JP2019176268A - Server, image processing apparatus, custom screen display method, and custom screen display program - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce a response time in each of a plurality of image processing apparatuses.SOLUTION: A server comprises: a custom data transmission part 257 that transmits custom data in regards to an operation screen associated to an operator to each operation apparatus in accordance with authentication of the operator who operates any one of the operation apparatuses of a plurality of image processing apparatuses; a comparison part 271 that determines a coincidence that indicates the probability that a person is one of a plurality of registered users on the basis of biological information; a temporary determination part 255 that determines a temporal registration user on the basis of the coincidence determined for each of the plurality of registration users when the biological information is detected in the operation apparatus; and a transmission part before authentication 261 that transmits a common part that is common in two or more of the plurality of temporary registration users from the plurality of custom data in regards to each of the plurality of temporary registration users determined at the same time in a stage before the operator is authenticated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a server, an image processing device, a custom screen display method, and a custom screen display program, and in particular, a server that manages an operation screen prepared in advance for each user, an image processing device that displays the operation screen, and a server. The present invention relates to a custom screen display method and a custom screen display program that are executed, and a custom screen display method and a custom screen display program that are executed by an image processing apparatus.

  In an image processing apparatus represented by an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that has multiple functions such as fax, copy, and scanner, settings are made for each user in order to make it easy for the user to execute the functions of the MFP. Has the ability to customize the screen. For this reason, the MFP prepares an operation screen for each of a plurality of users, and when the user is authenticated, displays the prepared operation screen for the authenticated user.

  In an environment where each of a plurality of users can operate a plurality of MFPs, when customizing the operation screen for each of a plurality of users, it is convenient to manage them centrally on a server. However, since a predetermined time is required from when the MFP specifies a user who operates the MFP to acquire an operation screen prepared for the user from the server, the user can acquire the operation screen. I have to wait for it.

  As a technique for shortening the time until the user can operate the MFP, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-93933 obtains first user information used for authentication processing for determining whether or not to authenticate a user. An acquisition unit, a first storage unit that stores second user information for identifying a user registered in advance, and the first user information when the acquisition unit acquires the first user information; An authentication unit that compares the second user information to execute the authentication process, an authentication state detection unit that detects an authentication state of the user, a first authentication state that indicates a state in which the user is not authenticated, and A second storage unit for storing correspondence information in which a permitted operation is associated with each of the second authentication states indicating a state in which the user is authenticated, and the authentication state detection unit. The issued in response to the user the correspondence information and the authentication state of a first display control unit that performs control to display an operation image illustrating an operation for permitting, an image processing apparatus having a listed.

However, the image processing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-93933 displays an operation screen indicating an operation permitted for the first authentication state indicating a state where the user is not authenticated until the user is authenticated. However, there is a problem in that an operation screen indicating an operation permitted for the second authentication state indicating a state where the user is authenticated cannot be displayed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-93933

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. One of the objects of the present invention is to centrally manage operation screens for a plurality of users and to respond to each of a plurality of image processing apparatuses. It is to provide a server with shortened.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of shortening the time from when the operator is authenticated until the operation screen is displayed.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a custom screen display method that centrally manages operation screens for a plurality of users and shortens the response time in each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a custom screen display method capable of shortening the time from when the operator is authenticated until the operation screen is displayed.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a custom screen display program that centrally manages operation screens for a plurality of users and shortens the response time in each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a custom screen display program capable of shortening the time from when the operator is authenticated until the operation screen is displayed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and according to one aspect of the present invention, the server authenticates an operator who operates one of a plurality of image processing apparatuses. And custom data transmission means for transmitting custom data related to the operation screen registered in advance to the operator to the operation device, and for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person The comparison means for determining the degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is a registered user, and, when a person is detected in the operation device, the provisional degree based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of the plurality of registered users. Temporary determination means for determining registered users and related to multiple temporarily registered users determined simultaneously at the stage before the operator operating the operating device is authenticated Comprising that more of the custom data, a pre-authentication transmitting means for transmitting a common part common to two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users operating device.

  According to this aspect, the degree of coincidence for each of the registered plurality of registered users is determined based on the biometric information of the person, and when a person is detected in the operating device, the degree of match is determined for each of the plurality of registered users. Temporary registration users are determined based on the degree of coincidence, and two or more of the plurality of temporary registration users among the plurality of custom data respectively associated with the plurality of temporary registration users determined at the same time before the operator is authenticated. The common part which is common in the above is transmitted to the operating device. Therefore, in the operating device, when the operator is authenticated, the common part is received from the server before the operator is authenticated, so the time for receiving the operator's custom data from the server is Shorter. As a result, it is possible to provide a server that manages the operation screens for a plurality of users in a unified manner and shortens the response time in each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses.

  Preferably, the provisional determination unit determines a plurality of provisionally registered users respectively corresponding to a plurality of persons detected simultaneously from the plurality of registered users.

  According to this aspect, since a plurality of temporarily registered users respectively corresponding to a plurality of persons detected simultaneously in the operating device are determined, custom data of registered users who may operate the operating device is transmitted to the operating device. be able to.

  Preferably, the provisional determination unit determines a plurality of provisionally registered users corresponding to one person among the plurality of registered users.

  According to this aspect, since a plurality of temporarily registered users are determined corresponding to one person detected in the operating device, custom data of registered users who may operate the operating device is transmitted to the operating device. Can do.

  Preferably, the comparison unit compares the person portion representing the person included in the image acquired by the operation device by imaging the person with feature data registered in advance in order to authenticate each of the plurality of registered users.

  According to this aspect, since the operation device compares the person portion included in the image acquired by imaging the person with the feature data registered to authenticate each of the plurality of registered users, the feature data used for authentication is The temporary registered user can be determined.

  Preferably, the comparison unit compares the voice of the person included in the sound collected by the operating device with feature data registered in advance in order to authenticate each of the plurality of registered users.

  According to this aspect, since the voice included in the sound collected by the controller device is compared with the feature data registered to authenticate each of the plurality of registered users, temporary registration is performed using the feature data used for authentication. Users can be determined.

  Preferably, the comparison unit compares the person portion representing the person included in the image acquired by the operation device by imaging the person with the first feature data registered in advance to authenticate each of the plurality of registered users. By comparing the first matching degree determined by performing and the voice of the person included in the sound collected by the operating device with the second feature data registered in advance to authenticate each of the plurality of registered users The degree of coincidence is determined based on the determined second degree of coincidence.

  According to this aspect, since the temporarily registered user is determined using the first feature data and the second feature data, the accuracy of determining the temporarily registered user can be improved.

  Preferably, the pre-authentication transmission unit further transmits a portion of the custom data related to the temporary registration user according to the degree of matching determined for the temporary registration user.

  According to this aspect, when the operator is authenticated in the operation device, the operation screen can be displayed based on the portion corresponding to the degree of coincidence of the custom data related to the temporarily registered user. Therefore, in each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, it is possible to shorten the time from when the operator is authenticated until the operation screen is displayed.

  Preferably, the pre-authentication transmission means, when a plurality of temporary registration users are determined by the temporary determination means, is a temporary registration user with a loud voice of a person included in the sound collected by the operating device among the plurality of temporary registration users Send some of the custom data related to the Priority.

  According to this aspect, when a plurality of temporarily registered users are determined, a part of the custom data related to the temporarily registered user whose sound included in the sound collected by the controller device is preferentially transmitted. A temporary registered user with a louder voice is more likely to be near the operating device, so that the response time can be shortened by giving priority to custom data of a user whose time until using the operating device is short.

  Preferably, when a plurality of temporarily registered users are determined by the temporary determining unit, the pre-authentication transmitting unit transmits a part of the custom data related to the temporarily registered user having a high degree of coincidence among the plurality of temporarily registered users. Send some of the custom data related to the tentatively registered user earlier.

  According to this aspect, when multiple temporarily registered users are determined, a part of the custom data related to the temporarily registered users having a high degree of coincidence is selected, and a part of the custom data related to other temporarily registered users is selected. Send first. Since temporary data is preferentially transmitted to a temporarily registered user having a high probability of being a registered user, the response time of a temporarily registered user having a high probability of registered user can be shortened.

  Preferably, the comparison unit determines the degree of coincidence corresponding to the person at a predetermined time interval from when the biological information is detected by the operation device to when the operator is authenticated.

  According to this aspect, since the matching degree corresponding to the person is determined at predetermined time intervals, the amount of custom data transmitted can be increased as the matching degree increases. Therefore, the amount of transmission of custom data can be increased as the temporarily registered user approaches the operating device.

  Preferably, the pre-authentication transmission means transmits the number of operation screens corresponding to the degree of coincidence determined to the temporarily registered user from among a plurality of operation screens determined by custom data.

  According to this aspect, custom data can be transmitted in units of operation screens.

  Preferably, the pre-authentication transmission unit sequentially transmits a plurality of operation screens defined by the custom data until the data amount corresponding to the degree of coincidence determined for the temporarily registered user is reached.

  According to this aspect, an operation screen having a data amount corresponding to the degree of coincidence can be transmitted.

  Preferably, the pre-authentication transmission means preferentially transmits an operation screen having a higher hierarchy when a plurality of operation screens defined by custom data are associated with each other in a hierarchical structure.

  According to this aspect, since there is a high probability that the operation screen with the higher hierarchy is displayed before the operation screen with the lower hierarchy, the response time can be shortened.

  Preferably, the pre-authentication transmission means preferentially transmits an operation screen having a higher priority predetermined for the plurality of operation screens with respect to the plurality of operation screens belonging to the same hierarchy by the custom data.

  According to this aspect, if the priority is set higher as the possibility of being used is higher, the probability that an operation screen having a high possibility of being used will be displayed increases, so that the response time can be shortened.

  Preferably, the pre-authentication transmission unit transmits a predetermined type of file in preference to other types of files among a plurality of types of files constituting each of the plurality of operation screens.

  According to this aspect, since a part of the operation screen can be displayed with only a predetermined type of file, the response time until at least a part of the operation screen is displayed can be shortened.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus controls display of displaying an operation screen based on custom data stored in the server in association with the operator in response to the authentication of the operator. A detection means for detecting a person, a comparison means for determining a degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person, and a person detection A provisional determination means for determining a provisional registration user based on the degree of matching determined for each of a plurality of registered users, and a plurality of provisional registrations determined simultaneously at the stage before the operator is authenticated Pre-authentication acquisition means for acquiring a common part common to two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users among the plurality of custom data respectively associated with the user.

