JP5325818B2 - Image forming system and user manager server device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable use of a signature unique to each log-in user for e-mail, in an image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: A user manager server device 3 stores one or more signatures used for a scan to e-mail function or the like as user personal data 54, for each user, and transmits user personal data for a log-in user to each composite machine. Each composite machine receives the user personal data 54 from the user manager server device 3, and transmits e-mail in which a signature by the user personal data 54 is described, when executing the scan to e-mail function or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and a user manager server device.

  In recent years, directory services such as an active directory and an e directory have been introduced to manage users and devices in a network system. Some image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and multifunction machines have a network function, and currently users and groups (departments) can be managed using such a directory service. When performing user management with a directory service, user authentication of a user who has performed a login operation on an image forming apparatus is usually performed by a server apparatus of the directory service. Some image forming apparatuses having a network function have a scan-to-email function that transmits a scanned image by e-mail. Some image forming apparatuses having a network function have a box-to-email function for transmitting an image in a document box by e-mail.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus, an authorization process may be performed in which only a function permitted to the login user among various functions can be used. Normally, in the authorization process, for each user, authorization information that designates a function that is permitted to be used (or a function that is prohibited to be used) is preset in the image forming apparatus, and is used by the login user in accordance with the authorization information. Function to be limited. In addition, there is also a system that provides the login user authorization information to the image forming apparatus using an intermediate server device having authorization information for each user (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-140067 A

  In an electronic mail, there is a custom of describing a signature indicating a transmission source in a text in a text. Since the signature varies depending on the user who is the transmission source, when the signature is to be described in the email transmitted by the scan-to-email function, the user inputs the signature every time or the signature is imaged as personal information for each user. It must be stored in the forming apparatus.

  Further, depending on the user, different signatures may be used depending on the destination of the e-mail transmitted by the scan-to-email function or the like. For example, there is a user who uses different signatures for an in-house address and an in-house address. As described above, when one user uses a plurality of signatures, the user inputs each time, or for each user, a plurality of signatures are stored in the image forming apparatus as personal information, and the user is transmitted at the time of transmission. Need to be selected.

  However, when there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses, setting such personal information for each of the image forming apparatuses increases the work load at the time of setting or changing. The above method is not realistic. In the above-described system, authorization information is provided from the intermediate server apparatus to the image forming apparatus for the logged-in user. However, the signature used for the email transmitted by the scan-to-email function or the like is the authorization information and Are different, it is difficult to provide the login user's signature for the login user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an image forming apparatus, an image forming system that makes it possible to use a unique signature for each logged-in user in an e-mail, and a user that can be used in the image forming system An object is to obtain a manager server device.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

An image forming system according to the present invention provides an image forming apparatus connected to a network and authorization information for specifying the function that is connected to the network and is permitted to be used by a login user of the image forming apparatus. A user manager server device; and a directory server device that provides directory service and has registration information of domain groups and domain users. User manager server device the registration information separately from the local user (a) and a domain user, domain user and / or local group registration information that includes the local user, as well as domain groups, local groups, domain user, Oyo have separate configurable authorization policies for fine b Karuyuza, what if the authorization policy to be applied to the login user is more, the setting items competing in the plurality of authorization policies that are selected according to a predetermined rule The authorization policy applied to the user who is logged in to the image forming apparatus with the authorization policy generated by combining the plurality of authorization policies, by combining the plurality of authorization policies Identify the information, send the specified authorization information to the image forming device, ( ) For each user, stores one or more signatures of electronic mail used by the e-mail transmission function as user personal data, transmits the user's personal data for the login user to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus receives (c) authorization information, specifies a function for prohibiting or permitting use by a user logged in to the image forming apparatus based on the received authorization information, and (d) stores user personal data. When an e-mail transmission function is executed after receiving from the user manager server device, an e-mail describing a signature based on user personal data is transmitted.

  Thereby, in the image forming apparatus, a signature unique to each login user can be used as a signature of the email transmitted by the email transmission function. Further, since it is only necessary to set the signature in the user manager server device, the work load at the time of setting and changing the signature is reduced.

