JP2006211333A - Image reading system, information processing apparatus and file management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of safely protecting image data read with an image reading apparatus without performing a complicated operation and causing an information processing apparatus to display the thumbnail images thereof, and to provide the information processing apparatus and a file management program. <P>SOLUTION: A scanner device 3 is provided with an image reading unit 32, a user authenticating unit 31, and an encrypting unit 33 for encrypting the data of an image read in the unit 32 using a user ID inputted into the unit 31 as an encryption key. A PC2 is provided with a user authenticating unit 22, and a file management unit 21. The unit 21 is provided with a decrypting unit 212 for decrypting image data stored in the scanner device 3 using the user ID inputted into the unit 22 as a decrypting key, and a thumbnail display control unit 213 for displaying the thumbnail of the decrypted image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading system in which an information processing device and an image reading device are connected by an electric communication line, an information processing device and an image reading device constituting the image reading system, and file management executed in the information processing device Regarding the program.

  Conventionally, (1) image data read by a scanner device (image reading device) is stored in an information processing device such as a PC (personal computer) connected to the scanner device via a network or the like, for example, in an HDD of the scanner device. The image data can be captured by reading the image data from the PC via the network or by transmitting the image data from the scanner device to a specific PC.

  (2) For example, Patent Document 1 below describes a scanner device that encrypts a read image using a designated encryption key.

(3) Further, for example, Patent Document 2 listed below describes an image communication apparatus that adds image data read by a scanner device to the image data, encrypts the image data, and transmits the image data to another device. Has been.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-352452 JP 2002-271553 A

  However, in the technique (1), any user who can access the image data read by the scanner device can view the image, which is problematic in terms of security. In the technique (2), the user needs to input an encryption key to the scanner device and a decryption key to the PC, and the operation is complicated. In the technique (3), it is necessary to input the user name and password used in the scanner device as a decryption key at the time of decryption in the PC, and the operation is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is possible to safely protect image data obtained by reading an image with an image reading apparatus without performing a complicated operation, and to determine a specific user in advance. The only object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system, an information processing apparatus, and a file management program capable of displaying a thumbnail image of the image in an information processing apparatus connected to the image reading apparatus.

  An image reading system according to claim 1 is an image reading system in which an information processing apparatus and an image reading apparatus are connected by an electric communication line, and the image reading apparatus includes first receiving means for receiving input of user identification information; A reading unit that reads an image from a document, and the image data read by the reading unit is encrypted using the identification information received by the first receiving unit as an encryption key, and the data is encrypted. An encryption unit for adding identification information to the image data; and a storage unit for storing the image data encrypted by the encryption unit. The information processing apparatus is received by the first reception unit. A second receiving unit that receives an input of the same identification information as the user's identification information; and a file management unit that manages a file. The processing unit acquires the encrypted image data stored in the storage unit of the image reading device, and the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is the encrypted data. When the determination means determines that the identification information is added to the image data, the determination means for determining whether or not the identification information is added to the image data, Decryption means for decrypting the encrypted image data using the user identification information received by the second reception means as a decryption key.

  According to this configuration, in the image reading apparatus, the image data read from the document by the reading unit is encrypted by the encryption unit using the user identification information received by the first receiving unit as an encryption key, and stored in the storage unit. Remembered. Then, in the file management unit of the information processing apparatus, the image data stored in the storage unit of the image reading apparatus is acquired by the acquisition unit, and identification information indicating that the image data is encrypted data is added. If it is determined by the determination means, the same user identification information (that is, the encryption key) received by the second reception means as that received by the first reception means is decrypted as a decryption key. The image data is normally decoded by the converting means. At this time, if the user identification information received by the second receiving unit is not the same as that received by the first receiving unit, the image data is not normally decoded.

