JP2006334812A - Image forming apparatus and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of restricting use of data installed therein by each user. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus comprises a data memory means for storing installed data by correlating it to a data identification name, a management data memory means for storing management data correlated to a user code for identifying a user capable of using the data, a user authentication means for authenticating a user who intends to use the data stored in the data memory means to identify the user code of the user, and a control means for allowing the use of the data in the case where the user code identified by the user authentication means is stored in the management data memory means by being correlated to the data identification name of the data to be used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control program that limit internal data use for each user.

  When the multifunction device is used as a printer, it has an optional function that allows desired font data to be installed and used in the multifunction device. This is very effective when printing a document or the like using font data not provided in the multifunction peripheral.

  However, in a multifunction device that is shared and used by an unspecified number of users, if font data purchased by one user is installed inside the multifunction device, it can be used by both non-purchased users and other users. Can be done. Even if the purchased user collects a usage fee according to the usage from other users, there is a problem in that the purchased user cannot grasp how much the user has used. In addition, data that must be prevented from being used by other users, such as font data (such as fonts for electronic seal stamps) created independently, must be prohibited from being used by other users. It is necessary to restrict the use of data installed in the MFP.

An image processing apparatus having a function of setting operation restrictions for each resource information and restriction information for restricting users who can operate is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-086764 A

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus and a control program capable of restricting the use of data installed therein for each user.

  The present invention relates to data storage means for associating and storing a data identification name with respect to installed data, and a user code for identifying a user who can use the data with respect to the data identification name. Management data storage means for storing the attached management data, user authentication means for authenticating a user who intends to use the data stored in the data storage means, and identifying the user code of the user, and the user A control means for permitting the use of the data when the user code specified by the authentication means and the data identification name of the data to be used are related and stored in the management data storage means It is characterized by.

  In the present invention, the management data storage means stores a use limit value and a use record value for each user code, and the control means is used within a range in which the use record value does not exceed the use limit value. It is characterized by permitting the use of the data.

  According to the present invention, the data storage unit stores a user code for identifying an owner user in association with a data identification name of each stored data, and generates / updates management data stored in the management data storage means -Deletion is possible only for the management data of the data identification name associated with the user code specified by the user authentication means.

  The present invention is characterized in that the data is font data.

  The present invention relates to data storage means for associating and storing a data identification name with respect to installed data, and a user code for identifying a user who can use the data with respect to the data identification name. A control program for controlling data use on an image forming apparatus comprising management data storage means for storing attached management data, and authenticating a user who intends to use data stored in the data storage means The user authentication process for specifying the user code of the user, the user code specified by the user authentication process and the data identification name of the data to be used are related and stored in the management data storage means If it is, the computer is caused to perform use permission processing for permitting use of the data.

  According to the present invention, when the user code specified by the user authentication means and the data identification name of the data to be used are associated with each other and stored in the management data storage means, the use of the data is permitted. As a result, the use of the data installed inside can be limited for each user.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral P denotes an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printer function, an image reading function, and a FAX transmission / reception function. Reference numeral C denotes a personal computer for creating document data and printing the document by the image forming apparatus P. The personal computer C and the image forming apparatus P can communicate with each other via the network N.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit that performs overall control of processing operations of the image forming apparatus P. Reference numeral 2 denotes an input unit composed of a numeric keypad, function keys, a touch panel, and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. Reference numeral 4 denotes an image reading unit that reads an image of a document placed on a document table and outputs the obtained digital data. Reference numeral 5 denotes an image memory that temporarily stores image read data output from the image reading unit 4 and print data output from the personal computer C. Reference numeral 6 denotes a printing unit that transfers an image to printing paper based on image data (bitmap data) formed in the image memory 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a number counter that counts the number of printing sheets printed by the printing unit 6, and counts the number of printed sheets for each print job. Reference numeral 8 denotes a font data storage unit that stores various types of font data that are referred to when the image forming apparatus P functions as a printer. Reference numeral 9 denotes a management data storage unit that stores management data related to font data stored in the font data storage unit 8. Reference numeral 10 denotes a user management data storage unit that stores data for managing users who can use the image forming apparatus P. Reference numeral 11 denotes a communication unit that performs communication with the personal computer C via the network N.

  Next, the table structure of each storage unit shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the table structure of the font data storage unit 8 will be described with reference to FIG. The font data storage unit 8 includes a “font identification name” that identifies font data, a “phone data entity” that is an entity of font data, and a “user code” that identifies a user who owns the font data. Are stored in the number of font data. The font data stored in the font data storage unit 8 is data registered by the owner of the font data at an arbitrary timing.