A user manager server device according to the present invention includes a network interface connected to a network, (a) local user registration information separately from a directory service domain user provided by the directory server device, and a domain user and / or a local user. Stores registration information of a local group including a user, (b) stores a directory service domain group, a local group, a domain user, and an authorization policy that can be separately set for the local user, and (c) a user For each of these, a storage device that stores one or more signatures of an email used in the email transmission function as user personal data, and a log-in of an image forming apparatus connected to the network using a network interface. A user authentication processing section for authenticating a user, what authorization policies to be applied to the log-in user who succeeded in the user authentication can be more than one, setting items competing in the plurality of authorization policies that are selected according to a predetermined rule applied while, by combining the plurality of authorization policies generates one authorization policy, the authorization policy generated by combining a plurality of authorization policies, the authorization information about the log-in user to a specific, identified authorization information An authorization processing unit that transmits the image data to the image forming apparatus using the network interface, and a personal data transmission unit that transmits the user personal data regarding the login user who has been successfully authenticated to the image forming apparatus using the network interface; Is provided.

  Thereby, in the image forming apparatus, a signature unique to each login user can be used as a signature of the email transmitted by the email transmission function. Further, since it is only necessary to set the signature in the user manager server device, the work load at the time of setting and changing the signature is reduced.

In addition to the above user manager server device, the user manager server device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the storage device stores the signature template instead of the signature, the user authentication processing unit authenticates the login user with the directory server device, and the personal data transmission unit receives the login user from the directory server device. The attribute information is acquired, and the attribute information is embedded in the template to generate a signature.

  Thus, for example, instead of holding the signatures of multiple users, a template common to multiple users is held, and attribute information such as name, company name, department name, contact phone number, sender email address, etc. Can be embedded in a template to generate a signature, thereby reducing the amount of data to be retained.

  The user manager server device according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the user manager server devices described above. In this case, the personal data transmission unit transmits user personal data to the image forming apparatus using the network interface only when the use of the e-mail transmission function is permitted for the logged-in user according to the authorization information.

  Thereby, for the user who does not use the e-mail transmission function, the user personal data including the signature is not transmitted / received, so that the data transfer amount from the user manager server apparatus to the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, a signature unique to each login user can be used as a signature of an email transmitted by the email transmission function.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the multifunction machine in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the user manager server apparatus in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the authorization policy data in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the directory server device in FIG. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device when a user logs in to the multifunction machine in the system shown in FIG.

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

Embodiment 1 FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of multifunction peripherals 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B and a printer 1 </ b> C are connected to a network 2, and a user manager server device 3 and a directory server device 4 are connected to the network 2.

  The multifunction machine 1A has a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function, a scan-to-email function, a box-to-email function, etc., and is connected to the operation panel on the multifunction machine 1A and the network 2. The image forming apparatus executes various jobs with the above-described functions in accordance with commands from a host device or the like. The multifunction machine 1B is a similar device. The printer 1C is also an image forming apparatus like the multifunction machines 1A and 1B, but does not have a scanner function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. In the following, the case where the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B function as image forming apparatuses will be mainly described. However, the printer 1C can also function as an image forming apparatus.

  The user manager server device 3 is a server device that accepts user authentication requests from the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B and provides authorization information for users logged in to the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B. The directory server device 4 is a server device that provides directory services such as an active directory and an e directory.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the multifunction machine 1A in FIG. The multifunction machine 1B has a similar configuration. The multi-function device 1A includes an operation panel 21, a modem 22, a network interface 23, a printer 24, a scanner 25, and a control device 26.

  The operation panel 21 is installed in the housing of the multifunction machine 1A, and includes a display device 21a that displays various types of information to the user and an input device 21b that receives user operations. The display device 21a is, for example, a liquid crystal display or various indicators. The input device 21b is, for example, a touch panel or a key switch.

  The modem 22 can be connected to a subscriber telephone network such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and is a communication device that transmits and receives facsimile data.

  The network interface 23 can be connected to a wired or wireless computer network 2 and performs data communication with other devices (server device 3, host device not shown) connected to the network 2. Device.

  The printer 24 is an internal device that prints on a sheet according to a print request and discharges the printed matter. In the case of the electrophotographic method, after charging the photosensitive drum, the printer 24 emits a light source based on the print data to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and this electrostatic latent image is Development is performed with toner, the toner image is transferred and fixed on a sheet, and the sheet is discharged as a printed matter.

