JP2000332889A - Communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal that can grasp a of illegal attempts and take effective countermeasures to the illegal use. SOLUTION: The communication terminal is a facsimile terminal that executes a prescribed function (remote FAX extract function) in response to the entry of a password and stores information such as an entered password and an entered date and time to an illegal use history memory 8 when an incorrect password is entered. The storage contents of the illegal use history memory 8 are read for each prescribed period and a recording section 3 prints then out. In the case that illegal use is tried over a prescribed number of times within a prescribed period, a display device 4 displays a message using revision of the password.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device such as a facsimile machine and an answering machine, and more particularly to a communication terminal device which executes a predetermined function in response to a password input.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, communication terminals such as facsimile machines and answering machines have been provided with various functions.
For example, a facsimile machine is provided with a remote retrieval function for taking out image data stored in an internal memory from outside, and an answering machine is provided with a message monitor function for taking out a message recorded during an absence from outside. . In addition, a function of changing the setting of the internal specification of the communication terminal device from outside is provided. When such a predetermined function is used from outside, a DTMF (Dial Dial) is used to identify the remote user and maintain security.
It is necessary to input a correct personal identification number to the communication terminal device with a Tone Multi-Frequency) signal.

[0003]

Although such a remote control function is convenient, it is necessary to take countermeasures against unauthorized use (measures such as changing the personal identification number if the unauthorized use is performed frequently). is there. Then, in order to take measures to prevent the intrusion of unauthorized users, it is necessary to grasp the situation in which unauthorized use is being attempted. However, the conventional communication terminal device has a problem that it is not possible to know in advance the status of such an unauthorized use attempt, and it is not possible to take an effective measure against the unauthorized use.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to ascertain the status of attempted unauthorized use.
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device capable of taking effective measures against unauthorized use.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal device which executes a predetermined function corresponding to the password when the password is input, and is different from the password. When a number is input, a storage unit for storing information on the input status, and a notification unit for reading out the storage content of the storage unit and notifying the readout to the outside are provided.

In the communication terminal device of the present invention (claim 1), when an incorrect password is input for the purpose of unauthorized use, the situation (date and time, number of times, input number, etc.) is stored in an internal memory. It is stored in the means, and the stored contents are notified to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to accurately grasp the situation where the unauthorized use is being attempted, and to take appropriate measures according to the situation.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal apparatus.
Wherein the notifying unit is configured to notify the storage contents of the storage unit at predetermined intervals.

[0008] In the communication terminal device of the present invention (claim 2), the stored information on the status of the unauthorized use attempt is notified to the outside at regular intervals. Therefore, the status of the unauthorized use attempt is reliably notified at regular intervals.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal apparatus.
(2) In the device (2), further comprising means for notifying information indicating change of the personal identification number to the outside based on the storage content of the storage means.

In the communication terminal device according to the present invention (claim 3), when the status of the unauthorized use attempt satisfies a predetermined condition,
For example, when the number of unauthorized use attempts within a certain period exceeds a predetermined number, information indicating a change in the personal identification number is notified to the outside. Therefore, there is no delay in responding to the change of the password for unauthorized use.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus which is an example of a communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention. This facsimile machine
It has a remote FAX retrieval function that retrieves image data stored therein to another facsimile device in response to the input of a correct password from another facsimile device.

In FIG. 1, a main control unit 1 is specifically constituted by a CPU, and is connected to respective hardware units described below via a bus 20 to control them and perform various operations. Perform software-like functions. Further, the main control unit 1 has a built-in timer for measuring the date and time.

The reading unit 2 reads a document by a scanner using a CCD, for example, and outputs image data of a black and white binary document. The recording unit 3 is a printer device of an electrophotographic system or the like, and prints out image data received from another facsimile device by facsimile communication as a hard copy. In addition, the recording unit 3 stores information on a trial status of unauthorized use of the remote facsimile retrieval function stored in an unauthorized use history memory 8 described later (a number display when an incorrect password is input from another facsimile machine). (Number, input number, date and time) are also printed out at regular intervals.