  An image reading system according to claim 2 is an image reading system in which an information processing device and an image reading device are connected by an electric communication line, wherein the image reading device receives a reading unit for reading an image from a document, and inputs an encryption key. The encryption key receiving unit that receives the image data of the image read by the reading unit is encrypted using the encryption key received by the encryption key receiving unit, and identification information indicating that the data is encrypted An encryption unit for adding to the data; and a storage unit for storing the image data encrypted by the encryption unit. The information processing apparatus includes: an ID reception unit for receiving input of user identification information; File management means for managing, and the file management means includes user identification information received by the ID receiving means, Decryption key storage means for storing in association with a predetermined decryption key, acquisition means for acquiring encrypted image data stored in the storage means of the image reading apparatus, and acquisition by the acquisition means A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the encrypted image data, and identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data When it is determined by the determination means that the identification key is determined, the decryption key associated with the user identification information received by the ID reception means is read from the decryption key storage means, and the decryption key is used to read the decryption key. And decryption means for decrypting the encrypted image data.

  According to this configuration, in the image reading apparatus, the image data read from the document by the reading unit is encrypted by the encryption unit using the encryption key received by the encryption key receiving unit, and stored in the storage unit. Then, in the file management unit of the information processing apparatus, the image data stored in the storage unit of the image reading apparatus is acquired by the acquisition unit, and identification information indicating that the image data is encrypted data is added. If it is determined by the determination means, the image data is decrypted by the decryption means using the decryption key associated with the user identification information received by the ID reception means.

  An image reading system according to a third aspect is the image reading system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the file management unit displays a thumbnail of the image decoded by the decoding unit on the information processing apparatus. Display control means is provided.

  An information processing apparatus according to claim 4 includes: an ID receiving unit that receives an input of identification information that is the same as the identification information of a user received by the image reading device; and a file management unit that manages a file. Is an acquisition unit that acquires encrypted image data stored in the storage unit of the image reading device, and an identification that the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is the encrypted data. A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not information is added; and the ID when the discriminating unit discriminates that identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data. Decryption means for decrypting the encrypted image data using the user identification information received by the reception means as a decryption key.

  An information processing apparatus according to claim 5 includes an ID receiving unit that receives input of user identification information and a file management unit that manages files in an information processing apparatus connected to the image reading apparatus via an electric communication line. The file management unit is stored in the storage unit of the image reading apparatus and the decryption key storage unit that stores the user identification information received by the ID reception unit in association with a predetermined decryption key. Acquisition means for acquiring encrypted image data, and determination means for determining whether or not identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data acquired by the acquisition means; , When it is determined by the determining means that identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data, A decryption unit that reads a decryption key associated with the user identification information received by the D reception unit from the decryption key storage unit and decrypts the encrypted image data using the decryption key. Is.

  An information processing apparatus according to claim 6 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the file management unit displays a thumbnail of the image decoded by the decoding unit on the information processing apparatus. Display control means is provided.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a file management program for managing an information processing apparatus connected to an image reading apparatus through an electric communication line, and managing information for managing the file, and user identification information input when logging into the information processing apparatus A user ID acquisition unit that acquires the image data, an acquisition unit that acquires encrypted image data stored in the image reading device, and the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is the encrypted data. Determining means for determining whether or not identification information is added, and when the identification means determines that identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data , Functioning as decryption means for decrypting the encrypted image data using the user identification information obtained by the user ID obtaining means as a decryption key It is intended to.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a file management program for managing an information processing apparatus connected to an image reading apparatus through an electric communication line, a management means for managing a file, and user identification information input when logging into the information processing apparatus Stored in the image reading device, the user ID acquisition means for acquiring the user ID, the user identification information acquired by the user ID acquisition means, and the decryption key storage means for storing the predetermined decryption key in association with each other. Acquiring means for acquiring the encrypted image data, and determining means for determining whether or not identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data acquired by the acquiring means When the determination means determines that the identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data, the user Reading a decryption key associated with the user identification information acquired by the ID acquisition means from the decryption key storage means, and using the decryption key to function as a decryption means for decrypting the encrypted image data It is.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, image data is encrypted using the user identification information input to the image reading device as an encryption key, and the same user as the encryption key input to the information processing device is encrypted. The image data is normally decrypted by the file management means (file management program) using the identification information as a decryption key. At this time, if the user identification information different from the user identification information of the image reading apparatus used as an encryption key at the time of encryption is input to the information processing apparatus and logged in, the image data is not normally decrypted. Therefore, it is not necessary to explicitly input the encryption key and the decryption key, and the image read from the document in the image reading apparatus can be safely protected without performing complicated operations, and can be specified in advance. Only the user can decrypt it.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image data is encrypted using the encryption key input to the image reading device, and stored in association with the user identification information input to the information processing device. Since the image data is decrypted by the file management means (file management program) using the decryption key, it is not necessary to explicitly input the decryption key, and the image read from the document in the image reading apparatus is complicated. It is possible to perform decryption only by a predetermined specific user without performing any operation and with safe protection. Further, the user can use his / her favorite user identification information.

