JP2005130144A - Image transmission system and image transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image transmission system and an image transmitter by which a manager can easily monitor contents of a processing by deciding whether or not information showing the contents of transmission processing of image data is transmitted to a management device in accordance with the contents of processing, thereby reducing the amount of information transmission. <P>SOLUTION: The image transmitter 1 decides whether or not contents information showing the contents to the management device 23 in accordance with contents of transmission processing of the image data including a user, a transmitted party of the image data, contents of the image data, and the like. By transmitting the contents information to the management device 23 only when it is necessary to transmit the contents information, the amount of the contents information to be transmitted to the management device 23 is reduced to make it easy for the manager to confirm the contents information. Also, information to show unauthorized use is prevented from being included in a large amount of information, and the unauthorized use of the image transmitter 1 can be suppressed more effectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transmission system and an image transmission apparatus for transmitting image data to another apparatus and further transmitting information indicating the contents of the transmission processing to the other apparatus.

  As an image transmission apparatus, a facsimile apparatus is known that transmits an image read from a document to another apparatus by facsimile communication via a public network. In recent years, communication network compatible image transmitting apparatuses that transmit image data obtained by converting an image into electronic data to another apparatus via a communication network such as the Internet have been put into practical use.

  An image transmission apparatus using facsimile communication needs to sequentially transmit read image data after securing communication with a transmission destination. On the other hand, the communication network-compatible image transmission device does not need to secure communication with the transmission destination, and generally has a larger communication capacity in the communication network than the public network, There is an advantage that a large amount of image data can be transmitted easily. On the other hand, it becomes easy for an unauthorized user to transmit a large amount of confidential image data such as a document describing a trade secret, and when using a communication network compatible image transmission device, confidential information The risk of leakage is increased.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, user identification information is registered, identification information input by the user before use is collated, and a user whose identification information is registered is predetermined after the identification information is input. An image communication apparatus that permits use within time is disclosed. This makes it possible to limit the number of users, and it is necessary to input identification information again after a predetermined period of time, so that other users can use it improperly immediately after being used by a legitimate user. Can be prevented.

  However, even in the case of the image transmission device as described above having the function of restricting the user, if the identification information such as the password is leaked or if the user himself / herself uses it illegally, Cannot be prevented. In addition, if there is an artificial operation error of the user, such as wrong specification of the transmission destination of the image data, illegal use may result as a result.

For this reason, a technique has been proposed in which an administrator manages the usage status of an image transmission apparatus. Each time an image transmission device is used to a management device managed by an administrator connected to a communication network, the technology includes user information, the content of transmitted image data, the destination of image data, and Information indicating the content of the image data transmission processing performed by the image transmission device, such as the content of the error when an error occurs, is transmitted. With this technology, the administrator can monitor the content of the processing performed by the image transmission device, and if unauthorized use occurs, the use of the user during unauthorized use is prohibited or transmitted during unauthorized use. Appropriate measures can be taken, such as prohibiting transmission of images to the destination.
JP-A-3-29461

  In the above-described technique for transmitting information indicating the contents of processing performed by the image transmission apparatus to the management apparatus, information is transmitted every time the image transmission apparatus is used, so that a large amount of information is transmitted to the management apparatus as a whole. It will be. It is difficult for the administrator to confirm the information transmitted in large quantities in this manner one by one, and there is a risk of overlooking unauthorized use because information indicating unauthorized use is mixed in a large amount of information.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a predetermined information that is likely to lead to unauthorized use such as when image data is transmitted to a communication network outside the in-house LAN. An object of the present invention is to provide an image transmission system and an image transmission apparatus in which an administrator can easily monitor the contents of a process by transmitting information indicating the contents of the process to the management apparatus when used under conditions.

  An image transmission system according to the present invention is an image transmission system including an image transmission apparatus including a transmission unit that transmits image data to another apparatus, and a management apparatus connected to the image transmission apparatus. Registration means for registering information indicating the management apparatus, and contents indicating the contents based on the contents of image data transmission processing by the transmission means when the transmission means transmits image data to another apparatus Determining means for determining whether or not to transmit information, and when the determining means determines that the content information should be transmitted, the content information to the management device indicated by the information registered by the registering means Means for transmitting.

