KR20060114553A - User identification apparatus for mfp and the method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A device and a method for certifying a user of an MFP(Multi Function Printer) are provided to allow only the certified user to print an image by storing a certificate file to a memory card while storing the image to a specific folder when the user prints the image with the memory card, and reading the certificate file of the memory card inserted when the user prints the image again. The device includes a memory(160), a printing part(140) printing the image read from the memory card(182), and a controller(110). The controller generates a user folder in the memory, generates the certificate file by using user information, and stores the generated certificate file to the memory and the user folder. The controller controls to print the image which is stored in the user folder through the printing part when the user information inputted for a printing request is matched with the information of the certificate file.

Description

User identification apparatus for MFP and its method

1 is a view showing a user authentication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,

And,

2 is a flowchart illustrating a user authentication method.

* Description of symbols on the main parts of the drawings *

100: multifunction device 110: control unit

120: display unit 130: OPE

140: printer unit 150: PC interface unit

180: memory card interface 182: memory card

200: Host Device 210: Printer Driver

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for enabling printing through user authentication.

The image forming apparatus is a device for outputting image data generated by itself or image data received from the outside on printing paper. Examples of typical image forming apparatuses include a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction printer combining the above functions.

As a multi-function device is added to such a multifunction device, an image stored in an external storage medium (hereinafter referred to as a memory card) can be downloaded and printed on the multifunction device or stored in the memory card.

Therefore, in a multifunction apparatus using a photo printing function and a mass storage device (hard disk; hereinafter referred to as HDD), a user may print a photo stored in a memory card (removable disk such as a media card).

In this case, the multifunction apparatus is printed by reading an image from a removable disk, displaying it on a display device, and processing the desired image.

At this time, even if the user wants to print the image again after a predetermined time, the same process as described above is repeated to perform the print job or to store the processed image on the HDD when the first print job is performed and to reprint. It is configured to read an image stored in the HDD and perform a print job.

Since these multifunction devices are typically used by several people in the office, locally or over a network, all users using the same multifunction device can freely view images stored in the HDD of the multifunction device without any restrictions. That is, the contents related to privacy or security of a user are exposed to an unspecified number and have a security vulnerability.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, when the user prints using the memory card to store the certificate file while storing the image in a specific user folder and when the user wants to reprint the inserted memory card It is an object of the present invention to provide a user authentication device and a method for reading a certificate file so that only an authenticated user can print a corresponding image.

A user authentication method of an image forming apparatus using a memory card according to the present invention for achieving the above object, generating a specific user folder in the internal memory of the image forming apparatus, generating a certificate file using the user information And storing the image stored in the memory card in the folder, and printing the image stored in the folder when the user information inputted at the print request matches the information in the certificate file. .

The generated certificate file may be stored in the memory card and the folder, and the image stored in the folder may store an image selected for printing on the memory card.

The user authentication device of the image forming apparatus using the memory card according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the memory, a printer unit for printing the image read from the memory card and a specific user folder in the memory and Creates a certificate file using user information and stores it in the memory and the user folder, and controls to print the image stored in the folder through the printer unit when the user information inputted at the print request matches the information in the certificate file. It comprises a control unit.

The image stored in the folder is preferably such that an image selected for printing from the memory card is stored.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail an embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a view showing a user authentication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The multifunction apparatus 100 is configured to check whether the memory card 182 is attached or detached through the memory card interface 180 and communicate with the host device 200 through the PC interface unit 150.

The control unit 110 controls the multifunction apparatus 100 as a whole according to the set program, and the HDD 170 stores the operation program and the general control program of the control unit 110 and stores data according to the program execution of the control unit 110. do. In particular, the system is controlled to store the image data read from the memory card 182 to the HDD 170 through the memory card interface 180.

In particular, when a user reads and prints from a memory card 182 configured as a removable disk such as a media card, a specific user folder is created and stored in the HDD 170, and at the same time, a certificate file is stored in the memory card 182 and the HDD ( 170), and the user inserts the memory card 182 into the multifunction apparatus 100 again to reprint a file that has been printed once by the intended purpose (typically, the image is output several times). After the authentication step is performed, if the authentication process proceeds normally, the corresponding folder stored in the HDD 170 is displayed on the display unit 120 as a thumbnail screen and controlled to reprint the selected image.

The print unit 140 is configured to print a read image of the memory card 182 or to print data transmitted through the printer driver 210 of the host device 200.

The PC interface unit 150 transmits the data of the host device 200 to the printer unit 140 through the print driver 120 to print data.

The OPE (Operating Panel) 130 has a plurality of input keys and applies key data according to a predetermined key input to the controller 110, and the display unit 120 operates under the control of the controller 110. It is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light emitting diode (LED).

