JP2010177877A - Facsimile apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile apparatus capable of reliably suppressing information leakage of a printed matter. <P>SOLUTION: A facsimile apparatus 1s records image data of an original and a recording destination address of the image data (S1), and sets an access password to the image data (S2). The facsimile apparatus 1s generates and transmits the image data of a discrimination sign containing the address information of recording destination (S3). A facsimile apparatus 1r that has received the discrimination sign prints the discrimination sign as a printed matter 3 (S4). When a user R executes an access request designation operation, the facsimile apparatus 1r transmits the recording destination address information and an input password (S7). When confirming agreement between the received password and set password, the facsimile apparatus 1s that has received the password and the like permits access to the image data of an original (S8). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile transmission / reception apparatus capable of suppressing information leakage of printed matter related to image data of a document.

  As is well known, when receiving image data of a document, the facsimile apparatus automatically prints the image data of the document and discharges the printed matter to a print tray. Since the printed matter remains discharged on the print tray, anyone can see the printed matter, and information leakage of the printed matter is likely to occur.

  Therefore, various methods for suppressing information leakage of printed matter related to image data of a document have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses image information communication that can generate and transmit image data obtained by combining image data of a document generated by scanning a document for transmission and watermark data (background pattern data) such as “top secret”. A control device (facsimile device) is disclosed.

  In the facsimile apparatus that has received the image data, those who are not authorized to view the printed matter on which the watermark such as “confidential” is printed have the character “confidential” printed on them, so that the contents of the printed matter are viewed. Psychological suppression works against this, and information leakage of printed matter can be suppressed.

JP 2002-44420 A

  However, with the conventional method, the characters “confidential” are simply printed, and those who do not have the authority to view the printed material cannot physically regulate the viewing of the printed material. , Information leakage of printed matter cannot be reliably suppressed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a facsimile apparatus that can reliably prevent information leakage of printed matter.

  The first technical means includes a reading unit that reads an original and generates image data, a facsimile communication unit that transmits and receives image data, a password setting unit that sets a password for accessing the image data of the original, and an image of the original A recording unit for recording data, a generating unit for generating an identification symbol including recording destination address information of the image data of the original, and an analysis for analyzing the received identification symbol and obtaining recording destination address information included in the identification symbol And a password verification unit for recording image data of a document generated based on reading of a transmission document and setting of a password in the recording unit, and identification including recording destination address information of the image data of the document Generates a symbol, transmits image data of the identification symbol, and recording destination address information included in the received image data of the identification symbol By the matching fine password, a facsimile apparatus and controls the access to the image data of a document recorded in the recording unit.

  2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second technical means is the first technical means, wherein the identification symbol is a QR code (registered trademark).

  According to a third technical means, in the first or second technical means, the image data of the identification symbol is transmitted via the facsimile communication unit.

  The fourth technical means transmits the image data of the original document via the facsimile communication unit when access to the image data of the original document is permitted in any of the first to third technical means. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, since only a predetermined person can access the image data of the document, it is possible to reliably suppress the leakage of information on the printed matter related to the image data of the document.

It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of this invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. It is an example of a password setting screen. It is an example of a password input screen. It is a 1st flowchart for demonstrating the processing content of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a 2nd flowchart for demonstrating the processing content of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on this invention.

The outline of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
1s is a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention on the transmission side, and 1r is a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention on the reception side. Both facsimile apparatuses (1s, 1r) are connected via a network such as a public network, the Internet, an intranet, or the like.

First, when the user S of the facsimile apparatus 1s sets, for example, a facsimile transmission document 2 requiring confidentiality on the ADF and executes a destination fax number input operation and a facsimile transmission instruction operation, the scanner of the facsimile apparatus 1s. Scans the original and records the image data of the original on the recording unit (step S1). At this time, recording destination address information of the image data of the original, for example, a file path (\\ Fax \ userx \ 2009_02_01.dat) or URL (http: //xxx.yyy.zzz.wwww/fax/userx/2009_02_01.dat) ) Is also recorded in the recording unit.
The destination fax number corresponds to, for example, the facsimile machine 1r.

