JP2005038416A - Image processor and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of knowing, when an inputted password is not accepted, whether it is caused by a simple key input mistake or the password itself is wrong. <P>SOLUTION: In the case where only one mistake is found when the inputted password is certified, it is determined to be caused by the key input mistake and that effect is displayed and, in the case where two or more mistakes are found, it is determined that the password itself is wrong and that effect is displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a password input screen that is displayed before each user or administrator protects a screen protected from security, and a program for controlling the image processing apparatus.

Screens that are not used by all users, such as the initial setting screen, department management screen, service provision screen, etc. of conventional image processing devices are protected by passwords, and charging information, personal information, and other information stored by third parties Data cannot be accessed. In this way, when switching to a password-protected screen or when calling up an image, the password input screen is displayed, and the user inputs the password for authentication and the desired screen is displayed when the authentication results match. It becomes possible to call up desired data. However, if the password is displayed on this password screen, it may be abused when seen by others. Therefore, as described in Patent Document 1, the password is masked by making the input password frame only in black and white reversed display or by displaying ● or × instead of letters and numbers. Some have increased retention.
JP 2001-337734 A

  However, since the input password is not displayed in this technique, if the passwords do not match at the time of password authentication, it is impossible to immediately know whether it is a key input error or the password itself is incorrect. In particular, a plurality of characters are assigned to one key, and by sequentially operating this one key, a candidate character is switched among a plurality of characters, and by confirming this candidate character, When using a key input method that allows characters to be entered, the password itself is complicated, so it takes time and effort to operate the key, and there are many key input mistakes. It was just a key input error or the password itself was incorrect. It is important to know if. Furthermore, when a part of the password is entered incorrectly, it is very time-consuming to re-enter the password from the beginning, resulting in wasted time. The present invention aims to solve such problems.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is an image processing apparatus having a key input unit for inputting a password and a password input screen for displaying a password-protected screen. Input password display means for controlling the display of the password input on the password input screen, password authentication means for authenticating the input password, and there is an error in the input password. In the following cases, the password entry screen indicates that the password was entered incorrectly. If the number of characters entered incorrectly is greater than the allowable number of mistakes, an error is displayed indicating that the password is incorrect on the password entry screen. Input display means.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the input password is erroneously input and the number of characters is less than or equal to the allowable number of erroneous input, only the erroneously input characters are detected. When a screen that can be re-input is displayed and the number of erroneously input characters is greater than the allowable number of erroneous inputs, it has password re-input display means that clears all input passwords and displays a screen from which passwords can be input from the beginning. Features.

  An image processing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention is an image processing apparatus having key input means for inputting a password and a password input screen for displaying a password-protected screen. Input password display means for controlling the display of passwords, password authentication means for authenticating the entered passwords, and if there is an error in the input password and the number of characters is less than the allowable number of incorrect input, Password re-entry display means to display a screen that can re-enter only the characters that have been entered and if the number of erroneously entered characters is greater than the allowable number of erroneous inputs, clear all input passwords and display a screen from which passwords can be entered from the beginning It is characterized by having.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the input password display means makes the password input on the password input screen invisible. To do.

  An image processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the number of allowable erroneous inputs is one.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for inputting a computer to an image processing apparatus having a key input means for inputting a password and a password input screen for displaying a password-protected screen. Input password display means for controlling the display of the entered password, password authentication means for authenticating the entered password, and if the entered password has an incorrect input and the number of characters is less than the allowable number of incorrect input When it is displayed on the password input screen that there is a mistake in the key input of the password and the number of erroneously entered characters is greater than the allowable number of erroneous input, it is made to function as an erroneous input display means for displaying that the password is incorrect on the password input screen. It is characterized by that.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program according to the sixth aspect, wherein if the input password is erroneously input and the number of characters is less than or equal to the allowable number of erroneous input, only the erroneously input characters are detected. When a screen that can be re-entered is displayed and the number of erroneously entered characters is greater than the allowable number of erroneous inputs, clear all input passwords and function as a password re-entry display means to display a screen from which passwords can be entered from the beginning. It is characterized by.

  The program according to claim 8 of the present invention inputs a computer to an image processing apparatus having key input means for inputting a password and a password input screen for displaying a password-protected screen on the password input screen. The input password display means for controlling the display of the entered password, the password authentication means for authenticating the entered password, and if the entered password is erroneously entered and the number of characters is less than the allowable number of erroneous entries, Displays a screen where only entered characters can be re-entered. If the number of erroneously entered characters is greater than the allowable number of erroneous inputs, clear all input passwords and display a screen where you can enter the password from the beginning. It is made to function as a display means.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the program according to any of the sixth to eighth aspects, the input password display means makes the password input on the password input screen invisible.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the program according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects, the number of allowable erroneous inputs is one.

