Printing system, printing method, terminal, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program

A printing method used in a printing system including a terminal for sending print data, a plurality of printers for performing printing based on the print data, and a transfer device for transferring, in response to a request from any one of the printers, the print data to a requesting printer, wherein each of the plurality of printers is given a decryption key, and each of the transfer device and the terminal has an encryption key table indicating encryption keys corresponding to the decryption keys of the plurality of printers, the printing method comprising:

• encrypting, by the terminal, a first password entered by a user to obtain a first encrypted password, and
• when communication with the transfer device is possible, associating the print data with the first encrypted password and sending, by the terminal, the associated print data and first encrypted password to the transfer device, and
• when the communication is impossible, requesting the user to select any one of the plurality of printers, encrypting the first password by using an encryption key corresponding to the selected printer from the encryption key table to obtain a second encrypted password, and sending, by the terminal, the print data in association with a command to perform authentication print and the second encrypted password to the selected printer without via the transfer device;
• decrypting, via the transfer device, the first encrypted password to obtain the first password, encrypting again the first password by using an encryption key corresponding to a printer as a request source of the plurality of printers, to obtain a third encrypted password, and sending the third encrypted password and the print data to the printer as the request source,
• requesting, by the printer, the print data from the transfer device when user authentication of the user of the terminal is successful;
• a decrypting, by the printer, the second encrypted password or the third encrypted password to obtain the first password, and
• if a second password entered by the user into the printer matches the first password obtained by decrypting the third encrypted password, performing, by the printer, the printing based on the print data received from the transfer device, and if the second password matches the first password obtained by decrypting the second encrypted password, performing the printing based on the print data received from the terminal.

A terminal connectable to a plurality of printers for performing printing based on print data and to a transfer device which includes a processor for transferring, in response to a request from any one of the printers, the print to a requesting printer, wherein each of the plurality of printers is given a decryption key, the terminal comprising a processor that controls:

• an encryptor configured to encrypt a password entered by a user by using an encryption key corresponding to one of the plurality of printers, and to generate an encrypted password;
• a transmitter configured to encrypt a first password entered by a user to obtain a first encrypted password and to associate the print data with the first encrypted password, and when communication with the transfer device is possible, configured to send the associated print data and first encrypted password to the transfer device, and when the communication is impossible, request the user to select any one of the plurality of printers, encrypt the first password by using an encryption key corresponding to the selected printer to obtain a second encrypted password, and send the print data in association with a command to perform authentication print and the second encrypted password to the selected printer without via the transfer device;
• and
• the transfer device includes a processor that controls a second transmitter configured to decrypt the first encrypted password to obtain the first password, encrypt again the first password by using an encryption key corresponding to a printer as a request source of the plurality of printers, to obtain a third encrypted password, and to send the third encrypted password and the print data to the printer as the request source.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing thereon a computer program used in a computer connectable to a printer for performing printing based on print data and to a transfer device which includes a processor for transferring, in response to a request from any one of the printers, the print data requesting printer, wherein each of the plurality of printers is given a decryption key, the computer program causing the computer to implement processes comprising:

• encryption processing for encrypting a password entered by a user by using an encryption key corresponding to one of the plurality of printers and to generate an encrypted password;
• transmission processing for encrypting a first password entered by a user to obtain a first encrypted password and associating the print data with the first encrypted password, and when communication with the transfer device is possible, sending the associated print data and first encrypted password to the transfer device and when the communication is impossible, requesting the user to select any one of the plurality of printers, encrypting the first password by using an encryption key corresponding to the selected printer to obtain a second encrypted password, and sending the print data in association with a command to perform authentication print and the second encrypted password to the selected printer without via the transfer device;
• and
• the transfer device includes a processor that controls the transmission processing to decrypt the first encrypted password to obtain the first password, encrypt again the first password by using an encryption key corresponding to a printer as a request source of the plurality of printers, to obtain a third encrypted password, and to send the third encrypted password and the print data to the printer as the request source.