JP2018148391A - Image communication apparatus and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] When most of the transmission performed using MFP is only to a destination associated with the user, from the viewpoint of operability and security, settings other than the destination associated with the user cannot be set for MFP settings. It may be. On the other hand, because of the exceptionally routine work, transmission settings for a specific destination may be registered in the MFP in order to enable transmission to the specific destination with specific settings. However, if settings other than the destination linked to the user are disabled in the MFP settings, it is not possible to register the destination to be sent for routine work, so it is necessary to return the setting each time. Is complicated. A means for determining the authority of a user who operates a device is provided. When the user who operates the device has administrator authority, settings other than the destination associated with the MFP cannot be set. However, the operation screen is controlled so that other transmission destinations can be set. [Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a dedicated facsimile apparatus and an image communication apparatus applied to a multi function peripheral (hereinafter referred to as MFP) having a plurality of transmission means. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a user authentication function and capable of transmission to a destination linked to a user, a system including these apparatuses, and a control method thereof.

  In response to user requests to send documents to various destinations, the MFP has been equipped with a plurality of transmission means such as fax, e-mail, file transmission, etc., and a scanning function that enables them to be used. In addition, not only means for inputting a destination designated by the scan function each time, but also an address book and one-touch have been provided to facilitate the use and management of many transmission destinations.

  On the other hand, there is a user who digitizes a paper document and uses it for himself, not for transmitting the MFP transmission function to an external destination. In this case, the destination selected as the transmission destination is often a specific destination associated with the user. For example, the user's own mail address or a specific folder assigned to the user on the file server.

  In order to make it easy to specify such a destination, user authentication is performed, an email address associated with the acquired user is assigned to a specific button on the scan screen, and the destination can be specified by pressing the button. The "send mail to yourself" function is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). By using this function, the user can select a destination associated with the user with a simple operation.

  Further, depending on the usage status of the user, the scan function may be almost only transmission to a destination associated with the user. In addition, from the viewpoint of security, a setting may be made in which a destination that can be transmitted by the user is limited to the user's own destination associated with the user (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In such an environment, in order to further improve the convenience of the user and prevent erroneous operations, it is possible to preset an e-mail address associated with the user when the user calls the scan screen, and disable address designation and address registration. Has been done.

  In this case, after the user opens the scan screen, the user can send only the e-mail address associated with the e-mail to himself / herself button. However, since such an environment is not common, an administrator can select whether to activate this function with a switch provided in the MFP.

JP 2012-114958 A JP 2013-187706 JP

  Even if the MFP settings are preset for the email address linked to the user when the user calls the scan screen, and other destinations cannot be specified, a specific destination is used for exceptionally standard work. May be required to transmit with specific settings. In that case, it is conceivable that the administrator registers a button storing the destination and transmission settings, and the user can press the button to set the destination and transmission settings. However, even if the administrator's e-mail address is preset on the scan screen, if the other recipients cannot be specified, the administrator will register a button that stores the destination and transmission settings for routine work. However, the destination cannot be registered.

  In this case, it is necessary to operate the switch once to cancel the setting and enable destination designation, register a button with a desired setting, and then operate the switch again to return to an operation in which destination designation is impossible. This is a complicated operation, and if the administrator forgets to return the setting, a security problem may occur.

  In addition, the destination to be transmitted for routine work is often different from the mail address associated with the administrator user. At this time, if the mail address of the administrator user is preset on the scan screen, it is necessary to delete this destination once and set a desired destination again, and the operation is complicated.

In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention,
A scan function that sends a document to a specified destination according to the user's specification, and a scan operation screen that enables it to be operated,
User authentication means for authenticating the user who uses the device (S901), means for setting whether to automatically set the address associated with the user when the scan operation screen is opened (S904), device setting When setting the address automatically linked to the user when the scan operation screen is opened, a means (S907) is further provided for setting whether to restrict transmission other than the address linked to the user.
Users who have been authenticated by the user authentication means even if the device settings are settings that automatically associate with the user when the scan operation screen is opened, and settings other than the address associated with the user are restricted. When the user has administrator authority, the scan operation screen is controlled so that the setting for restricting transmission other than the address associated with the user is not applied (S909).

