JP2018064152A - Image forming system, communication terminal device, image forming apparatus, and server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience for a user while appropriately restricting execution of image forming processing.SOLUTION: A server 3 manages security information registered by a communication terminal device 1 in association with a common access code. In a case where the security information is included in a document on which image forming processing is performed by an image forming apparatus 2, when execution of the image forming processing is permitted by the server 3, the communication terminal device 1 acquires the common access code and presents the common access code to a user. When the security information is included in the read document, the image forming apparatus 2 executes image forming processing on the document only when a common access code input by the user matches the common access code received from the server 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, a communication terminal device, an image forming device, and a server, and more particularly to a technique for causing an image forming device connected to a network to perform a printing process.

  A technique has been proposed in which a communication terminal device such as a portable information terminal issues an instruction to an image forming apparatus on a network to execute print processing in the image forming apparatus. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, using a communication terminal device such as a personal computer, a print multifunction device (image forming device) connected to a network is remotely controlled to perform image forming processing (printing processing). Techniques for performing are known.

  Further, in the image forming system as described above, a technique has been proposed in which, when an image forming process is performed, a document that is not permitted is monitored and the image forming process is not performed for the unauthorized document. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2 below.)

US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0084575 US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0168766

  Nowadays, a desired document can be duplicated by each of image forming apparatuses scattered in a wide range. In addition, an issuer who issues a document may want to manage the security of the document issued by himself / herself. However, in such a situation where the document is duplicated in each image forming apparatus scattered over a wide range, It is difficult to ensure security. According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, the image forming process is executed by remotely operating a multi-function printer connected to a network, and the image forming process shown in Patent Document 2 permits the image forming process. Although it is possible to prohibit image forming processing of a document that is not performed, it is still difficult to ensure the security of document duplication by each of the image forming apparatuses scattered in a wide range. Further, when copying is restricted in this way, it is required to restrict copying without reducing user convenience.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to limit image formation for duplicating a document by each of a wide range of image forming apparatuses without impairing convenience for a user. .

An image forming system according to one aspect of the present invention is an image forming system including at least one communication terminal device, and an image forming device and a server connected to the at least one communication terminal device via a network. ,
The communication terminal device
An operation reception unit for receiving operation instructions from the user;
A communication unit for communicating with the server;
When the operation receiving unit receives an instruction to request registration of security information to be secured in the image forming process in the image forming apparatus, the security information is transmitted to the server via the communication unit. An instruction unit
The communication terminal device or the communication terminal device different from the communication terminal device is:
Issuing an access code for requesting the server to issue the access code via the communication unit in accordance with an instruction to request acquisition of an access code that permits execution of image forming processing in the image forming apparatus by the user A request section;
An access code acquisition unit for acquiring the access code from the server;
A control unit that causes the display unit to display the acquired access code when the access code acquisition unit acquires the access code;
The image forming apparatus includes:
An operation unit that is operated by a user and an instruction from the user is input;
A notification unit for notifying a user of a message prompting the user to input the access code;
A security information receiving unit for accessing the server and receiving and storing the security information from the server;
An access code receiving unit for accessing the server and receiving and storing the access code from the server;
An image forming unit that performs image forming processing on a recording medium;
An original reading unit that reads an original and generates print data used for image forming processing in the image forming unit;
A first determination unit configured to determine whether the security information received by the security information receiving unit is included in the print data generated by the document reading unit;
An access code input request unit for informing the user of the input of an access code by the notification unit when the first determination unit determines that the security information is included in the print data; ,
A second discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not the access code received by the access code receiving unit matches the access code input via the operation unit;
When the second determination unit determines that the received access code matches the input access code, the print generated by the document reading unit is sent to the image forming unit. A control unit that executes image forming processing using data,
The server
A receiving unit that receives the security information and a request for issuing the access code from the communication unit of the communication terminal device;
A creation unit that creates the access code for the security information when the reception unit receives the security information;
A storage unit for storing the security code received by the receiving unit and the access code for the security information created by the creation unit;
When the security information and the access code stored in the storage unit are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the request for issuing the access code is received by the receiving unit, the communication terminal device A transmission unit that transmits the access code to the access code acquisition unit.

Further, at least one communication terminal apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is a communication terminal apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus and a server via a network,
An operation reception unit for receiving operation instructions from the user;
A communication unit for communicating with the server;
When the operation accepting unit accepts an instruction to request registration of security information to be secured in the image forming process in the image forming apparatus, the communication unit causes the server to transmit the security information. An indicator,
When an instruction for requesting acquisition of an access code permitting execution of image forming processing in the image forming apparatus is received by the operation receiving unit by a user, the server is communicated to the server via the communication unit according to the instruction. An access code issuance request unit for requesting issuance of the access code;
An access code acquisition unit for acquiring the access code from the server;
A control unit that causes the display unit to display the acquired access code when the access code acquisition unit acquires the access code.

An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus connected to at least one communication terminal device and a server via a network,
An operation unit that is operated by a user and an instruction from the user is input;
A notification unit that notifies a user of a message that prompts the user to input an access code that permits execution of an image forming process in the image forming apparatus;
A security information receiving unit that accesses the server and receives security information as a security target in the image forming process in the image forming apparatus from the server;
An access code receiving unit for accessing the server and receiving and storing the access code from the server;
An image forming unit that performs image forming processing on a recording medium;
An original reading unit that reads an original and generates print data used for image forming processing in the image forming unit;
A first determination unit configured to determine whether the security information received by the security information receiving unit is included in the print data generated by the document reading unit;
When the first determination unit determines that the security information is included in the print data, an access code input that notifies the user of a message prompting the user to input an access code by the notification unit A request section;
A second discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not the access code received by the access code receiving unit matches the access code input via the operation unit;
When the second determination unit determines that the received access code matches the input access code, the print generated by the document reading unit is sent to the image forming unit. And a control unit that executes image forming processing using data.