  An image transmission apparatus according to the present invention is an image transmission apparatus including a transmission unit that transmits image data to another device, and is a transmission destination device to which content information indicating the content of image data transmission processing by the transmission unit is to be transmitted. A registration unit for registering information indicating the content, a determination unit for determining whether to transmit the content information based on the content when the transmission unit transmits image data to another device, and the determination unit And means for transmitting the content information to the destination apparatus indicated by the information registered by the registration means when it is determined that the content information should be transmitted.

  In the present invention, in the image transmitting apparatus that transmits image data to another apparatus, information indicating a transmission destination apparatus to which content information indicating the contents of image data transmission processing is to be transmitted is registered, and the contents Whether or not to transmit the content information is determined, and when it is determined to be transmitted, the content information is transmitted to the transmission destination apparatus.

  The image transmission apparatus according to the present invention includes: a reception unit that receives input of personal identification information; and the registration unit that receives the personal identification information that is received by the reception unit matches the predetermined personal identification information. And means for permitting registration of information indicating the device.

  The image transmission apparatus according to the present invention, when the password information received by the receiving unit matches predetermined predetermined password information, information indicating the already registered destination device is stored in the registration unit. Is further provided with means for permitting the change.

  Also, in the present invention, password information is received from a user, and registration and change of information indicating a device to which content information is transmitted can be performed when the received password information matches predetermined password information. .

  The image transmission apparatus according to the present invention further includes means for restricting information indicating the transmission destination apparatus registered by the registration means based on a predetermined condition.

  Further, in the present invention, registration of information indicating the destination device of content information is restricted based on a predetermined condition such as the location of the destination device.

  An image transmission apparatus according to the present invention includes: an input unit that receives input of information specifying a transmission destination apparatus to which image data is to be transmitted; and a plurality of pieces of information indicating other apparatuses registered in advance. Selection means for receiving selection of information indicating a transmission destination device to which the transmission destination is to be transmitted, and the determination means, when the input means accepts input of information specifying the transmission destination device, the contents It is characterized in that it is determined that information should be transmitted.

  Further, in the present invention, the image transmitting apparatus receives an input of information designating an image data transmission destination apparatus, and selects an image data transmission destination apparatus from pre-registered apparatuses. And the content information is transmitted when the transmission destination of the image data is specified by receiving the input of the information specifying the transmission destination device.

  The image transmitting apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the determining means determines whether or not to transmit the content information according to information indicating a transmission destination apparatus to which image data is to be transmitted. And

  In the present invention, it is determined whether or not the content information should be transmitted according to the transmission destination of the image data.

  In the image transmission device according to the present invention, when the information indicating the transmission destination device to which the image data is to be transmitted indicates that the device is a device outside a predetermined communication area, The content information is determined to be transmitted.

  In the present invention, the destination device is a predetermined device such as a LAN because the information such as an e-mail address indicating the destination device of the image data is different from the predetermined domain name. If the device is out of the communication area, the content information is transmitted.

  The image transmitting apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the determining means determines whether or not to transmit the content information in accordance with image data transmitted by the transmitting means.

  In the present invention, it is determined whether or not the content information should be transmitted according to the content of the image data.

  The image transmission apparatus according to the present invention further includes identification means for identifying a user, and the determination means determines whether to transmit the content information according to the user identified by the identification means. It is characterized by being.

  In the present invention, the image transmitting apparatus identifies a user and determines whether or not to transmit content information according to the identified user.

  The image transmission apparatus according to the present invention further includes means for notifying a user that the content information is transmitted.

  Moreover, in this invention, when transmitting content information, a user is alert | reported that content information is transmitted.

  In the present invention, the image transmitting apparatus that transmits image data to the management apparatus includes contents indicating the contents according to the contents of the image data transmission processing, such as the user, the transmission destination of the image data, and the contents of the image data. Decide whether to send information to other devices. By transmitting the content information only when it is necessary to transmit the content information, it is possible to reduce the total amount of the content information to be transmitted and to make it easy for the administrator to confirm the content information. Further, it is possible to prevent information indicating unauthorized use from being mixed into a large amount of information, and to more effectively suppress unauthorized use of the image transmission device.

