JP2005165434A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system that permits only a specific person to use it using fingerprint information. <P>SOLUTION: When a host PC 10 directs printing, a fingerprint matching part 1(14) causes a fingerprint recorded on an IC card to be matched with fingerprint information detected by a fingerprint detection part 11 to prevent unauthorized use at early stages. During printing, an image forming device 20 uses a fingerprint matching part 2(24) to cause the fingerprint information sent from the host PC 10 along with print information to be matched with the fingerprint recorded on the IC card to prevent the leakage of classified documents. Further, data about the classified documents remaining in the image forming apparatus 20 after printing and the fingerprint information are deleted to enhance security. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, and more particularly, to an image forming system that uses information related to a fingerprint of a system user and permits use only by a specific person.

  Image forming apparatuses such as printers and digital multifunction peripherals connected to a network are often used by a plurality of users using a plurality of hosts such as PCs connected to the network. Further, the setting position of the image forming apparatus is usually located away from the operator who uses the host. For this reason, when printing a highly confidential document or the like (hereinafter referred to as a confidential document), there is a risk that information may be leaked by being touched by a user other than the operator who uses the host.

  As a method for preventing the information leakage described above, an invention related to a user restriction function using a password has been proposed. However, the user restriction by password is not perfect as a security measure because the password input operation is complicated and the password may be leaked. Furthermore, it is necessary to store a password. If the password is forgotten, the image forming apparatus cannot be used.

  In view of the problems described above, the following proposals have been made.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 allows detection means for detecting a fingerprint of an operator who uses the image forming apparatus, and permits use of the image forming apparatus when a fingerprint registered in advance matches a fingerprint detected by the detection means. An image forming apparatus is proposed. As described above, the use can be permitted only to a specific person, and the use by a third party who does not have the use authority can be prohibited.

Patent Document 2 has a function of easily performing setting of reading conditions and setting of image data transmission methods in a network scanner device via a network, and safety that prevents such information from being changed by others. A network scanner device is proposed.
JP 2000-221851 A JP 2001-148753 A

  However, the inventions proposed in the above patent documents have the following problems.

  Information such as a fingerprint of an operator who uses the image forming apparatus needs to be registered in the image forming apparatus in advance. Therefore, an image forming apparatus in which information such as an operator's fingerprint is not registered cannot be used. That is, it may be difficult for an operator to register information about fingerprints in advance in an image forming apparatus in an environment in which the image forming apparatus is output from a location remote from a person using a host such as a PC via a network. Many.

  In addition, when the operator is away from the image forming apparatus, the output confidential document may be touched by others and information may be leaked. Furthermore, when a confidential document is requested to be printed via the network, the operator's fingerprint cannot be detected by the image forming apparatus.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to perform fingerprint collation using an IC card in which an operator's fingerprint is registered when a print instruction is issued from a host, and to detect unauthorized use at an initial stage. An object of the present invention is to prevent a confidential document from being seen by a third party other than the operator by printing after performing fingerprint collation using an IC card in which a fingerprint is registered. The purpose is to eliminate the risk of leaking data relating to confidential documents to the outside by deleting the fingerprint information and the print information immediately after printing.

  Another object of the present invention is to prevent leakage of confidential documents and data related to the documents to the outside more quickly because an unauthorized user can be identified at the stage of a print instruction from the host.

  Further, according to the present invention, when fingerprint collation is not executed in the image forming apparatus within a predetermined time after the print instruction from the host, the information on the registered fingerprint and the print data in the image forming apparatus are deleted. An object of the present invention is to eliminate the risk of occurrence of leakage to the outside because data relating to confidential documents remains in the image forming apparatus.

  Furthermore, the present invention distinguishes between confidential documents and normal documents, and prints confidential documents by permitting printing after executing fingerprint registration and fingerprint verification for data registered as confidential documents in advance. The purpose is to limit.

  Furthermore, the present invention distinguishes between confidential documents and normal documents, and for print data registered in advance as confidential documents, when printing is instructed, fingerprint registration is requested to improve work efficiency. With the goal.

