JP2008270874A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep suitable balance between the level of security and input operability corresponding to a situation by suitably selecting the both according to the situation. <P>SOLUTION: The balance between the security and input operability can be adjusted (changed) when initial settings are made and other settings are made, respectively, so the balance matching the situation can be obtained. Namely, the security need not be so important when the initial settings are made, so a license keyword consists of six digits (including only one kind of "lowercase English letter") so as to improve the input operability. After operation, on the other hand, the license keyword consists of twelve digits (including six kinds of "lowercase English letter", "uppercase English letter", "number", etc., in total). Consequently, input operation for initial setting can be reduced to avoid the worst case wherein the apparatus can not be installed by bringing the apparatus back and re-setting the license keyword. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus including an image processing execution device that executes image processing based on image data.

  In image processing apparatuses, multi-function machines having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a scanner function, a printing function, and a FAX function have been put into practical use.

  In general, an image processing apparatus has a number of functions such as the above-described scanner function, printing function, FAX function, and the like as processing for handling images and data related to images. For this reason, basic software for executing various functions for effectively using various units provided in the image processing apparatus is stored in advance. In addition, it is executed by extension software that can execute various functions from the basic function and the extension software that can be executed by using the optional mechanism after adding hardware such as an optional mechanism to effectively use various units. In many cases, an optional function to be provided is configured as an additional function.

  As described above, in order to make the optional function usable, it is preferable to operate only by a person who is dedicated in advance. Therefore, input of a license keyword for authentication is requested.

As a related technology, as a technology related to a license (license) agreement for software, etc., it reads the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus, the list of extended functions, and the list of soft keys for enabling the extended functions. If the key is not required, the function is enabled only when the required hardware configuration is satisfied, and if the soft key is required, the soft key is verified, and the function is enabled only when the required hardware configuration is satisfied. Technologies to enable it have been proposed.
JP 2005-186318 A

  However, the higher the security of the license keyword, the lower the input operability. For example, taking the number of digits of the license keyword as an example, the greater the number of digits, the higher the security, but the greater the number of digits, the higher the probability of an input error. Also, the more character types that can be used as license keywords, the higher the security, but the greater the number of character types, the higher the probability of an input error.

  Conventionally, since there is no choice but to select either the degree of security by the license keyword and the input operability of the license keyword, which are in a contradictory relationship, the non-selection side cannot necessarily cope. It was.

  In view of the above facts, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus capable of appropriately selecting the degree of security and the input operability according to the situation so that both can be in an optimum balance according to the situation. The purpose is to obtain.

  A first invention is an image processing apparatus including an image processing execution device that executes image processing based on image data, and includes a license keyword for enabling or disabling an optional function implemented in advance or later. Based on the result of collation by the collating unit, the input unit for inputting, the collating unit for collating the license keyword input by the input unit with the authentication keyword registered in advance, the optional function is switched to valid or invalid. Determining means for determining whether to permit or not, and adjusting means for adjusting a balance between the degree of security by the license keyword and the input operability of the license keyword, which are in a mutually contradictory relationship. .

  According to the present invention, the license keyword input by the input unit is collated with an authentication keyword registered in advance. As a result of this collation, it is determined whether or not the transition to the valid or invalid option function is permitted.

  At this time, the adjusting means can adjust the balance between the degree of security based on the license keyword and the input operability of the license keyword, which are in a mutually contradictory relationship, so that the optimal balance according to the situation is obtained. Can do.

  In other words, if less security is required, the operability is emphasized. Conversely, if security is required, the operability is ignored and the security is increased. Such adjustment is possible.

  In the above invention, the adjusting means is characterized in that the balance is adjusted so as to increase the input operability during initial setting, and the balance is adjusted so as to increase the degree of security other than during the initial setting.

  If an operation input error is made at the time of initial setting, the installation work of the image processing apparatus itself cannot be performed.

  In the present invention, the balance is the number of digits of the license keyword. The greater the number of digits of the license keyword, the higher the degree of security, and the smaller the number of digits of the license keyword, the higher the input operability. It is said.

  Simply increasing the number of digits of the tie-sense keyword will increase the security, and if the number of digits is small, the input operability will increase accordingly.

  Further, the present invention is characterized by further comprising a number-of-digits interpolation means for interpolating to the maximum number of digits and sending it to the verification means regardless of the number of digits of the license keyword input by the input means. .

