JP2007080107A - System, multifunction apparatus, memory card and document management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system having a function to produce, in a memory card, an ID allowing access to and shift of files in a folder between linked multifunction apparatuses. <P>SOLUTION: In a network system having a plurality of multifunction apparatuses, a host terminal device and a document server for storing a document, the multifunction apparatus gets access to a folder in the document server based on an ID in a folder of the document server and a model information ID stored in the memory of the memory card, and produces, in the memory card, an ID for shifting a file to another apparatus of the multifunction apparatuses. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system using a memory card, a multifunction, a memory card, and a document management method.

In recent years, there is a demand for multi-function devices in a multi-function device, and a high degree of integration of a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted on the device is required. Conventionally, an IC card interface has been mounted as an interface. However, a memory card having a smaller mounting space is mounted to reduce the mounting space.
On the other hand, memory cards have recently become cheaper with the development of the mobile environment, and the number of devices equipped with a memory card interface is increasing in multifunction devices.
In a multi-function device having a network function (multi-function device having both copy and printer functions), a device having a document server function for storing data transferred from a host terminal as a file in a storage device (HDD or the like). Is also present.
In a device having the document server function (multifunction device having a document server function: in this specification, it may be referred to as “document server device” or simply “device”), a confidential document may be stored. is there.
Further, the document server device can always be accessed and is generally accessible to everyone.
Under such environmental requirements, in order to protect confidential documents, access may be avoided when returning home (after returning home), and the storage device may be removed when returning home.
JP 2002-236571 A

The document server can also read data in the server by using an interface of an IC card that is conventionally used. In this case, a document can be freely read by mounting an IC card on a multi-function device to read data and selecting data in the document server.
On the other hand, there are many cases where there are documents that are not managed although confidentiality management is required.
In order to read the data, it is necessary to insert a card into a multi-function device in which a document is stored, and document data cannot be moved from another multi-function device connected to the multi-function device.
An object of the present invention is to use a memory card to move and manage a document in a document server device.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a host terminal device connected via a network to a plurality of multi-function devices connected by a connecting cable, and a document server for storing documents. A document folder provided in the document server, ID storage means for causing the memory card to create an ID, recognition ID storage means of the memory card, and the memory card interface. A multi-function device and a memory card, the multi-function device in the document server based on the ID in the folder of the document server and the model information ID stored in the memory of the memory card. Access the folder, and The ID for moving the file to the other device down device and wherein the creating in the memory card.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the memory card is attached to another multi-function device in the system, the multi-function device stores a file in a folder that matches the ID registered in the memory card. The system according to claim 1, wherein
The system according to claim 3 is characterized in that the multi-function device controls a protection condition for prohibiting the file movement.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is a multi-function device used in the system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the multi-function device is provided with a document server for storing documents. Each document folder provided in the document server has an ID storage means for causing the memory card to create an ID, a memory card recognition ID storage means, and a memory card interface.
The invention according to claim 5 is a memory card that can be used in the system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and the memory card is included in a multifunction device that can be used in the system. The memory card stores an ID that is a combination of the ID in the folder of the document server and the model information ID in the nonvolatile memory in the multifunction device.
The invention according to claim 6 uses the memory card according to claim 5 to move and manage documents in the document server in the system using the system described in any one of claims 1 to 3. The document management method is performed as described above.

The multi-function device used in the system of the present invention has a function of creating an ID on the memory card that enables access and movement of files in the folder between the connected multi-function devices. Management of the document server by means of is easier than before.
Also, only the person holding the created memory card can manage the folder with the ID registered in the memory card.
In addition, since the multi-function device of the present invention has a function of moving files in a folder between connected multi-function devices, it is easy to move files between multi-function devices.
In addition, the multi-function device of the present invention has a function of controlling the moving condition of the file in the folder from the host terminal, so that it is effective in terms of security.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an apparatus used in a system of the present invention will be described in detail by embodiments with reference to the drawings.
A system configuration diagram of this system is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 1 denotes a multi-function device. The devices 1a, 1b, and 1c are connected to each other by a connecting cable 4, and the device 1c is connected to a host terminal 3 through a hub 2 and a network cable 5.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the controller in each multi-function device 1. The host terminal device 3 (internal network I / F 204) is connected to the multi-function device 1 (1 a, 1 b, 1 c) via a network cable via the hub 2. ,... This figure shows an example in which the host terminal device 3 to be connected is connected to three multi-function devices 1, but in the present invention, the number of multi-function devices connected 3 is merely an example. In the system of the invention, the number of connections is not limited and may be one or more.
In such a system, as shown in FIG. 3, the document in the document server is stored in, for example, the HDD 201. In such a system, a memory card (SD memory card) that can be carried as a recording medium and is small in weight and size can be used. However, in order to have such versatility, the card ID of the SD memory card is used. In order to prevent unnecessary reading of documents or dangerous documents from being read, identification IDs are registered to prevent unnecessary or unauthorized access. In the present invention, the SD identification ID for access is stored in the ID 302 in the document server. As shown in FIG. 2, the SD memory card is mounted on the memory card I / F 203.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the storage location of such an identification ID in the HDD 201. The document server 300 has a folder 301 for each document, and an identification (ID) 302 is stored for each folder.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the nonvolatile memory 202. The nonvolatile memory 400 stores model information ID 402 for causing the SD memory card 500 to create an ID.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an SD memory card.
The SD memory card 500 stores in the memory unit an ID 501 that enables access to the folder 301 and file transfer between devices when the SD memory card 500 is installed in the multi-function device 1.

