JP2017034523A - Image processing device and operation control method and operation control program to be executed by the same device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device capable of achieving high security by suppressing unauthorized use by an unauthorized user by forcedly decreasing the operation opportunity of the image processing device by the unauthorized user when the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation place of the image processing device is small.SOLUTION: The image processing device includes: number-of-person acquisition means 101 for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area 3 including the installation place of an own device; comparison means 101 for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number-of-person acquisition means with a preliminarily set threshold; and control means 101 for, when the number of authorized users is equal to or more than a threshold value as a result of comparison by the comparison means, executing logout when a preliminarily set nonoperation time elapses after the end of a job, and for, when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value, executing logout immediately after the end of the job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) which is a multifunction digital image processing apparatus having functions such as a printer function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and a scan function, and an operation control method executed by the apparatus. And an operation control program.

  A fraudulent user who illegally leaks information to the outside enters the customer, sorts out the document, sends it to the outside using an image processing device, or copies it, then returns the discolored document and takes away the copy. It is possible.

  As a countermeasure against such illegal leakage of information, a technique for improving security by comparing user entry information into the room where the image processing apparatus is installed and information on the user of the image processing apparatus is known. ing. (For example, Patent Document 1)

JP 2012-155372 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is not possible to carry out a companion to enter a room with a regular user or an unauthorized user who has been temporarily guided in, since there is no entry user information and security cannot be determined. There was a problem that it was difficult.

  Further, as a measure for dealing with an unauthorized user whose security cannot be determined, it is conceivable to use an authentication function of the image processing apparatus. In general, before use, authentication is performed by inputting information that can uniquely identify a user, such as a user ID and a password, and login is permitted when authentication is successful. However, there is a problem that an unauthorized user who has not received user authentication may impersonate the authorized user and operate when the authorized user forgets to log out and leaves the image processing apparatus.

  Further, it is considered that an unauthorized user who illegally leaks information operates the image processing apparatus when the number of regular users in the room is small. This is because the greater the number of people, the greater the chances of finding unauthorized use.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a technical background, and when the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the image processing apparatus is small, an operation opportunity of the image processing apparatus by an unauthorized user is provided. By forcibly reducing the above, an image processing apparatus capable of preventing unauthorized use by an unauthorized user and realizing high security is provided, and further, an operation control method and an operation control program executed by the image processing apparatus are provided. Is an issue.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) Number-of-persons acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the device, and comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition means with a preset threshold value; As a result of comparison by the comparison means, when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to the threshold, logout is performed when the preset no-operation time has elapsed after the job is completed, and the number of authorized users is less than the threshold An image processing apparatus comprising: control means for performing logout immediately after completion of a job.
(2) Number-of-persons acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the device, and comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number-of-persons acquisition means with a preset threshold value; As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, when the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than the threshold value, logout is performed when the preset first no-operation time elapses after the job ends. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to log out when a second no-operation time shorter than the first no-operation time elapses after the job ends. .
(3) Number-of-persons acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own apparatus, and comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number-of-persons acquisition means with a preset threshold value; As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, if the number of regular users is equal to or greater than the threshold, user authentication is performed before receiving the job, and if the number of regular users is less than the threshold, user authentication is performed after receiving the job. An authentication unit, and a control unit that, when the number of authorized users is less than a threshold, logs out at the time of job completion or job cancellation when user authentication by the authentication unit is successful, and discards the job when user authentication fails An image processing apparatus comprising:
(4) Number-of-persons acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the apparatus, and comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition means with a preset threshold value; If the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a threshold value as a result of comparison by the authenticating means for performing user authentication and the comparing means, the number of consecutive user authentication failures by the authenticating means is set to a preset first set value. If the number of authorized users is less than the threshold when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value, the second setting in which the number of consecutive user authentication failures by the authentication unit is smaller than the first setting value An image processing apparatus comprising: control means for placing the own apparatus in a use-prohibited state for a certain period when the value is exceeded.
(5) The image processing apparatus according to item 4 above, wherein the period of the use-prohibited state by the control unit is set longer when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold than when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to the threshold. .
(6) Number-of-persons acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device, and comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition means with a preset threshold value; When the number of regular users is equal to or greater than a threshold value as a result of comparison by the authentication unit that performs user authentication and the comparison unit, the number of consecutive failures at the time of user authentication by the authentication unit is a preset first set value If the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, the number of consecutive user authentication failures by the authentication means exceeds the second set value that is less than the first set value. An image processing apparatus comprising: control means for sometimes setting an account locked state.
(7) Number-of-persons acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device, and comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number-of-persons acquisition means with a preset threshold value; User authentication is performed by requesting password input, and if the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to a threshold value as a result of comparison by the comparison means, the first password is requested as the password, and the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value. In this case, an image processing apparatus comprising: authentication means for requesting a second password that is more complicated than the first password.
(8) The image according to any one of the preceding items 1 to 7, wherein the number-of-persons acquiring unit acquires the number of regular users in the specific area from an entrance / exit management device that manages the entrance / exit of the user to / from the specific area. Processing equipment.
(9) The image processing device according to any one of the preceding items 1 to 7, wherein the number acquisition unit acquires from a management device that manages a regular user through communication with a network device owned by a regular user in the specific area.
(10) The job is a scan job including image reading, and the authentication unit performs user authentication after reading the image when the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and obtains by reading the user authentication failure. 4. The image processing apparatus according to item 3 above, wherein the obtained image data is stored in a storage means inside or outside the apparatus.
(11) Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the device, a comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired in the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold value; As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to the threshold value, logout is performed when the preset no-operation time has elapsed after the job is completed, and the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value Comprising: a control step of performing logout after a job is completed in a time shorter than the no-operation time.
(12) Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device, and a comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold value; As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to a threshold value, logout is performed when the preset first no-operation time elapses after the job is finished, and the number of authorized users is equal to the threshold value. And a control step of performing logout when a second no-operation time shorter than the first no-operation time has elapsed after the job ends. Control method executed in
(13) Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device, and a comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired in the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold value; As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, if the number of regular users is greater than or equal to a threshold, user authentication is performed before the job is accepted, and if the number of regular users is less than the threshold, user authentication is performed after the job is accepted. An authentication step, and when the number of authorized users is less than a threshold, a control step of performing logout at the time of job completion or job cancellation at the time of successful user authentication by the authentication step and discarding the job at the time of user authentication failure; And an operation control method executed by an image processing apparatus.
(14) Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device, and a comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold value; As a result of the comparison in the authentication step for performing user authentication and the comparison step, if the number of regular users is equal to or greater than a threshold, the number of consecutive user authentication failures in the authentication step is set to a preset first set value. If the number of authorized users is less than the threshold when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value, the second setting in which the number of consecutive user authentication failures in the authentication step is smaller than the first set value. And a control step for prohibiting the device from being used for a certain period of time when the value exceeds the value. Operation control method.
(15) Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device, a comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold value, When the number of regular users is equal to or greater than a threshold value as a result of the comparison in the authentication step for performing user authentication and the comparison step, the number of consecutive failures at the time of user authentication in the authentication step is a preset first set value If the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value, the number of consecutive user authentication failures by the authentication step exceeds the second set value that is less than the first set value. And an operation control executed by the image processing apparatus, characterized by comprising: Law.
(16) Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device, and a comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold value; User authentication is performed by requesting password input, and if the result of the comparison in the comparison step is that the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to a threshold, the first password is requested as the password, and the number of authorized users is less than the threshold. And an authentication step for requesting a second password that is more complicated than the first password, and an operation control method executed by the image processing apparatus.
(17) An operation control program for causing a computer of the image processing apparatus to execute the operation control method executed by the image processing apparatus according to any one of items 11 to 16.

