JP2018073149A - Processing equipment and processing control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processing equipment by which a waiting time is further shortened compared with the case where only an initial operation screen is permitted to be operated by a user prior to authentication, and a processing control program that provides a function of further shortening the waiting time to the processing equipment.SOLUTION: The processing equipment includes a user operation unit that receives a user operation, an authentication processing unit that executes user authentication processing, and a processing execution unit that executes processing in response to a user operation received by the user operation unit, where prior to the determination of whether or not the user is the authorized user who has the authority to instruct execution of processing by the processing execution unit in the user authentication processing by the authentication processing unit, the user operation unit receives all the user operations necessary for execution of the processing including the processing thereof, and after the authentication processing unit determines that the user is the authorized user, the processing execution unit executes the processing according to the user operation received by the user operation unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing device and a processing control program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Processing apparatuses that are installed in offices, stores, and the like and are shared by people who use the place and perform various processes are known. Here, a multi-function machine will be described as an example of such a processing apparatus. A multi-function peripheral is a device that has a plurality of processing functions such as a function as a printer and a function as a copier, and executes a plurality of processes.

 Among these multifunction devices, there is one that has a user authentication function and is configured to use the multifunction device after confirming that the user is authorized to use. In that case, the user who wants to use the multifunction device first performs user authentication after coming to the multifunction device, confirms that the user is authorized to use the multifunction device, and then uses the multifunction device. Various operations and the like will be performed.

 Here, in recent years, users are aware of authentication such as inputting a password or holding an IC card over an IC card reader, such as photographing a user's face with a camera and performing user authentication based on the features of the face. Technology to perform user authentication without developing it has been developed. However, in the case of face authentication, for example, the user needs to wait for the face authentication process to end after coming to the multifunction device. One problem is how to reduce the waiting time of the user.

 This problem is not limited to a multi-function peripheral, and is a problem common to processing apparatuses that perform some kind of processing.

 Here, Patent Document 1 accepts a user operation for an operation initial screen while performing authentication processing by inputting a user ID and a password, waits for authentication success, and follows the user operation for the operation initial screen. Switching to the next operation screen is disclosed.

 However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, only the operation initial screen can be operated before the authentication is successful, and the operation is not completed only by the operation on the operation initial screen, and for the remaining various settings. It is necessary to wait for the authentication to succeed.

JP 2011-182038 A

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a processing device that further shortens the waiting time and a processing control that gives the processing device a function of further reducing the waiting time compared to the case where the user operation is permitted only on the initial operation screen before authentication. The purpose is to provide a program.

Claim 1
A processing device that requires user authentication before execution of at least some of the executable processes that can be executed, and executes a process according to a user operation,
A user operation unit that accepts user operations;
An authentication processing unit for executing user authentication processing;
A process execution unit that executes a process according to a user operation received by the user operation unit;
Prior to determining whether or not the user operation unit is a privileged user having the authority to instruct execution of the authentication required process in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the process including the authentication required process is executed. Accept all necessary user actions,
The process execution unit executes the authentication required process according to a user operation received by the user operation unit after the authentication process unit determines that the user is a authorized user. Is a processing device.

  2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the authentication processing unit includes an authentication method capable of executing the user authentication process without a user's original operation for the user authentication process. Device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the authentication processing unit starts a user authentication process in response to the start of a user operation in the user operation unit.

 According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the authentication processing unit starts a user authentication process in response to the start of a user operation related to the execution of the authentication required process in the user operation unit. It is a processing device.

Claim 5
A permission range defining unit that defines a permission range that is a processing range permitted for use for each of the above-mentioned authorized users;
If the user operation of the use non-permission process deviating from the permitted range of the authorized user is performed before the authentication processing unit determines that the user is the authorized user, the authorized user is determined after the determination. 5. An alternative process presentation unit that presents an alternative process within the permitted range of the user in place of the use non-permission process. It is a processing apparatus as described in an item.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit cannot confirm that the user is the authorized user, the user operation unit cancels the user operation of the authentication required process once received. The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a copy process in which the processing device reads an image on a document and prints out a copy image of the image on paper, and a print for receiving the image data and printing out an image based on the image data The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus is a multi-function device that executes a plurality of processes including a process.

