JP2013141059A - Compound machine, compound machine control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize efficient resource management by optimization of user information to be expanded on a storage device of a compound machine.SOLUTION: The compound machine comprises: authentication means which, when receiving authentication from a user who uses the compound machine, performs authentication using user information obtained by storing the user information in a main storage device; comparison means which, if the authentication by the authentication means is a failure, compares a time needed to retrieve the user information from an auxiliary storage device with a time needed to initialize all the users stored in the auxiliary storage device; and retrieval means which retrieves the user by a method determined by the comparison means to need shorter time to perform the initialization.

Description

  The present invention relates to a multifunction peripheral that initializes a user when power is turned on.

  When registering a user for a device that is deployed in an office such as a multifunction device and used by an unspecified number of users, it is necessary to use the device in order to consider user convenience and avoid complicated user management by the administrator. It is often seen that all users who can be estimated (in some cases, all employees, etc.) are registered.

  As a result, at the time of power-on, there are thousands of initialization processing targets that migrate information from the auxiliary storage device to the main memory device with excellent responsiveness in order to improve the responsiveness of the information associated with the user information. In some cases, it may extend to the user, and there may be a delay in startup time or tight resources.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a system that requires an authentication server and a directory server in order to eliminate complicated operations by an administrator, and a method for dynamically adding and deleting registered users to realize optimal user management There is also a method of solving the problem of start-up time by reducing the number of users registered in the MFP.

JP 2010-81427 A

  However, it may be a burden on the administrator to construct a new system as described above and change the operation of user management.

  In the present invention, the optimal resource management on the multifunction device without changing the conventional operation (regarding difficult matters and registering all users) without constructing a complicated system such as a management server. In order to make it possible to perform the initialization process only for users who are not likely to be all users registered in the multi-function peripheral but are likely to use them temporarily, the temporary storage from the auxiliary storage device such as HDD to the main storage device with excellent processing speed Save and speed up response time and reduce startup time for authentication processing related to user information, etc., and optimize user information deployed on the storage device of the multifunction device for efficient resource management The purpose is to realize.

  When authentication is received from a user who uses the multi-function peripheral, when the authentication fails by the authentication unit that authenticates the user information using the user information stored on the main storage device, Comparing means for comparing the time required for retrieving the user information from the auxiliary storage device and for initializing all users stored in the auxiliary storage device, and the time required for initializing by the comparing means And a search means for searching for the user in a method determined to be short.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the MFP according to the present invention includes first user authentication information including information on all users who may use the MFP alone and department management to which the user belongs. A first storage medium having a function for managing information internally, and first storage information for permanently storing the first user authentication information and department management information even after the MFP is turned off; and the first storage medium Is a multi-function machine having a second storage medium that can be used only when the power is turned on, and the first user authentication information can be associated with the IP address of the client PC. The MFP is registered as a printer that the MFP normally uses from the driver software installed on the client PC that enables execution of a print command from the client PC to the MFP. The first determination means for determining that there is a strong intention to use the multifunction device from the acquisition result of a printer that is normally used, and the fact that the user authentication to the multifunction device has been successful, Although it cannot be determined by the second determination means and the first or second determination means that determine that the multifunction device is used, it has the same department management information as the user authentication information determined by the first or second determination means. All of the user authentication information extracted from the third means for judging that there is a strong possibility of use of the multifunction device from the above, including all users who have leaked from the first, second and third judgment means Is stored in the first storage medium as second user authentication information different from the first user authentication information including the user authentication information of the first, and the stored second user authentication information is stored in the first time when the MFP is turned on. From storage media By copying to the secondary storage medium, wherein the MFP starting time improvements, is characterized in that to realize a response speed improvement and biomass reduces simultaneously.

  Further, the program according to the present invention stores, as a first storage medium, a maximum time spent to acquire user information from the first user authentication information when the MFP is turned on, and a first storage medium The second maximum time to be transferred to the second storage medium and stored is stored.

  Furthermore, the program according to the present invention stores, as third user information, in the first storage medium and the second storage medium when a user who is not included in the second user authentication information logs in to the MFP. Attempts are made, but if the user is already registered in the third user authentication information, authentication fails. A first authenticating means for registering if the user is not registered in advance in the third user information, and authenticating as a general-purpose user having permission to use only arbitrary authority that can be judged to be appropriate in terms of user security; Secondly, the authority included in the second user authentication information is temporarily transferred from the user included in the second user authentication information to the user not included in the second user authentication information. And a third authentication unit that compares the first maximum time and the second maximum time and selectively executes a shorter time process.

