JP2008117183A - Authentication device, image forming system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an authentication device capable of facilitating registration or management of authentication information. <P>SOLUTION: A service management server 20 (authentication device) accepts a telephone number of a portable telephone of a user as authentication information in association with the guest room number of accommodations from a user, and registers the guest room number and the telephone number as authentication information. The sever management server 20 accepts the registration of a data file from the user when the guest room number and the telephone number are registered, and instructs a printer 40 to print the registered data file. The data file to be printed is specified based on the telephone number unique to the user, so that it is possible to prevent the data file registered by another user from being printed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an authentication apparatus, an image forming system, and a program thereof.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a document distribution apparatus that registers a document to be printed in correspondence with a mail address of a mobile phone and transmits the document to be printed to a designated output destination in accordance with a print instruction from the mobile phone. It is disclosed.
Further, in Patent Document 2, a printer receives content information and authentication information from a mobile phone, reads the contents of content specified by the content information as print data via the Internet, and gives the received authentication information. When a print command including authentication information is input from a mobile phone that is stored and connected via a connector, print processing is performed on print data to which authentication information matching the authentication information included in the print command is given. A printing system is disclosed.
Patent Document 3 discloses an interface protocol control unit that is connected to a mobile phone system and controls a data transmission / reception protocol used in the mobile system, and the mobile phone system via the interface protocol control unit. A printer apparatus is disclosed that includes a network processing control unit that analyzes transmitted and received data, and a processing instruction unit that issues a print instruction when the analysis result of the network processing control unit is a processing instruction from a mobile phone system. .
Patent Document 4 discloses a system in which an encrypted file received from a file server is decrypted and converted into a printable format, and printing is performed when a print instruction is received from a mobile phone by short-range wireless communication. .
JP 2004-46843 A JP 2002-259099 A JP 2001-290615 A JP 2002-366314 A JP 2004-334323 A

  The present invention has been made from the above-described background, and an object thereof is to provide an authentication device that facilitates registration or management of authentication information.

[Authentication device]
In order to achieve the above object, an authentication apparatus according to the present invention accepts input of second identification information unique to each user in association with first identification information that can be used simultaneously by a plurality of users. Means, registration information registration means for registering the first identification information and the second identification information received by the input reception means in association with each other, and the registration of the identification information when an authentication request is made from the user Determining means for determining success or failure of authentication based on whether or not the second identification information of the user is registered in association with the first identification information.

  Preferably, the user photographs the subject including the first identification information, transmits the photographed image data at the user terminal, and the input reception unit includes the first data included in the image data received from the user terminal. The unique information of the user terminal is received as the second identification information in association with the identification information of one.

  Preferably, the determination unit determines success or failure of authentication for a user who provides a service to be charged, and the first identification information is used for a settlement process for the service.

  Preferably, the first identification information is identification information assigned to a space used by a user, and the determination unit determines success or failure of authentication for a service available to a user using the space. To do.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes file management means for managing a data file to be printed in association with the first identification information or the second identification information, and the determination means includes the second identification information of the user. Is registered by the identification information registration means in association with the first identification information, the data managed by the file management means in association with the first identification information or the second identification information. Allow file printing.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes charging information generation means for generating charging information according to the printing process permitted by the determination means and associating it with the first identification information.

[Image forming system]
The image forming system according to the present invention includes: an input receiving unit that receives input of second identification information unique to each user in association with first identification information that can be used simultaneously by a plurality of users; An identification information registration means for registering the first identification information and the second identification information received by the reception means in association with each other; and when a print request is made from the user, the identification information registration means A determination unit that determines success or failure of authentication based on whether or not the second identification information is registered in association with the first identification information, and an image that forms an image according to a determination result by the determination unit A forming apparatus.

[program]
In addition, the program according to the present invention includes a step of accepting input of second identification information unique to each user in association with first identification information that can be simultaneously used by a plurality of users; The step of registering the identification information and the second identification information in association with each other, and whether or not the user's second identification information is registered in association with the first identification information when an authentication request is made from the user And causing the computer to execute a step of determining success or failure of authentication.

The invention according to claim 1 facilitates management of authentication information.
The invention according to claim 2 facilitates registration of authentication information.
The invention according to claim 3 facilitates the management of the settlement information accompanying the provision of the service.
The invention according to claim 4 makes it easy to provide a service to a user such as an inn first facility.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, only a user who has succeeded in authentication can provide a print service for a data file registered by the user.
The invention according to claim 6 facilitates the billing process of the printing service.
The invention according to claim 7 facilitates management of authentication information used in print service authentication processing.
The invention according to claim 8 facilitates management of authentication information.

