Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/JP4267011B2/en
Timestamp: 2020-05-27 22:37:56
Document Index: 123471860

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 403', 'art 404', 'art 405', 'art 406', 'art 407', 'art 501', 'art 703', 'art 704']

JP4267011B2 - Image forming apparatus, authority control server, and image forming system - Google Patents
Image forming apparatus, authority control server, and image forming system Download PDF
JP4267011B2
JP4267011B2 JP2006227987A JP2006227987A JP4267011B2 JP 4267011 B2 JP4267011 B2 JP 4267011B2 JP 2006227987 A JP2006227987 A JP 2006227987A JP 2006227987 A JP2006227987 A JP 2006227987A JP 4267011 B2 JP4267011 B2 JP 4267011B2
JP2006227987A
JP2008052503A (en
文利 伊藤
2006-08-24 Application filed by キヤノン株式会社 filed Critical キヤノン株式会社
2006-08-24 Priority to JP2006227987A priority Critical patent/JP4267011B2/en
2008-03-06 Publication of JP2008052503A publication Critical patent/JP2008052503A/en
2009-05-27 Publication of JP4267011B2 publication Critical patent/JP4267011B2/en
238000003672 processing method Methods 0 claims 9
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an authority control server, and an image forming system that execute a plurality of functions of an image forming apparatus as a series of flows.
Conventionally, there has been a technique for controlling access to a document in a document management system. For example, an access control list called ACL (Access Control List) is held for each document or for each group constituted by a set of a plurality of documents. Then, security rules such as what operations are permitted for each user are managed using the access control list.
In addition, a process that can be operated or disabled for each user when using a function such as an image forming apparatus on the system is described in advance in the access information. Then, a system that consolidates access information into one security server and restricts execution of user processing in accordance therewith is being studied.
In Patent Document 1, a permission determination rule for whether or not a user is allowed to perform an operation is defined based on a combination of a document classification to be operated and a user who operates the document. By using this rule, the authority control of the user's document management operation is performed.
On the other hand, there is a technique that uses a workflow in which a series of processing from capture to distribution is executed in a predefined order when document files are captured, processed, distributed, etc., continuously in an image forming apparatus (for example, Patent Document 2). By registering routine work that is generally used in the office, such as approval and circulation, as a workflow, the efficiency of user operations can be improved.
JP-A-2005-301602 JP 2005-196414 A
However, conventionally, when a user tries to execute a flow, it has not been assumed that the execution of the flow is restricted by using access restriction information for restricting the execution of the function of the image forming apparatus.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and the like that can restrict execution of a flow using access restriction information when a user tries to execute the flow.
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having at least one of a network connection unit, a printer unit, and a scanner unit and a storage unit. Image formation capable of executing a flow based on flow setting information for executing or limiting functions provided by the image forming apparatus based on access restriction information and designating an execution order for executing a plurality of functions provided by the image forming apparatus An acquisition unit for acquiring access restriction information corresponding to a signing user who has signed the flow setting information when the flow setting information stored in the storage unit includes a signature; And a flow execution means for executing the flow based on the access restriction information acquired by the above .
According to the present invention, when a user tries to execute a flow, the execution of the flow can be restricted using the access restriction information.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system including an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that a copier, a printer, a multifunction peripheral, or the like having a function specifically described below is used as the image forming apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 110 is connected to a LAN 150 including Ethernet (registered trademark) together with a client computer (hereinafter referred to as client) 120 and a server computer (hereinafter referred to as server) 130. The image forming apparatus 110 is connected to a public line 160. However, in the printing system of the present invention, the number of devices connected to the system is not limited to the number of connections. In this embodiment, a LAN is applied as a connection method, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an arbitrary network such as a WAN (public line), a serial transmission method such as USB, and a parallel transmission method such as Centronics and SCSI can be applied.
The image forming apparatus 110 has a copy function and a facsimile function, and also has a data transmission function for reading a document image and transmitting image data obtained by the reading to each apparatus on the LAN 150. Since the image forming apparatus 110 has a function of interpreting PDL (Page Description Language), the image forming apparatus 110 can receive and print PDL data instructed from a computer connected on the LAN 150. The image forming apparatus 110 can store an image read by the scanner unit 112 described later and PDL data instructed by a computer connected on the LAN 150 in a specific area of the hard disk 204 in the image forming apparatus 110. Is possible. Hereinafter, in the present invention, this specific area is referred to as a box area. It is also possible to read a document image and store it as a digital image in a box. It is also possible to print a digital image stored in the box area.
