JP6536265B2 - Image transmission device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus capable of storing electronic data in a box which is a storage area of dedicated electronic data used by an individual or a plurality of users, and transmitting the stored electronic data to the outside via a network, in particular The present invention relates to technology for controlling transmission of electronic data.

In recent years, the communication function of an image transmission apparatus (for example, an image forming apparatus) capable of transmitting electronic data such as image data has become multifunctional, and electronic mail and FTP (File
2. Description of the Related Art An image transmission apparatus capable of transmitting electronic data by various transmission methods such as Transfer Protocol) and SMB (Server Message Block) has come to be used.
Then, in a storage area such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) provided in the image transmission apparatus as described above, a box which is a storage area of dedicated electronic data used by an individual or a plurality of users is provided. It is configured to be able to store electronic data such as image data and files used by the user for transmission, printing and the like.

For example, the user stores the image data created by reading with a scanner included in the image transmitting apparatus in the user's box, causes the image data to be read out from the user's box as needed, and designates it from the image forming apparatus Can be sent to the destination.

JP, 2006-121619, A

  By the way, the information indicated by the electronic data stored in the box is various, such as highly confidential information, and information which can be generally disclosed without any problem. Therefore, if a user is allowed to read electronic data from a box and freely transmit electronic data to a destination specified by the user, highly confidential information that only a specific person should know is disclosed to an unspecified person (For example, a problem in which confidential information is erroneously transmitted to a transmission destination not intended by the user due to an input error of a transmission destination) occurs.

Also, depending on the user and the information indicated by the electronic data stored in the box, the range of the transmission destination to which the disclosure of the information is permitted varies. Therefore, if the range of the transmission destination is set uniformly, the set transmission destination range may be too wide due to the box, so that the occurrence of the above problem can not be appropriately prevented.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image transmission apparatus capable of preventing erroneous transmission in transmission of electronic data from a box.

In order to achieve the above object, an image transmission apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an image transmission apparatus including a storage device having a plurality of boxes which are storage areas of electronic data, and the plurality of boxes are divided into groups Storage means for storing a transmission destination list in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group, specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and reception of the transmission destination Only when the accepting means and the accepted destination are included in the destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the accepted destination regarding the designated electronic data is permitted, and the destination list a transmission control means when not included to prohibit the transmission of the electronic data, an acquisition unit for acquiring identification information identifying the user, Identification information storage means for storing the identification information of the editing permitted person of the transmission destination list of the group for each loop, and only when the acquired user identification information indicates that the editing permitted person of any transmission destination list And editing means for accepting an instruction to edit the transmission destination list from the user and editing the transmission destination list, the plurality of boxes including a box to which a password for accessing the box is given. , When the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is an edit authorized person of the transmission destination list of the group to which the box to which the password belongs is attached, the password of the box to which the password is attached. Password change means for accepting a change instruction and changing the password in accordance with the change instruction, the password When the specification of the electronic data of the box to which the password is given and the transmission destination are accepted before the transmission destination list is edited after the change of the transmission destination list, the transmission control unit Prohibit the transmission of electronic data to

Further, an image transmitting apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is an image transmitting apparatus including a storage device having a plurality of boxes which are storage areas of electronic data, wherein the plurality of boxes are divided into groups, a group Storage means for storing a transmission destination list to which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted, reception means for receiving specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and a transmission destination thereof The transmission destination is accepted for the designated electronic data only when the received destination is included in the destination list of the group to which the box belongs, and is included in the destination list. If not, the transmission control means for prohibiting the transmission of the electronic data, the acquisition means for acquiring the identification information for identifying the user, Identification information storage means for storing the identification information of the edit permitted person of the transmission destination list of the loop, and the user information concerned only when it indicates that the acquired user identification information is the edit authorized person of any of the transmission destination list. Editing means for receiving the editing instruction of the transmission destination list and editing the transmission destination list, and a plurality of transmission destination list candidates having different transmission destination ranges for each group are determined in advance, and the plurality of types Among the candidates of the above, there is provided an initial setting means for initially setting the narrowest possible transmission destination range as the transmission destination list of each group in the storage means, and the editing means accepts the selection from the plurality of types of candidates. Accepts the editing instruction.
Here, the image transmitting apparatus includes: a temporary release password storage unit storing a temporary release password for temporarily releasing the prohibition of the transmission by the transmission control unit; a password input receiving unit receiving an input of the password; The transmission control means may release the transmission prohibition when the input password matches the stored temporary release password.

Further, the image transmission device includes an identification information storage means for storing identification information of the administrator, the said transmission control means, acquired user identification information is, to indicate that an administrator Can release the prohibition of the transmission .

A transmission control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a transmission control method for use in an image transmission apparatus provided with a storage device having a plurality of boxes that are storage areas of electronic data, wherein the plurality of boxes are grouped Storage step of storing a transmission destination list in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group, specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and reception of the transmission destination In the receiving step, only when the received destination is included in the destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the destination received for the designated electronic data is permitted, and the destination list Transmission control step for prohibiting transmission of the electronic data if not included in the above, and identification information for identifying the user Acquisition step, an identification information storage step for storing identification information of an edit-permitted person of the transmission destination list of the group for each group, and that the acquired user identification information is an edit-permitted person of any transmission destination list In the case of showing only, the editing step of receiving the editing instruction of the transmission destination list from the user and editing the transmission destination list is included, and the plurality of boxes are provided with the password for accessing the box If a box is included and the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is the edit permitter of the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs, the box is added to the box to which the password is added. Accept a change instruction for the current password, and change the password according to the change instruction When the specification of the electronic data of the box to which the password is given and the transmission destination are accepted after the password is changed and before the transmission destination list is edited, including the step The step prohibits the transmission of electronic data to the destination.

