JP2002331723A - Image processing unit, image processing system, method for controlling image processing unit, recording medium and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing unit or the like which can add/update authentication data held in the processing unit. SOLUTION: The image processing unit 102 inputs a voice by a voice input unit 105 connected to the unit 102 of the printer side, extracts the feature amount of the voice, encrypts the voice, and then stores the encrypted voice in a nonvolatile RAM 210 in the unit 102. The processing unit 102 further stores the voice feature amount stored in a card type storage medium 705 in the RAM 210 in the unit 102 by a card reader 704 connected to the unit 102.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for receiving image data transferred from an electronic device such as a computer to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus for starting output of print information based on user authentication information. The present invention relates to a processing device and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a technique in which print data is transferred from a computer to a printer, a password is input on the printer side, and output of print information is started only by an instruction of a legitimate user (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-1995). No. 152520). There has also been proposed an information processing apparatus that determines the identity of a person using biometric information such as fingerprint information and determines whether or not to grant the right to use the apparatus to the person (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5 (1993) -208).
341945).

[0005] However, the above-described method of starting the output of print information only by an instruction of a legitimate user on the printer side requires that if the password is leaked to a third party, the output of print information is started only by an instruction of a legitimate user. You will not be able to do it.

[0004] Further, when it is intended to more reliably determine the identity of a person using biological information such as voice information,
Personal confidential information flows on the communication line. If data on the communication line is intercepted, personal confidential information leaks, which is not desirable.

Therefore, the applicant of the present application transfers the user information added by the computer to the printer, the printer specifies the user authentication information based on the received user information, and prints the print information based on the specified user authentication information. An image processing apparatus for starting output has already been proposed. This makes it possible to start outputting print information in accordance with a specific user's instruction without flowing personal confidential information over the communication line.

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional image processing apparatus, the held personal authentication information (voice feature) is presented as a preset one, and new authentication information is stored. It could not be set in the image processing device. Therefore, for example, when a user prints to a printer connected to a computer, it may not be possible to reliably print the printed matter in front of the user himself, and a means for performing flexible authentication processing corresponding to changes in the situation Was required.

[0007] In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention makes it possible to add and update authentication data (voice characteristics) held in an image processing apparatus, and to more flexibly and reliably print information by an instruction of only a regular user. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus or the like capable of starting output of an image.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for receiving image data transferred from a slave device to an image forming apparatus. A control unit that controls execution of image formation by the image forming apparatus based on the user authentication information stored in the image forming apparatus; and an updating unit that updates the user authentication information.

According to the present invention, claims 1 to 4 are provided.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.

According to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus for receiving image data transferred from an electronic device to an image forming apparatus side, the image forming apparatus is configured to store image data based on user authentication information held in the image processing apparatus. A control step of controlling the execution of image formation by means of the above-mentioned method, and an update step of updating the user authentication information.

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording medium storing a control program for executing a control method of an image processing apparatus for receiving image data transferred from an electronic device to an image forming apparatus, wherein the control program Comprises a control step of controlling execution of image formation by the image forming apparatus based on user authentication information held inside the image processing apparatus, and an updating step of updating the user authentication information. And

According to the present invention, there is provided a control program for executing a control method of an image processing apparatus for receiving image data transferred from an electronic device to an image forming apparatus, wherein the control program is stored in the image processing apparatus. A control step of controlling execution of image formation by the image forming apparatus based on the obtained user authentication information, and an updating step of updating the user authentication information.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram.

Reference numeral 105 in FIG. 1 denotes a voice input device, which comprises a micro horn 105a and an A / D converter 105b as shown in FIG. 2, and reads user voice data as digital voice data. Reference numeral 106 denotes a data transmission path, from which print data and user identification information for specifying a user are transmitted from the computer 101 to the image processing apparatus 102.

The image processing apparatus 102 includes a computer 10
The user identification information sent from the client 1 is stored, and after authentication based on the respective user identification information, the print data is sent to the printer unit 104 (such as a laser printer) to execute a printing operation.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes the image processing apparatus 1
02 is a CPU for controlling the operation of the ROM 20
2 to control the operation of the entire apparatus. At this time, the RAM 203 is used as a work area.

Reference numeral 204 denotes an operation panel control unit.
A display unit 107 including a touch panel and a keyboard (K
EY) 108 are connected. Reference numeral 210 denotes a non-volatile RAM, which stores, for example, encrypted audio feature amounts (audio feature data). The image memory 209 stores print data and the like from the computer 101 connected to the network control device 211.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the processing contents of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the computer 101 performs processing (1c) by adding a user ID (1a) such as an employee number to print data (1b), and
To send to.

