JP4661637B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and an image forming system.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers have been widely used. In particular, a color image forming apparatus may be misused for forgery of banknotes or securities, so the owner of the image forming apparatus needs to prevent the image forming apparatus from being stolen.

  To prevent unauthorized copying of the copier, for example, a password stored in a password memory that is backed up only when the copier power cable is connected, and a password entered by the user Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). If the power cable is disconnected when the copying machine is moved, the password stored in the password memory is lost, and the copying operation is not permitted.

In addition, when the password stored in the password memory matches the password entered by the user, a copier management apparatus that performs wireless communication with the host computer and obtains use permission (see Patent Document 2), copier If the password stored in the password memory matches the password entered by the user after the power is turned on, the host computer communicates with the host computer to request usage right setting, temporarily suspends the line connection, and the host computer A copier management apparatus (see Patent Document 3) that permits a copying operation after receiving a usage right setting signal from the network has also been proposed.
JP-A-8-204955 JP-A-8-195879 JP-A-8-195880

  However, in the above prior art, even a legitimate user has to input a password, and the operation is complicated.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it prevents unauthorized use of an image forming apparatus without forcing a user to perform complicated operations.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image forming apparatus that receives power supply via a power supply wiring that is detachably connected to an external power supply. A volatile memory that stores and holds authentication data corresponding to the image forming apparatus in the authentication data storage area; and a nonvolatile memory that stores authentication data that is the same as or corresponds to the authentication data in the authentication data storage area. When the image forming apparatus is activated, the data in the authentication data storage area of the volatile memory is compared with the data in the authentication data storage area of the non-volatile memory. A control unit that permits normal operation of the apparatus and restricts the operation of the image forming apparatus when the two data do not match or do not correspond to each other. To.

  The invention described in claim 2 is an image forming system comprising the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 and a host device connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. A communication unit that communicates with the host device via the network, and a power supply voltage level detection unit that detects that a power supply voltage level supplied from the external power supply is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold, When the power supply voltage level detection unit detects that the power supply voltage level is equal to or lower than the threshold, the control unit stores authentication data stored in an authentication data storage area of the volatile memory. The host device includes a storage unit that stores authentication data transmitted from the image forming apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the second aspect, the control unit detects that the power supply voltage level is equal to or lower than the threshold value by the power supply voltage level detection unit. Generating new authentication data, storing the new authentication data in the authentication data storage area of the volatile memory and the authentication data storage area of the nonvolatile memory, and transmitting the new authentication data to the host device It is characterized by that.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the second or third aspect, when the image forming apparatus is activated, the control unit and the nonvolatile data in the authentication data storage area of the volatile memory If the data in the authentication data storage area of the memory does not match or does not correspond, the authentication data stored in the storage unit of the host device is acquired via the network, and the authentication data acquired from the host device Is stored in the authentication data storage area of the volatile memory, and the data in the authentication data storage area of the volatile memory and the data in the authentication data storage area of the nonvolatile memory match or correspond to each other, the image The normal operation of the forming apparatus is permitted.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation of the image forming apparatus is restricted when the connection with the external power source is disconnected, that is, when the image forming apparatus may be moved. Unauthorized use of the image forming apparatus can be prevented without forcing a complicated operation.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the operation of the image forming apparatus is restricted when the connection with the external power source is disconnected, that is, when the image forming apparatus may be moved. Unauthorized use of the image forming apparatus can be prevented without forcing a complicated operation. Further, immediately before the power supply from the external power supply is cut off, the authentication data can be transmitted to the host device, and the authentication data can be stored in the host device.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since new authentication data is generated every time the power supply from the external power supply is cut off, the security is improved.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, even if the power supply from the external power supply is once cut off, the authentication data acquired from the host device and the data in the authentication data storage area of the nonvolatile memory match. Or, when it corresponds, the normal operation of the image forming apparatus can be permitted.

