JP2009141871A - Image forming apparatus, image processing system, and data transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which enables a user transmitting confidential data from an information processing device to an image forming apparatus to specify the person who prints the confidential data by utilizing the image forming apparatus which receives the confidential data. <P>SOLUTION: When a password necessary for printing the confidential data is input to instruct printing of the confidential data after recording the confidential data or the like, the image forming apparatus 20 photographs a facial portrait of the operator, with a camera (22c), who instructs printing the confidential data, and transmits, to an E-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination, the E-mail for a print confirmation notification including at least the photographed facial portrait and information indicating the printing of the confidential data executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that receives and prints confidential data transmitted from an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that can confirm a person who printed confidential data.

In a printing system that is mutually connected via a network and includes an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, confidential information requiring high security is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus The process of printing the confidential data is performed. In such a case, when confidential data is printed by the image forming apparatus, authentication with a password is performed before printing in order to ensure security (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-279785 A

However, even if password authentication is performed, if a password is leaked, or if it is a simple password such as “123”, a third party who does not have the authority to print confidential data. However, the confidential data can be printed.
In such a case, if the user who transmitted the confidential data from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus can know the person who printed the confidential data, whether or not the confidential data was printed by a third party. Can be confirmed. Further, even when the confidential data is printed by the third party, various measures against leakage can be taken promptly to prevent the confidential data from leaking over a wide range.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a user who has transmitted confidential data from an information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus prints the confidential data using the image forming apparatus that has received the confidential data. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of knowing the person who has performed the operation.

  The first technical means is an image forming apparatus that prints confidential data transmitted from the information processing apparatus, and includes an imaging device that captures a face photograph of an operator of the image forming apparatus, and for each transmitted confidential data, The password set in the confidential data and the e-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination are extracted and recorded in association with each confidential data, and the password for printing the confidential data is input, When execution of printing confidential data is instructed, the imaging device captures a photograph of the face of the operator who made the instruction, and includes at least the captured face photograph and information indicating that the confidential data has been printed. An image forming apparatus that transmits an e-mail of a print confirmation notification to the e-mail address.

  According to a second technical means, in the image forming apparatus that prints confidential data transmitted from the information processing apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes an imaging device that captures a face photograph of an operator of the image forming apparatus, and for each transmitted confidential data, The password set in the confidential data and the e-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination are extracted and recorded in association with each confidential data, and the password for printing the confidential data is input, When execution of printing confidential data is instructed, the imaging device captures a photograph of the face of the operator who made the instruction, and includes at least the captured face photograph and information indicating that the confidential data has been printed. The print confirmation data is uploaded to a predetermined web server, and at least the print confirmation data including URL information of the web server to which the confirmation data is uploaded. The notification e-mail is an image forming apparatus and transmits to the electronic mail address.

  The third technical means transmits the image forming apparatus of the first or second technical means, confidential data, a password set in the confidential data, and an e-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination to the image forming apparatus. An image processing system comprising: an information processing apparatus that performs processing.

  A fourth technical means is a data transmission method executed in an image forming apparatus that includes an imaging device that captures a photograph of a face of an operator of the image forming apparatus and prints confidential data transmitted from the information processing apparatus, For each transmitted confidential data, a step of extracting a password set in the confidential data and an e-mail address of a print confirmation notification destination and recording it in association with each confidential data; and printing the confidential data When the password for performing is input and execution of printing of the confidential data is instructed, the imaging device captures a face photograph of the operator who has instructed, and at least the captured face photograph, A print confirmation notification e-mail including information indicating that confidential data has been printed. It is a data transmission method for the.

  A fifth technical means is a data transmission method executed in an image forming apparatus that includes an imaging device that captures a face photograph of an operator of the image forming apparatus and prints confidential data transmitted from the information processing apparatus, For each transmitted confidential data, a step of extracting a password set in the confidential data and an e-mail address of a print confirmation notification destination and recording it in association with each confidential data; and printing the confidential data When the password for performing is input and execution of printing of the confidential data is instructed, the imaging device captures a face photograph of the operator who has instructed, and at least the captured face photograph, Uploading print confirmation data including information indicating that confidential data has been printed to a predetermined web server, and at least the confirmation Email print confirmation notification data includes URL information of the Web server that has been uploaded is a data transmission method characterized by comprising the step of transmitting to the electronic mail address.

