JP2008217073A - Verification management device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure safety in the case of use authentication by preliminarily preventing the trail of illegal use by a third person. <P>SOLUTION: This authentication management device is provided with an input means 31 for inputting authentication information; an authentication means 14 for, each time the authentication information is input by the input means 31, performing user authentication by collating the input authentication information with preliminarily registered authentication information; a notification means 32 for notifying the pertinent user destination of information relating to the user authentication; and a control means 14. When the authentication information is input by the input means 31, the control means 14 makes the notification means notify the pertinent user designation that user authentication is performed based on the authentication information with the user authentication result through electronic mail. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an authentication management apparatus that enhances security during user authentication via a key input operation on a panel, and an image forming apparatus equipped with such an authentication management apparatus.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus including a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a complex machine of these, authentication management for authenticating whether or not a user who intends to use the apparatus has a valid use authority There are those equipped with devices. As such an authentication management device, there is known a device that permits use of the device only for a user who possesses a user-registered card key (see Patent Document 1). In addition, there are those that require the user to input authentication information such as a personal identification number, verify the input authentication information with the registered contents of the management device, and permit the use of the device only when both match. Are known.

  However, in the latter case of user authentication based on verification of authentication information, it is difficult to find and deter such unauthorized use attempts by a third party when it is attempted by a third party. There was a lack of hope.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-161111

  The problem to be solved is that in the user authentication based on the authentication information, when an unauthorized use attempt by a third party is made, it is difficult to find and deter the unauthorized use attempt by the third party.

  The present invention is an authentication management apparatus for performing user authentication using authentication information for the purpose of preventing unauthorized use by a third party and ensuring safety during user authentication. An authentication unit for performing user authentication by comparing the input authentication information with a pre-registered authentication information each time authentication information is input by the input unit; Notification means for notifying information related to authentication, and the corresponding user together with the result of user authentication in the authentication means that the user authentication by the authentication information is performed when the authentication information is input by the input means The main feature is that it comprises control means for performing control to be notified via the notification means.

  An authentication management apparatus according to the present invention is an authentication management apparatus that performs user authentication based on authentication information. An input unit for inputting authentication information, and the authentication information input each time authentication information is input by the input unit. Authentication means and authentication means for performing user authentication by comparing previously registered authentication information, notification means for notifying information related to user authentication, and control means, When the authentication information is input by the input unit, the control unit notifies the corresponding user to the corresponding user together with the result of the user authentication by the authentication unit via the notification unit when the authentication information is input. Therefore, the fact that the user authentication based on the authentication information is performed is notified to the user himself / herself through a notification means such as an email message or a fax together with the user authentication result, By Les, when there is attempt unauthorized use by third parties, which as a result it is possible to perceive immediately the user side, it is possible to secure the safety during user authentication.

  Even when an unauthorized use is attempted by a third party, when authentication information is input by the input means for the purpose of ensuring safety at the time of user authentication, user authentication by authentication information is performed. This is realized by the control means for notifying the corresponding user via the notification means together with the user authentication result in the authentication means.

  Hereinafter, an authentication management apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, as an example of the authentication management apparatus according to the present invention, an example in which the apparatus is incorporated in an image forming apparatus will be described.

[Image forming apparatus equipped with authentication management apparatus]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with an authentication management apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 shows an operation panel unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 equipped with an authentication management apparatus according to the present invention is set on a platen glass (not shown) or image data of a document sent from a document feeder 4. Is read by the scanner unit 5, and the read image data is photoelectrically converted and sent to the image forming unit 6. The image forming unit 6 corresponds to the operation unit 3 (the “input unit” of the present invention) on the recording material (copy paper, OHP film, etc.) supplied from the paper feed trays 7 and 8 or the duplex printing unit 10. .)) And a print function based on the received image data.

  Next, the image forming apparatus 1 sends the printed recording material to the post-processing device 2, performs post-processing including punching and stapling on the recording material in the post-processing device 2, and then performs the post-processing. The recording material is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 12 of the recording material discharge unit 11. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 can discharge the printed recording material onto the paper discharge tray 12 of the recording material discharge unit 11 through the bypass conveyance path 13 without performing post-processing.

  Next, the functional members constituting the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 14 (of the present invention) including a microcomputer and a dedicated hardware circuit. It corresponds to “authentication means” and “control means”). When the user identification information and the personal identification number (corresponding to “authentication information” of the present invention) are input via the operation unit 3, the control unit 14 performs user authentication using authentication information such as user identification information. The user authentication result is notified to the corresponding user via a mail message. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 5, an engine unit 16, a hard disk 17, an operation unit 3, and a printer controller 18 as input / output devices connected to the control unit 14 via an interface 15 and performing various functions. Of these, a post-processing unit 20 is connected to the engine unit 16 via an interface 15. The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the network 22 via the LAN connection board 21 and communicates data or mail messages with the other personal computer 23 or the printer 24 controlled by the personal computer 23 via the network 22. Has the function of transmitting and receiving.

