JP2004048809A - Operation environment setting data providing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation environment setting apparatus in which loads on operations by every operator of facsimile equipment or the like are reduced by efficiently setting an environment suited to the operator. <P>SOLUTION: Personal data corresponding to every user are stored in a personal data storage part 11a, the corresponding relationship of the personal data and a user ID is held in a data management table 11l and when a user ID and a password are received, a personal data processing part 11k acquires personal data corresponding to the user ID from the personal data storage part 11a or other facsimile equipment 12 or 13 and sets the operation environment suited to the user based upon the acquired personal data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to an operation environment setting device that provides an operation environment suitable for an operator such as a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to an operation environment that efficiently sets an environment suitable for each operator and reduces an operation load on the operator. Related to an environment setting device.

Conventionally, when a document is facsimile-transmitted using a facsimile machine shared by a plurality of users, it is necessary for the user to perform a predetermined operation on a panel surface of the facsimile machine to set a destination telephone number and the like.

Especially, new functions have been added to the facsimile apparatus with the recent development of electronics technology. Therefore, when performing facsimile transmission, it is necessary for the user to perform an input operation corresponding to these new functions.

Therefore, the user's input operation when the user performs facsimile transmission becomes complicated, and the user is rather burdened.

For this reason, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-88425, a unique code of a user who uses a copying machine and operation mode information are stored in association with each other in advance, and when the unique code is accepted, the unique code corresponding to the unique code is accepted. An operation mode setting device of a copying machine configured to set an operation mode based on operation mode information is disclosed.

That is, in the related art, by performing mode setting corresponding to the operator's unique code, the user does not have to perform the operation mode setting when using the copying machine.
JP-A-5-88425

However, in this conventional technique, since the unique code assigned to each user or group and the information on the operation mode must be stored in the copying machine in association with each other, the more users who use the copying machine, the more the number of users using the copying machine increases. The amount of data that the copier has to hold increases.

In particular, when considering a facsimile machine that transmits a document or a multifunction device having a facsimile function, not a copier that simply copies a document, such as a telephone directory used for facsimile transmission or a comment attached to facsimile transmission Since it is necessary to associate a great deal of information with a unique code, this conventional technique cannot cope with this.

Further, when a user considers the case where one of a plurality of facsimile machines is selected and used, operation mode information corresponding to the user's unique code must be redundantly stored on each facsimile machine. However, it is not efficient in resource management.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an operation environment setting device that solves the above problems, efficiently sets an environment suitable for an operator such as a facsimile machine, and can reduce the operation load on each operator. The purpose is to:

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides an operation environment setting device that sets an operation environment in a plurality of interconnected processing devices that perform a process corresponding to an operation of an operator. Management means for managing the setting data in association with the identification information of the operator; and when receiving the identification information of the operator, acquiring the setting data corresponding to the identification information from the management means or another processing device. It is characterized by comprising an acquiring means and a setting means for setting an operating environment suitable for the operator based on the setting data acquired by the acquiring means.

Further, in the second invention, the management means includes a storage means for storing setting data corresponding to each operator, and a table for storing the setting data stored in the storage means in association with the identification information of the operator. It is characterized by having.

In a third aspect of the present invention, when the identification information of the operator is received, the acquisition means determines whether setting data corresponding to the identification information exists in the storage means based on the table. Determining means, when the determining means determines that the setting data corresponding to the identification information exists in the storage means, obtains the corresponding setting data from the storage means; And setting data acquisition means for acquiring setting data corresponding to the above from another processing device.

According to the first invention, setting data corresponding to each operator is managed by a management unit in association with the identification information of the operator, and when the identification information of the operator is received, a setting corresponding to the identification information is performed. Since the data is obtained from the management unit or another processing device and the operation environment suitable for the operator is set based on the obtained setting data, the following effects can be obtained.

1) It is possible to efficiently set environment settings suitable for each operator.

2) It is possible to reduce the operational load on each operator.

(3) The environment setting suitable for the user can be performed on each processing device while the setting data of the operator is distributed and managed in each processing device.

(4) The load on the memory of each processing device can be reduced.

In the second invention, the setting data corresponding to each operator is stored in the storage means, and the setting data stored in the storage means is managed in a table in association with the identification information of the operator. Can easily be changed.

