JP2002111924A - Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, controller as and as network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To positively prevent illegal use of a copier. SOLUTION: A use's face is photographed by a CCD camera 3, and then by comparing the feature variables with a previously registered feature variables, whether the user is a normal user is determined. If the user is a normal user, its use is allowed, but if the user is not a normal user, its use is prohibited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, a control apparatus, and a network system, and more particularly, to preventing unauthorized use of the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, a control apparatus, and a network system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in order to prevent unauthorized use of a copying machine, an ID card is attached to the copying machine.
It has been proposed to make it impossible to copy a document when each user does not attach an ID card to a copying machine.

It has also been proposed to use a password to permit copying only to a user who has been recognized as a specific user.

[0004]

However, when an ID card is mounted, the user must move the user to the position where the copier is placed with the ID card. If you forget, you have to return to get your ID card, which is inconvenient. Further, when the ID card is lost, there is a problem that the copying machine cannot be used.

Further, in the case of using a personal identification number, if the personal identification number is leaked, the copying machine will be illegally used thereafter.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and reliably without burdening the user.
It is intended to prevent unauthorized use.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a capturing unit for capturing an image of a user's face; a commanding unit for instructing the image forming unit to start image formation;
A control unit that controls image formation in the image forming unit when the start of image formation is instructed by the command unit based on the feature amount of the image of the user's face captured by the capturing unit. I do.

For example, the capturing means is constituted by the CCD camera 3 shown in FIG. 4, the image forming means is constituted by the copying section 37, the command means is constituted by the operation panel 2, and the control means is constituted by the CPU 36. You.

In this image forming apparatus, based on the extracted image of the user's face, the image formation when the start of the image formation is instructed is controlled.

[0010] Thus, the convenience that the image forming apparatus cannot be used unless the ID card or the like is brought to the user is not hindered, and the leakage due to the leakage as in the case of using the personal identification number is prevented. It can be prevented from being used illegally thereafter.

Registration means for registering in advance the feature amount of the image of the user's face, extraction means for extracting the feature amount of the image of the user's face captured by the capture means, and the user's face extracted by the extraction means Comparing means for comparing the feature amount of the image with the feature amount of the face image registered in advance by the registration means, wherein the control means controls image formation in the image forming means based on the comparison result of the comparison means. You can make it.

[0012] For example, the registering means operates in step S4 of FIG.
The extraction means is constituted by the feature quantity extraction unit 33, and the comparison means is a CP which executes the processing of steps S24 and S25 in FIG.
U36. Further, the control means is constituted by the CPU 36 executing the processing of steps S26 and S27.

In the case of this image forming apparatus, image formation is controlled based on a comparison result between the feature amount of the captured user's face image and the feature amount of the face image registered in advance.

Therefore, as long as the user's face is registered in advance, the image forming apparatus can be used without impairing the convenience, and the unauthorized use can be prevented. Can be.

The apparatus further comprises requesting means for requesting another device via a network to compare the feature amount of the face image of the user captured by the capturing unit with the feature amount of the face image registered in advance. The control means can control the image formation in the image forming means based on the result of comparison by another device.

For example, the requesting means sends the authentication server 52 of FIG. 8 as another device to the LAN 51 as a network.
The copier 1 of FIG. 9 that executes the process of step S63 of FIG. 13 that requests a comparison between the feature amount of the user's face image captured via the PC and the feature amount of the face image registered in advance.
Of the CPU 36.

In this image forming apparatus, comparison processing is required via a network. As a result, the image forming apparatus itself does not need to perform the feature amount comparison process,
The configuration can be simplified. Further, each user does not need to register an image of his or her face for each image forming apparatus. The extraction of the feature amount may be performed on the image forming apparatus side or on another apparatus side.

According to the control method of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes: a capturing step of capturing an image of a user's face; and image formation by a command unit based on a feature amount of the image of the user's face captured by the processing of the capturing step. And a control step of controlling the image formation by the image forming means when the start of the image formation is instructed.

