JP2017132218A - Communication device, communication device control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such the problem that, if a user A who has logged out stands near a communication device when a user B pushes a logout button, the user A accidentally re-logs in the communication device before the user B hold IC card over a card reader, while the user B cannot log in the communication device.SOLUTION: When a logout button is pressed, the communication device temporarily prohibits a user who has logged out by the logout button from re-logging in.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication device control method, and a program.

  The copier provides users with various functions such as a print function, a copy function, a file transmission function, and a file storage function. When a user uses a function provided by a communication device such as a copying machine, the user needs to log in to the communication device. As a method for logging in to a communication device, it is known that the user logs in to the communication device by holding the user's own IC card over a card reader included in the communication device (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2015-139091A

  In the case of a log-in method using an IC card, the user needs to hold the IC card over a card reader included in the communication device. Therefore, in order to reduce this effort, it is considered that when the user approaches the communication device, the portable terminal possessed by the user transmits a login request to the communication device wirelessly. For the user, it is possible to log in to the communication device simply by approaching the communication device. However, when the user is logged in to the communication device simply by approaching the communication device, the following problem occurs.

  For example, it is assumed that the user A approaches the communication device and logs in to the communication device. Thereafter, when user B logs in to the communication device using the IC card, user B needs to log out user A from the communication device by pressing a logout button displayed on the communication device. However, if user A is near the communication device when user B presses the logout button, user A logs in to the communication device again before user B holds the IC card over the card reader. In other words, if user B is tried, user B himself cannot log in to the communication device. Alternatively, the user B misunderstands that the user B himself has logged in even though the user A is actually logged in.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent a user who has logged out from a communication device using a logout button from logging in to the communication device again because the user is near the communication device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication device provided by the present invention includes: a receiving unit that receives a login request from an external device; and the user indicated by the login request when the receiving unit receives the login request. Login means for logging in to the communication device, acceptance means for accepting a logout operation for logging out the user logged in to the communication device, and logging in to the communication device when the acceptance means accepts the logout operation Logout means for logging out the user, and control means for temporarily prohibiting the user from logging in again to the communication apparatus when the user logs out from the communication apparatus by the logout operation. .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, since the user who logged out from the communication apparatus with the logout button is near the communication apparatus, it can prevent logging in to the communication apparatus again.

2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mobile terminal 200. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed by the printing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process in which the portable terminal 200 transmits a login request. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which the mobile terminal 200 transmits a logout request. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the printing apparatus 100. It is a figure which shows a user management table.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention.

(Embodiment)
The login system according to the present embodiment includes the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 200. When the mobile terminal 200 detects that it has approached the printing apparatus 100, it transmits a login request to the printing apparatus 100. When the mobile terminal 200 detects that it has left the printing apparatus 100, it transmits a logout request to the printing apparatus 100.

  First, the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The printing apparatus 100 is an example of a communication apparatus having a user login function.

  The CPU 101 reads a control program stored in the ROM 102 and executes various processes for controlling the operation of the printing apparatus 100. The ROM 102 stores a control program. The RAM 103 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area for the CPU 101. The HDD 104 is a non-volatile storage medium that stores various data.

  In the case of the printing apparatus 100, it is assumed that one CPU 101 executes processing shown in a flowchart described later, but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs can cooperate to execute processing shown in a flowchart described later. Also, a part of the processing of the flowchart described later may be executed using a hardware circuit such as an ASIC.

  The wireless LAN I / F 105 executes wireless communication such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac. The network I / F 111 is connected to a wired LAN via a LAN cable. The network I / F 111 can communicate with an external device (for example, a PC) on a wired LAN.

  The Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 performs wireless communication by Bluetooth (registered trademark). The Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 periodically transmits an advertisement packet of Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (hereinafter referred to as BLE) to the surroundings. The advertisement packet includes the following data.

