JP2007168372A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can grasp each security level of paper documents without an authentication server. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device uses sheets having a built-in RFID tag. The image forming device is equipped with a controlling means 1 which compares the security level of a document and the security level of an individual, and performs a control for recording print information on the RFID tag of the printing document when it is printable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine having various functions, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus characterized by document management technology.

In recent years, due to an increase in security awareness, there is a demand for further management of documents. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an image forming apparatus that performs document reading and network distribution based on a security policy.
JP 2004-152260 A

The present applicant has already proposed a technique in which an RFID tag is built in each sheet of paper, thereby performing security management for copying, printing, scanner reading, and facsimile transmission (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-176970). ).
However, the above method requires an authentication server to perform security management. For example, it is necessary to connect to an authentication server at the time of scanning a scanner, authenticate each user, and perform scanning. The same applies to copying. Thus, there was room for improvement in the prior application technique.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can grasp the security level of each paper document without an authentication server.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is an image forming apparatus that uses paper with a built-in RFID tag, and compares the security level of the document with the security level of the individual and can print. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit that performs control for recording print information on an RFID tag of a print document.
The invention according to claim 2 is an image forming apparatus that uses paper with a built-in RFID tag, compares the security level of the document with the security level of the individual, and reads the RFID tag of the read document when it is readable. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit that performs control to record information.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that uses a sheet incorporating an RFID tag, and compares the security level of the document with the security level of the individual. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit that performs control for recording copy information.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that uses a paper having a built-in RFID tag, and compares the security level of a document with the security level of an individual, and when it is possible to send a fax, The image forming apparatus includes a control unit that performs control for recording transmission information on the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the security level of each paper document can be grasped without an authentication server.

The present invention performs document management and security management on the premise of using paper with a built-in RFID tag.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. This apparatus includes a control unit 1 that controls the entire system, a storage unit 2 that stores read images and various set values, a CCD or contact sensor, an AD conversion unit, an image processing unit, and the like. Consists of a reading unit 3 for outputting, a laser or thermal print unit, etc., a printing unit 4 for printing on paper, a facsimile communication, an image information compression / decompression (DCR) unit, a facsimile communication control unit 5 for managing facsimile communication, a LAN It is composed of a LAN communication control unit 6 for controlling communication, a number input key, a function key, etc., and an operation unit 7 for inputting data and an RFID control unit 8 for controlling RFID.

FIG. 2 shows a printing flowchart, and the operation procedure will be described.
Note that the processing of the multifunction device described below is executed by the control unit 1.
The user performs a document printout process from the PC (S1). At that time, the security level information of the output document is also transferred to the output device (multifunction device in FIG. 1).
The user inserts an ID card into the output device (S2). Then, a sheet with an RFID tag is set. The security level of the ID card is compared with the security level of the output document (S3), and it is determined whether the document can be printed (S4).
If printing is possible (Y in S4), printing is performed (S5), and the user ID, time stamp, and reading unit information are written in the RFID tag of the output paper (print document) (S6). If printing is not possible (N in S4), after notifying that printing is not possible due to security problems (S7), the operation is terminated.
FIG. 3 shows a scanner reading flowchart, and the operation procedure will be described. The user inserts an ID card into the reading unit 3 (S1). After the user performs a scanning operation (S2), the security level of the ID card is compared with the security level of the read document (S3), and it is determined whether the document can be read (S4).
If it is readable (Y in S4), reading is performed (S5), and then the user ID, time stamp, and reading unit information are written in the RFID tag of the read original (scanned document file) (S6). If it is not readable (N in S4), it is notified that the reading is impossible due to a security problem (S7), and the operation is terminated.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for copying, and the operation procedure will be described. The user inserts an ID card into the reading unit 3 (S1). After the user performs a copy operation (S2), the security level of the ID card is compared with the security level of the copy document (S3), and it is determined whether copying is possible (S4).
If copying is possible (Y in S4), copying is performed (S5), and then the user ID, time stamp, and copy information are written in the RFID tag of the copy source document (S6). If copying is not possible (N in S4), notification is made that copying is not possible due to security problems (S7), and the operation is terminated.
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of FAX transmission, and the operation procedure will be described. The user inserts an ID card into the FAX apparatus (multifunction machine in FIG. 1) (S1). A transmission document is set and a transmission destination is input (S3). The security level of the ID card is compared with the security level of the fax transmission document (S3), and it is determined whether the document can be faxed (S4).
If transmission is possible (Y in S4), FAX transmission is performed (S5), and then the user ID, time stamp, FAX apparatus information, and destination information are written in the RFID tag of the FAX original document (S6). If FAX transmission is not possible (N in S4), notification is made that FAX transmission cannot be performed due to a security problem (S7), and the operation ends.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart of printing. The flowchart of a scanner reading. Copy flowchart. The flowchart of FAX transmission.

Explanation of symbols

1 Control unit (control means)

Claims (4)

  An image forming apparatus that uses paper with a built-in RFID tag, and compares the security level of a document with the security level of an individual, and performs control to record print information on the RFID tag of a printed document when printing is possible An image forming apparatus comprising: means.   An image forming apparatus that uses paper with a built-in RFID tag, which compares the security level of a document with the security level of an individual, and performs control to record read information on the RFID tag of a read document when it is readable An image forming apparatus comprising: means.   An image forming apparatus that uses paper with a built-in RFID tag, compares the security level of a document with the security level of an individual, and performs control to record copy information in the RFID tag of the copy source document when copying is possible An image forming apparatus comprising a control unit. An image forming apparatus that uses paper with a built-in RFID tag, and compares the security level of a document with the security level of an individual, and controls the recording of transmission information on the RFID tag of a FAX original document when FAX transmission is possible. An image forming apparatus comprising a control unit for performing the operation.

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