JP2007065777A - Electronic data distribution system, electronic data distribution program, recording medium with the program recorded thereon, and input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic data distribution system, electronic data distribution program, recording medium with the program recorded thereon, and electronic data distribution device, which enhance security by performing an authentication. <P>SOLUTION: The system is composed of an input device 1, document distribution device 2 and authentication device 6. The authentication device 6 is configured of an authentication information management part 3 and an authentication part 4. A user places a paper document on an MFP, and selects a scanner function. A picture for performing authentication is displayed on the operation panel of an MFP. A user performs authentication. After authentication succeeds, destination prepared on the operation panel of the MFP is displayed. Scanning is started. After scanning is completed, electronic data and distribution destination and authentication information are transmitted to a cooperated document distribution system. The document distribution system receives those information, and distributes the information by a distribution method preliminarily set as distribution destination according to a set distribution time zone (for example, printing or Fax or the like). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic data distribution system, an electronic data distribution program, a recording medium on which the program is recorded, and an input device, and more particularly to an electronic data distribution system, an electronic data distribution program, and a program recorded by the authentication for improving security. The present invention relates to a recording medium and an input device.

  With the development of Web technology, various electronic data are exchanged over a network. Various services are also provided using a Web browser displayed on a terminal. Here, a technique has been proposed in which a service can be provided only when a user accesses a Web server with a user name and a password and authentication does not match so that only a specific user can use the service (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

Also, when image data or document data is distributed via a network, a technique for performing user authentication using a password or the like in consideration of security is known (for example, see Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-63169 JP 2001-86285 A

  However, conventionally, when user authentication passes, electronic data can be distributed uniformly, and if a printer or FAX is specified as the distribution destination, it is output immediately and left as it is. However, even if confidential documents are stored as electronic data, there is a problem in that anyone who can access the electronic data can always access it.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described security problems, and is intended to improve security on the premise of solving such problems.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic data distribution system in which a data input device, a document distribution device, and an authentication device are connected via a network, and electronic data from the input device is distributed based on an authentication process of the authentication device. And the said input device transmits the user information input by the user information input means which makes a user input the user information for using this input apparatus, and the said user information input means to the said authentication apparatus. Received by the transmission means, the reception means for receiving the authentication result information including the electronic data distribution execution time zone information, the storage means for storing the input electronic data, and received by the reception means Electronic data distribution means for distributing electronic data stored in the storage means only during a distribution execution time period included in the authentication information. It is a data delivery system.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the system according to the first aspect, the authentication information received by the receiving unit further includes a distribution expiration date of the electronic data, and the electronic data distribution unit includes the distribution expiration date. The electronic data stored in the storage means is deleted when the value exceeds.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the system according to the first aspect, the input device includes a generation unit that reads a document and generates electronic data.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic data distribution program in which a data input device, a document distribution device, and an authentication device are connected via a network and electronic data from the input device is distributed based on an authentication process of the authentication device. The input device transmits a user information input process for allowing the user to input user information for using the input device and the user information input by the user information input means to the authentication device. A transmission process; a reception process for receiving authentication result information including delivery time zone information for the electronic data from the authentication apparatus; a storage process for storing electronic data from the input apparatus; and the reception process Electronic data distribution processing for distributing electronic data stored in the storage processing only during a distribution execution time period included in the authentication information received in An electronic data delivery program for causing a row.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the program according to the fourth aspect, the authentication information received in the reception process further includes a distribution expiration date of the electronic data, and the electronic data distribution processing is performed using the distribution expiration date. In the case where it exceeds the limit, the computer is caused to delete the electronic data accumulated in the accumulation process.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium storing the program according to the fourth or fifth aspect.

  The invention described in claim 7 is a user information input means for allowing a user to input user information for using the input device, and a transmission means for transmitting the user information input by the user information input means to the authentication apparatus. Receiving means for receiving authentication result information including the electronic data distribution execution time zone information, storage means for storing the input electronic data, and authentication received by the receiving means. An input device comprising: electronic data distribution means for distributing electronic data stored in the storage means only during a distribution execution time period included in the information.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the authentication information received by the receiving unit further includes a distribution expiration date of the electronic data, and the electronic data distribution unit includes the distribution expiration date. The electronic data stored in the storage means is deleted when the value exceeds.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a generation unit that reads an original and generates electronic data.