For example, the image forming means includes the copying unit 3 shown in FIG.
7 and the command means is constituted by the operation panel 2. The capturing step is constituted by, for example, the CPU 36 executing the processing of step S22 in FIG. 7, and the control step is constituted by the CPU 36 executing the processing of steps S25 to S27.

In this control method, the image formation is controlled when the start of the image formation is instructed based on the extracted feature amount of the user's face image.

Therefore, the same effects as in the above-described image forming apparatus can be obtained.

The control device according to the present invention includes a registration unit for registering in advance the feature amount of the image of the user's face, an acquisition unit for acquiring the feature amount of the image of the user's face captured by the image forming apparatus, and a receiving unit. Extracting means for extracting the feature amount of the image of the user's face based on the data of the image of the face of the user received by the user, and the feature amount of the image of the face of the user acquired by the acquiring means, The image processing apparatus includes a comparing unit that compares the feature amount of the registered face image with the feature amount of the registered face image, and a transmitting unit that transmits information based on a comparison result by the comparing unit to the image forming apparatus via a network.

This control device is, for example, shown in FIG.
Authentication server 52. The registration means is shown in FIG.
2 is configured by the registration unit 65 of the authentication server 52 that executes the processing of step S54, the acquisition unit is configured by the CPU 62 that executes the processing of step S82 of FIG. 14 or step S102 of FIG. 14 or the CPU 62 executing the processing of step S104 in FIG.
Steps S86 and S87 or Step S1 in FIG.
14, and a CPU 62 that executes the processing of S115. The acquisition unit acquires, as information relating to the image of the user's face, a feature amount or data of an image before the feature amount is extracted.

In this control device, the feature amount of the user's face image captured by the image forming apparatus is compared with the feature amount of the previously registered face image, and information based on the comparison result is transmitted to the network. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the.

This makes it possible to prevent unauthorized use of the copying machine via the network.

[0026] The obtaining means includes: receiving means for receiving data of the image of the user's face taken in by the image forming apparatus; and data of the image of the user's face received by the receiving means. Extraction means for extracting the feature amount of the image.

The extracting means is constituted by a feature amount extracting unit 66 for executing the processing of step S83 in FIG. 14 or step S103 in FIG.

For example, the receiving means is the communication unit 63 shown in FIG.
, And the extraction unit performs step S83 in FIG.
Alternatively, it is configured by a feature amount extraction unit 66 that executes the process of step S103 in FIG.

In this case, the control unit extracts a characteristic amount from the image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the configuration of the image forming apparatus can be simplified and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

When it is determined by the comparing means that the feature quantity of the face image of the user acquired by the acquisition means does not match the feature quantity of the face image registered in advance by the registration means, the acquisition means acquires Storage means for storing the image of the face of the user, and the number of instructions to start image formation by the user, and the number of instructions to start image formation by the user of the face stored by the storage means is a predetermined value. And a notifying unit for notifying another device via the network when the number has reached.

For example, the storage means stores the information in step S in FIG.
The CPU 62 of FIG. 10 that executes the process of step S113 executes the process of step S113.
U62. The other device is configured by the security server 72 of FIG.

In this image forming apparatus, when the feature of the image of the user's face does not match the feature of the image of the face registered in advance, the image of the face of the user and the start of image formation by the user are set. Is stored. When the number of instructions for starting image formation has reached a predetermined number, a notification is sent to another device via the network.

As a result, when an unregistered user tries to use the image forming apparatus illegally, when the number of times reaches a predetermined value, for example, a notice is sent to a security company or the like, and the unauthorized use is performed. It can be reliably prevented. In addition, since the image of the user's face is stored, the user can be specified reliably.

According to the control method of the present invention, there are provided a registration step of pre-registering a feature of a user's face image, an acquisition step of acquiring a feature of a user's face image captured by the image forming apparatus, and an acquisition step. A comparison step of comparing the feature amount of the face image of the user acquired by the processing of the registration step with the feature amount of the face image registered in advance by the registration step; and information based on the comparison result by the comparison step processing. Transmitting to the image forming apparatus via the network.