  Further, the password for access to the image data of the document input by the user S is set in the image data of the document (step S2).

  Then, the facsimile apparatus 1s generates image data of an identification symbol such as a QR code including the recording destination address information of the image data of the original document (hereinafter referred to as an identification symbol), and the identification fax is assigned to the specified destination fax number. The symbol is transmitted by facsimile (step S3). An identification symbol may be transmitted with a recipient name.

  In addition, the user S notifies the transmission partner user R of information related to the destination facsimile apparatus such as a password and a destination telephone number set by telephone, e-mail, or the like.

Receiving the identification symbol, the facsimile machine 1r prints out the identification symbol as a printed matter 3 (step S4).
In order to access the document image data recorded in the recording unit of the facsimile apparatus 1s, the user R sets the printed matter 3 on which the identification symbol is printed in the ADF, and executes a scan start instruction operation. Then, the facsimile machine 1r scans the printed matter 3, analyzes the identification symbol, obtains recording destination address information, and displays a password input screen (step S5).

  When the user R inputs a password via the password input screen (step S6), the facsimile apparatus 1r, together with the access request for the original image data to the facsimile apparatus 1s, the recording destination address information obtained by the analysis, and The input password is transmitted (step S7).

  The facsimile machine 1s that has received the password or the like collates the password set in step S2 (the password set by the user S) with the password input in step S6 (the password entered by the user R). If a match is confirmed, access by the user R to the image data of the original document recorded in the recording unit is permitted (step S8).

  The user R who is permitted to access receives the image data of the original document recorded in the recording unit of the facsimile apparatus 1s by facsimile, or downloads the image data of the original document to the facsimile apparatus 1r and is portable. Can be stored in memory.

Next, the facsimile apparatus 1 (1r, 1s) according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the facsimile machine 1.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a network I / F that provides an interface function with respect to the network N and executes data transmission / reception with other facsimile apparatuses and PCs (not shown) connected to the network N.

An operation unit 12 includes an operation panel for operating the facsimile apparatus 1 and includes a numeric keypad, a transmission execution key, and the like.
Reference numeral 13 denotes a display unit that displays status information of the facsimile apparatus 1 and a guidance screen.

  A scanner unit (reading unit) 14 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF: Auto Document Feeder) and the like, scans a document, and generates image data of the document.

  15 is a facsimile communication unit that transmits and receives image data. The facsimile communication unit 15 generates transmission data obtained by performing various types of image processing on the image data of the document generated by the scanner unit 14 and transmits it to a designated destination fax number. Processing for receiving transmission data from the facsimile apparatus is performed.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a printer unit that executes processing for printing received data and the like.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a memory composed of a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a recording control unit which controls processing for recording image data of a document generated by the scanner unit 14 on the recording unit 22 in the confidential facsimile mode of the present invention. At this time, the recording destination address information of the original image data is also recorded.
The recording unit 22 is configured by an HDD or the like, and records image data of a document generated by the scanner unit 14 that is an access control target of the present invention under the control of the recording control unit 21.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a password setting unit, which sets an access password necessary for accessing the document image data recorded in the recording unit 22 in the image data of the document.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an identification symbol generation unit that generates an identification symbol such as a QR code including the recording destination address information of the image data of the document. The identification symbol is transmitted to another facsimile apparatus via the facsimile communication unit 15.

  An identification symbol analysis unit 25 analyzes the identification symbol data obtained by scanning the printed matter 3 (see FIG. 1) on which the identification symbol is printed, and the image data of the document included in the identification symbol data is analyzed. Get the recording address information.

An access control unit 26 performs access control on the image data of the original document recorded in the recording unit 22 and is analyzed by the identification symbol analysis unit 25 of the facsimile machine 1r as described in steps S5 and S6 of FIG. And a receiving unit 26a for receiving the access password for the image data of the document input via the password input screen displayed on the display unit 13 of the facsimile apparatus 1r.
The password verification unit 26b checks the password received by the reception unit 26a and the password set by the password setting unit 23 and confirms that both passwords match.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a control unit including a CPU and the like, and controls each functional block.