Device name Information indicating the name of the printing apparatus 100. For example, the model name.
IP address Information indicating the IP address of the printing apparatus 100.
Login status Information indicating the login status of the printing apparatus 100. For example, if the user is logged in to the printing apparatus 100, the value is “1”. If the user is not logged in to the printing apparatus 100, the value is “0”. The mobile terminal 200 determines whether or not the user has already logged into the printing apparatus 100 by confirming the login status.

  Note that the data included in the advertisement packet is not limited to the device name, IP address, and login status. Other data may be included in the advertisement packet, and a MAC address instead of the IP address may be included in the advertisement packet.

  The printer 107 executes print processing on a sheet based on print data received by the wireless LAN I / F 105 or the network I / F 111. The scanner 108 reads a document placed on the user and generates a document image. The document image generated by the scanner 108 is printed by the printer 107 (so-called copy processing) or accumulated in the HDD 104.

  The operation unit 109 includes a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function and a keyboard, and displays various operation screens. A user can input instructions and information to the printing apparatus 100 via the operation unit 109.

  The IC card reader 110 reads user information from the IC card. In the case of this embodiment, the user ID and password are stored in the IC card as user information. Based on the user information read from the IC card by the IC card reader 110, the printing apparatus 100 executes a login process.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 200 will be described with reference to FIG. Although the portable terminal 200 of this embodiment assumes a smart phone and a tablet PC, another device may be sufficient.

  The CPU 201 reads the control program stored in the flash memory 203 and executes various processes for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 200. The RAM 202 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or work area of the CPU 201. The flash memory 203 is a non-volatile storage medium that stores a control program for the portable terminal 200 and various data such as photographs and electronic documents.

  In the case of the portable terminal 200, one CPU 201 executes each process shown in the flowchart described below, but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs can cooperate to execute each process shown in a flowchart described later. Also, a part of the processing of the flowchart described later may be executed using a hardware circuit such as an ASIC.

  The operation panel 204 has a touch panel function that can detect a user's touch operation, and displays various screens. The user can input a desired operation instruction to the portable terminal 200 by inputting a touch operation on the operation panel 204. Note that the mobile terminal 200 includes a hardware key (not shown), and the user can input an operation instruction to the mobile terminal 200 using the hardware key.

  The speaker 205 and the microphone 206 are used when the user makes a call with another portable terminal or a fixed phone. The camera 207 captures an image according to a user's imaging instruction. A photograph taken by the camera 207 is stored in a predetermined area of the flash memory 203.

  The Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 executes wireless communication by Bluetooth. The Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 supports BLE like the printing apparatus 100 and receives BLE advertisement packets that the printing apparatus 100 periodically transmits. The wireless LAN I / F 209 executes wireless communication such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac.

  When the user wants to use a function (for example, a copy function) provided by the printing apparatus 100, the user needs to log in to the printing apparatus 100. A method in which the user logs in to the printing apparatus 100 will be described.

  When the user has not logged in to the printing apparatus 100, the operation unit 109 of the printing apparatus 100 displays the login screen 300 in FIG. The user can log in to the printing apparatus 100 by inputting his / her user ID and password in the input area 301 and the input area 302 and pressing the login button 303. Further, instead of inputting the user ID and password, the user can log in to the printing apparatus 100 by holding the IC card storing his / her user information over the IC card of the printing apparatus 100.

  The user can also log in to the printing apparatus 100 using BLE. In order to log in to the printing apparatus 100 using BLE, the user needs to have a portable terminal 200 that supports BLE. The mobile terminal 200 receives the BLE advertisement packet transmitted by the printing apparatus 100. Then, the mobile terminal 200 determines whether or not it is close to the printing apparatus 100 based on the received signal strength (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator) of the advertisement packet. In the case of this embodiment, if the received signal strength is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (for example, −65 dBm), the mobile terminal 200 determines that it is close to the printing apparatus 100. If it is determined that the mobile terminal 200 is close to the printing apparatus 100, the portable terminal 200 transmits a login request to the printing apparatus 100 via BLE, and the printing apparatus 100 that has received the login request executes login processing. For the user, convenience can be improved because the user can automatically log in to the printing apparatus 100 simply by approaching the printing apparatus 100 while holding the portable terminal 200.