  According to the present invention, security improvement can be expected in the distribution of electronic data through user authentication.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and therefore technically preferable various kinds of limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following description. As long as there is no description which limits, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  First, the basic configuration and operation of the document distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. An input device, a document distribution device, an authentication information management unit, and an authentication unit are included. In the following, details of processing will be described, taking as an example an MFP (Multi Function Printer) as an input device, server software that operates a document distribution device on a PC, and server software that also operates an authentication unit on a PC.

  As a precondition for the operation, an MFP corresponding to the document distribution system exists on the network, the document distribution apparatus is installed on the PC, and the authentication unit is also installed on the PC. As a pre-operation preparation, an authentication unit that cooperates with the authentication system is set (the authentication unit is a mechanism that actually executes authentication. For example, NT authentication, Notes authentication, LDAP authentication, etc.). Next, the authentication unit to be referred to by the document distribution apparatus is set from the management tool of the document distribution apparatus. Next, a delivery destination is set from the management tool of the document delivery apparatus. Next, an MFP that is accepted by the document distribution apparatus is set.

  When the preparation is completed under the above conditions, an actual delivery operation described below is performed. First, a user places a paper document on the MFP and selects a scanner function. Next, a screen for performing authentication is displayed on the operation panel of the MFP. The user performs authentication. After successful authentication, the destination created in preparation is displayed on the operation panel of the MFP on the operation panel of the MFP. Start scanning. After the scan is completed, the digitized data, distribution destination, and authentication information are sent to the connected document distribution system. The document distribution apparatus receives these pieces of information and distributes electronic data according to a distribution method set for the distribution destination.

  In this way, when a destination is specified and a document is distributed, the document is immediately sent to the destination (printer, FAX, etc.) and output, so that the distributed document can be viewed by anyone at the destination. It is done. Therefore, in the embodiment according to the present invention described below, user authentication is performed in order to solve the above-described problem, and an operation is performed in which only the time zone desired to be output to the destination is output.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a document distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The input device 1, the document distribution device 2, and the authentication device 6 are configured. The authentication device 6 includes an authentication information management unit 3 and an authentication unit 4. The input device 1 digitizes a paper document, performs user authentication, and distributes the digitized document to the document distribution device 2. The document distribution apparatus 2 receives user information (registration destination setting information of a document management system for each user), confirms authentication information, and distributes digitized data to a specified distribution destination. The authentication information management unit responds to an information acquisition request such as an authentication request or a distribution time zone from the input device 1 or the document distribution device 2, and manages authentication information for setting the distribution time zone. In the following, details of the processing will be described using the input device 1 as an MFP (Multi Function Printer), the document distribution device 2 as server software that operates on a PC, and the authentication unit 4 as server software that also operates on a PC.

  As preconditions for the operation, an MFP corresponding to the document distribution system exists on the network, the document distribution apparatus 1 is installed on the PC, and the authentication unit 4 is also installed on the PC. As a pre-preparation, the authentication unit 4 with which the authentication information management unit cooperates is set (the authentication unit 4 actually performs authentication. NT authentication, Notes authentication, LDAP authentication, etc.). For example, when NT authentication is performed, a domain to be authenticated is set. The authentication information management unit 3 recalls the authentication result. The authentication result to be returned certifies the authentication information for the user, the specified delivery time zone, and the like. The authentication information management unit 3 referred to by the document distribution apparatus 2 is set from the management tool of the document distribution apparatus 2. By setting the authentication information management unit 3, it is determined what authentication mechanism is used. Next, a delivery destination is set from the management tool of the document delivery apparatus 2. Set the specified delivery time zone for the delivery destination. Next, an MFP with which the document distribution apparatus 2 cooperates is set. This setting content is held in the document distribution apparatus 2 and in the MFP. In other words, the document distribution device 2 holds which device is linked with, and the MFP holds which document distribution device 2 is linked.