  According to the third or sixth aspect of the present invention, the images stored in the image reading apparatus can be displayed as thumbnails on the information processing apparatus.

  According to the invention described in claim 4 or 7, since the image data is decrypted using the user identification information input to the information processing apparatus as the decryption key, there is no need to explicitly input the decryption key. Information processing that allows an image read from a document in the image reading apparatus to be safely protected without complicated operations and displayed only on a predetermined specific user on the information processing apparatus A device or file management program can be provided.

  According to the fifth or eighth aspect of the invention, the image data is decrypted using the decryption key stored in association with the user identification information input to the information processing apparatus. There is no need to explicitly input a key, and an image read from an original in the image reading apparatus is safely protected without performing complicated operations, and only a predetermined specific user can process the information processing apparatus. It is possible to provide an information processing apparatus or a file management program that can be displayed on the screen.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image reading system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image reading system 1 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration between a PC (personal computer) 2 as an information processing apparatus and a multifunction peripheral (image reading apparatus) 3 which is a copying machine having an image scanner function. A plurality of PCs 2 and a plurality of MFPs 3 are communicably connected via a network N, and an image forming system 1 is configured by any PC 2 and any MFP 3 among them. Hereinafter, the multifunction device 3 is referred to as a scanner device.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a mechanical and functional configuration of the PC 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The PC 2 includes, as a mechanical configuration, a bus B and a processing unit 2a, an HDD (hard disk drive) 2b, a display 2c, a keyboard 2d, and a mouse 2e connected by the bus B. The processing unit 2a reads and executes a program stored in the HDD 2b, and the processing unit 2a includes a CPU (central processing unit) and a RAM (random access memory). The processing unit 2 a functions as the file management unit 21 and the user authentication unit 22. These functional units will be described in the description of FIG.

  The HDD 2b is an external storage device provided in the PC 2, and is a non-volatile storage device that stores a program or the like on a magnetic disk. For example, the file management program according to the present invention is stored in the HDD 2b, and the processing unit 2a operates according to the file management program, thereby causing the PC 2 to function as the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The display 2c, the keyboard 2d, and the mouse 2e are user interfaces provided in the PC 2. The display 2c is an output device that displays images, characters, and the like. The keyboard 2d is an input device for inputting characters and the mouse 2e. This is a pointing device for moving the cursor displayed on the display 2c and selecting an icon or the like at the cursor position.

  Next, the functional configuration of the image reading system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image reading system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen of the file management unit (file management program) 21 in the PC 2, which is a screen displayed on the display 2 c of the PC 2.

  The scanner device 3 includes a user authentication unit 31, an image reading unit 32, an encryption unit 33, and an image data storage unit 34 as functional units.

  The user authentication unit 31 performs user authentication when the scanner function is used in the scanner device 3. The user authentication unit 31 displays a screen (authentication screen) for requesting the user to input a user ID and password, and acquires the user ID and password input on this screen. Then, it checks whether or not there is an input user ID and password set in the list of user ID and password sets stored in advance, and if there is, the scanner function is assumed to be successful. Allow the use of. That is, the authentication screen is canceled and a screen on which the scanner function can be used is displayed. If there is no input user ID and password set in the list of user ID and password pairs stored in advance, the user authentication unit 31 re-displays the authentication screen assuming that the authentication has failed. The user authentication unit 31 transmits the user ID to the encryption unit 33 when the authentication is successful.

  The image reading unit 32 reads an image from a document. When it is detected that the user has input a document reading instruction to the operation unit (not shown), the image reading unit 32 reads an image from the document and converts the image data into a predetermined file format (for example, PDF (Portable Document) Format)) and passed to the encryption unit 33.

  The image data storage unit 34 stores image data. The image data storage unit 34 is, for example, an HDD (hard disk drive).