[First Embodiment]
First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 10, a power supply unit 20, a main switch 30, an operation display unit 40, an image reading unit 50, an image processing unit 60, and an image forming unit 70. They are connected by a system bus 80.

  The system control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 13, and a nonvolatile RAM (Random Access Memory) 14.

  The CPU 11 reads out various processing programs stored in the ROM 12 and comprehensively controls the processing operations of the respective units of the image forming apparatus 1 in cooperation with the programs. The ROM 12 stores various processing programs for controlling the image forming apparatus 1.

  The DRAM 13 as a volatile memory has an authentication data storage area 13 a that stores authentication data corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1. The DRAM 13 is directly supplied with power from a power supply line connected to an external power supply via the power supply unit 20, and the power is supplied even when the main switch 30 is turned off. That is, the data in the DRAM 13 is retained while the power supply unit 20 is connected to the external power supply via the power supply wiring, but the data in the DRAM 13 is erased when the connection between the power supply unit 20 and the external power supply is disconnected. The

  The nonvolatile RAM 14 as a nonvolatile memory has an authentication data storage area 14 a that stores and holds authentication data corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1. The same authentication data is stored in advance in the authentication data storage area 13 a of the DRAM 13 and the authentication data storage area 14 a of the nonvolatile RAM 14.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 is activated, the CPU 11 compares the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 with the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14, and if the two data match, the CPU 11 Normal operation is permitted (normal operation mode), and the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is restricted when the two data do not match (operation restriction mode). The normal operation includes all operations that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1.

  The power supply unit 20 converts an AC power supply (AC) such as 100V or 230V supplied via a power supply wiring that is detachably connected to an external power supply into a DC power supply (DC), and converts it to a power supply voltage level of about 5V. Then, a smoothed and stable power supply voltage is supplied to each part of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The main switch 30 is a switch for switching ON / OFF the power supply voltage supplied to the system control unit 10, the operation display unit 40, the image reading unit 50, the image processing unit 60, and the image forming unit 70.

  The operation display unit 40 includes an operation display control unit 41, hard keys 42, a touch panel 43, and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 44. The operation display control unit 41 outputs an operation signal operated from the hard key 42 or the touch panel 43 to the CPU 11. Further, the operation display control unit 41 displays various operation screens and various processing results on the LCD 44 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 11.

  The hard key 42 includes various keys such as a numeric key, a start key, and a reset key, and outputs a pressing signal to the operation display control unit 41 when each key is pressed. The touch panel 43 is integrally formed on the surface of the LCD 44, detects a position touched by a user's fingertip, a touch pen, or the like, and outputs a position signal to the operation display control unit 41. The LCD 44 displays and outputs various screens in accordance with instructions from the operation display control unit 41.

  The image reading unit 50 is a functional unit that reads a document placed on a document placing table as image data. Specifically, the image reading unit 50 reads reflected light, which is emitted from a light source and reflected by a document, into a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor via a mirror unit and an imaging lens and reads it as image data. The read image data is stored in the image memory 61.

  The image processing unit 60 performs image processing such as shading correction processing, gradation correction processing, and compression / decompression processing on the image data read by the image reading unit 50.

  The image forming unit 70 is a functional unit that forms an image on recording paper, and is based on image data read by the image reading unit 50 and subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 60, using a laser beam emitted from the exposure unit. The photosensitive drum is exposed and scanned to form an electrostatic latent image. Next, toner is attracted to the photosensitive drum by the developing unit and transferred onto the recording paper. Then, an image is formed by thermally fixing the toner to the recording paper in the fixing unit.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing executed when the image forming apparatus 1 is powered on.

  First, when the main switch 30 is turned on (step S1; YES), the system of the image forming apparatus 1 is activated (step S2). Specifically, a basic input / output system (BIOS) is started, an operating system (OS) is started, and an application is started.

  Next, the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 and the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 are compared (step S3). When the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 matches the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 (step S3; YES), the normal operation mode is set and the normal operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is performed. Is permitted (step S4). The fact that the same authentication data is stored in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 and the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 means that the state where the power supply unit 20 is connected to the external power supply is maintained. The image forming apparatus 1 is not moved.

