JP2011192121A - System and apparatus for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately restrict the use of an image forming apparatus by a logged-in user even when function approval setting exists in the image forming apparatus which obtains approval information from a server device. <P>SOLUTION: In a multifunction machine 1A or the like, a flash memory 27 stores function approval setting data 35 for specifying a function whose use by a user who belongs to a department is permitted for each department, and a control part 33 requests the authorization of the logged-in user to a server device 3 connected to a network 2 by using a network interface 23, and receives approval information for specifying the function whose use by the logged-in user who has succeeded in user authorization is permitted, and a determination part 34 permits the logged-in user to use only the function whose use is permitted by the approval information received by the control part 33, and whose use is permitted by the function approval setting data 35 associated with the department to which the logged-in user belongs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, directory services such as an active directory and an e directory have been introduced to manage users and devices in a network system. Some image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and multifunction machines have a network function, and currently users and groups (departments) can be managed using such a directory service. When performing user management with a directory service, user authentication of a user who has performed a login operation on an image forming apparatus is usually performed by a server apparatus of the directory service.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus, an authorization process may be performed in which only a function permitted to the login user among various functions can be used. Normally, in the authorization process, for each user, authorization information that designates a function that is permitted to be used (or a function that is prohibited to be used) is preset in the image forming apparatus, and is used by the login user in accordance with the authorization information. Function to be limited. In addition, there is also a system that provides the login user authorization information to the image forming apparatus using an intermediate server device having authorization information for each user (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a certain image forming apparatus has a function authorization setting for a department to which the user belongs, refers to the function authorization setting of the department to which the user belongs at the time of user login, and functions that are prohibited from being used for the department. In particular, the login user is prohibited from using the function.

JP 2008-140067 A

  When a function authorization setting exists in an image forming apparatus that acquires authorization information from the intermediate server device, there is a possibility that the authorization information from the intermediate server device and the local function authorization setting conflict.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and even when there is a function authorization setting in an image forming apparatus that obtains authorization information from a server apparatus, an image that can appropriately restrict use by a logged-in user. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a forming system and an image forming apparatus usable in the image forming system.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes: an image forming apparatus connected to a network; and a department ID of a department to which a login user connected to the network and performing login user authentication of the image forming apparatus belongs. And a user manager server device that provides the image forming apparatus with authorization information for specifying a function permitted to be used by a login user who has succeeded in user authentication. The image forming apparatus is permitted to be used by a storage device that stores function authorization setting data for identifying a function permitted to be used by a user belonging to a department for each department, and authorization information received from the user manager server apparatus. And only a function that is permitted to be used by the function authorization setting data associated with the department ID received from the user manager server device, and a use restriction unit that permits the use to the login user.

  Thereby, even when the function authorization setting exists in the image forming apparatus that obtains the authorization information from the server apparatus, the use by the login user can be appropriately restricted.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention stores, for each department, department function authorization setting data for identifying a function permitted to be used by a user belonging to the department, and an individual function authorization for identifying a function permitted to be used by the user. A storage device that stores setting data for each user, a login processing unit that authenticates a logged-in user, and a function that is permitted by the logged-in user's personal function authorization setting data that has been successfully authenticated, and to which the logged-in user belongs And a use restriction unit that permits the login user to use only the functions that are permitted to be used by the department function authorization setting data associated therewith.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention uses a storage device that stores function authorization setting data for identifying a function permitted to be used by a user belonging to a department for each department, a network interface connected to a network, and a network interface A login processing unit that requests authentication of a login user from a server device connected to the network, and receives authorization information for specifying a function permitted to be used by the login user who has succeeded in user authentication, and a login processing unit Usage restriction unit that allows the login user to use only the functions that are permitted by the received authorization information and that are permitted by the function authorization setting data associated with the department to which the logged-in user belongs. With.

