JP2009003658A - Data processor, data processing method, and data processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data processor for preventing the data outflow or data leakage of secret information even when an external storage device connected for data processing is stolen. <P>SOLUTION: This data processor is provided with a connection means 13 for connecting an external storage device 100 so that it can be released; a data acquisition means 10 for acquiring data from the external storage device connected by the connecting means; and a data erasing means 10 for erasing the data acquired by the data acquisition means from the external storage device 100 after completing the acquisition of the data. After the acquisition of the data from the external storage device 100 connected to an image forming apparatus 1 is completed, the acquired data are automatically erased from the external storage device 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus, a data processing method, and a data processing program applicable to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) which is a multifunction digital decoder in which these functions are integrated. .

  In recent years, data processing devices that can use portable external storage devices typified by USB memories are becoming widespread, and it is considered that such external storage devices will be used more and more in the future.

  By the way, since such an external storage device is portable, there is a possibility of being stolen. In the case of being stolen, personal information such as E-mai address, telephone number, image data, confidential documents, etc. Confidential information may be leaked to third parties.

  For example, when printing confidential documents from an image forming apparatus or sending a fax, the user creates a confidential document on a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) and stores the created confidential document in an external storage device. To do. In many cases, the user goes to the place where the image forming apparatus is installed, attaches the external storage device to the image forming apparatus, and prints or transmits the confidential document. At this time, by leaving the place until printing or transmission is completed, or after the user finishes printing or transmission, the user forgets to remove the external storage device from the image forming apparatus, and the external storage device is left as it is. The external storage device may be taken away, and confidential documents may be leaked to third parties.

Therefore, when the external storage device is mounted on the image forming apparatus, a technique for performing a combination of user authentication and device authentication and permitting or restricting a data access request from the image forming apparatus according to the authentication result. Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-168261 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the confidential document is still stored in the external storage device. Therefore, there is a problem that a confidential document may be leaked depending on the technical ability of a third party who has taken away the external storage device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when an external storage device connected for data processing is taken away, it is possible to prevent data leakage or leakage of confidential information or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a data processing apparatus, a data processing method, and a data processing program.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) Connection means for releasably connecting an external storage device, data acquisition means for acquiring data from the external storage device connected to the connection means, and acquired by the data acquisition means after completion of data acquisition A data processing apparatus comprising: a data deleting unit that deletes data from an external storage device; and a data processing unit that processes data acquired by the data acquiring unit.
(2) The data processing apparatus according to the above item (1), further comprising data write-back means for writing back data acquired by the data acquisition means to the external storage device after data processing by the data processing means.
(3) A personal storage area capable of storing data for each user is provided, and after the data processing by the data processing means, the data acquired by the data acquisition means is stored in the personal storage area of the user of the external storage device. 3. The data processing apparatus according to 1 or 2 above, which is stored in
(4) a step of acquiring data from the external storage device connected in a releasable manner, a step of deleting the acquired data from the external storage device after completion of data acquisition, and a step of processing the acquired data And a data processing method.
(5) a step of acquiring data from the external storage device connected in a releasable manner, a step of deleting the acquired data from the external storage device after completion of data acquisition, and a step of processing the acquired data And a data processing program for causing a computer of the data processing apparatus to execute.

  According to the invention described in item (1) above, when data acquisition from the connected external storage device is completed, the acquired data is automatically deleted from the external storage device. As a result, for example, even if the external storage device is removed while the processing using the acquired data is being executed or after the processing is completed, the data in the external storage device is deleted. Data leakage and leakage to the three parties can be prevented.

  Further, since data deletion from the external storage device is automatically executed, the user is freed from the troublesome task of deleting data.

  According to the invention described in item (2) above, since the acquired data is written back to the external storage device after the processing of the acquired data, the external storage device can be returned to the state before data deletion.

  According to the invention described in (3) above, after the data processing is completed, the data acquired from the external storage device can be stored in the personal storage area of the user of the external storage device.

  According to the invention described in (4) above, when the data acquisition from the connected external storage device is completed, the acquired data is automatically deleted from the external storage device. Even if the external storage device is taken away during execution of the process used or after the process is completed, the data is deleted, so that leakage or leakage of data to a third party can be prevented. it can.

