Patent Application
20120069371
This application is based on Japanese patent application No. 2010-208690 filed on Sep. 17, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus having an operating panel on which operating screens can be displayed. Such an image information processing apparatus is capable of one or more of the following image-information-related processes: printing, scanning, copying, facsimile transmission/reception, and data save (storage). An example of the image information processing apparatus is a Multi-Functional Peripheral (MFP).
2. Description of the Related Art
MFP's (also called multifunction devices) used for a variety of purposes such as copying are one of OA machines that are indispensable in offices of business. One or more MFP's are installed in business offices depending on the size of the business offices. Such MFP's are usually shared by a plurality of users irrespective of how many MFP's are installed in the business office. Supposing that an MFP is shared by a plurality of users, the MFP is equipped with an authentication function for identifying users, a job management function, and other functions.
The operating panel of an MFP has a display configured to display many operating screens. Such a display typically has a size of approximately 8 inches on the diagonal (resolution level of 480×200 dots), and is capable of making such a sharp preview that a user can understand the details of image information displayed on the screen. The image information is information realized based on visual elements, e.g., text, charts, and photos. The user appropriately operates operation buttons in operating screens displayed on the operating panel, so that he/she can select a desired function from among many functions of the MFP, and make settings on operation relating to the selected function.
In order to improve the usability of MFPs, a conventional art has been proposed in which a mobile phone possessed by a user is used to operate an MFP (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-053834). According to the conventional art, an MFP sends, in advance, application software to a registered mobile terminal (mobile phone). The application software is to be used by a user if an error occurs in the MFP during job execution. If an error occurs in the MFP thereafter, the MFP informs the mobile terminal that the error occurs, and operates in accordance with user's operation through the mobile terminal. According to the conventional art, even if a user (client) of the MFP operates a client terminal (e.g., a personal computer) connected to the MFP via a network to instruct the MFP to execute a job, and leaves the installation location of the client terminal, he/she can deal with an error immediately after knowing occurrence of the error.
Mobile information terminals having touch input capability such as smartphones or tablet computers may be used to operate an image information processing apparatus. A variety of applications can be installed onto such mobile information terminals. Installing operating programs onto mobile information terminals realizes an environment in which users can perform operation at hand in a manner similar to operation performed on an operating panel of an image information processing apparatus.
However, if operating programs are installed unconditionally onto all of mobile information terminals having a capability to operate an image information processing apparatus, information-security-related problems occur. Stated differently, providing a mobile information terminal with operation functions similar to those of an operating panel of an image information processing apparatus increases a risk that information kept in the image information processing apparatus, a server cooperating therewith, and so on leaks or is lost via the mobile information terminal. This is because the mobile information terminal possibly contains, therein, Spyware to externally transfer data, viruses to destroy data, or other factors to cause some troubles, irrespective of whether or not this is intentional.
The present disclosure is directed to solve the problems pointed out above, and therefore, an object of an embodiment of the present invention is to enhance the usability of image information processing apparatuses by increasing the variety of operation environment thereof, and to reduce a risk of leakage of electronic data indicating image information.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an image information processing apparatus including an operating panel on which an operating screen is displayed is provided. The image information processing apparatus includes a storage configured to store, therein, a first type application and a second type application, the first type application implementing, when being executed by an information device capable of displaying the operating screen, a process that includes accessing the image information processing apparatus or an external device communicably connected to the image information processing apparatus, and capturing information from the image information processing apparatus or the external device thus accessed, and the second type application implementing, when being executed by the information device, a process that includes accessing the image information processing apparatus or the external device, and excludes capturing information from the image information processing apparatus or the external device thus accessed; a determination portion configured to determine, when the information device is communicably connected to the image information processing apparatus, whether or not the information device corresponds to a predetermined operational device; and a program transfer portion configured to download the first type application onto the information device when the determination portion determines that the information device corresponds to the predetermined operational device, and to download the second type application onto the information device when the determination portion determines that the information device does not correspond to the predetermined operational device.
These and other characteristics and objects of the present invention will become more apparent by the following descriptions of preferred embodiments with reference to drawings.