The image forming apparatus 110 includes a scanner unit 112 that is an image input device, a printer unit 113 that is an image output device, and a controller (controller unit) 200 that controls operation of the entire image forming apparatus 110.
The scanner unit 112 converts the image information into an electric signal by inputting reflected light obtained by exposing and scanning the image on the document to the CCD. Further, the electrical signal is converted into a luminance signal composed of R, G, and B colors, and the luminance signal is output to the controller 200 as image data. The document is set in the document feeder. When the user gives an instruction to start reading from the operation unit 111, a document reading instruction is given from the controller 200 to the scanner unit 112. Upon receiving this instruction, the scanner unit 112 feeds documents one by one from the document feeder and performs a document reading operation. The document reading method is not an automatic feeding method using a document feeder, but may be a method of scanning the document by placing the document on a glass surface (not shown) and moving the exposure unit.
The printer unit 113 is an image forming device that forms image data received from the controller 200 on a sheet. In this embodiment, the image forming method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an ink jet system that prints on paper by ejecting ink from a micro nozzle array.
In the server computer 130, an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) and various application programs are executed by the CPU, and various data processing is performed by executing the application under the management of the OS. The same applies to the client computer 120. Details will be described later.
<Detailed explanation of controller>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the controller 200 of the image forming apparatus 110.
The controller 200 is electrically connected to the scanner unit 112 and the printer unit 113, and on the other hand, is connected to the client 120 and the server 130 via the LAN 150 and the WAN 160. As a result, image data and device information can be input and output.
The CPU 201 comprehensively controls access to various connected devices based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 202, and also comprehensively controls various processes performed in the controller.
A ROM 202 stores a boot program for the apparatus.
A RAM 203 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 301 and also a memory for temporarily storing image data. The RAM 203 includes an SRAM that retains stored contents even after the power is turned off, and a DRAM that erases stored contents after the power is turned off.
The HDD 204 is a hard disk drive and can store system software and image data.
The operation unit I / F 205 is an interface unit for connecting the system bus 211 and the operation unit 111. The operation unit I / F 205 receives image data to be displayed on the operation unit 111 from the system bus 211 to the operation unit 111 and outputs information input from the operation unit 111 to the system bus 211.
A network I / F 206 is connected to the LAN 150 and the system bus 211 to input / output information.
The Modem 207 is connected to the WAN 160 and the system bus 211, and inputs and outputs information.
A scanner I / F 208 corrects, processes, and edits image data received from the scanner unit 112. The scanner I / F 208 determines whether the received image data is a color document or a monochrome document, a character document, or a photo document. Then, the determination result is attached to the image data. Such accompanying information is referred to as attribute data.
The image forming unit 209 performs image data direction conversion, image compression, decompression, and the like.
The printer I / F 210 receives the image data sent from the image forming unit 209, and forms an image on the image data while referring to attribute data attached to the image data. The image data after the image formation is output to the printer unit 14.
Note that the user instruction to the image forming apparatus 110 and the information presentation to the user may be performed via the operation unit 111 or the client 120 connected via the LAN 150, for example. Good.
<Computer hardware configuration diagram>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the client 120 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 3, a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, an input device 304 such as a keyboard, a network I / F 305, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 306 are connected to each other via a system bus 210.
A display device 307 such as a CRT and a pointing device 308 such as a mouse are connected to each other via a system bus 310 so as to communicate with each other.
The ROM 303 or the HDD 306 stores a control program in advance. The CPU 301 functions as a computer by reading the control program from the ROM 303 or HDD 306 onto the RAM 302 and executing it as necessary.
The CPU 301 displays various types of information via the display device 307 and accepts user instructions and the like from the input device 304 and the pointing device 308. Further, communication with other devices on the LAN 150 is performed via the network I / F 305.
Further, the server 130 also has the hardware configuration shown in FIG.
