JP2016110512A - Information processing device, information processing device control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch between a login process to an information processing apparatus and a login process to an external apparatus via wireless communication when an authentication request is received via wireless communication, without a user's trouble. Provided is an information processing apparatus that enables processing. An information processing apparatus determines whether or not a login to the information processing apparatus has been performed. If the login to the information processing apparatus has not been performed, the information processing apparatus logs in to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus If the user is logged in, the authentication result is transmitted to the external device. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method for the information processing apparatus, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a technique for transmitting and receiving data between an information processing device such as a multifunction peripheral and a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone by using short-range wireless communication such as NFC is known. Examples of the data to be transmitted / received include connection data for establishing a connection, authentication data for performing authentication, and setting data for performing scanning and print settings of the multifunction machine. For example, there is a technique for logging in to an information processing apparatus by transmitting / receiving authentication information as data and using an authentication function of the information processing apparatus. This technology makes it possible to use the mobile terminal device as an authentication device such as an ID card, which is highly convenient.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing apparatus that performs login to a portable information terminal by wirelessly connecting the multifunction peripheral and the portable terminal apparatus by NFC and transmitting and receiving authentication information.

JP 2009-135865 A

  There are several possible use cases for bringing a mobile terminal device closer to an information processing device for communication using NFC, such as when logging into the information processing device or when logging into the mobile terminal device. . However, the conventional information processing apparatus automatically determines whether to log in to the information processing apparatus or to log in to the portable terminal apparatus when NFC communication with the portable terminal apparatus is established. I couldn't.

  When receiving an authentication request from an external device by wireless communication, the present invention enables switching processing between a login process to an information processing apparatus and a login process to an external apparatus without taking the effort of the user. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus, a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external device, and a first receiving unit that receives an authentication request from the external device via the wireless communication. Determination means for determining a user's login state with respect to the information processing apparatus, authentication means for determining whether or not authentication is permitted for the authentication request received by the first reception means, and the information by the determination means When it is determined that the processing apparatus is logged in, a login unit that performs a login process to the information processing apparatus according to an authentication result by the authentication unit, and the determination unit logs in the information processing apparatus. Transmitting means for transmitting an authentication result by the authentication means to the external device via the wireless communication when it is determined that the state is not performed; Characterized in that it

  According to the present invention, when an authentication request is received from an external device by wireless communication, the login processing to the information processing device or the login processing to the external device is switched and processed without taking the effort of the user. User convenience is improved.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration example containing the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a series of processes of authentication. It is a figure which shows the login screen before the login displayed on an operation part. It is a figure which shows the login error screen displayed on an operation part. It is a figure which shows the basic screen after login displayed on an operation part. It is a figure which shows the setting reflection completed screen displayed on an operation part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example including an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) is described as an example of the information processing apparatus.

  The mobile terminal 102 indicates a terminal device having a wireless communication function represented by a mobile device or a mobile phone.

  The wireless communication 103 indicates a communication technology for performing wireless communication such as an IC card authentication server, a near field communication technology represented by NFC (Near Field Communication), and a wireless network represented by a wireless LAN.

  The MFP 101 can receive and transmit data to and from the portable terminal 102 that is an external device using the wireless communication 103.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The MFP 101 includes a CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 203, HDD 204, scanner 210, printer 211, operation unit 212, and wireless communication unit 213.

  The CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 203, and HDD 204 are connected to the system bus 220. A scanner 210, a printer 211, an operation unit 212, and a wireless communication unit 213 are also connected to the system bus 220. Each processing unit is configured to be able to exchange data with each other via the system bus 220. CPU 201, RAM 203, and ROM 202 are abbreviations for Central Processing Unit, Random Access Memory, and Read Only Memory, respectively.

  The ROM 202 is a nonvolatile memory, and stores image data and other data, various programs for operating the CPU 201, and the like in predetermined areas. A RAM 203 is a volatile memory, and is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 201.

  The CPU 201 controls each unit of the MFP 101 using the RAM 203 as a work memory according to a program stored in the ROM 202, for example. Note that a program for operating the CPU 201 is not limited to the ROM 202, and may be stored in the HDD 204 in advance. The HDD 204 stores digital images, electronic documents, and various programs.

  The scanner 210 reads an image on a document and generates image data. The printer 211 executes an image printing process based on a user instruction received via the operation unit 212 or a command input from an external device via the wireless communication unit 213.

