Patent Publication Number: US-2002002499-A1

Title: Communication system, output device and information processing device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing device and an output device each of which includes a connection function to a communication network such as an internet and so forth on its own and a system including these, and a method for selling data on the system.  
       [0003] 2. Related Background Art  
       [0004] Recently, as an internet has spread, data such as a poster, a calendar, a picture and so forth have been sold via an internet. For example, in case that image data are sold via the internet, normally, the data are downloaded to a personal computer to send and print the image data to a printer connected to the personal computer. It was possible to download the image dada to any place of a user (a desktop, an optional folder and so forth).  
       [0005] However, in the conventional method, since the data are downloaded to the personal computer, an illegal copy and illegal variations of the data are easy, and accordingly an undesirable problem exists in terms of a copyright. Furthermore, considering that the data might be copied illegally or varied illegally, a data supplier is forced to add an extra charge in compensation for the risk involved, and as a result, the problem exists that it is impossible to inexpensively supply the data.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] An object of the present invention is to provide devices and a system and a method that can sell the data safely, inexpensively, and easily in addition to preventing an illegal copy and illegal variations of the data such as a picture and so forth.  
       [0007] Other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following description and drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a diagram of the principle of a first embodiment.  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an arrangement of a printer.  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a process flow on a PC.  
     [0011]FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of an image data reception program.  
     [0012]FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of an image data print program.  
     [0013]FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a data supplier&#39;s Web server.  
     [0014]FIG. 7 is a diagram of the principle of a third embodiment.  
     [0015]FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of sales data.  
     [0016]FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of product data.  
     [0017]FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of output image data.  
     [0018]FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of charge data.  
     [0019]FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an arrangement of a data supplier&#39;s Web server and a data user&#39;s PC. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0020] (First Embodiment)  
     [0021] The principle of the present invention will be described in reference to FIG. 1.  
     [0022] In addition, in the present example, the case will be explained as an example in which image data are employed as data, a PC (Personal Computer) as an information processing device, a printer as an output device and an internet as a communication network.  
     [0023] In FIG. 1, 1 is a data supplier&#39;s web server,  2  a data user&#39;s PC, and  3  a printer connected to the data user&#39;s PC. The data user&#39;s PC and the printer  3  include an internet connection function on its own respectively.  
     [0024] In (1) of FIG. 1, the data user&#39;s PC  2  is connected to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  via the internet to cause a thumbnail image to be displayed on a display of the PC  2  and to cause the preferred data to be used to be selected.  
     [0025] In (2) of FIG. 1, product data shown in FIG. 9 including information necessary for obtaining the image data such as a transaction number for specifying use of the image data, an image data number of the image data selected in (1) and so forth are sent from the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  from the data user&#39;s PC  2  via the internet.  
     [0026] In (3) of FIG. 1, the data user notifies the printer  3  of the product data obtained in (2) and a URL (Uniform Resource locator) of the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  and simultaneously instructs the printer  3  to print the image data.  
     [0027] In (4) of FIG. 1, the printer  3  executes the internet connection to the data supplier&#39;s Web server based on the URL notified in (3) by the PC  2  to send the product data and requests the selected image data.  
     [0028] In (5) of FIG. 1, the image data are sent from the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  to the printer  3  via the internet.  
     [0029] In (6) of FIG. 1, the printer  3  executes a print process of the received image data and store the charge data based on the print process.  
     [0030] In (7) of FIG. 1, the charge data are sent from the printer  3  to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  via the internet.  
     [0031]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an arrangement of the printer  3 .  
     [0032] The printer is constructed of a control unit  11  and an engine unit, largely being divided.  
     [0033] The control unit  11  prepares a paper image page by page based on print command data sent from the data user&#39;s PC  2  and converts the image into a video signal to send it to the engine unit  31 .  
     [0034] The engine unit  31  transcribes and fixes the image onto the paper based on the received video signal to deliver it from the printer  3 . In addition, in case of a color printer, as with the video signal, the four video signals with black added to RGB, i.e. red, green and blue are sent. In case of a monochrome printer, the video signal is only one indicating black.  