  Thereby, even when the function authorization setting exists in the image forming apparatus that obtains the authorization information from the server apparatus, the use by the login user can be appropriately restricted.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the login processing unit receives the department ID of the department to which the login user who has succeeded in user authentication belongs from the server apparatus. The use restriction unit is permitted to be used by the authorization information received by the login processing unit, and is permitted to be used by the function authorization setting data associated with the department ID received by the login processing unit. Only the function is allowed for the login user.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the storage device stores authorization item correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship between the function item in the function authorization setting data and the function item in the authorization information. Then, the use restriction unit identifies the function item in the function authorization setting data corresponding to the function item permitted to be used in the authorization information based on the authorization item correspondence information, and the function in the identified function authorization setting data. If the item is allowed to be used, allow the function to be used.

  According to the present invention, even when there is a function authorization setting in an image forming apparatus that obtains authorization information from a server apparatus, use by a login user can be appropriately restricted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the multifunction machine in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the authorization item correspondence table in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user manager server apparatus in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the authorization policy data in FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the directory server device in FIG. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device when a user logs in to the multifunction machine in the system shown in FIG.

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

Embodiment 1 FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of multifunction peripherals 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B and a printer 1 </ b> C are connected to a network 2, and a user manager server device 3 and a directory server device 4 are connected to the network 2. The printer 1C is also an image forming apparatus like the multifunction machines 1A and 1B, but does not have a scanner function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. In the following, the case where the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B function as image forming apparatuses will be mainly described. However, the printer 1C can also function as an image forming apparatus.

  The multifunction device 1A has a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and the like, and executes various jobs with the above-described functions in accordance with commands from the operation panel on the multifunction device 1A, a host device connected to the network 2, and the like. An image forming apparatus. The multifunction machine 1B is a similar device.

  The user manager server device 3 is a server device that accepts user authentication requests from the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B and provides authorization information for users logged in to the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B. The directory server device 4 is a server device that provides directory services such as an active directory and an e directory.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the multifunction machine 1A in FIG. The multifunction machine 1B has a similar configuration. The multi-function device 1A includes an operation panel 21, a modem 22, a network interface 23, a printer 24, a scanner 25, and a control device 26.

  The operation panel 21 is installed in the housing of the multifunction machine 1A, and includes a display device 21a that displays various types of information to the user and an input device 21b that receives user operations. The display device 21a is, for example, a liquid crystal display or various indicators. The input device 21b is, for example, a touch panel or a key switch.

  The modem 22 can be connected to a subscriber telephone network such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and is a communication device that transmits and receives facsimile data.

  The network interface 23 can be connected to a wired or wireless computer network 2 and performs data communication with other devices (server device 3, host device not shown) connected to the network 2. Device.

  The printer 24 is an internal device that prints on a sheet according to a print request and discharges the printed matter. In the case of the electrophotographic method, after charging the photosensitive drum, the printer 24 emits a light source based on the print data to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and this electrostatic latent image is Development is performed with toner, the toner image is transferred and fixed on a sheet, and the sheet is discharged as a printed matter.

  The scanner 25 irradiates light on one or both sides of a document fed by an automatic document feeder or a document placed by a user and receives reflected light or the like to read an image of the document. It is an internal device that outputs as image data.

  The flash memory 27 is a non-volatile storage device that stores function authorization setting data 35 for identifying functions permitted to be used by users belonging to a department for each department. Further, the flash memory 27 stores an authorization item correspondence table 36 indicating a correspondence relationship between the function items in the function authorization setting data 35 and the function items in the authorization information from the server device 3.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the authorization item correspondence table 36 in FIG. An ID is assigned to each function item in the function authorization setting data 35 and in the authorization information from the server device 3, and the correspondence between the IDs is described in the authorization item correspondence table 36. That is, in the authorization information from the server device 3, the function item is described with this ID. When the same ID is assigned to two function items corresponding to each other, the authorization item correspondence table 36 is not necessary.

  The control device 26 is a device that controls each unit in the multifunction peripheral 1A and performs data processing. The control device 26 is configured as a computer having, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. In the control device 26, the CPU implements various processing units by loading a program stored in the ROM or other storage device (flash memory or the like) into the RAM and executing it. In the control device 26, a FAX communication unit 31, a network communication unit 32, a control unit 33, and a determination unit 34 are realized.