  The scanner 25 irradiates light on one or both sides of a document fed by an automatic document feeder or a document placed by a user and receives reflected light or the like to read an image of the document. It is an internal device that outputs as image data.

  The control device 26 is a device that controls each unit in the multifunction peripheral 1A and performs data processing. The control device 26 is configured as a computer having, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. In the control device 26, the CPU implements various processing units by loading a program stored in the ROM or other storage device (flash memory or the like) into the RAM and executing it. In the control device 26, a FAX communication unit 31, a network communication unit 32, a control unit 33, and a determination unit 34 are realized.

  The FAX communication unit 31 is a processing unit that controls the modem 22 and receives facsimile data. When receiving the facsimile data, the FAX communication unit 31 supplies a print request to the determination unit 34.

  The network communication unit 32 is a processing unit that controls the network interface 23 and performs data communication with devices on the network 2 using various communication protocols. For example, the network communication unit 32 transmits the user name (user ID) and password input to the operation panel 21 at the time of user login to the user manager server device 3 and receives the login user authorization information from the user manager server device 3. . For example, the network communication unit 32 receives a print request (such as PDL (Page Description Language) data) from the host computer, and supplies the print request to the control unit 33. In addition, the network communication unit 32 executes an e-mail transmission function such as a scan-to-email function, a box-to-email function, and the like, such as an image obtained by the scan function and an image in a document box. An electronic mail including an image data file is transmitted by a protocol such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).

  The control unit 33 receives a job request by a user operation on the operation panel 21 or a job request received from the host device by the network interface 23 and the network communication unit 32, and controls each unit in the multifunction peripheral 1A to control the job. A processing unit that executes a job corresponding to a request. The job request includes a print request, a scan request, a facsimile transmission request, a scan-to-email request, a box-to-email request, and the like. In addition, when there is a login operation, the control unit 33 uses the network communication unit 32 to request user authentication, authorization information, and the like from the user manager server device 3.

  Based on the authorization information about the login user received from the user manager server device 3 by the network interface 23 and the network communication unit 32, the determination unit 34 uses the login user among the functions of the MFP 1A. It is a processing unit that specifies a function to be prohibited (or a function to be permitted) and stores data indicating whether or not to permit use of each function on, for example, a RAM. The control unit 33 refers to the data and restricts the use of the MFP 1A by the login user. For example, when the use of the color copy function is restricted for the logged-in user, a copy function menu is displayed on the operation panel 21 so that the color copy cannot be selected (for example, selecting a color from monochrome / color). Button is grayed out).

  In this way, the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B are configured.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user manager server device 3 in FIG. The user manager server device 3 includes a storage device 41, a network interface 42, and an arithmetic processing device 43.

  The storage device 41 is a device that stores programs and data. As the storage device 41, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like is used. The storage device 41 stores authorization policy data 51, local user data 52, local group data 53, and user personal data 54.

  The authorization policy data 51 is data including authorization information used for specifying a function that is permitted to be used by the login user of the multifunction peripheral 1A, 1B. The authorization policy data 51 can include authorization information for users and authorization information for groups. Authorization information for a user is authorization information applied to the user, and authorization information for a group is authorization information applied to users belonging to the group. The authorization policy data 51 includes authorization information for a domain user registered in the directory server device 4 and authorization information for a local user registered in the user manager server device 3 as authorization information for the user. And can be included. The authorization policy data 51 includes authorization information for a domain group registered in the directory server device 4 and authorization information for a local group registered in the user manager server device 3 as authorization information for the group. And can be included. The authorization information for a user includes a user ID and information on a function that is permitted (or prohibited) for the user (for example, a function ID). The authorization information for a group includes a group ID and information on a function that is permitted (or prohibited) for a user belonging to the group (for example, a function ID). For example, functions permitted (or prohibited) to be used include large items such as printing, scanning, copying, and facsimile transmission, and small items (for example, a color / monochrome selection function) associated with each large item.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the authorization policy data 51 in FIG.

  In the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, the domain group A includes domain users A, B, C, and D, and the local group A includes local users A and B and domain users B and D. An authorization policy # 1 (policy data including authorization information) is set for the domain group A, an authorization policy # 2 is set for the domain user A belonging to the domain group A, and an authorization policy # for the local group A 3 is set, the authorization policy # 4 is set for the local user A belonging to the local group A, the authorization policy # 5 is set for the domain user B belonging to the domain group A, and the authorization for the domain user E is set. Policy # 6 is set, and authorization policy # 7 is set for local user C.

