JP2007116531A - Processor and processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate differing the settings of a plurality of processors for each operator. <P>SOLUTION: A digital composite apparatus 10 for processing images sends a user ID and a password acquired from an operator to an authentication server 30 and receives the authentication result for the sent user ID and password from the authentication server 30. The apparatus 10 further receives setting information related to the user ID and password succeeded in authentication from the authentication server 30 to reflect the receiving setting information on the settings. The authentication server 30 stores the user ID and setting information related thereto which will be reflected on the settings of the digital composite apparatus 10 after succeeding in authentication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing apparatus capable of changing settings for each operator, and a processing system including the processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to improve the convenience of a processing apparatus such as a digital multifunction peripheral (MFP), settings of the processing apparatus are made different for each operator.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, authentication information (user ID and password) and setting information (user information) are stored in association with each other, and after successful authentication with respect to the authentication information, the setting information is reflected in the setting. An apparatus is disclosed.

JP 2004-229239 A

  However, when the technology of Patent Document 1 is adopted, the setting of the processing device can be made different for each operator. However, if the setting is made different for each operator among a plurality of processing devices, the setting is made for each processing device. Information had to be entered manually.

  The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and it is an object of the present invention to make it easy to set different settings for each operator in a plurality of processing apparatuses.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 is a processing device for performing a predetermined process, wherein authentication information acquired from an operator is transmitted to an external authentication server, and authentication success / failure with respect to the transmitted authentication information is determined. Authentication acquisition means for receiving from the authentication server, setting information receiving means for receiving setting information associated with authentication information that has been successfully authenticated from the authentication server, and setting information received after successful authentication Reflecting means for reflecting in the setting.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the processing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the processing device further includes an image reading unit that reads an image on a document and generates image data related to the image, and the setting information that is received is reflected. Includes a setting relating to a storage destination of the image data generated by the image reading unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the processing apparatus according to the first aspect further comprises a calling unit for calling a key macro describing an operation procedure, and an execution unit for executing the key macro called by the calling unit. The settings that reflect the received setting information include settings related to the key macro.

  The invention according to claim 4 is an authentication server, wherein the authentication information is stored in association with the setting information reflected in the setting of the external processing apparatus after successful authentication, and the authentication information is processed in the processing. Authentication providing means for receiving authentication success / failure for the received authentication information from the apparatus, and setting information transmitting means for transmitting setting information associated with the authentication information successfully authenticated to the processing apparatus; Is provided.

  The invention of claim 5 is a processing system comprising a processing device for performing predetermined processing and an authentication server, wherein the processing device transmits authentication information acquired from an operator to the authentication server, and transmits the authentication information. Authentication acquisition means for receiving authentication success / failure for authentication information from the authentication server, setting information receiving means for receiving setting information associated with authentication information successfully authenticated from the authentication server, and reception after successful authentication Reflecting means for reflecting the setting information to the setting of the processing device, the authentication server receives the authentication information from the processing device, and stores the authentication information and the setting information in association with each other. Authentication providing means for transmitting authentication success / failure with respect to authentication information to the processing device, and setting information transmission for transmitting setting information associated with authentication information successfully authenticated to the processing device. And means.

  According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, it is not necessary to manually input the setting information to each processing device when the setting is changed for each operator in a plurality of processing devices. It becomes easy to change the setting for each.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the storage destination of the image data generated by the image reading means can be made different for each operator.

  According to invention of Claim 3, the key macro which can be called can be varied for every operator.

<1 Overall configuration of image processing system>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image processing system 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the image processing system 1 includes a digital multifunction peripheral 10 (11, 12), a personal computer 20, and an authentication server 30. In the following, reference numeral 10 is used when it is not necessary to distinguish between the two digital multifunction peripherals, and reference numerals 11 and 12 are used when it is necessary to distinguish between the two.

  The digital multifunction peripheral 10, the personal computer 20, and the authentication server 30 are connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 50 and can communicate with each other. The digital multi-function peripheral 10 is connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 91. The LAN 50 is connected to an external network such as the Internet 92 via a network device such as the router 40.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 10 has a copy mode, a fax mode, a scanner mode, and a printer mode, and plays a role as an image processing apparatus that performs image processing.

  The personal computer 20 is a client computer in the image processing system 1.

  The authentication server 30 is a server computer that provides a directory service such as an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) service.