  According to the inventions described in (1) and (11) above, the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the device is acquired, and the acquired number of authorized users is a preset threshold value. To be compared. As a result of the comparison, when the number of regular users is equal to or greater than the threshold, logout is performed when the preset no-operation time has elapsed after the job ends, but when the number of regular users is less than the threshold, Logout is performed immediately after the job is completed, so there is almost no chance for an unauthorized user who has not received user authentication to operate as a legitimate user when the legitimate user forgets to logout and leaves the image processing device. Thus, an image processing apparatus that can reliably prevent unauthorized use by an unauthorized user and achieve high security can be obtained.

  According to the inventions described in (2) and (12) above, the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the device is acquired, and the acquired number of authorized users is a preset threshold value. To be compared. As a result of the comparison, if the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than the threshold, logout is performed when the preset first no-operation time elapses after the job ends, but the number of authorized users is less than the threshold. In this case, after the job ends, logout is performed when a second no-operation time shorter than the first no-operation time elapses. That is, when the number of regular users is less than the threshold, the user logs out with a second no-operation time shorter than the first no-operation time after the job when the number of regular users is greater than or equal to the threshold. When an authorized user forgets to log out and away from the image processing device, the unauthorized user who has not received user authentication can act as a legitimate user and reduce the chance of unauthorized use. The image processing apparatus can achieve high security.

  According to the inventions described in (3) and (13) above, when the number of regular users is equal to or greater than the threshold, user authentication is performed before the job is accepted. If the number of regular users is less than the threshold, user authentication is performed after the job is accepted, and when user authentication by the authentication means is successful, logout is performed when the job is completed or canceled, and when user authentication fails Since the job is discarded, authentication is performed every time a job is accepted, and the state of forgetting to log out disappears. As a result, it is possible to reduce the chances that an unauthorized user who has not been authenticated by a user who has forgotten to log out and who has not received user authentication can act as a legitimate user. It becomes an image processing apparatus that can realize high security by suppressing.