  The FAX communication unit 31 is a processing unit that controls the modem 22 and receives facsimile data. When receiving the facsimile data, the FAX communication unit 31 supplies a print request to the determination unit 34.

  The network communication unit 32 is a processing unit that controls the network interface 23 and performs data communication with devices on the network 2 using various communication protocols. For example, the network communication unit 32 transmits the user name (user ID) and password input to the operation panel 21 at the time of user login to the user manager server device 3 and receives the login user authorization information from the user manager server device 3. . For example, the network communication unit 32 receives a print request (such as PDL (Page Description Language) data) from the host computer, and supplies the print request to the control unit 33.

  The control unit 33 receives a job request by a user operation on the operation panel 21 or a job request received from the host device by the network interface 23 and the network communication unit 32, and controls each unit in the multifunction peripheral 1A to control the job. A processing unit that executes a job corresponding to a request. The job request includes a print request, a scan request, a facsimile transmission request, and the like. In addition, when there is a login operation, the control unit 33 uses the network communication unit 32 to request the user manager server device 3 for user authentication, and identifies a function that is permitted to be used by a login user who has succeeded in user authentication. And the department ID for the logged-in user who has succeeded in user authentication.

  The determination unit 34 uses the login user among the functions of the MFP 1A based on the authorization information about the login user received from the user manager server device 3 by the network interface 23 and the network communication unit 32. This is a processing unit that specifies a function that prohibits (or a function that is permitted) and stores data indicating whether or not to permit the use of each function on, for example, a RAM. The control unit 33 refers to the data and restricts the use of the MFP 1A by the login user. For example, when the use of the color copy function is restricted for the logged-in user, a copy function menu is displayed on the operation panel 21 so that the color copy cannot be selected (for example, selecting a color from monochrome / color). Button is grayed out).

  The determination unit 34 is a login user only for a function that is permitted for use by the authorization information received by the control unit 33 and is permitted for use by the function authorization setting data 35 associated with the department to which the login user belongs. Allow use for. In this embodiment, the determination unit 34 specifies the function item in the function authorization setting data 35 corresponding to the function item permitted to be used in the authorization information from the server device 3 based on the authorization item correspondence table 36. If the function item in the specified function authorization setting data 35 is permitted to be used, the function use of the function item is permitted. The department to which the login user belongs is specified by the department ID received from the server device 3, and the function authorization setting data 35 associated with the department ID is referred to.

  In this way, the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B are configured.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user manager server device 3 in FIG. The user manager server device 3 includes a storage device 41, a network interface 42, and an arithmetic processing device 43.

  The storage device 41 is a device that stores programs and data. As the storage device 41, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like is used. The storage device 41 stores authorization policy data 51, local user data 52, and local group data 53.

  The authorization policy data 51 is data including authorization information used for specifying a function that is permitted to be used by the login user of the multifunction peripheral 1A, 1B. The authorization policy data 51 can include authorization information for users and authorization information for groups. Authorization information for a user is authorization information applied to the user, and authorization information for a group is authorization information applied to users belonging to the group. The authorization policy data 51 includes authorization information for a domain user registered in the directory server device 4 and authorization information for a local user registered in the user manager server device 3 as authorization information for the user. And can be included. The authorization policy data 51 includes authorization information for a domain group registered in the directory server device 4 and authorization information for a local group registered in the user manager server device 3 as authorization information for the group. And can be included. The authorization information for a user includes a user ID and information on a function that is permitted (or prohibited) for the user (for example, a function ID). The authorization information for a group includes a group ID and information on a function that is permitted (or prohibited) for a user belonging to the group (for example, a function ID). For example, functions permitted (or prohibited) to be used include large items such as printing, scanning, copying, and facsimile transmission, and small items (for example, a color / monochrome selection function) associated with each large item.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the authorization policy data 51 in FIG.