  When the user logs in to the printing apparatus 100, the operation unit 109 of the printing apparatus 100 displays a menu screen 310 in FIG. The menu screen 310 is a screen for the user to use functions provided by the printing apparatus 100 such as a copy function and a SEND function. A logout button 311 is displayed on the menu screen 310. When the user finishes using the printing apparatus 100, the user preferably presses the logout button 311 to log himself / herself out of the printing apparatus 100.

  Incidentally, the user A who has logged into the printing apparatus 100 may end the use of the printing apparatus 100 without pressing the logout button 311. In this case, the user B who uses the printing apparatus 100 next presses the logout button 311 to log out the user A from the printing apparatus 100 and then logs himself / herself into the printing apparatus 100. However, if user B is in the vicinity of printing device 100 when user B presses logout button 311, before user B logs in to printing device 100, user A re-logs in to printing device 100 with BLE. Resulting in. In other words, if user B sees it, user B himself cannot log in to the printing apparatus. Alternatively, the user B misunderstands that the user B himself has logged in even though the user A is actually logged in.

  Therefore, the present embodiment is characterized in that when the user logs out by the logout button 311, the printing apparatus 100 prohibits the user from logging in for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). Thus, when the user B presses the logout button 311, even if the user A who logs out by the logout button 311 is near the printing apparatus 100, the user A logs in the printing apparatus 100 by BLE before the user B. The possibility that it will be reduced.

  Next, processes executed by the mobile terminal 200 and the printing apparatus 100 will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts.

  First, a process in which the portable terminal 200 transmits a login request to the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 4 is executed when the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 of the mobile terminal 200 receives the BLE advertisement packet transmitted by the printing apparatus 100. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is processed by the CPU 201 developing and executing a control program stored in a memory such as the flash memory 203 on the RAM 202. Note that the mobile terminal 200 may be configured such that at least a part of the steps of the flowchart of FIG. 4 is executed by the CPU 201 and the other steps (not shown) different from the CPU 201 are executed.

  When the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 of the mobile terminal 200 receives the advertisement packet, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the user has logged in the printing apparatus 100 in step S401. This determination is performed by confirming information indicating the login status included in the advertisement packet. If the login status is “1”, since the user has already logged in to the printing apparatus 100, the CPU 201 ends the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 without transmitting a login request to the printing apparatus 100. On the other hand, if the login status is “0”, the CPU 201 determines that the user has not logged in to the printing apparatus 100, and the process proceeds to step S402.

  In step S <b> 402, the CPU 201 determines whether the mobile terminal 200 is close to the printing apparatus 100. This determination is performed based on the received signal strength of the advertisement packet. If the received signal strength is less than a predetermined threshold (for example, −65 dBm), the CPU 201 determines that the mobile terminal 200 is far from the printing apparatus 100, and transmits the login request to the printing apparatus 100, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4. The process ends. On the other hand, if the received signal strength is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (for example, −65 dBm), the CPU 201 determines that the mobile terminal 200 is close to the printing apparatus 100, and the process proceeds to step S403. Note that the received signal strength of the advertisement packet may be measured by paying attention to one advertisement packet, or an average value of the received signal strength may be calculated using a plurality of advertisement packets.

  In step S <b> 403, the CPU 201 instructs the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 to transmit a login request to the printing apparatus 100. Then, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 transmits a login request to the printing apparatus 100. The login request is transmitted using BLE's GATT (Generic Attribute Profile). The login request includes user information (user ID and password) preset in the mobile terminal 200. The printing apparatus 100 that has received the login request causes the user corresponding to the user information included in the login request to log in to the printing apparatus 100. A user of the portable terminal 200 can automatically log in to the printing apparatus 100 simply by approaching the printing apparatus 100, so that convenience is improved.

  Next, processing in which the mobile terminal 200 transmits a logout request to the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed when the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 of the mobile terminal 200 receives the BLE advertisement packet transmitted by the printing apparatus 100. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is processed by the CPU 201 developing and executing a control program stored in a memory such as the flash memory 203 on the RAM 202. Note that the mobile terminal 200 may be configured such that at least a part of the steps of the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU 201 and the other steps (not shown) different from the CPU 201 are executed.

