JP5202745B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus control method, and information processing apparatus control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a function of sharing electronic data among a plurality of users, an information processing apparatus control method, and an information processing apparatus control program.

  Conventionally, an information processing apparatus that prints electronic data received from an external apparatus, stores the printed electronic data in the apparatus, and effectively uses the electronic data by referring to and sharing the electronic data stored by a plurality of users There is.

  In such an information processing apparatus, electronic data received from an external apparatus is automatically stored in the apparatus in order to efficiently collect electronic data. Further, in order to allow a user to easily obtain desired electronic data, attribute information is automatically stored in the apparatus in association with the electronic data when the electronic data is accumulated. As a result, the user can search for desired electronic data using the attribute information as a key.

  However, since such information processing apparatus automatically accumulates attribute information about received electronic data, there is a possibility that highly confidential and secure electronic data may be mistakenly shared with an unspecified number of users. . In addition, this problem becomes more serious particularly when registered electronic data can be referred to via a network. In order to deal with such a problem, it is considered to input a security code at the time of registration of electronic data, but the input operation is complicated.

  Further, it is determined whether or not information such as “prohibited copying” or “confidential” is printed on the electronic data. Based on the determination result, a flag is set for the security item in the code information section, and the flag is set accordingly. An information processing apparatus that restricts search and output has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-189538

  However, in Patent Document 1, access to electronic data cannot be restricted unless information such as “prohibited copying” or “confidential” is not printed on the received electronic data. There is a possibility that electronic data is accidentally shared with an unspecified number of users.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus capable of efficiently collecting electronic data and avoiding sharing of highly confidential and secure electronic data with an unspecified number of users, and the apparatus It is an object to provide a control method and a control program.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a network, the receiving means receiving electronic data from the external device, and the receiving means Registration means for registering information used for specifying received electronic data in association with the electronic data; and reception means for receiving a print instruction for electronic data specified using the information registered by the registration means; A determination unit that determines whether the electronic data received by the reception unit is confidential data; and, as a result of determination by the determination unit, if the electronic data received by the reception unit is determined not to be confidential data, When information is registered by the registering means and the electronic data received by the receiving means is determined to be confidential data, the information by the registering means is registered. Control means for controlling so as not to perform registration, wherein the determination means determines that the electronic data is confidential data when the reception means receives the electronic data using encrypted communication, When the receiving means receives the electronic data without using encrypted communication, it is determined that the electronic data is not confidential data.

The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a network, and is configured to identify a receiving unit that receives electronic data from the external device and an electronic data received by the receiving unit. Registration means for registering information used for registration in association with the electronic data, a reception means for receiving a print instruction for electronic data specified using the information registered by the registration means, and the reception means Determining means for determining whether or not the electronic data is confidential data; and as a result of determination by the determining means, if the electronic data received by the receiving means is determined not to be confidential data, If registration is performed and it is determined that the electronic data received by the receiving unit is confidential data, the registration unit does not register information. Control means for controlling the electronic data, and when the electronic data received by the receiving means includes a password, the determining means determines that the electronic data is confidential data, and the electronic data received by the receiving means When the password is not included, it is determined that the electronic data is not confidential data.

  According to the present invention, electronic data can be efficiently collected, and it is possible to avoid accidentally sharing highly confidential and secure electronic data with an unspecified number of users.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the hardware structural example of the information processing apparatus which is an example of embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system in which a client PC is connected to an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment via a LAN. It is a figure for demonstrating the process in case the information processing apparatus of this embodiment performs secure printing. It is a figure for demonstrating the process in case the information processing apparatus of this embodiment uses a protocol, such as IPsec, and performs printing by encrypting a communication path. It is a figure which shows the example of an index automatic registration setting screen in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a flowchart figure for demonstrating the process at the time of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment receiving electronic data. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process (process of step S603 of FIG. 6) which judges whether the received electronic data is confidential data, when the information processing apparatus of this embodiment receives electronic data. It is a figure which shows an example of the index table which the information processing apparatus of this embodiment created. It is a figure which shows an example of UI screen which searches the document preserve | saved at the information processing apparatus of this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a hardware configuration example of an information processing apparatus as an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an HDD 108, a timer 112, a printer I / F control unit 104, an NVRAM 105, a panel control unit 106, and a network I / F control unit 107. Is provided.