  When an administrator user registers a transmission setting button including a transmission destination in an MFP that is set to limit the transmission destination, it is possible to provide operability that can be registered without performing a complicated operation.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of an image communication apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure which controls an image communication apparatus. It is a figure showing the system with which a present Example is applied. It is an example of an operation part and a home screen. It is an example of a scanning operation screen. It is an example of a scan operation screen in which an address associated with a user is set. This is an example of a frequently used setting screen. It is an example of a mail address preset setting screen. It is a flowchart showing the process which opens a scanning operation screen in a 1st Example. It is a flowchart showing the process which registers the setting used frequently. It is an example of a scan operation screen in which an address associated with a user is not set. It is a flowchart showing the process which opens a scanning operation screen in a 2nd Example.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Example 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multifunctional multifunction peripheral (MFP) to which the image communication apparatus of the present invention is applied. This multifunction device includes an image forming unit 101 that forms an image on a recording sheet by a method such as an electrophotographic method, and a control unit 102 that controls the multifunction device. Further, a finisher 103 that performs post-processing such as stapling processing, a scanner unit 104 that reads a document image, and an operation unit 105 that inputs various data and commands are provided.

  In addition, a network interface 106 that transmits and receives image data via a network, a facsimile interface 107 that transmits and receives fax data, and a card reader 110 that performs user authentication using the device are also provided. These 101, 103 to 107, 110 are connected to the control unit 102 through dedicated interfaces. In addition, the control unit 102 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 108 and a storage device (memory) 109, which are the main parts. The memory 109 stores a control program corresponding to the flowcharts of the multifunction peripherals of FIGS. Also stored are a control program for the setting dialog box shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11, contents describing operation screen information, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of software for controlling the multifunction machine of the present invention. The UI control unit 201 displays an operation screen on the operation unit 105 and controls a user interface (UI) that receives a user operation. The scan control unit 202 controls the scanner unit 104 and controls processing for reading a document image. The transmission control unit 203 controls processing for transmitting the image data read by the scan control unit 202 to a destination designated by the user using the network interface 106. Specifically, it controls e-mail transmission and transmission to a file server or the like.

  The fax control unit 204 controls transmission / reception of G3 faxes using the facsimile interface 107. The job control unit 205 manages the user transmission request received by the UI control unit 201 and its execution state and history. The image management unit 206 manages management information of images read by the scanner unit 104. A destination management unit 207 (which is a destination management unit in the figure. For consistency) manages transmission destination information of a transmission destination used in transmission processing.

  Based on the information read by the card reader 110, the authentication control unit 208 identifies a user who uses the multifunction peripheral and manages information related to the user. A setting management unit 209 manages various setting values stored in the memory 109 for controlling the operation of the device. The print control unit 210 uses the image forming unit 101 to control printing on paper of image data read by the scanner unit, a received fax document, a transmission result report, and the like. This control software is stored in the memory 109 and executed by the central processing unit 108.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a system to which this embodiment is applied. In this figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a multifunction machine to which the present invention is applied. A file server 302 is a transmission destination of the network scan, and is connected to the multifunction machine 301 via the network. The user can transmit to a desired destination by designating a transmission destination and detailed settings at the time of transmission from an operation screen of the multifunction machine to be described later.

  FIG. 4 is an example of the operation unit 105 and a home screen displayed thereon. In this figure, 401 is an application selection button 401 that calls an appropriate operation screen in accordance with a user instruction. In this example, a “copy” button 406, a “scan” button 407, a “fax” button 408, and a “box” button 409 for displaying an operation screen for a copy function, a network scan function, a fax function, and a box function are displayed. The operation unit 105 is also provided with a numeric keypad 402 and a start key 403 for instructing job start. Further, a “setting / registration” screen calling button 404 for calling a device setting screen and a “history / status” button 405 for calling a job history / status screen are also arranged.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a scan operation screen displayed on the operation unit 105 when the user presses the “scan” button 407. In this figure, a destination input button 501 capable of designating a transmission destination when the user presses it is displayed. Destination input can be performed by any method of “address book”, “one-touch”, and “new destination”. In addition, a “send mail to yourself” button 504 for setting a mail address associated with the user is also displayed.