  According to this aspect, the degree of coincidence for each of the plurality of registered users is determined based on the biometric information of the person. When a person is detected, the provisional degree is determined based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of the plurality of registered users. A registered user is determined, and at a stage before the operator is authenticated, a common part common to two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users is acquired from the plurality of custom data respectively associated with the plurality of temporarily registered users. For this reason, when the operator is authenticated, since the common part is received from the server before the operator is authenticated, the time for receiving the operator's custom data from the server is shortened. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that can shorten the time from when the operator is authenticated until the operation screen is displayed.

  Preferably, the pre-authentication acquisition unit further acquires a portion corresponding to the degree of coincidence among the custom data stored in the server in association with the temporarily registered user.

  According to this aspect, when the operator is authenticated, the operation screen can be displayed based on the portion corresponding to the degree of matching of the custom data related to the temporarily registered user. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time from when the operator is authenticated until the operation screen is displayed.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes a deletion unit that deletes the acquired custom data in order from the corresponding custom data having a low matching degree.

  According to this aspect, since the custom data having a low matching degree is deleted in order, the capacity for storing the custom data can be prevented from increasing.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, a custom screen display method is pre-registered in association with an operator in response to authentication of an operator who operates one of a plurality of image processing apparatuses. A custom data transmission step of transmitting custom data relating to the operation screen to the operation device, and a certainty that the person is a registered user for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person. A comparison step for determining the degree of coincidence, a provisional determination step for determining a temporary registration user based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of a plurality of registered users when a person is detected in the operation device, and an operation device Before the operator who operates the system is authenticated, custom data related to the temporary registration user is determined for the temporary registration user. A plurality of pre-authentication transmission steps for transmitting a portion corresponding to the degree of coincidence to the controller device, and a plurality of temporary registration users determined simultaneously at a stage before the operator operating the controller device is authenticated. The server performs a pre-authentication transmission step of transmitting a common part common to two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users among the custom data to the operation device.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a custom screen display method in which operation screens for a plurality of users are centrally managed and response time in each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses is shortened.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, a custom screen display method displays an operation screen based on custom data stored in a server related to an operator in response to the authentication of the operator. Based on the display control step, the detection step for detecting a person, and the biometric information of the person, the degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is a registered user is determined for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance. A comparison step, and when a person is detected, a temporary determination step for determining a temporary registration user based on a degree of matching determined for each of a plurality of registered users, and a stage before the operator is authenticated, Acquire a common part common to two or more of a plurality of temporarily registered users among a plurality of custom data respectively associated with a plurality of temporarily registered users determined simultaneously. Executing and testimony before acquiring step, to the image processing apparatus.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a custom screen display method capable of shortening the time until the operation screen is displayed after the operator is authenticated.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, the custom screen display program is registered in advance in association with an operator in response to the authentication of the operator who operates one of the plurality of image processing devices. A custom data transmission step of transmitting custom data relating to the operation screen to the operation device, and a certainty that the person is a registered user for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person. A comparison step for determining the degree of coincidence, a provisional determination step for determining a temporary registration user based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of a plurality of registered users when a person is detected in the operation device, and an operation device Before the operator who operates the system is authenticated, a plurality of custom data respectively associated with a plurality of temporarily registered users determined simultaneously. Among data to execute an authentication before sending step of sending a common part common to two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users operating device, to a computer for controlling the server.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a custom screen display program that centrally manages operation screens for a plurality of users and shortens the response time in each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, the custom screen display program displays the operation screen based on custom data stored in the server in association with the operator in response to the authentication of the operator. Based on the display control step, the detection step for detecting a person, and the biometric information of the person, the degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is a registered user is determined for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance. A comparison step, a temporary determination step for determining a temporary registration user based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of a plurality of registered users when biometric information of a person is detected, and a step before the operator is authenticated Among a plurality of custom data related to a plurality of temporarily registered users determined simultaneously at a stage, a common data shared by two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users. Executing an authentication before acquiring a portion of the computer for controlling the image processing apparatus.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a custom screen display program that can shorten the time from when the operator is authenticated until the operation screen is displayed.

It is a figure showing an example of the whole outline of an information processing system in one of the embodiments of the invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the server in one of this Embodiment. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an MFP in one embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a hardware configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a schematic diagram explaining the detection of a person by the MFP in the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the function which CPU with which MFP in this Embodiment has is provided. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function which CPU with which the server in this Embodiment has is provided. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a custom screen display process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a custom data transmission process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a temporary determination process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a custom data partial transmission process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an authentication process. It is a figure which shows an example of the function which CPU with which MFP in the 1st modification is provided has. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function which CPU with which the server in a 1st modification is provided has. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the custom screen display process in a 1st modification. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the custom data transmission process in a 1st modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall outline of an information processing system in one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an information processing system 1 includes a server 200, a gateway (G / W) device 300 that functions as a relay device, and MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) 100, 100A, and 100B that function as image processing devices. ,including. Each of the server 200 and the gateway device 300 is connected to the Internet 5 and can communicate with each other via the Internet 5. The gateway device 300 is further connected to a local area network (LAN) 3, and MFPs 100, 100 A, and 100 B are connected to the LAN 3. Gateway device 300 can communicate with MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B connected to LAN 3. Therefore, MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A, and 100 </ b> B can communicate with server 200 via GW apparatus 300.

  In information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B each have a function of registering an operation screen for each of a plurality of users registered in advance. Therefore, users who are permitted to use the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B are registered in the server 200 as registered users. In addition, the server 200 preregisters feature data for face authentication for each of a plurality of registered users. Here, the feature data is an authentication image obtained by imaging a registered user. Furthermore, the server 200 stores custom data for specifying an operation screen corresponding to each of a plurality of registered users.

  Each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B requests server 200 to authenticate a user who operates the MFP 100, and authenticates as an operating user when server 200 confirms that the user is one of a plurality of registered users. Each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B downloads custom data corresponding to the operating user from server 200, and displays an operation screen based on the custom data. For this reason, the user can conveniently use the same operation screen regardless of which of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B is used. Further, if the user customizes the operation screen on any of MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A, and 100 </ b> B, the customized data after customization is registered in server 200. For this reason, the user only needs to customize the operation screen in any one of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. Therefore, the user does not have to customize the operation screen in each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, and the operation is simple. .

  In the present embodiment, the custom data is stored in the server 200. However, the custom data may be stored in a computer connected to the LAN 3. Further, custom data may be stored in any of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. In this case, an apparatus that stores custom data among MFPs 100, 100 A, and 100 B has the same function as server 200. Since the hardware configurations and functions of the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B are the same, the MFP 100 will be described as an example unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a server according to one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, server 200 is used as a CPU 201 for controlling the entire server 200, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 for storing a program to be executed by CPU 201, and a work area for CPU 201. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, a hard disk drive (HDD) 204 that stores data in a nonvolatile manner, a communication unit 205 that connects the CPU 201 to the Internet 5, a display unit 206 that displays information, and input of user operations And an external storage device 208.

  A CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) 209 is attached to the external storage device 208. The CPU 201 can access the CD-ROM 209 via the external storage device 208. The CPU 201 loads the program recorded on the CD-ROM 209 mounted on the external storage device 208 to the RAM 203 and executes it. The medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 201 is not limited to the CD-ROM 209, and is a flexible disk, a cassette tape, an optical disk (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), It may be a medium such as a semiconductor memory such as an IC card, an optical card, a mask ROM, and an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM).

  Further, the program executed by the CPU 201 is not limited to the program recorded on the CD-ROM 209, and the program stored in the HDD 204 may be loaded into the RAM 203 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the Internet 5 may rewrite the program stored in the HDD 204 of the server 200 or may add a new program and write it. Further, the server 200 may download a program from another computer connected to the Internet 5 and store the program in the HDD 204. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 201 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the MFP according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of the hardware configuration of the MFP. 3 and 4, MFP 100 includes main circuit 110, camera 119 for imaging a subject, document reading unit 130 for reading a document, and automatic document for conveying a document to document reading unit 130. A transport device 120; an image forming unit 140 for forming an image on paper based on image data; a paper feeding unit 150 for supplying paper to the image forming unit 140; an operation panel 160 as a user interface; including.

  The camera 119 is an imaging device that images a subject and outputs image data. Camera 119 is fixedly attached to the main body of MFP 100 above operation panel 160. The camera 119 includes a lens and a photoelectric conversion element, and images light collected by the lens on the photoelectric conversion element. The photoelectric conversion element photoelectrically converts the received light and outputs image data to the CPU 111. A photoelectric conversion element is a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, or the like. The lens included in the camera 119 is preferably a wide-angle lens. The angle of view of the lens of the camera 119 is fixed. For this reason, the imaging range of the camera 119 is fixed. The angle of view of camera 119 is set so that the imaging range of camera 119 includes the face of the user who operates MFP 100. Specifically, the angle of view and the position of the camera 119 are set so that the imaging range includes the face of the user who operates the operation panel 160 in a standing posture. Since the user's height varies, the angle of view and the arrangement position of the camera 119 may be determined by providing a predetermined range for the height of the user's face. Further, the angle of view and the position of camera 119 are set so that the imaging range includes the face of the user existing at a point at least a first distance away from MFP 100. The first distance is determined by performance such as the resolution and focal length of the camera 119, and is a distance at which a user's face located within the first distance from the camera 119 can be imaged.

  The automatic document feeder 120 automatically conveys a plurality of documents set on the document tray 125 one by one to the document reading position of the document reading unit 130, and an image formed on the document by the document reading unit 130 The read original is discharged onto the original discharge tray 127. The automatic document feeder 120 includes a document detection sensor that detects a document placed on the document tray 125.

  The document reading unit 130 has a rectangular reading surface for reading a document. The reading surface is formed of platen glass, for example. The automatic document feeder 120 is connected to the main body of the MFP 100 so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to one side of the reading surface, and can be opened and closed. A document reading unit 130 is disposed below the automatic document feeder 120, and the reading surface of the document reader 130 is exposed when the automatic document feeder 120 is rotated and opened. Therefore, the user can place a document on the reading surface of the document reading unit 130. The automatic document feeder 120 can change a state between an open state in which the reading surface of the document reading unit 130 is exposed and a closed state that covers the reading surface. The automatic document feeder 120 includes a state detection sensor that detects the open state of the automatic document feeder 120.

