Patent Application
20190020786
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and a storage medium.
As prior methods for transmitting image data, for example, fax, ifax (Internet fax), electronic mail, and also file transmission are known. File transmission means transmitting image data by a transmission protocol such as SMB (Server Message Block) or FTP (File Transfer Protocol), for example.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-243541 discloses, in an image processing apparatus, when a transmission job, a copy job, or the like of image data has ended, notifying a result thereof as a “job end notification” by an email to a destination that is designated in advance. Consequently, when a large amount of time is required for execution of a transmission job for example, a user can confirm the end of the job in accordance with this notification. In addition, it is recited that the “job end notification” can be used for history management of the job, and that it is possible to, as a part of history management of a job, attach a transmitted original to an electronic mail for the “job end notification”.
There is a function for encrypting and transmitting image data to be sent for confidentiality preservation in a transmission function for image data in an image processing apparatus or the like. Image data encrypted and transmitted in this way can be viewed by a person who knows the password for the image data. However, attaching image data, which was encrypted and transmitted, to a “job end notification” and mistakenly transmitting this notification to a person whose viewing of confidential information is not desired can be considered. In such a case, there is a risk that this will lead to leakage of the confidential information.
An aspect of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problem with conventional technology.
A feature of the present invention is to provide a technique for preventing leakage of confidential information by configuring such that image data that is encrypted and transmitted is not attached to a job end notification.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus capable of executing a transmission job for transmitting image data to a transmission destination, the apparatus comprising: a scanner that reads a document and generates image data; a memory storing instructions; and at least one processor that executes the instructions to cause the image processing apparatus to: accept a setting for notifying an end of the transmission job; convert the image data generated by the scanner to image data of a first format without encrypting; execute a first transmission job for transmitting the image data of the first format; make a notification, in accordance with the setting, of the image data of the first format and an end of the first transmission job to a predetermined transmission destination; convert the image data generated by the scanner to image data of a second format by encrypting; execute a second transmission job for transmitting the image data of the second format; and make a notification, in accordance with the setting, of an end of the second transmission job to the predetermined transmission destination, wherein the image data of the second format is not included in the notification of the end of the second transmission job.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image processing apparatus capable of executing a transmission job for transmitting image data to a transmission destination, the method comprising: accepting a setting for notifying an end of the transmission job; converting the image data generated by a scanner of the image processing apparatus to image data of a first format without encrypting; executing a first transmission job for transmitting the image data of the first format; making a notification, in accordance with the setting, of the image data of the first format and an end of the first transmission job to a predetermined transmission destination; converting the image data generated by the scanner to image data of a second format by encrypting; executing a second transmission job for transmitting the image data of the second format; and making a notification, in accordance with the setting, of an end of the second transmission job to the predetermined transmission destination, wherein the notification of the end of the second transmission job does not include the image data of the second format.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program for making a computer execute a control method for an image processing apparatus capable of executing a transmission job for transmitting image data to a transmission destination, the method comprising: accepting a setting for notifying an end of the transmission job; converting the image data generated by a scanner of the image processing apparatus to image data of a first format without encrypting; executing a first transmission job for transmitting the image data of the first format; making a notification, in accordance with the setting, of the image data of the first format and an end of the first transmission job to a predetermined transmission destination; converting the image data generated by the scanner to image data of a second format by encrypting; executing a second transmission job for transmitting the image data of the second format; and making a notification, in accordance with the setting, of an end of the second transmission job to the predetermined transmission destination, wherein the notification of the end of the second transmission job does not include the image data of the second format.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the claims of the present invention, and that not all of the combinations of the aspects that are described according to the following embodiments are necessarily required with respect to the means to solve the problems according to the present invention.
In a LAN (Local Area Network) 100, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 101, a file server 102, and a PC (Personal Computer) 103 are communicably connected to one another. The MFP 101 is an example of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and although example is given of a multifunction peripheral (MFP) here, the present invention is not limited to this and may be, for example, a PC, a facsimile apparatus, a communication apparatus, an information terminal, or the like. The file server 102 is an example of a file management apparatus. The PC 103 is an example of an information processing apparatus.
