Granted Patent B2

US 7,463,374 · App. 10/855,602 · Granted Dec 9, 2008

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A system for securely communicating a print job to a print output device, the system comprising:

a client computer comprising the print job, a sender application and a print queue, the sender application adapted to receive first authentication information regarding a user, and pause the print job in the print queue; and

a release station coupled to the client computer and to the print output device, the release station comprising a receiver application adapted to receive second authentication information regarding the user and communicate the second authentication information to the sender application, wherein the sender application is further adapted to release the print job from the print queue if the second authentication information matches the first authentication information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the print job comprises an encrypted print job.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the print job comprises a page description language.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sender application comprises a port monitor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sender application comprises a backend program.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a password.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a personal identification number.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a fingerprint.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a retinal scan.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a DNA sample.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a voice print.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the client computer further comprises a user interface, and the sender application is further adapted to receive the first authentication information from the user interface.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the release station comprises a standalone device.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the print output device comprises the release station.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the release station further comprises a user interface, and the receiver application is further adapted to receive the second authentication information from the user interface.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a password.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a personal identification number.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a fingerprint.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a retinal scan.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a DNA sample.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a voice print.

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the print output device comprises a printer.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the print output device comprises a copier.

24. A method for securely communicating a print job to a print output device, the method comprising:

pausing the print job in a print queue on a client computer;

obtaining first authentication information regarding a user at the client computer;

obtaining second authentication information regarding a user at a release station adjacent the print output device;

communicating the second authentication information from the release station to the client computer; and

releasing the print job from the print queue if the second authentication information matches the first authentication information.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the print job comprises an encrypted print job.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the print job comprises a page description language.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a password.

28. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a personal identification number.

29. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a fingerprint.

30. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a retinal scan.

31. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a DNA sample.

32. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first authentication information comprises a voice print.

33. The method of claim 24 , further comprising receiving the first authentication information from a user interface.

34. The method of claim 24 , further comprising receiving the second authentication information from a user interface.

35. The method of claim 24 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a password.

36. The method of claim 24 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a personal identification number.

37. The method of claim 24 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a fingerprint.

38. The method of claim 24 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a retinal scan.

39. The method of claim 24 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a DNA sample.

40. The method of claim 24 , wherein the second authentication information comprises a voice print.

41. The method of claim 24 , wherein the print output device comprises a printer.

42. The method of claim 24 , wherein the print output device comprises a copier.

Assignments (13)