JP2007312087A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which alleviates a risk of making an outsider unjustly peruse image data stored in it by authenticating him/her with a password etc, and judging whether he/she is authorized to peruse the image data when he/she wants to read through a display unit. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device is equipped with, at least, a facsimile communication function, and a Web server function which makes the image data acquired by reading open to external devices through it. The image forming device informs the transmitting destination of the image data of the acquisition URL of the image data that are set open to the public by the Web server function. When the image forming device receives an acquisition request for the image data of the acquisition URL, the image forming device performs an authentication operation, which contains one or more authentication items previously set for the transmission destination corresponding to the acquisition URL, on the acquisition request source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function and a Web server function for releasing image data obtained by reading to an external device via a Web server function.

  Generally, there are types of facsimile machines that can transmit and receive only monochrome images and types that can also transmit and receive color images. When a color image is to be transmitted to a facsimile machine that can only receive a monochrome image, it cannot be transmitted or is converted into a monochrome image and transmitted.

  However, on the receiving side, it cannot be received in the case of a color document, or if it is meaningful to receive it in color, it may be meaningless to receive it in monochrome.

  In addition, a color-compatible device may not be introduced because it costs more than a device that can handle only monochrome.

Therefore, the accumulated color original image is disclosed by the Web server function, and the user can check the content of the original in color even if the user has only a device capable of receiving only a monochrome image by referring to the Web browser via the network. An image forming apparatus has been devised that makes it possible.
JP 2003-69837 A

  However, there is a possibility that the network is connected from all over the world, and there is a possibility that a malicious person browses an image by unauthorized means in order to steal information.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and when browsing an image, it is possible to reduce the risk of unauthorized browsing by an external device by authenticating with a password or the like and determining whether or not browsing is possible. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function and a Web server function for publishing image data obtained by reading to an external device via a Web server function. When notifying the acquisition URL of the image data to be released by the function and receiving the acquisition request of the image data to the acquisition URL, one or more authentication items set in advance are set in the transmission destination corresponding to the acquisition URL. The applied authentication operation is performed for the acquisition request source.

  The notification of the acquisition request URL uses the facsimile communication function.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to set a plurality of items necessary for authentication such as passwords when browsing images from the network, so that the possibility of illegally browsing images from the outside is reduced, and safety is increased. The effect of improving.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a network compatible facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This network-compatible facsimile apparatus has a group 3 facsimile communication function performed using the public network PSTN, and a Web service (for example, a service such as publishing stored image data) to other terminals via the network. Web server function for providing a function).

  In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each part of this network facsimile apparatus, a Web server function process, and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The control processing program executed by the unit 1 and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and the work area of the system control unit 1 is configured. The parameter memory 3 is a network facsimile. This is for storing various kinds of information unique to the device, and the clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.

  The color scanner 5 is for reading an original image in color at a predetermined resolution and color resolution, and the color plotter 6 is for full-color printing or monochrome printing of the image at a predetermined resolution. Is for operating this network facsimile apparatus and comprises various operation keys and various displays.

  The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The magnetic disk device 9 is encoded and compressed. This is for storing the image information in the selected state and other appropriate data files.

  The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing the modem function of the group 3 facsimile, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals and mainly for exchanging image information. A high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.) is provided.

  The network control device 11 is for connecting the network facsimile apparatus to the analog public line network PSTN and has an automatic outgoing / incoming function.

  The network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the network facsimile apparatus to an appropriate network (not shown), and the network transmission control unit 13 performs various operations with other data terminal apparatuses via the local area network LAN. This is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging data.

  The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, color scanner 5, color plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, magnetic disk unit 9, and group 3 facsimile modem 10 The network control device 11 and the network transmission control unit 13 are connected to an internal bus 14, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 14.

  Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is performed directly.

  The network compatible facsimile apparatus is provided with an address book function, and the address book function refers to address book information as shown in FIG.

  This address book information includes a plurality of address information, and each address information includes a user number for identifying each destination user, a registered facsimile number, and a registered address as shown in FIG. It has color image reception capability information for storing a destination user name and whether or not the destination terminal can receive a color image.

