GB2277421A - Copier or facsimile machine with monitoring function - Google Patents

Abstract

On leaving a copier or facsimile machine unattended an authorized user presses an "Absent" button. In his absence should an unauthorised person use the device details of the material copied/transmitted (including the time of use) are recorded on a magnets-optical storage device. On returning the use deactives the "Absent", button by entering a code number which activates printing out of any data relating to unauthorized use from said device. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION COPIER OR FACSIMILE MACHINE WITH MONITORING FUNCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copier or a facsimile machine with a function to monitor usage of the copier or the facsimile machine while its authorized user is absent.

Conventional copiers or facsimile machines do not have monitoring functions. By turning on the power, it is possible for anybody to make copies or send facsimiles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to provide a means for monitoring, by having an authorized user press the "Absent" button before he leaves his desk, the time of unauthorized access and the contents which were copied or facsimiled without authorization.

In the present invention, if an authorized user inputs a secret code after pressing the "Absent" button of the above mentioned copier or facsimile machine before leaving his desk, whenever an unauthorized person uses the copier or facsimile machine, the contents of the item copied or facsimiled and time data are stored on a storage medium such as an magneto-optical storage device.

The present device will output time data and a copy of the document which was copied or facsimiled without authorization when the authorized user returns and deactivates the "Absent" button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating operations of one embodiment during the "Absent" mode.

Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating operations of one embodiment when the "Absent" mode has been deac:17ated.

Reference Numerals 1.

2. ROM 3. RAM 4. Data bus 5. Panel unit 6. "Absent" button 7. Interface 8. Input unit 9. Output unit 10. Input processor/output processor 11. Buffer memory 12. Memory controller 13. Data compressor/decompressor 14. Interface 15. Magneto-optical (MO) storage device 16. Clock 17. Communication controller 18. Modem 19. Netuork controller 20. Telephone line DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. Numeral 1 is a microprocessor (CPU). Numeral 2 is a ROM containing the program which controls the present device.

Numeral 3 is a RAM for temporarily storing image data. Numeral 4 is a data bus. Numeral 5 is a panel unit which contains a liquid crystal display (not shown) for displaying information relating to operations as well as various buttons (not shown). Numeral 6 is an "Absent" button which is on the above panel unit 5.

Numeral 7 is an interface. Numeral 8 is an input unit for reading image data from documents (not shown) . Numeral 9 is an output unit for copying the above image data or image data from the magnetooptical storage device 15, which vill be described later, onto copier paper (not shown). Numeral 10 is an input processing unit/output processing unit which performs such functions as analog-to-digital conversion of the above image data, image enlargement and image reduction.

Numeral 11 is a buffer memory for temporarily storing the above image data. Numeral 12 is a memory controller for controlling the above buffer memory. Numeral 13 is a data compressor/decompressor which compresses image data when it is written to the magneto-optical storage device and decompresses image data when it is read out from the magneto-optical storage device. Numeral 14 is an interface.

Numeral 15 is a magneto-optical storage device which includes a builtin microprocessor (not shown) and stores image data for the document (not shoun) in compressed form. Numeral 16 is a clock. Time data from this clock is stored in the magneto-optical storage device whenever the magneto-optical storage device is used.

Numerals 17 through 19 are related to the operation of the facsimile machine. Numeral 17 is a communication controller which formats transmission data and sends it to modem 18. Numeral 18 is a conventional modem. Numeral 19 is a conventional network controller.

Numeral 20 is a telephone line.

Next, referring to the flowchart of Figure 2, operation of the present invention will be described in detail. When used as a copier, if the "Copy" button (not shown) is pressed after the document has been placed in input unit 8, the above-mentiond input unit 8 reads image data from that document. After this image data is stored in buffer memory 11 via input processing unit/output processing unit 10 and memory controller 12, it is copied onto copier paper (not shoun) via data bus 4, input processing unit/output processing unit 10 and output unit 9.

If the authorized user presses the "Absent" button whenever leaving his desk, the subroutine shown in Figure 2 is invoked by CPU 1. At Step 101, a security code is registered. This is to prevent unauthorized users from deactivatIng the "Absent" mode. In order to deactivate the "Absent" mode, It is necessary to enter the security code. When a security code such as "5432" is input using the buttons (not shown) of panel unit 5 after the "Absent" button is pressed, this security code is registered in a portion of RAM 3.

At Step 102, the present device remains in standby mode until the "Copy" button (not shown) is pressed.

If a document is placed in the device and the aforementioned "Copy" button is pressed, Step 102 becomes affirmative. In Step 103, reading of the document image data by input unit 8 begins. While this image data is being stored temporarily In buffer memory 11 at Step 104, it is compressed by data compressor/decompressor 13 at Step 109 and stored in RAM 3 at Step 110.

When the reading of image data from the document is concluded, Step 105 becomes affirmative. Next, at Step 106, copying of the image data onto copier paper begins. At Step 107, the compressed image data in RAM 3 is transferred to magneto-optical storage device 15 via data bus 4 and interface 14. Since this magneto-optical storage device 15 contains a microprocessor (not shown), it performs all of the processing, including storage of the image data, upon reception of a single command.

The aforementioned magneto-optical storage device 15 is constructed so that if the aforementioned type of security code has been entered, a solenoid prevents the disk (not shown) in magnetooptical storage device 15 from being removed. Also, immediately prior to storing of the aforementioned image data, time data from clock 16 is stored in a prescribed location.

When the copying is concluded, Step 108 becomes affirmative and control returns to Step 102. Then, the aforementioned operations are repeated as necessity requires.