Claim 8
A processing device that is executed in an information processing device that executes a program, requires user authentication before execution of at least some of the executable processing that can be executed, and executes processing according to a user operation.
A user operation unit that accepts user operations;
An authentication processing unit for executing user authentication processing;
A process execution unit that executes a process according to a user operation received by the user operation unit;
Prior to determining whether or not the user operation unit is a privileged user having the authority to instruct execution of the authentication required process in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the process including the authentication required process is executed. Accept all necessary user actions,
The processing execution unit is a processing device that executes the authentication required process according to a user operation received by the user operation unit after the authentication processing unit determines that the user is a authorized user. It is a processing control program characterized by operating.

  According to the processing apparatus of claim 1 and the processing control program of claim 8, even if the process requires authentication, all user operations necessary for the execution of the process are performed without waiting for the successful authentication. Can do. Therefore, the waiting time of the user is shortened compared to the case where the screen that can be operated without waiting for the authentication success is limited to the initial operation screen.

  According to the processing apparatus of the second aspect, the authentication process can be executed without making the user aware of the authentication process.

  According to the processing device of the third and fourth aspects, the processing load and power consumption are reduced as compared with the case where the user authentication process is always enabled.

  According to the processing apparatus of the fifth aspect, compared to the case where the alternative process is not presented, the resetting load of the user who has performed the user operation deviating from the permitted range is reduced.

  According to the processing apparatus of the sixth aspect, it is possible to avoid that the operation content performed by the user who has failed in authentication adversely affects the operation content performed by the next user.

  The present invention includes a copy process for reading an image on a document and printing out a copy image of the image on paper, and a print process for receiving image data and printing out an image based on the image data. The present invention can be suitably applied to a multifunction machine that executes a plurality of processes including the above.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a processing system as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the multi-function peripheral whose appearance is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 1. It is the figure which showed the first half part and the second half part of the flowchart of UI setting processing program, respectively. It is the figure which showed the first half part and the second half part of the flowchart of UI setting processing program, respectively. It is the figure which showed the initial screen of UI. It is the figure which illustrated the menu screen about "copy". It is the figure which showed the pop-up screen displayed by step S17 of FIG. It is the figure which showed the pop-up screen displayed by step S19 of FIG. It is the figure which showed the table where the permission range for every user was recorded. It is the figure which showed the pop-up screen displayed by step S25 of FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a multifunction machine start program. It is the figure which showed the flowchart of the user authentication processing program. It is the figure which showed the pop-up screen displayed by step S64 of FIG. It is the figure which showed the flowchart of the process execution program. It is the figure which showed the flowchart of the power-off program.

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

 FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.

 The processing system 100 includes a plurality of notebook personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as “notebook PCs”) 10 and one multifunction device 20. The notebook PC 10 and the multifunction device 20 can communicate with each other via a communication line 101 such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

 In each notebook PC 10, a print job instructing print output is generated and transmitted to the multifunction device 20. This print job also includes the user ID of the user who is using the transmission source notebook PC 10.

 Further, the multifunction machine 20 includes a scanner 20A, a printer 20B, and the like, and has a plurality of complex functions such as a scanner function, a printer function, and a copier function combining them. .

  In addition, the multifunction device 20 stores a user ID list of users who have authority to use the multifunction device 20. Further, here, feature amounts representing facial features obtained by image analysis of each user's face are also stored in association with each user ID.

 When receiving a print job from the notebook PC 10, the multifunction device 20 refers to a user ID included in the print job and determines whether or not the print job is transmitted by a user having authority to use the multifunction device 20. In the case of a print job transmitted by a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20, the print job is stored in the multifunction device 20. Then, when the user comes to the MFP 20 and performs user authentication and is a user who has the authority to use the MFP 20, it is based on the stored print job of the user according to the user operation. Print out. Alternatively, when the user who comes to the multifunction device 20 is a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20, regardless of whether or not the user has a print job, the copy process, that is, the scanner 20A is performed according to the user operation. The original is read and print output based on the image data obtained by the reading is executed. Further, in the multi-function device 20, processing for transmitting image data obtained by reading with the scanner 20 </ b> A to the user's notebook PC 10 is also performed.

 The multifunction machine 20 includes a face authentication camera 21, an IC card reader 22, and a touch panel UI (user interface) 23.