     [0035] Next, the details of the control unit  11  will be described.  
     [0036] 12  is a CPU (Central processing Unit) for controlling the control unit  11  in its entirety.  
     [0037] 13  is a ROM (Read Only Memory), and various programs for controlling the control unit  11  are set in the inside thereof.  
     [0038] In the various programs are included a reception program, a command analysis program, an output program, an image data reception program, an image data print program and so forth as main programs, which are executed by the CPU  12 .  
     [0039] The reception program plays a role of storing in a reception buffer  17  print command data that are sent from the data user&#39;s PC  2  through a reception unit  15 .  
     [0040] The command analysis program analyzers the print command stored in the reception buffer  17  to execute a painting work on a frame memory  18 .  
     [0041] The output program converts the image on the frame memory  18  into a video signal in video transmission unit  19  to send it to the engine unit  31 .  
     [0042] The operation of the image data reception program and the image data print program will be described later.  
     [0043] Furthermore, in the ROM  13 , an identifier indicating a model of the printer  3  is stored.  14  is a RAM (Random Access Memory), which has the reception buffer  17 , the frame memory  18 , a work domain and so forth in the inside thereof.  
     [0044] The frame memory  18  is an image memory domain equivalent to one page of the paper.  
     [0045] In addition, in case of the color printer, the image equivalent to one page of the paper with the four-color information in the form with black added to RGB, i.e. red, green and blue are developed on the frame memory  18 . Depending upon a model of the color printer, the frame memory might be divided into four parts for each color.  
     [0046] The work domain is used for work by the reception program, the command analysis program, the output program, the image data reception program, the image data print program and so forth.  
     [0047] 16  is an internet connection unit, which is for the image data reception program&#39;s executing the internet connection to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  without passing through the PC  2 .  
     [0048] 20  is a panel, which is for the data user&#39;s operating the printer  3 .  
     [0049] A storage device  21  is specifically a HD (Hard Disc) and so forth, which stores the received image data. The image data stored on the HD is impossible to retrieve from the external device that has passed through the network and so forth. In addition, when a predetermined time elapses since storing or a power-off operation is executed at the printer  3 , the image data are deleted.  
     [0050] Next, the engine unit  31  will be described.  
     [0051] In the engine unit  31  as well the CPU, the ROM  33  having the control program of the engine unit  31  and the RAM  34  that serves as a work domain of the program are included.  
     [0052] A video reception  35  receives the video signal from the control unit  11  to transcribe the image on the paper in a development and fixing unit  37 .  
     [0053] A paper feeding unit  36  takes the paper in from a paper cassette.  
     [0054] The development and fixing unit  37  transcribes and fixes the image on the paper. In case of the color printer, the development and fixing unit  37  respectively transcribes and fixes the paper image by means of the four colors with black added to RGB, i.e. red, green and blue.  
     [0055] A delivery unit  38  delivers the paper that was already printed.  
     [0056] In addition, bold arrows in FIG. 2 indicate flows of the print command data, the data of the page image and the video signal, and in the engine unit  31  indicate flows of the paper. Fine arrows indicate exchange of control among the units.  
     [0057] Even though not shown in the drawing, each of the CPU in the control unit  11  and the CPU  32  in the engine unit  31  also exchanges information with the other. It is information concerning a timing control of the print process such as transcription of the video signal, transfer of the paper and so forth.  
     [0058] When the PC  2  instructs the printer  3  to print the image data, an instruction command for obtaining the image data is stored in the buffer  17  via the reception unit  15  in a similar way to the normal print command data.  
     [0059] The received command is analyzed with the command analysis program and if it is an instruction for obtaining the image data, the image data reception program is started and caused to execute the following processes.  
     [0060] The details of the operation of the image data reception program will be explained in conjunction with the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the details of the operation of the image data print program in conjunction with the flowchart of FIG. 5.  
     [0061] A basic arrangement of the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  and the data user&#39;s PC  2  will be explained by use of the block diagram of FIG. 12.  
     [0062] In FIG. 12, 1201 is a CPU, i.e. a Central Processing Unit, which controls the present apparatus on its entirety and executes an arithmetic process. Furthermore, the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  and the data user&#39;s PC  2  are operated by the CPU executing a basic I/O program and an OS.  