A transmission control method according to another aspect of the present invention is a transmission control method used for an image transmission apparatus provided with a storage device having a plurality of boxes that are storage areas of electronic data, wherein the plurality of boxes are A storage step of storing a transmission destination list which is divided into groups and in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group, specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and transmission destination thereof Accepting transmission to the transmission destination accepted for the designated electronic data only when the accepted transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs. The transmission control step for prohibiting the transmission of the electronic data when not included in the destination list, and the identification information for identifying the user Acquisition step, an identification information storage step for storing identification information of the editing permitted person of the transmission destination list of the group for each group, and the acquired user identification information being an editing authorized person of any transmission destination list In the case where the user designates an edit instruction of the transmission destination list from the user and edits the transmission destination list only, the candidate of a plurality of transmission destination lists having different transmission destination ranges for each group is included. Among the plurality of types of candidates, it includes an initial setting step of initializing in the storage step a candidate having the narrowest range of transmission destination as a transmission destination list of each group, and the editing step includes the plurality of editing steps By accepting the selection from the type candidate, the editing instruction is accepted.

Further, a transmission control program according to an aspect of the present invention is a transmission control program used for an image transmission apparatus provided with a storage device having a plurality of boxes which are storage areas of electronic data, wherein the plurality of boxes are grouped Storage step of storing a transmission destination list in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group, specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and reception of the transmission destination In the receiving step, only when the received destination is included in the destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the destination received for the designated electronic data is permitted, and the destination list Transmission control step for prohibiting the transmission of the electronic data if not included in the And an identification information storage step for storing identification information of an edit-permitted person of the transmission destination list of the group for each group, and an acquired user identification information being an edit-permitted person of any transmission destination list. Only when indicating that there is an instruction to edit the transmission destination list from the user and editing the transmission destination list, the image transmission apparatus is caused to execute, and the plurality of boxes are displayed in the box. In the case where a box to which a password for access is given is included and the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is an edit permit person of the transmission destination list of the group to which the box to which the password is assigned belongs. Accept the password change instruction given to the box to which the password is given, and The image transmission apparatus to execute a password change step of changing the password, and after the password is changed, before the transmission destination list is edited, the electronic data of the box to which the password is assigned When the designation and the transmission destination are accepted, the transmission control step prohibits transmission of the electronic data to the transmission destination.

Further, a transmission control program according to an aspect of the present invention is a transmission control program used for an image transmission apparatus provided with a storage device having a plurality of boxes which are storage areas of electronic data, wherein the plurality of boxes are grouped Storage step of storing a transmission destination list in which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted for each group, specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and reception of the transmission destination In the receiving step, only when the received destination is included in the destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the destination received for the designated electronic data is permitted, and the destination list Transmission control step for prohibiting the transmission of the electronic data if not included in the And an identification information storage step for storing identification information of an edit-permitted person of the transmission destination list of the group for each group, and an acquired user identification information being an edit-permitted person of any transmission destination list. Only when there is an indication that there is an instruction to edit the transmission destination list from the user and editing the transmission destination list, the image transmission apparatus executes the transmission step, and the range of the transmission destination differs for each group A plurality of types of transmission destination list candidates are determined in advance, and among the plurality of types of candidates, an initial setting step is performed to initialize the candidate having the narrowest transmission destination range as the transmission destination list of each group in the storage step The editing step may receive the editing instruction by receiving a selection from the plurality of types of candidates.

  By providing the above configuration, a transmission destination list to which transmission of electronic data is permitted is stored for each group of grouped boxes, and the received transmission destination of electronic data stores the electronic data. It is sent to the accepted destination only when it is included in the destination list of the group to which the box belongs, and transmission of the electronic data to the accepted destination is prohibited when it is not included in the destination list. Therefore, by grouping boxes for each group of boxes having common destinations, and storing the transmission destination list for each group, even if the user of the box mistakenly inputs the transmission destination, an error occurs. It can be prevented from being sent.

  In addition, since the transmission destination list is stored not for each box but for each group of grouped boxes, the number of transmission destination lists stored in the storage unit can be reduced accordingly. Management can be facilitated and the amount of storage can be reduced.

It is a schematic diagram showing an example of composition of an image transmitting system. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1A. A specific example of the box management table 1042 is shown. The specific example of the user identification information management table 1043 is shown. A specific example of the transmission destination list 1044 is shown. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an electronic data transmission control process. The specific example of an initial stage operation screen is shown. The specific example of the box selection screen is shown. The specific example of the selection screen of electronic data is shown. The specific example of the input screen of the transmission destination of electronic data is shown. The specific example of the warning message which shows that transmission to the input destination is not permitted is shown. The specific example of the message which shows that transmission was completed is shown. A specific example of the box management table 1042A is shown. It is a flow chart which shows a part of modification of operation of electronic data transmission control processing. It is a flowchart which shows a part of remainder of the modification of operation | movement of an electronic data transmission control process. It is a flow chart which shows another modification of operation of electronic data transmission control processing. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an edit process of a transmission destination list. A specific example of a transmission destination list editing instruction acceptance screen is shown. The specific example of the edit mode selection screen of a transmission destination list is shown. The specific example of the transmission destination list edit screen which selects the transmission destination to delete is shown. The specific example of the transmission destination list edit screen which inputs the transmission destination to add is shown. A specific example of the box management table management table 1042B is shown. It is a flow chart which shows operation of box password change processing. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of edit process A of a transmission destination list. It is a flow chart which shows a part of still another modification of operation of electronic data transmission control processing. It is a flowchart which shows a part of still another modification of operation | movement of an electronic data transmission control process.