  According to the inventions described in (4) and (14) above, when the number of regular users is greater than or equal to the threshold, the number of consecutive user authentication failures by the authentication means exceeds the preset first set value. Sometimes the image processing apparatus is disabled for a certain period, and when the number of regular users is less than the threshold, the number of consecutive user authentication failures exceeds a second set value that is smaller than the first set value. Since the use is prohibited for a certain period of time, the opportunity for an unauthorized user to operate the image processing apparatus can be reduced, and the image processing apparatus can be realized with high security by suppressing unauthorized use by the unauthorized user.

  According to the invention described in (5) above, the period of the use prohibition state by the control means is set longer when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold than when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to the threshold. Therefore, when the number of regular users is less than the threshold value, the opportunity for an unauthorized user to operate the image processing apparatus can be further reduced.

  According to the inventions described in (6) and (15) above, when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to the threshold, the number of consecutive failures during user authentication by the authentication means exceeds the preset first set value. If the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, the number of consecutive user authentication failures exceeds the second set value that is less than the first set value. Therefore, an opportunity for an unauthorized user to operate the image processing apparatus can be reduced, and an image processing apparatus capable of realizing high security by suppressing unauthorized use by an unauthorized user.

  According to the inventions described in the preceding paragraphs (7) and (16), when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to a threshold, the authentication means requires the first password as a password, and when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, Since a second password that is more complicated than the first password is required, when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, the chance of an unauthorized user to operate the image processing apparatus can be reduced. An image processing apparatus capable of preventing unauthorized use and realizing high security.

  According to the invention described in item (8) above, the number of authorized users in the specific area can be acquired from the entrance / exit management device that manages the entrance / exit of the user to / from the specific area.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (9), it can be acquired from a management device that manages a regular user through communication with a network device owned by the regular user in the specific area.

  According to the invention described in the above item (10), when the job is a scan job including image reading, if the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a threshold, user authentication is performed after image reading. Since the image data obtained by reading is stored in an internal storage device or in an external storage means, it is possible to grasp documents and information that an unauthorized user has attempted to acquire illegally, and to take measures.

  According to the invention described in item (17), the operation control method executed by the image processing device described in any of items (11) to (15) can be executed by the computer of the image processing device.

Configuration of a management system in which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention installed in a specific area living room and an entrance / exit management apparatus for managing entry / exit to a user's room are connected via a network FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of an image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the image processing apparatus in the case of performing a different process according to the number of regular users in a living room. It is a flowchart which shows other operation | movement of the image processing apparatus in the case of performing a different process according to the number of regular users in a living room. It is a flowchart which shows other operation | movement of the image processing apparatus in the case of performing a different process according to the number of regular users in a living room. It is a figure which shows an authentication screen. It is a figure which shows the screen at the time of authentication failure. It is a figure which shows an authentication screen in case the number of the regular users in a living room is less than the preset threshold value. It is a flowchart which shows other operation | movement of the image processing apparatus in the case of performing a different process according to the number of regular users in a living room. It is a flowchart which shows other operation | movement of the image processing apparatus in the case of performing a different process according to the number of regular users in a living room. It is a flowchart which shows other operation | movement of the image processing apparatus in the case of performing a different process according to the number of regular users in a living room. It is a figure which shows an authentication screen when a normal password is requested | required. It is a figure which shows an authentication screen when a complicated password is requested | required. It is a flowchart which shows other operation | movement of the image processing apparatus in the case of performing a different process according to the number of regular users in a living room. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen when authentication fails when the job is a scan job including image reading and the number of authorized users is less than a threshold value.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows that an image processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention installed in a room 3 that is a specific area and an entrance / exit management apparatus 2 that manages entry / exit of a user into the room 3 are connected to a network 4. It is a block diagram of the management system connected via the.

  The image processing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that forms on a sheet a copied image of a scanned original image or an image generated from print data transmitted from an external device. In this embodiment, a printer function, a copy function, and a facsimile function The above-described MFP, which is a multi-function digital image processing apparatus having functions such as a scan function, is used. Hereinafter, the image processing apparatus is also referred to as an MFP.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the MFP 1. The MFP 1 includes a controller 100 that controls the entire MFP 1 in an integrated manner. The controller is a CPU 101, a ROM 102 that stores a control program, a working RAM 103, and a battery-backed memory that stores various settings related to image formation. It comprises an NV-RAM (nonvolatile memory) 104, a fixed storage device 105, a clock circuit (RTC) 106, etc., and these ROM 102, RAM103, NV-RAM (nonvolatile memory) 104, fixed storage device 105, clock The circuit (RTC) 106 and the like are connected to the CPU 101 via a bus (not shown).

