Patent Publication Number: US-7221884-B2

Title: Image forming apparatus and method of controlling apparatus having control sections for permitting use of different functions

Description:
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/730,009, filed Dec. 9, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,189 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a composite image forming apparatus that has a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a scanner function and a printer function, and a control method thereof. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   There is a composite image forming apparatus (MFP) that has a plurality of functions such as a scanner function of transmitting an image read by a scanner to the outside and a printer function of printing image data input from the outside in addition to a normal copy function. 
   In such a composite image forming apparatus, the copy function can be readily used as a standard function. However, use of the scanner function and the printer function is permitted only when a user buys options. 
   From the viewpoint of security, the use of the optionally bought scanner and printer functions may be permitted only to a specific user. In this case, by authentication of a fingerprint or an IC card, only a preregistered user can use the scanner function and the printer function. 
   However, a dedicated authentication device must be disposed for authentication of the fingerprint or the IC card, which causes a great increase in cost. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been made by taking the foregoing circumstances into consideration. An object of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that needs no special device disposed to authenticate a fingerprint or an IC card and that can permit use of a desired function to a specific user, and another object of the invention is to a control method thereof. 
   An aspect of the present invention is directed to a composite image forming apparatus that has at least a first function, a second function and a third function, comprising: 
   a first control section to permit use of the first function if a code input by an operation of a user coincides with a preregistered permission code; 
   an enable key to store an enable code; 
   a setting section to set the enable key; 
   a reading section to read the enable code stored in the enable key when the enable key is set in the setting section; 
   a second control section to permit use of the second function if the enable code read by the reading section coincides with a preregistered enable code; and 
   a third control section to permit use of the third function if use of the first function and use of the second function are both permitted. 
   Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an appearance of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view showing a constitution of a control panel of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a control circuit of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart explaining an operation of the embodiment; and 
       FIG. 5  is a view showing an example of a barcode of the embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a document table  2  is disposed on a main body  1  of an image forming apparatus, and an automatic document feeder (ADF)  3  is disposed to be freely opened/closed on the document table  2 . A control panel  4  shown in  FIG. 2  is disposed as operation means for setting operation conditions in a position equal in height to the document table  2 . 
   In a lower part of the main body  1 , a plurality of cassettes  5  are disposed to house paper sheets of various sizes which are image forming media. 
   Additionally, on a side part of the main body  1 , an ejection unit  6  is disposed to receive printed paper sheets that have been ejected. On the other side face of the main body  1 , a USB port  7  is disposed to be a setting section of an enable key  10 . The enable key  10  is designed to permit use of a printer function (second function) of the main body  1 , and provided from a maker or a sales agent. 
     FIG. 3  shows an internal constitution of the enable key  10  and a control circuit in the main body  1 . 
   The enable key  10  incorporates a ROM  11  that stores an enable code, and a USB interface  12  that transmits the enable code from the ROM  11  to the USB port  7 . 
   A CPU  20  that is a main control section is disposed in the main body  1 . A decoder  21 , a RAM  22 , a ROM  23 , a counter  24 , a wave clock  25 , a panel control section  31 , a copy control section  32 , a scanner control section  33 , a printer control section  34 , a facsimile (FAX) control section  35 , and a network control section  38  are connected to this CPU  20 . 
   The decoder  21  functions as a reading section for reading the enable code from the enable key  10  set in the USB port  7 . The enable code read by the decoder  21  is supplied to the CPU  20 . 
   The RAM  22  stores various data. In the ROM  23 , various control programs necessary for an operation of the main body  1  are stored, and a permission code to permit use of a scanner function, a permission code to permit use of a printer function, an inhibition code to inhibit use of the scanner function, an inhibition code to inhibit use of the printer function, an enable code similar to that stored in the enable key  10 , and the like, are preregistered. 
   The counter  24  counts a passage of time based on a signal supplied from the wave clock  25 . The wave clock  25  has an antenna  25   a  as an accessory, and sequentially updates current time by receiving a standard time radio wave while clocking the current time. 
   The panel control section  31  controls the control panel  4 . The copy control section  32  controls a normal copy function that uses a scanner  36  and a printer  37 . 
   The scanner control section  33  controls the scanner function (first function) such as a network scanner that uses the scanner  36 . The printer control section  34  controls the printer function (second function) such as a network printer that uses the printer  37 . The facsimile control section  35  controls the facsimile function (third function) that uses the printer  37 . 
   The network control section  38  controls data transmission/reception with an external device through a network interface  39 . The network interface  39  includes a LAN board, a FAX modem and the like, and is connected through an external communication line  40  to personal computers  41 ,  42 , a facsimile device  43  and the like, which are external devices. 
