JP2017034505A - Image transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image transmission device that is able to prevent erroneous transmission when electronic data is transmitted from a box.SOLUTION: An image transmission device having a storage device with a plurality of boxes as electronic data storage areas, groups the plurality of boxes, stores for each group a transmission destination list for permitting transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group, accepts, from the user, specification and transmission of electronic data included in any of the boxes (S610, S611), permits transmission to the transmission destination accepted for the specified electronic data (S614) only when the accepted transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs (S613: Y), and inhibits transmission of the electronic data if it is not included in the transmission destination list (S615).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus capable of storing electronic data in a box, which is a dedicated electronic data storage area used by an individual or a plurality of users, and transmitting the stored electronic data to the outside via a network. The present invention relates to a technique for controlling transmission of electronic data.

In recent years, the communication function of an image transmission apparatus (for example, an image forming apparatus) capable of transmitting electronic data such as image data has become multifunctional, and in addition to facsimile, e-mail and FTP (File
Image transmission apparatuses capable of transmitting electronic data by various transmission methods such as Transfer Protocol (SMB) and SMB (Server Message Block) have come to be used.
A storage area such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) provided in the image transmission apparatus as described above is provided with a box that is a storage area for dedicated electronic data used by an individual or a plurality of users. It is configured to store electronic data such as image data and files used by the user for transmission and printing.

The user stores, for example, image data read and created by a scanner included in the image transmission apparatus in his / her box, reads the image data from his / her box as necessary, and designates it from the image forming apparatus Can be sent to the destination.

JP 2006-121619 A

  By the way, there are various kinds of information indicated by electronic data stored in the box, such as highly confidential information and information that can be disclosed to the public. Therefore, if the user can read the electronic data from the box and send the electronic data freely to the destination specified by the user, highly confidential information that should be known only by a specific person is disclosed to the unspecified person (For example, a problem in which confidential information is erroneously transmitted to a transmission destination not intended by the user due to an input error of the transmission destination).

In addition, the range of transmission destinations in which the disclosure of the information is permitted varies depending on the information indicated by the user and the electronic data stored in the box. For this reason, if the destination range is uniformly set, the set destination range may be too wide depending on the box, and thus the occurrence of the above-described problem cannot be prevented appropriately.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image transmission apparatus capable of preventing erroneous transmission in transmission of electronic data from a box.

  To achieve the above object, an image transmission apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an image transmission apparatus including a storage device having a plurality of boxes that are storage areas for electronic data, wherein the plurality of boxes are grouped. Storage means for storing a transmission destination list in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group, and designation of electronic data included in any box from the user and reception of the transmission destination Only when the receiving means and the received transmission destination are included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs, the transmission of the designated electronic data to the received transmission destination is permitted, and the transmission destination list Transmission control means for prohibiting transmission of the electronic data when it is not included.

  Here, the image transmission device includes a temporary release password storage unit that stores a temporary release password for temporarily canceling the prohibition of transmission by the transmission control unit, a password input reception unit that receives an input of a password, The transmission control means can cancel the transmission prohibition when the input password matches the stored temporary cancellation password.

The image transmission apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires identification information for identifying a user, and an identification information storage unit that stores identification information of an administrator. The transmission control unit includes the acquired user identification. When the information indicates an administrator, the prohibition of transmission can be canceled.
In addition, the image transmission apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires identification information for identifying a user, an identification information storage unit that stores identification information of an authorized person in the transmission destination list of the group for each group, and an acquired user identification Only when the information indicates that the user is authorized to edit any of the destination lists, an editing unit that receives an instruction to edit the destination list from the user and edits the destination list is provided. be able to.

  Further, the plurality of boxes includes a box to which a password for accessing the box is assigned, and the image transmission device includes a destination list of a group to which the acquired user identification information belongs. A password changing means for accepting an instruction to change the password assigned to the password granting box and changing the password in accordance with the change instruction, and indicating that the password has been changed. After that, before the transmission destination list is edited, the transmission control means prohibits transmission of electronic data to the transmission destination when the electronic data in the password assignment box is specified and the transmission destination is received. You can do that.

  In addition, a plurality of types of destination list candidates having different destination ranges for each group are determined in advance, and the image transmission apparatus selects each candidate having the narrowest destination range from among the plurality of types of candidates. An initial setting unit that initially sets the storage unit as a group destination list may be provided, and the editing unit may receive the editing instruction by receiving a selection from the plurality of types of candidates.

