JP2011193309A - Image forming system, user manager server device, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to select a transmission destination simply from a transmission history, even if the user uses any image formation apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Each of a plurality of multifunctional machines 1A, 1B within the system, obtains the transmission history of a login user from a user manager server apparatus 3, when executing a transmission job of the login user whose user authentication succeeds, selects the transmission destination in the transmission job from the obtained transmission history, and after executing the transmission job, transmits a job log information including the transmission destination information in the transmission job to the user manager server apparatus 3, while relating it with the login user. The user manager server apparatus 3 transmits the transmission history of the login user who performs login to each of the plurality of the multifunctional machines 1A, 1B, receives the job log information from the multifunctional machines 1A, 1B, and records the transmission history for every login user, based on the transmission destination information in the job log information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, a user manager server device, and an image forming device.

  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).

  Further, in an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, transmission histories such as facsimiles and e-mails are accumulated and can be browsed by a user.

JP 2008-140067 A

  In the system described above, various types of information about each user are centrally managed by the server device, but normally the transmission history of each image forming device is stored in each image forming device. When there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses, when a user operates the image forming apparatus and browses a transmission history in order to designate a transmission destination, only a history of transmission jobs executed by the image forming apparatus can be viewed. That is, the history of a transmission job executed by another image forming apparatus cannot be viewed.

  Also, when the transmission history is accumulated regardless of the user and the transmission history is accumulated, when the main transmission destination is different for each user, the user selects the current transmission destination from the transmission destinations in the transmission history in the transmission job. It becomes difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses, no matter which image forming apparatus is used by the user, the user can easily select the transmission destination from the transmission history. It is an object to obtain an image forming system that can be selected, and a user manager server device and an image forming device that can be used 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 has a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network, a function that is connected to the network, performs user authentication of login users of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and is permitted to be used by the login user. A user manager server device that provides authorization information to be specified to the image forming apparatus. Each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses acquires a transmission history of the login user from the user manager server device when executing a transmission job of the login user who has succeeded in the user authentication, and from the acquired transmission history, When a transmission destination is selected and this transmission job is executed, job log information including transmission destination information in this transmission job is generated, and the job log information is transmitted to the user manager server device in association with the login user. The user manager server device transmits the log of the logged-in user who has logged in to each of the plurality of image forming devices, receives job log information from the plurality of image forming devices, and based on the transmission destination information in the job log information Record the transmission history for each logged-in user.

  Thus, in a system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses, regardless of which image forming apparatus the user uses, the user can easily select a transmission destination from his / her transmission history.

  A user manager server device according to the present invention includes a network interface connected to a network, a storage device that stores transmission histories of transmission jobs in a plurality of image forming apparatuses for each user, and a network interface. A user authentication processing unit that authenticates a login user of the connected image forming apparatus, an authorization processing unit that transmits authorization information about the login user that has been successfully authenticated to the image forming apparatus using a network interface, and a user In order to select a transmission destination in a transmission job of a login user who has succeeded in authentication, the transmission history of the login user is transmitted to the image forming apparatus to which the login user of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is logged in. Job log information generated when it is executed Using network interface received from the image forming apparatus, and a transmission history management section for updating the transmission history of the login user based on the destination information included in the job log information.

  Thus, in a system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses, regardless of which image forming apparatus the user uses, the user can easily select a transmission destination from his / her transmission history.

  In addition to the above user manager server device, the user manager server device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the user authentication processing unit uses the network interface to authenticate the login user with the directory server device connected to the network, and the storage device transmits the domain user transmission history registered in the directory server device. The transmission history management unit transmits the transmission history of the domain user to the image forming apparatus, and updates the transmission history of the domain user based on the transmission destination information included in the job log information.

  Thus, since there is no need to manage the transmission history in the directory server device, the user's transmission history registered in the directory server device can be centrally managed without changing the existing directory server device in the system. it can.

  In addition to the above user manager server device, the user manager server device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the storage device has local user registration information different from the domain user and the local user transmission history, and the user authentication processing unit is the directory server device and the local user registration information in the storage device. Based on the authentication of the login user, the transmission history management unit transmits the transmission history of the local user to the image forming apparatus, and updates the transmission history of the local user based on the transmission destination information included in the job log information.

  In addition to the above user manager server device, the user manager server device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the transmission history management unit transmits the transmission history for the most recent predetermined number of transmission jobs to the image forming apparatus.

