JP2016203438A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device that protects appropriately data in an outer memorizing device by performing data processing according to set security level with respect to the data in the outer memorizing device.SOLUTION: An image processing device 10 has a media slot 18 to be electrically connected to an outer memory 25, a proximity sensor 20 and a control portion 15. The control portion 15, when determining that the outer memory 25 is connected to the slot and when the proximity sensor 20 does not detect a user, executes a data protection process according to preset security level with respect to data in the outer memory 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus provided with a connected portion to which an external storage device such as a USB memory is connected.

  In recent years, image formation that allows data to be read and printed directly from an external storage device such as a USB memory or memory card without the troublesome task of transferring data to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a “personal computer”). The device is known. In this type of image forming apparatus, if the external storage device is left connected due to forgetting to remove it, there may arise a problem that data in the external storage device is used by another user. In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, when a human sensor is provided in the image forming apparatus and the user is no longer detected by the human sensor, the data in the external storage device that remains connected is stored in the internal memory of the image forming apparatus. There is known a data processing apparatus to be moved to (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-193411 A

  However, even if the data in the external storage device is moved to the internal memory, the data remains in the internal memory, so if the data is stored in the internal memory, the data will be used for another use. May be used by the On the other hand, an image forming apparatus that is configured to be able to set security at a plurality of security levels is known. In this image forming apparatus, for example, data temporarily stored in an internal memory is used. May be set to a security level that is set to be deleted as soon as possible. When such security settings are made, no data is saved in the internal memory, so there is no security problem, but the problem that the data in the external storage device is used by other users is solved. Can not.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of performing data processing according to a set security level for data in an external storage device. There is to do.

  An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a connected unit, a connection determination unit, a human sensor, a security setting unit, and a data processing unit. The connected portion is for electrically connecting to an external storage device. The connection determination unit determines whether or not the external storage device is connected to the connected unit. The human sensor is for detecting a user. The security setting unit can set at least two different security levels. The data processing unit determines that the external storage device is connected by the connection determination unit, and the data in the external storage device is not detected by the human sensor. Data processing according to the security level set by the security setting unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately protect data in the external storage device by performing data processing corresponding to the set security level on the data in the external storage device.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of data protection processing executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of data restoration processing executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Schematic Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus 10]
First, a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the image processing apparatus 10.

  The image processing apparatus 10 is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function or a copy function, in addition to a scan function for reading image data from a document and a print function for forming an image based on the image data. The present invention is applicable to image processing apparatuses such as a scanner apparatus, a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, and a copier.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image processing apparatus 10 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder) 11, an image reading unit 12, an image forming unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a control unit 15, an operation display. Unit 16, storage unit 17 (an example of an internal storage device of the present invention), media slot 18 (an example of a connected unit of the present invention), a communication unit 19, and a proximity sensor 20 (an example of a human sensor of the present invention). Prepare.

  The ADF 11 includes a document setting unit 11A, a plurality of conveyance rollers, a document pressing unit, and a paper discharge unit 11B, and conveys a document read by the image reading unit 12.

  The image reading unit 12 includes a document table 12A, a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an optical lens, and a CCD, and can read image data from the document. The image reading unit 12 can also store the read image data in an external memory 25 (an example of the external storage device of the present invention) such as a USB memory or an SD card connected to the operation display unit 16. As described above, the image reading unit 12 that performs the image data storing process on the external memory 25 is an example of the image processing unit of the present invention.

  The image forming unit 13 performs a process of forming an image by an electrophotographic method based on the image data read by the image reading unit 12 or image data input from an external information processing apparatus. Specifically, the image forming unit 13 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an optical scanning device, a developing device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, and a paper discharge unit 13A. In the image forming unit 13, an image is formed on the sheet supplied from the paper feeding unit 14, and the sheet after the image formation is discharged to the paper discharge unit 13A.