  A transmission control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a transmission control method used for an image transmission apparatus including a storage device having a plurality of boxes serving as storage areas for electronic data, wherein the plurality of boxes are grouped. A storage step for storing a transmission destination list in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group, designation of electronic data included in any box from the user, and reception of the transmission destination And accepting the designated electronic data to the accepted recipient only when the accepting step and the accepted recipient are included in the recipient list stored for the group to which the box belongs, And a transmission control step for prohibiting transmission of the electronic data when it is not included in the transmission destination list.

  A transmission control program according to an aspect of the present invention is a transmission control program used for an image transmission apparatus including a storage device having a plurality of boxes serving as storage areas for electronic data, wherein the plurality of boxes are grouped. A setting step for setting a transmission destination list in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group, designation of electronic data included in any box from the user, and reception of the transmission destination And accepting the designated electronic data to the accepted recipient only when the accepting step and the accepted recipient are included in the recipient list stored for the group to which the box belongs, A transmission control step for prohibiting transmission of the electronic data if it is not included in the destination list; To be executed by the transmitting device.

  By providing the above configuration, a list of destinations permitted to transmit electronic data is stored for each group of boxes divided into groups, and the received electronic data is stored as an accepted destination of electronic data. Only when it is included in the destination list of the group to which the box belongs, it is transmitted to the accepted destination, and when it is not included in the destination list, transmission of the electronic data to the accepted destination is prohibited. Therefore, by grouping boxes into groups of boxes with common destinations and storing a destination list for each group, even if the user of the box incorrectly inputs the destination, It can be prevented from being sent.

  In addition, since the destination list is stored for each group of the grouped boxes, not for each individual box, the number of destination lists stored in the storage means can be reduced accordingly, and the destination list can be reduced. Can be easily managed and the amount of memory can be reduced.

It is the schematic which shows an example of a structure of an image transmission system. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1A. FIG. A specific example of the box management table 1042 is shown. A specific example of the user identification information management table 1043 is shown. A specific example of the transmission destination list 1044 is shown. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an electronic data transmission control process. A specific example of the initial operation screen is shown. A specific example of a box selection screen is shown. The specific example of the selection screen of electronic data is shown. The example of the input screen of the transmission destination of electronic data is shown. A specific example of a warning message indicating that transmission to the input destination is not permitted is shown. A specific example of a message indicating that transmission has been completed is shown. A specific example of the box management table 1042A is shown. It is a flowchart which shows a part of modification of the operation | movement of an electronic data transmission control process. It is a flowchart which shows the remaining one part of the modification of the operation | movement of an electronic data transmission control process. It is a flowchart which shows another modification of operation | movement of an electronic data transmission control process. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the edit process of a transmission destination list | wrist. A specific example of a transmission destination list editing instruction reception screen is shown. The specific example of the edit mode selection screen of a transmission destination list is shown. The specific example of the transmission destination list edit screen which selects the transmission destination to delete is shown. The specific example of the transmission destination list edit screen which inputs the transmission destination to add is shown. A specific example of the box management table management table 1042B is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of a box password change process. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the edit process A of a transmission destination list. It is a flowchart which shows a part of another modification of the operation | movement of an electronic data transmission control process. It is a flowchart which shows the remaining one part of another modification of the operation | movement of an electronic data transmission control process.

(Embodiment)
[1] Configuration of Image Transmission System FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an image transmission system according to the present embodiment. The image transmission system includes image transmission apparatuses (here, image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B), terminal apparatuses (for example, personal computers) 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D. The device configuration constituting the image transmission system is not limited to the configuration shown in the figure. For example, the image transmission system may be configured by a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal instead of the communication terminal device. It is good also as an apparatus structure in which both coexist.

  Image forming apparatus 1A and communication terminal apparatuses 2A and 2B are connected to LAN (Local Area Network) 4A, and image forming apparatus 1B and communication terminal apparatuses 2C and 2D are connected to LAN 4B, respectively. In the case of a portable terminal device, it is wirelessly connected to the LANs 4A and 4B via a wireless router and a wireless base station. The LANs 4A and 4B are connected to the Internet 5 via a router (not shown).

Since the configurations of the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B are the same, only the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1A will be described below. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1A. The image forming apparatus 1A executes print processing and performs electronic data transmission control processing described later. The image forming apparatus 1A includes a control unit 10, an image process unit 30, a paper feeding unit 40, a fixing device 50, an image reading unit 60, an operation panel 70, and the like.

The control unit 10 is a so-called computer, and includes a CPU 100, a communication interface (I / F) unit 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 104, and the like, and controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1A. .
The communication I / F unit 101 is an interface for connecting to the LAN 4 such as a LAN card or a LAN board. The ROM 102 has a control program for controlling the image processing unit 30, the paper feeding unit 40, the fixing device 50, the image reading unit 60, and the operation panel 70, and an electronic data transmission control for executing electronic data transmission control processing described later. Stores programs, etc. The RAM 103 is used as a work area when the CPU 100 executes a program.