  Here, assuming that the authentication server 30 is an LDAP server, a communication procedure between the digital multifunction peripheral 10 and the authentication server 30 when performing the authentication process and the option process will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the authentication process is performed, first, a binding operation (BIND Operation) 71 is performed from the digital multifunction peripheral 10 to the authentication server 30, and in response to the binding operation 71, a result of the binding from the authentication server 30 to the digital multifunction peripheral 10. (BIND Result) 72 is returned. In the combining operation 71, a user ID and password as authentication information are transmitted from the digital multi-function peripheral 10 to the authentication server 30, and the authentication server 30 sends "true" to the digital multi-function peripheral 10 if the user ID and password are appropriate. "" Is returned and the combination of the digital multifunction device 10 is permitted. If the user ID and password are not appropriate, "false" is returned to the digital multifunction device 10 and the combination of the digital multifunction device 10 is not permitted. In other words, the combination operation 71 is an authentication request from the digital multifunction peripheral 10 to the authentication server 30, and the combination result (binding permission / inhibition) is an authentication result for the authentication information included in the authentication request given from the digital multifunction peripheral 10 ( Certification success / failure).

  Subsequent to the authentication process, an optional process that can be additionally executed is executed between the digital multifunction peripheral 10 and the authentication server 30. In the option processing, a search request (Search) 73 is transmitted from the digital multi-function peripheral 10 to the authentication server 30, and in response to the search request 73, a search result (Search Result) including record information from the authentication server 30 to the digital multi-function peripheral 10. ) 74 is returned. This optional process can be executed only once, or can be executed twice or more.

  After the authentication process and the option process, an unbinding operation (UNBIND Operation) 75 is performed from the digital multi-function peripheral 10 to the authentication server 30, and a series of communication procedures between the digital multi-function peripheral 10 and the authentication server 30 is completed. .

<2 Digital MFP configuration>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 includes an MPU (microprocessor unit) 111, a ROM 112, and a RAM 113. The microcomputer 110 realized by the MPU 111, the ROM 112, and the RAM 113 executes various programs of the digital multifunction peripheral 10 by executing a program stored in the ROM 112 to realize various functions of the digital multifunction peripheral 10. .

  The flash memory 121 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 stores information that should be continuously stored. Further, the image memory 122 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 stores an image to be processed by the digital multi-function peripheral 10 as image data.

  The digital multifunction machine 10 is provided with an operation unit 125 and a display unit 126 as a user interface. In the digital multi-function peripheral 10, a liquid crystal touch panel display is adopted as the display unit 126, and the display unit 126 also serves as a part of the operation unit 125.

  The digital multifunction peripheral 10 includes an image reading unit 123 and an image recording unit 124. The image reading unit 123 reads an image on a document with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or the like, and generates image data related to the image. The image reading unit 123 can read an image on a document by an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) method or an FBS (Flat Bed Scanner) method. The image recording unit 124 forms an image related to image data on a recording medium by an electrophotographic method.

  The network interface 127 connects the digital multi-function peripheral 10 to the LAN 50 by, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark).

  An NCU (Network Control Unit) 128 and a MODEM (Modem DEModulator) 129 are used for transmission / reception of fax images via the public switched telephone network 91. The NCU 128 controls connection to the public switched telephone network 91. The NCU 128 has a function of transmitting a dial signal corresponding to a telephone number of a communication destination and a function of detecting an incoming call. MODEM 129 is based on the fax transmission control procedure according to ITU (International Telecommunication Union) -T recommendation T.30. 17, V. 27ter, V.L. The transmission data is modulated and the received data is demodulated in accordance with 29 or the like. Alternatively, MODEM 129 can add V.V. 34, modulation of transmission data and demodulation of reception data are performed.

  In the copy mode, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 reads an image on the document using the image reading unit 123 and forms the image on the recording medium using the image recording unit 124, thereby transferring the image from the document to the recording medium. Copy (Copy function).

  In the fax mode, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 reads an image on a document using the image reading unit 123 and transmits the image to another fax machine using the NCU 128 and MODEM 129 (fax transmission function). The digital multi-function peripheral 10 forms an image transmitted from another fax machine on a recording medium using the image recording unit 124 (fax receiving function). The digital multi-function peripheral 10 uses the G3 method or the super G3 method for sending and receiving faxes using the public switched telephone network 91.

  In the scanner mode, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 reads an image on a document using the image reading unit 123 and stores the image in a set storage destination (scanner function). In the digital multi-function peripheral 10, a folder (directory) of the personal computer 20 connected to the network 50 can be designated as the storage destination.

  In the printer mode, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 receives an image transmitted from the personal computer 20 via the LAN 50 and forms the image on a recording medium using the image recording unit 124 (printer function).