 The multi-function device 20 has processing that can be executed without authentication and processing that cannot be executed unless authentication is successful. Specifically, in the embodiment described here, a document is read using the scanner 20A, and image data obtained by the reading is transmitted by the notebook PC 10 (hereinafter, this process is referred to as “scan process”). Is referred to as a process that can be executed without authentication. This is because the notebook PC 10 connected to the multi-function device 20 via the communication line 101 is assigned only to a user who is authorized to use the multi-function device 20, and this scan process consumes paper. This is because there is no problem even if the user who came to the multifunction machine 20 is allowed to execute the scanning process without performing the authentication process.

 On the other hand, when performing printing output using this multifunction device 20 or copying a document, authentication processing is performed prior to the execution of those processing, and the authentication is successful (the user has authority to use the multifunction device 20). It is necessary for the multi-function peripheral to confirm that it is a certain user.

 Here, a process that is not executed unless the authentication is successful is referred to as “authentication required process”, and a user who is authorized to execute the authentication required process is referred to as “authorized user”.

 Here, the multifunction device 20 of the present embodiment includes a face authentication camera 21 and an IC card reader 22. The face authentication camera 21 captures the user's face for face authentication. Then, inside the multi-function device 20, the photographed face image is analyzed to calculate the feature amount of the user's face, and the multi-function device 20 requires authentication processing stored in the multi-function device 20. It is compared with the feature amount of the face of the voted user who has the use authority to determine whether or not the user who has taken this time is a voted user. This authentication process based on the photographed image of the face is an authentication process that is performed without an original user operation for the authentication process.

 However, the authentication process based on the photographed image of the face does not always succeed if the user is a rightful user, and the authentication may fail. Therefore, in this multifunction device 20, when the authentication by the photographed face image fails, the IC card held by the user is held over the IC card reader 23 toward the user by the display on the display screen of the UI 23. To ask. A user ID for identifying the user is stored in the IC card possessed by the user. When the user holds his or her IC card over the IC card reader 23 in response to the request, the IC card reader 23 receives the user ID from the IC card. Then, the multifunction device 20 compares the received user ID with the user ID of the authorized user stored in the multifunction device 20, and determines whether the user holding the IC card is a authorized user. judge.

 If the authentication based on the photographed image of the face is successful, or if the authentication based on the IC card is held up even if the authentication based on the photographed image of the face fails, the user will be required It is possible to execute “authentication processing” (using a print function or a copy function).

 FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the multifunction peripheral whose appearance is shown in FIG.

 Here, a scanner 20A, a printer 20B, a face authentication camera 21, an IC card reader 22, and a UI 23 shown in FIG. 1 are also shown. Furthermore, the main controller 24 is shown here. The main controller 24 has a function as an information processing apparatus that executes a program. Specifically, the main controller 24 includes a CPU 241, a ROM 242, a RAM 243, an HDD 244, and a communication I / F 245. And they are connected to each other via a bus 249 so as to communicate with each other.

 The CPU 241 is a central processing unit and is responsible for executing a program.

 The ROM 242 is a read only memory. The ROM 242 stores constants and the like that are referenced by programs executed by the CPU 241.

 The RAM 243 is a memory in which a program to be executed is read from the HDD 244 and stored when the CPU 241 executes the program. The RAM 243 is also used as a work area for storing variables and the like necessary for program execution.

 The HDD 244 is a hard disk drive with a built-in HD (hard disk). The HDD 244 stores various programs scheduled to be executed by the CPU 241 and various data necessary for the execution. The HDD 244 stores a print job transmitted from the notebook PC 10 or the like. The user ID for determining whether or not the multifunction device 20 is authorized to use is also stored here.

 Further, the communication I / F 245 is a communication interface responsible for communication with the notebook PC 10 via the communication line 101 also shown in FIG.

 FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG.

 3 shows a process execution unit 25, a display / operation unit 26, an authentication processing unit 27, a permission range defining unit 28, an alternative process presenting unit 29, and a control unit 210. Here, the control unit 210 is responsible for overall control of the multi-function device 20 and information transfer.

 The processing execution unit 25 includes a transmission / reception unit 251, a storage unit 252, a printing unit 253, and a reading unit 254, and is responsible for executing various processes in the multifunction device 20.

 The transmission / reception unit 251 receives a print job, which is a print output instruction, transmitted from the notebook PC 10 (see FIG. 1) via the communication line 101. This print job includes a user ID that identifies the user who transmitted the print job. The print job received by the transmission / reception unit 251 is sent to the storage unit 252 via the control unit 210 and stored in the storage unit 252. The transmission / reception unit 251 is also responsible for transmitting data obtained by reading by the reading unit 258 (scanner 20A) to the notebook PC 10. The transmission / reception unit 251 mainly has a communication I / F 245 shown in FIG.