The HDD 104 is provided with a plurality of boxes which are dedicated electronic data storage areas assigned to each user (one or a plurality of users). The user activates the box creation program and creates a box to be used by the user in a predetermined storage area (box storage area 1041) of the HDD 104. In addition, when creating a box, the user operates a box attribute (for example, a box name) for grouping each group of boxes having the same destination range that should be permitted as a destination of electronic data stored in the box. Input is performed from an input screen (not shown) displayed on the panel 70.

The box attribute indicates the group to which the box belongs, and the same box attribute is assigned to the boxes belonging to the same group. Note that the above group includes the case of one box.
When the box is created, the control unit 10 registers the box number and the input box attribute in a box management table described later.

The HDD 104 also has a box management table 1042 for managing boxes created by the user, a user identification information management table 1043, and a destination list 104.
4 is stored. The box management table 1042 indicates a correspondence relationship between a box number (No), box attribute, stored data information, transmission destination list number (No), box password, box user ID, transmission destination list edit authorized person ID, and administrator ID. It is a table.

Each time the user creates a box in the box storage area of the HDD 104, the box number is assigned sequentially (in this case, in ascending order) by the control unit 10. The assigned box number is stored in the HDD 104 in association with the address in the box storage area of the created box.
The stored data information is information related to electronic data (for example, file, image data, etc.) stored in the box of the corresponding box number. Specifically, the address of the storage area in the box of the electronic data and the electronic data This is information indicating a name (for example, a file name) and a registration date and time.

The transmission destination list number is a number for identifying a transmission destination list to be described later.
Each time the data is stored in the DD 104, the control unit 10 assigns a number sequentially (here, in ascending order). The assigned destination list number is stored in the HDD 104 in association with the address in the HDD 104 of the stored destination list.
The box password is a password set by the user of the box for the created specific box. The box password can be set and changed by a predetermined user (here, a transmission destination list editing authorized person) permitted by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1A among the box users. The box password set or changed is notified from the predetermined user to other users of the box.

Thus, each user of the box can access the box by inputting the box password.
The box user ID indicates the ID of the user of the box having the box attribute that is determined for each box attribute. The user of the box is the creator of the box,
When the determined box user is approved by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1A, the box user ID is displayed by the administrator in the box management table 1042.
Shall be registered.

The transmission destination list edit authorized person ID indicates an ID of a user who is permitted to edit a transmission destination list, which will be described later, of the box attribute by the administrator among the box users.
The users who are permitted to edit the destination list may be some of the box users or all of the users. The administrator determines whether to allow a part or all of the box according to the box attribute. Registration of the transmission destination list edit authorized person ID in the box management table 1042 is performed by the administrator. The administrator ID indicates the user ID of the administrator.

FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the box management table 1042. Management table 1042 in FIG.
In this case, the stored data information is abbreviated in alphabets in order to simplify the notation. The management table 1042A shown in FIG. 13 and the management table 1042B shown in FIG.
In the specific example shown in FIG. 3, the box number # 0001 and # 0007 have a box attribute “person A”, the box number # 0002 and # 0006 have a box attribute “development group” and the box number # 0005. , A box with the box attribute “office group” is created at # 0008, a box with the box attribute “shared” is created at box number # 0003, and a box with the box attribute “shared with password” is created at box # 0004. The boxes are grouped.

Then, for each box attribute, a destination list number, a box user ID, and a destination list edit authorized person ID are associated, and the box attributes are “development group”, “office group”,
A box password is set in each “Share with Password” box.
The user identification information management table 1043 is a table in which user IDs and passwords are associated with each other, and is used to check the user ID and password input from the operation panel 70 when the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 1A. It is done. The user identification information management table 1043 is created by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1A and stored in the HDD 104. FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the user identification information management table 1043. In the figure, passwords corresponding to the user IDs 1 to 4 are shown.

The transmission destination list 1044 indicates a transmission destination list that is set for each box attribute and is permitted to transmit electronic data stored in the box having the box attribute. The destination list is created by a box user with each box attribute. When the administrator permits the created destination list, the administrator inputs the permitted destination list from the operation panel 70, and the destination list is set by the control unit 10 that has accepted the input. The

  Specifically, the setting of the transmission destination list is performed by the control unit 10 as follows. When the control unit 10 receives a display instruction for the setting screen of the transmission destination list from the login user via the operation panel 70, the control unit 10 refers to the administrator ID of the box management table 1042 and determines whether or not the login user is the administrator. If the administrator is the above administrator, a transmission destination list setting screen (not shown) is displayed on the operation panel 70 to accept input of the transmission destination list and input of the box attribute.

