JP2023030065A - Image processing system, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system configured to suppress an operation error of a user who is different from a user who made an instruction for processing to read and transmit a document image, regardless of whether user authentication has been used, a control method of the image processing system, and a program.

SOLUTION: On receipt of an instruction for first transmission processing from a tablet terminal via a network I/F 219, an MFP 103 determines whether to accept the first transmission processing on the basis of an operation state of an operation unit 220. When the operation unit 220 displays a top screen or when a predetermined time has passed from the last operation of the operation unit 220, the first transmission processing is accepted. When the processing is accepted, the CPU 211 controls a scanner 222 to read a document to generate image data, and controls a facsimile unit and a modem 223 to fax the image data. When the processing is not accepted, the MFP does not execute the first transmission processing.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a technique of reading and transmitting a document image according to an instruction received from an information processing device or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a function is known in which image data generated by a client computer as an information processing device is transmitted to a fax machine via a LAN (Local Area Network) and faxed from the fax machine. When using this function, the user can specify the destination of the fax transmission on the client computer side.

On the other hand, there is also a function in which the client computer does not prepare the image data, but only the destination specified by the user is notified to the fax device, and the image data generated by reading the document on the fax device side is sent by fax to the specified destination. It is known (Patent Document 1).

For example, there may be a case where it is desired to fax both the cover page generated by the client computer and the image data obtained by reading the text manuscript with the facsimile machine. At this time, the fax machine generates a job based on the fax destination information and the cover page information sent from the client computer, and when the job is executed, the read image of the scanned text document is added and sent. Is possible.

JP-A-7-288625

However, another user may be operating the fax machine when the job is generated by the fax machine based on the transmission instruction from the client computer. Then, there is a possibility that another user will mistakenly operate the job instructed by the client computer. It is necessary to avoid such erroneous operations by another user.

Here, if the fax machine manages users by using a user authentication function, the user authentication information can be sent together with the job generation instruction from the client computer to the fax machine. can perform user authentication. If user authentication is used, the facsimile machine side can distinguish between the user operating the facsimile machine and the user who sent the job generation instruction from the client computer, thus avoiding erroneous operations. However, it is not convenient for the facsimile machine to use the user authentication function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. To suppress erroneous operation by a user.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operation means for receiving an operation from a user, a reading means for reading a document and generating image data, a transmitting means for transmitting the image data generated by the reading means, a receiving unit for receiving an instruction for read transmission processing for causing the reading unit to read a document and transmitting image data generated by the reading unit to the transmission unit; and the reception unit receives the read transmission processing. In this case, whether or not to accept the reading and sending process is determined based on the operating state of the operating means, and if acceptance of the reading and sending process is permitted as a result of the determination, the reading means and the sending means are operated. and control means for controlling and executing the reading and sending process.

According to the present invention, regardless of whether or not user authentication is used, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations by a user other than the user who instructed the process in relation to the process of reading and transmitting a document image.

1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a network including an image forming system; FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the MFP; FIG. 3 is a software configuration diagram of the MFP; FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a tablet terminal; FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a fax transmission application displayed when trying to transmit an instruction for the first transmission process; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing sequence when instructing the first transmission processing; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a document scan acceptance screen; It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen of a data management application. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a fax transmission application displayed when an instruction for second transmission processing is to be transmitted; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a sequence of processing when instructing a second transmission processing; 9 is a flowchart showing scan command acceptance determination processing. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing transitions of screens displayed on the operation unit; FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the solution of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a network including an image forming system according to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, an MFP (Multi-Function-Peripheral) 103 is exemplified as an image forming apparatus. A tablet terminal 101 , which is an example of an information processing device, is a terminal device that communicates with an MFP 103 via a wireless network router (wireless access point) 102 . The MFP 103 is an example of an image processing apparatus, but the MFP 103 alone may be called an image processing system, or the entire system including the MFP 103 and the tablet terminal 101 may be called an image processing system. The tablet terminal 101 and the wireless network router 102 are connected by a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The MFP 103 and wireless network router 102 are connected by a wired LAN. The MFP 103 is also connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Note that the communication path between the tablet terminal 101 and the MFP 103 is not limited to that described above. For example, the tablet terminal 101 and the wireless network router 102 may be connected by a wired LAN. Also, the MFP 103 and the wireless network router 102 may be connected via a wireless LAN. Furthermore, the tablet terminal 101 and the MFP 103 may be connected to the same network. A plurality of each of the tablet terminals 101 and the MFPs 103 may exist. Hereinafter, the tablet terminal 101 may be abbreviated as "terminal 101". Note that the form of the terminal 101 is not necessarily a tablet type, and may be a stationary type.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the MFP 103. As shown in FIG. A control unit 210 has a CPU 211 as control means and controls the operation of the entire MFP 103 . The CPU 211 reads control programs stored in the ROM 212 and performs various controls such as reading/printing/communication. A RAM 213 is used as a main memory of the CPU 211 and a temporary storage area such as a work area. In the MFP 103, one CPU 211 uses one memory (RAM 213 or HDD 214) to execute each process shown in a flow chart to be described later, but other modes are also possible. For example, multiple CPUs, multiple RAMs, or HDDs may work together to execute each process shown in the flowchart.

