KR20060068063A - All-in-One and How to Restrict Its Use - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multifunction device and a method of limiting its use, and registers an ID and a password for each user and grants the right to use various functions of the multifunction device for each registered user so that only a function authenticated through user authentication can be used when using the multifunction device. By configuring the system, the user can restrict the use authority of each function to prevent external information from being exposed to the multifunction device and prevent waste of consumables through misuse.

Multifunction device, restriction of use, authentication, ID, password

Description

Multifunction device and its restriction method

1 is a schematic block diagram of a general MFP;

2 is a schematic block diagram of a multifunction device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a user registration process;

4 is a diagram showing an example of an MFP user registration program;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a user authentication process;

And,

6 is a flowchart illustrating another user authentication process.

* Description of symbols on the main parts of the drawings *

120: operation panel 130: communication means

140: scanning unit 150: memory unit

160: printing unit 170: control unit

180: user management unit 220: Admin Client

The present invention relates to a multifunction device, and more particularly, to a user control method for enabling the function of the multifunction device in accordance with the use authority.

Conventional multifunction devices such as printers or facsimiles are equipped with multimedia functions as well as functions as simple devices, and can send and receive e-mails or access Internet websites. These multifunction devices are equipped with a communication device to connect to an external communication network, such as the Internet, and then drive each application program (eg, a web browser, an e-mail transmission / reception program) to use related functions. In addition, the contents of the e-mail and information on the website can be printed using the printer function of the multifunction apparatus.

A general multifunction device is shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, the multifunction apparatus 10 having a communication means capable of transmitting and receiving an email with the mail server 90 through the Internet network 80 may include a user information, an email or the Internet in a memory unit 50 composed of a storage medium such as an HDD. An address book storing a site and a phone number, a file storing a job to be printed, and the like are stored, and the user can configure various functions of the multifunction apparatus by operating the operation panel 20 through the display unit 22.

That is, the multifunction apparatus 10 includes an operation panel 20 which is an input means for inputting an Internet site address (URL) or setting various functions, and a function selected by the operation panel 20 and the operation of the multifunction apparatus. The display unit 22, which informs the status, stores information on signals input by the operation panel 20, ordinary print job files, and scanned data, and at the same time, administrator information of users and multifunction devices, e-mail or Internet sites, After accessing the Internet network 80 through the memory unit 50, the address book for storing the phone number and the communication means 30, and read the web document to the corresponding site to output or scan to the printing unit 60 The control unit 70 is configured to perform a function (scan to email) for transmitting the data scanned in the unit 40 to a specific site.

The communication means 30 is configured to notify the mail server 90 through the Internet network 80 to the email address transmitted from the control unit 70. The communication means may be configured to process a network interface card such as a modem, a LAN card, or the like so as to transmit an email.

Since the multifunction devices having the above functions are connected to the network and used in the office, all users on the same network can freely use the functions of the network multifunction devices without any restrictions. That is, it is not possible to manage whether a specific network all-in-one can be used by only a small number of authorized users, or make a specific network all-in-one available only to authorized users.

Unrestricted use of the MFP can be a waste of resources because it can be freely used without restrictions for unregistered users and unauthorized use functions.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, to provide a multifunction device and a method of limiting the use of the multifunction device to manage the user's usage rights and functions that can be used.

The method of limiting the use of the multifunction apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object allows only the authorized user to use the functions of the multifunction apparatus, and also allows the authorized user to use only the authorized functions.

Preferably, the function comprises at least one of a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a fax function, an e-mail function, and the authentication of the function allows authentication of use according to an ID and a password.

Method for limiting the use of the multifunction apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is a registration step of registering a user, an authentication step of confirming the registered user and only the user authenticated in the authentication step Including the step of making the use, and also allows the authenticated user to use only the authorized function in the multifunction device.

Preferably, the function comprises at least one of a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a fax function, and an e-mail function.

On the other hand, the user registration step comprises the step of receiving an ID and password for each user, and setting the presence or absence of authentication of each function by the ID and password to store and register in the multifunction device, wherein the user authentication step And displaying a user authentication screen for receiving an ID and a password, and authenticating the user if the input ID and password match the ID and password stored in the multifunction apparatus.

In addition, the multifunction device having a use restriction function according to the present invention for achieving the above object can use the multifunction device when the user authentication is made through the user management unit and the user management unit configured to perform user registration and user authentication. And a control unit for processing.

The user management unit includes a user registration unit that registers a user by ID and password and registers a right to use each function for each registered user, and a user authentication unit that displays a user authentication screen for inputting an ID and password. It is desirable to.

More preferably, the function comprises at least one of a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a fax function and an e-mail function.

The user registration sets and registers the presence or absence of authentication of each function for each ID and password, and the controller controls the authenticated user to use only the authenticated function.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a schematic block diagram of a system including a multifunction device according to the present invention, which includes a multifunction device 100, an internet network 200, a mail server 210, and an Admin Client 220.