  When the user designates a destination by any method, the area of the destination input button 501 is switched to a transmission destination list 601 that displays the designated destination list. The destination input button 501 and the transmission destination list 601 can be switched by operating the destination designation button 506. Reference numeral 502 denotes a transmission setting button for setting transmission settings such as a reading resolution and a reading color mode. Reference numeral 503 denotes an application function button for calling various detailed settings at the time of reading and transmission. Reference numeral 505 denotes a “frequently used settings” button for calling up a screen on which buttons for registering transmission destinations, reading settings, and transmission settings are displayed.

  FIG. 6- (a) shows an example of a scan operation screen in which an address associated with the user is set. A transmission destination list 601 displays destinations designated by the user. Reference numeral 602 denotes an example of an e-mail address associated with the user, which is set by the user pressing the “send e-mail to me” button 504. If presetting is performed when the scan screen is opened, the mail address associated with the user is automatically set when the scan screen is opened. Reference numeral 603 denotes a detailed information button for opening a detailed information screen of a destination selected by the user from the transmission destination list 601. Reference numeral 604 denotes a destination deletion button for deleting the destination selected by the user from the transmission destination list 601 from the transmission destination.

  FIG. 6- (b) shows an example of a scan screen when a destination other than an email address associated with a preset user cannot be set. Here, "Specify Destination" 506 for displaying the destination input button 501 that was in Fig. 6- (a), "Detailed Information" 603 for displaying the detailed information of the destination selected by the user, incorrectly set The “delete destination” 604 button for deleting the destination is not displayed.

  FIG. 7 is an example of a frequently used setting screen that is opened when the user presses a “frequently used setting” button 504. In this figure, reference numeral 701 denotes a registered frequently used setting button display area. Here, a transmission button 702 for the server 2 business first and second section folders, as well as a transmission button 702 for the server 1 storing the destination and transmission settings for transmission to the server 1, are displayed. Also displayed are a “register” button 703 for registering frequently used setting buttons and an “edit” button 704 for performing edit processing.

  Fig. 8 shows an e-mail address preset setting screen for setting whether or not to set an e-mail address associated with the user when the scan screen is opened, and whether or not to restrict sending other than the e-mail address destination. It is an example.

  Reference numeral 801 denotes a button for setting to preset a mail address associated with the user when the scan screen is opened. 802 is configured to hide the “designate destination” button 506, the related “detailed information” button 603, and the “delete destination” button 604 from the scan screen so that a destination other than the address associated with the user cannot be designated. Button. When the scan screen is opened when both 801 and 802 are set to “Yes”, the state shown in FIG. If only “801” is set to “Yes”, when the scan screen is opened, the state shown in FIG.

  The above settings are stored in the memory 109 and managed by the setting management unit 209. Hereinafter, a process for opening a scan screen when the user presses the “scan” button 407 on the home screen will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control program according to this flow is stored in the memory 109 and executed by the central processing unit 108. In the flowcharts shown below, the control program is similarly stored in the memory 109 and executed by the central processing unit 108.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process for opening the scan screen when the user presses the “scan” button 407.

User authentication in the authentication information management unit When the user holds the card for user authentication over the card reader 110 or enters a user name and password on the user authentication screen displayed on the operation unit 105, the authentication information management unit 208 User authentication is performed using the information (S901). Subsequently, the authentication information management unit 208 determines whether or not the user can use the device (S902). If the determination in S902 is No, the process ends. If Yes, the user can operate the device.

Scan control screen display control in UI control unit Subsequently, the UI control unit 201 detects that the user has pressed the scan button 407 on the home screen illustrated in FIG. 4 and receives a request to open the scan screen (S903). ). Subsequently, the UI control unit 201 refers to the settings managed by the setting management unit 209, and determines whether or not the setting for setting an e-mail address associated with the user is made when the scan screen is opened (S904). ). If the determination in S904 is Yes, the UI control unit 201 acquires an email address associated with the user authenticated in S901 from the authentication information management unit 208 (S905), and sets it as a transmission destination (S906).