   The CPU  20  has first to fourth control sections. 
   The first control section permits use of the scanner function if a code input by an operation of the control panel  4  coincides with the scanner function permission code registered in the ROM  23 . Additionally, the first control section inhibits use of the scanner function if the code input by the operation of the control panel  4  coincides with the scanner function inhibition code registered in the ROM  23 . 
   The second control section permits use of the printer function if an enable code read from the enable key  10  set in the USB port  7  coincides with the enable code registered in the ROM  23 . Additionally, the second control section inhibits use of the printer function when the enable key  10  is reset from the USB port  7 . 
   The third control section permits use of the facsimile function if use of the scanner function and use of the printer function are both permitted, and inhibits use of the facsimile function when use of one of the scanner function and the printer function is inhibited. 
   The control section  4  permits use of the printer function only for a fixed period (e.g., 20 days) if contents of a scanned barcode coincide with the printer function permission code registered in the ROM  23  when the barcode on a paper sheet set on the document table  2  is scanned by the scanner  36 . This fixed period is set based on deadline information contained in the scanned barcode. Additionally, the fourth control section immediately inhibits use of the printer  37  even during the fixed period if the contents of the scanned barcode coincide with the printer function inhibition code registered in the ROM  23  when the barcode on the paper sheet set on the document table  2  is scanned by the scanner  36 . 
   Next, an operation will be described by referring to a flowchart of  FIG. 4 . 
   A user who wishes to use the scanner function inputs a predetermined code by an operation of the control panel  4  (YES in step  101 ). If the input code coincides with the preregistered scanner function permission code (YES in step  102 ), use of the scanner function is permitted (step  103 ). That is, a scanning command is input from the personal computer  41  through the communication line  40  to the main body  1 , whereby an image of a document set on the document table  2  is read by the scanner  36 . Electronic mail to which the read image is added is generated, and sent through the communication line  40  to the personal computer  41 . This mail is so-called Scan To E-mail. The read document image may be stored as a file in the RAM  22 . This file is so-called Scan To File. 
   If the code input by the operation of the control panel  4  coincides with the preregistered scanner function inhibition code (YES in step  104 ), use of the scanner function is inhibited (step  105 ). 
   The user who wishes to use the printer function sets the enable key  10  that the user owns in the USB port  7  (YES in step  106 ). At this time, an enable code is read from the enable key  10  (step  107 ). If the read enable code coincides with the preregistered enable code (YES in step  108 ), use of the printer function is permitted (step  109 ). That is, a printing command is input from the personal computer  41  through the communication line  40  to the main body  1 , whereby image data input from the personal computer  41  is printed by the printer  37 . 
   When the enable key  10  is reset from the USB port  7  (YES in step  110 ), use of the printer function is inhibited (step  111 ). 
   Incidentally, even if the user has no enable key  10 , as long as use of the scanner function is permitted, a paper sheet  50  shown in  FIG. 5  is set on the document table  2  to be scanned, whereby the printer function can be used. A barcode  51  is printed on the paper sheet  50  to enable use of the printer function. 
   That is, when the barcode  51  on the paper sheet  50  is scanned (YES in step  112 ), if contents of the scanned barcode  50  coincide with the printer function permission code registered in the ROM  23  (YES in step  113 ), use of the printer function is permitted only for a fixed period (e.g., 20 days)(step  114 ). This fixed period is set based on deadline information contained in the scanned barcode  50 , and measured by time counting of the counter  24 . 
   If the contents of the scanned barcode  50  coincide with the printer function inhibition code registered in the ROM  23  (YES in step  115 ), use of the printer function is immediately inhibited even during the fixed period (step  116 ). 
   In place of the barcode  51 , a code formed by arraying characters or signs may be printed on the paper sheet  50 . 
   On the other hand, if use of the scanner function is permitted and even use of the printer function is permitted (YES in step  117 ), use of the facsimile function is permitted (step  118 ). That is, when the document image is read by the external facsimile device  43 , the read image data is transmitted through the communication line  40  to the main body  1 , and the transmitted image data is printed on the paper sheet by the printer  37 . The image data scanned by the scanner  36  can also be transmitted to the facsimile device  43 . 
   If use of one of the scanner function and the printer function is inhibited (NO in step  117 ), use of the facsimile function is also inhibited (step  119 ). 
   Therefore, there is no need to dispose any special device for authenticating a fingerprint or an IC card unlike the conventional case, and use of the scanner function, the printer function and the facsimile function can be permitted only to a specific user. Since no special device is necessary, no cost increase occurs. 
   Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.