     [0063] 1202  is a RAM, i.e. a Random Access Memory, which is a domain in which each program and each data are loaded and executed on each process.  
     [0064] 1203  is a ROM, i.e. a Read Only Memory, which is a memory domain such as a program and so forth for each process.  
     [0065] 1204  is a KGC, i.e. a Key Board Controller, which receives the data from a KB, i.e. a Key Board by a key inputting operation to supply them to the CPU. In the PC  2 , a KB  1205  or a pointing device (not shown) selects the thumbnail image supplied from the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1 .  
     [0066] 1206  is a PRTC (Printer Controller), which connects to a PRT (Printer) of  1207  to control it. In addition, the PRTC  126  in the PC  2  is forced to connect to the printer  3 .  
     [0067] 1208  is an INTERNET I/F, which executes the connection to the internet.  
     [0068] 1209  is a CRTC (Display Controller), which controls a CRT of  1210 . On the CRT  1210  of the PC  2 , the thumbnail image supplied from the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  is displayed.  
     [0069] 1211  is a storage device such as a HD or a CD-ROM and so forth, which causes the program or the data to be stored and refers thereto or load them to the RAM if necessary. In the HD  1211  of the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1 , the sales data as shown in FIG. 8 are stored. Moreover, in the HD  1211  of the PC  2 , the product data as shown in FIG. 9 are stored.  
     [0070] 1212  is a system bus, which is to be a path for data transfer among elements of the arrangement mentioned above.  
     [0071] Hereinafter, the operation of the first embodiment will be explained by use of the flowcharts of FIG. 3 to FIG. 6.  
     [0072]FIG. 3 is a flowchart indicating a flow of the process that the CPU  1201  in the data user&#39;s PC  2  executes according to the programs stored in the RAM  1202  or the ROM  1203 . Each procedure proceeds according to the instruction by the data user.  
     [0073] In a step S 31 , the data user opens a browser.  
     [0074] In a step S 32 , the PC  2  and the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  are connected via the internet interface  1208 .  
     [0075] In a step S 33 , the thumbnail image data of the image are displayed on the CRT  1210  in the PC  2 .  
     [0076] In a step S 34 , it is determined if the data user has selected the image data to be purchased from the thumbnail image of the image data displayed on the PC  2 . In addition, the image data to be selected might be plural.  
     [0077] In a step S 35 , information necessary for purchasing the image data such as the image data number of the selected image data, a credit card number and so forth that have been input by the data user is sent to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1 .  
     [0078] In a step S 36 , the data user&#39;s PC  2  receives from the data supplier the product data as shown in FIG. 9 including the transaction number, the image data number and so forth to store them in the storage device  1211 .  
     [0079] In a step S 37 , the data user&#39;s PC  2  instructs the printer  3  to print the image data via the printer controller  1206 .  
     [0080] In a step S 38 , the product data (FIG. 9) stored in the URL of the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  and the storage device  1211  are sent to the printer via the print controller  1206 .  
     [0081] In a step S 39 , the internet connection between the PC  2  and the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  is disconnected.  
     [0082] In a step S 310 , the browser is closed to finish the process.  
     [0083]FIG. 4 is the flowchart for explaining the operation of the image data reception program in the printer  3 .  
     [0084] The image data reception program is started from the command analysis program, when the PC  2  instructs the printer  3  to print the image data.  
     [0085] In a step S 41 , the printer  3  connects to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  via the internet based on the URL of the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  notified from the PC  2 .  
     [0086] Herein, in case that the PC  2  and the printer  3  share a circuit for connecting to the internet and that the PC is using the corresponding circuit, the printer  3  requests the PC so as to disconnect the internet connection, and the process of the step S 41  is executed after the disconnection has been confirmed. Furthermore, in case that the PC  2  and the printer  3  do not share the circuit, the printer  3  executes the internet connection independent of the internet connection of the PC  2 .  