Further, in the third invention, when the identification information of the operator is received, it is determined whether or not the setting data corresponding to the identification information exists in the storage unit, and the setting data corresponding to the identification information is stored in the storage unit. If it exists, the corresponding setting data is obtained from this storage means, and in other cases, the setting data corresponding to the identification information is obtained from another processing device. Thus, it is possible to smoothly set the environment based on the setting data.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which three facsimile apparatuses are applied to a facsimile communication system in which the apparatuses are connected via a public communication network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a facsimile communication system used in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile communication system has a configuration in which three facsimile machines 11, 12, and 13 are connected to a public communication network 20 via exchanges 21, 22, and 23, respectively. And 13 perform facsimile communication with each other via the public communication network 20 when a facsimile transmission instruction is given by the user.

Further, each of the facsimile apparatuses 11, 12, and 13 holds the communication additional information, the short registration data, the job memory data, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as "personal data") of each user in the personal data storage units 11a, 12a, and 13a, respectively. are doing.

Then, each of the facsimile apparatuses 11, 12 and 13 authenticates the user based on the user ID and the password, and if the user is recognized as a valid user, the communication additional information based on the personal data corresponding to the user ID. , Short registration data, job memory data, and the like.

That is, the facsimile apparatuses 11, 12, and 13 provide an operation environment suitable for the user ID when authenticating the user before using the apparatus and authenticating the user as a valid user.

In the present embodiment, the user ID is read from the department management card inserted into the card reader 11m, and the password is received from the operation display unit 11d. Then, after accepting both, user authentication is performed, and only when the user is recognized as a valid user, an operation environment corresponding to the user ID is provided.

Specifically, when the facsimile apparatus 11 has personal data corresponding to the user ID in the personal data storage unit 11a, the personal data is taken out of the personal data storage unit 11a, and communication is added based on the personal data. Information, short registration data, job memory data, etc. are set.

On the other hand, if the facsimile apparatus 11 does not have personal data corresponding to the user ID, it requests personal data from the other facsimile apparatuses 12 and 13 and based on the personal data returned in response to this request. To set the environment.

Next, the configuration of the facsimile machine 11 will be described. In this embodiment, since each facsimile apparatus has the same function, only the facsimile apparatus 11 will be described here for convenience of explanation.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus 11 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus 11 includes a personal data storage unit 11a, an image input unit 11b, an input image processing unit 11c, an operation display unit 11d, an operation display control unit 11e, and a print processing unit 11f. , A printing unit 11g, a transmission / reception processing unit 11h, a line control unit 11i, a control unit 11j, a personal data processing unit 11k, a data management table 11l, and a card reader 11m.

The image input unit 11b is an input unit that optically reads a document to be transmitted by facsimile and outputs the document to the image processing unit 11c. The input image processing unit 11c performs image processing such as data compression on the received image data. It is a processing unit to perform.

The operation display unit 11d includes a display function of displaying various display contents on a panel surface (not shown), an input function of detecting a designated position where the user presses the panel surface, and a numeric keypad used for inputting a password or the like.

The operation display control unit 11e is a control unit that controls the operation display unit 11d, and when receiving personal data from the control unit 11j, performs display settings and the like corresponding to the personal data.

The print processing unit 11f is a processing unit that, when receiving the received compressed data from the control unit 11i, decompresses the compressed data to restore the original image data, and outputs the restored image data to the printing unit 11g. The printing unit 11g is an output unit that prints out print data received from the print processing unit 11f on printing paper.

The transmission / reception processing unit 11h is a processing unit that performs facsimile data transmission / reception processing under the control of the control unit 11j. The line control unit 11i is interposed between the analog or digital public communication network and the transmission / reception processing unit 11h. It is a control unit that controls the interface.

The control unit 11j is a control unit that performs overall control of the facsimile machine 11, and specifically performs facsimile transmission / reception control, data file management, and control of the personal data processing unit 11k.

That is, if the control unit 11j receives the compressed data to be transmitted by facsimile from the input image processing unit 11c, it outputs the compressed data to the transmission / reception processing unit 11h, and if the control unit 11j receives the compressed data from the transmission / reception processing unit 11h. For example, the compressed data is output to the print processing unit 11f.

When the user ID and the password are received from the card reader 11m and the operation display control unit 11e, respectively, the user ID and the password are output to the personal data processing unit 11k, and the personal data is received from the personal data processing unit 11k. If so, the personal data is output to the operation display control section 11e.

The personal data processing unit 11k performs user authentication by comparing the user ID and password received from the control unit 11j with the contents of the data management table 11k, and, when recognizing that the user is a valid user, corresponds to the user ID. The personal data is obtained from the personal data storage unit 11a or another facsimile machine and output to the control unit 11j.