  Further, the program according to the present invention confirms that the third user authentication information is included in the first user authentication information, and then saves it as the second user authentication information. At that time, it is assumed that the third authentication information is deleted and authentication is performed afterwards as an authorized user. If the third user information is not included in the first user authentication information, the user should not be deleted from the third authentication information and continuously stored as a user who should be restricted from use. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize efficient resource management by optimizing user information developed on the storage device of the multi-function peripheral.

It is a figure which shows the system outline | summary at the time of the authentication in the multifunctional device in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the multifunctional device in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the image management system in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the table which defined the format which preserve | saves the various data in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the initialization process of the multifunctional device in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the time measurement of user's authentication information acquisition in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the initialization user acquisition process of the multifunctional device in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the process which makes the user information which has the same department management as the user information which is the object for the initialization process of the user authentication information of the MFP in the embodiment according to the present invention as the object of initialization. It is a figure which shows the authentication process of the multifunctional device in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the process at the time of performing the limited function operation which can be used without authentication of the multifunctional machine in embodiment which concerns on this invention. Processing for changing an unregistered user in the user authentication information of the multifunction peripheral to the user to be initialized in the embodiment according to the present invention will be described. It is a figure which shows the process at the time of updating to the table which preserve | saves the user authentication information of the user judged as unregistered of the multifunctional device in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the authentication screen of the multifunctional device in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the authentication process continuation confirmation screen of the multifunctional device in the embodiment according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the authentication agency screen of the multifunctional device in embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the proxy login screen of the multifunctional machine in embodiment which concerns on this invention.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a system at the time of authentication in a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The multifunction device 108 has a table 101 for managing a list of authentication information of authorized users and users who have a history of use of the multifunction device, and a history of use or non-use of the multifunction device, from the HDD 100 which is an auxiliary storage device at startup after power-on. All the data in the table 102 for managing the list of authorized user authentication information is stored in the RAM 104 as the main storage device as the table 105 and the table 106, respectively.

  The table 103 serving as the master of user authentication information is not subject to copying, and is always managed by the HDD 100.

  When an authorized user with a use history requests authentication to the authentication function 107, the authentication function 107 immediately searches the table 105 and table 106 in the main storage device without searching the auxiliary storage device, and the authentication is successful. Return the response.

  Even when an authorized user without a use history requests authentication to the authentication function 107, the authentication function 107 first searches the table 105 and table 106 in the main storage device without searching the auxiliary storage device. Since there is no usage history, authentication information is stored in the table 106 as no usage history.

  Even when an unauthorized user with a history of authentication failure requests authentication to the authentication function 107, the authentication function 107 immediately searches the table 105 and table 106 in the main storage device without searching the auxiliary storage device. Search, but authentication failure response is returned because there is a history of authentication failure.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

This is a hardware configuration of the multifunction device 200. The multi-function peripheral includes a CPU 206, RAM 207, ROM 208, HDD 209, and various interfaces connected to the system bus. In accordance with information stored in the RAM 207, ROM 208, and HDD 209, the CPU 206 includes a keyboard I / F 210, a display I / F 211, a scanner I / F 214, a printer I / F 216, an external control I / F 218 (coin vendor I / F), a network I / F. Control other devices and devices via F219.

Reference numeral 220 denotes a user's PC connected to the network. Reference numeral 221 denotes a driver capable of transmitting to the multi-function peripheral that the multi-function peripheral is set in the PC 220.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  An authentication unit 301 authenticates a user who uses the multifunction machine. For the authentication, user information stored in the main storage device 305 is used.

  The comparison unit 302 functions when authentication by the authentication unit 301 fails, that is, when user information is not stored in the main storage device 305. Specifically, when searching for a user stored in the auxiliary storage device from the auxiliary storage device, or when copying all user information stored in the main storage device to the auxiliary storage device, which time is shorter To compare.

  The search unit 303 searches for a user using a method determined to be short by the comparison unit 302.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a table defining a format for storing various data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 400 denotes a master table including all user authentication information stored in the MFP according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 401 denotes a table including all department management information representing departments to which a user belongs stored in the multifunction peripheral. In addition to user authentication information of a user who has successfully used the multifunction device in the past 402, in addition to a user who belongs to the same department as a regular and experienced user such as the user, A table for storing and managing user authentication information of a user who is set in a driver as a printer for normal use of the multifunction device, and the table is stored in the main memory from an auxiliary storage device during startup processing when the multifunction device is turned on. Is to be copied to the device.