  When the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 of the mobile terminal 200 receives the advertisement packet, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 200 is far from the printing apparatus 100 in step S501. This determination is performed based on the received signal strength of the advertisement packet. If the received signal strength is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value (for example, −80 dBm), the CPU 201 determines that the mobile terminal 200 is close to the printing apparatus 100 and transmits the logout request to the printing apparatus 100 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The process ends. On the other hand, if the received signal strength is less than a predetermined threshold (for example, −80 dBm), the CPU 201 determines that the mobile terminal 200 is far from the printing apparatus 100, and the process proceeds to step S502.

  In step S <b> 502, the CPU 201 instructs the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 to transmit a logout request to the printing apparatus 100. Then, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 208 transmits a login request to the printing apparatus 100. The login request is transmitted using BLE GATT. Upon receiving the logout request, the printing apparatus 100 logs out the logged-in user to the printing apparatus 100. Even if the user of the portable terminal 200 forgets to press the logout button 311, the user can log out from the printing apparatus 100 only by leaving the printing apparatus 100, which improves convenience.

  Next, processing executed by the printing apparatus 100 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart in FIG. 6 is executed when the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 of the printing apparatus 100 receives a login request. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is processed by the CPU 101 developing and executing a control program stored in a memory such as the ROM 102 in the RAM 103. Note that the printing apparatus 100 may be configured such that at least a part of the steps in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed by the CPU 101 and the remaining steps are executed by another CPU (not shown) different from the CPU 101.

  When the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 receives the login request, in step S601, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the user indicated by the user information included in the login request is a user permitted to log in. To do. This determination is realized by checking the user management table of FIG.

  A user management table 700 in FIG. 7 is information for the printing apparatus 100 to manage user accounts, and is stored in a storage medium such as the HDD 104. The user management table 700 includes a user name, a user ID, a password, and a login prohibition flag. If the login prohibition flag of a certain user is “0”, the user is a user who is permitted to log in. On the other hand, if the login prohibition flag of a certain user is “1”, the user is a user whose login is prohibited. As will be described in detail later, a user who logs out from the printing apparatus 100 by pressing the logout button 311 temporarily changes the login prohibition flag to “1”.

  Returning to the description of step S601. When the user information included in the login request is registered in the user management table 700 and the login prohibition flag is “0”, the CPU 101 determines that the user is permitted to log in. Then, the process proceeds to step S602.

  On the other hand, if the user information included in the login request is registered in the user management table 700, but the login prohibition flag is “1”, the CPU 101 determines that the user is not permitted to log in. . Then, the CPU 101 ends the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 without executing the login process. Also, when the user information included in the login request is not registered in the user management table 700, the CPU 101 determines that the user is not permitted to log in.

  Next, step S602 will be described. In step S <b> 602, the CPU 101 executes login processing for logging in the user to the printing apparatus 100. Further, the CPU 101 instructs the operation unit 109 to change the display screen from the login screen 300 to the menu screen 310. Further, the CPU 101 instructs the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 to change the login status included in the advertisement packet to be transmitted from “0” to “1”.

  In step S603, the CPU 101 determines whether a logout operation has been accepted. In the present embodiment, when the logout button 311 is pressed, the CPU 101 determines that a logout operation has been accepted. When the logout button 311 is pressed, the CPU 101 determines that a logout operation has been accepted, and the process advances to step S604. On the other hand, when the logout button 311 is not pressed, the CPU 101 determines that the logout operation is not accepted, and the process proceeds to step S606.

  Next, step S604 will be described. In step S <b> 604, the CPU 101 executes logout processing for logging out a user who is logging in to the printing apparatus 100. Further, the CPU 101 instructs the operation unit 109 to change the display screen to the login screen 300. Further, the CPU 101 instructs the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 to change the login status included in the transmitted advertisement packet from “1” to “0”.