<Software configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a software module of the image forming apparatus 110 according to the execution of the flow. Further, the software module shown in FIG.
In the present invention, the flow is a sequence in which the execution order of a plurality of functions executed by the image forming apparatus is determined.
In the present invention, the function executed by the image forming apparatus is not particularly limited as long as it is a function provided by the image forming apparatus, such as a print function, a copy function, a scan function, a data transmission function, and a bookbinding function. . In addition, a print function, a copy function, and the like executed by the image forming apparatus may be processed as a print job, a copy job, or the like, and a flow in which the execution order of a plurality of jobs is determined may be used as a flow.
Hereinafter, in the present exemplary embodiment, what kind of processing is actually performed in the image forming apparatus 110 or the like will be described using a flow in which the execution order of a plurality of jobs is determined.
A login management unit 401 is a software module that receives login information of a user operated from the UI unit 402 and manages a user session.
The UI unit 402 is a software module that performs display on the operation unit 111 via the operation unit I / F 205 and processes user input from the operation unit 111.
A flow signature check unit 403 is a software module for checking a signature portion of a file (hereinafter referred to as a flow setting file) describing a combination of various functions of an image forming apparatus and a flow of processing order. The flow setting file will be described later with reference to FIG.
The authority acquisition unit 404 is a software module that performs processing for inquiring the server 130 about access restriction information (hereinafter referred to as access control) regarding whether or not the functions of the image forming apparatus can be used by the user. The access control will be described later with reference to FIG.
A communication unit 405 is a software module that performs communication by operating the Network IF 206 and the Modem 207.
The flow execution unit 406 is a software module that analyzes the flow setting file. Also, the flow is decomposed into functional job settings (for example, scan job settings, print job settings, transmission job settings, etc.). The flow execution unit may decompose the flow into job settings and directly execute the flow in cooperation with the job execution unit 407.
The job execution unit 407 is a software module for generating a job based on various job settings and executing the job.
The flow list management unit 408 is a software module for managing the flow setting file. Further, this is for managing information indicating which flow execution button is displayed on the operation unit when each user is logged in. In this embodiment, the flow description is handled as a file, but may be stored in the RAM 302.
The authorization list management unit 409 is a software module for managing access restriction information of a logged-in user.
A job list management unit 410 is a software module for managing job settings.
Note that how the software modules cooperate with the CPU 201 to control the execution of the user flow will be described later.
<Flow configuration file structure>
FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of a flow setting file.
The flow setting file 501 includes a job processing order 502, a name 507, a flow signature 508, and the like. In the present embodiment, the name indicates a flow with the name “business trip application”.
The processing order 502 includes an image input process 503 from the scanner, an image preview process 504 in the operation unit as an editing function, an image output process 505 by E-mail transmission, and an image output process 506 by printing. ing. The processing order is set to be performed in the order of input, editing, and output.
A scan input process 503 indicates a scan job for inputting an image from the scanner unit 112, and is set such that an image is captured in monochrome.
A preview editing process 504 indicates a job for displaying an image input in the input process on the operation unit 111 and performing a preview.
A transmission output process 505 indicates a transmission job for transmitting an image after E-mail editing processing, and a destination, a file format at the time of transmission, and the like are set.
A print output process 506 indicates a print job for printing an image after the editing process by the printer unit 113, and the output is set to monochrome and duplex printing is performed.
In this embodiment, input is performed from the scanner unit 112, but image data in the box may be handled as an input image. When a plurality of input processes are defined, subsequent processes are performed on all the input image data. Editing may also be combined with processing such as page deletion and image conversion. Similarly, the output is a combination of E-mail transmission and printing, but it is also possible to define FAX transmission and storage in a box.
The signature 508 is digital signature information corresponding to information in the processing order 502 of the flow setting file 501. Signature information is obtained by creating a digest by taking a hash value from the processing order 502 information in the flow setting file 501 using a one-way function, and encrypting the digest using the secret key of the key pair in the public key encryption method. Is generated. Setting this information as a signature in the flow setting file is expressed as applying a signature. Some flows are not signed. An unsigned flow indicates a flow created by a user who cannot sign the flow. Information such as an identification flag may be used instead of the signature. When a flow is composed of a plurality of existing flows, processing described later is performed based on the signatures of the flows composed of the existing flows instead of the signatures of the existing flows.
