JP6784145B2 - Processing device and processing control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a processing apparatus and a processing control program.

There are known processing devices that are installed in offices, stores, etc., shared by people who use the place, and perform various processes. Here, a multifunction device will be described as an example of such a processing device. A multifunction device is a device that has a plurality of processing functions such as a function as a printer and a function as a copier and executes a plurality of processes.

Some of these multifunction devices are provided with a user authentication function and are configured to use the multifunction device after confirming that the user has usage authority. In that case, the user who intends to use the multifunction device first authenticates the user after coming to the multifunction device, asks the multifunction device to confirm that he / she is a user with usage authority, and then uses the multifunction device. Various operations will be performed for this purpose.

Here, in recent years, the user is conscious of authentication such as entering a password or holding an IC card over an IC card reader, such as taking a picture of the user's face with a camera and performing user authentication based on the characteristics of the face. The technology for performing user authentication without causing the user to authenticate has been developed. However, in the case of face recognition, for example, the user needs to wait until the end of the face recognition process after coming to the multifunction device. One issue is how to reduce the waiting time of such a user.

This problem is not limited to multifunction devices, but is a problem common to all processing devices that execute some kind of processing.

Here, in Patent Document 1, while performing the authentication process by inputting the user ID and password, the user operation is accepted for the operation initial screen, the success of the authentication is waited, and the user operation for the operation initial screen is followed. It is disclosed to switch to the next operation screen.

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, only the operation initial screen can be operated before the authentication is successful, and the operation is not completed only by the operation on the operation initial screen, and the remaining settings are various. Operation needs to wait for successful authentication.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-182038

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a processing device that further shortens the waiting time and a processing control that gives the processing device a function of further shortening the waiting time, as compared with the case where the user operation is permitted only on the operation initial screen before authentication. The purpose is to provide a program.

Claim 1 is
A processing device that requires user authentication before execution for at least some of the processes that require authentication and executes processes according to user operations.
A user operation unit that accepts user operations and
An authentication processing unit that executes user authentication processing,
It is provided with a processing execution unit that executes processing according to the user operation received by the user operation unit.
Prior to determining whether or not the user operation unit is an authorized user who has the authority to instruct the execution of the authentication-requiring process in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the process including the authentication-required process is executed. Accepts all required user operations and accepts
The processing execution section, wherein the main authentication process, after the determination of said is authoritative user by the authentication processing unit according to the user operation accepted by the user operation unit executes該要authentication process, the process The device is also
The permission range definition section that defines the permission range, which is the processing range permitted to be used, for each of the authorized users.
If the user operation of the use disapproval process that deviates from the permission range of the authorized user is performed before the determination by the authentication processing unit that the user is the authorized user, after the determination, the authorized user It is a processing device provided with an alternative processing presenting unit that presents an alternative processing within the permitted range of the user in place of the usage disapproval processing .

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the authentication processing unit includes an authentication method capable of executing a user authentication process without a user's own operation for the user authentication process. It is a device.

3. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the authentication processing unit starts the user authentication process in response to the start of the user operation in the user operation unit.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the authentication processing unit starts the user authentication process in response to the start of the user operation related to the execution of the authentication required process in the user operation unit. It is a processing device of.

According to claim 5 , when it is impossible to confirm that the user is the authorized user in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the user operation unit cancels the user operation of the authentication required processing once accepted. a processing device according to any one of claims 1 4, characterized in.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a copy process in which the processing device reads an image on a document and prints out a copy image of the image on paper, and a print in which the image data is received and an image based on the image data is printed out. The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the processing apparatus is a composite machine that executes a plurality of processing including processing.

Claim 7
It is executed in the information processing device that executes the program, and the information processing device requires user authentication before executing at least some of the processes that require authentication, and executes the process according to the user operation. a processing apparatus,
A user operation unit that accepts user operations and
An authentication processing unit that executes user authentication processing,
It is provided with a processing execution unit that executes processing according to the user operation received by the user operation unit.
Prior to determining whether or not the user operation unit is an authorized user who has the authority to instruct the execution of the authentication-requiring process in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the process including the authentication-required process is executed. Accepts all required user operations and accepts
The processing execution section, wherein the main authentication process, after the determination of said is authoritative user by the authentication processing unit according to the user operation accepted by the user operation unit executes該要authentication process, the process The device is also
The permission range definition section that defines the permission range, which is the processing range permitted to be used, for each of the authorized users.
If the user operation of the use disapproval process that deviates from the permission range of the authorized user is performed before the determination by the authentication processing unit that the user is the authorized user, after the determination, the authorized user The processing control program is characterized in that it operates as a processing device provided with an alternative processing presenting unit that presents alternative processing within the permitted range of the user in place of the use disapproval processing .