The HDD 214 stores image data and various programs. An operation unit I/F 215 connects an operation unit 220 as operation means and the control unit 210 . The operation unit 220 includes a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function, a keyboard, and the like, and plays a role of reception means for receiving operations/inputs/instructions by the user.

A printer I/F 216 connects the printer 221 and the control unit 210 . Image data to be printed by the printer 221 is transferred from the control unit 210 via the printer I/F 216 and printed on a recording medium by the printer 221 . A scanner I/F 217 connects a scanner 222 as reading means and the control unit 210 . Scanner 222 reads an image on a document to generate image data, and inputs the image data to control unit 210 via scanner I/F 217 .

Modem I/F 218 connects modem 223 and control unit 210 . A modem 223 is connected to the PSTN and performs facsimile communication of image data with a facsimile machine (not shown). A network I/F 219 as receiving means connects the control unit 210 (MFP 103) to a wired LAN. The MFP 103 can transmit and receive image data and various information to and from external devices using the network I/F 219 .

FIG. 3 is a software configuration diagram of the MFP 103. As shown in FIG. Each unit indicated by solid lines in FIG. 3 is a software module implemented by the CPU 211 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 212 or the HDD 214 . A UI (User Interface) unit 301 provides various information to the user via the operation unit 220 (FIG. 2) and accepts various instructions from the user. A job controller unit (job controller unit) 302 receives jobs such as copying, printing, and facsimile, and controls execution of the received jobs. A Protocol Stack unit 304 holds various network protocols such as TCP/IP and HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

In this embodiment, image data transmitted from terminal 101 is received via network I/F 219 according to the network protocol held in Protocol Stack section 304 . The received image data is stored by an Image File section (image file section) 303 . An Image File unit 303 is a software module that manages image data stored in the RAM 213 and HDD 214 .

The Image File unit 303 stores not only image data received via the network I/F 219 but also image data generated by the scanner 222 . Generation of image data by the scanner 222 is controlled by a Scan unit (scan unit) 306 . A fax unit (fax unit) 305 controls fax communication via the modem 223 . When performing facsimile transmission from the MFP 103, the facsimile unit 305 reads image data stored in the image file unit 303 and transmits it.

An OS unit (Operating System unit) 308 coordinates each module and task and manages the entire software of the MFP 103 . A Device Driver section 307 is combined with the OS section 308 . A Device Driver unit 307 controls hardware devices such as the scanner 222 and the modem 223 .

An authentication unit (authentication unit) 309 is a module that controls user authentication. The user authentication function can be switched between valid and invalid. When the user authentication function is enabled in the MFP 103, the user needs to perform a login operation via the operation unit 220 to input authentication information including a user name and password. The authentication unit 309 compares the input authentication information with the authentication information registered in advance to determine whether the authentication is successful or not. . Note that when the user authentication function is disabled in the MFP 103 , the user can use the MFP 103 without login operation and authentication by the Authentication unit 309 .

