JP5018103B2 - Information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and an information processing method, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and an information processing method for authenticating a user based on input identification information and authentication information. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for restricting use of an information processing apparatus using authentication information and right information held in a server inside or outside the information processing apparatus such as an image processing apparatus is known. As the right information in the image processing apparatus, for example, permission or prohibition for each service, permission or prohibition of color or black and white, an upper limit of usage amount for each service, permission or prohibition of use of the image processing apparatus are set.

  In addition, the user ID and password are used as authentication information, and authentication judgment is performed by comparing with the input user ID and password. As an image processing apparatus for authentication, the user ID and password are associated with an external server. An image processing apparatus that stores and performs an authentication process using an external server is known (Patent Document 1).

In addition, in a system such as Windows (registered trademark), in order to improve the strength of security, information indicating an available date and time zone set for each user ID is further used as authentication information to make an authentication judgment. Is going.
JP 2004-129247 A

  However, when information indicating an available date and time zone used in a system such as the above-mentioned Windows (registered trademark) is used for authentication judgment, the available date and time zone are fixedly set for each user ID. For this reason, there is a problem that, even outside the set time, even an authorized user cannot use the information processing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. The information processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus are capable of increasing the security strength and appropriately authenticating and determining whether or not the user is a valid user. And an information processing method.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to a first invention includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of authentication information including identification information for identifying a user in advance, and the input authentication information is stored in the storage unit. And a terminal management for managing location information indicating the location of the terminal device when the authentication information is input from a terminal device installed at a remote location via a network. Identification of the input authentication information based on the location information of the terminal device of the device and the schedule information of the schedule storage device in which schedule information including the location information indicating the current location of the user is stored in advance for each user A location determination means for determining whether the location indicated by the location information of the user indicated by the information matches the location indicated by the location information; and If it is the authentication information inputted from the a terminal device, by the verification means, the inputted authentication information is collated, and, when it is judged that the whereabouts and location matches by the whereabouts determining means, Authentication means for authenticating that the user to be authenticated is a valid user.

An information processing method according to the second invention is an information processing method of an information processing apparatus including a storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of authentication information including identification information for identifying a user in advance. Is compared with the authentication information stored in the storage means, and the location information indicating the location of the terminal device is managed when the authentication information is input from a terminal device installed in a remote place via a network. The input authentication information based on the location information of the terminal device of the terminal management device and the schedule information of the schedule storage device that stores in advance the schedule information including the location information indicating the current location of the user for each user. A terminal set in the remote location by determining whether the location of the location information of the user indicated by the identification information matches the location indicated by the location information When placed et the authentication information is input, is collated the inputted authentication information, and, when it is judged that the whereabouts and location match, the authentication object user as a valid user authentication It is characterized by doing.

According to the first and second inventions, the input authentication information is collated with the authentication information stored in the storage means, and the authentication information is transmitted from the terminal device installed in the remote place via the network. The schedule information including the location information of the terminal device of the terminal management device that manages the location information indicating the location of the terminal device and the location information indicating the current location of the user is stored in advance for each user. based on said schedule information schedule storage unit, and location of whereabouts of the user indicated by the identification information of the inputted authentication information and the location indicated by the location information to determine whether to match.

When the authentication information is input from a terminal device set at a remote location, the input authentication information is verified, and when it is determined that the whereabouts and the location match , the user to be authenticated is Authenticate that you are a legitimate user.

In this way, when the authentication information is collated and it is determined that the location of the user to be authenticated and the location of the terminal device match , in order to authenticate that the user is a legitimate user, the security strength is increased, It is possible to appropriately determine whether or not the user is a valid user.