  The CPU 101 controls the entire MFP 1 by operating according to a control program stored in the ROM 102 or the like. In particular, in this embodiment, in addition to normal operations such as a print operation and a scan operation, user authentication is performed, or different operations are performed according to the number of regular users in the living room 3, which will be described later.

  The fixed storage device 105 is, for example, a hard disk device (HDD), and the fixed storage device 105 stores various data such as authentication information including a password of each user for user authentication.

  The controller 100 further includes a scanner unit 110 that reads a document image, an operation panel 120, an external device such as a personal computer (PC) that is a user terminal connected via the network 4, and an entrance / exit management device 2. A network interface (network I / F) 130 for transmitting and receiving various types of information to and from the printer unit 140 that prints print data received by the network interface 130 and image data read by the scanner unit 110 on paper A FAX modem 150 for performing facsimile (FAX) communication, a USB interface (USB I / F) 160 capable of connecting a USB memory, and the like are connected to each other via a bus. The operation panel 120 includes an operation unit 121 having a numeric keypad for performing various inputs, a print key, a logout key, and the like, and a display unit 122 for displaying an operation screen, a message for the user, and the like.

  In this embodiment, the entrance / exit management device 2 is a personal computer and is provided in the living room 3, but may be installed outside the living room 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the entrance / exit management device 2 uses a card reader 51 or 52 installed inside or outside the living room 3 in the vicinity of the door 31 of the living room 3 to enter or leave the living room 3 in advance. The user's entry / exit management is performed by reading user information from an IC card or the like possessed by the user. Accordingly, the entrance / exit management device 2 always knows the number of authorized users 300 existing in the living room 3, and the MFP 1 inquires the entrance / exit management device 2 about the number of authorized users 300 in the living room 3. Or the number of authorized users in the living room 3 is acquired based on the number of authorized users in the living room 3 periodically transmitted from the entrance / exit management device 2.

  Moreover, the entrance / exit management device 2 manages locking / unlocking of the door 31 via the lock device 6 that releasably locks the door 31. Specifically, the door 31 is always locked by the lock device 6, and when the user enters or leaves the room 3, the user information is read via the card reader 51 or 52, and the user is authorized. In the case of a user, the door 31 is unlocked via the lock device 6 to allow entry or exit, and the door 31 is locked again via the lock device 6 after entry or exit.

  Next, the operation when the MFP 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 executes different processes depending on the number of authorized users in the living room 3 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the subsequent flowcharts are executed by the CPU 101 operating according to an operation program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 102.

  After starting the job in step S01, in step S02, the number of authorized users in the living room 3 is obtained from the entrance / exit management device 2, and in step S03, whether the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value. to decide.

  If it is equal to or greater than the threshold (YES in step S03), it is determined in step S04 whether the job has been completed. If it has not ended (NO in step S04), it waits until it ends. When the job is finished (YES in step S04), it is determined in step S05 whether or not there is no operation state. If it is not in the no-operation state (NO in step S05), the count value N of the timer is reset to zero in step S06, and then the process returns to step S05.

  If it is a no-operation state (YES in step S05), a timer is counted in step S07, and whether or not the count value N exceeds a preset no-operation time t1 in step S08, that is, whether the no-operation time t1 has elapsed. Find out. If the no-operation time t1 has not been exceeded (NO in step S08), the process returns to step S05. If the no-operation time t1 is exceeded (YES in step S08), logout is performed in step S09.

  If the number of regular users in the living room 3 is less than the threshold value in step S03 (NO in step S03), it is determined in step S10 whether the job has ended. If it has not ended (NO in step S10), it waits until it ends. When the job is finished (YES in step S10), logout is immediately performed in step S11.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the number of authorized users is compared with a preset threshold value, when the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than the threshold value, a preset no-operation time elapses after the job ends. If the number of regular users is less than the threshold, logout is performed immediately after the job is completed. Therefore, when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, there is almost no opportunity for an unauthorized user who has not been authenticated by the user to leave the MFP 1 in the state where the authorized user has forgotten to log out and to operate as an authorized user. In other words, the MFP 1 can reliably prevent unauthorized use by unauthorized users and achieve high security.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another operation when the MFP 1 executes different processes depending on the number of regular users in the room 3.

  Of the steps shown in FIG. 3, steps S01 to S09, which are processes when the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a preset threshold, are the same in the flowchart of FIG. The description is omitted.

  If the number of regular users in the living room 3 is less than the threshold value in step S03 (NO in step S03), it is determined in step S21 whether the job has ended. If it has not ended (NO in step S21), it waits until it ends. When the job ends (YES in step S21), it is determined in step S22 whether or not there is no operation state. If it is not in the no-operation state (NO in step S22), the count value N of the timer is reset to zero in step S23, and then the process returns to step S22.