For example, the registration step is constituted by step S54 of FIG. 12 executed by the CPU 62 of the authentication server 52 of FIG. 8, and the acquisition step is constituted by step S82 of FIG. 14 or step S102 of FIG. The comparison step is constituted by step S84 of FIG. 14 or step S104 of FIG. 16, and the transmission step is constituted by steps S86 and S87 of FIG. 14 or steps S114 and S115 of FIG.

In the control method of the control device, the same operation and effect as the control device can be realized.

[0037] In the network system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus transmits to the control device via the network the capturing means for capturing the image of the user's face and information on the image of the user's face captured by the capturing means. A first transmitting unit, a commanding unit for instructing a start of image formation by the image forming unit, and information from a control device corresponding to the information on the image of the user's face transmitted by the first transmitting unit are transmitted to the network. A first receiving unit for receiving an image via the first receiving unit; and an image forming unit that starts the image forming when the instruction to start the image forming is issued by the instructing unit based on the information received from the control device by the first receiving unit. Control means for controlling, wherein the control device comprises: a registration means for pre-registering information relating to an image of the user's face; and a first transmission means. A second receiving unit for receiving the received information about the image of the user's face via the network; and information about the image of the user's face received by the second receiving unit, which is registered in advance by the registration unit. The image processing apparatus further includes a comparing unit that compares the information with the information about the face image, and a second transmitting unit that transmits information based on a comparison result by the comparing unit to the image forming apparatus via a network.

For example, the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
The network is composed of the LAN 51, the Internet 70 or the LAN 71, and the control device is composed of the authentication server 52.

The fetch means is the CCD shown in FIG. 8 or FIG.
The first transmitting means is constituted by the CPU 36 executing the processing of step S63 in FIG. 13, the copying means is constituted by the copying section 37, the command means is constituted by the operation panel 2, The control means is constituted by the CPU 36 executing the processing of steps S65 to S67.

Further, the registration means is constituted by a registration unit 65, and the second reception means is a CPU 6 which executes the processing of step S82 in FIG. 14 or step S102 in FIG.
2 and the acquisition means is constituted by step S83 or step S103 of FIG. 16, and the comparison means is constituted by step S84 of FIG. 14 or step S84 of FIG.
104, and the second transmitting means performs steps S86 and S87 in FIG. 14 or step S11 in FIG.
4, a CPU 62 that executes the processing of S115.

In this network system, the feature amount or the image data itself is transmitted to the control device via the network as information on the image of the user's face captured by the image forming apparatus. In the control device, the feature amount of the image of the face of the user from the image forming apparatus is compared with the feature amount of the face image registered in advance,
Information based on the comparison result is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the network. The image forming apparatus controls image formation in the image forming unit based on the information.

As a result, it is possible to construct a network system capable of preventing the convenience of each user from being hindered and preventing unauthorized use.

Note that "image formation" is not limited to copying or printing. In order to be able to form an image, it also includes capturing an image with a scanner or the like.

[0044]

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied. The copier 1 has an openable lid 6 at its upper part, and the document table 5 is exposed when the lid 6 is opened. The platen 5 is made of transparent glass or the like, and a user places a document (not shown) on the platen 5 when making a copy. An operation panel 2 is arranged in front of the document table 5.

FIG. 2 shows the operation panel 2 in an enlarged state. In the operation panel 2, a CCD camera 3 for photographing the face of the user is arranged at substantially the center, and a display unit 4 such as an LCD for displaying various operation information is arranged on the left side thereof. ing.

On the right side of the CCD camera 3, a numeric keypad 11 operated to input the number of copies and the like is arranged. On the right side, a start button 12 operated to instruct the start of copying is provided. Are located.