According to the processing device of claim 1 and the processing control program of claim 7 , even if the processing requires authentication, all user operations necessary for executing the processing are performed without waiting for the success of the authentication. Can be done. Therefore, the waiting time of the user is shortened as compared with the case where the screen that can be operated without waiting for the successful authentication is limited to only the operation initial screen.
Further, according to the processing device of claim 1 and the processing control program of claim 7, the load of resetting the user who has performed the user operation deviating from the permitted range is reduced as compared with the case where the alternative processing is not presented.

According to the processing device of claim 2, the authentication process can be executed without making the user aware of the authentication process.

According to the processing devices of claims 3 and 4, the processing load and the power consumption are reduced as compared with the case where the user authentication process is always in a enableable state.

According to the processing device of claim 5 , it is possible to prevent the operation content performed by the user who failed in authentication from adversely affecting the operation content performed by the next user.

Here, the present invention includes a copy process of reading an image on a manuscript and printing out a copy image of the image on paper, and a print process of receiving image data and printing out an image based on the image data. It can be suitably applied to a complex machine that executes a plurality of processes including.

It is an overall block diagram of the processing system as one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a multifunction device whose appearance is shown in FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the multifunction device shown in FIG. It is a figure which showed the first half part and the second half part of the flowchart of the UI setting processing program, respectively. It is a figure which showed the first half part and the second half part of the flowchart of the UI setting processing program, respectively. It is the figure which showed the initial screen of UI. It is a figure which illustrated the menu screen about "copy". It is a figure which showed the pop-up screen which is displayed in step S17 of FIG. It is a figure which showed the pop-up screen which is displayed in step S19 of FIG. It is a figure which showed the table which recorded the permission range for each user. It is a figure which showed the pop-up screen which is displayed in step S25 of FIG. It is a flowchart of a multifunction device start program. It is a figure which showed the flowchart of the user authentication processing program. It is a figure which showed the pop-up screen which is displayed in step S64 of FIG. It is a figure which showed the flowchart of the process execution program. It is a figure which showed the flowchart of the power-off program.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.

The processing system 100 includes a plurality of notebook personal computers (hereinafter, abbreviated as "notebook PC") 10 and one multifunction device 20. Then, each of the notebook PC 10 and the multifunction device 20 can communicate with each other via a communication line 101 such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

In each notebook PC 10, a print job instructing print output is generated and transmitted to the multifunction device 20. This print job also includes the user ID of the user who is using the notebook PC 10 of the transmission source.

Further, the multifunction device 20 includes a scanner 20A, a printer 20B, and the like, and has a plurality of complex functions such as a function as a scanner, a function as a printer, and a function as a copier that combines them. ..

Further, the multifunction device 20 stores a list of user IDs of users who have the authority to use the multifunction device 20. Further, the feature amount representing the facial feature obtained by the image analysis of the face of each user is also stored in association with each user ID.

When the multifunction device 20 receives a print job from the notebook PC 10, the user ID included in the print job is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the multifunction device 20 is a print job sent by a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20. However, in the case of a print job sent by a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20, the print job is stored in the multifunction device 20. Then, when the user comes to the multifunction device 20 to perform user authentication and is a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20, it is based on the memorized print job of the user according to the user operation. Print out. Alternatively, when the user who came to the multifunction device 20 is a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20, the copy process, that is, the scanner 20A is performed according to the user operation regardless of whether or not the user has a print job. Reads the original with and executes print output based on the image data obtained by the scanning. Further, the multifunction device 20 also performs a process of transmitting the image data obtained by scanning by the scanner 20A to the user's notebook PC 10.

The multifunction device 20 is provided with a face recognition camera 21, an IC card reader 22, and a touch panel type UI (user interface) 23.

The multifunction device 20 has a process that can be executed without authentication and a process that cannot be executed until the authentication is successful. Specifically, in the case of the embodiment described here, a process of reading a document using the scanner 20A and transmitting the image data obtained by the reading to the notebook PC 10 (hereinafter, this process is referred to as "scan process"). Is a process that can be executed without authentication. This is because the notebook PC 10 connected to the multifunction device 20 via the communication line 101 is assigned only to the user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20, and the scanning process consumes paper. This is because there is no problem, and the user who came to the multifunction device 20 may be allowed to execute the scan process without performing the authentication process.

