JP2012242963A - Portable information terminal, image formation system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for appropriately copying an electronic document having both of copying permission parts in which copying is permitted and copying prohibition parts in which copying is prohibited.SOLUTION: A portable information terminal 10 includes an electronic document acquisition unit and a display control unit. The electronic document acquisition unit acquires an electronic document ED having copying permission parts AP1 and AP2 in which copying is permitted and copying prohibition parts TP1 and TP2 in which copying is prohibited. The display control unit displays the copying permission parts AP1 and AP2 on an operation panel 16 in a visible state in which the parts are visible. Also, the display control unit displays the copying prohibition parts TP1 and TP2 on the operation panel 16 in an invisible state in which the parts are invisible.

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal and a technology related thereto.

  In a copying apparatus, there is a technique for preventing unauthorized copying of information (electronic document or the like) displayed on a display medium. For example, Patent Literature 1 reads copy permission information (information indicating whether copying is possible) stored in a non-contact IC provided in electronic paper, and controls copying of an electronic document displayed on the electronic paper. A copying machine is described.

JP 2005-12701 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since it is alternatively determined whether or not to copy the entire electronic document based on the above-described copy permission / inhibition information, It has been difficult to appropriately copy an electronic document including a copy-prohibited portion where copying is prohibited. Specifically, when copying of the entire electronic document is permitted, copying of the copy-prohibited portion becomes possible. On the other hand, if copying of the entire electronic document is prohibited, even copying of the copy-permitted portion is prohibited.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of appropriately copying an electronic document in which a copy-permitted part for which copying is permitted and a copy-prohibited part for which copying is prohibited.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is a portable information terminal, and includes an electronic device having at least one copy-permitted part for which copying is permitted and at least one copy-prohibited part for which copying is prohibited. Electronic document acquisition means for acquiring document data, and displaying the at least one copy-permitted portion in a visible state that is visible, and displaying the at least one copy-prohibited portion in an invisible state Display control means for displaying on the display unit in a certain invisible state.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to the first aspect of the present invention, the portable information terminal further comprises an input control means for receiving a visualization instruction input for temporarily displaying the at least one copy-prohibited portion in the visible state, The display control means temporarily displays the at least one copy-prohibited portion in the visible state in response to the visualization instruction input.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to the second aspect of the invention, the input control means instructs the visualization to input an operation input from a user to one copy prohibited portion of the at least one copy prohibited portion. In response to the visualization instruction input received via the one copy-prohibited portion, the display control means temporarily displays the one copy-prohibited portion in the visible state in response to the visualization instruction input received through the one copy-prohibited portion. To do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to the second aspect of the present invention, the portable information terminal further comprises a visualization instruction input key for receiving the visualization instruction input, and the input control means is an operation from the user with respect to the visualization instruction input key. In response to the visualization instruction input received via the visualization instruction input key, the display control means temporarily receives any of the at least one copy-prohibited portion in the visible state. It is characterized by being displayed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to the first aspect of the present invention, the login user information relating to a logged-in user who is logged in to an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the portable information terminal is stored in the image. A communication control means for receiving from the forming apparatus, an authorized user information obtaining means for obtaining authorized user information relating to an authorized user who is authorized to copy the copy-prohibited portion, and the login user information and the authorized user information. Determination means for determining whether or not the login user is the authority user, and the display control means, on the condition that the login user is determined to be the authority user, The at least one copy-prohibited portion is temporarily displayed in the visible state.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the communication control unit receives a reading signal indicating that the image forming apparatus is reading a document from the image forming apparatus. The display control means temporarily displays the at least one copy-prohibited portion on the condition that the login user is determined to be the authorized user and the communication control means is receiving the reading signal. The display is performed in the visible state.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the portable information terminal according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising detection means for detecting the orientation of the display surface of the display section, wherein the display control means has a vertical orientation of the display surface. The at least one copy-prohibited portion is displayed in the invisible state on the condition that it is downward, and the at least one copy-prohibited portion is displayed on the condition that the direction of the display surface is a direction other than the vertically downward direction. The display is performed in the visible state.