  When a user not included in the table 402 attempts authentication, the table 403 stores and manages the user authentication information of the user. The table 403 is stored in the master table 400 by the program processing in the embodiment of the present invention. If it is determined that the user authentication information is included, it is assumed that the authentication is successful, and the user authentication information is deleted from 403.

  Reference numeral 404 denotes a time required when user authentication information that is not included in the table 402 is searched from the master table 400 for the corresponding user authentication information only in the auxiliary storage device, and the master table 400 is transferred from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device. It is a table for storing and managing the time required when all information is copied and the main storage device is searched.

  Reference numeral 405 denotes a table for permanently storing and managing whether or not the master table 400 and the table 403 have been changed in the auxiliary storage device.

  Hereinafter, a flow of processing for copying user authentication information from the auxiliary storage device HDD 209 to the main storage device RAM 208 as initialization processing of the multi-function device 108 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an initialization process of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step 500, the MFP 200 starts copying after the power is turned on, and the user who is to be copied to the main storage device as the initialization process of the MFP 200 saved in the HDD 209 from the program stored in the RAM 208 via the CPU 206. It is confirmed whether data exists in the table 402 representing a list of authentication information.

  In step 501, if data exists in the table 402 stored in the HDD 209, step 502 is executed. If it does not exist, the process ends.

  In step 502, the table 402 stored in the HDD 209 is copied to the RAM 208, and the process ends.

  Hereinafter, a flow of time measurement for acquiring, from the auxiliary storage device, authentication information of a user who is not to be copied to the main storage device, which is performed as initialization processing of user authentication information at the time of activation of the multifunction machine 108 based on FIG. Will be explained.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of time measurement for acquiring user authentication information according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step 600, the MFP 200 checks the table 405 stored in the HDD 209 from the program stored in the RAM 208 via the CPU 206 at the start-up after power-on, and checks whether there is an update in the data of the master table 400.

  In step 601, if update is permitted, step 602 is executed. If it is not recognized, the process is terminated.

  In step 602, the number of tables is acquired and stored in the RAM 208.

  In step 603, the master table 400 stored in the HDD 209 is searched from the top to the last data, and the time required to acquire the last data is stored in the RAM 208. The number obtained in step 602 is set as the index of the last data.

  In step 604, the maximum time without initialization processing is stored in the table 404 of the HDD 209.

  In step 605, in addition to the time for copying the master table 400 stored in the HDD 209 to the RAM 208, the time until one piece of arbitrary data is acquired from the RAM 208 after copying is stored in the RAM 208.

  In step 606, the maximum time with the initialization process is stored in the table 404 of the HDD 209, and the process ends.

  The client PC in the broadcast domain in the local area network to which the multi-function device 108 to which the multi-function device 108 belongs is periodically registered when the power of the multi-function device 108 is energized based on FIG. 7 has registered the multi-function device 108 as a normal printer. A flow for confirmation will be described.

  Here, it is an object that a user who is a normal printer is added as a user information initialization process target.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the initialization user acquisition process of the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step 700, the multi-function device 200 checks whether data exists in the master table 400 stored in the HDD 209 from the program stored in the RAM 208 via the CPU 206, and executes step 701 if it exists, and if not, The process ends.

  In step 701, the program of the multifunction device 200 transmits the ICMP protocol from the network I / F 219 to the broadcast domain.

  In step 702, if a response is recognized, step 703 is executed, and if not acknowledged, the process is terminated.

  In step 703, the process is repeated for the number of cases for which there was a response in step 702.

  In step 704, communication with the response destination driver 221 in step 702 is attempted.

  In step 705, it is checked whether or not the multifunction device 200 is set as a printer for normal use from the response destination driver 221. If it is set, step 706 is executed. If not set, the process ends.

  In step 706, the user authentication information data is acquired from the master table 400 stored in the HDD 209 using the IP address of the response destination as a search condition, and stored in the HDD 209 and the RAM 208, respectively, for the user authentication information initialization process. The acquired user authentication information is added to the table 402, and the process is terminated.

  Hereinafter, the authentication information of the user not to be copied to the main storage device, which is performed as the initialization process of the user authentication information at the time of activation of the multifunction machine 108 based on FIG. 8, is the same as the target user. A flow of processing in which user authentication information that is not the target of the initialization process when the department management information is set is the target of the initialization process will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the initialization user acquisition process of the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In step 800, the MFP 200 refers to the information in the table 402 stored in the RAM 208 from the program stored in the RAM 208 via the CPU 206, and acquires a list of department IDs so as not to overlap.
In step 801, the process is repeated for the number of department ID lists.

  In step 802, user authentication information is extracted with the department ID from the master table 400 stored in the HDD 209.