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal 101. As shown in FIG. A control unit 410 including a CPU 411 controls the operation of the terminal 101 as a whole. The CPU 411 reads control programs stored in the memory 412 and performs various controls. The memory 412 is also used as a main memory of the CPU 411 and a temporary storage area such as a work area. In the terminal 101, one CPU 411 uses one memory 412 to execute each process, but other aspects may be adopted. For example, multiple CPUs and multiple memories can work together to execute each process.

An operation unit I/F 413 connects the operation unit 420 and the control unit 410 . The operation unit 420 includes a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function, and serves as a reception unit that receives operations, inputs, instructions, and the like from the user. A network I/F 414 connects the control unit 410 (terminal 101) to the wireless LAN. The terminal 101 can use the network I/F 414 to transmit image data and information to an external device and receive various kinds of information.

In the present embodiment, the instructions transmitted from terminal 101 to MFP 103 and received by network I/F 219 include at least an instruction for first transmission processing (read transmission processing) and an instruction for second transmission processing. There is. The first transmission process instruction is an instruction to cause the scanner 222 to read a document in the MFP 103 and to fax the image data generated thereby by the fax unit 305 and the modem 223 . On the other hand, the instruction for the second transmission process is an instruction for facsimile transmission of the image data prepared on the terminal 101 side by transmission means (Fax unit 305 and modem 223) in the MFP 103. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a fax transmission application operation screen displayed on the terminal 101. As shown in FIG. The fax transmission application is an application that can be downloaded from a server on the Internet and additionally installed in the terminal 101 , and is software operated on the OS section 308 . By using the facsimile transmission application, the terminal 101 can make settings for causing the MFP 103 to perform facsimile transmission. Operations of the terminal 101, which will be described later, are executed based on instructions from the facsimile transmission application.

In particular, the operation screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the operation unit 420 when the user of the terminal 101 attempts to transmit an instruction for the first transmission process. When the fax transmission application is activated by a predetermined operation on the terminal 101, the operation screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. In this operation screen, a setting field 501 is a field for setting an MFP to execute facsimile transmission. If there are multiple MFPs, one MFP is selected by the setting field 501 . That is, when the user touches the setting field 501, the terminal 101 searches for MFPs in the vicinity, and the found MFPs are displayed in a list. The user can select an MFP to execute fax transmission from the displayed MFPs.

A setting field 502 is a field for setting a telephone number (fax number) as a destination of fax transmission. The user may enter a telephone number using a soft keyboard displayed on the terminal 101, or refer to an address book stored in the terminal 101 to select a telephone number.

A setting field 503 is a field for performing detailed settings for scanning processing (reading processing) executed using the scanner 222 of the MFP 103 . When the user touches the setting field 503, a screen for designating reading parameters such as resolution, document size, color/monochrome, etc. is displayed, and the terminal 101 receives scan settings from the user via this screen.

A fax transmission key 504 is a key for instructing the MFP 103 to execute fax transmission. When the fax transmission key 504 is pressed after the settings in the setting fields 501, 502, and 503 are completed, communication between the terminal 101 and the MFP 103 is started.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing sequence between the terminal 101 and the MFP 103 when the terminal 101 instructs the first transmission processing.

In step S601, the terminal 101 receives settings from the user via the operation screen shown in FIG. In step S<b>602 , the terminal 101 transmits a command for job generation to the MFP 103 . It is assumed that the authentication information of the user operating the terminal 101 is added to this command. Upon receiving this command, the MFP 103 responds to the terminal 101 with a response OK in step S603.

In step S604, the terminal 101 transmits to the MFP 103 a scan command instructing execution of scanning. Upon receiving this scan command, the MFP 103 determines in step S605 whether or not it can accept the scan command. This scan command acceptance determination process will be described later with reference to FIG. Determining whether or not the scan command can be accepted has the same meaning as determining whether or not the first transmission process can be accepted. As will be described below, as a result of the determination, if acceptance is permitted, the first transmission process is executed, and if acceptance is not permitted, the first transmission process is not executed. If the scan command can be accepted, the process proceeds to step S606; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S615.

