JP2004248303A - Image reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading apparatus which can transfer a read image to a right party when transferring the image to an information processor. <P>SOLUTION: Addresses of clients, namely, of personal computers 2, 3 over a network are confirmed and it is confirmed that operators of the clients are right recipient of the image, the image is then transferred. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading device.

  Recently, an image forming system used in a network environment has been provided.

  This image forming system includes, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine and an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a workstation for instructing the image forming apparatus to scan (read) or print (print) an image. It is configured to be interconnected by a network. Further, a configuration in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a plurality of information processing apparatuses are connected to a network may be adopted.

  In such an image forming system, for example, a method of using the scanner mode in which an information processing apparatus instructs an image forming apparatus to read an image and transfers the image read by the image forming apparatus to the information processing apparatus is known. ing.

  In the image forming system, for example, when an image read by the image forming apparatus is transferred to the information processing apparatus in the scanner mode, the image forming apparatus creates an image file of the read image, and the image file is processed by the image forming apparatus. Forwarded to device.

  The information processing apparatus that has received the image file stores the image file as it is, for example, on a hard disk, and transfers the image file to the image forming apparatus as needed to form an image.

  However, there are the following problems in the conventional image reading apparatuses including a single image reading apparatus such as a so-called scanner or an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine.

  As described above, in a conventional image reading apparatus, when transferring an image file of a read image to an information processing apparatus connected to a network, the image reading is performed among a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to the network. There has been a problem that the transfer may be transferred to an information processing device that is not intended by the user.

  That is, in the conventional image reading device, when a plurality of information processing devices are connected to the network, the image file is transferred to the information processing device that first requested the image reading device to transfer the image file. It was like. For this reason, after a certain user reads an image using the image reading apparatus and another user requests transfer of the image file using the information processing apparatus, the image file is transferred to the information processing apparatus. I will be. Although this is a problem that is inconvenient to use, it is also a big problem in terms of security because an image file may be obtained by a malicious third party.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an image reading apparatus that can transfer a read image to a legitimate partner when transferring the read image to an information processing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image reading apparatus connected to a client via a network and capable of transferring a read image to the client. Address comparison means for comparing an address on the network of the client requesting connection with the address registered by the address registration means, personal registration means for registering an operator operating the image reading apparatus, The personal authentication means for authenticating whether the requesting operator of the client is a person registered by the personal registration means and the result of the comparison by the address comparing means match, and the personal authentication means operates the client. Said client only if he / she authenticates as a registered person. Characterized by comprising an image transfer permitting means for permitting image transfer.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the personal registration means uses information of a portable terminal device carried by an operator who operates the image reading device for registration.

  Also, in the present invention, the personal registration unit detects information from the portable terminal device, displays the detected information as an operator candidate, and reads the correct operator from the displayed contents in the image reading. The operation of the apparatus is selected or confirmed by an operator.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when the personal registration unit cannot identify the operator, the operator who operates the image reading apparatus identifies the operator by inputting information capable of identifying the operator. It is characterized by registering.

  Further, the invention is characterized in that the personal authentication means performs personal authentication based on specific information included in a connection request from a client.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the specific information included in the connection request from the client is a password created when the individual registration means registers an individual.

  Further, the invention is characterized in that the password is stored in a portable terminal device of the operator.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus that can transfer a read image to a legitimate partner when transferring the read image to the information processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a digital copying machine will be described as an example of an image reading apparatus, and an image forming system configured by connecting the digital copying machine and a personal computer as an example of an information processing apparatus via a network will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention.

  This embodiment includes a digital copying machine 1 as an image reading device. The digital copying machine 1 is capable of reading (scanning) and forming (printing) an original document by itself. In addition, the digital copying machine 1 is connected to a network 4 so that an image read by the digital copying machine 1 can be connected to a network. The digital copying machine 1 can transfer the image to another device via the network 4 or form an image received from the other device via the network 4.

  In the present embodiment, the personal computers 2 and 3 are connected to the network 4. The personal computers 2 and 3 can instruct the digital copying machine 1 to read an image, form an image, and transfer an image. Further, the image stored in the personal computers 2 and 3 is transferred to the digital copying machine 1 to form an image in the digital copying machine 1, or the image read by the digital copying machine 1 is transferred to the personal computers 2 and 3 and Editing and saving are also possible.