  The encryption unit 33 encrypts the image data (file) passed from the image reading unit 32 using the user ID received from the user authentication unit 31 as an encryption key, and writes the encrypted file in the image data storage unit 34. At this time, the encryption unit 33 adds an extension indicating that the file is encrypted to the encrypted file and writes it in the image data storage unit 34.

  The PC 2 includes a file management unit 21 and a user authentication unit 22 as functional units.

  The user authentication unit 22 authenticates a user when the PC 2 is activated. The user authentication unit 22 displays a screen (authentication screen) for requesting the user to input a user ID and password, and acquires the user ID and password input on this screen. Then, it checks whether or not there is a set of user ID and password entered in the list of user ID and password stored in advance, and if there is, it is determined that the authentication has succeeded. Allow use. That is, the authentication screen is canceled and a screen usable by the PC 2 is displayed. If there is no input user ID and password set in the list of user ID and password combinations stored in advance, the user authentication unit 22 displays the authentication screen again as authentication failure. When the authentication is successful, the user authentication unit 22 transmits the user ID to the file management unit 21 (decryption unit 212). The user ID used by the user for authentication of the PC 2 is the same as the user ID used for authentication of the scanner device 3, for example.

  The file management unit 21 is an application software that displays the storage location of files (document files, image files, etc.) in a tree structure, and displays the files in a folder (storage location) as thumbnails, Search the storage location.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a window displayed by the file management unit 21. In the area 21a, the structure of folders and files is shown in a tree structure. In the area 21b, files stored in the folder selected in the area 21a are displayed as thumbnails. Here, the selection of the folder is performed by, for example, placing the cursor on the folder and clicking the left button of the mouse 2e, and the management unit 211 accepts this to select the folder. The thumbnail of the received file is displayed in the area 21b.

  The file management unit 21 includes a management unit 211, a decryption unit 212, a thumbnail display control unit 213, and an image data acquisition unit 214.

  The management unit 211 controls the entire file management unit 21. For example, the management unit 211 performs control to display the structure of folders and files in the HDD in a tree structure, and display the files in the folder as thumbnails.

  The image data acquisition unit 214 acquires image data (file) from the scanner device 3. For example, the image data acquisition unit 214 reads out all image data (files) stored in the image data storage unit 34 of the scanner device 3 via the network N and passes them to the thumbnail display control unit 213.

  The thumbnail display control unit 213 displays, for example, the first page of the files in the designated folder (or directory) as thumbnails. For example, since an extension indicating that is attached to the encrypted file, the thumbnail display control unit 213 determines whether the file is encrypted based on the extension, and is encrypted. For non-existing files, the contents are converted into thumbnails according to the file format (a reduced image of the first page of the file data is displayed on the file icon) and displayed in, for example, a window displayed by the file management unit 21 Let For the encrypted file, the thumbnail display control unit 213 causes the decryption unit 212 to decrypt the file, and then converts the contents into thumbnails according to the decrypted file format. For example, it is displayed in a predetermined area (area 21b in FIG. 4) of the window displayed by the file management unit 21.

  The decryption unit 212 restores (decrypts) the encrypted image data. The decryption unit 212 performs decryption using a decryption algorithm corresponding to the encryption unit 33 of the scanner device 3. The decryption unit 212 decrypts the file passed from the thumbnail display control unit 213 using the user ID received from the user authentication unit 22 as a decryption key. Since the same user also uses the same user ID as the user ID for the scanner device 3 for the PC 2, the decryption key (that is, the user ID) is encrypted when the file is encrypted in the scanner device 3. It matches the key (user ID in the scanner device), and decryption is successful. That is, when a user who has performed encryption performs decryption, the decryption is successful, and when a different user performs decryption, decryption fails. The decryption unit 212 returns the decrypted file to the thumbnail display control unit 213.

  Next, a flow of processing relating to image reading and image data encryption in the scanner device 3 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing relating to image reading and image data encryption in the scanner device 3.

