JP2006001087A - Image forming apparatus and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the possibility that a password for special mode transition is used by stealth in an image forming apparatus having a special mode being utilized only by a specified manager as one operation mode. <P>SOLUTION: A storage 30 stores variation data which varies depending on a predetermined factor. A UI 10 displays the variation data stored in the storage 30. A mode transition section 43 transits the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 to a special mode when a password for special mode transition is accepted by the UI 10. The password for special mode transition is formed from the variation data stored in the storage 30 according to a predetermined rule. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an electronic apparatus having a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator as one of operation modes, and more particularly to transition to a special mode.

  Many image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers have a maintenance mode for maintenance in addition to a normal mode in which a normal printing operation is performed. In this maintenance mode, various operating conditions that cannot be set in the normal mode can be set. For this reason, if an incorrect operating condition is set in the maintenance mode, there may be a disadvantage such as a failure or an accident.

  Therefore, in order to prevent the above disadvantages, the use of the maintenance mode is limited to a specific administrator such as a maintenance engineer who has received specialized training. In order to limit the use of the maintenance mode to a specific administrator, for example, input of a predetermined password or regular key operation is used as a transition condition to the maintenance mode. In Patent Document 1, when an administrator password is input, the system shifts to an environment setting reception state that can be used only by an administrator. When a user password is input, the system does not shift to the environment setting reception state. An information processing apparatus that starts an operation in a state is described.

JP 2003-91507 A

  In the above conventional technique, since the password is fixed, the maintenance engineer always inputs the same password during maintenance. For this reason, there is a high risk that a password will be stolen by a general user. In addition, once a password is forgotten due to snooping, analogy, or trial and error, the password is permanently stolen. Such a problem is not limited to the maintenance mode, but may also occur in a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator. Further, the above problem is not limited to the image forming apparatus, and may also occur in an electronic device that uses a password input as a condition for transition to the special mode.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus and an electronic apparatus that can reduce the possibility of a password for special mode transition being stolen.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having, as one of operation modes, a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator, and includes change data that changes according to a predetermined factor. A storage means for storing, a display means for displaying change data stored in the storage means, an input means for accepting an operation input from an operator, and a change data stored in the storage means, generated according to a predetermined rule And a mode transition unit that transitions the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the special mode when the password to be received is received by the input unit.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the password is all or a part of the change data.

  In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the change data is a current time. At this time, it is preferable that the password is all the time when the absolute value of the difference from the current time is equal to or less than a predetermined time. At this time, it is preferable that the password is a time past the current time. In addition, when a predetermined operation input is accepted at the time of starting or immediately after the start-up, a password input screen that prompts the user to input a password is displayed on the display screen, and the input means receives a password from the operator via the password input screen. In the configuration for receiving the input, it is preferable that the predetermined time is equal to or longer than the total time of the activation time of the image forming apparatus and the minimum time required for the password input operation.

  In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the change data is data that changes as the image forming apparatus is used. Specifically, the change data is the cumulative number of printed sheets or cumulative operating time of the image forming apparatus, or the cumulative rotational speed or cumulative rotational time of the photosensitive drum.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the password is formed by adding a fixed password to all or a predetermined part of the change data. In a preferred aspect in this case, the fixed password is an individual identification number of the image forming apparatus held in the image forming apparatus in a manner readable by the operator.

  The control device of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a special mode that should be limited to a specific administrator as one of the operation modes, and change data that changes depending on a predetermined factor is stored. A display control unit that displays change data stored in the storage area on a display screen, an input reception unit that receives an operation input from an operator, Mode transition means for transitioning the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the special mode when a password generated in accordance with a predetermined rule from change data stored in the storage area is accepted by the input acceptance means; It is characterized by providing.

  The control program according to the present invention has a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator as one of the operation modes, and a storage area in which change data that changes according to a predetermined factor is stored. An image forming apparatus comprising: display control means for displaying change data stored in the storage area on a display screen; input receiving means for receiving operation input from an operator; and change data stored in the storage area When the password generated according to a predetermined rule is received by the input receiving unit, the password is made to function as a mode transition unit that shifts the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the special mode.