  In FIG. 1, the network 4 may be a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or any other network. Viewed from the process of transferring images from the digital copying machine 1 to the personal computers 2 and 3, the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 has a server-client system in which the digital copying machine 1 is a server and the personal computers 2 and 3 are clients. It is also a system.

  Note that the present embodiment further includes a portable terminal device 5. The portable terminal device 5 is a device that performs wireless communication with the digital copying machine 1 and receives a password required when an image file of an image read by the digital copying machine 1 is transferred to the personal computer 2 or 3. It is a device for. The mobile terminal device 5 is carried by each user and can authenticate the individual. For example, a non-contact IC card or a Bluetooth-compatible mobile phone can be used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital copying machine 1 shown in FIG.

  The digital copier 1 includes a network connection unit 11 serving as an interface with the network 4 shown in FIG. 1, a control unit 12 for controlling the operation of the entire digital copier 1, an image reading unit 13 for reading an image from a document, For example, an image forming unit 14 for forming an image on paper or the like, a storage unit 15 for storing image data read by the image reading unit 13 and other parameters necessary for the operation of the digital copying machine 1, Input means 16 for inputting operations, instructions, and the like to the user, display means 17 for displaying various information to the user, and wireless communication means serving as an interface for performing wireless communication with the portable terminal device 5 shown in FIG. 18.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of setting a threshold value for document detection in the embodiment shown in FIG.

  The process of setting the threshold value for document detection is performed when the maintenance person installs the digital copying machine 1 at the user.

  First, when the maintenance person installs the digital copying machine 1 at a location designated by the user, the maintenance staff operates the input means 16 of the digital copying machine 1 to set the digital copying machine 1 to the disturbance light measurement mode. At this time, the maintenance person opens the platen cover of the digital copying machine 1 and keeps no original on the platen so that the copying operation of the digital copying machine 1 becomes a so-called sky shot.

  When the digital copier 1 detects that the disturbance light measurement mode has been set (A-1), the entire surface of the document table is scanned by performing a sky shot, and a plurality of locations corresponding to each pixel at the time of image reading are read. , And a plurality of pieces of brightness data are obtained. This is performed by the image reading means 13 shown in FIG. Next, a histogram showing the frequency distribution of the plurality of detected luminance data is created (A-2).

  Subsequently, the luminance of disturbance light is estimated based on the created histogram. That is, a predetermined ratio (for example, 0.05%) of the luminance data is removed from the highest luminance side with respect to the total number of the acquired luminance data, and the highest luminance of the remaining luminance data is replaced with the disturbance light. Estimate the brightness.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the luminance of the disturbance light estimated in this way is higher than the luminance corresponding to a predetermined density (for example, density 0.3) (A-3). , An error message is displayed on the display means 17 (A-4). This error message informs that the current location where the digital copying machine 1 is installed is such that disturbance light is too strong to provide a document detection function normally.

  The maintenance person who sees this error message asks the user to move the digital copier 1 to another location or to eliminate the cause of the disturbance light to improve the influence of the disturbance light. If this improvement cannot be made, it is desirable to use the digital copying machine 1 without using the document detection function.

  In step (A-3), if the estimated luminance of the disturbance light is not higher than the luminance corresponding to the predetermined density (for example, the density of 0.3), the luminance of the estimated disturbance light is calculated as follows. The luminance corresponding to a predetermined density (for example, density 0.3) as an offset is reduced, and the value of the reduced result is stored in the storage unit 15 as a document detection threshold (A-5).

  Hereinafter, in the normal image reading, the document detection is performed using the document detection threshold value stored in the storage unit 15 in step (A-5).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically obtain the optimum document detection threshold value according to the installation environment of the digital copying machine 1, and to provide the user with the function of normal document detection. Can be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the histogram of the frequency of the luminance data is created in step (A-2) of FIG. 3 to estimate the luminance of the disturbance light. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, the luminance of disturbance light may be estimated by the following method.

  That is, when the entire surface of the document table is scanned by performing a sky shot in the ambient light measurement mode, scanning is performed line by line, and for each scanned line, for example, the second highest luminance data among the lines is converted to the highest luminance data. The brightness candidate may be used, and the highest brightness among the brightness of the highest brightness candidate for each line may be estimated as the brightness of the disturbance light.

  When estimating the luminance of the disturbance light, the outer part of the entire surface of the document table is determined from the above-described histogram and the highest luminance candidate so that the reflected light from the edge of the document table is not determined as disturbance light. It is desirable to exclude them.