 The storage unit 252 stores the print job received by the transmission / reception unit 251 until execution of print output based on the print job in the print unit 253 (printer 20B). The hardware of the storage unit 252 is mainly the HDD 244 shown in FIG.

 The print unit 253 is responsible for print output on paper. The print unit 253 has a role of the multifunction printer 20B in hardware.

 Further, the reading unit 254 plays a role of reading an image on a document and acquiring image data. The image data acquired by the reading unit 254 is transmitted to the notebook PC 10 via the transmission / reception unit 251, or sent to the printing unit 253, and an image based on the image data is printed out. The scanner 20A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 plays the role of the reading unit 254 in hardware.

 Further, the display / operation unit 26 plays a role of receiving notifications by various screen displays of various information to the user and various instructions from the user by user operations. The UI 23 is mainly responsible for the display / operation unit 26 in hardware. The display / operation unit 26 includes an example of a user operation unit according to the present invention.

 Further, as described above, the authentication processing unit 27 determines whether or not the user who has come to the multifunction device 20 is a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20 (except for scan processing). In the hardware of the storage processing unit 27, the authentication camera 21, the IC card reader 22, the CPU 241 that executes an authentication program, and the like shown in FIGS.

 Further, in the multi-function device 20 of the present embodiment, even if the user has the authority to use the multi-function device 20, use restrictions on the use contents are provided for each user. The permitted range defining unit 28 stores a table defining “permitted range” that is a processing range for which the use of the multifunction device 20 is permitted for each user. In the permission range defining unit 28, the HDD 244 plays a role in hardware. A specific example of the permitted range for each user will be described later.

 In the multi-function device 20 of the present embodiment, all setting operations related to the process that the user is trying to execute can be executed using the UI 23 before the authentication is successful. For this reason, after successful authentication, it may be found that the setting deviates from the permitted range of the user. If the user operation of “use non-permission processing” deviating from the user's permission range has been performed before the successful authentication, the alternative processing instruction unit 29 is directed to the UI 23 after the successful authentication. By displaying the screen on the screen, an “alternative process” within the permitted range of the user is presented in place of the “use not permitted process”. In the hardware replacement instruction unit 29, the UI 23 and the CPU 241 that executes a program for presenting “alternative processing” play a role in hardware.

 Hereinafter, the processing in the multifunction machine 20 will be described in detail.

 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the first half and the second half of the flowchart of the UI setting processing program, respectively. This UI setting processing program always monitors whether or not the user touches the initial screen of the UI 23 (step S01).

 FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an initial UI screen.

 In the multi-function device 20 according to the present embodiment, “copy”, “flint”, and “scan” processes are executed as large classification processes. Among these broadly classified processes, the “copy” and “print” processes are “authentication required processes” that are executed after it is determined by user authentication that the user is an authorized user. “Scan” is “authentication unnecessary processing” that does not require user authentication. In addition, on this initial screen, an “end” button is shown. This “end” button is a button that is pressed when the current user finishes the current use of the multifunction device 20 and leaves the multifunction device 20. The “end” button is a button that is always displayed, and thus may be a button provided as hardware separately from the UI display screen.

 Returning to FIG. 4 and FIG.

 If it is determined in step S01 in FIG. 4 that a finger has touched the UI 23 screen, first, from the position on the UI 23 of the finger touched this time, “authentication required processing” (“copy” or “print”) is selected. It is determined whether or not “authentication unnecessary processing” (“scan”) is performed (step S02). In the case of “authentication required processing”, it is reported that “authentication required processing” is required (step S03), and in the case of “authentication unnecessary processing”, it is reported that it is “authentication unnecessary processing” (step S04). .

 Next, a menu screen corresponding to the process designated by touching the finger on the initial screen is displayed (step S05).

 FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen for “copy”.

 Here, “monochrome” copy or “color” copy, the number of copies, single-sided original or double-sided original, single-sided printing or double-sided printing are designated.

 “Monochrome” and “Color” are alternatively selected by pressing one of the buttons. The preset value when this menu screen is displayed is “monochrome”.

 The “number of copies” is set by designating the number of copies using the numeric keypad on the right and pressing the “enter” key. The preset value of “number of copies” is “1”.