  A CPU (control means) 101 executes a software program and controls the entire apparatus. A ROM (read only memory) 102 stores a boot program of the apparatus, fixed parameters, and the like. A RAM (random access memory) 103 is used for temporary data storage when the CPU 101 controls the apparatus.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 108 is used for storing various data such as print data. The timer 112 manages the elapsed time in the timer process. The printer I / F control unit 104 controls the printer 110. The NVRAM 105 is a non-volatile memory and stores various setting values of the apparatus.

  The panel control unit 106 controls the operation panel 109, and displays various information and instructions from the user. A network I / F control unit 107 controls data transmission / reception with a LAN (network) 111.

A CPU 101, ROM 102, RAM 103, HDD 108, timer 112, printer I / F control unit 104, NVRAM 105, panel control unit 106, and network I / F control unit 107 are connected to the bus 108. Control signals from the CPU 101 and data signals between the devices are transmitted and received via the bus 108.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a system in which a client PC (external device) 201 is connected to the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment via the LAN 111.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the client PC 201 transmits a print document (electronic data) 206 to the information processing apparatus 100 using a print protocol such as LPR. Attribute information 207 is added to the print document 206, and this attribute information 207 is also transmitted to the information processing apparatus 100 simultaneously with the print document 206.

  The attribute information 207 includes information such as document name, creator, affiliation, and keyword. The document name is automatically acquired from the file name when the user prints from the client PC 201, and information such as the creator, affiliation, and keyword is input by the user when the user prints from the client PC 201. To be acquired.

  The information processing apparatus 100 acquires the attribute information 207 from the received print document 206, and registers the data extracted from the attribute information 207 in the index table 205 as index information (registration unit). That is, the index information used for specifying the print document 206 that is the received electronic data is associated with the print document 206, and the print document 206 is stored as a search target document. The index table 205 is stored in the HDD 108.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, information that has already registered the indexes “first development department”, “Hanako Tanaka”, and “retreat” included in the attribute information of the document “employee travel plan” The attribute information of the document “software specification” is newly registered. That is, the indexes “Ichiro Suzuki”, “First Development Department”, “LBP”, and “Management Tool” included in the attribute information of “Printer Specification” are registered. Here, since the indexes “Ichiro Suzuki”, “LBP”, and “management tool” are newly registered in the index table 205, a new record is created. On the other hand, since the index “first development department” has already been registered, a document name “printer software specification” for specifying the print document 206 is added to the related document.

  The information processing apparatus 100 stores the received print document 206 in the job storage area 204 and prints out the received print document 206. The job storage area 204 is a storage area provided in the HDD 108.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining processing when the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment executes secure printing.

  Secure printing is a function generally used when printing confidential documents. In brief, when printing secure data from the client PC 201, the user sets a password (password) for the job, and transmits the job and the password to the information processing apparatus 100 as a set.

  When the information processing apparatus 100 receives a job in which a password is set, the information processing apparatus 100 does not perform printing immediately but holds the print data in the apparatus. A user who has performed printing on the client PC 201 inputs a personal identification number from the UI panel of the information processing apparatus 100. The information processing apparatus 100 executes a job in which the personal identification number is set only when the personal identification number transmitted from the client PC 201 matches the personal identification number input from the UI panel.

In the example of FIG. 3, the client PC 201 transmits the print document 206 to the information processing apparatus 100 using a print protocol such as LPR. At that time, the print document is transmitted by applying the secure print function.

  The information processing apparatus 100 stores the received print document 206 in the job storage area 204. The user 208 inputs a password from the operation panel 109 of the information processing apparatus 100. Then, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether the personal identification number transmitted from the client PC 201 matches the personal identification number input from the operation panel 109. If the identification numbers match, the received secure print document 206 is printed. .

  In the example of FIG. 3, since the print job is secure, the attribute information is not registered in the index table 205, unlike the processing described in FIG. That is, the print document 206 is stored in the job storage area as a non-search target document. Note that after printing the print document 206, the print document 206 may be deleted from the job storage area 204.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining processing in a case where the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment uses a protocol such as IPsec and executes printing by encrypting a communication path.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the client PC 201 encrypts the communication path by using a print protocol such as LPR to which the print document 206 is applied to IPsec, and transmits it to the information processing apparatus 100 (encrypted communication). IPsec encrypts data and enables communication with a node designated in advance (identified by an IP address). Information about which node the IPsec is applied to is stored in the NVRAM 105 of the information processing apparatus 100.