  Further, in the present invention, when performing new registration and change of information indicating the destination device to which the content information is to be transmitted, by authenticating a specific user using the password information, It is possible to prevent the content information from being leaked to the outside due to the change of the device to which the content information is transmitted by an unspecified user.

  In addition, in the present invention, when registering information indicating a destination device to which content information is to be transmitted, it is based on a predetermined condition such as whether the device is connected in a predetermined communication area that can be easily managed. By restricting the transmission destination device, the content information indicating the content of the image data transmission process is prevented from being leaked by restricting the content information from being transmitted to a device difficult to be managed by the administrator. Can do.

  In the present invention, the image data transmission destination device is not a device selected from pre-registered external devices, but the user directly inputs information specifying the transmission destination device. In the case of an accepted device, the possibility of unauthorized use is higher, and by transmitting content information in this case, it is possible to efficiently manage the image transmission device and suppress unauthorized use.

  Further, in the present invention, the image transmission apparatus is configured to transmit content information when image data is transmitted to an apparatus having a higher possibility of unauthorized use based on information indicating a transmission destination apparatus of the image data. Can be managed efficiently to prevent unauthorized use.

  In the present invention, if there is a device to which image data is transmitted outside a predetermined communication area such as a LAN that can be managed by the administrator, there is a risk of unauthorized use. In this case, content information is transmitted. By doing so, it is possible to efficiently manage the image transmission apparatus and suppress unauthorized use.

  Further, according to the present invention, the image transmission apparatus is made efficient by transmitting content information when image data that should be restricted from being transmitted to the outside, such as confidential documents, is transmitted according to the content of the image data. Can be managed to prevent unauthorized use.

  In the present invention, by identifying the user and transmitting the content information when a user who is likely to perform unauthorized use of the image transmission device due to human error or the like uses the image transmission device, It is possible to efficiently manage the image transmission apparatus and suppress unauthorized use.

  Further, in the present invention, by notifying that the content information is to be transmitted when the content information is to be transmitted, the unauthorized user is stopped from illegal use or the user is prompted to confirm the transmission destination. Thus, the present invention has an excellent effect that it is possible to reduce mistakes and prevent unauthorized use of the image transmission apparatus.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the image transmission system of the present invention and the internal functional configuration of the image transmission apparatus of the present invention. The image transmission apparatus 1 is a facsimile apparatus installed in a business office or the like, and includes a control unit 11 including a CPU that performs calculation and a RAM that stores temporary information associated with the calculation. A ROM 17 that stores a control program for controlling the image transmission device 1 is connected to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 controls the entire image transmission device 1 in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 17. Control. The control unit 11 is connected to a management unit 18 that is a memory for storing management information for managing processing performed by the image transmission apparatus 1. The control unit 11 is stored in the management unit 18. The management information is referred to, and the image transmission apparatus 1 is controlled based on the referenced information.

  The control unit 11 is connected to an image reading unit 12 that scans and reads an image of a document to generate image data. The control unit 11 is connected to a modem unit 14 for performing facsimile communication, and the modem unit 14 is connected to the public line network N2. The image transmission apparatus 1 can transmit the image data generated by the image reading unit 12 to another facsimile apparatus 3 via a public line network N2 connected to the modem unit 14 by facsimile communication. Further, the control unit 11 includes an image memory 161 that temporarily stores image data, and an image forming unit 16 that forms an image from the image data, records the formed image on a recording sheet, and outputs it. Has been. The image transmission device 1 receives the image data transmitted by facsimile communication from the facsimile device 3 by the modem unit 14 via the public network N2, and stores the received image data in the image memory 161. The image forming unit 16 forms an image from the obtained image data and outputs it.

  The control unit 11 is connected to a communication unit 15 connected to a communication network N1 such as an in-house LAN. , And other facsimile apparatuses 22, 22,... Are connected to the communication network N1. The communication unit 15 can transmit the image data generated by the image reading unit 12 to the information processing apparatus 21 or the facsimile apparatus 22 via the communication network N1, for example, by attaching image data to an e-mail. The information processing apparatus 21 stores the transmitted image data therein, and the facsimile apparatus 22 outputs the transmitted image data as an image. The communication unit 15 can receive image data from the information processing device 21 or the facsimile device 22 via the communication network N1, and the image forming unit 16 can form an image from the received image data and output the image. As described above, the image transmission apparatus 1 can transmit and receive images such as documents via the communication network N1 between the departments in the office.