The CP built in the image processing apparatus 102
U201 extracts the feature amount of the audio data (2a) read by the audio input device 105 (2b). Further, an audio feature amount (stored inside the image processing apparatus 102: see FIG. 14 described later) corresponding to the user ID sent from the computer 101 is specified (2c), and the read audio feature amount is specified. (2d). At this time, the audio feature amount stored in the image processing apparatus 102 has been encrypted with the public key (A) as shown in FIG. 4, and is decrypted with the secret key (B) at this point.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing public key encryption (asymmetric encryption).

The paired public key (A) and secret key (B) perform encryption and decryption. That is, the original data 601 is converted into the encrypted data 602 using the public key (A),
This encrypted data 602 is converted into decrypted data 603 using the secret key (B). By using such a public key cryptosystem (asymmetric cryptography), only the person who knows the secret key (B) can decrypt the encrypted speech feature, and the confidentiality function can be enhanced. Can be.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a C built into the computer 101 when a user ID is added to print data.
6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a PU.

In step S301, a user ID stored in the computer 101 is added to the print data as in the data format shown in FIG. In step S302, print data is sent from the computer 101 to the image processing apparatus 102 via the data transmission path 106.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 201 in the image processing apparatus 102 at the time of audio feature identification.

In step S401, the voice input device 10
5, the digital audio data is input. In step S402, the input digital audio data is
The data is converted by the method shown in (1) to extract the voice feature. In step S403, the audio feature (image processing apparatus 102) corresponding to the user ID sent from the computer 101 is specified. The audio feature quantity stored in the image processing apparatus 102 has been encrypted with the public key (A) as shown in FIG. 4, and is decrypted with the secret key (B) at this point.

In step S404, step S4
The voice feature amount obtained in step S403 is compared with the voice feature amount specified in step S403, and if they match, print execution processing in step S405 is performed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method of the audio feature extraction processing executed in step S420.

In step S501, digital audio information is input by the audio input device 105, and the next step S501 is executed.
At 502, the input digital audio information is FFT (fast Fourier transformed) with a certain number of sample points. Then, in step S503, the frequency component of the audio signal is analyzed.

In the subsequent step S504, since the voice information called the spectrum subjected to the frequency analysis in the step S503 contains the pitch which is the fundamental frequency of the human vocal cords, the pitch is detected.

Further, in step S505, from the pitch information detected in step S503, a low-frequency component including information on a vocal tract, which is one of human personal information, is extracted.

In the following step S506, the vocal tract information obtained in step S505 is converted into a feature parameter called a cepstrum that well represents personal information. A matching technique using a cepstrum and a feature quantity, which are speech feature quantities, is a known technique, and is described in detail, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-230888.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing of the CPU of the image processing apparatus 102 when receiving print data.

In step S701, print data reception wait is performed, and when print data is received,
The processing of step S702 is performed. In step S702, according to the received user ID, the RAM shown in FIG.
203 is stored in the memory box area 801.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing of the speech feature amount by the image processing apparatus 10.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of the display unit 107 when the information is stored in the inside of the display device 2.

An operator inputs a user ID such as an employee number in an input area 811, and then presses a voice input start button 812 to perform a start operation. Then, voice input is performed and a voice feature amount is stored in the image processing apparatus 102. Remember.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process related to the CPU 201 when storing the audio feature amount in the image processing apparatus 102.

In step S711, the start button 8
Wait for 12 to be pressed. In step S712, a voice feature is extracted according to the procedure shown in FIG. 8 based on the voice generated by the operator. In step S713, the extracted voice feature is encrypted by the encryption method shown in FIG.

In step S714, the encrypted voice feature amount (voice feature data) obtained in step S713 is stored in the nonvolatile RAM 210 in the format shown in FIG.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the voice input device 10 connected to the image processing device 102 on the printer side is used.
5, and after extracting and encrypting the feature amount of the voice, the nonvolatile RAM 2 in the image processing apparatus 102
Since it is stored in the audio processing unit 10, it is possible to add and update the audio feature amount held in the image processing apparatus 102. Further, since the stored voice feature is encrypted, personal confidential information can be protected.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 13 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment.

The image processing system stores the user ID and the voice feature amount stored in the card type storage medium 705 in advance in the card reader 7 connected to the image processing apparatus 102.
In step S <b> 04, the audio feature value read in step S <b> 04 and stored in the image processing apparatus 102 is added or updated. FIG. 15 shows an example in which the voice feature amount is transferred from the card type storage medium 705 to the card reader 7.
4 shows a screen display example of the display unit 107 when reading at 04. When a start button 900 for reading shown in FIG. 15 is pressed, the voice feature is read.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing C when the voice feature is stored using the card reader 704 inside the image processing apparatus 102.
5 is a flowchart illustrating processing relating to a PU 201.