The multifunction apparatus 100 includes an operation panel 120, a communication unit 130, a scanning unit 140, a memory unit 150, a printing unit 160, a control unit 170, and a user management unit 180. .

 The operation panel 120 is configured with a key matrix including a plurality of numeric keys and function keys for setting functions on a menu, and inputs an Internet site address (URL: Uniform Resource Locator) or an e-mail address or sets various functions. Consists of a key for requesting a user registration according to the present invention, the input means for providing the control unit 170 with the key data generated according to the key operation, the function selected by the operation panel 120 and the operation of the multifunction device It is composed of a display window 122 for indicating the status.

The communication means 130 is provided to be accessible through an external device, the mail server 210 and the Admin client 220 and the Internet network 200, and supports a communication interface with each other. At this time, the communication means 130 notifies the mail server 190 through the Internet network 200 to the email address transmitted from the control unit 170 or the user registration request from the Admin client 220 through the Internet network 200. If so, the control unit 170 is configured to display a user registration screen (see FIG. 4) stored in the user registration unit 182. Such communication means may be configured with any one of a network interface card such as a modem and a LAN card.

When the data transmission or copy mode is set to perform a fax function or a copy function, the scanning unit 140 reads an inserted document under the control of the control unit 170, converts it into image data, and then returns it to the control unit 170. Configure to send.

The memory unit 150 includes a ROM and a RAM, and the ROM is a nonvolatile memory device. The memory unit 150 stores various control programs and data scanned by the scanning unit 140 required to implement various functions supported by the multifunction apparatus 100. Stores firmware, data transmission protocol, etc. for conversion to digital data. RAM is a volatile memory device, and various data generated during the operation of the multifunction apparatus 100 are stored, and scan data scanned by the scanning unit 140 and fax data received from an external communication device through the communication unit 130 are stored. Temporary storage

The printing unit 160 connects to the Internet network 200 through the communication unit 130 and then reads and outputs a web document to a corresponding site or outputs a document designated by the control unit 170.

The user manager 180 includes a user register 182 and a user authenticator 184 and uses a nonvolatile memory. The user registration unit 182 registers a user according to the present invention and registers a right to use each function of the multifunction apparatus for each registered user, and includes an MFP user registration program. That is, referring to FIG. 4, the MFP user registration program is configured to set a user name (ID) and password (Password) and a function for allowing use by each user. Such a user registration program is preferably configured as a map MAP so that many users can register. The password is required for user authentication when the user wants to use the MFP, and each function is for enabling only the corresponding function even for an authenticated user. In addition, in the present invention, only the print function, the scanner function, and the scan to email function are displayed, but as shown in the user registration program of FIG. 4, all the necessary functions such as the FAX function or the copy function are selected to grant permission for each authenticated user. desirable. When the MFP user registration program requests user registration from the Admin Client 220 through the Internet network 200, the MFP user registration program may register through the communication means 130 under the control of the controller 170.

The user authentication unit 184 displays a user authentication program through the display unit 122 when the user wants to use the multifunction apparatus in the multifunction apparatus 100 or the admin client 220 and uses the operation panel 120 to display the user name and password. To enter. In this case, the user authentication program may be displayed in the same manner as the MFP user registration program, or the program may be configured to input only a name (ID) and a password (Password). If the user does not input the correct ID and password, the control unit 170 displays an error message through the display unit 122. If it is determined that the user has pressed the correct ID and password, the user authenticates the user and then the copy function. Alternatively, when a user requests the use of a predetermined function of the multifunction device, such as a FAX function, the controller 170 checks whether the corresponding function is authorized for use by the user, and if it violates the authority, the control unit 170 uses the display unit 122 to display an error message. The controller 170 controls the multifunction apparatus 100 to display and to perform the job when the user's right is displayed.

In addition, although the user management unit 180 is configured as a nonvolatile memory in the present invention, the memory unit 150 built in the multifunction apparatus 100 may be used.

The controller 170 controls the overall operation of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the control program stored in the memory unit 150. The control unit 170 is a print mode for performing a printing function, a scanning mode for performing a scanning function, a facsimile mode for performing a fax transmission and reception function, and a copy function according to an operation signal of a key provided in the operation panel 120. Either copy mode to perform the operation and e-mail transmission mode to perform the function of any one. In addition, the control unit 190 is configured to register and authenticate a user as described above through the Admin Client 220 or the multifunction apparatus 100 according to the present invention. In addition, the controller 170 may be configured to switch the mode only when the authorized user is allowed to use the mode.

The mail server 210 is composed of a kind of application program and hardware that transmits the email received from the control unit 170 through the communication unit 130 to each address and delivers the transmitted email.

The Admin Client 220 is operated to register a user in the multifunction apparatus 100 as a network program and may be configured as a general application or a web-page. On the other hand, it is preferable to register the user only through the Admin Client 220.

Hereinafter, a method of limiting use of the multifunction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention using the above configuration will be described.