  In the above-described embodiment, the brightness of the disturbance light is detected. However, it is needless to say that the intensity of the disturbance light may be simply detected.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the document detection threshold value is automatically determined based on the brightness of the disturbance light, so that the document can be detected as much as possible in consideration of the disturbance light. The threshold can be easily set.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the disturbance light is too bright, information is displayed to the maintenance staff so as to improve the situation of the disturbance light, so that the maintenance staff can easily perform necessary measures. .

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when disturbance light is too bright and the situation of disturbance light cannot be improved, use of the document detection function is prohibited, thus preventing misscanning (miscopying). There is also an effect that can be done.

  Next, a process of transferring an image file of an image read by the digital copying machine 1 to a valid partner will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of transferring an image file of an image read by the digital copying machine 1 to a valid partner in the embodiment shown in FIG.

  First, the user uses the digital copying machine 1 to read an image. At this time, the digital copying machine 1 creates an image file including image data of the read image and stores the image file in the storage unit 15.

  When a user transfers an image file, the portable terminal device 5 transmits the ID information of the portable terminal device 5 to the digital copying machine 1 (B-1). The digital copying machine 1 having received the ID information transmits a password required for requesting image transfer to the portable terminal device 5 of the received ID information (B-2). That is, even if there are a plurality of portable terminal devices around the digital copying machine 1, only the portable terminal device 5 that has transmitted the ID information can receive the password. The portable terminal device 5 that has received the password notifies the user of the password by displaying the password on a display unit (not shown). This password is not assigned to each user, but is assigned to a job relating to the transfer of the image read this time (not limited to one image), and is unique for each job.

  In the above description, the ID information is transmitted after the image is read. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say.

  Further, as another configuration example, for example, it is assumed that the portable terminal device 5 is of a type that constantly transmits ID information, and when a user carrying the portable terminal device 5 approaches the digital copying machine 1, digital copying is performed. The device 1 automatically receives the ID information of the portable terminal device 5, performs user authentication, displays the user information on the display means 17, prompts the user to confirm the information, registers the operator, and then reads the image. May be executed.

  In this case, if there are a plurality of persons carrying the portable terminal device 5 near the digital copying machine 1, the digital copying machine 1 receives the ID information from the plurality of portable terminal devices 5, but in this case, the plurality of A list of user information of the user may be displayed on the display means 17 so that the user can select information about the user.

  If the user who wants to read an image does not carry the portable terminal device 5, the display means 17 displays a list of only information on the other person who carries the portable terminal device 5 near the digital copying machine 1. In such a case, the user only has to operate so as to deny the registration of the operator from the list displayed on the display unit 17. In this way, erroneous registration of the operator can be prevented. As a countermeasure in the case where the user who wants to read such an image does not carry the portable terminal device 5, a password for operator authentication is determined in advance and the list is stored in the storage means 15 of the digital copying machine 1. In advance, authentication may be performed by this. That is, a user who wants to read an image but does not carry the portable terminal device 5 inputs a predetermined password from the input means 16 of the digital copying machine 1, and the digital copying machine 1 stores the input password. The password is compared with the password list stored in the means 15, and if the input password is a password in the list, it is registered as an operator, and the subsequent processing is executed. As a result, security can be further improved.

  After that, the user uses the personal computer 2 or 3 to transfer the image file from the digital copying machine 1 to the personal computer 2 or 3. Here, the description will be made on the assumption that the image file is transferred to the personal computer 2. Do.

  The user inputs an image file transfer request and a password obtained by the portable terminal device 5 to the personal computer 2 (B-3). The personal computer 2 having received the input transmits the image file transfer request, the password input by the user as the specific information, and the address of the own device (that is, the personal computer 2) on the network to the digital copying machine 1 ( B-4), a connection request is made. This address is predetermined so as to identify each of all devices connected to the network 4, and is assumed to be a so-called IP address here.

  In the storage means 15 of the digital copying machine 1, an IP address of a device permitted as a transfer destination of an image file is registered in advance (for example, by a user), and an image file transferred from a device having an unregistered IP address is transferred. It is configured not to respond to requests. The number of registrations may be two or more. If the IP address of the device permitted as the transfer destination of the image file is not registered, the transfer may be permitted to all IP addresses, or the transfer may be performed to all IP addresses. May not be permitted. Here, it is assumed that the IP address of the personal computer 2 is registered in the storage unit 15 of the digital copying machine 1 as an IP address of a device permitted as a transfer destination of the image file.

