JP4261414B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a password input means for inputting a password for shifting to the maintenance mode, a password determination means for determining the validity of the input password, and a maintenance mode control means for shifting to the maintenance mode when it is determined to be valid. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including

  Conventionally, a maintenance mode has been provided for various types of maintenance of the image forming apparatus. However, for the safety management of the apparatus, only a specific administrator such as a maintenance person who is determined to be valid by checking a password can perform maintenance. Was configured.

  However, since the password for entering the maintenance mode is disclosed only to a specific administrator, it is necessary for the specific administrator to go to the installation location of the device in order to maintain the device in which the problem occurred. There are problems that it is difficult to perform quick maintenance and that management costs such as labor costs for maintenance are increased.

Therefore, it has been proposed that such a maintenance mode is set in a plurality of stages, and a password for simple maintenance other than important maintenance is opened to the user by setting a password according to the stage. .
JP-A-11-284777

  However, the maintenance mode includes a maintenance mode for important maintenance at the factory shipment level, a maintenance mode for less important maintenance for daily adjustments, and setting of management data at the time of device installation. In the maintenance mode for maintenance with high importance, the above-mentioned problem cannot be solved.

  In view of the above-described conventional drawbacks, the present invention can ensure maintenance by avoiding the possibility of misadjustment of the device as much as possible while enabling maintenance with high importance even by a person other than a specific administrator. An image forming apparatus is provided.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the first characteristic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes password input means for inputting a password for shifting to the maintenance mode, as described in claim 1 of the document of the claims. An image forming apparatus comprising password determining means for determining the validity of the input password and maintenance mode control means for shifting to the maintenance mode when it is determined to be valid, wherein the password includes at least date information. A temporary password generated by encrypting predetermined data including the date, and the password determination means includes a date management means, a decryption means for specifying date information from the input password, an issuance area of the temporary password, and the image formation and a time difference absorbing means for absorbing the difference between installation area of the apparatus, to the decrypted date information the date management section It lies in is to determine the effective based on date information that.

By using a temporary password as the password to be entered when shifting to the maintenance mode for maintenance of the image forming apparatus, it becomes possible to manage the validity period of the password, so the specific administrator who disclosed the temporary password is disclosed. While it is possible for a person other than the above to perform the required maintenance on the apparatus, it becomes impossible to shift to the maintenance mode as soon as the effective period elapses, so that the safety of the apparatus thereafter can be reliably ensured. Accordingly, quick maintenance is possible, and management costs such as labor costs for maintenance can be reduced.
In addition, temporary passwords must be issued under strict management by a specific service management department. Many such service management departments are not installed nationwide, but are limited to a wide management area such as the Asia region, North America region, and Europe region. In such a case, if the date information added to the temporary password in the issuing area differs from the date information in the area where the device is installed due to a time difference, there may be inconveniences such as when the password is no longer valid and maintenance cannot be performed. Therefore, such inconvenience can be solved by determining the effectiveness by absorbing the time difference by the time difference absorbing means.

  In the second feature configuration, in addition to the first feature configuration described above, the maintenance mode includes a plurality of maintenance modes according to importance, and the temporary password is It is used in the specific maintenance mode with high importance.

  By adopting the above-described temporary password in the specific maintenance mode with high importance, not only the safety of the apparatus is ensured but also the management of the password becomes easy.

As described in claim 3 , the third characteristic configuration is determined to be valid when the password input means for inputting the password to enter the maintenance mode and the input password matches the password stored in advance. An image forming apparatus comprising a password determination unit and a maintenance mode control unit that shifts to a maintenance mode when it is determined to be valid, wherein the temporary password is generated by encrypting predetermined data including at least date information. On the other hand, the password determination unit determines that the date management unit is valid when the date information by the date management unit coincides with the date management unit, the decoding unit for specifying date information from the input password. absorption the difference between installation area of issuing area as the image forming apparatus of the temporary password determination means and the temporary password In that it includes a time difference absorbing means.