An information processing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is to receive an authentication result by causing an authentication information storage device that stores a plurality of pieces of authentication information including identification information for identifying a user in advance to collate the input authentication information. And the location information of the terminal device of the terminal management device that manages the location information indicating the location of the terminal device when the authentication information is input from a terminal device installed in a remote place via a network; Based on the schedule information of the schedule storage device that stores in advance for each user the schedule information that includes the location information indicating the current location of the user, the location of the user location information indicated by the identification information of the input authentication information, Location determination means for determining whether the location indicated by the location information matches, and the authentication information from the terminal device set in the remote location When entered, by the receiving unit receives the verification result indicating that the input authentication information is collated, and, when it is judged that the whereabouts and location matches by the whereabouts determining means, Authentication means for authenticating that the user to be authenticated is a valid user.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method, wherein an authentication information storage device that stores a plurality of pieces of authentication information including identification information for identifying a user is collated with the inputted authentication information, and a collation result is received. When the authentication information is input via a network from a terminal device installed at a remote location, the location information of the terminal device of the terminal management device that manages the location information indicating the location of the terminal device, and the current user The location information of the user's whereabouts indicated by the identification information of the inputted authentication information and the location information based on the schedule information of the schedule storage device that stores in advance the schedule information including the whereabouts information indicating the whereabouts of each user If the the location indicated it is determined whether match, the authentication information from the configured terminal device to the remote location is input, of the input Upon receiving the verification result indicating that the authentication information is collated, and, when it is judged that the whereabouts and location match, is characterized in that the authentication object user is authenticated as a legitimate user .

According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, the authentication information storage device that stores in advance a plurality of pieces of authentication information including identification information for identifying the user is collated, and the collation result is received. In addition, when authentication information is input from a terminal device installed in a remote place via a network, the location information of the terminal device of the terminal management device that manages location information indicating the location of the terminal device, and a user Based on the schedule information of the schedule storage device that stores the location information indicating the current location of the user in advance for each user, the location of the user location information indicated by the identification information of the input authentication information and the and address indicated by the location information to determine whether to match.

When the authentication information is input from a terminal device set at a remote location, a verification result indicating that the input authentication information is verified is received, and it is determined that the whereabouts and the location match. The user to be authenticated is authenticated as a valid user.

In this way, when the authentication information is collated and it is determined that the location of the user to be authenticated and the location of the terminal device match , in order to authenticate that the user is a legitimate user, the security strength is increased, It is possible to appropriately determine whether or not the user is a valid user.

Using the schedule information of a user of the authentication subject, it is possible to determine whether the location of the user's whereabouts and the terminal device matches the user operation is not complicated, and the existing schedule Costs can be reduced by using a stored device.

In addition , by using a terminal management device that manages the location information of the terminal device, it is possible to increase the strength of security against access from a remote location.

The information processing apparatus further includes a setting unit that sets, for each user, whether or not to use the determination result of the location determination unit in the authentication by the authentication unit, and the authentication unit outputs the determination result to the user to be authenticated. If it is set not to be used, it is possible to authenticate that the user to be authenticated is a valid user when the input authentication information is collated. Thus, for each user, it can be set whether or not to use the determination as to whether or not the user's whereabouts match the location of the terminal device in the authentication, so that convenience can be improved.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention includes the information processing apparatus and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet based on the image data.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth invention, use of the image forming apparatus by a user who is authenticated as a valid user by the information processing apparatus is permitted, and an image is formed on a recording sheet in accordance with a user instruction.

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus, and the information processing method of the present invention, the authentication information is collated, and it is determined that the location of the user to be authenticated matches the location of the terminal device . In some cases, since it is authenticated as a legitimate user, it is possible to increase the security level and to appropriately determine whether or not the legitimate user is authenticated.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus of an image processing system will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus 12 that forms an image on a recording sheet based on image data, and schedule information that indicates a user's schedule. A schedule information management server 14 that stores and manages, a plurality of client PCs 16, an image forming apparatus 12, a schedule information management server 14, and a network 18 that interconnects the client PCs 16 are provided. In the present embodiment, a case where the image forming apparatus 12 is installed at a user's work place will be described as an example.

  The image forming apparatus 12 includes a ROM 22 that stores various programs, parameters, and the like, a CPU 24 that executes the various programs, a RAM 26 that is used as a work area when the CPU 24 executes the various programs, an image data, and an authentication processing routine that will be described later. There are provided an HDD 32 storing a program and the like, and a bus 30 for connecting them.