  According to the first and sixth aspects of the present invention, when the number of characters entered incorrectly during password authentication is small, there is a high possibility that a key entry error has occurred, and the number of characters entered incorrectly is If so, it is likely that you do not know that the password has been changed, or that you are not remembering other passwords. Therefore, based on the result of comparison between the predetermined allowable number of incorrect input characters and the actual number of erroneous input, a display indicating that the key input is simply incorrect and a display indicating that the password itself is incorrect are used separately. As a result, user convenience can be improved.

  According to the second and seventh aspects of the invention, the screen for re-entering the password is displayed in accordance with the display indicating that the key input is incorrect and the display indicating that the password itself is incorrect. It is kind to you.

  According to the inventions of claim 3 and claim 8, when the number of characters entered incorrectly during password authentication is small, there is a high possibility that a key entry error has occurred. If so, it is likely that you do not know that the password has been changed, or that you are not remembering other passwords. Therefore, based on the result of comparison between the predetermined allowable number of erroneous input and the actual number of erroneous input, if it is a simple key input mistake, authentication can be performed again by re-entering only the erroneously input character. This eliminates the need for troublesome work such as re-entering the password from the beginning, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

  According to the fourth and ninth aspects of the present invention, password confidentiality can be enhanced by masking the password input on the password input screen to make it invisible.

  According to the fifth and tenth aspects of the invention, since the allowable number of erroneous inputs is 1, security is improved. That is, when the user remembers the password to be input, there are many cases where there is no input mistake, and there is a high probability that it is at most one character. Therefore, even if two or more characters are mistaken due to an input error, it is a rare case. By treating the password as wrong, it is possible to avoid the risk of misusing the password more than necessary.

  A composite apparatus as an image processing apparatus employing the present invention will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. This multifunction device 1 is a multifunction device having functions of copying, printer, facsimile, and scanner. CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2, ROM (Read Only Memory) 3, RAM (Random Access Memory) 4, Mail creation Means 5, printer controller 6, printer unit 7, post-processing device I / F (post-processing device interface) 8, post-processing device 9, operation panel 10, scanner I / F (scanner interface) 11, scanner unit 12, automatic document feeder 13, image storage means 14, bitmap memory 15, CODEC (coder / decoder) 16, modem 17, NCU (network controller) 18, public line 19, network I / F (network interface) 20, a bus 21, a document stacking tray 27, and the like. The composite apparatus 1 is connected to a PC (Personal Computer) (24, 25) and a printer 23 via a network cable 22.

  The mail creating means 5 is a means for creating an e-mail when the image data read by the scanner unit 12 is attached to an e-mail and transmitted to a destination registered in advance.

  The printer controller 6 analyzes the print command (PDL) and job information transmitted from the connected personal computer and stored in the reception area of the buffer memory 14, and generates intermediate language information. This intermediate language information is stored in an intermediate language information storage area of the buffer memory 14.

  The printer unit 7 sequentially sends the image data developed in the bitmap memory 15 to an optical device that writes a latent image such as LSU or LPH of the image forming unit of the printer unit 7, and forms a toner image in this image forming unit. Then, this is sequentially transferred from the paper feed cassette to the paper that is fed and transported, and is fixed and discharged.

  The post-processing device I / F 8 and the post-processing device 9 are a post-processing device 9 that performs post-processing such as stapling and punching, sorting, sorting and grouping, etc., on the printed matter printed and discharged from the composite device 1. , An interface and a cable for connecting this to the main body of the composite apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 10 has a large LCD device 101 such as an LCD display unit 101, a start key 102, a stop / clear key 103, a reset key 104, a plurality of operation keys such as a key input means (ten key) 106, and the like. It is composed of A start key 102 is a key for starting copying, starting reading a scanner, and starting fax transmission. A stop / clear key 103 is a key for canceling the previous setting or interrupting the job. A reset key 104 is a key for clearing all settings and returning the screen and the screen being displayed on the LCD display unit 101 to the basic screen from any screen. An initial setting key 105 is a key for switching to a screen for performing each initial setting of the multifunction apparatus, and details will be described later. Others such as numeric keypad, interrupt key, power saving key, department management key, and this image processing device is a composite device, so the operation display section is a copy function screen, printer function screen, facsimile function screen, and scanner function screen. It can be switched by key.