On the other hand, when printing out or copying a document using this multifunction device 20, the authentication process is performed prior to the execution of those processes, and the authentication is successful (the user has the authority to use the multifunction device 20). It is necessary for the multifunction device to confirm that the user is a certain user.

Here, a process that is not executed unless authentication is successful is referred to as an "authentication required process", and a user who has the authority to execute the authentication required process is referred to as a "authorized user".

Here, the multifunction device 20 of the present embodiment is provided with a face recognition camera 21 and an IC card reader 22. The face recognition camera 21 captures the user's face for face recognition. Then, inside the multifunction device 20, the photographed face image is analyzed to calculate the feature amount of the user's face, and the authentication processing of the multifunction device 20 stored in the multifunction device 20 is performed. It is determined whether or not the user photographed this time is a authorized user by comparing with the facial feature amount of the authorized user who has the usage authority. The authentication process based on the photographed image of the face is an authentication process performed without a unique user operation for the authentication process.

However, in the authentication process based on the photographed image of the face, the authentication is not always successful if the user is an authorized user, and the authentication may fail. Therefore, in the multifunction device 20, when the authentication by the photographed face image fails, the IC card possessed by the user is held over the IC card reader 23 by displaying on the display screen of the UI 23. Ask. A user ID that identifies the user is stored in the IC card possessed by the user. When the user holds his / her IC card over the IC card reader 23 in response to the request, the IC card reader 23 receives the user ID from the IC card. Then, the multifunction device 20 compares the received user ID with the user ID of the authorized user stored in the multifunction device 20 to determine whether or not the user holding the IC card is the authorized user. judge.

If the authentication based on the photographed image of the face is successful, or if the authentication based on the photographed image of the face fails but the authentication by holding the IC card is successful, the user is asked to "require" on the multifunction device 20. It is possible to execute "authentication processing" (using the print function and copy function).

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the multifunction device whose appearance is shown in FIG.

The scanner 20A, the printer 20B, the face recognition camera 21, the IC card reader 22, and the UI 23, which are also shown in FIG. 1, are shown here. Further, the main controller 24 is shown here. The main controller 24 has a function as an information processing device that executes a program. Specifically, the main controller 24 includes a CPU 241, a ROM 242, a RAM 243, an HDD 244, and a communication I / F 245. Then, they are communicably connected to each other via the bus 249.

The CPU 241 is a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit), and is responsible for executing a program.

The ROM 242 is a read-only memory (Read Only Memory). The ROM 242 stores constants and the like referenced by a program executed by the CPU 241.

Further, the RAM 243 is a memory in which the program to be executed is read from the HDD 244 and stored when the program is executed by the CPU 241. The RAM 243 is also used as a work area for storing variables and the like necessary for executing the program.

The HDD 244 is a hard disk drive containing an HD (hard disk). The HDD 244 stores various programs scheduled to be executed by the CPU 241 and various data required for the execution. Further, the HDD 244 stores a print job or the like transmitted from the notebook PC 10 or the like. The user ID for determining the presence / absence of the use authority of the multifunction device 20, the feature amount of the user's face, and the like are also stored here.

Further, the communication I / F 245 is a communication interface responsible for communication with the notebook PC 10 via the communication line 101 also shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a processing execution unit 25, a display / operation unit 26, an authentication processing unit 27, a permission range defining unit 28, an alternative processing presentation unit 29, and a control unit 210. Here, the control unit 210 is in charge of controlling the entire multifunction device 20 and passing information.

The processing execution unit 25 includes a transmission / reception unit 251, a storage unit 252, a print unit 253, and a reading unit 254, and is responsible for executing various processes in the multifunction device 20.

The transmission / reception unit 251 receives a print job, which is an instruction for print output, transmitted from the notebook PC 10 (see FIG. 1) via the communication line 101. This print job includes a user ID that identifies the user who sent the print job. The print job received by the transmission / reception unit 251 is sent to the storage unit 252 via the control unit 210 and stored in the storage unit 252. Further, the transmission / reception unit 251 is also responsible for transmitting the data read by the reading unit 258 (scanner 20A) to the notebook PC 10. In terms of hardware, the communication I / F 245 shown in FIG. 2 mainly plays the role of the transmission / reception unit 251.

Further, the storage unit 252 stores the print job received by the transmission / reception unit 251 until the print output is executed by the print unit 253 (printer 20B) based on the print job. In terms of hardware, the storage unit 252 is mainly played by the HDD 244 shown in FIG.