  Thereby, the data amount of the transmission history transmitted to the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

  In addition to the above user manager server device, the user manager server device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the storage device stores a transmission history for each type of transmission job, and the transmission history management unit transmits a transmission history corresponding to the type of transmission job of the login user to the image forming apparatus.

  As a result, the transmission history is managed for each type of facsimile transmission, Internet facsimile using electronic mail, and the like, so that the login user can easily select a desired transmission destination.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention executes a login process when executing a network interface connected to a network, a display device, an input device that accepts an operation of a login user, and a login user transmission job that has succeeded in user authentication. When the transmission history of the user is acquired from the server device and displayed on the display device, the transmission destination in the transmission job is selected from the transmission history according to the operation by the login user for the input device, and the transmission job is executed, And a control unit that transmits the job log information to the server device in association with the logged-in user in order to generate job log information including the transmission destination information and update the transmission history in the server device.

  Thus, in a system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses, regardless of which image forming apparatus the user uses, the user can easily select a transmission destination from his / her transmission history.

  According to the present invention, in a system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses, regardless of which image forming apparatus the user uses, the user can easily select a transmission destination from his / her transmission history.

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 block diagram showing a configuration of the user manager server apparatus in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the authorization policy data in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the directory server device in FIG. FIG. 6 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. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device when a transmission job is executed by the multifunction peripheral in the system shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission history displayed on the multifunction peripheral illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  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 multifunction device 1A includes a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving images as facsimile data, an electronic mail transmission function for transmitting images by e-mail (ScanToEmail, BoxToEmail, etc.), and the like. The image forming apparatus executes various jobs with the above-described functions in accordance with commands from an operation panel, a host device connected to the network 2, and the like. The multifunction machine 1B is a similar device. 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 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 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 transmits / 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. Further, the network communication unit 32 transmits an e-mail by an e-mail transmission function.

  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, an e-mail transmission request, and the like. In addition, when a login operation is performed using the network communication unit 32, the control unit 33 requests the user manager server device 3 for user authentication, authorization information, and the like.

  The control unit 33 generates job log information when executing a job of a login user who has succeeded in user authentication, and transmits the job log information to the user manager server device 3 in association with the login user. In particular, the control unit 33 acquires the login user transmission history from the user manager server device 3 when executing a transmission job of a login user who has succeeded in user authentication (job such as facsimile transmission and e-mail transmission). When a transmission destination in this transmission job is selected from the transmission history according to an operation by the login user on the input device 21b, displayed on the display device 21a of the operation panel 21, and when this transmission job is executed, transmission in this transmission job is performed. Job log information including the destination information is generated, and the job log information is transmitted to the user manager server device 3 in association with the login user.

  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, the determination unit 34 uses the login user among the functions of the MFP 1A. It is a processing unit that specifies a function to be prohibited (or a function to be permitted) and stores data indicating whether or not to permit 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).

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

  FIG. 3 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, local group data 53, and transmission history 54.

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

  In the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, 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. 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 transmission history 54 is data having a transmission history of transmission jobs in the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B for each of local users and domain users. The transmission history 54 is generated for each type of transmission job (here, facsimile transmission and electronic mail transmission). The transmission history 54 includes transmission date information, transmission destination information, and the like. The destination information includes a facsimile number in the case of facsimile transmission, and an electronic mail address in the case of electronic mail transmission. Further, the destination information may include the name and name of the destination. The name and name of the transmission destination are specified from address book data (not shown) stored in each MFP 1A, 1B and are included in the job log information.

  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, an authorization processing unit 63, and a transmission history management unit 64 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 the 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.

  The authorization processing unit 63 is a processing unit that transmits 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). 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. 4, 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.

  The transmission history management unit 64 receives the job log information from the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B using the network interface 42, specifies the transmission destination information of the transmission job including the job log information, and transmits the transmission destination information. When the log-in user's transmission history 54 is requested to select a transmission destination from the multifunction device 1A or the multifunction device 1B, the log of the transmission job including the It is a processing unit that reads the transmission history 54 and transmits it to the multifunction device. In this embodiment, the transmission history management unit 54 transmits the transmission history of the most recent predetermined number of transmission jobs (for example, five times) to the multifunction peripheral. The storage device 41 stores a transmission history 54 for each type of transmission job, and the transmission history management unit 64 receives transmission job type information from the multi-function peripheral together with a request for transmission history, and transmits the transmission job type. A transmission history 54 corresponding to the information value is transmitted to the multi-function peripheral.