  Of the components of the image forming apparatus 1, the scanner unit 5 includes a document feeding device 4 and a scanner (image reading unit) 5 a, and the document fed to the scanner 5 a by the document feeding device 4 is read by the image reading CCD 25. The image data read by the image reading CCD 25 is photoelectrically converted and transmitted to the memory copy unit 26 of the control unit 14.

  Further, the control unit 14 includes a memory copy unit 26 capable of storing / reading image data, a CPU 27, and an internal memory such as a ROM / RAM (corresponding to “user authentication history storage unit” of the present invention) 28. have. The control unit 14 takes in the image data sent from the scanner unit 5 or the external printer controller 18 to the memory copy unit 26, and the image data is transferred from the memory copy unit 26 to the laser scanning unit (hard disk 17 or engine unit 14). LSU) 30 is sent out. The control unit 14 can read the image data stored in the hard disk 17 to the memory copy unit 26 and send the image data of the memory copy unit 26 to the engine unit 14.

  The engine unit 14 includes various devices necessary for forming an image on a recording material (for example, an LSU 30, a photoreceptor (not shown), a charger, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, a cleaning mechanism, Sheet feeding / conveying device, etc.), an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member by the LSU 30, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member is visualized with toner supplied from a developing device. After the toner image on the body is transferred to the recording material by the transfer device, the toner image of the recording material is fixed by the fixing device.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 3 displays a key input unit 31 for inputting various character codes including characters, graphics and symbols, a history including success / failure of user authentication, various job processing modes, A liquid crystal display unit (corresponding to “notification means” of the present invention) 32 for displaying various data and an LED display unit 33 for emitting and displaying operation buttons and the like are provided. When the operation unit 3 is operated by the user, key input of a user identification number and a personal identification number (authentication information), selection of a mode setting, the number of copies, and the like in a copy job are performed.

  In the post-processing apparatus 2, a recording material introduction port 34 is connected to a paper discharge port 35 of the image forming apparatus main body 1a, and a punch unit 36 for punching a printed recording material and a printed recording material are provided. And a post-processing section (stapler unit) 20 for stapling. In the case of stapling, the post-processing apparatus 2 guides the recording material from the leading end side in the transport direction to the branch path 37 after the recording material introduced from the recording material introduction port 34 passes through the punch unit 36, and It is placed in a state of being positioned on the intermediate tray 38 of the post-processing unit 20. When a predetermined number of recording materials are stored on the intermediate tray 38, the end portions of the plurality of recording materials are stapled by the post-processing unit 20. Thereafter, the stapled recording material is discharged from the intermediate tray 38 to the paper discharge tray 12 of the recording material discharge portion 11 through the recording material discharge port 40. Note that the recording material discharge unit 11 has a function of moving the plurality of paper discharge trays 12, 12,.

[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus equipped with the authentication management apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the operation when the image forming apparatus 1 is in the panel authentication mode that requires the user to perform a key input operation of authentication information, and FIG. 5 shows an example of the panel authentication history held by the image forming apparatus 1. .

  Prior to the description of this operation, the presupposed configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a card key authentication mode that permits use of the apparatus through data exchange related to authentication information with a card key (not shown) such as an IC tag possessed by the user, user identification information, and a personal identification number ( There are two panel authentication modes that permit the use of the device by requesting the user to perform a key input operation of (authentication information), and in principle, it operates in the card key authentication mode. However, a panel authentication mode is provided as an exceptional process for convenience when the user forgets to have a card key. In the following embodiment, the panel authentication mode is an exceptional process. The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  When the user performs a key input operation of user identification information and a personal identification number (authentication information) via the operation unit 3 (step S11), the control unit 14 stores the input user identification information and the like in advance in the internal memory 28. By verifying registered user identification information and the like, user authentication is performed to determine whether the user who has accessed through panel authentication is a regular user. At the time of this user authentication, the control unit 14 counts the number of input times of user identification information or the like until the authentication is successful within a predetermined time such as 3 minutes. When this count number (number of erroneous inputs by the user) is within a predetermined number of times, for example, within 3 times, the control unit 14 regards the user who has accessed this time as a regular user (steps S12 to S13), The authentication history is stored in the internal memory 28 (step S14). As the authentication history for each user, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the panel authentication date and time, the job contents at that time (if the job is a copy, whether the copy mode is black and white or color, and the paper size is A4 or A3 ?, The number of copies?) Is stored in the internal memory 28 in association with the user name “ABC”. In addition, in the case of successful authentication, the number of key inputs until the authentication succeeds and the contents of the input, and in the case of authentication failure, the key input contents until the authentication failure are displayed. The name may be stored in the internal memory 28 in association with the name. Furthermore, the authentication history in the card key authentication mode may be stored in the internal memory 28 in association with the user name. Here, the user authentication process in steps S11 to S13 is repeatedly executed until the above-described count number reaches a predetermined number.

  Next, the control unit 14 performs control to notify that the user authentication by the panel authentication is performed on the liquid crystal display unit 32 together with the user authentication result in steps S11 to S13 (step S15). As the notification mode, for example, a message such as “Panel authentication mode” may be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 32, or a voice message such as “Panel authentication mode” may be employed. The LED indicating that it is in use in the panel authentication mode may be turned on, or a combination of two or more of these may be employed. With such a notification mode, the fact that the image forming apparatus 1 is being used in the panel authentication mode is notified to the user himself / herself and others existing around the apparatus together with the user authentication result. Therefore, as a result of the public knowledge that the exceptional device 1 is being used, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use by a third party.