  Furthermore, a management device 23 of the present invention managed by an administrator is connected to the communication network N1. The communication unit 15 exchanges information with the management device 23 via the communication network N1, and the management device 23 can manage the state of the image transmission device 1. The image transmission apparatus 1 and the management apparatus 23 constitute an image transmission system of the present invention.

  A communication network N1 such as an in-house LAN is further connected to a wide area communication network N3 such as the Internet. The communication unit 15 can transmit and receive image data to and from the information processing apparatus 41 or the facsimile apparatus 42 connected to the wide area communication network N3 via the communication network N1 and the wide area communication network N3. As described above, the image transmission apparatus 1 can transmit and receive images such as documents to / from a distant party via the public line network N2 or the wide area communication network N3. The modem unit 14 and the communication unit 15 function as transmission means according to the present invention.

  Furthermore, a storage unit 19 composed of a hard disk or a nonvolatile memory is connected to the control unit 11. The storage unit 19 stores image data processed by the image transmission device 1. The control unit 11 is connected to an operation unit 13 that receives an operation from the user. The operation unit 13 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel that displays information necessary for the operation, and a user's operation. It consists of an input means such as a touch panel or a numeric keypad for inputting information such as control commands by operation.

  The image transmission device 1 has a function of transmitting content information indicating the content of image data transmission processing, such as the content of the transmitted image data, the date and time of transmission of the image data, and the transmission destination, to the management device 23.

  The management unit 18 stores registration information in which information indicating the management device 23 that is the transmission destination of the content information and information indicating the image data transmission destination device such as the facsimile device 22 are registered. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the contents of registration information. A transmission source address that is an electronic mail address of the image transmission apparatus 1 is registered, and a management apparatus address that is an electronic mail address of the management apparatus 23 is registered as information indicating the management apparatus 23. Further, when the information indicating the image data transmission destination device transmits image data to the transmission destination, the non-report transmission destination that is not required to transmit the content information to the management device 23, and the content information Are classified and registered as report destinations that need to be transmitted to the management device 23. The non-report transmission destination is, for example, the facsimile machine 22 of each department in the company connected to the communication network N1 that is an in-house LAN, or the facsimile machine 3 or 42 installed in the branch office. The report required transmission destination is, for example, the facsimile machine 3 or 42 installed in a corporate transaction company. For each destination, an e-mail address or telephone number that identifies the destination device is registered. Other information that can indicate the device such as an IP address may be registered.

  In addition, the management unit 18 stores password information that is a password for identifying a specific user having the authority to input the contents of the registration information, and further determines the authority to use the image transmission apparatus 1. A user DB in which identification information, which is a password for identifying each of the users, is recorded. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the contents of the user DB. Identification information is recorded in association with each of the users, and when the user instructs transmission of image data, a non-reporting user who is a user who does not need to transmit content information to the management device 23; Identification information is recorded by being classified into report destinations that require transmission of content information to the management device 23.

  Next, an operation performed by the image transmission apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for registering information indicating a destination apparatus of content information performed by the image transmission apparatus 1 of the present invention. The control unit 11 of the image transmission apparatus 1 monitors the reception of the registration instruction of the transmission destination in the operation unit 13 by a specific user having registration authority operating the “Register” button of the operation unit 13. (S101). If the registration instruction has not been received (S101: NO), the control unit 11 continues to monitor the registration instruction reception. When a registration instruction is accepted (S101: YES), the control unit 11 displays a message prompting the user to input personal identification information for identifying a specific user according to the control program stored in the ROM 17. It outputs to a means and the reception in the operation part 13 of PIN information is monitored (S102). When the password information is not received (S102: NO), the control unit 11 continues monitoring the reception of the password information.