  The image forming unit 13 forms a monochrome image or a color image on the printing paper based on the image data or the document data directly read from the external memory 25 such as a USB memory or an SD card connected to the operation display unit 16. It is also possible to perform so-called direct printing. As described above, the image forming unit 13 that performs the image forming process on the image data in the external memory 25 is an example of the image processing unit of the present invention.

  The operation display unit 16 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various types of information according to control instructions from the control unit 15, and an operation key or touch panel that inputs various types of information to the control unit 15 according to user operations. And so on. The operation display unit 16 displays a password input screen for requesting the user to input a password, an error message, and the like by the control unit 15.

  A plurality of media slots 18 to which the external memory 25 is electrically connected are provided on the front surface of the operation display unit 16. Each of the plurality of media slots 18 is connected to an external memory 25 having a different standard. Examples of the external memory 25 include an SD memory card, a compact flash (registered trademark), a memory stick (registered trademark), and a USB memory. When the external memory 25 is connected to the media slot 18, the media slot 18 and the contact portion of the external memory 25 are electrically connected, whereby the control unit 15 recognizes that the external memory 25 is connected.

  A proximity sensor 20 is provided on the front surface of the image forming unit 13. The proximity sensor 20 is for detecting the user of the image processing apparatus 10. The proximity sensor 20 is a quantum type or thermal type infrared sensor, detects a user located in front of the image processing apparatus 10, and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection result to the control unit 15. The control unit 15 determines whether a user is present in front of the image processing apparatus 10 based on whether the detection signal is input. Note that an imaging device such as a camera may be used as the human sensor instead of the proximity sensor 20.

  The storage unit 17 is a nonvolatile storage device. For example, the storage unit 17 is a storage device such as a flash memory, an SSD (solid state drive), or an HDD (hard disk drive). As will be described later, various data read from the external memory 25 by the control unit 15 is stored in the storage unit 17. The data format stored in the storage unit 17 is not particularly limited. Generally, so-called image data (for example, PDF data, TIFF data, JPEG data, XPS data) or document data that can be used in the image processing apparatus 10 is used. Etc.

  The communication unit 19 is a communication interface that can execute wired or wireless data communication with an external communication device. For example, the communication unit 19 executes wireless communication with a wireless relay device in accordance with a wireless LAN communication standard such as IEEE 802.11n. The communication unit 19 may perform communication with an electronic device such as a portable terminal according to a communication standard such as Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) or the like with the electronic device. Wireless communication may be performed in accordance with the wireless LAN communication standard. Alternatively, communication with a communication network may be performed using a LAN cable or the like. Thereby, the communication part 19 can perform data communication between each other directly with an external communication apparatus or indirectly via a communication network.

  The control unit 15 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown). The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage device in which information such as a control program for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile storage device used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 15 is connected to the ADF 11, the image reading unit 12, the image forming unit 13, the operation display unit 16, the storage unit 17, the communication unit 19, the proximity sensor 20, the media slot 18, and the like. When the external memory 25 is attached to the media slot 18, the control unit 15 connects to the external memory 25 so that data communication is possible.

  In the control unit 15, various control programs stored in advance in the ROM are executed by the CPU. As a result, the image processing apparatus 10 is comprehensively controlled by the control unit 15. In particular, the control unit 15 performs data protection processing such as transfer processing and erasing processing on the data in the external memory 25 based on the detection signal input from the proximity sensor 20. Further, the control unit 15 executes a data restoration process for restoring the data in the storage unit 17 to the external memory 25. The control unit 15 may be configured by an electronic circuit such as an integrated circuit (ASIC), and is a control unit provided separately from the main control unit that controls the image processing apparatus 10 in an integrated manner. May be.

  Further, the control unit 15 functions as a connection determination unit 51, a security setting unit 52, a data processing unit 53, a password registration unit 54, and a notification unit 55 when the control program is executed by the CPU.