First, the registration process for each user will be described with reference to FIG. 3. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a user registration process, and the controller 170 determines whether there is a user registration request through the operation panel 120 or the admin client 220 (S210). When there is a user registration request in step S210, the controller 170 displays the MFP user registration program (see FIG. 4) through the display unit 122 in the user register 182 (S220). According to the MFP user registration program displayed in step S220, when setting of the user name (ID) and password (Password) and the use authority of each function for each user is completed (S230), the control unit 170 sets the set user ID and password and each function. The user registration process is terminated by storing the MFP user registration program for the use right in the user registration unit 182 (S240).

Hereinafter, the user authentication process in the state where the user registration is completed as described above. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a user authentication process. When a predetermined user intends to use the MFP 100 through the operation panel 120 or the communication means 130, the control unit 170 may use the user authentication unit 184. The user authentication program is read and displayed on the display unit 122 (S310). Of course, at this time, the user authentication program may be displayed in the same manner as the MFP user registration program (see FIG. 4) or may be configured so that only a name and a password can be input.

If the user's name (ID) and password (Password) is input through the operation panel 120, the control unit 170 determines whether the user and the password registered in the user registration unit 182 and the input content match the authentication Determine (S320). If the user is not authenticated in step S320, an error message is displayed (S322). If the user is an authenticated user, a job to be performed is requested (S330). Preferably, the Error message indicates that the user is not an authenticated user. At this time, the control unit 170 checks the function use authority for each user registered in the user registration unit 182 to determine whether the job requested by the user is a job of the authorized function for each user (S340). If the job is to be performed (S350), and if the job is not permitted in step S340, an error message is displayed and the step S330 is repeated (S360). In this case, it is preferable that the error message is displayed as a message that it is not an authorized job so that the user can perform only the authorized job.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the process of checking the authority of each function for each user after the authentication process of the user has been described. However, when the user wants to use the corresponding function, the user inputs an ID and a password to confirm the use of the corresponding function. You may. That is, when there is a job execution request through each function of the multifunction apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 6 (S410), the controller 170 displays a user authentication screen and waits for input of an ID and password (S420). If it is an authenticated job (S430), if it is an authenticated job, the controller 170 controls the multifunction apparatus 100 to perform the corresponding job (S450), and if it is not an authenticated job for each ID and password in step S430, As shown in FIG. 2, the error message may be displayed on the display unit 122 and the step S410 may be repeated.

In addition, in the present invention, the user authentication and the authentication of each function through the ID and password, but can be authenticated by simply input any one of the ID or password.

As described above, by separately setting each function of the multifunction device for each user, the multifunction device can be efficiently managed.

While the invention has been described in detail only with respect to the described embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit of the invention, and such modifications and variations belong to the appended claims.

 As described above, according to the multifunction apparatus and its use restriction method according to the present invention, it is possible to restrict the use authority of each function of the multifunction device for each user, not only to prevent exposure of external information through the multifunction device, but also consumables through incorrect use Waste can be prevented.

Claims (14)

In the method of limiting the use of the multifunction device, A method of restricting use of a multifunction device, characterized in that only authorized users can use the functions of the multifunction device. The method of claim 1, Method for limiting the use of the multifunction device, characterized in that for each licensed user to use only the authorized function of the multifunction device. The method of claim 2, The function is A method of restricting use of a multifunction device, characterized in that authentication is made according to an ID and password. The method of claim 3, wherein The function is A method of restricting the use of the all-in-one, comprising one or more of a printer function, scanner function, copy function, fax function, and e-mail function. In the method of limiting use of the function of the multifunction device, A registration step of registering a user; An authentication step of confirming whether a registered user is present; And Using only the user authenticated in the authentication step; using the multifunction device. The method of claim 5, And allowing the authenticated user to use only the authorized functions in the multifunction device. The method of claim 6, The function is A method of restricting the use of the all-in-one, comprising one or more of a printer function, scanner function, copy function, fax function, and e-mail function. The method of claim 5, The user registration step Receiving an ID and a password for each user; And And setting the presence or absence of authentication of each function for each ID and password, and storing the registered information in the multifunction apparatus. The method of claim 8, The user authentication step Displaying a user authentication screen for receiving an ID and a password; And And authenticating the user if the input ID and password match the ID and password stored in the multifunction device. A user manager configured to perform user registration and user authentication; And And a control unit for processing a function of the multifunction apparatus when the user authentication is performed through the user management unit. The method of claim 10, The user management unit A user registration unit that registers a user by ID and password and registers a right to use each function for each registered user; And And a user authentication unit for displaying a user authentication screen for inputting an ID and a password. The method of claim 10, The function is A multifunction machine with a use restriction function, characterized by one or more of a printer function, scanner function, copy function, fax function, and e-mail function. The method of claim 10, The user registration A multifunction machine equipped with a usage restriction function, characterized in that for setting the registration of each function for each ID and password. The method of claim 13, The control unit An all-in-one device with a use restriction function, which allows an authenticated user to use only an authorized function.

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