  The image forming apparatus control method according to the present invention has a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator as one of the operation modes, and stores change data that changes according to a predetermined factor. A display step for displaying change data stored in the storage area on a display screen, an input receiving step for receiving an operation input from an operator, and the storage A mode transition step for transitioning the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the special mode when a password generated in accordance with a predetermined rule from the change data stored in the area is accepted in the input acceptance step; It is characterized by having.

  An electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device having a special mode that should be limited to a specific administrator as one of operation modes, and stores change data that changes according to a predetermined factor. Generated according to a predetermined rule from storage means, display means for displaying change data stored in the storage means, input means for receiving operation input from an operator, and change data stored in the storage means And a mode transition means for transitioning the operation mode of the electronic device to the special mode when the password is received by the input means.

  According to the present invention, a password generated from change data that changes according to a predetermined factor, not a fixed password, is used as a password for special mode transition, so that the password for special mode transition may be stolen. Can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine. In this embodiment, the electrophotographic method will be described as an example of the printing method, but the printing method may be another method such as an ink jet method.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has, as its operation mode, a normal mode used by general users and a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator. Here, the special mode is a maintenance mode for maintenance (also referred to as a diagnosis mode or a service mode) whose use is permitted only by a maintenance engineer. In this maintenance mode, various operating conditions (operating environment) that cannot be set in the normal mode can be set. In the maintenance mode, the image forming apparatus 1 can execute a special test operation different from the normal image forming operation. The transition to the maintenance mode requires input of a predetermined password described later.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a user interface (UI) 10, a print engine 20, a storage device 30, and a control device 40.

  The UI 10 is an interface that functions as a display unit that displays various types of information and an input unit that receives an operation input from an operator. Here, the UI 10 includes various buttons such as a numeric keypad, a start button, and a stop button, and a touch panel type liquid crystal display.

  The print engine 20 is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium such as paper according to an electrophotographic method. Here, the print engine 20 includes a scanner that reads an image from a document.

  The storage device 30 is a volatile or nonvolatile RAM or the like, and stores change data that changes according to a predetermined factor. Here, the change data includes, for example, data that changes with the passage of time and data that changes as the image forming apparatus 1 is used. More specifically, the current time, the cumulative number of printed sheets or cumulative operating time of the image forming apparatus 1, the cumulative rotational speed or cumulative rotational time of the photosensitive drum, or the remaining amount of toner can be cited. The change data stored in the storage device 30 is updated at any time by the timer function or the counter function of the control device 40.

  The control device 40 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. In FIG. 1, the control device 40 has a display control unit 41, an input reception unit 42, and a mode transition unit 43 as functional blocks. In the present embodiment, each function of the control device 40 is realized by the CPU executing a control program according to the present embodiment that is stored in a storage medium such as a ROM. However, the implementation mode of each function of the control device 40 is not particularly limited, and may be implemented by, for example, a dedicated hardware circuit.

  The display control unit 41 displays various information on the display screen of the UI 10. In the present embodiment, the display control unit 41 particularly displays the change data stored in the storage device 30 on the display screen of the UI 10.

  The input receiving unit 42 receives an operation input from the operator via the UI 10. In the present embodiment, the input receiving unit 42 particularly receives an input of a password for special mode transition.

  The mode transition unit 43 transitions the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 to the maintenance mode when the password for special mode transition is received by the input reception unit 42. For example, the mode transition unit 43 changes the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 by rewriting a parameter indicating the current operation mode from “normal mode” to “maintenance mode” or by calling a maintenance mode program. Transition to maintenance mode.

  In this embodiment, in order to prevent password theft, a password generated according to a predetermined rule from change data stored in the storage device 30 instead of a conventional fixed password as a password for special mode transition Is used. Here, as the predetermined rule for generating a password, there are a great many variations. For example, the following rule can be given. That is, a rule that uses all or a predetermined part of change data as a password, a rule that uses a fixed password added to all or a predetermined part of change data, and a numerical value obtained by adding 1 to change data (numeric value) And the like, and the rule that the character string obtained by changing the change data (character string) in the reverse order is the password. As the fixed password added to the change data, an administrator password assigned to the administrator or an individual identification number of the image forming apparatus 1 is preferable. Here, the individual identification number is held in the image forming apparatus 1 in a manner readable by the operator. Specifically, the individual identification number can be visually recognized by appropriate display means (a display screen of UI 10, a seal, a stamp, etc.). The password is composed of numbers, letters, symbols, etc., or a combination thereof.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described in detail with two operation examples.

