JP2006251911A - Image processor, image processing system, user information update method, user information update program and recording medium recorded with the program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to suppress quantity of personal information to pass via a network to the minimum, while being able to update automatically personal information stored in an image processor. <P>SOLUTION: When user authentication is normally completed by a user authentication control section 12, a user information update section 13 refers to local user information 1A based on how to attach priority defined beforehand, and decides an acquisition object user who is updated by acquiring personal information from a user information server 3 by selecting users for the number defined beforehand from high order of priority. If the acquisition object user is decided in this way, and the personal information is received from the user information server 3 via a user information acquisition section 15, when the personal information is updated, or it is new registration, the user information update section 13 performs update as a result of check or processing of new registration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, a user information update method, a user information update program, and an image processing apparatus having a function for performing some image processing such as print output, reading with a scanner, copying, and transmission / reception of image data. The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a program is recorded.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus that is connected to a network and used, when personal information such as user address information is stored, a logged-in user transmits data to another user via the network. However, there is one that can be used conveniently without having to input personal information of the user to be transmitted each time.

In the case of Patent Document 1 previously filed by the present applicant, when access to document data is requested, user authentication is performed based on authentication information from an authentication device connected via a predetermined network. And a means for selecting a candidate of a user who can access the document data from one or more users whose information is included in the user list, and editing the access right list associated with the document You can also add target users.
JP 2003-67250 A

However, in the conventional image processing apparatus described above, it is necessary to input each time personal information is changed.
The operation unit provided in each image processing apparatus is generally miniaturized, and input is troublesome compared with, for example, a keyboard of a personal computer.
In addition, when there are a large number of registered users, for example, when they are used in a large company, it takes a lot of labor and labor to update the personal information of all such users to the latest information. It was.

Here, in general, personal information is managed by a server administrator in an authentication server connected to a network.
However, for example, when there are a large number of registered users, frequent flow of personal information on the network not only leads to an increase in network traffic, but also is not preferable from the viewpoint of security management of personal information. There was a risk of increasing the risk of information leakage.

  The above-mentioned patent document 1 is suitable for managing access rights of electronic documents including accessible user settings using an access rights list. It was not even considered to reduce distribution to the network.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can automatically update the personal information stored in the image processing apparatus and minimize the amount of personal information that flows through the network. It is an object to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, a user information update method, a user information update program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  In order to achieve such an object, the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is an image configured to be connected to a user information apparatus for storing personal information of a user via a network. A local user information storage means for storing personal information of a user and a user for updating the personal information are selected at a minimum by a predetermined method, and the personal information about the selected user is a user. User information update means for updating the information in the local user information storage means obtained from the information device and based on the obtained personal information is provided.

  The above-mentioned user information updating means assigns priorities to the users whose personal information is stored in the local user information storage means by a predetermined method, and only assigns a predetermined number of people from the top in the priority order. It is preferable to extract an acquisition target user who acquires personal information from the user information device by extraction and to include it in the user who updates the personal information in the local user information storage means.

  The user information updating unit includes an input unit that receives an operation input. When the login operation is performed from the input unit, the user information update unit acquires personal information of only the login user and the acquisition target user who performed the login operation from the user information device. It is preferable to update the information in the local user information storage means based on the acquired personal information.

  The above-described user information updating unit acquires personal information of only the acquisition target user from the user information device when a predetermined update trigger condition is satisfied, and stores the local user information storage unit based on the acquired personal information. The information may be updated.

  The user information updating unit includes an input unit that receives an operation input, and when the login operation is performed from the input unit, the personal information of only the login user who performed the login operation is acquired from the user information device and acquired. The information in the local user information storage means may be updated based on the personal information.

  The local user information storage means stores the specific information for specifying the user in association with the personal information of the user specified by the specific information, the usage frequency information, and the last update date / time information of the personal information. The prioritization is preferably performed in order from the oldest of the latest update date / time information while the usage frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold.

  The local user information storage means described above includes specific information for specifying a user, personal information of the user specified by the specific information, usage frequency information, last update date information of the personal information, and last use date information. Are stored in association with each other, and the order of priority may be determined based on usage frequency information, last update date information, last use date information, or a combination thereof.

  The personal information stored by the local user information storage means described above preferably includes communication partner specifying information for specifying a communication partner for communication.

  The image processing system according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect and a user information apparatus are connected via a network.