  The information processing apparatus 100 determines whether the communication is an IPsec communication (encrypted communication) from the IP address of the communication partner when the communication connection is established. If the information processing apparatus 100 determines that the communication is IPsec communication, the information processing apparatus 100 stores the received print document 206 in the job storage area 204. Then, the information processing apparatus 100 prints the received print document 206. In the example of FIG. 4, unlike the process described in FIG. 2, the attribute information is not registered in the index table 205. That is, the print document 206 is stored in the job storage area as a non-search target document. Note that after printing the print document 206, the print document 206 may be deleted from the job storage area 204.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an index automatic registration setting screen in the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  In the information processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, various settings for automatic index registration can be performed via the operation panel 109.

  In FIG. 5, if the setting 501 of “automatically register an index” is checked, the information processing apparatus 100 automatically registers the index information of the received electronic data in the index table 205.

  When the setting 502 of “Do not register confidential data as index” is checked, the information processing apparatus 100 registers an index of data other than confidential data, but does not register an index of confidential data.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, confidential data can be defined on the confidential data definition setting screen 503 displayed on the operation panel 109.

  For example, when the “secure print” setting 504 is checked, a job printed by secure print is set as confidential data. If the “IPsec” setting 505 is checked, a job printed via IPsec is set as confidential data.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment receives electronic data. Each process in FIG. 6 is executed by the CPU 101 by loading a control program stored in the ROM 102 or the HDD 108 of the information processing apparatus 100 into the RAM 103.

  First, when electronic data is received from the client PC 201 (step S600), the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether the setting 501 of “automatically register an index” in FIG. 5 is checked (step S601).

  If the setting 501 of “automatically register an index” in FIG. 5 is not checked, the information processing apparatus 100 executes electronic data processing (print / store) (step S606) and ends the processing. On the other hand, when the setting 501 of “automatically register index” in FIG. 5 is checked, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the setting 502 of “not registering confidential data as an index” in FIG. 5 is checked. Judgment is made (step S602).

  If the setting 502 “Do not register confidential data as index” in FIG. 5 is not checked, the information processing apparatus 100 performs a process of registering index information in the index table 205 (step S605). Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 100 executes electronic data processing (printing / storage) (step S606) and ends the processing. On the other hand, if the setting 502 of “Do not register confidential data as index” in FIG. 5 is checked, the information processing apparatus 100 executes a process of determining whether the electronic data is confidential data (step S603).

  If the electronic data is confidential data, the information processing apparatus 100 executes electronic data processing (print / store) without performing registration processing of the index information in the index table 205 (step S606) and performs processing. finish. If the electronic data is not confidential data, the information processing apparatus 100 performs a process for registering index information in the index table 205 (step S605). Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 100 executes electronic data processing (printing / storage) (step S606) and ends the processing.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a process of determining whether the received electronic data is confidential data (the process of step S603 in FIG. 6) when the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment receives the electronic data. FIG. Each process in FIG. 7 is executed by the CPU 101 by loading a control program stored in the ROM 102 or the HDD 108 of the information processing apparatus 100 into the RAM 103.

  First, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the “secure print” setting 504 is checked on the confidential data definition setting screen 503 in FIG. 5 (step S701).

  If the “Secure Print” setting 504 is not checked, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the “IPsec” setting 505 is checked on the confidential data definition setting screen 503 in FIG. 5. (Step S703).

On the other hand, when the “secure print” setting 504 is checked, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether the received job is secure print (step S702).
If the received job is secure print, the information processing apparatus 100 determines that the received electronic data is confidential data (step S706), and ends the process. If the received job is not secure print, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the “IPsec” setting 505 is checked on the confidential data definition setting screen 503 in FIG. 5 (step S703).

  If the “IPsec” setting 505 is not checked in step S703, the information processing apparatus 100 determines that the received electronic data is not confidential data (step S705), and ends the process. If the “IPsec” setting 505 is checked in step S703, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether the received job is transmitted via IPsec (step S704).

  If the received job is transmitted via IPsec, the information processing apparatus 100 determines that the received electronic data is confidential data (step S706), and ends the process. If the received job is not transmitted via IPsec, the information processing apparatus 100 determines that the received electronic data is not confidential data (step S705), and ends the process.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the index table 205 created by the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the index table, the attribute information of the received electronic data is registered as an index key in the index column 801, and the electronic data having the index as an attribute is registered in the related document column 802. For example, related documents such as patent proposals and printer software specifications are registered in the index Ichiro Suzuki as related documents.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for searching for a document stored in the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, on this UI screen, a search keyword is input in a search keyword input field 901. For specifying the search keyword in the search keyword input field 901, logical sum and logical product can be used by using “and” and “or”.