The MFP 101 can use SMB or FTP to perform file transmission of image data, taking a folder of the PC 103 of the file server 102 as a destination. In addition, the MFP 101 can transmit the image data by an email via a mail server that is not shown graphically. In addition, the MFP 101 can perform transmission/reception of a fax with a fax machine that is not shown graphically and is connected via a PSTN (public switched telephone network) 110. Note that an image processing system is assumed to include the MFP 101, the file server 102, and the PC 103, but it is possible to refer to only the MFP 101 as an image processing system.
A control unit 210, which includes a CPU 211, controls operations of the MFP 101 overall. The CPU 211 executes the boot program recorded in a ROM 212 to deploy a control program stored in an HDD 214 to a RAM 213, and executes this deployed program to perform various operations such as reading control or transmission control. The RAM 213 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or a work area of the CPU 211. Note that it is assumed that the MFP 101 executes various processing illustrated in the flowcharts of
The HDD 214 stores image data and various programs. A console unit interface 215 is connected to a console unit 220 and the control unit 210. The console unit 220 is provided with a keyboard, a display unit having touch panel function, or the like. A printer I/F 216 connects a printer 221 and the control unit 210. Image data to be printed by the printer 221 is transferred from the control unit 210 via the printer I/F 216 to the printer 221, and is printed to a recording material (a sheet) by the printer 221. A scanner I/F 217 connects a scanner 222 and the control unit 210. The scanner 222 generates image data by reading an image of an original, and supplies the image data to the control unit 210 via the scanner I/F 217. The MFP 101 can transmit image data generated by the scanner 222 by attaching it to an electronic mail or a file transmission. A modem I/F 218 connects a modem 223 and the control unit 210. The modem 223 connects the control unit 210 (the MFP 101) to the PSTN 110. The modem 223 executes transmission/reception of a fax with a fax machine on the PSTN 110. A network I/F 219 connects the control unit 210 (the MFP 101) to a LAN 100. The network I/F 219 transmits information of image data to an external apparatus (the PC 103, the file server 102, or the like) on the LAN 100, and receives various pieces of information from an external apparatus on the LAN 100.
A control unit 310 which includes a CPU 311 controls overall operation of the file server 102. The CPU 311 executes the boot program recorded in a ROM 312 to deploy a program stored in an HDD 314 to a RAM 313, and executes this deployed program to perform control processing. The RAM 313 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or a work area of the CPU 311. The HDD 314 stores image data and various programs. A network I/F 315 connects the control unit 310 (the file server 102) to the LAN 100. The network I/F 315 transmits and receives various pieces of information with other apparatuses on the LAN 100.
A control unit 410, which includes a CPU 411, controls overall operation of the PC 103. The CPU 411 executes the boot program recorded in a ROM 412 to deploy a program stored in an HDD 414 to a RAM 413, and executes this deployed program to perform control processing. The RAM 413 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or a work area of the CPU 411. The HDD 414 stores image data and various programs. A network I/F 415 connects the control unit 410 (the PC 103) to the LAN 100. The network I/F 415 transmits and receives various pieces of information with other apparatuses on the LAN 100.
In
In
Buttons 503 and 504 are buttons for selecting a notification destination of a job end notification. When “select from address book” is selected by a user pressing the button 503, an address book screen is displayed, and the user is caused to select a destination to which to transmit a job end notification. In addition, when “transmit to oneself” is selected by a user pressing the button 504, an electronic mail address for the user which is registered in login information of the user who is performing operations is set as the destination of a job end notification. Consequently effort for the user to select their own destination from an address book is unnecessary.