The CCD camera 3 is not arranged on the operation panel 2 but, for example, as shown in FIG.
It may be arranged on the right rear side of the copying machine 1. The mounting position of the CCD camera 3 is arbitrary as long as the position at which the user's face can be photographed more reliably.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the internal configuration of the copying machine 1. The image captured by the CCD camera 3 is amplified by an amplifier 31 and then supplied to an A / D converter 32,
/ D-converted and further supplied to the feature amount extraction unit 33. The feature amount extraction unit 33 executes a process of extracting feature amounts necessary for identifying a user, such as shapes and positions of eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, from input image data of a face image. The registration unit 35 registers the feature amount extracted by the feature amount extraction unit 33. The registration unit 35 is configured by, for example, a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. The matching unit 34 performs a matching process between the feature amount extracted by the feature amount extraction unit 33 and the feature amount registered in the registration unit 35 in advance.

The CPU 36 controls the operation of the copying machine 1 based on a user's command input from the operation panel 2.
The copying unit 37 is controlled by the CPU 36 to read a document placed on the document table 5 and copy the read image to a sheet. When there is a user in front of the copying machine 1, the sensor 38 detects this and notifies the CPU 36.
The communication unit 39 performs a process of communicating with another device via a LAN, a public telephone line, the Internet, or the like.

When using this system, each user needs to register an image of his or her face in advance. First, the registration process will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In step S1, the CPU 36
It is determined whether or not the currently set mode is the registration mode. If the mode is not the registration mode (if it is the normal authentication mode), the process is terminated.

The registration mode is set by a service person or a predetermined manager of the copying machine 1 by inputting a predetermined password from the ten keys 11, for example. Alternatively, the registration mode may be set when a key or the like prepared in advance is attached to a predetermined position.

If the registration mode has been set, the process proceeds to step S2, where the CPU 36 executes a face image capturing process. At this time, the CPU 36 controls the CCD camera 3 and
An image of the user's face is taken. Image data captured by the CCD camera 3 is amplified by an amplifier 31 and then input to an A / D converter 32. The A / D conversion unit 32 performs A / D conversion on the input image data and supplies the image data to the feature amount extraction unit 33.

In step S3, the feature amount extraction unit 33
Performs a facial feature extraction process. That is, the feature amount extraction unit 33 identifies each user, such as the size of eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, and the mutual positional relationship, from the image data of the user's face input from the A / D conversion unit 32. The feature amount necessary for is extracted.

In step S 4, the CPU 36 registers the user feature amount extracted by the feature amount extraction unit 33 in step S 3 via the matching unit 34 into the registration unit 35.
To be registered.

Next, in step S5, when the cancellation of the registration mode is instructed from the operation panel 2, the CPU 36
Execute the registration mode release processing. Thereby, the normal authentication mode is set.

As described above, the feature amount of the image of the face of each user who uses the copying machine 1 is registered in the registration unit 35 in advance.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the database of each user registered in the registration unit 35 in this way. In this example, the ID and registration date of each user are registered together with the facial feature amount of each user.

As described above, the legitimate user registers the feature amount of his / her own face in the registration unit 35 in advance, and thereafter copies the document using the copying machine 1 in the authentication mode. It is possible to do. The processing in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In step S21, the CPU 36 monitors the output of the sensor 38 and waits until a user is detected in front of the copying machine 1. When it is determined from the output of the sensor 38 that the user has been detected, the process proceeds to step S22, and the CPU 36 controls the CCD camera 3 to photograph the user's face. The image signal of the user's face photographed by the CCD camera 3 is amplified by the amplifier 31 and the A / D converter 3
After the data is converted into digital data by 2, the digital data is supplied to the feature amount extraction unit 33.

In step S23, the feature amount extraction unit 3
3 extracts a feature amount from the input image data of the user's face. In step S24, the matching unit 34
Is the user feature amount extracted by the feature amount extraction unit 33,
It is determined whether or not the feature amount of the user registered in advance in the registration unit 35 matches (corresponds to). The matching result is notified from the matching unit 34 to the CPU 36.

In step S 25, the CPU 36 determines the feature amount of the user's face image captured by the CCD camera 3 based on the notification from the matching unit 34.
It is determined whether or not the feature value of the image of the user's face registered in advance in the registration unit 35 matches. If not, the process proceeds to step S26, and the display unit 4 of the operation panel 2 displays, for example, , A message such as "Unavailable because it is not registered" is displayed.