  When the password information is received (S102: YES), the control unit 11 confirms that the received password information matches the password information stored in the management unit 18 according to the control program stored in the ROM 17. It is determined whether or not (S103). If the accepted password information is not valid password information (S103: NO), the control unit 11 displays an error message indicating that the password information is different according to the control program stored in the ROM 17 on the operation unit. 13 is displayed on the display means (S113), and the reception of the registration cancellation instruction on the operation unit 13 is monitored (S114). When the registration cancellation instruction is not received (S114: NO), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S102 to monitor the reception of the password information, and when the registration cancellation instruction is received (S114: YES). The process is terminated.

  In step S103, if the received password information is valid password information (S103: YES), the control unit 11 is the destination of the content information in the registered information in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 17. It is determined whether or not it is a new registration in a state where the information of the management device 23 is not registered (S104). If it is a new registration (S104: YES), the control unit 11 outputs a message prompting the input of registration to the display means of the operation unit 13 according to the control program stored in the ROM 17, and the management device 23 The reception of the information on the operation unit 13 is monitored (S105). If no information is received from the management device 23 (S105: NO), the control unit 11 continues monitoring information reception from the management device 23.

  When the information of the management device 23, which is the email address of the management device 23, is received (S105: YES), the control unit 11 determines that the received information of the management device 23 is predetermined according to the control program stored in the ROM 17. It is determined whether or not the condition is met (S106). At this time, the control unit 11 is the information processing device connected to the communication network N1 by the management device 23 that is the destination of the content information, or the domain name included in the e-mail address received as information of the management device 23 Is determined based on conditions such as whether the domain name matches the domain name included in the e-mail address of the image transmission apparatus 1. Content indicating the content of image data transmission processing by restricting devices such as the information processing device 41 connected to the wide area communication network N3 that cannot be managed by the administrator from being registered as content information transmission destination devices Information can be prevented from leaking.

  When the information of the management device 23 does not meet the predetermined condition (S106: NO), the control unit 11 displays an error message indicating that the condition is not met according to the control program stored in the ROM 17 on the operation unit. 13 (S108), the process returns to step S105, and information on the management device 23 is newly received. When the information of the management device 23 meets the predetermined condition (S106: YES), the control unit 11 manages the registration information that records the received information of the management device 23 according to the control program stored in the ROM 17. The data is stored in the unit 18 (S107), and the process ends.

  If it is not a new registration but a change in registration contents in step S104 (S104: NO), the control unit 11 determines the registration information stored in the management unit 18 according to the control program stored in the ROM 17. The contents are read and the current registration contents are output to the display means of the operation unit 13 (S109). Next, in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 17, the control unit 11 outputs a message prompting the input of registration change to the display unit of the operation unit 13, and the information operation unit 13 of the changed management device 23 is used. Is monitored (S110). If no information is received from the management device 23 (S110: NO), the control unit 11 continues monitoring information reception from the management device 23. When the information of the changed management device 23 is received (S110: YES), the control unit 11 determines whether the information of the management device 23 that has received the change meets a predetermined condition according to the control program stored in the ROM 17. It is determined whether or not (S111). When the information of the management device 23 does not meet the predetermined condition (S111: NO), the control unit 11 displays an error message indicating that the condition is not met according to the control program stored in the ROM 17 on the operation unit. 13 is output to the display means (S112), and the process returns to step S110 to newly accept the changed information of the management apparatus 23. When the information of the management device 23 meets a predetermined condition (S111: YES), the control unit 11 changes the information of the management device 23 that is the transmission destination of the content information according to the control program stored in the ROM 17. The registered information is stored in the management unit 18 (S107), and the process is terminated.

  Through the processing as described above, the control unit 11 functions as a registration unit according to the present invention, and the image transmission apparatus 1 registers information indicating the management apparatus 23 that is the transmission destination of the content information. Similarly, after performing authentication using the personal identification information, processing for receiving identification information and information on the transmission destination of the image data and storing them in the management unit 18 may be performed. At this time, the classification between the non-reporting of the identification information and the information on the transmission destination of the image data and the report required may be received separately at the time of reception, or may be classified according to a predetermined condition at the time of reception.

