A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The multifunction peripheral 2 is connected with an LDAP server 14, which is an external device, via a LAN interface 10 and a LAN 12. Further, the multifunction peripheral 2 is connected with personal computers 16, 18 etc. owned by users, which are external devices, via the LAN interface 10 and the LAN 12. Note that the Internet is denoted by the reference numeral 19.
In the multifunction peripheral 2, a copy function processor 20 performs copying by using a scanner for reading a document and converting it into image data and a printer for hard-copying image data. A scanner function processor 22 reads images with a scanner and performs processing such as transmission of image data to a personal computer or the like. A printer function processor 24 assigns a network printer function to a printer so as to perform printing and the like as a network printer in response to requests from personal computers 16, 18 etc, within the LAN 12. A G3 facsimile function processor 26 performs transmission/reception of conventional G3 facsimile through the public line network (public telephone network). A network communication unit 28 performs transmission/reception of Internet facsimile, e-mails and the like.
A display panel such as an LCD is denoted by the reference numeral 30, and an operation/input unit is denoted by the reference numeral 32. A user can select processing of G3 facsimile and/or e-mail transmission, and can input setting conditions of transmission processing, by using a touch panel of the LCD display panel, a keyboard, and the like. Further, by using the touch panel of the LCD display panel and the keyboard, the user inputs user identification information such as a user ID and/or a user name to thereby acquire (search) user information from the LDAP server 14 or the like.
Further, a transmission instruction may be given from a personal computer 16 with a screen similar to the display panel 30 displayed on the personal computer 16 or the like. In such a case, the personal computer 16 can acquire user information from the LDAP server 14 and/or the multifunction peripheral 2. Note that a ROM for storing programs and the like is denoted by the reference numeral 34, and a RAM for storing various kinds of data, such as a user information management table 38, is denoted by the reference numeral 36.
A user information management unit 40 includes a user information processor 42 and a user information acquiring unit 44. The user information processor 42 is for performing processing such as registration/deletion/update of user information on the LDAP server 14 and the table 38 by using a user ID. The user information acquiring unit 44 is for acquiring user information from the LDAP server 14 and the table 38. A transmit document preparing unit 46 prepares a G3 facsimile document and/or an Internet facsimile document using the user information acquired from the LDAP server 14 and the table 38 by using the user information acquiring unit 44. In the embodiment, the user is a transmitter, and when the user prepares and transmits a transmit document, the user acquires information on himself/herself stored in the LDAP server 14 and in the multifunction peripheral 2, and uses it as source information.
Processing to add an attribute to the entry accompanies schema extension, so it is troublesome. Therefore, in the embodiment, arbitrary items other than predetermined registration items of the LDAP server 14 are registered for each user in the multifunction peripheral 2. Thereby, management items (attributes) of user information can be added without adding attributes to the LDAP server 14.
For example, a search through the LDAP server 14 and the multifunction peripheral 2 can be conducted based on the first to fourth retrieval conditions. The first retrieval condition is to find user information (entry). The second retrieval condition is which attribute of the user information is to be acquired. The third retrieval condition is whether the specified attribute is present. Further, the fourth retrieval condition is whether the specified user ID (item value) coincides.
When the user performs transmission processing in the multifunction peripheral, the user first acquires user information associated with the user ID from the LDAP server 14 (S9). Further, the user checks whether information relating to the user is registered in the multifunction peripheral 2, and when there is any corresponding information, the user acquires it as additional user information (S10, S11). Then, the user prepares a transmit document by using the acquired information, and performs transmission processing and the like (S12). Such processing can be performed repeatedly until the user logs out (S13). In the embodiment, although the user information is used as source information when transmitting a facsimile message and an e-mail, the user information may be acquired in a similar manner when performing other processing in the multifunction peripheral 2.
In the embodiment, since user information is managed in the LDAP server 14 and in the multifunction peripheral 2 connected with the network, data of the items which cannot be registered in the LDAP server 14 can be used by being registered in the multifunction peripheral 2. Therefore, it is possible to register various kinds of information such as seal impression data and/or signature information for each user and to attach it to a transmit document. Thereby, the source can be confirmed on the receiving side. Further, by registering a cover page form and the like, a unique cover page for a user can be used easily. The source information acquired is filled in the cover page form acquired simultaneously, so the user can perform transmission processing easily.
Information which cannot be registered or is difficult to be registered in the LDAP server 14 can be managed in the multifunction peripheral 2 within the LAN. Accordingly, a user can use various kinds of information relating to the user, registered dispersedly in the network, in an integrated manner. Further, the information on each user in the LDAP server 14 and the information on each user in the multifunction peripheral 2 have been registered while being associated with each user ID. Therefore, user information can be searched easily.
While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications of the present invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006-183717 | Jul 2006 | JP | national |