  In this network-compatible facsimile apparatus, when the facsimile image is transmitted, if the read image data is a color image and the designated transmission destination does not have a color image reception capability, the web server function is used. The transmission destination of the image data stored in the magnetic disk device 9 can be acquired via the network.

  For this purpose, access to image data stored in the magnetic disk device 9 is managed by document management information as shown in FIG. This document management information includes a document number uniquely assigned to each image data, a transmission time indicating a time when the transmission of the image data is instructed, and a destination indicating a destination instructed as a transmission destination of the image data. It has information and a registered password. Here, as the address information, when the address book function is used, the user number of the specified address information is registered, and when the address book information is not used, the facsimile number directly input (manual input) Is registered.

  Further, the image data stored in the magnetic disk device 9 is managed as stored image information to which a document number is assigned, as shown in FIG.

  Also, in this embodiment, when image data can be acquired by the Web server function, only when a user (or terminal) that has requested acquisition of image data is requested to authenticate and the authentication is broken. The image data requested to be acquired is transmitted.

  For the authentication, an authentication item registration table as shown in FIG. 3 is referred to. This authentication item registration table registers one or more authentication items for each destination (manual input destination, user number of address information registered in address book information).

  Authentication items include the document number assigned to the image data requested to be acquired, the facsimile number of the facsimile machine used by the user who requested the income, and the transmission time.

  FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are created for the authentication request by the Web server function when the authentication items are “document number”, “facsimile number”, and “calling time”, respectively. An example of an authentication screen to be displayed is shown.

  With the above configuration, the network compatible facsimile apparatus performs the operation shown in FIG. 5 when transmitting image information.

  First, an original image is set on the color scanner 5, and the original image is read in a designated reading mode (including color reading and monochrome reading) (processing 101), and the image data obtained thereby is encoded / decoded unit 8 Are encoded and compressed and stored in the magnetic disk device 9 (process 102). At this time, image information is stored in the temporary area of the magnetic disk device 9.

  Next, a destination selection operation by the user is performed (process 103). In this destination selection operation, the user uses the address book function of the network compatible facsimile apparatus, or directly inputs the facsimile number by manual input using the numeric keypad (not shown) of the operation display unit 7 or the like.

  Here, it is checked whether the color reading mode is set at the time of image reading and the color image is read (decision 104). When the result of determination 104 is YES, it is checked whether or not the destination can receive a color image (determination 105). In this determination 105, when the address book function is used for destination selection, the address information of the user number operated at that time is referred to and the content of the color image reception capability information is examined. In the case of manual input, it is assumed that there is no color image reception capability.

  When the result of determination 105 is NO, the image information stored at that time is handled as image data to be released using the Web server function and stored as stored image information of the magnetic disk device 9 (processing 106). At this time, the image data format can be converted into JPG or the like that can be processed by a Web browser using the Web server function.

  Next, an image acquisition URL to be referred to when earning the stored image data is created, a notification document for notifying the destination of the image acquisition URL is created, and the notification document is converted into facsimile image information (processing 107). . The image acquisition URL includes at least the storage location of the stored image data, such as the host name set in the Web server function, and the document number of the image data.

  Here, as the notification document of the image acquisition URL, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a document to which a destination, a guide sentence, an image acquisition URL, a transmission time, and a machine name set in the own terminal are added is applied. can do.

  In the figure, the contents surrounded by “<” and “>” indicate that the contents of the described items are arranged. For example, in “”, a “destination user name” registered in the address information or a facsimile number manually input by the user when the destination is selected is arranged. In addition, “” indicates the value of the image acquisition URL created in the process 107. In addition, “” is the time at the time of execution in the process 107 (this is “transmission time”). In addition, in “<machine name>”, a value of a machine name registered in the network compatible facsimile apparatus is arranged.

  Next, the network compatible facsimile machine makes a call using the network control device 11 to the destination selected in the process 103 (process 108), applies a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure, and creates a notification document created in the process 107. The image information is transmitted (process 109). When the transmission is finished, the line is restored (process 110), and the operation at this time is finished.

  Further, when the transmission image information is not a color image and the result of determination 104 is NO, and when the transmission image information is a color image but the counterpart terminal has color image reception capability, When the result is YES, the network control device 11 is called to the destination selected in the process 103 (process 111), the predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is applied, and the image information accumulated in the process 102 is displayed. Transmit (process 112). When the transmission is finished, the line is restored (process 113), and the operation at this time is finished.

