JP4724028B2 - Communication terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for registering biometric information in a communication terminal device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technology for setting a password in advance in a communication terminal device in order to limit users is known. Recently, a technique using biometric information such as a fingerprint instead of a password has been proposed. Such a technique is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

  The device described in Patent Document 1 performs fingerprint authentication. When fingerprint authentication is successful, each operation such as printing and FAX communication is permitted, and when fingerprint authentication fails, the operation proceeds to fingerprint data registration mode. To do.

JP 2005-250541 A

  The communication terminal device may manage user information specific to the user to be used. In such a case, a user who is permitted to use performs an operation of calling his / her registered user information. There was a problem that it took time. Further, when considering such use, there is a problem that it is generally difficult to input user information (especially information represented by characters other than numerals) with a communication terminal device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to reduce the burden on an operator when biometric information is registered together with user information.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is a communication terminal device connected to an external device via a network, wherein at least one processing unit and communication for receiving user information from the external device Registration reservation information by associating means, acquisition means for acquiring a passcode unique to the user, storage means for storing information, user information received by the communication means, and passcode acquired by the acquisition means Based on the reservation means to be stored in the storage means, accepting means for accepting biometric information unique to each individual user, input means for accepting a passcode unique to the user, and the passcode accepted by the input means, the memory Extraction means for extracting corresponding user information from the registered reservation information stored in the means, and extracted by the extraction means Registration means for associating and registering the user information and the biometric information received by the accepting means as registration information, authentication is performed based on the biometric information accepted by the accepting means, and the registration information registered by the registering means A biometric authentication unit that reads specific user information from the inside, and a control unit that controls the at least one processing unit according to the specific user information read by the biometric authentication unit. .

  The invention of claim 2 is a communication terminal apparatus according to the invention of claim 1, wherein the acquisition means acquires a passcode from the external device.

  Further, the invention of claim 3 is the communication terminal apparatus according to the invention of claim 2, wherein the reservation means is stored as registration reservation information in the passcode acquired by the acquisition means and the storage means. Passcodes are sequentially compared, and if the passcode acquired by the acquisition means matches the passcode stored as registration reservation information in the storage means, the user information received by the communication means is registered. It is prohibited to store the information as reservation information, and the communication unit is caused to transmit information indicating the fact to the external device.

  Further, the invention of claim 4 is the communication terminal device according to the invention of claim 3, wherein the registration means is associated with the user information when registering the user information and the biological information in association with each other. The pass code is deleted from the registered reservation information.

Further, the invention of claim 5 is the communication terminal apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the user information includes information related to the authority to use the communication terminal apparatus. .

The invention of claim 6 is the communication terminal apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the biometric information received by the receiving means is fingerprint information.

The invention of claim 7 is a communication terminal apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the communication means is a predetermined input screen for inputting user information to the external apparatus. In addition to transmitting data, user information input for the predetermined input screen data is received from the external device.

Further, the invention of claim 8 is a communication terminal device connected to an external device via a network, and is a registration reservation in which at least one processing unit is associated with user information and a passcode unique to the user. Based on the communication means for receiving information from the external device, the accepting means for accepting biometric information unique to an individual user, the input means for accepting a passcode unique to the user, and the passcode accepted by the input means, As registration information, the extraction means for extracting corresponding user information from the registration reservation information received by the communication means, the user information extracted by the extraction means and the biological information received by the reception means are associated with each other. Registration means for registration and authentication registered based on the biometric information received by the accepting means and registered by the registering means A biometric authentication unit that reads specific user information from the information; and a control unit that controls the at least one processing unit according to the specific user information read by the biometric authentication unit. And

The invention according to claim 9 is a communication terminal device connected via a network to an external device that stores registration reservation information in which user information and a passcode unique to the user are associated with each other. A processing unit, accepting means for accepting biometric information unique to each individual user, input means for accepting a passcode unique to the user, and transmitting the passcode accepted by the input means to the external device, and the registration reservation The communication means for receiving the user information associated with the passcode in the information from the external device, the user information received by the communication means and the biometric information received by the reception means are registered as registration information. And a registration unit that performs authentication based on the biometric information received by the receiving unit and registers by the registration unit. Biometric authentication means for reading specific user information from the registered information, and control means for controlling the at least one processing unit according to the specific user information read by the biometric authentication means. It is characterized by that.

According to the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, the received user information and the acquired passcode are stored in association with each other as registration reservation information, and the registration reservation is made based on the received passcode at the time of registration. The user information can be acquired from the external device by extracting the corresponding user information from the information, and registering the extracted user information and the received biometric information in association with each other, so that the operator at the time of registration The burden of is reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, an arbitrary passcode can be issued on the operator side by acquiring the passcode from the external device.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the acquired passcode is sequentially compared with the passcode stored as the registration reservation information, and the acquired passcode and the passcode stored as the registration reservation information match. In such a case, it is prohibited to store the received user information as registration reservation information, and when the pass code is duplicated by sending information indicating the fact to the external device, it is erroneously registered. Can be prevented.