  The local user data 52 is data including registration information (user ID and password) of the local user. The local user is a user registered in the user manager device 3 separately from the domain user registered in the directory server device 4.

  The local group data 53 is data including registration information (group ID and user ID of a user belonging to the group) of the local group. The local group is a group registered in the user manager device 3 separately from the domain user registered in the directory server device 4. Local groups can include local users and domain users. That is, a local group consisting only of local users, a local group consisting only of domain users, and a local group consisting of local users and domain users can be set.

  The user personal data 54 is applied to each of the domain user and the local user when the user logs in to one of the image forming apparatuses (here, the multifunction machine 1A or the multifunction machine 1B). Setting value. In this embodiment, the user personal data 54 includes one or more signatures of emails to be transmitted with a scan-to-email function, a box-to-email function, or the like.

  The network interface 42 can be connected to a wired or wireless computer network 2 and performs data communication with other devices (such as the multifunction devices 1A and 1B and the server device 4) connected to the network 2. Device.

  The arithmetic processing unit 43 is configured as a computer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and loads various programs stored in the ROM or the storage device 41 into the RAM and executes them by the CPU, thereby realizing various processing units. . In the arithmetic processing device 43, a network communication unit 61, a user authentication processing unit 62, an authorization processing unit 63, and a user personal data transmission unit 64 are realized.

  The network communication unit 61 is a processing unit that controls the network interface 42 and performs data communication with devices on the network 2 using various communication protocols. For example, the network communication unit 61 receives a user name (user ID) and a password from the multifunction device 1A, and transmits authorization information about the user to the multifunction device 1A. For example, the network communication unit 61 transmits a user authentication request to the directory server device 4 and receives the authentication result and user information from the directory server device 4.

  The user authentication processing unit 62 is a processing unit that performs authentication of the login user of the multifunction peripheral 1 </ b> A or 1 </ b> B with the directory server device 4 using the local user data 52 or the network interface 42.

  The authorization processing unit 63 is a processing unit that transmits authorization information about the login user of the multifunction device 1A (or multifunction device 1B) that has been successfully authenticated to the multifunction device 1A (or multifunction device 1B). In this embodiment, when the login user of the multifunction device 1A (or multifunction device 1B) who has succeeded in user authentication belongs to the local group, the authorization processing unit 63 obtains authorization information for the local group from the authorization policy data 51. If the logged-in user that has been extracted and transmitted to the MFP 1A (or MFP 1B) using the network interface 42 as authorization information for the logged-in user and succeeded in user authentication does not belong to the local group, the logged-in user The authorization information for the domain group to which the user belongs or the user (domain user or local user) is extracted from the authorization policy data 51, and the network interface 42 is used as the authorization information for the login user. 1B To send to.

  For example, in the case of the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, when the domain user A logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 2 and the authorization policy # 1 are transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. When there are conflicting authorization settings in the user and group authorization policies (here, authorization policy # 2 and authorization policy # 1), the setting of a predetermined authorization policy of the group or user is applied. In this case, when the domain user B logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 5, the authorization policy # 3, and the authorization policy # 1 are transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. If there are conflicting authorization settings in the domain group and local group authorization policies (here, authorization policy # 1 and authorization policy # 3), the setting of the predetermined authorization policy of the domain group or local user is applied. Is done. In this case, when the domain user C logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 1 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the domain user D logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 1 and the authorization policy # 3 are transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the domain user E logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 6 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the local user A logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 4 and the authorization policy # 3 are transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the local user B logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 3 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In this case, when the local user C logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization policy # 7 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A.

  When there are a plurality of authorization policies to be applied to a certain login user, the authorization processing unit 63 generates a single authorization policy by combining the authorization policies in the server device 3 and transmits the generated authorization policy. You may make it do. In that case, any setting policy selected according to a predetermined rule is applied to setting items that compete with each other in a plurality of approval policies.