  The operation unit 212 receives a user operation, generates a control signal corresponding to the operation, and supplies the control signal to the CPU 201. For example, the operation unit 212 includes a keyboard that functions as an input device, a mouse, and a touch panel. The touch panel is an input device that outputs coordinate information according to a position touched with respect to, for example, a planar input unit. The touch panel is configured integrally with the display and functions as a display. The CPU 201 controls each unit of the MFP 101 according to a program based on a control signal generated and supplied in response to a user operation performed on the operation unit 212. Thereby, the MFP 101 can perform an operation in accordance with the user operation.

  The wireless communication unit 213 performs non-contact communication with an external device based on a wireless communication standard including a non-contact IC represented by NFC (Near Field Communication) based on the control of the CPU 201. For example, it has the function of a reader / writer or a tag with a built-in communication control program that reads information from the wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal 102 that is an external device in a contactless manner. The wireless communication unit 213 establishes a connection with the wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal 102 and receives at least one of the authentication ID and setting data transmitted from the mobile terminal 102. The authentication ID is used for determining whether to permit the use of the MFP 101 or the portable terminal 102. The authentication ID is, for example, a set of unique information assigned to the mobile terminal 102, information for identifying the user who owns the mobile terminal 102, and information for identifying the user and a password.

  The setting data indicates data defined as setting values related to image processing such as scanning and printers in the MFP 101. The setting data instructs control of the MFP 101 such as setting information related to reading such as the image reading density and the size of the original to be read, and setting information related to printing such as duplex / single-sided printing and printing. The setting data to be received is, for example, data generated in advance by the portable terminal 102 or setting data generated by the MFP 101 transmitted to the portable terminal 102 and held.

  The MFP 101 can authorize login to the MFP 101 and login to the mobile terminal 102 connected using the wireless communication 103 by performing authentication processing. The CPU 201 has an authentication function. In response to the authentication request, the CPU 201 determines whether or not to permit authentication, and responds with the result. The sender of the authentication request determines whether or not to perform login processing according to the authentication result.

  When logging in to the MFP 101, an authentication request is transmitted from the login module of the MFP 101 to the authentication function of the CPU 201 of the MFP 101. The authentication function that has received the authentication request performs an authentication process and transmits the result to the login module of the MFP 101. Based on the authentication result, the login module of the MFP 101 performs login processing to the MFP 101 when authentication is permitted. If authentication is rejected, login processing to the MFP 101 is not performed.

  When logging in to the mobile terminal 102, an authentication request is transmitted from the login module of the mobile terminal 102 to the authentication function of the CPU 201 of the MFP 101. The authentication function that has received the authentication request performs an authentication process and transmits the result to the login module of the mobile terminal 102. The login module of the mobile terminal 102 performs login processing to the mobile terminal 102 when authentication is permitted based on the authentication result. If authentication is rejected, login processing to the mobile terminal 102 is not performed.

  Next, a series of processes for logging in by the authentication function of the MFP 101 will be described in detail using the flowchart of FIG. 3 and each screen displayed on the operation unit of FIGS. 4 to 7.

  Each step in FIG. 3 is processed by the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 executing a program. The program to be executed is stored in a memory such as the ROM 202 or the HDD 204, and is expanded in the RAM 203 and executed.

  In step S <b> 301, the CPU 201 receives an authentication request via the wireless communication unit 213. The authentication request includes authentication ID information. The request source of the authentication request is, for example, an electronic device having an NFC function represented by a mobile phone or an authentication client terminal represented by an IC card. The authentication request is made from the mobile terminal 102 connected via the wireless communication unit 213. Further, an authentication request may be made from the processing module of the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 via the wireless communication unit 213.

  In step S <b> 302, the CPU 201 determines whether there is a user who has already logged in to the MFP 101 and is using the operation unit 212. The CPU 201 has a function of determining whether a user is logged in to the MFP 101. When the user is not logged in to the MFP 101, the operation unit 212 of the MFP 101 displays a login screen 401 (FIG. 4). When the login screen 401 is displayed, it is not possible to accept scan or print setting instructions via the operation unit 212 of the MFP 101. When the user gives a scan or print setting instruction via the operation unit of the MFP 101, the user needs to be logged in to the MFP 101. When the user is logged in to the MFP 101, the operation unit 212 of the MFP 101 changes from the login screen 401 to the basic screen 601 (FIG. 6). The basic screen 601 and another screen that changes from the basic screen 601 can accept scan and print setting instructions via the operation unit 212 of the MFP 101. When the user is logged in to the MFP 101, it is determined that the user has issued a scan or print setting instruction via the operation unit of the MFP 101. When the user is not logged in, it is determined that the user is not using the MFP 101. be able to.