  5 and 6 are flowcharts showing a procedure of image data transmission processing performed by the image transmission apparatus 1 of the present invention. The control unit 11 of the image transmission apparatus 1 monitors reception of an instruction for use in the operation unit 13 by a user operating a “facsimile transmission” button of the operation unit 13 (S201). When the use instruction is not received (S201: NO), the control unit 11 continues to monitor the use instruction reception. When an instruction for use is received (S201: YES), the control unit 11 displays a message for prompting input of identification information for identifying the user in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 17. The reception of the identification information at the operation unit 13 is monitored (S202). When the identification information is not received (S202: NO), the control unit 11 continues monitoring the reception of the identification information.

  When the identification information is received (S202: YES), the control unit 11 follows the control program stored in the ROM 17 and the user ID recorded in the user DB in which the received identification information is stored in the management unit 18 is displayed. It is determined whether the identification information matches with any of the identification information (S203). If the received identification information is not valid identification information (S203: NO), the control unit 11 displays an error message indicating that the identification information is different according to the control program stored in the ROM 17 on the operation unit. 13 is output to the display means 13 (S217), and the reception of the use cancel instruction is monitored by the operation unit 13 (S218). If a use cancellation instruction has not been accepted (S218: NO), the process returns to step S202 to monitor the reception of identification information. If a use cancel instruction has been accepted (S218: YES), the process ends. .

  In step S203, when the received identification information is valid identification information (S203: YES), the control unit 11 reads the image by the image reading unit 12 by the operation of the user and generates image data. The reception of the transmission instruction of the image data by specifying the transmission destination and receiving the generated image data transmission request at the operation unit 13 is monitored (S204).

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of the operation unit 13 when receiving designation of a transmission destination. The designation of the transmission destination includes a method of selecting from a plurality of transmission destinations registered in the registration information stored in the management unit 18 and a method of directly inputting the transmission destination information. FIG. 7A shows a display example when a transmission destination is selected, and FIG. 7B shows a display example when information on the transmission destination is directly input. When selecting from a plurality of registered transmission destinations, the image transmission apparatus 1 uses a plurality of transmission destination names registered in the registration information stored in the management unit 14 as display means of the operation unit 13. The designation of the transmission destination to which the image data is to be transmitted is received on the screen. When sending image data to a destination not registered in the registration information, the image sending device 1 displays a keyboard that can accept input of characters on the display means of the operation unit 13, and an e-mail address or telephone number. Is directly accepted using the keyboard. Instead of transmitting image data generated by reading an image with the image reading unit 12, an instruction to transmit image data stored in the storage unit 19 may be received.

  When the image data transmission instruction has not been accepted (S204), the control unit 11 continues to monitor the reception of the transmission request by the operation unit 13. When the image data transmission instruction is received (S205), the control unit 11 manages the registration information stored in the management unit 18 according to the control program stored in the ROM 17 as the transmission destination of the content information. It is determined whether or not the information is registered (S205). When the information of the management device 23 is registered in the registration information (S205: YES), the control unit 11 displays the domain name included in the email address of the management device 23 according to the control program stored in the ROM 17 as an image. It is determined whether or not the registered information of the management device 23, such as whether it matches the domain name included in the email address of the transmission device 1, meets a predetermined condition (S206).

  When the information in the management device 23 meets the predetermined condition (S206: YES), the control unit 11 is identified by the identification information received in step S202 in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 17. However, it is determined whether or not the user is recorded as a report required user in the user DB stored in the management unit 18 (S207). In companies, the image transmission device 1 is illegally used due to human error, such as classifying the identification information of regular employees as non-reporting users and classifying the identification information of new employees or part-time employees as reporting users. By classifying users who are highly likely to be reportable users and transmitting the contents information to the management device 23 when these users use the image transmission device 1, the image transmission device 1 can be efficiently used. To prevent unauthorized use.

  If the user is not a reportable user but a non-reporting user (S207: NO), the control unit 11 displays the transmission destination information in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 17 as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the information is directly accepted using a display screen as shown in (S208). When sending image data illegally, such as when an internal document in a company is leaked to the outside, it is not a pre-registered destination, but a destination where the user has directly entered the destination information Since the image data is transmitted to the management apparatus 23 when the image data is transmitted to the transmission destination in which the user directly inputs the transmission destination information, the image transmission apparatus 1 Can be managed efficiently to prevent unauthorized use.