  In the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 5, the domain group A includes domain users A, B, C, and D, and the local group A includes local users A and B and domain users B and D. An authorization policy # 1 (policy data including authorization information) is set for the domain group A, an authorization policy # 2 is set for the domain user A belonging to the domain group A, and an authorization policy # for the local group A 3 is set, the authorization policy # 4 is set for the local user A belonging to the local group A, the authorization policy # 5 is set for the domain user B belonging to the domain group A, and the authorization for the domain user E is set. Policy # 6 is set, and authorization policy # 7 is set for local user C.

  The local user data 52 is data including registration information (user ID and password) of the local user and user information of the local user (department ID of the department (group) to which the user belongs and other attribute information). The local user is a user registered in the user manager device 3 separately from the domain user registered in the directory server device 4.

  The local group data 53 is data including registration information (group ID and user ID of a user belonging to the group) of the local group. The local group is a group registered in the user manager device 3 separately from the domain user registered in the directory server device 4. Local groups can include local users and domain users. That is, a local group consisting only of local users, a local group consisting only of domain users, and a local group consisting of local users and domain users can be set.

  The network interface 42 can be connected to a wired or wireless computer network 2 and performs data communication with other devices (such as the multifunction devices 1A and 1B and the server device 4) connected to the network 2. Device.

  The arithmetic processing unit 43 is configured as a computer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and loads various programs stored in the ROM or the storage device 41 into the RAM and executes them by the CPU, thereby realizing various processing units. . In the arithmetic processing device 43, a network communication unit 61, a user authentication processing unit 62, and an authorization processing unit 63 are realized.

  The network communication unit 61 is a processing unit that controls the network interface 42 and performs data communication with devices on the network 2 using various communication protocols. For example, the network communication unit 61 receives a user name (user ID) and a password from the multifunction device 1A, and transmits authorization information about the user to the multifunction device 1A. For example, the network communication unit 61 transmits a user authentication request to the directory server device 4 and receives the authentication result and user information from the directory server device 4.

  The user authentication processing unit 62 is a processing unit that performs authentication of login users of the multifunction peripherals 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B using the local user data 52 or the directory server device 4 using the network interface 42 and the network communication unit 61.

  The authorization processing unit 63 uses the network interface 42 to send authorization information about the login user of the multifunction device 1A (or multifunction device 1B) that has been successfully authenticated to the multifunction device 1A (or multifunction device 1B). Part. In this embodiment, when the login user of the multifunction device 1A (or multifunction device 1B) who has succeeded in user authentication belongs to the local group, the authorization processing unit 63 obtains authorization information for the local group from the authorization policy data 51. If the logged-in user that has been extracted and transmitted to the MFP 1A (or MFP 1B) using the network interface 42 as authorization information for the logged-in user and succeeded in user authentication does not belong to the local group, the logged-in user The authorization information for the domain group to which the user belongs or the user (domain user or local user) is extracted from the authorization policy data 51, and the network interface 42 is used as the authorization information for the login user. 1B To send to.

  For example, in the case of the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 5, when the domain user A logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 2 and the authorization policy # 1 are transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. When there are conflicting authorization settings in the user and group authorization policies (here, authorization policy # 2 and authorization policy # 1), the setting of a predetermined authorization policy of the group or user is applied. In this case, when the domain user B logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 5, the authorization policy # 3, and the authorization policy # 1 are transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. If there are conflicting authorization settings in the domain group and local group authorization policies (here, authorization policy # 1 and authorization policy # 3), the setting of the predetermined authorization policy of the domain group or local user is applied. Is done. In this case, when the domain user C logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 1 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the domain user D logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 1 and the authorization policy # 3 are transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the domain user E logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 6 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the local user A logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 4 and the authorization policy # 3 are transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the local user B logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 3 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the local user C logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 7 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A.

  When there are a plurality of authorization policies to be applied to a certain login user, the authorization processing unit 63 generates a single authorization policy by combining the authorization policies in the server device 3 and transmits the generated authorization policy. You may make it do. In that case, any setting policy selected according to a predetermined rule is applied to setting items that compete with each other in a plurality of approval policies.