Further, the printing unit 253 is responsible for printing output on paper. In terms of hardware, the printer 20B of the multifunction device plays the role of the printing unit 253.

Further, the reading unit 254 plays a role of reading an image on the document and acquiring image data. The image data acquired by the reading unit 254 is transmitted to the notebook PC 10 via the transmitting / receiving unit 251 or sent to the printing unit 253 to print out an image based on the image data. In terms of hardware, the scanner 20A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 plays a role in the reading unit 254.

In addition, the display / operation unit 26 has a role of receiving notification of various information to the user by displaying the screen and receiving various instructions from the user by the operation of the user. In terms of hardware, the display / operation unit 26 is mainly played by the UI 23. The display / operation unit 26 includes an example of the user operation unit referred to in the present invention.

Further, as described above, the authentication processing unit 27 determines whether or not the user who came to the multifunction device 20 is a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20 (excluding the scanning process). In terms of hardware, the storage processing unit 27 is played by the authentication camera 21, the IC card reader 22, the CPU 241 that executes the authentication program, and the like shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Further, in the multifunction device 20 of the present embodiment, even a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 20 is provided with usage restrictions regarding the content of use for each user. The permission range defining unit 28 stores a table that defines a "permission range" that is a processing range in which the multifunction device 20 is permitted to be used for each user. In terms of hardware, the HDD 244 plays the role of the permission range defining unit 28. A specific example of the permission range for each user will be described later.

In the multifunction device 20 of the present embodiment, it is possible to execute all the setting operations related to the process that the user is about to execute by using the UI 23 before the authentication is successful. Therefore, after successful authentication, it may be found that the settings deviate from the permission range of the user. If the user operation of the "use disapproval process" that deviates from the permission range of the user is performed before the authentication is successful, the alternative processing instruction unit 29 directs the UI 23 to the user after the authentication is successful. By displaying the screen on the screen, an "alternative process" within the permission range of the user is presented instead of the "use disapproval process". In terms of hardware, the alternative processing instruction unit 29 is played by the UI 23 and the CPU 241 that executes a program that presents the "alternative processing".

Hereinafter, the processing in the multifunction device 20 will be specifically described.

4 and 5 are diagrams showing the first half portion and the second half portion of the flowchart of the UI setting processing program, respectively. This UI setting processing program constantly monitors whether or not the user touches the initial screen of the UI 23 (step S01).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an initial screen of the UI.

In the multifunction device 20 in the present embodiment, each of the "copy", "flint", and "scan" processes is executed as a major classification process. Of these major categories, the "copy" and "print" processes are "authentication required processes" that are executed after the user is found to be an authorized user by user authentication, while "authentication required". "Scan" is an "authentication-free process" that does not require user authentication. In addition, the "Exit" button is shown on this initial screen. This "end" button is a button pressed by the user when the user finishes using the multifunction device 20 this time and leaves the multifunction device 20. Note that this "finish" button is a button that is always displayed, and therefore may be a button provided as hardware separately from the UI display screen.

The explanation will be continued by returning to FIGS. 4 and 5.

In step S01 of FIG. 4, when it is determined that the finger touches the screen of the UI23, first of all, from the position of the finger touched this time on the UI23, is it "authentication required" ("copy" or "print")? It is determined whether "authentication unnecessary processing" ("scan") is performed (step S02). Then, in the case of "authentication required processing", it is reported that it is "authentication required processing" (step S03), and in the case of "authentication unnecessary processing", it is reported that it is "authentication unnecessary processing" (step S04). ..

Next, a menu screen corresponding to the process specified by touching the finger on the initial screen is displayed (step S05).

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen for “copy”.

Here, it is specified whether it is a "monochrome" copy or a "color" copy, the number of copies, whether it is a single-sided original or a double-sided original, and whether it is a single-sided print or a double-sided print.

"Monochrome" and "color" are selectively selected by pressing either button. The preset value when this menu screen is displayed is "monochrome".

The "number of copies" is set by specifying the number of copies with the numeric keypad on the right side and pressing the "enter" key. The preset value of this "number of copies" is "1".

The "single-sided" and "double-sided" of the manuscript are selectively selected by pressing one of the buttons. The preset value is "single sided".

The "single-sided" and "double-sided" prints are also selectively selected by pressing either button. The preset value is "single sided".