  Next, the actual delivery operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The user places a paper document on the MFP and selects a scanner function (step S10). When the scanner function is selected on the MFP, the MFP inquires where the authentication information management unit 3 referred to by the document distribution apparatus 2 is located in the associated document distribution apparatus 2 (step S11). A screen for performing authentication is displayed on the operation panel of the MFP. In the MFP, user authentication is performed on the acquired authentication information management unit 3 (step S12). As a result, the MFP and the document distribution apparatus 2 can perform authentication using the same authentication information management unit 3. After successful user authentication, an authentication result is acquired from the authentication information management unit 3 (step S13), and the distribution destination acquired from the document distribution apparatus 2 is displayed on the operation panel of the MFP (step S14). After the user selects a delivery destination (step S15), the scan is executed (step S16). After the scan is completed, the digitized data and the delivery time zone information that designates the delivery destination are connected to the connected document delivery apparatus 2. Authentication result information to be included is sent (step S17). After scanning by the MFP, the document distribution apparatus 2 acquires an authentication result including a time zone information to be distributed, an electronic document, and information on a distribution destination. First, the authentication result is passed to the authentication information management unit 3, and it is confirmed whether the authentication is actually performed by the authentication information management unit 3 with which the document distribution apparatus 2 is linked (step S18). If successful, the information of the user who performed the authentication and the set delivery time zone information are acquired (step S19). The distribution method is checked from the distribution destination, and the electronic data is distributed in the designated time zone by the distribution method set for the distribution destination (for example, printing, FAX, etc.) (step S20).

  According to the embodiment, in document distribution, it is possible to specify a distributor, and it is possible to improve security by distributing only for a specified time zone.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the document distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The input device 1, the document distribution device 2, and the authentication device 6 are configured. The authentication device 6 includes an authentication information management unit 3 and an authentication unit 4. The input device 1 digitizes a paper document, performs user authentication, and distributes the digitized document to the document distribution device 2. The document distribution apparatus 2 receives user information (registration destination setting information of a document management system for each user), confirms authentication information, and distributes digitized data to a specified distribution destination. The authentication information management unit responds to an information acquisition request such as an authentication request or a distribution time zone from the input device 1 or the document distribution device 2, and manages authentication information for setting the distribution time zone. In the following, details of the processing will be described using the input device 1 as an MFP (Multi Function Printer), the document distribution device 2 as server software that operates on a PC, and the authentication unit 4 as server software that also operates on a PC.

As preconditions for the operation, an MFP corresponding to the document distribution system exists on the network, the document distribution apparatus 1 is installed on the PC, and the authentication unit 4 is also installed on the PC. As a pre-preparation, an authentication unit 4 with which the authentication information management unit 3 cooperates is set (the authentication unit 4 is a mechanism that actually performs authentication. For example, NT authentication, Notes authentication, LDAP authentication, etc.). The authentication information management unit 3 recalls the authentication result. The authentication result to be returned is to authenticate with which user the authentication is performed, the authentication information for the user, the distribution validity period, and the like.
The authentication information management unit 3 referred to by the document distribution apparatus 2 is set from the management tool of the document distribution apparatus 2. By setting the authentication information management unit 3, it is determined what authentication mechanism is used. A delivery destination is set from the management tool of the document delivery apparatus 2. Set the distribution validity period for the distribution destination. Next, an MFP with which the document distribution apparatus 2 cooperates is set. This setting content is held in the document distribution apparatus 2 and in the MFP. In other words, the document distribution device 2 holds which device is linked with, and the MFP holds which document distribution device 2 is linked.