On the other hand, if there is a matching feature quantity, the process proceeds to step S27, in which the CPU 36 waits until the start button 12 of the operation panel 2 is operated and a copy start is instructed. Then, the copying unit 37 is controlled to execute the copying process.

As described above, according to this system, whether the user is a legitimate user is authenticated based on the feature amount of the user's face, and copying is controlled based on the authentication result. As a result, unauthorized use can be reliably prevented without impairing user convenience.

In the above example, the copying machine 1
Although the feature amount of the face image of each user is stored, in this case, when there are a plurality of copying machines, each user registers his / her own face image for each copying machine. There is a need. Therefore, it is also possible to cause a dedicated device to execute the registration of the feature amount and the associated authentication processing. FIG. 8 shows an example of the system in this case.

In this example, the CCD camera 3-1 or the CCD camera 3-2 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the CCD camera 3 when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the CCD camera 3-1 and the CCD camera 3-2) 1-1 and 1-2 (hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the copying machine 1-1 and the copying machine 1-2 individually, they are simply referred to as the copying machine 1).
It is connected to an authentication server 52 via a LAN 51.

The copying machines 1-1 and 1-2 are configured, for example, as shown in FIG. The basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. 4, but the feature amount extraction unit 3 shown in FIG.
3, the matching unit 34 and the registration unit 35 are omitted. The data output from the A / D conversion unit 32 is output from the communication unit 39 via the LAN 51. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

The authentication server 52 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. The input unit 61 includes a switch, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, is operated by a user, and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation to the CPU 62. CPU62
Executes various processes in response to an input from the input unit 61. The communication unit 63 is connected to the copier 1 through the LAN 51.
1, 1-2, and the Internet 70 (FIG. 1).
Communicate with other devices via 5).

The matching section 64, the registering section 65, and the feature quantity extracting section 66 execute the same functions as the matching section 34, the registering section 35, and the feature quantity extracting section 33 in FIG.

Next, the registration processing in the network system of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S41, the CPU 36 determines whether or not the currently set mode is the registration mode, and terminates the processing if the mode is not the registration mode (if the mode is the normal authentication mode).

If the registration mode has been set, the process proceeds to step S42, where the CPU 36 executes a face image capturing process. At this time, the CPU 36 controls the CCD camera 3,
An image of the user's face is taken. Image data captured by the CCD camera 3 is amplified by an amplifier 31 and then input to an A / D converter 32. The A / D conversion unit 32 performs A / D conversion on the input video data and outputs the video data to the communication unit 39.

In step S43, the communication section 39
The CPU 36 controls the CPU 36 to transmit the image data supplied from the A / D converter 32 to the authentication server 52 via the LAN 51, and requests user registration.

Thereafter, as will be described later with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 12, the authentication server 52 executes a user registration process in response to the registration request, and when the registration process is completed, the registration is performed in step S55. You will be notified of completion.

Therefore, in step S44, the CPU 3
6 waits until a registration completion notification is received from the authentication server 52, and when the registration completion notification is received, step S45.
To execute the registration mode release processing.

On the other hand, the authentication server 52 executes the registration processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. In step S51, the CPU 62 of the authentication server 52 determines whether or not a registration request has been received from a copying machine.
The process ends. If it is determined that a registration request has been made from the copying machine, the process proceeds to step S52, and the CPU 62 executes a face image capturing process transmitted from the copying machine 1. That is, the CPU 62 causes the feature amount extracting unit 66 to supply the image data captured from the copying machine 1 via the communication unit 63.

In step S53, the feature amount extraction unit 6
6 extracts feature amounts of the user's face from the captured face image data. In step S54, when the feature amount extracted by the feature amount extraction unit 66 is supplied via the matching unit 64, the registration unit 65 registers the feature amount. In step S55, the CPU 62 notifies the copying machine 1 of the registration completion from the communication unit 63 via the LAN 51.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13, a description will be given of the operation of the copy processing executed in the copying machine 1 in the state where the user registration is completed as described above.