  The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein a terminal having an IC card interface and an image forming apparatus having the IC card interface are connected via a network. Detecting means, means for reading the fingerprint stored in the IC card, means for comparing the fingerprint detected by the detecting means with the fingerprint read from the IC card, the fingerprint detected by the detecting means, and the A means for recording the fingerprint detected by the detection means, a means for transmitting the document to be printed and the recorded fingerprint to the image forming apparatus when the fingerprint read from the IC card matches, and printing the document; Requesting the image forming apparatus to transmit the recorded fingerprint and the document to the image forming apparatus. After, it characterized by having a means for erasing the recorded fingerprint.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect, the terminal detects when the fingerprint detected by the terminal does not match the fingerprint read from the IC card. It has means for transferring a fingerprint to a server and means for prohibiting the image forming apparatus from requesting printing.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first or second aspect, when the image forming apparatus receives the fingerprint acquired from the terminal and the document, the fingerprint stored in the IC card is stored. When the reading means, the means for collating the fingerprint received from the terminal and the fingerprint read from the IC card, and the fingerprint obtained from the terminal and the fingerprint read from the IC card do not match, A means for erasing the fingerprint and the document obtained from the terminal after presenting the message to reject printing, and the fingerprint obtained from the terminal and the fingerprint read from the IC card match Means for permitting printing of the document requested by the terminal and erasing the fingerprint and the document acquired from the terminal after printing. Characterized in that it has.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the third aspect, the image forming apparatus transmits the fingerprint and the document transmitted from the terminal, and then transmits the fingerprint and the document within a predetermined time. And a means for erasing the fingerprint received from the terminal and the document when the fingerprint and the fingerprint read from the IC card are not collated.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the terminal is detected by the detecting unit only when the image forming apparatus is requested to print a confidential document. The printed fingerprint is collated with the fingerprint recorded on the IC card.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the image forming apparatus acquires a fingerprint acquired from the terminal only when the confidential document is acquired from the terminal. And a fingerprint read from the IC card are collated.

  According to the present invention, since fingerprint verification of a user using an IC card in which a fingerprint is recorded when printing is instructed, unauthorized use can be detected at an initial stage. Further, at the time of printing, it is possible to prevent a confidential document from touching another person's eyes by printing after performing fingerprint collation with an IC card with a fingerprint registered. Furthermore, since fingerprint information and print information remaining in the image forming apparatus are erased immediately after printing, leakage of confidential data to the outside can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, in a host PC that transmits print information to an image forming apparatus, fingerprint information recorded on an IC card is collated with an operator's read fingerprint, and fingerprint information recorded on the IC card is also printed on the print output side. And fingerprint information transmitted from the host PC, it is possible to maintain higher confidentiality. After printing, fingerprint information and information regarding confidential documents are erased from the image forming apparatus to prevent information leakage. In addition, it is possible to improve the work efficiency by requesting registration and verification of fingerprint information by distinguishing confidential documents from normal documents.

  A configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. The image forming system includes a host PC 10, an image forming apparatus 20, and a local area network 30 (hereinafter abbreviated as a network). The host PC 10 gives an instruction regarding printing to the image forming apparatus 20. The image forming apparatus 20 prints a document according to an instruction from the host PC 10. A plurality of host PCs 10 exist as shown in FIG. 1 and are operated by a plurality of users. Further, although not shown, a plurality of image forming apparatuses can also be connected to the image forming apparatus 20.

  The host PC 10 includes a fingerprint detection unit 11 (a configuration built into a mouse, a configuration built into a keyboard, or a configuration as an independent unit) that detects information related to an operator's fingerprint on a computer terminal. A fingerprint registration unit 12 that records information about the detected fingerprint in the host PC 10, an IC card I / F-1 (13) that reads fingerprint information recorded in the IC card, and a fingerprint and IC recorded in the fingerprint registration unit 12 It comprises a fingerprint collation unit 1 (14) for collating fingerprints stored in the card I / F-113.

  That is, in the host PC 10, the fingerprint information read from the IC card in the IC card I / F (13) and the fingerprint information detected by the fingerprint detection unit 11 are collated by the fingerprint collation unit 1 (14), and they match. If the approval is obtained, the fingerprint detected by the fingerprint detection unit 11 is recorded in the fingerprint registration unit 12 and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 through the network 30 together with the designated file.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is generally assumed to be a printer, a digital multi-function peripheral, or the like. FIG. 1 shows a minimum configuration of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 20 includes an overall control unit 21, a network control unit 22, an IC card I / F-2 (23), a fingerprint collation unit 2 (24), a confidential document storage unit 25, an operation unit 26, a display unit 27, and The printing unit 28 is configured.

  The overall control unit 21 includes a CPU, a program built-in memory, a work memory, and the like, and is a block that controls the entire system of the image forming apparatus 20. The network control unit 22 performs communication control for transmitting and receiving image data and commands to and from the host PC 10 via the network 30. The IC card I / F-2 (23) is a part that reads fingerprint information recorded on the IC card. The fingerprint collation unit 2 (24) collates the fingerprint information sent together with the original document sent from the host PC 10 as a confidential document with the fingerprint information acquired from the IC card, and transmits the result to the overall control unit 21. To do. The confidential document storage unit 25 temporarily stores the confidential document sent from the host PC 10. The operation unit 26 is used when operating the image forming apparatus 21. The display unit 27 notifies the user of the use state by an operation, an error display, or the like. The printing unit 28 prints a document and generates a print document 31.