First, in step S 901, the user ID and voice feature data are read from the card type recording medium 705 through the card reader 704. Subsequent step S9
In 02, the read voice feature amount (voice feature data) is stored in the nonvolatile RAM 210 in the format shown in FIG.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the audio feature amount stored in the card type storage medium 705 is obtained by the card reader 704 connected to the image processing apparatus 102.
Since the data is stored in the non-volatile RAM 210 in the image processing apparatus 102, the audio feature amount held in the image processing apparatus 102 can be easily added or updated.

It should be noted that FIGS. 5, 7, 8, 9,
By storing the program according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 12 and 16 in the ROM 202 in the image processing apparatus 102 and operating the program, the above-described control method can be realized.

The present invention is not limited to the device of the above-described embodiment, but may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or to a device composed of one device. A storage medium storing program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and the computer 101 of the system or the apparatus
It goes without saying that the program code is also completed when the CPU (or CPU or MPU) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk,
A magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM can be used. When the computer 101 executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer 101 based on the instruction of the program code.
It goes without saying that the case where S performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer 101 or a function expansion unit connected to the computer 101, the instruction of the next program code is issued. Based on the above, a case may be included in which a CPU or the like provided in an expansion board or an expansion unit processes the extended function and performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. Needless to say.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, the execution of image formation by the image forming apparatus is controlled based on the user authentication information held inside the image processing apparatus, and the user authentication information is controlled. Is updated, so that the user authentication information held inside the image processing apparatus can be added and updated, and the execution of image formation can be more flexibly and reliably controlled by instructions of only authorized users. Will be possible. For example, even when printing is performed on a printer connected to a computer, the user himself / herself can perform reliable printing with the printed matter at hand.

Further, since the information is updated with the encrypted user authentication information, personal confidential information can be protected.

Furthermore, since the updating is performed with the user authentication information input from the card type storage medium, the audio feature amount held inside the image processing apparatus can be easily added and updated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing processing contents of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a public key encryption (asymmetric encryption).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a CPU operation of a computer when a user ID is added to print data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data format.

FIG. 7 is an image processing apparatus 102 at the time of audio feature identification.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the internal CPU 201.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of audio feature extraction processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating CPU processing of the image processing apparatus when receiving print data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a memory box area on a RAM 203.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of the display unit 107 when a voice feature value is stored in the image processing apparatus 102.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process related to a CPU 201 when an audio feature value is stored in the image processing apparatus 102;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a storage format of a nonvolatile RAM 210.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of a display device when an audio feature value is read from a card-type storage medium by a card reader.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating processing related to a CPU when storing a voice feature amount using a card reader inside the image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Computer 102 Image processing device 104 Printer unit 105 Audio input device 105a Microphone 105b A / D converter 106 Data transmission path 107 Display unit 108 Keyboard (KEY) 201 CPU 202 ROM 203 RAM 204 Operation panel control unit 209 Image memory 210 Non-volatile RAM 211 Network controller

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Claims (17)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus for receiving image data transferred from an electronic device to an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus performs image forming by the image forming apparatus based on user authentication information held inside the image processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus comprising: control means for controlling execution; and updating means for updating the user authentication information. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the updating unit updates the encrypted user authentication information. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the updating unit updates the user authentication information input from a card-type storage medium. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user authentication information is audio feature data. 5. An image processing system comprising the image processing device according to claim 1. 6. An image processing apparatus for receiving image data transferred from an electronic device to an image forming apparatus, wherein an image forming apparatus performs image forming based on user authentication information held in the image processing apparatus. A control method for an image processing apparatus, comprising: executing a control step of controlling execution and an update step of updating the user authentication information. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the updating is performed with encrypted user authentication information. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the updating step is performed by updating user authentication information input from a card-type storage medium. 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the user authentication information is audio feature data. 10. A recording medium on which a control program for executing a control method of an image processing apparatus for receiving image data transferred from an electronic device to an image forming apparatus side is recorded, wherein the control program comprises: A recording medium, comprising: a control step of controlling execution of image formation by the image forming apparatus based on user authentication information held inside a processing device; and an updating step of updating the user authentication information. . 11. The updating step according to claim 10, wherein the updating is performed with encrypted user authentication information.
The recording medium according to the above. 12. The recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the updating step is performed with user authentication information input from a card-type storage medium. 13. The recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the user authentication information is audio feature data. 14. A control program for executing a control method of an image processing apparatus for receiving image data transferred from an electronic device to an image forming apparatus, wherein the user authentication stored in the image processing apparatus is performed. A control program comprising: a control step of controlling execution of image formation by the image forming apparatus based on information; and an update step of updating the user authentication information. 15. The updating step according to claim 14, wherein the updating is performed with encrypted user authentication information.
Control program described. 16. The control program according to claim 14, wherein the updating step updates with user authentication information input from a card-type storage medium. 17. The control program according to claim 14, wherein the user authentication information is audio feature data.