JP2015058699A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow collective management of confidential document data while improving security of the data.SOLUTION: A confidential document box for preserving confidential document data is assigned to a memory part. There are further provided an input means for inputting a password, and a determination means which determines whether a document data corresponds to confidential document data or to general document data. If the document data is determined to be a confidential document data by the determination means, the document data is preserved in the confidential document box only in a case where a password that is inputted by the input means agrees with a preservation limited password that is preset.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that acquires document data from a scanner unit or an external terminal and prints the acquired document data on a recording sheet is known. In this type of image forming apparatus, various techniques have been proposed so far in order to ensure confidentiality of printed matter.

  For example, Patent Document 1 includes determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined keyword (for example, a word such as “printing prohibition”) is included in document data stored in a box, and the determination means Discloses a technique for setting an access restriction for the box when it is determined that “a keyword is included”. This prevents the user from easily accessing confidential documents. This access restriction is a restriction by a user password or a restriction by an administrator password.

JP 2012-88864 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, access authority to a box in which confidential document data is stored may be set for a user or may be set for an administrator. There is also. For this reason, there is a problem that confidential documents cannot be collectively managed.

  The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to collectively manage confidential documents while improving the security of confidential document data.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention records an acquisition unit that acquires document data, a data storage control unit that stores the document data acquired by the acquisition unit in a storage unit, and the document data stored in the storage unit A printing unit that prints on a sheet and a print control unit that controls the printing unit are provided.

  The storage unit stores a confidential document box for storing document data having a confidential level exceeding a predetermined level as confidential document data, and a document for storing document data having a confidential level equal to or lower than the predetermined level as general document data. A general document box, an input unit for inputting a password, and a determination for determining whether the document data acquired by the acquisition unit corresponds to the confidential document data or the general document data And the data storage control means determines that the password input by the password input means is preset if the document data acquired by the acquisition means is determined to correspond to the confidential document data. It is determined whether or not it matches the storage restriction password that has been set. While preserving the written data to the confidential document box, care was not a match is the document data, and is configured not to store both the secured document box and the general document box.

  According to this configuration, the confidential document data can be collectively managed by providing the dedicated box (confidential document box) for storing the confidential document data. In addition, when storing confidential document data in the confidential document box, password authentication using a storage restriction password is required, so that only a limited user can store confidential document data in the confidential document box. Confidential document data can be managed centrally by the user. In addition, since confidential document data cannot be easily stored as compared with the prior art, the confidential document data is not easily leaked, and as a result, the security of the confidential document data can be improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to collectively manage the confidential document data while improving the security.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a multifunction machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the first half of the print control in the controller. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the printing control in the controller.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.
<Embodiment>

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital copying machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a copying machine) 10 as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. The copier 10 has a document box function. The document box function refers to a function for saving the read document data in the box, or reading the document data from the box and printing it. In this embodiment, the copying machine 10 has two types of boxes, a confidential document box 13a and a general document box 13b. The storage control of document data in each box 13a, 13b will be described later.

  The copying machine 10 includes an operation display unit 11, an image reading unit 12, a data storage unit 13, an image processing unit 14, a paper feed cassette unit 15, an image forming unit 16, a password storage unit 17, and a controller 18.

  The operation display unit 11 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 11a. The operation display unit 11 displays operation buttons that can be selected and operated on the touch panel 11a. The operation display unit 11 outputs operation information of operation buttons displayed on the touch panel 11 a to the controller 18. The operation display unit 11 displays various screens on the touch panel 11a in response to a command from the controller 18. This screen includes, for example, a password input screen and a function setting screen.

  On the password input screen, the user can input the password by operating the numeric keypad. On the function setting screen, the user can operate the touch panel 11a to enable / disable each of the three functions of the security watermark function, the OCR (Optical Character Reader) function, and the stamp function. .

  The security watermark function is a function for embedding a visible or invisible watermark in document data. This watermark means that the document data is confidential document data. The OCR function is a function for optically reading characters in document data. The stamp function is a function for printing a specific character (for example, “Confidential” or “confidential”) indicating that the paper is a confidential document on the recording paper.

  In response to a command from the controller 18, the image reading unit 12 reads an image of a document sheet placed on the platen glass with a line sensor and converts it into document data. The image reading unit 12 outputs the converted document data to the data storage unit 13.

  The data storage unit 13 is configured by, for example, a semiconductor memory or a hard disk. The data storage unit 13 is configured by a ROM or a RAM. A box that is a theoretical storage area is registered in the data storage unit 13. In the present embodiment, as described above, two boxes of the confidential document box 13a and the general document box 13b are provided as the boxes. An access restriction password is set in the confidential document box 13a. This access restriction password is a password for accessing and printing the document data in the confidential document box 13a. The confidential document box 13a stores confidential document data in which the security level of the document data exceeds a predetermined level. On the other hand, general document data whose document data security level is the predetermined level or less is stored in the general document box 13b. In response to an instruction from the controller 18, the data storage unit 13 stores the document data in each of the boxes 13 a and 13 b, reads the stored document data, and outputs it to the image processing unit 14.