  According to the invention described in (5) above, the data acquisition processing from the attached external storage device, the deletion processing of the acquired data from the external storage device, and the processing of the acquired data are performed by the computer of the data processing device. Can be executed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 as a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU 10, a ROM 11, a work memory 12, a communication unit 13, an external interface unit 14, a file conversion unit 15, a mode count unit 16, an image input unit 17, an image output unit 18, The image memory unit 19, the operation display unit 20, the compression / decryption unit 21, the e-mail communication unit 22, the user authentication unit 23, the screen display change unit 24, and the storage unit 25 are provided. It is connected.

  The CPU 10 comprehensively controls the entire image forming apparatus 1 by executing an operation program stored in the ROM 11. Specific contents of the control will be described later.

  The ROM 11 stores programs executed by the CPU 10 and other data.

  The work memory 12 is composed of a volatile RAM or the like and serves as a work area when the CPU 10 executes a program, and temporarily stores a program, data when the program is executed, and the like.

  The communication unit 13 communicates with an external device via a telephone line using a modem or NCU. In addition, the communication unit 13 includes a connection unit (mounting unit) for releasably connecting a USB memory as an example of the external storage device 100 and a USB control unit (both not shown). In this embodiment, when an external storage device such as a USB memory is connected to the connection unit, the communication unit 13 is connected to the external storage device connected via the USB control unit under the control of the CPU 10. Acquires data stored in the device, overwrites and deletes the acquired data from the external storage device, and acquires the data when the user gives a write-back instruction after the job is finished. The written data is written back to the external storage device.

  The external interface unit 14 is used as a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from other image forming apparatuses 1 and terminal devices.

  The file conversion unit 15 performs various file conversions such as image file format conversion and e-mail file format conversion.

  The mode count unit 16 counts the number of times the currently set mode is set, the total number of times the image forming apparatus 1 is used, and the like.

  The image input unit 17 includes an image sensor such as a CCD, a slider control unit, various image processing control units, and the like, and optically reads a set original and converts it into electronic data.

  The image output unit 18 includes an engine control unit for controlling printing by a laser method, an inkjet method, and the like, various image processing control units, and the like, and outputs an image onto a recording sheet.

  The image memory unit 19 encodes the image data input from the image input unit 18, the image data input via the communication unit 13 or the external interface unit 14, and the code when the image data is compressed by the compression / decoding unit 21. Data and the like are temporarily stored. The image memory unit 19 may be composed of the same volatile memory together with the work memory 12.

  The operation display unit 20 is a user interface unit including a numeric keypad, a start key, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and performs mode selection, key input, display of various information, and the like. In this embodiment, a print mode screen and a transmission mode screen (details will be described later) are displayed.

  The compression decoding unit 21 compresses input image data as necessary, or decompresses code data.

  The e-mail communication unit 22 transmits and receives e-mail.

  The user authentication unit 23 holds and sets authentication information for each user, and performs user authentication based on the user ID input by the user.

  The screen display changing unit 24 changes the size of the setting key and the screen layout step by step according to the usage frequency information of the mode counting unit 16.

  The storage unit 25 includes a recording medium such as a hard disk, and stores image data input from the image input unit 17 and data acquired through the communication unit 13, the external interface unit 14, and the like. In this embodiment, as shown in the user box list 30 of FIG. 2, a personal storage area (hereinafter also referred to as a user box) capable of storing data in units of users is provided for each usage. Yes. As will be described later, when a job is executed on data acquired from an external storage device after user authentication is performed, the acquired data is automatically used by the user. It is supposed to be stored in the user box for use.

  For example, when a print job is instructed by the user A for data acquired from the external storage device, the acquired data is stored in the user box A1 for printing after the end of the print job. On the other hand, when a transmission job is instructed, the transmission job is saved in the user A transmission user box A2 after the transmission job is completed. Further, when the transmission job is instructed by the user B, the transmission job is stored in the user B transmission user box B2 after the transmission job is completed.

  In this embodiment, the USB memory is used as the external storage device 100 as described above. However, the external storage device 100 is not limited to the USB memory, and other portable recording media such as a memory card are used. Also good. The type of data stored in the external storage device 100 is not particularly limited, and may be image data or document data that is developed on the image forming apparatus 1, printed, and transferred to a file, or an e-mail address. Destination data such as a fax number may be used.

