JP5357653B2 - Log information storage control device, electronic device, and log information storage control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a log information storage control device, an electronic device, and a log information storage control method, and relates to a log information storage control device that stores log information generated along with the operation of the device, and a copier, a facsimile machine, The present invention relates to an improvement in an image forming apparatus such as a multi function peripheral (MFP) and a log information storage control method.

  Conventionally, this type of image forming apparatus is equipped with a hard disk (HDD) that is a large-capacity storage device, and in addition to log information such as operation information and error information generated during the image forming execution process, Many of them have a configuration for storing the information.

  A configuration is also known in which an image forming apparatus is connected to an external computer via a network and all information generated by the apparatus is stored in the external computer.

  However, the hard disk is suitable for storing all the information generated by the device because of its large capacity, but it is expensive and difficult to be installed in an inexpensive image forming apparatus, and all image formations installed in the office It is not always mounted on the device.

  In view of this, a method of sending log information and the like via a network from an inexpensive image forming apparatus not equipped with a hard disk to an image forming apparatus or computer equipped with the hard disk is also employed.

  Further, for example, an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-33387 (Patent Document 1) can be used.

  That is, this patent document 1 includes a memory interface unit that can be easily removed by a user in an image forming apparatus, image electronic data stored in a memory inside the image forming apparatus, management information for managing the image electronic data, facsimile Management information stored in the device such as a telephone directory used by the means is configured to be able to be moved between the external memory means by the user's operation or automatically, and provided in the image forming apparatus The stored information can be written back to the removable external memory, and the external memory can be handled as an additional memory area inside the image forming apparatus, and information can be exchanged with the internal memory. is there.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus, log information generated by this operation is stored, and one of the purposes is to leave information such as who printed what job, copied, or scanned as log information, It is possible to identify an apparatus and an operator who have printed from an illegally leaked printed document. That is, monitoring unauthorized use of the device.

JP 2006-33387 A

  However, in the above-described inexpensive image forming apparatus, it is difficult to pay attention to monitoring of unauthorized use of the apparatus. For example, if there is knowledge of an unauthorized operator, a cable for connecting the apparatus to the network is disconnected. Therefore, special ingenuity is required to prevent unauthorized use.

  Further, if there is a problem with the network or the computer connected thereto, information for a certain period in the log information is likely to be lost, and it is necessary to deal with it from the viewpoint of reliably monitoring unauthorized use.

  Further, in Patent Document 1 described above, the memory can be increased or exchanged, but it does not support supplementation or encryption of missing information, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of ensuring security.

  Therefore, as a result of intensive observation and examination of the storage form of log information in an inexpensive image forming apparatus, the present inventor uses a plurality of externally connectable memories and devise a storage form of log information in those memories. Thus, the present invention has been completed by paying attention to the fact that in most cases, it is possible to prevent falsification of log information and to compensate for missing log information.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. In an inexpensive electronic device not equipped with a large-capacity storage device, the log information is reliably acquired and the log information is not easily falsified. It is an object of the present invention to provide a log information storage control device, an electronic device, and a log information storage control method that can be easily deleted.

In order to solve such a problem, a log information storage control device according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a log generation unit that generates log information related to the operating state of the device, and a small-scale storage that stores the log information. A plurality of second memories which are externally connected to the device and detachably connected to the device and store log information stored in the first memory, the log according to a preset storage change setting; The second memory associated with the storage of information and the log information generated by the log generation unit are sequentially stored in the first memory, and the log information stored in the first memory is preset. A memory control unit that distributes and controls each second memory corresponding to the association for each log information according to the storage change setting.

  A log information storage control device according to claim 2 of the present invention has a configuration in which the first memory is a built-in memory of the device.

  A log information storage control device according to claim 3 of the present invention has a configuration in which the second memory is a USB memory.

A log information storage control device according to claim 4 of the present invention has an encryption / decryption unit that encrypts and decrypts the log information, and the memory control unit stores the log information in the encryption / decryption unit. And encrypting the log information from the first memory or the second memory and controlling the decryption by the encryption / decryption unit have.

In the log information storage control device according to claim 5 of the present invention, the memory control unit has a log information deletion function stored in the first memory, and the log information is deleted prior to the deletion of the log information. It has a function of deleting the log information after confirming the existence of the information in the second memory.

In the log information storage control device according to claim 6 of the present invention, the memory control unit executes and controls the deletion function when the log information stored in the first memory exceeds the predetermined threshold. It has a configuration.