  The invention of claim 8 is an image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus; and a portable information terminal capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus includes the image forming apparatus. First communication control means for transmitting, to the portable information terminal, logged-in user information relating to a logged-in user who is logged in to the forming apparatus, and the portable information terminal has at least one copy permitted Electronic document acquisition means for acquiring data of an electronic document having one copy-permitted portion and at least one copy-prohibited portion for which copying is prohibited; and a visible state in which the at least one copy-permitted portion is visible Display control means for displaying on the display unit and displaying the at least one copy-prohibited portion on the display unit in an invisible state, which is an invisible state; and Second communication control means for receiving login user information from the image forming apparatus, authorized user information obtaining means for obtaining authorized user information relating to authorized users who are authorized to copy the copy-prohibited portion, and the login Determination means for determining whether or not the login user is the authority user based on user information and the authority user information, and the display control means is configured such that the login user is the authority user. The at least one copy-prohibited portion is temporarily displayed in the visible state on the condition that it is determined that

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic document comprising: a) at least one copy-permitted part for which copying is permitted and at least one copy-prohibited part for which copying is prohibited; And b) displaying the at least one copy-permitted portion on the display unit of the portable information terminal in a visible state where the at least one copy-permitted portion is visible, and making the at least one copy-prohibited portion invisible And displaying on the display unit in an invisible state that is a state.

  According to the first to ninth aspects of the present invention, at least one copy-permitted portion is displayed on the display unit in a visible state, and at least one copy-prohibited portion is not visible. It is displayed on the display unit in an invisible state. Therefore, it is possible to copy at least one copy-permitted portion while preventing at least one copy-prohibited portion from being copied. That is, it is possible to appropriately copy an electronic document in which a copy-permitted portion where copying is permitted and a copy-prohibited portion where copying is prohibited are mixed.

  In particular, according to the second aspect of the invention, in response to a visualization instruction input received through one copy-prohibited portion, the one copy-prohibited portion is temporarily displayed in a visible state. Therefore, the user can temporarily browse the one copy-prohibited portion on the display unit of the portable information terminal.

  In particular, according to the invention described in claim 4, in response to the visualization instruction input received via the visualization instruction input key, at least one copy-prohibited portion is temporarily displayed in a visible state. Therefore, the user can view all of the at least one copy prohibited portion at the same time.

  In particular, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, at least one copy-prohibited portion is temporarily displayed in a visible state on condition that the login user is determined to be an authorized user. Therefore, the authorized user can copy at least one copy-prohibited portion using the image forming apparatus.

  In particular, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, at least one copy-prohibited portion is temporarily displayed in a visible state on condition that the communication means is receiving a reading signal. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately synchronize the reading operation of the original in the image forming apparatus and the operation of displaying at least one copy-prohibited portion temporarily in a visible state.

  In particular, according to the seventh aspect of the invention, at least one copy-prohibited portion is displayed in an invisible state on condition that the display surface of the display unit is vertically downward. Therefore, even if the portable information terminal is placed on the platen of the apparatus having a copying function so that the surface thereof is vertically downward, the copy-prohibited portion is displayed in an invisible state. Therefore, it is possible to prohibit copying of at least one copy-prohibited portion. Further, at least one copy-prohibited portion is displayed in a visible state on condition that the display surface of the display unit is oriented in a direction other than vertically downward. Therefore, the user can view the copy-prohibited portion in a visible state without requiring any operation input by keeping the direction of the display surface in a direction other than the vertically downward direction.

It is the schematic which shows the external appearance of the portable information terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a portable information terminal. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an electronic document. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of a portable information terminal. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a portable information terminal. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the portable information terminal which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on an operation panel. It is the schematic which shows the image forming system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of a portable information terminal. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a portable information terminal. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on the operation panel which concerns on a modification.

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

<1. First Embodiment>
<1-1. Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an appearance of the portable information terminal 10.

  The portable information terminal 10 is a variety of portable information terminals. The portable information terminal 10 is configured as various devices such as a portable personal computer, a personal data assistant terminal (PDA device), or a mobile phone.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the portable information terminal 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the portable information terminal 10 includes a CPU 41, a storage unit (such as a semiconductor memory (RAM or the like) and a hard disk drive) 42, a communication unit 43, a display unit 45, and an input unit 46.

  The portable information terminal 10 has an operation panel (liquid crystal touch screen or the like) 16 (see FIG. 1) having both a function as a display unit 45 (display output function) and a function as an input unit 46 (operation input function). ing. The portable information terminal 10 can display various information on the operation panel 16 and provide it to the user, and can accept an operation input from the user using the operation panel 16.