  In response to an instruction from the controller 18, the image processing unit 14 performs various types of image processing on the document data input from the data storage unit 13 and adjusts the size of the document data (enlargement, reduction, or equal magnification). To do. The image processing unit 14 outputs the document data after the size adjustment to the image forming unit 16.

  The paper feed cassette unit 15 includes first to third cassettes 15a to 15c. In each of the cassettes 15a to 15c, a standard size sheet is accommodated so as to be replenished.

  The image forming unit 16 includes a transport mechanism for transporting the recording paper along a predetermined transport path, and a print engine (photosensitive drum, charger, developing device, fixing roller, and the like) provided in the transport path. Have. In response to a command from the controller 18, the image forming unit 16 supplies paper from the paper feed cassette unit 15 to the transport path by a paper feed roller. Then, the image forming unit 16 transfers the image based on the document data input from the image processing unit 14 onto a sheet by the print engine and fixes it, and then discharges the sheet to a discharge tray by a discharge roller.

  The password storage unit 17 stores the access restriction password and the storage restriction password. This storage restriction password is a password that restricts the storage of document data in the confidential document box 13b, and is different from the access restriction password.

  The controller 18 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. The controller 18 executes print control of document data by executing a control program stored in the ROM.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the first half of document data printing control in the controller 18 will be described.

  In the first step S1, document data read by the image reading unit 12 is acquired.

  In step S2, based on the operation information from the operation display unit 11, it is determined whether or not the security / watermark function is currently enabled. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S7 assuming that the document data acquired in step S1 (document data that the user is going to print) is confidential document data, whereas if NO, Proceed to step S3.

  In step S3, using the OCR function, it is determined whether or not the document data acquired in step S1 includes specific characters such as “Confidential” and “Confidential”. If this determination is YES, the document data is assumed to be confidential document data, and the process proceeds to step S7. If NO, the process proceeds to step S4.

  In step S4, based on the operation information from the operation display unit 11, it is determined whether or not the stamp function is currently enabled. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S7 assuming that the document data acquired in step S1 (document data that the user is going to print) is confidential document data, whereas if NO, The process proceeds to step S5 assuming that the document data is general document data.

  In step S5, a message dialog “Do you want to save the document data in the general document box?” Is displayed on the touch panel 11a. If the user's answer to this dialog is YES, the process proceeds to step S6, while if NO, the print control is terminated.

  In step S6, the document data is stored in the general document box 13b, and then the process proceeds to step S12 (see FIG. 3).

  In step S7, which proceeds when any of the determinations in steps S2 to S4 is YES, a message dialog “Do you want to save the document data in the confidential document box?” Is displayed on the touch panel 11a. If the user's answer to this dialog is NO, the print control is terminated. If YES, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S8, a password input screen is displayed on the touch panel 11a.

  In step S <b> 9, it is determined whether or not the password input via the password input screen matches the storage restriction password stored in the password storage unit 17. If this determination is NO, the process returns. If YES, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S10, a file name indicating that the document data is confidential document data is assigned to the document data. Specifically, a character such as “Confidential” is added to the head of a file name including a date or the like previously assigned to the document data.

  In step S11, the document data is stored in the confidential document box 13a, and then the process proceeds to step S12 (see FIG. 3).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the latter half of the document data printing control in the controller 18 will be described.

  In step S12, the file names of all document data stored in the boxes 13a and 13b are displayed on the touch panel 11a so as to be selectable.

  In step S13, it is determined whether the storage location of the document data selected by the user among the document data displayed on the touch panel 11a is the confidential document box 13a. If this determination is NO, the process proceeds to step S18, and if YES, the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S14, a password input screen is displayed on the touch panel 11a.

  In step S <b> 15, it is determined whether or not the password input via the password input screen matches the access restriction password stored in the password storage unit 17. If this determination is NO, the present printing control is terminated, whereas if it is YES, the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, the document data selected by the user is called from the confidential document box 13a.

  In step S17, the image forming unit 16 is instructed to print the document data called in step S16, and then the print control is terminated.

  In step S18 that proceeds when the determination in step S13 is NO, the document data selected by the user is called from the general document box 13b, and then the process proceeds to step S17.

  As described above, in the above embodiment, when the controller 18 determines that the document data acquired in step S1 corresponds to the confidential document data (YES in any one of steps S2 to S4), the password is determined. It is determined whether or not the password input from the input screen matches the storage restriction password stored in the password storage unit 17, and when it is determined that they match (YES in step S9), the document data is stored in the confidential document box 13a. (Step S11), if it is determined that they do not match (NO in step S9), the print control process is terminated and the document data is stored in both the confidential document box 13a and the general document box 13b. It is configured not to.