An electronic apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes the log information storage control device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a log information storage control method comprising: a log generation process for generating log information relating to an operating state of the device; and log information generated by the log generation unit as a first small memory with respect to the first storage processing, a plurality of second memory that is implicated per storage of the log information according to detachably externally connected Rutotomoni preset stored changed settings in the device to be sequentially stored in, the the log information stored in the first memory is provided with a second storage processing for distributed also stored in each of the second memory corresponding to the association in the storage change settings accordingly for each the log information.

In the log information storage control method according to claim 9 of the present invention, the first memory is the built-in memory of the device.

In the log information storage control method according to claim 10 of the present invention, the second memory is a USB memory.

The log information storage control method according to claim 11 of the present invention includes an encryption process for encrypting the log information and storing it in the first memory or the second memory, and the first memory or the second memory. A decryption process for decrypting the encrypted log information.

In the log information storage control method according to claim 12 of the present invention, the log information stored in the first memory is deleted, and the log information to be deleted exists in the second memory prior to the deletion of the log information. Is deleted, and the log information is deleted.

A log information storage control method according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention has a configuration in which the deletion process executes deletion when log information stored in the first memory exceeds a predetermined threshold. ing.

In the log information storage control device and the log information storage control method according to claims 1 and 8 of the present invention as described above, the log information related to the operating state of the device is generated, and the generated log information is stored on a small scale. The log information stored in the first memory is sequentially stored in a plurality of second memories which are sequentially stored in one memory and are externally connected to the device so as to be detachably connected according to the storage change setting. Since log information is distributed and stored in each second memory corresponding to the correlation for each log information, the log information is stored in the first memory and the external second memory even in an inexpensive electronic device. In addition, the log information can be compared to prevent falsification of the log information, and the log information is stored and stored in either the first or second memory, so that the log information can be easily supplemented. In advance, It is easy to determine the stored log information in each of the second memories, the target log information is prevented from being falsified, and it is easy to determine the lack of log information.

In the log information storage control device and the log information storage control method according to claims 2 and 9 of the present invention, since the first memory is configured to be a built-in memory of the device, in an inexpensive electronic device having no built-in hard disk In addition, it is easy to prevent falsification of log information and to compensate for missing log information.

In the log information storage control device and the log information storage control method according to claims 3 and 10 of the present invention, since the second memory is a USB memory, it can be configured inexpensively and easily.

In the log information storage control device and the log information storage control method according to claims 4 and 11 of the present invention, the log information is encrypted and stored in the first memory or the second memory, and the first memory or Since the encrypted log information from the second memory is decrypted, in addition to the effects described above, it is easy to ensure security.

In the log information storage control device and the log information storage control method according to claims 5 and 12 of the present invention, the log information stored in the first memory is deleted, and the log is deleted prior to the deletion of the log information. Since the log information is deleted after the presence of the information in the second memory is confirmed, unnecessary deletion of the log information can be prevented in addition to the effects described above.

In the log information storage control device and the log information storage control method according to claims 6 and 13 of the present invention, the log information stored in the first memory is deleted when it exceeds a predetermined threshold value. In addition to the effects described above, it is possible to prevent unnecessary deletion of log information.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a log information storage control device according to the present invention together with an image forming apparatus as an electronic device. It is a block diagram explaining the log information storage control device concerning the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the log information storage control apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of a log information storage control device, an electronic device, and a log information storage control method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The log information storage control device and the log information storage control method of the present invention will be described in the course of describing the image forming apparatus as the electronic apparatus of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus including a log information storage control device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the components constituting the log information storage control device extracted from the configuration of FIG. It is the block diagram shown in figure.

  In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus A has an image reading unit 3, a first memory 5, an operation panel unit 7, a printing unit 9, a communication unit 11, and an input / output unit 13 connected to the main control unit 1. , A log generation unit 15 and an encryption / decryption unit 17, for example, a multifunction device. The image forming apparatus A has other constituent elements than these, but is not a main part of the present invention, and thus description and illustration thereof are omitted. The function of the main control unit 1 will be described later.

  The image reading unit 3 is a known scanner that optically reads an image from a document under the control of the main control unit 1 and generates electronic image data subjected to filter processing or the like as a print job. Each page of the document is sequentially stored in the first memory 5.

  The first memory 5 is a readable / writable non-volatile semiconductor memory for storing log data and the like described below in addition to image data from the image reading unit 3 or the communication unit 11 under the control of the main control unit 1. Has a small storage capacity.

  Note that an operation program for operating the image forming apparatus A, operation screen information and operation function screen information, user information for using the device, such as a user password, is stored in a ROM or RAM (not shown). Yes.