  Then, the control unit 10 stores the input destination list in the HDD 104, assigns a destination list number, and records the assigned destination list number in association with the input box attribute in the box management table 1042. By doing so, the destination list is set.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the destination list 1044. In the figure, as an example of the above, an e-mail address and a domain name that are permitted to transmit electronic data are shown.
The form of the destination list is not limited to the form of the above specific example. For example, the electronic data is FAX
In the case of transmission, it may be a destination telephone number, or in the case of transmission by FTP or SMB, it may be an IP address.

Returning to the description of FIG. 2, the CPU 100 executes the control program to control the image processing unit 30, the paper feeding unit 40, the fixing device 50, the image reading unit 60, and the operation panel 70, and electronic data transmission control. By executing the program, the electronic data transmission control process described later is executed.
The image processing unit 30 executes a printing process by forming an image on a sheet as a recording sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 40 based on image data for printing input from the control unit 10 or the image reading unit 60. To do. The paper feeding unit 40 supplies paper as a recording sheet to the image processing unit 30 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 10. The fixing device 50 heat-fixes an image formed on a sheet as a recording sheet on the sheet in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 10.

  The image reading unit 60 is composed of an image input device such as a scanner, and reads information such as characters and figures described on a recording sheet such as paper to form image data. The operation panel 70 includes a plurality of input keys and a liquid crystal display unit, and a touch panel is stacked on the surface of the liquid crystal display unit. An instruction from the user is received by a touch input from the touch panel or a key input from an input key, and is notified to the control unit 10.

[2] Electronic Data Transmission Control Process FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic data transmission control process. When the control unit 10 receives a login input (user ID and password input) from the user on the operation panel 70 (step S601), the control unit 10 reads the user identification information management table 1043 from the HDD 104, and the input user ID and password are stored. Then, it is determined whether or not it is registered in the user identification information management table 1043, and if the determination result is affirmative, an initial operation screen as shown in FIG.

When the selection of the box function is accepted from the initial operation screen (step S602),
The control unit 10 displays a box operation selection screen (not shown) on the operation panel 70. When a transmission operation is selected from the selection screen, the control unit 10 reads the box management table 1042 from the HDD 104, refers to the box management table 1042, and refers to the box As the user ID, a box attribute and a box number including the user ID input by login are specified (step S603).

Next, the control unit 10 displays a selection screen for displaying a selection button indicating the box number and box attribute of the identified box as shown in FIG. 8 on the operation panel 70 and accepts selection of a box to be used (step S604). ).
In the box management table 1042, when a box password is set for a box with the selected box attribute (step S 605: YES), the control unit 10 causes the operation panel 70 to display a box password input acceptance screen (not shown). Then, the input of the password from the login user is accepted (step S606).

When the password input in step S606 matches the box password of the box with the selected box attribute (step S607: YES), the control unit 10 refers to the box management table 1042 and selects the above-mentioned box The electronic data (electronic data name) stored in the electronic data is specified, and as shown in FIG. 9, a selection screen for the specified electronic data (electronic data name) is displayed on the operation panel 70 (step S609), and the electronic data to be transmitted is transmitted. Data selection is accepted (step S610).

  If the determination result in step S607 is negative (step S607: NO), the control unit 10 alerts the user to re-enter the password (not shown) (for example, “The password is incorrect. Re-enter. Please warn me "message is displayed on the operation panel 70 (step S608).

  After accepting selection of electronic data to be transmitted in step S610, the control unit 10 displays an input screen of the transmission destination of the selected electronic data on the operation panel 70 as shown in FIG. Is received (step S611), the transmission destination list of the transmission destination list number corresponding to the selected box attribute is acquired from the HDD 104 in the box management table 1042 (step S612).

  Next, the control unit 60 compares the input transmission destination with the acquired transmission destination list, and determines whether or not the input transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list (step S613). For example, when the input destination and the destination list each indicate an email address, it is determined whether or not the destination list includes an email address that matches the input destination. If it is determined that the input destination is included, it is determined that the input destination is included in the destination list.

Further, when the destination list is indicated by a domain name and the input destination is an e-mail address, the input destination when the e-mail address includes the domain name. Is included in the destination list.
When the determination result of step S613 is affirmative (step S613: YES), the control unit 10 reads the selected electronic data from the storage area of the box of the selected box attribute, and transmits the electronic data to the communication I. A message indicating that the transmission is completed is displayed on the operation panel 70 as shown in FIG. 12 by being transmitted to the transmission destination input via the / F unit 101 (step S614).

