Patent Abstract:
An image processing apparatus which is capable of realizing security improvements without degrading the usability. A user is authenticated, and an operation screen accepting an operation input from the user is displayed. A job is executed according to an instruction of the user authenticated by the user authenticating unit. It is determined whether or not the job of which execution is instructed by the user, is being executed when the user authenticating unit authenticates the user. A first operation screen through which the user inputs an instruction for the job in execution is displayed when the job executing unit is executing the job, of which execution is instructed by the user, whereas another operation screen through which another user inputs an instruction for another job is displayed when not.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method, and a storage medium which become usable by a user through user authentication. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In an image processing apparatus which becomes usable by a user through user authentication, which causes the user to execute a login operation for the user authentication when used, and permits the user which has logged in to use it, when a plurality of users log in at the same time, such users alternately execute respective jobs. Then, after the job is completed, each user executes a logout operation by executing an operation such as depressing a logout button for (for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2007-228209). 
         [0005]    However, a user may sometimes forget to execute a logout operation. Particularly, when a waiting time is long until the job is completed, the user may leave the image processing apparatus after instructing the execution of the job. Thereby, even after the job is completed, the image processing apparatus is left in a logged-in state, and may be used without notice by another user. Furthermore, when a predetermined time elapses and the user has not performed any operation, the logout operation of the image processing apparatus may be forcibly executed, and in this case, the logout operation may be executed while the user is using the image processing apparatus, so that it is difficult to set a time for executing the forcible logout operation. 
         [0006]    To resolve the above problem, such a technique exists that an appointment for the logout operation by the user is accepted, and when the appointment for the logout operation is accepted, the logout operation is executed after the job of the user is completed. 
         [0007]    However, in the above conventional technique, it is impossible to inhibit another user to instruct an operation for the job or the execution for a new job between a job start and a job end. In the above conventional technique, when the logout operation is forcibly executed before the job ends, the user becomes unable to instruct setting changes or interruption of the job for the job, of which execution is instructed, which degrades the usability. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides an image processing apparatus and method, and a storage medium which can realize security improvements without degrading the usability. 
         [0009]    In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus, comprising: a user authenticating unit configured to authenticate a user; an operation screen display unit configured to display an operation screen accepting an operation input from the user; a job executing unit configured to execute a job according to an instruction of the user authenticated by the user authenticating unit; a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the job executing unit is executing the job, of which execution is instructed by the user, when the user authenticating unit authenticates the user; and a display control unit configured to control the operation screen display unit so as to display a first operation screen through which the user inputs an instruction for the job in execution when the job executing unit is executing the job, of which execution is instructed by the user, whereas to control the operation screen display unit so as to display another operation screen through which another user inputs an instruction for another job when not. 
         [0010]    According to the present invention, it is possible to inhibit another user to instruct an operation for the job, or an execution for a new job between the job start and the job end, and further, even when the logout operation is forcibly executed before the job end, it is possible for the user to instruct setting changes or interruption of the job for the job of which execution is instructed. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and method, and a storage medium which can realize security improvements without degrading the usability. 
         [0011]    Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view schematically showing the configuration of an operation part  200  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a view showing a logout screen displayed on an LCD display part  201  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a view showing a login initial screen displayed on the LCD display part  201  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a view showing a login in-execution screen displayed on the LCD display part  201  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a view showing an IC card authentication setting screen displayed on the LCD display part  201  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a view showing an example of the configuration of software for causing the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1  to execute login management control. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a first screen display transition process executed by the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a second screen display transition process executed by the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a third screen display transition process executed by the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0024]    The image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1  includes copy, FAX, print and scanner functions, and can be login-managed by an IC card reader. Hereinafter, a configuration thereof will be described with an operation. 
         [0025]    In the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , a CCD  17  and a CIS (Contact Image Sensor)  18  are connected to a scanner interface (scanner I/F) section  10  through an analog front end (AFE)  15 , whereby the read data can be taken in the image processing apparatus without using an individual dedicated circuit. 
