JP2007221579A - Document data storing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document data storing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program capable of establishing security in response to a document. <P>SOLUTION: Data from the document are to be read (SP1), information disclosure level about "high" or "low" is to be added to the document data after being set in response to the read document data (SP2 to SP5), then the document data are to be stored accompanied with the set information disclosure level (SP6). The same process is to be performed about all of the document data (SP7). Then the document data and the information disclosure level are to be printed (SP8). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document data storage device, an image forming apparatus, and a program, for example, a document data storage device such as a personal computer with a scanner that reads and stores data from a document, an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier for printing data, and the like Regarding the program.

For example, in general offices, circulation and distribution of copies by electronic copying machines are frequently performed. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-336288, the original document can be easily identified and searched based on the duplicate document, and the latest original document can be duplicated by reflecting the update information of the original document. It describes the document management system that is made available.
JP 2004-336288 A (summary)

  However, some original documents have a high security level. In Patent Document 1, a copy of the latest original document can be easily obtained, but a distributed document can be copied regardless of the user of the copying machine. For this reason, there is a problem that the protection according to the security level of the document cannot be performed and the security is lowered.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is to provide a document data storage device, an image forming apparatus, and a program that can be secured according to a document.

  The present invention is a document data storage device, which is input by an input means for inputting data from a document, a level setting means for setting an information disclosure level to data input by the input means, and an input means Information storage means for storing data together with the information disclosure level set by the level setting means.

  The information disclosure level is a plurality of levels according to the confidentiality of the data, and the level setting means sets the information disclosure level for each page of the document, for each document, or for each number of copies.

  Another aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including the document data storage device and a printing unit that prints document data together with an information disclosure level.

  Another aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that reads a document having an information disclosure level to detect the information disclosure level, a printing unit that prints a document read by the reading unit, and user authority And a control means for controlling to change the printing mode of the printing means based on the user authority and the information disclosure level detected by the detecting means.

  Specifically, the information disclosure level and the user authority include a first information disclosure level and a second information disclosure level that is more confidential than the first information disclosure level. If the user has the second information disclosure level, the user is permitted to print the second information disclosure level document by the printing unit based on the fact that the user authority is the second information disclosure level.

  And further comprising information storage means for storing in advance information related to the second information disclosure level document read by the reading means, wherein the control means has the document having the second information disclosure level, and When the relevant information is stored in the information storage means, based on the fact that the user has the second level authority, the relevant information is allowed to be printed together with the document by the printing means.

  The detection means performs biometric authentication to identify the user.

  Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus, wherein a reading unit that reads a document, a level setting unit that sets an information disclosure level according to the document read by the reading unit, and a reading unit that reads the document. Storage means for storing the document data together with the information disclosure level set by the level setting means, output means for outputting the document data and information disclosure level stored in the storage means, and corresponding to the document data Output control means for determining the information disclosure level and determining whether to output based on the authority of the user.

  Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention is a program, wherein a computer connected to a printer has an input means for inputting an information disclosure level of the data together with the data, and information disclosure together with the data input from the input means. Based on the printing means for causing the printer to print the level, the detecting means for detecting the authority of the user, the user authority detected by the detecting means, and the information disclosure level input from the input means, the printing mode of the printer is changed. It is made to function as a control means for controlling to change.

  According to the present invention, when storing document data or forming an image, the information disclosure level corresponding to the document is set, or whether the user satisfies the information disclosure level is detected. Therefore, document security can be achieved based on the information disclosure level.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a copying machine as an example of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention. However, the image forming apparatus 1 may be applied to a combination of a scanner and a personal computer as a document storage device.

  In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU 2. The CPU 2 includes a reading unit 3 that operates as an input unit and a reading unit, an operation unit 4, a display unit 5, and a printing unit that operates as a printing unit and an output unit. 6 and an HDD (Hard Disk) 7 as information storage means are connected, and these are controlled by the CPU 2. The CPU 2 operates as control means, detection means, and output control means. The reading unit 3 reads a document with an image sensor or the like and outputs read data to the HDD 7. The operation unit 4 configures level setting means for setting the number of copies to be printed, the paper size, and the like, and setting the information disclosure level to “high”, “low”, or “none” in response to a user request.

  The information disclosure level is set in order to maintain the security of the read data of the document. That is, if the security level is high, the user sets “high” as the second information disclosure level, and if the security level is low, the user sets “low” as the first information disclosure level, and security is not considered. For a good document, select “None”.

  The information disclosure level may be set for each page, each document, or each copy. For example, if there is a document with a plurality of pages, and if the first one is a summary description and the security level is low, “low” is set, and the second and subsequent pages are detailed explanations with a security level. If it is high, “high” can be set. Further, the information disclosure level may be set in more than three levels other than “high” and “low”.

  The display unit 5 displays the number of copies to be printed and the selected paper size, but may display an information disclosure level. The printing unit 6 performs printing based on the read data of the document read by the reading unit 3. The HDD 7 stores the read data read by the reading unit 3 corresponding to the set information disclosure level.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a document data reading operation.