If the determination result in step S613 is negative (step S613: NO), the control unit 10 prohibits transmission of the selected electronic data, and transmission to the input transmission destination as shown in FIG. A warning message indicating that it is not permitted is displayed on the operation panel 70 (step S615).
As described above, in this embodiment, for each box attribute, a transmission destination list indicating a transmission destination that is permitted to transmit electronic data is set, and the electronic data transmission destination that is accepted is stored in the electronic data. It is determined whether or not the box attribute to which the box to which the box belongs is included in the set destination list, and if the destination is not included in the destination list and is not permitted to be transmitted, the transmission is performed. Since transmission to the destination is prohibited, it is possible to appropriately set the range of transmission destinations permitted for each box attribute having a common transmission destination range so that the range of transmission destinations permitted to be transmitted does not vary. It is possible to prevent erroneous transmission in transmission of electronic data from the box.

In addition, since the destination list is set not for each box but for each box attribute (group of grouped boxes), the number of destination lists to be set can be reduced by that amount. The setting processing and management of the destination list can be reduced, and the storage amount allocated to the transmission destination list in the HDD 104 can be reduced.
(Modification)
As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications can be implemented.

(1) In the above embodiment, when the input destination is not included in the destination list of the corresponding box attribute, the transmission is uniformly prohibited, but the transmission prohibition can be temporarily canceled. It is good also as comprising.
Specifically, the control unit 10 from the administrator via the operation panel 70 temporarily cancels the transmission destination restriction by the transmission destination list and the box attribute of the transmission destination list to be canceled. The temporary release password is set by accepting the input, and the input temporary release password is set by associating the input temporary release password with the input box attribute and recording it in the box management table. In addition, the contents of the box management table 1042 of the above embodiment may be modified as shown in FIG. 13 and the electronic data transmission control process of the above embodiment may be modified as shown in FIGS. .

The box management table 1042A shown in FIG. 13 includes temporary release password setting information indicating whether or not a temporary release password is set, and the set temporary release password is associated with a box attribute. This is different from the contents of the box management table 1042.
The temporary release password is set by the administrator when a user having a box user ID requests the administrator to set a temporary release password and the administrator permits the setting request. . Then, the set temporary release password is deleted when a predetermined time (for example, 3 hours) has passed after the setting, and the temporary release password is notified from the administrator only to the user who requested the setting, It shall not be notified to other users.

In addition, the temporary release password setting information is set to “None” for each box attribute in the initial state, and when the temporary release password is set, the set box attribute is set to “Yes”. Set to "None" when the password is deleted.
In the modification of the operation of the electronic data transmission control process shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the same processing contents as the processing contents in the electronic data transmission control process of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 are the same as the step numbers in FIG. The description will be omitted with the step number assigned, and the description will focus on the differences.

  After executing the processing of step S611, the control unit 10 causes the operation panel 70 to display a selection button for selecting whether or not to request temporary release of the destination restriction by the destination list, which is not illustrated, Any selection instruction is accepted. When receiving an instruction to request temporary release of the restriction on the transmission destination (step S1401: YES), the control unit 10 refers to the temporary release password setting information in the box management table 1042A and is selected in step S604. It is determined whether or not a temporary release password is set for the box having the box attribute (step S1402).

When the temporary release password is set (step S1402: YES), the control unit 10 displays an input screen for one release password (not shown) on the operation panel 70 and accepts the input of the password (step S1403).
When the set temporary release password is input (when the input password matches the temporary release password recorded in the box management table 1042A (step 1404: YES), the control unit 10 When the determination result of step S1402 or step S1404 is negative (step S1402: NO or step S1404: NO), the control unit 10 proceeds to the process of step S612.

  In this modification, by inputting the temporary release password, the restriction of the destination in the destination list is temporarily released, so the electronic data of the box attribute of the box attribute that can be accessed by itself is transmitted. When there is a specific circumstance that must be sent to a destination not included in the destination list (for example, a box on a terminal device or image forming device that is not normally used for a meeting at a business trip destination) When the electronic data is transmitted), the convenience of the user in transmitting the electronic data from the box can be improved.

(2) In the modified example of (1), when the temporary release password is input, the restriction of the transmission destination by the transmission destination list is released. However, when the sender is the administrator, the transmission is performed. The previous restriction may be released.
Specifically, the electronic data transmission control process of FIG. 6 of the above embodiment may be modified as shown in FIG. In the modification of the operation of the electronic data transmission control process shown in FIG. 16, the same processing contents as the processing contents in the electronic data transmission control process of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 are the same as the step numbers in FIG. The description will be omitted, and the differences will be mainly described below.

After executing the process of step S611, the control unit 10 compares the user ID input in step S601 with the administrator ID of the box management table 1042, and if the two IDs match, the logged-in user Is the manager (step S1601: YES), the process proceeds to step S614.
If the two IDs do not match, the control unit 10 determines that the logged-in user is not the administrator (step S1601: NO), and proceeds to the process of step S612.