  If the number of digits is different, collation by the collation means becomes complicated. Therefore, the number of digits is interpolated to the maximum number before being sent to the verification means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the degree of security and the input operability can be appropriately selected according to the situation, so that both can be optimally balanced according to the situation. Has an effect.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 10 includes an image forming unit 12 and a document reading unit 14 provided above the image forming unit 12. The document reading unit 14 is provided with a document conveying device 16 that also serves as an opening / closing lid of the document reading unit 14.

  The document reading unit 14 is provided with a platen glass (not shown) formed of a transparent glass plate for placing a document on the upper surface thereof, and serves as a document reading area. The document reading unit 14 is provided with a user interface 24 for a user to input a document reading or copying instruction. The user interface 24 is provided with a numeric keypad, which is used for setting the number of prints and setting the magnification, and also used as a dial key for a telephone during facsimile transmission. That is, the document reading unit 14 has both a document reading function during copying and a document reading function during facsimile transmission. The copy function can be executed by a combination of the image forming unit 12 and the document reading unit 14.

  The document transport device 16 is provided with a feeder tray 20 on which documents to be copied are stacked (in the case of a plurality of sheets). In this document transport device 16, the document placed on the feeder tray 20 (the document in the uppermost layer when a plurality of sheets are stacked) is fed into a document reversing unit (not shown), so that the platen is reversed. A document reading operation is performed by automatically transporting the document so as to pass through a reading area on the glass and be discharged onto a document discharge tray 22 provided below the feeder tray 20.

  The image forming unit 12 is provided with sheet feed trays 26 arranged in three stages at the lower part of the apparatus main body, and a recording sheet is selectively transferred from the sheet feed tray 26 by the sheet feeding device by specifying a size. Each sheet is pulled out and conveyed to the image forming unit 12.

  The image forming unit 12 is provided with a photosensitive drum that forms an image on a sheet material. Although not shown, a charging device, an optical scanning device, a developing device, a transfer device, and the like are disposed around the photosensitive drum. After the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged, an electrostatic latent image based on image data is formed by an optical scanning device, and the formed electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by a developing device. Thereafter, the toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the sheet material by passing through a transfer device. The sheet material on which the image is transferred is heated and pressurized by a fixing device, and is discharged in a state where the image is fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 10 is provided with a main controller 104 serving as the center of the control system.

  The main controller 104 is connected with a scanner controller 106 and a facsimile controller 108 for controlling the operation of the document reading unit 14 (operation as a scanner and operation as a facsimile), and print for controlling the operation of the image forming unit 12. A controller 110 is connected.

  The user interface 24 described above is connected to the main controller 104 so that an instruction relating to image formation or the like is given by the user's operation, and information about the image formation or the like is notified to the user.

  Furthermore, the main controller 104 is provided with an external I / F 112 to which the network 102 is connected. For example, image data is input from the host computer 100 via the network 102.

  When the image data is input, the main controller 104 analyzes, for example, the print instruction information included in the image data and the image data, and conforms to a format (for example, a bitmap) suitable for the image forming unit 12 (see FIG. 1). Data) and send the image data to the print controller 110. The image data may be input (copy input) from the document reading unit 14 or may be input (facsimile input) from a dedicated telephone line provided separately from the network 102.

  The main controller 104 includes a process execution control unit 114 that controls each of the facsimile controller 108, the scanner controller 106, and the print controller 110.

  The process execution control unit 114 is connected to the system management unit 116 and the external I / F 112 via the bus 118, and transmits and receives signals to and from each other.

  The system management unit 116 collectively manages software processing in the main controller 104 and the state of the hardware configuration.

  In the present embodiment, when the system management unit 116 collectively manages software processing and the state of the hardware configuration, each function can be enabled or disabled, and various selection settings can be made (hereinafter collectively referred to as generic names). "Optional function").

  For example, at the time of initial setting, it is necessary to set a country code in order to cope with a difference in specifications in each country to be introduced. More specifically, the default size of recording paper in Japan is the JIS standard A4 size, and in the case of the United States, it is a so-called letter size.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, as described above, including the initial setting, even after operation, addition or deletion of optional functions, the setting for enabling or disabling functions for adjustment during maintenance, etc. In order to enable work in an area where access is not possible, a license keyword is set to determine whether or not it is possible to enter the optional function setting mode.

  The input of the license keyword is usually performed using the user interface 24.

  That is, when the entry to the optional function setting mode is specified by operating the hard key 24A of the user interface 24, the keyboard image 24C is displayed on the display unit 24B of the user interface 24 in response to a command from the system management unit 116. The user inputs a license keyword by a touch operation while looking at the keyboard image 24C.