The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device or a CRT display, and displays an operation state of the facsimile machine, and displays image data of a document to be transmitted or received image data. The display unit 4
Also displays a message that the password should be changed. The operation unit 5 includes character keys, numeric keys, speed dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the facsimile machine. When the display unit 4 is a touch panel type, some or all of the various keys of the operation unit 5 can be substituted.

The ROM 6 stores various software programs necessary for the operation of the facsimile machine in advance. The RAM 7 is configured by an SRAM, a flash memory, or the like, and stores temporary data generated when executing software. Further, when an incorrect password is input from another facsimile machine for the purpose of executing the remote FAX retrieval function, the unauthorized use history memory 8 stores status data (number display number (detectable number) ), Input number, date and time). The image memory 9 is composed of a DRAM or the like,
Stores image data to be transmitted or received image data.

The modem 10 has a function of performing facsimile communication of image data of a document read by the reading unit 2 and image data from another facsimile apparatus.
The modem 10 is an NC for closing and opening the analog line L.
It is connected to U11.

The facsimile apparatus of the present invention has a facsimile communication function of a normal G3 system or the like with the above-described hardware configuration. And the image data is received from the transmission destination and printed out by the recording unit 3. Further, the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is configured such that an analog line L, NCU 1
When a correct personal identification number is input via the FAX 1, the image data stored in the image memory 9 is transferred to the facsimile machine 30 via the NCU 11 and the analog line L.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure (processing for accessing a remote FAX retrieval function from outside) in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

When a call is issued from another facsimile machine 30 (step S1: YES), a message "Please input a password" is transmitted to the other facsimile machine 30 (step S2). Then, the input personal identification number included in the DTMF signal sent from the facsimile machine 30 is detected (step S).
3).

It is determined whether the detected password is a correct password (step S4). If the password is correct (S4: YES), the image data stored in the image memory 9 is transmitted to the facsimile machine 30 (step S8), and the line is disconnected (step S7).

On the other hand, if the detected personal identification number is not the correct personal identification number (S4: NO), the incorrect input personal identification number detected at that time, the date and time counted by the timer in the main control unit 1, and the telephone company perform the operation. The number display number using the caller number notification service is stored in the unauthorized use history memory 8 (step S5).

During the incoming call, the input of the password is 3
It is determined whether or not the facsimile machine 30 has reached the third time (step S6).
S2 to S
Steps S4 and S5 (or S8) are repeated. If the input of the personal identification number is the third time (S6: YES), the line is disconnected (S6: YES) because it is obviously considered to be unauthorized use.
7).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of the status data of an attempt to use the remote FAX retrieval function for unauthorized use, which is stored in the unauthorized use history memory 8 in step S5 when an incorrect password is entered. In the unauthorized use history memory 8,
The data of the number display number when it can be found, the incorrect password input and the date and time at that time are stored. Then, these stored data can be read out at an arbitrary timing and printed out by the recording unit 3.

With the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily grasp the status of attempts to illegally use the remote FAX retrieval function, and to take appropriate measures against these attempts.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure (the process of printing out the status data, the process of notifying the change of the password, and the process of changing the password) in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

First, at a predetermined time (for example, 1 am on Monday)
0:00) is determined (step S11).
If it is not the predetermined time (S11: NO), it is determined whether or not an operation for changing the personal identification number is received from the operation unit 5 (step S12). If the operation is received (S12: YES), the changed new personal identification number is determined. Is registered (step S1
3), clear the data stored in the unauthorized use history memory 8 (step S14). As described above, the password can be changed at an arbitrary timing.

When the predetermined time comes (S11: YE
S), it is determined whether or not stored data exists in the unauthorized use history memory 8 (step S15). If not (S15: NO), the process ends. On the other hand, if the stored data exists (S15: YES), it is determined whether the number of the stored data is equal to or more than a predetermined number (step S16). If the number is less than the predetermined number (S1
6: NO), the stored data is printed out by the recording unit 3 (step S20), and the stored data in the unauthorized use history memory 8 is cleared (S14). Thus, in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the remote FA
The status of the attempted unauthorized use of the X retrieval function is notified to the outside.