A server according to another aspect of the present invention is a server connected to at least one communication terminal device and an image forming apparatus via a network,
Received from the communication terminal device is security information that is subject to security in the image forming process in the image forming apparatus, and a request for issuing an access code that permits the user to execute the image forming process in the image forming apparatus. A receiving unit to
A creation unit that creates the access code for the security information when the reception unit receives the security information;
A storage unit for storing the access code for the security information received by the reception unit and the security information created by the creation unit;
When the security information and the access code stored in the storage unit are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and when the access code issuance request is received by the receiving unit, On the other hand, a transmission unit that transmits the access code is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to limit image formation for copying a document by each of the image forming apparatuses scattered in a wide range without impairing convenience for the user.

1 is a diagram illustrating an entire image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the specific example of security information, respectively. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of a communication terminal device. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of a server. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the communication terminal device in the first embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing in a server in the first embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display screen of the access code displayed on the display part of a communication terminal device. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the input screen of the access code displayed on the alerting | reporting part of an image forming apparatus. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in a communication terminal device in a second embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in an image forming apparatus in a second embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in a server in a second embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the server which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in a server in a modification of the second embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system.

  Hereinafter, an image forming system, an information processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A to 2D are diagrams showing specific examples of security information.

  The image forming system 100 includes at least one communication terminal device 1, at least one image forming device 2, and a server 3. The communication terminal device 1, the image forming device 2, and the server 3 are connected to each other by a network using the Internet 4, for example. In the present embodiment, the image forming system 100 includes a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses 1 and image forming apparatuses 2.

  In the image forming system 100, the image forming apparatus 2 can select a copy security mode that restricts image forming processing (printing processing). That is, in the image forming system 100, when an administrator of the image forming system 100 selects the copy security mode in the image forming apparatus 2, the document having security information that is a security target (protection target) in the image forming apparatus 2. The image forming process for copying is limited. In the following description, a case where the copy security mode is selected will be described.

  The security information is information such as images and keywords. The security information is information registered in the server 3 by an administrator or user of the image forming system 100. For example, the security information is an image shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, a keyword shown in FIG.

  When the security information is registered in the server 3, the server 3 generates an access code for the registered security information. This access code is used in the image forming apparatus 2 to determine whether or not to execute an image forming process for copying the document on which the security information is formed.

  In the image forming system 100, each time security information is registered in the server 3, the registered security information and an access code for the registered security information are transmitted from the server 3 to the image forming apparatus 2. 2 is stored.

  For the communication terminal device 1, for example, a portable information terminal such as a tablet personal computer, a smartphone, or a mobile phone is used. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a configuration using three communication terminal devices 1 is shown. However, the number of communication terminal devices 1 is not limited to this, and at least one communication terminal device 1 is used. It only has to be done.

  The configuration of the communication terminal device 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of the communication terminal device.

  The communication terminal device 1 includes a control unit 10, an operation receiving unit 15, a display unit 16, a communication unit 17, and an HDD 18. These units can transmit / receive data or signals to / from each other via a CPU bus. The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU, or ASIC. The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 11, an instruction unit 12, an access code issue request unit 13, and an access code acquisition unit 14 when a print request program stored in the HDD 18 or the like is executed by the processor. To do. Note that the control unit 11, the instruction unit 12, the access code issuance request unit 13, and the access code acquisition unit 14 of the control unit 10 may each be configured by a hardware circuit regardless of the operation based on the print request program. The same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  The control unit 11 governs overall operation control of the communication terminal device 1.

  The instruction unit 12 requests the server 3 to transmit the security information via the communication unit 17 when the operation reception unit 15 receives an instruction to request registration of the security information from the user. For example, the instructing unit 12 receives the operation from the HDD 18 or a USB memory connected to the USB port of the communication terminal device 1 in accordance with the operation of the administrator or the user with respect to the operation accepting unit 15 as shown in FIGS. The exemplified security information is read out and transmitted to the server 3 via the communication unit 17.

  The access code issuance request unit 13 requests the server 3 to issue an access code via the communication unit 17 when the operation accepting unit 15 accepts an instruction to obtain the access code from the user. To do.

  The access code acquisition unit 14 accesses the server 3 to acquire an access code generated by the server 3 in response to the access code issue request transmitted from the access code issue request unit 13 to the server 3.

  The control unit 11 further causes the display unit 16 to display the acquired access code when the access code acquisition unit 14 acquires the access code.

  The operation reception unit 15 includes, for example, a touch panel, and a security information registration request, an access code acquisition request, and the like from an administrator or a user are input by the touch panel.

  The display unit 16 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays operation guidance, access codes, and the like for the administrator and the user.

  The communication unit 17 includes a communication module capable of network communication. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 17 will be described as transmitting and receiving various data between the image forming apparatus 2 and the server 3 via the Internet 4.

  Note that the security information registration process in the communication terminal apparatus 1 and the access code display process in the communication terminal apparatus 1 may be performed in different communication terminal apparatuses 1. That is, the communication terminal device 1 includes: (1) a communication terminal device 1 that executes both security information registration processing and access code display processing; (2) the control unit 11, the instruction unit 12, the operation reception unit 15, The communication terminal device 1 capable of executing at least security information registration processing using the communication terminal device 1 including the display unit 16, the communication unit 17, and the HDD 18, and (3) the control unit 11, the access code issue request Communication terminal capable of executing at least an access code display process using another communication terminal device 1 including a unit 13, an access code acquisition unit 14, an operation receiving unit 15, a display unit 16, a communication unit 17, and an HDD 18. Application of the device 1 is possible.

  Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 2 is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 2 includes a control unit 20. The control unit 20 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU, or ASIC. The control unit 21 governs overall operation control of the image forming apparatus 2.

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes a document reading unit 40, a document feeding unit 41, an image forming unit 42, an operation unit 45, an HDD 47, and a network interface unit 48.

  The operation unit 45 receives instructions such as an image forming operation execution instruction and a document reading operation execution instruction from an administrator or a user regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 2. The operation unit 45 includes a notification unit 451 that displays an input of an access code for an administrator or a user. As the notification unit 451, a display unit such as an LCD having a touch panel function is applied. In addition, a sound output unit such as a speaker may be provided as the notification unit 451 so that various notifications such as operation guidance and input of an access code may be performed using sound.

  When the image forming apparatus 2 performs a document reading operation, the document reading unit 40 optically reads a document image or the like fed by the document feeding unit 41 and generates image data.

  When the image forming apparatus 2 performs an image forming operation (that is, a printing operation), a control unit (to be described later) of the control unit 20 controls a sheet feeding unit (not shown) based on the image data generated by the document reading operation. The image forming unit 42 is caused to execute a printing process on a recording sheet as a recording medium fed from the image forming unit, thereby forming an image on the recording sheet.

  The document reading unit 40 includes a reading mechanism (not shown) having a light irradiation unit, a CCD sensor, and the like under the control of the control unit 20. The document reading unit 40 irradiates the document with the light irradiating unit and receives the reflected light with the CCD sensor, thereby reading an image from the document, and an image as print data used for image forming processing in the image forming unit 42. Data (image data in JPEG format, BMP format, etc.) is generated.

  The image forming unit 42 forms an image such as image data (print data) read by the document reading unit 40. Specifically, when the image forming unit 42 performs color printing, for example, the magenta image forming unit, the cyan image forming unit, the yellow image forming unit, and the black image forming unit of the image forming unit 42. Each forms a toner image on a photosensitive drum by charging, exposure, and development processes based on an image composed of the respective color components constituting the printing data, and the toner image is transferred to a primary transfer roller. To transfer onto an intermediate transfer belt (not shown).

  The toner images of the respective colors transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt with the transfer timing adjusted to form a color toner image. The secondary transfer roller is a recording in which the color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is conveyed through the conveyance path from the paper feeding unit at a nip portion between the intermediate transfer belt and the driving roller. Transfer to paper (not shown). Thereafter, the fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording paper to the recording paper by thermocompression bonding (not shown). The recording paper on which the color image has been formed after completion of the fixing process is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown).

  The HDD (hard disk drive) 47 is a large-capacity storage device that stores document images and the like read by the document reading unit 40.

  The network interface unit 48 includes a communication module having a network communication function, and transmits and receives various data to and from the communication terminal device 1 and the server 3 via the Internet or the like.

  The control unit 20 includes a control unit 21, a security information reception unit 22, an access code reception unit 23, a first determination unit 24, an access code input request unit 25, a second determination unit 26, a notification unit 27, and an identification information reception unit. 28 and a third determination unit 29.

  The control unit 20 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU, or ASIC. The control unit 20 includes a control unit 21, a security information receiving unit 22, an access code receiving unit 23, a first discriminating unit 24, when a print execution program stored in the HDD 47 or the like is executed by the processor. It functions as an access code input request unit 25, a second determination unit 26, a notification unit 27, an identification information reception unit 28, and a third determination unit 29. The control unit 21, the security information receiving unit 22, the access code receiving unit 23, the first determination unit 24, the access code input request unit 25, the second determination unit 26, the notification unit 27, the identification information reception unit 28, and The third determination unit 29 may be configured by a hardware circuit, regardless of the operation based on the print execution program. The same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  The control unit 21 controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 2 and is connected to the document reading unit 40, the document feeding unit 41, the image forming unit 42, the operation unit 45, the HDD 47, the network interface unit 48, and the like. Then, drive control of these parts is performed.

  The security information receiving unit 22 accesses the server 3 via the network interface unit 48 and receives security information from the server 3. The security information receiving unit 22 stores the received security information in the HDD 47 or a storage unit (not shown). For example, the receiving process in the security information receiving unit 22 is performed every time the security information registration process is executed for the server 3.

  The access code receiving unit 23 accesses the server 3 via the network interface unit 48 and receives an access code from the server 3. Then, the access code receiving unit 23 stores the received access code in the HDD 47 or a storage unit (not shown). For example, the receiving process in the access code receiving unit 23 is performed every time the receiving process in the security information receiving unit 22 is executed.

  The first determination unit 24 determines whether the security information received by the security information receiving unit 22 and stored in the HDD 47 or the like is included in the print data generated by the document reading operation by the document reading unit 40. To do. For example, the first determination unit 24 determines whether or not the security information is included in the print data by performing pattern matching based on the security information for the generated print data. When the character data as shown in FIG. 2D is security information, the first determination unit 24 converts the print data into character data by OCR processing, and the character data is converted into character data. Whether there is security information consisting of character data.

  The access code input request unit 25 notifies the administrator and the user of the access code input by the notification unit 451 when the first determination unit 24 determines that the security information is included in the print data. Let

  The second determination unit 26 determines whether or not the access code received by the access code receiving unit 23 and stored in the HDD 47 or the like matches the access code input via the operation unit 45.

  When the second determination unit 26 determines that the received access code matches the input access code, the control unit 21 generates the image forming unit 42 with the document reading unit 40. Then, an image forming process using the print data including the security information is executed. That is, when the second determination unit 26 determines that the two access codes do not match, the control unit 21 performs image forming processing using the print data including the security information on the image forming unit 42. I won't let you.