  In addition, the portable information terminal 10 stores the electronic document ED in the storage unit 42. Here, for simplification, it is assumed that the electronic document ED is composed of one page in total. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the electronic document ED. As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic document ED includes four parts (AP1, AP2, TP1, TP2). The portions AP1 and AP2 are portions that are permitted to be copied, and are also referred to as copy permission portions AP1 and AP2. On the other hand, the portions TP1 and TP2 are portions whose copying is prohibited, and are also referred to as copy-prohibiting portions TP1 and TP2.

  Moreover, the portable information terminal 10 implement | achieves various functions by running various programs PG using CPU41 grade | etc.,. Here, the program PG is recorded on various portable recording media (USB memory or the like), and is installed in the portable information terminal 10 via the storage medium. The portable information terminal 10 has a function of reading various portable recording media (such as a USB memory).

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a processing unit realized in the portable information terminal 10 by executing the program PG.

  Specifically, the portable information terminal 10 includes an electronic document acquisition unit 21, an input control unit 22, and a display control unit 23. The electronic document acquisition unit 21 is a processing unit that acquires the electronic document ED from the storage unit 42. The input control unit 22 is a processing unit that receives various operation inputs from the user. The display control unit 23 is a processing unit that controls display contents on the operation panel 16.

<1-2. Operation>
First, the display operation of the electronic document ED by the portable information terminal 10 will be described.

  When the display instruction input of the electronic document ED is received according to a predetermined operation input from the user, the portable information terminal 10 uses the electronic document acquisition unit 21 to store the electronic document ED (specifically, the data). 42.

  Thereafter, the portable information terminal 10 displays the electronic document ED on the operation panel 16 using the display control unit 23 (see FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 6, the display control unit 23 displays the copy permission portions AP1 and AP2 of the display target page in a visually recognizable (readable) state (hereinafter also referred to as a visible state AS). Further, the display control unit 23 displays the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 of the display target page in an invisible (unreadable) state (hereinafter also referred to as an invisible state TS). Specifically, the display control unit 23 displays black-painted images BG1 and BG2 having substantially the same size as the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 so as to be superimposed on the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2, respectively. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the operation panel 16.

  Next, the operation of the portable information terminal 10 when an operation input (touch operation) from the user to the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 is received will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable information terminal 10.

  First, when a touch operation on the operation panel 16 (contact operation with a finger) is detected, the portable information terminal 10 detects the touch position on the operation panel 16 in step S11 of FIG. 5, and each copy prohibited portion TP (TP1). , TP2) is determined. The input control unit 22 performs a touch operation on the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2, respectively, as instruction inputs for temporarily displaying the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 in the visible state AS (hereinafter referred to as visualization instruction inputs IN1 and IN2). To be accepted). Thus, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the visualization instruction inputs IN1 and IN2 are accepted, respectively, depending on whether or not the copy prohibition portions TP1 and TP2 are touched. Here, if it is determined that the visualization instruction inputs IN1 and IN2 have been received, the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, in response to the visualization instruction input IN (IN1 or IN2) received by the input control unit 22, the portable information terminal 10 displays the touched copy-prohibited portion TP (TP1 or TP2) as a display control unit 23. Is temporarily displayed in the visible state AS.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the display control unit 23 temporarily displays the copy prohibited portion TP1 in the visible state AS in response to the visualization instruction input IN1. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the display control unit 23 temporarily displays the copy prohibited portion TP2 in the visible state AS in response to the visualization instruction input IN2. In this way, the display control unit 23 displays the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 individually in the visible state AS in response to the visualization instruction inputs IN1 and IN2.

  In step S <b> 13, the portable information terminal 10 determines whether or not the touch operation (contact operation with fingers) on the operation panel 16 has been completed. Specifically, the portable information terminal 10 determines whether or not the user's finger has left the operation panel 16. If it is determined that the user's finger is away from the operation panel 16, the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S14, the portable information terminal 10 uses the display control unit 23 to display all of the plurality of copy-prohibited portions TP (here, both copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2) in the invisible state TS again (see FIG. 6).