  First, the user authentication unit 31 performs user authentication (step S11). If the user authentication is not successful (NO in step S11), the user authentication is performed again (step S11). If the user authentication is successful (YES in step S11), the user authentication unit 31 transmits the user ID to the encryption unit 33. Next, the image reading unit 32 checks whether or not an instruction to read an image from a document is received from the user (step S12). If this instruction is received (YES in step S12), the image reading unit 32 is checked. Reads an image from a document, converts the image data into a file, and transmits the file to the encryption unit 33 (step S13). The encryption unit 33 encrypts the received image data by using the user ID received from the user authentication unit 31 as an encryption key (step S14), and adds an extension indicating that the image has been encrypted to the encrypted file. Write to the storage unit 34 (step S15). If an instruction to read an image from the document is not accepted in step S12 (NO in step S12), steps S13, S14, and S15 are skipped.

  Next, the flow of processing relating to decoding of image data and thumbnail display in the PC 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing relating to decoding of image data and thumbnail display in the PC 2.

  First, the user authentication unit 22 performs user authentication (step S21). If the user authentication is not successful (NO in step S21), the user authentication is performed again (step S21). If the user authentication is successful (YES in step S21), the user authentication unit 22 transmits the user ID to the decryption unit 212. Next, the thumbnail display control unit 213 checks whether or not the user has received an instruction to display the image data stored in the image data storage unit 34 of the scanner device 3 on the window (step S22). Is received (YES in step S22), the thumbnail display control unit 213 instructs the image data acquisition unit 214 to acquire the image data stored in the image data storage unit 34 of the scanner device 3. Based on this, the image data acquisition unit 214 reads out all the image data stored in the image data storage unit 34 of the scanner device 3, and passes this to the thumbnail display control unit 213 (step S23).

  The thumbnail display control unit 213 recognizes from the extension of the file that the image data passed from the image data acquisition unit 214 is encrypted, and sends the encrypted image data (file) to the decryption unit 212. Pass to instruct decryption. The decryption unit 212 decrypts the image data using the user ID received from the user authentication unit 22 as a decryption key (step S24), and returns the decrypted image data to the thumbnail display control unit 213. The thumbnail display control unit 213 displays the decrypted image data as a thumbnail on the window of the file management program (file management unit 21) (step S25). If an instruction to display the image data stored in the image data storage unit 34 of the scanner device 3 in the window is not received in step S22 (NO in step S22), steps S23, S24, and S25 are skipped.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the same user uses the same user ID for the scanner device 3 and the PC 2, and the scanner device 3 uses the user input for user authentication in the scanner device 3. The image data is encrypted using the ID as an encryption key, and the PC 2 decrypts the image data encrypted in the scanner device 3 using the user ID input for user authentication in the PC 2 as a decryption key, and displays a thumbnail. Thus, it is not necessary to explicitly input the encryption key and the decryption key, and the decryption is normally performed only for the encrypted user.

  Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the same user uses the same user ID in the scanner device 3 and the PC 2 and uses this user ID as an encryption key in the scanner device 3 and a decryption key in the PC 2. Only the user who performed encryption was able to decrypt the file normally. In this embodiment, the encryption key (decryption key) and the user ID of the PC 2 are stored in association with the PC 2 in advance, and the scanner device. 3, the user explicitly inputs an encryption key when encrypting the file, while the PC 2 encrypts the file using the encryption key associated with the user ID accepted by the PC 2 as the decryption key. Is decrypted.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image reading system 1 according to the second embodiment. The scanner device 3 includes an encryption key receiving unit 35 instead of the user authentication unit 31 in the first embodiment. The encryption key reception unit 35 receives an encryption key input by the user, for example, a predetermined number string. The encryption key reception unit 35 transmits the received encryption key to the encryption unit 33. The encryption unit 33 encrypts the image data received from the image reading unit 32 using the received encryption key to form a file, and attaches an extension indicating that the encryption has been performed to the file to the image data storage unit 34. Write to.

  The file management unit 21 of the PC 2 includes a decryption key storage unit 215 in addition to the case of the first embodiment. The decryption key storage unit 215 stores the user ID authenticated by the user authentication unit 22 and the encryption key used by the user in the scanner device 3 in association with each other. This association is stored in advance in the decryption key storage unit 215 by the user, for example. That is, the decryption key storage unit 215 of the PC 2 stores an encryption key used in the scanner device 3 as a decryption key in advance by a user input, and associates it with the stored decryption key. The desired user ID selected by the user is stored. Therefore, the user can freely select a desired number or symbol and use it as the user ID without being restricted by using the same number or symbol as the encryption key used in the scanner device 3 as the user ID. In addition, the encrypted file received from the scanner device 3 can be decrypted based on the user ID. This desired user ID can be changed as appropriate. As a result, if the user ID stored in the decryption key storage unit 215 of the PC 2 in association with the encryption key is changed, the same encryption key is used permanently without changing the encryption key used in the scanner device 3. Even in such a case, only the user ID can be changed, and a desired user ID can be used.