  Thus, the user manager server device 3 is configured.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the directory server device 4 in FIG. The directory server device 4 includes a storage device 71, a network interface 72, and an arithmetic processing device 73.

  The storage device 71 is a device that stores programs and data. As the storage device 71, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like is used. A directory service database 91 is constructed in the storage device 71, and the database 91 includes user data 91a and group data 91b. The user data 91a includes a user ID, a password, and user information (a department ID of the department to which the user belongs, that is, a group ID), a telephone number to be contacted, a facsimile number, an e-mail address, and other attribute information. It is. The group data 91b includes a group ID, a user ID list of users belonging to the group, and group information (contact information, responsible person, and other attribute information).

  The network interface 72 is a device that can be connected to a wired or wireless computer network 2 and performs data communication with other devices (such as the server device 3) connected to the network 2.

  The arithmetic processing unit 73 is configured as a computer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and implements various processing units by loading a program stored in the ROM or the storage device 71 into the RAM and executing the program by the CPU. In this arithmetic processing unit 73, a network communication unit 81 and a directory service processing unit 82 are realized.

  The network communication unit 81 is a processing unit that controls the network interface 72 and performs data communication with devices on the network 2 using various communication protocols. For example, the network communication unit 81 receives a user authentication request and transmits the authentication result and user information.

  The directory service processing unit 82 is a processing unit that manages domain users and domain groups. The directory service processing unit 82 performs registration and deletion of domain users and domain groups, user authentication, provision of user information of domain users and group information of domain groups, and the like. For user authentication, LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) authentication, Kerberos authentication, or the like is used. When the directory service is an active directory, the directory service processing unit 82 operates as a domain controller.

  Thus, the directory server device 4 is configured.

  Next, the operation of each device when the user logs in to the multifunction device 1A in the above system will be described. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device when a user logs in to the multifunction peripheral 1A in the system shown in FIG. Each device operates in the same manner when a user logs in to the multifunction machine 1B.

  When the operation panel 21 of the multifunction peripheral 1A detects a user name (user ID) and password input operation by the user (step S1), the control unit 33 sends the user name and password to the network communication unit 32 and the network interface 23. Use to transmit to the user manager server device 3 (step S2).

  In the user manager server device 3, the user authentication processing unit 62 receives the user name and password using the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42, and sends the user name, password, and authentication request to a predetermined protocol (LDAP LDAP). Etc.) to the directory server device 4 (step S3).

  In the directory server device 4, the directory service processing unit 82 uses the network communication unit 81 and the network interface 72 to receive the user name, password, and authentication request using a predetermined protocol, and refers to the directory database 91. It is determined whether or not the user name and password are those of a valid user (step S4).

  Then, the directory service processing unit 82 uses the network communication unit 81 and the network interface 72 to determine the determination result (that is, the authentication result) and the user information of the user (if the user is successfully authenticated) (Including the department ID) is transmitted to the user manager server device 3 as a response to the authentication request (step S5).

  In the user manager server device 3, the user authentication processing unit 62 uses the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42 to receive the authentication result as a response to the authentication request. Receive information. When the authentication is successful, the authorization processing unit 63 refers to the authorization policy data 51, specifies the authorization information of the user (that is, the authorization policy applied to the user) (step S6), and the network Using the communication unit 61 and the network interface 42, a response indicating successful authentication is transmitted to the multi-function device 1A together with the authorization information and user information (including the department ID for the user) (step S7).

  In the MFP 1A, the control unit 33 receives the authorization information and user information using the network communication unit 32 and the network interface 23, and provides the authorization information to the determination unit 34 (step S8). Based on the authorization information and the function authorization setting data 35, the determination unit 34 identifies the functions that are allowed to be used by the user as described above, and the user's function is determined for each of the predetermined functions of the multi-function device 1A. Data indicating whether or not use is permitted is set on the RAM.