The memory card interface 180 is configured to read an image to be displayed from the memory card 182 under the control of the controller 110, and transfers the image to the printer unit 140 so that the image can be read by the printer unit 140. Configured to print. Then, the image generated in the multifunction peripheral 100 is configured to be stored in the memory card 182.

The HDD 170 is a recording medium that stores various control programs for controlling the operation of the multifunction apparatus 100, data received from the memory card interface 180 or the PC interface unit 150, and data generated by itself, When the data read from the memory card 182 is printed, it is configured to generate a predetermined folder under the control of the control unit 110, store the printed files in the folder, and at the same time store the certificate file.

Hereinafter, a user authentication method of a multifunction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention using the above configuration will be described.

In the user authentication method according to the present invention, while storing and printing a file printed by a user using a memory card on a HDD, storing the certificate file on the memory card and the HDD and reprinting the file once printed. In order to achieve the authentication process and the authentication process is normally made, it is configured to reprint the image of the folder.

A detailed description will be given with reference to a flowchart for explaining a user authentication method of the multifunction device shown in FIG. 2.

When the user wants to print using the memory card 182, when the memory card 182 is inserted into the memory card interface 180 (S310), the controller 110 detects the insertion of the memory card 182 and stores the memory. It is determined whether there is a certificate file in the card 182 (S320).

Step S320 is a step of determining whether the memory card is inserted first or has been used once.

If there is no certificate file in step S320, the image stored in the memory card 182 is displayed and selected to process the selected image (S330). In general, it is preferable to process the image to include enlargement, reduction, contrast adjustment, and the like of the image.

If the processed image is selected to be printed in the step (S332), the controller 110 determines whether the selected image is the first (1st) image (S334).

If it is determined in step S334 that the first image is displayed on the display unit 120 so that the user can select whether to store the selected image on the HDD 170 again (S336), and when storing it on the HDD 170, a new folder is created and Generates a certificate file by inputting information (which may include a password).

The generated certificate file is stored in the folder while printing the image to be printed in the folder (S338).

The controller 110 allows the certificate file generated in step S338 to be stored in the memory card 182 through the memory card interface 180 (S340).

Then, it is determined whether the selected image is the last image (S342). If the user selects the last image, the process is terminated, and if it is not the last image, the user can store the selected image in the corresponding folder from step S330. Run it repeatedly.

If it is not the first image in step S334, it is determined whether to store the selected image in a folder of the HDD 170 (S350). If it is determined that the image is a stored image, the corresponding image is stored (S352). In this case, when a folder to be stored is not set in the HDD 170, it is preferable to create a new folder in the HDD 170 and store the image in the folder.

If not storing in step S350 or the storage is completed in step S352 is connected to step S342 is configured to repeat the above process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S320 that the certificate file exists in the memory card 182, the control unit 110 displays a screen to input the user password through the display unit 120 (S360). It is determined whether the password inputted to the OPE 130 matches the password of the certificate file stored in the memory card 182 and the HDD 170 (S362). If the password is matched, the corresponding folder of the HDD 170 (the folder in which the certificate file is located) If an image to be printed is selected from the displayed image (S364) by displaying the image on the display unit 120 (S364), the image may be reprinted through the printer unit 140 (S368).

Preferably, in step S362 it is preferable to use the sound effect so as to inform the user of the result of the use authentication procedure.

When displaying an image in step S364, it is more preferable to display in the form of a thumbnail. That is, the display unit 120 reads as many as the user can recognize from the HDD 170 and shows it in the form of a thumbnail.

Although the present invention has been described in detail only with respect to the described embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible within the technical scope of the present invention, and such modifications and variations belong to the appended claims.

As described above, according to the user authentication apparatus and method of the multifunction apparatus according to the present invention, only the authenticated user can use the contents stored in the HDD of the image forming apparatus, thereby ensuring the confidentiality and security of the user.

Claims (5)

In the user authentication method of the image forming apparatus using a memory card, Creating a specific user folder in an internal memory of the image forming apparatus; Generating and storing a certificate file using user information; Storing the images stored in the memory card in the folder; And And printing the image stored in the corresponding folder when the user information inputted at the print request matches the information of the certificate file. The method of claim 1, The generated certificate file is stored in the memory card and the folder. The method of claim 1, The image stored in the folder is characterized in that the image selected to print from the memory card is stored. In the user authentication device of the image forming apparatus using a memory card, Memory; A printer unit for printing an image read from the memory card; And Create a specific user folder in the memory, create a certificate file using the user information, store it in the memory and the user folder, and when the user information entered in the print request matches the information in the certificate file, the image stored in the folder And a control unit controlling to print through the printer unit. The method of claim 4, wherein The image stored in the folder is characterized in that the image selected for printing from the memory card is stored.

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