  When the destination information is not directly received information, but is information received by accepting selection of the destination from the registered destinations using the display screen as shown in FIG. (S208: NO), in the control unit 11, according to the control program stored in the ROM 17, the transmission destination is a transmission destination registered as a report required transmission destination in the registration information stored in the management unit 18. It is determined whether or not (S209). In an enterprise, the internal transmission destination is classified as a non-report transmission destination and the external transmission destination such as a business partner is classified as a report transmission destination. Depending on image data to be transmitted such as confidential documents, the image transmission apparatus 1 is illegally used. By classifying the transmission destinations that may be connected to the report required transmission destinations and transmitting the content information to the management apparatus 23 when the image data is transmitted to these transmission destinations, the image transmission apparatus 1 can be efficiently used. To prevent unauthorized use.

  When the transmission destination is not a report required transmission destination but is registered in the registration information as a non-report transmission destination (S209: NO), the control unit 11 transmits the image data to be transmitted according to the control program stored in the ROM 17. Is checked to determine whether or not the image data satisfies a predetermined condition that requires transmission of the content information (S210). By transmitting content information to the management device 23 when image data that should be restricted from being transmitted to the outside is transmitted, such as when the company includes a “confidential” mark indicating a confidential document, It is possible to efficiently manage the image transmission device 1 and suppress unauthorized use.

  If the user is a reportable user in step S207 (S207: YES), if the destination information is directly accepted information in step S208 (S208: YES), the transmission is made in step S209. When the destination is a report destination that requires reporting (S209: YES), and when the image data satisfies a predetermined condition in step S210 (S210: YES), the control unit 11 is stored in the ROM 17. In accordance with the control program, a message is displayed on the operation unit 13 indicating that content information indicating the content of image data transmission processing, such as user information, image data transmission destination, and image data content, is transmitted to the management device 23. The user is notified by outputting to the means (S211). By notifying that the content information is to be transmitted, it is possible to stop unauthorized use by an unauthorized user, or to prompt the user to confirm the transmission destination and the like, thereby reducing human error. Can be prevented from being illegally used.

  Next, in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 17, the control unit 11 stops the process for a predetermined time and delays the start of transmission (S212). Delaying the start of transmission causes time for the user to stop transmission when the transmission destination is wrong. Next, the control unit 11 transmits the image data to the transmission destination according to the control program stored in the ROM 17 (S213), the user information, the content of the transmitted image data, the transmission destination of the image data, and Content information indicating the content of the image data transmission process, such as the content of the error when an error has occurred, is transmitted to the management apparatus 23 (S214), and the process ends.

  When the information of the management device 23 is not registered in the registration information at step S205 (S205: NO), when the information of the management device 23 does not meet the predetermined condition at step S206 (S206: NO), and step When the image data does not satisfy the predetermined condition in S210 (S210: NO), the control unit 11 delays the start of transmission by a predetermined time according to the control program stored in the ROM 17 (S215). Next, the control unit 11 transmits the image data to the transmission destination according to the control program stored in the ROM 17 (S216), and ends the process without transmitting the content information.

  As described above in detail, the image transmission apparatus 1 according to the present invention manages content information indicating the content according to the content of the image data transmission process, such as the user, the transmission destination of the image data, and the content of the image data. Whether to transmit to the device 1 is determined. By transmitting the content information to the management device 23 only when it is necessary to transmit the content information, the amount of content information transmitted to the management device 23 is reduced, and the administrator can easily confirm the content information. be able to. In addition, it is possible to prevent information indicating unauthorized use from being mixed into a large amount of information, and to more effectively suppress unauthorized use of the image transmission device 1.

  The image transmitting apparatus 1 according to the present invention authenticates a specific user using the personal identification information when newly registering or changing the management apparatus 23 that is the transmission destination of the content information. It is possible to prevent the content information from being leaked to the outside by changing the transmission destination of the content information by an unspecified user.

