JP4408041B2 - Image processing apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions and a control method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions (so-called multifunction peripherals), registration means for registering user identification information, input means for inputting user identification information, and registration means have been registered. Referring to the user identification information, identification means for identifying the legitimacy of the user identification information input corresponding to the processing request, and usage information for storing the image processing apparatus usage information in association with the user identification information There is provided a storage means and a control means for controlling the image processing means based on a processing request identified as valid and for updating usage information stored in accordance with the processing (patent) Reference 1).

Further, in a known facsimile apparatus, the sender / receiver information is described only when the user inputs the user identification information in the communication management report that prints the communication history information on the paper as a report. There was a thing.
JP 09-149169 A

  However, in such a conventional apparatus, since there is no means for later listing the history of image processing apparatus usage information, it becomes impossible to track the user of the apparatus in the past, which is not preferable in terms of security management. Was produced.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus and a control method thereof that can list the history of image processing apparatus usage information later.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention is a function that is user identification information and information indicating permission or non-use of each image processing function set for the user in an image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions. Storage means for storing a user registration information table having a plurality of users registered with user registration information registered with different use permission information, receiving means for receiving input of user identification information, and user identification information received by the receiving means Determining means for referring to the user registration information stored in the user registration information table on the basis of the function and determining whether or not the function-specific permission information corresponding to the requested device function is permitted to be used; , Yoo containing the above user identification information corresponding to the result and the determination result of the determination by the determining means A registration unit for registering user authentication history information, which is information relating to a user operation, a plurality of the user authentication history information registered in the registration unit, and a predetermined display including a list display of the read-out user authentication history information Control means for generating and outputting a user authentication history report.
When the user identification information received by the receiving means is not registered in the user registration information, the apparatus further includes means for not permitting all the user operations.
When it is determined that the use of the determination means is permitted, the user may be permitted to use the device function requested to be used.
When the determination means determines that use is not permitted, the user may not be permitted to use the device function requested to be used.
The user authentication history report may be output at an arbitrary timing.
The user authentication history report may be output every time the stored number of user authentication history information reaches a predetermined number.
The user authentication history report may be created by extracting only the use permission history or the use disapproval history from the user authentication history information.
The user authentication history report may be arranged by rearranging the display contents of the user authentication history information in ascending order or descending order based on the storage date information of the user authentication history information.
The user authentication history report may be arranged by rearranging display contents of the user authentication history information in ascending order or descending order based on the user identification information of the user authentication history information.
The user authentication history report may be created by extracting only those having specific user identification information from the user authentication history information.
The user authentication history report may be arranged by rearranging the display contents of the usage history information in ascending order or descending order for the image information function of the user authentication history information.

The image processing apparatus control method of the present invention is a control method for an image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions. The image processing apparatus includes user identification information and each image processing function set for the user. A storage step for storing a user registration information table having a plurality of users registered user registration information, which is information indicating use permission or non-use permission information for each user, and input of user identification information Accepting step for accepting information, and referring to the user registration information stored in the user registration information table based on the user identification information accepted by the accepting step, and for the function-specific permission information corresponding to the requested device function The determination step for determining whether or not the use is permitted and the above determination step A registration step of registering the user authentication history information, which is information about the user operations, including the above-described user identification information corresponding to the cross-sectional result and the judgment result, reads a plurality of the user authentication history information, a plurality of the thus read out And a control step of generating and outputting a predetermined user authentication history report including a list display of user authentication history information.
When the user identification information received in the receiving step is not registered in the user registration information, it is preferable not to permit all the user operations.
If it is determined that the use is permitted in the determination step, the user may be permitted to use the device function requested to be used.
When it is determined that the use is not permitted in the determination step, the user may not be permitted to use the device function requested to be used.
The user authentication history report may be output at an arbitrary timing.
The user authentication history report may be output every time the stored number of user authentication history information reaches a predetermined number.
The user authentication history report may be created by extracting only the use permission history or the use disapproval history from the user authentication history information.
The user authentication history report may be arranged by rearranging the display contents of the user authentication history information in ascending order or descending order based on the storage date information of the user authentication history information.
The user authentication history report may be arranged by rearranging display contents of the user authentication history information in ascending order or descending order based on the user identification information of the user authentication history information.
The user authentication history report may be created by extracting only those having specific user identification information from the user authentication history information.
The user authentication history report may be arranged by rearranging the display contents of the usage history information in ascending order or descending order for the image information function of the user authentication history information.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, since the history of the image processing apparatus usage information can be referred later, it is possible to track the user of the apparatus over the past, which is useful for security management. obtain.