         [0026]    A scanner image processing section  20  executes an image processing according to an image processing operation mode (color copy, monochrome copy, color scan, monochrome scan, and the like) for image data developed in a main memory (SDRAM)  100  by the processing of the scanner I/F section  10 . 
         [0027]    When transferring data between the scanner I/F section  10  and the scanner image processing section  20  through a ring buffer area on the main memory  100 , a buffer arbitrating section  77  arbitrates writing and reading for the data. 
         [0028]    A printer image processing section  30  executes area editing and resolution conversion of an inputted image, and outputs the obtained image data to a printer. A printer I/F section  40  outputs an image processing result to a laser beam printer (LBP)  45  connected to the printer I/F section  40 . 
         [0029]    When transferring data between the printer image processing section  30  and the printer I/F section  40  through the ring buffer area on the main memory  100 , a buffer arbitrating section  78  arbitrates writing and reading for the data. 
         [0030]    A JPEG module  50  and a JBIG module  60  execute a compressing and expanding process for the image data conforming to predetermined standards, respectively. 
         [0031]    A memory control section  70  is connected to each of a first bus  83  and a second bus  84  of an image processing system, and a third bus  85  of a computer system, and executes data transfer control for writing and reading data to and from the main memory  100 . 
         [0032]    A DMA controller (DMAC)  90  is, in association with the memory control section  70 , connected to a ROM  95  through a ROM ISA  97 . The DMAC  90  generates and sets predetermined address information for executing DMA control on data transfer between an external device or a user interface control section  170 , and the main memory  100 . 
         [0033]    An image processing DMAC  91  generates and sets, in association with the memory control section  70 , predetermined address information for executing the DMA control on data transfer between each image processing section ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 , and  40 ) and the main memory  100 . 
         [0034]    For example, the DMAC  91  generates the address information for DMA-transferring the image data read and processed by the scanner I/F section  10  to the main memory  100  for each DMA channel according to types of image reading devices (CCD  17  and CIS  18 ). 
         [0035]    The DMAC  91  generates the address information for reading the image data developed on the main memory  100  according to the DMA channel, and DMA-transfers the generated address information to the scanner image processing section  20 . 
         [0036]    As described above, the DMAC  91  functions as a unit for conducting the DMA control between the image processing sections ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 , and  40 ) and the main memory  100  in association with the memory control section  70 . 
         [0037]    In the ROM  95  are stored an appropriate control parameter and an appropriate control program data according to types of the image reading devices (CCD  17  and CIS  18 ), and a variety of the control parameters, and the like can be set according to types of the image reading devices. This makes it possible to input the image data according to individual data output formats of the CCD  17  and CIS  18 , thereby eliminating the need for providing a dedicated interface circuit. 
         [0038]    The first bus  83  can transfer data read from the main memory  100  to each processing section ( 10  to  60 ) of the image processing system. The second bus  84  can transfer data read from each processing section ( 10  to  60 ) of the image processing system to the main memory  100 . The first bus and the second bus transfer, in pairs, the image data between an image processing block and the main memory  100 . 
         [0039]    The third bus  85  is directed to a bus of the computer system, to which are connected a CPU  180 , the user interface control section  170 , a mechatronics system control section  125 , control registers in the image processing section, and the DMAC  90 . 
         [0040]    The mechatronics system control section  125  includes a motor control section  110 , and an interrupt timer control section  120  for conducting a driving timing of a motor, and timing control for controlling synchronization of the process of the image processing system. 
         [0041]    An LCD control section (LCDC)  130  conducts display control for displaying a variety of settings, processing situations, and the like of the image processing apparatus on an operation section  200 . The LCDC  130  has a role for transferring information inputted by a user from the operation section  200  to the CPU  180 . 
         [0042]    USB I/F sections  140  and  150  enable the connection with peripheral equipment. In  FIG. 1 , such a state is shown that an IC card reader  175  is connected. 