  In step S3, when the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 and the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 do not match (step S3; NO), the operation restriction mode is set (step S5). ). The mismatch between the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 and the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 means that the connection between the power supply unit 20 and the external power supply is disconnected, that is, the image forming apparatus 1 is moved. Indicates that it may have been

  In the operation restriction mode, the resolution at the time of image reading by the image reading unit 50 is coarsened, only monochrome output is permitted in image formation by the image forming unit 70, and a stamp such as “copy” is formed at the time of image formation by the image forming unit 70 A part of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is limited such as adding and outputting. These restrictions can prevent counterfeiting of banknotes and securities.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is restricted when the connection with the external power source is disconnected, that is, when the image forming apparatus 1 may be moved. Therefore, unauthorized use of the image forming apparatus 1 can be prevented without forcing the user to perform complicated operations such as inputting a password.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the image forming system 100 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming system 100 includes an image forming apparatus 2 and a host apparatus 3 that are communicably connected via a network N. The network N is configured by a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 2 includes a system control unit 10, a power supply unit 20, a main switch 30, an operation display unit 40, an image reading unit 50, an image processing unit 60, and an image forming unit 70. They are connected by a system bus 80. Since the image forming apparatus 2 has the same configuration as that of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, a configuration and processing characteristic of the second embodiment will be described.

  The system control unit 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a DRAM 13, a nonvolatile RAM 14, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 15, and an external device I / F (InterFace) 16.

  The NIC 15 is an expansion card for connecting to the network N. The NIC 15 communicates with the host device 3 connected via the network N.

  The external device I / F 16 is an interface for connecting to an external device such as a USB interface. An example of the external device is a USB flash memory. Authentication data for normal operation of the image forming apparatus 2 is stored in the external device.

  FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the power supply unit 20. The power supply unit 20 includes a first rectifying / smoothing unit 21, a transformer transformer unit 22, a second rectifying / smoothing unit 23, a power supply voltage level detection unit 24, and a notification unit 25.

  The first rectifying / smoothing unit 21 converts AC power (AC) such as 100 V or 230 V supplied via a power supply wiring that is detachably connected to an external power source into DC power (DC). The transformer transformer 22 converts the voltage level converted to direct current by the first rectifying and smoothing unit 21 into a power supply voltage level of about 5V. The second rectifying / smoothing unit 23 smoothes the ripple of the power supply voltage converted by the transformer transformer 22 and supplies a stable power supply voltage.

  The power supply voltage level detection unit 24 detects that the power supply voltage level supplied from the external power supply is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value. Specifically, the power supply voltage level detection unit 24 includes a photocoupler including an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a phototransistor. When the power supply voltage level falls below the threshold value, the LED does not emit light, and the phototransistor changes from ON to OFF. Based on the output of the power supply voltage level detection unit 24 (ON / OFF of the phototransistor), the notification unit 25 detects a power supply voltage level drop detection signal ( 5VTTL level) is generated and output to the CPU 11.

  When the power supply voltage level drop detection signal is output from the notification unit 25, the CPU 11 generates new authentication data and stores it in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 and the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14. New authentication data is transmitted to the host device 3 via the network N.

  The host device 3 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a storage unit 3 a that stores authentication data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 2. In the storage unit 3a, IP addresses of a plurality of image forming apparatuses in the network N and authentication data for normal operation of each image forming apparatus are stored in association with each other.

  When the image forming apparatus 2 is activated, the CPU 11 compares the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 with the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14, and if the two data match, the CPU 11 Allow normal operation.

  Further, when the image forming apparatus 2 is started up, if the data in the authentication data storage area 13 a of the DRAM 13 does not match the data in the authentication data storage area 14 a of the nonvolatile RAM 14, the CPU 11 via the network N The authentication data stored in the storage unit 3 a is acquired and stored in the authentication data storage area 13 a of the DRAM 13. When the data stored in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 matches the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14, the normal operation of the image forming apparatus 2 is permitted. When the communication with the host device 3 cannot be executed, or when the authentication data acquired from the host device 3 does not match the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14, the CPU 11 performs the operation of the image forming device 2. Restrict.