Referring to
In the illustrated example, only one mobile information terminal 3 is shown as the operational device associated with the MFP 2. However, a plurality of mobile information terminals may be designated as operational devices associated with the MFP 2. For example, if users of different departments share the MFP 2, the mobile information terminals 3 can be provided on a section-by-section basis. In the meantime, if mobile information terminals 3 are sold by a seller of the MFP 2, all a customer has to do is to purchase the necessary number of mobile information terminals 3, and the customer does not have to work to register the mobile information terminals 3 to the MFP 2 as the operational devices thereof.
In the illustrated example of
Each of the mobile information terminal 3 and the mobile information terminals 4a, 4b, and 4c has a display necessary to display an operating screen, which is displayed on an operating panel 20 of the MFP 2, and also has program execution capabilities. The display of each of the mobile information terminal 3 and the mobile information terminals 4a, 4b, and 4c has a resolution equal to or higher than that of the operating panel 20 of the MFP 2. Each of the mobile information terminal 3 and the mobile information terminals 4a, 4b, and 4c is desirably operated by an operating system that has the same or similar functions to those of the operating panel 20 of the MFP 2 to provide compatibility between the subject mobile information terminal and the operating panel 20. Predetermined operation control programs are installed onto the mobile information terminal 3 and the mobile information terminals 4a, 4b, and 4c, so that these terminals can serve as information devices used for operating the MFP 2. The operation control programs and applications, described later, are downloaded from the MFP 2 to each of the mobile information terminal 3 and the mobile information terminals 4a, 4b, and 4c.
Referring to
In the touchscreen portion 20A, Android (registered trademark) is used both as an Operating System (OS) 300 and a User Interface (UI) 320 that is an operation control program for displaying operating screens. Instead of Android, however, it is possible to use Symbian (registered trademark) OS by Nokia Corporation, Windows (registered trademark) Mobile by Microsoft Corporation, or other OS's, and to incorporate a user interface corresponding to the OS in use into the touchscreen portion 20A.
Aside from OS and UI, the nonvolatile memory 230 stores, therein, a program 322 for controlling a variety of processes such as printing or scanning performed by the MFP 2, a program 324 for user authentication, plug-ins 360 for enabling a user to use web services. Such software is loaded onto the RAM 232 if necessary, so that a process specified by a user is implemented.
The plug-ins 360 are used for, for example, electronic mail service, document creation software, map browsing service, calendar service provided by Google. It is also possible to install, onto the touchscreen portion 20A, plug-ins suitable for business support service provided by Microsoft Corporation, or suitable for Software as a Service (SaaS) provided by other businesses.
Descriptions are given below of a download of an application from the MFP 2 to the mobile information terminal 3 and the mobile information terminals 4a, 4b, and 4c. In the descriptions, a mobile information terminal 3 qualified as an operational device by a manufacturer of the MFP 2 is referred to as an “authorized product” or an “authorized mobile information terminal 3”. Further, mobile information terminals 4a, 4b, and 4c that are not qualified as operational devices are not distinguished from one another. Each of such mobile information terminals 4a, 4b, and 4c is referred to as an “unauthorized product” or an “unauthorized mobile information terminal 4”. Based on this rule, elements and parts in
Before or after shipment of an MFP 2 from a factory, a first type application 361 and a second type application 362 are stored into a storage 27 of the MFP 2. Each of the first type application 361 and the second type application 362 implements processing involved with the MFP 2 or a device connected thereto. While processing implemented by the first type application 361 and processing implemented by the second type application 362 are similar to each other, they are not identical. To be specific, the first type application 361 is for an authorized product, and can be used to capture image information from the MFP 2 or a device communicably connected thereto to a mobile information terminal 3 as an authorized product. In contrast, the second type application 362 is for an unauthorized product, and cannot be used to capture image information from the MFP 2 and any other devices to a mobile information terminal 4 as an unauthorized product.
