JP2015046751A - Information output device and information output method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compound machine 100 capable of changing the output content of various reports for each user and deleting wasteful key operation, printing, etc.SOLUTION: The compound machine 100 comprises: user determination means 404 which, when a report page is to be outputted, determines whether a user who presently logs in the machine is a specific user or a general user; and report output means 406 which outputs a report page based on general information of low confidentiality when the user is a general user as the result of the determination but outputs a report page based on special information of high confidentiality when the user is a specific user as the result of the determination.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information output device and an information output method, and more specifically, an information output device and an information output method that can change the output contents of various reports for each user and delete unnecessary key operations, printing, and the like. About.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a communication apparatus such as an image forming apparatus and a facsimile apparatus, a technique for easily and reliably recognizing desired information among various information displayed on a display unit has been actively developed.

  For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-347680 (Patent Document 1) discloses a communication apparatus having a first storage unit that can store and hold image information, and a second storage unit that holds a registration service and a communication result. It is disclosed. This communication apparatus has at least display means capable of displaying during communication, registration service display, and communication result display, and display switching means capable of switching each display on the display means. Further, the display means includes an output means for outputting a communication display, a registration service display, and a communication result display to a document. As a result, the above information can be viewed as a document, and it is possible to save the user from having to display items one by one. In addition, during communication, only items required by the user can be selected from items such as stored originals, registration services, and communication results, and can be output as a document.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-80513 (Patent Document 2) discloses a setting unit for setting a print format of image data by a user and printing of the image data based on the print format set by the setting unit. An image forming apparatus including a printing unit that prints a printing state at the time is disclosed. In this way, it is possible to easily identify errors during maintenance inspections, etc. by showing the actual printing state determination process as a report instead of the printing format set by the user.

JP-A-5-347680 JP 2008-80513 A

  Here, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when notification information such as a stored document, a registration service, and a communication result is displayed on the display screen during communication, notification information corresponding to one item is displayed on the display screen. When the user operates the same key for switching the display screen, notification information corresponding to other different items is displayed. Thereby, the user's key operation is unified so that the user can easily refer to the desired notification information.

  However, in the above-described method, predetermined notification information is displayed item by item. Therefore, when the user refers to the notification information of all items, it takes time and displays items that the user does not need to see. There is a problem.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the user can select a predetermined item, display only the notification information corresponding to the item as information that the user wants to know, and output it as a document.

  However, when the user selects a desired item, if the desired item among the plurality of items exists at the end, the user repeats the key operation to display the notification information of the last item, and There is a problem that must be selected.

  Further, although the technique described in Patent Document 2 can automatically perform aggregate printing or the like at the time of report printing, there is a problem that the contents of the report printing may be reduced and difficult to view.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and an information output apparatus capable of changing the output contents of various reports for each user and deleting unnecessary key operations, printing, etc. An object is to provide an information output method.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an information output device according to the present invention is an information output device that outputs various report pages of its own device according to instructions of the user after the user logs in. The following configuration is adopted.

  That is, when the report page is output, the information output device includes user determination means for determining whether a user currently logged in to the device is a specific user or a general user, and as a result of the determination, the user When the user is a general user, a report page based on general information with low confidentiality is output. When the user is a specific user, based on the general information and special information with high confidentiality And a report output means for outputting a report page.

  According to the information output device and the information output method of the present invention, it is possible to change the output contents of various reports for each user and delete unnecessary key operations, printing, and the like.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration inside a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the whole structure of the operation part which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control system hardware of the multifunctional device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A shows an example of an authentication screen displayed on the touch panel according to the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 6A), and FIG. 6B shows an example of an initial screen displayed on the touch panel according to the embodiment of the present invention. (B)). FIG. 7A shows an example of a report page output screen displayed on the touch panel according to the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 7A), and FIG. 7B shows an example of a user table according to the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 7B). It is. FIG. 8A shows an example of the notification information table according to the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 8A), and FIG. 8B shows an example of the page item screen displayed on the touch panel according to the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 8B). It is. FIG. 9A shows an example of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image selection screen displayed on the touch panel of the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 9A), and FIG. 9B shows an example of a normal display screen displayed on the touch panel of the embodiment of the present invention. (FIG. 9B). FIG. 10A shows an example of a tint block image screen displayed on the touch panel according to the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 10A), and FIG. 10B shows an example of the tint block image decoding process according to the embodiment of the present invention. B)).

  In the following, an embodiment of an information output apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: The thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention is not. Moreover, the alphabet S added before the number in a flowchart means a step.