  The user sets the document in the reading unit 3 when copying the document. The CPU 2 causes the reading unit 3 to read the set document at a step SP1 (abbreviated as SP in the drawing) shown in FIG.

  In step SP2, the CPU 2 inquires of the user via the display section 5 whether or not to set the information disclosure level. On the other hand, the user determines whether or not to set the security level of the read document. The operation unit 4 may be set to any one of “high”, “low”, and “none” in order to set the information disclosure level. In step SP3, the CPU 2 determines whether or not “high” is set as the information disclosure level. If “high” is selected, for example, an X code is added to the document data read in step SP4 to specify that the information disclosure level is high, and the process proceeds to step SP6.

  If it is determined in step SP2 that the information disclosure level has not been set, the process proceeds to step SP6 without adding the information disclosure level to the read data. In step SP6, the read document data is stored in the HDD 7.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of document reading data and information disclosure level stored in the HDD 7 by the document reading operation shown in FIG.

  Here, an example will be described in which a document in which sales information at each sales office A, B, C. It is assumed that the read document data includes sales information, and the sales information includes summary information and detailed information of the sales information. The user sets the information disclosure level of the summary information to “low” and sets the information disclosure level of the detailed information to “high”. In FIG. 3, the read data is shown in a table for easy understanding.

  As shown in FIG. 3, summary information 71 is stored corresponding to sales office A, and a code “Y” indicating that the security level is “low” is stored as information disclosure level 72. Further, detailed information 73 is stored corresponding to the sales office A, and a code “X” indicating that the security level is “high” is stored as the information disclosure level 74. A code is not stored for a document for which an information disclosure level is not set. Similarly, summary information 71 and information disclosure level 72, detailed information 73 and information disclosure level 74 are sequentially stored for each of the sales offices B, C.

  In step SP7, it is determined whether or not the reading of the document is completed. If the reading has not been completed, the process returns to step SP1 to read the next document on which sales information of the sales office B, for example, is written.

  If necessary, in step SP8, the read document data may be printed on a sheet, and the added information disclosure level may be printed on the same sheet invisible so that a third party cannot recognize it. In order to print invisible, for example, a digital watermark can be used. If there is no problem even if the third party can see the information disclosure level, for example, it may be printed with visually observable information such as a barcode. In this way, it is possible to sequentially read the document data set by the user in the reading unit 3, store the information disclosure level in the HDD 7 together with the read data, and print it.

  As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a document is read, if the security level of the document is high, “high” is set as the information disclosure level, and if it is low, “low” is set as the information disclosure level. The information disclosure level can be stored in the HDD 7 together with the read data. Thereby, it is possible to protect the security of the read document data.

  Next, the operation in the case of copying a printed document at the information disclosure level as described above will be described. When copying a document on which the information disclosure level is printed together with the read data, copying is permitted according to the authority of the user. Whether or not the user has “high” authority is determined, for example, by authenticating a password.

  For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 4, the HDD 7 stores data including a password and authority corresponding to each user. Here, the user authority corresponds to the information disclosure level of the document, and the user authority to permit copying of all documents having information disclosure levels of “high”, “low”, and “none” is “ This corresponds to “high”, and the authority of the user who permits the copying of only documents whose information disclosure levels are “low” and “none” corresponds to “low”. Furthermore, a user who permits copying of only a document whose information disclosure level is “none” corresponds to “none”.

  The HDD 7 stores data 75 including, for example, a password corresponding to the user “a” and authority X for specifying that the user “a” has “high” authority. Data 76 including the password corresponding to the user b and the authority Y for specifying that the user b has the “low” authority is stored in the HDD 7. Data 77 including a password corresponding to user c and authority Y for specifying that user c has “low” authority is stored in HDD 7. Data 78 including the password corresponding to the user d and the authority Z for specifying that the user d does not have the authority to copy is stored in the HDD 7.

  Next, a specific example of copying a printed document at the information disclosure level will be described. The reading unit 3 reads the document and authenticates the password input by the user. The read document data includes, for example, the outline information 71 of the sales office A shown in FIG. 3 and the code “Y” indicating “low” as the information disclosure level 72, as well as the detailed information 73 and the information disclosure level 74. It is assumed that a code “X” indicating “high” is included.

  The information disclosure level is detected from the read document data. The information disclosure level may be detected by, for example, pattern matching between a read information disclosure level pattern and a previously stored pattern.

  If the authenticated user has “high” authority, the printing unit 6 is allowed to print the summary information 71 and the detailed information 73. However, if the authenticated user has only “low” authority, only printing of the summary information 71 is permitted, and printing of the detailed information 73 is not permitted. If the authority of the authenticated user is “none”, printing of the summary information 71 and the detailed information 73 is not permitted.

  Accordingly, since the summary information 71 and the detailed information 73 are given the authority to print only to users who have the corresponding authority, it is possible to protect the security of the document.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU 2 in another example of reading and copying a document to which an information disclosure level is added.