Embodiment
[1] Configuration of Image Transmission System FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of an image transmission system according to the present embodiment. The image transmission system includes an image transmission apparatus (here, image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B), a terminal apparatus (for example, a personal computer) 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and the like. The device configuration that constitutes the image transmission system is not limited to the configuration shown in the figure, and for example, the image transmission system may be configured with a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal instead of the communication terminal device. It is good, and it is good also as apparatus composition which both coexist.

  The image forming apparatus 1A and the communication terminal apparatuses 2A and 2B are connected to a local area network (LAN) 4A, and the image forming apparatus 1B and the communication terminal apparatuses 2C and 2D are connected to the LAN 4B. In addition, in the case of a portable terminal device, it is wirelessly connected to the LANs 4A and 4B via a wireless router or a wireless base station. The LANs 4A and 4B are connected to the Internet 5 via a router (not shown).

The configurations of the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B are the same, so only the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1A will be described below. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1A. The image forming apparatus 1A executes print processing and also performs electronic data transmission control processing described later. The image forming apparatus 1A includes a control unit 10, an image processing unit 30, a sheet feeding unit 40, a fixing device 50, an image reading unit 60, an operation panel 70, and the like.

The control unit 10 is a so-called computer, and comprises a CPU 100, a communication interface (I / F) unit 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 104, etc., and controls the entire operation of the image forming apparatus 1A. .
The communication I / F unit 101 is an interface for connecting to the LAN 4 such as a LAN card or a LAN board. The ROM 102 includes an image processing unit 30, a sheet feeding unit 40, a fixing device 50, an image reading unit 60, a control program for controlling the operation panel 70, and electronic data transmission control for executing electronic data transmission control processing described later. Programs etc. are stored. The RAM 103 is used as a work area when the CPU 100 executes a program.

The HDD 104 is provided with a plurality of boxes, which are dedicated electronic data storage areas, which are allocated to each user (one or more users). The user activates the box creation program to create a box used by the user in a predetermined storage area (box storage area 1041) of the HDD 104. Also, at the time of creating a box, the user operates a box attribute (for example, box name) for grouping by group of boxes having the same range of the transmission destination to be permitted as the transmission destination of the electronic data stored in the box. Input is made from an input screen (not shown) displayed on the panel 70.

The box attribute indicates the group to which the box belongs, and boxes belonging to the same group are given the same box attribute. Note that the above group also includes one box.
When a box is created, the control unit 10 registers a box number and an input box attribute in a box management table described later.

Also, in the HDD 104, a box management table 1042 for managing boxes created by the user, a user identification information management table 1043, and a transmission destination list 104.
4 is stored. The box management table 1042 indicates the correspondence among box numbers (No), box attributes, stored data information, transmission destination list numbers (No), box passwords, box user IDs, transmission destination list edit permitter IDs, and administrator IDs. It is a table.

Each time the user creates a box in the box storage area of the HDD 104, the box numbers are sequentially (in this case, in ascending order) by the control unit 10. The assigned box number is stored in HDD 104 in association with the address in the box storage area of the created box.
The stored data information is information on electronic data (for example, file, image data, etc.) stored in the box of the corresponding box number, and more specifically, the address of the storage area in the box of the electronic data and the electronic data It is information indicating a name (for example, a file name) and a registration date and time.

The transmission destination list number is a number for identifying the transmission destination list described later, and the transmission destination list is H
Each time it is stored in the DD 104, a number is sequentially (in this case, ascending order) assigned by the control unit 10. The assigned destination list number is stored in HDD 104 in association with the address in HDD 104 of the stored destination list.
The box password is a password set by the user of the box for the particular box created. It is assumed that the box password can be set and changed by a predetermined user (herein, a transmission destination list editing permitter described later) authorized by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1A among the box users. The set or changed box password is notified from the predetermined user to other users of the box.

Thereby, each user of the box can access the box by inputting a box password.
The box user ID indicates the ID of the user of the box of the box attribute, which is determined for each box attribute. The user of the box, by the creator of the box,
When the determined box user is approved by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1A, the box user ID of the box management table 1042 is determined by the administrator.
Shall be registered in

The transmission destination list editing permitter ID indicates the ID of the user of the box user who is permitted to edit the transmission destination list described later of the box attribute by the administrator.
The users permitted to edit the transmission destination list may be part of box users or all users. The above-mentioned administrator decides whether to permit partially or all according to the box attribute. It is assumed that the registration of the transmission destination list editing permitted person ID in the box management table 1042 is performed by the above-mentioned administrator, and the administrator ID indicates the user ID of the above-mentioned administrator.

FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the box management table 1042. Management table 1042 of FIG.
The stored data information is abbreviated in the alphabet to simplify the notation. The same applies to the management table 1042A of FIG. 13 and the management table 1042B of FIG. 22 described later.
In the specific example shown in FIG. 3, boxes with box attribute "personal A" for box numbers # 0001 and # 0007, boxes with box attribute "development group" for box numbers # 0002 and # 0006, and box numbers # 0005 , Box attribute with box attribute “office group” in # 0008, box with box attribute “Share” in box number # 0003, box with box attribute “Share with password” in box number # 0004 are created respectively , Boxes are grouped.

Then, for each box attribute, the transmission destination list number, box user ID, transmission destination list edit permitter ID are associated, and the box attribute is “development group”, “office group”,
A box password is set in each box of “Share with password”.
The user identification information management table 1043 is a table in which the user ID and the password are associated, and is used to collate the user ID and the password input from the operation panel 70 when the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 1A. Be The user identification information management table 1043 is created by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1A and stored in the HDD 104. FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the user identification information management table 1043. In the figure, passwords corresponding to each of the 1 to 4 user IDs are shown.

The transmission destination list 1044 indicates a list of transmission destinations to which transmission of electronic data stored in the box of the box attribute is permitted, which is set for each box attribute. The destination list is created by the box user of each box attribute. When the administrator permits the created transmission destination list, the administrator inputs the permitted transmission destination list from the operation panel 70, and the transmission destination list is set by the control unit 10 that has received the input. Ru.