Next, processing contents of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
First, transmission of an identification symbol in the present invention will be described.
The user S of the facsimile apparatus 1s operates the operation unit 12 to execute a destination fax number input operation and a facsimile transmission instruction operation. It is assumed that the facsimile transmission document 2 (see FIG. 1) requiring confidentiality is set in the ADF of the scanner unit 14 of the facsimile apparatus 1s.

Then, the control unit 27 displays the password setting screen 51 shown in FIG. 3 on the display unit 13 and instructs the user S to set a password for accessing the document image data.
When the user S inputs a password (axbycz) in the text box 51a of the password setting screen 51 and operates the OK button 51b, the scanner unit 14 scans the document set on the ADF and displays the image data of the document. Generate.

  Thereafter, the recording control unit 21 records the image data of the original on the recording unit 22. At this time, the recording control unit 21 also records the recording destination address information of the image data of the document. The password setting unit 23 sets a password input via the password setting screen 51 for the image data of the document recorded in the recording unit 22.

Then, the identification symbol generation unit 24 generates an identification symbol including the recording destination address information, and the facsimile communication unit 15 transmits the image data of the identification symbol to the designated destination fax number (facsimile apparatus 1r). .
That is, the facsimile apparatus 1 records the image data of the document generated based on the reading of the transmission document by the scanner unit 14 and the password setting by the password setting unit 23 on the recording unit 22, and also stores the image data of the document. An identification symbol including the recording destination address information is generated, and image data of the identification symbol is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 1r via the facsimile communication unit 15.

Next, access control for the document will be described.
When the facsimile communication unit 15 of the facsimile apparatus 1r receives the identification symbol, the printer unit 16 prints out the identification symbol as a printed matter 3 (see FIG. 1).

  The user R sets the printed material 3 on which the identification symbol is printed in the ADF of the scanner unit 14. When the operation unit 12 is operated to execute a scan start instruction operation, the scanner unit 14 scans the printed material 3 and generates image data (image data of an identification symbol) of the printed material 3. Then, the identification symbol analysis unit 25 analyzes the identification symbol data in the image data, and obtains recording destination address information included in the identification symbol data.

When the analysis processing of the identification symbol data is successful, the control unit 27 displays the password input screen 52 shown in FIG. 4 on the display unit 13, and displays to the user R the document image data related to the recording destination address information. Instructs you to enter an access password.
When the user R enters a password in the text box 52a of the password setting screen 52 and operates the OK button 52b (access request instruction operation), the control unit 27 sends the facsimile apparatus 1s to the facsimile apparatus 1s via the network I / F 11. The analyzed recording destination address information and the input password are transmitted together with the access request instruction signal for the image data of the original.

The access control unit 26 (reception unit 26a) of the facsimile apparatus 1s that has received the password or the like outputs the password to the password verification unit 26b.
The password verification unit 26b compares the received password (password entered by the user R) with the set password (password set by the user S), and if the passwords match, the access control unit 26b Thereafter, the user R permits access to the image data of the original document recorded in the recording unit 22. In this case, for example, the image data of the document may be transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 1r via the facsimile communication unit 15.

  That is, the facsimile apparatus 1 controls access to the image data of the document recorded in the recording unit 22 by collating the recording destination address information and the password included in the received image data of the identification symbol.

  As described above, access control is performed on the image data of the transmission original by the access password, so that information leakage can be physically suppressed.

  The transmission destination facsimile apparatus of the identification symbol may be a general-purpose facsimile apparatus that does not have the function of the present invention, but the facsimile apparatus for accessing the image data of the document has the function of the present invention. Must be a facsimile machine.

The processing contents of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
First, the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described. The user S of the facsimile apparatus 1s operates the operation unit 12 to execute a facsimile transmission instruction operation (step S11). It is assumed that the user S has already set the facsimile transmission document 2 on the ADF, and has further operated the operation unit 12 to execute the destination fax number input operation.

  Next, when the user S inputs a password via the password setting screen 51 shown in FIG. 3 and operates the OK button 51b (step S12), the scanner unit 14 scans the document set on the ADF. Image data of the document is generated (step S13).