  Also, by recording and referring to the use disapproval history, there is also an effect that it can be checked later whether a suspicious person intends to illegally use the device.

  Furthermore, even in a complex / multifunctional device that is equipped with a copy, fax, scanner function, etc. and is centrally managed, there is an effect that the usage history report can be expanded to all the installed functions.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

    FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, a plurality of personal computer devices PC1 to PCn, a server device SM, and a network multifunction device FX are connected to the local area network LAN. A personal computer apparatus PC is also connected locally to the network multifunction peripheral FX.

  Here, the server device SM provides well-known e-mail collection and distribution services to users who use the personal computer devices PC1 to PCn connected to the local area network LAN and to the network network MFP FX. It has various server functions such as a mail server function to be provided, a file server function to provide a data file storage / reading service, and a directory server function for user authentication.

  Further, the local area network LAN is connected to the Internet via the router device RT, so that the personal computer devices PC1 to PCn, the mail server device SM, and the network multifunction peripheral FX are connected to other local area networks, etc. Various data can be exchanged with a host device or the like connected to the.

  The personal computer devices PC1 to PCn have facsimile application software for creating and displaying facsimile image information and a function for transferring print data to the network MFP FX via the local area network LAN (implemented by a device driver). Etc.) are introduced and used by specific users. Here, the specific user may be one or a plurality of users.

  In addition, the network multifunction peripheral FX has a monochrome copy function, a two-color copy function, a full-color copy function, a network scanner function, and an e-mail processing function (scan-to- E-mail function) and various image processing functions such as a facsimile communication function that connects to an analog public line network PSTN and uses the public network as a transmission path to transmit image information according to a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure. ing.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network MFP FX.

  In the figure, a system control unit 1 includes applications for realizing control processing, monochrome copy function, two-color copy function, full-color copy function, network scanner function, and facsimile communication function of each unit of the network MFP FX. The system memory 2 stores a control processing program executed by the system control unit 1 and various data necessary for executing the processing program, and a system control unit. The parameter memory 3 is for storing various types of information unique to the network MFP FX, and the clock circuit 4 is for outputting current time information. .

  The color scanner 5 is for reading a document image in full color at a predetermined resolution, and the color plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image in full color or two colors (including monochrome color) at a predetermined resolution. The operation display unit 7 is for operating the network MFP FX, and includes various operation keys and various displays.

  The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal, and also decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The image storage device 9 performs encoding and compression. This is for storing a large number of image information and the like in a state of being recorded.

  The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing a modem function of the group 3 facsimile communication function, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly exchanges image information. High-speed modem functions (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.).

  The network control device 11 is for connecting the network MFP FX to the analog public network PSTN, and has an automatic outgoing / incoming function.

  The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the network MFP FX to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13 communicates with other data terminal devices via the local area network LAN. It is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data between them.

  The personal computer interface circuit 14 is for connecting the personal computer apparatus PC locally to the network multifunction peripheral FX, and the card reader 15 is for reading and inputting information on the ID card registered by the user. It is.

  The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem 10, network The control device 11, the local area network transmission control unit 13, the personal computer interface circuit 14, and the card reader 15 are connected to an internal bus 16, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed in the internal bus. 16 is carried out.

  Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is performed directly.

  Here, in the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP, and more. This is performed by applying a combination with a higher layer communication protocol (so-called protocol suite). For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol.

  In addition, as a protocol that each terminal applies to the mail server device SM in order to confirm reception of an e-mail addressed to a user, an acquisition request, or the like, a so-called POP (Post Office Protocol) can be applied.

  Further, communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, POP, and data format and data structure of e-mail are defined by RFC documents issued from IETF. For example, RFC is defined as RFC 793, IP as RFC 793, SMTP as RFC 821, and e-mail format as defined in RFC 822, RFC 1521 and RFC 1522 (MIME (Multipurpose Mail Extension) format).

  In this embodiment, user information as shown in FIG. 3A is registered in the network multifunction peripheral FX for each registered user. This user information includes a user ID for identifying each user, a user name representing the user name, user authentication information necessary for authenticating the user, and use of the user for each device function. The permission information table classified by function which memorize | stored whether it is permitted or not is contained. One piece of this user information is formed for each user and stored in the parameter memory 3, for example.

  The function-specific permission information included in the function-specific permission table includes function names (monochrome copy, two-color copy, (full) color copy, fax, scan-to-email, as shown in FIG. 5B). And the permission category (“permitted” or “not permitted”) set for the function.