  The notification unit 27 prints the security information received by the security information receiving unit 22 to the server 3 when the access code input request unit 25 requests the input of the access code, etc. It is notified by transmitting the identifier of the security information, for example, that it is included in the data. That is, in the image forming apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment, when the document read by the document reading unit 40 includes security information registered and managed in the server 3, the notification unit 27 notifies the network interface unit. The image forming apparatus 2 notifies the server 3 via 48.

  Further, the notification unit 27 notifies the server 3 that the security information is included in the print data for each security information included in the print data generated by the document reading unit 40. Specifically, when notifying the server 3, the notification unit 27 notifies the server 3 including an identifier indicating security information included in the print data. The same identifier is used for security information indicating the same content. Accordingly, the server 3 is notified that the security information is included in the print data for each security information shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, for example.

  Further, when the notification unit 27 notifies the server 3 that the security information is included in the print data, the security information is also transmitted to the administrator's communication terminal device 1 via the server 3. Is included in the print data. That is, in the image forming system 100 of the present embodiment, the administrator is notified that the document read by the document reading unit 40 includes security information registered and managed in the server 3.

  The identification information reception unit 28 receives identification information (for example, an ID number) unique to a user (including an administrator here) input via the operation unit 45.

  In the third determination unit 29, the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit 28 is stored in advance in the HDD 47 or a storage unit (not shown) as regular identification information given to a user who is permitted to use the image forming apparatus 2. It is determined whether or not it is included in the identification information.

  When the third determination unit 29 determines that the received identification information is included in the preset identification information, the control unit 21 performs image formation processing in the image forming unit 42. Is executed. In other words, in the image forming apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, only an administrator or a user who can log in to the image forming apparatus 2 is allowed to execute the image forming process.

  Next, the configuration of the server 3 will be described. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the server.

  The server 3 includes a control unit 30, a reception unit 34, a storage unit 35, a transmission unit 36, and an HDD 37. These units can transmit / receive data or signals to / from each other via a CPU bus. The control unit 30 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU, or ASIC. The control unit 30 functions as a control unit 31, a creation unit 32, and a count unit 33 when a print management program stored in the HDD 37 or the like is executed by the processor. Note that the control unit 31, the creation unit 32, and the count unit 33 of the control unit 30 may each be configured by a hardware circuit without depending on the operation based on the print management program. The same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  The control unit 31 governs overall operation control of the communication terminal device 1.

  Further, when the access code issuance request is received by the receiving unit 34, for example, when the communication terminal device 1 that has transmitted the access code issuance request is logged in to the server 3, the control unit 31 32 is allowed to issue an access code. Then, the control unit 31 causes the communication terminal device 1 to transmit the access code issued by the creation unit 32 via the transmission unit 36. As a result, in the image forming system 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment, only an administrator or a user who can log in to the server 3 is allowed to execute the image forming process in the image forming apparatus 2. The control unit 31 is an example of a server-side control unit in the claims.

  The receiving unit 34 receives the security information and the access code issue request from the communication terminal device 1.

  The creation unit 32 creates an access code in association with the received security information when the reception unit 34 receives the security information.

  Alternatively, the creating unit 32 may create a common access code used in common for all security information stored in the storage unit 35. That is, in the server 3 of the present embodiment, the creation unit 32 creates a common access code (for example, “abcdefg”) for the security information illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2D, for example.

  The storage unit 35 stores the security information received by the reception unit 34 and the access code created by the creation unit 32. In addition, the receiving unit 34 receives a notification from the notification unit 27 of the communication terminal device 1 (a notification indicating that the security information received by the security information receiving unit 22 is included in the print data generated by the document reading unit 40). When received, the storage unit 35 stores that the notification from the notification unit 27 has been received. Thereby, in the image forming system 100 of this embodiment, the server 3 can manage that the document read by the document reading unit 40 includes security information registered and managed in the server 3. become.

  The count unit 33 counts the number of notifications from the notification unit 27 for each security information, for example, using a counter built in the control unit 30. For example, the count unit 33 counts the number of notifications from the notification unit 27 for each security information shown in FIGS. As a result, the server 3 of this embodiment manages the number of times the corresponding security information is included in the document read by the document reading unit 40 for each content of the security information.

  The transmission unit 36 transmits the security information and the access code stored in the storage unit 35 to the image forming apparatus 2. Further, the transmission unit 36 transmits the access code to the access code acquisition unit 14 of the communication terminal device 1 when the reception unit 34 receives the request for issuing the access code.

  Next, a first embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system 100 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the communication terminal device 1 in the first embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system 100. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the image forming apparatus 2 in the first embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system 100. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the server 3 in the first embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system 100.

  In the first embodiment, a common access code is transmitted from the server 3 to the communication terminal apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2, and whether or not image forming processing in the image forming apparatus 2 can be performed is determined based on the common access code. Processing is performed.

  In the communication terminal device 1, the instruction unit 12 determines whether or not an instruction for requesting registration of security information has been received by the operation receiving unit 15 from an administrator or a user (S1). If the instruction unit 12 determines that an instruction for requesting registration of the security information has not been received (NO in S1), the instruction unit 12 does not perform processing for causing the server 3 to transmit the security information.

  On the other hand, if the instruction unit 12 determines that an instruction to request registration of the security information has been received (YES in S1), the communication unit 17 causes the security information requested to be registered to be transmitted to the server 3. (S2).

  Furthermore, in the communication terminal device 1, the access code issuance request unit 13 determines whether an instruction for requesting the operation reception unit 15 to acquire the access code is received from the user (S3). The access code acquisition request instruction is given when a user or the like causes the original reading unit 40 to read an original in order to execute image forming processing in the image forming apparatus 2 and the image forming apparatus 2 requests the input of an access code. In addition, it is input by an operation of the operation receiving unit 15 by a user or the like.