  Next, referring to FIG. 3, when the external storage device 100 is connected (attached) to the image forming apparatus 1, the flow of processing executed on the data stored in the external storage device (FIG. 3). ~ A ~ D) will be described.

  A: When attachment of the external storage device to the communication unit 13 is detected, data is acquired by reading data from the external storage device 100 via the communication unit 13 and stored in the image memory unit 19.

  B: When the data acquisition is completed, the acquisition target data stored in the external storage device 100 is overwritten and deleted.

  C: After a predetermined process (for example, execution of a job) in the image forming apparatus is completed, when a user gives a rewrite instruction via the operation display unit 20, the image of the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted via the communication unit 13. The acquired data is written back from the memory unit 19 to the external storage device 100, and the acquired data stored in the image memory unit 19 of the image forming apparatus 1 is deleted.

  D: On the other hand, after the job execution is completed, when there is no write back instruction from the user, the acquired data is stored in the corresponding user box of the storage unit 25, and the acquired data stored in the image memory unit 19 is deleted.

E: Further, after the end of job execution, when there is no write back instruction from the user and there is no corresponding user box, only deletion of the acquired data stored in the image memory unit 19 is executed.
[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus 1]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart shows the operation from when the connection (mounting) of the external storage device 100 is detected and data is acquired until the acquired data is deleted from the image memory unit 19. This operation is realized by the CPU 10 executing an operation program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 11.

  The CPU 10 determines whether or not the mounting of the external storage device 100 is detected (step S100). If not detected (NO in step S100), the process is terminated.

  When the user attaches the external storage device 100 to the communication unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 1, this is detected (YES in step S100).

  Next, the user performs an operation for setting a job execution mode and other modes, an operation for selecting data to be executed from the data stored in the external storage device 100, and the like via the operation display unit 20. And CPU10 receives this (step S101). This example shows a case where the job execution mode is a print mode and a transmission mode.

  In step S101, when the user desires to save the acquired data in the user box, a user ID for identifying the user is input via the operation display unit 20. The image forming apparatus 1 performs user authentication based on the input user ID.

  In step S101, when the print mode setting or the like is accepted, the print mode screen 50 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, and when the transmission mode setting instruction is accepted, the transmission mode screen 60 shown in FIG.

  The print mode screen 50 includes a color print button 51 for selecting color printing, a paper selection button 52 for selecting a paper to be printed, a magnification setting button 53, and a selection of a printing style, together with a message indicating that copying is possible. A page setting button 54 to be performed is displayed. The transmission mode setting screen 60 includes a message for prompting selection of a transmission method, a fax transmission button 61 for transmitting via a telephone communication line, an E-mail button 62 for transmitting via the Internet, and the like. It is displayed as selectable.

  Next, after a print setting, transmission method selection, or the like is made on the print mode screen 50 or the transmission mode screen 60, a start instruction is given (YES in step S102), the job is executed from the attached external storage device 100. The target data is read and acquired (step S103). In this case, all data including the job execution target data stored in the external storage device 100 may be acquired.

  When the acquisition is completed, the data to be read stored in the external storage device 100 is overwritten and deleted in order to prevent the attached external storage device 100 from being taken away and the data contents being leaked and leaked (step S104). In this case, all data stored in the external storage device 100 may be deleted to completely prevent the leakage and leakage of data contents.

  On the other hand, if there is no start instruction (NO in step S102), the process ends.

  Next, it is determined whether the job instructed by the user is a print job or a transmission job (step S105). If the job is a transmission job ("transmission" in step S105), the communication unit 13 or the external Transmission of acquired data is started via the interface unit 14 (step S106), and the process proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if the instructed job is a print job (“print” in step S105), the image output unit 18 starts printing the acquired data on the recording paper (step S107), and the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S108, it is determined whether or not the instructed job has been completed. If the job has not been completed (NO in step S108), the process waits until the job is completed. On the other hand, when the execution of the job is completed (YES in step S108), in step S109, an instruction from the user as to whether or not the acquired data is to be written back to the external storage device is accepted, and it is determined whether or not a write back instruction has been issued. Done.

