Abstract:
A system and method for an imaging device adaptable to network communications for receiving an imaging job, and alerting a user when the imaging job is completed is provided. The imaging device includes a secure storage area for storing the imaged job and an access code validator connectable to an access code database for allowing access the secure storage area. The imaging device also includes resources and logic for emailing notifications and alerts to the user. The system and method also include access attempts and document retrieval time keyed to priority codes received with the imaging job.

Description:
TRADEMARKS 
       [0001]    IBM® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of International Business Machines Corporation or other companies. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates in general to network printers and in particular to a method and system for remotely sending print jobs to be printed and secured in a secure storage area for later retrieval by authorized personnel. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In a corporate environment, using Network Printers is very common. Under most circumstances, when a document is submitted for printing, the user can wait for the system to send a message, such as “Print completed”, and at some later point walk to the printer room and collect the documents. In the case of many documents there may or may not be a compelling need to pickup the printer output immediately. 
         [0006]    However, leaving printed documents around the printer for extended periods of time is usually against corporate printing security policies and procedures where confidential documents are concerned. This is because confidential printouts could be lying around for quite some time and could be read, copied, or stolen by unauthorized personnel before the user picks them up. Having a secure printer room does not solve this problem because even the people authorized for printer room access may not be entitled to read any particular confidential document. 
         [0007]    Current process or actions to avoid violating policy and procedures for printing confidential documents and ensure that confidential documents are picked up immediately after they have finished printing requires manual and timely action by the user. For example, the user might go to the printer room immediately after submitting the job, or as soon as a “print complete” notification is issued, and wait until the printing is done. The wait time can vary depending on the queue size, whether the printer is down, whether toner and paper are adequate, etc. This can be annoying, wasteful, and time consuming especially when the output runs to hundreds of pages or there is a system or mechanical problem with the printer. 
         [0008]    If the printer is jammed or otherwise broken, the user may not have any idea of how long it will be before the printer is fixed and the confidential documents are printed. The user may not even be on the premises when the output appears and travel time to the printer location may exceed the time allowed by corporate printing guidelines. 
         [0009]    Users might want to issue print commands remotely (for example, from their home or hotel) outside of normal working hours and later that day, or the next day, drive to work and pick up their confidential printouts. Currently, printing confidential documents using the company&#39;s network printer may be out of the question for those who want to print from home but pick up the output at some later time. 
         [0010]    What are needed are improved options for providing document security in a shared printer environment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of an imaging device adaptable to network communications for receiving an imaging job, and alerting a user when the imaging job is completed, is provided. The imaging device includes a secure storage area for storing the imaged job and an access code validator connectable to an access code database for allowing access the secure storage area. The imaging device also includes resources and logic for emailing notifications and alerts to the user. 
         [0012]    The invention is also directed towards method for imaging, securing, and retrieving an image request from a user. The method includes electronically receiving the image request, which includes receiving an image job; receiving imaging instructions; receiving a priority code; and receiving a user identifier. The method also includes imaging the image job in accordance with the imaging instructions received with the image request and emailing the user an image job status, e.g., job done, ink low, paper out, etc. The method further includes storing the imaged job in a secure container; and only allowing authorized persons to retrieve the imaged job from the secure container. 
         [0013]    System and computer program products corresponding to the above-summarized methods are also described and claimed herein. 