In this embodiment, a file using the XML format is assumed when the structure of FIG. 5 is described in the file, but the file description method is not limited to this embodiment.
The flow setting file 501 can be created by an application on the client 120 and stored in the flow list management unit 408 of the image forming apparatus 110 via the LAN 150. However, in order to perform the signature, the user needs to possess the secret key of the key pair in the public key encryption method.
Alternatively, the user can log in to the image forming apparatus 110 and create a flow using an application on the image forming apparatus 110. Even in this case, in order to perform the signature, the user who creates the flow needs to possess the secret key of the key pair in the public key encryption method.
In the first embodiment, it is assumed that only a user who is a system administrator signs a flow using a secret key. Therefore, if the signature is valid, it can be assured that the flow is a public flow that can be commonly used by users of the system created by the administrator. As a result, a flow that the administrator wants to use for each user under management can be created and published as a public flow.
<Access control structure>
FIG. 6 schematically shows access restriction information for each user managed by the server 130.
An item 601 is access restriction information regarding input from the scanner. In the example of FIG. 6, when the user is “User A” and “User B”, the scanner can be used, and when “User C”, the input from the scanner is prohibited.
An item 602 is access restriction information regarding color settings at the time of printing. In the example of FIG. 6, when the user is “User A”, color printing can be used, and when “User B” and “User C”, only monochrome printing can be performed.
An item 603 is access restriction information regarding imposition settings at the time of printing. In the example of FIG. 6, “User B” and “User C” indicate that only duplex printing is possible. “User A” indicates that desired printing is possible between single-sided printing and double-sided printing.
An item 604 is access restriction information regarding FAX transmission. In the example of FIG. 6, “User A” indicates that FAX transmission is possible, and “User B” and “User C” indicate that FAX transmission is prohibited.
An item 605 is access restriction information related to E-mail transmission. In the example of FIG. 6, “User A” indicates that E-mail transmission is possible, and “User B” and “User C” indicate that E-mail transmission is prohibited.
An item 606 is access restriction information related to File Transfer Protocol (FTP) transmission. In the example of FIG. 6, “User A” indicates that FAX transmission is possible, and “User B” and “User C” indicate that FAX transmission is prohibited.
The items related to function access control may be any items other than those shown in the present embodiment as long as they are restricted items related to the functions of the image forming apparatus.
In addition, in the present embodiment, access control is performed in units of users, but may be performed in units of user groups such as user departments. In that case, when one user belongs to a plurality of groups, the user may be controlled to perform access control in any one group.
In addition, when the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 110, information of a portion corresponding to the user among the information is sent to the image forming apparatus 110. The flow of this process will be described later.
<Server software configuration>
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a software module related to server access control management.
A communication unit 701 is a software module that receives an input from the image forming apparatus 110 via the Network I / F 305 and executes a requested process.
The flow verification unit 702 is a software module that analyzes / verifies the flow setting file.
The authorization list generation unit 703 is a software module that creates access restriction information.
The authority list management unit 704 is a software module that manages the access restriction information shown in FIG. 6 for each user.
The public key management unit 705 is a software module for managing public keys in the public key encryption method. The administrator may set a public key in the server in advance, or may make an inquiry to a key server (not shown) connected via a separate network.
The user authentication unit 706 is a software module that receives user authentication information and determines whether user authentication is possible.
<Login process in image forming apparatus>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of a processing program for a user to log in to use the image forming apparatus 110 executed by the CPU on the image forming apparatus 110.
When the user inputs a user name and password using the operation unit 111 of the image forming apparatus 110, the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed. In the present embodiment, the user name and password are handled as authentication information and user authentication is performed. However, user authentication may be performed using information or biometric information input from an IC card as authentication information.
In step S801, user authentication information is passed to the server, and user authentication and access restriction information are acquired. First, the UI unit 402 passes the user authentication information sent from the operation unit 111 to the login management unit 401. Next, the login management unit 401 passes user authentication information to the authority acquisition unit 404 and requests access restriction information of the logged-in user. The authority acquisition unit 404 requests the server for user authentication and access restriction information acquisition via the communication unit 405.
