JP2007134995A - Electronic device and transmission destination information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing transmission destination information including a facsimile number, a mail address, etc., from leaking out. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a display means 2 of displaying the transmission destination information including the facsimile number, mail address, etc., of a customer; a transmission control means 3 of transmitting an image to a transmission destination displayed on the display means 2; a data read means 5 of reading transmission destination information and authentication information out of a storage medium 4; a storage means 6 of storing and managing authentication information corresponding to the authentication information on the side of the storage medium 4; an authentication means 7 of deciding whether the authentication information of the storage device 4 side read by the data read means 5 matches the authentication information on the side of the storage means 6; and a display control means 8 of displaying the transmission destination information read by the data read means 5 on the display means 2 when it is decided that those pieces of authentication information match each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system including a transmission control unit that transmits an image to a transmission destination displayed on a display unit. For example, an image of a facsimile apparatus, a composite apparatus (MFP (multifunction peripheral)), or the like. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus and an image forming system.

  In image forming apparatuses such as single-function facsimile apparatuses and composite apparatuses having a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, the Internet facsimile function capable of transmitting a facsimile image via the Internet or the scanned image due to the spread of the Internet and LAN. Some devices have a network scanner function for sending a message to a terminal connected to the LAN.

Many of these image forming apparatuses have an address book that stores a fax destination, a mail address, and the like in correspondence with the name of a destination of a customer who is a customer. Transmission is performed based on a fax number, a mail address, or the like stored in the book (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-080450 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, since customer information including a fax number and an e-mail address is stored therein, the customer information is transmitted via a line such as a telephone line, a network, a LAN, a serial, and a parallel. There is a possibility of leakage to the outside.

  The present invention has been made to solve such inconveniences, and provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming system capable of preventing leakage of transmission destination information such as a fax number and a mail address to the outside. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus comprising: display means for displaying transmission destination information; and transmission control means for transmitting an image to the transmission destination displayed on the display means. Data reading means for reading the transmission destination information and the authentication information from a storage medium in which at least the transmission destination information and predetermined authentication information are registered and stored in advance, and authentication information corresponding to the authentication information on the storage medium side. Storage means for storage management, authentication means for determining whether the authentication information on the storage medium side read by the data reading means matches the authentication information on the storage means side, and the authentication means by the authentication means Display control means for displaying the transmission destination information read by the data reading means on the display means when it is determined that the information matches. There as formed.

  According to the above configuration, for example, destination information such as a customer's fax number and mail address is stored in a storage medium separated from the image forming apparatus, and the destination information is displayed on the display unit on the image forming apparatus. At this time, only the authentication information to be compared with the authentication information on the storage medium side is stored and saved, so that the destination information is transferred from the image forming apparatus via a line such as a telephone line, a network, a LAN, a serial, a parallel, Leakage to the outside can be prevented.

The invention according to claim 2 comprises the input operation means for accepting at least a password input according to claim 1, wherein the authentication information on the storage medium side includes an account name, and the authentication information on the storage means side includes the account name and When a password is included, the authentication unit matches the account name on the storage medium side with the account name on the storage unit side, and the password input from the input operation unit matches the password on the storage unit side Sometimes, the authentication information is determined to match.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to more reliably prevent leakage of transmission destination information stored in the storage medium to the outside.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the display control unit displays the password input screen on the display unit when the data reading unit reads the authentication information on the storage medium side. It is configured to display.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the data reading unit includes a mounting unit in which the storage medium is detachable.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the display control unit displays the screen of the transmission destination information displayed on the display unit when the storage medium is pulled out from the mounting unit. It is set as the structure switched to.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the transmission destination information from leaking from the display unit after the storage medium is removed from the mounting unit.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth or fifth aspect, the mounting unit can mount a CF card, a USB memory, or an IC card as the storage medium.