  As described above, when the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are not touched, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the invisible state TS. For example, when the portable information terminal 10 is placed on a document table such as an image forming apparatus having a copying function and the operation panel 16 is in contact with the document table, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are not touched, The copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the invisible state TS. According to such an operation, even if the electronic document ED is copied (copied) by the image forming apparatus or the like, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the invisible state TS, so that the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are copied. (Copying) can be prevented. On the other hand, since the copy permission portions AP1 and AP2 are displayed in the visible state AS, the copy permission portions AP1 and AP2 excluding the copy prohibition portions TP1 and TP2 can be copied. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately copy the electronic document ED in which the copy permission portions AP1 and AP2 and the copy prohibition portions TP1 and TP2 are mixed.

  On the other hand, when the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are touched, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are temporarily displayed in the visible state AS. For example, when each copy-prohibited portion TP1, TP2 is touched by the user's finger, each copy-prohibited portion TP1, TP2 is temporarily displayed in the invisible state TS. According to such an operation, when the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are touched by the user's finger for the purpose of browsing the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 on the operation panel 16, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are touched. TP2 is temporarily displayed in the visible state AS. Therefore, the user can temporarily browse the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 on the operation panel 16 of the portable information terminal 10.

<2. Second Embodiment>
The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. Below, it demonstrates centering on difference with 1st Embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the copy prohibited portion TP1 is displayed in the visible state AS in response to the touch operation on the copy prohibited portion TP1, and the copy prohibited portion TP2 is visible in response to the touch operation on the copy prohibited portion TP2. The case where it displays by AS was illustrated.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, in response to a touch operation on a later-described visualization instruction input key KY (see FIG. 10), all of the plurality of copy-inhibited portions TP1, TP2 (here, copy-inhibited portions TP1, TP2). A case where both are displayed in the visible state AS is illustrated (see FIG. 11).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the display control unit 23 displays the electronic document ED, and displays a visualization instruction input key KY on the upper right of the electronic document ED. The visualization instruction input key KY is a key for inputting an instruction input (hereinafter also referred to as a visualization instruction input IN3) for temporarily displaying both the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 in the visible state AS.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the portable information terminal 10 when an operation input (touch operation) from the user to the visualization instruction input key KY is received will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable information terminal 10 according to the second embodiment.

  First, when a touch operation (contact operation with a finger) on the operation panel 16 is detected, the portable information terminal 10 determines whether or not the visualization instruction input key KY is touched in step S31 of FIG. Note that the input control unit 22 receives a touch operation on the visualization instruction input key KY as a visualization instruction input IN3. Thus, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the visualization instruction input IN3 is accepted depending on whether or not the visualization instruction input key KY is touched. Here, if it is determined that the visualization instruction input IN3 has been received, the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, in response to the visualization instruction input IN3, the display control unit 23 temporarily displays both of the touched copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 in the visible state AS (see FIG. 11).

  In step S33, the portable information terminal 10 determines whether or not the touch operation on the visualization instruction input key KY is finished. If it is determined that the touch operation has been completed, the process proceeds to step S34.

  In step S34, the display control unit 23 displays both the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 temporarily displayed in the visible state AS in the invisible state TS again (see FIG. 10).

  According to the above operation, in response to the visualization instruction input IN3, all of the plurality of copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 (specifically, both the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2) are temporarily displayed in the visible state AS. Is done. Therefore, the user can browse both copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 at the same time.

<3. Third Embodiment>
The third embodiment is a modification of the above embodiments. Below, it demonstrates centering around difference with said each embodiment.

  In each of the above embodiments, in response to a touch operation on the copy prohibition portions TP1 and TP2 (first embodiment) or a touch operation on the visualization instruction input key KY (second embodiment), the copy prohibition portions TP1 and TP2 are temporarily stored. In the example shown in FIG.

  In the third embodiment, it is confirmed that a log-in user to the image forming apparatus 30 described later is an authorized user who has authority to copy the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2, and the image forming apparatus 30 is reading a document. As a condition, a case where both copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are temporarily displayed in the visible state AS will be exemplified.

<3-1. Overview>
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an image forming system 1 according to the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the image forming system 1 includes a portable information terminal 10 (10B) and an image forming apparatus 30.

  The portable information terminal 10B and the image forming apparatus 30 can exchange various data with each other using short-range communication. Note that examples of the short distance communication include communication by Bluetooth connection and infrared communication.

<3-2. Portable information terminal 10B>
FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the portable information terminal 10B. As shown in FIG. 13, in addition to the electronic document acquisition unit 21, the input control unit 22, and the display control unit 23, the portable information terminal 10B includes an authority user information acquisition unit 24, a login user determination unit 25, and a communication control unit. 26.

