JP2017047567A - Image formation device and operation method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device that can set a new size of a sheet without rewriting firmware and has little risk that the device may be used by an ill-intentioned user, and to provide an operation method for the same which can further reduce the risk.SOLUTION: There is provided an image formation device in which a sheet-size addition application 3 for adding new sheet-size information to sheet-size data 24 can be installed, where the sheet-size data 24 can be renewed only via the sheet-size addition application 3 and the sheet-size addition application 3 can be executed only by an administrator user registered in advance. An operation method in which the sheet-size addition application 3 is installed immediately before the sheet-size information is added and then un-installed immediately after the addition can further reduce a risk.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an operation method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses that execute printing of contents such as files, copying printed matter, and the like are widely used. In many cases, an image forming apparatus prints using paper having a standardized size such as A4 size. However, the image forming apparatus may print on a paper having a new size (mainly a nonstandard size).

  In correspondence to the paper size in the image forming apparatus, information related to each paper size is processed in firmware. This is to uniformly process all users and applications for prohibition processing (for example, double-sided printing is not possible due to feeder restrictions) and counter processing (for example, charging a fee corresponding to the paper size). Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that performs different printing processes for index sheets and normal sheets, although the sheet sizes are not necessarily different, so that the processes according to the sheets are performed uniformly. ing.

  Since the firmware supports the paper size, it is difficult to add a new paper size because the firmware needs to be rewritten. On the other hand, it has been unrealistic to open up the addition of new paper sizes widely to general users, with the risk of counter-counter manipulations by malicious users.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-069077

  The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs processing with the same size as the set paper size, and a new paper size cannot be set.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can set a new paper size without rewriting firmware and has a low risk for use by malicious users. Another object is to provide an operation method for further reducing the risk.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes:
Holds paper size data including paper size information and additional information about the paper size,
A paper size addition application for adding new paper size information to the paper size data can be installed;
The paper size data can be updated only through the paper size addition application,
The paper size addition application can be executed only by an administrator user registered in advance.

  According to this feature, it is possible to add paper size data without rewriting the firmware. Only administrator users can add paper size data, and the risk of being used by malicious users is small.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes:
The paper size data includes application information for distinguishing applications corresponding to the paper size,
The paper size addition application adds the application information by causing the administrator user to select an application.

  According to this feature, it is possible to distinguish between applications that can use paper size data and applications that cannot use paper size data. It is possible to cope with a paper size used only in a specific application.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes:
The additional information includes a prohibition process.

  According to this feature, the prohibition process corresponding to the paper size can be determined.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes:
The paper size addition application inputs the paper size information as a file.

  According to this feature, it is possible to efficiently and reliably add a paper size to a plurality of image processing apparatuses of the same model with one file.

The operation method of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is as follows:
The image forming apparatus includes:
Install the paper size addition application,
Add the new paper size information,
Immediately thereafter, the paper size addition application is uninstalled.

  According to this feature, it is impossible to add a paper size when an actual application is executed. Even if a malicious user steals an administrator user's password, it is safe.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to set a new paper size without rewriting the firmware, and it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with a low risk used by a malicious user. . Further, according to the operation method of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to operate with further reduced risk.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating processing for adding a new paper size. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating application execution processing based on a new paper size.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus as an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an extended service platform 2, and a paper size addition application 3 is installed in the extended service platform 2.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has a function unit used by a general user in addition to the extended service platform 2. Among these functional units, the user management unit 11 and the paper size processing unit 12 relate to the present embodiment.

  The user management unit 11 identifies a user who uses the image forming apparatus 1 by reading a card in which an ID is recorded, and notifies an application (including the paper size addition application 3).

  The paper size processing unit 12 executes prohibition processing, counter processing, and the like regarding the paper size used by the application.

  The extended service platform 2 provides a service that is commonly used by an application (print application or the like) used by the user of the image forming apparatus 1. Firmware functions are provided via the extended service platform 2. The extended service platform 2 includes an application management unit 22 and a paper size management unit 23 in association with paper size processing, and holds paper size data 24.

  The application management unit 22 manages the characteristics (including usable paper) of each application.

  The paper size management unit 23 performs management including prohibition processing and counter processing for each paper size.

  The paper size data 24 is data that defines the processing of the paper size management unit 23. Details will be described later.

  The paper size addition application 3 is installed in the extended service platform 2 and performs a paper size addition process. The paper size addition application 3 includes a user authentication unit 31, an application information acquisition unit 32, and a paper size registration unit 33.

  The user authentication unit 31 authenticates a user who executes the paper size addition application 3. Only when it is confirmed that the administrator user is registered in advance, the execution of the paper size addition application 3 is permitted.

  The application information acquisition unit 32 acquires information about whether or not each application can support the added paper size. Based on the acquired information, the paper size management unit 23 is notified of which application to set the paper size to be added. However, the paper size to be added is not necessarily set for all applications that can handle the added paper size, and the paper size to be added for only some applications is selected by the user (administrator). It may be done.

  The paper size registration unit 33 acquires the paper size information 14 and stores it as paper size data 24. At that time, the information about which setting of the paper size to be added to which application acquired from the application information acquisition unit 32 is reflected in the paper size data 24, and the prohibition process and the processing based on the specific paper size are performed. The counter processing setting is determined and reflected in the paper size data 24.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU, and a user management unit 11, a paper size processing unit 13, an application management unit 22, a paper size management unit 23, a user authentication unit 31, an application information acquisition unit 32, and a paper size registration unit include It is implemented as a program that runs on the CPU.

