JP2007214720A - Image reader having time authentication request function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader having a time authentication request function capable of saving e-documents for each kind of document only by pressing a specified button. <P>SOLUTION: When one e-document scan is selected from book e-document scan, cost estimate e-document scan, order e-document scan, and the like for executing the e-document scan; the hash value of document scan data is calculated and transmitted to TSA. In the case of the book e-document scan, scan data and a time stamp are saved into a book holder with a file name created by "choubo" + "date" + "serial numbers" (steps 101-105). In the cases of the cost estimate e-document scan and the order e-document scan, the file name to which the scan data and the time stamp correspond is added for saving into the corresponding e-document folder (steps 106-115). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function, such as a digital multi-function peripheral, which stores a document image scanned by a scanner with a time stamp.

In a digital multi-function peripheral having a copy function, a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, etc., a document image scanned by a scanner is recently given a time stamp and saved as an e-document.
In other words, digital data is easier to tamper with compared to paper documents, so time stamp technology is used. This time stamp is a technology that proves the fixed time of an electronic document. It proves that it has not been falsified not only by the third party but also by the creator.

When such a time stamp technology is adopted, the hash value of the electronic document is transmitted to a time stamping authority (hereinafter referred to as TSA), and the hash value sent by the TSA is set to an accurate time using an atomic clock. It is encrypted together with the information and returned as a time stamp, and this time stamp is stored together with the electronic document (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-267083 A

When verifying such an e-document, the time stamp is decoded, the time stamp time information is confirmed, and the hash value of the electronic document calculated separately is compared with the hash value included in the time stamp. Thus, tampering can be detected.
The hash value is a fixed-length value generated from a given original text using an irreversible one-way function (hash function), and is also called a message digest. Since it is extremely difficult to obtain the original text from the hash value or to create different sentences having the same hash value, it is possible to confirm whether the original text is the same by comparing the hash values.

As described above, in a conventional digital multi-function peripheral, a scanned document is stored as an e-document together with a time stamp. However, there are various documents such as books, minutes, orders, and quotations. Since it is very inconvenient to search later if the data is unified, you must specify the save destination of e-documents or enter the document name to facilitate later searches. It was a laborious work.
In addition, since the retention period differs for each document type, the retention period must be input every time e-document scanning is performed, which is a more complicated operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function capable of storing an e-document for each document type only by pressing a specific button. To do.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads a document and generates an image signal, and an image signal read by the image reading unit. An image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function provided with a control means for assigning a stamp and saving it in a storage means, comprising: a document type selection means for selecting a kind of document to be given a time stamp and saved; The control unit stores the document in a storage destination corresponding to the document type selected by the document type selection unit.

An image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to the first aspect, wherein the control means sets a document name for each document type. Create a file name by combining a character string that can be identified and a serial number,
An image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to a third aspect of the invention is characterized in that in the image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to claim 1, a storage period is specified for each type of document. To do.

According to the image reading apparatus with the time authentication request function of the first aspect of the present invention, an e-document is automatically stored in a storage destination of a desired document by simply pressing a document type selection unit, for example, a specific button. Therefore, it is not necessary to specify the storage destination of the document, and the e-document can be stored efficiently.
According to the image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function of the invention according to claim 2, a file name is created by combining a character string that can identify a document name and a serial number for each document type. Further, it is possible to eliminate the need for manual input. Further, according to the image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function of the invention according to claim 3, since the storage period is specified for each document type, the storage period is manually input. Can eliminate the need to do.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function of the present invention is applied to a digital multi-function peripheral will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of a system including a digital multifunction peripheral, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral.

In the network configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a digital multifunction peripheral, 2, 3, 4... Are personal computers, 5 is a public switched telephone network (PSTN), 6 is a LAN (Local Area Network), 7 is an Internet network, 8 is a TSA. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has copy mode, printer mode, and fax mode functions, and also has a mail transmission function, and is connected to the PSTN 5 and the LAN 6. A plurality of personal computers 2, 3, 4.・ ・ Is connected. The LAN 6 is also connected to the Internet network 7, and the digital multi-function peripheral 1 can send and receive mail via the Internet network 7.
When the TSA 8 receives the hash value of the scan data from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via the Internet network 7, the TSA 8 encrypts the received hash value together with accurate time information using an atomic clock and returns it as a time stamp. It is a proof mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a display / operation unit 14, a reading unit 15, an image memory 16, a recording unit 17, a codec. 18, a modem 19, a network control unit NCU 20, a LAN interface (I / F) 21, and an e-document storage unit 22, which are connected via a bus 23.