  The authority user information acquisition unit 24 is a processing unit that acquires authority user information KI embedded in the electronic document ED from the electronic document ED. The authorized user information KI is information related to a user (hereinafter also referred to as authorized user AU) who has the authority to copy (copy, etc.) the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2. Specifically, in the authority user information KI, user names of the authority user AU (for example, users UA, UB, UC,...) Are listed and recorded. Here, it is assumed that the authority user information KI is embedded in the electronic document ED in advance by the creator of the electronic document ED.

  The login user determination unit 25 determines whether or not the login user LU that is logged in the image forming apparatus 30 is the authority user AU based on the authority user information KI and the login user information LI (to be described below). It is a processing unit for determining whether or not. The login user information LI is information regarding the login user LU including the user name (for example, user UA) of the login user LU. As will be described later, the portable information terminal 10 receives the login user information LI from the image forming apparatus 30 (by short-range communication).

  The communication control unit 26 is a processing unit that controls various operations related to data communication in the portable information terminal 10.

<3-3. Image Forming Apparatus 30>
The image forming apparatus 30 is assumed to be configured as a multi function peripheral (also abbreviated as MFP). The MFP is a device (also referred to as a multifunction device) having a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, a data communication function, and the like.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 30. As shown in FIG. 14, the image forming apparatus 30 includes an image reading unit 2, a print output unit 3, a communication unit 4, a storage unit 5, a controller 9, and the like. Realize various functions.

  The image reading unit 2 is a processing unit that optically reads a document placed at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus 30 and generates image data (also referred to as a document image) of the document.

  The print output unit 3 is an output unit that prints an image on various media such as paper based on image data related to the target image.

  The communication unit 4 can perform network communication via the network NW. In this network communication, various protocols such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) are used, and by using the network communication, the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to a desired partner. Various data can be exchanged with the destination. Further, the communication unit 4 can perform Bluetooth communication with a desired destination by using radio waves of a specific band. Furthermore, the communication part 4 can also perform near field communication with a desired other party by using infrared rays.

  The storage unit 5 includes a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a nonvolatile memory. Registered user information (including the login user name and password of each user) regarding each registered user is registered in the storage unit 5.

  The controller 9 is a control unit that controls the image forming apparatus 30 in an integrated manner, and includes a CPU and various semiconductor memories (such as a RAM and a ROM). Various functions of the image forming apparatus 30 are realized by operating various processing units under the control of the controller 9. The controller 9 implements various processing units by executing a predetermined software program (hereinafter also simply referred to as a program) PG stored in a ROM (for example, EEPROM) in the CPU.

  Specifically, the controller 9 implements various processing units including a user authentication unit 61, a communication control unit 62, and the like.

  The user authentication unit 61 is a processing unit that performs user authentication processing based on registered user information in the storage unit 5.

  The communication control unit 62 is a processing unit that controls a communication operation with the portable information terminal 10. For example, the communication control unit 62 transmits login user information LI for identifying a login user to the portable information terminal 10. Further, the communication control unit 62 transmits a signal (hereinafter also referred to as a reading signal RC) indicating that the document is being read (scanning) by the image reading unit 2 to the portable information terminal 10. Communication regarding the reading signal RC is performed by short-range communication (Bluetooth communication or the like).

<3-4. Operation>
Next, various operations in the image forming system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation in the image forming apparatus 30. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation in the portable information terminal 10.

  In the third embodiment, a case where the user UA uses the image forming apparatus 30 to copy the electronic document ED (see FIG. 6) displayed on the operation panel 16 of the portable information terminal 10 is illustrated. Here, it is assumed that the user UA has already logged in to the image forming apparatus 30 through the user authentication process by the user authentication unit 61. The user authentication process is performed in the following procedure. First, the user UA inputs the user name NM and the password PW at the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 30. Thereafter, the user authentication unit 61 collates the input user name NM and password PW with the registered user information in the storage unit 5 and determines whether or not the user UA can log in.

  First, the operation of the image forming apparatus 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the portable information terminal 10B is placed on the document table of the image forming apparatus 30 and the start key is pressed, in step S51 of FIG. 15, the image forming apparatus 30 causes the portable information terminal 10B to temporarily copy the copy prohibited portion TP. It is determined whether or not the model is compatible with the visible display operation KD displayed in the visible state AS (hereinafter also referred to as a compatible model HM).

