JP2009219002A - Image processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To normally execute a job by appropriately authenticating an external processing apparatus while using authentication information specific for a user, who has instructed the execution of the job, even after the user logs out. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus includes: a user authentication information accepting means 35 for accepting, from a user, user authentication information for log-in; a job accepting means 32 for accepting, an execution instruction of a job from the user under logging-in with the user authentication information; a storage means 34 for storing the user authentication information accepted by the user authentication information accepting means 35 associating to the job of which the execution instruction has been accepted by the job accepting means 32; and a job execution means 35 for executing the job by accessing an external server while using the user authentication information stored associating to the job in the storage means 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a program.

  In recent years, an authentication system that realizes single sign-on (SSO) using not only user authentication but also authentication to an external server such as a mail server by using the same Kerberos authentication as user authentication has been used in offices. It is becoming. In such an environment, a user who mainly uses a personal computer (hereinafter, “PC”) is assumed, and authentication to an external server is also performed while the user is logged in to the PC. For example, authentication to a mail server (SMTP server) for mail transmission is performed while the user is logged in, and authentication to the mail server is not performed after logout.

  On the other hand, in a digital multifunction device shared by multiple users (hereinafter referred to as a “shared multifunction device”), after the previous user has logged in and instructed the execution of the job, If the system accepts the login of the next user, the next user cannot log in while the job is being executed. For this reason, in the shared multifunction peripheral, a job that the user instructs the multifunction peripheral to execute is operated in the background even after the user logs out in order to ensure productivity and convenience. Therefore, when a job that involves mail transmission is started after logging in to the MFP using Kerberos authentication, the user has already logged out when authentication to the mail server is required for mail transmission.

  In conventional shared MFPs, authentication data common to each user is set as system data in the MFP for access to external servers such as mail servers, and the authentication data is used. Authenticate to an external server. With this method, even after the user logs out, the external server can be accessed using the authentication data common to each user. However, when the MFP is operated alone, it is necessary to prepare common authentication data that is essentially unnecessary. Further, when the external server is a mail server, the mail server side does not have a history that clearly indicates who the user who requested the mail transmission is.

  Patent Document 1 listed below accepts input of a user name and password in a login process in a multifunction machine, and performs user authentication using the user name and password on an external authentication server. It is described that an e-mail address, an SMTP user name, and an SMTP password are acquired, and the mail server is used to perform SMTP authentication, and if authentication is OK, an e-mail is transmitted to the mail server.

JP 2005-149221 A

  The present invention provides a mechanism that can properly execute a job by properly authenticating to an external processing device using user-specific authentication information instructing execution of the job even after the user logs out. The purpose is to do.

  The first aspect of the present invention is the first receiving means for receiving the first authentication information for login from the user, and the second receiving section for receiving a job execution instruction from the user who is logged in with the first authentication information. The first authentication information received by the receiving means and the first receiving means, or the second authentication information acquired from an external authentication device using the first authentication information, or the second authentication information. Storage means for storing the third authentication information acquired from the external authentication device using the second data in association with the job for which the execution instruction has been received by the second reception means, and the storage means for associating the third authentication information with the job. Job execution means for accessing the external processing apparatus using the stored first authentication information, second authentication information or third authentication information and executing the job. It is a processing apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect further comprises an erasing unit that erases authentication information used for executing the job after the job execution unit finishes executing the job. Features.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, whether or not the job whose execution instruction has been received by the second reception unit is a job that requires access to an external processing apparatus. Determining means for determining, and when the determining means determines that the job is a job that requires access to an external processing device, the first authentication information, the second authentication information, or the The third authentication information is stored in association with the job.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect, the erasing unit erases the authentication information when the job execution unit finishes executing the job.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a first step of accepting first authentication information for login from a user, and a second step of accepting a job execution instruction from a user who is logged in with the first authentication information. And using the first authentication information received in the first step, the second authentication information acquired from an external authentication device using the first authentication information, or the second authentication information. A third step of storing third authentication information acquired from an external authentication device in association with the job whose execution instruction has been received in the second step, and associating with the job in the third step. A fourth step of accessing the external processing device using the stored first authentication information, the second authentication information, or the third authentication information and executing the job; Is a program for executing.