  The screen displayed on the LCD display unit 101 includes a basic screen shown in FIG. 3 and a “user function screen” (function screen shown in FIG. 4 when a “user function” is selected from a plurality of tabs below this screen. 1) is displayed. Further, when the “function list” tab is selected, a “function list screen” (one of the function screens) shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. In the black band display portion at the top of the screen that is displayed in common for all of these screens, “Copying is possible”, selected cassette 1, magnification, and number of sets are displayed. The “function list screen” in FIG. 5 includes, for example, an “aggregate function screen” (one of the function screens) shown in FIG. 6 when the “aggregate” key in the function list is selected.

  Further, when the initial setting key 105 is operated on the LCD display unit 101, an initial setting screen for performing settings after power-on or after all clearing is displayed as shown in FIG. When the “copy initial setting” key at the upper left of the screen is operated, an administrator number input screen is displayed as shown in FIG. This administrator number input screen corresponds to the password input screen of the present invention. Details of the password input method will be described later. When a password is entered using the numeric keypad on this administrator number entry screen, the entered password is authenticated, and if they match, the screen is switched to the copy initial setting screen shown in FIG.

  The scanner I / F 11 is an interface for controlling the scanner unit 12 and the DF 13 by connecting to the scanner unit 12 placed on the multifunction apparatus 1 via a cable.

  The scanner unit 12 feeds one sheet at a time with the DF 13 or illuminates a document placed on the contact glass with a halogen lamp or a fluorescent lamp and reads the reflected light with a CCD sensor. It is converted into a digital signal by D conversion, image processing is performed by the image processing unit, and developed in the subsequent bit map memory 15. The bitmap memory 15 includes intermediate language information generated by analyzing a print command transferred from a personal computer connected via a network in addition to the image data from the scanner unit 12 by the printer controller 7, a counterpart facsimile 26. The image data sent from the public line 19, the NCU 18, and the modem 17 is decompressed by the CODEC 16 if necessary, and is expanded and held as full bit map image data. The CODEC 16 is also used for decoding the encoded image data included in the print data.

  The buffer memory 14 encodes and stores the image data read by the scanner unit 12 with the CODEC 16 when performing normal memory copy, facsimile memory transmission, and reserved transmission in addition to the above-described received image area and intermediate language area. When the scanner function is used, the image data read by the scanner unit 12 can be read from an external personal computer encoded by the CODEC 16, and similarly, the facsimile polling function can be read from the other party's facsimile. Is also possible. In recent years, the composite apparatus 1 is often used as an image memory by using a relatively large capacity image data storage hard disk.

  The modem 17 converts an analog signal transmitted from the public line 19 into a digital signal, and conversely converts the digital signal into an analog signal and transmits it through the public line, and performs modulation and demodulation. For example, only HDLC frames are received. The NCU 18 performs connection to the public line, switching between facsimile and telephone, sending an on-hook signal to the line, ring detection, and the like.

  The network I / F 20 is an interface that connects the composite apparatus 1 to the network. Here, it is connected via a network cable 22 to a personal computer (24, 25), a printer 23, and other connection devices not shown.

  The bus 21 is a bus for exchanging data and signals of each configuration described above. Although there are buses for image data and buses for control signals, they are represented by one for short here.

  The CPU 2 controls the operation and function of each component of the multifunction device 1 including the above of the multifunction device 1 and executes a print job in accordance with the condition setting. Here, the print job refers to a process in which the CPU 2 controls the operation and function of each component in order to obtain a printed material corresponding to a series of documents in accordance with the above condition settings. Further, the CPU 2 is connected to a ROM 3 storing various programs including the control program of the present invention, and a RAM 4 storing user choice data, setting information, total count data, various font data, and the like.

  In particular, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the CPU 2 includes an input password display means 201, a password authentication means 202, an erroneous input display means 203, and a password re-input display means 204, as shown in FIG. Each of these means 201 to 204 controls operations and functions that are characteristic of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. Needless to say, the CPU 2 controls not only the operations of the respective units 201 to 204 but also the overall operations of the components of the composite apparatus 1.

  The input password display unit 201 controls the display of the password input on the password input screen displayed on the LCD display unit 101. Further, the input password display means 201 makes the character invisible by filling it, for example, every time a character is input.

  The password authentication unit 202 authenticates the password input from the key input unit 106 of the operation panel 10 on the password input screen.

  If there is an error in the input password and the number of characters is equal to or less than the allowable error input, the error input display means 203 displays a password key input error on the password input screen, and indicates the number of characters incorrectly input. Is larger than the allowable number of erroneous inputs, a message that the password is incorrect is displayed on the password input screen.

  The password re-input display means 204 displays a screen on which only the erroneously entered characters can be re-entered when there is an erroneous input in the input password and the number of characters is less than or equal to the allowable erroneous input number. If there is more than the allowable number of erroneous inputs, all input passwords are cleared and a screen for entering passwords from the beginning is displayed.