  In addition, the CPU 11 acquires authentication data stored in the external device via the external device I / F 16 and stores the authentication data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 and the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14, thereby causing the image forming apparatus to 2 normal operation is permitted.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 2 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed while the image forming apparatus 2 is operating in the normal operation mode.

  As shown in FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the main switch 30 is turned off (step S11). When the main switch 30 is not turned off (step S11; NO), the power supply voltage level detection unit 24 detects whether or not the power supply voltage level supplied from the external power supply is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value. (Step S12). If the power supply voltage level is not below the threshold (step S12; NO), the process returns to step S11.

  If the main switch 30 is turned off in step S11 (step S11; YES), or if the power supply voltage level is equal to or lower than the threshold value in step S12 (step S12; YES), new authentication data is generated. (Step S13). The generated new authentication data is stored in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 and the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 (step S14). Then, this new authentication data is transmitted to the host device 3 via the network N (step S15), and the power is turned off (step S16).

  In the host device 3, the authentication data stored in the storage unit 3 a in association with the IP address of the image forming device 2 is updated based on the new authentication data transmitted from the image forming device 2.

Next, processing executed when the image forming apparatus 2 is turned on will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when the main switch 30 is turned on (step S21; YES), the system of the image forming apparatus 2 is activated (step S22).

  Next, the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 and the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 are compared (step S23). If the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 matches the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 (step S23; YES), the normal operation mode is set and the normal operation of the image forming apparatus 2 is performed. Is permitted (step S24).

  In step S23, when the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 and the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 do not match (step S23; NO), it is determined whether or not communication with the host device 3 is possible. Is determined (step S25). The image forming apparatus 2 stores the IP address of the host apparatus 3 in advance, and communication with the host apparatus 3 is performed based on the IP address. The image forming apparatus 2 can communicate with the host apparatus 3 only when it exists within the network N (within the same LAN as the host apparatus 3), and cannot communicate beyond the firewall.

  If communication with the host apparatus 3 is possible (step S25; YES), authentication data stored in association with the IP address of the image forming apparatus 2 is acquired from the storage unit 3a of the host apparatus 3, It is stored in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 (step S26). If the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 matches the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 (step S27; YES), the normal operation mode is set and the image forming apparatus is set. 2 normal operation is permitted (step S24). In this case, there is a possibility that the connection between the power supply unit 20 and the external power supply is once disconnected and reconnected, or the image forming apparatus 2 may be moved within the network N.

  If communication with the host device 3 cannot be performed in step S25 (step S25; NO), the operation restriction mode is set (step S28). In this case, the cause may be that the image forming apparatus 2 does not exist in the network N, or that the image forming apparatus 2 is not properly registered.

  Also, in step S27, when the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 does not match the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 (step S27; NO), the operation restriction mode is set. (Step S28).

  If the external device is not connected to the external device I / F 16 while the image forming apparatus 2 is operating in the operation restriction mode (step S29; NO), the operation restriction mode is continued (step S28).

  When an external device is connected to the external device I / F 16 while the image forming apparatus 2 is operating in the operation restriction mode (step S29; YES), authentication data stored in advance in the external device is acquired, and the DRAM 13 Are stored in the authentication data storage area 13a and the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14 (step S30). That is, the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 matches the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14, and the normal operation of the image forming apparatus 2 is permitted (step S24).

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 2, the authentication data is transmitted to the host apparatus 3 immediately before the power supply from the external power supply is cut off, so that the power supply from the external power supply is once cut off. Even when the authentication data acquired from the host device 3 matches the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14, the normal operation of the image forming apparatus 2 can be permitted. Further, since the new authentication data is generated every time the power supply from the external power supply is turned off or every time the main switch 30 is turned off, the security is improved.