  For example, if the copy printing restriction is set to “prohibited” or the total copy restriction corresponding to the copy printing restriction is set to “prohibited” in the authorization information from the server device 3, the copy function is used. Is forbidden (not allowed). When the copy printing restriction is set to “permitted” and the copy total restriction corresponding to the copy printing restriction is set to “permitted”, the use of the copy function is permitted.

  Thereafter, the user is permitted to use the multifunction device 1A in a state where the function is restricted according to the authorization information (step S9). In the MFP 1A, the control unit 33 refers to the above-described data set by the determination unit 34 and accepts and executes only jobs that use functions permitted for the user.

  When user authentication fails, only a response indicating authentication failure is transmitted from the user manager server apparatus 3 to the multifunction device 1A. When the multifunction device 1A receives a response indicating authentication failure, the message indicating authentication failure is transmitted. Is displayed on the operation panel 21 and the use of the multifunction device 1A by the user is prohibited.

  In FIG. 7, the user manager server device 3 performs user authentication with the directory server device 4, but the same applies when performing user authentication with the local user data 52.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the MFP 1A or the like has the flash memory 27 that stores the function authorization setting data 35 that specifies the functions permitted to be used by the users belonging to the department, for each department, Using the network interface 23 connected to the network 2 and the network interface 23, the server device 3 connected to the network 2 is requested to authenticate the login user, and use by the login user who has succeeded in the user authentication is permitted. Usage is permitted by the control unit 33 that receives the authorization information for specifying the function, and the function authorization setting data 35 that is permitted by the authorization information received by the control unit 33 and associated with the department to which the login user belongs. A determination unit 34 that permits the login user to use only permitted functions. Equipped with a.

  Thereby, even when the function authorization setting exists in the image forming apparatus (such as the multifunction peripheral 1A) that obtains the authorization information from the server apparatus, the use by the login user can be appropriately restricted.

Embodiment 2. FIG.

  In the image forming system according to the second embodiment, an ID card (in this case, an IC card) assigned to the user is used instead of the user inputting the user name into the multifunction peripheral 1A at the time of login.

  In the second embodiment, an IC card reader is connected to the multifunction device 1A, and when an ID card is brought close to the IC card reader, the control unit 33 uses the IC card reader to change the ID card from the ID card to the ID card. The ID is read and transmitted to the user manager server apparatus 3 together with the password entered in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  In Embodiment 2, the storage device 41 of the user manager server device 3 stores in advance conversion data for associating the card ID of the ID card with the user ID of the user assigned the ID card, and the user authentication processing unit 62 receives the card ID and password, refers to the conversion data, identifies the user ID corresponding to the card ID, and performs user authentication in the directory server device 4 based on the identified user ID and the received password. .

  Note that the other configurations and operations of the devices in the system according to the second embodiment are the same as those in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Here, an IC card is used as the ID card, but a card (magnetic card or the like) having a recording medium of another method may be used. In that case, a reader capable of reading the card ID from the card of the system is used instead of the IC card reader. Furthermore, instead of the ID card, biometric information such as a fingerprint may be used. In that case, a reader capable of acquiring the biological information from the user is used instead of the IC card reader, and a feature amount obtained from the biological information is used as the ID.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the storage device 41 of the user manager server device 3 includes the conversion data including the correspondence between the card ID of the ID card and the user ID of the user to whom the ID card is assigned. The user authentication processing unit 62 receives the card ID and password of the ID card from the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B, specifies the user ID of the login user from the received card ID according to the conversion data, and User authentication is performed using the user ID.

  Thereby, since the card ID of the ID card is managed in the user manager server device 3, it is not necessary to manage the card ID in the directory service, and the login system using the ID card in the system where the directory service is already operating. Can be easily added.

  Each embodiment described above is a preferred example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, local users and domain users are mixed and included in the local group, but there may be a local group including only local users or a local group including only domain users.