  According to the present invention, the user who has transmitted confidential data from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus can know the person who printed the confidential data using the image forming apparatus that has received the confidential data. Even if confidential data is printed by a third party, the confidential data can be prevented from leaking over a wide range.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is connected to an information processing apparatus such as a PC or a server via a network.
An image forming apparatus 20 receives and records confidential data transmitted from the PC 10, a password set in the confidential data, and an e-mail address of a print confirmation notification destination, and prints the confidential data. Further, after recording the confidential data and the like, the image forming apparatus 20 is provided in the image forming apparatus 20 when a password necessary for printing the confidential data is input and printing of the confidential data is instructed. A photograph of the face of the operator who has given the instruction is captured by the camera, and an e-mail of a print confirmation notification including at least the photographed face photograph and information indicating that the confidential data has been printed is sent to the print confirmation notification destination electronic mail. Send to email address.

  In this way, the user X who has transmitted the confidential data can know whether or not a user (operator) Y who has a legitimate authority has printed the confidential data.

  40 is a web server and 41 is a mail server. N is a network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining in detail the image forming apparatus 20 and the PC 10 that transmits confidential data to the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present invention. In the present invention, the image forming apparatus 20 and the PC 10 constitute an image processing system.
(PC10)
The PC 10 is a normal information processing terminal. However, when transmitting the above-described confidential data to the image forming apparatus 20, the PC 10 executes processing to be described later.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a network I / F that provides a network interface function for connecting to a network N such as a NIC (Network Interface Card).
Reference numeral 12 denotes a memory for storing various control information, 13 denotes a large-capacity recording device, that is, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and 14 denotes a CPU that controls each functional block.

15 is confidential data obtained by protecting print data generated by word processing software, spreadsheet software, etc. with a password, and various data related to the confidential data, that is, the password information, a notification e-mail address (print confirmation notification described later) The confidential mail generation unit 15 generates transmission data including the previous mail address) in an electronic mail format (hereinafter referred to as confidential mail). The password information and a notification e-mail address, which will be described later, are input from a keyboard (not shown) of the PC 10 or the like.
The transmission data can be transmitted not only in the electronic mail format but also in various data formats.

  The confidential email generation unit 15 outputs the created confidential email to the confidential email transmission unit 16, and the transmission unit 16 transmits the confidential email input from the confidential email generation unit 15 to the image forming apparatus 20.

(Image forming apparatus 20)
Reference numeral 21 denotes a network I / F that provides a network interface function, and reference numeral 22 denotes an operation panel for operating the image forming apparatus 20.
FIG. 3 is an external view of the operation panel 22.
The operation panel 22 includes a numeric keypad 22a for inputting a password necessary for printing confidential data, various keys for operating the image forming apparatus 20, a touch panel 22b for displaying status information of the apparatus 20, and the password. An imaging device that captures the input user Y's face photograph, that is, a camera 22c and the like is provided.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a scanning unit that converts a document read by a scanner (not shown) into electronic data. Reference numeral 24 denotes a printing unit that prints electronic data converted by the scanning unit 23, confidential data included in the received confidential mail, and the like. Is a fax unit that performs so-called facsimile processing.
Reference numeral 26 denotes a memory that stores various control information, 27 denotes an HDD that records received confidential mails, and 28 denotes a CPU that controls each functional block.

A confidential mail confirmation unit 29 confirms whether or not the received data received via the network I / F 21 is a confidential mail. If it is confirmed that the received data is a confidential mail, the confidential mail is recorded in the HDD 27.
In the case of not a confidential mail, for example, in the case of normal print data, print data printing processing is executed by the print unit 24.

A confidential mail management unit 30 manages confidential mail recorded in the HDD 27.
A confidential data printing control unit 31 controls various processes related to the printing process of confidential data included in the confidential mail managed by the confidential mail management unit 30.
Reference numeral 32 denotes a confirmation data generation unit that generates confirmation data including a face photograph of a user who has printed confidential data protected by a password. The confirmation data generation unit 32 outputs the generated confirmation data to the confirmation data transmission unit 33.
When the confirmation data transmission unit 33 receives the confirmation data output from the confirmation data generation unit 32, the confirmation data transmission unit 33 sends the confirmation data to the print confirmation notification destination email address (the email address of the user X instructed to transmit to the image forming apparatus 20). Send print confirmation notification email containing data.
Details of the confidential mail management unit 30, the confidential data print control unit 31, the confirmation data generation unit 32, and the confirmation data transmission unit 33 will be described later.

(Management of confidential mail)
The confidential mail management unit 30 manages the confidential mail recorded in the HDD 27 using the confidential mail management table 51 shown in FIG.
That is, for each confidential data included in the sent confidential mail, the password set in the confidential data and the e-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination are extracted and recorded in association with each confidential data.