  The document reading unit 130 includes a light source that emits light and a photoelectric conversion element that receives light, and scans an image formed on a document placed on the reading surface. When a document is placed on the reading area, the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the document, and the reflected light is imaged by the photoelectric conversion element. When the photoelectric conversion element receives the light reflected from the document, the photoelectric conversion element generates image data obtained by converting the received light into an electric signal. Document reading unit 130 outputs image data to CPU 111.

  The paper feed unit 150 conveys the paper stored in the paper feed tray to the image forming unit 140. The image forming unit 140 is controlled by the CPU 111 to form an image by a well-known electrophotographic method, and forms an image on a sheet conveyed by the paper feeding unit 150 based on image data input from the CPU 111. Then, the paper on which the image is formed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 155. The image data output from the CPU 111 to the image forming unit 140 includes image data such as print data received from the outside in addition to the image data input from the document reading unit 130.

  The main circuit 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111 that controls the entire MFP 100, a communication interface (I / F) unit 112, a ROM 113, a RAM 114, an HDD 115 as a mass storage device, and a facsimile unit 116. And a human sensor 117 and an external storage device 118. CPU 111 is connected to camera 119, automatic document feeder 120, document reading unit 130, image forming unit 140, sheet feeding unit 150, and operation panel 160, and controls the entire MFP 100.

  The ROM 113 stores a program executed by the CPU 111 or data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 114 is used as a work area when the CPU 111 executes a program. The RAM 114 temporarily stores image data continuously sent from the document reading unit 130.

  Operation panel 160 is provided on the upper surface of MFP 100. Operation panel 160 includes a display unit 161 and an operation unit 163. The display unit 161 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device (LCD), and displays an instruction menu for a user, information about acquired image data, and the like. For example, an organic EL (electroluminescence) display can be used in place of the LCD as long as it is an apparatus that displays an image.

  The operation unit 163 includes a touch panel 165 and a hard key unit 167. The touch panel 165 is a capacitive type. Note that the touch panel 165 is not limited to the capacitance method, and other methods such as a resistance film method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared method, and an electromagnetic induction method can be used.

  The touch panel 165 is provided with its detection surface superimposed on the display unit 161 on the upper or lower surface of the display unit 161. Here, the size of the detection surface of the touch panel 165 and the size of the display surface of the display unit 161 are the same. For this reason, the coordinate system of the display surface and the coordinate system of the detection surface are the same. The touch panel 165 detects the position where the user points the display surface of the display unit 161 on the detection surface, and outputs the coordinates of the detected position to the CPU 111. Since the coordinate system of the display surface and the coordinate system of the detection surface are the same, the coordinates output from the touch panel 165 can be replaced with the coordinates of the display surface.

  Hard key portion 167 includes a plurality of hard keys. The hard key is, for example, a contact switch. The touch panel 165 detects a position designated by the user on the display surface of the display unit 161. When the user operates the MFP 100, the user often takes an upright posture, and thus the display surface of the display unit 161, the operation surface of the touch panel 165, and the hard key unit 167 are arranged facing upward. This is because the user can easily visually recognize the display surface of the display unit 161 and the user can easily instruct the operation unit 163 with a finger.

  Communication I / F unit 112 is an interface for connecting MFP 100 to a network. The communication I / F unit 112 communicates with other computers or data processing devices connected to the network using a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Note that the network to which the communication I / F unit 112 is connected is a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. The network is not limited to a LAN, and may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, or the like.

  The facsimile unit 116 is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and transmits facsimile data to the PSTN or receives facsimile data from the PSTN. The facsimile unit 116 stores the received facsimile data in the HDD 115, converts it into print data that can be printed by the image forming unit 140, and outputs the print data to the image forming unit 140. As a result, the image forming unit 140 forms an image of facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 116 on a sheet. Further, the facsimile unit 116 converts the data stored in the HDD 115 into facsimile data, and transmits the facsimile data to a facsimile machine connected to the PSTN.

  Human sensor 117 detects a person within a predetermined range from MFP 100 and outputs the detected person to CPU 111. In the present embodiment, an infrared sensor is used as the human sensor 117. If a person can be detected, a pyroelectric sensor may be used instead of the infrared sensor.

  The external storage device 118 is controlled by the CPU 111, and a CD-ROM 118A or a semiconductor memory is mounted. In this embodiment, an example in which the CPU 111 executes a program stored in the ROM 113 will be described. However, the CPU 111 controls the external storage device 118 to read a program to be executed by the CPU 111 from the CD-ROM 118A. The read program may be stored in the RAM 114 and executed.

  The recording medium for storing the program to be executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the CD-ROM 118A, and may be a medium such as a flexible disk, a cassette tape, an optical disk, an IC card, an optical card, and a semiconductor memory. Further, the CPU 111 downloads a program from a computer connected to the network and stores it in the HDD 115, or loads the program stored in the HDD 115 into the RAM 114 so that the computer connected to the network writes the program to the HDD 115. Then, it may be executed by the CPU 111. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 111 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining detection of a person by the MFP according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, the imaging range of camera 119 when MFP 100 is viewed from the side is shown by hatching. When user A is located at a distance L 1 from MFP 100, user A's face is within the imaging range of camera 119. On the other hand, when user A is located at distance L 2 from MFP 100, which is a position where operation panel 160 of MFP 100 can be operated, user A's face is within the imaging range of camera 119.

  Since the angle of view of the camera 119 is constant, the subject size decreases as the distance from the MFP 100 increases. In addition, since the imaging range of the camera 119 becomes wider as the distance from the MFP 100 increases, the imaging range may include a plurality of users. For example, in the image output from camera 119, the size of user A's face at a position where user A is separated from MFP 100 by distance L 1 is smaller than the size of the face of user A at a position away from MFP 100 by distance L 2.

  The MFP 100 according to the present embodiment authenticates the user based on the image output from the camera 119. However, the larger the face size in the image, the larger the amount of data, and the higher the accuracy of authentication. Therefore, the degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that user A is a registered user registered in advance becomes a smaller value as the user moves away from MFP 100. Specifically, the degree of coincidence determined based on the image output by camera 119 when user A is located at a distance L1 from MFP 100 is determined when camera A is located at a distance L2 from MFP 100. The degree of coincidence determined based on the image output by 119 is smaller.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU provided in the MFP according to the present embodiment. The functions shown in FIG. 6 are functions formed in CPU 111 when CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 executes a custom screen display program stored in ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118A. Referring to FIG. 6, the CPU 111 includes an imaging control unit 51, a detection unit 53, a temporary request unit 55, a pre-authentication acquisition unit 57, an authentication request unit 59, a post-authentication acquisition unit 61, and a display control unit. 63 and an erasing unit 65.

  The imaging control unit 51 controls the camera 119 to cause the camera 119 to capture an image. Since the camera 119 outputs a still image when the image is captured, the imaging control unit 51 acquires the still image output from the camera 119. The imaging control unit 51 causes the camera 119 to capture an image when the human sensor 117 detects a person. In addition, while the human sensor 117 detects a person, the imaging control unit 51 causes the camera 119 to capture images at predetermined time intervals, and outputs a still image output from the camera 119 to the detection unit 53. The camera 119 may output a moving image. In this case, the imaging control unit 51 may generate a still image at a predetermined time interval from the moving images output from the camera 119 and output the still image to the detection unit 53.

  Note that the imaging control unit 51 may analyze a moving image output from the camera 119 to generate a still image and output the still image to the detection unit 53 when a person is detected. In this case, the human sensor 117 is not necessary.

  The detection unit 53 detects a person from the still image in response to the still image input from the imaging control unit 51. Specifically, the detection unit 53 extracts a portion where a person is represented in a still image, and detects a person represented in the extracted portion. Hereinafter, a portion in which a person is represented in a still image is referred to as a person portion, and a person represented in the person portion is referred to as a detected person. When detecting the detected person, the detection unit 53 outputs the person part to the temporary request unit 55 and the authentication request unit 59. The detection unit 53 is not limited to a technique for extracting a person portion from a still image, but pattern matching may be used. For example, feature amounts such as the shape and color of each part of the face such as the face, eyes, nose, mouth, and eyebrows are determined in advance, and the person portion is extracted from the still image with reference to the feature amounts. In addition, a still image that is captured and output by the camera 119 in a state where no person is present in the imaging range of the camera 119 is used as a reference image, and a difference between the still image output from the camera 119 and the reference image is a portion that represents a person. You may make it extract. The detection unit 53 may detect a plurality of detected persons. When detecting a plurality of detected persons, the detection unit 53 outputs a plurality of person portions each representing the plurality of detected persons to the temporary request unit 55 and the authentication request unit 59.

  When one or more person portions are detected by the detection unit 53, the temporary request unit 55 transmits a temporary authentication request to the server 200 at a predetermined time interval and outputs a temporary acquisition instruction to the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57. The provisional request unit 55 transmits a provisional authentication request to the server 200 and outputs a provisional acquisition instruction to the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57 until no person part is detected or the operating user is authenticated.

  When the authentication request unit 59 detects that the user is present at a position where the operation unit 163 can be operated, the authentication request unit 59 transmits an authentication request to the server 200. For example, the authentication request unit 59 transmits an authentication request in response to the operation unit 163 receiving an arbitrary operation by the user. Specifically, the authentication request unit 59 sends an authentication request including a person portion extracted by the detection unit 53 based on a still image output from the camera 119 after the operation unit 163 receives an operation input by the user. 200 and outputs an acquisition instruction to the post-authentication acquisition unit 61. Since the server 200 that receives the authentication request transmits the authentication result, the authentication request unit 59 outputs a display instruction to the display control unit 63 when the authentication result indicates successful authentication. The authentication result and the display instruction include user identification information of the authenticated operation user. The authentication request unit 59 does not output a display instruction to the display control unit 63 when the authentication result indicates an authentication failure.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU provided in the server according to the present embodiment. The functions shown in FIG. 7 are functions formed in the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 included in the server 200 executes a custom data transmission program stored in the ROM 202, the HDD 204, or the CD-ROM 209. The custom data transmission program is a part of the custom screen display program. Referring to FIG. 7, CPU 201 included in server 200 includes a provisional request reception unit 251, an authentication unit 253, a provisional determination unit 255, a custom data transmission unit 257, and an authentication request reception unit 259. Custom data transmission unit 257 includes a pre-authentication transmission unit 261 and a post-authentication transmission unit 265.