  Here, the password and the allowable number of erroneous inputs can be set and changed on the copy initial setting screen. In addition, the allowable number of erroneous input may be two or more characters, but in consideration of the meaning of the key input mistake, it is preferably three characters or less. In order to increase security, one character is particularly preferable.

  The key input means of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, corresponding alphabetic characters are set in the key input means (tenkeys) 106 of the image processing apparatus. When the “number / English” key on the upper left is operated, the function as a numeric keypad and the alphabetic characters are displayed. The function as an input key can be switched alternatively. When the numeric keypad is switched to the English character input key, for example, if the key “1” is continuously operated, the candidate characters are switched from “@” → “/” → “.” → “@”. Similarly, if the “2” numeric keypad is continuously operated, candidate characters are switched in the order of “A” → “B” → “C” → “A”. In order to select a candidate character, the character is selected by operating any different key while the candidate character is displayed.

  An example of a password input operation on the password input screen will be described with reference to FIG. If you want to enter the password “KMBB”, first switch to the alphabet mode by operating the “number / English” key, and if you operate “5” → “5” on the numeric keypad, the screen changes to (A) and (B) in FIG. As shown, “J” → “K” are sequentially displayed in the leftmost frame. Subsequently, when “6” is operated, the leftmost frame is highlighted in black as shown in FIG. 11C. In this frame, “K” is selected but not displayed. At the same time, a candidate character “M” is displayed in the second frame from the left. Next, when the numeric keypad “2” → “2” is operated, the second frame from the left is highlighted in black as shown in FIGS. 11D and 11E, and “M” is selected in this frame. However, it is not displayed, and “A” → “B” is sequentially displayed in the third frame from the left. Subsequently, when the “#” of the numeric keypad is operated, the third frame from the left is reversed to black, and “B” is selected in this frame but is not displayed. Subsequently, when the numeric keypad “2” → “2” is operated, “A” → “B” are sequentially displayed in the fourth frame from the left as shown in FIGS. When “0” is operated, the screen is highlighted in black as shown in FIG. 11H, and the password input is completed. In these series of operations, the password display unit 201 detects which key is operated each time the key is operated by the key input unit, and displays characters as needed as described above.

  The processing when a password is input, which is a feature of the present invention, is illustrated using the flowchart of FIG. 12 and FIGS. 13A to 13B as an example of opening the copy initial setting screen of the multifunction apparatus 1. explain. Here, the allowable number of erroneous inputs is 1. First, when a “copy initial setting” key on the left side of the initial setting screen in FIG. 7 is operated to display a protected screen, a password input screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed (S101). When a password (in this case, an administrator number) is entered on this screen by the key input means 106 (S102), the password authentication means 202 authenticates the entered password (S103). If all the characters in the password match as a result of the authentication (S104), a copy initial setting screen, which is a protected screen shown in FIG. 9, is displayed (S105), and the process ends. As a result of the authentication in S104, if the characters do not match, it is determined whether only one character subsequently matches or two or more characters do not match (S106). If only one character does not match As shown in FIG. 13A, it is determined that the key input error is a simple key input error, and the error input display unit 203 indicates that the key input error is a simple key input error when inputting a password. Is displayed (S107), and the password re-input display means 204 blinks the missed frame so that only the missed frame is key-input (S108), and returns to S102. If two or more characters do not match in S106, as shown in FIG. 13B, the erroneous input display means 203 indicates that the administrator number is incorrect, and that the password itself is incorrect. Display (S109), the password re-input display means 204 clears all the input passwords and returns to S102.

  The image processing apparatus and program of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the frame of the selected character is highlighted so that the character is not displayed. However, the selected character can be made invisible by replacing the selected character with a symbol such as ● or X. good. Further, while an input character is selected, a candidate character is displayed. However, confidentiality can be improved by not displaying the candidate character. If there is a key input error for only one character, the character is blinked as shown in FIG. 13A. However, the character is not displayed but is simply displayed in reverse video or with a symbol such as ● or x. Even so, confidentiality can be improved. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the password is input using the numeric keypad has been described. However, other input devices such as a full keyboard may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the image processing apparatus of the present invention is a composite apparatus as an image forming apparatus has been described as an example. However, an electric apparatus having a password input screen, for example, a mobile apparatus such as a mobile phone or a PDA, a cash The present invention can be similarly applied to other image processing apparatuses such as an automatic deposit machine and a personal computer.