Specifically, since the data management table 11k holds the correspondence between the user ID and the password, the user ID and the password received from the control unit 11j are compared with the contents of the data management table 11k, Judge the legitimacy of

However, even when the corresponding user ID does not exist in the data management table 11k, since the user ID may be registered on another facsimile machine, the user authentication with respect to the other facsimile machine is performed. And request for personal data.

Specifically, the personal data processing unit 11k sends the user ID and the password to the other facsimile apparatuses 12 and 13 via the line control unit 11i and the public communication network 20, and the facsimile having the personal data corresponding to the user ID. The personal data corresponding to the user ID is received from the device only when the user is valid.

That is, when the other facsimile apparatus receives the user ID and the password from the facsimile apparatus 11, the other facsimile apparatus authenticates the validity, and returns the personal data corresponding to the user ID when it is determined to be valid.

Although a detailed description is omitted for the sake of convenience, if the corresponding personal data does not exist on another facsimile machine or if it is determined that the personal data is not valid, the fact is returned to the facsimile machine 11.

The data management table 11l is a table that holds the correspondence between user IDs and passwords, and manages telephone directory data, job memory data, and the like in association with user IDs.

By using the facsimile apparatuses 11 to 13 having the above-described configuration, user authentication is performed prior to use of the apparatus, and when it is determined that the user is a valid user, a condition suitable for the user is determined based on personal data corresponding to the user ID. Settings can be made.

Next, the relationship between the data management table 11l and the personal data stored in the personal data storage unit 11a will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the data management table 11l shown in FIG. 1 and personal data stored in the personal data storage unit 11a.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the data management table 111 manages a password 32, transmission source data 33, telephone directory data 34, job memory data 35, and transmission destination comment data 36 for each user ID 31. .

More specifically, the user ID “13” has a password “3665”, transmission source data “Sato of Company F”, telephone directory data “3”, job memory data “10”, and transmission destination comment data 7 Is associated with.

(4) The user ID "5" is associated with only the password "1111" and the source data "Company F Suzuki".

Therefore, if the user ID and the password are accepted, the validity of the user can be authenticated by referring to the data management table 11l.

The telephone directory data 34 is a data area for holding a pointer to a desired data area of the telephone directory data table 37 shown in FIG. 3B and stored in the personal data storage unit 11a.

The job memory data 35 is a data area that holds a pointer to a desired data area of the job memory data table 38 shown in FIG. 3C and stored in the personal data storage unit 11a.

That is, the data management table 111 holds not only the correspondence between the user ID and the password but also the link between the user ID and the personal data, that is, the telephone directory data and the job memory data.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of a telephone directory data table 37 stored in the personal data storage unit 11a shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, the telephone directory data table 37 includes a shortened number and a telephone number. , Address, and search keys 1-3.

For example, when the user ID is "13" or the password is "3665", the telephone directory data is "3". For example, the telephone number corresponding to the abbreviated number "018" is "xx-xxxx". -xxxx ", the address is" Company B "," Hi "is assigned to search key 1," B "is assigned to search key 2, and" Group 5 "is assigned to search key 3.

FIG. 3C is a diagram showing an example of the job memory data table 38 stored in the personal data storage unit 11a shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, the job memory data table 38 has a registration number, a job memory , Data 1-4.

For example, when the user ID is “13” or the password is “3665”, the job memory data is “2”. For example, for the registration number “002”, “ “Materials for management meeting” is assigned to “Press numeric key 3” for data 1, “Press mode setting key” for data 2, “Margin setting” for data 3, and “Start key press” for data 4. Will be.

If the accepted user ID does not exist in the data management table 11l, this user ID or another password is transmitted to another facsimile machine, and the user is authenticated and requested for personal data.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the user ID or the password is transmitted to the other facsimile apparatuses 12 and 13 via the public communication network 20 and the other facsimile apparatus 12 or 13 is authenticated as a valid user Receives personal data corresponding to the user ID.

FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating an example of the destination comment data table 39. In this example, a comment “HR Section Sato” is assigned to the registration number 1 and “Suzuki General Affairs Section” is assigned to the registration number 2. You have assigned a comment.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the data management unit table 111 holds the correspondence between the user ID and the password, and also holds the link relationship between the user ID and the personal data in the personal data storage unit 11a.

Next, display control performed by the operation display control unit 11e shown in FIG. 1 based on personal data will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a telephone directory screen is displayed on the operation display unit 11d shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4A, here, a telephone directory screen including a plurality of telephone numbers is displayed, and each telephone number displayed on this screen is associated with a certain user ID. .