  In step 803, if the extracted user authentication information is not included in the table 402, step 804 is executed, and if it is included, step 801 is executed.

  In step 804, the extracted user authentication information is added to the table 402 of each of the HDD 209 and the RAM 208, and the process ends. The added user is set as a user to be initialized from the next time onward.

In the following, the flow of the authentication process on the assumption that the copy of the user authentication information from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device has been completed as the initialization processing of the user authentication information of the multifunction peripheral 108 will be described based on FIG. The authentication process is performed on the assumption that it cannot be performed until the initialization process is completed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing authentication processing of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step 900, a screen 1301 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the LCD 213 via the CPU 206 of the multifunction device 200, and the user is prompted to input authentication information.

  Items that prompt input are a user ID and a password. IC card authentication using an ID card or the like may be performed in addition to input using a keyboard or numeric keypad.

  In step 901, the input authentication information is stored in the RAM 208.

  In step 902, it is confirmed whether the authentication information is included in the table 402 stored in the RAM 208. If it is included, step 512 is executed. If not included, step 903 is executed.

  In step 903, the screen 1401 shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the LCD 213 to prompt the user that there is a risk that the authentication may take a long time because the user authentication information is not initialized.

  If the button “Yes” is pressed in step 904 and the continuation of the authentication process is selected, step 905 is executed. When the button “to proxy / no authentication screen” is pressed, the processing of FIG. 10 is executed. If the button “RETURN” is pressed, the process returns to step 900 to display a login screen.

  In step 905, the maximum time without initialization and the maximum time with initialization are acquired from the maximum time table 404.

  In step 906, if the value of the maximum time without initialization is smaller than the maximum time with initialization, step 907 is executed. If so, step 908 is executed.

  In step 907, user authentication information data is acquired from the master table 400 stored in the HDD 209, information on a user who is attempting authentication processing is searched, and step 910 is executed.

  In step 908, all data in the master table 400 is copied from the HDD 209 to the RAM 208.

  In step 909, information of the user who is attempting the authentication process is retrieved from the master table 400 copied to the RAM 208 in step 908, and step 910 is executed.

  In step 910, if the searched user information exists, step 911 is executed. If not, step 913 is executed.

  In step 911, the user information confirmed to exist in step 910 is added to the table 402 in the HDD 209 and the RAM 208.

  In step 912, the authentication is successful and the multifunction device 200 can be operated.

  In step 913, the user information that could not be confirmed in step 910 is added as unregistered user authentication information to the table 403 in the HDD 209 and RAM 208.

  In step 914, the MFP 200 cannot be operated because the authentication has failed.

  The user authentication information exists in the main storage device on the premise that the copy of the user authentication information from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device is completed as the user authentication information initialization process of the multifunction peripheral 108 based on FIG. Therefore, the processing after pressing the button “to proxy / no authentication screen” in step 904 in FIG. 9 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating processing when a limited function operation that can be used without authentication of the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention is performed.

  In step 1000, the MFP 150 displays the screen 1501 of FIG. 15 on the LCD 213 via the CPU of the MFP 200, and uses the general-purpose user who has permission to use only arbitrary authority that can be determined to be appropriate for user security. The user is prompted to select whether to perform the operation 200 or to temporarily transfer the authority that the user has in the table 402 from the user authentication information included in the table 402 to operate the MFP after authentication. .

  In step 1001, information on a user who is attempting authentication is added as unregistered user authentication information to the table 403 of the HDD 209 and the RAM 208 regardless of whether the selection of the button “authentication proxy” or the button “no authentication” is pressed.

  When the button “authentication proxy” is pressed in step 1002, step 1003 is executed. If the button “no authentication” is pressed, step 1008 is executed.

In step 1003, the screen 1601 shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the LCD 213 via the CPU of the multifunction device 200, and the user is prompted to input authentication information for the agent. An agent is a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 200 and intends to temporarily use the multifunction device by an operating user.

  In step 1004, the same authentication process as in steps 900 to 909 in FIG. 9 is executed.

  If authentication is successful in step 1005, step 1006 is executed. If unsuccessful, step 1007 is executed.

  In step 1006, authentication is successful and the multifunction device 200 can be operated.

  In step 1007, the user information requested to be substituted for authentication that could not be confirmed in step 1005 is added as unregistered user authentication information to the table 403 of the HDD 209 and RAM 208, and the operation of the multifunction device 200 is determined to have failed. Impossible.