In S802, the server waits for the authentication inquired of the server in S801 and the return of access restriction information. The authority acquisition unit 404 receives a reply from the server via the communication unit 405, and passes the information indicating whether authentication is possible or not to the login management unit. At this time, if there is no reply from the server within a certain time, the communication unit 405 regards it as an authentication failure.
In S803, the login management unit 401 determines the authentication result received in S802. If the authentication is successful, the process proceeds to S804, and if the authentication fails, the process proceeds to S806.
In step S <b> 804, the login management unit 401 instructs the authority acquisition unit 404 to store the login user access restriction information received from the server in the authority list management unit 409.
In step S805, the login management unit 401 notifies the UI unit 402 of successful login, and displays a UI for the logged-in user (for example, FIG. 10 described later).
S806 is a process in the case where authentication fails in S803, and the login management unit 401 notifies the UI unit 402 of the login failure and displays an error.
The above is the flow of the login process in the image forming apparatus. With this process, the access restriction information of the login user can be acquired from the server.
In addition, when the user does not perform an operation for a certain period of time or when an explicit logout is instructed from the operation unit 111, the login management unit 401 deletes the login user access restriction information in the authority list management unit 409 from the authority acquisition unit 404. Is done. At the same time, the login management unit 401 notifies the UI unit 402, and the UI unit 402 displays a screen for logging in to the operation unit 111.
<Authentication processing at the server>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of a processing program executed by the CPU in the server 130 when user authentication information is received from the image forming apparatus 110.
In step S <b> 901, the communication unit 701 receives authentication information from the image forming apparatus 110.
In step S <b> 902, the user authentication unit 706 performs authentication processing using the authentication information sent from the communication unit 701. The authentication process is determined by comparing the user name and password information held in the server with the authentication information sent from the communication unit 701. However, the authentication method is not limited to password comparison.
In S903, if the authentication is successful as a result of the authentication processing in S902, the process proceeds to S904. If the authentication is unsuccessful, the authentication failure is transmitted to the requesting image forming apparatus 110, and the process ends.
In step S <b> 904, the user authentication unit 706 notifies the communication unit 701 of successful authentication, and the communication unit 701 requests access restriction information corresponding to the authenticated user to the authorization list management unit 704. Then, the communication unit 701 returns the access restriction information obtained from the authority list management unit 704 to the requesting image forming apparatus 110.
The above is a flowchart of authentication in the server 130. As a result, the image forming apparatus 110 can obtain user access restriction information as well as whether or not to log in.
<Example of operation screen after login>
FIG. 10 shows an example of a UI after the user logs in “User B” shown in FIG. 6 to the image forming apparatus 110.
Buttons 1001, 1002, and 1003 are buttons for displaying applications on the image forming apparatus 110. Reference numeral 1001 denotes a copy application, 1002 denotes a box operation application, and 1003 denotes a button for displaying a screen of an application for executing a flow (hereinafter referred to as a workflow application). In FIG. 10, the button 1003 is pressed to display the workflow application screen.
At this time, since all the transmission functions of “User B” are restricted by the access restriction information in FIG. 6, a button for calling the screen of the transmission application is not displayed.
Buttons 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, and 1008 are buttons displayed on the workflow application screen for calling and executing a flow. Buttons 1005, 1007, and 1008 indicate that the flow is signed by the icon 1010 on the button.
A button 1009 is a button for calling a screen for registering and editing a flow. When a button 1009 is pressed, a flow setting file as shown in FIG. 5 can be created and registered in the flow list management unit 408. In addition, a registered flow can be re-edited. A flow can be created by designating a plurality of jobs included in the flow shown in FIG. 5 and their processing order 502, name 507, signature 508 for the flow, and the like.
For example, when the user presses the button 1001 to display the UI of the copy application and executes the copy, the following processing is performed. Since “User B” is monochrome and forced double-sided is set as access restriction information at the time of printing, a copy of color copy or single-sided printing cannot be selected because the authority list management unit 409 is referred to by the UI unit 402. For this reason, only monochrome duplex copying can be performed. Further, when the user presses the button 1002 to display the UI of the box application and prints an image input from the client 120 in advance, the operation is as follows. At this time, it is assumed that color or single-sided printing is set in the print setting of the image input from the client 120. In this case, even when an image print job is input from the UI unit, the job execution unit 407 refers to the access restriction information in the authority list 409, and executes the job by changing the job setting to monochrome duplex copying. Such restrictions on operations and execution in jobs are also controlled and realized by the CPU executing a processing program held by the image forming apparatus 110.