  Thus, the user manager server device 3 is configured.

  FIG. 5 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 telephone number, a facsimile number, an e-mail address, and other attribute information to be contacted). 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. 6 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 display the determination result (that is, the authentication result) and the user information of the user when the authentication is successful. As a response, it transmits to the user manager server apparatus 3 (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 (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, the determination unit 34 sets, on the RAM, data indicating whether or not the use of the user is permitted for each of the predetermined functions of the multifunction peripheral 1A.

  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.

  Thereafter, in the MFP 1A, the control unit 33 generates job log information each time a job of a logged-in user who has succeeded in user authentication is generated, and uses the network communication unit 32 and the network interface 23 to generate a user manager server device. 3 to send.

  Here, processing when a transmission job is executed will be described. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device when a transmission job is executed by the multifunction peripheral 1A in the system shown in FIG.

  In the MFP 1A, when a transmission job is selected by the login user and a transmission job request is generated (step S21), the control unit 33 uses the network communication unit 32 to send a request for the transmission history of the login user to the user. The message is transmitted to the manager server device 3 (step S22). The request includes the user ID of the login user and the type of transmission job.

  In the user manager server device 3, when the transmission history management unit 64 receives the request via the network communication unit 61, the transmission history for the type of the transmission job specified by the request of the user specified by the request. 54 is read from the storage device 41 and transmitted to the multi function device 1A as a response to the request (step S23).

  In the MFP 1A, the control unit 33 receives the transmission history via the network communication unit 32, and receives the transmission history so that the logged-in user can select a facsimile or e-mail transmission destination for the transmission job. Is displayed on the display device 21a of the operation panel 21 (step S24). The transmission history includes a transmission destination list of the most recent predetermined number of transmission jobs, and the transmission destination list is displayed. At this time, editing such as deleting unnecessary information from the transmission history may be performed, and the edited transmission history may be displayed.

  When an operation for selecting a transmission destination from the transmission destination list is performed by the login user, the operation is detected by the input device 21b, and the control unit 33 selects a transmission destination from the transmission history according to the operation (Step S31). S25).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission history displayed on the multifunction machine 1A shown in FIGS. The screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed as a screen for selecting a transmission destination in the transmission job. In the screen shown in FIG. 8, a list of destinations of the latest five facsimile transmission jobs is displayed. When the destination specified by the cursor 101 is pressed, the destination selection button 102 is pressed. Selected as a destination.

  After the transmission destination is selected in this way and the values of other setting items are selected, the control unit 33 executes the transmission job and uses the FAX communication unit 31 or the network communication unit 32 to scan the scanner 25. The image obtained by the above is transmitted (step S26).

  When the transmission job is completed, the control unit 33 generates job log information of the transmission job, and transmits the job log information to the user manager server apparatus 3 using the network communication unit 32 (step S27). This job log information includes, as transmission information, the user ID of the login user, the type of transmission job, the transmission date and time, the transmission destination, and the like.

  In the user manager server device 3, the transmission history management unit 64 receives this job log information via the network communication unit 61, and the job log of the user transmission history 54 specified by the job log information. For the transmission history 54 of the transmission job type specified by the information, the transmission date and time, the transmission destination, and the like are added as one log for one transmission job (step S28).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, each of the plurality of MFPs 1A and 1B in the system executes the login user transmission history when executing the transmission job of the login user who has succeeded in user authentication. Is acquired from the user manager server device 3, and a transmission destination in this transmission job is selected from the acquired transmission history, and when this transmission job is executed, job log information including transmission destination information in this transmission job is generated, Job log information is transmitted to the user manager server device 3 in association with the login user. The user manager server device 3 transmits the log of the logged-in user who has logged in to each of the plurality of multifunction devices 1A and 1B, receives job log information from the plurality of multifunction devices 1A and 1B, and transmits the job log information. A transmission history is recorded for each login user based on the destination information.

  Thus, in a system including a plurality of multifunction devices 1A and 1B, regardless of which multifunction device the user uses, the user can easily select a transmission destination from his / her transmission history. That is, since the transmission history includes transmission destinations with a high selection frequency, the user can select a transmission destination with a simpler procedure than when selecting from the address book.