In step S61, the CPU 36 monitors the output of the sensor 38 and waits until a user is detected in front of the copying machine 1. When it is determined that the user is detected from the output of the sensor 38, the process proceeds to step S62,
The CPU 36 controls the CCD camera 3 to photograph the face of the user. The image signal of the user's face captured by the CCD camera 3 is amplified by the amplifier 31, converted into digital data by the A / D converter 32, and supplied to the communication unit 39.

In step S63, the CPU 36 sets the A / D
The communication unit 39 controls the communication unit 39 to transmit the image data output from the conversion unit 32 to the authentication server 52 via the LAN 51, and requests authentication of the image data.

When the copying machine 1 has a feature extracting unit, the extracted feature is transmitted to the authentication server 52.

As will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14, the authentication server 52 executes an authentication process in response to the authentication request, and notifies the result of the authentication.

Therefore, in step S64, the CPU 3
6 receives the authentication result from the authentication server 52 via the LAN 51, and determines in step S65 whether or not the authentication result indicates that copying is possible.
If the verification result does not indicate that it can be copied,
Proceeding to step S66, the CPU 36 causes the display unit 4 of the operation panel 2 to display a message such as "Not available because it is not registered".

On the other hand, if the authentication result indicates that copying is possible, it is determined in step S67 that the CP
The U 36 waits until the start button 12 of the operation panel 2 is operated and a copy start is instructed. When the start is instructed, the U 36 controls the copy unit 37 to execute a copy process.

Next, the authentication processing of the authentication server 52 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S81, the CPU 62 waits until an authentication request is received from the copying machine 1. When the authentication request is received, the CPU 62 proceeds to step S82 to execute image data loading processing. That is, when image data transmitted from the copying machine 1 is captured via the communication unit 63, the image data is output to the feature amount extraction unit 66.

In step S83, the characteristic amount extraction unit 6
Reference numeral 6 extracts a face feature amount of the image data supplied from the communication unit 63.

When the feature data is transmitted from the copying machine 1, the feature data extraction processing in the authentication server 52 can be omitted.

In step S84, matching section 6
4 determines whether or not the user feature amount extracted by the feature amount extraction unit 66 matches (corresponds to) the user feature registered in the registration unit 65 in advance. The matching unit 64 notifies the CPU 62 of the determination result.

In step S 85, the CPU 62 determines the feature amount of the user face image that has just been taken in based on the notification from the matching unit 64 in step S 85. It is determined whether or not the amount has been matched, and if not, step S8
In step 6, the communication unit 63 is controlled to notify the copying machine 1 that copying is not permitted (that the user is not a registered user).

On the other hand, if the matching feature amount has been registered in advance, the process proceeds to step S87, and the CPU proceeds to step S87.
62 causes the copying machine 1 to transmit a notice of permitting copying.

Based on this notification, as described above, the processing in step S66 or step S67 in FIG.
This is executed in the copying machine 1.

According to this example, each user can use any copying machine only by registering his / her own face once. That is, there is no need to register a face for each copying machine.

FIG. 15 shows still another configuration example of the copy network system to which the present invention is applied. In this configuration example, the copying machines 1-1 and 1-2 are mutually connected via a LAN 51, and the LAN 51 is connected to the Internet 70. Then, the authentication server 5 is further connected to the Internet 70 via the LAN 71.
2 are connected. A security server 72 of a security company is also connected to the Internet 70.

The registration process in this system is basically the same as that shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. That is, the image data of each user captured by the copying machines 1-1 and 1-2 is supplied to the authentication server 52 via the LAN 51, the Internet 70, and the LAN 71, and the feature amount is registered.

The copy processing in the copying machine 1 in this system is the same as that described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Therefore, the copying machine 1 in step S6 of FIG.
Authentication server 52 performed based on the authentication request in 3
Will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In steps S101 to S104, steps S81 to S81 in FIG.
A process similar to the process of 84 is executed.