  According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, even after the user logs out, the user is properly authenticated by using the authentication information unique to the user who has instructed execution of the job to properly execute the job. Can be executed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the opportunity for unauthorized use of authentication information used for job execution by deleting the authentication information.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, authentication information can be stored in association with only a job that needs to access an external processing apparatus.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the storage period of authentication information stored in association with a job to the minimum necessary. For this reason, it is possible to improve memory utilization efficiency and security.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various modifications and improvements have been made within the scope of deriving specific effects obtained by the constituent requirements of the invention and combinations thereof. Also includes form.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing apparatus 100 constitutes, for example, a digital multi-function peripheral, and mainly includes a controller 1, an operation panel 2, a scanner unit 3, and a printer unit 4.

  The controller 1 controls the overall processing operation of the image processing apparatus 100. The controller 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 5, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 6, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 7, a nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) 8, and a hard disk (HDD; Hard Disk Drive) 9. An image processing unit 10, a panel interface 11, a communication interface 12, a device interface 13, a LAN connection unit 14, a serial connection unit 15, a USB connection unit 16, and a modem 17. Among these, the CPU 5, the ROM 6, the RAM 7, the nonvolatile memory 8, the hard disk 9, the image processing unit 10, the panel interface 11, the communication interface 12, and the device interface 13 each have a common bus (memory bus). , PCI bus, etc.) 18.

  The CPU 5 executes various processes in accordance with control programs and processing programs (including electronic mail software) stored in the ROM 6. The ROM 6 stores the control program, fixed data for control, and the like. The ROM 6 is a read-only memory, but can also be configured using a flash memory that can electrically erase and write data. The RAM 7 is used as a system memory for program operation, a page memory for image processing, and the like.

  The nonvolatile memory 8 is used to store nonvolatile data, image quality adjustment, various setting parameters, various history data, and the like. The hard disk 9 is a large-capacity data storage device and is used for storing image data, various history data, and the like. In addition, a confidential box for storing image data can be opened on the hard disk 9 by allocating a part of the storage area for each user. The confidential box is used as a personal box (personal post box) for the user. For this reason, when a confidential box is opened on the hard disk 9, password setting (registration) is performed together with identification information (such as a box name) of the confidential box.

  The image processing unit 10 performs various types of image processing (for example, color conversion, color correction, gradation correction, expansion / compression, image rotation, screen generation, etc.) on image data according to a preset image processing program. It is. The panel interface 11 exchanges operation data with the operation panel 2 serving as a user interface.

  The communication interface 12 is an interface for connecting various external devices to the image processing device or connecting the image processing device to a network. The device interface 13 exchanges various data (image data, control data, etc.) with the input / output device.

  The LAN connection unit 14 is for connecting the image processing apparatus to a network constructed by a LAN (Local Area Network). For example, the LAN connection unit 14 connects to a network using 10Base-T, 100Base-T, or various wireless LANs. . The serial connection unit 15 is for connecting various serial devices that transfer data in a serial manner to the image processing apparatus 100.

  The USB connection unit 16 is used to connect various USB devices that transfer data according to the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard to the image processing apparatus 100. For example, the USB connection unit 16 is a device that supports the USB 1.1 standard or USB 2.0. To connect devices that support the above. The modem 17 includes a modem control unit for connecting to a public line, and implements a fax data transmission / reception function.

  On the other hand, the operation panel 2 serves as a user interface for a user using the image processing apparatus 100 to input various information or display various information to the user. The operation panel 2 includes, for example, a display unit 21 including a liquid crystal display with a touch panel, and an operation unit 22 using various buttons, switches, keys, and the like.

  The scanner unit 3 serves as an input device for inputting image data. The scanner unit 3 includes an image scanner that optically reads an image of a document set (placed) on a document table such as a platen glass and converts the image into image data (digital data). The scanner unit 3 can employ a configuration including an automatic document conveyance function for conveying a document to be read one by one to an image reading position and a double-sided reading function for reading images on both sides of the document. The printer unit 4 is an output device that outputs image data. The printer unit 4 includes a print engine that prints an image corresponding to print data on a recording medium such as paper using ink, toner, or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system including the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the image processing apparatus 100 is shared by an authentication server 200 that exists as an external authentication apparatus and a mail server 300 that exists as an external processing apparatus (service providing apparatus) when viewed from the image processing apparatus 100. Connected to the network 400. The authentication server 200 receives an authentication request from the image processing apparatus 100, performs predetermined authentication processing, and notifies the image processing apparatus 100 of the authentication result. The mail server 300 is composed of, for example, an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server, and is designated as a mail destination upon receiving an e-mail (hereinafter, simply referred to as “mail”) transmission request from the image processing apparatus 100. The electronic mail transmitted from the image processing apparatus 100 is transferred to a mail server specified by the domain of the mail address.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration realized by the image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The user authentication information accepting unit 31 accepts input of user authentication information from a user who uses (operates) the image processing apparatus 100. The job reception unit 32 receives a job from a user who uses the image processing apparatus 100 and is authenticated as a regular user (a user permitted to use the image forming apparatus 1) by inputting user authentication information. An execution instruction is accepted. The “job” described here means a processing instruction.