  If the access code issuance request unit 13 determines that the instruction for obtaining the access code is accepted (YES in S3), the access code issuance request unit 13 sends the communication unit 17 to the server 3. Requesting the issuance of an access code through the server (S4).

  When the access code issuance request unit 13 determines that the instruction for obtaining the access code is not accepted (NO in S3), the access code issuance request unit 13 sends an access code request to the server 3. Processing for requesting issuance is not performed. The access code issuance request unit 13 waits for an instruction to obtain the access code to be received (S3).

  After S4, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the server 3 is permitted to issue an access code (S5). For example, if the access code is not received from the server 3 within a predetermined time from when the access code issuance is requested, the control unit 11 determines that the issuance of the access code is not permitted.

  When the control unit 11 determines that the access code issuance is not permitted from the server 3 (NO in S5), this indicates that the image forming process in the image forming apparatus 2 is not permitted, and thus the process is terminated. To do. In this case, the control unit 11 may notify the user or the like by displaying on the display unit 16 that the image forming process in the image forming apparatus 2 is not permitted.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that the access code issuance is permitted from the server 3 (YES in S5), that is, the access code acquisition unit 14 creates from the server 3 in common for all the security information. When the acquired access code is acquired, the control unit 11 causes the display unit 16 to display the acquired common access code (S6).

  As a result, the display unit 16 displays a common access code, for example, “abcdefg” as shown in FIG. Thereby, the user or the like can grasp the access code that needs to be input to the image forming apparatus 2 in order to execute the image forming process in the image forming apparatus 2.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, the security information receiving unit 22 always receives the latest security information registered in the server 3 from the server 3 (S11). That is, the security information receiving unit 22 receives new security information transmitted from the server 3 each time a new type of security information is registered in the server 3 by transmission from the communication terminal device 1.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, the access code receiving unit 23 receives a common access code from the server 3 as needed (S12). Thus, for example, in the server 3, when the common access code is changed by the creation unit 32 of the server 3 for security enhancement, for example, the access code receiving unit 23 receives the changed common access code. It is possible to receive.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, when the user or the like operates the image forming apparatus 2, the identification information receiving unit 28 receives the identification information of the user or the like input via the operation unit 45. Then, the third determination unit 29 determines whether or not the identification information received by the identification information reception unit 28 matches the preset identification information (S13). When the third determination unit 29 determines that the identification information does not match the previously set identification information (NO in S13), the processing after S13 is not performed, and the identification information receiving unit 28 Waits for input of identification information.

  On the other hand, when the third determination unit 29 determines that the identification information matches the preset identification information (YES in S13), the control unit 21 causes the user or the like to operate the operation unit 45. An input duplication execution instruction (here, an original reading and an image formation instruction of an original image obtained by the reading) is accepted. Here, it is assumed that a replication execution instruction is input by the user. Based on this duplication execution instruction, the control unit 21 causes the document reading unit 40 to read a document set on the document reading unit 40 by a user or the like and generate print data thereof.

  Subsequently, the first determination unit 24 determines whether or not the generated print data includes security information received and stored by the security information receiving unit 22 (S14). When the first determination unit 24 determines that security information is not included (NO in S14), the control unit 21 causes the image forming unit 42 to print the print data (S19).

  On the other hand, if the first determination unit 24 determines that security information is included (YES in S14), the access code input request unit 25 displays an access code input screen illustrated in FIG. 451 is displayed (S15), and the user is prompted to input an access code.

  Subsequently, the notification unit 27 notifies the server 3 that the security information received and stored by the security information receiving unit 22 is included in the print data generated by the document reading unit 40. (S16). In addition, the notification unit 27, as this notification, includes an identifier stored in association with the security information received and stored by the security information receiving unit 22 that matches the security information included in the print data. The server 3 is notified.

  Thereafter, the control unit 21 waits for an input of an access code to the operation unit 45 by a user or the like (NO in S17). That is, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the user or the like has performed an access code input operation on the operation unit 45 (S17).

  Here, when the control unit 21 determines that the user or the like has performed an access code input operation on the operation unit 45 (YES in S17), the second determination unit 26 determines that the input access code and It is determined whether or not the common access code received and stored by the access code receiving unit 23 matches (S18).

  If the second determination unit 26 determines that the two access codes do not match (NO in S18), the process ends. The control unit 21 does not cause the image forming unit 42 to print the print data.

  On the other hand, when the second determination unit 26 determines that the two access codes match (YES in S18), the control unit 21 causes the image forming unit 42 to print the print data (S19). As a result, a copy of the document read by the document reading unit 40 is generated and provided to the user or the like.

  In the server 3, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the receiving unit 34 has received security information from the communication terminal device 1 (S21). That is, the control unit 31 waits for the receiving unit 34 to receive security information from the communication terminal device 1.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 31 determines that the receiving unit 34 has received security information from the communication terminal device 1 (YES in S21), the creating unit 32 creates the common access code (S22). In the present embodiment, the creation unit 32 creates the same access code common to all security information when security information is first received. The creation unit 32 does not create another access code even when security information is received after the time when the common access code is created.

  The creation unit 32 may update the common access code to another new access code every time a predetermined time elapses.

  In the server 3, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the communication terminal device 1 is logged in to the server 3 (S23). The control unit 31 waits until the communication terminal device 1 logs in to the server 3 (NO in S23).

  On the other hand, when the control unit 31 determines that the communication terminal device 1 has logged into the server 3 (YES in S23), the control unit 31 further determines whether or not the access code issuance request is received by the reception unit 34 ( S24). If the control unit 31 determines that the access code issuance request has not been received by the receiving unit 34 (NO in S24), the process ends without performing the processes after S25.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 31 determines that the access code issuance request has been received by the reception unit 34 (YES in S24), the control unit 31 uses the transmission unit 36 to transmit the above-mentioned common code to the communication terminal device 1. The access code is transmitted (S25).