In step S606, the MFP 103 responds to the terminal 101 with a response OK. In step S<b>607 , the terminal 101 transmits a job end command to the MFP 103 . Upon receiving this command, the MFP 103 responds to the terminal 101 with a response OK in step S608. When the MFP 103 finishes receiving the job communication from the terminal 101, in step S609, the document scan acceptance screen (FIG. 7) indicating acceptance of the document scan is displayed on the operation unit 220. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, a button 701 for reading and a cancel button 702 are displayed on the document scan acceptance screen. Next, in step S610, when the user presses and selects the button 701 for reading, the MFP 103 displays a scan setting screen on the operation unit 220 in step S611. Therefore, the processing shifts to the setting for starting scanning in the first transmission processing. On the other hand, when the cancel button 702 is pressed and selected, the MFP 103 transmits a response to that effect to the terminal 101 .

Although this scan setting screen is not shown, it is a screen that displays the same contents as those displayed when the setting column 503 is selected on the operation screen in FIG. In step S612, the user sets items on the scan setting screen and instructs to start scanning. In step S613, the MFP 103 performs scanning according to the items set on the scan setting screen. Specifically, the CPU 211 controls the scanner 222 to read the document and generate image data. The scan process follows the contents set in the setting field 503 in FIG. 5, but if the setting contents are changed on the scan setting screen displayed in step S611, the changed settings are followed. Then, in step S614, the MFP 103 faxes the image data generated by scanning. Specifically, the CPU 211 controls the fax unit 305 and modem 223 to fax the image data. The destination of this fax transmission is the telephone number set in the setting field 502 in FIG.

On the other hand, if the scan command cannot be accepted as a result of the determination in step S605, the MFP 103 returns a Busy response indicating that the scan command cannot be accepted to the terminal 101 in step S615. When the terminal 101 receives Busy, it waits for a predetermined period of time in step S616 and then transmits the scan command again. The MFP 103 again determines whether the scan command can be accepted in step S617, and returns the determination result in step S615 or step S618.

The terminal 101 repeats scan command transmission until acceptance of the scan command is permitted. If acceptance is permitted, the process proceeds to step S606. However, an error may be notified when the number of repeated transmissions exceeds a predetermined number of times, or when the total time of repeated transmissions exceeds a predetermined time.

As described above, when the terminal 101 instructs the MFP 103 to send a fax job including a scan command, the MFP 103 determines whether or not to accept the scan command. Then, when it can be accepted, the MFP 103 causes the operation unit 220 to display a document scan acceptance screen (FIG. 7), waits for the user's scan execution instruction, scans the document with the MFP 103, and stores the image data obtained thereby. Send a fax. As described above, in the first transmission process, image data obtained by scanning by the MFP 103 is faxed. On the other hand, a second transmission process for facsimile transmission of image data prepared on the terminal 101 side from the MFP 103 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the operation screen of the data management application displayed on the terminal 101. As shown in FIG. The terminal 101 stores image data downloaded from a network and image data captured using a camera function provided in the terminal 101 . These image data can be sequentially switched and displayed using a data management application installed in the terminal 101 . The operation screen in FIG. 8 shows how one of the stored image data is displayed.

When the user presses an operation key 801 on the operation screen of FIG. 8, a screen for selecting a function to be executed on the currently displayed image data is displayed. On this screen, in addition to the e-mail transmission application and print application, the fax transmission application described above is displayed as selection candidates. When the user selects the facsimile transmission application among these selection candidates, the operation screen is switched to that shown in FIG. Each application described above can be downloaded from a server on the Internet and additionally installed in the terminal 101 .

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a facsimile transmission application operation screen displayed on the operation unit 420 when the user of the terminal 101 attempts to transmit an instruction for the second transmission process. In this operation screen, setting fields 901, 902 and 903 are the same as the setting fields 501, 502 and 504 described with reference to FIG. 5, respectively.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing sequence between terminal 101 and MFP 103 when terminal 101 instructs the second transmission processing.

The terminal 101 receives image selection from the user via the operation screen in FIG. 8 in step S1001, and receives settings from the user via the operation screen in FIG. 9 in step S1002. Terminal 101 transmits a command for job generation to MFP 103 in step S1003. Upon receiving this command, the MFP 103 responds to the terminal 101 with a response OK in step S1004.