  The external access necessity determination unit 23 determines whether a job that has received an execution instruction from a user is a job that requires access to an external processing apparatus (the mail server 300 in this embodiment). In the determination process of the external access necessity determination unit 23, for example, a job type that requires access to an external processing device is registered (stored) in the nonvolatile memory 8 in advance, and an execution instruction is actually received from the user. If the type of the registered job is registered in the non-volatile memory 8, it is determined that “access is required”, and if it is not registered, it is determined that “access is not required”. “Access” described here means connection of communication performed via a network.

  The storage unit 34 stores the user authentication information (user ID, password) received from the user by the user authentication information receiving unit 31 in association with the job whose execution instruction is received from the user by the job receiving unit 32. is there. The user authentication information is associated with the job by adding the user authentication information to the job information including the job type and job conditions designated (selected) by the user when the job execution is instructed.

  The job execution unit 35 executes a job that has been received from the user by the job reception unit 32 in accordance with the job processing conditions specified by the execution instruction. The erasing unit 36 erases the authentication information used for executing the job after the job execution unit 35 finishes executing the job. For example, if the authentication information used for job execution is stored in the RAM 7, the erasure unit 36 erases the authentication information from the RAM 7 after the job execution is completed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the entire system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the authentication server 200 is an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server and the mail server 300 is an SMTP server.

  First, in the image processing apparatus 100, a login screen is displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 2 (step S1). The login screen is displayed as an operation screen for accepting input of user authentication information necessary for the user to log in to the image processing apparatus 100. When the user inputs a user ID and a password using the operation unit 22 of the operation panel 2 and requests login by displaying the login screen, the image processing apparatus 100 displays the user authentication information (user ID / user ID / password). The password is taken in and stored in the RAM 7 (step S2). Steps S1 and S2 are performed by the user authentication information receiving means 31.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 requests the authentication server 200 to authenticate the user using the user authentication information stored in the RAM 7 (step S3). At this time, the image processing apparatus 100 notifies the authentication server 200 of user authentication information (user ID / password) together with the authentication request. In the authentication database provided in the authentication server 200, user authentication information corresponding to all users (all regular users) who are permitted to use the image processing apparatus 100 is registered (stored) in advance for each user. Therefore, the authentication server 200 that has received the authentication request from the image processing apparatus 100 checks whether information matching the user authentication information notified together with the authentication request is registered in the database, and is registered. If yes, the authentication result “authentication OK” is returned to the image processing apparatus 100, and if not registered, the authentication result “authentication NG” is returned to the image processing apparatus 100 (step S4).

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the authentication result returned from the authentication server 200 is “authentication OK” (step S5). If the authentication result is not “authentication OK” but “authentication NG”, the user authentication information stored in the RAM 7 is erased (step S6), and then the login screen is displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 2. Return to the display.

  On the other hand, if the authentication result returned from the authentication server 200 is “authentication OK”, a job selection screen is displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 2 (step S7). The job selection screen is displayed as an operation screen for allowing a logged-in user who has been authenticated as a regular user by the authentication server 200 to select a desired job (job type, condition, etc.). Therefore, the user operates the operation unit 22 to select a desired job, and finally presses a start button provided on the operation unit 22, for example, to instruct execution of the job. When the user issues a job execution instruction using the operation panel 2 in this way, the job reception means 32 receives the execution instruction. Also, job information (job type, job condition, etc.) specified by the user on the job selection screen is stored and held in the RAM 7 until the job execution means 35 finishes executing the job based on the job information. When the job type included in the job information is, for example, a scan job, for example, a resolution applied to reading of a document image, a scan color mode, or the like is designated as a job condition. The scan color mode includes a monochrome mode for reading a document image as a monochrome image and a color mode for reading a document image as a color image.

