0195]    The process of the charge to the print processing of the image data  620  is executed.  
         [0196]    The charge process herein, for example, is to be the preparation process using the charge table as shown in FIG. 13.  
         [0197]    In the charge table of FIG. 23, are stored [User name] of the user carrying out the printing and [Charge status] illustrating the charge being billed to the user. In [Charge status], is stored “compensation being set to printing compensation information”, for example, money converted into currency such as 13.75 dollars. In addition, in “compensation being set to printing compensation information” is to be stored the value of points by which the print processing is counted, and the points may be converted into money in a currency conversion unit (not shown) responding to the currency unit of each region.  
         [0198]    Also, the charge table may include the volume number of the printing, the paper sizes for the printing and so forth.  
         [0199]    Also, the corresponding charge process is executed so that the charge is billed to the user that now is printing, but the process is not limited thereto, and may be configured so that the charge to each department is possible by preserving the department code and so forth.  
         [0200]    In addition, the printing log being prepared as described above is sent to a compensation information management unit (not shown), summed up or analyzed, and managed. This compensation information management unit may be adapted to be carried out by the operating system  301 , or may be adapted to be carried out by the printer manager  305 . Alternatively, the printing logs about the various appliances over the network  117  may be collectively managed over a host (not shown) that becomes a charge server over the network  117 .  
         [0201]    In the present embodiment, as one example, the printer manager  305  is caused to manage the information on the compensation based on the printing logs.  
         [0202]    Step S 721 :  
         [0203]    The print processing of the image data  620  is executed in the print processing unit  703 . Thereafter, the process returns to the step S 701  in order to execute the process for the next print data  600 .  
         [0204]    In addition, in the present embodiment, the print data (image data) over the host computer  111  ( 112 ) are caused to be printed and output, however, as with the print data that are the objects of this printing and outputting, for example, the various kinds of object data are applicable such as the font data, the pattern data and so forth over the host computers  111  and  112 , or the printers  113  and  114 , or the digital copying machines  115  and  116 .  
         [0205]    Also, needless to say, the object of the present invention can be also obtained by supplying to the system or the devices the memory media that stored the program code of the software realizing the functions of the host and the terminal of the present embodiment, and by causing the computers of the system or devices (or the CPU and the MPU) to read out and execute the program code stored in the memory media.  
         [0206]    In this case, the program code itself red out from the memory media is caused to realize the function of the present embodiment, and the present invention finds the memory media that stored the program code in the configuration thereof. As the memory media for supplying the program code, are employed a ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a optical disk, an optical magnetic disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card and so forth.  
         [0207]    Also, needless to say, the case is also included in which by executing the program code that the computers red out, the function of the present embodiment is not only realized, but also the OS and so forth that are working over the computer partially or wholly execute the actual process based on the instruction of the program code, thereby enabling the functions of the present embodiment to be realized.  
         [0208]    Furthermore, needless to say, the case is also included in which after the program code red out from the memory media has been written into the memory being included in a function extension unit connected to a function extension board inserted into the computer or the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU and so forth being included in the function extension board or the function extension unit partially or wholly execute the actual process, thereby enabling the functions of the present embodiment to be realized.  
         [0209]    As described above, in accordance with the present invention, by configuring so as to print the corresponding object information based on the copyright information (the information such as the copyright owner&#39;s name, the owner&#39;s URL, the resolution restriction at the time of printing, acceptance/rejection of the printing, the charge information, the restriction number of the printing and so forth) attached to the object information of the printing (the object data such as the image data and so forth), it can be surely prevented the act such as copying the data dishonestly that have the copyright and so forth, and the copyright of the printing matters can be surely protected.  
         [0210]    Also, by configuring so as to obtain the latest copyright information to update the copyright information attached to the object information of the printing (the object data such as the image data and so forth), alteration in the copyright information can be flexibly responded. For example, it becomes possible to appropriately respond the case and so forth in which the image data became old works and the charge for them lowered.