<Information output device>
An information output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is, for example, an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, details of each part not directly related to the present invention are omitted.

  Note that the image forming apparatus of the present invention corresponds to, for example, a printer, a scanner alone, or a multifunction machine including a printer, a copy, a scanner, a fax machine, and the like, and includes a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and the like. Function as an image forming apparatus.

  The operation of the MFP 100 (MFP: Multi Function Peripheral) when using the copy function will be briefly described below.

  First, when the user uses the multifunction machine 100, the document is placed on the document table 101 provided on the upper surface of the casing. Subsequently, the user uses the operation unit 102 (operation panel) provided in the vicinity of the document table 101 to input setting conditions related to image formation from the operation screen of the operation unit 102. When the user presses a start key provided on the operation unit 102, the multifunction peripheral 100 starts image formation (print processing).

  Next, in the image reading unit 103, the light emitted from the light source 104 is reflected by the document placed on the document table 101. The reflected light is guided to the image sensor 108 by the mirrors 105, 106, and 107. The guided light is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 108, and image data corresponding to the original is generated.

  An image forming unit 109 forms a toner image based on the image data. The image forming unit 109 is provided with a photosensitive drum 110. The photosensitive drum 110 rotates in a predetermined direction at a constant speed, and around the charger drum, the exposure unit 112, the developing unit 113, the transfer unit 114, the cleaning unit 115, and the like, in that order from the upstream side in the rotation direction. Is arranged.

  The charger 111 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 110. The exposure unit 112 irradiates the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 110 with a laser based on the image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The developer 114 forms a toner image by attaching toner to the formed electrostatic latent image. The formed toner image is transferred to a recording medium (for example, paper, sheet) by the transfer device 114. The cleaning unit 115 removes excess toner left on the surface of the photosensitive drum 110. A series of these processes is executed by rotating the photosensitive drum 110.

  The sheets are conveyed from a plurality of paper feed cassettes 116 provided in the multi function peripheral 100. When the sheet is conveyed, the sheet is pulled out from any one of the sheet feeding cassettes 116 to the conveyance path by the pickup roller 117. Each sheet cassette 116 stores sheets of different paper types, and the sheets are fed based on setting conditions relating to image formation.

  The sheet pulled out to the conveyance path is fed between the photosensitive drum 110 and the transfer device 114 by the conveyance roller 118 and the registration roller 119. When the sheet is fed, the toner image is transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit 114 and conveyed to the fixing device 120.

  When the sheet on which the toner image is transferred passes between a heating roller and a pressure roller provided in the fixing device 120, heat and pressure are applied to the toner image, and the visible image is fixed on the sheet. The The amount of heat of the heating roller is optimally set according to the paper type, and the fixing is performed appropriately. The visible image is fixed on the sheet and the image formation is completed, and the sheet is guided to the path switching unit 121 by the conveyance roller 118.

  In the path switching unit 121, the sheet is guided to the sheet discharge tray 122 provided on the side surface of the casing unit or the casing through the sheet discharge port 123 according to a switching instruction from the multifunction peripheral 100. To the in-body tray 124 provided in the body cylinder. The sheets are stacked and stored on the paper discharge tray 122 or the in-body tray 124. Through the above procedure, the housing unit of the multifunction peripheral 100 provides a copy function to the user.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the operation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. The user uses the operation unit 102 to input setting conditions for image formation as described above, and to confirm the input setting conditions. When the setting conditions are input, a touch panel 201 (operation panel), a touch pen 202, and operation keys 203 provided in the operation unit 102 are used.

  The touch panel 201 has both a function for inputting setting conditions and a function for displaying the setting conditions. That is, by pressing a key in the screen displayed on the touch panel 201, a setting condition corresponding to the pressed key is input.

  A display unit (not shown) such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is provided on the back surface of the touch panel 201, and the display unit displays the operation screen, for example. A touch pen 202 is provided in the vicinity of the touch panel 201. When the user touches the touch pen 201 with the tip of the touch pen 202, a sensor provided under the touch panel 201 detects the touch destination.

  Further, a predetermined number of operation keys 203 are provided in the vicinity of the touch panel 201, and for example, a ten key 204, a start key 205, a clear key 206, a stop key 207, a reset key 208, and a power key 209 are provided.

  Next, the configuration of the control system hardware of the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control system hardware of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present invention. However, details of each part not directly related to the present invention are omitted.

  The control circuit of the MFP 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 302, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 303, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 304, a driver 305 corresponding to each drive unit, and an operation. The units 306 (102) are connected by the internal bus 307.