  Next, in the image processing apparatus 100, it is determined whether or not the job that has received an execution instruction from the user is a job that requires access to an external processing apparatus (step S8). This determination is performed by the external access necessity determination unit 33. As a job that requires access to an external processing device, for example, a scan job that sends an image of a document read by the scanner unit 3 to a general mail address as an email attachment, or an email mechanism There are an Internet fax (IFAX) job for transmitting and receiving a fax document via the Internet, and a job for transferring an image of a document read by the scanner unit 3 to an external server using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). When instructing execution of a scan job that involves mail transmission, the user designates the destination mail address as the mail destination on the job selection screen. In addition, it may be specified whether to encrypt mail. All information specified by the user on the job selection screen is included in the job information. Therefore, in this case, it is determined whether or not the job requires access to an external processing device depending on whether or not the mail address is specified as the destination in the job information received from the user by the job receiving means 32. May be.

  If it is determined as a result of the determination in step S8 that the job does not require access to an external processing apparatus (No in step S9), the image processing apparatus 100 starts a job that has received an execution instruction from the user. (Step S10). Starting a job means generating a new job based on job information designated by the user using the job selection screen. The job activated (generated) here is executed immediately when it is registered in the job list waiting for processing or not waiting for processing depending on the operation status of the image processing apparatus 100 at that time. There is a case. For example, when a fax transmission job is newly started and if a previously received fax transmission job is being executed by the modem 17, the newly started fax job is registered in the job list while waiting for processing. . If the modem 17 is on standby when a fax transmission job is newly activated, the newly activated fax transmission job is immediately executed using the modem 17. Jobs registered in the job list while waiting for processing are executed when the processing order is changed.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 deletes the user authentication information stored in the RAM 7 (step S11), executes the job based on the job information stored in the RAM 7 (step S12), and finishes it. Then return to the state where the login screen is displayed. Incidentally, as jobs that do not require access to an external processing apparatus, in addition to basic jobs such as copy jobs, print jobs, scan jobs, and fax jobs, for example, an image of a document read by the scanner unit 3 is a job. There are jobs to be stored in the confidential box specified by the user in the information.

  On the other hand, when it is determined as a determination result in step S8 that the job requires access to an external processing apparatus (Yes in step S9), the image processing apparatus 100 sets user authentication information as job information. Therefore, the job information and the user authentication information are associated with each other (in other words, the job information to which the user authentication information is added) are stored in the RAM 7 (step S13). This processing is performed by the storage means 34. Here, the user authentication information (user ID / password) associated with the job information corresponds to “first authentication information”.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 activates a job that has received an execution instruction from the user (step S14), and then the user requests an operation for requesting logout on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 2 (for example, In response to the request, the user authentication information stored in the RAM 7 is erased (step S15).

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 executes a job based on the job information stored in the RAM 7 (step S16). The job is executed by the job execution means 35. As an example, when an instruction to execute a scan job involving mail transmission is received from a user, the mail server (SMTP server) 24 is accessed to request SMTP authentication (step S16A). At this time, user authentication information (user ID / password) is notified from the image processing apparatus 100 to the mail server 300 together with the authentication request. Therefore, the mail server 300 that has received the authentication request from the image processing apparatus 100 performs SMTP authentication using the user authentication information notified together with the authentication request (step S17), and the authentication result (authentication OK / Authentication NG) is returned to the image processing apparatus 100. In the SMTP authentication of the mail server 300, the user authentication information that the image processing apparatus 100 has received from the user on the login screen is used as it is.

  Next, in the image processing apparatus 100, if the authentication result returned from the mail server 300 is “authentication OK”, the mail attached with the image of the document read by the scanner unit 3 is read from the job information (mail). Address) is designated and transmitted to the mail server 300 (step S16B). Then, the mail server 300 performs SMTP transmission of the mail transmitted from the image processing apparatus 100 (step S18). Incidentally, if the authentication result returned from the mail server 300 is “authentication NG”, mail transmission from the image processing apparatus 100 to the mail server 300 is not performed.

  Next, in the image processing apparatus 100, after the job execution is completed based on the job information, the user authentication information stored in the RAM 7 in association with the job information is stored together with the job information (simultaneously) from the RAM 7. Erasing is performed (step S19). Here, it is assumed that the user authentication information stored in association with the job information is deleted when the execution of the job is finished. This processing is performed by the erasing means 36. After that, it returns to the state where the login screen is displayed.