[System configuration]
First, the overall configuration of the image forming system 1 will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming system 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes a mobile phone 12, a computer terminal 14, a service management server 20, a charging server 30, and a printer 40.
The mobile phone 12 is a mobile terminal used by a user who receives a service (print service in this example), and has, for example, a photographing function.
The computer terminal 14 is a computer used by a user who receives a service, and is, for example, a mobile computer.

The service management server 20 is a server device managed by a service provider. In this example, the service management server 20 has a user authentication function and a data file management function.
The billing server 30 is a server device managed by a service provider, and has a billing management function for the service in this example.
The printer 40 is an image forming apparatus of a provider that provides a service (print service). In this example, the printer 40 prints a data file received from the service management server 20. In this example, a configuration in which two printers 40A and 40B are provided will be described as a specific example, but the number of printers 40 is not limited to this.

In this example, the service management server 20, the billing server 30, and the printer 40 are installed in advance in the accommodation facility and connected via a LAN. A user who uses the accommodation facility can bring his / her computer terminal 14 into the accommodation facility and connect to the LAN of the accommodation facility. In this example, the computer terminal 14, the service management server 20, the billing server 30, and the printer 40 are connected by a LAN, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is connected via another communication line such as the Internet. May be.
In addition, the mobile phone 12 of this example can access the service management server 20 via a telephone line, a short-distance communication line, or a communication line such as the Internet.

[Print Service Program]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the print service program 5 executed by the service management server 20 (FIG. 1).
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the print service program 5 includes an input receiving unit 500, an identification information registration unit 505, an identification information database (identification information DB) 510, an authentication module 50 including an authentication unit 515, and a file management unit 550. And a service providing module 55 including a file database (file DB) 555, a print instruction unit 560, and a charging information generation unit 565.
The print service program 5 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, for example, and is installed in the service management server 20 via this recording medium.
Although the identification information DB 510 and the file DB 555 have been described as part of the program, they are actually functional modules realized by the storage area of the service management server 20 and software for managing the storage area.

In the print service program 5, the input receiving unit 500 receives the input of the second identification information unique to each user in association with the first identification information that can be used simultaneously by a plurality of users, and the first received The identification information and the second identification information are output to the identification information registration unit 505 in a state of being associated with each other. The first identification information is, for example, identification information (such as a guest room number) of a space to which each user is assigned, or identification information for managing the use authority or usage fee of a service (card distributed to users) Key number). Further, the second identification information is, for example, a telephone number of a telephone used by each user or identification information (MAC address or the like) of a computer owned by each user.
The input receiving unit 500 of this example receives the image data of the two-dimensional barcode corresponding to the guest room number as the first identification information, and receives the telephone number of the user's mobile phone 12 (FIG. 1) as the second identification information. .

The identification information registration unit 505 registers the first identification information and the second identification information input from the input reception unit 500 in the identification information DB 510 in association with each other.
When the guest room number (first identification information) and the telephone number (second identification information) are input from the input receiving unit 500, the identification information registration unit 505 of this example uniquely identifies a combination of these. And a billing ID for managing the billing information is generated, and the generated user ID, billing ID, guest room number, and telephone number are generated in the identification information table 512 of the identification information DB 510 as illustrated in FIG. The mobile phone 12 (FIG. 1) is notified of the generated user ID, and the generated charging ID is notified to the charging server 30 (FIG. 1).

  The identification information DB 510 stores information (user ID, billing ID, room number and telephone number) registered by the identification information registration unit 505 as an identification information table 512, and provides these information upon request.

When an authentication request is made by the user, the authentication unit 515 is based on whether or not the second identification information (telephone number) of the user is registered in association with the first identification information (room number). , Perform authentication and notify the authentication result.
For example, the authentication unit 515 notifies the authentication success when the user's telephone number is registered in association with the guest room number, and authenticates when the user's telephone number is not registered in association with the guest room number. Notify failure.
When accepting registration of the data file, the authentication unit 515 of this example acquires a user ID from the user via the file management unit 550, and based on whether or not the acquired user ID is registered in the identification information DB 510. Authentication. If the user ID is registered, the user's telephone number and the guest room number are registered. Therefore, the authentication is successful. If the user ID is not registered, the user's telephone number and the guest room number are registered. Will not be registered, so authentication will fail.
In addition, when the authentication unit 515 of this example receives a print request for a data file, the authentication unit 515 acquires a telephone number from the user via the file management unit 550, and the acquired telephone number is stored in at least one of the guest room number and the user ID. Authentication is performed based on whether or not the corresponding information is registered in the identification information DB 510.