  The program of the present invention can be used by being incorporated in the above electric device. It is also possible to make a computer functioning by a program different from a device having a password input screen. That is, the program of the present invention can display a password screen provided from a web server on a terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the network. The program is provided by various recording media such as CD-ROM, DVD, and flash memory, an electric communication line such as a LAN and a telephone line, an optical communication network, and the like.

1 is a block diagram of a composite apparatus and peripheral devices that employ the present invention. 3 is an operation panel of a composite apparatus employing the present invention. 4 is a basic screen displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention. It is a user function screen (one of the function screens) displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention. It is a function list screen (one of the function screens) displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention. It is an aggregation screen (one of the function screens) displayed by operating the aggregation key on the function list screen displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention. 6 is a selection screen of an initial setting screen displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention. It is a password input screen displayed on the LCD display part of the operation panel of the compound apparatus which employ | adopts this invention. 5 is a copy initial setting screen displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation panel of the composite apparatus employing the present invention. It is a numeric keypad corresponding to the password input means of the operation panel of the composite apparatus adopting the present invention. It is a transition of the processing flow screen when inputting characters on the password input screen of the present invention. It is a processing flow when a password is input on the password input screen of the present invention. It is a screen displayed when an authentication result does not correspond in the password input screen of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of CPU of the compound apparatus which employ | adopts this invention.

1; Compound device 2; CPU
3; ROM
4; RAM
10; operation panel 14; buffer memory 15; bitmap memory 16; CODEC
21; bus 101; LCD display unit 106; key input means 201; input password display means 202; password authentication means 203; incorrect input display means 204;

Claims (10)

In an image processing apparatus having a key input means for inputting a password and a password input screen for displaying a password-protected screen,
Input password display means for controlling the display of the password input on the password input screen;
Password authentication means for authenticating the entered password;
If there is an error in the entered password and the number of characters is less than or equal to the allowable number of incorrect inputs, the password input screen will indicate that the password has been entered incorrectly, and the number of erroneously entered characters will be greater than the allowable number of incorrect inputs. In this case, the image processing apparatus further comprises an erroneous input display means for displaying that the password is incorrect on the password input screen. If there is an error in the entered password and the number of characters is less than or equal to the allowable number of incorrect input, a screen is displayed that allows you to re-enter only the characters that were entered incorrectly, and the number of characters that were entered incorrectly is greater than the number of allowable errors. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a password re-input display unit that clears all input passwords and displays a screen on which the password can be input from the beginning. In an image processing apparatus having a key input means for inputting a password and a password input screen for displaying a password-protected screen,
Input password display means for controlling the display of the password input on the password input screen;
Password authentication means for authenticating the entered password;
If there is an error in the entered password and the number of characters is less than or equal to the allowable number of incorrect input, a screen is displayed that allows you to re-enter only the characters that were entered incorrectly, and the number of characters that were entered incorrectly is greater than the number of allowable errors. The image processing apparatus further comprises a password re-input display means for clearing all input passwords and displaying a screen on which the password can be input from the beginning. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input password display unit makes the password input on the password input screen invisible. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of allowable erroneous inputs is one. A computer for an image processing apparatus having a key input means for inputting a password and a password input screen for displaying a password-protected screen;
Input password display means for controlling the display of the password input on the password input screen;
Password authentication means for authenticating the entered password;
If there is an error in the entered password and the number of characters is less than or equal to the allowable number of incorrect inputs, the password input screen will indicate that the password has been entered incorrectly, and the number of erroneously entered characters will be greater than the allowable number of incorrect inputs. In this case, the program is made to function as an erroneous input display means for displaying that the password is incorrect on the password input screen. If there is an error in the password entered in the above computer and the number of characters is less than the allowable number of incorrect input, a screen will be displayed that allows only the erroneously entered characters to be re-entered. 7. The program according to claim 6, wherein if there are more than the number, the program is made to function as a password re-input display means for clearing all input passwords and displaying a screen from which passwords can be input from the beginning. A computer for an image processing apparatus having a key input means for inputting a password and a password input screen for displaying a password-protected screen;
Input password display means for controlling the display of the password input on the password input screen;
Password authentication means for authenticating the entered password;
If there is an error in the entered password and the number of characters is less than or equal to the allowable number of incorrect input, a screen is displayed that allows you to re-enter only the characters that were entered incorrectly, and the number of characters that were entered incorrectly is greater than the number of allowable errors. Is a program which functions as a password re-input display means for clearing all input passwords and displaying a screen on which passwords can be input from the beginning. 9. The program according to claim 6, wherein the input password display means makes the password input on the password input screen invisible. 10. The program according to claim 6, wherein the allowable erroneous input number is one.