  In the invention according to claim 4, when the user information and the biometric information are registered in association with each other, the passcode associated with the user information is deleted from the registration reservation information, so that the registered information is automatically deleted. Can be erased.

In the invention described in the present application , when the communication means receives user information from the external device, the passcode is generated, and the generated passcode is transmitted to the external device, thereby preventing the occurrence of passcode duplication. .

The invention according to claim 8 extracts the corresponding user information from the received registration reservation information based on the received passcode, and registers the extracted user information and the received biological information in association with each other as registration information. As a result, the user information can be acquired from the external device, which reduces the burden on the operator during registration.

In the invention according to claim 9 , user information associated with the passcode is received from an external device, and the received user information and the received biological information are associated with each other and registered as registration information. Since it can be obtained from an external device, the burden on the operator during registration is reduced.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<1. Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multi-function device 1 as a communication terminal device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional block and a network configuration of the multifunction machine 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction device 1 is connected to the information processing device 9 via the network NW, and the multifunction device 1 and the information processing device 9 are in a state in which data communication is possible. For example, the network NW may be the Internet or a LAN, but is not limited thereto, and may be a USB connection or a connection using a dedicated cable.

  In the following description, for the sake of convenience, a user refers to a person who uses the multifunction device 1, and an operator is distinguished from a person who uses the information processing apparatus 9.

  The multifunction machine 1 includes a receiving unit 2 that receives biometric information unique to an individual user, an operation unit 3 that is operated by the user, and a display unit 4 that displays various types of information.

  The accepting unit 2 in the present embodiment handles fingerprint information 132 (see FIG. 3 described later) as biometric information. That is, the reception unit 2 has a function of reading a human fingerprint and generating fingerprint information 132 based on the feature points. The fingerprint information 132 generated by the receiving unit 2 is temporarily stored in the RAM 13. The biometric information is not limited to the fingerprint information 132, and may be, for example, retinal pattern information, vein pattern information, or voiceprint information.

  The operation unit 3 mainly has a plurality of buttons such as a numeric keypad. The user operates the operation unit 3 to input a passcode unique to the user (hereinafter referred to as “registration request passcode”) or the like to the multifunction device 1. The display unit 4 is a liquid crystal panel display.

  The multifunction device 1 includes a scanner unit 5 and a printer unit 6 as processing units, and further includes a paper feed cassette 7 and a paper discharge tray 8. The scanner unit 5 is disposed on the upper part of the multi-function device 1 and generates image data by optically reading a document. The printer unit 6 has a function of printing an image on a recording sheet supplied from the paper feed cassette 7 and discharging the recording sheet to a discharge tray 8.

  The paper feed cassette 7 stores predetermined paper therein and supplies the paper to the printer unit 6 as necessary. Further, the paper on which the image is formed (printed) by the printer unit 6 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 8.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction device 1 includes, as a control unit 10, an MPU 11 that performs various data calculations, a ROM 12 that mainly stores programs, a RAM 13 that is mainly used as a working area of the MPU 11, and a relatively long-term operation. And a disk device 14 for storing information.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing functional blocks provided when the MPU 11 operates according to a program. The communication unit 110, the acquisition unit 111, the reservation unit 112, the extraction unit 113, the registration unit 114, and the biometric authentication unit 115 illustrated in FIG. 3 are the functional blocks described above.

  The communication unit 110 is a functional block for performing data communication with the information processing apparatus 9 via the LAN interface 17 and the network NW. In addition, the communication unit 110 transmits the input screen information 130 to the information processing device 9 in response to a request from the information processing device 9. In the present embodiment, a request from the information processing apparatus 9 is received by the communication unit 110 as a request signal.

  The input screen information 130 is information that has been created in advance and stored in the disk device 14, and is information related to a screen layout that allows the information processing device 9 to input the user information 131 in a predetermined format. By transmitting such input screen information 130, the multifunction device 1 has a function as a so-called Web server.

  Further, the communication unit 110 receives the user information 131 transmitted from the information processing apparatus 9 and transfers it to the RAM 13.

