Patent ID: 6862583

Claim:
A method for authorized printout of an image in a printing system comprising an information processing device that transmits print data via a network to a print node for printout of the image, comprising the steps of: the information processing device transmitting to the print node, via the network, print data identified as requiring user authentication in order to be printed out; the print node receiving, via the network from the information processing device, the print data identified as requiring user authentication in order to be printed out; the print node, upon receiving the print data from the information processing device, detecting that the received print data requires user authentication in order to be printed out and in response thereto, the print node performing a key encryption process on the received print data utilizing a unique encryption key maintained within the print node to generate encrypted print data and storing the encrypted print data without printout, wherein the stored encrypted print data includes encryption data corresponding to the key encryption process that is not included with the received print data; the print node receiving authentication information of an intended recipient to print the encrypted print data; and in response to receipt of the authentication information, the print node decrypting the encrypted print data and performing an operation for printing the decrypted print data.