In this modification, when the logged-in user is the administrator, the restriction on the transmission destination by the transmission destination list is released, so that the convenience of the administrator in the transmission of electronic data from the box can be improved. .
(3) A transmission destination list editing function may be provided in the box function. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination list editing process. When a login input (user ID and password input) is received from the user (step S1701), the control unit 10 displays the initial operation screen on the operation panel 70 by performing the same process as the process of step S601 in FIG. .

  When the selection of the box function is received from the initial operation screen (step S1702), the control unit 10 displays a box operation selection screen (not shown) on the operation panel 70, and receives the selection of the transmission destination list edit mode from the selection screen. (Step S1703), with reference to the box management table 1042, the selection screen of the box attribute registered in the box management table 1042 is displayed on the operation panel 70, and the box attribute for editing the destination list from the selection screen is displayed. The selection is accepted (step S1704).

When the selection of the box attribute is received from the selection screen (step S1705), the control unit 10 refers to the transmission destination list edit authorized person ID associated with the selected box attribute in the box management table 1042. It is determined whether or not the login user is an authorized person for editing the transmission destination list of the box attribute (step S1706).
Specifically, when the login user ID matches the transmission destination list edit authorized person ID (when there are a plurality of transmission destination list edit authorized persons ID, it matches any of the transmission destination list edit authorized persons ID) If it is determined that the user is permitted to edit the transmission destination list of the box attribute and does not match (if there are a plurality of transmission destination list editing permitted IDs, it does not match any transmission list editing permitted person ID) Then, it is determined that the user is not authorized to edit the destination list of the box attribute.

If the determination result in step S1706 is negative, a warning message indicating that the login user is not an authorized person for editing the transmission destination list of the selected box attribute is displayed on the operation panel 70 (step S1707). The process proceeds to step S1705.
If the determination result of step S1706 is affirmative (step S1706: YES), the control unit 10 in the box management table 1042 has a destination list with a destination list number associated with the selected box attribute. Is read from the HDD 104, displayed on the operation panel 70, and an editing instruction is accepted (step S1708).

  FIG. 18 shows a specific example of the display screen displayed on the operation panel 70 at this time. In the figure, a destination list of a destination list number (in the figure, destination list No. 2) associated with the selected box attribute is displayed, and an instruction to edit the destination list is given. An edit instruction accepting button for accepting and a confirmation input accepting button for accepting confirmation input of the edited destination list are displayed.

When the editing instruction is accepted (step S1709: YES), the control unit 10 edits the transmission destination list according to the editing instruction, displays the edited transmission destination list on the display screen similar to FIG. 18, and displays the transmission destination list. The editing instruction or confirmation input is accepted (step S1710).
Specifically, upon receiving an editing instruction, the control unit 10 causes the operation panel 70 to display a selection screen for selecting whether the editing mode is deletion or addition, as shown in FIG. When deletion is selected, the control unit 10 displays a transmission destination list editing screen for selecting a transmission destination to be deleted, as shown in FIG. 20, and when addition is selected, the control unit 10 is shown in FIG. Display the destination list edit screen to enter the destination to be added, accept the deletion or addition of the destination list, edit (delete or add) the destination list, and edit the destination list after editing The instruction reception button and the confirmation instruction reception button are displayed on the same display screen as that in FIG.

Upon receiving the confirmation input (step S1711: YES), the control unit 10 rewrites the transmission destination list before editing of the selected box attribute stored in the HDD 104 with the transmission destination list after editing, and after editing. Set the destination list to the destination list of the box attribute.
In this modification, the destination list can be edited by a user who is permitted to edit the destination list by the administrator of the image forming apparatus. For example, a destination can be added as the project progresses. When it becomes necessary to delete or delete, the destination list can be quickly edited. In addition, since users other than those authorized by the administrator cannot edit the destination list, security against information leakage from the box can be maintained.

(4) In the above embodiment, when the transmission destination of the input electronic data is not included in the transmission destination list, the transmission of the electronic data to the transmission destination is prohibited. The transmission of electronic data to the input destination may also be prohibited.
When a project member is changed and the user box password is changed to maintain confidentiality, the range of destinations that can be sent from the user box varies depending on the change of the member (member of the user box). It will be necessary to edit the destination list. As described above, when electronic data is transmitted from a box with the box attribute after the box password is changed and before the destination list with the box attribute is edited, the destination list before editing is sent. Therefore, the transmission permission / inhibition is determined, which may cause erroneous transmission (electronic data may be erroneously transmitted to a destination to be deleted by editing).