  The connection determination unit 51 determines whether or not the external memory 25 is connected to the media slot 18. The connection determination unit 51 determines that the external memory 25 is connected to the media slot 18 when the external memory 25 is attached to the media slot 18 and the media slot 18 and the external memory 25 are brought into electrical contact and conduction. To do. On the other hand, when the continuity is lost, it is determined that the external memory 25 is removed from the media slot 18 and is not connected.

  The security setting unit 52 sets at least two different security levels. In the present embodiment, two security levels, a LOW level (first security level) and a HIGH level (second security level), are prepared for the image processing apparatus 10. The HIGH level has a higher security level for data protection than the LOW level. Here, exemplifying a security level that assumes a case where data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 17 during processing such as image reading or image formation, for example, the HIGH level is used for data processing purposes. As a result, it is possible to immediately erase the data from the storage unit 17. The LOW level may be such that data is continuously stored in the storage unit 17 unless an erasure instruction is input.

  These security levels can be set through a setting screen displayed on the operation display unit 16, and can also be changed. For example, it is possible not to set security from the setting screen. It can also be set to either LOW level or HIGH level. The set value set on the setting screen is stored as a bit signal in a register of the CPU, for example. The control unit 15 can grasp the set security level by referring to the set value (bit signal) of the register, and can execute data processing according to the set content.

  The data processing unit 53 executes data processing according to the security level set by the security setting unit 52. Specifically, the data processing unit 53 responds to the security level when the connection determining unit 51 determines that the external memory 25 is connected and the proximity sensor 20 no longer detects the user. Perform data processing.

  In this embodiment, the data processing unit 53 stores the data in the external memory 25 in the storage unit 17 and deletes it from the external memory 25 when the security level is set to the LOW level. In this case, data is erased from the external memory 25 but stored in the storage unit 17. Therefore, even if the user forgets to remove the external memory 25, other users who use the image processing apparatus 10 later cannot view or use the data in the external memory 25. Further, when the security level is set to the HIGH level, the data processing unit 53 erases the data in the external memory 25 from the external memory 25 without storing it in the storage unit 17. In this case, the data used in the external memory 25 and the storage unit 17 does not remain, but the data can be protected from browsing or using the data by other users who use the image processing apparatus 10 later. it can. Further, since no data exists in the storage unit 17, for example, the data can be effectively protected even for an administrator of the image processing apparatus 10.

  The password registration unit 54 registers the password input from the operation display unit 16. In the present embodiment, when it is determined that the external memory 25 is connected to the media slot 18, the password input screen is displayed on the operation display unit 16. At that time, a message is displayed to prompt the user to input a password related to data scheduled to be used in the external memory 25. When a password is input from the password input screen, the password is temporarily stored in the RAM and registered in the RAM. The input pass password is stored in the storage unit 17 in association with the data when the data in the external memory 25 is used later. Although details will be described later, the password is used when data is restored from the storage unit 17 to the external memory 25.

  The notification unit 55 performs processing to warn a user near the image processing apparatus 10 with a warning sound (alarm), a message, light, or the like. Specifically, when a warning transmission condition is satisfied, a warning sound is output from a speaker or the like, a warning message is displayed on the operation display unit 16, or a warning light is emitted. Both warnings are issued in order to notify that the external memory 25 is forgotten to be removed from the media slot 18 and remains connected. In the present embodiment, the warning transmission condition is that the connection determination unit 51 determines that the external memory 25 is connected and the proximity sensor 20 does not detect the user.

  Hereinafter, the procedure of the data protection process executed by the control unit 15 will be described with reference to FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, steps S11, S12,... Represent processing procedure (step) numbers. This data protection processing is executed when the external memory 25 is connected to the image processing apparatus 10 and image processing such as image formation is performed on the data in the external memory 25.