Hereinafter, an operation example in the system as shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
An SD memory card ID is created on the SD memory card so that it is possible to access the folder 301 in the document server 300 and move files in the folder to another device (preferably the SD memory card is This operation is automatically executed when it is first attached to either the host terminal device 3 or the multifunction devices 1a to 1c in the system as shown in FIG. For this reason, first, the following description will be given assuming that the SD memory card is attached to the multi-function device 1.
When the installed multifunction device 1 determines that an SD memory card is installed, this indicates that this is preferably displayed on the operation panel of its own device. Accordingly, the folder to be accessed and moved can be selected by the operation panel of the multi-function device 1, and the user can select a folder by pressing the execution button via the operation panel or the input unit. By determining whether or not this pressing is possible, the multi-function device 1a combines (associates) the model information ID 402 and the ID 302 information stored in the nonvolatile memory 400, and stores them in the ID storage area 501 of the SD memory card 500. A process for storing the combined ID is executed.
At this time, the multi-function device 1 a writes an ID equivalent (identical) to the ID storage area 501 in the ID storage area 302 in the document server 300. Note that a folder in the document server is provided for each file, and it is preferable to create an ID on the SD memory card for each folder. Thus, in the multi-function device 1a, an ID is assigned to each folder. Combination (association) processing is executed. Therefore, since the folder is managed by the process of combining the ID for each folder, for example, for an important folder (project), the access method may be changed variously or in stages so as to make the access complicated. For example, it is possible to automatically reject access related to the memory ID by instantaneously flowing ID information related to the memory that has been accessed illegally in the system.

In the multi-function device according to claims 2 and 3, when the SD memory card 500 is inserted into the multi-function device 1, the ID 501 in the SD memory card is compared with the ID 302 in the document server 300. When the IDs match, another multi-function device having the same ID can access the folder 301 in the document server 300, and a file in the folder 301 is referred to by another multi-function device connected. Can be moved and copied.
However, in this case, in the case of moving or copying a file in which file movement of the folder 301 is prohibited by the host terminal or the like, this file movement or the like cannot be executed.
An example will be described below.
Assume that an ID is created in advance in the SD memory card in the multi-function device 1c.
As shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that an equivalent ID is stored in the ID storage area 302 of the folder 301 in the document server 300 of the multifunction devices 1a and 1c (ID storage in the multifunction device 1a is not performed). , Write from the host terminal or the operation panel).
That is, as shown in the flowchart showing the process of storing the ID obtained by combining the folder ID and the model information ID in the nonvolatile memory in the memory card shown in FIG. 6, first, the ID is created from the operation panel to the memory card. A folder in the document server to be selected is selected (step S1). Next, the ID 302 (ID for reading the contents in the folder 301) of the folder 301 selected on the operation panel is acquired (step S2). Next, the model information ID 402 in the nonvolatile memory 400 is acquired (step S3). A new combination ID is created by combining the acquired ID 302 and model ID 402 (step S4). The created combination ID is written into the ID storage area 501 of the memory card 500 (step S5), and the series of processes relating to the combination ID saving process is terminated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow from the file transfer according to the access authority (access authority authentication) after the ID acquisition to the manifestation of the copy function.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the SD memory card 500 in which the ID 501 is registered is attached to the multi-function device 1c, the contents of the folder 301 in the multi-function device 1c and the ID 501 of the SD memory card match. The folder 301 in the multi-function device 1c is released to the multi-function device 1a.
As a result, the multifunction device 1a having the same folder and ID in the document server may execute a process of moving a file from the multifunction device 1c to the folder 301, or may execute at least one process of executing a copy process. It becomes possible. In this case, if the folder 301 of the multi-function device 1c is protected by the host terminal or the like, the file move (copy or print depending on the case) process from the multi-function device 1c to 1a cannot be executed.