  According to the above-described configuration, in the maintenance mode with high importance, a few specific administrators can always perform maintenance of the device by using a valid password, but temporary passwords are provided to others. Using this, only specific maintenance work can be performed only during a specific period.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even a person other than a specific administrator can perform maintenance with high importance, while ensuring the safety by avoiding the possibility of misadjustment of the apparatus as much as possible. An image forming apparatus can be provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below by taking as an example a multifunction peripheral that can be connected to a network and functions as a printer, a copying machine, and a scanner. As shown in FIG. 1, an MFP 1 according to the present invention includes an exposure mechanism 2 as an image reading unit that reads document image information, a printing mechanism 3 as an image forming unit that forms an image based on print data, and a recording paper transport mechanism. A contact glass 5 for placing a document to be copied (a copy document) and an operation display unit 6 are provided on the upper surface of the main body 4, and an automatic document feeder 7 is disposed on the contact glass 5. A sheet feeding cassette 8 is arranged on one side of the main body.

  The exposure mechanism 2 includes a first slider 2A including an exposure lamp 21 for exposing and scanning a document placed on the contact glass 5, and a first mirror 22 for reflecting reflected light from the document, and a first mirror. A second slider 2B having second and third mirrors 23 and 24 for guiding the light reflected by the lens 22 to the lens 25, and a CCD for converting the optical information obtained by the condenser lens 25 into an electrical signal. A solid-state imaging device 26, a control unit 27 to which image information in the main scanning direction obtained by the solid-state imaging device 26 is input, and a laser unit 28 that converts image data from the control unit 27 into an optical signal. Is done.

  The printing mechanism 3 includes a photosensitive drum 31 that is rotated in the direction of an arrow by a main drive motor. Around the photosensitive drum 31, photosensitive layers on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 are arranged in the rotation direction. A charging device 32 for charging, a developing device 33 for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive layer as a toner visible image, and a discharging discharger for transferring the toner visible image formed on the photosensitive layer to a recording sheet 34, a discharger 35 for separating the recording paper from the photosensitive drum 31, a cleaning device 36 for removing the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 after transfer, and the charge on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 are removed. Each of the static eliminators 37 is disposed, and the photosensitive layer uniformly charged by the charger 32 is irradiated with the laser light output from the laser unit 28, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image.

  The recording paper transport mechanism 4 feeds the recording paper in the paper feed cassette 8 and feeds the recording paper sent by the paper feed roller 41 to the photosensitive drum 31 at a predetermined timing. A conveyance belt 43 is provided for conveying the recording paper on which the toner image formed on the registration roller 42 and the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred and peeled off from the photosensitive drum 31 to the fixing roller 44. The transfer paper subjected to the fixing process by the fixing roller 44 is discharged onto the discharge tray via the discharge mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-function device 1 includes the operation display unit 6, a predetermined program stored in a ROM, a CPU, a RAM, and the like, and a password input means 101 for inputting a password for shifting to the maintenance mode. And a password storage means 102, a decryption means 103, a date management means 106, a time difference absorption means 104, and a collation means 105, and a password judgment means for judging whether the password is valid or invalid based on the inputted password 110 and maintenance mode control means 107 for shifting the multifunction machine 1 to the maintenance mode when the input password is valid.

  The maintenance mode control unit 107 includes a predetermined program stored in the ROM, a RAM, and a CPU, and controls the transition of the MFP 1 to the maintenance mode. The maintenance modes are classified into the first maintenance mode, the second maintenance mode, and the third maintenance mode in order from the most important one. The first maintenance mode is a mode for performing high-level maintenance that requires specific technical capabilities such as the leading edge timing of the paper and the printing position during the image forming operation. For example, a person who does not have specific technical capabilities, for example, Since it is not preferable for an inexperienced serviceman, general user, etc. to perform the maintenance in the first maintenance mode, it is limited.

  The second maintenance mode is a mode in which, for example, when there is a change in the basic information of the sales management center, for example, when there is a change in the telephone number for a service call, the change is set again. Since maintenance that requires technical skills is not performed, maintenance can be performed not only by skilled service personnel but also by inexperienced service personnel and sales staff.

  The third maintenance mode is a mode for setting the basic settings of the multifunction device 1, for example, setting the name, IP address, department code, etc. of the multifunction device 1, and does not perform maintenance that requires a specific technique. Maintenance can be performed not only by the user but also by service personnel and general users.

  Therefore, a unique password is issued under strict management according to each maintenance mode and stored in the password storage means 102. When such a password is input from the password input means 101, it is verified by the verification means 105, and when the passwords match, it can be shifted to a predetermined maintenance mode.