  The authentication unit 253 determines which of the plurality of registered users registered in advance is the detected person represented in the person part based on the person part in which the person is represented. The authentication unit 253 includes a comparison unit 271. The comparison unit 271 compares the person portion with feature data determined for each of a plurality of registered users, and determines the degree of coincidence obtained as a result of the comparison. The degree of coincidence is a value indicating the certainty that the detected person is a registered user. The degree of coincidence indicates the degree to which the person portion has a feature specified by the feature data defined for the registered user. The degree of matching differs depending on the algorithm that authenticates the person by face, but there is a value indicating the probability that the detected person is a registered user as a result of comparison regardless of which algorithm is used. Therefore, the value may be used as the degree of coincidence. Here, the feature data is an authentication image obtained by imaging a registered user. For this reason, the degree of coincidence indicates the degree of similarity between the person portion and the authentication image. The degree of coincidence becomes higher as the person portion and the authentication image are more similar.

  Temporary request reception unit 251 receives a temporary authentication request when communication unit 205 receives a temporary authentication request from one of MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A, and 100 </ b> B. The temporary authentication request includes one or more person parts. Here, a case where a temporary authentication request is received from MFP 100 will be described as an example. The temporary request reception unit 251 outputs a temporary authentication instruction to the authentication unit 253 in response to receiving the temporary authentication request. The temporary authentication instruction includes one or more person parts included in the temporary authentication request. The MFP 100 transmits a temporary authentication request at predetermined time intervals while a person is present in the imaging range of the camera 119. Therefore, the temporary request reception unit 251 outputs a temporary authentication instruction to the authentication unit 253 every time a temporary authentication request is received from the MFP 100 at predetermined time intervals.

  Authentication request accepting unit 259 accepts an authentication request when communication unit 205 receives an authentication request from one of MFPs 100, 100 A, and 100 B. Here, a case where an authentication request is received from MFP 100 will be described as an example. The authentication request includes one person part. The authentication request reception unit 259 outputs an authentication instruction to the authentication unit 253 in response to receiving the authentication request. The authentication instruction includes one person part included in the authentication request. MFP 100 transmits a temporary authentication request when operation unit 163 accepts an operation by a user.

  Authentication unit 253 authenticates an operating user who operates MFP 100 based on a person portion included in the authentication instruction in response to an authentication instruction input from authentication request receiving unit 259. Specifically, the authentication unit 253, when there is a registered user whose matching degree with respect to the detected person represented in the person portion included in the authentication request is equal to or higher than the threshold TH1 among the plurality of registered users. The detected person is determined as a registered user and authenticated as an operation user. When authenticating the operation user, the authentication unit 253 outputs user identification information for identifying the authenticated operation user to the post-authentication transmission unit 265. The authentication unit 253 authenticates the operating user when there is no registered user whose matching degree with the detected person represented in the person portion included in the authentication request is equal to or higher than the threshold value TH1 among the plurality of registered users. The error signal is output to the authentication request reception unit 259 without any error. If an error signal is input after outputting the authentication instruction, authentication request receiving unit 259 transmits an error signal indicating that the authentication has failed to MFP 100 that has transmitted the authentication request.

  When the temporary authentication instruction is input from the temporary request receiving unit 251 at the stage before authenticating the operation user, the authentication unit 253 includes a plurality of registered users for each of one or more person portions included in the temporary authentication instruction. The degree of coincidence is determined, and a set of person part identification information for identifying the person part and the degree of coincidence of each of the plurality of registered users is output to provisional decision unit 255. When the temporary authentication instruction includes a plurality of person portions, the authentication unit 253 outputs a set of person part identification information and the degree of coincidence of each of the plurality of registered users to the provisional determination unit 255 for each of the plurality of person portions.

  Temporary determination unit 255 determines a registered user whose matching degree with respect to the detected person specified by the person partial identification information is equal to or higher than threshold value TH2 as a temporary registered user for the detected person. However, the threshold value TH2 is smaller than the threshold value TH1. Therefore, the temporary determination unit 255 may determine two or more temporarily registered users for one detected person. The provisional determination unit 255 outputs a provisional transmission instruction to the pre-authentication transmission unit 261 when determining a provisionally registered user for the detected person. The provisional transmission instruction includes a set of user identification information for identifying the provisional registration user and the degree of coincidence of the provisional registration user with respect to the detected person. When the provisional determination unit 255 determines a plurality of provisionally registered users for the detected person, the provisional transmission instruction includes a set of user identification information and the degree of coincidence of each of the plurality of provisionally registered users for the number of provisionally registered users. .

  Temporary request reception unit 251 receives temporary authentication requests from MFP 100 at predetermined time intervals. For this reason, the provisional determination unit 255 waits for a predetermined period of time until the provisional authentication instruction is not input at predetermined time intervals or until the operation user is authenticated by the authentication unit 253 after the provisional authentication instruction is input. At the interval, a temporarily registered user for the detected person is determined.

  The pre-authentication transmission unit 261 includes a common transmission unit 262 and a priority transmission unit 263. When the provisional transmission instruction input from the provisional determination unit 255 includes a plurality of pieces of user identification information, the common transmission unit 262 transmits custom authentication common to a plurality of provisionally registered users. Send to MFP 100. When the provisional transmission instruction input from provisional determination unit 255 includes a plurality of pieces of user identification information, when one detected person is detected in MFP 100 and a plurality of provisionally registered users are determined for the detected person, A case where a plurality of detected persons are detected in MFP 100 and a provisionally registered user is determined for each of the detected persons. Therefore, when the provisional transmission instruction input from provisional determination unit 255 includes a plurality of pieces of user identification information, a still image is acquired in MFP 100, and a plurality of provisionally registered users are simultaneously determined based on the still image. This is the case.

  Specifically, the common transmission unit 262 specifies custom data related to the temporarily registered user identified by the user identification information for each of a plurality of user identification information included in the temporary transmission instruction. Then, the common transmission unit 262 identifies a common part among a plurality of custom data respectively associated with a plurality of temporary registration users as a common part, and transmits the common part to the apparatus that has transmitted the temporary authentication request, in this case, the MFP 100. To do.

  The custom data is composed of a plurality of operation screens. If the same operation screen exists in two or more of the plurality of custom data, the operation screen is specified as a common part. Therefore, it is not necessary for all of the plurality of custom data to have the same operation screen. When two or more custom data among the plurality of custom data have the same operation screen, the common portion is specified. Common transmission unit 262 outputs screen identification information for identifying the operation screen transmitted as a common part to MFP 100 that has transmitted the temporary authentication request to priority transmission unit 263 and post-authentication transmission unit 265.

  The pre-authentication transmission unit 261 receives a temporary transmission instruction from the temporary determination unit 255 at predetermined time intervals. For this reason, the common transmission unit 262 specifies a plurality of temporary registration users each time a temporary transmission instruction is input, but the plurality of temporary registration users specified by the temporary transmission instructions input at different times may be different. is there. The pre-authentication transmission unit 261 determines a common part each time a temporary transmission instruction is input, and among the determined common parts, an operation that has already been transmitted to the MFP 100 that has transmitted the temporary authentication request at that time. An unsent operation screen excluding the screen is transmitted to MFP 100.

  After the common part is transmitted by the common transmission unit 262, the priority transmission unit 263 matches the user identification information included in the temporary transmission instruction and the custom data related to the temporary registration user identified by the user identification information. Are transmitted to the MFP 100 that has transmitted the provisional authentication request. The priority transmission unit 263 specifies custom data related to the temporarily registered user identified by the user identification information included in the temporary transmission instruction in response to the provisional transmission instruction input from the temporary determination unit 255, and further specifies A portion corresponding to the degree of coincidence corresponding to the temporarily registered user is specified from the custom data that has been set. The provisional determination unit 255 specifies an operation screen excluding the operation screen included in the common portion among the specified custom data portions as an individual portion.

  The pre-authentication transmission unit 261 receives a temporary transmission instruction from the temporary determination unit 255 at predetermined time intervals. For this reason, different degrees of coincidence may be input at different times for the same user identification information. The priority transmission unit 263 is a part corresponding to the degree of coincidence inputted later in the custom data related to the provisional registration user when the degree of coincidence inputted after the degree of coincidence inputted earlier is larger. Send the remaining parts that have not yet been sent. When the degree of coincidence input after the degree of coincidence input first is higher, it is highly likely that the temporarily registered user is approaching MFP 100, and the possibility of operating MFP 100 next is high. As the temporarily registered user approaches the MFP 100, the ratio of transmitting custom data related to the temporarily registered user to the MFP 100 increases. Therefore, the amount of custom data to be transmitted after the temporarily registered user starts operating MFP 100 can be reduced, and the waiting time until the operation screen is displayed can be shortened. Further, the priority transmission unit 263 does not transmit the custom data related to the temporarily registered user when the coincidence degree input after the coincidence degree input earlier is smaller.

  The portion corresponding to the matching degree in the custom data is the number of operation screens corresponding to the matching degree among the plurality of operation screens defined by the custom data. For example, when the degree of coincidence is 50%, the portion corresponding to the degree of coincidence in the custom data is 50% of operation screens among the plurality of operation screens included in the custom data. Therefore, when a plurality of provisional registration users are determined by the provisional determination unit 255, the priority transmission unit 263 transmits the custom data in a larger proportion as the provisional registration user has a higher degree of matching. When transmitting the individual part of the custom data, the priority transmission unit 263 sets a combination of the user identification information of the temporarily registered user and the screen identification information for identifying the operation screen included in the remaining part of the transmitted custom data. The data is output to the post-authentication transmission unit 265.

  The priority transmission unit 263 transmits the remaining part from among a plurality of operation screens defined by custom data associated with the temporarily registered user. The remaining portion is the number of operation screens corresponding to the degree of coincidence among the plurality of operation screens defined by the custom data and is not included in the common portion. For example, if there are 100 operation screens defined by custom data, 50 operation screens are specified if the degree of coincidence is 50%, and the operation screens included in the common part among the specified 50 operation screens. If there are 20, 30 operation screens are transmitted as individual parts. In addition, when the data amount of each of the plurality of operation screens is different, the pre-authentication transmission unit 261 until the data amount corresponding to the matching degree is obtained from among the plurality of operation screens defined by the custom data associated with the registered user. The operation screen may be specified, and an operation screen that is not included in the common portion of the specified operation screens may be transmitted. For example, when the total amount of operation screen data defined by custom data is 10 Mbytes, if the degree of coincidence is 50%, the operation screen is up to 5 Mbytes, and the operation screen not included in the common part is transmitted as an individual part. To do.