Therefore, in the above case, transmission of electronic data to the input destination may be prohibited.
FIG. 22 shows a specific example of the box management table management table 1042B used in this modification. As shown in the figure, the box management table 1042B shows the correspondence between “confirmation flag” and “change flag” in addition to the correspondence shown in the box management table 1042 of the above embodiment.

  Here, the “change flag” is a flag indicating whether or not the box password has been changed. The “change flag” is set to “off” in the initial state, and is set to “on” when the box password is changed in the box password change process described later, and set to “on” and then described later. When the transmission destination list corresponding to the box password is edited in the transmission destination list editing process A, the setting is returned from “ON” to “OFF”.

The “confirmation flag” is a flag indicating whether or not the transmission destination list has been edited. It is set to “OFF” in the initial state, and is set to “ON” when the transmission destination list editing process A described later edits the transmission destination list of the box attribute whose change flag is “ON”.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the box password change process. Upon receiving a login input (user ID and password input) from the user (step S2301), the control unit 10 displays the initial operation screen on the operation panel 70 by performing the same process as the process of step S601 of FIG. .

When the selection of the box function is received from the initial operation screen (step S2302),
When the control unit 10 displays a box operation selection screen (not shown) on the operation panel 70 and accepts selection of the box password change mode from the selection screen (step S2303), the control unit 10 refers to the box management table 1042B and refers to the box management table 1042B. The box attribute selection screen in which the box password is set is displayed on the operation panel 70, and selection of the box attribute for changing the box password is accepted from the selection screen (step S2304).

When the selection of the box attribute is received from the selection screen (step S2305), the control unit 10 refers to the transmission destination list edit authorized person ID associated with the selected box attribute in the box management table 1042B. It is determined whether or not the login user is an authorized person for editing the transmission destination list of the box attribute (step S2306).
If the determination result in step S2306 is negative (step S2306: NO), a warning message indicating that the login user is “not authorized to edit the destination list of the selected box attribute” is displayed on the operation panel 70. (Step S2307), the process proceeds to Step S2305.

If the determination result in step S2306 is affirmative (step S2306: YES), the control unit 10 displays a change password input reception screen (not shown) and receives the password input (step S2308).
Next, in the box management table 1042B, the control unit 10 rewrites the corresponding box password (of the selected box attribute) with the input password, changes the box password, and associates the box password with the selected box attribute. Is set to “ON” (step S2309).

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination list editing process A. The processing having the same processing contents as the transmission destination list editing processing of the modification (3) in FIG. 17 is given the same step number as in FIG. 17 and description thereof is omitted, and differences will be described below. If the determination result of step S1711 is affirmative (step S1711: YES), the control unit 10 considers that the transmission destination list of the selected box attribute has been edited, and further selects it in the box management table 1042B. It is determined whether or not the changed box attribute change flag is set to “ON” (step S2401).

If the determination result in step S2401 is affirmative (step S2401: YES), the corresponding confirmation flag (corresponding to the selected box attribute) in the box management table 1042B is set to “on”. (Step S2402).
25 and 26 are flowcharts showing the operation of the electronic data transmission control process of this modification. In both figures, the same processing contents as those of the electronic data transmission control process of the above embodiment shown in FIG. 6 are given the same step numbers and the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, differences will be mainly described.

After executing the process of step S611, the control unit 10 refers to the box management table 1042B and determines whether or not the selected box attribute change flag is set to “ON” (step S2501).
When the determination result of step S2501 is affirmative (step S2501: YES), the control unit 10 further determines whether or not the confirmation flag for the selected box attribute is set to ON (step S2502).

If the determination result of step S2502 is affirmative (step S2502: YES), the control unit 10 sets the change flag and confirmation flag of the box attribute to “off” and returns to the initial state (step S2503). .
If the determination result in step S2502 is negative (if the box password has been changed but the destination list has not been edited), the control unit 10 prohibits transmission of the selected electronic data, and “box” A warning message indicating that “the destination list has not been edited after the password change” is displayed on the operation panel 70 (step S2504).

In this modification, after the box password is changed, it is determined whether or not the corresponding destination list is edited. If the destination list is not edited, the box attribute is changed from the box with the changed box attribute. Since transmission of electronic data is prohibited, the erroneous transmission can be prevented.
(5) In the above embodiment, the destination list is created by the user who is permitted to access the box of each box attribute. However, the destination list is initialized and edited as follows. It is good.

Create multiple types of destination list candidates with different destination ranges for each box attribute,
The data is stored in the HDD 102 in order from the narrowest destination range (for example, assigned a number), and the destination range is the narrowest among the plurality of candidates (for example, the assigned number is the smallest). A candidate is selected as a destination list and initialized, and then the set destination list is edited by executing a process similar to the destination list editing process of the modification (3). It is good. In this case, step S1609, step S1
Instead of performing the processing of 610, the control unit 10 displays a plurality of candidates stored in the HDD 102 on the operation panel 70 and accepts selection of candidates from the login user, thereby accepting an instruction to edit the destination list, When the confirmation input is received (step S1611), the transmission destination list before editing of the selected box attribute stored in the HDD 104 is rewritten with the selected candidate, and the transmission destination list after rewriting is transmitted as the box attribute. Set as the destination list.