  The operation panel unit 7 serves as a known, for example, liquid crystal display display unit disposed in the image forming apparatus A and a touch switch type input unit, and operates in the image forming apparatus A under the control of the main control unit 1. In addition to displaying the status and various data, the operation instruction input of the device A, the user password input, and the screen related to the operation function are displayed, and the screen area related to the operation function is touched. The function of receiving selection setting input.

  Under the control of the main control unit 1, the printing unit 9 primarily feeds and conveys printing paper from a paper feed stage (not shown), and secondary feeds the conveyed printing paper, while the first memory 5. The image data read out from the image data is developed into image image data, a toner image is formed based on the image data, the toner image is transferred and fixed to a secondary paper sheet, and the image is formed by monochrome or full color printing. This is a known image forming unit.

  The communication unit 11 is connected to an external information processing apparatus (server) B via the network 19 under the control of the main control unit 1, and transmits and receives image data and other data according to a predetermined data transmission protocol. Interface.

  For example, a plurality of USB memories 21a, 21b, and 21c as external storage units are detachably connected to the input / output unit 13.

  The input / output unit 13 detects the presence / absence of connection of the USB memories 21a to 21c under the control of the main control unit 1, and when the USB memories 21a to 21c are detected, secures connection with them. When any one of the USB memories 21a to 21c is designated, a USB hub, a USB interface, or the like that secures connection with the designated USB memories 21a to 21c and controls input / output of stored data. Details will be described later.

  The USB memories 21a to 21c are non-volatile second memories that store log information, and are managed by the main control unit 1 in association with the stored log information, as will be described later. Details will be described later.

  The log generation unit 15 generates log information related to the operation state of the image forming apparatus A.

  As log information to be generated, information generated during various job operations such as image reading in the image reading unit 3 and printing operation in the printing unit 9 in the image forming apparatus A, for example, “when (A)”, “who ( B) "," What (C) "," Where (D) "," What (E) "processing information related to the job," When (F) "," It has a function of generating error history information such as “What is (G)” and “What is it (H)” as log information and outputting it to the main control unit 1 as an independent file each time it is generated.

  The content corresponding to “what (C)” of the log information includes actual print data, reduced image data, and the like in addition to information characteristic of print data such as a file name and file size.

  What information is to be generated as log information is set in advance in the image forming apparatus A by software or by a manager or user.

  The encryption / decryption unit 17 has a function of encrypting and decrypting log information using a known algorithm, and stores the log information in the first memory 5 and / or the USB memories 21a to 21c under the control of the main control unit 1. The log information is encrypted, and the log information output from the first memory 5 and / or the USB memories 21a to 21c is decrypted.

  The main control unit 1 includes a CPU, a ROM that stores a startup program of the CPU, and the like. The image reading unit 3, the first memory 5, the operation panel unit 7, the input / output unit 13, the printing unit 9, The communication unit 11, the input / output unit 13, the log generation unit 15, and the encryption / decryption unit 17 are controlled, and the image data read from the image reading unit 3 and stored in the first memory 5 is transferred to the printing unit 9 and printed. A function of controlling (image formation control) and a function of controlling communication of image data with the information processing apparatus B.

  In addition, the main control unit 1 sequentially stores and controls log information in the first memory 5, and distributes and stores log information stored in the first memory 5 to the USB memories 21a to 21c based on the storage change setting. It has a function as the memory control unit 23. The memory change setting will be described later.

  That is, the memory control unit 23 sequentially stores and controls the log information generated by the log generation unit 15 in the first memory 5 as shown in FIG. 2 which is a block diagram centering on the memory control unit 23. The log information stored in the first memory 5 has a function of distributing and controlling the USB memory 21a to 21c according to a predetermined storage change setting.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 13a denotes a USB hub that secures individual connection with the USB memories 21a to 21c, and reference numerals 13b to 13d denote interface units that connect the USB hub 13a and the individual USB memories 21a to 21c (in FIG. 2). This is abbreviated as USB I / F unit), and forms the input / output unit 13 described above.

  The memory control unit 23 controls the encryption / decryption unit 17 to encrypt the log information and control the storage in the first memory 5 or the USB memories 21a to 21c, and also the first memory 5 or the USB memories 21a to 21c. It also has a function of controlling the decryption of the encrypted log information from.

  In addition, the memory control unit 23 has a function of deleting log information stored in the first memory 5, and controls the input / output unit 13 prior to deletion of log information to delete the log information from the USB memories 21 a to 21 a. It also has a function of deleting log information after confirming the existence in 21c.