  Specifically, the control unit 10 performs the setting of the transmission destination list as follows. When the control unit 10 receives an instruction to display the setting screen of the transmission destination list from the login user via the operation panel 70, the control unit 10 refers to the administrator ID of the box management table 1042 and determines whether the login user is the administrator If the user is the administrator, the transmission destination list setting screen (not shown) is displayed on the operation panel 70 to receive the input of the transmission destination list and the input of the box attribute.

  Then, control unit 10 stores the input transmission destination list in HDD 104, adds the transmission destination list number, and records the allocated transmission destination list number in box management table 1042 in association with the input box attribute. Set the destination list.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the transmission destination list 1044. In the figure, an e-mail address and a domain name to which transmission of electronic data is permitted are shown as the above specific example.
The aspect of the transmission destination list is not limited to the aspect of the above specific example, and for example, electronic data is a fax
When it is transmitted, it may be a telephone number of a transmission destination, and when it is transmitted by FTP or SMB, it may be an IP address.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 2, the CPU 100 executes the control program to control the image processing unit 30, the sheet feeding unit 40, the fixing device 50, the image reading unit 60, and the operation panel 70, and electronic data transmission control. By executing the program, an electronic data transmission control process described later is executed.
The image processing unit 30 executes a printing process by forming an image on a sheet as a recording sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 40 based on image data for printing input from the control unit 10 or the image reading unit 60. Do. The sheet feeding unit 40 supplies a sheet as a recording sheet to the image processing unit 30 in response to an instruction from the control unit 10. The fixing device 50 thermally fixes an image formed on a sheet as a recording sheet to the sheet according to an instruction from the control unit 10.

  The image reading unit 60 is configured of an image input device such as a scanner, reads information such as characters and figures described on a recording sheet such as a sheet, and forms image data. The operation panel 70 includes a plurality of input keys and a liquid crystal display unit, and a touch panel is stacked on the surface of the liquid crystal display unit. An instruction from the user is received by touch input from the touch panel or key input from the input key, and the control unit 10 is notified of the instruction.

[2] Electronic Data Transmission Control Process FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic data transmission control process. When control unit 10 receives a login input (input of a user ID and a password) from the user on operation panel 70 (step S601), control unit 10 reads user identification information management table 1043 from HDD 104, and the input user ID and password It is determined whether or not it is registered in the user identification information management table 1043. When the determination result is affirmative, an initial operation screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the operation panel 70.

When the selection of the box function is accepted from the initial operation screen (step S602),
The control unit 10 displays a box operation selection screen (not shown) on the operation panel 70, and when the transmission operation is selected from the selection screen, the box management table 1042 is read from the HDD 104, and the box management table 1042 is referred to. As the user ID, a box attribute and a box number including the logged-in user ID are specified (step S603).

Next, control unit 10 causes operation panel 70 to display a selection screen displaying the box number and box attribute of the specified box as shown in FIG. 8 and accepts selection of a box to be used (step S604). ).
When the box password is set in the box of the selected box attribute in the box management table 1042 (step S605: YES), the control unit 10 causes the operation panel 70 to display a box password input acceptance screen (not shown). , And accepts input of a password from the login user (step S606).

If the password input in step S606 matches the box password of the box having the selected box attribute (step S607: YES), the control unit 10 refers to the box management table 1042 to select the box selected above. The electronic data (electronic data name) stored in is specified, and as shown in FIG. 9, the selection screen of the specified electronic data (electronic data name) is displayed on the operation panel 70 (step S609). The selection of data is accepted (step S610).

  Also, if the determination result in step S607 is negative (step S607: NO), the control unit 10 does not show a warning message prompting re-input of the password (for example, “the password is incorrect. Re-input The warning message of “Please do it.” Is displayed on the operation panel 70 (step S608).

  After accepting the selection of the electronic data to be transmitted in step S610, the control unit 10 causes the operation panel 70 to display the input screen of the transmission destination of the selected electronic data as shown in FIG. Is received (step S611), the transmission destination list of the transmission destination list number corresponding to the selected box attribute is acquired from the HDD 104 in the box management table 1042 (step S612).

  Next, the control unit 60 compares the input transmission destination with the acquired transmission destination list, and determines whether the input transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list (step S613). For example, if the input transmission destination and the transmission destination list respectively indicate electronic mail addresses, it is determined whether the transmission destination list includes an electronic mail address that matches the input transmission destination. If so, it is determined that the input destination is included in the destination list.

If the destination list is indicated by a domain name and the input destination is an e-mail address, the input destination if the e-mail address includes the domain name. Is determined to be included in the destination list.
If the determination result in step S613 is affirmative (step S613: YES), the control unit 10 reads the selected electronic data from the storage area of the box of the selected box attribute, and transmits the electronic data to the communication I A message indicating that transmission has been completed is displayed on the operation panel 70 as shown in FIG. 12 by transmitting to the destination input via the / F unit 101 (step S614).

If the determination result in step S613 is negative (step S613: NO), the control unit 10 prohibits transmission of the selected electronic data, and transmission to the input destination as shown in FIG. A warning message indicating that permission is not given is displayed on operation panel 70 (step S615).
As described above, in the present embodiment, for each box attribute, a transmission destination list indicating transmission destinations to which transmission of electronic data is permitted is set, and the accepted transmission destinations of electronic data include the electronic data. It is determined whether or not it is included in the transmission destination list set for the box attribute to which the box belongs, and it is not included in the transmission destination list, and if it corresponds to a transmission destination for which transmission is not permitted, the transmission Since transmission to the destination is prohibited, the range of transmission destinations permitted for each box attribute common to the range of transmission destinations may be appropriately set so that the range of transmission destinations to which transmission is permitted does not occur. It is possible to prevent erroneous transmission in transmission of electronic data from the box.