  The keyword input by the touch operation is displayed in the keyword display frame image 24D (indicated by “*” in FIG. 2).

  Hereinafter, a control system related to the on-site authentication to the option function setting mode using the license keyword in the system management unit 116 will be described with reference to FIG. Each block showing the inside of the system management unit 116 in FIG. 2 is shown by function, and does not limit the hardware configuration.

  The user interface 24 is connected to the UI control unit 120. The UI control unit 120 outputs data for display and receives a signal (input data) input from the user interface 24.

  The input data is sent to the input analysis unit 122 and analyzes the contents of the input data.

  The input data includes image reading, copying, facsimile image processing execution function designation, detailed setting of each image processing execution function, and the like, but only the optional function will be described here.

  When the analysis result is a request to enter the option function setting mode, the input analysis unit 122 sends the analyzed information to the authentication type determination unit 124.

  The authentication type discriminating unit 124 discriminates whether the option function setting mode is the initial setting or other than the initial setting, and sends the discrimination result to the license keyword input digit number determining unit 126.

  In the present embodiment, the license keyword has a maximum of 12 digits, and two types can be set: a case where the maximum 12 digits are applied and a case where 6 1/2 is applied.

  Here, from the viewpoint of security, the higher the number of digits, the higher the security, but from the input operation side, the higher the number of digits, the higher the incidence of input operation mistakes. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of security, the smaller the number of digits, the lower the security, but from the input operation surface, the smaller the number of digits, the lower the incidence of input operation mistakes. That is, the degree of these (security, input operation) is in a contradictory relationship.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the initial setting, the installation of the device has the highest priority, and in view of the importance of security at the time of installation, it is better to focus on the input operation. It is 6 digits.

  On the other hand, except for the initial setting, the number of digits of the license keyword is 12 digits because it is better to sacrifice the input operation in view of the importance of security.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the number of digits, when the number of digits is uniquely 6 digits, the input character type is one type of lower case alphabet (English small), and when the number is 12 digits, the input character type is English small. , Alphabetic capital letters (English University), numbers, etc. With 6 digits and 12 digits, 12 digits are dramatically more secure.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the license keyword input digit number determination unit 126 is connected to the display instruction unit 128 and sends the determined digit number information to the display instruction unit 128. The display instruction unit 128 displays the keyboard image 24C and the keyword display frame image 24D on the display unit 24B of the user interface 24 via the UI control unit 120, and waits for input of a touch operation by the user.

  In this state, when a designated number of digits (for example, 6 digits) is input, the input analysis unit 122 analyzes that the number of digits is input via the UI control unit 120 and inputs data (license keyword). ) Is sent to the digit number interpolation unit 130.

  The number-of-digits interpolation unit 130 apparently converts a license keyword other than the maximum number of digits (in this case, a 6-digit license keyword) into a 12-digit license keyword (for example, a non-input digit is a number. Enter “0”.)

  The digit number interpolation unit 130 is connected to the authentication keyword reading unit 132 and the matching unit 134.

  When the interpolation of the number of digits is completed, the digit number interpolation unit 130 sends an authentication keyword reading instruction signal to the authentication keyword reading unit 132. At almost the same time, the input license keyword after interpolation is sent to the matching unit 134.

  An authentication keyword data memory 136 is connected to the authentication keyword reading unit 132, and the stored authentication keyword is read from the authentication keyword data memory 136 in response to the input of the reading instruction signal and sent to the verification unit 134. As a result, the collation unit 134 has the input license keyword after interpolation and the stored authentication keyword.

  The collation unit 134 collates the input license keyword after interpolation with the stored authentication keyword, and sends the result information to the authentication unit 138.

  The authentication unit 138 determines whether or not to authenticate based on the collation result. The authentication unit 138 is connected to the option function valid / invalid setting unit 140, and when it is determined that the verification result is authenticated, the option function valid / invalid setting unit 140 becomes valid, and the user interface 24 When the input information, for example, a 6-digit keyword used as a license keyword is used as a country code, the country code (license keyword) is input from the input analysis unit 122 to the option function enable / disable setting unit 140. Initialized to the country as directed.

  The operation of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows a license keyword authentication control routine. In step 150, it is determined whether or not an option function setting request has been made. If a negative determination is made, this routine ends.

