Mechanism for controlling if/when material can be printed on a specific printer

A printer device comprising:

• a data input device for receiving an encrypted digital document file;
• a decryption algorithm for decrypting said received document file;
• a controller for controlling printing of an image of data contained in said received documents file;
• and
• a printer mechanism for printing a physical copy of said document file, wherein said controller operates to check a unique device identification data contained in said document file with a stored unique device identification data of said printer device, and provided a successful match is found, print said physical copy of said document file;
• and
• if said received unique device identifier differs from said stored unique device identifier data, said controller operates to delete said document file without printing a physical copy of said document file.

A computer entity configured for sending secure encrypted document files, said computer entity comprising:

• a data processor;
• a memory;
• an encryption algorithm capable of encrypting a document file;
• a device selector for selecting a said uniquely identifiable recipient device;
• a file selector for selecting a document file;
• a stored list of a set of authorised recipient devices, each said recipient device identified by a unique device identifier data inaccessibly embedded within said computer entity;
• wherein said computer entity operates to:
• select at least one document file;
• select at least one said uniquely identifiable recipient device to send said document to;
• encrypt said document files;
• and
• address said at least one document file to said selected uniquely identified recipient device.

A method of securely communicating an electronic document file over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

• encrypting said document file;
• specifying a recipient device for sending said document file to, said recipient device being uniquely identifiable by a unique device identifier data;
• attaching said unique identifier data to said document file;
• sending said document file in encrypted format to said intended recipient device;
• receiving said transmitted document file and decrypting said document file;
• reading said unique device identifier data of said document file;
• if said unique device identifier data of said document file corresponds to a unique device identifier data of said recipient device, printing a physical copy of said document file;
• and
• if said unique device identifier data of said document file does not correspond with said unique device identifier data of said recipient device, deleting said received document file without printing a physical copy of said document file.

A method of secure printing of a received document file, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving said document file in encrypted format at a receiving device;
• decrypting said document file;
• reading a unique device identifier data identifying a recipient device for which said document file is intended;
• comparing said unique device identifier data with a locally stored device identifier data stored at said receiving device;
• if said received unique device identifier data corresponds with said locally stored device identifier data, printing at least one physical copy of said document file;
• if said received unique device identifier data differs from said stored unique device identifier data, deleting said document file.

A method of sending a document file for printing by a specified authorised recipient printing device, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a content of said document file;
• encrypting said content;
• attaching a unique device identifier data, identifying a recipient device to which said document file is to be sent;
• and
• sending said document file to said recipient device.

A computer entity comprising a data processor, a data storage device, a printer port, and having an attached printer device, said computer entity comprising:

• a module for decrypting an encrypted document file;
• a unique device identifier for identifying said computer entity;
• wherein said computer entity operates to:
• receive a document file in encrypted format;
• decrypt said document;
• extract a unique device identifier data from said document;
• compare said extracted unique identifier data with said unique device identifier of said computer entity;
• if a match is found between said received unique device identifier data of said document and said unique identifier of said computer entity, send a said document file for printing by said attached printer device;
• and
• after sending said document to said printer device, delete said document file from said computer entity.

A method of secure printing of a received document file, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving said document file in encrypted format;
• reading a unique device identifier data identifying a recipient device for which said document file is intended;
• comparing said unique device identifier data with a locally stored identifier data corresponding to a local computer entity device;
• if said locally stored identifier data differs from said unique device identifier data identifying said recipient device for which said document file is intended, deleting said document file without printing any physical copies of said document file.

A method of secure printing of a received document file, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving said document file in encrypted format;
• reading a unique device identifier data identifying a recipient device for which said document file is intended;
• comparing said unique device identifier data with a locally stored device identifier data;
• reading a permitted quantity data describing a permitted quantity of copies of said document file;
• and
• if said received unique device identifier data corresponds with said locally stored device identifier data, printing said permitted quantity of copies of said document file.

A printer device comprising:

• a data input device for receiving an encrypted digital document file;
• a decryption algorithm for decrypting said received document file;
• a controller for controlling printing of an image of data contained in said received document file;
• and
• a printer mechanism for printing a physical copy of said document file,
• wherein said printer device locally stores a decryption key for operating said decryption algorithm to decrypt said received document file.

A printer device comprising:

• a data input device for receiving a digital document file;
• a controller for controlling printing of an image of data contained in said received document file;
• and
• a printer mechanism for printing a physical copy of said document file,
• wherein said controller operates to compare a received unique identifier data contained in said received document file with a locally stored unique device identifier data stored at said printer device;
• if said received unique identifier data matches said stored unique device identifier, control printing of at least one said physical copy of said document file;
• and
• if said received unique identifier data contained the said received document file does not match said stored unique device identifier data, to inhibit printing of any physical copies of said document file.

A printer device comprising:

• a data input device for receiving an encrypted digital document file;
• a decryption algorithm for decrypting said received document files;
• a controller for controlling printing of an image of data contained in said received document file;
• and
• a printer mechanism for printing a physical copy of said document file,
• wherein a decryption key is stored locally in said printer device for operating said decryption algorithm to decrypt said received document files;
• said controller operates to compare a received unique identifier data contained in said received document file with a locally stored unique device identifier data stored at said printer device;
• if said received unique identifier data matches said stored unique device identifier, control printing of at least one said physical copy of said document file;
• and
• if said received unique identifier data contained the said received document file does not match said stored unique device identifier data, to inhibit decryption of said document file and inhibit printing of any physical copies of said document file.