In addition, since the transmission destination list is set not for each box but for each box attribute (group of grouped boxes), the number of transmission destination lists to be set can be reduced accordingly. While reducing the setting processing and management of the destination list, the storage amount allocated to the destination list in the HDD 104 can be reduced.
(Modification)
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment, it is needless to say that this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, The following modifications can be implemented.

(1) In the above embodiment, when the input destination is not included in the destination list of the corresponding box attribute, the transmission is uniformly prohibited, but the transmission prohibition can be temporarily canceled. It is good also as composition.
Specifically, from the administrator via the operation panel 70, the control unit 10 temporarily cancels the restriction on the transmission destination by the transmission destination list, and the box attribute of the transmission destination list to be cancelled. Setting the temporary release password, and setting the input temporary release password by recording the input temporary release password in the box management table in association with the box attribute input. The contents of the box management table 1042 of the above embodiment may be modified as shown in FIG. 13, and the electronic data transmission control processing of the above embodiment may be modified as shown in FIGS. .

The box management table 1042A shown in FIG. 13 includes temporary release password setting information indicating presence / absence of setting of the temporary release password, and the set temporary release password is associated with the box attribute in the above embodiment. This is different from the contents of the box management table 1042.
The temporary cancellation password is set by the administrator when the user having the box user ID requests the temporary administrator to set the temporary cancellation password and the administrator permits the setting request. . The set temporary release password is deleted when a predetermined time (for example, 3 hours) elapses after setting, and the temporary release password is notified from the administrator only to the user who requested the setting, It shall not be notified to other users.

Also, the temporary release password setting information is initially set to "absent" for each box attribute, and at the time of setting the temporary release password, is set to "presence" for the box attribute that has been set, and the temporary release is set. Set to "None" if the password is deleted.
In the modification of the operation of the electronic data transmission control process shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the same process content as the process content in the electronic data transmission control process of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is the same as the step number in FIG. Step numbers will be assigned and the description will be omitted, and the following description will be made focusing on the differences.

  After executing the process of step S611, the control unit 10 causes the operation panel 70 to display a selection button (not shown) for selecting whether or not to temporarily release the restriction on the transmission destination according to the transmission destination list. Accept any selection instruction. Then, when an instruction to request temporary release of restrictions on the transmission destination is received (step S1401: YES), control unit 10 refers to the temporary release password setting information in box management table 1042A, and is selected in step S604. It is determined whether the temporary release password is set for the box having the box attribute (step S1402).

If the temporary release password is set (step S1402: YES), the control unit 10 causes the operation panel 70 to display an input screen for a release password (not shown) and accepts input of the password (step S1403).
If there is an input of the temporary release password set (if the input password matches the temporary release password recorded in the box management table 1042A (YES in step 1404), the control unit 10 If the determination result of step S1402 or step S1404 is negative (step S1402: NO or step S1404: NO), control unit 10 proceeds to the process of step S612.

  In this modification, since the restriction on the transmission destination by the transmission destination list is temporarily canceled by inputting the temporary release password, the electronic data of the box attribute accessible by the user is transmitted to the box attribute When there is a specific situation where it is necessary to transmit to a destination that is not included in the destination list (for example, for a conference on a business trip destination, a box on a terminal device or an image forming device on a business trip destination not usually used) In the case of transmitting electronic data, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user in transmitting the electronic data from the box.

(2) In the modification of (1), when the temporary release password is input, the restriction of the transmission destination by the transmission destination list is released, but when the sender is the above-mentioned administrator, the above transmission The previous restriction may be lifted.
Specifically, the electronic data transmission control process of FIG. 6 of the above embodiment may be modified as shown in FIG. In the modification of the operation of the electronic data transmission control process shown in FIG. 16, the same process contents as the process contents in the electronic data transmission control process of the above embodiment shown in FIG. 6 are the same step numbers as the step numbers in FIG. The explanation is omitted, and the differences will be mainly described below.

After executing the processing of step S611, the control unit 10 compares the user ID logged in at step S601 with the administrator ID of the box management table 1042, and if the two IDs match, the logged in user Is determined to be the administrator (step S1601: YES), and the process proceeds to step S614.
If the two IDs do not match, the control unit 10 determines that the logged-in user is not the above-mentioned administrator (step S1601: NO), and the process proceeds to step S612.

In this modification, when the login user is the above-described administrator, the restriction on the transmission destination by the transmission destination list is released, so that the convenience of the administrator in transmitting the electronic data from the box can be improved. .
(3) In addition, the box function may be provided with an editing function of the transmission destination list. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an operation of editing the transmission destination list. When the log-in input from the user (input of user ID and password) is received (step S1701), the control unit 10 performs the same process as the process of step S601 of FIG. 6 and displays the initial operation screen on the operation panel 70. .

  When the selection of the box function is accepted from the initial operation screen (step S1702), control unit 10 causes control panel 70 to display a box operation selection screen (not shown) and accepts the selection of the transmission destination list editing mode from the selection screen. And (step S1703), the box management table 1042 is referenced to display the box attribute selection screen registered in the box management table 1042 on the operation panel 70, and the transmission destination list is edited from the selection screen. The selection is accepted (step S1704).

When the selection of the box attribute is accepted from the selection screen (step S1705), control unit 10 refers to the destination list editing permitter ID associated with the selected box attribute in box management table 1042. It is determined whether the log-in user is the edit permitter of the transmission destination list of the box attribute (step S1706).
Specifically, in the case where the login user ID matches the transmission destination list edit permitter ID (when there are a plurality of transmission destination list edit permit IDs, it matches with any of the transmission destination list edit authorizer IDs) If it is determined that the user is the edit permitter of the transmission destination list of the box attribute, and they do not match. It is determined that the user is not the edit permitter of the destination list of the box attribute.