  In the digital multifunction peripheral 10, a key macro selection screen 71 as shown in FIG. 4 can be displayed on the display unit 126. The key macro selection screen 71 includes a software key 710 for calling a key macro describing an operation procedure. However, on the key macro selection screen 71, software keys corresponding to key macros for which no operation procedure is described and whose contents are not registered are not displayed. Further, the name assigned to the assigned key macro (“sort copy reduction 81%” “department management list”) for the purpose of facilitating calling a desired key macro in the software key 710. Is displayed. The name assigned to the key macro can be edited by a predetermined procedure.

  When a press operation is performed on the software key 710, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 reads the contents of the key macro assigned to the software key 710 that is the target of the press operation from the flash memory 121, and is given from the operator. The key macro is executed in response to the execution instruction. That is, when the key macro assigned to the software key 710 is called up, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 is in a state where the operation according to the operation procedure registered in the called key macro can be reproduced.

<3 Configuration of authentication server>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the authentication server 30.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the authentication server 30 includes an MPU 311, a ROM 312, and a RAM 313. The authentication server 30, which is a computer, executes various programs of the authentication server 30 by executing a program stored in the ROM 312 so as to control all components of the authentication server 30.

  A hard disk drive (HDD) 321 of the authentication server 30 is a large-capacity auxiliary storage device.

  The authentication server 30 is provided with an operation unit 322 and a display unit 323 as user interfaces.

  The network interface 324 connects the authentication server 30 to the LAN 50 by, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark).

  The hard disk drive 321 stores record information RI as illustrated in FIG. The record information RI is information in which the user ID of each operator is associated with the setting information reflected in the settings of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 after successful authentication. Note that the record information RI illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a name, a department, a telephone number, and an e-mail address in addition to the user ID and setting settings. Of course, items other than these may be added to the record information RI.

  The setting information includes the network path (PATH) of the storage destination of the image data generated by the image reading unit 123 in the scanner mode.

  Further, the setting information includes the contents of key macros (MACRO1, MACRO2,...). The contents of the key macro are specified by describing the key code assigned to the key to be operated in accordance with the operation order. In FIG. 6, the content of the key macro is “N / A”, which indicates that the content of the key macro has not been registered.

<4 Settings for each operator>
The digital multi-function peripheral 10 is configured so that settings can be made different for each operator.

  The types of settings that can be made different for each operator are not limited, but in the following, the default value of the network path where the image data generated by the image reading unit 123 in the scanner mode is saved and the contents of the key macro that can be called The description will be given by taking as an example a case where the operator can be made different for each operator.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining operations of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 and the authentication server 30. 7 is realized by the microcomputer 110 executing the program stored in the ROM 112 and the authentication server 30 being a computer executing the program stored in the ROM 312.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, when a login operation is performed (step S <b> 101), the digital multifunction peripheral 10 includes a user ID and password acquired from the operator, that is, a user ID and password input by the operator through the login operation. An authentication request is transmitted to the authentication server 30 (step S102).

  In response to this, the authentication server 30 receives the authentication request from the digital multi-function peripheral 10 (step S201), and transmits authentication success / failure for the received user ID and password to the digital multi-function peripheral 10 (step S202).

  The digital multi-function peripheral 10 receives authentication success / failure for the transmitted user ID and password from the authentication server 30 (step S103).

  In the authentication processing in steps S102 to S103 and S201 to S202, if the authentication for the user ID and password is not successful ("NO" in step S104), the digital multifunction peripheral 10 returns to step S101 and redoes the login operation. Let the operator do it.

  On the other hand, when the authentication for the user ID and the password is successful in the authentication process (“YES” in step S104), the digital multi-function peripheral 10 authenticates the search request for the setting information associated with the user ID for which the authentication was successful. It transmits to the server 30 (step S105).

  In response to this, the authentication server 30 receives the search request from the digital multi-function peripheral 10 (step S203), and transmits the search result setting information extracted from the record information RI to the digital multi-function peripheral 10 (step S204). .

  The digital multi-function peripheral 10 receives the setting information from the authentication server 30 (step S106).

  When the setting information is obtained by the option processing in steps S105 to S106 and S203 to S204, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 reflects the setting information in the setting (step S107). That is, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 reflects the network path included in the setting information on the network path where the image data generated by the image reading unit 123 is stored in the scanner mode, and the contents of the key macro included in the setting information are This is reflected in the contents of the key macro stored in the flash memory 121.