     [0087] In a step S 42 , the product data (FIG. 9) received from the PC  2  and the identifier indicating the model of the printer  3  stored in the ROM  13  are notified to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  and simultaneously the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  is requested to send the corresponding image data to the printer  3 .  
     [0088] In a step S 43 , it is determined if the printer  3  has received from the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  the output image data shown in FIG. 10 including the corresponding image data and the image data number, a title of the image data and the transaction number.  
     [0089] If the printer  3  has received the output image data, in a step S 44 , the output image data (FIG. 10) are stored in the storage device  21  in the printer  3 .  
     [0090] In a step S 45 , it is determined if the storage process has been completed.  
     [0091] If the storage process has been completed, in a step S 46 , the internet connection between the printer  3  and the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  is disconnected to finish the process of the image data reception program.  
     [0092]FIG. 5 is the flowchart for explaining the operation of the image data print program in the printer  3 .  
     [0093] The image data print program is started simultaneously with power-on of the printer  3 .  
     [0094] In a step S 51 , it is determined if the printer  3  has detected the power-off operation.  
     [0095] In case that the power-off operation has been detected, in a step S 52 , all output image data stored in the storage device  21  and charge data to be described later are deleted to finish the process. Thereby, it can be prevented that the printer  3  is powered off and is disassembled to take the image data out from the storage device  21 .  
     [0096] In case that the power-off operation has not been detected, in a step S 53 , it is determined if the output image data stored for 24 hours and more exist.  
     [0097] If the output image data stored for 24 hours and more exist, in a step S 54 , the corresponding output data are deleted.  
     [0098] In a step S 55 , it is determined if printing the image data has been instructed.  
     [0099] If printing the image data has been instructed, in a step S 56 , the print process of the received output image initiates by executing the operation described in FIG. 4. Herein, the print process is executed by the data user in a print form such as the number of print, a paper size and so forth designated by the PC  2  or the printer  3 .  
     [0100] In a step S 57 , it is determined if the print process has been completed.  
     [0101] In case that the print process has not been completed, in a step S 58 , it is determined if a printer error has occurred.  
     [0102] In case that the printer error has not occurred, the process returns to the step S 57 .  
     [0103] In case that the print process has been completed without the print error, in a step S 510 , the charge data including the transaction number, the image data number, the number of print and so forth are stored in the storage device  21  in a form shown in FIG. 11.  
     [0104] Furthermore, in a step S 58 , in case that the print error has occurred, in a step S 59 , printer error occurrence is displayed on the panel  20  or the CRT  1210  of the PC  2  to notify the data user.  
     [0105] In addition, in case that the print error has occurred, the data that became the error is not subject to the charge and the charge data are no stored, because the data has not been normally printed. In case that the error has occurred halfway through the print process of a plural number, the charge data are stored only for those printed normally.  
     [0106] The charge data stored in the storage device  21 , in a step S 511 , are sent from the printer  3  to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  via the internet in a form including the transaction number, the image data number that has been output, the paper size, the number of print as shown in FIG. 11.  
     [0107] In addition, in the above-mention explanation, the charge data are sent from the PC  2  to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  at every time when the image data are printed. However, if the image data number of the output image data and the title of the image data stored in the storage device  21  are caused to be displayed on the panel  20  of the printer  3  or on the display of the PC  2 , and upon the data user selecting the image data number, the corresponding image data are adapted to be printed, the data user can execute the print repeatedly while the output image data are stored in the storage device  21 . In this case, the charge data may be sent in a sizable sum when the conditions is met such as every given time, every given number of the process, every given number of print and so forth. In this case, in the above-mentioned step S 52 , if there is the charge data of which transmission to the data supplier&#39;s Web  1  has not been completed yet, the charge data is deleted after the transmission of the charge data to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  has been completed.  
     [0108] Furthermore, a method is thought in which the charge data (FIG. 11) are sent just before the output image data are deleted from the storage device  21  after detecting the power-off operation of the printer  3  or after 24 hours have elapsed since storing the output image data.  
     [0109] In addition, in the present embodiment, the explanation was given on the premise that the image data are deleted from the printer  3  after 24 hours since storing, but it is not limited to 24 hours and it is also possible to process at the data supplier&#39;s voluntary time.  