  In the above-described embodiment, the outline information 71 and the detailed information 73 are read from the document. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the detailed information 73 with the information disclosure level 74 shown in FIG. It is assumed that only the summary information 71 is included in the read document data stored in the HDD 7, for example. Note that, for example, a predetermined code is attached to each of the summary information 71 and the detailed information 73 so that the correspondence between them is clear.

  The user sets a document to which the information disclosure level is added in the reading unit 3 and then inputs, for example, a password from the operation unit 4. In step SP11, the reading unit 3 reads the set document, and the CPU 2 detects whether the information disclosure level is included based on the read data.

  When the information disclosure level is detected, in step SP12, it is determined whether or not a password that matches the password input by the user is stored in the HDD 7, thereby performing authentication and confirming the user. In addition, instead of the password, each user's fingerprint may be registered in advance, and when the user copies a document, biometric authentication such as fingerprint authentication for authenticating whether the user's fingerprint is registered may be used. .

  In step SP13, based on the determined password, the information disclosure level corresponding to the user of the password is determined. If it is determined in step SP14 that the authenticated user is a user having “high” authority, it is determined whether or not the detailed information 73 is printed in step SP15. It is confirmed that the detailed information 73 is stored in the HDD 7 corresponding to the read summary information 71 at this time. When it is determined that the detailed information 73 is to be printed, printing of both the summary information 71 and the detailed information 73 by the printing unit 6 is permitted in step SP16. If it is determined in step SP15 that the detailed information 73 is not printed, printing of only the summary information 71 is permitted.

  If it is determined in step SP14 that the user who has authenticated the password does not have “high” authority, it is determined in step SP18 whether or not the user has normal authority. If authorized, printing of only the summary information 71 included in the read document data is permitted in step SP17. If the user does not have normal authority, no printing is permitted in step SP19.

  Similarly, when the information disclosure level is not detected in step SP11, printing of only the summary information 71 included in the read document data is permitted in step SP17.

  As described above, the user having the authority “X” can copy not only the summary information 71 included in the read document data but also all the documents including the detailed information 73 stored in advance in the HDD 7. . A user having the authority “Y” can copy a read document having information disclosure levels of “low” and “none”. A user who does not have any authority can copy only a document for which neither “high” nor “low” information disclosure levels are set.

  As described above, a document with a high security level is detected by detecting the information disclosure level when reading a printed document and giving permission to copy only the “high” authority data for the data detected as “high”. Can be prevented from being copied without permission, so confidentiality can be maintained.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus has been described. However, in a system having a personal computer and a printer, when data is output from the personal computer, the information disclosure level of the data is set. Printing may be restricted by a printer for outputting data with an information disclosure level having a high security level.

  Further, the present invention may be constituted by a program for operating a computer connected to a printer.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a document data reading operation. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of document read data and information disclosure levels stored in the HDD by the document data read operation illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the data containing the password and authority corresponding to each user stored in HDD. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a document reading operation.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus, 2 CPU, 3 reading part, 4 operation part, 5 display part, 6 printing part, 7 HDD.

Claims (11)

An input means for inputting data from the document;
Level setting means for setting an information disclosure level in the data input by the input means;
A document data storage device comprising: information storage means for storing data input by the input means together with an information disclosure level set by the level setting means.   The document data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the information disclosure level is a plurality of levels according to confidentiality of the data.   The document data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the level setting unit sets the information disclosure level for each page, each document, or each copy of the document. The document data storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An image forming apparatus comprising printing means for printing the document data together with the information disclosure level.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the printing unit prints the information disclosure level invisible. Reading means for reading a document having an information disclosure level and detecting the information disclosure level;
Printing means for printing a document read by the reading means;
A detecting means for detecting the authority of the user;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls to change a printing mode of the printing unit based on a user authority detected by the detection unit and an information disclosure level read by the reading unit. The information disclosure level and the authority of the user include a first information disclosure level and a second information disclosure level that is more confidential than the first information disclosure level,
The control unit permits the printing of the second information disclosure level document by the printing unit based on the fact that the user has the authority of the second information disclosure level. The image forming apparatus described in 1. And further comprising information storage means for storing in advance information related to the second information disclosure level document read by the reading means,
The control means has the second level authority when the document has the second information disclosure level and the related information is stored in the information storage means. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image forming apparatus permits the related information to be printed together with the document by the printing unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detection unit performs biometric authentication in order to detect the authority of the user. An input means for inputting the information disclosure level of the data together with the data;
Printing means for printing the information disclosure level input together with the data input from the input means;
A detecting means for detecting the authority of the user;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control the printing mode of the printing unit based on a user authority detected by the detection unit and an information disclosure level input from the input unit. Connect the computer connected to the printer
An input means for inputting the information disclosure level of the data together with the data;
Printing means for causing the printer to print an information disclosure level together with data input from the input means;
A detecting means for detecting the authority of the user;
A program for functioning as a control unit that controls to change the printing mode of the printer based on the authority of the user detected by the detection unit and the information disclosure level input from the input unit.

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