  In the HDD 32, an authentication management information database registered in advance in association with a user ID and a password as authentication information is recorded.

  The image forming apparatus 12 further includes a scanner 34 that reads an original and generates image data, and records an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor based on the image data. , The printing unit 36 that transfers the developed image to a recording sheet and outputs it, an operation panel unit 38 including operation buttons and operation panels for instructing various processes of the image forming apparatus 12, and the network 18. A network interface 40 for communicating via the network is provided, and these are also connected to the bus 30.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 12 only needs to have a general configuration of a conventionally known image forming apparatus, and in this embodiment, description of other configurations and general processing of the image forming apparatus 12 is omitted.

  The schedule information stored in the schedule information management server 14 is stored in association with the same user ID as the user ID registered in the authentication management information database. Time and leaving time) and whereabouts information (user's whereabouts at any time of the day). For example, the schedule information management server 14 includes a time information database in which time information is stored for each user, and by the general user's operation, the addition of his / her work time and work time, the summation of his / her work time, You can make inquiries about your attendance and departure times. In addition, it is possible to perform correction and deletion of each user's attendance time and leaving time and inquiry of each user's attendance time and leaving time by the operation of the administrator.

  In addition, the schedule information management server 14 includes groupware that shares an action schedule and a whereabouts information database that stores whereabouts information, and a general user uses the groupware to add a schedule that includes his / her whereabouts information. , Corrections, and deletions, and inquiries about schedules other than yourself and yourself.

  The schedule information management server 14 is provided with an interface that can receive an inquiry from each existing system. When an inquiry specifying a user ID is received, the schedule information management server 14 uses the specified user ID to the attendance information database. Inquiry about the working time and working time of the specified user ID, before working when there is no working time, working when there is working time and no working time, after working when both working time and working time are available , And respond whether or not they are currently working. Further, using the specified user ID, the present location information database for the specified user ID is inquired of the present location information, and the current location is returned from the obtained location information.

  In the client PC 16, image data can be created and edited by the user, and a request for image forming processing based on the image data can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 12 via the network 18.

  Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 according to the first embodiment will be described.

  First, the user ID and password for each user are registered in the authentication management information database of the HDD 32 by the operation of the administrator. Also, in the schedule information management server 14, the time zone and the location information are registered in advance in the location information database as their own schedules by the operation of each user, and when each user goes to work, the attendance time is set as the attendance time. When registering in the information database and leaving work, the work time is registered in the attendance information database.

  When the user requests use of the image forming apparatus 12, the authentication processing routine shown in FIG. 2 is executed in the image forming apparatus 12.

  In step 100, it is determined whether or not a user ID and password are input as user authentication information. When the user operates the operation panel unit 38 and the user ID and password are input, or when the user operates the client PC 16. When the user ID and password are input to the image forming apparatus 12 via the network 18, the process proceeds from step 100 to step 102, the verification process is performed, and the input user ID and password and the authentication of the HDD 32 are performed. The user ID and password registered in advance in the management information database are collated.

  In step 104, it is determined whether or not the collation is performed in the collation process in step 102. If the collation is not performed, an authentication failure message is displayed on the operation panel unit 38 in step 106, and an authentication process routine is performed. On the other hand, if it is verified, it is determined in step 108 whether the access is remote access. In step 106, when the image forming apparatus 12 is accessed from the client PC 16 via the network 18, the authentication failure message is displayed on the client PC 16 by transmitting the authentication failure message to the client PC 16.

  In step 108, when the user operates the operation panel unit 38 to directly access the own apparatus, the process proceeds to step 110. On the other hand, the access is made from the client PC 16 installed in the remote place via the network 18. If so, the process proceeds to step 118 without making a determination based on the schedule information.