  However, the number of persons who can work in the higher maintenance mode such as the first maintenance mode is limited, and the password is not disclosed to general service personnel who are inexperienced. Even in such a case, there is an inconvenience that the work belonging to the upper maintenance mode has to be performed by a specific person.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned fixed password, a temporary password that can be operated in a higher maintenance mode only for a specific period is issued. It is configured to maintain a strict management system for fixed passwords. This will be described in detail below.

  The password storage means 102 is composed of a RAM and a CPU that writes the input password to the RAM, and is used to temporarily store the password input to the password input means 101 and is specific to each maintenance mode. It is provided for storing password data in advance.

  The date management means 106 includes an RTC (real time clock), a predetermined program stored in a ROM, a RAM, and a CPU, and manages the current date and the current time. The decrypting means 103 comprises a predetermined program, RAM, and CPU stored in the ROM, decrypts the password according to a predetermined algorithm, and specifies predetermined data and date information included therein.

  The time difference absorbing means 104 includes a predetermined program stored in a ROM, a RAM, and a CPU, corrects date information input based on the time difference management table shown in FIG. To correct the date information at the location. More specifically, the predetermined data included in the password includes issuance area information indicating at which service management center the data is issued, and is combined with installation location information that is set in advance when the multifunction device 1 is installed. The correction time is determined based on the time difference management table. Even if there is a time difference between the password issuance area and the location where the MFP 1 is installed due to the correction of the date information according to the determined correction time, the person who performs maintenance is not affected by the time difference. Maintenance is started when a password is issued.

  The collation unit 105 includes a predetermined program stored in a ROM, a RAM, and a CPU. When the corrected date information matches the current date information from the date management unit 106, a maintenance mode control is performed. A command to shift to the maintenance mode is issued to the means 107.

  A series of operations from issuing the temporary password to shifting to the maintenance mode will be described with reference to FIG.

  A service management center provided in various regions of the world, for example, Washington in the North American region, Tokyo in the Asian region, London in the European region, etc. includes a password issuing means 201 in which a password issuing program is installed on a PC. The password issuing unit 201 generates a temporary password according to a predetermined scramble processing algorithm based on predetermined data and date information. Here, as the predetermined algorithm, a known encryption processing method may be employed.

  The maintenance person in charge of the multifunction device 1 is informed of the generated temporary password by means of transmission such as e-mail or telephone, or directly, so that the maintenance of the multifunction device 1 and a predetermined service can be performed. Dispatched.

  The maintenance staff inputs the given temporary password to the password input means 101 provided in the operation display unit 6 of the multifunction machine 1. The temporary password is temporarily stored in the password storage means 102 and then sent to the decryption means 103, where it is decrypted according to a predetermined algorithm, and the predetermined data and date information contained therein are specified.

  The identified date information is corrected by the time difference absorption unit 104, and the corrected date information and the current date information from the date management unit 106 are collated by the collation unit 105. Here, if it is determined that the temporary password is valid as a result of the collation, the maintenance mode control means 107 causes the multifunction device 1 to shift to the maintenance mode.

  The process from the password input to the transition to the maintenance mode will be described in detail according to the flowchart of FIG. When a password is input to the password input means 101 (S1), the password is decrypted by the decryption means 103 provided in the password judgment means 110 (S2), and the predetermined data and date information contained therein are included. Are identified. When the predetermined data includes the issuance area information indicating at which service management center it is issued, and there is a time difference due to the combination with the installation location information set in advance when installing the multifunction device 1 (S3), the time difference of the date information is corrected by the time difference absorbing means 104 (S4), and the corrected date information is checked against the current date information by the checking means 105. If there is no time difference, the time difference of the date information is not corrected and is collated with the current date information by the collating means 105 (S5). If they match, the maintenance mode control means 107 shifts to the maintenance mode (S6). If they do not match, the transition to the maintenance mode is not performed.