If the number of stored data is equal to or more than the predetermined number (S16: YES), a message that "the password should be changed" is displayed on the display unit 4 (step S17). At this time, the message may be printed out by the recording unit 3. Then, it is determined whether or not an operation for changing the personal identification number is received from the operation unit 5 (step S1).
8) If received (S18: YES), after registering the changed new password (step S19),
The data stored up to that point is printed out by the recording unit 3 (S20), and the data stored in the unauthorized use history memory 8 is cleared (S14). As described above, in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, when an unauthorized use of the remote FAX retrieval function is frequently performed, a message indicating that the password should be changed is notified to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use in advance. It should be noted that even when the operation of changing the password is not received (S1
8: NO), the stored data up to that point is printed out (S20), and the stored data in the unauthorized use history memory 8 is cleared (S14).

In the above example, the stored data is printed out every other week. However, the period of one week is an example, and the stored data may be printed out every arbitrarily set predetermined period. The good thing is, of course.
Also, the stored data may be printed out in response to an external instruction at an arbitrary timing.

In the above example, a message urging the user to change his / her password is provided when a predetermined number of unauthorized attempts (incorrect password input) have been made within a predetermined period. In another state (for example, when an incorrect password similar to the correct password is continuously input), a message urging the user to change the password can be notified.

In the above-described example, the case where the remote FAX retrieval function for extracting the stored image data from another facsimile apparatus has been described, but the message monitoring function for extracting the message recorded on the answering machine during the absence from the outside. Alternatively, the present invention can be similarly performed in all cases where a personal identification number is input from an external device to perform a predetermined function, such as a function of changing the setting of the internal specification of the communication terminal device from the outside. Furthermore, not only the example of inputting a password from an external device, but also a communication terminal device set to operate without inputting a password,
Of course, the present invention can be applied to an example in which a personal identification number is input from the user.

[0032]

As described above, in the communication terminal device of the present invention, when an incorrect password is input, the situation (date and time, number of times, input number, etc.) is stored in the internal storage means. , The contents of the stored information are notified to the outside, so that the status of unauthorized use attempts can be grasped in advance,
Appropriate measures can be taken according to the situation, such as changing the password. As a result, unauthorized use can be prevented.

In another communication terminal device according to the present invention, the stored information on the status of the unauthorized use attempt is notified to the outside at regular intervals, so that the status of the unauthorized use attempt is updated at regular intervals. It is surely notified and appropriate measures can be taken at the right time. As a result, unauthorized use can be prevented.

In still another communication terminal device according to the present invention, when the status of an unauthorized use attempt satisfies a predetermined condition, for example, when the number of unauthorized use attempts within a certain period exceeds a predetermined number, the password of the personal identification number is changed. Since the information indicating the change is notified to the outside, the response to the change of the personal identification number for the unauthorized use is not delayed, and the personal identification number can be changed early before the actual unauthorized use is performed. As a result, unauthorized use can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus as an example of a communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure (processing for accessing a remote FAX retrieval function from outside) in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in an unauthorized use history memory in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure (a situation data printout process, a password change notification process, and a password change process) in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control part 3 Recording part 4 Display part 5 Operation part 8 Unauthorized use history memory 9 Image memory 10 Modem 11 NCU 30 Facsimile machine

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication terminal device which executes a predetermined function corresponding to the password when the password is input, wherein when a number different from the password is input,
A communication terminal device comprising: a storage unit that stores information on the input status; and a notification unit that reads out the storage content of the storage unit and notifies the outside. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies the storage unit of the storage unit at predetermined intervals.
The communication terminal device according to claim 1. 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying information indicating a change of a password to the outside based on the storage content of said storage means.