The file management unit 550 manages the data file received from the user in association with the guest room number (first identification information) or the telephone number (second identification information), and when the user requests printing of the data file In response to the authentication result by the authentication unit 515, the data file is output to the print instruction unit 560 to be printed.
When the registration of the data file is requested from the user's computer terminal 14, the file management unit 550 of this example issues an authentication request to the authentication unit 515, and the data file is stored in the user ID according to the authentication result of the authentication unit 515. Are registered in the file DB 555 in association with each other. At that time, the user can designate printing conditions such as the number of printed sheets and the paper size, and the file management unit 550 registers the printing conditions designated by the user in the file DB 555 in association with the user ID.
In addition, when the file management unit 550 of this example is requested to print a data file from the user's mobile phone 12, the file management unit 550 issues an authentication request to the authentication unit 515 and registers it in the file DB 555 according to the authentication result of the authentication unit 515. The data file and the print condition corresponding to the user's telephone number (that is, the user ID) are read from the read data file and the print condition, and the read data file and the print condition are output to the print instruction unit 565. .

  As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the file DB 555 stores the data file and the printing conditions registered from the file management unit 550 in association with the user ID, and the data file and the printing conditions are stored in the file according to the request. Output to the management unit 550.

The print instruction unit 560 transmits the data file and the print conditions input from the file management unit 550 to the printer 40 (FIG. 1), and instructs to print the data file.
The print instruction unit 560 of this example acquires a printer ID for identifying the printer 40 from the user via the file management unit 550, and the printer 40 (printer 40A or printer 40B) corresponding to the acquired printer ID. The data file input from the file management unit 550 and the printing conditions are transmitted.

The billing information generation unit 565 generates billing information in accordance with the printing process performed in response to the instruction from the print instruction unit 560, and associates the generated billing information with the guest room number (first identification information) to the billing server 30. Send to.
The billing information generation unit 565 of this example generates billing information according to the printing process performed by the printer 40 (FIG. 1), and associates the generated billing information (usage details, etc.) with the billing ID and the guest room number. To the accounting server 30 (FIG. 1). The billing server 30 creates a billing table 300 illustrated in FIG. 3C based on the billing information, billing ID, and guest room number received from the billing information generation unit 565, and calculates the service usage fee for each user. .

[Overall operation]
First, the operation of the entire system until the user registers a data file will be described.
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of the file registration process (S10).
As shown in FIG. 4, in step 100 (S 100), the user photographs the guest room guide brochure 80 placed in the guest room with the camera-equipped mobile phone 12. In the guest room guide brochure 80, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, a two-dimensional bar code 800 indicating the guest room number of this guest room is displayed.
In step 104 (S104), the user transmits the image data of the two-dimensional barcode 800 photographed by the mobile phone 12 to the service management server 20.

In step 108 (S108), the service management server 20 (input reception unit 500) specifies the guest room number from the image data received from the mobile phone 12, and specifies the specified guest room number and the telephone number of the mobile phone 12. Associate with each other.
And the service management server 20 (identification information registration part 505) produces | generates user ID and charging ID with respect to the guest room number and telephone number which were input from the user, and generated user ID, charging ID, and a user's guest room. The number and the telephone number are registered in the identification information DB 510.

In step 112 (S112), the service management server 20 (identification information registration unit 505) transmits user information such as a user ID, a guest room number, and a telephone number to the charging server 30 in association with the generated charging ID.
In step 116 (S116), when the charging server 30 receives user information (charging ID, user ID, room number, telephone number, etc.) from the service management server 20, it sets a fee structure for this user.
In step 120 (S120), the billing server 30 transmits the set fee structure information to the service management server 30 (identification information registration unit 505 and billing information generation unit 565) in association with the user ID.

In step 124 (S124), the service management server 20 (identification information registration unit 505) generates data of the user ID notification screen 90 indicating the generated user ID and the like, and generates the data of the generated user ID notification screen 80. Send to mobile phone 12.
In step 128 (S128), the mobile phone 12 displays the user ID notification screen 90 based on the data received from the service management server 20. On the user ID notification screen 90, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, a URL 900 of a website providing a print service and a user ID 902 assigned to the user are displayed.