  Further, the memory control unit 23 has a function of deleting a predetermined number of old log information when the log information stored in the first memory 5 exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  For example, if there is a storage capacity of 128 log information in the first memory 5 and the threshold is assumed to be “100”, if 100 log information is written in the first memory 5, the old 50 pieces of log information are controlled to be deleted. Note that the number of log information items to be deleted can be arbitrarily set.

  As described above, the storage change setting for distributing and storing the log information stored in the first memory 5 to the USB memories 21a to 21c is set in advance by the supplier of the apparatus, or by an administrator or user by an external device. Are set as follows, for example, via the operation panel unit 7 and stored in the first memory 5 or the like.

  That is, the operation information and operation related to the above-mentioned job such as “when (A)”, “who (B)”, “what (C)”, “where (D)”, “what (E)” Settings for specifying individual USB memories 21a to 21c as storage destinations of log information according to error information such as “when (F)”, “what (G)”, and “what (H)” related to the error It is. Specifically, the USB memories 21a to 21c are specified by specifying the interface units 13b to 13d and specifying the USB memories 21a to 21c.

  For example, regarding “when (A)”, all the log information A to H is stored in the USB memory 21a independently in the generation order, and the initial log information A to E is stored in the USB memory 21b independently in the generation order. In addition, the USB memory 21c may be configured to store the subsequent log information F to H independently in the order of generation.

  With regard to “who (B)”, the user “password” entered at the time of startup is referred to, the user (affiliation department) A is stored in the USB memory 21a, the user (affiliation department) B is connected to the USB memory 21b, the USB The memory 21c may be set to store log information related to the user (affiliated department) C.

  In addition, it is possible to specify and store the USB memories 21a to 21c for each category of log information.

  Next, the operation of the log information storage control of the present invention described above will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  When the operation program starts, the log generation unit 15 acquires log information in step S1 of FIG. 3, and the memory control unit 23 sequentially stores the log information in the first memory 5 in the generation order (first storage). Processing) In step S2, the memory control unit 23 determines whether or not there are external USB memories 21a to 21c.

  If the USB memories 21a to 21c are connected and step S2 is YES, the memory control unit 23 refers to the storage change setting in step S3 and stores the log information in the corresponding USB memories 21a to 21c (second storage). Storage processing), the process proceeds to step S4, and the log information in the first memory 5 is compared with a threshold value.

  If the number of log information in the first memory 5 is equal to or greater than the threshold value “100”, the log information corresponding to the log information that the memory control unit 23 deletes in the first memory 5 in step S5 is already USB memory 21a. It is discriminated whether or not it is within 21c.

  If the corresponding log information is not in the USB memories 21a to 21c and step S5 is NO, the process proceeds to step S6, and the memory control unit 23 stores the corresponding insufficient log information in the first memory 5 in the USB memories 21a to 21c. The process proceeds to step S7, where the corresponding log information in the first memory 5 is deleted (deletion process), and the process ends.

  If the number of log information in the first memory 5 is less than the threshold value, or if the corresponding log information is in the USB memories 21a to 21c and step S5 is YES, the process is similarly terminated.

  On the other hand, if the USB memories 21a to 21c are not connected and the above step S2 is NO, the memory control unit 23 compares the number of log information in the first memory 5 with the threshold “100” in step S8. To do.

  If the log information in the first memory 5 is greater than or equal to the threshold, the memory control unit 23 deletes the log information in the first memory 5 in step S7, and if the log information is less than the threshold, the process ends.

  These processing steps correspond to the log information storage control method according to the present invention.

  As described above, the log information storage control device of the present invention includes the log generation unit 15 that generates log information related to the operation state of the device, the built-in small first memory 5 that stores the log information, One or more USB memories (second memories) 21 a to 21 c that are externally connected to the device and store log information stored in the first memory 5, and log information generated by the log generation unit 15 And a memory control unit 23 that sequentially controls the storage in the first memory 5 and controls the storage of the log information stored in the first memory 5 in the USB memories 21a to 21c in accordance with a preset storage change setting. ing.

  Therefore, the log information of both the built-in small-scale first memory 5 and the USB memories 21a to 21c can be compared, and log information can be easily prevented from being falsified. In addition, since it is stored and saved in any of the USB memories 21a to 21c, it is easy to ensure acquisition of log information, prevent alteration of log information, and compensate for missing log information in an inexpensive electronic device that does not incorporate a hard disk. Inexpensive and easy to configure.

