JP2004104411A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can cope with the case of forgetting a password required for extracting image data, and also, in which secrecy of the image data is enhanced. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device is provided with an image storage means having boxes to store documents by storing them in the boxes, a user authentication means to authenticate the user operating the image forming device, and an access control means to control the accessibility to the documents stored in the boxes by deciding a plurality of the boxes capable of accessing of reading or extracting in the boxes of the image storage means for every user authenticated by the user authentication means. The access control means controls so as to make a pre-determined specified user accessible to all the boxes and to all the documents stored in the boxes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine having an image reading unit that reads an image from a document on which an image is recorded and outputs the image as image data and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on the image data is often used. Are known.
[0003]
In such an image forming apparatus, for example, simple image processing such as trimming is performed on image data read by the image reading unit, and the image forming unit forms an image based on the image data subjected to the image processing. In addition, there has been provided a multifunction peripheral which is provided with functions of a copier, a facsimile machine, and the like in one unit and can be used as a scanner or a printer.
[0004]
In addition, recent image forming apparatuses include a large-capacity hard disk, for example, a PDL (Page Description Language (Page Description Language) that can be interpreted by a printing apparatus using software called an application program or a printer driver) from a personal computer or the like connected to a network. There is provided an apparatus that receives data, develops it into bitmap data, stores it on a hard disk, and then retrieves and prints out the data.
[0005]
Further, the hard disk use area is divided for each user, and the image data is stored in the area (user box) divided when the user designates from the personal computer or the like, and thereafter, the operation unit of the apparatus or the personal computer connected to the network. There is also known an apparatus that extracts image data and prints out the image data in response to an instruction from the user.
[0006]
For protection of the data stored in these user boxes, set a personal password when creating the user box, so that only those who know the password can retrieve the image data in the user box. I have.
[0007]
Further, in the “image forming apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 1, a password is set so that image data stored in a user box provided in the image forming apparatus can be printed by anyone other than the owner of the user box. When removing from a box that has not been set, it is possible to retrieve and print without a password.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-146115
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described related art has the following problems.
[0009]
That is, in the "image forming apparatus" disclosed in Patent Document 1, image data can be taken out of a box in which a password has not been set without a password. There is a problem that it is not possible to cope with such cases.
[0010]
In addition, if no password is set, anyone can take out the image data, so there is a problem of confidentiality, and it is unclear who performed what operation and there was a risk of causing a problem in data management. .
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can cope with a case where a password required for extracting image data is forgotten. In addition, an image forming apparatus with enhanced confidentiality of image data is provided. The purpose is to provide.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for performing printing on a sheet, comprising: a box; an image storing unit for storing a document in the box; User authentication means for authenticating a user who operates the user, and, for each user authenticated by the user authentication means, a plurality of boxes that can be read or taken out of the boxes of the image storage means are defined and stored in the boxes. Access control means for controlling whether or not access to the specified document, wherein the access control means, for a predetermined specific user, allows access to all of the boxes, Controls access to all stored documents.
[0013]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for performing printing on paper, including a box, an image storing unit for storing a document in the box, and authenticating a user who operates the image forming apparatus. User authentication means; storage control means for specifying and storing whether or not an authentication result by the user authentication means is required when accessing a document when storing a document in the image storage means; Based on the result specified by the storage control unit, for each user authenticated by the user authentication unit, a plurality of boxes that can be read or taken out of the boxes of the image storage unit are determined and stored in the boxes. Access control means for controlling whether or not access to the specified document is permitted.
[0014]
According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having image forming means for printing on paper, comprising a box, storing and storing a document in the box, and storing and deleting each of the stored documents. Image storing means for storing a history of accesses made up to the time when the data is accessed.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 2 that controls the entire operation, and an operation display unit 3 that receives an operation input from a user and displays information to the user. And a reading unit 4 for reading an image from a document, an image storage unit 5 for storing image data read by the reading unit 4, and a recording unit 6 for forming an image on a sheet.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a directory configuration of the image storage unit 5 shown in FIG.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of a file configuration of a database file in the directory configuration shown in FIG.