When you press the "Start" button, the settings at that time on this menu screen become valid. In the example shown in FIG. 7, "monochrome", the number of copies "1", the document "one side", and the print "one side" are set as in the case of each preset value. However, even if the "Start" button is pressed, the enabled process is not always executed immediately, and if the user authentication has not been completed yet, it is suspended until the user authentication is completed.

When the "Cancel" button is pressed, the settings up to that point are canceled by the operation on the menu screen, and the screen returns to the initial screen shown in FIG.

Further, the "end" button is a button pressed by this user when the user finishes using the multifunction device 20 this time and leaves the multifunction device 20, like the "end" button shown in FIG.

The explanation will be continued by returning to FIGS. 4 and 5 again.

After displaying the menu screen corresponding to the process in step S05 of FIG. 4 (for example, the menu screen shown in FIG. 7 in the case of "copy" process), the user operation ("start", "cancel", etc.) on the menu screen. And the presence or absence of pressing each button of "End") is monitored (step S06), and when there is a user operation, the setting contents by the user operation are saved (step S07), and according to the user operation. The display on the menu screen is changed (step S08). Here, for example, when an operation of changing the number of copies to "10" is performed on the copy menu screen shown in FIG. 7, the number of copies column on the menu screen is changed to "10". These processes of steps S06 to S08 are repeated every time there is a user operation.

Then, when the "Cancel" button is pressed (step S09), the current setting content is canceled, that is, the saved content saved in step S07 is deleted (step S10), and the initial screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. Return to (step S11).

On the other hand, when the "start" button is pressed (step S12), it is determined whether or not the process instructed this time is a "scan" process (FIG. 5, step S13). Then, when the current process is a "scan" process, it is reported that the preparation for executing the process is completed (step S14). At this stage, the completion of preparation is reported because the "scan" process is an "authentication-free process" and can be executed independently of authentication by pressing the "start" button (FIG. 4, step S12). That's why. Further, along with the processing execution preparation completion report, the UI 23 is returned to the initial screen (see FIG. 6) (step S15), and returns to the monitoring of the next touch (FIG. 4, step S01) on the initial screen of the UI 23.

On the other hand, when the process instructed this time is not "scan" but "copy" or "print", then it is determined whether or not the user authentication process is completed (step S16). Then, when the user authentication process has not been completed yet, a pop-up screen is displayed on the UI 23 (step S17).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a pop-up screen displayed in step S17 of FIG.

Here, "Authentication processing is in progress. Please wait." Is displayed, and this display informs the user that authentication is awaited.

The explanation will be continued by returning to FIG.

When it is determined in step S16 that the user authentication process (authentication success or authentication failure) is completed, it is then determined whether the completed authentication process is authentication success or authentication failure (step S18). Then, when the authentication fails, a pop-up screen is displayed on the UI 23 for a certain period of time (step S19). After that, the screen of the UI 23 is returned to the initial screen (see FIG. 6) (step S20), and the monitoring of the next touch (FIG. 4, step S01) on the initial screen of the UI 23 is returned.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a pop-up screen displayed in step S19 of FIG.

Here, "This process cannot be accepted because the usage authority cannot be confirmed." Is displayed, and this display informs the user that it cannot be used.

The explanation will be continued by returning to FIG.

When the user authentication is successful (step S18), it is determined whether or not the current setting content (setting content saved in FIG. 4, step S07) is within the permitted range for the user (step). S21).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a table in which the permission range for each user is recorded.

In the multifunction device 20, such a table in which the permission range for each user is recorded is stored.

The user with the user ID = 001 shown here can execute either monochrome / color copy or monochrome / color print using unlimited paper.

Further, a user with user ID = 002 can use either monochrome / color copy or monochrome / color print, but the number of sheets of paper used is limited.

Further, each user with user ID = 003 and user ID = 004 is permitted only for monochrome copying and monochrome printing, and is not permitted to use color copying and color printing. There is also a limit to the number of sheets that can be used.

The explanation will be continued by returning to FIG.

In step S21, when the current setting is within the permission range of the user this time, the completion of preparation for processing execution is reported (step S22), and the UI 23 is returned to the initial screen (step S23).

On the other hand, in step S21, if it is determined that the current setting is out of the permission range of the user this time, the search for "alternative processing" is performed (step S24), and the "alternative processing" is displayed on the UI23. A pop-up is displayed (step S25).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a pop-up screen displayed in step S25 of FIG.