  In the server 3, the control unit 31 determines whether a notification indicating that the print data includes security information, that is, whether the identifier is sent from the image forming apparatus 2 (S26). ). The control unit 31 waits until the identifier is sent from the image forming apparatus 2 (NO in S26).

  On the other hand, when the control unit 31 determines that the identifier has been sent from the image forming apparatus 2 (YES in S26), the control unit 31 stores the received identifier in the storage unit 35 (S27). As a result, the server 3 can manage based on this identifier which security information includes the document that was about to be copied.

  Furthermore, the control unit 31 causes the count unit 33 to count the number of times of notification for each security information (for each identifier) (S28). Accordingly, the count unit 33 counts the number of times the security data is included in the print data for each content of the security information, and the server 3 determines the number of times the security information is included in the document such as the user for each content of the security information. It becomes possible to manage. That is, in the server 3, by counting the number stored for each identifier, the administrator or the like can grasp the situation that the document including which security information is frequently or rarely copied based on this record. .

  As described above, in the image forming system 100 according to the first embodiment, the server 3 manages the security information registered by the communication terminal device 1 in association with the common access code. In the communication terminal device 1, if security information is included in a document that is subjected to image formation processing by the image forming device 2, if the server 3 permits execution of the image formation processing, a common access code is acquired. And present it to the user. When security information is included in the read document, the image forming apparatus 2 can image the document only when the common access code input by the user or the like matches the common access code received from the server 3. Execute the forming process. For this reason, unlike the conventional example, it is possible to improve convenience for the user while appropriately restricting execution of the image forming process.

  In other words, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to limit image formation for copying a document by each of the image forming apparatuses scattered over a wide range without impairing convenience for the user.

  Further, in the image forming system 100 of the first embodiment, the server 3 uses a common access code that is used in common for all security information, so that the processing load on the server 3 can be reduced. become.

  Next, a second embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system 100 will be described. The description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted.

  In the image forming system 100 according to the second embodiment, in the server 3, the creation unit 32 creates an individual access code for each piece of security information received by the receiving unit 34 (that is, for each content of security information). In the communication terminal device 1, the access code acquisition unit 14 accesses the server 3 and acquires an individual access code stored in the storage unit 35.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, the access code receiving unit 23 accesses the server 3 and receives an individual access code corresponding to the identifier notified by the notification unit 27 from the storage unit 35. That is, the access code receiving unit 23 receives and stores individual access codes created for each security information from the server 3.

  When the first determination unit 24 determines that security information is included in the print data, the first determination unit 24 determines which security information is received and stored by the security information receiving unit 22. Is determined.

  Then, the second determination unit 26 receives the individual access code received by the access code receiving unit 23, the access code for the security information determined by the first determination unit 24, and the operation unit 45. It is determined whether or not the access code entered in the step matches.

  When the second determination unit 26 determines that the two access codes match, the control unit 21 causes the image forming unit 42 to execute an image forming process using the print data.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the communication terminal device 1 in the second embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system 100. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the image forming apparatus 2 in the second embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system 100. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the server 3 in the second embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system 100.

  In the second embodiment, when security information is received from the communication terminal device 1 by the receiving unit 34 in the server 3, the creating unit 32 creates an individual access code for each security information (S29). That is, the creating unit 32 creates separate access codes for different security information. If the security information received by the reception unit 34 is, for example, the security information shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, the creation unit 32 may use different access codes such as the security information shown in FIG. “Abcdefg” is created, “1234567” is created in the security information shown in FIG. 2B, “Ai Uoki” is created in the security information shown in FIG. 2C, and “xxxyzf” is created in the security information shown in FIG. .

  In the server 3, when the access code issuance request is received from the communication terminal apparatus 1 by the receiving unit 34 (YES in S24), the control unit 31 is based on the identifier received from the image forming apparatus 2 (S26). , S27), an access code for the security information indicated by the identifier is transmitted (S51). That is, the control unit 31 causes the transmission unit 36 to transmit different individual access codes for each security information.

  On the other hand, in the communication terminal device 1, when the access code acquisition unit 14 acquires the individual access code from the server 3 (YES in S 5), the control unit 11 displays the individual access code on the display unit 16. (S9).

  The image forming apparatus 2 receives an individual access code from the server 3 for each security information transmitted to the server 3 for the registration (S41).

  In the image forming apparatus 2, the first determination unit 24 determines whether the generated print data includes security information received and stored by the security information receiving unit 22 (S43). ), When it is determined that security information is included (YES in S43), the first determination unit 24 indicates that the security information is any security information received and stored by the security information receiving unit 22. Determine whether or not.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, when an access code input operation is performed (YES in S 17), the second determination unit 26 is the individual access code received by the access code receiving unit 23, It is determined whether or not the access code for the security information determined by the determination unit 24 matches the access code input via the operation unit 45 (S44). Then, the control unit 21 causes the image forming unit 42 to execute an image forming process only when the access code receiving unit 23 matches the individual access code received (S19).

  In the image forming system 100 of the second embodiment, in the server 3, the creation unit 32 creates an individual access code for each content of security information received by the reception unit 34, manages the security information for each content, and manages the image. If the access code corresponding to the security information determined from the print data in the forming apparatus 2 is not input to the image forming apparatus 2, the image formation of the print data is not performed, and therefore, more than in the case of the first embodiment. Security increases.

  Next, a modification of the second embodiment of the printing process by the image forming system 100 will be described. FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the server 3 according to a modification of the second embodiment. Note that a description of the same configurations as those in the first or second embodiment is omitted.