  In the above processing flow, the time when the user authentication information (user ID / password) entered by the user on the login screen is accepted is the time when the user logs in, and the time when the logout request operation is accepted from the user. As shown in FIG. 5, the job execution instruction is accepted from the logged-in user with the user authentication information. Further, when a period from when a job is started in the image processing apparatus 100 to when the execution of the job is completed is referred to as a “job period”, an external processing apparatus (e-mail) using user authentication information stored in association with the job information Access to the server 300) will be made during the job period. At this time, if the user logs out after the user instructs execution of the job and before the image processing apparatus 100 executes the job, the execution of the job for which the execution instruction has been received from the user is determined by the user authentication information. This will be done after the logged-in user logs out. The life of user authentication information in the image processing apparatus 100 is defined by the user login period, and the life of user authentication information stored in association with the job information is defined by the job period.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration realized by the image processing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, in addition to the functional means mentioned in the first embodiment, an authentication ticket acquisition means 37 is provided. The authentication ticket acquisition unit 37 acquires an authentication ticket from the authentication server 200 using the user authentication information (user ID, password) received by the user authentication information reception unit 31 from the user. In this case, the storage unit 34 stores the authentication ticket acquired by the authentication ticket acquisition unit 37 in association with the job whose execution instruction is received from the user by the job reception unit 32. In the second embodiment, it is assumed that the authentication server 200 is a Kerberos server and the mail server 300 is an SMTP server. The Kerberos server is an authentication server that realizes an authentication method using encryption called Kerberos authentication. Kerberos authentication is a mechanism that allows users to use multiple services once they are authenticated. In Kerberos authentication, as user authentication information, information called a realm is required in addition to the user ID and password, but in this embodiment, the realm is omitted for the sake of simplicity.

  Here, the mechanism of single sign-on using the Kerberos server will be briefly described with reference to FIG. First, the image processing apparatus 100 issues an authentication request (authentication ticket request) to the Kerberos server 201. When the authentication is successful, the Kerberos server 201 issues an authentication ticket (TGT; Ticket Granting Ticket), and authenticates the authentication ticket. As a result, the image processing apparatus 100 receives it. Next, the image processing apparatus 100 presents a previously acquired authentication ticket, and requests the Kerberos server 201 for a service ticket that is a right to use the target server (such as a mail server) 301 that is actually desired to access (use the service). In response to the request, the Kerberos server 201 issues a service ticket, and the image processing apparatus 100 receives the service ticket. Next, when the image processing apparatus 100 transmits the service ticket acquired in advance to the target server 301, the target server 301 that has received this authenticates (recognizes) the user based on the service ticket, and completes the authentication. Notify

  At this time, no password is exchanged between the image processing apparatus 100 and the Kerberos server 201. An encryption technique based on a common key encryption method is used for communication between the image processing apparatus 100 and the Kerberos server 201. For example, when the image processing apparatus 100 requests the Kerberos server 201 for authentication (issuance of an authentication ticket), prior to that, the image processing apparatus 100 uses the password among the user ID and password received from the user as the encryption key. The time stamp (current date and time) is encrypted as follows, and the encrypted data obtained thereby is sent to the Kerberos server 201 together with the user ID. On the other hand, the Kerberos server 201 decrypts the encrypted data using the password registered in the authentication database in association with the user ID as a decryption key. At this time, if the password used for the decryption is the same as the password used for the encryption, the time stamp is decrypted as it was. The Kerberos server 201 issues an authentication ticket as authentication OK if the time indicated by the time stamp decrypted with the password is within a predetermined time from the current time. The authentication ticket describes at least the authenticated user ID and the expiration date of the ticket. Further, information (user ID + ticket expiration date) described in the authentication ticket is returned to the image processing apparatus 100 in a state where the information is encrypted using the password as an encryption key.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the entire system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. First, in the image processing apparatus 100, a login screen is displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 2 (step S21). Then, when the user inputs a user ID and password using the operation unit 22 of the operation panel 2 and requests to log in while the login screen is displayed, the image processing apparatus 100 displays the user authentication information (user ID). / Password). The processing so far is performed by the user authentication information receiving means 31.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 requests user authentication from the authentication server 200 using the user authentication information captured earlier (step S22). Upon receiving the authentication request from the image processing apparatus 100, the authentication server 200 performs a user authentication process using the information notified together with the authentication request, and issues an authentication ticket if the authentication is successful (step S23). The authentication ticket is returned to the image processing apparatus 100 as an authentication result of “authentication OK”. Then, the image processing apparatus 100 acquires the authentication ticket sent from the authentication server 200. Processing related to acquisition of the authentication ticket is performed by the authentication ticket acquisition means 37. If the authentication server 200 fails in authentication, the authentication server 200 returns “authentication NG” to the image processing apparatus 100 as an authentication result without issuing an authentication ticket.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the authentication result returned from the authentication server 200 is “authentication OK” (step S24). If the authentication result is not “authentication OK” but “authentication NG”, the screen returns to the state where the login screen is displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 2. On the other hand, when the authentication result returned from the authentication server 200 is “authentication OK”, the previously acquired authentication ticket is stored in the RAM 7 (step S25), and then displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 2. A job selection screen is displayed (step S26).