         [0043]    A medium access control section (MACC)  160  is a unit for controlling a timing in which data is to be transferred to the connected equipment, and a timing in which the connected equipment is to be accessed, and the like. The CPU  180  controls a whole operation of the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  is a view schematically showing the configuration of the operation part  200  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 2 , a touch panel sheet  202  is put on an LCD of an LCD display section  201 , and the LCD display part  201  displays an operation screen and a soft key of the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , and transmits the depressed soft key to the CPU  180 . 
         [0046]    A start key  203  is used when a reading operation for a document image is started, and the like. There is a two-color LED  204  of green and red in a center of the start key  203 , and the color of the start key  203  indicates whether or not the start key  203  is usable. 
         [0047]    A stop key  205  functions to stop an operation in execution. An ID key  206  is used when a user ID of a user is inputted. A reset key  207  is used when the setting by the operation part  200  is initialized. 
         [0048]    A volume adjusting dial  208  is used when sound volume is turned up/down. A numeric keypad  209  is used when a numerical character is inputted. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  is a view showing a logout screen displayed on the LCD display part  201  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 3 , a logout screen  300  is directed to a screen displayed on the LCD display part  201  of the operation part  200  in such a state that the user does not log in to the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1  (logout state). The logout screen  300  shows a method for executing a login and a logout. 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  is a view showing a login initial screen displayed on the LCD display part  201  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0052]    In  FIG. 4 , a login initial screen  400  is a screen displayed on the LCD display part  201  of  FIG. 2  after a user logs in to the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0053]    The login initial screen  400  displays the setting of a job, and while this screen is being displayed, the user can input a job and change the setting for the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 5  is a view showing a login in-execution screen displayed on the LCD display part  201  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0055]    In  FIG. 5 , a login in-execution screen  500  is a screen displayed after a job is set on the login initial screen  400 , and the execution of the job is instructed, and is displayed by the CPU  180  on the LCD display part  201  of the operation part  200 . The login in-execution screen  500  displays an in-execution pop-up screen  501  on the login initial screen  400 . 
         [0056]    In the in-execution pop-up screen  501 , the followings are displayed: a situation of the job being executed at the last minute; a stop button  502  for stopping the job in execution; a setting change button  503  for executing setting changes; and a close button  504  for closing the in-execution pop-up screen  501 . The operation is enabled by touching each button. 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  is a view showing an IC card authentication setting screen displayed on the LCD display part  201  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 6 , a setting item  601  of a setting screen  600  is directed to a setting of whether or not user authentication (utilization permission authentication for the image processing apparatus) is required for an operation for the job in execution. In the setting item  601 , for all the jobs of a login user, when user authentication (utilization permission authentication for the image processing apparatus) is required for the operation for the job in execution, “YES” can be set, and when not, “NO” can be set. When “YES” is set, a fact that the same user as the user instructing the job execution is authenticated becomes a condition for enabling the operation for the job in execution. By setting “YES”, the user other than the user instructing the job execution becomes unable to operate for the job in execution, and the security for the job execution is improved. The setting item  601  is displayed by the CPU  180 , and is utilized by a job operation authentication registering module  704  described hereinafter. 
         [0059]    A setting item  602  is directed to a setting for whether or not a logout process is automatically executed after a job is inputted. In the present embodiment, the timing after the job is inputted is directed to a timing (for example, in the case of a copy job, a timing after it is recognized that the start key  203  is pushed) after the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1  accepts a job execution starting instruction by the user. 
         [0060]    In the setting item  602 , when the logout process is not executed after the job is inputted, “NOT EXECUTE” can be set, when the logout process is executed, “EXECUTE” can be set, and when the logout process is executed only when personal information is displayed, “EXECUTE ONLY WHEN PERSONAL INFORMATION IS INCLUDED” can be set. The setting item  602  is displayed by the CPU  180 , and is utilized by a logout setting module  707 , described hereinafter, after the job is inputted. 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  is a view showing an example of the configuration of software for causing the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1  to execute login management control. 