  The decryption unit 212 ′ receives the user ID successfully authenticated from the user authentication unit 22, reads the encryption key (decryption key) associated with the user ID from the decryption key storage unit 215, and uses this as the decryption key. To decrypt the file.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing relating to image reading and image data encryption in the scanner device 3 according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, user authentication is not performed by the scanner device 3. Only the steps different from those of the first embodiment will be described below.

  The image reading unit 32 converts the image data of the image read from the document into a file and transmits it to the encryption unit 33 (step S13). The encryption key reception unit 35 receives an input of the encryption key by the user (step S16), and the encryption unit 33 uses the encryption key received by the encryption key reception unit 35 to receive the image data received from the image reading unit 32. Encryption is performed (step S17).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing relating to decoding of image data and thumbnail display in the PC 2 in the second embodiment. Only the steps different from those of the first embodiment will be described below. It is assumed that the decryption key associated with the user ID is stored in advance in the decryption key storage unit 215.

  After the thumbnail display control unit 213 receives the image data from the image data acquisition unit 214 (step S23), the thumbnail display control unit 213 confirms that the image data passed from the image data acquisition unit 214 is encrypted. Recognizing from the extension of the file, the encrypted image data (file) is passed to the decryption unit 212 to instruct decryption. The decryption unit 212 reads the decryption key corresponding to the user ID received from the user authentication unit 22 from the decryption key storage unit 215, decrypts the image data using the decryption key (step S26), and decrypts the decrypted image. Data is returned to the thumbnail display control unit 213.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the encryption key used in the scanner device 3 is stored in the PC 2 in advance, the scanner device 3 encrypts the image data using the encryption key, and the PC 2 uses the PC 2 to encrypt the image data. The above-mentioned encryption key is read from the user ID input for user authentication, and the image data encrypted in the scanner device 3 is decrypted using this encryption key as a decryption key to display thumbnails. Decryption is normally performed only for the encrypted user without the need for explicit input.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the thing of the said embodiment, The aspect described below can be employ | adopted. In the present embodiment, the case where image data stored in the scanner device is displayed on a PC is described as an example, and the image forming system that decrypts and displays image data encrypted in the scanner device on the PC has been described. Image data that has been encrypted by the scanner device and then transferred to the PC and stored therein may be decrypted and displayed by the PC. In this case, the image data may be transmitted from the scanner device to the PC.

  In the first embodiment, the same user ID is used as the user ID used for authentication in the scanner device and the user ID used for authentication in the PC. However, it is not always necessary to use the same method. By using a predetermined number of characters from the beginning of the ID as an encryption key or a decryption key, the scanner device and the PC may generate the same key from each user ID. This key generation method may be different between the scanner device and the PC.

1 is a block diagram showing a connection relationship of an image forming system in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the mechanical and functional structure of the information processing apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the thumbnail display in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process regarding the encryption in the scanner apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process regarding the decoding in PC in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the image forming system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process regarding encryption in the scanner apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process regarding the decoding in PC in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 image reading system 2 PC (information processing device)
21 File management section (file management means, file management program)
211 management unit (management means)
212, 212 ′ Decryption unit (decryption means, user ID acquisition means)
213 Thumbnail display section (discriminating means, display control means)
214 Image data acquisition unit 215 Decryption key storage unit (Decryption key storage unit)
22 User authentication unit (second receiving means)
3 Scanner device (image reading device)
31 User authentication unit (first receiving means)
32 Image reading unit (reading means)
33 Encryption section (encryption means)
34 Image data storage unit (storage means)
35 Cryptographic key acceptance unit (cryptographic key acceptance means)
N network (telecommunications line)

Claims (8)