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 checks whether the job stored in the RAM 7 in response to the execution instruction from the user is included in the job type stored in the non-volatile memory 8 and requires access to an external processing apparatus. Is determined (step S27). If it is determined in step S27 that the job does not require access to an external processing apparatus (No in step S28), the image processing apparatus 100 executes a job for which an execution instruction has been received from the user. Start (step S29). The access necessity determination is performed by the external access necessity determination means 33.

  Next, after erasing the authentication ticket stored in the RAM 7 (step S30), the image processing apparatus 100 executes a job based on the job information stored in the RAM 7 (step S31). Return to the state where the login screen is displayed.

  If it is determined as a determination result in step S27 that the job requires access to an external processing apparatus (Yes in step S28), the image processing apparatus 100 sets an authentication ticket in the job information. Accordingly, the job information and the authentication ticket are associated with each other (in other words, the job information to which the authentication ticket is added) are stored in the RAM 7 (step S32). This processing is performed by the storage means 34. Here, the authentication ticket associated with the job information corresponds to “second authentication information”.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 starts a job that has received an execution instruction from the user (step S33), and then the user requests an operation for requesting logout on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 2 (for example, In response to the request, the authentication ticket stored in the RAM 7 is erased (step S34).

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 executes a job based on the job information stored in the RAM 7 (step S35). The job is executed by the job execution means 35. As an example, when an instruction to execute a scan job involving mail transmission is received from a user, first, the authentication server 200 is accessed using an authentication ticket associated with the job information, and a service ticket is requested. In response to this request, the authentication server 200 acquires the service ticket issued / returned in step S36 (step S35A). That is, the job execution means 35 has a function of acquiring a service ticket necessary for executing a job. The service ticket issued by the authentication server 200 describes at least the authenticated user ID, the expiration date of the ticket, and identification information of the target server (the mail server 300 in this embodiment). Next, the service ticket acquired previously is transmitted to the mail server (SMTP server) 24 to request SMTP authentication (step S35B). Upon receiving the authentication request from the image processing apparatus 100, the mail server 300 performs SMTP authentication based on the description contents of the service ticket notified together with the authentication request (step S37), and the authentication result (authentication OK / authentication). NG) is returned to the image processing apparatus 100. In the SMTP authentication of the mail server 300, among the information described in the service ticket sent from the image processing apparatus 100, it is confirmed whether the identification information of the target server is information indicating the own apparatus, and the current date and time is the ticket. It is confirmed whether it is within the expiration date. When the authentication OK is confirmed, a history indicating that the user ID described in the service ticket has been authenticated by SMTP is left.

  Next, in the image processing apparatus 100, if the authentication result returned from the mail server 300 is “authentication OK”, the mail attached with the image of the document read by the scanner unit 3 is read from the job information (mail). Address) is designated and transmitted to the mail server 300 (step S35C). Then, the mail server 300 performs SMTP transmission of the mail transmitted from the image processing apparatus 100 (step S38). Incidentally, if the authentication result returned from the mail server 300 is “authentication NG”, mail transmission from the image processing apparatus 100 to the mail server 300 is not performed.

  Next, in the image processing apparatus 100, after the job execution is completed based on the job information, the authentication ticket stored in the RAM 7 in association with the job information is erased from the RAM 7 together with the job information (simultaneously). (Step S39). Here, it is assumed that the authentication ticket stored in association with the job information is deleted when the execution of the job is finished. Further, when the service ticket acquired from the authentication server 200 is stored in the RAM 7, the service ticket is deleted from the RAM 7 when the job execution is finished (not shown), similarly to the authentication ticket. This processing is performed by the erasing means 36. After that, it returns to the state where the login screen is displayed.