In step 132 (S132), in order to use the print service, the user inputs the URL 900 (FIG. 6B) displayed on the mobile phone 12 into the web browser of the computer terminal 14 and the print service website. To access.
The service management server 20 displays a user ID input screen 92 illustrated in FIG. 7A on the web browser of the computer terminal 14 in response to the user's access from the computer terminal 14. The user ID input screen 92 is provided with an ID input field 920 for inputting a user ID and a transmission button 922 for transmitting the input user ID to the service management server 20.
In step 136 (S136), the user operates the computer terminal 14 to input the user ID displayed on the mobile phone 12 into the ID input field 920 of the user ID input screen 92 and transmit it to the service management server 20. To do.

  In step 140 (S140), the service management server 20 (authentication unit 515) determines whether or not the user ID received from the computer terminal 14 of the user is registered (that is, whether or not it is stored in the identification information DB 510). If it is confirmed and registered, it is determined that the authentication is successful, and the process proceeds to S144. If the user ID is not registered, it is determined that the authentication is failed and an error display is displayed on the computer terminal 14. Display.

In step 144 (S144), the service management server 20 generates data of the service guide screen 94 illustrated in FIG. 7B based on the fee structure information received from the billing server 30, and generates the generated data. The information is transmitted to the computer terminal 14 and a service guide screen 94 is displayed. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the service guide screen 94 includes an agreement button 940 for agreeing to the service provision, and a cancel button 942 for rejecting the service provision, in addition to the charge system for the print service. And are provided.
In step 148 (S148), the user browses the service guide screen 94 displayed on the computer terminal 14, determines whether or not to use the print service, and selects the consent button 940 or the cancel button 942.
When the consent button 940 is selected, the service management server 20 detects this and moves to the processing of S152.

In step 152 (S152), the service management server 20 transmits the data on the service provision screen 96 illustrated in FIG. 8 to the computer terminal 14 to display the service provision screen 96 on the computer terminal 14.
As shown in FIG. 8, the service providing screen 96 includes a data file selection field 960 for selecting a data file to be registered, a paper size, a paper orientation, necessity for double-sided printing, and necessity for N-UP printing. A print condition setting field 962 for specifying a print condition such as, a print registration button 964 for registering the selected data file, and a cancel button 966 for canceling the processing are provided. Here, N-UP printing is a process of printing a plurality of images (images for N pages) on one sheet.

In step 156 (S156), the user operates the computer terminal 14 to select a data file to be registered on the service providing screen 96, and designates printing conditions used for printing the data file.
In step 160 (S160), when the user selects the print registration button 964, the computer terminal 14 transmits the data file and printing conditions to the service management server 20.

  In step 164 (S164), the service management server 20 (file management unit 550) registers the data file and printing conditions received from the user's computer terminal 14 in the file DB 555 in association with the user ID.

Next, the operation of the entire system when printing and charging a registered data file will be described.
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of the file printing process (S20).
As shown in FIG. 5, in step 200 (S200), the user comes to the front of the printer 40 to be used among the plurality of printers 40, and the barcode displayed on the printer 40 is displayed on the camera-equipped mobile phone 12. Take a picture. The printer 40 is provided with, for example, a printer guide display 82 illustrated in FIG. 9A. The printer guide display 82 displays a two-dimensional barcode 820 of a printer ID for identifying the printer. ing.
In step 204 (S204), the user transmits the image data (data including the printer ID) of the two-dimensional barcode 820 taken by the mobile phone 12 to the service management server 20.

In step 208 (S208), the service management server 20 (authentication unit 515) performs authentication processing related to print processing based on the telephone number of the mobile phone 12 used when the user transmits the printer ID. For example, the authentication process is performed based on whether or not the telephone number is registered in association with the guest room number or the user ID.
If the authentication process is successful (that is, if the telephone number is registered), the service management server 20 proceeds to the process of S212, and if the authentication fails, the service management server 20 displays an error display on the mobile phone 12 and performs the process. Exit.

In step 212 (S212), the service management server 20 (file management unit 550) reads out from the file DB 555 the data file and printing conditions corresponding to the user's telephone number (ie, user ID).
In step 216 (S216), the service management server 20 (print instruction unit 560) specifies a printer ID based on the image data of the two-dimensional barcode 820 received from the mobile phone 12, and a printer with the specified printer ID. 40, the data file read from the file DB 555 and the printing conditions are transmitted.

In step 220 (S220), the printer 40 prints the data file received from the service management server 20 in accordance with the printing conditions received from the service management server 20.
In step 224 (S224), when the printing process is completed, the printer 40 transmits to the service management server 20 that the printing is completed.