  If the CPU 201 determines that the user is logged in to the MFP 101, the process proceeds to S303. If the CPU 201 determines that the user is not logged in to the MFP 101, the process proceeds to S307.

  In step S303, the CPU 201 performs an authentication process using the authentication ID information included in the authentication request. The CPU 201 determines based on the authentication ID information whether the ID is permitted to use the authentication request source device.

  The authentication ID information is transmitted from the portable terminal 102 which is an external device via the wireless communication unit 213, and is received by the MFP 101. The CPU 201 performs an authentication process based on the authentication ID information based on an authentication table stored on the memory.

  The authentication process may be performed using another means other than the authentication table. For example, authentication permission may be determined according to the authority of the user who is trying to authenticate. The user authority is read from the information for identifying the user included in the received authentication ID information, and collated with the user authority table stored in the memory. When the authority is higher than the authority defined in advance, it may be determined that the authentication is permitted. Further, when performing the authentication process, the authentication permission may be determined on the condition that the scanner 210 or the printer 211 of the MFP 101 is operating. For example, if the CPU 201 determines that the printer 211 is operating, the CPU 201 may determine to reject authentication. Further, the authentication processing means is not limited to any one and may be realized by combining a plurality of means.

  If the CPU 201 determines that authentication is permitted, the process proceeds to S304. If it is determined that authentication is not permitted, the process proceeds to S306.

  In step S <b> 304, the CPU 201 determines whether the identification information of the user who has already logged into the MFP 101 is the same as the identification information of the user determined from the authentication ID received in the current authentication request. When the user identification information is the same, it is possible to determine that the user who is logged in to the MFP 101 and the user who is authenticating and logging in via the wireless communication unit 213 are the same user. If the CPU 201 determines that the user identification information is not the same, the process proceeds to S305. If the CPU 201 determines that the user identification information is the same, the process proceeds to S306.

  In S305, the result of determining that the authentication is permitted is transmitted to the mobile terminal 102, which is an external device, via the wireless communication unit 213, and the process is terminated.

  In S306, the result of determining that the authentication is not permitted is transmitted to the mobile terminal 102, which is an external device, via the wireless communication unit 213, and the process is terminated.

  When the mobile terminal 102 receives the authentication result and the authentication is permitted, the CPU of the mobile terminal 102 performs a process of permitting the login requested on the screen displayed on the mobile terminal 102. If the authentication is not permitted, the CPU of the mobile terminal 102 can perform a process that does not permit the login requested on the screen displayed on the mobile terminal 102.

  In step S307, the CPU 201 performs an authentication process using the authentication ID information included in the authentication request. The CPU 201 determines whether the ID is permitted to use the MFP 101 based on the authentication ID information. If the CPU 201 determines that the received authentication ID permits authentication, the process proceeds to S310. If it is determined that authentication is not permitted, the process proceeds to S308.

  In step S308, the CPU 201 displays a login error screen 501 (FIG. 5) on the operation unit 212 of the MFP 101, and the process proceeds to step S309.

  In step S309, the CPU 201 transmits the authentication result to the mobile terminal 102 that is the authentication request source, and ends the process.

  In step S <b> 310, the CPU 201 performs login processing to the MFP 101. As a result of the login process, the CPU 201 changes the screen of the operation unit 212 of the MFP 101 from the login screen 401 to the basic screen 601, and the process proceeds to S <b> 311.

  In step S311, the CPU 201 transmits an authentication result to the portable terminal 102 that is the authentication request source, and the process proceeds to step S312.

  In step S <b> 312, the CPU 201 determines whether there is a setting data transmission request from the mobile terminal 102. If the CPU 201 determines that there is a setting data transmission request, the process advances to step S313. When the CPU 201 determines that there is no setting data transmission request, the CPU 201 ends the process.

  In S313, the CPU 201 receives the setting data, and the process proceeds to S314.