  Next, an operation for restricting the users executed in the host PC 10 of the image forming system to which the present invention is applied will be described. It is assumed that the fingerprint detection unit 1 (11) on the host PC 10 side is provided in the click part of the mouse. With this operation, if the verification on the host terminal side is not performed normally, the printing operation is stopped and the fingerprint information of the unauthorized user is notified to the network server. As a result, unauthorized access can be prevented before data relating to a confidential document is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, so that more reliable security can be established.

  First, designation of a file name to be printed in the host PC 10 (step S100), and the fingerprint of the operator is detected in the fingerprint detection unit 1 (11) attached to the mouse (step S101). Further, the registered fingerprint information of the user is read from the IC card via the IC card I / F-1 (13) (step S102), and the fingerprint detected by the fingerprint detection unit 1 (11) and the IC card I / F- 1 (13), the registered fingerprint information read is collated (step S103). If the two match (step S104 / YES), it is determined that the user is a valid user, and a print instruction to the image forming apparatus 20 is given. The fingerprint information detected by the fingerprint detection unit 1 (11) is stored in the fingerprint registration unit 12 (step S107). On the other hand, if the two fingerprints do not match (step S104 / NO), the printing operation is stopped (step S105), and the network server is notified of unauthorized use (step S106).

  When the fingerprint detected by the fingerprint detection unit 1 (11) is stored in the fingerprint registration unit 12 (step S107), the image forming apparatus 20 as an output destination is selected (step S108). Next, an operation for starting printing is performed (step S109), and the print information and the fingerprint information stored in the fingerprint registration unit 12 are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 via the network 30 (step S110). The fingerprint information stored in the host PC 10 is deleted after data transmission (step S111). As described above, it is possible to detect unauthorized use in the initial stage of printing. Further, since the fingerprint information is erased from the host PC 10 after data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20, it is possible to prevent the information from being misused.

  Next, an operation executed in the image forming apparatus 20 that has received print information and fingerprint information from the host PC 10 via the network 30 will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 20 receives the print information and the fingerprint information at the network control unit 22 (step S200 / YES). The print information is accumulated in the confidential document storage unit 25, and when the fingerprint information is stored in the fingerprint collation unit 2 (24), the print preparation is completed. Next, the fact that fingerprint verification can be performed is displayed on the display unit 27 (step S201), and data input from the IC card I / F-2 (23) is awaited. When the fingerprint information is acquired from the IC card I / F-2 (23) (step S202), the fingerprint verification is performed by reading the IC card storing the fingerprint of the same user as the person who registered the fingerprint in the host PC 10. The collation operation is started in the section 2 (24) (step S203). As a result of the collation, when the fingerprint information from the host PC 10 and the fingerprint information from the IC card match (step S204 / YES), the document is printed (step S205). After the printing is completed, all confidential data (registered fingerprint information and detected fingerprint information) and print data stored in the image forming apparatus 20 are deleted (step S207). If the collation results do not match (step S204 / NO), a message indicating that printing cannot be performed is displayed on the display unit 27 (step S206), and confidential data is erased without executing printing (step S206). S207). Since fingerprint information is information that can identify an individual, it must be handled with care, and is deleted immediately after it is no longer needed, thus preventing leakage of information.

  As described above, in the image forming system to which the present invention is applied, the fingerprint information registered in advance in the IC card in the host PC 20 and the fingerprint information of the operator are collated, and the print output side (image In the forming apparatus 20), fingerprint information registered in the IC card and fingerprint information transmitted from the host PC 10 are collated, and fingerprint collation is performed in two stages. Therefore, confidentiality is high. The user's burden is reduced because no password is required.

  Furthermore, since fingerprint information serving as a reference is registered in the IC card, privacy is also protected. At the time of printing, the fingerprint is collated with the IC card in which the fingerprint is registered, and then printing is performed to prevent the confidential document from being touched by others. After printing, fingerprint information and confidential document information are erased, so that leakage of information from the image forming apparatus can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, after the print instruction is issued from the host PC 10, the fingerprint information and the print data transmitted from the host PC 10 are deleted when the fingerprint verification is not performed in the image forming apparatus 20 within a predetermined time. The operation to be performed will be described.

  When the image forming apparatus 20 receives the fingerprint information and the print document information transmitted from the host PC 10 (step S300 / YES), the display unit 27 displays that the fingerprint can be collated (step S301). Wait for data input from / F-2 (23) (step S302). Here, when the fingerprint information is not acquired from the IC card I / F-2 (23) (step S302 / NO), the image forming apparatus 20 receives the fingerprint information and the print information, and the fingerprint verification is possible. The time from (Step S301) is counted (Step S306). If the collation operation of the fingerprint information from the IC card and the fingerprint information transmitted from the host PC 10 is not performed within a predetermined time set in advance (step S307 / YES), it is displayed that printing cannot be performed (step S308). . Then, the print information and fingerprint information remaining in the image forming apparatus 20 are erased (step S309), and the operation ends. If the elapsed time from the state in which fingerprint verification is possible (step S301) does not reach the predetermined time set in advance (step S307 / NO), the IC card I / F-2 (23) continues. Wait for data input.