  A user information update method according to a third aspect of the present invention is a user information update method in an image processing apparatus connected via a network to a user information apparatus that stores user personal information. A selection step for selecting a user who updates personal information in the device at a minimum by a predetermined method, and a personal information acquisition step for the image processing device to acquire personal information about the user selected in the selection step from the user information device And user information updating means for updating the personal information in the image processing apparatus based on the personal information acquired in the personal information acquisition step.

  In the selection step described above, priorities are assigned to a user whose personal information is stored in the image processing apparatus by a predetermined method, and only a predetermined number of people are extracted from the top in the priority order. It is preferable that an acquisition target user who acquires personal information from the user information device is extracted and included in the user to be selected.

  In the above-described selection step, it is preferable to select only the login user and the acquisition target user who performed the login operation when the login operation is performed.

  In the above-described selection step, when a predetermined update trigger condition is satisfied, only the acquisition target user may be selected.

  In the above selection step, when a login operation is performed, only the login user who performed the login operation may be selected.

  The image processing apparatus described above stores personal information by associating the user's personal information specified by the specific information, the usage frequency information, and the last update date / time information of the personal information with the specific information specifying the user. However, it is preferable that the priorities be assigned in order from the oldest last update date / time information in order that the usage frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold.

  The image processing apparatus described above associates the user's personal information specified by the specific information, the usage frequency information, the last update date / time information of the personal information, and the last use date / time information with the specific information specifying the user. Thus, the personal information may be stored, and the order of priority may be determined based on usage frequency information, last update date information, last use date information, or a combination thereof.

  The personal information stored in the image processing apparatus described above preferably includes communication partner specifying information for specifying a communication partner for communication.

  A user information update program according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a user information update program in an image processing apparatus connected via a network to a user information apparatus that stores personal information of a user. The processing according to the process described in the user information updating method as the third aspect described above is executed.

  Moreover, the recording medium which recorded the user information update program as the 5th aspect of this invention recorded the user information update program as the above-mentioned 4th aspect, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the personal information stored in the image processing apparatus can be automatically updated, and the amount of personal information that flows through the network can be minimized.

  Next, for an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, a user information update method, a user information update program, and a recording medium storing the program according to the present invention, the image processing apparatus is applied to an MFP (multi-function printer). Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an MFP (image processing apparatus) 1, a user authentication server 2, and a user information server (user information apparatus) 3, which are connected to a network. N is connected and configured.

The MFP 1 has a configuration known as a multifunction device such as a scanner unit and a printing unit (not shown), and realizes functions such as image reading, FAX transmission of a read image, print output of received image data, e-mail transmission / reception, copying, and the like. ing.
For this reason, the local user information 1A is stored, and the image data is transmitted and received via the network N based on the personal information in the local user information 1A.

  The user authentication server 2 has a known configuration as a server device such as a control unit, a storage unit, and a network I / F (interface) (not shown), and stores an authentication information table 2A having information necessary for user authentication. A function for performing user authentication in each device connected to the network N via the network N is realized.

  The user information server 3 has a configuration known as a server device such as a control unit (not shown), a storage unit, and a network I / F, and stores server side user information 3A including personal information of each user. This server-side user information 3A is managed by a network administrator or the like and updated to be the latest information.

  More specifically, the above-described MFP 1 includes an input unit 11 that receives an operation input from a user, a user authentication control unit 12 that controls user authentication at the time of login, and local user information 1A, as shown in FIG. User information update unit 13 for updating information, storage unit 14 for storing local user information 1A, user information acquisition unit 15 for acquiring user information from the user information server 3, and communication control for the network N Network I / F 16 for performing

When the information for user authentication is input from the input unit 11 at the time of login or the like, the user authentication control unit 12 described above accesses the user authentication server 2 via the network I / F 16 and the network N. User authentication is performed based on the authentication information.
The information used for user authentication may be, for example, an ID and password, an ID card and a password, or another authentication method.

  In other words, the user authentication server 2 stores information necessary for user authentication as the authentication information table 2A according to a predetermined user authentication method. That is, for example, when user authentication is performed using an ID and a password, the user authentication server 2 stores an authentication information table 2A in which the user ID and the password are associated with the user name.