  Priorities are determined for a plurality of operation screens defined by custom data. The priority transmission unit 263 transmits a plurality of operation screens included in the individual portions in order from the operation screen having the highest priority. When multiple operation screens defined by custom data are related to each other in a hierarchical structure, priority is given to operation screens belonging to the upper hierarchy over operation screens belonging to the lower hierarchy among the multiple operation screens included in the individual part. May be made higher. Moreover, what is necessary is just to predetermine a priority order with respect to each of the some operation screen which belongs to the same hierarchy. For example, in a menu screen in which transition buttons for transitioning to a plurality of operation screens are arranged, the order of the plurality of transition buttons decreases from left to right and from top to bottom. Lower. For this reason, in the menu screen, the second operation screen arranged on the left side of the first operation screen has a higher priority than the first operation screen, and the third operation screen arranged above the first operation screen. The priority of the operation screen is made higher than that of the first operation screen.

  In addition, each of a plurality of operation screens defined by custom data may be composed of a plurality of types of files. The priority transmission unit 263 transmits a predetermined type of files among a plurality of types of files with priority over other types of files. For example, when the operation screen is composed of a first type file to a third type file, the second type file is transmitted after the first type file is transmitted on each of the plurality of operation screens defined by the custom data. The third type file is transmitted, and finally the third type file is transmitted. The plurality of types of files are, for example, files having extensions of html, js, py, css, png, and jpg. A priority order may be set for the file type. When the operation screen is composed of files with extensions of html, js, py, css, png, and jpg, the priority order is determined in the order of extensions of html, js, py, css, png, and jpg. do it. In this case, if at least a file with an extension of html is transmitted, an operation screen can be partially displayed on an apparatus that receives a part of custom data, here, MFP 100. Therefore, in MFP 100, the operation screen can be displayed at a stage before the extension file whose extension is lower in priority than html is transmitted. The priority transmission unit 263 transmits all types of files for the operation screens except the last operation screen when the number of operation screens determined by the degree of coincidence or the number of operation screens determined by the data amount is not an integer. The last operation screen may be transmitted in order from the file with the highest priority among the plurality of types of files.

  When a plurality of sets of user identification information and coincidence degrees are input from the temporary determination unit 255, the priority transmission unit 263 has a high degree of coincidence among a plurality of temporarily registered users respectively identified by the plurality of user identification information. Send individual parts of custom data in preference to temporary registered users. This is because a temporarily registered user having a higher degree of coincidence may have a shorter distance from the MFP 100 that has transmitted the temporary authentication request, and is more likely to use the MFP 100. For example, the priority transmission unit 263 sequentially transmits the individual parts of the custom data related to the temporarily registered user having a high degree of coincidence.

  The post-authentication transmission unit 265 receives the user identification information of the operation user from the authentication unit 253, and among the user identification information for identifying the operation user and the custom data corresponding to the operation user, before authentication. The remaining part other than the part transmitted by the transmission unit 261 is transmitted to the apparatus that has transmitted the authentication request, here, the MFP 100.

  Returning to FIG. 6, the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57 acquires the common part received by the communication unit 205 from the server 200 after the provisional acquisition instruction is input from the temporary request unit 55, and from the server 200 following the common part. The user identification information of the temporary registration user to be received, the custom data part, and the degree of coincidence are acquired. The pre-authentication acquisition unit 57 stores the common part received by the communication unit 205 in a predetermined custom area of the HDD 115, and the user identification information of the temporarily registered user received following the common part and the individual pieces of custom data The part and the matching degree are associated with each other and stored in a predetermined custom area of the HDD 115.

  The erasure unit 65 erases the custom data acquired by the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57. The custom data acquired by the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57 is stored in a custom area provided in the HDD 115. The custom area has a predetermined storage capacity. The erasure unit 65 erases the custom data stored in the custom area when the detection unit 53 cannot detect the detected person after a part of the custom data is stored by the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57.

  Further, when the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57 stores a part of the custom data in the custom area of the HDD 115, the erasing unit 65 determines that the custom area The individual portion of the custom data associated with the minimum matching degree is deleted from the custom data stored in. Thereby, it is possible to secure an area for storing the individual part of the new custom data. The detected person corresponding to the custom data having the lowest degree of coincidence is most likely to have the longest distance from the MFP 100 and is least likely to operate the MFP 100 next. Data can be erased.

  The post-authentication acquisition unit 61 receives the user identification information of the operating user received by the communication unit 205 from the server 200 and the remaining part of the custom data after the acquisition instruction is input from the authentication request unit 59. The post-authentication acquisition unit 61 associates the user identification information of the operating user received by the communication unit 205 and the remaining portion of the custom data, and stores them in a predetermined custom area of the HDD 115.

  The display control unit 63 determines the operation screen based on the custom data associated with the user identification information of the operation user included in the display instruction in response to the display instruction input from the authentication request unit 59. The displayed operation screen is displayed on the display unit 161. When the display instruction is input from the authentication request unit 59, all the custom data related to the operating user may not be acquired. In this case, the common part of the custom data and the individual part of the custom data related to the operating user are acquired from the server 200 by the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57 and stored in the custom area of the HDD 115. The display control unit 63 displays an operation screen on the display unit 161 using the common part and the individual part of the custom data stored in the custom area of the HDD 115. For this reason, the time from when the operating user inputs an operation to the operation unit 163 until the operation screen is displayed on the display unit 161 can be shortened as much as possible.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the custom screen display process. The custom screen display process is a process executed by CPU 111 when CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 executes a custom screen display program stored in ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118A. Referring to FIG. 8, CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 determines whether or not a user has been detected (step S01). If human sensor 117 detects a user, the process proceeds to step S02; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S23. In step S23, the custom data stored in the custom area of HDD 115 is deleted, and the process returns to step S01. If the custom data stored in the custom area of the HDD 115 is not stored, the process returns to step S01 as it is.

  In step S02, the camera 119 is controlled to capture an image, and a still image output from the camera 119 is acquired. In the next step S03, a person is detected from the still image, and the process proceeds to step S04. For example, a person portion representing a person is extracted from a still image. The person portion is, for example, a portion where a human face is represented. A still image may include a plurality of person portions. In this case, the CPU 111 extracts a plurality of person parts from the still image.

  In step S04, a temporary authentication request is transmitted to server 200, and the process proceeds to step S05. The temporary authentication request includes the person portion detected in step S03. The server 200 that receives the provisional authentication instruction transmits custom data related to the provisional registration user. If there are a plurality of provisional registration users, the server 200 transmits a common portion of the custom data, and then each of the plurality of provisional registration users. Send individual parts of custom data. In step S05, it is determined whether a common part is received from server 200 or not. If the common part has been received, the process proceeds to step S06; otherwise, step S06 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S06. In step S06, the common part is stored in the custom area of HDD 115, and the process proceeds to step S07.

  In step S07, it is determined whether an individual part of the custom data transmitted by server 200 has been received. Since the server 200 transmits the user identification information of the temporarily registered user and the degree of coincidence with the detected person represented in the detection portion together with the individual portion of the custom data, the server 200 receives them together. If an individual part of custom data is received, the process proceeds to step S08; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In the next step S08, it is determined whether or not there is a free area in the custom area of the HDD 115 for storing the individual portion of the custom data. If the data amount of the individual portion of the custom data received in step S07 is smaller than the free space in the custom area, the process proceeds to step S10. If not, the process proceeds to step S09. In step S09, the custom data having the smallest degree of coincidence is deleted from the custom area, and the process returns to step S08. In step S10, the individual part of the custom data received in step S07 is stored in the custom area of the HDD 115 in association with the user identification information and matching degree of the temporarily registered user received together with the individual part of the custom data, and the process is performed. Proceed to step S11.

  In step S <b> 11, it is determined whether an individual part of custom data is received from server 200. When determining a plurality of temporary registration users, the server 200 transmits the individual part of the custom data for each of the plurality of temporary registration users, so it is determined whether or not the individual part of the custom data of the next temporary registration user has been received. To do. If the individual part of the custom data of the next temporary registration user is received, the process returns to step S07; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, it is determined whether an operation input by the user has been detected. The operation here is an operation on the operation panel 160 or the automatic document feeder 120. Specifically, when the touch panel 165 detects a position designated by the user, the operation on the operation panel 160 is detected when the hard key unit 167 detects pressing of any of a plurality of hard keys. Further, when the state detection sensor or the document detection sensor included in the automatic document feeder 120 is turned on, an operation on the automatic document feeder 120 is detected. If an operation is detected, the process proceeds to step S14; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S13, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the user was detected in step S01. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S12. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step S01. The case where the process returns from step S13 to step S01 is a case where a predetermined time elapses without accepting an operation by the user after the user is detected in step S01. In this case, there is a high possibility that the temporarily registered user has moved away from MFP 100, and there is a high possibility that the temporarily registered user will not operate MFP 100. For this reason, if no user is detected in step S01, the process proceeds to step S23, and the custom data stored in the custom area is deleted.

  When the process proceeds to step S <b> 14, the user accepts an operation input to MFP 100. In step S14, the camera 119 is controlled to capture an image, and a still image output from the camera 119 is acquired. In the next step S15, as in step S03, a person is detected from the still image, and the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, an authentication request is transmitted to server 200, and the process proceeds to step S17. The authentication request includes a person part in which the person detected in step S15 is represented in the still image. The server 200 that receives the authentication instruction transmits the authentication result of the user and the remaining part of the custom data related to the operation user when authenticating the operation user. In step S17, it is determined whether or not the operating user has been authenticated based on the authentication result transmitted by the server 200. If the operating user is authenticated, the process proceeds to step S18; otherwise, the process returns to step S01.

  In step S18, reception of the remaining portion of the custom data transmitted by server 200 is started, and the process proceeds to step S19. Since a part of the custom data for the operation user is stored in the custom area of the HDD 115 as a common part and an individual part, the rest of the custom data for the operation user other than the common part and the individual part stored in the custom area is stored. The process of acquiring the part from the server 200 is started.

  In step S19, an operation screen is displayed on display 161 according to the custom data for the operating user, and the process proceeds to step S20. In step S18, even when the reception of the remaining portion of the custom data is started and being received, a part of the custom data is stored in the custom area of the HDD 115 as the common portion and the individual portion. The operation screen can be displayed on the display unit 161 using the part and the individual part. Therefore, the waiting time from when the operating user operates the operation unit 163 to when the operation screen is displayed on the display unit 161 can be shortened.