  The server 3 according to the modification of the second embodiment further includes a determination unit 38 in the control unit 30. The determination unit 38 performs a process of determining the user level set for the logged-in user of the communication terminal device 1.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the server 3 in a modification of the second embodiment of printing processing by the image forming system 100.

  In the third embodiment, when the server 3 receives security information from the communication terminal device 1 by the receiving unit 34 (YES in S54), and the creation unit 32 creates an individual access code for each security information (S55), The creation unit 32 sets a security level for each security information and stores the security level in association with the access code created for each security information.

  The security level is information used to limit users and administrators who provide access codes. For example, security level 1 (minimum level) indicates that all users who can log in to the server 3 are permitted to provide an access code with the security level. Security level 2 (medium level) permits the user who is registered in the server 3 to be charged in advance among the users who can log in, and to provide an access code with the security level. It shows that. Security level 3 (the highest level) indicates that only a predetermined administrator is permitted to provide an access code with the security level. The creation unit 32 sets one of the security levels for each piece of security information. The creation unit 32, for example, according to level information (for example, indicating any one of the security levels 1 to 3) sent from the communication terminal device 1 together with the security information indicating the security level set in the security information. Determine the security level to be set for the security information.

  In the server 3, the control unit 31 determines that the communication terminal device 1 has logged into the server 3 (YES in S60), and further determines that the access unit 34 has received an access code issue request. (YES in S61), the determination unit 38 determines the user level set for the logged-in user of the communication terminal device 1 (S62).

  The determination unit 38 stores a user level set for each identification information. For example, the user level 1 (minimum level) is a level given to all users who can log in to the server 3 and who are not registered in the server 3 as being charged. The user level 2 (medium level) is a level given to users who are registered in the server 3 as being charged in advance among the users who can log in. The user level 3 (the highest level) is a level given only to a predetermined administrator. The determination unit 38 stores one of the user levels for each piece of identification information with respect to the identification information of the user used for login by the communication terminal device 1, and according to the identification information of each logged-in user, Determine the user level for each user.

  Based on the identifier received from the image forming apparatus 2 (S26, S27), the control unit 31 detects the security level of the access code of the security information indicated by the identifier (S63), and is determined by the determination unit 38. It is determined whether or not the user level user is permitted to transmit the access code (S64).

  For example, if the security level of the access code of the security information indicated by the identifier is the security level 1, the control unit 31 can determine whether the user level determined by the determination unit 38 is any of the user levels 1 to 3. It is determined that transmission of the access code is permitted.

  In addition, if the security level of the access code of the security information indicated by the identifier is security level 2, the control unit 31 determines that the access code when the user level determined by the determination unit 38 is user level 2 or 3. It is determined that transmission of is permitted.

  In addition, if the security level of the access code of the security information indicated by the identifier is security level 3, the control unit 31 can detect the access code only when the user level determined by the determination unit 38 is user level 3. It is determined that transmission is permitted.

  When the control unit 31 determines that transmission of the access code of the security information indicated by the identifier is permitted for the user level determined by the determination unit 38 (YES in S64), the security indicated by the identifier An access code for information is transmitted from the transmission unit 36 to the communication terminal device 1 (S65).

  According to this embodiment, the security information that is permitted to be copied can be set according to the level set for the user. Therefore, it is possible to change the document that is permitted to be copied depending on the user. .

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a cloud using the Internet is described as an embodiment of the network according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to apply a communication network.

  Moreover, the structure and process shown by the said embodiment using FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 15 are only one Embodiment of this invention, and are not the meaning which limits this invention to the said structure and process. Moreover, the structure which combined each said embodiment suitably can also become one Embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication terminal device 11 Control part 12 Instruction part 13 Access code issue request part 14 Access code acquisition part 15 Operation reception part 16 Display part 2 Image forming apparatus 21 Control part 22 Security information reception part 23 Access code reception part 24 1st discrimination | determination Unit 25 access code input request unit 26 second determination unit 27 notification unit 28 identification information reception unit 29 third determination unit 40 document reading unit 42 image forming unit 45 operation unit 3 server 31 control unit (server side control unit)
32 creation unit 33 count unit 34 reception unit 35 storage unit 36 transmission unit 38 determination unit

Claims (11)