  Further, the network MFP FX creates user authentication history information as shown in FIG. 4 every time a user operation is performed, and stores it in the parameter memory 3, for example. This user authentication history information includes the date and time indicating the operation date, the user ID and user name indicating the operated user, the function name indicating the requested function, and the permission classification (“permitted” or “not permitted” for the function). Authorization ”) and authorization means (“ code entry ”or“ ID card ”) for storing what the authorization operation was performed by.

  When a user's recording output request is commanded or when a predetermined number of user authentication history information is accumulated, a user authentication history report as shown in FIG. 5 is created and recorded and output from the color plotter 6. The Here, from the left, the date, user ID, user name, (target) function name, permission classification (permitted / not permitted), and permission means are printed. In the case of an unregistered user, since an unknown user ID is input, all operations of the user are not permitted, and the user name column is blank in the user authentication history report.

  In this way, in this embodiment, since the history of usage information of the image processing function can be referred to later, the user of the apparatus can be traced over the past, which is useful for security management. . In addition, by recording and referring to the use disapproval history, it can be checked later whether a suspicious person is trying to use the device illegally. Furthermore, by applying the present invention to a multi-function device that is centrally managed with a copy, fax, scanner function, etc., the usage history report that was previously limited to only facsimile devices can be applied to all installed functions. Can be deployed.

  FIG. 6 shows a part of an example of processing performed by the network multifunction peripheral FX when a use request operation is performed by the user.

  First, the user selects an apparatus function requested to be used, for example, monochrome copy, two-color copy, color copy, fax, or scan-to-email (process 101).

  As a result, the network MFP FX displays an authentication guidance message “Please input user ID (code input / ID card input)” to the user, and prompts the user to input the user ID. Request (process 102).

  Thereby, the user inputs a code of the user ID using the operation key of the operation display unit 7 or inserts the ID card that he / she brings into the card reader 15 to read the registration information.

  Therefore, the network MFP FX inputs the user ID input by the user's code input or by inserting the ID card into the card reader 15 (process 103).

  Then, with respect to the input user ID, the user verification is performed with reference to the registered user information (process 104). By this process 104, it is checked whether or not user information corresponding to the input user ID is registered (determination 105). When the result of determination 105 is YES, it corresponds to the device function requested to be used in process 101. Whether the user is permitted to use the function-specific permission information is checked (decision 106).

  When the result of determination 106 is YES, the use of the requested function is permitted (process 107), and user authentication history information is created and stored for the user's operation request at that time (process 108). Transition to processing.

When the result of determination 106 is NO, or when user information corresponding to the input user ID is not registered and the result of determination 105 is NO, the use of the requested function is not permitted. For example, an error message such as “This function is not allowed to be used” is displayed on the operation display unit 7 (process 110), and the user authentication history regarding the user operation request at that time is displayed. Information is created and stored (process 111), and this process ends.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of processing performed when the network MFP FX outputs a user authentication history report.

  First, it is monitored whether the user authentication history report recording output is requested by a user operation or the stored number of stored user authentication history information reaches a predetermined value (NO loop of determinations 201 and 202).

  Then, when the record output of the user authentication history report is requested by a user operation and the result of determination 201 is YES, or the accumulated number of stored user authentication history information reaches a predetermined value, the result of determination 202 If YES, the stored user authentication history information is read, a user authentication history report is created (process 203), and the recorded image of the created user authentication report is recorded and output from the color plotter 6 (process 204). ).

  Note that the user authentication history information used when creating the user authentication history report may be erased immediately, or after storing up to a storable capacity, a certain number is erased so that empty areas are formed. You may make it, and the management aspect can be performed arbitrarily.

  By the way, the user authentication history report in the above-described embodiment has a format arranged in the history recording order. For example, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, it may be created by extracting only the history of disapproval.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, it can also prepare in order from a new log | history.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, they can be arranged in the order of user ID, or only a specific user ID can be extracted and created as shown in FIG. 12 (ID is arbitrarily specified by the user).

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, it can be arranged in the order of target functions (every), or as shown in FIG. 14, only a specific target function can be extracted and created. (Optional)

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but is a multi-function machine having at least a plurality of image processing functions (copy + printer, copy + network scanner, copy + facsimile, copy + printer + facsimile, copy + The same applies to network scanner + facsimile, copy + network scanner + facsimile + printer, and the like.