  In step S <b> 314, the CPU 201 reflects the setting data on the MFP 101. Reflecting the setting on the MFP 101 is, for example, recording a setting for instructing printing with two copies in the RAM 203 as a print setting. When the CPU 201 receives a print instruction, the printer 211 performs print processing using the setting value recorded in the RAM 203. The CPU 201 records the received setting data in the RAM 203. In addition, the CPU 201 reflects the recorded setting value on the screen display of the operation unit 212 of the MFP 101. For example, if the received setting data is a setting for instructing printing with two copies and instructing printing with a darker print density, the screen of the operation unit 212 transitions to a setting reflected screen 701 (FIG. 7). . The setting reflected screen 701 is a screen in which print settings are reflected and a print start instruction can be given. The screen before the transition to the setting-changed screen is not limited, and any screen may be used.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the CPU 201 can switch between the process of logging in to the MFP 101 and the process of logging in to the mobile terminal 102 depending on the login state of the MFP 101. Become. Further, in a series of processes, it is possible to switch whether the setting data set by the portable terminal 102 is reflected on the MFP 101. Accordingly, a user who wants to log in to the MFP 101 can log in to the MFP 101 by holding the portable terminal 102 over the wireless communication unit 213 of the MFP 101 when no other user is logged in to the MFP 101. A user who wants to log in to the portable terminal 102 logs in to the portable terminal 102 by holding the portable terminal 102 over the wireless communication unit 213 of the MFP 101 while another user is logged in to the MFP 101. Can do. As described above, when logging in to the MFP 101 and logging in to the mobile terminal 102, the respective processes can be switched by the same operation, and the user can execute a desired operation without taking time and effort. This is because when there is a user who logs in to the MFP 101 and uses the operation unit 212, other users cannot use the operation unit 212. If the MFP 101 receives an authentication request in this state, it can be assumed that the user wants to log in to the mobile terminal 102. If there is no user who logs in to the MFP 101 and uses the operation unit 212, it can be assumed that the use case is that the portable terminal 102 is used as an alternative to the ID card and the user wants to log in to the MFP 101 via the wireless communication unit 213. . Further, setting data can be communicated and transmitted from the portable terminal 102 to the MFP 101 by the same operation of performing communication by holding the portable terminal 102 over the wireless communication unit 213 of the MFP 101. This satisfies the use case of logging in to the mobile terminal 102 once, creating setting data, and passing the created setting data to the MFP 101.

  Furthermore, the process of S304 can improve the convenience of the user by preventing a process that is not assumed by the user to log in to the MFP 101 and the portable terminal 102 at the same time as the same user. Become.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the MFP 101 having a plurality of functions such as a scanner function and a print function has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to an image processing apparatus having only some of these functions. Further, the present invention may be applied to other information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer, a PDA, a mobile phone, a FAX, a camera, a video camera, and other image viewers.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the computer program and the storage medium storing the computer program constitute the present invention.

101 MFP
102 mobile terminal 201 CPU
210 Scanner 211 Printer

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus,
Wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with an external device;
First receiving means for receiving an authentication request from the external device via the wireless communication;
Determining means for determining a user's login status with respect to the information processing apparatus;
Authentication means for determining whether or not authentication is permitted for the authentication request received by the first receiving means;
A log-in means for performing a log-in process to the information processing apparatus according to an authentication result by the authentication means when the determination means determines that the information processing apparatus is logged in;
A transmission unit that transmits an authentication result by the authentication unit to the external device via the wireless communication when it is determined by the determination unit that the information processing apparatus is not logged in;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   If it is determined by the determination means that the information processing apparatus is logged in, the user identification information included in the authentication request received by the first reception means is the identification of the logged-in user. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a user determination unit that determines whether or not the information is the same.   When the user determination unit determines that the user identification information included in the authentication request received by the first reception unit is the same as the identification information of the logged-in user, the authentication unit performs authentication. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is rejected. Second receiving means for receiving setting data for controlling the information processing apparatus;
A reflecting means for reflecting the setting data to the information processing apparatus when the setting data is received by the second receiving means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The information processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting data is setting data for image processing by the image processing apparatus. Having reading means for reading an image on a document;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the setting data includes setting information for reading an image by the reading unit. Having printing means for printing an image;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the setting data includes setting information for printing an image by the printing unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is NFC (Near Field Communication). A method of controlling an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external device,
A receiving step of receiving an authentication request from the external device via the wireless communication;
A determination step of determining a login state of the user with respect to the information processing apparatus;
An authentication step of determining whether or not to permit authentication for the authentication request received in the reception step;
When it is determined that the information processing device is logged in in the determination step, a login step for performing a login process to the information processing device according to an authentication result in the authentication step;
A transmission step of transmitting an authentication result in the authentication step to the external device via the wireless communication when it is determined that the information processing device is not logged in in the determination step;
A control method characterized by comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 9.

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