  The user personal data transmission unit 64 uses the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42 to use an e-mail used for an e-mail transmission function such as a scan-to-email function for a logged-in user who has succeeded in user authentication. Is a processing unit that transmits user personal data 54 including one or a plurality of signatures to the MFP 1A (or MFP 1B) using a network interface. The user personal data 54 includes a signature template instead of the signature, and the user personal data transmission unit 64 acquires the attribute information of the login user from the directory server device 4 and uses the attribute information as the template. The signature may be generated by embedding. This attribute information is information registered in the directory server device 4 such as name, company name, department name, contact telephone number, and sender email address.

  In addition, the user personal data transmission unit 64 uses an email transmission function such as a scan-to-email function for the login user according to the authorization information applied to the login user when the login user is successfully authenticated. Only when the logged-in user is permitted to use at least one of the one or more e-mail transmission functions. May be transmitted to the multifunction device 1A (or the multifunction device 1B) using the network interface 42 or the like.

  Thus, the user manager server device 3 is configured.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the directory server device 4 in FIG. The directory server device 4 includes a storage device 71, a network interface 72, and an arithmetic processing device 73.

  The storage device 71 is a device that stores programs and data. As the storage device 71, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like is used. A directory service database 91 is constructed in the storage device 71, and the database 91 includes user data 91a and group data 91b. The user data 91a includes a user ID, a password, and user information (a telephone number, a facsimile number, an e-mail address, and other attribute information to be contacted). The group data 91b includes a group ID, a user ID list of users belonging to the group, and group information (contact information, responsible person, and other attribute information).

  The network interface 72 is a device that can be connected to a wired or wireless computer network 2 and performs data communication with other devices (such as the server device 3) connected to the network 2.

  The arithmetic processing unit 73 is configured as a computer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and implements various processing units by loading a program stored in the ROM or the storage device 71 into the RAM and executing the program by the CPU. In this arithmetic processing unit 73, a network communication unit 81 and a directory service processing unit 82 are realized.

  The network communication unit 81 is a processing unit that controls the network interface 72 and performs data communication with devices on the network 2 using various communication protocols. For example, the network communication unit 81 receives a user authentication request and transmits the authentication result and user information.

  The directory service processing unit 82 is a processing unit that manages domain users and domain groups. The directory service processing unit 82 performs registration and deletion of domain users and domain groups, user authentication, provision of user information of domain users and group information of domain groups, and the like. For user authentication, LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) authentication, Kerberos authentication, or the like is used. When the directory service is an active directory, the directory service processing unit 82 operates as a domain controller.

  Thus, the directory server device 4 is configured.

  Next, the operation of each device when the user logs in to the multifunction device 1A in the above system will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device when a user logs in to the multifunction peripheral 1A in the system shown in FIG. Each device operates in the same manner when a user logs in to the multifunction machine 1B.

  When the operation panel 21 of the multifunction peripheral 1A detects a user name (user ID) and password input operation by the user (step S1), the control unit 33 sends the user name and password to the network communication unit 32 and the network interface 23. Use to transmit to the user manager server device 3 (step S2).

  In the user manager server device 3, the user authentication processing unit 62 receives the user name and password using the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42, and sends the user name, password, and authentication request to a predetermined protocol (LDAP LDAP). Etc.) to the directory server device 4 (step S3).

  In the directory server device 4, the directory service processing unit 82 uses the network communication unit 81 and the network interface 72 to receive the user name, password, and authentication request using a predetermined protocol, and refers to the directory database 91. It is determined whether or not the user name and password are those of a valid user (step S4).

  Then, the directory service processing unit 82 uses the network communication unit 81 and the network interface 72 to display the determination result (that is, the authentication result) and the user information of the user when the authentication is successful. As a response, it transmits to the user manager server apparatus 3 (step S5).

  In the user manager server device 3, the user authentication processing unit 62 receives the authentication result as a response to the authentication request using the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42. If the user authentication is successful, the authorization processing unit 63 refers to the authorization policy data 51, identifies the authorization information of the user (that is, the authorization policy applied to the user) (step S6), Using the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42, a response indicating successful authentication is transmitted to the multi function device 1A together with the authorization information (step S7). If the user authentication is successful, the user personal data transmission unit 64 specifies the user personal data 54 (including the signature) of the user, and uses the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42 to use the multifunction device 1A. (Step S7). For example, the user personal data 54 of a certain user is associated with the user ID of the user, and the user personal data 54 associated with the user ID of the login user is specified as the user personal data 54 of the login user. Instead of providing the user personal data transmission unit 64 separately, the authorization processing unit 63 may have the function of the user personal data transmission unit 64 and transmit the user personal data 54 together with the authorization information.