  The user information 131 is information including personal information and information related to the right to use the multifunction device 1 and is generated by the information processing apparatus 9. The personal information includes, for example, a user ID, name, department, mail address, mobile phone number, and the like. The information about the authority to use the multifunction device 1 includes, for example, whether or not the scanner unit 5 or the printer unit 6 can be used, whether or not color copying is possible in the printer unit 6, whether or not personal address book registration is possible, whether or not personal menu registration is possible, and shared address Whether or not book editing is possible, sharing menu registration editing is possible, or device setting change is possible. However, each item of the user information 131 shown here is an example and is not an essential item. Moreover, it is not necessarily limited to the item shown here, Other items may be provided and the provided item may differ for every user.

  In addition, the communication unit 110 transfers the reservation passcode 132 received from the information processing apparatus 9 to the acquisition unit 111. Furthermore, when a duplication signal (described later) is input from the reservation unit 112, the communication unit 110 transmits error information indicating that the reservation passcode is duplicated to the information processing apparatus 9.

  The acquisition unit 111 acquires a pass code (hereinafter referred to as “reservation pass code”) from the information processing apparatus 9 via the communication unit 110. The acquired reservation passcode is transferred to the RAM 13 and stored as the reservation passcode 132.

  The reservation unit 112 has a function of generating registration reservation information 133 and storing it in the RAM 13. Note that the registration reservation information 133 stored in the RAM 13 is appropriately transferred to and stored in the disk device 14 and read out to the RAM 13 as necessary.

  The reservation unit 112 sequentially compares the acquired reservation passcode 132 with the reservation passcode already stored as the registered reservation information 133 every time the reservation passcode 132 is newly acquired by the acquisition unit 111.

  If the newly acquired reservation passcode 132 and the reservation passcode stored as the registered reservation information 133 are not duplicated, the user information 131 received by the communication unit 110 and the acquisition unit 111 are used. New registration reservation information 133 is generated in association with the reservation passcode 132 and stored in the RAM 13. That is, the reservation unit 112 updates the registration reservation information 133.

  On the other hand, when the newly acquired reservation passcode 132 and the reservation passcode stored as the registered reservation information 133 overlap, the association between the user information 131 and the reservation passcode 132 is prohibited. That is, the registration reservation information 133 is not updated. At this time, the reservation unit 112 transmits a duplicate signal to the communication unit 110.

  As a result of the processing of the reservation unit 112, the registration reservation information 133 is obtained from the user information 131 regarding the user who has not been registered (ie, the user waiting for registration) among the users permitted to be registered by the operator, and the user. Is generated (updated) as information associated with the reservation passcode 132 issued in this manner.

  Based on the registration request passcode 134 received by the operation unit 3, the extraction unit 113 searches the registered reservation information 133 that is already stored. That is, a reservation passcode that matches the registration request passcode 134 is searched while comparing the registration request passcode 134 with the reservation passcode stored in the registration reservation information 133.

  If there is a reserved passcode that matches the registration request passcode 134, user information (hereinafter referred to as “extracted user information”) associated with the reserved passcode from the registered reservation information 133. ).

  That is, the extracted user information is the user information 131 of the user who has input the registration request passcode 134 (the user who intends to register). Although not shown in FIG. 3, the extraction unit 113 in the present embodiment uses not only the registration request passcode 134 but also the user ID when selecting user information (described later).

  Further, the extraction unit 113 transmits the search result of the registration reservation information 133 using the registration request passcode 134 to the registration unit 114. That is, when the extracted user information is extracted by the registration request passcode 134, the extracted user information is transmitted to the registration unit 114, and when the extracted user information cannot be extracted, a control signal ( (Hereinafter referred to as “non-extractable signal”) is transmitted to the registration unit 114.

  The registration unit 114 has a function of generating (or updating) registration information 136 in response to a control signal from the biometric authentication unit 115 (hereinafter referred to as “registration request signal”).

  When the registration unit 114 receives the registration request signal from the biometric authentication unit 115, the registration unit 114 associates the extracted user information extracted by the extraction unit 113 with the fingerprint information (biometric information) 135 received by the reception unit 2 to register the registration information 136. Is generated and stored in the RAM 13. As a result, the registration information 136 is updated and registered in the RAM 13. The registration information 136 stored in the RAM 13 is appropriately transferred to and stored in the disk device 14 and read out to the RAM 13 as necessary.

  In addition, when the registration unit 114 generates (or updates) the registration information 136, the registration unit 114 transmits a control signal (hereinafter referred to as a “registration completion signal”) indicating the fact to the biometric authentication unit 115 and registers it. The user information (extracted user information) and the reservation passcode associated therewith are deleted from the registered reservation information 133.

  Furthermore, when the extraction impossible signal is input from the extraction unit 113, the registration unit 114 outputs the signal to the biometric authentication unit 115.

  The biometric authentication unit 115 searches the registration information 136 based on the fingerprint information 135 received by the reception unit 2 and authenticates the user registered by the registration unit 114.