Here, as an example, it is assumed that the user has the user ID = 003 shown in FIG. 10 and the user has set 100 color copies by operating the UI 23. It is also assumed that the user has already used 50 sheets of paper today. However, it is assumed that there is still room for this user to limit the number of sheets that can be used per month. As shown in FIG. 10, the user with the user ID = 003 is not allowed to make a color copy. Also, since 50 sheets of paper have already been used today, the remaining number of sheets that can be used is 50.

From the above, as a result of the alternative process search in step S24 of FIG. 5, an "alternative process" of changing from color copy to monochrome copy and changing the number of copies from 100 to 50 is derived.

Then, in step S25 of FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 11, on the UI23,
"The instructions are out of the permitted range. How about changing to the following processing? Monochrome copy / 50 copies"
Is displayed.

There are also "Yes" and "No" buttons displayed here. Pressing the "Yes" button means that the user has accepted this alternative process, and pressing the "No" button means that the user has rejected this alternative process.

The explanation will be continued by returning to FIG.

In step S26, it is determined whether or not the "Yes" button is pressed (alternative processing OK) on the pop-up screen (see FIG. 11) displayed on the UI 23 in step S25.

If the alternative process is OK, the content of the alternative process shown on the pop-up screen is saved instead of the setting content saved in step S07 of FIG. 4 (step S27), and the completion of processing execution preparation is reported (step). S28), UI23 is changed to the initial screen (step S29).

On the other hand, when it is recognized that the "No" button is pressed in step S26, the setting contents saved in step S07 of FIG. 4 are deleted (step S30), and the initial screen of UI23 is displayed. That is, since this user refuses the alternative processing, the user starts again from the initial screen (see FIG. 6) and makes a new setting. Alternatively, when this user gives up using the multifunction device 20 this time, he / she presses the "End" button and leaves the multifunction device 20.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the multifunction device startup program.

The execution of the multifunction device startup program shown in FIG. 12 is started upon receiving a report of "authentication required processing" or "authentication unnecessary processing" in step S03 or step S04 of FIG.

Here, in the multifunction device 20 of the present embodiment, the power is always turned on only for the UI 23 and a part necessary for executing the program that is executed by detecting the touch of the UI 23 with a finger, and the rest. The power of the face recognition camera 21, the scanner 20A, the printer 20B, and the like is cut off in normal times.

When the execution of the multifunction device startup program shown in FIG. 12 is started, it is first determined whether or not the portion of the multifunction device 20 whose power is cut off in normal times is turned on (step S51). ), When the power remains off, power is turned on (step S52).

Next, it is determined whether or not the process set this time is "authentication required process" (step S53), and when it is "authentication required process", it is determined whether or not the user authentication has already succeeded. (Step S54). Then, when the "authentication required process" is performed and the authentication has not been successful yet, the execution of the user authentication process is instructed (step S55).

Here, the same user may instruct a plurality of consecutive processes such as "print" and "copy". Therefore, when the execution of the multifunction device startup program shown in FIG. 12 is started in response to the report of "authentication required processing" or "authentication unnecessary processing" in step S03 or step S04 of FIG. 4, the power supply is already supplied. It may be on and may be in a successful authentication state. Therefore, in this multifunction device startup program, it is determined whether or not the power is turned on (step S51) and whether or not the user authentication is successful (step S54).

In the present embodiment, while the multifunction device 20 is rising to an operable state by turning on the power in step S52, or before the user authentication is successful in the user authentication process started by the user authentication instruction in step S55. Even at the stage, the processing shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, that is, the operation of the UI 23 can proceed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the user authentication processing program. The user authentication processing program receives the "user authentication instruction" in step S55 of FIG. 12, and its execution is started.

Here, first, the face recognition process is executed (step S62). In this face recognition process, the face recognition camera 21 is activated, the user's face is photographed, and the feature amount of the face is extracted. Then, the extracted facial feature amount is compared with the facial feature amount of the authorized user stored in the multifunction device 20, and it is determined whether or not the photographed user is the authorized user. To. If the face authentication is successful, that is, if the user this time is found to be a valid user, the authentication success is reported (step S69). This authentication success report is used for the determination in steps S16 and S18 of FIG.

When the face authentication fails (step S62), the process basically proceeds to the authentication process using the IC card. However, here, first, it is determined whether or not the process set this time is "authentication required process" (step S63).