  The CPU 301 uses, for example, the RAM 303 as a work area, executes a program stored in the ROM 302, the HDD 304, and the like, and based on the execution result, data and instructions from the driver 306 and the operation unit 307, key 1 is transmitted and received, and the operation of each drive unit shown in FIG. 1 is controlled.

  Also, each means (shown in FIG. 4) described later other than the drive unit is realized by the CPU 301 executing a program. The ROM 302, the HDD 304, and the like store programs and data for realizing each means described below.

<Embodiment of the present invention>
Next, the configuration and execution procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction machine of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of the present invention.

  First, when the user turns on the power of the multifunction device 100, the multifunction device 100 is activated, and the authentication unit 401 displays an operation screen authentication screen on the touch panel 201 (FIG. 5: S101).

  In the authentication screen 600, as shown in FIG. 6A, a predetermined message “Please input the authentication screen user ID and PW” 601, a user ID input field 602, and a keyboard key corresponding to this. 603, a PW input field 604, a keyboard key 605 corresponding to this, and an OK key 606 are displayed.

  Here, the user inputs his / her user ID (for example, “AAA”) and the corresponding PW (for example, “123”) using the keyboard keys 603 and 605 while viewing the authentication screen 600. At the same time, when the OK key 606 is pressed, the authentication unit 401 receives the user ID, the PW, and the press of the OK key 606, and executes user authentication (FIG. 5: S102).

  Specifically, the authentication unit 401 refers to the user ID in the authentication table stored in advance in a predetermined memory and the PW associated with the user ID, and the input user ID and the authentication table. The user ID is collated and the input PW is collated with the PW of the authentication table.

  As a result of the collation, when the input user ID does not match the user ID of the authentication table, or when the input PW does not match the PW of the authentication table (FIG. 5: S102 NO), the authentication The means 401 deletes the input user ID and PW, and accepts the input of a new user ID and PW to the user again.

  On the other hand, if the input user ID matches the user ID of the authentication table as a result of the verification, and the input PW matches the PW of the authentication table (YES in FIG. 5: S102) The authentication unit 401 logs in the user (permits the user's use of the MFP 100), and notifies the display reception unit 402 accordingly. Upon receiving the notification, the display receiving unit 402 displays an initial screen (operation screen) on the touch panel 201 (FIG. 5: S103).

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the initial screen 607 displays a predetermined message “Can copy” 608 and a function item key 609 for inputting setting conditions such as a copy function, A report key 610 for outputting various report pages is displayed so as to be pressed.

  Here, for example, when the user presses the report key 610 (FIG. 5: S104 YES), the display receiving means 401 receives the pressing of the report key 610 and notifies the report display receiving means 403 to that effect. . Upon receiving the notification, the report display accepting unit 403 displays a report page output screen on the touch panel 201 (FIG. 5: S105).

  In the report page output screen 700, as shown in FIG. 7A, a predetermined message “Please select a page item for the report page output screen” 701 and page item keys for selecting various report pages. 702, an output key 703 for outputting (displaying and printing) the report page of the page item key 702, and a cancel key 704 are displayed.

  Here, the page item key 702 includes, for example, a status page key that shows various setting value information that can be set from the status of the multi-function peripheral 100 (toner remaining amount, etc.) and a system menu, and a multi-function peripheral. Service status page key that shows information such as 100 memory size, option installation, installation status, etc. on a predetermined page, network status page key that shows network information such as MAC address, TCP / IP, etc. on a predetermined page, jam occurrence history And an event log key indicating information such as a service call occurrence history on a predetermined page, a maintenance report key indicating information on firmware installed in the multifunction peripheral 100 on a predetermined page, and the like.

  While viewing the report page output screen 700, the user presses a predetermined page item key 702 (for example, “service status page key”) desired to be output (FIG. 5: S106), and presses the output key 703. Then (FIG. 5: S107 YES), the report display accepting means 403 accepts the pressing of the page item key 702 and the output key 703 and notifies the user judging means 404 to that effect. Upon receiving the notification, the user determination unit 404 determines whether the user who pressed the report page output key 703 (a user who wants to output a report page or a user who is currently logged in to the MFP 100) is a general user or a specific user. Determination is made (FIG. 5: S108).

  Here, the specific user means a user registered in advance by an administrator or the like, for example, a user such as a service person who needs to regularly output a report page in maintenance of the multifunction peripheral 100. . On the other hand, the general user means a user other than the specific user.