That is, in step S101, the CP
The U62 waits until an authentication request is received, and when it is received, in step S102, causes the user to capture image data of the user from the copying machine 1.

The feature value extraction unit 66 extracts the feature value of the image data transferred from the copying machine 1 in step S103, and the matching unit 64 extracts the feature value extracted in step S103 in step S104. Matching with a feature amount registered in advance.

The CPU 62 determines in step S105
It is determined whether the feature amount of the transferred image data of the user matches the feature amount of the user registered in advance. If the feature amount does not match, the process proceeds to step S106. Then, a matching process with the NG data is executed. That is, the CPU 62 registers the image data of the user determined to have not matched in the past in the registration unit 65 as the NG data in the processing of step S108 to be described later. Investigate whether the image data has already been registered as NG data. Then, Step S107
In step S108, the CPU 62 determines whether or not the image data of the target user has already been registered. If the image data has not been registered, the process proceeds to step S108, where the image data of the user is registered in the registration unit 65. To be registered. already,
If the image data of the user has been registered, the process of step S108 is skipped.

FIG. 17 shows an example of data registered in the registration section 65 as a result of the registration processing in step S108. In this example, the user's ID number
The number of NGs (the number of times the target user has instructed the start of copying and the start has been refused), the date and time when the NG determination was made, and the facial features of the user are: It is registered correspondingly.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step S109, where the CPU 6
Step 2 determines whether or not the number of NGs of the target user is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value. If the number of NGs is less than the reference value, step S1
Proceeding to 10, the CPU 62 increments the NG count by one, and in step S111, updates the old NG count with the incremented NG count.

Next, the process proceeds to step S114, where the CPU 62
Notifies the copying machine 1 of an authentication result (copying not permitted) indicating that the user is not a registered user.

As described above, the CPU 36 of the copying machine 1
When this notification is received via the communication unit 39, the display unit 4 of the operation panel 2 displays NG in step S66 of FIG.
A message (a message indicating that the user is not a registered user and cannot use the copying machine) is displayed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S109 that the number of times of NG has exceeded the reference value, the CPU 62 transmits the information to the predetermined security server 72 via the LAN 71 and the Internet 70 in step S112. The data of the image of the face of the target user is transferred, and the information indicating the location where the copying machine 1 is installed (the identification number of the copying machine 1 may be used if the location is known in advance). ).

When receiving this notification, the security server 72 takes appropriate measures such as sending a security guard to the place where the target copying machine 1 is installed.

At this time, the guard can confirm the face of the user by printing the transferred image with a printer or the like.

Thereafter, in step S114, the CPU 62 notifies the copying machine 1 that a correct authentication result has not been obtained, as in the case described above.

If it is determined in step S105 that the feature amount of the target user's face matches the feature amount of the face registered in advance, the process proceeds to step S115, where the CP
U62 confirms that the correct authentication result has been obtained by copying machine 1
Notify.

As described above, when receiving this notification, the copying machine 1 executes the process of step S67 in FIG. That is, the process waits until the user instructs to start copying, and when instructed, the CPU 36 controls the copying unit 37 to start the copying process.

In the example shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Although the authentication processing is performed by the authentication server 52 outside the copying machine 1, it is also possible to execute the authentication processing inside the copying machine 1 as in the case described above. In this case, the report to the security server is made directly from the copying machine 1.

[0112]

As described above, according to the present invention, unauthorized use can be reliably prevented without imposing a large load on the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an operation panel of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of another appearance of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a registration process of a user of the copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of registration data registered in step S4 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a copy process of the copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network system including a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a copying machine in the network system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an authentication server in the network system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating registration processing of a copying machine in the network system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a registration process of an authentication server in the network system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a copy process of a copying machine in the network system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an authentication process of an authentication server in the network system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of a network system constituted by the copying machine of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an authentication process of an authentication server of the network system of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the registration processing in step S108 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,1-1,1-2 Copier 2,2-1,2-2 Operation panel 3,3-1,3-2 CCD camera 4 Display unit 33 Feature extraction unit 34 Matching unit 35 Registration unit 36 CPU 37 Copying unit 38 Sensor 39 Communication unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/12 G06T 1/00 400H G06T 1/00 400 G03G 21/00 390 F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH01 HJ06 HK11 HN23 HQ01 HQ17 2H027 EJ03 EJ15 ZA07 5B021 AA19 QQ01 QQ04 5B047 AA23 CB21 DC06 DC09 5C062 AA05 AA30 AA34 AA35 AE03 AE04 AF12