  Further, as an emergency return means by an administrator or the like, normal operation of the image forming apparatus 2 can be permitted using authentication data stored in an external device.

  Note that the descriptions in the above embodiments are examples of the image forming apparatus and the image forming system according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of each part of the image forming apparatus and the image forming system can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, when the data in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 matches the data in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14, the normal operation of the image forming apparatus 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 is performed. However, the authentication data corresponding to the authentication data stored in the authentication data storage area 13a of the DRAM 13 may be stored in the authentication data storage area 14a of the nonvolatile RAM 14. In that case, in the image forming apparatus 1 or the image forming apparatus 2, the correspondence relationship between the authentication data is determined in advance, and the data in the authentication data storage area 13 a of the DRAM 13 and the data in the authentication data storage area 14 a of the nonvolatile RAM 14. The normal operation of the image forming apparatus 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 is permitted when the two correspond to each other, and the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 is limited when the two data do not correspond.

  In each of the above embodiments, the nonvolatile RAM 14 has been described as an example of the nonvolatile memory. However, the nonvolatile memory is a memory that does not lose its memory even when the power is turned off, and is a ROM or EPROM (Erasable). and a RAM backed up by a battery.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed when the image forming apparatus 1 is powered on. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming system 100 in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power supply unit 20. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed while the image forming apparatus 2 is operating in a normal operation mode. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed when the image forming apparatus 2 is powered on.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image forming apparatus 3 Host apparatus 3a Storage part 10 System control part 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 DRAM
13a Authentication data storage area 14 Non-volatile RAM
14a Authentication data storage area 15 NIC
16 External device I / F
20 power supply unit 24 power supply voltage level detection unit 25 notification unit 30 main switch 40 operation display unit 50 image reading unit 60 image processing unit 61 image memory 70 image forming unit 80 system bus 100 image forming system N network

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus that receives power supply via a power supply wiring that is detachably connected to an external power supply,
Volatile memory that receives power supply directly from the power supply wiring and stores authentication data corresponding to the image forming apparatus in an authentication data storage area;
A non-volatile memory for storing and holding authentication data identical or corresponding to the authentication data in an authentication data storage area;
When the image forming apparatus is started up, the data in the authentication data storage area of the volatile memory is compared with the data in the authentication data storage area of the nonvolatile memory. A control unit that permits normal operation of the image forming apparatus and restricts the operation of the image forming apparatus when both data do not match or do not correspond to each other,
An image forming apparatus comprising: An image forming system comprising: the image forming apparatus according to claim 1; and a host device connected to the image forming apparatus via a network.
The image forming apparatus includes:
A communication unit that communicates with the host device via the network;
A power supply voltage level detection unit for detecting that the power supply voltage level supplied from the external power supply is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold;
With
When the power supply voltage level detection unit detects that the power supply voltage level is equal to or lower than the threshold, the control unit stores authentication data stored in an authentication data storage area of the volatile memory. To the device,
The image forming system, wherein the host device includes a storage unit for storing authentication data transmitted from the image forming device. The image forming system according to claim 2.
The control unit generates new authentication data when the power supply voltage level detection unit detects that the power supply voltage level is equal to or lower than the threshold, and the new authentication data is stored in the volatile memory. An image forming system which stores an authentication data storage area and an authentication data storage area of the non-volatile memory, and transmits the new authentication data to the host device. The image forming system according to claim 2 or 3,
When the image forming apparatus is started up, the control unit does not match or correspond to the data in the authentication data storage area of the volatile memory and the data in the authentication data storage area of the nonvolatile memory. The authentication data stored in the storage unit of the host device is acquired via the host device, the authentication data acquired from the host device is stored in the authentication data storage area of the volatile memory, and the authentication data storage of the volatile memory is stored. An image forming system, wherein normal operation of the image forming apparatus is permitted when data in the area and data in the authentication data storage area of the nonvolatile memory match or correspond to each other.

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