  In step S20, it is determined whether an operation input by the user has been accepted. The operation here is an operation on the operation panel 160. Specifically, when touch panel 165 detects a position indicated by the user, operation on operation panel 160 is accepted when hard key unit 167 detects pressing of any of a plurality of hard keys. The process waits until an operation is accepted. If an operation is accepted, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, it is determined whether or not the accepted operation is an operation for instructing logout. If it is an operation to instruct logout, the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the process determined by the operation is executed, and the process returns to step S20. The process determined by the operation includes, for example, a process of switching the operation screen.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of custom data transmission processing. The custom data transmission process is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 included in the server 200 executes a custom data transmission program stored in the ROM 202, the HDD 204, or the CD-ROM 209. The custom data transmission program is a part of the custom screen display program. Referring to FIG. 9, CPU 201 determines whether a temporary authentication request has been received from any of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. If a temporary authentication request is received, the process proceeds to step S202. If not, the process proceeds to step S208.

  In step S202, the device that has transmitted the temporary authentication request is specified, and the process proceeds to step S203. Here, a case where a temporary authentication request is received from MFP 100 will be described as an example. In step S203, a temporary determination process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S204. Although details of the provisional determination process will be described later, the provisional registration user and the degree of coincidence are determined.

  In step S204, it is determined whether or not a temporarily registered user has been determined as a result of executing the temporary determination process. If the temporarily registered user is determined, the process proceeds to step S205; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S210. In step S205, it is determined whether the common part has been determined. In step S203, when a plurality of temporarily registered users are determined, a common part is determined. The same operation screen is determined as a common part with custom data related to a plurality of temporarily registered users. If the common part has been determined, the process proceeds to step S206; otherwise, step S206 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S207. When a plurality of temporarily registered users are not determined, a plurality of temporarily registered users are determined. However, when the same operation screen does not exist in the custom data related to the plurality of temporarily registered users, the common part is not determined. In step S206, the common part is transmitted to the apparatus that has transmitted the temporary authentication request, here, MFP 100, and the process proceeds to step S207.

  In step S207, a temporarily registered user to be processed is selected from temporarily registered users, and the process proceeds to step S208. Select from the temporarily registered users in descending order of matching. As a result, it is possible to sequentially obtain the custom data related to the temporarily registered user located near the MFP 100.

  In step S208, a custom data partial transmission process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S209. The details of the custom data partial transmission process will be described later. This is a process of transmitting a part corresponding to the degree of coincidence among the custom data related to the temporary registration user to the apparatus that has transmitted the temporary authentication request, in this case, the MFP 100. In step S209, it is determined whether there is a temporarily registered user that has not been selected as a processing target in step S207 among the temporarily registered users determined in step S203. If there is an unselected temporarily registered user, the process returns to step S207, and if no such temporarily registered user exists, the process proceeds to step S210.

  In step S210, it is determined whether an authentication request is received from any of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. If an authentication request is received, the process proceeds to step S211; otherwise, the process returns to step S201. Here, a case where an authentication request is received from MFP 100 will be described as an example. In step S211, an authentication process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S212. Although details of the authentication process will be described later, this is a process for authenticating a user who operates MFP 100. In step S212, it is determined whether an operating user has been determined. When the user who operates MFP 100 is authenticated, the user who operates MFP 100 is determined as the operating user. If the operating user is determined, the process proceeds to step S213; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S215.

  In step S213, the operation user is notified to the apparatus that has transmitted the authentication request, here, MFP 100, and the process proceeds to step S214. In step S214, the remaining part of the custom data associated with the operating user is transmitted to the apparatus that has transmitted the authentication request, here, MFP 100, and the process returns to step S201. In step S215, an error is notified to the apparatus that has transmitted the authentication request, here, MFP 100, and the process returns to step S201.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of provisional determination processing. The provisional determination process is a process executed in step S203 of the custom data transmission process. In step S201 before the provisional determination process is executed, a provisional authentication request is received from the MFP 100, and one or more person parts included in the provisional authentication request are specified. Referring to FIG. 10, one of one or more person portions included in the temporary authentication request is selected as a processing target (step S31), and the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, one registered user is selected as a processing target from among a plurality of registered users, and the process proceeds to step S33. In step S33, the person portion is compared with the feature data of the registered user, and the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, the degree of coincidence obtained as a result of the comparison is determined, and the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, it is determined whether or not the degree of coincidence is greater than or equal to threshold value TH2. If the degree of coincidence is greater than or equal to threshold value TH2, the process proceeds to step S36; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S38.

  In step S36, the registered user selected in step S32 is determined to be a temporarily registered user for the detected person represented in the person part selected in step S31, and the process proceeds to step S37. In step S37, the degree of coincidence is associated with the temporarily registered user, and the process proceeds to step S38. In step S38, it is determined whether there is a registered user that is not selected as a processing target in step S32. If there is an unselected registered user, the process returns to step S32. If not, the process proceeds to step S39. By executing Steps S32 to S38, one or more temporarily registered users may be determined for one detected person.

  In step S39, it is determined whether there is a person portion that has not been selected as a processing target in step S31. If there is an unselected person portion, the process returns to step S31. If not, the process returns to the custom data transmission process. Thereby, one or more temporarily registered users for each of the one or more detection parts are determined.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the custom data partial transmission process. The custom data partial transmission process is a process executed in step S206 of the custom data transmission process. Referring to FIG. 11, a temporary registration user is selected before the custom data partial transmission process is executed, and the degree of coincidence with the temporary registration user is determined. Referring to FIG. 11, the transmission amount is determined (step S41). The transmission amount is determined based on the degree of coincidence. The degree of coincidence indicates the probability that the detected person is a registered user. Here, the degree of coincidence is a probability, and the unit is indicated in percent (%). When the unit of the transmission amount is the number of operation screens, a number obtained by multiplying the total number of operation screens determined by the custom data by the degree of coincidence is set as the acquisition amount. For example, if 100 operation screens are defined by custom data and the degree of coincidence is 50%, the acquisition amount is determined to be 50.

  In step S42, an operation screen having the highest priority is determined as a transmission target from one or more operation screens determined by custom data and not yet transmitted. Then, it is determined whether or not the acquired amount has been exceeded (step S43). If the operation screen to be transmitted is added to the operation screen already determined as the transmission target in step S42, it is determined whether or not the transmission amount is exceeded. If the transmission amount is exceeded, the process returns to the custom data transmission process. If not, the process proceeds to step S44. In step S44, it is determined whether or not the operation screen determined as the transmission target is included in the common part. If it is included in the common part, the process returns to step S42. If not included in the common part, the process proceeds to step S45. It is possible to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted by not transmitting the operation screen included in the common part and not transmitting the same screen twice. In step S45, the operation screen determined in step S42 is transmitted as an individual part to MFP 100 that has transmitted the temporary authentication request, and the process returns to step S42.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of authentication processing. The authentication process is a process executed in step S209 of the custom data transmission process. Before the authentication process is executed, the authentication request is received, and the person part included in the authentication request is specified. Referring to FIG. 12, CPU 111 selects one registered user as a processing target from among a plurality of registered users (step S51), and advances the process to step S52. In step S52, the person portion included in the authentication request is compared with the authentication image of the registered user to be processed, and the process proceeds to step S53. In step S53, the degree of coincidence obtained as a result of the comparison is determined, and the process proceeds to step S54. In step S54, it is determined whether or not the degree of coincidence is greater than or equal to threshold value TH1. If the degree of coincidence is greater than or equal to threshold value TH1, the process proceeds to step S55; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S56.

  In step S56, it is determined whether there is a registered user that is not selected as a processing target in step S51 among the plurality of registered users. If there is an unselected registered user, the process returns to step S51; otherwise, the process returns to the custom data transmission process without determining the operating user. In step S55, the registered user selected in step S51 is determined as the operating user, and the process returns to the custom screen display process.

<First Modification>
In the information processing system 1 described above, the server 200 executes authentication of a user who operates the MFP 100. In the information processing system 1 in the modification, the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B each authenticate the user. Hereinafter, the information processing system 1 according to the first modification will be described mainly with respect to differences from the information processing system 1 described above.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU provided in the MFP according to the first modification. 13 differs from the function shown in FIG. 6 in that the temporary request unit 55 and the authentication request unit 59 are deleted, and the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57 and the post-authentication acquisition unit 61 are the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57A. In addition, the authentication unit 71A and the provisional determination unit 73 are added to the post-authentication acquisition unit 61A. The other functions are shown in FIG. 6 and will not be described again here.

  Based on the person portion detected by the detection unit 53, the authentication unit 71 determines which of the plurality of registered users the detected person corresponding to the person portion is registered in advance. The authentication unit 71 includes a comparison unit 271. The comparison unit 271 compares the person portion with a plurality of feature data respectively corresponding to a plurality of registered users, and determines the degree of coincidence obtained as a result of the comparison. The degree of coincidence is a value indicating the certainty that the detected person is a registered user. The degree of coincidence increases as the person portion and the feature data become similar.

  The authentication unit 71 determines that the detected person is a registered user and authenticates the operating user when there is a registered user whose matching degree with the detected person is greater than or equal to the threshold value TH1 among the plurality of registered users. When authenticating the operation user, the authentication unit 71 outputs user identification information for identifying the authenticated operation user to the post-authentication acquisition unit 61A. The timing at which the authentication unit 71 authenticates the operation user is when the user exists at a position where the user can operate the operation unit 163. For example, the authentication unit 71 authenticates the user when the operation unit 163 receives an arbitrary operation by the user. Specifically, the authentication unit 71 determines that the degree of coincidence with the detected person detected by the detection unit 53 based on a still image output from the camera 119 after the operation unit 163 receives an operation input by the user is a threshold value. If TH1 or more, the detected person is determined as a registered user, and the detected person is authenticated as an operating user.

  The authentication unit 71 determines a matching degree of each of a plurality of registered users and identifies a person part for each of one or more person parts detected by the detection part 53 before authenticating the operating user. The partial identification information and the degree of coincidence of each of the plurality of registered users are output to provisional determination unit 255. When one or more person portions are detected by the detection unit 53, the authentication unit 71 supplies the person part identification information and the degree of coincidence of each of the plurality of registered users to the provisional determination unit 73 for each of the plurality of person portions. Output.