(First operation example)
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the image forming apparatus 1 in the first operation example. In this operation example, the storage device 30 stores the accumulated operation time (for example, a six-digit number) of the image forming apparatus 1 as change data. The accumulated operation time is updated as needed by the timer function of the control device 40 in accordance with the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1. In this example of operation, a password obtained by adding a fixed password “####” to the beginning of the accumulated operation time is set as a predetermined password for transition to the special mode. This password is informed to the maintenance engineer and not to the general user.

  When the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on (S11), the control device 40 executes predetermined startup processing such as initialization (S12). Then, after the start-up process is completed, the control device 40 controls the image forming apparatus 1 to operate in the normal mode (S13). For example, a standby screen is displayed on the display screen of the UI 10 for accepting setting of copy conditions such as the number of copies, density, and magnification, and an operation input of a copy start instruction. Then, in response to the operator's instruction on this standby screen, the print engine 20 is caused to perform a normal copy operation.

  The control device 40 causes the image forming apparatus 1 to operate in the normal mode until the password for special mode transition is received by the input receiving unit 42 (S14: NO, S13). On the other hand, when the password for special mode transition is received by the input receiving unit 42, that is, when the password is input by the operator (S14: YES), the control device 40 determines that the control device 40 is the image forming apparatus 1. The operation mode is changed from the normal mode to the maintenance mode, and the image forming apparatus 1 is operated in the maintenance mode (S15). Specifically, the control device 40 transitions the display screen of the UI 10 from a standby screen to a maintenance screen (also referred to as a special function input screen). Then, in accordance with an instruction from the operator on the maintenance screen, the setting of the operation condition is changed, or the print engine 20 is caused to execute a test operation.

  The password input operation by the operator in this operation example is as follows. That is, the operator reads the accumulated operation time on the display screen of the UI 10 and then inputs the accumulated operation time following the fixed password “####” by operating the button of the UI 10. Here, the accumulated operation time may be displayed on a standby screen, or may be displayed on another screen such as an operating environment setting screen or a status display screen that is displayed by screen transition based on the operation of the operator. .

  The reason why the fixed password “####” is added to the head of the accumulated operation time is to distinguish the setting input of the number of copies from the password input.

(Second operation example)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the image forming apparatus 1 in the second operation example. In this operation example, the storage device 30 stores the current time as change data. Here, the current time is represented by a 12-digit number corresponding to the year / month / date / time (for example, 2004/01/01 01:01). This current time is updated as time passes by the timer function of the control device 40. In this operation example, this current time is used as a password for special mode transition. This password is informed to the maintenance engineer and not to the general user.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 is powered on (S21), the control device 40 determines whether a predetermined key operation has been performed (S22). Here, as the predetermined key operation, for example, an operation of turning on the power while pressing the “1” and “3” of the numeric keypad, an operation of pressing the “1” and “3” of the numeric keypad for 5 seconds immediately after the power is turned on, etc. Is mentioned.

  When it is determined that the predetermined key operation has not been performed (S22: NO), the control device 40 executes a predetermined start-up process such as initialization (S23) and then operates in the normal mode. 1 is controlled (S24). On the other hand, if it is determined that a predetermined key operation has been performed (S22: YES), the control device 40 executes a predetermined startup process such as initialization (S25), and then displays the password on the display screen of the UI 10. A password input screen for prompting input is displayed (S26). The startup process in step S23 and the startup process in step S25 may be the same or different.

  When the input data input by the operator on the password input screen matches the password for special mode transition (S27: YES), the control device 40 transitions the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 to the maintenance mode (S28). ). Specifically, the control device 40 changes the display screen of the UI 10 from the password input screen to the maintenance screen. Then, in accordance with an instruction from the operator on the maintenance screen, the setting of the operation condition is changed, or the print engine 20 is caused to execute a test operation. On the other hand, when the input data does not match the predetermined password (S27: NO), the control device 40 displays an error screen indicating that the password is incorrect on the display screen of the UI 10 (S29).