         [0062]    Each of reference numerals  701  to  710  is directed to a software module executed (processed) by the CPU  180  of the image processing apparatus, and is stored in the ROM  95 . 
         [0063]    A user authenticating module  701  obtains user information from an IC card by the IC card reader  175  of the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , and executes utilization permission authentication of the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . The user authentication is directed to a process required when the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1  is subjected to login, when the setting of the job is changed or the job is canceled, or when the job is newly executed. 
         [0064]    When the setting of the job is changed or the job is canceled, only when the user, who is the same as the user of the job, of which setting is changed or which is canceled, can be authenticated. 
         [0065]    A utilization state recognizing module  702  recognizes the utilization state of the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1  for a removable medium (document, print output material, and removable memory) for the job. The utilization state recognizing module  702  recognizes whether or not reading of all the documents is completed, when the job does not include print output. 
         [0066]    When a job includes print output, the utilization state recognizing module  702  recognizes whether or not processing of all the print outputs is completed, and when it is not completed, the utilization state recognizing module  702  determines that the job is in a removable medium utilization non-completion state. When it is completed, the utilization state recognizing module  702  determines that the job is in a removable medium utilization completion state. 
         [0067]    A job situation recognizing module  703  recognizes whether or not the job of the user authenticated by the user authenticating module  701  is included. When the job is not included, the job situation recognizing module  703  notifies “absence of job”. In a case where the job is included, when the inputted job is in the removable medium utilization non-completion state, the job situation recognizing module  703  notifies “absence of job”, whereas when the inputted job is in the removable medium utilization completion condition, the job situation recognizing module  703  notifies “absence of job”. 
         [0068]    A job operation authentication registering module  704  can register, in the setting item  601  of the setting screen  600  at the time of the IC card authentication, whether or not it is required for the user authenticating module  701  to perform the utilization permission authentication for the operation of the job in execution, of which execution is instructed by the user authenticated by the user authenticating module  701 . The registered values can be reserved and be referred to by a setting reserving/referring module  709  described hereinafter. 
         [0069]    A login/logout screen display module  705  displays the logout screen  300 , the login initial screen  400 , and the login in-execution screen  500 . 
         [0070]    When the utilization state recognizing module  702  recognizes that the inputted job of the user authenticated by the user authenticating module  701  is in the removable medium utilization job non-completion state, a logout possibility determining module  706  determines that the logout is impossible. When the utilization state recognizing module  702  recognizes that the removable medium utilization job is in the removable medium utilization job completion state, the logout possibility determining module  706  determines that the logout is possible. Further, when the login in-execution screen  500  is closed, the logout possibility determining module  706  determines that the logout is possible. 
         [0071]    A logout setting module  707  sets whether or not the logout is executed after the job is inputted at the setting item  602  of the setting screen  600  at the time of the IC card authentication. The logout setting module  707  can set “logout process is not executed”, and “logout process is executed only when personal information is included”. 
         [0072]    The above registered value can be reserved and be referred to by the setting reserving/referring module  709  described hereinafter. 
         [0073]    After receiving a job start instruction by the user authenticated by the user authenticating module  701 , a logout/non-logout determining module  708  determines whether the login in-execution screen  500  is displayed, or the logout screen  300  is displayed. 
         [0074]    When the logout setting module  707  sets that the logout process is executed, the logout/non-logout determining module  708  notifies “logout”, whereas when not, the logout/non-logout determining module  708  notifies “non-logout”. In a case where the personal information is included, when an address and a file name are displayed on the login in-execution screen  500 , the logout/non-logout determining module  708  notifies “logout”, whereas when not, the logout/non-logout determining module  708  notifies “non-logout”. 
         [0075]    The setting reserving/referring module  709  reserves the values set by the job operation authentication registering module  704  and the logout setting module  707  in the main memory  100 . The set values can be read from the main memory  100 . 