  Another embodiment will be described below. In the above-described embodiment, the temporary password is generated from a predetermined algorithm based on the date information. However, the temporary password is generated from the predetermined algorithm based on firmware data such as model data of the multifunction device 1 together with the date information. But you can. In this case, passwords cannot be accepted for models other than those specified by the firmware data. Further, it may be assigned to only the same machine at the time of shipment together with date information and generated based on the set MAC address. In this case, a password other than the same machine specified by the MAC address cannot accept a password.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where date information is included in the temporary password as the predetermined data has been described. However, the mode is shifted to any of the first maintenance mode, the second maintenance mode, and the third maintenance mode together with the date information. It may include mode identification information indicating whether or not to permit. More specifically, the password issuing unit 201 issues a temporary password including the mode identification information together with date information. When the person in charge of maintenance inputs the temporary password to the password input unit 101, the password is decoded by the decoding unit 103. The date information of the decrypted temporary password and the mode identification information are collated by the collating means 105, and the mode control means 107 shifts to each maintenance mode based on the mode identification information.

  Further, the maintenance mode is not limited to the three stages of the first maintenance mode, the second maintenance mode, and the third maintenance mode, and more stages may be provided as necessary. In this case, the temporary password is not used only for the maintenance mode having the highest importance, but can be used for a plurality of maintenance modes. In other words, even a lower maintenance mode can be used for a maintenance mode with high importance.

  In the above-described embodiment, a temporary password and a fixed password are used together as a password when starting the maintenance mode.However, as a password when a maintenance person, a serviceman, and a general user start the maintenance mode, You may comprise so that it may respond | correspond only by a temporary password.

  In the above-described embodiment, the time difference absorbing unit 104 corrects the input date information to date information at the place where the multi-function device 1 is installed, but any service management included in the predetermined data. When there is a time difference between the issue area of the password and the installation location of the MFP 1 based on the issuance area information issued by the center and the installation location information set in advance when installing the MFP 1 The maintenance mode may be activated for one day before and after, so that the maintenance may be performed without being affected by the time difference.

  In the embodiment described above, the validity period of the temporary password is limited to one day. However, the validity period of the temporary password is set for a plurality of days, a monthly unit, or a year unit according to the use. There may be.

  In the embodiment described above, the number of times that the temporary password can be accepted is not particularly shown, but the number of times that the temporary password can be accepted may be limited. More specifically, the temporary data is issued by the password issuing unit 201 including information on the number of times the temporary password can be used in the predetermined data. When the person in charge of maintenance inputs the temporary password to the password input unit 101, the password is decoded by the decoding unit 103. The date information of the decrypted temporary password and the data of the acceptable number of times are collated with the date information by the collating means 105, and then the number of acceptable times is collated by the reception number limiting means provided in the password judging means 110. Made. In the reception count control means, the number of times the password is input is accumulated and stored. If the number of times the password is input exceeds the number of times the temporary password can be received, the temporary password becomes unusable. When the date information matches as a result of the collation and the allowable number of times is less than the number of input times as a result of the collation, it is possible to shift to a predetermined maintenance mode.

Block diagram of the image forming apparatus Block diagram of main parts of service management center and image forming apparatus The figure which shows a time difference management table flowchart

Explanation of symbols

1: MFP 6: Operation display unit 101: Password input unit 102: Password storage unit 103: Decoding unit 104: Time difference absorption unit 105: Verification unit 106: Date management unit 107: Maintenance mode control unit 110: Password judgment unit 200: Service management center 201: Password issuing means

Claims (3)

An image comprising password input means for inputting a password for shifting to the maintenance mode, password determination means for determining the validity of the input password, and maintenance mode control means for shifting to the maintenance mode when it is determined to be valid A forming device,
The password is a temporary password generated by encrypting predetermined data including at least date information, and the password determination means includes a date management means, a decryption means for specifying date information from the input password, and the temporary password. The image forming apparatus includes a time difference absorbing unit that absorbs the time difference between the issuance area of the image forming apparatus and the installation area of the image forming apparatus, and determines that it is valid based on the decoded date information and the date information by the date managing unit . The maintenance mode is made in maintenance mode a plurality of steps in accordance with the importance, the temporary password image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein those used in high importance particular maintenance mode. A password input means for inputting a password to enter the maintenance mode; a password judgment means for judging that the entered password matches a previously stored password; and a transition to the maintenance mode when judged to be valid. An image forming apparatus comprising a maintenance mode control means,
For a temporary password generated by encrypting predetermined data including at least date information, the password determination means includes a date management means, a decryption means for specifying date information from the input password, and a decrypted date A temporary password determining unit that determines that the information is valid when the date information by the date management unit matches, and a time difference absorbing unit that absorbs a time difference between the temporary password issuance area and the image forming apparatus installation area . Image forming apparatus.

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