An invention according to claim 7 is an image forming system, wherein the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a storage medium capable of registering and storing transmission destination information and authentication information, and at least the above A registration device capable of registering destination information in the storage medium, the registration device reading data for registration and the authentication information from the storage medium; and a registration data reading unit for reading the destination information and the authentication information. A storage unit for registration for storing and managing the same authentication information as the authentication information stored and managed in the storage unit, and the authentication information on the storage medium side read by the registration data reading unit is on the side of the registration storage unit Authentication means for determining whether or not the authentication information matches, registration display means for displaying destination information read by the registration data reading means, and the registration A registration display control unit for displaying the transmission destination information read by the registration data reading unit on the registration display unit when the authentication unit determines that the authentication information matches, and the registration display. An editing processing means for editing the transmission destination information displayed on the means, and a registration data writing means for writing the transmission destination information edited by the editing processing means to the recording medium.
According to the above configuration, even when the storage medium is lost, leakage of the transmission destination information to the outside can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, since transmission destination information such as a fax number and a mail address is managed outside the image forming apparatus, the transmission destination information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to a telephone line, network, LAN, serial, parallel, etc. Leakage to the outside through the line can be prevented.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is based on the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a registration apparatus for registering customer information and predetermined authentication information in a storage medium. FIG. 5 is an example of a registration screen in the registration apparatus of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering customer information in the CF card using the registration apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel that displays customer information (transmission destination information) including a customer's fax number, mail address, and the like. Means 2, transmission control means 3 for sending an image to the customer displayed on display means 2 via fax transmission means 9 or e-mail transmission means 10, and customer information and predetermined authentication information are registered and stored in advance. A card reader (data reading means) 5 for reading customer information and authentication information from a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card (storage medium) 4 (see FIG. 2), and authentication information corresponding to authentication information on the CF card 4 side Storing means 6 for storing and managing, and authentication means 7 for determining whether or not the authentication information on the CF card 4 side read by the card reader 5 matches the authentication information on the storage means 6 side. , If it is determined that the authentication information by the authentication means 7 are matched, and a display control unit 8 for displaying the customer information read by the card reader 5 on the display unit 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 2 and the card reader 5 are arranged on the operation panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 1, and the CF card 4 can be inserted into and removed from the slot portion (mounting unit) 13 of the card reader 5. It comes to be installed.

  In this embodiment, the authentication information on the CF card 4 side is only the account name, and the authentication information on the storage unit 6 side of the image forming apparatus 1 is the account name and password. The display control means 8 also inputs a password input by the user when the CF card 4 is mounted in the slot 13 of the card reader 5 and the account name on the CF card 4 side is read by the card reader 5. A screen is displayed on the display means 2. The password is input from the input operation means 15 such as a numeric keypad arranged on the operation panel 11.

  When the password is input by the user, the authentication unit 7 acquires the account name of the CF card 4 read by the card reader 5, and also acquires the corresponding account name and password from the storage unit 6, and the input operation unit 15 determines whether or not the password input from 15 matches the password on the storage means 6 side.

  Then, when the password input from the input operation unit 15 does not match the password on the storage unit 6 side, the authentication unit 7 displays characters such as “Passwordorder” on the display unit 2 on the display control unit 8. Prompt the user to enter the password again. On the other hand, when the password input from the input operation unit 15 matches the password on the storage unit 6 side, the customer information of the CF card 4 read by the card reader 5 is displayed on the display unit 2 to the display control unit 8. The display unit 2 is instructed to display. Thereby, the display control means 8 acquires the customer information of the CF card 4 read by the card reader 5 and displays the customer information on the display means 2.

  In this state, the user operates the switching button 16 on the operation panel 11 to select and display the destination fax number or mail address together with the destination name on the display unit 2, and the fax transmission button on the operation panel 11. By operating the 17 or E-mail transmission button 18, the transmission control unit 3 controls the fax transmission unit 9 or the E-mail transmission unit 10, and the fax or E-mail is transmitted to the customer displayed on the display unit 2. . If the user removes the CF card 4 from the card reader 5 after transmission, the display control means 8 switches the customer information screen displayed on the display means 2 to another screen (for example, a copy screen). Customer information does not remain on the image forming apparatus 1 side.

  When a normal transmission operation is performed by directly inputting a fax number, mail address, or the like from the input operation means 15 such as a numeric keypad, the fax number, mail address, etc. are stored in the memory of the image forming apparatus 1. However, the fax number, mail address, and the like stored in the memory are deleted by an erasing unit (not shown) after a certain time has elapsed.

  Next, the procedure of the user authentication operation by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, Step S1, Step S2, Step S7, Step S10, Step S11 and Step S13 are the display control means 8, Step S3 to Step S6, Step S12 are the authentication means 7, and Step S8 and Step S9 are the transmission control means 3. Each corresponds.

First, in step S1, when the CF card 4 is inserted into the slot 13 of the card reader 5 and the account name on the CF card 4 side is read by the card reader 5, the process proceeds to step S2 and is input by the user. A password input screen is displayed on the display means 2.
Next, when the user inputs a password in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4, where the account name of the CF card 4 read by the card reader 5 is acquired and the corresponding account name is stored from the storage means 6. And a password is acquired and it transfers to step S5.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the password input from the input operation unit 15 matches the password on the storage unit 6. If the input password does not match the password on the storage unit 6, the process proceeds to step S12. If they match, the process proceeds to step S6.
In step S12, the display control unit 8 is instructed to display an error. In step S13, characters such as “Password error” are displayed on the display unit 2, and the process proceeds to step S2.
On the other hand, in step S6, the display control means 8 is instructed to display customer information. In step S7, the customer information of the CF card 4 read by the card reader 5 is acquired, and the customer information is displayed. 2 and proceeds to step S8.