  Specifically, the confidential mail management unit 30 analyzes the confidential mail recorded in the HDD 27, and sets the confidential data file name, the recording destination of the confidential data in the HDD 27, and the confidential data included in the confidential mail. The received password information, a confirmation data notification e-mail address (e-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination) to be described later, a confidential data name (document ID) column 51a of the confidential mail management table 51, and a confidential data recording destination column, respectively. The confidential mail is managed by setting in 51b, the password information column 51c, and the notification mail address 51 column d.

  Further, when the confidential mail confidential data managed by the confidential mail management table 51 is printed, the management unit 30 prints the date and time when the confidential data was printed and the face photograph of the user who printed the confidential data. The electronic data name (including the recording destination of the electronic data) is set and managed in the print date / time column 51e and the face photo data name column 51f of the table 51.

(Printing confidential data)
The above-described user Y operates a key on the operation panel 22 of the image forming apparatus 20 to store confidential data included in the confidential mail recorded in the HDD 27, for example, “confidential” set in the confidential mail management table 51 of FIG. When the image forming apparatus 20 is instructed to print the document “doc”, the confidential data print control unit 31 displays an input screen for inputting a password set in the confidential data on the touch panel 22 b of the operation panel 22.

  When the user Y inputs a password, the confidential data print control unit 31 determines whether the input password matches the password (a1b2c3) set in the confidential data (confidential data.doc). If they match, the control unit 31 instructs the print unit 24 to print the confidential data, and print processing is executed. If they do not match, printing is not permitted.

  The confidential data print control unit 31 uses the camera 22c of the operation panel 22 to capture the face photograph of the user Y who has instructed the printing, and records it in the HDD 27 as electronic data such as JPEG format. The recorded electronic data name, the recording destination of the recorded electronic data, and the data related to the printing date and time are output to the confidential mail management unit 30. The confidential mail management unit 30 that has received the data prints the recorded electronic data name (facial photo data name) and data related to the printing date and time in the confidential photo management table 51, respectively. Set in the date / time field 51e.

(Generation of confirmation data)
Further, the confidential data printing control unit 31 instructs the confirmation data generating unit 32 to generate confirmation data for confirming the person who has instructed printing of the confidential data. Upon receipt of the instruction, the confirmation data generation unit 32 generates confirmation data based on information set in each column of the confidential mail management table 51 managed by the confidential mail management unit 30, and the confirmation data transmission unit 33. Output to.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the confirmation data 61.
61a is a data setting field for setting information related to the confidential data that has been printed, 61b is a user who has printed the confidential data, and in the above example, is a face photo setting field for setting the face photo of user Y. 61c is a column for setting guidance information.
As described above, when “confidential document.doc” is printed, the confidential data print control unit 31 displays the confidential data name in the confidential mail management table 51 managed by the confidential mail management unit 30 in the data display field 61a. (Document ID) field 51a “Top Secret Material.doc”, Confidential Data Print Date / Time field 51e “2007/11/1 10:00”, information related to the installation location of the image forming apparatus 20 recorded in the memory 26 (For example, Head Office 2F Sales Section 3) is set.
Also, electronic data relating to the face photograph of the user who printed the confidential data is set in the face photograph setting field 61b.

(Sending confirmation data)
Upon receipt of the confirmation data output from the confirmation data generation unit 32, the confirmation data transmission unit 33 notifies the confirmation data corresponding to the confidential data ("confidential document.doc") that has undergone the printing process. The confirmation data is transmitted as an e-mail for print confirmation notification to the mail address (“xxx@hogehoge.com”) set in the address column 51d (see the confidential mail management table 51 in FIG. 4).

The user X of the PC 10 that has received the e-mail including the confirmation data can know who has printed the confidential data transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20. Therefore, the user X can identify the user who printed the confidential data, and can confirm that the user desired by the user X has printed (received) the confidential data.
If confidential data is printed by a third party, the URL shown in the confirmation data display of FIG. 5 is accessed using the browser of the PC 10, and the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the browser. Therefore, it is possible to notify the administrator of the image forming apparatus 20 registered in advance or the security company that confidential data has been printed by a third party.

Here, the process for managing the confidential mail described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the user X inputs a password and a notification e-mail address to be set in print data generated by word processing software, spreadsheet software, etc. from a keyboard (not shown) of the PC 10 (step S1), and generates a confidential e-mail. In this manner, the confidential mail generation unit 15 is instructed (step S2).
Upon receiving the instruction, the confidential mail generation unit 15 generates a confidential mail (step S3) and outputs it to the confidential mail transmission unit 16. The confidential mail transmission unit 16 transmits the received confidential mail to the image forming apparatus 20 (step S4).