In step 228 (S228), when the service management server 20 receives from the printer 40 that the printing process is completed, the service management server 20 deletes the data file printed by this printing process from the file DB 555.
In step 232 (S232), the service management server 20 (billing information generation unit 565) determines the fee based on the fee structure (received in S120) received from the billing server 30 and the printing conditions (paper size, etc.). And billing information including usage details and the like are generated.

In step 236 (S236), the service management server 20 (billing information generation unit 565) transmits the generated billing information to the billing server 30 in association with the billing ID and the guest room number corresponding thereto.
In step 240 (S240), the charging server 30 calculates the total service usage of each user based on the charging information, the charging ID, the guest room number, etc. received from the service management server 20, and calculates the calculated total service usage. Notify the front of the accommodation facility in association with the room number.

In step 244 (S244), the service management server 20 transmits to the mobile phone 12 that printing has been completed and payment information.
In step 248 (S248), the mobile phone 12 displays the logoff screen 98 illustrated in FIG. 9B based on the information received from the service management server 20. The logoff screen 98 displays a detail column 980 that lists the unit price, the number of printed sheets, and the total amount of the printing service in addition to a message that the fee is paid at the front desk.

  In the above embodiment, the service management server 20, the billing server 30, and the printer 40 have been described separately. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the function of the service management server 20 is a printer. The function of the service management server 20 and the function of the accounting server 30 may be realized on one server device.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system 1. FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the function structure of the print service program 5 performed by the service management server 20 (FIG. 1). (A) illustrates information managed by the identification information DB 510, (B) illustrates information managed by the file DB 555, and (C) illustrates information managed by the charging server 30. It is. It is a sequence diagram of file registration processing (S10). It is a sequence diagram of file printing processing (S20). (A) illustrates a guest room guide brochure 80, and (B) illustrates a user ID notification screen 90. (A) illustrates a user ID input screen 92, and (B) illustrates a service guidance screen 94. It is a figure which illustrates the service provision screen. (A) illustrates the printer guidance display 82, and (B) illustrates the logoff screen 98.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system 12 ... Mobile phone 14 ... Computer terminal 20 ... Service management server 30 ... Billing server 40 ... Printer 5 ... Print service program 50 ... Authentication module 500 ... Input reception unit 505 ... Identification information registration unit 510 ... Identification information database 515 ... Authentication unit 55 ... Service providing module 550 ... File management unit 555 ... File database 560 ..Printing instruction unit 565 ... Billing information generation unit

Claims (8)

Input receiving means for receiving input of second identification information unique to each user in association with first identification information that can be used simultaneously by a plurality of users;
Identification information registration means for registering the first identification information and the second identification information received by the input reception means in association with each other;
When an authentication request is made by the user, whether or not the authentication is successful is determined based on whether or not the second identification information of the user is registered in association with the first identification information by the identification information registration unit. An authentication device comprising: a determination unit. The user captures the subject including the first identification information, transmits the captured image data at the user terminal,
The authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input receiving unit receives unique information of the user terminal as the second identification information in association with first identification information included in image data received from the user terminal. The determination means determines success or failure of authentication for a user who provides a chargeable service,
The authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first identification information is used for a settlement process for the service. The first identification information is identification information assigned to a space used by a user,
The authentication device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether authentication is successful or not with respect to a service available to a user who uses the space. File management means for managing a data file to be printed in association with the first identification information or the second identification information;
The determination means corresponds to the first identification information or the second identification information when the second identification information of the user is registered by the identification information registration means in association with the first identification information. The authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further permitting printing of the data file managed by the file management means. The authentication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising billing information generation means that generates billing information according to the printing process permitted by the determination means and associates the billing information with the first identification information. Input receiving means for receiving input of second identification information unique to each user in association with first identification information that can be used simultaneously by a plurality of users;
Identification information registration means for registering the first identification information and the second identification information received by the input reception means in association with each other;
When a print request is made by the user, whether or not the authentication is successful is determined based on whether or not the second identification information of the user is registered in association with the first identification information by the identification information registration unit. A determination means;
An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image according to a determination result by the determination unit. Accepting input of second identification information unique to each user in association with first identification information that can be used simultaneously by a plurality of users;
Registering the input first identification information and second identification information in association with each other;
A step of determining whether or not the authentication is successful based on whether or not the second identification information of the user is registered in association with the first identification information when an authentication request is made by the user; Program to make.

Images