  That is, the fingerprint information 135 received by the receiving unit 2 and the fingerprint information registered as the registration information 136 are sequentially compared. If fingerprint information that matches the fingerprint information 135 is recorded (registered) in the registration information 136, the user information associated with the fingerprint information is read as specific user information 137 into the RAM 13.

  On the other hand, if fingerprint information that matches the fingerprint information 135 is not registered in the registration information 136, that effect is displayed on the display unit 4.

  The biometric authentication unit 115 has a function of determining whether the fingerprint information 135 is suitable for registration. When the fingerprint information 135 is suitable for registration, a registration request signal is transmitted to the registration unit 114 and a message requesting a registration request passcode is displayed on the display unit 4.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the multi function device 1 includes an NCU 15 and a MODEM 16 as a configuration for connecting to the public line network. The NCU 15 provides a function of sending a call signal to the public line network and connecting the multi-function device 1 to the public line network based on a signal from the exchange. The MODEM 16 provides a function of converting a digital signal into an audio signal and converting a received audio signal into a digital signal. Thereby, for example, the multifunction device 1 can perform facsimile communication with a facsimile apparatus connected to the public line network.

  The LAN interface 17 has a function of connecting the multifunction machine 1 to the network NW. As described above, the multifunction machine 1 acquires the user information 131 and the reserved passcode 132 from the information processing apparatus 9 via the LAN interface 17.

  The information processing apparatus 9 has a function as a general personal computer. The information processing apparatus 9 is mainly used to generate the user information 131. Since the information processing apparatus 9 includes an excellent input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, an operator (administrator) can use characters other than numbers. User information 131 including information can be easily input.

  Since the operator can also input user information 131 related to a plurality of users to the information processing apparatus 9 at once, the work load is reduced. Furthermore, by inputting the user information 131 in advance, the user does not need to wait for the user information 131 to be input when desired, and can immediately use the multifunction device 1.

  The information processing apparatus 9 includes a display device that can display a relatively large amount of information, and displays the input screen information 130 received from the multifunction device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 9 is connected to the multi-function device 1 through a network NW in a state where data communication is possible. In the information processing apparatus 9, when the operator performs a process of generating the user information 131 (hereinafter referred to as “user information generation process”), the above-described request signal is sent from the information processing apparatus 9 to the multifunction device 1. Sent.

  The above is the description of the configurations and functions of the multifunction machine 1 and the information processing apparatus 9. Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus 9 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing user information creation processing in the information processing apparatus 9.

  The information processing apparatus 9 instructed by the operator to start the user information creation process transmits a request signal for requesting the multifunction device 1 to transmit the input screen information 130 (step S11). Is monitored (step S12).

  When the input screen information 130 is transmitted from the multi-function peripheral 1 and the information processing apparatus 9 receives the input screen information 13 (Yes in step S12), the information processing apparatus 9 sends the information to the display device based on the received input screen information 130. An input screen is displayed (step S13).

  The input screen is a screen that prompts the user to input information requested by the multifunction device 1 without error, and the operator inputs the information according to the input screen, thereby transmitting necessary information to the multifunction device 1. In the present embodiment, user information 131 and reserved passcode 132 are input by an operator as necessary information.

  Note that the reservation passcode 132 may be automatically issued (determined) by the information processing apparatus 9 and notified to the operator. For example, the information processing apparatus 9 may obtain a hash value based on the input user information 131 and automatically generate a reservation passcode 132 for identifying the user information 131 based on the hash value.

  Further, the input screen may be configured so that information other than the user information 131 and the reservation passcode 132 can be input. That is, information for managing the multifunction device 1 (information independent of individual users, for example, the identification number of the multifunction device 1) or the like may be input in accordance with the input screen. The information processing apparatus 9 can also transmit such management information to the multifunction device 1.

  While the information processing apparatus 9 displays the input screen, the information processing apparatus 9 monitors whether an instruction indicating that the input has been completed is input by the operator (step S14).

  When the input is completed (Yes in step S14), the information processing apparatus 9 transmits the input user information 131 and the reserved passcode 132 to the multi function device 1 (steps S15 and S16), and monitors whether the transmission is completed. (Step S17). The information processing apparatus 9 repeats the process from step S15 when the transmission is not normally performed, and ends the user information creation process when the transmission is normally completed.

  It is also conceivable that all information necessary for the registration process (described later) is input by the information processing device 9. However, for example, when the fingerprint information 135 is to be input by the information processing apparatus 9, a configuration corresponding to the reception unit 2 must be provided in the information processing apparatus 9. However, since such a configuration is not provided in a general computer, the cost of the information processing apparatus 9 increases.