For example, suppose that a user who is trying to perform "scan" which is "authentication-free processing" mistakenly presses "copy" which is "authentication-required processing" on the initial screen (see FIG. 6) of UI23. Even in that case, the screen of the UI 23 shifts to the copy menu screen shown in FIG. 7, and the face recognition process is started at this point (see FIG. 4, step S03). However, since this user was planning to perform "scan" instead of "copy" this time, the "cancel" button was pressed on the copy menu screen shown in FIG. 7 to return to the initial screen shown in FIG. The "Scan" button will be pressed. In this case, the face recognition process has already started even though the "scan" is an "authentication-free process".

Therefore, in step S63 of FIG. 13, it is determined whether or not the process set this time is the “authentication required process”.

In step S63, when it is determined that this process is "authentication required process", a pop-up screen is displayed on the UI 23 (step S64).

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a pop-up screen displayed in step S64 of FIG.

On this pop-up screen, "Face recognition could not be performed. Please hold your IC card." Is displayed. That is, here, the face authentication fails (FIG. 13, step S62), and the process to be executed this time is the "authentication required process" (FIG. 13, step S63). Therefore, the IC card is displayed by this display. Encourage the user to hold it over.

The explanation will be continued by returning to FIG.

Following the display of the pop-up screen in step S64, the timer is started (step S65). This timer is a timer for determining the deadline for accepting the authentication process by the IC card. Until the timer expires (step S66), the IC card authentication process (step S67) is attempted (step S68). Here, the user ID of the user is stored in the IC card. Then, in the authentication process using the IC card (step S67), the user ID stored in the IC card is read from the IC card held over the IC card reader 22, and the user ID is the authorized user. It is confirmed whether or not it is a user ID.

If the authentication is successful with the IC card (step S68), the authentication success is reported (step S69). On the other hand, if the timer started in step S65 times out without succeeding in authentication by the IC card (step S66), an authentication failure is reported (step S70). This authentication failure report is also used for the determination in steps S16 and S18 of FIG. 5, similarly to the authentication success report in step S69.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a processing execution program.

In executing the process, when the previous process is being executed, the process is generally arranged in the queue for the process execution, but this point is not a characteristic part of the present embodiment and is generally used. This is a technical technique, and the queuing process is omitted here.

The process execution program shown in FIG. 15 is started in response to the process execution preparation report in any one of steps S15, S23, and S28 of FIG.

When the execution of the processing execution program shown in FIG. 15 is started, the setting contents saved in step S07 of FIG. 4 are referred to, and processing according to the setting contents (for example, "copy" processing) is executed. .. However, when the setting content saved in step S07 of FIG. 4 is changed in step S27 of FIG. 5, processing is executed according to the changed setting content. Then, when the process is completed, the UI 23 is returned to the initial screen (step S73).

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a power-off program.

This power-off program is started from "start 1" each time the UI 23 is touched, and is started from "start 2" when the "end" button (see FIGS. 6 and 7) is pressed.

When you touch the UI23, the timer is started first. The power of the multifunction device 20 of the present embodiment is turned off when the operation on the UI 23 is not performed for a long time. This timer is a timer for measuring the "long time". If the UI 23 is touched before the timer times out, the power-off program restarts the operation, the timer is restarted, and the "long-time" measurement is started from the beginning. When the timer started in step S81 times out (step S82), the UI23 is returned to the initial screen (see FIG. 6) (step S83), the saved settings are deleted (step S84), and the successful authentication is cancelled. (Step S85), the power of the multifunction device 20 is turned off (step S86). However, the power off here corresponds to the power on in step S52 of FIG. 12, and is the power off of the face recognition camera 21, the scanner 20A printer 20B, etc., and touches the UI 23 or its UI with a finger. Power will continue to be supplied for the part necessary to execute the program that detects this and executes it. The reason why the UI 23 is changed to the initial screen in step S83 is that the user may leave while operating the UI 23 halfway. Further, the setting contents saved in step S84 (see FIG. 4, step S07) are deleted in order to avoid confusion with the settings of the next user. Further, the reason why the successful authentication is canceled in step S85 is to prevent the next user from impersonating the previous user and using the multifunction device 20.

As described above, according to the multifunction device 20 of the present embodiment, the user setting can be advanced to the end even before the authentication is successful, and the waiting time of the user is shortened.

Further, according to the multifunction device 20 of the present embodiment, since the "alternative process" is presented when the setting exceeding the permitted range is made, it is easy to reset the setting when the setting exceeds the permitted range. Become.

In the above embodiment, the multifunction device 20 is started up in a usable state by touching the UI 23, and further, the authentication process is started in response to the start of the setting of "authentication required process". However, the start of the authentication process may be started in response to a touch on the UI 23 without particularly distinguishing whether it is an "authentication required process" or an "authentication-free process".