Claims (9)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting an image of a user's face; an instruction unit for instructing an image forming unit to start image formation; and a feature amount of the image of the user's face captured by the input unit. A control unit for controlling image formation in the image forming unit when the start of the image formation is commanded by the command unit. 2. A registration unit for registering feature amounts of an image of the user's face in advance; an extraction unit for extracting feature amounts of an image of the user's face captured by the capture unit; A comparison unit that compares the feature amount of the face image of the user with the feature amount of the face image registered in advance by the registration unit; and the control unit based on a comparison result of the comparison unit. ,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit controls image formation. 3. A requesting unit for requesting another device via a network to compare a feature amount of a face image of the user captured by the capturing unit with a feature amount of a face image registered in advance. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls image formation in the image forming unit based on a comparison result by the another device. 4. A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a command unit for commanding start of image formation by an image forming unit; a capturing step of capturing an image of a user's face; Controlling the image formation by the image forming unit when the start of the image formation is instructed by the command unit based on the feature amount of the image of the user's face. How to control the device. 5. A control device connected to an image forming apparatus via a network and controlling an operation of the image forming apparatus, wherein: a registration unit for pre-registering a feature amount of an image of a face of the user; Acquiring means for acquiring the feature amount of the image of the face of the user captured by the processing unit; and acquiring the feature amount of the image of the face of the user acquired by the acquiring means. A control device, comprising: a comparison unit that compares a feature amount; and a transmission unit that transmits information based on a comparison result by the comparison unit to the image forming apparatus via the network. 6. The receiving means for receiving data of the image of the user's face captured by the image forming apparatus, and based on the data of the image of the user's face received by the receiving means. The control device according to claim 5, further comprising: an extracting unit configured to extract a feature amount of the image of the user's face. 7. A case in which the comparison unit determines that the feature amount of the face image of the user acquired by the acquisition unit does not match the feature amount of the face image registered in advance by the registration unit. Storage means for storing the image of the face of the user acquired by the acquisition means, and the number of times the user has issued an instruction to start image formation; and start of the image formation by the user of the face stored by the storage means. When the number of times of the command reaches a predetermined value,
7. A notifying means for notifying another device via a network.
The control device according to claim 1. 8. A control method of a control device which is connected to an image forming apparatus via a network and controls an operation of the image forming apparatus, a registration step of pre-registering a feature amount of an image of the user's face, An acquiring step of acquiring a feature amount of the image of the user's face captured by the image forming apparatus; A comparison step of comparing with a feature amount of a registered face image; and a transmission step of transmitting information based on a comparison result by the processing of the comparison step to the image forming apparatus via the network. And control method. 9. A network system, comprising: at least one image forming apparatus; and a control device connected to the image forming apparatus via a network and controlling an operation of the image forming apparatus. Capturing means for capturing an image of a user's face; first transmitting means for transmitting information about the image of the user's face captured by the capturing means to the control device via the network; Means for instructing the start of image formation by means, and information from the control device corresponding to the information on the image of the user's face transmitted by the first transmitting means via the network. 1 receiving means, and the command means based on information received from the control device by the first receiving means. A control unit that controls image formation in the image forming unit when the start of the image formation is instructed by the control unit, wherein the control device includes a registration unit that pre-registers information about an image of the user's face, Second receiving means for receiving the information on the image of the user's face transmitted by the first transmitting means via the network; and an image of the user's face received by the second receiving means Means for comparing information about the face image registered in advance by the registration means with the information on the face, and information based on the result of comparison by the comparison means, transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the network. A network system comprising transmission means.