  Any method may be used for the user determination unit 404 to determine whether the user who pressed the output key 703 is a general user or a specific user. For example, the following method is used.

  That is, the user determination unit 404 obtains the user ID (“AAA”) of the logged-in user at the time when the output key 703 is pressed from the authentication unit 401 and is stored in the user storage unit 405 in advance. Browse the user table.

  In the user table 705, as shown in FIG. 7B, a user ID 706 and a user classification 707 indicating a specific user or a general user are stored in association with each other. Here, in the user classification 707, corresponding to the type of the user ID 706, a specific user indicating a specific user or a general user indicating a user other than the specific user is stored.

  The user determination unit 404 collates the acquired user ID with the user ID 706 of the user table 705, and refers to the user classification 707 corresponding to the collated user ID 706. The user determination unit 404 determines whether the acquired user ID is a specific user or a general user based on the contents of the referred user classification 707. Thereby, according to the kind of user ID, it becomes possible to determine whether the user of the user ID is a specific user or a general user.

  As a result of the determination, when the user who presses the output key 703 is a general user (FIG. 5: S108 NO), the user determination unit 404 notifies the report output unit 406 to that effect and has received the notification. The report output unit 406 outputs notification information of the report page of the page item “service status page” corresponding to the determined user classification. In S108, when the user who presses the output key 703 is a specific user, it will be described later (FIG. 5: S108 YES).

  Specifically, the report output unit 406 acquires the determined user classification 707 (for example, “general user”) from the user determination unit 404 and outputs the page item (“service status page”) to be output. Key ") is acquired from the report display accepting means 403. The report output unit 406 refers to a notification information table stored in advance in the notification information storage unit 407.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the notification information table 800 includes the user classification 801 (specific user or general user), a page item 802 (for example, “service status page”), and notification information. The general information item 803 that can be browsed by a general user and the special information item 804 that can be browsed by a specific user in the notification information are stored in association with each other.

  Here, the general information item 803 means a report page item that does not cause any problem even if any user including a general user views it. For example, the page item 802 may be a “service status page”. For example, “firmware version” indicating details such as firmware version information, a memory size indicating the capacity of the installed memory, option information indicating details of options installed in the MFP 100, and installation of software installed in the MFP 100 This corresponds to “engine information” indicating details of the situation. The notification information of these items is general information (data) with low confidentiality.

  On the other hand, the special information item 804 means an item of a report page that cannot be browsed by a general user but can be browsed only by a specific user who is permitted in advance by an administrator, for example, a page item 802. Is “service status page”, “destination specification information” indicating details of the country, application, destination, etc. of the exporter, end user, etc. of this MFP 100, country of installation, location of this MFP 100 “Area information” indicating details such as “life counter”, and “life counter” indicating details of the lifetime of each part of the multifunction peripheral 100. The notification information of these items is special information (data) with high confidentiality.

  Therefore, in the user classification 801 of the notification information table 800, only general information items 803 are stored in association with general users, and general information items 803 and special information items 804 are stored in association with specific users. ing.

  In particular, the content of the general information item 803 associated only with general users is set to an amount of information that can fit on one sheet of paper. As a result, when printing a report page, it is possible to reduce the increase in the number of printed sheets and to prevent useless output of printed matter.

  The report output means 406 collates the acquired user classification (“general user”) and page item (“service status page”) with the user classification 801 and page item 802 of the notification information table 800, A general information item 803 (“firmware version”, “engine information”) corresponding to the collated user classification 801 and page item 802 is referred to. As described above, if the user classification 801 is a general user, the report output unit 406 refers to only the general information item 803. Then, the report output means 406 collects the notification information of the referenced general information item 803 from each part of the multifunction peripheral 100 (FIG. 5: S109).

  Further, the report output means 406 displays a page item screen on the touch panel based on the collected notification information (FIG. 5: S110).

  In the page item screen 805, as shown in FIG. 8B, a predetermined message “(page item) service status page information” 806, general information 807 indicating a general information item, and the general information item “firmware” Notification information 808 corresponding to “Version” and “Engine information”, a print key 809 for printing the notification information 808 corresponding to the general information 807, and a cancel key 810 are displayed.

  Thereby, the general user can confirm only the general information in the predetermined page item.

  Here, for example, if the user presses the print key 809, the report output means 406 accepts the press of the print key 809 and puts the notification information 808 corresponding to the general information 807 on one sheet of paper. An image is formed and printed (FIG. 5: S111).