  Next, the table structure of the user management data storage unit 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The user management data storage unit 10 stores “user code” for identifying a user (user) and data associated with “password” by the number of users. The user management data stored in the user management data storage unit 10 shown in FIG. 4 is data in which the administrator registers a user code and password in advance as necessary.

  Next, the table structure of the management data storage unit 9 will be described with reference to FIG. The management data storage unit 9 restricts the use for each usable user, a “font identification name” that identifies font data, a “usable user” that is a user code that identifies a user who can use the font data, and the like. The “limit value” that is the value (printable number of sheets) and the “actual value” that is the value of the actual result (number of printed sheets) using the phone data are associated with each other, and the number of font data is stored. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the font “A” can be used by a user whose user code is “123” or “234”, and the user “123” has a limit value of “1000” and is currently used. The result is “10”, and the user “234” indicates that the limit value is “500” and the result value is “0”. The font “B” stores “***” which means that the usable users are not limited, and “***” which means that no limit value is set (can be used freely). It is remembered. The font “C” indicates that only the user “123” can freely use (the limit value is “***”). The font “D” indicates that three or more users can use it. The management data stored in the management data storage unit 9 is data registered at the timing when the font data is registered in the font data storage unit 8.

  Next, the processing operation of the image forming apparatus P shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, the operation for registering font data will be described. First, a user who wants to register new font data operates the personal computer C and transmits a font data registration request to the image forming apparatus P. When the control unit 1 receives this request via the communication unit 11, the control unit 1 transmits an instruction to input authentication data (user code and password) to the personal computer C. In response to this, when the user inputs the user code and password from the keyboard of the personal computer C, the personal computer C transmits the input user code and password to the image forming apparatus P.

  The control unit 1 receives the user code and password via the communication unit 11 and performs user authentication based on whether or not the received user code and password are stored in the user management data storage unit 10. As a result, if the received user code and password are not stored in the user management data storage unit 10, the control unit 1 transmits an error message to the personal computer C. On the other hand, when the received user code and password are stored in the user management data storage unit 10, the control unit 1 holds the user code inside and transmits an instruction to send font data to the personal computer C. To do. In response to this, the user sets the recording medium on which the font data to be registered is recorded in the data reading device provided in the personal computer C, performs the operation of sending the font data, and sets the character string of the font identification name. input. The personal computer C reads the font data from the recording medium set in the data reading device, adds the character string of the font identification name inputted to the read font data, and transmits it to the image forming device P.

  The control unit 1 receives the font data and the font identification name via the communication unit 11. The control unit 1 associates the received font data (substance) and font identification name with the user code (authenticated user's user code) held therein as a user code for identifying the owner, and stores font data. Store in part 8. As a result, the font identification name and the user code for identifying the owner are assigned to the new font data and registered in the font data storage unit 8.

  Next, the control unit 1 transmits to the personal computer C an instruction to input the user who can use the font data registered here and the limit value. In response to this instruction, the user inputs from the keyboard of the personal computer C the user code of the user who can use the registered font data and the limit value for this user code. At this time, if the usable user and the limit value are not specified, “***” is input. When a plurality of users can use the registered font data, the user code of the available users and the limit value are repeatedly input.

  The personal computer C transmits the set of the usable user code and the limit value input here to the image forming apparatus P. In response to this, the control unit 1 stores the pair of the usable user code and the limit value transmitted from the personal computer C in the management data storage unit 9 in association with the registered name of the font data. As a result, the management data related to the font data registered in the font data storage unit 8 is registered in the management data storage unit 9.

  As described above, the data stored in the management data storage unit 9 is created based on the data input by the user who is authenticated when the font data is installed. Further, only the user of the user code associated with the target font data can delete or update the data of the font data stored in the font data storage unit 8. Also, only the user of the user code who is the owner of the target font data can add or change the “usable user” and “limit value” stored in the management data storage unit 9.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an operation for performing printing using desired font data will be described. First, a user who wants to use desired font data performs an operation of selecting a function for selecting desired font data from the personal computer C (step S1). In response to this, the control unit 1 transmits a message instructing the personal computer C to input user authentication data. In response to this message, the user inputs his / her user code and password from the keyboard of the personal computer C (step S2). The personal computer C reads the user code and password, and transmits the read user code and password to the image forming apparatus P.

  This user code and password are received by the control unit 1 via the communication unit 11. The control unit 1 performs user authentication by determining whether or not the received combination of user code and password is stored in the user management data storage unit 10 (steps S3 and S4). As a result of this user authentication, when the received user code and password combination is not stored in the user management data storage unit 10, the control unit 1 has failed to authenticate the user to the personal computer C. Is sent (step S5).