 “One side” and “both sides” of the document are alternatively selected by pressing one of the buttons. The preset value is “one side”.

 The “single side” and “double side” of the print can also be selected alternatively by pressing one of the buttons. The preset value is “one side”.

 When the “Start” button is pressed, the setting contents at that time on the menu screen become effective. In the example shown in FIG. 7, “monochrome”, the number of copies “1”, the original “single side”, and the print “single side” are set as in the preset values. However, even if the “start” button is pressed, the activated processing is not always executed. If user authentication has not been completed, the process is suspended until the user authentication is completed.

 Also, when the “Cancel” button is pressed, the settings made so far by the operation on this menu screen are canceled, and the initial screen shown in FIG. 6 is restored.

 Similarly to the “End” button shown in FIG. 6, the “End” button is a button that is pressed when the user finishes the current use of the multifunction device 20 and leaves the multifunction device 20.

 Returning to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 again, the description will be continued.

 After displaying a menu screen corresponding to the processing (for example, the menu screen shown in FIG. 7 in the case of “copy” processing) in step S05 of FIG. 4, user operations (“start”, “cancel”, And the presence / absence of the “Exit” button pressing operation) are monitored (step S06), and when there is a user operation, the setting contents by the user operation are stored (step S07), and according to the user operation The display on the menu screen is changed (step S08). Here, for example, when an operation for changing the number of copies to “10” is performed on the copy menu screen shown in FIG. 7, the column for the number of copies on the menu screen is changed to “10”. These processes in steps S06 to S08 are repeated every time there is a user operation.

 When the “cancel” button is pressed (step S09), the current setting contents are canceled, that is, the saved contents saved in step S07 are erased (step S10), and the initial screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. Return to (step S11).

 On the other hand, when the “start” button is pressed (step S12), it is determined whether or not the process instructed this time is a “scan” process (FIG. 5, step S13). If the current process is a “scan” process, it is reported that preparation for the execution of the process has been completed (step S14). The preparation completion is reported at this stage because the “scan” process is an “authentication unnecessary process” and can be executed regardless of the authentication by pressing the “start” button (step S12 in FIG. 4). That's why. Further, along with this process execution preparation completion report, the UI 23 is returned to the initial screen (see FIG. 6) (step S15), and the process returns to the monitoring of the next touch (FIG. 4, step S01) on the initial screen of the UI 23.

 On the other hand, when the process instructed this time is not “scan” but “copy” or “print”, it is next determined whether or not the user authentication process has ended (step S16). If the user authentication process has not been completed yet, a pop-up screen is displayed on the UI 23 (step S17).

 FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the pop-up screen displayed in step S17 of FIG.

 Here, “Authentication process in progress. Please wait.” Is displayed, and this display informs the user that the user is waiting for authentication.

 Returning to FIG.

 If it is determined in step S16 that the user authentication process (authentication success or authentication failure) has been completed, it is then determined whether the completed authentication process was an authentication success or an authentication failure (step S18). If the authentication fails, a pop-up screen is displayed on the UI 23 for a predetermined time (step S19). Thereafter, the screen of the UI 23 is returned to the initial screen (see FIG. 6) (step S20), and the process returns to monitoring the next touch (FIG. 4, step S01) on the initial screen of the UI 23.

 FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the pop-up screen displayed in step S19 of FIG.

 Here, “This processing cannot be accepted because the usage authority cannot be confirmed” is displayed, and this display informs the user that the user cannot use the processing.

 Returning to FIG.

 When the user authentication is successful (step S18), it is determined whether or not the current setting content (the setting content stored in FIG. 4, step S07) is processing content within the permitted range for the user (step S18). S21).

 FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a table in which the permitted range for each user is recorded.

 The multi-function device 20 stores a table in which the permissible range for each user is recorded.

 The user with the user ID = 001 shown here can execute either monochrome / color copying or monochrome / color printing using an unlimited number of sheets.

 A user with user ID = 002 can use either monochrome / color copy or monochrome / color print, but the number of sheets to be used is limited.

 Further, each user with user ID = 003 and user ID = 004 is permitted only for monochrome copy and monochrome print, and is not permitted to use color copy and color print. There is also a limit to the number of sheets used.

 Returning to FIG.

 In step S21, if the current setting is a setting within the permitted range of the current user, a report of completion of processing execution preparation is made (step S22), and the UI 23 is returned to the initial screen (step S23).

