IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND ITS MANAGEMENT METHOD

Abstract

When an image processing apparatus is newly installed, an access control request is issued from the image processing apparatus to a control apparatus at step S302. Then at step S303, regarding the image processing apparatus that has issued the access control request, an access control table to control access to functions of the image processing apparatus is automatically generated and registered in the control apparatus. In the control apparatus, access control is managed for each function of the image processing apparatus based on the registered access control table.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing access control table registration processing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing access control table generation and registration processing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an example of the structure of the access control table according to the embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is an example of the structure of the access authority template according to the embodiment.

Claims

1. A management method of an image processing system in which at least one image processing apparatus is connected to a control apparatus via a network, for managing, in the image processing system, access control to said image processing apparatus by said control apparatus, said method comprising: a control request step of, when said image processing apparatus is newly connected to said network, issuing an access control request to said control apparatus from said image processing apparatus; anda table registration step of, regarding said image processing apparatus which has issued the access control request, generating an access control table to control access to functions of said image processing apparatus and registering the access control table, in said control apparatus,wherein in said control apparatus, the access control is managed for each function of said image processing apparatus which has issued the access control request based on the access control table registered at said table registration step.

2. The management method of the image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said control request step comprises: an instruction input step of inputting an instruction of said access control request based on a user's operation in said image processing apparatus;a command issuance step of issuing an access control request command in accordance with the instruction inputted at said instruction input step;an attribute information acquisition step of acquiring attribute information of said image processing apparatus; anda command notification step of notifying said control apparatus of said access control request command and said attribute information.

3. The management method of the image processing system according to claim 2, wherein said attribute information indicates the functions of said image processing apparatus.

4. The management method of the image processing system according to claim 2, wherein said attribute information indicates device configuration of said image processing apparatus.

5. The management method of the image processing system according to claim 4, further comprising: a registration result notification step of notifying said image processing apparatus of a result of processing at said table registration step; andan informing step of informing contents of notification notified at said registration result notification step, in said image processing apparatus.

6. The management method of the image processing system according to claim 2, further comprising a template selection step of selecting one of plural templates describing information concerning initial values of said access control table held in said control apparatus in advance, based on said attribute information notified from said image processing apparatus at said command notification step, wherein at said table registration step, said access control table is generated based on the template selected at said template selection step and said attribute information.

7. The management method of the image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a user authentication step of authenticating a user to use said image processing apparatus, in said image processing apparatus; anda control information notification step of notifying said image processing apparatus of access control information based on said access control table from said control apparatus,wherein in said image processing apparatus, access control is performed for each function of said image processing apparatus based on an attribute of the user authenticated at said user authentication step and said access control information notified at said control information notification step.

8. The management method of the image processing system according to claim 7, wherein in said access control table, access authority is set for each user attribute.

9. The management method of the image processing system according to claim 8, wherein in said access control table, access authority is set for each attribute corresponding to said attribute information in said image processing apparatus.

10. The management method of the image processing system according to claim 6, wherein in said template, access authority for each user attribute is described for each attribute which may appear in said image processing apparatus.

11. An image processing system in which at least one image processing apparatus is connected to a control apparatus via a network, for managing access control to said image processing apparatus by said control apparatus, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises: a control request unit adapted to, when said image processing apparatus is newly connected to said network, issue an access control request to said control apparatus,and wherein said control apparatus comprises: a table registration unit adapted to, regarding said image processing apparatus which has issued the access control request, generate an access control table to control access to functions of said image processing apparatus and register the access control table; andan access management unit adapted to manage the access control for each function of said image processing apparatus which has issued the access control request based on the access control table registered by said table registration unit.

12. The image processing system according to claim 11, wherein said control request unit in said image processing apparatus comprises: an instruction input unit adapted to input an instruction of said access control request based on a user's operation;a command issuance unit adapted to issue an access control request command in accordance with the instruction inputted by said instruction input unit;an attribute information acquisition unit adapted to acquire attribute information of said image processing apparatus; anda command notification unit adapted to notify said control apparatus of said access control request command and said attribute information.

13. The image processing system according to claim 12, wherein said control apparatus further comprises: a template holding unit adapted to hold plural templates describing information concerning initial values of said access control table; anda template selection unit adapted to select one of said plural templates based on an attribute of said image processing apparatus,wherein said table registration unit generates said access control table based on the template selected by said template selection unit and said attribute.

14. The image processing system according to claim 11, wherein said access management unit in said control apparatus notifies said image processing apparatus of access control information based on said access control table, and wherein said image processing apparatus further comprises a user authentication unit adapted to authenticate a user to use said image processing apparatus,wherein access control is performed for each function of said image processing apparatus based on an attribute of the user authenticated by said user authentication unit and said access control information notified by said access control unit.

15. An image processing apparatus in which access control is managed by a control apparatus connected to said image processing apparatus via a network, comprising: a command issuance unit adapted to issue an access control request command when said image processing apparatus is newly connected to said network;an attribute information acquisition unit adapted to acquire attribute information of said image processing apparatus;a command notification unit adapted to notify said control apparatus of said access control request command and said attribute information; andan informing unit adapted to receive a response to said access control request command from said control apparatus and inform the contents of the response.

16. A control apparatus, connected to at least one image processing apparatus via a network, for managing access control to said image processing apparatus based on an access control table, comprising: a template holding unit adapted to hold plural templates describing information concerning initial values of said access control table;a template selection unit adapted to select one of said plural templates based on an attribute of a newly-connected image processing apparatus; anda table registration unit adapted to generate said access control table based on the attribute of said newly-connected image processing apparatus and the template selected by said template selection unit and register the access control table,wherein the access control is managed for each function of said image processing apparatus based on the access control table registered by said table registration unit.

17. A computer program stored in a computer-readable storage medium, said computer program, when executed on a computer, controls said computer to operate as the image processing apparatus according to claim 15.

18. A computer program stored in a computer-readable storage medium, said computer program, when executed on a computer, controls said computer to operate as the control apparatus according to claim 16.

19. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 17.

20. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 18.