  According to this configuration, the confidential document data can be collectively managed by providing the dedicated box (the confidential document box 13a) for storing the confidential document data. Further, when the confidential document data is stored in the confidential document box 13a, the password authentication using the storage restriction password is requested so that only a limited user can store the confidential document data in the confidential document box 13a. Thereby, the confidential document data can be managed by the user in a unified manner. In addition, since confidential document data cannot be easily stored as compared with the prior art, the confidential document data is not easily leaked, and as a result, the security of the confidential document data can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the confidential document box 13a is set with an access restriction password for restricting access to the document data stored in the box 13a. Then, after storing the document data in the confidential document data 13a, the controller 18 displays the password input screen on the touch panel 1a again (step S14), and prompts the user to input the password. Then, the controller 18 determines whether or not the password input via the password input screen matches the access-restricted password, and if it determines that they match (YES in step S15), the image If the document data in the confidential document box is printed by the forming unit 16 and it is determined that they do not match (NO in step S15), the print control process is terminated, and the document data is printed by the image forming unit 16. It is configured not to execute printing.

  According to this configuration, in order to access the confidential document data stored in the confidential document box 13a, password authentication using an access restriction password is required, thereby further improving the security of the confidential document data. it can.

  In the embodiment, when the document data is stored in the confidential document box 13a, the controller 18 gives a file name indicating that the document data is confidential document data to the document data. (Step S10).

  According to this configuration, the user can easily distinguish between confidential document data and general document data from the file name of the document data displayed on the touch panel 11a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from inadvertently printing and distributing confidential document data. Therefore, leakage of confidential document data can be prevented more reliably.

  In the above embodiment, the controller 18 determines whether or not the document data is confidential document data based not only on the detection of specific characters by the OCR function but also on the validity / invalidity of the stamp function and the security watermark function. It is configured to determine. Therefore, the determination accuracy can be increased as compared with the determination method using only the OCR function.

  In the embodiment, the storage restriction password and the access restriction password are different. This makes it possible to impose double password restrictions when printing confidential document data. Therefore, the security of confidential document data can be enhanced as much as possible.

  << Other embodiments >>

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the storage restriction password and the access restriction password are different has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and both passwords may be the same.

  In the above-described embodiment, the copying machine 10 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to this. It may be a device.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for an image forming apparatus, and particularly useful for an image forming apparatus having a box function.

10 Copying machine (image forming device)
11a Touch panel (password input means)
12 Image reading unit (acquisition means)
13 Data storage unit (storage unit)
16 Image forming unit (printing means)
18 Controller (data storage control means, print control means, determination means)

Claims (6)

An acquisition unit that acquires document data; a data storage control unit that stores the document data acquired by the acquisition unit in a storage unit; a printing unit that prints the document data stored in the storage unit on a recording sheet; An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that controls the printing unit;
The storage unit is assigned a confidential document box for storing confidential document data having a confidential level exceeding a predetermined level and a general document box for storing general document data having a confidential level equal to or lower than the predetermined level. ,
An input means for entering a password;
Determining means for determining whether the document data acquired by the acquiring means corresponds to the confidential document data or the general document data;
The data storage control means, when the determination means determines that the document data acquired by the acquisition means corresponds to the confidential document data, the password input by the password input means is stored in advance When it is determined whether or not the password matches, the document data is stored in the confidential document box. On the other hand, if the password is determined not to match, the document data is stored in the confidential document box. And an image forming apparatus configured not to be stored in both the general document box. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
In the confidential document box, an access restriction password for restricting access to document data stored in the box is set.
The print control unit determines whether or not the password input by the password input unit matches the access restriction password. If the password is determined to match, the document data in the confidential document box by the printing unit is determined. The image forming apparatus is configured to execute printing of the document data, but if it is determined that they do not match, the printing unit does not print the document data in the confidential document box. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The data storage control unit is configured to give a file name indicating that the document data is confidential document data to the document data when the document data is stored in the confidential document box. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A security watermark function that embeds a visible or invisible watermark in the document data and a specific character indicating that the recording paper is a confidential document when printing on the recording paper by the printing means. With a stamp function to print,
The determination unit is configured to determine that the document data is confidential document data when the watermark function is enabled or when the stamp function is enabled. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
An OCR function for optically reading characters in the document data;
The determination means determines that the document data is confidential document data when the character in the document data read by the OCR function includes a specific character indicating that the data is confidential document data. An image forming apparatus configured as described above. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
An image forming apparatus in which the storage restriction password and the access restriction password are different.

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