  The provisional determination unit 73 determines a registered user whose matching degree with respect to the detected person specified by the person partial identification information is greater than or equal to the threshold value TH2 as a provisionally registered user for the detected person. However, the threshold value TH2 is smaller than the threshold value TH1. Therefore, the temporary determination unit 73 may determine two or more temporarily registered users for one detected person. When the provisional determination unit 73 determines a provisional registration user for the detected person, the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57A sets a set of user identification information for identifying the provisional registration user and the degree of coincidence of the provisional registration user for the detection person. Output. When determining a plurality of temporarily registered users for the detected person, the temporary determining unit 73 outputs a set of user identification information and matching degree to the pre-authentication acquiring unit 57A for each of the plurality of temporarily registered users.

  The pre-authentication acquisition unit 57A transmits a temporary transmission request to the server 200 in response to the combination of the user identification information and the degree of coincidence being input from the temporary determination unit 73, and after acquiring the common part from the server 200, Following the common part, an individual part corresponding to the temporarily registered user identified by the user identification information is acquired from the server 200. The temporary transmission request includes the user identification information of the temporary registration user and the matching degree. The pre-authentication acquisition unit 57A stores the common part acquired from the server 200 in the custom area of the HDD, and stores the individual part of the custom data in the predetermined custom area of the HDD 115 in association with the matching degree. The pre-authentication acquisition unit 57A receives a set of user identification information and a degree of coincidence from the temporary determination unit 73 at predetermined time intervals. For this reason, different degrees of coincidence may be input at different times for the same user identification information. The pre-authentication acquisition unit 57A, when the degree of coincidence input after the degree of coincidence input first is larger, the coincidence entered later among the custom data related to the temporarily registered user identified by the user identification information The remaining part that has not yet been acquired is acquired from the part corresponding to the degree. The pre-authentication acquisition unit 57A, when the coincidence inputted after the coincidence inputted earlier is smaller, the temporary registered user identified by the user identification information without transmitting the temporary transmission request to the server 200 Do not get custom data related to. The pre-authentication acquisition unit 57A, when the coincidence inputted after the coincidence inputted earlier is smaller, the custom related to the temporarily registered user identified by the user identification information stored in the custom area of the HDD 115 Data may be erased. This is because when the degree of coincidence is small, it is highly likely that the detected person has moved away from the MFP 100, and the possibility that the MFP 100 will be operated next is low.

  The post-authentication acquisition unit 61A transmits a transmission request to the server 200 in response to the input of the user identification information of the operation user authenticated by the authentication unit 71, and a custom related to the operation user authenticated from the server 200 Of the data, the remaining part other than the part acquired by the pre-authentication acquisition unit 57A is acquired. The transmission request includes user identification information of the operation user. The post-authentication acquisition unit 61A stores the acquired custom data portion in a predetermined custom area of the HDD 115.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in a server according to the first modification. Referring to FIG. 14, the difference from the function shown in FIG. 7 is that provisional request acceptance unit 251 and authentication request acceptance unit 259 are changed to provisional transmission request acceptance unit 251A and transmission request acceptance unit 259A, respectively. The part 253 and the provisional determination part 255 are deleted. The other functions are the same as those shown in FIG. 7, and thus description thereof will not be repeated here.

  Temporary transmission request reception unit 251A receives a temporary transmission request when communication unit 205 receives a temporary transmission request from one of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. In response to accepting the provisional transmission instruction, provisional transmission request acceptance unit 251A outputs a pair of the user identification information of the temporarily registered user and the degree of coincidence included in the provisional transmission instruction to pre-authentication transmission unit 261.

  When the communication unit 205 receives a transmission request from any of the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, the transmission request reception unit 259A receives the transmission request. In response to receiving the transmission instruction, transmission request reception unit 259A outputs the user identification information of the operating user included in the transmission instruction to post-authentication transmission unit 265.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the custom screen display process in the first modification. Referring to FIG. 15, the difference from the custom screen display process shown in FIG. 8 is that step S03, step S04 and step S16 are changed to step S03A, step S04A and step S16A, respectively, after step S17. Step S17A is added. Since other processes are the same as those shown in FIG. 8, the description thereof will not be repeated here.

  If a person is detected from the still image in step S03, the provisional determination process shown in FIG. 10 is executed in step S03A, and the process proceeds to step S04A. In step S04A, a temporary transmission request is transmitted to server 200, and the process proceeds to step S05. The provisional transmission request includes a pair of the user identification information of the temporarily registered user determined in step S03A and the degree of coincidence. The server 200 that receives the provisional transmission request transmits the custom data related to the provisional registration user. When there are a plurality of provisional registration users, the server 200 transmits a common portion of the custom data, and then each of the plurality of provisional registration users. Send individual parts of custom data.

  If a person is detected from the still image in step S15, the authentication process shown in FIG. 12 is executed in the next step S16A, and the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the process branches depending on the result of the authentication process. If the operating user is authenticated, the process proceeds to step S17A; otherwise, the process returns to step S01. In step S17A, a transmission request is transmitted to server 200, and the process proceeds to step S16. The transmission request includes the user identification information of the operation user authenticated in step S15.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of custom data transmission processing in the first modification. Referring to FIG. 16, CPU 201 provided in server 200 determines whether a temporary transmission request has been received from any of MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A, and 100 </ b> B (step S <b> 201 </ b> A). If a provisional transmission request is received, the process proceeds to step S202; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S208.

  In step S202, the device that has transmitted the temporary transmission request is specified, and the process proceeds to step S205. The temporary transmission request includes a set of user identification information of the temporary registration user and the degree of coincidence. Here, a case where a temporary transmission request is received from MFP 100 will be described as an example. In step S205, it is determined whether the common part has been determined. When the temporary transmission request received in step S201A includes user identification information of a plurality of temporary registration users, a common part is determined. The same operation screen is determined as a common part with custom data related to a plurality of temporarily registered users. If the common part has been determined, the process proceeds to step S206; otherwise, step S206 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S207. In step S206, the common part is transmitted to the apparatus that has transmitted the temporary authentication request, here, MFP 100, and the process proceeds to step S207.

  In step S207, a temporarily registered user to be processed is selected, and the process proceeds to step S208. Select from the temporarily registered users in descending order of matching. Thereby, it is possible to sequentially transmit the custom data related to the temporarily registered user located near the MFP 100.

  In step S208, the custom data partial transmission process shown in FIG. 11 is executed, and the process proceeds to step S209. In step S209, it is determined whether there is a temporarily registered user that is not selected as a processing target in step S207 among the temporarily registered users determined by the temporary transmission request. If there is an unselected temporarily registered user, the process returns to step S207, and if there is no temporarily registered user, the process proceeds to step S210A.

  In step S210A, it is determined whether a transmission request has been received from any of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. If a transmission request is received, the process proceeds to step S211A. If not, the process returns to step S201A. Here, a case where a transmission request is received from MFP 100 will be described as an example. In step S211A, the operation user identified by the user identification information included in the transmission authentication request is specified, and the process proceeds to step S214. In step S214, the remaining part of the custom data associated with the operating user is transmitted to the apparatus that has transmitted the authentication request, here, MFP 100, and the process returns to step S201A.

<Second Modification>
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which face authentication is used for authentication of a user who operates each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B has been described. In the second modification, voice authentication is used as an authentication method. In this case, each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B includes a microphone that collects sound, and a person is detected by extracting the user's voice from the sound collected by the microphone. Further, the server 200 stores a voice print as biometric information for authenticating a plurality of registered users.

  Further, when the server 200 determines a plurality of temporarily registered users by detecting the volume of the sound extracted from the sound collected by the microphone, the temporary registered user having a high volume is given priority and the temporary registration is performed. A part of the custom data related to the user may be transmitted. For example, a user whose sound volume is large from sound extracted from sound collected by MFP 100 is more likely to be a shorter distance from MFP 100 than other users, and is more likely to operate MFP 100 next. For this reason, the custom data related to the user near the MFP 100 is preferentially transmitted to the MFP 100 so that a part of the custom data is stored in the MFP 100 when the user starts the operation. it can.

  When the second modification is applied to the first modification, each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B stores a voice print as biometric information for authenticating a plurality of registered users.

<Third Modification>
In the third modification, face authentication and voice authentication are used as the authentication method. In this case, each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B includes camera 119 and a microphone that collects sound. A person part is extracted from a still image obtained by imaging with the camera 119, and the voice of the user is extracted from the first degree of coincidence with the temporarily registered user specified by face authentication and the sound collected by the microphone. A second degree of coincidence with the temporarily registered user specified by authentication is determined. Based on the first coincidence degree and the second coincidence degree, the coincidence degree with respect to the temporarily registered user is determined. For example, the first coincidence, the second coincidence, and the sum are determined as the coincidence. The coincidence degree may be an average of the first coincidence degree and the second coincidence degree, or may be a product of the first coincidence degree and the second coincidence degree.

  Since the degree of coincidence is determined using the two authentication methods, it is possible to improve the accuracy of specifying the user existing at a position away from the MFP 100.

<Fourth Modification>
The authentication method is not limited to face authentication and / or voice authentication as long as the biometric information of a person is used. For example, authentication using a human iris may be used.

<Fifth Modification>
In the embodiment described above, authentication is performed using the biological information of a person, and the degree of coincidence for a plurality of registered users is determined. Different methods may be used for authenticating the user who operates MFP 100 and determining the degree of coincidence using biometric information. For example, the degree of coincidence is determined using the biometric information of a person, and the user who operates the MFP 100 is authenticated by checking a pair of a password and an ID registered in advance as authentication information and device identification information of a device carried by the user. You may make it do. The device carried by the user may be a portable information terminal, an IC card or a magnetic card.

  As described above, in information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, server 200 determines the degree of coincidence for each of a plurality of registered users based on the biometric information of a person detected by MFP 100, and MFP 100 When a person is detected in step S2, a temporary registered user is determined based on the degree of matching determined for each of a plurality of registered users, and is determined at the same time before the operator who operates MFP 100 is authenticated. Of a plurality of custom data respectively associated with a plurality of temporarily registered users, a common part common to two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users is transmitted to the operating device. Therefore, in MFP 100, when the operator is authenticated, since the common part is received from server 200 before the operator is authenticated, the time for receiving the operator's custom data from the server is received. Shorter. Therefore, in each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, the time from when the operator is authenticated until the operation screen is displayed can be shortened. Therefore, the operation screens for a plurality of users can be centrally managed by the server 200 and the response time in each of the plurality of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B can be shortened.

  Server 200 also determines a plurality of temporarily registered users respectively corresponding to a plurality of persons detected simultaneously in MFP 100 from among the plurality of registered users. Therefore, custom data of a registered user who may operate MFP 100 can be transmitted to MFP 100 before the registered user operates MFP 100.