         [0076]    A job operation control module  710  controls a job operation by utilizing modules including the user authenticating module  701 , the job situation recognizing module  703 , the job operation authentication registering module  704 , the login/logout screen display module  705 , the logout possibility determining module  706 , the logout setting module  707 , and the logout/non-logout determining module  708 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a first screen display transition process executed by the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0078]    Specifically, the first screen display transition process of  FIG. 8  is a process of transitioning from the logout screen  300  to the login in-execution screen display state  500  or a login initial screen  400 . This process is executed by the CPU  180  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0079]    In  FIG. 8 , while the LCD display part  201  in  FIG. 2  displays the logout screen of  FIG. 3 , it is determined in step S 801  whether or not the IC card is detected by the IC card reader  175 , and when the IC card is detected, the program proceeds to step S 802 , in which the user authenticating module  701  executes the user authentication based on the information read from the IC card reader  175 . 
         [0080]    As a result of the authentication of the step S 802 , when the user authentication (utilization permission authentication of the image processing apparatus) can be executed (YES to the step S 802 ), the job situation recognizing module  703  determines whether or not the job in execution is included (step S 803 ). 
         [0081]    As a result of the determination of the step S 803 , when the job in execution is included, the login/logout screen display module  705  displays the login in-execution screen  500  of  FIG. 5  for the job which is notified to be included in step S 803  (step S 804 ), followed by the program proceeding to a process of  FIG. 10  described hereinafter. 
         [0082]    As a result of the determination of the step S 803 , when the job in execution is not included (NO to the step S 802 ), the login/logout screen display module  705  displays the login initial screen  400  of  FIG. 4  (step S 805 ), followed by the program proceeding to a process of  FIG. 9  described hereinafter. Moreover, in step S 803 , even when a job, of which execution is instructed by the user and which is waiting to be executed, is included, it may be determined that the job in execution is included. 
         [0083]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a second screen display transition process executed by the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0084]    Specifically, the second screen display transition process of  FIG. 9  is a process of transitioning from the login initial screen  400  to the logout screen  300  or the login in-execution screen  500 . This process is executed by the CPU  180  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0085]    In  FIG. 9 , while the login initial screen  400  of  FIG. 4  is displayed (step S 805  of  FIG. 8 ), when a variety of settings for executing the job are inputted (step S 901 ) and it is recognized that the start key  203  is depressed, the job is executed, followed by the program proceeding to step S 902 . 
         [0086]    In step S 902 , the logout/non-logout determining module  708  determines “contents of a logout condition after the job is inputted” set by the logout setting module  707 . 
         [0087]    As a result of the determination of the step S 902 , when “the logout process is executed after the job is inputted” is set, the login/logout screen display module  705  displays the logout screen  300  of  FIG. 3  (step S 903 ), followed by the program terminating. When “the logout process is not executed after the job is inputted” is set, the login/logout screen display module  705  displays the logout in-execution screen  500  of  FIG. 5  on the job started in the above step S 901  (step S 904 ), followed by the program proceeding to a process of  FIG. 10  described hereinafter. 
         [0088]    As a result of the determination of the step S 902 , in a case where “the logout is executed only when the personal information is included” is set, when personal information such as a transmission address and a file name is displayed on the login in-execution screen  500  of  FIG. 5 , the process of the step S 903  is executed, whereas when the personal information is not displayed on the login in-execution screen  500 , the process of the step S 904  is executed. 
         [0089]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a third screen display transition process executed by the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0090]    Particularly, the third screen display transition process of  FIG. 10  is the process for transitioning from the login in-execution screen  500  to the logout screen  300  or the login initial screen  400 . The present process is executed by the CPU  180  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0091]    In  FIG. 10 , while the login in-execution screen  500  of  FIG. 5  is displayed (step S 904  of  FIG. 9 ), the logout possibility determining module  706  determines whether or not the logout is possible (step S 1001 ), when the logout is possible, the program proceeds to step S 1002 , whereas when the logout is impossible, the program proceeds to step S 1003 . 