  In step S <b> 11, the control unit 15 determines whether the external memory 25 has been removed from the media slot 18. If it is determined that the external memory 25 has been removed, the control unit 15 ends the series of processes without executing the data protection process. On the other hand, if it is determined that the external memory 25 has not been removed, it is determined in the next step S12 whether or not the user has changed from the detection state to the non-detection state. At this time, the control unit 15 determines whether there is a user in front of the image processing apparatus 10 based on the detection signal input from the proximity sensor 20. When there is a user, the detection signal becomes a high level, and the control unit 15 receives the detection signal and determines the detection state. On the other hand, when there is no user, the detection signal is at a LOW level, and the control unit 15 receives the detection signal and determines that it is in the non-detection state.

  If it is determined in step S12 that the detection state is changed to the non-detection state, the control unit 15 performs a notification process (S13). In this case, there is a high possibility that the user has left the image processing apparatus 10 without removing the external memory 25. Therefore, the control unit 15 outputs a warning sound or the like to notify that the external memory 25 is forgotten to be removed.

  When the notification process in step S14 is performed, the control unit 15 again determines whether or not the external memory 25 has been removed from the media slot 18 (S14). Here, when it is determined that the external memory 25 has been removed within a predetermined time, a series of processing ends. On the other hand, if the external memory 25 has not been removed within a predetermined time, the processing after the next step S15 is performed. The predetermined time is, for example, the time required for the user to come to the external memory 25 after noticing a warning sound or the like.

  In step S <b> 15, the control unit 15 determines whether or not security settings are set in the image processing apparatus 10. As described above, the security level that can be set is either no setting, the LOW level, or the HIGH level. In step 15, it is determined whether security setting is performed or security setting is not performed (no setting). Here, if it is determined that there is no security setting, it is not necessary to protect the data in the external memory 25, and thus a series of processing is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a security setting, the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, the control unit 15 determines whether there is a transmission setting. Here, the transmission setting is a setting that allows data to be transmitted through a network to a pre-registered mail address. In order to identify the user of the image processing apparatus 10 in advance, an ID is assigned by the administrator, and an e-mail address or the like is registered in the image processing apparatus 10 together with the ID. The transmission setting can be arbitrarily set from the setting screen displayed on the operation display unit 16 as with the security setting. If it is determined in step S16 that there is a transmission setting, the control unit 15 transmits the data in the external memory 25 to the registered mail address (S17). Thereafter, in step S20, the data in the external memory 25 is erased.

  Here, it is preferable that the transmission processing in step S17 transmits only data used for image processing such as image formation in the image processing apparatus 10 (an example of specific data of the present invention). In the erasing process in step S20, it is preferable that only the data used for the image processing is erased from the external memory 25. In general, the external memory 25 includes not only data used for the image processing apparatus 10 but also other data. Therefore, erasing data that cannot be used by the image processing apparatus 10 is inconvenient for the user. Further, even if the data can be used by the image processing apparatus 10, it is not preferable to delete even unused data in consideration of the transmission time at the time of data transmission and the restoration time at the time of subsequent data restoration. Therefore, the processing target in steps S17 and S20 is the data used in the image processing apparatus 10. Of course, in order to improve security, all data usable in the image processing apparatus 10 or all data in the external memory 25 is transmitted or deleted even if the transmission time or the restoration time is long. May be.

  If it is determined in step S16 that there is no transmission setting, in the next step S18, the control unit 15 determines whether the setting content is the HIGH level. That is, the control unit 15 determines whether the security content is set to the HIGH level or the LOW level. If the security setting is at the HIGH level, the control unit 15 proceeds to step S20 and erases the data used for image processing from the external memory 25. In this case, the data is not stored in the image processing apparatus 10, but high security protection can be realized for the data.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S18 that the security setting is at the LOW level, the control unit 15 reads data used for image processing from the external memory 25 and stores the data in the storage unit 17. At this time, if a password has been input from the password input screen, data is stored in the storage unit 17 together with the password. Thereafter, in step S20, the control unit 15 erases the data used for the image processing from the external memory 25.