 On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that the current setting is out of the permitted range of the current user, a search for “alternative processing” is performed (step S24), and the “alternative processing” is displayed on the UI 23. A pop-up is displayed (step S25).

 FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the pop-up screen displayed in step S25 of FIG.

 Here, as an example, it is assumed that a user with a user ID = 003 shown in FIG. 10 has set 100 color copies by operating the UI 23. Further, it is assumed that the user has already used 50 sheets of paper today. However, it is assumed that there is still room for the user to limit the number of sheets used per month. As shown in FIG. 10, the user with the user ID = 003 is not allowed to make color copies. Furthermore, since 50 sheets have already been used today, the remaining number of usable sheets is 50 sheets.

 From the above, as a result of the alternative processing search in step S24 of FIG. 5, the “alternative processing” of changing from color copy to monochrome copy and changing the number of copies from 100 to 50 is derived.

In step S25 in FIG. 5, on the UI 23, as shown in FIG.
"The contents of the instruction are out of the permitted range. How about changing to the following processing? Black-and-white copy / 50 copies"
Is displayed.

 In addition, a “Yes” button and a “No” button are also displayed here. Pressing the “Yes” button means that the user has accepted this alternative process, and pressing the “No” button means that the user has rejected this alternative process.

 Returning to FIG.

 In step S26, it is determined whether or not the “Yes” button has been pressed on the pop-up screen (see FIG. 11) displayed on the UI 23 in step S25 (alternative processing OK).

 In the case of the substitution process OK, the contents of the substitution process shown on the pop-up screen are saved instead of the setting contents saved in step S07 in FIG. 4 (step S27), and the completion of the process execution preparation is reported (step S27). S28), the UI 23 is changed to the initial screen (step S29).

 On the other hand, when it is recognized in step S26 that the “No” button has been pressed, the setting contents stored in step S07 of FIG. 4 are deleted (step S30), and the initial screen of the UI 23 is displayed. That is, when the user refuses the substitute process, the user starts again from the initial screen (see FIG. 6) and makes a new setting. Alternatively, when the user gives up the current use of the multi-function device 20, the user presses an “end” button and leaves the multi-function device 20.

 FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the multifunction device start program.

 The MFP start program shown in FIG. 12 is started upon receiving a report of “authentication required process” or a report of “authentication unnecessary process” in step S03 or step S04 of FIG.

 Here, in the MFP 20 of the present embodiment, only the UI 23 and a part necessary for executing the program executed upon detecting that the UI 23 is touched are always turned on, and the rest For example, the face recognition camera 21, the scanner 20A, and the printer 20B are cut off during normal times.

 When the execution of the MFP start program shown in FIG. 12 is started, first, it is determined whether or not the portion of the MFP 20 that is cut off during normal times is powered on (step S51). ) When the power is off, power is turned on (step S52).

 Next, it is determined whether or not the process set this time is “authentication required process” (step S53). If it is “authentication required process”, it is determined whether or not user authentication has already been successful. (Step S54). If it is “authentication required” and authentication has not been successful, execution of user authentication is instructed (step S55).

 Here, the same user may instruct a plurality of processes such as “print” and “copy” in succession. Accordingly, when the execution of the MFP start program shown in FIG. 12 is started upon receiving the “authentication required process” report or the “authentication unnecessary process” report in step S03 or step S04 in FIG. It may be in an on state and may be in a state of successful authentication. In view of this, in the MFP startup program, it is determined whether or not the power is on (step S51) and whether or not the user authentication is successful (step S54).

 In the present embodiment, while the MFP 20 is starting up in an operable state by turning on the power in step S52, or before the user authentication is successfully started in the user authentication process started in response to the user authentication instruction in step S55. Even in the stage, the processing shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, that is, the operation of the UI 23 can be advanced.

 FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the user authentication processing program. The user authentication processing program is started upon receiving the “user authentication instruction” in step S55 of FIG.

 Here, face authentication processing is first executed (step S62). In this face authentication process, the face authentication camera 21 is activated to photograph the user's face, and the feature amount of the face is extracted. Then, the extracted facial feature amount is compared with the feature amount of the voted user's face stored in the MFP 20, and it is determined whether or not the photographed user is a voted user. The If this face authentication is successful, that is, if it is found that the current user is an authorized user, authentication success is reported (step S69). This authentication success report is used for the determination in steps S16 and S18 in FIG.

