IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, SYSTEM, PROGRAM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Abstract

An image forming apparatus connectable to a virtual network that requires an authentication process upon connection, includes an input unit configured to input authentication information corresponding to a virtual network of interest as a connection target of the image forming apparatus, wherein the virtual network of interest is part of a plurality of virtual networks, and a request unit configured to send, to an authentication unit, a connection request to the virtual network of interest, including the authentication information, and a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device communicable in the virtual network of interest based on settings complying with a response from the authentication unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example hardware configuration of an MFP 101;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example 4-port VLAN switch 301 and nodes connected to it;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example arrangement that connects two VLAN switches each of which has four ports of access links connected to a PC or MFP;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an IEEE802.1Q packet structure;

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example arrangement that connects two PCs, a printer, a DHCP server, and an authentication server to a VLAN switch;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example arrangement of a table that registers passwords and assigned VLANs corresponding to registered user IDs in association with each other;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a display example of a standard authentication VLAN setting window displayed on a panel 206 of the MFP 101;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing example processes executed by the MFP 101, authentication VLAN switch 108, and authentication server 107 when the MFP 101 is powered on to log in to an authentication VLAN;

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example arrangement of a table which indicates the relationship between IP addresses and VLANs assigned to nodes connected to the Ethernet®;

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example arrangement of a table that registers passwords, assigned VLANs, and assigned IP addresses corresponding to registered user IDs;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example process executed by the MFP 101 when it is activated to log in to an authentication VLAN other than a standard VLAN;

FIG. 13 is a view showing a display example of an interrupt login operation window;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example process executed by the MFP 101 upon login using the window shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 15 is a view showing a display example of a timer-programmed interrupt login setting window;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example hardware configuration of the authentication server 107;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a first process example of the MFP 101 that has logged in to the authentication VLAN; and

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a second process example of the MFP 101 that has logged in to the authentication VLAN.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus connectable to a virtual network that requires an authentication process upon connection, the apparatus comprising: an input unit configured to input authentication information corresponding to a virtual network of interest as a connection target of the image forming apparatus, wherein the virtual network of interest is part of a plurality of virtual networks;a request unit configured to send, to an authentication unit, a connection request to the virtual network of interest, including the authentication information; anda communication unit configured to communicate with an external device communicable in the virtual network of interest based on settings complying with a response from the authentication unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive, as the response, setting information corresponding to the authentication information from a switching device included in the virtual network; anda setting unit configured to execute a setting process complying with the setting information,wherein the communication unit executes access in the virtual network of interest in accordance with settings by the setting unit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting information includes an IP address on the virtual network of interest, and the setting unit executes a setting process complying with the IP address.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit configured to designate a time and date to make the communication unit connect to the virtual network of interest, wherein the communication unit executes connection to the virtual network of interest based on a current time and date and the designated time and date.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an initial network connection unit configured to send a connection request to a predetermined network environment upon activation, wherein communication with the authentication unit is performed in the predetermined network environment.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a scanner configured to read a document image; anda transfer unit configured to transfer the document image read by the scanner to the external device communicable in the virtual network of interest.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a Web server, wherein the Web server responds to access from the external device communicable in the virtual network of interest to the Web server.

8. A system comprising: an image forming apparatus connectable to a virtual network that configured to utilize an authentication process upon connection, the image forming apparatus including, an input unit configured to input authentication information corresponding to a virtual network of interest as a connection target of the image forming apparatus, wherein the virtual network of interest is part of a plurality of virtual networks;a request unit configured to send, to the authentication unit, a connection request to the virtual network of interest, including the authentication information; anda communication unit configured to communicate with an external device communicable in the virtual network of interest based on settings complying with a response from the authentication unit; andan authentication unit including, a holding unit configured to hold a plurality of sets of authentication information and setting information corresponding to the authentication information;an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from the holding unit, setting information corresponding to the authentication information included in the connection request from the image forming apparatus; anda transmission unit configured to transmit the setting information acquired by the acquisition unit to the image forming apparatus.

9. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus connectable to a virtual network that requires an authentication process upon connection, the method comprising: inputting authentication information corresponding to a virtual network of interest as a connection target of the image forming apparatus, wherein the virtual network of interest is part of a plurality of virtual networks;sending, to an authentication unit, a connection request to the virtual network of interest, including the authentication information; andcommunicating with an external device communicable in the virtual network of interest based on settings complying with a response from the authentication unit.

10. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for controlling an image forming apparatus connectable to a virtual network that requires an authentication process upon connection, the medium comprising: computer-executable instructions for inputting authentication information corresponding to a virtual network of interest as a connection target of the image forming apparatus, wherein the virtual network of interest is part of a plurality of virtual networks;computer-executable instructions for sending, to an authentication unit, a connection request to the virtual network of interest, including the authentication information; andcomputer-executable instructions for communicating with an external device communicable in the virtual network of interest based on settings complying with a response from the authentication unit.

11. A computer program stored on a readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for controlling an image forming apparatus connectable to a virtual network that requires an authentication process upon connection, the program comprising: computer-executable instructions for inputting authentication information corresponding to a virtual network of interest as a connection target of the image forming apparatus, wherein the virtual network of interest is part of a plurality of virtual networks;computer-executable instructions for sending, to an authentication unit, a connection request to the virtual network of interest, including the authentication information; andcomputer-executable instructions for communicating with an external device communicable in the virtual network of interest based on settings complying with a response from the authentication unit.