  In step 110, it is determined whether or not the user indicated by the input user ID is set to perform determination based on schedule information. In the image forming apparatus 12, by operating the operation panel unit 38, whether to perform user authentication using determination based on schedule information in addition to determination based on authentication information can be preset for each user. Here, if it is set in advance that the schedule information is not determined for the user to be authenticated, the process proceeds to step 118 without determining the schedule information, but the schedule information is determined. If it is set to be performed, the process proceeds to step 112.

  In step 112, the schedule information management server 14 is inquired about the schedule information of the user indicated by the input user ID. In step 114, whether or not the schedule information management server 14 is working and whether the current location is present. And a response message indicating whether or not the user to be authenticated is working, from the attendance information database of the schedule information management server 14, and the whereabouts information database When a response message indicating the current location of the user to be authenticated is acquired from step S116, the process proceeds to step 116.

  In step 116, based on the response message from the schedule information management server 14, the user to be authenticated is on duty, and the current location is the location where the device is installed (this book) In the case of the embodiment, it is determined whether or not it is a work place), and if it is before work or after work, or if the current place is other than the work place, the process proceeds to step 106, An authentication failure message is displayed. On the other hand, if the user is working and currently present at the work location, the user is authenticated as a valid user, and the process proceeds to step 118. An authentication success message is displayed at 38, and the authentication processing routine is terminated. When the client PC 16 is accessed via the network 18, the authentication success message is displayed on the client PC 16 by transmitting the authentication success message to the client PC 16.

  In the above authentication processing routine, if the authentication is successful, the user is permitted to use the image forming apparatus 12, a print job is input based on the user's operation, and the print unit 36 receives the print job. An image is formed on the recording paper based on the image data. On the other hand, when the authentication fails, the use of the image forming apparatus 12 by the user is prohibited.

  As described above, according to the image forming system according to the first embodiment, the authentication information is verified, the user to be authenticated is on duty, and is present at a work place where the user apparatus can be used. When it is determined that the user is a valid user, the user is authenticated as a legitimate user. Therefore, the strength of security can be increased, and whether the user is a legitimate user can be appropriately authenticated.

  Further, in order to determine whether or not the user currently exists in an area where the user can use the device using the schedule information of the user to be authenticated, the determination is made using the device that stores the existing schedule. In addition, the strength of security can be increased without changing the user operation from the conventional method.

  Since the schedule information is existing information and it is not necessary to construct a new schedule information management server, the cost that is generated is only the cost associated with the cooperation, and the cost can be suppressed.

  In authentication, it is possible to set for each user whether or not to use the determination of whether or not the device exists in an area where the device can be used by inquiring schedule information, so that it is possible to cope with various operation modes and convenience Can be improved.

  Also, if there is remote access from a terminal device that does not know where it is located in a remote location, the authentication decision is made without determining whether the device is in an area where it can be used. Since the authentication is appropriately performed only by collating the information, it is possible to enhance security appropriately according to the usage form of the image forming apparatus.

  In addition, when using a user ID and password as authentication information, it is necessary to increase the length of the password or combine uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to simply increase the strength of security. However, in this embodiment, by using user schedule information that does not need to be input by the user at the time of the authentication operation for authentication determination, the strength of security can be increased without complicating the user operation. it can.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the schedule information management server includes the attendance information database and the whereabouts information database has been described as an example. However, the attendance information management server including the attendance information database, the whereabouts information database, and the like. A whereabouts information management server equipped with the above may be provided separately. In this case, the image forming apparatus may make an inquiry to each of the attendance information management server and the whereabouts information management server in the authentication process.

  Also, an example of authenticating a valid user using both the determination of whether or not the user to be authenticated is working and the determination of whether or not the current location is a work location will be described as an example However, authentication processing may be performed using either one of the determinations.