  In the digital copying machine 1 which has received the image file transfer request, the password and the IP address, whether or not the received IP address is registered in the storage means 15 as the IP address of the device permitted as the transfer destination of the image file And whether the received password matches the password transmitted to the mobile terminal device 5 in step (B-2) (B-5).

  In step (B-5), the received IP address is registered in the storage unit 15 as an IP address of an apparatus permitted as a transfer destination of the image file, and the received password is stored in step (B-2). If the password matches the password transmitted to the mobile terminal device 5, the image file is transferred to the device of the received IP address (that is, the personal computer 2).

  In the above-described embodiment, the user uses the portable terminal device 5 when receiving the supply of the password from the digital copying machine 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The digital copying machine 1 may be configured so that a password is displayed on the display means 17 of the digital copying machine 1 using a portable terminal device connected to the digital copying machine 1 by a cable or the like to perform wired communication.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, whether or not the image transfer is valid is determined by checking the address and the password. However, in the present invention, only one of the address and the password is checked. It may be determined whether or not the user is a valid partner for image transfer. However, in this case, security is somewhat inferior.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, in step (B-3) of FIG. 4, the user inputs the password obtained by the portable terminal device 5 to the personal computer 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the password may be input from the portable terminal device 5 to the personal computer 2 by performing wired or wireless communication between the portable terminal device 5 and the personal computer 2. This process is desirably performed automatically by the application of the portable terminal device 5 and the personal computer 2, and in this case, the user does not need to know even the existence of the password. The application further receives an image file from the digital copying machine 1 using the input password.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the address of the client, that is, the personal computer on the network is confirmed, and the operator of the client is confirmed to be a valid recipient of the image (by using the address and the password). Since the image is transferred after confirmation, the image can be safely and reliably transferred to a valid partner.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the user is authenticated using the portable terminal device carried by the user, it is possible to safely transfer the image only to the party expected by the user with a simple operation.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the ID information obtained from the portable terminal device is displayed on the display means of the digital copying machine so that the user can confirm the ID information, the user is not erroneously registered.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even when the portable terminal device carried by the user cannot be used, the user can be authenticated using the display means and the input means of the digital copying machine. Even if the user does not carry the image, the image can be safely transferred only to the party expected by the user.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the image is transferred after confirming that the operator of the client is a valid recipient of the image from the specific information included in the connection request from the client to the digital copying machine. It is possible to transfer images more safely.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, it is confirmed from the specific information included in the connection request from the client to the digital copier, that is, the unique password for each job, that the operator of the client is a valid recipient of the image. Since the image is transferred after the transfer, the image can be transferred more safely.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the password indicating that the operator of the client is a valid recipient of the image is stored in the portable terminal device, and this password is used for the application of the client. Images can be transferred.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for setting a threshold for document detection in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of transferring an image file of an image read by a digital copying machine to a valid partner in the embodiment shown in FIG.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital copying machine 2, 3 Personal computer 4 Network 5 Portable terminal device 11 Network connection means 12 Control means 13 Image reading means 14 Image forming means 15 Storage means 16 Input means 17 Display means 18 Wireless communication means

Claims (7)

In an image reading device that is connected to a client via a network and can transfer a read image to the client,
Address registration means for registering an address on the network;
Address comparing means for comparing an address on the network of the client requesting connection with an address registered by the address registering means;
Personal registration means for registering an operator who operates the image reading device;
Personal authentication means for authenticating whether the operator of the client requesting the connection is a person registered by the personal registration means,
Image transfer permitting means for permitting image transfer to the client only when the result of the comparison by the address comparing means matches and the personal authentication means authenticates that the operator of the client is a registered person. An image reading apparatus comprising:   The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the personal registration unit uses information of a portable terminal device carried by an operator who operates the image reading device for registration.   The personal registration unit detects information from the portable terminal device, displays the detected information as a candidate for an operator, and an operator who operates the image reading apparatus from a displayed content to a correct operator. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein the image reading device is caused to select or confirm.   The personal registration means, when the operator cannot be specified, specifies and registers the operator by inputting information that allows the operator operating the image reading apparatus to specify the operator. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein   5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personal authentication unit performs personal authentication based on specific information included in a connection request from a client.   6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the specific information included in the connection request from the client is a password created when the individual registration unit registers an individual.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the password is stored in a portable terminal device of the operator.

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