         [0014]    Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 
       TECHNICAL EFFECTS 
       [0015]    As a result of the summarized invention, technically we have achieved a solution which tangibly embodies a program of instructions stored within a program storage device readable by a machine, and executable by the machine to perform a method for imaging, securing, and retrieving an image request from a user. The method includes electronically receiving the image request, which includes receiving an image job; receiving imaging instructions; receiving a priority code; and receiving a user identifier. The method also includes comparing the user identifier, a user digital certificate, with a local identifier database and emailing an alert as result of the comparison. The method further includes imaging the image job in accordance with the imaging instructions and emailing the user an image job status. The method continues to store the imaged job in a secure container and allows an authorized user to retrieve the imaged job from the secure container. The method checks authorization by having the user enter an access code, swipe a badge, or check the user&#39;s biometric identification, (e.g., fingerprints) or via any other secure mechanism. The method also sets an access attempt counter keyed to the priority code received with the image request and alerts appropriate personnel if the number of access attempts exceeds the attempt counter threshold. In addition, the method includes a print job completed timer which could send an alert if the imaged job is not retrieved within a set time. The set time is also correlated with priority code. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of a data processing system which may be utilized to implement a method and system of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing exemplary behavior of the secure printer management and output options in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0019]    The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, it will be seen that in  FIG. 1  there is depicted a graphical representation of a data processing system  8 , which may be utilized to implement the present embodiment. As may be seen, data processing system  8  may include a plurality of networks, such as Local Area Networks (LAN)  10  and  32 , each of which preferably includes a plurality of individual computers  12  and  30 , respectively. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of Intelligent Work Stations (IWS) coupled to a host processor may be utilized for each such network. Each said network may also consist of a plurality of processors coupled via a communications medium, such as shared memory, shared storage, or an interconnection network. As is common in such data processing systems, each individual computer may be coupled to at least one of a storage device  14  and a local printer  16  and may be provided with a pointing device such as a mouse  17 . 
         [0021]    As used herein, an “imaging device” includes any device for providing document output. Typical imaging devices, and the exemplary imaging device discussed herein include a network printer. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that the teachings herein may be used with a variety of devices other than network printers. Accordingly, network printers are merely illustrative of certain embodiments for imaging devices. 
         [0022]    The data processing system  8  may also include multiple printing or imaging devices, such as network printer  18 , which may be preferably coupled to LAN  10  by means of communications link  22 . The mainframe computer  18  may also be coupled to a storage device  20  which may serve as remote storage for LAN  10 . Similarly, LAN  10  may be coupled via communications link  24  to a network printing or imaging device  26  and communications link  34  to a gateway server  28 . It will be appreciated that network printer  18  will also contain resources and logic features for emailing status, alerts, and/or notifications via any suitable communications link to a remote user in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Network printer  18  also includes secure storage area  18 A for the storage of printed documents. Documents are retrieved from the secure storage area  18 A by network printer  18  after identifying access code is entered through access code validator  18 C, or selected from access code database  14 A via input control window  18 B. It will be appreciated that access codes may be entered into network printer by any suitable means, such as a keypad, optical character recognition, magnetic data transfer, or a biometric device such as a fingerprint reader or optical scanner. It will also be appreciated that access code database  14 A need not be collocated with network printer  18  but may be geographically remote and connectable to the network printer  18  via LAN  10 . 
         [0024]    Similarly, network printer  26  also includes secure storage area  26 A for the storage of printed documents. Documents are retrieved from the secure storage area  26 A by network printer  26  after identifying access code is entered through access code validator  26 C, or selected from access code database  14 A via input control window  26 B. It will be appreciated that access codes may be entered into network printer by any suitable means, such as a keypad, optical character recognition, or magnetic data transfer. It will also be appreciated that access code database  14 A need not be collocated with network printer  26  but may be geographically remote and connectable to the network printer  26  via gateway server  28 . It will be further appreciated that network printer  26  will also contain resources and logic features for emailing status, alerts, and/or notifications via any suitable communications link (e.g., link  22 ), to a remote user, in accordance with various embodiments of the teachings herein. 
         [0025]    Referring also to  FIG. 2  there is shown a flowchart depicting behavior of the secure printer management and output options in accordance with the present embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . In block  121 , a user sends a print job request to one or both of the network printers  18 ,  26  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). It will be appreciated that the job request message includes the data to be printed as well as identifying information such as corresponding access codes for later retrieval of the printed data as well as return or proxy email addresses. It will be appreciated that any suitable identifying information may be contained in the job request message such as, for example, one or more uniform resource locators (URLs). For clarity the rest of the description will reference one of the network printers but it will be understood that either or both of the network printers will operate similarly in accordance with the present embodiments. 
         [0026]    In block  125 , the system  8  receives the job request message, including identifying information and priority status. Decision block  123  then determines if the originator or user identifying information is valid. It will be appreciated that user identifying information may be validated by comparing email address, access codes, or similar identifying information, (e.g., digital certificates, with identifying information stored in a company database (not shown)) or in the access code database  14 A, shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    If the answer to decision block  123  is no, then printing device  26  emails an alert  122  back to the user indicating that the identifying information is not valid. It will be appreciated that an alert or notification from the printer device  26  may be sent by any suitable means. If the answer to decision block  123  is yes, then printing device  26  images, or prints or images job  126 . 