If the determination result in step S1706 is negative, a warning message is displayed on the operation panel 70 indicating that the logged-in user is "not a person authorized to edit the transmission destination list of the selected box attribute" (step S1707). It transfers to the process of step S1705.
If the determination result in step S1706 is affirmative (step S1706: YES), the control unit 10 determines, in the box management table 1042, a transmission destination list of transmission destination list numbers associated with the selected box attribute. Are read from the HDD 104 and displayed on the operation panel 70, and an editing instruction is accepted (step S1708).

  FIG. 18 shows a specific example of the display screen displayed on the operation panel 70 at this time. In the same figure, the destination list of the destination list number (in the figure, destination list No. 2) associated with the selected box attribute is displayed, and an instruction to edit the destination list is issued. And a confirmation input reception button for receiving confirmation input of the transmission destination list after editing.

When the editing instruction is received (step S1709: YES), the control unit 10 edits the transmission destination list according to the editing instruction, and causes the edited transmission destination list to be displayed on the display screen similar to FIG. An edit instruction or confirmation input is accepted (step S1710).
Specifically, when an editing instruction is received, control unit 10 causes operation panel 70 to display a selection screen for selecting whether the mode of editing is deletion or addition, as shown in FIG. Then, when deletion is selected, the control unit 10 displays a transmission destination list editing screen for selecting a transmission destination to be deleted as shown in FIG. 20, and when addition is selected, as shown in FIG. Display the destination list edit screen to input the destination to be added, and accept deletion or addition of the destination list, edit (delete or add) the destination list, edit the destination list and edit The instruction acceptance button and the confirmation instruction acceptance button are displayed on the same display screen as in FIG.

When control unit 10 receives the confirmation input (step S1711: YES), control unit 10 rewrites the destination list before editing of the selected box attribute, which is stored in HDD 104, to the destination list after editing, and edits the destination list after editing. Set the destination list to the destination list of the box attribute.
In this modification, the user of whom the administrator of the image forming apparatus permits the editing of the transmission destination list enables the editing of the transmission destination list. Therefore, for example, the transmission destination is added according to the progress of the project. The destination list can be edited quickly if it is necessary to delete or delete the list. Also, since users other than the authorized users can not edit the transmission destination list, security against information leakage from the box can be maintained.

(4) In the above embodiment, when the transmission destination of the input electronic data is not included in the transmission destination list, transmission of the electronic data to the transmission destination is prohibited. Alternatively, the transmission of electronic data to the input destination may be prohibited.
If the project configuration member is changed and the box password is changed accordingly for confidentiality, the change of the configuration member (member of the box user) changes the range of destinations permitted to be sent from the box It is necessary to edit the destination list. As described above, when electronic data is transmitted from the box of the box attribute after the box password is changed and before the transmission destination list of the box attribute is edited, the transmission destination list before editing Since the permission of transmission is determined by this, there is a possibility that the erroneous transmission (the electronic data is erroneously transmitted to the transmission destination to be deleted due to the editing).

Therefore, in the above case, the transmission of the electronic data to the input destination may be prohibited.
FIG. 22 shows a specific example of the box management table management table 1042B used in the present modification. As shown in the figure, the box management table 1042B indicates the correspondence between “confirmation flag” and “change flag” in addition to the correspondence shown by the box management table 1042 of the above embodiment.

  Here, the "change flag" is a flag indicating whether the box password has been changed. The "change flag" is initially set to "off", and is set to "on" when the box password is changed in the box password change process described later, and is described later after being set to "on". When the transmission destination list corresponding to the box password is edited in the transmission destination list editing process A, “ON” is returned to “OFF”.

The "confirmation flag" is a flag indicating whether the transmission destination list has been edited. In the initial state, it is set to “off”, and is set to “on” when the transmission destination list with the box attribute “on” is edited in transmission destination list editing processing A described later.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the box password change process. When the log-in input from the user (input of user ID and password) is received (step S2301), the control unit 10 displays the initial operation screen on the operation panel 70 by performing the same process as the process of step S601 in FIG. .

When the selection of the box function is accepted from the initial operation screen (step S2302),
Control unit 10 causes box operation selection screen (not shown) to be displayed on operation panel 70, and when selection of the box password change mode is accepted from the selection screen (step S2303), box management table 1042B is referred to with box management table 1042B. The box attribute selection screen in which the box password is set is displayed on the operation panel 70, and the selection of the box attribute for changing the box password is accepted from the selection screen (step S2304).

When the selection of the box attribute is accepted from the selection screen (step S2305), control unit 10 refers to the destination list editing permitter ID associated with the selected box attribute in box management table 1042B. It is determined whether the log-in user is an edit permitter of the transmission destination list of the box attribute (step S2306).
If the determination result in step S2306 is negative (step S2306: NO), a warning message indicating that the logged-in user is "not a person authorized to edit the transmission destination list of the selected box attribute" is displayed on the operation panel 70 Then, the process proceeds to step S2305.

If the determination result in step S2306 is affirmative (step S2306: YES), the control unit 10 displays a change password input acceptance screen (not shown) and accepts password input (step S2308).
Next, in the box management table 1042B, the control unit 10 rewrites the corresponding (selected box attribute) box password to the entered password, changes the box password, and is associated with the selected box attribute. The change flag is set to "on" (step S2309).

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the operation of the transmission destination list editing process A. The processes of the same process contents as the editing process of the transmission destination list of the modification (3) of FIG. 17 are assigned the same step numbers as in FIG. 17 and the description thereof is omitted, and the differences will be described below. If the determination result in step S1711 is affirmative (step S1711: YES), the control unit 10 considers that the transmission destination list of the selected box attribute has been edited, and further selects the box management table 1042B. It is determined whether the changed box attribute change flag is set to "ON" (step S2401).