  When an instruction is given (YES in step S109), the acquired data is written back to the external storage device (step S112), and an image memory unit is used to prevent leakage of acquired data from the image forming apparatus 1. The acquired data is deleted from 19 (step S113), and the process ends. On the other hand, if a write back instruction has not been given (NO in step S109), it is determined whether or not user authentication has been performed in step S101 in order to determine whether or not to save the acquired data in the user box. (Step S110).

  If user authentication has been performed (YES in step S110), the acquired data is stored in the corresponding user box of the authenticated user (step S111), and then the process proceeds to step S113 to delete the acquired data from the image memory unit 19 To do.

  If user authentication has not been performed in step S110 (NO in step S110), the process proceeds to step S113 and the acquired data is deleted from the image memory unit 19. Accordingly, in this case, data acquired from the external storage device 100 is not stored in the image forming apparatus 1.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when data is acquired from the attached external storage device 100, the data stored in the external storage device 100 is deleted by the image forming apparatus 1. As a result, for example, even if the external storage device 100 is removed while the processing using the acquired data is being executed or after the processing is completed, the data in the external storage device 100 is deleted. , Can prevent data leakage and leakage to third parties.

  In addition, since the data is simply acquired and overwritten and deleted, it is considered that the influence on the access speed of the data is particularly small, so there is no possibility that the entire processing time of the image forming apparatus 1 is greatly affected.

  In addition, since the data stored in the external storage device 100 is automatically overwritten and deleted, the user is freed from the trouble of deleting the data, and the storage capacity of the external storage device 100 is made effective. It becomes possible to use it.

  In addition, since the acquired data is written back to the external storage device based on a user instruction after the job is completed, the external storage device 100 can be returned to the state before the data deletion if necessary. In this case, since the user's operation is necessary, it is considered that the user is likely to remove the external storage device 100 immediately after the operation, and therefore, there is little possibility that the external storage device 100 is taken away.

  Further, after the job is completed, the data acquired from the external storage device 100 can be stored in the corresponding user box of the external storage device 100, so that other jobs can be executed using the data. Become.

  In this embodiment, the acquired data is written back to the external storage device 100 in accordance with a user instruction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the acquired data is automatically stored in the external storage at the end of job execution. It is good also as a structure which writes in the apparatus 100 back.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as a data processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and data acquisition and processing from the external storage apparatus 100 are stored in the external storage apparatus 100. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to any device capable of deleting data.

1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the user box where the data acquired from the external storage device are preserve | saved. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a flow of processing executed on data stored in an external storage device when the external storage device is connected to the image forming apparatus. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure showing an example of a screen displayed on an operation display part at the time of print mode. It is the figure which showed an example of the screen displayed on the operation display part at the time of transmission mode.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... CPU
11 ... ROM
12 ... Work memory 13 ... Communication unit (connection means)
14 ... External interface unit 15 ... File conversion unit 16 ... Mode count unit 17 ... Image input unit 18 ... Image output unit 19 ... Image memory unit 20 ... Operation display unit 21 ... Compression / decryption unit 22 ... E-mail communication unit 23 ... User authentication unit 24 ... Screen display change unit 25 ... Storage unit 100 ... External storage device

Claims (5)

Connection means for releasably connecting the external storage device;
Data acquisition means for acquiring data from an external storage device connected to the connection means;
A data deletion means for deleting the data acquired by the data acquisition means from the external storage device after completion of data acquisition;
Data processing means for processing the data acquired by the data acquisition means;
A data processing apparatus comprising:   The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data write-back unit that writes data acquired by the data acquisition unit back to the external storage device after data processing by the data processing unit. Each user has a personal storage area where data can be stored,
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after the data processing by the data processing means, the data acquired by the data acquisition means is stored in the personal storage area of the user of the external storage device. Obtaining data from an external storage device connected releasably;
Deleting the acquired data from the external storage device after completion of data acquisition; and
Processing the acquired data;
A data processing method comprising: Obtaining data from an external storage device connected releasably;
Deleting the acquired data from the external storage device after completion of data acquisition; and
Processing the acquired data;
Is a data processing program for causing a computer of the data processing apparatus to execute.

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