That is, in the present embodiment, the telephone directory data corresponding to each user ID is stored as personal data in the personal data storage unit 11a, and if the user is authenticated, the environment corresponding to the user ID Since the setting is to be performed, a telephone directory screen suitable for a valid user is displayed on the operation display unit 11d.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the destinations of the telephone directory are managed in the order of the Japanese syllabary, and when any one of the initials is designated, a list of telephone numbers having the initials as the destination is displayed. It is configured to be.

Further, in order to prevent the telephone number addressed to a certain initial letter from being limited to a predetermined number, in the present embodiment, the user switches to a new page shown in FIG. It is configured to be able to.

(4) By displaying a telephone directory suitable for a valid user on the operation display unit 11d in this way, it is possible to reduce the effort of the valid user at the time of facsimile transmission.

Here, a plurality of telephone numbers are associated with one user ID, but a plurality of telephone numbers can be given to the telephone directory data 34 of the data management table 111 shown in FIG.

Next, a display screen displayed on the operation display unit 11d when facsimile transmission is selected will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display screen displayed on the operation display unit 11d when facsimile transmission is selected.

As shown in FIG. 5, on this display screen, a comment "Please call back" is set in the comment column 50, and the affiliation "Company F XX department XX section" is set in the sender column 51. Have been.

The comment and affiliation are not set by the user each time, but are set by the facsimile apparatus 11 based on personal data or the like corresponding to the user ID.

Specifically, in the data management table 111 shown in FIG. 3A, since the link relationship between the user ID and the transmission source data is held, the transmission source data is stored in the transmission source column 51 using the transmission source data. Is set in the comment data table 36 shown in FIG. 3D, and the comment is set in the comment column 50 of the transmission destination.

(4) By displaying the transmission comment and the transmission source data suitable for the authorized user on the operation display unit 11d, the effort of the authorized user at the time of facsimile transmission can be reduced.

Next, a display example in which a plurality of destination comment candidates are displayed on the operation display unit 11d will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display for displaying a plurality of comment candidates on the operation display section 11d shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, here, a plurality of comment candidates corresponding to the valid user are displayed, and the valid user selects a desired comment from the plurality of comment candidates and performs facsimile transmission. .

However, it is necessary to store a plurality of comment candidates in the comment column of the job memory data table 38 shown in FIG. 3C, and to take in a plurality of comment candidates corresponding to the user ID.

In the present embodiment, in order to prevent the number of comment candidates from being limited to a predetermined number, by selecting the “next page” column, the comment candidates shown in FIG. I have.

Next, a processing procedure up to menu display in the facsimile machine 11 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure up to menu display in the facsimile apparatus 11 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, the facsimile apparatus 11 obtains a user ID from a department management card attached to the card reader 11m (step 701), and then inputs a password entered by the user using the operation display unit 11d. Accept (Step 702).

Next, by confirming whether or not the item corresponding to the user ID exists in the data management table 111, it is confirmed whether or not the user is a registered user of the own device (step 703). If it is determined that the user is a registered user of the apparatus, it is checked whether or not the correspondence between the user ID and the password matches the one in the data management table 111 to authenticate the user (step 704). .

On the other hand, if the user is not a registered user of his / her own device, user authentication and personal data request are made to the other facsimile devices 12 and 13 (step 703), and data returned from these facsimile devices 12 and 13 is received. (Step 704).

Then, based on the user authentication result in the own device or the user authentication result included in the received data, it is confirmed whether or not the user is a valid user (step 707). An initial menu is displayed based on the personal data corresponding to the ID (step 708). If the user is not a valid user, a default initial menu prepared in advance is displayed (step 709).

メ ニ ュ ー By performing the above series of processing, it is possible to display a menu suitable for the user.

Note that, here, the default menu is displayed when the user is not a valid user, but it is also possible to display an operation prohibition display on the menu screen.

Next, the relationship with the other facsimile apparatuses 12 and 13 shown in the steps 705 and 706 will be described in more detail.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure between the facsimile machines regarding personal data transfer. Here, the facsimile device 11 is a device that requests personal data, and the facsimile device 12 is a device that requests personal data.

As shown in FIG. 8, if the facsimile device 11 determines that the user is not a registered user of the device, the facsimile device 11 sends the user ID and password to the facsimile device 12 (step 801). Here, the detailed description of the procedure for transmitting the user ID and the password is omitted, but the data to be transmitted can be encrypted to improve the confidentiality.

Then, when the facsimile apparatus 12 receives the user ID and the password (step 802), the user ID is checked against the contents of the data management table to determine whether or not the user is a registered user of the apparatus (step 803). ).