When an authorized mobile information terminal 3 or an unauthorized mobile information terminal 4 is communicably connected to the MFP 2 via the communication interface 30, the determination portion 501 determines whether or not the terminal thus connected is an authorized product based on information registered in a table T1. The table T1 shows identification information for identifying authorized products in connection forms compatible with the communication interface 30. Such identification information is a Media Access Control (MAC) address in connection through a LAN based on IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet, registered trademark), or through a Wireless LAN (WLAN) based on IEEE 802.11a/b/g. Alternatively, such identification information is a Bluetooth Device Address (BDA) in connection through IEEE 802.15.1 (Bluetooth). Yet alternatively, such identification information is a vender ID and a product ID in connection through a Universal Serial Bus (USB). The determination portion 501 compares identification information of a terminal connected to the MFP 2 with identification information shown in the table T1. If a match is found therebetween, then the determination portion 501 determines that the terminal connected to the MFP 2 is an authorized product. Otherwise, the determination portion 501 determines that the terminal connected to the MFP 2 is an unauthorized product.
The program transfer portion 503 downloads, based on the determination made by the determination portion 501, the first type application 361 onto the authorized mobile information terminal 3 communicably connected to the MFP 2, and downloads the second type application 362 onto the unauthorized mobile information terminal 4 communicably connected to the MFP 2.
Upon receiving the determination result notification from the determination portion 501, the program transfer portion 503 establishes a management connection necessary to install an application onto the mobile information terminal to which the MFP 2 is performing communication (Step S15). If such a management connection cannot be established (No in Step S16), then the program transfer portion 503 finishes the processing. If such a management connection can be established (Yes in Step S16), then the program transfer portion 503 checks whether or not an unauthorized product flag is turned on (Step S17). Unless an unauthorized product flag is turned on, then the process goes to an install processing routine for authorized product (Step S18). On the other hand, if an unauthorized product flag is turned on (Yes in Step S17), then the program transfer portion 503 downloads the second type application 362 for unauthorized product onto the mobile information terminal connected, for management, to the MFP 2, and also causes the mobile information terminal to install, thereonto, the second type application 362 to make it easy for a user of the mobile information terminal to use the second type application 362 (Step S19).
The program transfer portion 503 makes the following checks: (A) a check as to whether or not an unclear application is included in applications already installed on the mobile information terminal connected, for management, to the MFP 2; (B) a check as to whether or not an unclear process is performed in the mobile information terminal connected for management; and (C) a check as to whether or not a modified application is included in known applications already installed on the mobile information terminal connected for management (Steps S181, S183, and S185). The checks may be made in any order. Check (C) described above can be made by using a method for determining hash values of the application.
If the result of check (A) shows that there are no unclear applications (No in Step S182), at the same time, if the result of check (B) shows that there are no unclear processes (No in Step S184), and further, if the result of check (C) indicates that there are no modified applications (No in Step S186), then the program transfer portion 503 downloads the first type application 361 for authorized product, and causes the mobile information terminal connected for management to install thereonto the first type application 361 (Step S187).
On the other hand, if any one of an unclear application, an unclear process, and a modified application is found, then downloading the first type application 361 is stopped. In such a case, the program transfer portion 503 downloads the second type application 362 for unauthorized product, instead of the first type application 361, and causes the mobile information terminal connected for management to install thereonto the second type application 362 (Step S188). In short, even if the determination portion 501 determines that a mobile information terminal is an authorized product, the mobile information terminal is dealt with as an unauthorized product provided that conditions for checks (A)-(C) are not satisfied.
The user touches a character string indicating any one of documents in the document list 91, so that image information which is the substantial details of the selected document can be viewed beforehand. The user touches another character string in the document list 91, so that a document to be previewed is turned from one document to another document. When the user touches a print button 95 in the operating screen Q3, a document displayed in the preview region 92 at this time point is deemed as a print target. In response to the print button 95 being touched, the indication on the display is changed from the operating screen Q3 to an operating screen (not shown) for print settings. When the user makes desired settings on the set of prints, a printable area, and so on, and then, gives instructions to perform printing, the first type application 361 and the operating system cooperate with each other to give the print instructions to the MFP 2.