  In step S <b> 605, the CPU 101 temporarily prohibits re-login of the user who has logged out by the logout button 311. More specifically, the CPU 101 temporarily changes the login prohibition flag in the user management table 700 from “0” to “1” for the user who has logged out by the logout button 311. As a result, even if the user's mobile terminal logged out by the logout button 311 transmits a login request to the printing apparatus 100 again immediately after logging out, login based on the login request fails due to the determination processing in step S601. If the user presses the logout button 311, it is possible to reduce the possibility of a situation in which the user cannot log in to the printing apparatus. In the present embodiment, the CPU 101 returns the login prohibition flag from “1” to “0” after a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed.

  Next, step S606 will be described. In step S606, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 has received a logout request. If the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 receives a logout request, the process proceeds to step S607. On the other hand, if the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 has not received a logout request, the process returns to step S603.

  Next, step S607 will be described. In step S <b> 607, the CPU 101 executes logout processing for logging out a user who is logging in to the printing apparatus 100. Further, the CPU 101 instructs the operation unit 109 to change the display screen to the login screen 300. Further, the CPU 101 instructs the Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F 106 to change the login status included in the transmitted advertisement packet from “1” to “0”.

  When logout processing is executed by receiving a logout request, unlike when logout processing is executed using the logout button 311, processing for temporarily prohibiting re-login of the logged out user (step S <b> 605). Is not executed. This is because the logout process by the logout request is a logout process executed when the user leaves the printing apparatus 100, and it can be determined that another user who is going to log in next is not near the printing apparatus 100. is there.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the user's portable terminal logged out by the logout button 311 transmits a login request again to the printing apparatus 100 immediately after logout, the login by the login request fails. Become. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the user who has pressed the logout button 311 cannot log in to the printing apparatus.

(Other embodiments)
As a modification of the above-described embodiment, re-login of a user who has logged out on the mobile terminal 200 side instead of the printing apparatus 100 may be temporarily prohibited. For example, the printing apparatus 100 notifies the mobile terminal 200 of the user who has logged out by the logout button 311 that the user has logged out. The mobile terminal 200 that has received the notification may operate so as not to transmit a login request to the printing apparatus 100 for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). Further, the mobile terminal 200 that has received the notification may operate so as not to transmit a login request to the printing apparatus 100 until the mobile terminal 200 leaves the printing apparatus 100.

  Further, the present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus execute the program. It can also be realized by a process of reading and executing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

100 Printing apparatus 101 CPU
106 Bluetooth (registered trademark) I / F
109 Operation unit 110 IC card reader

Claims (9)

A communication device,
Receiving means for receiving a login request from an external device;
A log-in means for logging in a user indicated by the log-in request to the communication device when the receiving means receives the log-in request;
Accepting means for accepting a logout operation for logging out a user logged in to the communication device;
Logout means for logging out a user logged in to the communication device when the accepting means accepts the logout operation;
And a control unit that temporarily prohibits the user from logging in to the communication device again when the user logs out from the communication device by the logout operation. The receiving means receives a logout request from the external device;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the reception unit receives the logout request, the logout unit logs out a user who has logged in to the communication apparatus.   The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the user logs out by the logout request, the control unit does not perform control for temporarily prohibiting the user from logging in to the communication apparatus again. . Storage means for storing a management table for managing user information;
4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit temporarily manages a user who has logged out by the logout operation as a user whose login is prohibited in the management table. 5. . A display means for displaying a screen having a logout button;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the logout operation is pressing of the logout button.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is a printing apparatus that executes a printing process.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit receives the login request by wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark). A communication device control method comprising:
A receiving step for receiving a login request from an external device;
When receiving the login request in the receiving step, a login step for logging the user indicated by the login request into the communication device;
An accepting step of accepting a logout operation for logging out a user logged in to the communication device;
A logout step for logging out a user logged in to the communication device when the logout operation is accepted in the accepting step;
And a control step of temporarily prohibiting the user from logging in to the communication device again when the user logs out from the communication device by the logout operation.   A program for causing a computer to execute the method for controlling a communication apparatus according to claim 8.

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