  The CPU 11 controls each part of the hardware of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via the bus 23 and executes various programs based on the programs stored in the ROM 12. The ROM 12 performs various programs necessary for the operation of the digital multi-function peripheral. Operation messages are stored in advance. The RAM 13 is composed of an SRAM or the like and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed.

  The display / operation unit 14 includes a display unit that displays an operation state of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and displays operation screens of various functions, and a plurality of keys for operating the digital multi-function peripheral 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 31 includes an LCD display unit 31 constituting a display unit and a number of operation keys. The LCD display unit 31 is provided with a touch panel switch, and by pressing an item part displayed on the LCD display unit 31, a corresponding item can be selected and a function can be executed. As operation keys, a numeric keypad 32, a start key 33, a reset key 34, a stop key 35, a plurality of one-touch dial keys 36, a cross key 37, a return key 38, a set key 39, a FAX switching key 40, a copy switching key 41, Various keys such as a scanner switching key 42 are provided. Note that some or all of these operation keys can be substituted by the LCD display unit 31.

The reading unit 15 includes a reading document placing table such as an auto document feeder (ADF) or a flat bed scanner (FBS), reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data.
The image memory 16 is configured by using a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data or image data read by the reading unit 15, and a recording unit 17 is a printer device such as an electrophotographic system. The received data, the copy original data, or the print data transmitted from the external personal computers 2, 3, 4, etc. are printed out.

  The codec 18 encodes and decodes in accordance with a predetermined protocol. In order to transmit the image data of the read original, the codec 18 is encoded by the MH, MR, or MMR method, and decodes image data received from the outside. Also, encoding and decoding are also performed in correspondence with the TIFF method, which is an image format generally used as a file that can be attached to an e-mail.

The modem 19 is connected to the bus 23 and has a function as a fax modem capable of facsimile communication. The modem 19 is also connected to the NCU 20 connected to the bus 23. The NCU 20 is hardware that closes and opens an analog line, and connects the modem 19 to the PSTN 5 as necessary.
The LAN interface 21 is connected to the LAN 6 and receives signals from the Internet network 7 while transmitting signals and data to the LAN 6 and executes interface processing such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.

  The e-document storage unit 22 is a storage unit that stores e-documents for each document type. As shown in FIG. 4, the e-document management file, books, quotations, minutes, order forms, etc. Each document folder stores a scanned document with a file name that combines a character string that identifies the document name, a date, and a serial number, and a time stamp. As shown in FIG. 5, the management file stores the file name of each e-document, the expiration date of the time stamp, and the storage expiration date of the data.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has the above-described configuration. When transmitting a facsimile, the image data of the original is read by the reading unit 15, compressed by the codec 18, and stored in the image memory 16. The compressed image data is read from the image memory 16, modulated by the modem 19, and transmitted from the NCU 20 to the communication partner through the PSTN 5. At the time of facsimile reception, the received image data is demodulated by the modem 19, stored in the image memory 16, decoded by the codec 18, and printed by the recording unit 17.

On the other hand, this digital multi-function peripheral can scan a document and save it as an e-document as described above, and the operation at the time of e-document scanning will be described below.
When the user instructs e-document scanning on the LCD display unit 31 of the display / operation unit 14, an e-document scan execution screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the LCD display unit 31 of the display / operation unit 14.
This screen displays a screen for selecting a document type for e-document scanning such as book e-document scan, quotation e-document scan, order e-document scan, and the like. After selecting by pressing scan, the digital multifunction device 1 executes e-document scanning by pressing an “execute” button.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 11 when executing e-document scanning. When an e-document scan of any document type is selected by pressing and then the “execute” button is pressed, the CPU 11 in FIG. The e-document scan program shown in the flowchart is started, and it is determined whether or not the user has instructed the book e-document scan (step 101). If it is determined that the user has instructed the book e-document scan, The image data is read by the reading unit 15, compressed by the codec 18, and stored in the image memory 16 (step 102).