Further, in recent years, a multifunction device or a multifunction device that is equipped with a sensor or a camera that detects that a person is approaching the multifunction device and detects whether or not the multifunction device is being used before contacting the multifunction device. A multifunction device that acquires information on whether or not a multifunction device is to be used in cooperation with a separate sensor, camera, or the like has been proposed. In such a multifunction device, in order to shorten the waiting time of the user, power input to the multifunction device and user recognition are started at the time of detection or information acquisition. However, even in that case, the user recognition does not always end immediately, and if the present invention is introduced and the user operation is accepted without waiting for the success of the user recognition, the waiting time of the user is further shortened. Can be realized.

Further, in the above embodiment, a face recognition system provided with a face recognition camera 21 is adopted as a means for performing user authentication without making the user aware of the authentication process. However, in the present invention, as a means for performing user authentication without making the user aware of the authentication process, an iris authentication system equipped with a camera that captures the user's eyes may be adopted instead of face authentication, or fingerprint authentication. A fingerprint authentication system having a UI incorporating functions may be adopted, and various authentication systems can be adopted.

10 Notebook type personal computer (notebook PC)
20 Multifunction device 20A Scanner 20B Printer 21 Face recognition camera 22 IC card reader 23 Touch panel UI (user interface)
24 Main controller 25 Processing execution unit 26 Display / operation unit 27 Authentication processing unit 28 Permit range definition unit 29 Alternative processing presentation unit 100 Processing system 101 Communication line 210 Control unit 241 CPU
242 ROM
243 RAM
244 HDD
245 Communication I / F
249 bus

Claims (7)

A processing device that requires user authentication before execution for at least some of the processes that require authentication and executes processes according to user operations.
A user operation unit that accepts user operations and
An authentication processing unit that executes user authentication processing,
It is provided with a processing execution unit that executes processing according to the user operation received by the user operation unit.
Prior to determining whether or not the user operation unit is an authorized user who has the authority to instruct the execution of the authentication-requiring process in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the process including the authentication-required process is executed. Accepts all required user operations and accepts
The processing execution section, wherein the main authentication process, after the determination of said is authoritative user by the authentication processing unit according to the user operation accepted by the user operation unit executes該要authentication process, the process The device is also
The permission range definition section that defines the permission range, which is the processing range permitted to be used, for each of the authorized users.
If the user operation of the use disapproval process that deviates from the permission range of the authorized user is performed before the determination by the authentication processing unit that the user is the authorized user, after the determination, the authorized user A processing device including an alternative processing presenting unit that presents an alternative processing within the permitted range of the user in place of the use disapproval processing. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the authentication processing unit includes an authentication method capable of executing a user authentication process without a user's own operation for the user authentication process. The processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the authentication processing unit starts a user authentication process upon starting a user operation in the user operation unit. The processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the authentication processing unit starts the user authentication process in response to the start of the user operation related to the execution of the authentication required process in the user operation unit. When it is impossible to confirm that the user is the authorized user in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the user operation unit cancels the user operation of the authentication required processing once accepted. The processing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4 . A plurality of processing devices including a copy process of reading an image on a document and printing out a copy image of the image on paper, and a print process of receiving image data and printing out an image based on the image data. The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the processing apparatus is a multifunction device that executes the processing of. It is executed in the information processing device that executes the program, and the information processing device requires user authentication before executing at least some of the processes that require authentication, and executes the process according to the user operation. It is a processing device
A user operation unit that accepts user operations and
An authentication processing unit that executes user authentication processing,
It is provided with a processing execution unit that executes processing according to the user operation received by the user operation unit.
Prior to determining whether or not the user operation unit is an authorized user who has the authority to instruct the execution of the authentication-requiring process in the user authentication process by the authentication processing unit, the process including the authentication-required process is executed. Accepts all required user operations and accepts
With respect to the authentication-requiring process, the processing execution unit executes the authentication-requiring process according to the user operation received by the user operation unit after the authentication processing unit determines that the user is the authorized user. The device is also
The permission range definition section that defines the permission range, which is the processing range permitted to be used, for each of the authorized users.
If the user operation of the use disapproval process that deviates from the permission range of the authorized user is performed before the determination by the authentication processing unit that the user is the authorized user, after the determination, the authorized user A processing device provided with an alternative processing presenting unit that presents an alternative processing within the permitted range of the user in place of the usage disapproval processing.
A processing control program characterized by operating as.

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