  Specifically, the image forming apparatus 30 performs short-range communication with the portable information terminal 10 using a predetermined protocol. Here, when communication is established between the image forming apparatus 30 and the portable information terminal 10, the image forming apparatus 30 determines that the portable information terminal 10B is a compatible model HM. Then, the process proceeds to step S52. On the other hand, when communication is not established between the image forming apparatus 30 and the portable information terminal 10 (for example, when communication times out), the image forming apparatus 30 does not use the portable information terminal 10B as a compatible model HM. Is determined. Then, the process proceeds to step S54.

  In step S52, the image forming apparatus 30 uses the communication control unit 62 to transmit login user information LI for identifying the login user (here, the user UA) to the portable information terminal 10B.

  In step S <b> 53, the image forming apparatus 30 reads an original using the image reading unit 2. During reading of the document, the image forming apparatus 30 transmits a reading signal RC to the portable information terminal 10 using the communication control unit 62.

  On the other hand, in step S54, since the portable information terminal 10B is not a compatible model HM, the image forming apparatus 30 reads the document without transmitting the reading signal RC.

  Next, the operation of the portable information terminal 10B will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the display instruction input of the electronic document ED is accepted, the portable information terminal 10 displays the electronic document ED on the operation panel 16 in step S70 of FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the portable information terminal 10 uses the display control unit 23 to display the copy-permitted portions AP1 and AP2 in the visible state AS and the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 in the invisible state. Display with TS.

  Thereafter, when the portable information terminal 10B communicates with the image forming apparatus 30 and receives the login user information LI from the image forming apparatus 30, in step S71, it is determined whether or not the login user (user UA) is the authorized user AU. judge.

  Specifically, first, the portable information terminal 10 acquires the authority user information KI from the electronic document ED using the authority user information acquisition unit 24. Thereafter, the login user determination unit 25 determines whether or not the login user (user UA) LU is the authority user AU based on the login user information LI and the authority user information KI. Specifically, when there is a user name listed as the authorized user AU that matches the user name of the login user LU, the login user LU is determined to be the authorized user AU. On the other hand, when there is no user name listed as the authorized user AU that matches the user name of the login user LU, the login user LU is determined not to be the authorized user AU.

  If it is determined that the login user is the authorized user AU, the process proceeds to step S72. On the other hand, when it is determined that the login user is not the authorized user AU, the portable information terminal 10B ends the process without executing the visible display operation KD. That is, if the logged-in user is not the authorized user AU, the portable information terminal 10 displays the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 in the invisible state TS without displaying them in the visible state AS while reading the document.

  In step S72, it is determined whether or not the communication control unit 26 is receiving the reading signal RC. If it is determined that the communication control unit 26 is receiving the reading signal RC, the process proceeds to step S73. Otherwise, the portable information terminal 10B ends the process without executing the visible display operation KD. To do.

  In step S73, the display control unit 23 performs a visible display operation KD. Specifically, the display control unit 23 determines that the user UA is the authorized user AU and that the communication control unit 26 is receiving the reading signal RC, so that the plurality of copy prohibited portions TP1, TP2 (Both TP1 and TP2) are temporarily displayed in a visible state. As described above, in the visible display operation KD in step S73, it is determined that the login user LU logged in to the image forming apparatus 30 is the authorized user AU and the scanning operation in the image forming apparatus 30 is performed (step S53 in FIG. 15). It is executed on condition that there is. Further, in synchronization with such a visible display operation KD, the scanning operation of the image forming apparatus 30 is executed (step S53 in FIG. 15), and the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 that have transitioned to the visible state AS are detected by the image forming apparatus 30. Duplicated.

  In step S74, it is determined whether or not reception of the reading signal RC is completed. If it is determined that the reception of the reading signal RC is completed, the process proceeds to step S75.

  In step S75, the display control unit 23 displays both the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 that have been temporarily displayed in the visible state in the invisible state again.

  According to the above operation, both copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are temporarily displayed in the visible state AS on the condition that the login user is determined to be the authorized user AU. Therefore, the authorized user AU can copy the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 using the image forming apparatus 30.

  On the condition that the communication control unit 26 is receiving the reading signal RC, both the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are temporarily displayed in the visible state AS. Therefore, the scanning operation and the visible display operation KD in the image forming apparatus 30 can be more reliably synchronized.