The login information is associated with a user ID and a password, and also an electronic mail address of the user, and is registered in the HDD 214. The MFP 101 accepts input of the user ID and the password from the user, and permits login of the user. By this, the MFP 101 can obtain the electronic mail address of the logged-in user by referring to the login information. Note that, in a case of authenticating a user by using an authentication server, configuration may be taken such that the MFP 101 transmits the accepted user ID and password to the authentication server, and receives from the authentication server login information that is registered in advance in the authentication server. In such a case, the MFP 101 can obtain the electronic mail address of the logged-in user by referring to the received login information. Note that configuration may be taken so that, in a case of the MFP 101 authenticating, by a card reader, a user by reading information stored in a card that the user holds, the information read from the card is used as the user ID, and a password is not used. In such a case, the MFP 101 authenticates the user by comparing the user ID with a user ID stored in the HDD 214 in advance.
The set notification destination for a job end notification selected in accordance with the button 503 or the button 504 is displayed in a column 505. A button 506 is a button for letting a user select whether or not to transmit by attaching image data of an original transmitted by an image transmission to a job end notification. When a user selects “attach original” by pressing the button 506, it is possible to cause image data that is transmitted by an image transmission to be attached to an electronic mail for a job end notification and transmitted.
In the first embodiment, when image data is attached, attachment is performed after it is converted to a PDF (Portable Document Format) file, but attachment may be performed after conversion to a file format other than PDF.
In this way, by performing a setting for a job end notification, it is possible to make a setting so as to notify a result of an image transmission to a desired destination in accordance with a condition that is set. Consequently, a user can confirm the result of an image transmission, for example by email.
This screen is displayed upon registration of a destination for transmitting image data, by using electronic mail, in an address book. A column 601 is an area for inputting a name of a destination that a user registers. A button 602 is for selecting a protocol to use in transmission of image data. With the MFP 101, it is possible to select one of electronic mail, SMB, and FTP as a transmission protocol. However, a transmission protocol other than these (for example, WebDAV (Distributed Authoring and Versioning protocol for the WWW)) may be included as an option.
Protocol options are displayed in a drop-down format when a user presses the button 602, and the user can select a desired transmission protocol from the displayed options. Registration for SMB and FTP is described with reference to
In the example of
This screen is displayed upon registration of a destination for a file transmission in an address book. A column 701 is an area for inputting a name of a destination to register. A button 702 is for selecting a transmission protocol to use in transmission of image data. Similarly to the button 602 of
In the example of
The destination information inputted via the screens of
Firstly, in step S901, the CPU 211 displays on the console unit 220 a list of destinations for transmitting image data, in accordance with an instruction from a user. Here, for example “Suzuki”, “Tanaka”, “Sato”, “Kato”, and “Yamada” are displayed on the destination list screen in the case that details of an address book are the destination management table 800 illustrated in
Buttons 1001 through 1004 are for selecting a format of image data to transmit, and a user can, by pressing one of these buttons, designate a format corresponding to the button. Here, when a user presses the button 1001, “JPEG” is selected as the format. In this case, file transmission is performed after converting the image data of an original obtained by the scanner 222 to a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file. Here, when a user operates the button 1002, “TIFF” is selected as the file format. In this case, file transmission is performed after converting the image data of an original obtained by the scanner 222 to a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) file. Similarly when the button 1003 or the button 1004 is pressed, file transmission is performed after converting the image data for the original to an XPS (XML Paper Specification) file or a PDF file, respectively. The buttons 1005 and 1006 are for selecting additional information for the button 1004 (PDF), with the button 1005 instructing high compression processing when performing a PDF conversion, and the button 1006 instructing encryption when performing a PDF conversion.
This screen is displayed when the button 1006 (“encrypt”) is selected by a user. A column 1101 is an input field for authentication information (a password) necessary to open encrypted image data. In the screen of
In this way, when making a conversion to a PDF file, by selecting “encrypt”, it is possible to make it so that a user who does not know the password cannot view the transmitted image data. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a user who does not know the password from viewing the image data. Note that the password for encryption and settings such as the file format set in
Returning to
In step S905, the CPU 211 accepts an instruction for whether or not to perform a setting for a job end notification. This instruction may be made from the screen of
In step S907, the CPU 211 waits for a transmission instruction from a user. In a case where a user redoes a transmission setting without performing a transmission instruction, the processing returns to step S902, but when there is the transmission instruction from a user, the processing proceeds to step S908.