  In the MFP 1A, the control unit 33 receives the authorization information and the user personal data 54 (including the signature) using the network communication unit 32 and the network interface 23, and provides the authorization information to the determination unit 34. At the same time (step S8), the user personal data 54 is held on the RAM, and a signature or the like is set based on the user personal data 54 (step S9). Based on the authorization information, the determination unit 34 sets, on the RAM, data indicating whether or not the use of the user is permitted for each of the predetermined functions of the multifunction peripheral 1A.

  Thereafter, the user is permitted to use the multifunction device 1A in a state where the function is restricted according to the authorization information (step S10). In the MFP 1A, the control unit 33 refers to the above-described data set by the determination unit 34 and accepts and executes only jobs that use functions permitted for the user. Upon receipt of the scan-to-email request, the control unit 33 causes the scanner 25 to read an image, generates an image data file in a predetermined file format (such as PDF) including the image data from the scanner 25, and the image Generate an e-mail with the data file attached and the signature set in the body. When the control unit 33 accepts the box-to-email request, the control unit 33 reads an image (document data) from the document box, generates an image data file of a predetermined file format (such as PDF) including the image, and generates the image. Generate an e-mail with the data file attached and the signature set in the body. Then, the control unit 33 uses the network communication unit 32 and the network interface 23 to transmit the electronic mail. When there are a plurality of set signatures, the control unit 33 displays these signatures on the operation panel 21, selects a signature according to a selection operation on the operation panel 21 by the user, and selects the selected signature in the e-mail. Include in the text.

  When user authentication fails, only a response indicating authentication failure is transmitted from the user manager server apparatus 3 to the multifunction device 1A. When the multifunction device 1A receives a response indicating authentication failure, the message indicating authentication failure is transmitted. Is displayed on the operation panel 21 and the use of the multifunction device 1A by the user is prohibited.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the user manager server device 3 is configured such that one or a plurality of e-mails used in the scan-to-email function or the box-to-email function for each user. Is stored as user personal data 54, user personal data 54 for the logged-in user is transmitted to the multifunction devices 1A and 1B, and the multifunction devices 1A and 1B receive the user personal data 54 from the user manager server device 3, When the scan-to-email function or the box-to-email function is executed, an e-mail describing a signature based on the user personal data 54 is transmitted.

  As a result, in the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B, a signature unique to each login user can be used as the signature of the email transmitted by the scan-to-email function. Further, since it is only necessary to set a signature in the user manager server device 3, the work load when setting and changing the signature is reduced.

Embodiment 2. FIG.

  In the image forming system according to the second embodiment, an ID card (in this case, an IC card) assigned to the user is used instead of the user inputting the user name into the multifunction peripheral 1A at the time of login.

  In the second embodiment, an IC card reader is connected to the multifunction device 1A, and when an ID card is brought close to the IC card reader, the control unit 33 uses the IC card reader to change the ID card from the ID card to the ID card. The ID is read and transmitted to the user manager server apparatus 3 together with the password entered in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  In Embodiment 2, the storage device 41 of the user manager server device 3 stores in advance conversion data for associating the card ID of the ID card with the user ID of the user assigned the ID card, and the user authentication processing unit 62 receives the card ID and password, refers to the conversion data, identifies the user ID corresponding to the card ID, and performs user authentication in the directory server device 4 based on the identified user ID and the received password. .

  Note that the other configurations and operations of the devices in the system according to the second embodiment are the same as those in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Here, an IC card is used as the ID card, but a card (magnetic card or the like) having a recording medium of another method may be used. In that case, a reader capable of reading the card ID from the card of the system is used instead of the IC card reader. Furthermore, instead of the ID card, biometric information such as a fingerprint may be used. In that case, a reader capable of acquiring the biological information from the user is used instead of the IC card reader, and a feature amount obtained from the biological information is used as the ID.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the storage device 41 of the user manager server device 3 includes the conversion data including the correspondence between the card ID of the ID card and the user ID of the user to whom the ID card is assigned. The user authentication processing unit 62 receives the card ID and password of the ID card from the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B, specifies the user ID of the login user from the received card ID according to the conversion data, and User authentication is performed using the user ID.