  If it is a no-operation state (YES in step S22), a timer is counted in step S24, and whether or not the count value N has exceeded a preset no-operation time t2 in step S25, that is, whether the no-operation time t2 has elapsed. Find out. Here, the no-operation time t2 is set to a value shorter than the no-operation time t1. If the no-operation time t2 has not been exceeded (NO in step S25), the process returns to step S22. If the no-operation time t2 is exceeded (YES in step S25), logout is performed in step S26.

  In this way, when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, the user is logged out with a no-operation time shorter than the no-operation time after the job ends when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to the threshold. MFP 1 that can reduce the opportunity for an unauthorized user who has not received user authentication to act as a legitimate user when he / she has left the MFP 1 away from the MFP 1 and can prevent unauthorized use by the unauthorized user and realize high security It becomes.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing still another operation when the MFP 1 executes different processes depending on the number of regular users in the room 3. In this example, if the number of regular users is greater than or equal to the threshold, user authentication is performed before the start of the job, and if the number of regular users is less than the threshold, user authentication is performed after accepting the job. ing.

  In step S31, after the number of authorized users in the living room 3 is acquired from the entrance / exit management device 2, it is determined in step S32 whether the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a preset threshold.

  If it is equal to or greater than the threshold (YES in step S32), an authentication screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit 122 in step S33. On this authentication screen, the user is prompted to enter a user name and password as authentication information.

  When the user inputs authentication information on the authentication screen and presses the login button, in step S34, authentication is performed based on the input authentication information, and it is determined whether the authentication is successful. If the authentication is successful (YES in step S34), the operation screen is displayed on the display unit 122 in step S35, then the job is executed in step S36 based on the operation instruction on the operation screen, and the process is terminated. If the authentication fails in step S34 (NO in step S34), a screen indicating the authentication failure as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 122, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the number of regular users in the living room 3 is less than the preset threshold value in step S32 (NO in step S32), an operation screen is displayed on the display unit 122 in step S37, and then the start key in step S38. It is determined whether or not is pressed. If the start key is not pressed (NO in step S38), the process waits until it is pressed. When the start key is pressed (YES in step S38), an authentication screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 122 in step S39. In this authentication screen, these input fields are displayed together with a message prompting the user to input a user name and password for starting a job. When the user inputs authentication information and presses the login button, in step S40, authentication is performed based on the input authentication information, and it is determined whether the authentication is successful.

  If the authentication is successful (YES in step S40), after starting the job in step S41, it is determined in step S42 whether the job has been canceled. The job is canceled by operating a cancel button on the screen, a cancel key that is a hard key, or the like. If the job is not canceled (NO in step S42), it is determined in step S43 whether the job has been completed.

  If the job has not ended (NO in step S43), the process returns to step S42. When the job ends (YES in step S43), logout is performed in step S44.

  If authentication fails in step S40 (NO in step S40), the process is terminated after the job is discarded in step S45. If the job is canceled in step S42 (YES in step S42), the job is discarded in step S46, and then logout is performed in step S44.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the number of regular users is equal to or greater than the threshold, user authentication is performed before the job is accepted. However, when the number of regular users is less than the threshold, user authentication is performed after the job is accepted. When user authentication is successful, logout is performed when the job is completed or canceled, and when user authentication fails, the job is discarded. For this reason, authentication is performed each time a job is accepted, and the state of forgetting to log out disappears. Therefore, an unauthorized user who has not received user authentication when the authorized user forgets to logout and leaves the image processing apparatus. The MFP 1 can reduce the chances of being impersonated as a user and can realize high security by preventing unauthorized use by an unauthorized user.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing still another operation when the MFP 1 executes different processes depending on the number of regular users in the room 3. In this example, a difference is set in the set value of the number of authentication failures for which the use of the MFP 1 is prohibited depending on whether or not the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

  After acquiring the number of authorized users in the room 3 from the entrance / exit management device 2 in step S51, it is determined in step S52 whether the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a preset threshold.

  If it is equal to or greater than the threshold (YES in step S52), user authentication is performed in step S53. In step S54, it is determined whether authentication is successful. If authentication is successful (YES in step S54), the process ends. In this case, the job is received and executed. If the authentication has failed (NO in step S54), 1 is added to the count value N of the number of failures in step S55, and then, in step S56, the count value N of the number of failures is set to a preset number of failures. It is checked whether or not the set value n1 has been exceeded. If the first set value n1 of the number of failures has not been exceeded (NO in step S56), the process returns to step S55. If the number of failures exceeds the first set value n1 (YES in step S56), in step S57, the operation is prohibited for a predetermined period T1.

  If the number of regular users in the living room 3 is less than the threshold value in step S52 (NO in step S52), user authentication is performed in step S58. In step S59, it is determined whether authentication is successful. If authentication is successful (YES in step S59), the process ends. In this case, the job is received and executed. If the authentication has failed (NO in step S59), 1 is added to the count value N of the number of failures in step S60, and then, in step S61, the count value N of the number of failures is set to a preset number of failures. It is checked whether the set value n2 has been exceeded. Here, the second set value n2 of the number of failures is set to a value smaller than the first set value n1 of the number of failures.