Next, the situation wherein the authorized user has returned and has deactivated the "Absent" mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of Figure 3.

Although the steps required for deactivating the "Absent" mode are not shown on the flowchart, it should suffice to say that the secret code is entered after the the "Absent" button 5 is pressed.

The subroutine shown in Figure 3 lS invoked when this "Absent" mode is deactivated. The aforementioned disk contains an area called a directory which corresponds to an index. Whenever image data is stored, related time data is automatically stored as well. This area also contains a section for file names. File names may be entered using the alphabet keys (not shown) of panel unit 5. However, the present device is programmed so that file names are not entered during the aforementioned "Absent" mode.

At Step 130, searching of the directory begins. Step 131 is negative if a file name has not been found. At Step 134, a "*" for example is entered in the file name area. Then at Step 135, time data for the corresponding file is copied on the edge of a copier paper.

At Step 136, image data is copied onto the copier paper. Then by means of Step 132, the program moves to the next directory. If it is not the last file name, the above copying is repeated.

If the present device is designed to be a monolithic copy and facsimile machine, its structure may be such that the word "copy" or "fax" is used as a file name and the "*" is appended to the file name.

Also, this kind of file name may be copied onto the edge of the copier paper along with the time data.

Next, in a case that someone facsimiles a document without permission from the authorized user, the document is facsimiled over the telephone line unlike the case of copying. In both cases, however, data representing the document is stored in magneto-optical storage device 15, and the operation of copying onto copier paper after deactivation of the "Absent" mode is the same. For this reason, the situation in which a facsimile has been sent will be omitted from the flowcharts.

Although the embodiment of the present invention includes two functions, copier and facsimile machine, it should be noted that it is also possible to have a device with a only single independent function, copier or facsimile machine.

As shown above, in the present device, the authorized user can monitor copying or facsimile activities by pressing the "Absent" button before leaving his desk. Vhen this "Absent" button is pressed, it is necessary to also input a secret code number to prevent an unauthorized user from intentionally deactivating the "Absent" mode.

Furthermore, the structure of the device is such that the disk of the storage device may not be removed while in "Absent" mode. Thus, the present device is extremely effec:re from a security standpoint.

Claims (1)

1. A copier with a monitoring function, operable as a conventional copier, wherein if a monitoring function button attached thereto is pressed before an authorized user leaves vicinity of said copier, eacn time an unauthorized individual operates said copier thereafter, copying is performed and contents copied are stored into a storage medium, and if said monitoring function button is deactivated after the authorized user returns, contents stored during absence or tne authorized user are transferred from said storage medium and copied onto papers.

2. A copier with a monitoring function as set forth in claim 1 nerein If said monitoring function button is not pressed, said copier func.-ons as a conventional copier, and it said monitoring function button is pressed, said copier copies and stores contents which are copied.

3. A facsimile machine with a monitoring function, operable as a conventional facsimile machine, wherein if a monitoring function button actached thereto is pressed before an authorized user leaves vicinity of sa d facsimile machine, each time an unauthorizei individual operates said facsimile machine thereafter, contents facsimiled are stored into a storage medium, and if said monitoring function button is deactivated after the authorized returns, contents stored during absence of the authorized user are transferred from said storage medium and copied onto papers.

4. A. facsimile machine with a monitoring function as set forth in claim 3, wherein if said monitoring function button is not pressed, said facsimile machine functions as a conventional facsimile machine, and if said monitoring function button is pressed, said facsimile machine facsimiles and stores contents which are facsimiled.

--5. Apparatus or converting an image comprising: means for supplying the image to be converted, means for monitoring unauthorized access to said supplying means, means or recording data corresponding to the supplied image in response to a first signal from said monitoring means, and means for reproducing said recorded data in response to a second signal from said monitoring means.-- --6, The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said supplying means provides a copier with a document to be copied.- --7.The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said supplying means provides a facsimile machine with a document to be transmittad.- --8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said recording means comprises reading means for reading said data and transferring them to a buffer memory.- --a. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said recording means further comprises compressing means or compressing an image data stored in said buffer memory.-- --10.The apparatus of claim i, wherein said recording means further comprises a RAM for storing compressed data formed by said compressing means . -- --11, The apparatus of claim '3, wherein said recording means further comprises a magneto-optical storage for storing the compressed data moved from the RAM.- --12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said recording means stores time data corresponding to tme of supplying said image in response to said first signal.- -- -1 3. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said reproducing means copies onto a paper the recorded data in response to said second signal.- --14.The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said reproducing means displays time data corresponding to time of supplying said image in response to said second signal.-- --15. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for monitoring unauthori:ed access supplies said first and second signals in response to an identification code of an authorized user.-- --16, Tn an image converter, a method for monitoring unauthorized access to the image converter, comprising:: supplying the image converter with a first signal to initiate a mode of monitoring unauthorized access, recording data corresponding to image supplied to the image converter in response to the first signal, supplying the image converter with a second signal to check whether or not the image converter has been accessed without authorization, and reproducing the recorded data in response to the second signal . - - --17. The method of claim 16, wherein said image converter provides a copy of the supplied image.-- --18. The method of claim 16, wherein said image converter provides facsimile transmission of the supplied image.- --19.The method of claim 16, wherein said step of recording compressor recording time or unauthorized access to said image converter.- --20. The method of claim 16, wherein said first and second signals are supplied in response to an identification code oz an authorized user. --

21. A copier with a monitoring function substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

22. A facsimile machine with a monitoring function substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

23. Apparatus according to claim 5, substantially as hereinfore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

24. A method according to claim 16, substantially as hereinbefore described.