  Then, after inputting a search keyword in the search keyword input field 901, a search button 902 is pressed to search a print document by referring to the index table 205 in FIG. 8, and the searched document is displayed in the search result display field. Is displayed at 903. A document displayed in the search result display field 903 can be displayed as a preview by pressing a reference button 904. Further, by pressing a print button 905, the document displayed in the search result display field 903 can be printed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, electronic data can be efficiently collected by having a function of automatically storing index information related to transmitted electronic data.

  In addition, since secure electronic data with high confidentiality is automatically determined from the transmission method, it is possible to avoid accidental sharing with an unspecified number of users without explicitly specifying the user. Become.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to what was illustrated to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change suitably.

  The object of the present invention is achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. This is the process of reading the code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Moreover, the following can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Furthermore, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing is also included in the present invention. That is, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

100 Information processing apparatus 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
108 HDD
111 LAN
201 Client PC

Claims (7)

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a network,
Receiving means for receiving electronic data from the external device;
Registration means for registering information used for specifying electronic data received by the receiving means in association with the electronic data;
Accepting means for accepting an instruction to print electronic data specified using the information registered by the registering means;
Determining means for determining whether the electronic data received by the receiving means is confidential data;
If it is determined that the electronic data received by the receiving unit is not confidential data as a result of the determination by the determining unit, information is registered by the registration unit, and the electronic data received by the receiving unit is confidential data. And a control means for controlling not to register information by the registration means,
The determining means determines that the electronic data is confidential data when the receiving means receives the electronic data using encrypted communication, and the receiving means transmits the electronic data without using encrypted communication. An information processing apparatus that, when received, determines that the electronic data is not confidential data. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a network,
Receiving means for receiving electronic data from the external device;
Registration means for registering information used for specifying electronic data received by the receiving means in association with the electronic data;
Accepting means for accepting an instruction to print electronic data specified using the information registered by the registering means;
Determining means for determining whether the electronic data received by the receiving means is confidential data;
If it is determined that the electronic data received by the receiving unit is not confidential data as a result of the determination by the determining unit, information is registered by the registration unit, and the electronic data received by the receiving unit is confidential data. And a control means for controlling not to register information by the registration means,
The determining means determines that the electronic data is confidential data if the electronic data received by the receiving means includes a password, and the electronic data received by the receiving means does not include the password if the electronic data does not include a password. An information processing apparatus that determines that data is not confidential data. An input means for entering a password;
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a printing unit that prints the electronic data when the password input by the input unit matches a password included in the electronic data received by the receiving unit. Information processing device. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a network,
Receiving the electronic data from the external device;
A registration step of registering information used for specifying the electronic data received in the reception step in association with the electronic data;
An accepting step of accepting a print instruction for electronic data specified using the information registered in the registration step;
A determination step of determining whether the electronic data received in the reception step is confidential data;
As a result of the determination in the determination step, if it is determined that the electronic data received in the reception step is not confidential data, information is registered in the registration step, and the electronic data received in the reception step is confidential data. If determined, a control process for controlling not to register information in the registration process,
In the determining step, when the receiving step receives the electronic data using encrypted communication, the electronic step determines that the electronic data is confidential data, and the receiving step uses the electronic data without using encrypted communication. A control method for an information processing apparatus, wherein when received, the electronic data is determined not to be confidential data. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a network,
Receiving the electronic data from the external device;
A registration step of registering information used for specifying the electronic data received in the reception step in association with the electronic data;
An accepting step of accepting a print instruction for electronic data specified using the information registered in the registration step;
A determination step of determining whether the electronic data received in the reception step is confidential data;
As a result of the determination in the determination step, if it is determined that the electronic data received in the reception step is not confidential data, information is registered in the registration step, and the electronic data received in the reception step is confidential data. If determined, a control process for controlling not to register information in the registration process,
The determination step determines that the electronic data is confidential data when the electronic data received by the reception step includes a password, and the electronic data when the electronic data received by the reception step does not include a password. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, wherein the data is determined not to be confidential data.   An input process for entering a password;
  6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: a printing step of printing the electronic data when the password input in the input step matches the password included in the electronic data received in the receiving step. Method for controlling the information processing apparatus. A computer-readable control program for causing a computer to execute the control method of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6 .

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