Patent Application
20080008318
Throughout this description, the embodiment and example shown should be considered exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and systems of the present invention.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same portion is denoted by the same numeral.
In
The MFP 10 has an original table provided at its top part, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) is provided to freely open and close on the original table. In a lower part of the body 11, cassettes 15 housing papers of various sizes are provided. Moreover, within the body 11, a reading unit 16 and a printer 19 shown in
In this invention, a wireless tag unit is attached to an original that is confidential, then the information stored in this wireless tag unit is read out, and duplication of the original is limited on the basis of the read information. The wireless tag reader 18 can read the information of the wireless tag unit.
The job functions of the image forming apparatus 10 include, for example, a printer function, scanning function, color copy function, network print function, fax function and the like.
The printer function is the function of printing image data. The scanning function includes the function of copying image data read by the scanner 17, the filing function of storing image data scanned in the body 11 to a PC (personal computer) or the like, which will be described later, and the mailing function of sending image data scanned in the body 11 in the form of E-mail to an external device. The network print function is the function of printing, on the body 11 side, image data sent to the body 11 from an external device. The fax function is the function of faxing image data.
As the functions of reading an original and performing duplication processing, the above-described copy function and filing function, and communication functions such as the mailing function and facsimile function are involved.
The MFP 10 is connectable to external devices via a network 41. The external devices include a server 42, PCs (personal computers) 43, 44, a facsimile device 45 and the like. For example, the PC 43 is a manager terminal and the PC 44 is a general user terminal.
A CPU 21 is provided in the image forming apparatus 10. The CPU 21 includes a control unit 211 and is connected to a PCI bus 22. PCI bus is an abbreviation of Peripheral Component Interconnect Bus. A ROM (read-only memory) 23 and a RAM (random access memory) 24 are connected to the PCI bus 22. In the ROM 22, various control program data necessary for the operations of the body 11 are stored. The RAM 23 stores control information for the operation of each unit.
Also, a network interface 25 is provided in the image forming apparatus 10. The network interface 25 is connected to the PCI bus 22 via a network controller 26. The network interface 25 includes a LAN board, FAX modem and the like, and is connected to external devices, for example, the server 42, PC 43, PC 44 and facsimile device 45, via the network 41 The network controller 26 controls data exchange with the external devices via the network interface 25. In the server 42 connected to the network 41, a database is provided that defines role information for each user, which will be described later.
Also, a card reader 27 is connected to the PCI bus 22. The card reader 27 is used when determining whether an operator operating the MFP 10 is a regular user or not. A regular user possesses a card in which an identification code has been stored in advance. As the user holds the card over the MFP 10, the card reader 27 reads the identification code and the CPU 21 authenticates whether the user is a regular user or not. Alternatively, as a method for authenticating whether a user is a regular user or not, the user may operate the operating unit 12 to input the personal identification number.
Also the operating panel 14 is connected to the PCI bus 22. Moreover, an HDD (storage device) 29 is connected to the PCI bus 22 via an IDE 28. The IDE 28 is an interface for connecting the HDD 29 to the PCI bus 22, and IDE is an abbreviation of Integrated Device Electronics. The operating panel 14 includes the above-described operating unit 12 and display unit 13.
Additionally, a copy control unit 30, reading control unit 31, printer control unit 32, and fax control unit 33 are connected to the PCI bus 22. The control unit 211 of the CPU 21 constitutes a job management unit that controls the copy control unit 30, reading control unit 31, printer control unit 32 and fax control unit 33.
The copy control unit 30 controls the usual copy function using the reading unit 16 and the printer 19.
The reading control unit 31 controls the scanning function of reading an original using the scanner 17, the filing function of storing scanned image data to the PC 42, and the E-mailing function of sending image data to an external device. Moreover, the reading control unit 31 controls the reading of information of the wireless tag unit (described below) by the wireless tag reader 18.
The printer control unit 32 controls the print function using the printer 19 or the network print function. Moreover, the facsimile control unit 33 controls the facsimile function. Also, image data at the time of printing by the printer 19 is stored to the HDD 29.
As the data 52, the document manager of the original to which the wireless tag unit 51 is attached, the preparation date of the document, security level and the like are stored. The security level is prescribed, for example, in three levels of “High”, “Middle” and “Low”. “High” refers to a top-secret document, “Middle” refers to a confidential document. “Low” refers to a normal document. However, the security level is not limited to the above three levels and can be prescribed in a larger number of levels.
The types of function include, for example, “Copy”, “E-mail”, “File” and “FAX”. “Copy” is the normal copy function. “E-mail” is the function of mailing image data acquired by scanning an original to a predetermined address. “File” is the function of taking image data acquired by scanning an original into the HDD 29 of the MFP 10 or to the PC 43. “FAX” is the function of faxing an image acquired by scanning an original. These functions can be used for duplicating an original.
In the example of
In
The read identification code is transferred to the server 42 via the network 41 and an inquiry is made about whether the user is a regular user or not (step S3) If the user is a regular user, the security level of the user in question is sent back on the basis of the user information 53 (
In step S4, the function permitted to the user is discriminated. For example, if the copy function is permitted to the user, a screen for copy operation (copy screen) is displayed in step S5. On the other hand, if the copy function is not permitted to the user, the processing shifts to step S6 and a screen of a permitted mode other than copy is displayed.
Next, in step S7, as the original 50 with the wireless tag unit 51 attached thereto is set on the original table and the operating unit 12 is operated to press the copy key, the copy operation starts and the scanner 17 reads the original. At the same time, in step S8, the wireless tag reader 18 reads the data 52 written in the wireless tag unit 51.
Next, in step S9, the security level received from the server 42 is compared with the security level written in the wireless tag unit 51, and a document that is permitted to be copied is determined. That is, if the security level received from the server 42 is “Middle” and the security level written in the wireless tag unit 51 is “Middle” or “Low”, it is determined that this user can handle a confidential document or normal document. Then, the copy operation is executed in step S10, and when the copying is completed, the processing shifts to an end step S13.
Meanwhile, if the security level received from the server 42 is “Middle” and the security level written in the wireless tag unit 41 is “High”, it is determined that this user is not entitled to handle a top-secret document, and the processing shifts from step S9 to step S11. A message “Copying of this document is prohibited” is displayed on the display unit 13 and the copy operation is stopped. Also, as shown in step S12, a notification that execution of unauthorized copying is attempted may be sent to the document manager read from the wireless tag unit 51. For example, if the manager terminal 43 is the document manager terminal, the document manager can be notified of the attempt to execute unauthorized copying.
Thus, copying of a permitted document can be carried out after determining whether the user is a regular user or not and determining the type of the function permitted to the user. Steps S7 to S12 in
Using the data of the preparation date and time of the wireless tag unit 52, it is possible to enable duplication of documents for which a predetermined period has passed from the document preparation date. Alternatively, data representing a confidentiality keeping period during which duplication is prohibited may be stored, instead of the data of the preparation date and time.
Thus, in this invention, in the case of reading an original and carrying out processing to copy, file or send it, the information in the wireless tag unit 51 attached to the original is read and it can be instantly determined whether the original can be duplicated or not. Thus, unauthorized access can be prohibited. Moreover, since whether duplication of an original is permitted or not can be controlled for each user, detailed management can be done.
Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the present invention.