[0020]
FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of a data configuration of history data included in the database file shown in FIG.
[0021]
FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of a file configuration of an image file in the directory configuration shown in FIG.
[0022]
When storing image data in the image storage unit 5, as shown in FIG. 2, the root directory includes a directory for each user (hereinafter, also referred to as a "user box") and a directory of an administrator (hereinafter, an "administrator box"). ) And a temporary file. A database file and an image file are provided in a directory for each user and a directory for an administrator, and image data for each page is stored along with the image file.
[0023]
In the following, the image data and the contents of the processing to be performed when printing the image data (for example, how many pages to which pages of an image are to be printed, how many holes are to be formed in the paper, whether the , Or printing a plurality of images on one sheet (N in 1, imposition, etc.) is called a job, and this job or printing of image data, document files, etc. The target is called a document.
[0024]
That is, in the present embodiment, the image storage unit 5 is an image storage unit that has a box and stores a document in the box.
[0025]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a machine setting screen is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
[0026]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where a password input screen at the time of box registration is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
[0027]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a box registration screen is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
[0028]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where a box selection screen is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
[0029]
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a document selection screen in the user mode is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
[0030]
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a document selection screen in the administrator mode is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
[0031]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0032]
First, the outline of the operation of the present embodiment will be described first, and then the details will be described with reference to flowcharts.
[0033]
(1) User box registration procedure
In order to register a user box, a box No. A user box area is created by inputting a (five-digit number) and a password (a maximum of eight digits).
[0034]
(2) Registration procedure of administrator box
In order to register the administrator box, the box No. (Five digits) and password (up to eight digits).
[0035]
(3) Procedure for reading the original and registering it in the user box
A document is set on the ADF of the reading unit 4 and the registered box No. (5 digits), password required / unnecessary. Read and store the image data in the user box.
[0036]
(4) Procedure for printing image data requiring a password stored in a user box
On the box print screen, select the box No. (5 digits) and password (up to 8 digits). At this time, the input password and the input box No. Are compared, and if they match, a list of all image data stored in the user box is displayed on the operation display unit 3. The user selects and prints a desired one from among them.
[0037]
(5) Procedure for printing password-less image data stored in the user box
On the box print screen, enter the user ID (five digits). At this time, only documents that do not require a password and are stored in the box are displayed. The user selects and prints a desired one from among them.
[0038]
(6) Procedure for printing image data requiring a password stored in all user boxes
On the box print screen, select the box No. (Five digits) and password (up to eight digits). At this time, the input password and the input box No. Is compared with the password registered in the user box, and if they match, a list of all image data stored in all user boxes is displayed on the operation display unit 3. The user selects and prints a desired one from among them.
[0039]
(7) Procedure for printing password-free image data stored in all user boxes
Box No. on the box print screen (5 digits). At this time, only documents that do not require a password and are stored in all boxes are displayed. The user selects and prints a desired one from among them.
[0040]
(8) Leave history
A history of document operations is stored for each box from the time when the document is stored in the box to the time when it is deleted.
[0041]
(9) Check the history
Box No. When (5 digits) is input, the document history is displayed.
[0042]
In the present embodiment, when the program operating in the control unit 2 and executing the above-mentioned “(3) Procedure for reading a document and registering it in a user box” is stored in the image storage unit, This is storage control means for designating and storing whether or not an authentication result by the user authentication means is necessary when accessing a document.
[0043]
Further, in the present embodiment, the program that operates in the image storage unit 5 and the control unit 2 and executes the above-mentioned “(8) Keep history” has a box, and stores a document in this box. And an image storage means for storing, for each stored document, a history of accesses from storage to deletion.
[0044]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a process when registering a box in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
[0045]
When the user selects the display of the machine setting screen on the operation display unit 3, the machine setting screen shown in FIG. When the user presses the box registration button on this machine setting screen (A-1), a screen requesting an administrator password (FIG. 7) is displayed (A-2), and the operator is prompted to enter a password (A-3). ).