In order for the mobile information terminal 3 to preview an image of a document, the mobile information terminal 3 needs to obtain image information of the document from the MFP 2. Irrespective of whether or not the MFP 2 performs a process on image information for preview, the image of the document is not previewed appropriately unless the mobile information terminal 3 obtains image information which helps the user to understand the substantial details of the document. In short, the first type application 361 configured to preview a document image has a function to capture image information from an external device to the mobile information terminal 3 on which the first type application 361 is installed. In the case where the first type application 361 is launched and the operating screen Q3 is displayed, image information is captured from the MFP 2 to the mobile information terminal 3.
The user of the unauthorized mobile information terminal 4 cannot confirm the details of a document in the form of a preview image. He/She can, however, specify a desired document as a print target by referring to information, e.g., file name, displayed in the document list 91. The operation from when the user specifies a document to when a print command is given to the MFP 2 is the same as that in the authorized mobile information terminal 3 discussed above.
Since no preview image is displayed, document image information is unnecessary to display the operating screen Q4. The second type application 362 does not have a function to capture image information from an external device to the mobile information terminal 4 on which the second type application 362 is installed. Accordingly, even when the second type application 362 is launched, image information is not captured from the MFP 2 to the mobile information terminal 4.
As described above, the first type application 361 and the second type application 362 are different from each other in function to capture image information. Stated differently, whether or not an application is equipped with a function to capture image information is a condition based on which the first type application and the second type application are distinguished from each other.
Referring to
Referring to
In the embodiments discussed above, image information is not captured to an unauthorized mobile information terminal 4 onto which the second type application 362 is downloaded. While the case is described above in which information is transferred from the cloud system 9, let alone, limitations are similarly applied to the case of transfer from the storage 27 of the MFP 2. According to the arrangement described above, even if the storage 27 of the MFP 2 stores, therein, important electronic data in security such as confidential documents, and address book data containing personal information, such important electronic data is not transferred to an unauthorized mobile information terminal 4, and therefore, such important electronic data does not leak out to an unknown external device as-is through the unauthorized mobile information terminal 4.
According to the embodiments discussed above, when the touchscreen portion 20A of the operating panel 20 is unavailable, an authorized mobile information terminal 3 can be used as a substitute for the touchscreen portion 20A. Further, irrespective of whether or not an information device corresponds to the operational device, the first type application or the second type application to access the image information processing apparatus is downloaded onto an information device capable of displaying an operating screen. A user of the information device, therefore, can use the downloaded application to cause the image information processing apparatus to execute a predetermined process.
In the embodiments discussed above, a user of an unauthorized mobile information terminal 4 can acquire an operation environment under which he/she operates the MFP 2 anywhere in a communication distance connectable to the MFP 2. The user can perform operation, at hand, for causing the MFP 2 to perform printing based on data saved to the cloud system 9, to perform facsimile transmission based on the data, to transfer the data to a personal computer connected to the LAN 7, to store the data into the box 270, and so on.
In the embodiments described above, processes implemented by using the first type application 361 and the second type application 362 are not limited to processes involved with the MFP 2. A process is discussed which transfers a file from the cloud system 9 connected to the LAN 7 to a file server (not shown) and vice versa. The process does not involve capturing a file to an authorized mobile information terminal and an unauthorized mobile information terminal. Therefore, each of the first type application 361 and the second type application 362 can implement the process. Further, a process is discussed which modifies and edits data of documents, calendar, address book, etc., saved to the cloud system 9. This process involves capturing a data file. Therefore, the second type application 362 cannot implement the process while the first type application 361 can implement.
In the foregoing embodiments, an information device onto which the first type application 361 and the second type application 362 are downloaded to be used as an operation means is not necessarily a mobile device. However, the use of a mobile device realizes an operation environment where a user uses the MFP 2 by operating his/her own familiar mobile information terminal around the location of the MFP 2.
In the foregoing embodiments, an MFP 2 is taken as an example of an image information processing apparatus; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention is applicable to a printer, a facsimile device, a document server, a storage, a scanner, and other types of image information processing apparatus.
While example embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, and that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-208690 | Sep 2010 | JP | national |