  The password input operation by the operator in this operation example is as follows. First, the operator reads the current time on the display screen of the UI 10 in the normal mode. Here, it is assumed that 15:05 on June 10, 2004 was read as the current time. Next, after turning off the power, the operator turns on the power and performs the predetermined key operation. Then, after the startup process is performed, a password input screen is displayed on the display screen of the UI 10. The operator inputs the time read earlier on this password input screen. That is, “200406101505” is entered by operating the numeric keypad of the UI 10.

  When the current time is used as a password as in this operation example, a time elapses after the operator reads the current time from the display screen and finishes typing the read time. For this reason, a deviation occurs between the input time and the current time stored in the storage device 30. Therefore, when a password based on the current time is used, it is preferable that the password has a range, and all the times when the absolute value of the difference from the current time is a predetermined time or less are used as the password. In this operation example, since the password is input through the startup process after reading the time, the predetermined time is equal to or longer than the total time of the startup time of the image forming apparatus 1 and the minimum time required for the password input operation. It is preferable. In addition, since the time reading time is past the time when the password is input, it is preferable that the time that is past the current time is used as the password. For example, when the total time of the activation time of the image forming apparatus 1 and the minimum time required for the password input operation is 2 minutes, when the current time stored in the storage device 30 is “200406101710”, “ A time in the range of “200406101707” (3 minutes before) to “200440610710” (current time) may be accepted as a password.

  When the current time is not set in advance and the current time is not stored in the storage device 30, for example, the operator transitions to the maintenance mode using a predetermined fixed password, and performs maintenance. Set the time on the screen. Then, after setting the time, as described above, the mode transits to the maintenance mode using the password based on the current time.

  According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) A password generated according to a predetermined rule from change data that changes according to a predetermined factor is used as a password for transitioning to a special mode. For this reason, the password input by the operator can be made different every time, and it is possible to prevent a general user from seeing, analogizing, or guessing the password. In addition, it is possible to prevent the password from being permanently stolen when the password is once forgotten due to snooping, analogy, or trial and error. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the password for special mode transition is stolen. As a result, it is possible to prevent the general user from using the special mode, and it is possible to avoid a disadvantage such as a failure or an accident due to an erroneous operation condition setting or the like.

  (2) When a separate password is set for each device or model, the administrator must store each password, and the burden on the administrator is large. Even if the password of each device is stored in a memo or a storage medium, the password must be searched, which places a heavy burden on the administrator. In this case, when a memo or the like is lost, information leaks. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the administrator only has to read the change data on the display screen and input a password based on the change data, so that the burden on the administrator can be reduced. For example, training for storing a password for each device or each model can be omitted.

  (3) Since all or a predetermined part of the change data is used as a password, the password generation rules are simple, so the burden on the administrator can be reduced.

  (4) In the second operation example, since the current time is used as the change data for generating the password, there is no sense of incongruity in checking the current time itself, and it is possible to prevent general user's analogy and estimation. it can.

  In addition, since all times when the absolute value of the difference from the current time is less than or equal to a predetermined time are used as passwords, it is possible to set an appropriate password that takes into account the passage of time between the time reading and input. it can. Thereby, when a legitimate administrator types in a password, it is possible to avoid a situation where the mode cannot be changed to the special mode due to the passage of time.

  Furthermore, since the password is a time past the current time, the probability that a password input by a general user accidentally matches a predetermined password can be halved.

  In addition, when a predetermined operation input is accepted at the time of start-up or immediately after the start-up, a screen prompting the input of a password is displayed on the display screen, and when the input of the password is accepted from the operator via this screen, the predetermined time Is equal to or greater than the total time of the start-up time of the image forming apparatus and the minimum time required for the password input operation. As a result, when a password is input through a startup process after reading the time, an appropriate password can be set in consideration of the startup time and the password input time.

  (5) In the first operation example, since the accumulated operation time of the image forming apparatus is changed data for password generation, there is no sense of incongruity in checking the accumulated operation time itself, and general user's analogy and estimation Can be prevented. In addition, since the cumulative operation time does not change unless the image forming operation is executed, the change data does not change between the time when the change data is read and the password is input unless the image forming operation is executed. . These effects are not limited to the cumulative operation time, but can be changed data that changes with use of the image forming apparatus, such as the cumulative number of printed sheets of the image forming apparatus, the cumulative rotational speed of the photosensitive drum, or the cumulative rotational time. Can be obtained as well.