[0046]
The screen shown in FIG. 7 is a screen displayed when box registration is permitted only to a specific operator. If the password entered here matches the pre-registered administrator password (A-4), a box registration screen (FIG. 8) is displayed (A-5). The screen (FIG. 6) is displayed.
[0047]
In the present embodiment, a program operating on the operation display unit 3 and the control unit 2 for collating a user ID and a password is a user authentication unit for authenticating a user who operates the image forming apparatus.
[0048]
Next, a procedure of box registration for each user or for an administrator following FIG. 8 will be described.
[0049]
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the initial setting performed at the time of box registration.
[0050]
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a key input processing flowchart executed in response to a key input from a user at the time of box registration.
[0051]
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a key input process flowchart executed in response to a key input from the user at the time of box registration, and is a diagram showing a process subsequent to FIG.
[0052]
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a key input process flowchart executed in response to a key input from the user at the time of box registration, and is a diagram showing a process subsequent to FIG.
[0053]
When the screen transits to the box registration screen (FIG. 8), the box No. Button is selected, and the box No. The input digit number = 0, the password input digit number = 0, the administrator attribute button is grayed out, and the administrator attribute = user (B-1). In this state, when a key is pressed, each process and screen transition are performed as shown in FIGS.
[0054]
If the numeric key is pressed (C-1), the box No. depends on the selected state. If it is selected (C-2), box No. An input process is performed (C-6, C-7). If a password is selected (C-3), a password input process is performed (C-4, C-5).
[0055]
The box No. , The password button and the box name button are pressed (C-1, D-1, D-7, D-10), the input box No. (D-2), password (D-8) and box name (D-11) are checked, and the entered password is registered in the registered box (D-3, D-9, D-12) (D-4), the administrator attribute button is displayed at this point, and the registered box name and administrator attribute are displayed (D-5).
[0056]
If the passwords of the registered boxes do not match (D-4), nothing is performed.
[0057]
In the case of an unregistered box (D-3, D-9, D-12), an administrator attribute button is displayed, and the administrator attribute at that time is displayed (D-6).
[0058]
When the administrator attribute button is pressed (D-13), the administrator attribute is toggled (administrator ← → user) (D-14).
[0059]
When the delete button is pressed (E-1), the registered box No. is registered. (E-2), when the entered password matches the registered password (E-3), and when there is no document in the box (E-4), the box is deleted (E-5). ). If not, do nothing.
[0060]
When the registration button is pressed (E-6), the registered box No. is registered. (E-7), if the entered password matches the registered password (E-8), the unregistered box No. Is specified, and only when the password has been specified (E-10), the input state is registered (E-9).
[0061]
When the cancel button is pressed (E-11), the previous screen, that is, the machine setting screen (FIG. 6) is displayed (E-12).
[0062]
The content registered at this time is the box No. The database file is created as a database file shown in FIG. 3 under a directory having a directory name determined by.
[0063]
Next, a procedure for registering a document in the already registered box will be described.
[0064]
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a sequence chart of a process of registering a document in a box that has already been registered.
[0065]
FIG. 19 is a table showing reservation management information for managing a reservation state for scanning a document in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
[0066]
Referring to FIG. 20, when a document is set on the reading unit 4, the image forming apparatus 1 displays on the operation display unit 3 that a document is present.
[0067]
From the operation display unit 3, a scan operation to a box can be performed. The operation for scanning the box is as follows. After a password is required / unnecessary, the start key provided on the operation display unit 3 is pressed.
[0068]
Upon receiving a job input instruction from the operation display unit 3, the control unit 2 refers to the reservation management information shown in FIG. Is acquired, and it is determined that the corresponding job is being reserved. Then, after the scan unit 4 is notified of the start of the scan job to the reading unit 4, the scan unit 4 is notified of the scan ready indicating that the reading can be started. 5, the transfer start is notified, the document image is read, and the image data is written to the temporary file.
[0069]
When the image transfer of one page is completed, the reading unit 4 notifies the information indicating the presence / absence of the next original and the scan ready status. Further, the image storage unit 5 notifies the completion of the transfer.