  In addition, the case has been described as an example in which it is determined whether or not the user to be authenticated exists in an area where the user apparatus can be used using the schedule information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If you have a Global Positioning System compatible mobile terminal, use the GPS system to obtain the location of the user to be authenticated, and whether the user to be authenticated exists in an area where the device can be used It may be determined whether or not.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In addition, about the part which has the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a user ID and password are authenticated in an authentication information management server provided separately from the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming system 210 according to the second embodiment is provided with an authentication information management server 250 including an authentication management information database. The authentication information management server 250 is connected via the network 18. The image forming apparatus 212 is connected. In the authentication management information database of the authentication information management server 250, a user ID and a password are registered in advance for each user by the operation of the administrator.

  Upon receiving the user ID and password verification request, the authentication information management server 250 compares the received user ID and password with the user ID and password registered in the authentication management information database, and transmits the verification result as a response message. .

  Note that the authentication management information database is not stored in the HDD 232 of the image forming apparatus 212.

  Next, an authentication processing routine according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  First, in step 100, it is determined whether or not the user ID and password of the user have been input. In step 270, a verification request is transmitted to the authentication information management server 250 together with the input user ID and password. In step 272, it is determined whether or not a verification result has been acquired from the authentication information management server 250. The authentication information management server 250 performs a verification process, and stores the verification request target user ID and password in the authentication management information database in advance. When the registered user ID and password are collated, a response message indicating the collation result is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 212 and received by the image forming apparatus 212, the process proceeds to step 274.

  In step 274, based on the collation result acquired in step 272, it is determined whether or not the input user ID and password are collated. An authentication failure message is displayed and the authentication processing routine is terminated. On the other hand, if the verification process is verified, it is determined in step 108 whether or not the access is remote access.

  In step 108, when the user is directly accessing the own device, the process proceeds to step 110. On the other hand, when the user is accessed via the network 18 from the client PC 16 installed at a remote place, the schedule information is displayed. The process proceeds to step 118 without making a determination based on this.

  In step 110, it is determined whether or not the user to be authenticated is set to perform the determination based on the schedule information. If the determination is made so that the determination of the schedule information is not performed, the determination is based on the schedule information. The process proceeds to step 118 without making a determination, but if the schedule information is set to be determined, the process proceeds to step 112.

  In step 112, the schedule information management server 14 is inquired about the schedule information. In step 114, when the schedule information is acquired from the schedule information management server 14, the schedule information acquired from the schedule information management server 14 in step 116. Based on the above, it is determined whether the user to be authenticated is at work and the current location is the installation location of the device. If the location is other than the location, the process proceeds to step 106, and an authentication failure message is displayed. On the other hand, if the user is working and currently exists at the work location, the process proceeds to step 118. An authentication success message is displayed on the operation panel unit 38, and the authentication processing routine is terminated.

  In the above authentication processing routine, if the authentication is successful, the use of the image forming apparatus 212 by the user is permitted. On the other hand, if the authentication fails, the use of the image forming apparatus 212 by the user is not permitted. It is forbidden.

  As described above, according to the image forming system according to the second embodiment, authentication information is collated by the authentication information management server outside the image forming apparatus. It can be reduced and the strength of security in authentication can be increased.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. In addition, about the part which becomes the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the third embodiment, the location of the client PC that has been remotely accessed is acquired from the terminal management server that manages the location of the client PC, and the user to be authenticated exists at the location of the client PC that has remotely accessed. It is different from the first embodiment in that it is determined whether or not the user is authenticated.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the image forming system 310 according to the third embodiment is provided with a terminal management server 350 that manages the location of each of the plurality of client PCs 16 connected to the network 18. The image forming apparatus 12 is connected via the network 18.

  Upon receiving the inquiry about the location of the client PC 16, the terminal management server 350 transmits a response message indicating the location of the client PC 16 to be inquired to the inquiry source.

  Next, an authentication processing routine according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  First, in step 100, it is determined whether or not the user ID and password of the user have been input. In step 102, the input user ID and password are verified. In step 104, it is determined whether or not the collation is performed in the collation process in step 102. If the collation is not performed, an authentication failure message is displayed on the operation panel unit 38 in step 106, and an authentication process routine is performed. On the other hand, if it is verified, it is determined in step 110 whether or not the user indicated by the input user ID is set to perform determination based on the schedule information. If it is set in advance not to make a determination, the process proceeds to step 118. If it is set to perform determination of schedule information, the process proceeds to step 112.