  If the number of failures does not exceed the second set value n2 (NO in step S61), the process returns to step S59. If the number of failures exceeds the second set value n2 (YES in step S61), the operation is prohibited for a predetermined period T2 in step S62.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the number of regular users is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the MFP 1 is used for a certain period when the number of consecutive user authentication failures exceeds the preset second set value n1 of the number of failures. When the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value, the number of consecutive user authentication failures exceeds the second set value n2 for the number of failures smaller than the first set value n1 for the number of failures. Since the use is prohibited for a certain period, the opportunity for an unauthorized user to operate the MFP 1 can be reduced, and the MFP 1 can realize high security by suppressing unauthorized use by an unauthorized user.

  In the process of FIG. 9, when the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than the threshold, the operation is prohibited when the number of consecutive authentication failures exceeds the first set value n1 of the number of failures (step in FIG. 9). S57) and a certain period T2 (step S62 in FIG. 9) in which the operation is prohibited when the number of consecutive authentication failures exceeds the second set value n2 of the number of failures when the authorized user is less than the threshold value. It may be the same or T2> T1. Setting T2> T1 is desirable in that it can further reduce the opportunity for an unauthorized user to operate the MFP 1 when the number of regular users is less than the threshold.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing still another operation when the MFP 1 executes different processes depending on the number of regular users in the room 3. In this example, a difference is set in the setting value of the number of authentication failures at which the MFP 1 is account-locked depending on whether or not the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

  After acquiring the number of authorized users in the room 3 from the entrance / exit management device 2 in step S71, it is determined in step S72 whether the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a preset threshold.

  If it is equal to or greater than the threshold (YES in step S72), user authentication is performed in step S73. In step S74, it is determined whether authentication is successful. If authentication is successful (YES in step S74), the process ends. In this case, the job is received and executed. If the authentication has failed (NO in step S74), 1 is added to the count value N of the number of failures in step S75, and then, in step S76, the count value N of the number of failures is set to a preset number of failures. It is checked whether or not the set value n1 has been exceeded. If the first set value n1 of the number of failures is not exceeded (NO in step S76), the process returns to step S75. If the number of failures exceeds the first set value n1 (YES in step S76), the account is locked in step S77. Therefore, the user cannot use the MFP 1 unless the account lock is released by the administrator or the like.

  If the number of regular users in the living room 3 is less than the threshold value in step S72 (NO in step S72), user authentication is performed in step S78. In step S79, it is determined whether authentication is successful. If authentication is successful (YES in step S79), the process ends. In this case, the job is received and executed. If the authentication is unsuccessful (NO in step S79), 1 is added to the count value N of the number of failures in step S80. It is checked whether the set value n2 has been exceeded. Here, the second set value n2 of the number of failures is set to a value smaller than the first set value n1 of the number of failures.

  If the number of failures does not exceed the second set value n2 (NO in step S81), the process returns to step S79. If the number of failures exceeds the second set value n2 (YES in step S81), the account is locked in step S82. Also in this case, the user cannot use the MFP 1 unless the account lock is released by the administrator or the like.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the number of regular users is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the MFP 1 is account-locked when the number of consecutive user authentication failures exceeds the preset second set value n1. When the number of regular users is less than the threshold value, the account is locked when the number of consecutive user authentication failures exceeds the second setting value n2 of the number of failures smaller than the first setting value n1 of the number of failures. Therefore, the opportunity for the unauthorized user to operate the MFP 1 can be reduced, and the MFP 1 can realize high security by suppressing unauthorized use by the unauthorized user.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing still another operation when the MFP 1 executes different processing depending on the number of regular users in the room 3. In this example, a difference is provided in passwords required at the time of authentication depending on whether the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

  After obtaining the number of authorized users in the room 3 from the entrance / exit management device 2 in step S91, it is determined in step S92 whether the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than a preset threshold.

  If it is equal to or greater than the threshold (YES in step S92), a normal password is requested and user authentication is performed in step S93. On the other hand, if the number of regular users in the living room 3 is less than the threshold value (NO in step S92), a password that is more complex than a normal password is requested in step S94 to perform user authentication.

  FIG. 12 shows an authentication screen displayed on the display unit 122 when user authentication is performed by requesting a normal password. In this authentication screen, the user is prompted to enter a user name and password as authentication information, and a message “Security is low” is displayed. From this message, the user recognizes that the password used for normal authentication may be input as the password.

  FIG. 13 shows an authentication screen displayed on the display unit 122 when user authentication is performed by requesting a complicated password. On this authentication screen, the user is prompted to enter a user name and password as authentication information, and a message “High security authentication” is displayed. This message recognizes that the user must enter a complex password as the password.