  (6) When a fixed password is added to all or a predetermined part of the change data, even if it is determined that the current time or accumulated operating time is included in the transition password, the fixed password So that the entire password can be avoided. At this time, if the individual identification number of the image forming apparatus is a fixed password, a different fixed password can be assigned to each image forming apparatus, and a password that has been confirmed for one image forming apparatus is used by another image forming apparatus. Can be avoided. Moreover, there is no sense of incongruity in confirming the individual identification number, and it is possible to prevent general user's analogy and estimation. In addition, since the administrator does not need to store the fixed password of each device, the burden on the administrator can be reduced.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to said embodiment.

  For example, the present invention is not limited to image forming apparatuses, and can be widely applied to electronic devices such as information processing devices such as personal computers, video devices such as televisions, home appliances such as microwave ovens, and communication devices such as mobile phones. is there.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the image forming apparatus in the first operation example. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the image forming apparatus in a second operation example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus, 10 User interface (UI), 20 Print engine, 30 Storage apparatus, 40 Control apparatus, 41 Display control part, 42 Input reception part, 43 Mode transition part.

Claims (14)

An image forming apparatus having, as one of operation modes, a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator,
Storage means for storing change data that changes in accordance with a predetermined factor;
Display means for displaying change data stored in the storage means;
An input means for receiving an operation input from an operator;
A mode transition unit that transitions the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the special mode when a password generated according to a predetermined rule from the change data stored in the storage unit is received by the input unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the password is all or a part of the change data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The image forming apparatus, wherein the change data is a current time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the password is an all time at which an absolute value of a difference from the current time is a predetermined time or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the password is a time past the current time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:
When a predetermined operation input is accepted at startup or immediately after startup, a password input screen is displayed on the display screen to prompt for a password,
The input means receives an input of a password from an operator via the password input screen;
The predetermined time is equal to or longer than a total time of a start time of the image forming apparatus and a minimum time required for a password input operation.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The image forming apparatus, wherein the change data is data that changes with use of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7,
The change data is an accumulated number of printed sheets or an accumulated operation time of the image forming apparatus, or an accumulated rotation speed or accumulated rotation time of the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fixed password is added to all or a predetermined part of the change data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
The image forming apparatus, wherein the fixed password is an individual identification number of the image forming apparatus held in the image forming apparatus in a manner readable by an operator. Control device for an image forming apparatus having a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator as one of the operation modes, and having a storage area in which change data that changes according to a predetermined factor is stored Because
Display control means for displaying change data stored in the storage area on a display screen;
An input receiving means for receiving an operation input from an operator;
Mode transition means for transitioning the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the special mode when a password generated in accordance with a predetermined rule from change data stored in the storage area is accepted by the input acceptance means; ,
A control apparatus for an image forming apparatus, comprising: An image forming apparatus having a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator as one of operation modes and having a storage area in which change data that changes according to a predetermined factor is stored.
Display control means for displaying change data stored in the storage area on a display screen;
An input receiving means for receiving an operation input from an operator, and
A mode transition unit that transitions the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the special mode when a password generated according to a predetermined rule from the change data stored in the storage area is received by the input receiving unit;
A control program characterized by functioning as A control method for an image forming apparatus having a special mode whose use should be limited to a specific administrator as one of operation modes, and having a storage area in which change data that changes according to a predetermined factor is stored. There,
A display step of displaying the change data stored in the storage area on a display screen;
An input receiving step for receiving an operation input from an operator;
A mode transition step for transitioning the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the special mode when a password generated in accordance with a predetermined rule from the change data stored in the storage area is accepted in the input acceptance step; ,
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: An electronic device having a special mode as one of operation modes whose use should be limited to a specific administrator,
Storage means for storing change data that changes in accordance with a predetermined factor;
Display means for displaying change data stored in the storage means;
An input means for receiving an operation input from an operator;
A mode transition means for transitioning the operation mode of the electronic device to the special mode when a password generated according to a predetermined rule from the change data stored in the storage means is received by the input means;
An electronic device comprising:

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