In this modification, a plurality of types of candidates having different transmission destination ranges are created in advance, and a candidate having the narrowest transmission destination range is initially set from the plurality of candidates, and thereafter, the plurality of candidate candidates are set. Since the transmission destination list is edited by the selection operation from the inside, it is possible to simplify the transmission destination list editing operation while preventing erroneous transmission at the initial setting, which is likely to cause confusion.
(6) In the above-described embodiment, the transmission destination list is set for each box attribute. However, a transmission destination list may not be provided for a box attribute with no limitation on the transmission destination. In this case, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, after the process of step S611, it is determined whether the destination list is set for the selection box attribute. If the determination result is affirmative, the process of step S612 is performed. The process may be modified so that the process proceeds to step S614 when the determination result is negative.

  The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus capable of storing electronic data in a box, which is a dedicated electronic data storage area used by an individual or a plurality of users, and transmitting the stored electronic data to the outside via a network. It can be used as a technique for controlling transmission of electronic data.

1A, 1B Image forming apparatuses 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D Personal computer 10 Control unit 30 Image process unit 40 Paper feed unit 50 Fixing device 60 Image reading unit 70 Operation panel 104 HDD
1041 Box storage area 1042 Box management table 1043 User identification information management table 1044 Destination list

Claims (8)

An image transmission apparatus including a storage device having a plurality of boxes that are storage areas for electronic data,
The plurality of boxes are grouped;
Storage means for storing, for each group, a destination list that is permitted to transmit electronic data in a box belonging to the group;
A specification of electronic data contained in any box from the user, and a receiving means for receiving the transmission destination;
Only when the accepted transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs, the transmission of the designated electronic data to the accepted transmission destination is permitted, and is included in the transmission destination list. If not, transmission control means for prohibiting transmission of the electronic data;
An image transmitting apparatus comprising: Temporary release password storage means for storing a temporary release password for temporarily canceling the prohibition of transmission by the transmission control means;
A password input receiving means for receiving a password input,
The image transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit cancels the transmission prohibition when the input password matches a stored temporary cancellation password. Obtaining means for obtaining identification information for identifying the user;
An identification information storage means for storing the identification information of the administrator,
The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit cancels the prohibition of transmission when the acquired user identification information indicates an administrator. Obtaining means for obtaining identification information for identifying the user;
Identification information storage means for storing identification information of an authorized person in the group's destination list for each group;
Only when the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is authorized to edit any of the destination lists, an editing unit that accepts an instruction to edit the destination list from the user and edits the destination list;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The plurality of boxes includes a box having a password for accessing the box,
When the acquired user identification information indicates that the person authorized to edit the destination list of the group to which the password grant box belongs, accepts a change instruction for the password assigned to the password grant box and responds to the change instruction. Provided with a password changing means for changing the password,
After the password is changed and before the transmission destination list is edited, when the designation of electronic data in the password grant box and the transmission destination are accepted, the transmission control means sends the transmission destination to the transmission destination. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein transmission of electronic data is prohibited. Candidates for multiple types of destination lists with different destination ranges for each group are predetermined,
Initial setting means for initially setting the storage means as a transmission destination list of each group a candidate having the narrowest transmission destination range among the plurality of types of candidates,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the editing unit receives the editing instruction by receiving a selection from the plurality of types of candidates. A transmission control method used for an image transmission device including a storage device having a plurality of boxes that are storage areas for electronic data,
The plurality of boxes are grouped;
A storage step for storing a transmission destination list in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group;
A step of accepting designation of electronic data contained in any box from the user and receiving the transmission destination;
Only when the accepted transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list stored for the group to which the box belongs, the transmission of the designated electronic data to the accepted transmission destination is permitted. If not included, a transmission control step for prohibiting transmission of the electronic data;
Including a transmission control method. A transmission control program used for an image transmission apparatus including a storage device having a plurality of boxes that are storage areas for electronic data,
The plurality of boxes are grouped;
A setting step for setting a transmission destination list in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group;
A step of accepting designation of electronic data contained in any box from the user and receiving the transmission destination;
Only when the accepted transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list stored for the group to which the box belongs, the transmission of the designated electronic data to the accepted transmission destination is permitted. If not included, a transmission control step for prohibiting transmission of the electronic data;
Is transmitted to the image transmission apparatus.

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