[0070]
To store the read image in the image storage unit 5, the control unit 2 issues a file registration command to the image storage unit 5, and the reading unit 4 closes the temporary file and changes the file name to, for example, the job number. And the name indicating the directory under the corresponding box determined by the number of pages.
[0071]
Further, the temporary file is opened again for storing the next page. The image data is stored in the file in the same sequence for the second and subsequent pages, and when reading of all pages is completed, a job end is notified to the image storage unit 5, and the temporary file is closed and deleted.
[0072]
The image file includes, for each page, data indicating page attributes as shown in FIG. 5 and actual image data.
[0073]
Next, a procedure for outputting a document registered in the box will be described.
[0074]
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a process when selecting a desired document from documents already registered in the box, and is a diagram illustrating a process until a document selection screen is displayed.
[0075]
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a process when selecting a desired document from the documents already registered in the box, and is a diagram illustrating a process in a state where the document selection screen is displayed.
[0076]
FIG. 22 is a table showing data indicating the selected document.
[0077]
The box selection screen (FIG. 9) displays all registered boxes, their box names, and the number of registered documents. An arbitrary box is selected from these boxes, or a box No. , And then enter a password if necessary (F-1). At this time, whether the entered password matches the registered password and whether the box No. Is displayed in FIG. 10 (user mode) (F-4) or FIG. 11 (administrator mode) (F-3) depending on whether the user is an administrator or a user (F-2).
[0078]
At this time, the actual displayed document is
1) In the user mode, if there is no password input or there is a password input but they do not match, only the passwordless documents in the corresponding box are displayed (G-1 and G-3 in FIG. 18).
2) If there is a match in the user mode with a password input, all documents in the corresponding box are displayed (G-1 and G-2 in FIG. 18).
3) In the administrator mode, if there is no password input or there is a password input but they do not match, only the password-less documents in all boxes are displayed (G-1 and G-3 in FIG. 18).
4) If there is a match in the administrator mode with a password input, all documents in all boxes are displayed (G-1 and G-2 in FIG. 18).
[0079]
In FIGS. 10 and 11, a document to be printed can be selected by selecting a cursor button on the right side of the screen or a directly displayed line. These documents to be selected are box numbers. And job No. 22 can be specified up to a maximum of 10 as shown in FIG.
[0080]
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a sequence chart of a process of forming an image based on a document already registered in a box.
[0081]
The user selects the box No. selected for output on the operation unit display 3. , Document No. When the recording operation is performed by designating the first box No. Job No. A job start command is issued to the image storage unit 5 in order to open the first page of the image file.
[0082]
The image storage unit 5 opens a document file. On the other hand, the control unit 2 issues a print job start command to the recording unit 6, and the recording unit 6 returns a paper feed ready response when the paper can be fed. The control unit 2 reads the image size from the opened document file and issues a paper feed start command to feed paper of an appropriate size.
[0083]
The recording unit 6 receives the paper feed start command, feeds the paper of the designated paper feed stage, and returns a print ready response to the control unit 2 at the timing when printing is possible. The unit 2 issues a recording start command to the recording unit 6 and issues a transfer start command to the image storage unit 5. As a result, the image data is read from the opened document file and transferred to the recording unit 6.
[0084]
When the transfer is completed, a transfer completion response is returned from the image storage unit 5 to the control unit 2. Therefore, if there is a next page, the next file is opened. Thereafter, the recording unit 6 returns a paper-feed ready response when the next paper can be fed. If there is a next page, the recording unit 6 performs the same processing as the first page.
[0085]
Further, when the paper on which the image is actually recorded is discharged from the recording unit 6, the completion of the paper discharge is notified to the control unit 2. Therefore, the control unit 2 starts recording after starting recording the last page. If the number of pages is compared with the number of pages that have been discharged and they match, the job is terminated.
[0086]
In the example shown in FIG. 21, when printing is completed, the document file is deleted.
[0087]
Further, when a document is registered or when a document is printed out, history data as shown in FIG. 4 is created at the end of each job, and the history is stored in each box. .