  In the above processing flow, the time when the user authentication information (user ID / password) entered by the user on the login screen is accepted is the time when the user logs in, and the time when the logout request operation is accepted from the user. As shown in FIG. 9, the job execution instruction is accepted from the logged-in user with the user authentication information. Further, when a period from when a job is started in the image processing apparatus 100 to when the job is finished is “job period”, an external processing apparatus (mail server) using an authentication ticket stored in association with the job information 300) will be made during the job period. At this time, if the user logs out after the user instructs execution of the job and before the image processing apparatus 100 executes the job, the execution of the job for which the execution instruction has been received from the user is determined by the user authentication information. This will be done after the logged-in user logs out. The life of the user authentication information in the image processing apparatus 100 is defined by a period from when the user logs in until the authentication ticket is acquired. The life of the authentication ticket stored in the RAM 7 is obtained by acquiring the authentication ticket. The life of the authentication ticket that is defined in the period from when the user logs out until the user logs out and stored in association with the job information is defined in the period from when the job is started until the job is terminated.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration realized by the image processing apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, in addition to the functional means mentioned in the third embodiment, a service ticket acquisition means 38 is provided. The service ticket acquisition unit 38 acquires a service ticket from the authentication server 200 using the authentication ticket acquired by the authentication ticket acquisition unit 37. In this case, the storage unit 34 stores the service ticket acquired by the service ticket acquisition unit 38 in association with the job whose execution instruction is received from the user by the job reception unit 32. In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, it is assumed that the authentication server 200 is a Kerberos server and the mail server 300 is an SMTP server.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the entire system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. First, the processes of steps S41 to S51 are performed in the same manner as the processes of steps S21 to S31 in the second embodiment. If it is determined as a result of the determination in step S47 that the job requires access to an external processing apparatus (Yes in step S48), the image processing apparatus 100 requires a service ticket necessary for executing the job. Is acquired (step S52). This acquisition process is performed by the service ticket acquisition means 38. That is, the service ticket acquisition unit 38 requests a service ticket from the authentication server 200 using the authentication ticket stored in the RAM 7, and receives the request and acquires the service ticket issued / replied by the authentication server 200 in step S53. To do.

  Next, in order to set the service ticket as job information, the image processing apparatus 100 associates the service ticket acquired in step S52 with the job information stored in the RAM 7 and the job information ( In other words, the job information added with the service ticket) is stored in the RAM 7 (step S54). This processing is performed by the storage means 34. Here, the service ticket associated with the job information corresponds to “third authentication information”.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 activates a job for which an execution instruction has been received from the user (step S55), and then the user requests an operation for requesting logout on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 2 (for example, In response to the request, the authentication ticket stored in the RAM 7 is erased (step S56). If the service ticket acquired from the authentication server 200 is stored in the RAM 7, the service ticket is deleted from the RAM 7 when the job is activated, as in the case of the authentication ticket.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 100 executes a job based on the job information stored in the RAM 7 (step S57). The job is executed by the job execution means 35. As an example, when an instruction to execute a scan job involving mail transmission is received from a user, first, the mail server (SMTP server) 24 is accessed using the service ticket associated with the job information, and the service ticket is Based on SMTP authentication is requested (step S57A). Upon receiving the authentication request from the image processing apparatus 100, the mail server 300 performs SMTP authentication based on the description contents of the service ticket notified together with the authentication request (step S58), and the authentication result (authentication OK / authentication). NG) is returned to the image processing apparatus 100.

  Next, in the image processing apparatus 100, if the authentication result returned from the mail server 300 is “authentication OK”, the mail attached with the image of the document read by the scanner unit 3 is read from the job information (mail). Address) is designated and transmitted to the mail server 300 (step S57B). Then, the mail server 300 performs SMTP transmission of the mail transmitted from the image processing apparatus 100 (step S59). Incidentally, if the authentication result returned from the mail server 300 is “authentication NG”, mail transmission from the image processing apparatus 100 to the mail server 300 is not performed.

  Next, in the image processing apparatus 100, after the job execution is completed based on the job information, the service ticket stored in the RAM 7 in association with the job information is deleted from the RAM 7 together with the job information (simultaneously). (Step S60). Here, the erasure unit 36 performs this process in which the service ticket stored in association with the job information is erased when the execution of the job is finished. After that, it returns to the state where the login screen is displayed.