  Thus, when a general user prints a report page, only the minimum necessary information that can be viewed is printed as the report page. For this reason, it becomes extremely safe for security, and it is possible to prevent wasteful paper output. In particular, the notification information 808 corresponding to the general information 807 is designed to have an amount of information that can be accommodated as a single printed product as described above, and thus it is possible to prevent unnecessary printing.

  In S108, if the result of the determination is that the user who pressed the output key 703 is a specific user, the user determination unit 404 notifies the report output unit 406 to that effect and received the notification. The report output unit 406 outputs notification information of the report page of the page item “service status page” corresponding to the determined user classification.

  The report output means 406 refers to the notification information table 800 in the same manner as described above, and the notification information table corresponding to the acquired user classification (“specific user”) and page item (“service status page”). 800 general information items 803 (“firmware version”, “engine information”) and special information items 804 (“destination specification information”, “area information”, “life counter”) are referred to. Then, the report output means 406 collects the notification information of the referenced general information item 803 and special information item 804 from each part of the multifunction peripheral 100 (FIG. 5: S112).

  Further, the report output means 406 displays a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image selection screen on the touch panel 201 based on the notification information in the general information item 803 among the collected notification information (FIG. 5: S113).

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image selection screen 900 includes a predetermined message “(page item) service status page information” 901, general information 902 indicating general information items, and the general information item “ Notification information 903 corresponding to “firmware version” and “engine information”, notification information (special information) of the special information item is a message 904 for inquiring whether or not to make a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image (encryption), and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image key 905 and a normal display key 906 for normal display without forming a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are displayed.

  Here, when the user presses the normal display key 906 while viewing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image selection screen 900 (FIG. 5: S113 NO), the report output unit 406 accepts the pressing of the normal display key 906, and A normal display screen is displayed on the touch panel 201 based on the collected notification information of the special information item 804 (FIG. 5: S110).

  In the normal display screen 907, as shown in FIG. 9B, a predetermined message “(page item) service status page information” 908, special information 909 indicating a special information item, and the special information item “destination” are displayed. Notification information 910 corresponding to "land specification information", "area information", "life counter", a print key 911 for printing the notification information 903, 910 corresponding to the general information 902 and special information 909, and a cancel key 912 is displayed.

  Accordingly, the specific user can confirm the notification information 910 corresponding to the special information 909 by pressing the normal display key 906.

  Here, for example, if the user presses the print key 911, the report output unit 406 accepts the press of the print key 911 and corresponds to the general information 902 and the special information 909 as described above. The notification information 903 and 910 is formed and printed on a predetermined number of sheets (FIG. 5: S111).

  As a result, when a specific user prints a report page, not only general information but also special information is printed as a report page, and a specific user can print a report page on which necessary information is printed. It becomes possible. Note that the notification information 903 corresponding to the general information 902 is the amount of information that can be contained in one printed matter, so that the notification information 910 corresponding to the special information 909 is displayed on the second printed matter. become.

  On the other hand, in S113, when the user presses down the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation key 905 while viewing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image selection screen 900 (FIG. 5: YES in S113), the report output unit 406 presses down the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation key 905. Receiving and notifying the conversion means 408 to that effect. Upon receiving the notification, the conversion means 408 converts the notification information 910 corresponding to the special information 909 into a tint block image (FIG. 5: S114).

  Here, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is an encrypted image in which characters or the like cannot be understood at first glance by performing a process of imageizing and encrypting characters or the like, and a predetermined decryption process This means an image that can be restored to its original character by applying. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image may be of any type and form, and a known technique is applied.

  When the conversion unit 408 completes the conversion of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, it notifies the report output unit 406 to that effect, and the report output unit 406 that has received the notification displays the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image screen on the touch panel 201. Displayed above (FIG. 5: S115).

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image screen 1000 includes a predetermined message “(page item) service status page information” 1001, special information 1002 indicating a special information item, and the special information item “destination”. A print key 1004 for printing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 1003 corresponding to “background specification information”, “area information”, and “life counter”, notification information 903 corresponding to the general information 902 and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 1003 corresponding to the special information 1002. A cancel key 1005 is displayed. Note that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 1003 in FIG. 10A is displayed, for example, as an image in which any of the characters “0” and “1” is arranged in the order of serial encryption.

  As a result, the specific user can check the special information on the predetermined page item as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. For example, even if a general user other than the specific user looks into the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image screen 1000, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is displayed. Since the meaning cannot be understood from the image, it is extremely safe for security.