  When fingerprint information is acquired from the IC card I / F-2 (23) (step S302 / YES), the IC card in which the fingerprint of the same user as the person who registered the fingerprint is stored in the host PC 10 is read. Thus, the collation operation is started in the fingerprint collation unit 2 (24) (step S303). As a result of the collation, when the fingerprint information from the host PC 10 and the fingerprint information from the IC card match (step S304 / YES), the document is printed (step S305). After the printing is completed, all confidential data (registered fingerprint information and detected fingerprint information) and print data stored in the image forming apparatus 20 are deleted (step S309). If the collation results do not match (step S304 / NO), it is displayed that printing cannot be performed (step S308), and confidential data is erased without printing (step S309).

  With the above operation, it is possible to prevent leakage of information due to confidential data remaining in the image forming apparatus for a long time.

  An operation for improving work efficiency in an image forming system to which the present invention is applied by distinguishing between confidential documents and normal documents will be described. If the operations described in the first and second embodiments are performed without distinguishing between confidential documents and normal documents, the work efficiency is significantly reduced. Therefore, the host PC 10 registers the confidential document in advance, and executes fingerprint collation when the fingerprint detected by the fingerprint detection unit 1 (11) matches the fingerprint read from the IC card. Prohibit printing instructions. As a result, the confidential document file and the normal document file can be used separately, and the fingerprint verification operation of the normal information can be deleted while restricting the printing of the confidential document, so that the work efficiency can be improved.

  Furthermore, for a document for which fingerprint verification has been executed as a confidential document in the host PC 10, fingerprint registration is requested when the confidential document is selected. As a result, the confidential document and the normal document can be distinguished, and the print instruction work can be simplified and the work efficiency can be improved.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation executed in a host PC of the image forming system to which the present invention is applied. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation executed in the image forming apparatus of the image forming system to which the present invention is applied. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when fingerprint information is not obtained from an IC card in the image forming apparatus of the image forming system to which the present invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

10 Host PC
11 Fingerprint detector 1
12 Fingerprint Registration Unit 13 IC Card I / F-1
14 Fingerprint verification unit 1
20 Image forming apparatus 21 Overall control unit 22 Network control unit 23 IC card I / F-2
24 Fingerprint verification unit 2
25 Confidential Document Storage Unit 26 Operation Unit 27 Display Unit 28 Printing Unit 30 Network 31 Print Document

Claims (6)

In an image forming system in which a terminal having an IC card interface and an image forming apparatus having an IC card interface are connected via a network,
The terminal
Means for detecting a user's fingerprint;
Means for reading a fingerprint stored in the IC card;
Means for collating the fingerprint detected by the detection means with the fingerprint read from the IC card;
Means for recording the fingerprint detected by the detection means when the fingerprint detected by the detection means matches the fingerprint read from the IC card;
Means for transmitting a document to be printed and the recorded fingerprint to the image forming apparatus;
Means for requesting the image forming apparatus to print the document;
An image forming system comprising: means for erasing the recorded fingerprint after transmitting the recorded fingerprint and the document to the image forming apparatus. The terminal
Means for transferring the fingerprint detected by the terminal to a server when the fingerprint detected by the terminal does not match the fingerprint read from the IC card;
The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that prohibits the image forming apparatus from requesting printing. The image forming apparatus includes:
When receiving the fingerprint and the document obtained from the terminal,
Means for reading a fingerprint stored in the IC card;
Means for collating the fingerprint received from the terminal with the fingerprint read from the IC card;
When the fingerprint obtained from the terminal and the fingerprint read from the IC card do not match, a message for rejecting printing is presented to the user, and after presenting the message, the fingerprint obtained from the terminal and Means for erasing the document;
When the fingerprint obtained from the terminal matches the fingerprint read from the IC card, the printing of the document requested by the terminal is permitted, and after printing, the fingerprint and the document obtained from the terminal are deleted. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit.   When the image forming apparatus acquires the fingerprint transmitted from the terminal and the document, and does not collate the fingerprint transmitted from the terminal and the fingerprint read from the IC card within a predetermined time, 4. The image forming system according to claim 3, further comprising means for erasing the fingerprint and the document received from the terminal.   5. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal collates the fingerprint detected by the detection unit with the fingerprint recorded on the IC card only when requesting the image forming apparatus to print a confidential document. The image forming system according to any one of the above.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus collates a fingerprint acquired from the terminal and a fingerprint read from the IC card only when the confidential document is acquired from the terminal. The image forming system according to item.

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