  On the other hand, when the operation of the multifunction device 1 is controlled using biometric information, the reception unit 2 must be provided in the multifunction device 1 for authentication. That is, even if the information processing apparatus 9 has a configuration corresponding to the reception unit 2, the reception unit 2 cannot be omitted from the multifunction device 1, and the cost of the multifunction device 1 cannot be suppressed. Therefore, as shown in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the receiving unit 2 is provided only in the multifunction machine 1 is most effective in suppressing the apparatus cost.

  Further, when the fingerprint information 135 is input to the information processing apparatus 9 only for the registration process, the fingerprint (biological information) is inseparable from the individual user, so the user deliberately goes to the information processing apparatus 9. There is a need. On the other hand, since it is necessary to go to the multifunction device 1 to use the multifunction device 1, it is not so burdensome for the user to visit the multifunction device 1 for registration processing.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction device 1 when the user uses the multifunction device 1 will be described. It is assumed that the operator separately informs the user of his / her reservation passcode 132 in advance.

  5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the multi function device 1. First, the multifunction device 1 monitors whether a request signal or user information 131 is received by the communication unit 110 or whether the fingerprint information 135 is received by the receiving unit 2 (steps S21, S23, and S28). The MFP 1 in this state is in a state where use of some or all of the functions is prohibited (hereinafter referred to as “restricted mode”).

  When the request signal is received in the restricted mode (Yes in step S21), the multi-function device 1 transmits the input screen information 130 to the information processing apparatus 9 (step S22). Thereby, the multifunction device 1 realizes a function as a Web server.

  When the user information 131 transmitted from the information processing apparatus 9 is received in the restricted mode (Yes in step S23), the communication unit 110 transfers the received user information 131 to the RAM 13. In addition, the reservation passcode 132 transmitted from the information processing apparatus 9 together with the user information 131 is transferred to the acquisition unit 111. Thereby, the acquisition unit 111 acquires the reservation passcode 132 and transfers it to the RAM 13 (step S24).

  Next, the reservation unit 112 searches the stored registration reservation information 133 using the acquired reservation passcode 132, and the reservation passcode that matches the acquired reservation passcode 132 is already registered reservation information 133. It is determined whether or not it is registered. Thereby, the reservation part 112 determines whether the reservation passcode 132 acquired in step S24 overlaps (step S25).

  If the acquired reservation passcode 132 is not duplicated (No in step S25), the reservation unit 112 registers the user information 131 received in step S23 and the reservation passcode 132 acquired in step S25 in association with each other. Registration is made in the reservation information 133 (step S26). As a result, the user information 131 of the user permitted to be registered by the operator is stored in the multifunction device 1 together with the reserved passcode 132.

  On the other hand, when the acquired reservation passcodes 132 are duplicated (Yes in step S25), the reservation unit 112 transmits the duplication signal to the communication unit 110 without performing registration in the registration reservation information 133. Then, the communication unit 110 transmits information indicating that the reserved passcode 132 is duplicated to the information processing apparatus 9, and notifies the information processing apparatus 9 of an error (step S27).

  This prevents duplicate registration of the reservation passcode 132. The information processing apparatus 9 notified of such an error from the multi-function device 1 displays that fact and inputs the user information 131 and the reservation passcode 132 again.

  When the accepting unit 2 accepts the fingerprint information 135 in the restricted mode (Yes in step S28), the accepted fingerprint information 135 is first transferred and stored in the RAM 13. A user who desires to use the multifunction device 1 inputs his / her fingerprint into the multifunction device 1 by pressing the fingertip against the receiving unit 2 of the multifunction device 1.

  Next, the biometric authentication unit 115 searches the registration information 136 based on the fingerprint information 135. More specifically, the registration information 136 is searched using the fingerprint information 135 as a search key, and it is determined whether or not the fingerprint information that matches the received fingerprint information 135 is registered (stored) as the registration information 136 (step S31). . As a result, the user who has input the fingerprint information 135 is authenticated by the biometric authentication unit 115.

  When fingerprint information that matches the fingerprint information 135 is registered, the biometric authentication unit 115 reads out the user information associated with the matched fingerprint information from the registration information 136 as specific user information 137 (step S32). Normally, a plurality of pieces of user information are registered in the registration information 136. However, when step S32 is executed, the user information of the user who has input the fingerprint information 135 from among the plurality of pieces of user information is the specific user information 137. Identified as

  When the specific user information 137 is read, the control unit 10 sets the specific user information 137 as user information in the operation process (step S33), and performs a normal operation process (step S34). The operation process is a process in a state in which a part or all of the functions prohibited from being used in the restriction mode are released (hereinafter referred to as “release mode”). In other words, the multifunction device 1 shifts to the release mode when step S33 is executed.