  In step 112, the schedule information management server 14 is inquired about the schedule information. In step 114, it is determined whether or not the schedule information is acquired. When the schedule information is acquired from the schedule information management server 14, step 370 is performed. In step S116, it is determined whether or not the access is remote, and if the user is directly accessing the own device, the process proceeds to step 116. On the other hand, the access is made via the network 18 from the client PC 16 installed in the remote place. If so, the process proceeds to step 372.

  In step 116, based on the schedule information acquired from the schedule information management server 14, it is determined whether or not the user to be authenticated is working and the current location is the installation location of the own device. If it is before or after leaving work, or if the current location is other than the work location, the process moves to step 106, and an authentication failure message is displayed. On the other hand, the user is working and the current work location is displayed. If it exists, the process proceeds to step 118, where an authentication success message is displayed on the operation panel unit 38, or an authentication success message is transmitted to the client PC 16, and the authentication processing routine is terminated.

  In step 372, the terminal management server 350 is inquired about the location of the client PC 16 that is remotely accessing the image forming apparatus 12. In step 374, it is determined whether or not the remote access source location has been acquired from the terminal management server 350. When the terminal management server 350 receives the inquiry about the location and sends a response message indicating the location of the remotely accessed client PC 16 to the image forming apparatus 12, the process proceeds to step 376 and is acquired from the schedule information management server 14. Based on the schedule information and the location acquired from the terminal management server 350, it is determined whether or not the user to be authenticated is working and the current location is the location of the access source. Or where the current location is from If the location is other than the location, the process proceeds to step 106, and an authentication failure message is displayed. On the other hand, if the user is working and currently exists at the location of the access source, the process proceeds to step 118. Then, an authentication success message is displayed on the operation panel unit 38, or an authentication success message is transmitted to the client PC 16, and the authentication processing routine is terminated.

  In the above authentication processing routine, if the authentication is successful, the use of the image forming apparatus 12 by the user is permitted. On the other hand, if the authentication fails, the use of the image forming apparatus 12 by the user is not permitted. It is forbidden.

  As described above, according to the image forming system according to the third embodiment, by using the terminal management device that manages the location of the client PC, security can be provided even from a remote location. The strength of can be increased.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of an authentication processing routine of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the image forming system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of an authentication processing routine of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the image forming system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart showing the contents of an authentication processing routine of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10, 210, 310 Image processing system 12, 212 Image forming apparatus 14 Schedule information management server 16 Client PC
18 Network 22 ROM
24 CPU
26 RAM
32 HDD
36 Printing section 38 Operation panel section 250 Authentication information management server 350 Terminal management server

Claims (8)