  In step S8, it is determined whether or not the user has operated the fax transmission button 17 or the email transmission button 18, and if so, the process proceeds to step S9 to control the fax transmission unit 9 or the email transmission unit 10. Then, a fax or an e-mail is transmitted to the customer displayed on the display means 2.

  Next, in step S10, it is determined whether or not the user has removed the CF card 4 from the card reader 5. If the user has removed the card, the customer information screen displayed on the display means 2 is replaced with another screen (for example, a copy). Screen).

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a registration apparatus that performs reading processing and writing processing of customer information and account names for the CF card 4 will be described.

As the registration device 20, for example, a client PC is used. As shown in FIG. 4, the registration device 20 includes a registration means 21, a registration storage means 22, an input operation means 23 such as a keyboard, a card R / W (reader). / Writer: registration data reading means / registration data writing means) 24 and registration display means 25 such as a liquid display.
The registration unit 21 includes a registration authentication unit 26, an editing processing unit 27, and a registration display control unit 41 that are operated by dedicated software stored in the registration storage unit 22.

  When the CF card 4 is inserted into the card R / W 24, the registration authentication unit 26 controls the registration display control unit 41 to display the account name input screen A on the registration display unit 25 as shown in FIG. At the same time, the account name is acquired from the CF card 4. On the input screen A, an account name input means 28, a registration button 29, an end button 30, and an account name change button 31 are arranged.

  When the user's account name is input to the account name input means 28 from the input operation means 23 and the registration button 29 is clicked, the registration authentication means 26 matches the account name acquired from the CF card 4 with the input account name. If they do not match, for example, the registration display control means 41 is controlled to display “account error” on the input screen A and prompt the user to input the account name again. On the other hand, if the account names match, the editing processing unit 27 is activated and the registration display control unit 41 is controlled to edit the customer information read screen B by the card R / W 24 on the registration display unit 25. Is displayed.

  When the account name is changed, when the account name change button 31 on the input screen A is clicked, the account name is changed to the account name change screen C, and the account name is changed on the change screen C. On the account name change screen C, a display unit 32 for the current account name input on the input screen A, an account name input unit 33 after the change, a change button 34 and a return button 35 are arranged. When the user's account name is input to the account name input means 33 after the change from the input operation means 23 and the change button 34 is clicked, the account name is changed, and the screen returns to the input screen A. It returns to the input screen A without changing the account name.

The editing processing means 27 performs processing for editing customer information on the editing screen B and processing for storing (registering) the editing result in the card R / W 24. On the editing screen B, as shown in FIG. 5, in addition to a plurality of customer information input means 36 for inputting the company name, name, TEL, FAX, E-mail, etc. for each customer, a delete button 37 and an import button 38 In addition, a registration button 39 is arranged.
A □ section 40 is arranged at the head of each customer information input means 36. By checking the □ section 40 and clicking the delete button 37, the customer information of the corresponding customer information input means 36 is displayed. Deleted. When the import button 38 is clicked, an export file can be imported from other mail software, for example, and the imported content can be reflected on the editing screen B.

  Then, after the user inputs customer information from the input operation means 23 to the customer information input means 36 on the editing screen B and the editing process is completed, the customer information is inserted into the card R / W 24 by clicking the registration button 39. The data is written and saved (registered) in the CF card 4 and the screen is switched to the input screen A. When the end button 30 of the input screen A is clicked, the screen is switched to the PC screen and the registration operation is completed.

  Next, a procedure for registering customer information in the CF card 4 using the registration PC 20 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, Step S21, Step S23 to Step S25 correspond to the registration authentication means 26, Step S22, Step S26 and Step S29 correspond to the registration display control means 41, and Step S27 and Step S28 correspond to the editing processing means 27, respectively.

First, when the CF card 4 is inserted into the card R / W 24 in step S21, the account name input screen A is displayed on the registration display means 25 in step S22, and the account name is displayed from the CF card 4 in step S23. Acquire and move to step S24.
When the account name is input in step S24, it is determined in step S25 whether or not the input account name matches the account name acquired from the CF card 4. If not, the process proceeds to step S29. Then, for example, “account error” is displayed on the input screen A, the process returns to step S24, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S26, the editing processing unit 27 is activated to display the editing screen B on the registration display unit 25. When the registration button 39 is clicked in step S27, the process proceeds to step S28 and the editing screen B is displayed. The customer information edited in the above is written and saved (registered) in the CF card 4 inserted in the card R / W 24.