  In the figure, input / output of data between the respective units is indicated by arrows.

  Hereinafter, processing when a new paper size is added to the paper size data 24 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating processing for adding a new paper size. In the figure, the ranges included in the extended service platform 2 and the paper size addition application 3 are indicated by broken lines.

  The process for adding a new paper size is performed in steps S1 to S4. As steps S0 and S5 before and after that, installation (S0) and uninstallation (S5) of the paper size addition application 3 may be performed. In other words, it may be avoided that the paper size addition application 3 is installed when the new paper size addition processing is not performed.

  The paper size addition application 3 first performs authentication by the user authentication unit 31 (S1). The user authentication unit 31 obtains information for identifying the user from the user authentication unit 11, and when the administrator user is not registered in advance, the user authentication unit 31 stops the execution of the paper size addition application 3.

  If the administrator user is registered in advance, the paper size addition application 3 next performs application identification by the application information acquisition unit 32 (S2). The application information acquisition unit 32 obtains information about whether or not each application is compatible with the added paper size from the application management unit 22, and determines whether or not the added paper size can be set by the application. Each time it is determined, an application capable of setting the added paper size is transmitted to the paper size registration unit 33. However, not all of the applications that can be set for the added paper size are transmitted, let the user select an application for adding paper size by displaying a list of applications, etc., and only the selected application May be transmitted to the paper size registration unit 33.

  Next, the paper size addition application 3 performs processing of the paper size registration unit 33. The paper size registration unit 33 first acquires the paper size information 14. The paper size information 14 is information such as a paper size (length in each direction) and a tray on which the paper is arranged. The paper size information 14 may be input by a user using a keyboard or the like, but may be in a file format. This is because, if the file format is used, it is possible to efficiently and reliably add a paper size to a plurality of image processing apparatuses of the same model with one file.

  Next, the paper size registration unit 33 registers (adds) the paper size information to the paper size data 24 based on the paper size information 14. At this time, as additional information other than the paper size, information on the corresponding application transmitted from the application information acquisition unit 32 and information on prohibition processing and counter processing are added. The prohibition process and the counter process can be processed based on the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. In the paper size data 24, additional information is held in addition to information such as the paper size (length and width) and the tray on which the paper is arranged.

  The paper size data 24 is data in the extended service platform. That is, browsing / update by a general user is not performed. This prevents use by malicious users.

  The process for adding a new paper size as described above can be performed only by an administrator user registered in advance. Unauthorized addition by malicious users is prevented.

  Next, a printing process using a registered sheet size will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating application execution processing based on a new paper size. Application execution can be executed by all users in the image forming apparatus 1. The application shall perform printing.

  Printing is started (T0), and image data matching the paper size is formed. Here, the paper size processing unit 13 performs processing related to the paper size.

  The paper size processing unit 13 confirms the prohibition (T1). For example, when double-sided printing is prohibited by the paper size data 24 and the user who executes the application has designated double-sided printing, the fact that double-sided printing is not possible is displayed and printing is interrupted. It is also possible to confirm the prohibition before forming the image data and make it impossible to specify that the application conflicts with the prohibition.

  The paper size processing unit 13 confirms the counter process (T2). For example, in order to charge a cost corresponding to the amount of toner used according to the area based on the paper size, the number of printed sheets for each user and each paper size is counted.

  The printing process using the registered paper size described above is executed only by the function of the image processing apparatus 1 and the function of the extended service platform 2 (not including the mechanism of the paper size addition application 3) as shown in FIG. Is possible. The paper size addition application 3 does not need to be installed during the printing process.

  In this case, the paper size addition application 3 that can be exploited by a malicious user by fraudulently collecting the administrator's password can be installed only when the paper size information is added. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, an operation method in which installation is performed immediately before addition of sheet size information and uninstallation is performed immediately after is possible.

  Note that the paper size addition application 3 can be set to start only from the installer (not allowed to start by program selection or the like) and to be automatically uninstalled after execution. According to this setting, the above operation can be performed reliably.

  As described above in detail, according to the image processing apparatus 1 and its operation method of the present embodiment, it is possible to set a new paper size without rewriting the firmware, and it is used by malicious users. Risk can be reduced. Specifically, a new paper size can be added by the extended service platform 2 and the paper size addition application 3 without rewriting the firmware.

  An image forming apparatus that can set a new paper size without rewriting firmware and has a low risk of being used by a malicious user, and an operation method thereof. It can be used in many companies.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 User management part 13 Paper size processing part 14 Paper size information 2 Extended service platform 22 Application management part 23 Paper size management part 24 Paper size data 3 Paper size addition application 31 User authentication part 32 Application information acquisition part 33 Paper Size registration part S0 Installation process S5 Uninstallation process

Claims (5)

Holds paper size data including paper size information and additional information about the paper size,
A paper size addition application for adding new paper size information to the paper size data can be installed;
The paper size data can be updated only through the paper size addition application,
The paper size addition application can be executed only by an administrator user registered in advance. The paper size data includes application information for distinguishing applications corresponding to the paper size,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper size addition application causes the administrator user to select an application and adds the application information.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional information includes a prohibition process.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper size addition application inputs the paper size information as a file. An operation method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Install the paper size addition application,
Add the new paper size information,
Immediately after that, uninstall the paper size addition application,
An operation method for an image forming apparatus.