  In any authentication screen, when the user inputs authentication information and presses the login button, authentication is performed based on the input authentication information.

  Each authorized user registers and stores a complex password in addition to the normal password in the MFP 1, and the MFP 1 performs authentication using any password according to the number of authorized users in the room 3. As a complicated password, for example, a password having a larger number of characters than a normal password can be used.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the number of authorized users in the living room 3 is equal to or greater than the threshold, a normal password is requested as a password, and when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, a more complicated password is required. Therefore, when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, the opportunity for unauthorized users to operate the MFP 1 can be reduced, and the MFP 1 can realize high security by suppressing unauthorized use by unauthorized users.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing still another operation when the MFP 1 executes different processes depending on the number of authorized users in the room 3. In this example, a job to be executed by a user is a scan job in which an original image is read by the scanner unit 110, and the obtained image data is printed, stored, or transmitted to a predetermined destination. Depending on whether or not this is the case, a difference is provided in the handling of scanned image data.

  After obtaining the number of authorized users in the living room 3 from the entrance / exit management device 2 in step S101, it is determined in step S102 whether the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to a preset threshold value.

  If it is equal to or greater than the threshold value (YES in step S102), an authentication screen is displayed on the display unit 122 in step S103, and the user is prompted to input authentication information. If the authentication has failed (NO in step S104), the process ends. If the authentication is successful (YES in step S104), the operation screen of the scan job is displayed on the display unit 122 in step S105, the job is executed in step S106 based on the operation instruction on the operation screen, and the obtained image data Is printed.

  On the other hand, if the number of regular users in the room 3 is less than the preset threshold value in step S102 (NO in step S102), a scan job operation screen is displayed on the display unit 122 in step S107, and then step S108. It is determined whether or not the start key has been pressed. If the start key is not pressed (NO in step S108), the process waits until it is pressed. If the start key is pressed (YES in step S108), it is determined in step S109 whether the scan has been completed. If not completed (NO in step S109), the process waits for completion. When the processing is completed (YES in step S109), an authentication screen is displayed on the display unit 122 in step S110. After the authentication information is input by the user, authentication is performed in step S111 to determine whether the authentication is successful.

  If authentication is successful (YES in step S111), it is checked in step S112 whether the job has been canceled. If it has not been canceled (NO in step S112), after the obtained image data is printed in step S113, logout is performed in step S114.

  If the job is canceled (YES in step S112), the job is discarded in step S115, and then logout is performed in step S116.

  If authentication is not successful in step S111 (NO in step S111), the job is discarded in step S117, and image data obtained by scanning is stored in the fixed storage device 105 in the MFP 1 or an external storage device in step S118. After saving, in step S119, a message indicating that the authentication has failed and that the image data has been saved is displayed on the display unit 122 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the job is a scan job including image reading, if the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than the threshold value, user authentication is performed after image reading, and if user authentication fails, the user authentication is obtained by reading. Since the obtained image data is stored in the internal storage device 105 of the MFP 1 or an external storage device, it is possible to grasp documents and information that an unauthorized user has attempted to obtain illegally and to take measures.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, the user information is read from a card possessed by a regular user who enters and leaves the living room 3, and the number of authorized users in the living room 3 is managed by the entrance / exit management apparatus 2. The number of regular users within 3 was acquired. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the MFP 1 acquires the number of authorized users in the room 3 from a management device that manages authorized users by communicating with network devices owned by authorized users. Also good. Examples of the network device include a mobile terminal device possessed by a user and an RFID (radio frequency identifier) as an employee ID. The management device communicates with these network devices when the information on the number of people is necessary or periodically, and if it is in a communicable state, the management device determines that the user exists in the room 3, so that the authorized user in the room 3 Know the number of people. In this case, the MFP 1 may also be used as the entrance / exit management device 2 or a management device that communicates with the network device.

  In the above embodiment, the specific area is the living room 3 in which the MFP 1 is installed. However, the specific area is not limited to the living room 3, and includes the installation location of the MFP 1 in the living room 3. It may be a partial area as long as the number of authorized users can be ascertained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 100 Control part 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
110 Scanner unit 130 Network interface 2 Entrance / exit management device 3 Office 4 Network

Claims (17)