  After the notification process in step S15, the control unit 14 performs control for notifying the user that the device 1 has been used by panel authentication and the authentication history data to the corresponding user via a communication means such as a mail message or a fax. This is performed (step S16). As a result, the corresponding user can immediately detect that unauthorized use has been performed.

  By the way, as a result of the user authentication process in step S12, when the count number (number of erroneous inputs by the user) exceeds a predetermined number such as 3 times, the control unit 14 considers that the user who has accessed this time is not a regular user. The current authentication history is stored in the internal memory 28 (step S17). Specifically, the control unit 14 stores the key input content up to the authentication failure in the internal memory 28 in association with the user name.

  Next, the control unit 14 performs control to notify that the panel authentication has failed by displaying it on the liquid crystal display unit 32 (step S18). For example, a message such as “Panel authentication failed” or a voice message such as “Panel authentication failed” may be used as the notification mode. Or a combination of these may be employed. By such a notification mode, the fact that the panel authentication of the image forming apparatus 1 has failed is notified to the user himself / herself and others existing around the apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use by a third party as a result of public knowledge that an attempt has been made to use the exceptional device 1 but it has failed.

  After the notification process in step S18, the control unit 14 performs control to notify the corresponding user that the use of the device 1 by panel authentication has been attempted but has failed and the authentication history data to the corresponding user, for example, via a mail message. This is performed (step S16). As a result, the corresponding user can immediately detect that an unauthorized use attempt has been made. As soon as we know the occurrence of such a situation, by taking measures such as changing the PIN, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use by a third party in advance. It will be possible to improve dramatically.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 equipped with the authentication management apparatus according to the present invention, the fact that the user authentication based on the authentication information is performed is sent to the corresponding user along with the user authentication result along with the mail message. As a result of being notified via an informing means such as a fax machine or the like, and thereby making it possible to immediately detect an unauthorized use attempt by a third party, safety at the time of user authentication can be ensured.

[Others]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit or technical idea of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and authentication management accompanying such changes. The apparatus and the image forming apparatus are also included in the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

  That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, as the authentication history for each user, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the panel authentication date and time, the job details at that time (if the job is a copy, whether the copy mode is black and white or color, Is A4 or A3 ?, the number of copies?), Or information related to the success or failure of authentication has been described as an example of storing in the internal memory 28 in association with the user name “ABC”. The following can be illustrated as usage modes of the authentication history. First, the panel authentication history of the corresponding user is determined at a predetermined timing, specifically, in response to a user's browsing request or at a preset interval (for example, once a week). A usage mode that enables browsing is conceivable. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to detect an unauthorized use attempt by a third party at an early stage by periodically browsing the corresponding authentication history through browsing means such as the liquid crystal display unit 32. . Secondly, every use of panel authentication, a usage mode in which the panel authentication history of the corresponding user is notified by being displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 32 can be considered. By adopting such a configuration, every time panel authentication is attempted, it is possible to avoid unauthorized use attempts by a third party as a result of alerting the user and others around him. Become.

  Finally, in the embodiment of the present invention, the authentication management apparatus according to the present invention has been described as being incorporated and applied to an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and for example, information processing Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to any electronic device that requires safety, such as a device.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with an authentication management apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the operation panel part of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart when the image forming apparatus is in a panel authentication mode in which a key input operation for authentication information is requested from a user. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a panel authentication history held by the image forming apparatus. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 14 Control unit (authentication unit and control unit)
28 Internal memory (user authentication history storage means)
31 Key input part (input means)
32 Liquid crystal display (viewing means)

Claims (7)

An authentication management device that performs user authentication based on authentication information,
An input means for inputting authentication information;
Each time authentication information is input by the input means, an authentication means for performing user authentication by comparing the input authentication information with previously registered authentication information;
Notification means for notifying information related to user authentication;
When authentication information is input by the input means, control is performed to notify the corresponding user to the corresponding user together with the user authentication result by the authentication means that the user authentication is performed by the authentication information. Control means;
An authentication management device comprising: The authentication management device according to claim 1,
A user authentication history storage means for storing a user authentication history in the authentication means, and a browsing means for browsing information related to user authentication,
The control means reads the authentication history of the corresponding user stored in the user authentication history storage means at a predetermined timing, and performs control for causing the browsing means to browse the read authentication history. Authentication management device. The authentication management device according to claim 1 or 2,
The authentication management apparatus, wherein the authentication information includes user identification information and a personal identification number. The authentication management device according to claim 2 or 3,
The authentication management apparatus, wherein the user authentication history includes an authentication date and time of the user and a job processed on the same date and time. The authentication management device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The authentication management apparatus, wherein the user authentication history includes success / failure related to authentication of the user. An authentication management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The authentication management apparatus, wherein the notification means is an e-mail. An image forming apparatus in which the authentication management apparatus according to claim 1 is mounted, wherein the authentication management apparatus is applied to user authentication management.

Images