     [0110]FIG. 6 is the flowchart for explaining the operation of the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1 . In addition, the operation to be explained hereinafter is executed by the CPU  1201  of the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  according to the program stored in the ROM  1203 .  
     [0111] The data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  initiates the operation simultaneously with power-on.  
     [0112] In a step S 61 , it is determined if the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  has detected the power-off operation.  
     [0113] If the power-off operation has been detected, the operation of the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  finishes.  
     [0114] If the power-off operation has not been detected, in a step S 62 , the device connected to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  is determined by the identifier indicating the type of the device that is notified from the corresponding device that is connected to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  via the internet.  
     [0115] In a step S 622 , if the connected device is determined to be the PC, in a step S 621 , the thumbnail image of the image data is sent to the PC.  
     [0116] In a step S 622 , the data user selects the image data by means of the keyboard or the pointing device to determine if information specifying the image data has been sent from the data user&#39;s PC  2 .  
     [0117] Furthermore, in a step S 623 , it is determined if information necessary for purchasing the image data such as the credit number and so forth has been received from the data user&#39;s PC  2 .  
     [0118] If information specifying the image data such as the credit card number and so forth is received from the PC  2 , in a step S 624 , the transaction number is generated, and the corresponding transaction number, the credit card number, the image data number of the selected image data and so forth are caused to be corresponded to store them in the memory  1211  as sales data as shown in FIG. 8.  
     [0119] Herein, since the transaction number and the credit card number have been correspondingly stored in the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1 , in the following operations only the transaction number may be sent between the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  and the data user&#39;s PC  2 . Accordingly, the frequency decreases at which the data user sends the credit card number, the possibility lowers that it is retrieved dishonestly halfway through transmission, as a result safety is enhanced and the data user can purchase the data at his/her ease.  
     [0120] In a step S 625 , the product data (FIG. 9) such as the transaction number, the image data number and so forth are sent to the data user&#39;s PC  2 .  
     [0121] If, in the step S 62 , the device is determined to be the model of the printer that can guarantee safety of the image data that are sent from the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  by the identifier that is notified from the corresponding connected device, in a step S 63 , it is determined if the transmission of the image data has been requested. Specifically, the deletion process of the data such as the step S 51  described above is executed or retrieve of the data in the storage device  21  of the printer from the external via the network and so forth is made impossible and thereby, it is determined if the device is the type of the printer having a function of completely preventing the user from illegally obtaining the image data.  
     [0122] In addition, if, in the step S 62 , the device is determined not to be the type of the printer that can guarantee the safety of the image data that are sent from the Web server  1  by the identifier that is notified from the corresponding connected device, the effect that the image data is impossible to send is sent to the corresponding device to finish the process.  
     [0123] If, in the step S 63 , it is determined that the transmission of the image data has been requested, in a step S 631 , the product data (FIG. 9) are requested of the printer  3  and are received.  
     [0124] In a step S 632 , it is confirmed if the transaction number and the image data number in the received product data match the transaction number and the image data number in the sales data stored in the storage device  1211 .  
     [0125] If the data match, in a step S 633 , the output image data including the corresponding image data and so forth are sent to the printer  3 .  
     [0126] In the step S 63 , if it is determined that the image data has not been requested, in a step S 64 , it is determined if the charge data has been received.  
     [0127] If the charge data has been received, a fee calculation process is executed based on the received charge data.  
     [0128] In a step S 642 , the credit card number that is caused to correspond to the transaction number attached to the charge data is retrieved from the sales data stored in the storage device  1211 .  
     [0129] In a step S 643 , the credit card number and the charge calculated in the step S 641  are notified to a credit company to execute a charge bill process.  
     [0130] In accordance with the first embodiment as mentioned above, it allows the printer itself to receive and store the image data and to store and send the charge data that the printer includes a function of the internet connection. Moreover, since the printer can connect to the internet without passing through the PC and the image data and the charge data do not pass through the data user&#39;s PC, it is possible to prevent a dishonest act such as the illegal copy of and variations of the data in the PC and so forth.  