  Note that since the portable information terminal 10 determines whether or not the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are temporarily displayed in the visible state AS, the portable information terminal 10 is portable in the vicinity of an image forming apparatus that does not support the visible display operation KD. When the information terminal 10 exists, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 of the portable information terminal 10 are always displayed in the invisible state TS. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 from being copied without permission.

<4. Modified example>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the contents described above.

  Specifically, in the first embodiment, when the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are not touched, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the invisible state TS, and the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are touched. In this case, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the visible state AS. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, on the condition that the display surface of the operation panel 16 of the portable information terminal 10 is vertically downward, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the invisible state TS, and the display surface is in a direction other than the vertically downward direction. The copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 may be displayed in the visible state AS on the condition that they exist.

  Below, such a modification is demonstrated.

  In this modification, the portable information terminal 10 further includes a detection unit 29 in addition to the electronic document acquisition unit 21, the input control unit 22, and the display control unit 23 described above.

  The detection unit 29 is a processing unit that detects the orientation of the display surface of the operation panel 16. More specifically, the detection unit 29 detects the direction of the outward normal vector on the display surface of the operation panel 16. Here, the detection part 29 shall be comprised as a gyro sensor.

  When such a detection unit 29 determines that the orientation of the display surface of the operation panel 16 is vertically downward, the display control unit 23 displays the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 in the invisible state TS. On the other hand, when it is determined that the orientation of the display surface of the operation panel 16 is other than vertically downward (for example, vertically upward), the display control unit 23 displays the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 in the visible state AS.

  According to this, when the portable information terminal 10 is placed on the document table of the image forming apparatus 30 and the orientation of the display surface of the operation panel 16 is vertically downward, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the invisible state TS. Therefore, copying of the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 is prohibited, and it is possible to appropriately secure the security of the electronic document ED.

  Further, when the portable information terminal 10 is not placed on the document table and the orientation of the display surface of the operation panel 16 is other than vertically downward, the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the visible state AS. Therefore, the user can view the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 in the visible state AS without requiring any operation input by keeping the operation panel 16 in a direction other than the vertically downward direction.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the touch operation by the user's finger with respect to the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 is received as the visualization instruction inputs IN1 and IN2, respectively, is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, touch operations using dedicated touch pens for the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 may be accepted as visualization instruction inputs IN1 and IN2, respectively. Similarly, in the second embodiment, the case where the touch operation by the user's finger with respect to the visualization instruction input key KY is received as the visualization instruction input IN3 is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a dedicated operation for the visualization instruction input key KY is exemplified. A touch operation using a touch pen may be accepted as the visualization instruction input IN3.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the case where the visualization instruction input key KY is displayed on the upper right of the electronic document ED has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. You may make it display on a location (for example, upper left of the electronic document ED).

  In the third embodiment, both the copy prohibition portions TP1 and TP2 are temporarily visible on the condition that the login user is determined to be the authorized user AU and the reading signal RC is being received. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, both the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 may be displayed in the visible state AS for a certain period (for example, 15 seconds) after it is determined that the login user is the authorized user AU. According to this, the authorized user AU can copy the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 in a certain period in which both of the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the visible state AS. However, as shown in the third embodiment, when both the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed in the visible state AS while the reading signal RC is being received, the scanning operation and the visible display operation in the image forming apparatus 30 are performed. Since the KD can be synchronized, the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 can be copied more reliably.

  In the third embodiment, the case where the information regarding each registered user is registered in the storage unit 5 in the image forming apparatus 30 is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus is connected via the network NW. Each registered user may be registered in a server 50 (not shown) connected to the server 30.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the black painted images BG1 and BG2 having substantially the same size as the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 are displayed superimposed on the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2, respectively, has been illustrated. However, it is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, message images MG1 and MG2 having a size substantially the same as the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 and displaying a message indicating that copying is prohibited inside are respectively the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP1, respectively. It may be displayed superimposed on TP2. Alternatively, advertisement images AG1 and AG2 (not shown) that display various advertisements may be displayed superimposed on the copy prohibited portions TP1 and TP2, respectively. As described above, by using various images that prevent the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 from being visually recognized, the copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 can be displayed in an invisible state TS that is invisible (unreadable). .