In step S<b>1005 , terminal 101 transmits an image command to MFP 103 . This image command includes image data to be faxed from the MFP 103 . This image data was acquired by the terminal 101 and displayed on the operation screen in FIG. The MFP 103 that has received the image command responds to the terminal 101 with a response OK in step S1006.

In step S<b>1007 , the terminal 101 transmits a job end command to the MFP 103 . Upon receiving this command, the MFP 103 responds to the terminal 101 with a response OK in step S1008. The MFP 103 faxes the image data received from the terminal 101 in step S1009. The destination of this fax transmission is the telephone number set in the setting field 902 .

In this way, the image data transmitted from the terminal 101 to the MFP 103 is facsimile-transmitted from the MFP 103 (second transmission process) according to the contents set in the terminal 101 . Scan processing on the MFP 103 side is not executed in the second transmission processing. Therefore, unlike the first transmission process, there is no need to wait for the operation of the MFP 103 by the user, and the facsimile transmission process is executed quickly.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing scan command acceptance determination processing. Each operation (step) shown in the flowchart of FIG. This process is executed in step S605 in FIG. 6 when the MFP 103 receives a scan command from the terminal 101 because the terminal 101 has instructed the first transmission process.

First, in step S1101, the CPU 211 determines whether the user authentication function of the MFP 103 is valid. As a result of the determination, the CPU 211 advances the process to step S1105 if the authentication function is valid, and advances the process to step S1102 if the authentication function is invalid.

In step S1105, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the authentication information added to the job generation command sent from the terminal 101 (in step S602 in FIG. 6) matches the authentication information of the currently logged-in user. determine whether As a result of the determination, if both pieces of authentication information match, authentication has succeeded, so the CPU 211 advances to step S1104 to enable reception of a scan command. Therefore, acceptance of the first transmission process is permitted. On the other hand, if both pieces of authentication information do not match, the authentication was not successful, so the CPU 211 proceeds to step S1103 and disables acceptance of the scan command. Therefore, acceptance of the first transmission process is not permitted. After the processing of steps S1103 and S1104, the processing of FIG. 11 ends.

In step S1102, the CPU 211 first determines the operation state of the operation unit 220 when the scan command is received. Specifically, the CPU 211 determines that at least one of the top screen is displayed on the operation unit 220 of the MFP 103 and a predetermined time has passed since the operation unit 220 was last operated is established. Determine whether the conditions are met. Note that there is no limit to the length of the certain period of time. Here, the top screen is a screen displayed on the operation unit 220, and is a screen for using each function such as copy, scan, and fax. This will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing transition of screens displayed on the operation unit 220. As shown in FIG. A home screen 1201 is a function selection screen for selecting a function to be executed by the MFP 103 . When a copy button 1207 is selected on the home screen 1201 , the screen is switched to a copy screen 1202 . When the scan button 1208 is selected, the screen is switched to the scan screen 1203 . When the fax button 1209 is selected, the fax screen 1204 is displayed. The above-described top screen corresponds to a screen for selecting each function such as the home screen 1201 and screens 1202 to 1204 for each function.

Note that when the color mode display area 1210 of the copy screen 1202 is selected, the screen is switched to a color mode selection screen 1205 . A screen for setting parameters related to the selected function, like this color mode selection screen 1205, is not included in the top screen. Note that the top screen does not include pop-up displays that are displayed without switching screens when setting function parameters.

As a result of the determination in step S1102, if the above condition is satisfied, it can be determined that the operation state of the operation unit 220 is not being operated by a user different from the user who sent the command for job generation. . Therefore, the CPU 211 enables reception of the scan command and permits reception of the first transmission process (step S1104). On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S1102 is that the top screen is not displayed on the operation unit 220 and the operation of the operation unit 220 has not continued for a certain period of time or longer, the above condition is not satisfied. In this case, it can be determined that there is a possibility that a user other than the user who sent the command for job generation is currently operating. Therefore, the CPU 211 disables acceptance of the scan command and does not permit acceptance of the first transmission process (step S1103).

In this manner, even when user authentication is not enabled in MFP 103, CPU 211 determines whether or not to accept the first transmission process according to the operation state of MFP 103 by another user. By not accepting the first transmission process during another user's operation, an erroneous operation by another user is prevented. It should be noted that what is defined as an operation state and the method of determining the operation state are not limited to those illustrated.