  In each of the above embodiments, the user manager server device 3 is connected to another network different from the network 2 without being connected to the network 2, and is connected to the directory server device 4 in the other network and the network 2. The user manager server device 3 and the directory server device 4 may perform data communication via another network.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B are used as the image forming apparatus, but a printer, a copier, or the like may be used instead. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the system has three image forming apparatuses, but it is also possible to use one, two, or four or more image forming apparatuses.

  In each of the above embodiments, the authorization information may include an access authority level to the multifunction device. For example, either an administrator or a general user is set as the access authority level. In the case of an administrator, functions that cannot be used by general users, such as maintenance, can be used.

  In the above embodiments, in the case of an image forming apparatus that is not connected to the network 2, authorization information generated by the server apparatus 3 is supplied as personal function authorization setting data to the image forming apparatus using a USB memory or the like. You may make it do. In this case, the image forming apparatus has the same configuration as that of the multi function device 1A shown in FIG. 2 except for the network interface 23 and the network communication unit 32, and the flash memory 27 stores the department function authorization setting data (the above-described function authorization setting data). Data 35) is stored for each department, and personal function authorization setting data for specifying a function permitted to be used by the user is stored for each user. The control unit 33 stores user data stored in the image forming apparatus. The authentication unit authenticates the logged-in user, and the determination unit 34 is permitted to use the personal function authorization setting data of the logged-in user who has been successfully authenticated and is associated with the department to which the logged-in user belongs. Only functions that are permitted by the authorization setting data are allowed to be used by the login user. .

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a network system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

1A, 1B MFP (an example of an image forming apparatus)
1C printer (an example of an image forming apparatus)
2 Network 3 User manager server device (an example of a server device)
23 Network interface 27 Flash memory (an example of a storage device)
33 Control unit (an example of a login processing unit)
34 determination part (an example of a use restriction part)
35 Function authorization setting data 36 Authorization item correspondence table (an example of authorization item correspondence information)

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus connected to the network;
A function that is connected to the network, performs user authentication of a login user of the image forming apparatus, and a department ID of a department to which the login user that has succeeded in user authentication, and a function that is permitted to be used by the login user that has succeeded in user authentication A user manager server device that provides the image forming apparatus with authorization information for identifying
The image forming apparatus stores, for each department, function authorization setting data for specifying a function permitted to be used by a user belonging to the department;
Usage is permitted by the authorization information received from the user manager server device, and usage is permitted by the function authorization setting data associated with the department ID received from the user manager server device. Having only a function and a use restriction unit that allows the login user to use,
An image forming system. Stores department function authorization setting data for identifying functions permitted to be used by users belonging to the department for each department, and stores personal function authorization setting data for identifying functions permitted for use by users for each user. Equipment,
A login processing unit for authenticating a login user;
Only functions that are permitted for use by the personal function authorization setting data of the logged-in user who has succeeded in user authentication and are permitted for use by the department function authorization setting data associated with the department to which the logged-in user belongs, A use restriction unit that permits use of the login user;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A storage device that stores function authorization setting data for identifying functions that are permitted to be used by users belonging to the department;
A network interface connected to the network;
Login processing for requesting authentication of a login user to a server device connected to the network using the network interface and receiving authorization information specifying a function permitted to be used by the login user who has succeeded in user authentication And
Only functions that are permitted for use by the authorization information received by the login processing unit and that are permitted for use by the function authorization setting data associated with the department to which the logged-in user belongs are provided to the logged-in user. A usage restriction unit that permits the use of
An image forming apparatus comprising: The login processing unit receives a department ID of a department to which the login user who has succeeded in user authentication belongs from the server device,
The use restriction unit is permitted by the authorization information received by the login processing unit, and is used by the function authorization setting data associated with the department ID received by the login processing unit. Permit the logged-in user to use only permitted functions;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. The storage device stores authorization item correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship between the function item in the function authorization setting data and the function item in the authorization information,
The use restriction unit identifies a function item in the function authorization setting data corresponding to a function item permitted to be used in the authorization information based on the authorization item correspondence information, and identifies the identified function authorization setting data Allow the use of the function item when the use is permitted for the function item in
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

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