When the user information update unit 13 described above detects an update trigger for starting information update of the local user information 1A, the user information update unit 13 causes the user information acquisition unit 15 to acquire the personal information of the update target user from the user information server 3, and the acquired individual Based on the information, the local user information 1A is updated.
That is, when the user information update unit 13 makes an acquisition request to the user information acquisition unit 15, the user information update unit 13 and the user information acquisition unit 15 acquire user information from the user information server 3 and acquire local user information 1 </ b> A. It functions as a means for updating.

In the first embodiment, when the input unit 11 receives a login operation from the user, the user information update unit 13 accesses the user information server 3 by the user information acquisition unit 15 using the login operation input as an update trigger. The personal information of the update target user is acquired, and update processing of the local user information 1A is started.
The update of the local user information 1A is not only the case where the personal information is updated for the user whose personal information is included in the local user information 1A, but also the information about the new user is added to the local user information 1A. This includes the case of (new registration).

  The local user information 1A is used so that a user who uses the MFP 1 can use the MFP 1 more conveniently when performing communication such as transmission / reception of an e-mail or a fax. As shown in FIG. Information) is associated with a user account name, a user name, and an e-mail address and a FAX number as communication partner specifying information for specifying a communication partner, the last update date and time of the user's personal information, and the user's The last use date and time and the use frequency of the user are associated with each other.

  That is, the local user information 1A stores, as user personal information, a global unique user ID, a user account name, a user name, an e-mail address, and a FAX number, and the user information update unit 13 Stores the last update date and time, the last use date and time, and the use frequency as information for selecting with priority.

  The above item of usage frequency is represented by the number of times of usage in a predetermined period. In the example shown in FIG. 3, taking as an example the case where the usage log storage period is one month, the number of times of use of the MFP 1 in the past month is related to the global unique user ID of the user. Storing.

Here, when the MFP 1 performs a communication operation such as e-mail transmission of image data read by a scanner, for example, the number of uses is counted for both the logged-in user who is the transmission source and the user who is designated as the transmission destination. The usage frequency is counted up by one. That is, as the usage log (not shown), the address information of the transmission source and the transmission destination is recorded as a history. It will be added in batches.
The usage log as the device usage data described above is sequentially deleted after a predetermined period, and the usage frequency is no longer counted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the server-side user information 3A stored in the user information server 3 is an e-mail as communication partner specifying information for specifying a user account name, a user name, and a communication partner in a global unique user ID. An address and a FAX number are associated with each other. That is, the same items as the personal information portion in the local user information 1A of the MFP 1 are stored.
The personal information of each user stored in the server-side user information 3A is managed by a network administrator or the like and updated so as to be the latest information as described above.

  The user authentication control unit 12, the user information update unit 13, and the user information acquisition unit 15 described above are realized by a processing unit such as a CPU performing processing based on a program (not shown) stored in the storage unit. The

  The MFP 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, so that when the user logs in by an operation on the input unit 11, the user information update unit 13 follows the preset priority order. From the users whose personal information is stored in the local user information 1A, only the predetermined number of people with higher priority are extracted, the personal information is acquired from the user information server 3, and the local user information 1A is updated. be able to.

Next, the operation of the image processing system as the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, as an initial setting, a network administrator or the like registers, for example, data of all members of a person who has authority to use the MFP 1 such as data of all employee lists and a person who is permitted to designate as a transmission destination. .
This initial setting may be performed from the input unit 11 of the MFP 1 main body, or may be configured to be performed from another device such as an administrator's personal computer via a network.
In addition, it is assumed that the number of users in the top priority order for which personal information is updated is set in advance, for example, for the top five users.

First, when using the MFP 1, the user inputs a user account name and password from the input unit 11 and performs a login operation (step S1).
Upon receiving this login operation, the user authentication control unit 12 transmits the input user account name and password to the user authentication server 2 via the network N via the network I / F 16, and makes a user authentication request (step S2). ).

  The user authentication server 2 refers to the authentication information table 2A, checks the combination of the user account name and the password, and transmits the authentication success / failure to the MFP 1 (step S3). FIG. 5 shows an operation example in the case of successful authentication. If it is determined that the authentication failure, that is, the combination of the user account name and the password is different from that stored in the authentication information table 2A, the user authentication control unit 12 indicates the authentication failure by a display unit (not shown). The user is notified and the operation flow ends.

  When user authentication is normally completed by the user authentication control unit 12, the user information update unit 13 refers to the local user information 1A based on a predetermined order of priority, and the predetermined number of people from the top of the priority order. By selecting this user, the acquisition target user who acquires and updates the personal information from the user information server 3 is determined (step S4).