         [0092]    The determination of the step S 1001  by the logout possibility determining module  706  is executed as follows. 
         [0093]    When the utilization state recognizing module  702  recognizes that the job of the user authenticated by the user authenticating module  701  is in the removable medium utilization job non-completion state, the logout possibility determining module  706  determines that the logout is impossible. 
         [0094]    When the utilization state recognizing module  702  recognizes that the removable medium utilization job is in the removable medium utilization job completion state, the logout possibility determining module  706  determines that the logout is possible. 
         [0095]    In step S 1002 , the login/logout screen display module  705  displays the logout screen  300  of  FIG. 3 , followed by program terminating. 
         [0096]    In step S 1003 , it is determined whether or not the operation section  200  accepts operation input by the user for the job in execution, when the operation section  200  accepts the operation input, the job situation recognizing module  703  determines whether or not the accepted operation input is an operation for the job in execution (step S 1004 ). As a result of the determination of the step S 1004 , when the accepted operation is not the operation for the job in execution, the process returns to step S 1001 . 
         [0097]    As a result of the determination of the step S 1004 , when the accepted operation is the operation for the job in execution, the job operation authentication registering module  704  determines whether or not the user authentication (utilization permission authentication for the image processing apparatus) is required for the operation for the job in execution (step S 1005 ). 
         [0098]    As a result of the determination of the step S 1005 , when the user authentication (utilization permission authentication for the image processing apparatus) is required, the program proceeds to step S 1006 , in which the IC card is detected by the IC card reader  175  (YES to the step S 1006 ), and the user authentication (utilization permission authentication for the image processing apparatus) is executed by the user authenticating module  701  based on information read from the IC card reader  175 . When it is determined that the user is correctly authenticated (YES to the step S 1007 ), the operation for the job in execution is executed, with execution of a changing process (step S 1008 ), followed by the process returning to step S 1001 . 
         [0099]    As a result of the determination of the step S 1003 , when the operation part  200  does not accept the operation input by the user for the job in execution, the processes after step S 1009  are executed. 
         [0100]    In step S 1009 , the IC card reader  175  determines whether or not the IC card reader  175  detects the IC card. In the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , a plurality of the users can log in at the same time. Thereby, even when the first user instructs the job execution, but does not execute the logout process yet, the image processing apparatus accepts the login by the second user. In this case, the second user can instruct the execution of the job other than the job in execution. 
         [0101]    In step S 1010 , the user authenticating module  701  determines whether or not the user authentication (utilization permission authentication for the image processing apparatus) can be executed based on information read from the IC card reader  175 . 
         [0102]    As results of the respective determinations of the steps S 1009  and S 1010 , when the IC card reader  175  detects the IC card (YES to the step S 1009 ), and when the user authenticating module  701  can execute the user authentication (utilization permission authentication for the image processing apparatus) based on information read from the IC card reader  175  (YES to the step S 1010 ), the login/logout screen display module  705  displays the login initial screen  400  of  FIG. 4  through which the job is inputted, followed by the program terminating. This screen enables the user newly authenticated in the step S 1010  to execute the operation input for instructing the job execution. 
         [0103]    It should be noted that the object of the present invention may also be accomplished by executing the following process. That is, the process is executed by supplying the image processing apparatus or an information processing apparatus, or a function expansion unit of the apparatuses with a storage medium for storing a program code (hereinafter referred to as “the control program”) of software of realizing the functions of the above described embodiment, and causing a computer (CPU or MPU) of each of the apparatuses to read the control program stored in the storage medium. In this case, the control program itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above described embodiment, and hence the control program and the storage medium storing the control program configure the present invention. The control program may be downloaded through a network. 
         [0104]    While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent structures and functions. 
         [0105]    This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2009-099028, filed Apr. 15, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6