Hereinafter, the user information treated as an unregistered user during the previous activation before the start of copying of the user authentication information from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device as an initialization process of the user authentication information of the multifunction peripheral 108 based on FIG. Will be described when the unregistered user is changed to the user to be initialized when it is included after confirming whether or not is included in the master table 400.

  FIG. 11 illustrates processing for changing an unregistered user in the user authentication information of the multifunction peripheral to the user to be initialized in the embodiment according to the present invention.

  In step 1100, the multifunction device 200 checks whether there is an update in the data in the table 405 stored in the HDD 209 from the program stored in the RAM 208 via the CPU 206 at the start-up after power-on.

  If there is an update in step 1101, step 1102 is executed. If it does not exist, the process ends.

In step 1102, all data is acquired from unregistered user authentication information in the table 403 of the HDD 209.
In step 1103, the processing is repeated for the number of acquired data.

  If unregistered user authentication information exists in the master table 400 of the HDD 209 in step 1104, step 1105 is executed. If not, step 1103 is executed.

  In step 1105, the unregistered user authentication information is deleted from the table 403 of the HDD 209.

  In step 1106, the unregistered user authentication information is added as initialization target user authentication information in the table 402 of the HDD 209, and the process ends.

Hereinafter, when updating the master table 400 to the table 403 of the multifunction device 108 based on FIG. 12, the fact that the two tables have been updated is stored in the table 405, and initialization at the next power-on of the multifunction device 108 is performed. The process for making it the confirmation object of step 700 of FIG. 7 and step 1000 of FIG. 10 in a process is demonstrated.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing processing when updating a table for storing user authentication information of a user who is determined to be unregistered in the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step 1200, the MFP 200 checks whether there is an update in the data in the master table 400 to the table 403 stored in the HDD 209 from the program stored in the RAM 208 via the CPU 206. Run.

  In step 1201, information indicating that the star table 400 to the table 403 has been updated is stored in the table 405 of the HDD 209, and the process is terminated.

  Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system including a single device.

  The program according to the present invention is a program that can be executed by a computer according to the processing method of the flowchart shown in the present invention. The storage medium according to the present invention stores a program that can be executed by a computer. The program in the present invention may be a program for each processing method of each device.

  As described above, a recording medium that records a program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program stored in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the reading.

  In this case, the program itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, silicon A disk, solid state drive, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on an instruction of the program is actually It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading a program for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment mentioned above and its modification are also included in this invention.

200 MFP 206 CPU
207 RAM
208 ROM
209 HDD

Claims (6)

A multifunction device that stores predetermined user information in a main storage device among user information for authenticating a user stored in an auxiliary storage device at startup,
An authentication unit that authenticates the user information using user information stored in the main storage device when authentication is received from a user who uses the MFP;
A comparison unit that compares the time required when searching for the user information from the auxiliary storage device and when initializing all the users stored in the auxiliary storage device when the authentication unit fails authentication;
Search means for searching for the user in a method determined that the time required for initialization by the comparison means is short;
A multi-function machine comprising: An authentication agent accepting means for accepting an agent for authentication when the authentication means fails authentication;
2. The authentication device according to claim 1, wherein when the authentication of the proxy user received by the authentication proxy reception unit is successful, the user who has failed in authentication is permitted to use the MFP with the authority of the user who performed the authentication proxy. The multifunction device described.   3. The multifunction device according to claim 1, further comprising user information adding means for adding a user who uses a terminal having a printer driver for printing on the multifunction device to the predetermined user information. .   The user information adding means adds a user having the same department ID to the predetermined user information when a user having the same department ID as the user included in the user information is not registered. The multifunction device according to claim 3. A method for controlling a multifunction peripheral that stores predetermined user information in a main storage device among user information for authenticating a user stored in an auxiliary storage device at startup,
An authentication step of performing authentication using the user information stored in the main storage device when receiving authentication from a user who uses the multifunction device;
A comparison step for comparing the time required for retrieving the user information from the auxiliary storage device and for initializing all the users stored in the auxiliary storage device when authentication fails in the authentication step;
A search step of searching for the user in a manner determined to be short in time required for initialization by the comparison step;
A method for controlling a multifunction machine, comprising: A multifunction device that stores predetermined user information in the main storage device among user information for performing user authentication stored in the auxiliary storage device at the time of startup,
An authentication unit that authenticates the user information using user information stored in the main storage device when authentication is received from a user who uses the MFP;
A comparison unit that compares the time required when searching for the user information from the auxiliary storage device and when initializing all the users stored in the auxiliary storage device when the authentication unit fails authentication;
Search means for searching for the user in a method determined that the time required for initialization by the comparison means is short;
A program for causing a multi-function device to function.

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