  If the determination in S904 is No, the UI control unit 201 does not set the e-mail address associated with the user authenticated in S901, and the buttons “designate destination” 506, “detailed information” 603, “destination” related to destination designation are set. “Delete” 604 is displayed (S909), and the scan screen is opened (S910). Since there is no preset destination, the screen is as illustrated in FIG.

  Subsequently, the UI control unit 201 refers to the settings managed by the setting management unit 209, and determines whether or not settings for restricting transmission other than its own mail address destination are made (S907). If the determination in S907 is Yes, the UI control unit 201 acquires the user authority authenticated in S901 from the authentication information management unit 208, and determines whether it is the administrator authority (S908).

  If the determination in S907 is No, the process moves to S909, and the UI control unit 201 scans with the settings to display the buttons “designate destination” 506, “detailed information” 603, and “delete destination” 604 related to destination designation. Open the screen. Since the e-mail address associated with the user has already been set as the transmission destination in S906, the screen is illustrated in FIG. 6- (a). If the determination in S908 is Yes, the UI control unit 201 is configured to display buttons “designate destination” 506, “detailed information” 603, and “delete destination” 604 related to destination designation from the scan screen illustrated in FIG. (S909) to open the scan screen (S910). Since buttons related to the designation of the destination are displayed, the screen is as shown in FIG. 6- (a).

  If the determination in S908 is No, the UI control unit 201 performs a setting to hide the buttons “designate destination” 506, “detailed information” 603, and “delete destination” 604 related to destination designation (S911), Open the scan screen (S910). Since the button related to the designation of the destination is not displayed, the screen is illustrated in FIG. 6- (b).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing for registering frequently used setting buttons in accordance with user instructions. The user first sets the contents to be registered, and then registers the settings to be used frequently. When the user presses a destination designation button 602, the UI control unit 201 displays a destination input button 501. The user designates a desired transmission destination such as an address book, one-touch, and a new destination. The UI control unit 201 sets this as a transmission destination (S1001).

  Subsequently, the UI control unit 201 sets contents set by the user by operating the transmission setting 502 and the application function 503 as transmission settings (S1002). Subsequently, when the user presses the registration button 703 for frequently used settings and the UI control unit 201 receives a registration request for frequently used settings (S1003), the UI control unit 201 transmits the destination and the destination set by the user in S1001 and S1002. The setting is saved in the memory 109 and registered as a new frequently used setting button (S1004).

  As a result, even if it is a setting that restricts sending other than your own mail address destination, if you are an administrator, you can set the sending destination, and you can send destinations and destinations for routine work without changing the device settings Settings can be registered as frequently used settings.

[Example 2]
In the first embodiment, an example has been shown in which frequently used settings can be registered without changing the device settings, even if the setting is to restrict transmission other than the mail address destination of the user.

  On the other hand, the destination to be transmitted for routine work is often different from the mail address associated with the administrator user. Even a user with administrator authority usually operates the device with general user authority and may operate the device with administrator authority only when changing the settings of the device. At this time, if the administrator user's e-mail address is preset when the scan screen is opened, it is necessary to delete this address once and set a desired address again, and the operation is complicated. In such a case, when the scan screen is opened, if it is an administrator user, it is better not to preset a mail address associated with the user.

  Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, a process for opening the scan screen when the user presses the “scan” button 407 on the home screen will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control program according to this flow is stored in the memory 109 and executed by the central processing unit 108.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process for opening the scan screen when the user presses the “scan” button 407 in this embodiment. Note that FIG. 12 has many similar parts to FIG.

User authentication in the authentication information management unit When the user holds the card for user authentication over the card reader 110 or enters a user name and password on the user authentication screen displayed on the operation unit 105, the authentication information management unit 208 User authentication is performed using the information (S1201). Subsequently, the authentication information management unit 208 determines whether or not the user can use the device (S1202). If the determination in S1202 is No, the process ends. If Yes, the user can operate the device.

Scan control screen display control in UI control unit Subsequently, the UI control unit 201 detects that the user has pressed the scan button 407 on the home screen illustrated in FIG. 4 and receives a request to open the scan screen (S1203 ). Subsequently, the UI control unit 201 refers to the settings managed by the setting management unit 209, and determines whether or not the setting for setting the mail address associated with the user is made when the scan screen is opened (S1204). ).

