Systems and methods for secure printing

A printing security system for use with a workstation and a printer, the workstation being configured to communicatively couple with the printer, the workstation being configured to transmit print data to the printer for printing, said printing security system comprising:

• a first code entry device configured to communicatively couple with the workstation, receive first coding information from the user, and provide the first coding information to the workstation;
• and
• a second code entry device configured to communicatively couple with the printer, receive second coding information from the user, and provide the second coding information to the printer such that the printer is enabled to print the print data in response to said first coding information received at said first code entry device corresponding to said second coding information received at said second code entry device;
• a user interface configured to communicate with the workstation, said user interface having a secure-disable mode and a secure-enable mode such that, said secure-enable mode, the workstation is enabled to receive said first coding information, and in the secure-disable mode, the workstation is enabled to transmit print data to the printer for printing and the printer prints the print data without receiving the first coding information at the first code entry device and without receiving the second coding information at the second code entry device.

A method for providing secure printing between a workstation and a printer, the workstation being configured to transmit print data to the printer for printing, said method comprising the steps of:

• when operating in a secure-enable mode:
• receiving first coding information, at the workstation, from a user;
• enabling print data and the first coding information to be transmitted to the printer;
• receiving second coding information, at the printer, from the user;
• comparing the first coding information with the second coding information such that if the first coding information corresponds to the second coding information, enabling printing of the print data at the printer, and if the first coding information does not correspond to the second coding information, not enabling printing of the print data at the printer;
• and
• when operating in a secure-disable mode:
• enabling print data to be transmitted to the printer;
• and
• enabling printing of the print data at the printer without receiving the first coding information at the first code entry device and without receiving the second coding information at the second coding device.

A computer readable medium having a computer program for providing secure printing between a workstation and a printer, the workstation being configured to transmit print data to the printer for printing, said computer readable medium comprising:

• logic configured to receive first coding information, at the workstation, from a user;
• logic configured to receive second coding information, provided at the printer, from the user;
• logic configured to compare the first coding information with the second coding information;
• and
• logic configured to enable printing of the print data at the printer if the first coding information corresponds to the second coding information wherein the logic configured to receive first coding information comprises:
• a first code segment configured to provide a user interface at the workstation, the user interface having a secure-disable mode and a secure-enable mode such that, in the secure-enable mode, the workstation is enabled to receive the first coding information, and in the secure-disable mode, the workstation is enabled to transmit print data to the printer for printing and the printer prints the print data without receiving the first coding information at the first code entry device and without receiving the second coding information at the second code entry device.