  In the present embodiment, processing for determining the necessity of transmission of content information is performed according to the transmission destination by classifying the transmission destination of the image data in advance for the necessity of transmission of the content information. However, the method for determining the necessity of transmission of the content information according to the transmission destination is not limited to this. In addition, when the transmission destination is connected to the communication network N1 that is a LAN, it is determined from the transmission destination information whether the transmission destination of the image data exists in a predetermined communication area, and the transmission destination When the transmission destination is outside a predetermined communication area, such as when connected to the wide area communication network N3 that is the Internet, processing may be performed to determine to transmit the content information. When image data is sent to the outside of a communication area that can be managed by an administrator such as an in-house LAN, there is a possibility of unauthorized use such as leakage of confidential information. The device 1 can be managed efficiently to prevent unauthorized use.

  Also, register only information for either the destination of the image data that needs to be sent, or the destination of the image data that doesn't need to be sent, and based on the registered information You may perform the process which determines the necessity of transmission of information. In addition, for user identification information, only information for users who need to send content information or users who do not need to send content information is registered, and content information is sent based on the registered information. You may perform the process which determines the necessity.

  In the present embodiment, the image transmission apparatus 1 is a facsimile apparatus. However, the image transmission apparatus 1 is a scanner apparatus that transmits image data generated by reading an image with the image reading unit 12 to the information processing apparatuses 21, 21,. There may be.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the image transmission system of this invention, and the function structure inside the image transmission apparatus of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the content of registration information. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the content of user DB. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which registers the information which shows the transmission destination apparatus of the content information which the image transmission apparatus of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the image data transmission which the image transmission apparatus of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the image data transmission which the image transmission apparatus of this invention performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display of the operation part at the time of receiving designation | designated of a transmission destination.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image transmission apparatus 11 Control part 13 Operation part 14 Modem part 15 Communication part 17 ROM
18 Management Unit 21, 41 Information Processing Device 22, 3, 42 Facsimile Device 23 Management Device N1 Communication Network N2 Public Line Network

Claims (11)

In an image transmission system including an image transmission device including a transmission unit that transmits image data to another device, and a management device connected to the image transmission device,
The image transmission device includes:
Registration means for registering information indicating the management device;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to transmit content information indicating the content based on the content of the image data transmission process performed by the transmission unit when the transmission unit transmits image data to another device;
An image transmission comprising: a means for transmitting the content information to the management device indicated by the information registered by the registration means when the determination means determines that the content information should be transmitted; system. In an image transmission device comprising a transmission means for transmitting image data to another device,
Registration means for registering information indicating a destination apparatus to which content information indicating the content of image data transmission processing by the transmission means is to be transmitted;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to transmit the content information based on the content when the transmission unit transmits image data to another device;
Means for transmitting the content information to the destination device indicated by the information registered by the registration means when the determination means determines that the content information should be transmitted. Image transmission device. A receiving means for receiving input of personal identification information;
And a means for permitting the registration means to register information indicating the destination device when the password information received by the receiving means matches predetermined password information. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein   Means for permitting the registration means to change information indicating the transmission destination apparatus that has already been registered when the password information received by the reception means matches predetermined predetermined password information; The image transmission device according to claim 3, further comprising:   5. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a unit that restricts information indicating the transmission destination apparatus registered by the registration unit based on a predetermined condition. Input means for accepting input of information specifying a destination device to which image data is to be transmitted;
A selection means for receiving selection of information indicating a transmission destination apparatus to which image data is to be transmitted from among a plurality of pieces of information indicating other apparatuses registered in advance;
The said determination means determines that the said content information should be transmitted, when the said input means receives the input of the information which designated the said transmission destination apparatus. The image transmission device according to any one of 2 to 5.   7. The determination unit according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not to transmit the content information in accordance with information indicating a transmission destination device to which the image data is to be transmitted. The image transmission apparatus as described in any one.   The determination unit should transmit the content information when the information indicating the transmission destination device to which the image data is transmitted indicates that the device is a device outside a predetermined communication area. 8. The image transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the image transmission device is determined.   9. The determination unit according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether or not to transmit the content information in accordance with image data transmitted by the transmission unit. Image transmission device. An identification means for identifying the user;
10. The determination unit according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether the content information should be transmitted according to a user identified by the identification unit. Image transmission device.   The image transmission apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for notifying a user that the content information is transmitted.

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