1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network multifunction peripheral FX. Schematic which showed an example of user information and permission information classified by function. Schematic which showed an example of user authentication history information. Schematic which showed an example of the user authentication history report. 10 is a flowchart showing a part of an example of processing performed by the network multifunction peripheral FX when a use request operation is performed by a user. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed when the network MFP FX outputs a user authentication history report. Schematic which showed the other example of the user authentication history report. Schematic which showed the other example of the user authentication history report. Schematic which showed the further another example of the user authentication history report. Schematic which showed another example of a user authentication history report. Schematic which showed another example of a user authentication history report. Schematic showing yet another example of the user authentication history report. Schematic which showed another example of a user authentication history report.

Explanation of symbols

FX network multifunction device 1 system control unit 2 system memory 3 parameter memory 4 clock circuit 5 color scanner 6 color plotter 7 operation display unit 8 encoding / decoding unit 9 image storage device 10 group 3 facsimile modem 11 network control device 12 local area network Interface circuit 13 Local area network transmission control unit 14 Personal computer interface circuit 15 Card reader

Claims (22)

In an image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions,
User registration that has user identification information and user registration information that registers function-specific use permission information that indicates permission or non-use of each image processing function set for the user for multiple users Storage means for storing the information table;
A receiving means for receiving input of user identification information;
Based on the user identification information received by the receiving means, the user registration information stored in the user registration information table is referred to, and the permission information for each function corresponding to the requested device function is permitted to be used. A determination means for determining whether or not,
Registration means for registering user authentication history information, which is information relating to a user operation including the result determined by the determination means and the user identification information corresponding to the determination result ;
Control means for reading out a plurality of the user authentication history information registered in the registration means, and generating and outputting a predetermined user authentication history report including a list display of the read out user authentication history information. An image processing apparatus.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that does not permit all user operations when the user identification information received by the receiving unit is not registered in the user registration information. .   3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the use is permitted, the user is permitted to use the apparatus function requested to be used.   4. The image according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the use is not permitted, the user is not permitted to use the device function requested to be used. 5. Processing equipment.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user authentication history report is output at an arbitrary timing.   5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user authentication history report is output every time the number of stored user authentication history information reaches a predetermined number. 6.   The user authentication history report is created by extracting only a use permission history or a use disapproval history from the user authentication history information. The image processing apparatus described.   7. The user authentication history report is arranged by rearranging display contents of the user authentication history information in ascending order or descending order based on storage date information of the user authentication history information. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the above.   7. The user authentication history report is arranged by rearranging display contents of the user authentication history information in ascending order or descending order based on user identification information of the user authentication history information. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the above.   The user authentication history report is created by extracting only the user authentication history information having specific user identification information from the user authentication history information. Image processing device.   10. The user authentication history report is arranged by rearranging display contents of the use history information in ascending order or descending order for the image information function of the user authentication history information. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the above. In a control method of an image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions,
In the image processing apparatus,
User registration that has user identification information and user registration information that registers function-specific use permission information that indicates permission or non-use of each image processing function set for the user for multiple users A storage step for storing the information table;
A reception step for receiving input of user identification information;
Based on the user identification information received in the receiving step, the user registration information stored in the user registration information table is referred to, and the function-specific permission information corresponding to the requested device function is permitted to be used. A determination step for determining whether or not,
A registration step of registering user authentication history information that is information relating to a user operation including the result determined in the determination step and the user identification information corresponding to the determination result ;
A control step of reading a plurality of the user authentication history information and generating and outputting a predetermined user authentication history report including a list display of the read user authentication history information. Control method of the device.   10. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the user identification information received in the receiving step is not registered in the user registration information, all operations of the user are not permitted.   11. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the use is determined to be permitted in the determination step, the user is permitted to use the apparatus function requested to be used. .   The image according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein when it is determined that the use is not permitted in the determination step, the user is not permitted to use the device function requested to be used. A method for controlling a processing apparatus.   The method for controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the user authentication history report is output at an arbitrary timing.   16. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the user authentication history report is output every time the number of stored user authentication history information reaches a predetermined number.   18. The user authentication history report is created by extracting only a use permission history or a use disapproval history from the user authentication history information. A control method of the image processing apparatus described.   18. The user authentication history report is arranged by rearranging display contents of the user authentication history information in ascending order or descending order based on storage date information of the user authentication history information. A control method for an image processing apparatus according to any one of the above.   18. The user authentication history report is arranged by rearranging display contents of the user authentication history information in ascending order or descending order based on user identification information of the user authentication history information. A control method for an image processing apparatus according to any one of the above.   18. The user authentication history report is created by extracting only the user authentication history information having specific user identification information from the user authentication history information. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus.   18. The user authentication history report is arranged by rearranging display contents of the usage history information in ascending order or descending order for the image information function of the user authentication history information. A control method for an image processing apparatus according to any one of the above.

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