If the user is a registered user of the own device, the user ID and password are checked against the contents of the data management table to authenticate the user's validity (step 804), and it is confirmed whether the user is a valid user (step 804). Step 805).

As a result, if the user corresponding to the user ID is a valid user, after extracting the personal data corresponding to the user ID from the personal data storage unit 11a (step 806), the transmission data for returning to the facsimile apparatus 11 Is created (step 807) and transmitted to the facsimile machine 11 (step 808).

Specifically, if the user is a valid user, this transmission data includes personal data corresponding to the user ID. If the user is not a valid user or a registered user of his own device, a message to that effect is given. Is included.

When the facsimile apparatus 11 receives the data transmitted by the facsimile apparatus 12 (step 809), the facsimile apparatus 11 confirms whether or not this data has personal data corresponding to the user ID. Uses the personal data for menu display.

By performing the above-described series of processes, even when the facsimile apparatus 11 does not have personal data corresponding to the user ID, the facsimile apparatus 11 requests the other facsimile apparatuses 12 and 13 for personal data, and sends a request to the user based on the personal data. An appropriate menu can be displayed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, personal data corresponding to each user is stored in the personal data storage unit 11a, and the correspondence between the personal data and the user ID is held in the data management table 11l. If the user ID and the password are accepted, the personal data processing unit 11k acquires personal data corresponding to the user ID from the personal data storage unit 11a or another facsimile machine 12 or 13, and based on the acquired personal data, Since the operation environment is set so as to conform to the above, the following effects can be obtained.

1) Environment settings suitable for the user can be made efficiently.

2) It is possible to reduce the load on the user in operation.

(3) While the registered users are distributed and managed by a plurality of facsimile machines, it is possible to set an environment suitable for the user on each facsimile machine.

(4) The load on the memory of each facsimile machine can be reduced.

5) Personal data can be easily changed.

(6) Each facsimile machine can smoothly set an environment based on personal data in cooperation with each other.

In the present embodiment, the facsimile apparatus 11 is configured to request personal data from all the other facsimile apparatuses 12 and 13 when the facsimile apparatus 11 determines that the user ID has not been registered. After specifying the facsimile device, the facsimile device can be requested for personal data corresponding to the user ID.

That is, by adding a function of periodically notifying the registered user to each of the facsimile apparatuses 11, 12 and 13 and a function of managing the user registered in another facsimile apparatus, personal data corresponding to the user ID is added. Can be specified.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applied to a multifunction machine having a facsimile function, a copy function, and a printer function. Can be applied. When the present invention is applied to such a multifunction peripheral, personal data can be exchanged via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like accommodated in the multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a facsimile communication system used in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between a data management table shown in FIG. 1 and personal data stored in a personal data storage unit. The figure which shows an example which displayed the telephone directory screen on the operation display part shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the operation display unit when facsimile transmission is selected. FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a display for displaying a plurality of comment candidates on the operation display unit shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure up to menu display in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure between facsimile machines related to personal data transfer.

Explanation of reference numerals

11, 12, 13 ... facsimile machine, 11a, 12a, 13a ... personal data storage unit, 20 ... public communication network, 21, 22, 23 ... exchange, 11b ... image input unit, 11c ... input image processing unit, 11d ... operation Display unit, 11e Operation display control unit, 11f Print processing unit, 11g Print unit, 11h Transmission / reception processing unit, 11i Line control unit, 11j Control unit, 11k Personal data processing unit, 11l Data management table , 11m ... card reader, 31 ... user ID, 32 ... password, 33 ... sender data

Claims (3)

In an operation environment setting device that sets an operation environment in a plurality of interconnected processing devices that perform a process corresponding to an operation of an operator,
Management means for managing setting data corresponding to each operator in association with operator identification information;
Acquiring means for acquiring setting data corresponding to the identification information from the management means or another processing device when the identification information of the operator is received;
Setting means for setting an operating environment suitable for the operator based on the setting data acquired by the acquiring means. The management means,
Storage means for storing setting data corresponding to each operator;
The operation environment setting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a table configured to store setting data stored in the storage unit in association with operator identification information. The acquisition means,
Determining means for determining, based on the table, whether or not setting data corresponding to the identification information is present in the storage means when receiving the identification information of the operator;
When the determining means determines that the setting data corresponding to the identification information exists in the storage means, the setting data corresponding to the identification information is obtained from the storage means; otherwise, the setting corresponding to the identification information is obtained. The operation environment setting device according to claim 2, further comprising: setting data acquisition means for acquiring data from another processing device.

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