  In the release mode, the control unit 10 provides various functions by each processing unit (the display unit 4, the scanner unit 5, the printer unit 6, and the like). The operation of the multifunction device 1 in the operation processing is selected and determined by a processing request input by the user. That is, when step S33 is executed, the multifunction device 1 is in a state of accepting a processing request from the user.

  Note that the state of the multifunction device 1 in the release mode varies depending on the content of the specific user information 137. That is, in the specific user information 137, only permitted functions can be operated, and functions that are not permitted are continuously prohibited from being used. These determinations and the like are mainly performed by the control unit 10 analyzing the usage authority included in the specific user information 137 and generating a control signal based on the analysis.

  The specific user information 137 is user information 131 input by the operator in the information processing apparatus 9. Therefore, the operation of the multi-function device 1 based on the specific user information 137 in the release mode corresponds to the operation of the multi-function device 1 with the contents set in advance by the operator for each user.

  Furthermore, the display unit 4 in the present embodiment can also display personal information (for example, name) included in the specific user information 137. Thereby, the user can easily recognize that his / her user information is specified.

  When shifting to the release mode, the control unit 10 continues the operation process while monitoring whether or not the user has instructed the end of the process (step S35).

  When the user inputs an instruction to end the use of the multifunction device 1, the multifunction device 1 determines Yes in step S35, returns to step S21, and repeats the process. That is, the mode shifts again from the release mode to the restriction mode.

  Assuming that the user forgets to input the end instruction and leaves the multifunction device 1, the time when the multifunction device 1 is not operated is measured, and the process automatically returns to step S21. May be. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a person without usage authority from using the multifunction machine 1.

  Further, when the operation process is ended, information regarding the user who uses the multifunction device 1 may be included in the specific user information 137, and the updated specific user information 137 may be stored in the registration information 136 again. As such information, for example, the setting contents of the multifunction machine 1 input according to the user's preference, the usage status (the number of copies, etc.) and the like can be considered.

  On the other hand, if the fingerprint information 135 is not registered in the registration information 136 (No in step S31), the multifunction device 1 proceeds to a process of registering the accepted fingerprint information 135 (hereinafter referred to as “registration mode”). That is, the multifunction device 1 shifts from the restriction mode to the registration mode.

  When the registration mode is entered, the biometric authentication unit 115 first determines whether or not the fingerprint information 135 can be registered while extracting feature points from the fingerprint information 135 received in step S28 (step S36).

  If the fingerprint information 135 is not suitable for registration (No in step S36), the multifunction device 1 returns to step S21 and repeats the process. That is, the registration mode is terminated and the restriction mode is entered. At this time, the biometric authentication unit 115 may display the fact on the display unit 4.

  If the fingerprint information 135 is suitable for registration (Yes in step S36), the biometric authentication unit 115 transmits a registration request signal to the registration unit 114. When the registration request signal is transmitted, the registration unit 114 stands by until the extraction user information (or extraction impossible signal) is transmitted from the extraction unit 113.

  At this time, the biometric authentication unit 115 may display a message that prompts the display unit 4 to input a registration request passcode (and a user ID). Thereby, the user can easily understand that he / she is not yet registered and needs to input the registration request passcode. Therefore, the user who sees this message operates the operation unit 3 to input the registration request passcode notified in advance by the operator and the user ID.

  When the operation unit 3 receives the user ID and the registration request passcode (step S37), a registration request passcode 134 is first generated and transferred to the RAM 13. The extraction unit 113 searches the registration reservation information 133 using the registration request passcode 134 as a search key, and determines whether or not a reservation passcode that matches the accepted registration request passcode 134 is stored in the registration reservation information 133. (Step S38).

  When the reserved passcode that matches the registration request passcode 134 is not registered (No in step S38), the extraction unit 113 transmits an extraction impossible signal to the registration unit 114. The registration unit 114 further transmits this to the biometric authentication unit 115.

  At this time, the multifunction device 1 ends the registration mode without registering the user, and returns to step S21 to repeat the processing, thereby shifting to the restriction mode. In this way, the multifunction device 1 prevents an incorrect person (a person whose reservation passcode is not registered, that is, a person who is not permitted to use the multifunction device 1) from being registered.

  More specifically, when there is a reserved passcode that matches the registration request passcode 134, the extraction unit 113 in the present embodiment analyzes the user information associated with the reserved passcode, and the user It is also determined whether or not the user ID included in the information matches the user ID received in step S37. Then, it is determined as Yes in step S38 only after the user IDs match.