An example of assigning priorities in step S4 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
First, the user information update unit 13 refers to the local user information 1A (step S4-1), and extracts only users whose numerical values in the usage frequency column are equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step S4-2).

  For each user extracted in this way, the user information update unit 13 checks the last update date and time associated with the local user information 1A, and obtains only a predetermined number of users in order from the user with the oldest last update date and time. Confirm as a user (step S4-3). In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, it is assumed that only the top five priority rankings are set to be extracted as acquisition target users.

According to the example of prioritization shown in FIG. 6, by extracting only users whose numerical values in the usage frequency column are equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold as the first stage, for example, for several months after being used once Users who hardly use the MFP 1 such as users who are not using it at all can be excluded from the selection of acquisition target users.
In addition, as a second stage after such exclusion, the users who have the usage frequency equal to or higher than the threshold are prevented from becoming too old for the second stage, starting with the users with the latest update date and time. Can maintain the freshness of personal information.

The prioritization method is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 6 described above. For example, from a user with a high frequency of use, for example, the user with the most recent update date is ranked first, the user with the latest update date is ranked first There are various methods such as the highest order in order, the newest user in the last used date and time, the highest in order, the oldest user in the last used date and time, or the combination of the last updated date and time, usage frequency, and last used date and time. Good.
Further, the data used for assigning priorities is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and other data may be referred to. In this case, the local user information 1A stores the data to be referenced in association with the global unique user ID.

When the acquisition target user is confirmed as described above, the user information updating unit 13 acquires the personal information about the confirmed acquisition target user and the logged-in user logged in at step S1 from the user information server 3. An acquisition request is transmitted to the user information acquisition unit 15.
Upon receiving this acquisition request, the user information acquisition unit 15 transmits a transmission request to the user information server 3 via the network I / F 16 so as to transmit personal information about the acquisition target user and the login user (step S5). .

  When the user information server 3 receives a transmission request from the user information acquisition unit 15, the user information server 3 refers to the server-side user information 3 </ b> A, and only the personal information about the requested user (acquisition target user and login user) Extracted from the information 3A and transmitted to the MFP 1 (step S6).

  When the user information update unit 13 receives the personal information from the user information server 3 via the user information acquisition unit 15, the user information update unit 13 compares the received personal information with the local user information 1 </ b> A to check whether the personal information has been updated. Check if the user is a new registration. If it has been updated or if it is new registration, the user information update unit 13 executes the update or new registration process as the check result as illustrated in FIG. 7, and performs the update process of the local user information 1A. Perform (step S7).

  When the extracted personal information of the user to be acquired is made up-to-date together with the personal information about the logged-in user, the user authentication control unit 12 notifies the user of the login OK by using a display unit (not shown). (Step S8). If an error occurs in the personal information of the logged-in user when the check is performed in step S7 described above, the fact of the error is notified.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the acquisition target users are selected from the users included in the local user information 1A in the order of higher priority given by a predetermined method, and are transmitted via the network. Since the personal information of only the login user and the acquisition target user is acquired and the data is updated, the freshness of the personal information in the local user information 1A can be maintained without making the user aware of the processing operation. Personal information transmitted and received through the network can be kept to a minimum.
For this reason, security against leakage of personal information can be enhanced, and personal information can be automatically updated while avoiding an unnecessary increase in network traffic.

  Further, since the acquisition target user who acquires the personal information from the user information server 3 and updates the data is selected from the top in the priority order, the personal information of the local user information 1A is wasted according to the priority order. The personal information transmitted and received via the network can be kept to the minimum necessary.

  In the first embodiment described above, the method of assigning priorities is determined in advance, and it has been described that the network administrator or the like sets how many of the top priorities are extracted as acquisition target users. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the priority ordering method can be selected from a plurality of modes by mode switching or the like, and a network administrator or the like selects and sets in advance.

  In addition, although the notification of the login OK to the user has been described as after the execution of the check result in step S7, the notification may be made when the user authentication is successful in step S3. In this case, the processes in steps S4 to S7 described above may be performed in the background without particularly notifying the user by display or the like.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the local user information 1 </ b> A is updated when the user logs in in the first embodiment, and is configured to be periodically performed.
Components similar to those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The image processing system according to the second embodiment is configured by connecting the MFP 4 to a user authentication server 2 and a user information server 3 similar to those of the first embodiment described above via a network N.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the MFP 4 includes a user information management unit 47 and a user information management unit 47 for periodically updating the local user information 1A in addition to the configuration of the MFP 1 in the first embodiment described above. A time count unit 48 that provides time information to be used as a trigger for the update process to the user information management unit 47 is further provided.