  As described above, the data processing in the external memory 25 is performed on the data in the external memory 25 according to the set security level (LOW level or HIGH level). Can be properly protected.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, the procedure of the data restoration process executed by the control unit 15 will be described. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, steps S31, S32,... Represent processing procedure (step) numbers. This data restoration process is performed when the same password as the already registered password is input when the user is detected again after the proximity sensor 20 no longer detects the user. Is restored to the state before the data protection process is executed. In the following, it is executed when the user changes from the detection state to the non-detection state while the external memory 25 is connected to the image processing apparatus 10.

  In step S <b> 31, the control unit 15 determines whether a restoration request is input from the operation display unit 16. For example, when a user performs a login process on the image processing apparatus 10 and thereafter a request signal instructing data restoration is input via the operation display unit 16, the control unit 15 inputs the restoration request. It is determined that

  If it is determined in step S31 that a restoration request has been input, the control unit 15 displays a password input screen on the operation display unit 16 and allows the user to input a password (S32). Here, when a password is input, the control unit 15 performs a collation process to check whether the password associated with the data stored in the storage unit 17 matches the input password (S33). This coincidence determination is performed to determine whether or not the same user is detected again after the user is not detected. If it is determined that the passwords do not match, an error message to that effect is displayed (S34), and the series of processing ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the passwords match, the process proceeds to step S35.

  If it is determined in step S33 that the passwords match, a process of moving the data in the storage unit 17 associated with the password to the external memory 25 is performed (S35). If the passwords match, the owner of the data in the storage unit 17 and the user currently using the image processing apparatus 10 are likely to match. In addition, it is highly possible that the owner of the external memory 25 connected to the media slot 18 is the current user. In this case, it is preferable to restore the data in the storage unit 17 to the external memory 25 and restore the external memory 25 to the original state.

  Subsequently, the control unit 15 deletes the data in the storage unit 17 (S36), and then displays a message indicating that the external memory 25 is removable on the operation display unit 16 (S37). If it is determined in step S38 that the external memory 25 has been removed, the control unit 15 ends the series of processes.

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus 10, the data restored from the external memory 25 to the storage unit 17 is returned to the external memory 25 again by performing the data restoration process on the data in the external memory 25. As a result, data cannot be transferred to anyone other than the original owner, and the data can be appropriately protected.

  In the above-described embodiment, two security levels have been exemplified and described. However, the present invention can also be applied to the image processing apparatus 10 capable of setting three or more security levels. Further, although the HIGH level and the LOW level have been specifically exemplified and described as the security level, the security level can have various contents.

10: Image processing device 15: Control unit 17: Storage unit 18: Media slot 20: Proximity sensor 25: External memory 51: Connection determination unit 52: Security setting unit 53: Data processing unit 54: Password registration unit 55: Notification unit

Claims (5)

A connected portion for electrically connecting to an external storage device;
A connection determination unit that determines whether or not the external storage device is connected to the connected unit;
A human sensor to detect the user,
A security setting section capable of setting at least two different security levels;
When the connection determination unit determines that the external storage device is connected and the human sensor no longer detects the user, the security setting unit applies to the data in the external storage device. An image processing apparatus comprising: a data processing unit that executes data processing according to the set security level. The security setting unit can be set to a first security level and a second security level higher than the first security level,
The data processing unit stores the data in the external storage device in the internal storage device and deletes it from the external storage device when the first security level is set, and the second security level is set. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data stored in the external storage device is deleted from the external storage device without being stored in the internal storage device. An image processing unit that performs image processing on specific data among a plurality of data stored in the external storage device connected to the connected unit;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit performs data processing on the specific data according to the security level. A password for displaying a password input screen for the user and registering the password input from the input screen when the connection determination unit determines that the external storage device is connected to the connected unit. A registration unit,
The data processing unit is provided on condition that the same password as the password registered by the password registration unit is input when the user is detected again after the human sensor no longer detects the user. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data in the external storage device is restored to a state before the data processing is executed. The external storage device is connected to the connected portion when the connection determination unit determines that the external storage device is connected and the user is not detected by the human sensor. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies

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