  In the present embodiment, as passcodes (reservation passcodes and registration request passcodes), for example, passcodes consisting only of numbers are used so that even the operation unit 3 having only a numeric keypad can be easily input. To do. Such a passcode is a numeric string that is used only once for the registration process, and is unilaterally notified to the user by the operator, so that an input error is likely to occur. Even if there is an input mistake, if the registration process is performed only by matching the passcode, if it coincides with another person's passcode, it will be registered as it is, resulting in erroneous registration.

  However, in this embodiment, by performing a double check with the user ID, even if the user mistakenly inputs another person's passcode, it will not be registered as it is, so the case where only the registration request passcode 134 is used. Compared with, reliability is improved.

  The user ID is preferably a numeric string selected by the user or a numeric string (employee number, date of birth, etc.) that can be used for other purposes by the user. As a result, the reliability is improved as compared with the case where the number of digits of the passcode is simply increased.

  If the MFP 1 determines No in step S38, the MFP 1 may display on the display unit 4 that the registration request passcodes 134 (or user IDs) do not match.

  On the other hand, if the registration request passcode 134 (and the user ID) match (Yes in step S38), the multi-function device 1 executes a registration process (step S39).

  In the registration process, first, the extraction unit 113 extracts user information associated with a reservation passcode that matches the registration request passcode 134 from the registration reservation information 133 and transmits the user information to the registration unit 114. The registration unit 114 associates the extracted extracted user information with the fingerprint information 135 received in step S <b> 28 and registers it as registration information 136. That is, the extracted user information is stored as one record of the registration information 136 in a state where it can be searched by the fingerprint information 135.

  When step S39 is executed and the user who has input the fingerprint information 135 is registered, the registration unit 114 registers the reserved passcode associated with the extracted user information (that is, the registration request passcode received in step S37). Delete from the reservation information 133 (step S40).

  As a result, the reservation passcode for the registered user is deleted from the registration reservation information 133, and hence the passcode duplication check process is reduced in step S25, for example.

  Furthermore, the registration unit 114 generates specific user information 137 based on the extracted user information (step S41), ends the registration mode, and executes the processing from step S33. That is, for registered users, it is not necessary to execute step S31 to determine whether the user is registered again. Therefore, when steps S41 and S33 are executed, the multifunction device 1 is released from the registration mode. Enter mode.

  As described above, the multifunction device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the biometric authentication unit 115 and acquires user information 131 generated in advance from the information processing apparatus 9. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to operate the multi-function device 1 at the time of registration, and even information that is relatively difficult to input from the operation unit 3 can be input easily, thereby reducing the burden on the operator.

  Further, since the multifunction device 1 acquires the user information 131 in advance and registers it as the registration reservation information 133, the user can start using the multifunction device 1 immediately by operating the multifunction device 1.

<2. Modification>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the acquisition unit 111 acquires the reserved passcode 132 as information received from the information processing apparatus 9. However, the reservation passcode 132 may be automatically created by the acquisition unit 111. That is, when the user information 131 is received, the acquisition unit 111 automatically generates the reservation passcode 132 so as not to overlap with the registration reservation information 133, transfers it to the RAM 13, and transmits it to the information processing device 9. May be. The operator may confirm the reserved passcode 132 received by the information processing apparatus 9 and separately inform the user.

  Further, each step shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is an example, and the order or contents are not limited to this as long as the same effect can be obtained.

  In addition, the operation of the multifunction device 1 has been described as being realized by software by a program stored in the ROM 12, but a part or all of these may be configured by a dedicated circuit (hardware). .

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the user inputs information such as a registration request passcode by operating the operation unit 3 has been described. However, for example, the information is transferred to the multifunction device 1 by wireless communication from an ID card or the like. It may be entered. That is, the input of information may be realized by a method that is not directly operated by the user.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the registration reservation information 133 is created in the multifunction device 1 and stored in the storage device 14 has been described. However, the registration reservation information 133 does not necessarily have to be created by the multifunction device 1. That is, the reservation unit 112 may be provided in the information processing apparatus 9 to create the registration reservation information 133 and stored in the storage device of the information processing apparatus 9.

  When the registration reservation information 133 is stored in the information processing apparatus 9, for example, the following method can be considered for the user registration processing in the multifunction machine 1.

  One is a method in which the information processing apparatus 9 transmits the stored registration reservation information 133 to the multifunction device 1 in response to a request signal from the multifunction device 1. When the registration reservation information 133 is received, the communication unit 110 of the multifunction machine 1 transfers the received registration reservation information 133 to the RAM 13. Thereafter, as in the above embodiment, the extraction unit 113 of the multifunction machine 1 extracts the extracted user information from the registration reservation information 133 based on the registration request passcode 134.