  Here, for example, if the user presses the print key 1004, the report output means 406 accepts the press of the print key 1004, and the notification information 903 of the general information 902 and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image of the special information 1002. 1003 is printed on a predetermined number of sheets of paper (FIG. 5: S116).

  As a result, when a specific user prints a report page, the details of the special information are printed as a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. Therefore, a general user other than the specific user has had an opportunity to view the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image for some reason. However, since the meaning cannot be understood from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, it is extremely safe for security.

  By the way, the decoding process of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image of the special information is not particularly limited as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired, and a known technique is applied.

  For example, a specific user downloads the decryptable software in advance to his / her mobile terminal device (tablet terminal, smart phone, etc.), and is displayed on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image screen 1000 with the camera of the mobile terminal device. An image 1003 or a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image printed as a printed material is photographed and captured as image data into the portable terminal device. Then, when the specific user executes the software, the captured image data (background pattern image) is decrypted, and as shown in FIG. 10B, the background pattern image is converted into the original special information. It is converted into notification information and displayed.

  Further, for example, the decryptable software is downloaded in advance to the multifunction device 100, and a specific user reads the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image printed as the printed matter with the image reading unit 103 of the multifunction device 100, The image data is taken into the multifunction device 100. Then, when the specific user executes the software, the captured image data is decrypted and displayed on the touch panel 201, for example.

  As a result, if a specific user is configured to decode the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image using his / her mobile terminal device or multifunction device 100, only the specific user can understand the contents of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. Therefore, it is extremely safe for security.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the report page is output, the user determination unit 404 that determines whether the user currently logged in to the device is a specific user or a general user, and as a result of the determination, the user If the user is a general user, a report page based on general information with low confidentiality is output, and if the user is a specific user, the general information and special information with high confidentiality are output. Report output means 406 for outputting a report page based thereon is provided.

  As a result, the output contents of various reports can be changed for each user, and unnecessary key operations, printing, and the like can be deleted.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the report page output screen 700 is displayed when the report key 610 displayed on the initial screen 607 is pressed. However, other configurations may be used. For example, prepare a transition key to the system screen in the initial screen, switch to the system screen by pressing the transition key, display a report key in the system screen, and press the report key The notification item display screen may be displayed.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the report output means 406 outputs the notification information of the general information item 803 via the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image selection screen, and then outputs the notification information of the special information item 804 via the normal display screen. However, other configurations may be used as long as the notification information of the general information item 803 and the notification information of the special information item 804 are output.

  In the information output apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the case where the information output apparatus is applied to the multifunction peripheral 100 has been described. However, various image forming apparatuses that require information output, various image processing apparatuses, various image processing apparatuses, various image display apparatuses, Even when applied to various measuring devices, various operating devices, etc., the same effects can be obtained.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the MFP 100 is configured to include each unit. However, a program that realizes each unit may be stored in a storage medium, and the storage medium may be provided. In this configuration, the multifunction device 100 reads the program, and the multifunction device 100 implements the respective units. In that case, the program itself read from the recording medium exhibits the effects of the present invention. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a method for storing the steps executed by each means in a hard disk.

  As described above, the information output apparatus and the information output method according to the present invention are useful not only for multifunction peripherals but also for scanners, copiers, printers, and the like. This is effective as an information output apparatus and information output method capable of deleting key operations, printing, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 MFP 102 Operation part 401 Authentication means 402 Display reception means 403 Report display reception means 404 User determination means 405 User storage means 406 Report output means 407 Notification information storage means 408 Conversion means

Claims (4)

An information output device that outputs various report pages of its own device according to the user's instruction after the user logs in,
When a report page is output, a user determination means for determining whether a user currently logged in to the device is a specific user or a general user,
As a result of the determination, when the user is a general user, a report page based on general information with low confidentiality is output, and when the user is a specific user, the general information and the confidential information are output. An information output device comprising: a report output means for outputting a report page based on highly specific information. The information output device according to claim 1, further comprising a conversion unit that converts the special information into a tint block image when a report page based on the special information is output. When the report output means outputs a report page based on the special information, it displays to the user that a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image formation key for image-forming the special information can be pressed,
The information output device according to claim 2, wherein the conversion unit converts the special information into a tint block image when the tint block imaging key is pressed. An information output method of an information output device that outputs various report pages of its own device according to an instruction of the user after the user logs in,
Determining whether the user currently logged in to the device is a specific user or a general user when the report page is output;
As a result of the determination, when the user is a general user, a report page based on general information with low confidentiality is output, and when the user is a specific user, the general information and the confidential information are output. And a step of outputting a report page based on highly specific information.

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