Next, the operation of the image processing system as the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, as an initial setting, a network administrator or the like, like the first embodiment described above, for example, a person who has authority to use the MFP 1 such as data of all employee lists, and a person who is permitted to designate as a transmission destination, for example, All of the data will be registered.
In addition, it is assumed that the number of users in the top priority order for which personal information is updated is set in advance, for example, for the top five users.

When the user information management unit 47 detects that the predetermined time is reached based on the time information from the clock unit 48, the user information management unit 47 confirms that the update trigger condition is satisfied, and notifies the user information update unit 13 of the local user information 1A. An update processing start request is sent.
Upon receiving this update process start request, the user information update unit 13 extracts only the upper predetermined number of users from the users included in the local user information 1A with priorities as in the first embodiment described above. Then, the personal information is acquired from the user information server 3 and determined as an acquisition target user who performs data update (step S11).

When the acquisition target user is determined in this way, the user information update unit 13 sends an acquisition request to the user information acquisition unit 15 so as to acquire personal information about the determined acquisition target user from the user information server 3.
Upon receiving this acquisition request, the user information acquisition unit 15 transmits a transmission request to the user information server 3 via the network I / F 16 so as to transmit personal information about the acquisition target user (step S12).

  Upon receiving a transmission request from the user information acquisition unit 15, the user information server 3 refers to the server-side user information 3A, and obtains only personal information about the requested user (acquisition target user) from the server-side user information 3A. Extracted and transmitted to the MFP 1 (step S13).

  When the user information update unit 13 receives personal information from the user information server 3 via the user information acquisition unit 15, the user information update unit 13 compares the received personal information with the local user information 1A and checks whether the personal information has been updated. To do. If it has been updated, the user information update unit 13 executes an update process as the check result, and performs an update process of the local user information 1A (step S14).

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the acquisition target users are selected from the users included in the local user information 1A in the order of priority given by a predetermined method, and are transmitted via the network. Since the personal information of only the acquisition target user is acquired and the data is updated, the update processing of the local user information 1A can be performed regularly and automatically, and the processing when the user operates the MFP is increased. Therefore, the freshness of the personal information in the local user information 1A can be maintained, and at the same time, the personal information transmitted / received via the network can be kept to the minimum necessary.
For this reason, security against leakage of personal information can be enhanced, and personal information can be automatically updated while avoiding an unnecessary increase in network traffic.

  Further, as in the first embodiment described above, the acquisition target user who acquires personal information from the user information server 3 and updates the data is selected from the top in the priority order. Accordingly, the personal information of the local user information 1A can be updated without waste, and the personal information transmitted / received via the network can be minimized.

  In the second embodiment described above, the user information management unit 47 has been described as sending an update processing start request using a predetermined time as an update trigger. However, the update trigger is not limited to this, for example, If it is performed at a predetermined timing such as when a preset time has elapsed since the previous update process, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the end of a predetermined operation by the MFP 4, or when shifting to a standby operation, various types of operations can be performed. It may be a thing.

In the present embodiment, the MFP may not have the input unit 11 and the user authentication control unit 12.
Further, as in the first embodiment described above, the user authentication control unit 12 of the MFP 4 may also perform a process of updating the local user information 1A when the user logs in.

  In addition, although the timing unit 48 has been described as being provided to notify the time for triggering the update process by the user information management unit 47, the last update date and time and the last use date and time of the local user information 1A are updated. Therefore, it may be the same as that used for the purpose.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, when the update process of the local user information 1A is performed in the first embodiment described above, the user information is updated for a plurality of users corresponding to a predetermined number of priority levels. Instead of being performed at the same time, only the user information about the logged-in user who wants to log in is updated.
Components similar to those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The image processing system according to the third embodiment is configured by connecting an MFP 5 to a user authentication server 2 and a user information server 3 similar to those of the first embodiment described above via a network N.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the MFP 5 replaces the user information update unit 13 in the configuration of the MFP 1 in the first embodiment described above, and only updates the user information for the login user to log in. It is configured with.