[0088]
In the present embodiment, the program for performing the access control shown in FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 20, and FIG. A plurality of boxes that can be read or taken out of the boxes of the means are defined, access to the documents contained in the boxes is controlled, and for a predetermined specific user, the boxes of the boxes are specified. This is access control means for controlling access to all of the documents and to enable access to all documents contained in the box.
[0089]
Further, in the present embodiment, the program for performing the access control shown in FIGS. 17, 18, 20, and 21 which is operated by the control unit 2 is executed based on the result specified by the storage control unit. An access control unit that defines a plurality of boxes that can be read or taken out of the boxes of the image storage unit for each user authenticated by the authentication unit, and controls whether or not the document contained in the box can be accessed. .
[0090]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to cope with a case where a password required for extracting image data is forgotten, and to provide an image forming apparatus with enhanced confidentiality of image data. can do.
[0091]
Further, according to the present invention, even when the password is forgotten, the image data can be easily extracted by requesting the administrator.
[0092]
Further, according to the present invention, when a user himself / herself registers a document and erroneously enters the user ID into a box without a password, the user can easily find the user ID.
[0093]
Further, according to the present invention, registration can be performed by an individual and can be taken out by a simple operation even when an administrator prints out all at once.
[0094]
Further, according to the present invention, a document requiring no password can be registered, so that the operation is simplified.
[0095]
Further, according to the present invention, since a job history can be left for each box, management becomes easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a directory configuration of an image storage unit illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of a file configuration of a database file in the directory configuration shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of a data configuration of history data included in the database file shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of a file configuration of an image file in the directory configuration shown in FIG. 2;
6 is a diagram showing a state in which a machine setting screen is displayed on a display screen of an operation display unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
7 is a diagram showing a state in which a password input screen at the time of box registration is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
8 is a diagram showing a state in which a box registration screen is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state where a box selection screen is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
10 is a diagram showing a state in which a document selection screen in a user mode is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a document selection screen in an administrator mode is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
12 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a process when registering a box in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart of initialization performed at the time of box registration.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a key input processing flowchart executed in response to a key input from a user at the time of box registration.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a key input process flowchart executed in response to a key input from a user at the time of box registration, and is a diagram showing a process subsequent to FIG. 14;
16 is a diagram showing a key input process flowchart executed in response to a key input from a user at the time of box registration, and is a diagram showing a process subsequent to FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a process when selecting a desired document from documents already registered in a box, and is a diagram illustrating a process until a document selection screen is displayed.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a process when selecting a desired document from documents already registered in a box, and illustrates a process in a state where a document selection screen is displayed.
FIG. 19 is a table showing reservation management information for managing a reservation state for scanning a document in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a sequence chart of processing for registering a document in a box that has already been registered.
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a sequence chart of a process of forming an image based on a document already registered in a box.
FIG. 22 is a table showing data indicating a selected document.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image forming apparatus
2 control unit
3 Operation display
4 Reading unit
5 Image storage unit
6 Recorder

Claims (3)

In an image forming apparatus having image forming means for performing printing on paper,
Image storage means having a box and storing a document in the box;
User authentication means for authenticating a user operating the image forming apparatus;
Access control for determining, for each user who has been authenticated by the user authentication means, a plurality of boxes that can be read or taken out of the boxes of the image storage means, and controlling whether or not to access documents contained in the boxes; Means,
The access control means controls access to all of the boxes to a predetermined specific user, and controls access to all documents contained in the boxes. An image forming apparatus comprising: In an image forming apparatus having image forming means for performing printing on paper,
Image storage means having a box and storing a document in the box;
User authentication means for authenticating a user operating the image forming apparatus;
When storing a document in the image storage unit, a storage control unit that specifies and stores whether or not an authentication result by the user authentication unit is necessary when accessing the document,
Based on the result specified by the storage control unit, for each user authenticated by the user authentication unit, a plurality of boxes that can be read or taken out of the boxes of the image storage unit are determined, and An image forming apparatus comprising: an access control unit configured to control whether or not access to a stored document is permitted. In an image forming apparatus having image forming means for performing printing on paper,
Image storing means for storing a document in the box and storing the document in the box, and for each stored document, a history of access from storage to deletion. Image forming apparatus.

Images