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 each of the above embodiments, the transmission history management unit 54 transmits the transmission history for the most recent predetermined number of transmission jobs to the multi-function peripheral. Instead, a plurality of transmission frequencies having a high transmission frequency are transmitted. You may make it transmit the transmission log | history about the transmission job of the predetermined number of times each including an address. That is, when transmitting a transmission history for five transmission jobs, a transmission history for five transmission jobs each including the top five addresses with the highest transmission frequency is transmitted. The transmission frequency may be aggregated from the transmission job logs received from the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B. In addition, when transmitting a transmission history for a predetermined number of transmission jobs, the transmission history management unit 54 may sort the transmission history in alphabetical order or transmission date / time order for addresses. In addition, the user may select a sort type such as alphabetical order or transmission date / time order. In this case, the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B display the sort type menu on the operation panel 21, detect the sort type selected by the user from the menu, include information specifying the sort type in the transmission history request, and transmit The history management unit 54 sorts the transmission history according to the sort type specified by the transmission history request, and transmits the sorted transmission history.

  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)
4 Directory server device 21a Display device 21b Input device 23, 42 Network interface 33 Control unit 41 Storage device 54 Transmission history 62 User authentication processing unit 63 Authorization processing unit 64 Transmission history management unit

Claims (7)

A plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network;
A user manager server device connected to the network for authenticating a login user of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and providing authorization information for identifying a function permitted to be used by the login user to the image forming apparatus; Prepared,
Each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses acquires the login user's transmission history from the user manager server apparatus when executing the transmission job of the login user who has succeeded in user authentication, and from the acquired transmission history, When a transmission destination in a transmission job is selected and this transmission job is executed, job log information including transmission destination information in the transmission job is generated, and the job log information is associated with the login user to the user manager server apparatus. Send
The user manager server device transmits a transmission history of the logged-in user who has logged in to each of the plurality of image forming devices, receives the job log information from the plurality of image forming devices, Recording the transmission history for each logged-in user based on the destination information;
An image forming system. In a user manager server device that provides authorization information for identifying a function permitted to be used by a login user to a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
A network interface connected to the network;
A storage device that stores transmission histories of transmission jobs in the plurality of image forming apparatuses for each user;
A user authentication processing unit for authenticating a login user of an image forming apparatus connected to the network using the network interface;
An authorization processing unit that sends authorization information about the logged-in user that has succeeded in user authentication to the image forming apparatus using the network interface;
In order to select a transmission destination in a transmission job of the logged-in user who has succeeded in user authentication, the transmission history of the logged-in user is sent to the image forming apparatus to which the logged-in user among the plurality of image forming apparatuses is logged in. Job log information generated when the transmission job is transmitted is received from the image forming apparatus using the network interface, and the login is performed based on transmission destination information included in the job log information A transmission history management unit for updating the user's transmission history;
A user manager server device comprising: The user authentication processing unit uses the network interface to perform authentication of the login user with a directory server device connected to the network,
The storage device stores the transmission history of domain users registered in the directory server device;
The transmission history management unit transmits the transmission history of the domain user to the image forming apparatus, and updates the transmission history of the domain user based on transmission destination information included in the job log information;
The user manager server device according to claim 2. The storage device has registration information of a local user different from the domain user, and the transmission history of the local user,
The user authentication processing unit performs authentication of the login user based on registration information of a local user in the directory server device and the storage device,
The transmission history management unit transmits the transmission history of the local user to the image forming apparatus, and updates the transmission history of the local user based on transmission destination information included in the job log information;
The user manager server device according to claim 3.   3. The user manager server apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmission history management unit transmits the transmission history for the most recent predetermined number of transmission jobs to the image forming apparatus. The storage device stores the transmission history for each type of the transmission job,
The transmission history management unit transmits a transmission history corresponding to the type of the transmission job of the login user to the image forming apparatus;
The user manager server device according to claim 2. In an image forming apparatus that acquires authorization information for specifying a function permitted to be used by a login user via a network,
A network interface connected to the network;
A display device;
An input device for receiving an operation of the login user;
When executing a transmission job of the login user who has succeeded in user authentication, the transmission history of the login user is acquired from a server device and displayed on the display device, and the transmission is performed according to an operation by the login user on the input device. When a transmission destination in this transmission job is selected from the history and this transmission job is executed, job log information including transmission destination information in this transmission job is generated, and the login user is updated to update the transmission history. A control unit that associates and transmits the job log information to the server device;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images