Number acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device,
A comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number acquisition means with a preset threshold;
As a result of comparison by the comparison means, when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to the threshold, logout is performed when the preset no-operation time has elapsed after the job is completed, and the number of authorized users is less than the threshold Control means for performing logout immediately after completion of the job,
An image processing apparatus comprising: Number acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device,
A comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number acquisition means with a preset threshold;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, when the number of authorized users is equal to or greater than the threshold value, logout is performed when the preset first no-operation time elapses after the job ends. If less than the control means for executing logout when a second no-operation time shorter than the first no-operation time has elapsed after the end of the job;
An image processing apparatus comprising: Number acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device,
A comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number acquisition means with a preset threshold;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, if the number of regular users is equal to or greater than the threshold, user authentication is performed before receiving the job, and if the number of regular users is less than the threshold, user authentication is performed after receiving the job. Authentication means;
When the number of regular users is less than a threshold, when the user authentication by the authentication unit is successful, logout is performed when the job is completed or when the job is canceled, and when the user authentication fails, the control unit discards the job;
An image processing apparatus comprising: Number acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device,
A comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number acquisition means with a preset threshold;
An authentication means for performing user authentication;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, if the number of regular users is greater than or equal to a threshold value, when the number of consecutive user authentication failures by the authentication means exceeds a preset first set value, When the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value, when the number of consecutive user authentication failures by the authentication unit exceeds a second set value that is smaller than the first set value, Control means for prohibiting use for a certain period of time;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the period of the use prohibition state by the control unit is set longer when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold than when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to the threshold. Number acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device,
A comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number acquisition means with a preset threshold;
An authentication means for performing user authentication;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, if the number of regular users is greater than or equal to a threshold value, the account lock state is set when the number of consecutive failures during user authentication by the authentication means exceeds a preset first set value. When the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, the control means for setting the account lock state when the number of consecutive failures of user authentication by the authentication means exceeds a second set value that is less than the first set value. When,
An image processing apparatus comprising: Number acquisition means for acquiring the number of authorized users in a specific area including the installation location of the own device,
A comparison means for comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number acquisition means with a preset threshold;
User authentication is performed by requesting password input, and if the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to a threshold value as a result of comparison by the comparison means, the first password is requested as the password, and the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value. In this case, authentication means for requesting a second password more complicated than the first password;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number acquisition unit acquires the number of authorized users in the specific area from an entry / exit management device that manages entry / exit of the user into the specific area. .   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number-of-persons acquisition unit acquires the information from a management apparatus that manages authorized users through communication with network devices owned by authorized users in the specific area.   The job is a scan job including image reading, and the authentication unit performs user authentication after reading the image when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to a threshold, and an image obtained by the reading when the user authentication fails The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data is stored in a storage unit inside or outside the apparatus. Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of regular users in a specific area including the installation location of the device,
A comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold;
As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to the threshold value, logout is performed when the preset no-operation time has elapsed after the job is completed, and the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value Is a control step of performing logout in a time shorter than the no-operation time after completion of the job;
An operation control method executed by an image processing apparatus. Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of regular users in a specific area including the installation location of the device,
A comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold;
As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, when the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to a threshold value, logout is performed when the preset first no-operation time elapses after the job is finished, and the number of authorized users is equal to the threshold value. If less than, a control step of performing logout when a second no-operation time shorter than the first no-operation time has elapsed after the end of the job;
An operation control method executed by an image processing apparatus. Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of regular users in a specific area including the installation location of the device,
A comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold;
As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, if the number of regular users is greater than or equal to a threshold, user authentication is performed before the job is accepted, and if the number of regular users is less than the threshold, user authentication is performed after the job is accepted. An authentication step;
When the number of regular users is less than a threshold, when the user authentication by the authentication step is successful, logout is performed when the job is completed or when the job is canceled, and when the user authentication fails, a control step for discarding the job;
An operation control method executed by an image processing apparatus. Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of regular users in a specific area including the installation location of the device,
A comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold;
An authentication step for performing user authentication;
As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, if the number of regular users is greater than or equal to a threshold value, when the number of consecutive user authentication failures in the authentication step exceeds a preset first set value, When the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value when the number of authorized users is less than the threshold value, when the number of consecutive user authentication failures by the authentication step exceeds a second set value that is smaller than the first set value, A control step for prohibiting use for a certain period of time;
An operation control method executed by an image processing apparatus. Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of regular users in a specific area including the installation location of the device,
A comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold;
An authentication step for performing user authentication;
As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, if the number of regular users is greater than or equal to a threshold value, the account lock state is set when the number of continuous failures during user authentication in the authentication step exceeds a preset first setting value. When the number of authorized users is less than the threshold, the control step of setting the account locked state when the number of consecutive user authentication failures in the authentication step exceeds a second set value that is less than the first set value. When,
An operation control method executed by an image processing apparatus. Number of people acquisition step of acquiring the number of regular users in a specific area including the installation location of the device,
A comparison step of comparing the number of authorized users acquired by the number of people acquisition step with a preset threshold;
User authentication is performed by requesting password input, and if the result of the comparison in the comparison step is that the number of authorized users is greater than or equal to a threshold, the first password is requested as the password, and the number of authorized users is less than the threshold. In this case, an authentication step for requesting a second password more complicated than the first password;
An operation control method executed by an image processing apparatus.   An operation control program for causing a computer of the image processing apparatus to execute the operation control method executed by the image processing apparatus according to claim 11.

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