  On the other hand, when the received user code and password combination is stored in the user management data storage unit 10, the control unit 1 holds the received user code (authenticated user code) inside. Then, the management data storage unit 9 is referred to extract all the font identification names registered as usable users with the user code held therein, and the extracted font identification names are transmitted to the personal computer C. It is displayed on the screen (step S6).

  The user views the screen on which the font identification name is displayed, and operates the keyboard of the personal computer C to select the font identification name of desired font data (step S7). The personal computer C transmits the selected font identification name to the image forming apparatus P. The control unit 1 receives the font identification name via the communication unit 11. The control unit 1 is a user code (authenticated user's user code) in which the font identification name received from the management data storage unit 9 is the font identification name received and the user code of the usable user is held internally. A certain limit value and actual value are read, and it is determined whether the actual value exceeds the limit value (step S8).

  As a result of this determination, if the actual value exceeds the limit value, the control unit 1 transmits an error message indicating that the limit value is exceeded to the personal computer C. The personal computer C displays this error message on the screen. On the other hand, when the actual value does not exceed the limit value, the control unit 1 transmits a message indicating that the use of the selected font data is permitted to the personal computer C. The personal computer C displays this message on the screen. Here, the user performs an operation to instruct printing execution of the document data using the font data selected in the document data. Upon receiving this print instruction, the personal computer C generates print data of the document data for which the print instruction has been received, and transmits it to the image forming apparatus P.

  The control unit 1 that has received the print data via the communication unit 11 analyzes the received print data, and if the print data indicates that the selected font data is to be used, the font data storage unit 8 Is converted to bitmap data and stored in the image memory 5. The printing unit 6 reads the pit map data stored in the image memory 5 and performs printing (step S10). At this time, when the printed page is a page using the selected font data, the printing unit 6 increments the number counter 7. Then, the printing unit 6 repeatedly executes the printing operation until the printing of the last page is completed.

  When the printing operation is completed, the control unit 1 reads the value of the number counter 7. This read value is the number of pages printed using the font data selected by the user during the printing operation executed immediately before. The control unit 1 stores the number of pages in the management data storage unit 9 as an actual value (step S11). At this time, the control unit 1 reads out the actual value associated with the identification name of the selected font data and the user code of the user who selected the font data, and the read actual value is read from the number counter 7. The number of pages read out is added, and the total value is stored in the management data storage unit 9 as an actual value.

  As described above, when the user code specified by the user authentication and the data identification name of the font data to be used are associated with each other and stored in the management data storage unit 9, the use of the font data is permitted. Therefore, the use of font data installed in the image forming apparatus P can be restricted for each user.

  Note that the user may be charged for the use of the font data in accordance with the actual value stored in the management data storage unit 9.

  In addition, the program for realizing the function of the processing unit in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed, thereby restricting data usage. Control processing may be performed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the table structure of the font data storage part 8 shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the table structure of the user management data storage part 10 shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the table structure of the management data storage part 9 shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

P: image forming apparatus, C: personal computer, 1: control unit, 2 ... input unit, 3 ... display unit, 4 ... image reading unit, 5 ... image memory, 6 ... printing unit, 7 ... number counter, 8 ... font data storage unit, 9 ... management data storage unit, 10 ... user management data storage unit, 11 ... communication unit, N ···network

Claims (5)

Data storage means for associating and storing a data identification name for the installed data;
Management data storage means for storing management data associated with a user code for identifying a user who can use the data with respect to the data identification name;
User authentication means for performing authentication of a user who intends to use data stored in the data storage means, and identifying a user code of the user;
Control means for permitting the use of the data when the user code specified by the user authentication means and the data identification name of the data to be used are associated with each other and stored in the management data storage means. An image forming apparatus. The management data storage means stores a usage limit value and a usage record value for each user code,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit permits use of data to be used within a range in which the use result value does not exceed the use limit value. The data storage unit stores a user code for identifying an owner user with respect to a data identification name of each stored data,
The management data stored in the management data storage means can be generated / updated / deleted only with respect to management data having a data identification name associated with the user code specified by the user authentication means; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data is font data. Data storage means for associating and storing a data identification name with respect to installed data, and a management in which a user code for identifying a user who can use the data is associated with the data identification name A control program for controlling the use of data on an image forming apparatus comprising management data storage means for storing data,
A user authentication process for authenticating a user who intends to use the data stored in the data storage means and identifying the user code of the user;
A use permission process for permitting the use of the data when the user code specified by the user authentication process is associated with the data identification name of the data to be used and stored in the management data storage means; A control program that is executed by a computer.

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