Public print system, public print service providing method, recording medium, and program

Abstract

Disclosed is a technique which provides a public print system and public print service providing method each of which is based on the use of electronic watermarks embedded in the digital contents. The technique has a data output control device that includes means for generating output data, means for extracting the contents, means for transferring the output data and the extracted contents to a processing device that performs print-fee-charging calculation with respect to those output data and extracted contents that are set to fall under the category of a print job, and means for attaining fee charging information from the processing device performing fee-charging calculation and displays it. The technique also has a fee payment processing device that includes means for extracting from the extracted contents the information that has been embedded therein as electronic watermarks, means for, according to the information that has been embedded, in a case where the information meets predetermined requirements, performing prescribed discounting with respect to the fee that is charged on the printing of the information containing digital contents, and means for performing actual fee payment for the printing according to the discounting information by subtracting the discounting amount.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.