  With the configuration and operation described above, in the image processing system 1, it is not necessary to manually input the setting information to each of the digital multifunction peripherals 11 and 12 even when the setting is changed for each operator in a plurality of image processing apparatuses. It becomes easy for the digital multifunction peripherals 11 and 12 to have different settings for each operator. Of course, the same applies to the case where the image processing system 1 includes three or more digital multifunction peripherals.

<5 Modification>
○ Key macro selection screen;
In the key macro selection screen 71 described above, software keys corresponding to key macros whose contents are not registered are not displayed. However, software keys corresponding to key macros whose contents are not registered may be displayed. . In this case, in order to easily recognize that the contents are not registered, the display form of the software key 710, that is, the shape, pattern and color of the software key 710 are registered as the contents registered. It is desirable to keep it different from what is not.

○ Key macro call;
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the software key 71 is used to call the key macro has been described. However, it is not prevented that the key macro is called by the hardware key. In this case, it is desirable to display on the display unit 125 information that allows the operator to recognize the hardware key used for calling the key macro and the name assigned to the key macro assigned to the hardware key.

○ Transmission of setting information;
In the above-described embodiment, after the authentication process is completed, the setting request for the setting information is transmitted from the digital multifunction peripheral 10 to the authentication server 30. However, without transmitting such a search request, it is synchronized with the success of the authentication. Then, the setting information may be automatically transmitted from the authentication server 30 to the digital multifunction peripheral 10. Further, the transmission of the setting information may be completed by one option process, or may be completed by two or more option processes. For example, option processing may be performed once for each item of setting information (each of PATH, MACRO1, MACRO2,...).

○ Different settings for each operator;
The settings that can be different for each operator, that is, the settings that reflect the setting information, include the default value of the network path where the image data generated by the image reading unit 123 in the scanner mode is saved and the key macro that can be called. You may include things other than the contents. For example, communication destination information such as a telephone number, an e-mail address, and a destination name assigned to the one-touch key of the operation unit 125 may be included in the setting that can be changed for each operator. Thereby, the common one-touch key can be shared by a plurality of operators, and assignment of communication destination information to the one-touch key can be made different for each operator.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image processing system 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a diagram illustrating a communication procedure between the digital multifunction peripheral 10 and the authentication server 30 when performing authentication processing and option processing. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital multifunction machine 10. It is a figure which shows the key macro selection screen. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an authentication server 30. FIG. It is a figure which illustrates record information RI. 5 is a flowchart for explaining operations of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 and the authentication server 30.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing system 10 Digital multifunction device 20 Client computer 30 Authentication server 50 LAN
71 Key macro selection screen RI record information

Claims (5)

A processing device that performs predetermined processing,
Authentication acquisition means for transmitting authentication information acquired from an operator to an external authentication server, and receiving authentication success / failure for the transmitted authentication information from the authentication server;
Setting information receiving means for receiving setting information associated with authentication information successfully authenticated from the authentication server;
Reflecting means for reflecting the received setting information to the setting of the processing device after successful authentication;
A processing apparatus comprising: The processing apparatus according to claim 1,
Image reading means for reading an image on a document and generating image data relating to the image;
Further comprising
The processing apparatus, wherein the setting that reflects the received setting information includes a setting relating to a storage destination of the image data generated by the image reading unit. The processing apparatus according to claim 1,
A calling means for calling a key macro describing an operation procedure;
Execution means for executing the key macro called by the calling means;
Further comprising
A processing apparatus characterized in that a setting that reflects received setting information includes a setting related to a key macro. An authentication server,
Storage means for storing the authentication information in association with the setting information reflected in the setting of the external processing device after successful authentication;
Authentication providing means for receiving authentication information from the processing device and transmitting authentication success / failure for the received authentication information to the processing device;
Setting information transmitting means for transmitting setting information associated with authentication information successfully authenticated to the processing device;
A processing apparatus comprising: A processing system,
A processing device for performing predetermined processing;
An authentication server;
With
The processor is
Authentication acquisition means for transmitting authentication information acquired from an operator to the authentication server, and receiving authentication success / failure for the transmitted authentication information from the authentication server;
Setting information receiving means for receiving setting information associated with authentication information successfully authenticated from the authentication server;
Reflecting means for reflecting the received setting information to the setting of the processing device after successful authentication;
The authentication server comprises
Storage means for storing authentication information and setting information in association with each other;
Authentication providing means for receiving authentication information from the processing device and transmitting authentication success / failure for the received authentication information to the processing device;
Setting information transmitting means for transmitting setting information associated with authentication information successfully authenticated to the processing device;
A processing system comprising:

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