  As is apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, customer information including the customer's fax number and mail address is stored in the CF card 4 separated from the image forming apparatus 1 and is stored on the image forming apparatus 1 side. Only stores authentication information to be compared with the authentication information on the CF card 4 side when displaying the customer information on the display means 2, so that the customer information is transferred from the image forming apparatus 1 to the telephone line, network It is possible to prevent leakage to the outside via a line such as LAN, serial, or parallel.

  Further, since the user name is required to match the account name and the password entered by the user, leakage of customer information stored in the CF card 4 to the outside can be prevented more reliably.

  Further, when the user removes the CF card 4 from the card reader 5 after transmission, the screen of customer information displayed on the display means 2 is switched to another screen (for example, a copy screen), and the image forming apparatus 1 side Therefore, customer information can be prevented from leaking from the display means 2 after the CF card 4 is removed.

  Furthermore, the customer information and authentication information read / write processing for the CF card 4 is performed by dedicated software using the registration device 20, so that even if the CF card 4 is lost, the customer information is sent to the outside. Leakage can be prevented.

The display means, transmission control means, storage medium, data reading means, storage means, authentication means, display control means, input operation means, mounting means, registration device, registration data reading means, registration storage means of the present invention, Configurations such as registration authentication means, registration display means, registration display control means, editing processing means, and registration data writing means are not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiment, but are the gist of the present invention. As long as it does not deviate from the above, it can be changed as appropriate.
For example, in the above embodiment, the CF card 4 is exemplified as the storage medium, but instead of this, a non-contact type storage medium may be adopted in addition to a storage medium such as a USB memory or an IC card.

1 is a block diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation panel of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of user authentication operation by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating registration PC which registers customer information and predetermined | prescribed authentication information in a storage medium. It is the schematic which shows an example of the registration screen in the registration apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure which registers customer information into CF card using the registration apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Display means 3 Transmission control means 4 CF card (storage medium)
5 Card reader (data reading means)
6 Storage means 7 Authentication means 8 Display control means 13 Slot part (mounting means)
15 Input operation means 20 Registration device 22 Registration storage means 24 Card reader / writer (registration data reading means / registration data writing means)
25 registration display means 26 registration authentication means 27 editing processing means 41 registration display control means

Claims (7)

Display means for displaying destination information;
Transmission control means for transmitting an image to the transmission destination displayed on the display means;
Data reading means for reading the transmission destination information and the authentication information from a storage medium in which at least the transmission destination information and predetermined authentication information are registered and stored in advance;
Storage means for storing and managing authentication information corresponding to the authentication information on the storage medium side;
Authentication means for judging whether the authentication information on the storage medium side read by the data reading means matches the authentication information on the storage means side;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a display control unit configured to display the transmission destination information read by the data reading unit on the display unit when the authentication unit determines that the authentication information matches. apparatus. At least input operation means for accepting password input,
When the authentication information on the storage medium side includes an account name and the authentication information on the storage means side includes an account name and a password,
The authentication unit is configured such that when the account name on the storage medium side matches the account name on the storage unit side, and the password input from the input operation unit matches the password on the storage unit side, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is determined to match. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit displays the password input screen on the display unit when authentication information on the storage medium side is read by the data reading unit. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data reading unit includes a mounting unit in which the storage medium is detachable. The said display control means switches the screen of the said transmission destination information displayed on the said display means to another screen, when the said storage medium is extracted from the said mounting means. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the mounting unit can mount a CF card, a USB memory, or an IC card as the storage medium. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A storage medium capable of registering and storing destination information and authentication information;
A registration device capable of registering at least the transmission destination information in the storage medium;
The registration device
Registration data reading means for reading the transmission destination information and the authentication information from the storage medium;
A storage unit for registration for storing and managing the same authentication information as the authentication information stored and managed in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus;
Registration authentication means for determining whether the authentication information on the storage medium side read by the registration data reading means matches the authentication information on the registration storage means side;
Registration display means for displaying the destination information read by the registration data reading means;
A registration display control means for displaying the transmission destination information read by the registration data reading means on the registration display means when it is determined by the registration authentication means that the authentication information matches;
Editing processing means for editing the transmission destination information displayed on the registration display means;
An image forming system comprising: registration data writing means for writing the transmission destination information edited by the editing processing means to the recording medium.

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