  The image forming apparatus 20 receives the confidential mail transmitted by the confidential mail transmission unit 16 and confirms that the confidential mail is the confidential mail by the confidential mail confirmation unit 29 (step S5). The received confidential mail is sent to the HDD 27 of the image forming apparatus. Record (step S6). The confidential mail management unit 30 of the image forming apparatus manages the confidential mail recorded in the HDD 27 based on the confidential mail management table 51 of FIG. 4 (step S7).

Next, the process for transmitting the confirmation data to the mail address of the user X will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Assume that a confidential mail is recorded in the HDD 27 of the image forming apparatus 20 as already described with reference to FIG.
User Y instructs image forming apparatus 20 to print confidential data included in the confidential mail recorded in HDD 27 (step S11).
Upon receiving the instruction, the confidential data print control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 20 displays a password input screen on the touch panel 22b of the operation panel 22 (step S12).

  When the user Y inputs a password, the confidential data print control unit 31 determines whether the input password matches the password set in the confidential data (step S13). If they match (step S14 / YES), the control unit 31 takes a photograph of the face of the user Y using the camera 22c of the operation panel 22 and records it in the HDD 27 as electronic data such as JPEG format (step S14). S15). If they do not match (step S14 / NO), the password input screen is displayed a predetermined number of times, and the process ends.

The confidential data printing control unit 31 instructs the printing unit 24 to print the confidential data and executes a printing process (step S16). Then, the confidential email management unit 30 stores the recorded electronic data name (facial photo data name) and data related to the printing date and time in the facial photo data name column 51f and the printing date column 51e of the confidential email management table 51, respectively. (Step S17).
Next, the confirmation data generation unit 32 generates the confirmation data in FIG. 5 based on the confidential mail management table 51 in FIG. 4 (step S18), and outputs it to the confirmation data transmission unit 33.

  The confirmation data transmitting unit 33 sends the electronic data to the mail address set in the notification mail address column 51d (see the confidential mail management table 51 in FIG. 4) of the confirmation data corresponding to the confidential data subjected to the printing process. The confirmation data is transmitted as an email (step S19).

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, the confirmation data is directly transmitted to the mail address of the user X. However, since the confirmation data includes image data having a large amount of data, it is inconvenient to receive the confirmation data with a portable terminal device such as a cellular phone having a low recording capacity and reception capability.
In the second embodiment, an image forming apparatus that can upload the confirmation data to a predetermined web server 40 (see FIG. 1) will be described. After the upload, if the data is accessed using a browser of the mobile terminal device, the confirmation data can be confirmed as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus 20 ′ capable of uploading confirmation data to the web server 40.
As described above, the confidential data printing control unit 31 generates confirmation data so as to generate confirmation data for confirming the person who instructed printing of the confidential data when the confidential data is printed. The unit 32 ′ is instructed.

Upon receipt of the instruction, the confirmation data generation unit 32 ′ prints at least the captured face photograph and confidential data shown in FIG. 10, for example, based on the confidential mail management table 51 managed by the confidential mail management unit 30. The information confirmation data 62 including information indicating this is generated and output to the confirmation data transmission unit 33 ′. The confirmation data 62 is preferably created in a data format that can be displayed by a browser such as HTML.
Upon receipt of the confirmation data output from the confirmation data generation unit 32 ′, the confirmation data transmission unit 33 ′ uploads the confirmation data to the web server 40 (see FIG. 1).

  Then, the confirmation data generation unit 32 ′, for example, the information 63a indicating that the confidential data has been printed and the URL information indicating the recording location of the web server 40 that uploaded the confirmation data, as shown in FIG. The confirmation mail (print confirmation notice e-mail) 63 including the confirmation data 63b includes a confirmation data notification mail address field 51d corresponding to the confidential data ("confidential document.doc") subjected to the printing process (FIG. 4 is sent to the e-mail address (“xxx@hogehoge.com”) set in the confidential mail management table 51 in FIG.

  When the user X who has received the confirmation mail 63 clicks the URL 63b of the confirmation mail 63, the confirmation data 62 shown in FIG. 10 can be displayed on the browser.

  Next, the process of uploading the confirmation data to the web server 40 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It is assumed that the confidential mail is recorded in the HDD 27 of the image forming apparatus 20 'as already described with reference to FIG.

First, when the same processing as step S11 to step S17 in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed (step S21 to step 27), the confirmation data generation unit 32 ′ is based on the confidential mail management table 51, for example, in FIG. The confirmation data 62 shown is generated (step S28) and output to the confirmation data transmitter 33 ′.
Next, the confirmation data transmission unit 33 ′ uploads the confirmation data 62 to the web server 40 (step S29).