  In general, log information in the externally connected USB memories 21a to 21c may be falsified by a knowledgeable unauthorized user, but the log information is consistent between the first memory 5 and the USB memories 21a to 21c. Therefore, it is easy to determine the presence or absence of falsification, and it is easy to grasp the lack of log information.

  Therefore, it is possible for the network administrator to confirm highly reliable log information, and when unauthorized use occurs, it becomes easy to identify the cause from the log.

  If the same log information is stored and controlled in the USB memories 21a to 21c, the log information can be compared between the USB memories 21a to 21c.

  Moreover, since the log information is stored in the USB memories 21a to 21c corresponding to the association for each log information with respect to the USB memories 21a to 21c related to the storage of the log information according to the storage change setting, the USB memories 21a to 21c are stored. It is easy to determine the stored log information in 21c, it is easy to determine whether the target log information is falsified and to prevent missing log information, and the administrator can obtain only the log information necessary for the application, thus reducing the time for organizing. it can.

  Further, since the log information is encrypted and stored in the first memory 5 and the USB memories 21a to 21c, and the lock information read from them is decrypted, it is easy to ensure security.

  Further, when deleting the log information stored in the first memory 5, it is deleted after confirming the presence or absence of the log information in the USB memories 21a to 21c, so that unnecessary deletion of the log information can be prevented. .

  Furthermore, since the predetermined log information is deleted when the log information stored in the first memory 5 exceeds the predetermined threshold, unnecessary deletion of the log information can be similarly prevented.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described log information storage control device, a document reading unit 3 that automatically feeds a document and optically reads a surface image to obtain electronic image data, and the read image data And a printing unit 9 that prints the same, and similarly has the effects described above.

  However, the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus, and can be implemented in various electronic devices that need to acquire log information.

  Furthermore, in the log information storage control method of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the above-described log information storage control device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control part 3 Image reading part 5 1st memory 7 Operation panel part 9 Printing part 11 Communication part 13 Input / output part 13a USB hub 13b, 13c, 13d USB interface part 15 Log generation part 17 Encryption / decryption part 19 Network Units 21a, 21b, 21c USB memory (second memory)
23 Memory Control Unit A Image Forming Device (Multifunction Device)
B Information processing device (server)

Claims (13)

A log generation unit that generates log information related to the operating state of the device;
A small first memory for storing the log information;
A plurality of second memories that are externally connected to the device and that store the log information stored in the first memory, and are related to storage for each log information according to a preset storage change setting. A second memory attached ;
With sequentially stores control to said log information first memory generated by the log generation unit, the association for each of the log information the log information stored in the first memory in accordance with the stored changed settings A memory control unit that distributes and controls each of the second memories corresponding to
A log information storage control device comprising:   The log information storage control device according to claim 1, wherein the first memory is a built-in memory of the device.   The log information storage control device according to claim 1, wherein the second memory is a USB memory. An encryption / decryption unit that encrypts and decrypts the log information, and the memory control unit encrypts the log information by the encryption / decryption unit, and the first memory or the second memory The log information according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the log information is controlled to be decrypted by the encryption / decryption unit and the encrypted log information from the first memory or the second memory is decrypted. Storage controller. The memory control unit has a function of deleting the log information stored in the first memory, and confirms the existence of the log information to be deleted in the second memory prior to the deletion of the log information. The log information storage control device according to claim 1, which has a function of deleting the log information from the log information. The log information storage control device according to claim 5, wherein the memory control unit executes and controls the deletion function when the log information stored in the first memory is stored exceeding a predetermined threshold. An electronic apparatus comprising the log information storage control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Log generation processing for generating log information relating to the operating state of the device;
A first storage process for sequentially storing the log information generated by the log generation unit in a small first memory;
The log information stored in the first memory with respect to a plurality of second memories that are externally detachably connected to the device and related to the storage of the log information according to a preset storage change setting A second storage process for distributing and storing each of the second memories corresponding to the association for each log information according to the storage change setting;
A log information storage control method comprising: The log information storage control method according to claim 8, wherein the first memory is a built-in memory of the device. The log information storage control method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the second memory is a USB memory. Encryption processing for encrypting the log information and storing it in the first memory or the second memory, and decryption for decrypting the encrypted log information from the first memory or the second memory The log information storage control method according to claim 8, further comprising a process. Deleting the log information stored in the first memory and deleting the log information after confirming the existence of the log information to be deleted in the second memory prior to deleting the log information The log information storage control method according to claim 8, further comprising a process. 13. The log information storage control method according to claim 12, wherein the deletion process executes the deletion when the log information stored in the first memory is stored exceeding a predetermined threshold.

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