  Thereby, since the card ID of the ID card is managed in the user manager server device 3, it is not necessary to manage the card ID in the directory service, and the login system using the ID card in the system where the directory service is already operating. Can be easily added.

  Each embodiment described above is a preferred example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, local users and domain users are mixed and included in the local group, but there may be a local group including only local users or a local group including only domain users.

  In each of the above embodiments, the user manager server device 3 is connected to another network different from the network 2 without being connected to the network 2, and is connected to the directory server device 4 in the other network and the network 2. The user manager server device 3 and the directory server device 4 may perform data communication via another network.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B are used as the image forming apparatus, but a printer, a copier, or the like may be used instead. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the system has three image forming apparatuses, but it is also possible to use one, two, or four or more image forming apparatuses.

  In each of the above embodiments, the authorization information may include an access authority level to the multifunction device. For example, either an administrator or a general user is set as the access authority level. In the case of an administrator, functions that cannot be used by general users, such as maintenance, can be used.

  In the above embodiments, user personal data may be stored in the directory server device 4, and the user manager server device 3 may acquire user personal data from the directory server device 4.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a network system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

1A, 1B MFP (an example of an image forming apparatus)
1C printer (an example of an image forming apparatus)
2 network 3 user manager server device 4 directory server device 41 storage device 42 network interface 54 user personal data 62 user authentication processing unit 63 authorization processing unit 64 user personal data transmission unit (an example of a personal data transmission unit)

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus connected to the network;
A user manager server device that is connected to the network and provides authorization information for identifying the functions permitted to be used by a login user of the image forming device to the image forming device;
A directory server device that provides directory service and has domain group and domain user registration information;
The user manager server device, (a) the domain Apart local user registration information from the user, before SL domain users and / or registration information of the local group that contains the local user, and the domain group, the local group When there are a plurality of authorization policies that should be applied to the login user, and there are a plurality of authorization policies that can be set separately for the domain user and the local user, the setting items that conflict in the plurality of authorization policies Applies one selected according to a predetermined rule, combines the plurality of the authorization policies to generate one authorization policy, and combines the plurality of the authorization policies to generate the image formation Authorizations applied to users logged into the device Identifying information, transmitting the identified authorization information to the image forming apparatus, and (b) storing one or a plurality of signatures of an email used in an email transmission function as user personal data for each user, Transmitting the user personal data about the logged-in user who is the domain user or the local user to the image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus (c) receives the authorization information, and specifies a function for prohibiting or permitting use by a user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus based on the received authorization information, and (d) Receiving the user personal data from the user manager server device and transmitting an e-mail describing a signature based on the user personal data when executing an e-mail transmission function;
An image forming system. In the user manager server device that provides the image forming apparatus with authorization information that identifies the functions permitted to be used by the login user,
A network interface connected to the network;
(A) storing local user registration information separately from the domain user of the directory service provided by the directory server device, and registration information of the local user including the domain user and / or the local user; An authorization policy that can be set separately for the domain group of the directory service, the local group, the domain user, and the local user is stored. (C) For each user, an email policy used in the email transmission function is stored. A storage device for storing one or more signatures as user personal data;
A user authentication processing unit for authenticating a login user of an image forming apparatus connected to the network using the network interface;
When there are a plurality of authorization policies to be applied to the logged-in user who has succeeded in user authentication, a plurality of the plurality of the authorization policies are selected according to a predetermined rule for the setting items that conflict in the plurality of authorization policies. by combining the authorization policy generates one authorization policy, the authorization policy which is generated by combining a plurality of the authorization policy, and identify the authorization information for the log-in user, the identified said authorization information, said network An authorization processor for transmitting to the image forming apparatus using an interface;
A personal data transmission unit that transmits the user personal data of the login user who has been successfully authenticated to the image forming apparatus using the network interface;
A user manager server device comprising: The storage device stores a template of the signature instead of the signature;
The user authentication processing unit authenticates the login user in a directory server device,
The personal data transmission unit acquires attribute information of the login user from the directory server device, and embeds the attribute information in the template to generate the signature;
The user manager server device according to claim 2.   The personal data transmission unit transmits the user personal data to the image forming apparatus using the network interface only when the login information permits the login user to use the email transmission function. 3. The user manager server apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmission is performed.

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