<Flow execution process>
Next, a flow execution process when the buttons 1004 to 1008 shown in FIG. 10 are pressed will be described.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart based on a flow execution processing program executed by the CPU 201.
In step S1101, it is determined whether the execution target flow corresponding to the pressed button is a signed flow. A flow setting file corresponding to the button pressed by the UI unit 402 is searched from the flow list management unit 408, and the flow setting file is passed to the flow signature check unit 403. The flow signature check unit 403 analyzes the signature part in the flow setting file, verifies whether there is a signature, and returns the result to the UI unit 402. If the signature is attached, the process proceeds to S1102, and if not, the process proceeds to S1105.
In step S1102, the authority acquisition unit 404 sends the flow setting file to the authority acquisition unit 404 and acquires access restriction information for executing the flow via the communication unit 405 to the server 130. Send the flow setting file. Thereafter, the response result of the server 130 is received via the communication unit 405. Processing in the server 130 will be described later.
In S1103, it is determined whether access restriction information has been received from the server 130 in S1102. When the access restriction information is received from the server 130, the execution target flow is recognized as a public flow, and the execution authority is given. In that case, the process proceeds to S1104. When the error is received from the server 130, the flow to be executed is signed, but it is not recognized as a public flow. In this case, the process proceeds to S1110, an error is displayed, and the process ends.
In S1104, the access restriction information received in S1102 is set as a management target by the authority list management unit 409. At this time, the authority list management unit 409 holds the execution target flow and the access restriction information in association with each other.
In step S1105, the flow to be executed is analyzed by the flow execution unit 406 and divided into job units. The flow execution unit 406 sets jobs defined in the flow setting file in the job list management unit 410 in the order of processing. Further, when setting a job in the job list management unit 410, it is set in association with which flow it was included. Then, the flow execution unit 406 instructs the job execution unit 407 to execute the job included in the flow based on the processing order.
In step S <b> 1106, the job execution unit 407 checks whether there is an authority to execute a job to be executed included in the execution target flow. If there is access restriction information associated with the execution target flow, the access restriction information associated with the execution target flow is compared with the job settings. If there is no access restriction information associated with the flow to be executed, the setting included in the job to be executed is compared with the access restriction information in the login user's authority list acquired at the time of login. As a result of this comparison, if the job setting is restricted by the access restriction information and cannot be executed as set, the process advances to step S1111. If the job setting can be executed with the access restriction information, the process advances to step S1107.
S1111 is a case where it is determined that the job cannot be executed as set as a result of comparison between the job setting and the access restriction information, and the error processing is performed. In this case, the job setting is changed to an executable setting based on the access restriction information, and the process proceeds to S1107.
Note that the user may select whether to change the job setting to execute or not, via the operation unit 111 or the like. If the user selects not to execute the job, the job execution is stopped. When the job execution is stopped, the subsequent flow cannot be executed, and the job related to the execution target flow is deleted from the job list management unit 410.
In step S1107, the job included in the execution target flow is executed. The job setting is read by the job execution unit 407. If the job is a scan job, the scan setting is performed on the scanner unit 112 via the scanner I / F 208 and the scan is executed. If the job is an editing job, an editing operation is performed on the editing target document managed in the HDD 204. For print jobs, FAX jobs, and the like, jobs are executed using necessary hardware.
In step S1108, it is determined whether all the jobs included in the execution target flow have been executed. If all the jobs related to the execution target flow managed by the job list management unit 410 have been completed, the process proceeds to S1109. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S1106, and the next job included in the execution target flow is executed. To do.
In step S1109, the access restriction information related to the execution target flow is deleted, and the process ends.
The above is the flow of processing for executing the flowchart shown in FIG. As a result, for public flows with signatures, the user can execute the flow by acquiring the access restriction information for executing the flow from the server 130.
If the logged-in user can acquire the access restriction information with the signed flow in S1106, the access restriction obtained based on the flow can be obtained even if the logged-in user does not have the authority to execute the job. It can be executed by information.