Next, after calculating the hash value of the data stored in the image memory 16, the CPU 11 transmits this hash value data to the TSA 8 via the LAN interface 21, the LAN 6, and the Internet network 7 (step 103). After transmitting the hash value data to the TSA 8, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a time stamp has been received from the TSA 8 (step 104). When the time stamp is received from the TSA 8, the book file name is “choubo” + Created by “Date” + “Serial number”, and saves scan data and time stamp in the book folder with the created file name, and stores the file name, time stamp expiration date, e-document storage time limit in the management file (Step 105).
Since the document retention period can be specified for each document type, for example, 10 years for books, 5 years for order forms, etc., the retention period is automatically set according to the creation date of the e-document and the retention period for that type of document. Can be determined.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 101 that the user has not instructed the book e-document scan, the CPU 11 determines whether the user has instructed the estimate e-document scan (step 106). If it is determined that the document e-document scan is instructed, the CPU 11 scans and stores the image data of the document (step 107), and then calculates the hash value of the scan data and transmits it to the TSA 8 as described above. (Step 108). Next, it is determined whether or not a time stamp has been received from TSA 8 (step 109). When a time stamp is received from TSA 8, a file name is created by “mitumori” + “date” + “serial number”. The scan data and time stamp are stored in the estimate folder according to the file name, and the file name, the time stamp expiration date, and the e-document storage time limit are stored in the management file (step 110).

  If it is determined in step 106 that the user has not instructed the e-document scan, the CPU 11 determines whether the user has instructed the order e-document scan (step 111). If it is determined that a purchase order e-document scan has been instructed, the CPU 11 scans and stores the image data of the document (step 112), and then calculates a hash value of the scan data and transmits it to the TSA 8 as described above. (Step 113). Next, it is determined whether or not a time stamp has been received from TSA 8 (step 114). When a time stamp is received from TSA 8, a file name is created by “chuumon” + “date” + “serial number”. The scan data and the time stamp are stored in the purchase order folder according to the file name, and the file name, the time stamp expiration date, and the e-document storage time limit are stored in the management file (step 115).

Furthermore, when it is determined in step 111 that the user has not instructed the order form e-document scan, the CPU 11 executes e-document scan of other documents (step 116).
As described above, since the e-document is automatically stored in the desired document storage location, it is not necessary to input the document storage location, and the e-document can be efficiently stored. For each type of file, a file name is created by combining a character string that can identify the document name and a serial number, so there is no need to enter the file name manually, and a retention period is specified for each document type, Since the storage period is automatically set, there is no need to manually enter the storage period.

In the above-described embodiment, the book e-document scan, the estimate e-document scan, and the like are selected on the display screen of the display / operation unit, but a button for executing each e-document scan is provided. It is also possible to instruct execution of e-document scanning for each document by this button.
In the above embodiment, the file name is created by the character string that can identify the document name, the date, and the serial number. However, the file name may be created by the character string that can identify the document name and the serial number.

It is a figure which shows the network structural example of the system provided with the digital multifunctional device. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral. FIG. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a display / operation part. It is a figure which shows the file structure of the memory | storage part which preserve | saves an e-document. It is an example of the data preserve | saved at a management file. It is an example of an e-document scan execution screen. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action at the time of e-document scan execution.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital MFP 2, 3, 4 PC 5 PSTN
6 LAN
7 Internet network 8 TSA
11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Display / Operation Unit 15 Reading Unit 16 Image Memory 17 Recording Unit 18 Codec 19 Modem 20 NCU
21 LAN I / F
22 e-document storage unit 31 LCD display unit

Claims (3)

An image reading apparatus having a time authentication request function, comprising: an image reading unit that reads a document to generate an image signal; and a control unit that adds a time stamp to the image signal read by the image reading unit and stores the image signal in a storage unit. There,
A document type selection unit that selects a type of document to be stored with a time stamp, and the control unit stores the document in a storage destination corresponding to the document type selected by the document type selection unit; A featured image reading apparatus with time authentication request function. In the image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to claim 1,
An image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function, wherein the control unit creates a file name by combining a character string for identifying a document name and a serial number for each document type. In the image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to claim 1,
An image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function, wherein a retention period is specified for each type of document.

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