     [0131] As mentioned above, the dishonest act to the image data and the charge data can be prevented, therefore, the cost against the risk involved can be reduced, and the image data can be sold on the internet safely, inexpensively and easily.  
     [0132] In the embodiment of the present invention, the output image is explained as the image data, but in addition thereto moving image data, static image data, voice data, document data, game soft data and so forth may be applied.  
     [0133] Furthermore, the output device as well is explained as the printer, but a monitor, a stereo, a game player and so forth may be applied.  
     [0134] In addition, the case is exemplified in which the internet is employed as the communication network, but the case could be thought in which the other computer networks such as a LAN, a VAN, a WAN and so forth are employed.  
     [0135] Moreover, as with the charge bill process the case is exemplified and explained in which the credit company is used, but it is possible to use the other electronic methods of payment settlement.  
     [0136] (Second Embodiment)  
     [0137] In the first embodiment, the printer  3  stored the received image data and charge data in the storage device  21  as they were.  
     [0138] In the present embodiment, a storage unit and a decode unit are kept in the control unit  11  of the printer  3 , and the image data and the charge data are stored after coding.  
     [0139] This allows the safety of the image data and the charge data to be further enhanced. Furthermore, in this time, if the transaction number is used as one part of a coding parameter, the safety is furthermore enhanced.  
     [0140] (Third Embodiment)  
     [0141] In the first embodiment, only by the identifier that is sent from the device is executed determination if the corresponding device connected to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  is the type of the printer that can guarantee the safety of the image data that are sent from the PC or the Web server  1 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the case will be explained in which by furthermore causing the printer to make a maintenance contract, which is managed by the data supplier, and by determining according to registered information, the data supplier can send the image data more safely.  
     [0142]FIG. 7 is the diagram of the principle.  
     [0143] When the printer  3  makes the maintenance contract, information such as a serial number, a location site, a user&#39;s name and so forth thereof are registered in a maintenance contract management center&#39;s server  4 .  
     [0144] When the printer  3  requests the transmission of the image data, it sends to the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  the serial number of the printer  3  in addition to the number of the image data to be purchased, the transaction number and so forth.  
     [0145] The data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  inquires of a maintenance contract management center&#39;s server  4  to determine if it is the maintenance-contracted printer  3  based on the serial number of the printer  3 .  
     [0146] If it is the maintenance-contracted printer  3 , the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  sends the image data to the printer  3 .  
     [0147] If it is the maintenance-not-contracted printer  3 , the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  rejects the transmission of the image data and stops the transmission of the image data.  
     [0148] In addition, the maintenance contract management center&#39;s server  4  may be located either within or outside the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1 .  
     [0149] (Fourth Embodiment)  
     [0150] In the first embodiment, when the print process of the image data was executed, the data user designated the number of print, the paper size and so forth at the PC  2  or the printer  3 . However, the case is thought in which the data user wants to output the image data supplied by the data supplier in a desired form.  
     [0151] In this case, in the above-mentioned step S 633  of FIG. 6, the output image data to which print form designation information indicating the number of print and the paper size has been attached are sent from the data supplier&#39;s Web server  1  to the printer  3 .  
     [0152] And, the printer  3  executes the print output based on the received print form designation information in the step S 56  of FIG. 5.  
     [0153] This allows the data output to be executed in the print form designated by the data supplier.  
     [0154] As explained above, in accordance with the present information, by causing the output device to have the connection function to the communication network, the output data from the data supplier&#39;s information processing device can be directly sent to the output device without passing through the data user&#39;s information processing device, and thereby, the dishonest act such as an illegal copy and variations of the data and so forth can be prevented. Furthermore, the charge data as well based on the data output can be directly sent to the data supplier&#39;s information processing device from the output device without passing through the data user&#39;s information processing device, and thereby, variations of the charge data can also be prevented.  
     [0155] Furthermore, the image data is adapted to be sent only to the type of the output device having a specific function, therefore, the data supplier does not need to be worried about variations and dishonest acquisition of the image data.  
     [0156] Accordingly, an advantage can be effected: the data supplier can reduce the cost against the risk accompanied by the transmission of the data and can sell the data safely, inexpensively and easily.