  In addition, since server 200 determines a plurality of provisionally registered users corresponding to one person detected in MFP 100 from among a plurality of registered users, custom data of registered users who may operate MFP 100 is It can be transmitted before the registered user operates MFP 100.

  Further, the server 200 or the MFP 100 compares the person portion included in the image acquired by the MFP 100 by imaging the person with the camera 119 with the feature data registered for authenticating each of the plurality of registered users. The temporary registration user can be determined using the feature data to be used.

  Further, server 200 or MFP 100 compares the voice of a person included in the sound collected by microphone 100 with a microphone with feature data registered in advance in order to authenticate each of a plurality of registered users. Can be used to determine a provisionally registered user.

  In addition, since server 200 or MFP 100 determines the degree of matching based on the first degree of matching determined by face authentication and the second degree of matching determined by voice authentication, the accuracy of determining a temporarily registered user Can be improved.

  Further, server 200 transmits to MFP 100 the portion corresponding to the degree of matching determined for the temporary registration user in the custom data related to the temporary registration user before the operator is authenticated by MFP 100. To do. Therefore, when the operator is authenticated in MFP 100, the operation screen can be displayed based on the portion corresponding to the degree of matching of the custom data related to the temporarily registered user. Therefore, in each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, the time from when the operator is authenticated until the operation screen is displayed can be shortened.

  In addition, when a plurality of temporarily registered users are determined, the server 200 stores custom data related to temporarily registered users whose sound of a person included in the sound collected by the microphone of the MFP 100 is large among the plurality of temporarily registered users. Send some priority. A provisionally registered user with a louder voice is more likely to be near the MFP 100, so that the response time can be shortened by giving priority to the custom data of the user whose time until using the MFP 100 is short.

  Further, when the server 200 determines a plurality of temporary registration users, a part of the custom data related to the temporary registration users having a high degree of coincidence, and a part of the custom data related to other temporary registration users are preceded. Send to. For this reason, since the temporary data is preferentially transmitted to the temporarily registered user having a high probability of being a registered user, the response time of the temporarily registered user having a high probability of being a registered user can be shortened.

  Further, since the server 200 or the MFP 100 determines the matching degree corresponding to the person at predetermined time intervals after the biometric information is detected in the MFP 100 until the operator is authenticated, the custom data increases as the matching degree increases. The amount of transmission can be increased. Therefore, the amount of custom data transmitted can be increased as the temporarily registered user approaches MFP 100.

  Further, since the server 200 preferentially transmits an operation screen having a high priority among a plurality of operation screens defined by custom data, the server 200 is used if the priority is set higher as the possibility of being used is higher. Since the probability that an operation screen with high possibility is displayed increases, the response time can be shortened.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

<Appendix>
(1) The custom data transmission unit is configured to authenticate the remaining remaining portion of the custom data related to the operation user to the operation device in response to the authentication of the operator who operates the operation device. The server according to claim 1, comprising post-transmission means.
(2) The post-authentication acquisition means for acquiring the remaining remaining portion of the custom data related to the operation user in response to the operation user being authenticated. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

  1 Information processing system, 100, 100A, 100B MFP, server 200, 3 LAN, 5 Internet, 110 main circuit, 111 CPU, 112 communication I / F unit, 113 ROM, 114 RAM, 115 HDD, 116 facsimile unit, 117 persons Sensing sensor, 118 external storage device, 118A CD-ROM, 119 camera, 120 automatic document feeder, 130 document reading unit, 140 image forming unit, 150 paper feeding unit, 160 operation panel, 161 display unit, 163 operation unit, 165 Touch panel, 167 hard key unit, 200 server, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 204 HDD, 205 communication unit, 206 display unit, 207 operation unit, 208 external storage device, 51 imaging control unit, 53 detection unit, 55 temporary Request part, 57, 57A Pre-authentication acquisition part, 59 Authentication request part, 61 Post-authentication acquisition part, 63 Display control part, 65 Erasing part, 71 Authentication part, 73 Temporary determination part, 251 Temporary request reception part, 251A Temporary transmission request Reception unit, 253 authentication unit, 255 provisional determination unit, 257 custom data transmission unit, 259 authentication request reception unit, 259A transmission request reception unit, 261 pre-authentication transmission unit, 262 common transmission unit, 263 priority transmission unit, 265 post-authentication transmission Part, 271 comparison part.

Claims (22)

Custom data that transmits custom data relating to an operation screen registered in advance in association with the operator to the operation device in response to an authentication of the operator who operates one of the plurality of image processing devices. A transmission means;
Comparison means for determining a degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is the registered user for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person;
When the operation device detects the person, provisional determination means for determining a temporary registration user based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of the plurality of registered users;
Before the operator who operates the operation device is authenticated, two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users among the plurality of custom data respectively associated with the plurality of temporarily registered users determined simultaneously. A pre-authentication transmission means for transmitting a common common part to the operating device.   2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the provisional determination unit determines a plurality of the temporary registration users respectively corresponding to the plurality of persons detected simultaneously from the plurality of registered users.   The server according to claim 1, wherein the temporary determination unit determines a plurality of the temporary registration users corresponding to one person among the plurality of registered users.   The comparison means compares the person portion representing the person included in the image acquired by the operation device by imaging the person with feature data registered in advance to authenticate each of the plurality of registered users. The server according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The comparison means compares the voice of the person included in the sound collected by the operating device with feature data registered in advance to authenticate each of the plurality of registered users. The server described in   The comparison means includes first feature data registered in advance for authenticating each of the plurality of registered users with a person portion representing the person included in an image acquired by the operation device imaging the person. Second feature data registered in advance to authenticate each of the plurality of registered users with the first matching degree determined by comparing with the voice of the person included in the sound collected by the operating device The server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the degree of coincidence is determined based on a second degree of coincidence determined by comparing with.   The pre-authentication transmission means further transmits a portion corresponding to the degree of coincidence determined for the temporary registration user in the custom data related to the temporary registration user. A server listed in any one.   The pre-authentication transmission means prioritizes a part of the custom data related to the temporarily registered user having a loud voice of the person included in the sound collected by the operation device among the plurality of temporarily registered users. The server according to claim 7, wherein the server transmits.   The pre-authentication transmission means, when a plurality of the temporary registration users are determined by the temporary determination means, a part of the custom data related to the temporary registration user having a high degree of coincidence among the plurality of temporary registration users The server according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the server is transmitted with priority.   The comparison means determines the degree of coincidence corresponding to the person at a predetermined time interval from when the biological information is detected by the operation device to when the operator is authenticated. A server according to one of the following.   8. The pre-authentication transmission unit transmits the number of operation screens corresponding to the degree of coincidence determined for the temporarily registered user from among the plurality of operation screens defined by the custom data. The server in any one of -10.   The said pre-authentication transmission means sequentially transmits the plurality of operation screens defined by the custom data until the data amount corresponding to the degree of coincidence determined for the temporarily registered user is reached. A server according to one of the following.   13. The pre-authentication transmission unit preferentially transmits the operation screen having a higher hierarchy when the plurality of operation screens defined by the custom data are associated with each other in a hierarchical structure. Server.   The pre-authentication transmission means preferentially transmits the operation screen having a higher priority predetermined for the plurality of operation screens with respect to the plurality of operation screens belonging to the same hierarchy by the custom data. The server described in.   The pre-authentication transmission means transmits a predetermined type of files among a plurality of types of files constituting each of the plurality of operation screens in preference to other types of files. The listed server. Display control means for displaying an operation screen based on custom data stored in the server in association with the operator in response to the authentication of the operator;
Detection means for detecting a person;
Comparison means for determining a degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person;
When the person is detected, provisional determination means for determining a provisional registration user based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of the plurality of registered users;
Before the operator is authenticated, a common part common to two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users is acquired from among the plurality of custom data respectively associated with the plurality of temporarily registered users determined simultaneously. An image processing apparatus comprising: pre-authentication acquisition means.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the pre-authentication acquisition unit further acquires a portion corresponding to the degree of coincidence among the custom data stored in the server in association with the temporary registration user. .   The image processing according to claim 17, further comprising a deletion unit that deletes the acquired custom data in order from the custom data having a low matching degree corresponding to the temporarily registered user related to the custom data. apparatus. Custom data that transmits custom data relating to an operation screen registered in advance in association with the operator to the operation device in response to an authentication of the operator who operates one of the plurality of image processing devices. Sending step;
A comparison step for determining a degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is the registered user for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person;
A provisional determination step of determining a provisional registration user based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of a plurality of registered users when the person is detected in the operation device;
Before the operator who operates the operation device is authenticated, two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users among the plurality of custom data respectively associated with the plurality of temporarily registered users determined simultaneously. A custom screen display method for causing a server to execute a pre-authentication transmission step of transmitting a common common part to the operation device. A display control step for displaying an operation screen based on custom data stored in the server in association with the operator in response to the authentication of the operator;
A detection step for detecting a person;
A comparison step for determining a degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is the registered user for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person;
When the person is detected, a provisional determination step of determining a provisional registration user based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of the plurality of registration users;
Before the operator is authenticated, a common part common to two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users is acquired from among the plurality of custom data respectively associated with the plurality of temporarily registered users determined simultaneously. A custom screen display method for causing an image processing apparatus to execute a pre-authentication acquisition step. Custom data that transmits custom data relating to an operation screen registered in advance in association with the operator to the operation device in response to an authentication of the operator who operates one of the plurality of image processing devices. Sending step;
A comparison step for determining a degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is the registered user for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person;
A provisional determination step of determining a provisional registration user based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of a plurality of registered users when the person is detected in the operation device;
Before the operator who operates the operation device is authenticated, two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users among the plurality of custom data respectively associated with the plurality of temporarily registered users determined simultaneously. A custom screen display program for causing a computer that controls a server to execute a pre-authentication transmission step of transmitting a common common part to the operation device. A display control step for displaying an operation screen based on custom data stored in the server in association with the operator in response to the authentication of the operator;
A detection step for detecting a person;
A comparison step for determining a degree of coincidence indicating the certainty that the person is the registered user for each of a plurality of registered users registered in advance based on the biological information of the person;
A provisional determination step of determining a provisional registration user based on the degree of coincidence determined for each of the plurality of registered users when the biometric information of the person is detected;
Before the operator is authenticated, a common part common to two or more of the plurality of temporarily registered users is acquired from among the plurality of custom data respectively associated with the plurality of temporarily registered users determined simultaneously. A custom screen display program for causing a computer that controls the image processing apparatus to execute a pre-authentication acquisition step.

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