In the present embodiment, if there is access restriction information associated with the execution target flow, it is executed with the access restriction information. However, the job may be executed with the access restriction information associated with the execution target flow only when the job cannot be executed with the access restriction information of the login user.
<Flow verification processing in server 130>
Next, a verification process for a signed flow in the server 130 will be described.
The flow is executed by the image forming apparatus 110, and the verification process is executed by sending the flow setting file in S1102 of FIG.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart based on a flow verification processing program executed by the CPU.
In step S <b> 1201, the flow verification unit 702 checks whether there is a signature regarding the flow setting file received by the communication unit 701. If the flow has a signature, the process proceeds to S1202, and if there is no signature, the process proceeds to S1209.
In S1202, the flow verification unit 702 decrypts the flow digest from the signature extracted from the flow setting file. Using the public key for public flow verification managed by the public key management unit 705, the signature extracted from the flow setting file is decrypted. At this time, the public flow verification secret key is a secret key that only the user who created the public flow can know. In addition, since the encryption is performed with the secret key, if the decryption fails, it becomes clear that the flow is not a public flow. If the signature is successfully decrypted, this flow is a public flow, indicating that the validity of the flow has been verified.
In S1203, it is determined whether or not the decoding is successful in S1202. If the decryption is successful, the process proceeds to S1204. If the combination fails, the process proceeds to S1209.
In step S1204, a hash value is obtained from the information of the processing order 502 in the flow setting file using a one-way function to create a digest. The method for calculating the hash value is the same as that used when creating the signature.
In step S1205, the data combined in step S1202 is compared with the digest acquired in step S1204. If the data combined in S1202 and the digest acquired in S1204 match, it is determined that the execution target flow has not been tampered with, and the flow proceeds to S1206. If the data combined in S1202 and the digest acquired in S1204 do not match, it is considered that the execution target flow has been tampered with, and the process proceeds to S1209.
In step S1206, the authority list generation unit 703 analyzes the flow. For the job described in the flow setting file, an item related to access control is extracted. For example, color settings and imposition settings for a print job.
In S1207, access restriction information sufficient to execute the items related to the access restriction information extracted in S1206 is created. For example, in step S1206, if there is an item in which “color setting” of the print job is “color” and “imposition” is “single-sided”, “color setting” of printing is “color” and “imposition” is “no restriction”. Create access restriction information.
In S1208, the flow execution access restriction information created in S1207 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 110, and the process ends.
In step S1209, the flow verification unit 702 transmits an error to the image forming apparatus 110 and ends the process.
Through the series of processes described above, if the flow setting file sent from the image forming apparatus 110 is determined to be a public flow by the server 130, access restriction information sufficient to execute the flow may be returned. it can.
The above is the first embodiment.
For example, it is assumed that a user is provided with a business trip application flow in an office or the like where a user scans an application form using an image forming apparatus and transmits the application form to an administrative department by E-mail. At this time, it is assumed that the user restricts the function of E-mail transmission by the access restriction information. If the user actually tries to execute the flow, the application form can be scanned, but the E-mail transmission cannot be performed, and the user cannot execute the business trip application flow. Since the administrator provides a business trip application flow in advance as a routine work for a business trip application, the user wants to execute this flow. Therefore, if the user executes the business trip application flow, the administrator temporarily changes the access restriction information of the user, and involves complicated operations such as returning the access restriction to the original state after the execution of the flow is completed. There are cases.
According to the present embodiment, even when the function restriction for the image forming apparatus is performed, it is possible to flexibly give the user the authority to execute the flow for the execution of the specific flow. Specifically, even in a management system environment where the machine of the image forming apparatus 110 is restricted, the public flow approved in advance by the system administrator may be a function restricted depending on the user. The job can be executed flexibly. As a result, an operation that is convenient for a series of orders and setting contents is registered in advance as a public flow, thereby providing an image forming apparatus that is highly convenient for the user. In addition, there is an advantage that a system administrator can provide a user with a desired process as a flow without performing an exceptional process of approving each job.