In an image reading system in which an information processing device and an image reading device are connected by an electric communication line,
The image reading device includes:
First receiving means for receiving input of identification information given to the user from the user;
Reading means for reading an image from a document;
An encryption that encrypts the image data read by the reading unit using the identification information received by the first receiving unit as an encryption key, and adds identification information indicating that the data is encrypted to the image data And
Storage means for storing the image data encrypted by the encryption means,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Second receiving means for receiving, from the user, input of identification information given to the user, which is input when the user logs in to the information processing apparatus;
A file management means for managing files,
The file management means includes
Obtaining means for obtaining encrypted image data stored in the storage means of the image reading device;
Determining means for determining whether or not identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data acquired by the acquiring means;
When the determination means determines that the identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data, the user identification information received by the second reception means is the decryption key. An image reading system comprising: decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted image data. In an image reading system in which an information processing device and an image reading device are connected by an electric communication line,
The image reading device includes:
Reading means for reading an image from a document;
An encryption key receiving means for receiving an input of the encryption key;
Encryption means for encrypting image data read by the reading means using an encryption key received by the encryption key receiving means, and adding identification information indicating that the data is encrypted to the image data When,
Storage means for storing the image data encrypted by the encryption means,
The information processing apparatus includes:
ID accepting means for accepting input of identification information given to the user from the user;
A file management means for managing files,
The file management means includes
Decryption key storage means for storing user identification information received by the ID reception means in association with a predetermined decryption key;
Obtaining means for obtaining encrypted image data stored in the storage means of the image reading device;
Determining means for determining whether or not identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data acquired by the acquiring means;
When it is determined by the determining means that the identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data, the identification information is associated with the user identification information received by the ID receiving means. An image reading system comprising: a decryption unit that reads a decryption key from the decryption key storage unit and decrypts the encrypted image data using the decryption key. The file management means includes
The image reading system according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for displaying a thumbnail of the image decoded by the decoding means on the information processing apparatus. In an information processing apparatus connected to an image reading apparatus by an electric communication line,
ID accepting means for accepting input of identification information given to the user from the user;
A file management means for managing files,
The file management means includes
Obtaining means for obtaining encrypted image data stored in the storage means of the image reading device;
Determining means for determining whether or not identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data acquired by the acquiring means;
When it is determined by the determination means that identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data, the user identification information received by the ID reception means is used as a decryption key. An information processing apparatus comprising: decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted image data. In an information processing apparatus connected to an image reading apparatus by an electric communication line,
ID accepting means for accepting input of identification information given to the user from the user;
A file management means for managing files,
The file management means includes
Decryption key storage means for storing user identification information received by the ID reception means in association with a predetermined decryption key;
Obtaining means for obtaining encrypted image data stored in the storage means of the image reading device;
Determining means for determining whether or not identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data acquired by the acquiring means;
When it is determined by the determining means that the identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data, the identification information is associated with the user identification information received by the ID receiving means. An information processing apparatus comprising: a decryption unit that reads a decryption key from the decryption key storage unit and decrypts the encrypted image data using the decryption key. The file management means includes
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising display control means for causing the information processing apparatus to display a thumbnail of the image decoded by the decoding means. An information processing apparatus connected to the image reading apparatus by an electric communication line,
A management means for managing files;
User ID acquisition means for acquiring user identification information input when logging into the information processing apparatus;
Obtaining means for obtaining encrypted image data stored in the image reading device;
Determining means for determining whether or not identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data acquired by the acquiring means;
When the determination means determines that the identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data, the user identification information acquired by the user ID acquisition means is used as a decryption key. A file management program for functioning as a decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted image data. An information processing apparatus connected to the image reading apparatus by an electric communication line,
A management means for managing files;
User ID acquisition means for acquiring user identification information input when logging into the information processing apparatus;
Decryption key storage means for storing the user identification information acquired by the user ID acquisition means in association with a predetermined decryption key;
Obtaining means for obtaining encrypted image data stored in the image reading device;
Determining means for determining whether or not identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data acquired by the acquiring means;
When it is determined by the determination means that the identification information indicating that the data is encrypted is added to the image data, it is associated with the user identification information acquired by the user ID acquisition means. A file management program for reading out the decryption key from the decryption key storage means and functioning as decryption means for decrypting the encrypted image data using the decryption key.

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