An image forming system comprising at least one communication terminal device, and an image forming device and a server connected to the at least one communication terminal device via a network,
The communication terminal device
An operation reception unit for receiving operation instructions from the user;
A communication unit for communicating with the server;
When the operation receiving unit receives an instruction to request registration of security information to be secured in the image forming process in the image forming apparatus, the security information is transmitted to the server via the communication unit. An instruction unit
The communication terminal device or the communication terminal device different from the communication terminal device is:
Issuing an access code for requesting the server to issue the access code via the communication unit in accordance with an instruction to request acquisition of an access code that permits execution of image forming processing in the image forming apparatus by the user A request section;
An access code acquisition unit for acquiring the access code from the server;
A control unit that causes the display unit to display the acquired access code when the access code acquisition unit acquires the access code;
The image forming apparatus includes:
An operation unit that is operated by a user and an instruction from the user is input;
A notification unit for notifying a user of a message prompting the user to input the access code;
A security information receiving unit for accessing the server and receiving and storing the security information from the server;
An access code receiving unit for accessing the server and receiving and storing the access code from the server;
An image forming unit that performs image forming processing on a recording medium;
An original reading unit that reads an original and generates print data used for image forming processing in the image forming unit;
A first determination unit configured to determine whether the security information received by the security information receiving unit is included in the print data generated by the document reading unit;
An access code input request unit for informing the user of the input of an access code by the notification unit when the first determination unit determines that the security information is included in the print data; ,
A second discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not the access code received by the access code receiving unit matches the access code input via the operation unit;
When the second determination unit determines that the received access code matches the input access code, the print generated by the document reading unit is sent to the image forming unit. A control unit that executes image forming processing using data,
The server
A receiving unit that receives the security information and a request for issuing the access code from the communication unit of the communication terminal device;
A creation unit that creates the access code for the security information when the reception unit receives the security information;
A storage unit for storing the security code received by the receiving unit and the access code for the security information created by the creation unit;
When the security information and the access code stored in the storage unit are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the request for issuing the access code is received by the receiving unit, the communication terminal device An image forming system comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the access code to the access code acquisition unit. The image forming apparatus includes the security information included in the print data generated by the document reading unit to the server when the access code input request unit requests input of an access code. A notification unit for notifying an identifier indicating the security information stored in the security information receiving unit,
In the server, the receiving unit receives the identifier from the notification unit of the image forming apparatus,
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the identifier received by the receiving unit.   When the server receives the access code issuance request at the receiving unit, the communication terminal device or the other communication terminal device that has transmitted the access code issuance request logs in to the server. Or a server-side control unit that causes the access code acquisition unit of the communication terminal device or the other communication terminal device to transmit the access code via the transmission unit. The image forming system according to claim 2. In the server, when the security information is received by the receiving unit, the creation unit creates a common access code used in common for all security information,
In the communication terminal device or the other communication terminal device, the access code acquisition unit accesses the server, and in advance from the storage unit of the server to all security information stored in the storage unit in advance. Get the common access code that has been created,
In the image forming apparatus,
The access code receiving unit accesses the server and receives the common access code from the storage unit of the server;
The second determination unit determines whether or not the common access code received by the access code receiving unit and the access code input via the operation unit match;
When the control unit determines in the second determination unit that the common access code received by the access code receiving unit matches the input access code, the image formation 4. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein an image forming process using the print data generated by the document reading unit is executed on the unit. 5. In the server, the creation unit creates an individual access code for each security information received by the reception unit,
In the communication terminal device or the another communication terminal device, the access code acquisition unit accesses the server via the communication unit, and each security information stored in the storage unit from the storage unit of the server. Each of the individual access codes,
In the image forming apparatus, the access code receiving unit accesses the server, receives and stores an individual access code for each security information from the storage unit of the server,
When determining that the security information is included in the print data, the first determination unit determines which security information is stored in the security information receiving unit. Discriminate,
The second determination unit is the individual access code received by the access code reception unit, the access code for the security information determined by the first determination unit, and the operation unit. To determine whether the access code entered
When the control unit determines in the second determination unit that the individual access code received by the access code receiving unit matches the input access code, the image forming unit 4. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein an image forming process using print data generated by the document reading unit is executed. The server
A determination unit that performs a process of determining a user level set for the logged-in communication terminal device;
The creation unit sets a security level for each security information, stores the security level in association with an access code created for each security information,
When the receiving unit receives the access code issuance request from the communication terminal device, the determination unit determines a user level of the communication terminal device,
The server-side control unit is permitted to transmit the access code to the communication terminal device based on the determined user level and a security level associated with the access code requested to be issued. 4. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein, when it is determined whether or not transmission of the access code is permitted, the communication terminal device transmits the access code from the transmission unit. 5. .   The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the server further includes a count unit that counts the number of notifications from the notification unit for each security information indicated by the identifier received from the image forming apparatus.   In the image forming apparatus, when the notification unit notifies the server that security information is included in the print data, the notification unit notifies the administrator's communication terminal device of the security information. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system notifies that it is included in the print data. A communication terminal device connected to an image forming apparatus and a server via a network,
An operation reception unit for receiving operation instructions from the user;
A communication unit for communicating with the server;
When the operation accepting unit accepts an instruction to request registration of security information to be secured in the image forming process in the image forming apparatus, the communication unit causes the server to transmit the security information. An indicator,
When an instruction for requesting acquisition of an access code permitting execution of image forming processing in the image forming apparatus is received by the operation receiving unit by a user, the server is communicated to the server via the communication unit according to the instruction. An access code issuance request unit for requesting issuance of the access code;
An access code acquisition unit for acquiring the access code from the server;
A communication terminal device comprising: a control unit that causes the display unit to display the acquired access code when the access code acquisition unit acquires the access code. An image forming apparatus connected to at least one communication terminal device and a server via a network,
An operation unit that is operated by a user and an instruction from the user is input;
A notification unit that notifies a user of a message that prompts the user to input an access code that permits execution of an image forming process in the image forming apparatus;
A security information receiving unit that accesses the server and receives security information as a security target in the image forming process in the image forming apparatus from the server;
An access code receiving unit for accessing the server and receiving and storing the access code from the server;
An image forming unit that performs image forming processing on a recording medium;
An original reading unit that reads an original and generates print data used for image forming processing in the image forming unit;
A first determination unit configured to determine whether the security information received by the security information receiving unit is included in the print data generated by the document reading unit;
When the first determination unit determines that the security information is included in the print data, an access code input that notifies the user of a message prompting the user to input an access code by the notification unit A request section;
A second discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not the access code received by the access code receiving unit matches the access code input via the operation unit;
When the second determination unit determines that the received access code matches the input access code, the print generated by the document reading unit is sent to the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that executes an image forming process using data. A server connected to at least one communication terminal device and an image forming apparatus via a network,
Received from the communication terminal device is security information that is subject to security in the image forming process in the image forming apparatus, and a request for issuing an access code that permits the user to execute the image forming process in the image forming apparatus. A receiving unit to
A creation unit that creates the access code for the security information when the reception unit receives the security information;
A storage unit for storing the access code for the security information received by the reception unit and the security information created by the creation unit;
When the security information and the access code stored in the storage unit are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and when the access code issuance request is received by the receiving unit, On the other hand, a server comprising a transmission unit for transmitting the access code.