  Next, the actual delivery operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The user places a paper document on the MFP and selects a scanner function (step S21). When the scanner function is selected on the MFP, the MFP inquires where the authentication information management unit 3 referred to by the document distribution apparatus 2 is located in the associated document distribution apparatus 2 (step S22). Next, a screen for performing authentication is displayed on the operation panel of the MFP. Next, the MFP performs user authentication on the acquired authentication information management unit 3 (step S23). In this way, the MFP and the document distribution apparatus 2 can perform authentication using the same authentication information management unit 3. Next, after successful user authentication, an authentication result that can be acquired from the authentication information management unit 3 is acquired (step S24), and the distribution destination acquired from the document distribution apparatus 2 is displayed on the operation panel of the MFP (step S25). Next, after the user selects a delivery destination (step S26), the MFP executes a scan (step S27). After the scan is completed, the MFP includes a document digitized by the scanner and an authentication result including delivery validity period information to be designated, and a delivery destination. Is sent to the document distribution apparatus 2 (step S28). After scanning by the MFP, the document distribution apparatus 2 acquires the authentication result including the time zone information to be distributed, the digitized document, and the distribution destination information. First, the authentication result is passed to the authentication information management unit, and it is confirmed whether the authentication is actually performed by the authentication information management unit 3 with which the document distribution apparatus 2 is linked (step S29). If successful, the information of the user who performed the authentication and the set delivery time zone information are acquired (step S30). The distribution effective period set as the distribution method from the distribution destination is checked (step S31). If it is within the distribution effective period (step S31 / Yes), the electronic data is distributed according to the distribution method set in the distribution destination ( For example, printing or FAX).

  According to the above embodiment, in the document distribution, it is possible to specify the distributor, and the security can be improved by distributing within the distribution expiration date, and the distribution file exceeding the distribution expiration date is automatically deleted. , Memory can be used effectively.

  As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

It is a block diagram of the document delivery system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the real delivery operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the document delivery system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the real delivery operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Input device 2 Document distribution device 3 Authentication information management unit 4 Authentication unit

Claims (9)

An electronic data distribution system in which a data input device, a document distribution device, and an authentication device are connected via a network, and electronic data from the input device is distributed based on an authentication process of the authentication device,
The input device is:
User information input means for allowing a user to input user information for using the input device;
Transmitting means for transmitting the user information input by the user information input means to the authentication device;
Receiving means for receiving, from the authentication device, authentication result information including distribution execution time zone information of the electronic data;
Storage means for storing input electronic data;
An electronic data distribution system comprising: electronic data distribution means for distributing electronic data stored in the storage means only during a distribution execution time period included in the authentication information received by the reception means. The authentication information received by the receiving means further includes a delivery expiration date of the electronic data,
2. The electronic data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic data distribution unit deletes the electronic data stored in the storage unit when the distribution expiration date is exceeded.   2. The electronic data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the input device includes a generating unit that reads a document and generates electronic data. An electronic data distribution program that connects a data input device, a document distribution device, and an authentication device via a network, and distributes electronic data from the input device based on an authentication process of the authentication device,
The input device is:
A user information input process for allowing the user to input user information for using the input device;
Transmission processing for transmitting user information input by the user information input means to the authentication device;
A receiving process for receiving, from the authentication device, authentication result information including distribution execution time zone information of the electronic data;
An accumulation process for accumulating electronic data from the input device;
An electronic data distribution characterized by causing a computer to execute an electronic data distribution process for distributing electronic data accumulated in the accumulation process only during a distribution execution time period included in the authentication information received in the reception process. program. The authentication information received in the reception process further includes a delivery expiration date of the electronic data,
5. The electronic data distribution program according to claim 4, wherein the electronic data distribution process causes a computer to delete the electronic data stored in the storage process when the distribution expiration date is exceeded. .   A recording medium storing the program according to claim 4 or 5. User information input means for allowing a user to input user information for using the input device;
Transmitting means for transmitting user information input by the user information input means to an authentication device;
Receiving means for receiving, from the authentication device, authentication result information including distribution execution time zone information of the electronic data;
Storage means for storing input electronic data;
An input device comprising: electronic data distribution means for distributing electronic data stored in the storage means only during a distribution execution time period included in the authentication information received by the reception means. The authentication information received by the receiving means further includes a delivery expiration date of the electronic data,
8. The input device according to claim 7, wherein the electronic data distribution unit deletes the electronic data stored in the storage unit when the distribution expiration date is exceeded.   The input device according to claim 7, further comprising a generation unit that reads a document and generates electronic data.

Images