Next, the operation of the image processing system as the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when using the MFP 5, the user inputs a user account name and a password from the input unit 11 and performs a login operation (step S21).
Upon receiving this login operation, the user authentication control unit 12 transmits the input user account name and password to the user authentication server 2 via the network N via the network I / F 16 and makes a user authentication request (step S22). ).

  The user authentication server 2 refers to the authentication information table 2A, checks the combination of the user account name and the password, and transmits authentication success / failure to the MFP 1 (step S23). FIG. 11 shows an operation example in the case of successful authentication. If it is determined that the authentication has failed, the user authentication control unit 12 notifies the user of the authentication failure using a display unit (not shown) or the like, and ends the operation flow, as in the first embodiment described above.

When user authentication is normally completed by the user authentication control unit 12, the user information update unit 53 sends an acquisition request to the user information acquisition unit 15 so as to acquire personal information about the logged-in user from the user information server 3.
Upon receiving this acquisition request, the user information acquisition unit 15 transmits a transmission request to the user information server 3 via the network I / F 16 so as to transmit personal information about the logged-in user (step S24).

  Upon receiving a transmission request from the user information acquisition unit 15, the user information server 3 refers to the server-side user information 3A and extracts only personal information about the requested user (logged-in user) from the server-side user information 3A. Then, it is transmitted to the MFP 1 (step S25).

  When the user information update unit 53 receives personal information from the user information server 3 via the user information acquisition unit 15, the user information update unit 53 compares the received personal information with the local user information 1 </ b> A to check whether the personal information has been updated. Check if the user is a new registration. If it has been updated or if it is a new registration, the user information update unit 13 executes an update or new registration process as the check result, and performs an update process on the local user information 1A (step S26).

  When the personal information about the logged-in user is updated as described above, the user authentication control unit 12 notifies the user of the login OK by using a display unit (not shown) or the like (step S27). If an error occurs in the personal information of the logged-in user when the check is performed in step S26 described above, the fact of the error is notified.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the user who updates the personal information is selected as only the login user, and only the personal information of the login user is automatically acquired via the network to obtain data. Since the update is performed, the freshness of the personal information in the local user information 1A can be kept to the minimum necessary without making the user aware of the processing operation, and at the same time, the personal information transmitted / received via the network is minimized. be able to.
For this reason, security against leakage of personal information can be enhanced, and personal information can be automatically updated while avoiding an unnecessary increase in network traffic.

Further, the third embodiment described above can realize a preferable update process for the local user information 1A even when combined with the configuration for performing the periodic update process according to the second embodiment described above.
According to the operation example in which the second and third embodiments are combined, the same effect as that obtained by the second embodiment described above can be obtained, and the processing contents when the user logs in to the MFP can be minimized. It is possible to limit the operation to be performed by the user.

[About each embodiment]
Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.
For example, the personal information stored in the local user information 1A is not limited to the information described above with reference to FIG. 3 as long as it includes communication partner specifying information that can be specified as a communication partner when performing communication. Address information may be included.

  Further, the server-side user information 3A stored in the user information server 3 has been described as storing the same item as the personal information portion in the local user information 1A of the MFP 1, but is not limited to the same item, Information including information may be stored. In this case, when receiving a user information acquisition request from the MFP 1, the user information server 3 extracts only the same items as the personal information portion in the local user information 1 A of the MFP 1 and transmits them to the MFP 1.

Further, by recording the processing procedure for realizing the image processing system as each of the above-described embodiments on a recording medium as a program, the above-described functions according to each of the embodiments of the present invention are supplied from the recording medium. The program can be realized by causing a CPU of a computer constituting the system to perform processing.
In this case, the present invention can be applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from the above recording medium or from an external recording medium via a network.
That is, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code and the signal read from the recording medium constitute the present invention. It will be.
As this recording medium, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, or the like may be used.