  If the determination in S1204 is No, the UI control unit 201 opens a normal scan operation screen. The destination is not preset, and settings are made to display “designate destination” 506, “detailed information” 603, and “delete destination” 604 (S1208), display the scan basic screen (1209), and the process ends. The displayed screen is illustrated in FIG. If the determination in S1204 is Yes, the UI control unit 201 acquires the user authority authenticated in S1201 from the authentication information management unit 208, and determines whether it is the administrator authority (S1205).

  If the determination in S1205 is Yes, the UI control unit 201 refers to the settings managed by the setting management unit 209, and determines whether or not a setting that limits other than the mail address associated with the user as a transmission destination is made. (S1206). If the determination in S2014 is No, the user who operates the device is not an administrator. The UI control unit 201 acquires an email address associated with the user authenticated in S1201 from the authentication information management unit 208 (S1210), sets it as a transmission destination (S1211), and the process returns to S1206.

  If the determination in S1206 is Yes, the UI control unit 201 again acquires the user authority authenticated in S1201 from the authentication information management unit 208, and determines whether it is the administrator authority (S1207). If the determination in S1206 is No, the UI control unit 201 performs settings to display “designate destination” 506, “detailed information” 603, and “delete destination” 604 (S1208), and displays the scan basic screen (1209). The process ends. If the determination in S1207 is Yes, the UI control unit 201 is configured to display buttons “designate destination” 506, “detailed information” 603, and “delete destination” 604 related to destination designation from the scan screen illustrated in FIG. (S1208) and the scan screen is opened (S1209).

  Since the e-mail address is not preset and the button for specifying the destination is displayed, the displayed screen is as illustrated in FIG. Thereby, even if it is a setting which presets the mail address linked | related with a user, if it is an administrator, a destination will not be set when a scan screen is opened. For this reason, when registering as a frequently used destination and transmission settings for routine work in the device, it is possible to save the trouble of deleting one's own mail address.

S904 Step of determining whether or not to preset an email address associated with the user
S906 Step to preset the email address associated with the user
S907 A step of determining whether or not to restrict recipients other than the email address associated with the user.
S908 Step of determining user authority
S909 Step for displaying buttons related to address designation
S911 Step to hide buttons related to addressing
S1204 determining whether or not to preset an email address associated with the user
S1205: Determining user rights
S1206: Determining whether to limit recipients other than email addresses associated with the user
S1207 Step of determining user authority
S1208 Steps for displaying buttons related to address specification
S1211 Step to preset the email address associated with the user
S1212 Step for hiding buttons related to addressing

Claims (2)

It has a scan function that sends a document to a specified destination according to the user's specification, and a scan operation screen that allows it to be operated.
User authentication means (S901) for authenticating the user who uses the device,
Means (S904) for setting whether or not to automatically set a destination associated with the user when the scan operation screen is opened;
When the device setting is a setting for automatically setting a destination linked to the user when the scan operation screen is opened, the device further includes means for setting whether or not to limit transmission other than the destination linked to the user (S907). ,
Users who have been authenticated by the user authentication means even if the device settings are settings that automatically associate with the user when the scan operation screen is opened, and settings other than the address associated with the user are restricted. And an image communication apparatus, characterized by comprising means for controlling a scan operation screen (S910) so that a setting for restricting transmission other than a destination associated with a user is not applied (S909). It has a scan function that sends a document to a specified destination according to the user's specification, and a scan operation screen that allows it to be operated.
User authentication means (S1201) for authenticating a user who uses the device,
A means (S1204) for setting whether or not to automatically set a destination associated with the user when the scan operation screen is opened;
When the device setting is to automatically set the address associated with the user when the scan operation screen is opened, the device further comprises means for setting whether to restrict transmission other than the address associated with the user (S1208) ,
Users who have been authenticated by the user authentication means even if the device settings are settings that automatically associate with the user when the scan operation screen is opened, and settings other than the address associated with the user are restricted. If the administrator has administrator authority, the address associated with the user is not automatically set when the can operation screen is opened (S1205, 1210, 1211), and settings other than the address associated with the user are not applied. (S1208) An image communication apparatus characterized by having means (1209) for controlling a scan operation screen.