According to the present embodiment, when the MFP 103 receives an instruction for the first transmission process from the tablet terminal 101, the MFP 103 determines whether or not to accept the first transmission process based on the operation state of the operation unit 220. do. As a result of the determination, if the acceptance is permitted, the CPU 211 controls the scanner 222 to read the document and generate image data, and controls the fax unit 305 and modem 223 to fax the image data. . However, if the reception is not permitted, the CPU 211 does not execute the first transmission process.

As a result, regardless of whether user authentication is used or not, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations by a user other than the user who instructed the first transmission process (read transmission process) of the original image. In particular, even if there is no authentication function for authenticating the user who instructed the first transmission process, or even if there is an authentication function that is invalid, the first transmission based on the operation state of the operation unit 220 is performed. A decision is made as to whether or not the processing can be accepted. Therefore, even if the authentication function cannot be used, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations by another user. Therefore, even when the MFP 103 is shared by a plurality of users, the user authentication function is not required, and a mechanism is provided to prevent erroneous operation of the document reading and sending job due to the operation of the MFP 103 by another user. .

On the other hand, when the authentication function is valid, regardless of the operating state of the operation unit 220, whether or not to accept the first transmission process is determined based on the result of authentication by the authentication function. It is possible to quickly shift to the transmission process of 1.

Further, when the CPU 211 does not permit the acceptance, the CPU 211 returns information indicating that the acceptance is not permitted to the transmission source of the instruction as a Busy response (step S615 in FIG. 6). Thereby, it is possible to notify that the first transmission process will not be executed.

(Other examples)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by processing to It can also be implemented by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

Although the present invention has been described in detail based on its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention can be applied to the present invention. included.

103 MFPs
211 CPUs
210 control unit 219 network I/F
220 Operation Unit 222 Scanner 223 Modem 305 Fax Unit

Claims (9)

an operation means for receiving an operation from a user;
reading means for reading a document and generating image data;
a transmitting means for transmitting the image data generated by the reading means;
receiving means for receiving an instruction for reading and transmitting processing to cause the reading means to read a document and to send the image data generated by the reading means to the transmitting means;
When the reading and sending process is received by the receiving means, it is determined whether or not to accept the reading and sending process based on the operation state of the operating means, and as a result of the determination, acceptance of the reading and sending process is permitted. and control means for controlling the reading means and the sending means to execute the reading and sending process, when the image processing system. When the acceptance of the read-and-send process is not permitted, the control means does not execute the read-and-send process, and transmits information indicating that the acceptance is not permitted to the sender of the instruction of the read-and-send process. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing system transmits to. having an authentication function for authenticating a user who sent the instruction for the reading and sending process;
When the authentication function is valid, the control means determines whether or not to accept the read/send process based on a result of authentication by the authentication function regardless of the operating state of the operation means. 3. The image processing system according to claim 1 or 2. 3. The controller determines whether or not to accept the read-and-send process based on the operating state of the operating means when the read-and-send process is received and the authentication function is disabled. 4. The image processing system according to 3. 5. When a screen for selecting a function to be executed by said image processing system is displayed on said operation means, said control means permits acceptance of said reading and sending process. The image processing system according to any one of . 6. The image according to claim 5, wherein said control means does not permit acceptance of said reading and sending process when a screen for setting parameters related to the selected function is displayed on said operation means. processing system. 7. The image processing according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said control means permits acceptance of said reading and transmitting process when said operation means has not been operated continuously for a predetermined time or more. system. A control method for an image processing system comprising: operation means for receiving an operation from a user; reading means for reading a document and generating image data; and transmission means for transmitting the image data generated by the reading means. ,
a receiving step of receiving an instruction for reading and transmitting processing to cause the reading means to read a document and to send the image data generated by the reading means to the transmitting means;
When the reading and sending process is received by the receiving step, it is determined whether or not to accept the reading and sending process based on the operation state of the operating means, and as a result of the determination, acceptance of the reading and sending process is permitted. and a control step of controlling the reading means and the sending means to execute the reading and sending process when the reading means and the sending means are executed. A program that causes a computer to execute the control method of the image processing system according to claim 8 .

Images