  According to the program according to the present invention, each function in the image processing system as each embodiment according to the present invention described above can be realized in the image processing system controlled by the program.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system as a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an MFP 1 in the image processing system. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of 1A of local user information. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of 3 A of server side user information. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of the image processing system as the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a priority processing in the operation example of this image processing system. An example of updating the local user information 1A is not shown. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an MFP 4 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of the image processing system as the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an MFP 5 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of the image processing system as the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 4, 5 MFP (an example of an image processing apparatus)
1A Local user information 11 Input unit 12 User authentication control unit 13 User information update unit 14 Storage unit 15 User information acquisition unit 16 Network I / F
47 User information management unit 48 Timekeeping unit 2 User authentication server 2A Authentication information table 3 User information server (an example of a user information device)
3A Server side user information

Claims (19)

An image processing device configured to be connected to a user information device for storing personal information of a user via a network,
Local user information storage means for storing user personal information;
A user who updates personal information is selected at a minimum by a predetermined method, personal information about the selected user is acquired from the user information device, and the local user information storage means is based on the acquired personal information. An image processing apparatus comprising: user information updating means for updating information in the device.   The user information update means assigns priorities to the users whose personal information is stored in the local user information storage means by a predetermined method, and only the predetermined number of persons from the top in the priority order are given. The image according to claim 1, wherein an extraction target user who acquires personal information from the user information device is extracted to be included in a user who updates personal information in the local user information storage unit. Processing equipment. An input means for receiving operation input is provided,
The user information update unit acquires personal information of only the login user who performed the login operation and the acquisition target user from the user information device when the login operation is performed from the input unit, and the acquired personal information The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information in the local user information storage unit is updated based on the information.   The user information update unit acquires personal information of only the acquisition target user from the user information device when a predetermined update trigger condition is satisfied, and stores the local user information based on the acquired personal information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information in the means is updated. An input means for receiving operation input is provided,
The user information update unit acquires personal information of only the login user who performed the login operation from the user information device when a login operation is performed from the input unit, and the local user based on the acquired personal information. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information in the information storage means is updated. The local user information storage means stores the personal information of the user specified by the specific information, the usage frequency information, and the last update date / time information of the personal information in association with the specific information for specifying the user,
5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the prioritization is performed in order from the oldest of the last update date and time information while the usage frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. Image processing apparatus. The local user information storage means includes, in the specific information for specifying the user, personal information of the user specified by the specific information, usage frequency information, last update date information of the personal information, and last use date information. Stored in association,
5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the prioritization method is determined based on the use frequency information, the last update date information, the last use date information, or a combination thereof. Image processing apparatus.   The image according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the personal information stored by the local user information storage unit includes communication partner specifying information for specifying a communication partner for communication. Processing equipment.   9. An image processing system comprising: the image processing apparatus according to claim 1; and the user information apparatus connected via a network. A user information update method in an image processing apparatus connected via a network to a user information apparatus that stores personal information of a user,
A selection step of minimally selecting a user who updates personal information in the image processing apparatus by a predetermined method;
A personal information acquisition step in which the image processing device acquires personal information about the user selected in the selection step from the user information device;
A user information update method, comprising: user information update means for updating personal information in the image processing apparatus based on the personal information acquired in the personal information acquisition step.   In the selection step, priorities are assigned to a user whose personal information is stored in the image processing apparatus by a predetermined method, and only a predetermined number of persons are extracted from the top in the priority order. The user information update method according to claim 10, wherein an acquisition target user who acquires personal information from the user information device is extracted and included in the selected user.   12. The user information updating method according to claim 11, wherein, in the selection step, when a login operation is performed, only the login user who performed the login operation and the acquisition target user are selected.   12. The user information updating method according to claim 11, wherein, in the selection step, when a predetermined update trigger condition is satisfied, only the acquisition target user is selected.   The user information updating method according to claim 11 or 13, wherein, in the selection step, when a login operation is performed, only the login user who has performed the login operation is selected. The image processing apparatus stores the personal information by associating the personal information of the user specified by the specific information, the usage frequency information, and the last update date / time information of the personal information with the specific information specifying the user. ,
14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the priorities are assigned in order from the oldest last update date / time information in a usage frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. User information update method. The image processing apparatus associates personal information of a user specified by the specific information, usage frequency information, last update date / time information of the personal information, and last use date / time information with the specific information for specifying the user. Store your personal information at
The method of assigning the priorities is determined based on the use frequency information, the last update date information, the last use date information, or a combination thereof. User information update method.   The user information update according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the personal information stored in the image processing device includes communication partner specifying information for specifying a communication partner for communication. Method. A user information update program in an image processing device connected via a network to a user information device that stores user personal information,
A user information update program that causes a computer to execute processing according to any one of claims 10 to 17.   19. A recording medium on which a user information update program according to claim 18 is recorded.

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