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the idea of the present invention is applied to the electronic document ED having the two copy-prohibited portions TP1 and TP2 has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The idea may be applied to the electronic document ED having the electronic document ED, or may be applied to the electronic document ED having more (for example, three) copy-prohibited parts.

AP1, AP2 Copy permitted part AS Visible state AU Authorized user BG1, BG2 Black image IN1-IN3 Visualization instruction input ED Electronic document KI Authority user information KY Visualization instruction input key LI Login user information MG Message image RC Reading signal TP1, TP2 Copy prohibited part TS invisible state

Claims (9)

A portable information terminal,
Electronic document acquisition means for acquiring data of an electronic document having at least one copy-permitted part for which copying is permitted and at least one copy-prohibited part for which copying is prohibited;
Display control for displaying the at least one copy-permitted portion on the display unit in a visible state that is visible, and displaying the at least one copy-prohibited portion on the display unit in an invisible state that is not visible Means,
A portable information terminal comprising: The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein
Input control means for receiving a visualization instruction input for temporarily displaying the at least one copy-prohibited portion in the visible state;
Further comprising
The portable information terminal characterized in that the display control means temporarily displays the at least one copy prohibited portion in the visible state in response to the visualization instruction input. The portable information terminal according to claim 2,
The input control means accepts an operation input from a user for one copy prohibited portion of the at least one copy prohibited portion as the visualization instruction input;
The display control means temporarily displays the one copy-prohibited part in the visible state in response to the visualization instruction input received through the one copy-prohibited part. . The portable information terminal according to claim 2,
A visualization instruction input key for receiving the visualization instruction input;
Further comprising
The input control means accepts an operation input from a user for the visualization instruction input key as the visualization instruction input,
The display control means temporarily displays any of the at least one copy-prohibited portion in the visible state in response to the visualization instruction input received via the visualization instruction input key. Information terminal. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein
Communication control means for receiving, from the image forming apparatus, login user information relating to a logged-in user who is logged in to an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the portable information terminal;
Authority user information acquisition means for acquiring authority user information relating to an authority user who is an authority to copy the copy-prohibited portion;
Determining means for determining whether or not the login user is the authority user based on the login user information and the authority user information;
Further comprising
The portable information terminal characterized in that the display control means temporarily displays the at least one copy-prohibited portion in the visible state on condition that the login user is determined to be the authorized user. The portable information terminal according to claim 5, wherein
The communication control unit receives a reading signal indicating that the image forming apparatus is reading a document from the image forming apparatus;
The display control means temporarily displays the at least one copy-prohibited portion on the condition that the login user is determined to be the authorized user and the communication control means is receiving the reading signal. A portable information terminal that is displayed in a visible state. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein
Detecting means for detecting the orientation of the display surface of the display unit;
Further comprising
The display control means includes
Displaying the at least one copy-prohibited portion in the invisible state on the condition that the orientation of the display surface is vertically downward,
A portable information terminal characterized in that the at least one copy-prohibited portion is displayed in the visible state on condition that the display surface is oriented in a direction other than the vertically downward direction. An image forming system,
An image forming apparatus;
A portable information terminal capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus;
With
The image forming apparatus includes:
First communication control means for transmitting log-in user information relating to a log-in user who is logged-in to the image forming apparatus to the portable information terminal;
Have
The portable information terminal
Electronic document acquisition means for acquiring data of an electronic document having at least one copy-permitted part for which copying is permitted and at least one copy-prohibited part for which copying is prohibited;
Display control for displaying the at least one copy-permitted portion on the display unit in a visible state that is visible, and displaying the at least one copy-prohibited portion on the display unit in an invisible state that is not visible Means,
Second communication control means for receiving the login user information from the image forming apparatus;
Authority user information acquisition means for acquiring authority user information relating to an authority user who is an authority to copy the copy-prohibited portion;
Determining means for determining whether or not the login user is the authority user based on the login user information and the authority user information;
Have
The image forming system characterized in that the display control means temporarily displays the at least one copy-prohibited portion in the visible state on condition that the login user is determined to be the authorized user. In the computer built into the personal digital assistant,
a) obtaining data of an electronic document having at least one copy-permitted part for which copying is permitted and at least one copy-prohibited part for which copying is prohibited;
b) Displaying the at least one copy-permitted portion on the display unit of the portable information terminal in a visible state where the at least one copy-permitted portion is visible; and Displaying on the display unit;
A program for running

Images