 When face authentication fails (step S62), the process basically proceeds to authentication processing using an IC card. However, here, first, it is determined whether or not the process set this time is “authentication required process” (step S63).

 For example, it is assumed that a user who intends to perform “scan” that is “authentication unnecessary processing” erroneously presses “copy” that is “authentication required processing” on the initial screen of the UI 23 (see FIG. 6). Even in that case, the screen of the UI 23 shifts to the copy menu screen shown in FIG. 7, and the face authentication process is started at this point (see step S03 in FIG. 4). However, since this user is scheduled to perform “scan” instead of “copy” this time, the “cancel” button is pressed on the copy menu screen shown in FIG. 7 to return to the initial screen in FIG. The “Scan” button will be pressed. In this case, although “scan” is “authentication unnecessary processing”, the face authentication processing has already started.

 Therefore, in step S63 of FIG. 13, it is determined whether or not the process set this time is “authentication required process”.

 If it is determined in step S63 that the current process is “authentication required process”, a pop-up screen is displayed on the UI 23 (step S64).

 FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the pop-up screen displayed in step S64 of FIG.

 On this pop-up screen, “Face authentication failed. Hold your IC card.” Is displayed. That is, here, face authentication has failed (FIG. 13, step S62), and the process to be executed this time is “authentication required process” (FIG. 13, step S63). Encourage the user to hold it over.

 Returning to FIG.

 Following the pop-up screen display in step S64, a timer is started (step S65). This timer is a timer for determining the acceptance deadline of the authentication process by the IC card. Until this timer expires (step S66), an authentication process using an IC card (step S67) is attempted (step S68). Here, the user ID of the user is stored in the IC card. In the authentication process using the IC card (step S67), the user ID stored in the IC card is read from the IC card held over the IC card reader 22, and the user ID is changed to that of the authorized user. Whether it is a user ID or not is confirmed.

 If the authentication is successful with the IC card (step S68), the authentication success is reported (step S69). On the other hand, if the timer activated in step S65 is timed up without succeeding in the authentication with the IC card (step S66), an authentication failure is reported (step S70). This authentication failure report is also used for the determination in steps S16 and S18 of FIG. 5 in the same manner as the authentication success report in step S69.

 FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the process execution program.

 In executing the process, when the previous process is being executed, generally, the processes arranged in the process execution queue are performed. However, this point is not a characteristic part of the present embodiment. Here, this queuing process is omitted.

 The process execution program shown in FIG. 15 is activated in response to a process execution preparation report in any of steps S15, S23, and S28 of FIG.

 When the execution of the process execution program shown in FIG. 15 is started, the setting content stored in step S07 in FIG. 4 is referred to, and processing according to the setting content (for example, “copy” processing) is executed. . However, when the setting content stored in step S07 in FIG. 4 is changed in step S27 in FIG. 5, processing according to the changed setting content is executed. When the process ends, the UI 23 is returned to the initial screen (step S73).

 FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of the power-off program.

 This power-off program starts from “Start 1” every time the UI 23 is touched, and starts from “Start 2” when the “End” button (see FIGS. 6 and 7) is pressed.

 When the user touches the UI 23, a timer is started first. The MFP 20 of the present embodiment is turned off when the operation on the UI 23 is not performed for a long time. This timer is a timer for measuring the “long time”. If the UI 23 is touched before the timer expires, the power-off program starts operation again, the timer is restarted, and the “long time” measurement is started from the beginning. When the timer activated in step S81 times out (step S82), the UI 23 is returned to the initial screen (see FIG. 6) (step S83), the saved setting contents are deleted (step S84), and the authentication success is canceled. (Step S85), the power of the multi-function device 20 is turned off (Step S86). However, the power-off here corresponds to the power-on in step S52 of FIG. 12, and is the power-off of the face recognition camera 21, the scanner 20A printer 20B, etc., and the UI 23 or its UI is touched. Then, power is continuously supplied to a part necessary for the execution of the program executed upon detecting this. The reason why the UI 23 is changed to the initial screen in step S83 is that the user may leave while operating the UI 23 halfway. Also, the setting contents saved in step S84 (see FIG. 4, step S07) are deleted in order to avoid confusion with the setting of the next user. The reason why the authentication success is canceled in step S85 is to prevent the next user from impersonating the previous user and using the multifunction device 20.