  In the above processing flow, the time when the user authentication information (user ID / password) entered by the user on the login screen is accepted is the time when the user logs in, and the time when the logout request operation is accepted from the user. As shown in FIG. 12, a job execution instruction is accepted from a logged-in user with user authentication information, and a service ticket is acquired in advance, as shown in FIG. Further, when a period from when a job is started in the image processing apparatus 100 to when the execution of the job is finished is a “job period”, an external processing apparatus (mail server) using a service ticket stored in association with the job information 300) will be made during the job period. At this time, if the user logs out after the user instructs execution of the job and before the image processing apparatus 100 executes the job, the execution of the job for which the execution instruction has been received from the user is determined by the user authentication information. This will be done after the logged-in user logs out. The life of the user authentication information in the image processing apparatus 100 is defined by a period from when the user logs in until the authentication ticket is acquired. The life of the authentication ticket stored in the RAM 7 is obtained by acquiring the authentication ticket. The life of the service ticket that is defined in the period from the user to logout and stored in association with the job information is defined in the job period.

  The authentication ticket or service ticket issued by the authentication server 200 describes the expiration date of the ticket that clearly indicates how long the ticket can be used effectively. Therefore, the authentication information used to execute the job (corresponding to the job information) If the authentication information) is an authentication ticket or a service ticket, the ticket (authentication) used for job execution after the job execution end time is passed instead of the job execution end time. When the expiration date of the ticket or the service ticket expires, the ticket may be deleted.

  A program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the image processing apparatus 100 described in the first to third embodiments may be extracted as an invention. The program for that purpose may be installed in the image processing apparatus 100 in advance, or an optical disk (including CD-ROM and DVD), a magnetic disk (including FD), a magneto-optical disk (including MD), a semiconductor memory, and the like. It may be provided by being stored in a computer-readable recording medium, or may be provided via a wired or wireless communication network.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system containing the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure implement | achieved by the image processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the whole system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the timing of the process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure implement | achieved by the image processing apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the mechanism of the single sign-on using a Kerberos server. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the whole system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the timing of the process which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure implement | achieved by the image processing apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the whole system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the timing of the process which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Controller, 2 ... Operation panel, 3 ... Scanner part, 4 ... Printer part, 31 ... User authentication information reception means, 32 ... Job reception means, 33 ... External access necessity determination means, 34 ... Storage means, 35 ... Job Execution means, 36 ... erasure means, 37 ... authentication ticket acquisition means, 38 ... service ticket acquisition means, 100 ... image processing apparatus, 200 ... authentication server, 300 ... mail server

Claims (5)

First accepting means for accepting first authentication information for login from a user;
Second receiving means for receiving a job execution instruction from a user who is logged in with the first authentication information;
The first authentication information received by the first receiving means, the second authentication information acquired from an external authentication device using the first authentication information, or the second authentication information acquired using the second authentication information Storage means for storing the third authentication information acquired from the authentication apparatus in association with the job whose execution instruction has been received by the second receiving means;
Job execution for accessing the external processing device using the first authentication information, the second authentication information, or the third authentication information stored in association with the job in the storage unit and executing the job An image processing apparatus comprising: means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
An image processing apparatus comprising: an erasing unit that erases authentication information used for executing the job after the job execution unit finishes executing the job. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
Determining means for determining whether the job whose execution instruction has been received by the second receiving means is a job that requires access to an external processing apparatus;
When the determination unit determines that the determination unit is a job that requires access to an external processing device, the storage unit stores the first authentication information, the second authentication information, or the third authentication information. An image processing apparatus characterized by being stored in association with the job. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2.
The image processing apparatus, wherein the erasure unit erases the authentication information when the job execution unit finishes executing the job. A first step of accepting first authentication information for login from a user;
A second step of accepting a job execution instruction from a user who is logged in with the first authentication information;
The first authentication information received in the first step, the second authentication information acquired from an external authentication device using the first authentication information, or the external information using the second authentication information A third step of storing the third authentication information acquired from the authentication device in association with the job whose execution instruction has been received in the second step;
Using the first authentication information, the second authentication information, or the third authentication information stored in association with the job in the third step, an external processing device is accessed to execute the job A program for causing a computer to execute the fourth step.

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