         [0028]    It will be appreciated that the print job may be interrupted for various reasons, such as out of paper, out of ink, etc. In decision block  127 , the system  8  determines if the print job has completed. If the answer to decision block  127  is no, then the system  8  determines the status of the print job in block  128 . Block  124  indicates notification (such as by emailing of the status) of the status back to the user with a priority equivalent to the priority received as part of the identifying information, block  125 . 
         [0029]    If the answer to decision block  127  is yes, the print job is stored, as indicated in block  129 , in secure container storage area  26 A. It will be appreciated that multiple print jobs may be grouped, stored, and retrieved, according to the originator&#39;s or user&#39;s ID, or any other suitable grouping index. In addition, once a print job is complete, in decision block  139 , the system  8  determines if the printed documents have been retrieved. Decision block  139  is further described below. 
         [0030]    As indicated in block  130 , in order to retrieve the print job, a user (or other authorized person) inputs an access code, via access code validator  26 C. It will be appreciated that inputting an access code can be accomplished by any suitable means such as keypad entry, badge recognition, or biometric scanning. In decision block  133 , the system  8  determines if the access code is valid by comparing the inputted access code with codes stored in the access code database  14 A (or any other suitable database, such as, for example, a company email directory), or digital certificates used to authenticate network users. If the answer to decision block  133  is no, then in block  132  the system  8  sets an attempt counter to 1. 
         [0031]    In decision block  131 , the system  8  determines if a predetermined number (e.g., three) access attempts have made. If the answer to decision block  131  is no (three access attempts have not been made) then the user is permitted to male another attempt, as indicated in block  130 . If the answer to decision block  131  is yes, (e.g., three access attempts have been made), then the system  8  alerts the shift supervisor and/or any other appropriate persons or departments, such as a security office in block  134 . It will be appreciated that the number of attempts may be any suitable number. For example, documents with a higher classification may only allow one attempt while documents with a lower classification may allow more attempts for retrieving the print job. 
         [0032]    In block  135 , the system  8  allows the shift supervisor the option of resetting the user&#39;s access code after determining the user&#39;s authorization status for retrieving the print job. 
         [0033]    If the answer to decision block  133  is yes, then in decision block  137  the system  8  determines if the access code is a new code. If the access code is new code, the code may be stored in the printer access code database as per block  136 . 
         [0034]    In block  138 , the system  8  allows the user to retrieve their printed documents from the secure storage area  26 A. 
         [0035]    In block  139 , the system  8  determines if the printed documents have been retrieved from the secure storage area  26 A. If the answer to block  139  is no, then a timer is set by block  140 . 
         [0036]    In decision block  141 , the system  8  determines if the time elapsed has exceeded a predetermined threshold. If the answer to block  141  is no (the timer has not exceeded a predetermined threshold) the timer is again incremented via block  140  and decision block  141  again determines if the time elapsed has exceeded a predetermined threshold. This loop between blocks  140  and  141  continues until block  141  determines that the predetermined threshold has been reached or exceeded or, in other words, the answer to decision block  141  is yes. When the answer to decision block  139  is yes, the system  8  is done, as indicated by block  143 . 
         [0037]    If the answer to decision block  141  is yes, block  142  sends an alert to the shift supervisor (or any other suitable destination such as, for example, a security office). It will be appreciated that the predetermined time threshold indicated in decision block  141  for retrieving documents printed and stored in secure storage area  126 A may be any suitable predetermined time. For example, the predetermined time may be correlated with the priority status or classification of the printed document. In other words, and for example purposes only, a printed document having a high classification may have a short predetermined amount of time for retrieving the printed document from the secure storage area before a shift supervisor is alerted. 
         [0038]    In typical embodiments, the system  8  makes distinctions between documents requiring security and documents that do not require security. In these typical embodiments, the foregoing security measures are not applied to documents not requiring security. 
         [0039]    The capabilities of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof. 
         [0040]    As one example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately. 
         [0041]    Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided. 
         [0042]    The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
         [0043]    While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.