  Further, the registration request passcode 134 may be transmitted to the information processing apparatus 9 together with the request signal from the multifunction device 1. In this case, the extraction unit 113 is provided in the information processing apparatus 9, and the extracted user information is extracted from the registration reservation information 133 based on the registration request passcode 134 received by the information processing apparatus 9. Send to the MFP 1. When the extracted user information is received, the communication unit 110 of the multifunction device 1 transfers the received extracted user information to the RAM 13. Thereafter, the registration unit 114 creates registration information 136 by associating the fingerprint information 135 with the extracted user information. As described above, when only the extracted user information is transmitted to the multifunction device 1, the registration reservation information 133 is not used in the multifunction device 1, so even if the number of users to be reserved is large (data of the registration reservation information 133 Even if the capacity increases, it is not necessary to secure the storage capacity of the storage device 14 of the multifunction machine 1.

It is a perspective view which shows the multifunctional machine as a communication terminal device which concerns on this invention. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine. It is a figure which shows the functional block provided when MPU operate | moves according to a program. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the information processing apparatus when creating user information. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction machine. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction machine.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP 10 Control Unit 11 MPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 storage device 110 communication unit 111 acquisition unit 112 reservation unit 113 extraction unit 114 registration unit 115 biometric authentication unit 130 input screen information 131 user information 132 reservation passcode 133 registration reservation information 134 registration request passcode 135 fingerprint information 136 registration information 137 identification User information 17 LAN interface 2 Reception unit 3 Operation unit 5 Scanner unit 6 Printer unit 9 Information processing device NW network

Claims (9)

A communication terminal device connected to an external device via a network,
At least one processing unit;
Communication means for receiving user information from the external device;
An acquisition means for acquiring a passcode specific to the user;
Storage means for storing information;
Reservation means for associating the user information received by the communication means with the passcode acquired by the acquisition means and storing it in the storage means as registration reservation information;
Receiving means for receiving biometric information unique to individual users;
Input means for accepting a passcode unique to the user;
Extraction means for extracting corresponding user information from the registered reservation information stored in the storage means based on the passcode received by the input means;
A registration unit that associates the user information extracted by the extraction unit with the biological information received by the reception unit and registers it as registration information;
A biometric authentication unit that performs authentication based on the biometric information received by the reception unit, and reads specific user information from the registration information registered by the registration unit;
Control means for controlling the at least one processing unit according to specific user information read by the biometric authentication means;
A communication terminal device comprising: The communication terminal device according to claim 1,
The communication terminal apparatus, wherein the acquisition unit acquires a passcode from the external apparatus. The communication terminal device according to claim 2,
The reservation unit sequentially compares the passcode acquired by the acquisition unit and the passcode stored as registration reservation information in the storage unit, and registers the passcode acquired by the acquisition unit and the storage unit. When the passcode stored as the reservation information matches, the user information received by the communication means is prohibited from being stored as registered reservation information, and information indicating that is sent to the communication means. A communication terminal device, characterized by causing a device to transmit. The communication terminal device according to claim 3,
The registration means, when registering the user information and the biometric information in association with each other, deletes a passcode associated with the user information from registration reservation information. The communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The user information includes information related to the authority to use the communication terminal device. A communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The biometric information received by the receiving means is fingerprint information . The communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
It said communication means transmits a predetermined input screen data for inputting user information to the external device, that you receive the user information inputted to said predetermined input screen data from the external device A characteristic communication terminal device. A communication terminal device connected to an external device via a network ,
At least one processing unit;
Communication means for receiving registration reservation information in which user information and a passcode unique to the user are associated with each other from the external device;
Receiving means for receiving biometric information unique to individual users;
Input means for accepting a passcode unique to the user;
Extraction means for extracting corresponding user information from the registration reservation information received by the communication means based on the passcode received by the input means;
A registration unit that associates the user information extracted by the extraction unit with the biological information received by the reception unit and registers it as registration information;
A biometric authentication unit that performs authentication based on the biometric information received by the reception unit, and reads specific user information from the registration information registered by the registration unit;
Control means for controlling the at least one processing unit according to specific user information read by the biometric authentication means;
Communication terminal device according to claim Rukoto equipped with. A communication terminal device connected via a network to an external device that stores registration reservation information in which user information and a passcode unique to the user are associated with each other,
At least one processing unit ;
Receiving means for receiving biometric information unique to individual users;
Input means for accepting a passcode unique to the user;
While transmitting the pass code received by the input means to the external device,
Communication means for receiving user information associated with the passcode in registration reservation information from the external device ;
Registration means for associating and registering user information received by the communication means and biometric information received by the receiving means as registration information;
A biometric authentication unit that performs authentication based on the biometric information received by the reception unit, and reads specific user information from the registration information registered by the registration unit;
Control means for controlling the at least one processing unit according to specific user information read by the biometric authentication means;
A communication terminal device comprising:

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