 As described above, according to the MFP 20 of the present embodiment, the user setting can be advanced to the end even before the authentication is successful, and the waiting time of the user is shortened.

 In addition, according to the MFP 20 of the present embodiment, “alternative processing” is presented when a setting that exceeds the permitted range is made, so that it is easy to re-set when a setting that exceeds the permitted range is made. Become.

 In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 20 is brought into a usable state by touching the UI 23, and the authentication process is started upon the start of the “authentication required process” setting. However, the authentication process may be started upon receiving a touch on the UI 23 without particularly distinguishing whether the process is “authentication required process” or “authentication unnecessary process”.

 Also, in recent years, a multifunction device that has a sensor or camera that detects that a person has approached the multifunction device and detects whether or not the multifunction device is being used before touching the multifunction device, Multifunction machines that acquire information on whether or not to use a multifunction machine in cooperation with a separate sensor or camera have been proposed. In such a multifunction device, in order to shorten the waiting time of the user, power-on to the multifunction device and user recognition are started at the time of detection or information acquisition. However, even in that case, user recognition does not always end immediately, and if the present invention is introduced to accept a user operation without waiting for successful user recognition, the waiting time of the user is further reduced. Can be realized.

 In the above embodiment, a face authentication system including the face authentication camera 21 is employed as means for performing user authentication without making the user aware of the authentication process. However, in the present invention, as a means for performing user authentication without making the user aware of the authentication process, an iris authentication system including a camera for photographing the user's pupil may be employed instead of face authentication, or fingerprint authentication. A fingerprint authentication system having a UI incorporating a function may be employed, and various authentication systems can be employed.

10 Notebook personal computer (notebook PC)
20 MFP 20A Scanner 20B Printer 21 Face Authentication Camera 22 IC Card Reader 23 Touch Panel UI (User Interface)
24 main controller 25 processing execution unit 26 display / operation unit 27 authentication processing unit 28 permission range defining unit 29 alternative processing presenting unit 100 processing system 101 communication line 210 control unit 241 CPU
242 ROM
243 RAM
244 HDD
245 Communication I / F
249 bus

Claims (8)

A processing device that requires user authentication before execution of at least some of the executable processes that can be executed, and executes a process according to a user operation,
A user operation unit that accepts user operations;
An authentication processing unit for executing user authentication processing;
A process execution unit that executes a process according to a user operation received by the user operation unit;
Prior to determining whether or not the user operation unit is a privileged user having the authority to instruct execution of the authentication required process in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the process including the authentication required process is executed. Accept all necessary user actions,
The process execution unit executes the authentication required process according to a user operation received by the user operation unit after the authentication process unit determines that the user is a authorized user. A processing device.   The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the authentication processing unit includes an authentication method capable of executing user authentication processing without a user's original operation for user authentication processing.   The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the authentication processing unit starts a user authentication process in response to a start of a user operation in the user operation unit.   The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the authentication processing unit starts a user authentication process in response to the start of a user operation related to the execution of the authentication required process in the user operation unit. A permission range defining unit that defines a permission range that is a processing range permitted for use for each of the above-mentioned authorized users;
If the user operation of the use non-permission process deviating from the permitted range of the authorized user is performed before the authentication processing unit determines that the user is the authorized user, the authorized user is determined after the determination. 5. An alternative process presentation unit that presents an alternative process within the permitted range of the user in place of the use non-permission process. The processing apparatus according to item.   The user operation unit cancels a user operation of the authentication-required processing once accepted when it is impossible to confirm that the user is a right user in the user authentication processing by the authentication processing unit. Item 6. The processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 5.  The processing apparatus includes a plurality of copy processes that read an image on a document and print out a copy image of the image on paper, and a print process that receives image data and prints out an image based on the image data The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus is a multi-function device that executes the process. A processing device that is executed in an information processing device that executes a program, requires user authentication before execution of at least some of the executable processing that can be executed, and executes processing according to a user operation.
A user operation unit that accepts user operations;
An authentication processing unit for executing user authentication processing;
A process execution unit that executes a process according to a user operation received by the user operation unit;
Prior to determining whether or not the user operation unit is a privileged user having the authority to instruct execution of the authentication required process in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the process including the authentication required process is executed. Accept all necessary user actions,
The processing execution unit is a processing device that executes the authentication required process according to a user operation received by the user operation unit after the authentication processing unit determines that the user is a authorized user. A processing control program that is operated.

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