  If an affirmative determination is made at step 150, the routine proceeds to step 152 where it is determined whether or not the initial setting is made. If it is determined in step 152 that the setting is the initial setting (positive determination), the process proceeds to step 154, the license keyword is set to 6 digits, and the process proceeds to step 158.

  If it is determined in step 152 that the setting is not the initial setting (negative determination), the process proceeds to step 156, the license keyword is set to 12 digits, and the process proceeds to step 158.

  In step 158, the keyboard image 24C and the keyword display frame image 24D are displayed on the user interface 24, and the process proceeds to step 260.

  In step 260, it is determined whether a license keyword has been input. If an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 262 to determine whether it is an initial setting. If it is determined in step 262 that the setting is the initial setting, since the input license keyword is 6 digits, the process proceeds to step 264, and the maximum 12 digits are interpolated (for example, a non-input digit is a number “ 0 ”is entered), and the process proceeds to step 266.

  If it is determined in step 262 that the setting is not the initial setting, the number of digits is the maximum number of digits (12 digits), so that interpolation is not necessary, and the process proceeds from step 262 to step 266.

  In step 266, an authentication keyword stored in advance is read out, and then the license keyword input in step 268 is compared with the authentication keyword.

  In the next step 270, it is determined whether or not to authenticate as a result of the collation. If it is determined in step 270 that authentication is not performed, the process proceeds to step 272 to execute non-authentication processing, and this routine ends.

  If it is determined in step 270 that authentication is to be performed, the process proceeds to step 274 to determine whether or not the initial setting is made. If it is determined in step 274 that the initial setting is made, the process proceeds to step 276, where the initial setting is executed based on the license keyword, and this routine ends. As an initial setting, for example, there is an input of a country code as an initial setting, and this input may be combined with an input of the license keyword. That is, if license keywords are classified in advance by country, authentication and country code input are executed simultaneously.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 274 that the setting is not the initial setting, the process proceeds to step 278, where another optional function setting process is executed, and this routine ends.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the balance of the relationship between security and input operability can be adjusted (changed) between the initial setting and other than the initial setting, so that the balance is suitable for the situation. Can do. That is, since the initial setting does not require much security, the license keyword has 6 digits (and only one type of “English small”) in order to improve the input operability. On the other hand, after the operation, the license keyword is 12 digits (and “English small”, “English large”, “number”, etc., total of 6 types). As a result, it is possible to reduce the input operation in the initial setting, and it is possible to avoid the worst situation such that the installation cannot be performed by bringing the apparatus home due to an input operation error and setting the license keyword again.

  The license keyword may be referred to as “soft key”.

1 is an external view of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and a functional block diagram of a control system related to entry authentication to an option function setting mode using a license keyword in a system management unit. It is a flowchart which shows the license keyword authentication control routine which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing apparatus 12 Image forming part 14 Document reading part 16 Document conveying apparatus 24 User interface 20 Feeder tray 22 Document discharge tray 26 Paper feed tray 104 Main controller 106 Scanner controller 108 Fax controller 110 Print controller 102 Network 112 External I / F
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Host computer 114 Process execution control part 116 System management part 118 Bus 24A Hard key 24B Display part 24C Keyboard image 24D Keyword display frame image 120 UI control part 122 Input analysis part 124 Authentication kind discrimination | determination part 126 License keyword input digit number determination part 128 Display instruction unit 130 Digit interpolation unit 132 Authentication keyword reading unit 134 Verification unit 136 Authentication keyword data memory 138 Authentication unit 140 Option function valid / invalid setting unit

Claims (4)

An image processing apparatus including an image processing execution device that executes image processing based on image data,
An input means for inputting a license keyword for enabling or disabling an optional function implemented in advance or later;
Collating means for collating the license keyword input by the input means with an authentication keyword registered in advance;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to allow the option function to be enabled or disabled based on a result of the verification by the verification unit;
Adjusting means for adjusting a balance between the degree of security by the license keyword and the input operability of the license keyword, which are in a mutually contradictory relationship;
An image processing apparatus.   2. The adjustment unit according to claim 1, wherein balance adjustment is performed so as to increase the input operability during initial setting, and balance adjustment is performed so as to increase the degree of security other than during the initial setting. Image processing device.   An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the balance is the number of digits of the license keyword, the degree of security is higher as the number of digits of the license keyword is larger, and the input operability is higher as the number of digits of the license keyword is smaller.   2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: a number-of-digits interpolating unit for interpolating to the maximum number of digits and sending to the collating unit, regardless of the number of digits of the license keyword input by the input unit. 4. The image processing device according to any one of items 3.

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