  Next, the recording control unit 21 records the image data of the original on the recording unit 22 (step S14), and also records the recording destination address information of the image data of the original (step S15). In addition, the password setting unit 23 sets the input password for the document image data recorded in the recording unit 22 (step S16).

  Next, the identification symbol generation unit 24 generates an identification symbol including the recording destination address information (step S17), and the facsimile communication unit 15 transmits the identification symbol to the designated destination fax number (step S18). ).

  Next, the process proceeds to the flowchart of FIG. The printer unit 16 of the facsimile machine 1r that has received the identification symbol prints out the identification symbol as a printed matter 3 (step S21).

  The user R sets the printed material 3 on which the identification symbol is printed on the ADF of the scanner unit 14 (step S22). When the operation unit 12 is operated to execute a scan start instruction operation (step S23), the identification symbol analysis unit 25 analyzes the identification symbol data in the image data of the printed matter 3 created by the scanner unit 14, and Recording destination address information included in the identification symbol data is obtained (step S24).

  After the analysis processing of the identification symbol, when the user R inputs a password via the password input screen 52 shown in FIG. 4 and operates the OK button 52b (step S25), the control unit 27 causes the facsimile machine 1s. In addition, the recording destination address information analyzed in step S24 and the password input in step S25 are transmitted together with the access request instruction signal for the image data of the document (step S26).

The access control unit 26 (receiving unit 26a) of the facsimile apparatus 1s that has received the password or the like collates the received password (password entered by the user R) with the set password (password set by the user S), If the two passwords match (step S27 / YES), the access control unit 26 subsequently processes the original image recorded in the recording unit 22 relating to the recording destination address information analyzed in step S24. Access to the data by the user R is permitted (step S28).
If they do not match (step S27 / NO), access is not permitted.

(Modification)
In addition to the recording destination address information, a password input via the password setting screen 51 may be included in the transmission identification symbol. In this case, the password determination process is executed by the facsimile apparatus 1r. When the passwords match, the instruction signal for permitting the facsimile apparatus 1s to access the image data of the document relating to the recording destination address information included in the identification symbol. Send. Upon receiving the instruction signal, the access control unit 26 of the facsimile apparatus 1s permits access to the image data of the document.

  The facsimile apparatus 1r that has received the identification symbol may record the identification symbol in the HDD 18 or the like without printing it, and display it on the display unit 13 in accordance with an instruction from the user. In this case, if the user R operates the operation unit 12 and inputs a password (access request instruction operation) while the identification symbol is displayed on the display unit 13, the processes in and after step S26 are performed. Executed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1r, 1s ... Facsimile apparatus, 2 ... Original for facsimile transmission, 3 ... Printed matter, 11 ... Network I / F, 12 ... Operation part, 13 ... Display part, 14 ... Scanner part, 15 ... Facsimile communication part, 16 ... Printer unit, 21 ... recording control unit, 22 ... recording unit, 23 ... password setting unit, 24 ... identification symbol generation unit, 25 ... identification symbol analysis unit, 26 ... access control unit, 26a ... reception unit, 26b ... password verification unit , 27 ... control unit, 51 ... password setting screen, 52 ... password input screen.

Claims (4)

A reading unit that reads an original and generates image data; a facsimile communication unit that transmits and receives image data; a password setting unit that sets a password for accessing the image data of the original; and a recording unit that records image data of the original ,
A generating unit that generates an identification symbol including recording destination address information of the image data of the original;
An analysis unit that analyzes the received identification symbol and obtains recording destination address information included in the identification symbol;
A password verification unit,
The original image data generated based on the reading of the transmission original and the password setting is recorded in the recording unit, and an identification symbol including the recording destination address information of the image data of the original is generated, and the image of the identification symbol is generated. Send data,
A facsimile apparatus, wherein access to image data of a document recorded in the recording unit is controlled by collation of recording destination address information and a password included in the received image data of the identification symbol.   The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification symbol is a QR code (registered trademark).   The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data of the identification symbol is transmitted via the facsimile communication unit.   4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when access to the image data of the document is permitted, the image data of the document is transmitted via the facsimile communication unit.

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