  Then, the confirmation data generation unit 32 ′ converts the confirmation mail 63 shown in FIG. 11 into the confirmation mail notification mail address field 51d (confidential mail in FIG. 4) corresponding to the confidential data subjected to the printing process. It is transmitted to the mail address set in the management table 51 (step S30).

The image forming apparatus 20 may be an MFP (Multi Function Printer) or a facsimile apparatus.
The information processing apparatus that transmits confidential data to the image forming apparatus 20 is not limited to a PC or a portable terminal device, and may be, for example, a facsimile machine.

1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is connected to an information processing apparatus via a network. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is an external view of an operation panel. It is a figure for demonstrating a confidential mail management table. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the data for confirmation. It is the figure which showed an example of the screen for a report. It is a flowchart explaining the process which manages confidential mail. It is a flowchart explaining the process which transmits the data for confirmation to a mail address. It is another block diagram for demonstrating the image forming apparatus concerning this invention. It is the figure which showed the other example of the data for confirmation. It is the figure which showed an example of the mail for confirmation. It is a flowchart explaining the process which uploads the data for confirmation to a web server.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... PC, 11 ... Network I / F, 12 ... Memory, 13 ... HDD, 14 ... CPU, 15 ... Confidential mail generation part, 16 ... Confidential mail transmission part, 20 ... Image forming apparatus, 21 ... Network I / F, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 ... Operation panel, 22a ... Numeric keypad, 22b ... Touch panel, 22c ... Camera, 23 ... Scan part, 24 ... Print part, 25 ... Fax part, 26 ... Memory, 27 ... HDD, 28 ... CPU, 29 ... Confidential mail confirmation part , 30 ... Confidential mail management unit, 31 ... Confidential data print control unit, 32, 32 '... Confirmation data generation unit, 33, 33' ... Confirmation data transmission unit, 40 ... Web server, 41 ... Mail server, 51 ... Confidential mail management table, 61, 62 ... confirmation data, 63 ... confirmation mail.

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus that prints confidential data transmitted from an information processing apparatus,
An imaging device that captures a face photograph of an operator of the image forming apparatus;
For each confidential data transmitted, the password set in the confidential data and the e-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination are extracted and recorded in association with the confidential data,
When the password for printing the confidential data is input and execution of printing of the confidential data is instructed, the imaging device captures a photograph of the face of the operator who has given the instruction, and at least the captured face An image forming apparatus, wherein a print confirmation notification e-mail including a photograph and information indicating that the confidential data has been printed is transmitted to the e-mail address. In an image forming apparatus that prints confidential data transmitted from an information processing apparatus,
An imaging device that captures a face photograph of an operator of the image forming apparatus;
For each confidential data transmitted, the password set in the confidential data and the e-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination are extracted and recorded in association with the confidential data,
When the password for printing the confidential data is input and execution of printing of the confidential data is instructed, the imaging device captures a photograph of the face of the operator who has given the instruction, and at least the captured face Print confirmation data including a photograph and information indicating that the confidential data has been printed is uploaded to a predetermined web server, and at least a print confirmation notification e-mail including URL information of the web server to which the confirmation data is uploaded Is transmitted to the e-mail address.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, and an information processing apparatus that transmits confidential data to the image forming apparatus, a password set in the confidential data, and an e-mail address of a print confirmation notification destination. An image processing system. A data transmission method executed in an image forming apparatus that includes an imaging device that captures a face photograph of an operator of the image forming apparatus and prints confidential data transmitted from the information processing apparatus,
Extracting the password set in the confidential data and the e-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination for each transmitted confidential data, and recording it in association with the confidential data;
When the password for printing the confidential data is input and execution of printing of the confidential data is instructed, the imaging device captures a photograph of the face of the operator who made the instruction;
A data transmission method, comprising: a step of transmitting a print confirmation notification e-mail including at least the captured face photograph and information indicating that the confidential data has been printed to the e-mail address. A data transmission method executed in an image forming apparatus that includes an imaging device that captures a face photograph of an operator of the image forming apparatus and prints confidential data transmitted from the information processing apparatus,
Extracting the password set in the confidential data and the e-mail address of the print confirmation notification destination for each transmitted confidential data, and recording it in association with the confidential data;
When the password for printing the confidential data is input and execution of printing of the confidential data is instructed, the imaging device captures a photograph of the face of the operator who made the instruction;
Uploading print confirmation data including at least the photographed face photograph and information indicating that the confidential data has been printed to a predetermined web server;
A data transmission method comprising the step of: sending a print confirmation notification e-mail including URL information of a web server to which at least the confirmation data is uploaded to the e-mail address.

Images