The flow from the movement of a file by the access authority (authentication of access authority) after the ID acquisition shown in FIG. 7 to the manifestation of the copy function will be described. First, when the memory card 500 is attached to the multi-function device (step S11), After confirming that the function device has been installed, the function device compares the ID 501 in the memory card 500 with the ID 302 of the folder 301 (step S12). If they match (Yes in step S12), the process proceeds to step S13. If not (No in step S12), the process proceeds to step S15.
If they match (in the case of Yes in step S12), it is determined whether or not access to the folder 301 is possible (step S13), and if access is possible (in the case of Yes in step S13), step The process proceeds to S14, and if access is impossible (No in step S13), the process proceeds to step S16. If they do not match in step S12 (No in step S12), the fact that access is not possible due to ID mismatch is displayed on the display panel (operation panel) operated by the operator (step S15). The presence / absence of an operation on another file is confirmed (step S16).
If access is possible in step S13 (Yes in step S13), a file move process in the folder 301 is executed for the files that can be accessed between the multifunction devices, Also, copy processing is executed (step S14). Next, the presence / absence of the commanded file (that is, the operation command for moving or copying the file input from the operation panel by the operator) is confirmed (step S16). In step S16, if all the operations have been completed (Yes in step S16), the operation ends, and if there is an instruction to move or copy other files, the process returns to step S13. The operations after step S13 are repeated. If the number of times of inaccessibility exceeds a certain number, the information of the memory card 500 can be made to flow over the network for the number of the memory card so that it cannot be used. In addition, ID input is a simple input error, for example, when a half-width input is to be input with a full-width input, or when the next key is input incorrectly, the key input data input with the ID and If the mismatch is an error due to the input mode, it is determined whether there is a match by changing the input mode, and the one with the highest match is selected. It is determined that the user has input. As a result of the determination, the user input mode may be confirmed again. Alternatively, after the user's ID input is displayed and the user confirms whether or not this input is acceptable, the input data and the ID data are collated after the confirmation pressing input, If it is less than a certain threshold, it can be determined that the input error is a simple input error, and the access can be terminated by informing the user.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the system of this invention. It is a controller block diagram in the multifunction apparatus of this invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an HDD (hard disk drive) 201 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a nonvolatile memory 202 shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the structure of the memory card of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process which preserve | saves ID obtained by combining ID of a folder and model information ID in a non-volatile memory in a memory card. It is a flowchart which shows the flow until the movement of the file by the system of this invention, and expression of a copy function.

Explanation of symbols

  1, 1a, 1b, 1c Multi-function device, 2 hub, 3 host terminal device, 4 connecting cable, 5 network cable, 201 hard disk drive, 202 nonvolatile memory, 203 memory card I / F, 204 network I / F, 300 Document server, 301 folder, 302 Document server ID storage area, 400 Non-volatile memory, 402 Model information ID, 403 EEPROM, 500 Memory card, 501 Memory card ID storage area

Claims (6)

In a system having a plurality of multi-function devices connected by a connecting cable, a host terminal device connected via a network, and a document server for storing documents, each document folder provided in the document server An ID storage means for making the memory card create an ID, a recognition ID storage means for the memory card, a multifunction device having the memory card interface, and a memory card,
The multi-function device accesses the folder in the document server based on the ID in the folder of the document server and the model information ID stored in the memory of the memory card. An ID for transferring a file to a device is created in the memory card.   When the memory card is attached to another multi-function device in the system, the multi-function device can make a file in a folder that matches an ID registered in the memory card. The system according to 1.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the multi-function device controls a protection condition for prohibiting the file movement. A multi-function device used in the system according to claim 1,
The multi-function device is provided with a document server for storing documents, an ID storage means for causing a memory card to create an ID in a folder of each document provided in the document server, and a memory card recognition ID storage A multi-function device comprising means and a memory card interface. A memory card usable in the system according to claim 1,
The memory card stores an ID combining a folder ID of a document server in a multifunction device usable in the system and a model information ID in a nonvolatile memory in the multifunction device. Features memory card.   A document that uses the system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 to move and manage documents in the document server in the system using the memory card according to claim 5. Management method.

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