Storage means for storing in advance a plurality of authentication information including identification information for identifying a user;
Collation means for collating the input authentication information with authentication information stored in the storage means;
When the authentication information is input via a network from a terminal device installed at a remote location, the location information of the terminal device of the terminal management device that manages the location information indicating the location of the terminal device, and the current user The location information of the user's whereabouts indicated by the identification information of the inputted authentication information and the location information based on the schedule information of the schedule storage device that stores in advance the schedule information including the whereabouts information indicating the whereabouts of each user Whereabouts determination means for determining whether or not the location indicated by
When the authentication information is input from the terminal device set at the remote place, the verification information is verified by the verification unit, and it is determined that the location and the location match by the location determination unit. when it is, an authentication means for the authentication object user is authenticated as a legitimate user,
An information processing apparatus including: A receiving unit that collates the authentication information input to an authentication information storage device that stores in advance a plurality of authentication information including identification information for identifying a user, and receives a verification result;
When the authentication information is input via a network from a terminal device installed at a remote location, the location information of the terminal device of the terminal management device that manages the location information indicating the location of the terminal device, and the current user The location information of the user's whereabouts indicated by the identification information of the inputted authentication information and the location information based on the schedule information of the schedule storage device that stores in advance the schedule information including the whereabouts information indicating the whereabouts of each user Whereabouts determination means for determining whether or not the location indicated by
When the authentication information is input from the terminal device set at the remote location, the receiving unit receives a verification result indicating that the input authentication information has been verified, and the whereabouts determination unit Authentication means for authenticating that the user to be authenticated is a legitimate user when it is determined that the location and the location match ,
An information processing apparatus including: Input location determination means for determining whether the authentication information is input at the installation location of the device itself or from a terminal device installed at a remote location via a network ;
Based on the user's schedule information indicated by the identification information of the input authentication information stored in the schedule storage device, it is determined whether or not the user to be authenticated exists in an area where the device can be used. And a determination means,
The location determination unit is configured to manage the location information indicating the location of the terminal device when the input location determination unit determines that the location is input from the terminal device set at the remote location. Based on the location information, determine whether the location of the user location information indicated by the identification information of the input authentication information matches the location indicated by the location information ,
When it is determined that the authentication unit is input at the installation location of the terminal, the input authentication information is verified, and the user to be authenticated can use the device by the determination unit If it is determined to be present in the area, the authentication object user is an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein authenticating the user is an authorized user. Input location determination means for determining whether the authentication information is input at the installation location of the device itself or from a terminal device installed at a remote location via a network ;
Based on the user's schedule information indicated by the identification information of the input authentication information stored in the schedule storage device, it is determined whether or not the user to be authenticated exists in an area where the device can be used. And a determination means,
The location determination unit is configured to manage the location information indicating the location of the terminal device when the input location determination unit determines that the location is input from the terminal device set at the remote location. Based on the location information, determine whether the location of the user location information indicated by the identification information of the input authentication information matches the location indicated by the location information ,
When it is determined that the authentication unit is input at the installation location of the terminal , the authentication unit receives a verification result indicating that the input authentication information has been verified by the reception unit, and the determination The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein when it is determined by the means that the user to be authenticated exists in an area where the apparatus can be used , the information processing apparatus authenticates that the user to be authenticated is a valid user. In the authentication by the authentication means, further includes a setting means for setting for each user whether or not to use the determination result of the whereabouts determination means,
When the authentication unit is set not to use the determination result for the authentication target user, the verification target user is a valid user when the input authentication information is verified. It is with claim 1 an information processing apparatus of any one of claims 4 to authenticate. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
Image forming means for forming an image on recording paper based on the image data;
An image processing apparatus. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus including a storage unit that stores in advance a plurality of authentication information including identification information for identifying a user,
The authentication information input is collated with the authentication information stored in the storage means,
When the authentication information is input via a network from a terminal device installed at a remote location, the location information of the terminal device of the terminal management device that manages the location information indicating the location of the terminal device, and the current user The location information of the user's whereabouts indicated by the identification information of the inputted authentication information and the location information based on the schedule information of the schedule storage device that stores in advance the schedule information including the whereabouts information indicating the whereabouts of each user To determine if the location indicated by matches
When the authentication information is input from the terminal device set at the remote location , the authentication target user is verified when the input authentication information is verified and it is determined that the whereabouts and the location match. Is authenticated as a legitimate user. The authentication information storage device that stores in advance a plurality of authentication information including identification information for identifying a user is collated with the input authentication information, and a collation result is received.
When the authentication information is input via a network from a terminal device installed at a remote location, the location information of the terminal device of the terminal management device that manages the location information indicating the location of the terminal device, and the current user The location information of the user's whereabouts indicated by the identification information of the inputted authentication information and the location information based on the schedule information of the schedule storage device that stores in advance the schedule information including the whereabouts information indicating the whereabouts of each user To determine if the location indicated by matches
When the authentication information is input from the terminal device set at the remote location, a verification result indicating that the input authentication information is verified is received, and it is determined that the whereabouts and the location match. when the information processing method characterized in that the authentication object user is authenticated as a legitimate user.

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