In step S908, the CPU 211 executes transmission of the image data in accordance with the settings of step S902 through step S907. Note that, here, in a case of transmitting image data generated by the scanner 222 reading an original, transmission processing is performed in step S908 upon reading of the original by the scanner 222. The processing proceeds to step S909, and the CPU 211 confirms a result of the transmission of the image data that was performed in step S908, and if the transmission succeeded, the processing proceeds to step S911, and if the transmission failed, the processing proceeds to step S910. In step S910, the CPU 211 refers to the RAM 213 to determine whether or not “notify only at a time of error” was set by the button 502 in the job end notification setting (
In step S912, the CPU 211 refers to the RAM 213 to determine whether or not “transmit to oneself” was set in the job end notification setting. Here, if “transmit to oneself” is set, the processing proceeds to step S913, and if not, the processing proceeds to step S914. In step S913, the CPU 211 obtains the electronic mail address of the user who inputted the transmission job to set the notification destination, and the processing advances to step S916. Meanwhile, in step S914, the CPU 211 sets the notification destination to a destination set from the destination table by the user, and the processing proceeds to step S916.
In step S916, the CPU 211 refers to the RAM 213 to determine whether or not “attach original” was set in the job end notification setting. If “attach original” is set, the processing proceeds to step S917, otherwise the processing proceeds to step S919. In step S917, the CPU 211 determines whether or not “encrypt” was selected in the screen of
In this way, by virtue of the first embodiment, even in a case where setting is made to attach a transmitted original to a job end notification, transmission is performed without attaching image data of the transmitted original to the job end notification in a case where a setting is made to encrypt and transmit the image data of the original. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation such as where an original is mistakenly transmitted to a person whose viewing of confidential information is not desired.
Next, explanation is given regarding a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, when displaying the job end notification setting screen (
Firstly, in step S1201, the CPU 211 waits for an instruction from a user for setting a job end notification. This instruction may be made from the screen of
In step S1203, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the file format is “PDF” and “encrypt” is set by the button 1006. If it is determined that “encrypt” is set, the processing proceeds to step S1204, otherwise the processing proceeds to step S1205. In step S1204, because “encrypt” is set for the file format, the CPU 211 displays, in the job end notification setting screen illustrated in
Consequently, in a case where “encrypt” is set by the setting of a file format, it is possible to set so that a setting for attaching a transmission original to the job end notification cannot be made. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation such as where an original is mistakenly transmitted to a person whose viewing of confidential information is not desired.
Firstly, in step S1301, the CPU 211 waits for an instruction from a user for setting a file format. This instruction may be made from a screen (not shown) displayed by a transmission application for transmitting image data, or by a user performing a predetermined operation on the console unit 220. When a file format setting instruction is inputted from a user, the processing proceeds to step S1302. In step S1302, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the job end notification is set with reference to the notification flag of the RAM 213 that is described above. Upon determining that the job end notification is set, the processing proceeds to step S1303, otherwise the processing proceeds to step S1305. In step S1303, the CPU 211 refers to the RAM 213 to determine whether or not “attach original” was set in accordance with the button 506 in the job end notification setting. Upon determining that “attach original” is set, the processing proceeds to step S1304, otherwise the processing proceeds to step S1305. In step S1304, the CPU 211 displays the button 1006 for instructing “encrypt” as hatched or grayed out on the screen of
Consequently, when “attach original” is set in the setting of the job end notification, it is possible to prohibit encryption of an image data file. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation such as where an original is mistakenly transmitted to a person whose viewing of confidential information is not desired.
In addition, as another embodiment, in a case where the transmission destination of image data that is transmitted and the transmission destination of a job end notification are the same, if “attach original” is set in the setting of the job end notification, the transmitted image data may be attached even if the image data is encrypted and transmitted.
In addition, in a case where the transmission destination of the job end notification is a destination for an administrator, if “attach original” is set in the job end notification settings, the transmitted image data may be attached even if the image data is encrypted and transmitted.
Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments, and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments. The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™, a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-135659, filed Jul. 11, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-135659 | Jul 2017 | JP | national |