If the determination result in step S2401 is affirmative (step S2401: YES), the corresponding (corresponding to the selected box attribute) confirmation flag in the box management table 1042B is set to "on". (Step S2402).
25 and 26 are flowcharts showing the operation of the electronic data transmission control process of this modification. In both drawings, the same processing as the electronic data transmission control processing of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is assigned the same step number and the description is omitted, and the difference will be mainly described below.

After executing the process of step S611, the control unit 10 refers to the box management table 1042B and determines whether the change flag of the selected box attribute is set to "on" (step S2501).
If the determination result of step S2501 is affirmative (step S2501: YES), the control unit 10 further determines whether the confirmation flag of the selected box attribute is set to ON (step S2502).

If the determination result in step S2502 is affirmative (step S2502: YES), the control unit 10 sets the change flag of the box attribute and the confirmation flag to "off", and returns to the initial state (step S2503) .
If the determination result in step S2502 is negative (the box password has been changed but the destination list has not been edited), the control unit 10 prohibits transmission of the selected electronic data, and After the password change, a warning message indicating that the transmission destination list is not edited is displayed on the operation panel 70 (step S2504).

In this modification, after the box password is changed, it is determined whether or not the corresponding transmission destination list is edited. If the transmission destination list is not edited yet, the box password is changed from the box with the box attribute changed. Since transmission of electronic data is prohibited, the erroneous transmission can be prevented.
(5) In the above embodiment, although the transmission destination list is created by the user who is permitted to access the box of each box attribute, the initial setting and editing of the transmission destination list are performed as follows. It may be

Create destination list candidates of multiple types that have different destination ranges in advance for each box attribute,
It arranges in narrow order of the range of the transmission destination (for example, gives the number) and stores it in the HDD 102, and the range of the transmission destination is the narrowest among the plural candidates (for example, the given number is the smallest) A candidate is selected as a transmission destination list and is initialized. Thereafter, the set transmission destination list is edited by executing the same processing as the transmission destination list editing process of the modification (3). It may be In this case, step S1609, step S1.
Instead of performing the process of 610, the control unit 10 causes the operation panel 70 to display a plurality of candidates stored in the HDD 102 and accepts selection of candidates from the login user, thereby accepting an instruction to edit the transmission destination list. When the confirmation input is received (step S 1611), the transmission destination list before editing of the selected box attribute stored in HDD 104 is rewritten to the selected candidate, and the transmission destination list after rewriting is transmitted for the box attribute Set as a destination list.

In this modification, a plurality of types of candidates having different transmission destination ranges are created in advance, and the narrowest transmission destination range among the plurality of candidates is initialized, and thereafter, the plurality of candidate candidates are selected. Since the transmission destination list is edited by the selection operation from the middle, it is possible to simplify the editing operation of the transmission destination list while preventing erroneous transmission at the time of initial setting which is likely to cause confusion.
(6) In the above embodiment, although the transmission destination list is set for each box attribute, the transmission destination list may not be provided for the box of the box attribute having no limitation on the transmission destination. In this case, the flowchart of FIG. 6 determines whether or not the transmission destination list is set for the selected box attribute after the process of step S611, and if the determination result is affirmative, the process of step S612 is performed. The process may be shifted to the process, and the process may be shifted to the process of step S614 if the determination result is negative.

  The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus capable of storing electronic data in a box which is a storage area of dedicated electronic data used by an individual or a plurality of users, and transmitting the stored electronic data to the outside via a network, in particular It can be used as a technology to control the transmission of electronic data.

1A, 1B Image Forming Apparatus 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D Personal Computer 10 Control Unit 30 Image Processing Unit 40 Sheet Feeding Unit 50 Fixing Device 60 Image Reading Unit 70 Operation Panel 104 HDD
1041 box storage area 1042 box management table 1043 user identification information management table 1044 transmission destination list

Claims (8)