  Now, the user of the partner terminal that has received the image acquisition URL notification document from the network compatible facsimile device, for example, uses a personal computer device or the like to start a Web browser and specify the URL described in the image acquisition URL notification document. To do.

  Thereby, the Web browser makes a connection request to the specified URL. In this case, a connection request is made to the Web server function of the network compatible facsimile apparatus.

  As a result, the Web server function of the network compatible facsimile apparatus performs processing as shown in FIG.

  First, when an image acquisition URL is received from an acquisition request source (“user who made a connection request to the Web server function of a network compatible facsimile apparatus”; the same applies hereinafter) (process 201), the document number of the image data corresponding to the URL is set. Obtaining (process 202), referring to the document management information, the destination is judged (process 203).

  Next, with respect to the destination determined in the process 203, all authentication items registered in the destination are set with reference to the authentication item registration table (process 204).

  Next, one of the one or more authentication items set in process 204 is selected (process 205), and an authentication screen (see FIGS. 4A to 4C) corresponding to the authentication item is created. The authentication screen is transmitted to the acquisition request source (process 206).

  Then, it is checked whether authentication information is received from the acquisition request source (decision 207). When the result of determination 207 is YES, an authentication operation corresponding to the authentication item selected at that time is performed using the received authentication information (processing 208). For example, when “document number” is selected as the authentication item, the document number is received as the authentication information. Therefore, the document number is extracted from the document management information corresponding to the document number acquired in the process 202 at that time. Compare with the received document number. Similar comparison processing is performed when the authentication item is a facsimile number and when the authentication item is a transmission number.

  When the authentication has passed through the processing 208 (the result of the determination 209 is YES), it is checked whether the processing has been completed for all the authentication items set in the processing 204 (the determination 210), and the result of the determination 210 is NO. If so, the process returns to the process 205 to perform the authentication operation for the remaining authentication items.

  Further, when the authentication for all the authentication items has passed and the result of determination 210 is YES, the image data corresponding to the document number acquired in the process 202 at that time is transmitted to the acquisition request source ( Process 211), and the operation at this time is terminated.

  Also, when the authentication of any authentication item cannot be broken and the result of determination 209 is NO, and when the authentication information for any authentication screen cannot be received and the result of determination 207 is NO The authentication request is notified to the acquisition request source (process 212), and the operation at this time is terminated. That is, in this case, the requested image data is not transmitted.

  In this way, in this embodiment, since a plurality of items necessary for authentication such as passwords when browsing images from the network can be set, the possibility of illegally browsing images from the outside decreases. Safety is improved.

  In addition, it is possible to change the authentication effort depending on the degree of trust by changing the authentication items depending on the destination, such as the destination registered in the address book or the fax number entered manually, so that it can be trusted Can reduce the time and effort of authentication, which improves convenience.

  In addition, since the information is described in the received fax document or the information of the recipient of the fax is used as an authentication item, a person who passes these authentications is highly likely to have received the fax. Therefore, since the possibility that a person other than the fax recipient browses is reduced, security is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the network compatible facsimile apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, but the present invention can be similarly applied to any apparatus having an equivalent function.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of a network compatible facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram showing an example of address book information, address information, document management information, and stored image information. Schematic which showed an example of the authentication item registration table. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an authentication screen created by the Web server function for an authentication request when authentication items are “document number”, “facsimile number”, and “calling time”. The flowchart which showed an example of the process at the time of image transmission. Schematic which showed an example of the notification document of image acquisition URL. The flowchart which showed an example of the process of a web server function.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System control part 2 System memory 3 Parameter memory 5 Color scanner 9 Magnetic disk apparatus

Claims (2)

In an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function and a Web server function for publishing image data obtained by reading to an external device via the Web server function,
Notifying the transmission destination of the image data of the acquisition URL of the image data to be released by the Web server function,
When an image data acquisition request for the acquisition URL is received, an authentication operation in which one or more preset authentication items are applied to a transmission destination corresponding to the acquisition URL is performed on the acquisition request source. An image forming apparatus that is a feature.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification of the acquisition request URL uses the facsimile communication function.