An image transmitting apparatus comprising a storage device having a plurality of boxes, which are storage areas of electronic data, comprising:
The plurality of boxes are grouped,
Storage means for storing, for each group, a transmission destination list to which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted;
Specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and reception means for receiving the transmission destination,
Only when the received transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the transmission destination accepted for the designated electronic data is permitted, and the transmission destination list is included. Transmission control means for prohibiting transmission of the electronic data if there is no
Acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying a user;
Identification information storage means for storing, for each group, identification information of a person who is authorized to edit the transmission destination list of the group;
An editing unit that accepts an instruction to edit the transmission destination list from the user and edits the transmission destination list only when the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is an edit-permitted user of the transmission destination list; Equipped
The plurality of boxes includes a box to which a password for accessing the box is given,
Acquired user identification information is, to indicate that the password is edited authorized person of the destination list of the group of the box have been granted, password changes the password is given to the box that is granted Password change means for accepting an instruction and changing the password in accordance with the change instruction
After the password is changed, before the transmission destination list is edited, when the electronic data of the box to which the password is attached is designated and the transmission destination is accepted, the transmission control unit images forming apparatus you and inhibits the transmission of electronic data to the destination. An image transmitting apparatus comprising a storage device having a plurality of boxes, which are storage areas of electronic data, comprising:
The plurality of boxes are grouped,
Storage means for storing, for each group, a transmission destination list to which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted;
Specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and reception means for receiving the transmission destination,
Only when the received transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the transmission destination accepted for the designated electronic data is permitted, and the transmission destination list is included. Transmission control means for prohibiting transmission of the electronic data if there is no
Acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying a user;
Identification information storage means for storing, for each group, identification information of a person who is authorized to edit the transmission destination list of the group;
An editing unit that accepts an instruction to edit the transmission destination list from the user and edits the transmission destination list only when the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is an edit-permitted user of the transmission destination list; Equipped
Candidates of a plurality of types of transmission destination lists having different transmission destination ranges for each group are predetermined.
Among the plurality of types of candidates, there is provided an initial setting means for initially setting the narrowest possible transmission destination range as the transmission destination list of each group in the storage means,
Said editing means, said by receiving a selection from a plurality of types of candidates, images forming device you said to accept the editing instruction. Temporary release password storage means for storing a temporary release password for temporarily releasing the prohibition of the transmission by the transmission control means;
A password input accepting means for accepting password input;
Said transmission control means, when the input password is consistent with temporary release password is stored, the image transmission apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that cancels the prohibition of the transmission. A second identification information storage unit storing identification information of a manager;
It said transmission control means, acquired user identification information is, to indicate that it is the administrator, the image transmission apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that cancels the prohibition of the transmission. A transmission control method for use in an image transmission apparatus comprising a storage device having a plurality of boxes, which are storage areas of electronic data, comprising:
The plurality of boxes are grouped,
Storing, for each group, a transmission destination list to which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted;
Specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and an accepting step of accepting the transmission destination,
Only when the received transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the transmission destination accepted for the designated electronic data is permitted, and the transmission destination list is included. A transmission control step of prohibiting the transmission of the electronic data if not present;
An acquisition step of acquiring identification information for identifying a user;
An identification information storage step of storing, for each group, identification information of an edit-author of the transmission destination list of the group;
An editing step of accepting an instruction to edit the transmission destination list from the user and editing the transmission destination list only when the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is an edit-permitted user of the transmission destination list; Including
The plurality of boxes includes a box to which a password for accessing the box is given,
When the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is a person who is authorized to edit the transmission destination list of the group to which the box to which the password belongs is attached, the change of the password attached to the box to which the password is attached Including a password change step of accepting an instruction and changing the password according to the change instruction;
After the password is changed, before the transmission destination list is edited, when the electronic data of the box to which the password is attached is designated and the transmission destination is accepted, the transmission control step is performed Prohibit sending electronic data to the destination
Transmission control method characterized in that. A transmission control method for use in an image transmission apparatus comprising a storage device having a plurality of boxes, which are storage areas of electronic data, comprising:
The plurality of boxes are grouped,
Storing, for each group, a transmission destination list to which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted;
Specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and an accepting step of accepting the transmission destination,
Only when the received transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the transmission destination accepted for the designated electronic data is permitted, and the transmission destination list is included. A transmission control step of prohibiting the transmission of the electronic data if not present;
An acquisition step of acquiring identification information for identifying a user;
An identification information storage step of storing, for each group, identification information of an edit-author of the transmission destination list of the group;
An editing step of accepting an instruction to edit the transmission destination list from the user and editing the transmission destination list only when the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is an edit-permitted user of the transmission destination list; Including
Candidates of a plurality of types of transmission destination lists having different transmission destination ranges for each group are predetermined.
Among the plurality of types of candidates, it includes an initialization step of initializing, in the storage step, a candidate having the narrowest transmission destination range as a transmission destination list of each group,
The editing step receives the editing instruction by receiving a selection from the plurality of types of candidates.
Transmission control method characterized in that. A transmission control program for use in an image transmission apparatus comprising a storage device having a plurality of boxes that are storage areas of electronic data, comprising:
The plurality of boxes are grouped,
Storing, for each group, a transmission destination list to which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted;
Specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and an accepting step of accepting the transmission destination,
Only when the received transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the transmission destination accepted for the designated electronic data is permitted, and the transmission destination list is included. A transmission control step of prohibiting the transmission of the electronic data if not present;
An acquisition step of acquiring identification information for identifying a user;
An identification information storage step of storing, for each group, identification information of an edit-author of the transmission destination list of the group;
An editing step of accepting an instruction to edit the transmission destination list from the user and editing the transmission destination list only when the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is an edit-permitted user of the transmission destination list; As well as causing the image transmission device to execute
The plurality of boxes includes a box to which a password for accessing the box is given,
When the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is a person who is authorized to edit the transmission destination list of the group to which the box to which the password belongs is attached, the change of the password attached to the box to which the password is attached Receiving an instruction, and causing the image transmitting apparatus to execute a password change step of changing the password according to the change instruction;
After the password is changed, before the transmission destination list is edited, when the electronic data of the box to which the password is attached is designated and the transmission destination is accepted, the transmission control step is performed Prohibit sending electronic data to the destination
Transmission control program characterized by. A transmission control program for use in an image transmission apparatus comprising a storage device having a plurality of boxes that are storage areas of electronic data, comprising:
The plurality of boxes are grouped,
Storing, for each group, a transmission destination list to which transmission of electronic data in a box belonging to the group is permitted;
Specification of electronic data included in any box from the user, and an accepting step of accepting the transmission destination,
Only when the received transmission destination is included in the transmission destination list of the group to which the box belongs, transmission to the transmission destination accepted for the designated electronic data is permitted, and the transmission destination list is included. A transmission control step of prohibiting the transmission of the electronic data if not present;
An acquisition step of acquiring identification information for identifying a user;
An identification information storage step of storing, for each group, identification information of an edit-author of the transmission destination list of the group;
An editing step of accepting an instruction to edit the transmission destination list from the user and editing the transmission destination list only when the acquired user identification information indicates that the user is an edit-permitted user of the transmission destination list; As well as causing the image transmission device to execute
Candidates of a plurality of types of transmission destination lists having different transmission destination ranges for each group are predetermined.
Among the plurality of types of candidates, there is provided an initialization step of initially setting, in the storage step, a candidate having the narrowest transmission destination range as a transmission destination list of each group,
The editing step receives the editing instruction by receiving a selection from the plurality of types of candidates.
Transmission control program characterized by.

Images