In the first embodiment, when the server 130 recognizes a public flow, access restriction information sufficient to execute the flow is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 110. However, all functions from the server 130 are transmitted. Information may be transmitted that may be used. In this case, the image forming apparatus 110 determines that all the determinations in S1106 are authorized. In this case, the same advantages as described above can be obtained.
The second embodiment shows an embodiment in which when executing a flow, the flow is executed with the authority of the user who created the flow, not the user who executed the flow.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in processing when executing a flow. In addition, public keys for a plurality of users are set in the public key management unit 705 of the server 130. Alternatively, the public key management unit 705 is configured to be able to acquire each user's public key via the network.
In the second embodiment, the signature of the flow setting file 501 is created by a user who creates a flow that other users want to use, creating a digest based on the flow processing order information, and signing it using his / her private key. It shall be.
A flow execution process when the buttons 1004 to 1008 shown in FIG. 10 are pressed in the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart based on a flow execution processing program executed by the CPU 201.
In step S1301, it is determined whether the execution target flow corresponding to the pressed button is a signed flow. The flow setting management unit 408 searches the flow setting file corresponding to the pressed button of the UI unit 402 from the flow list management unit 408, and sends the flow setting file to the flow signature check unit 403. The flow signature check unit 403 analyzes the signature part in the flow setting file, verifies whether there is a signature, and returns the result to the UI unit 402. If the signature is attached, the process proceeds to S1302. If the signature is not attached, the process proceeds to S1307.
In step S1302, the flow signature check unit 403 extracts a signature from the flow setting file of the execution target flow.
In step S <b> 1303, the flow signature check unit 403 creates a digest by taking a hash value from the processing order 502 information of the flow setting file related to the execution target flow using a one-way function. At this time, the one-way function method is the same as that used when the flow is signed.
In S1304, the authority acquisition unit 404 transmits the signature acquired in S1302 and the digest created in S1303 to the server 130 in order to acquire the access restriction information of the user who signed the execution target flow. The authority acquisition unit 404 receives the response result from the server 130 via the communication unit 405. Processing in the server 130 will be described later.
In S1305, it is determined whether access restriction information is received from the server 130 in S1304. When the access restriction information is received from the server 130, the flow to be executed is created and the access restriction information of the signed user is received. In that case, the process proceeds to S1306. If access restriction information has not been received from the server 130, the process proceeds to S1312, an error is displayed, and the process ends.
In S1306, the access restriction information received in S1304 is set as a management target by the authority list management unit 409. At this time, the authority list management unit 409 holds the execution target flow and the access restriction information in association with each other.
After S1307, the same processing as that after S1105 in FIG. 11 of the first embodiment is performed.
The above is the flow of processing for executing the flow in the second embodiment. Thereby, when executing a flow with a signature, it is possible to acquire the access restriction information of the user who created and signed the execution target flow from the server 130 and execute the flow based on the access restriction information.
A flow is executed by the image forming apparatus 110, and a signature and a digest are sent in S1304 of FIG.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart based on a flow verification processing program executed by the CPU on the server 130.
In step S1401, the flow verification unit 702 searches the public key managed by the public key management unit 705 for the user's public key corresponding to the signature received by the communication unit 701. If the public key of the signed user is found, the process proceeds to S1402. If no public key is found, the process proceeds to S1406.
In S1402, the flow digest is extracted from the signature. The digest is extracted by decrypting the signature using the public key found in S1401. Since encryption is performed with the user's own private key that only the user who signed the flow can know, if decryption fails, it is not a valid flow created by the signer. If the signature is successfully decrypted, this flow is a flow created by the signer, indicating that the validity of the flow has been verified.
In S1403, it is determined whether or not the decoding is successful in S1402. If the decoding is successful, the process proceeds to S1404, and if the decoding fails, the process proceeds to S1406.
In S1404, the digest received from the image forming apparatus 110 is compared with the digest extracted from the signature in S1402. If they match, it is determined that the flow has not been tampered with, and the process advances to S1405. If not, the process proceeds to S1406.
In step S1405, the access restriction information of the user who has signed the signature is acquired from the authority list management unit, and is transmitted to the requesting image forming apparatus 110, and the process ends.
In step S1406, the flow verification unit 702 transmits an error to the image forming apparatus 110 and ends the process.
Through this series of processing, the signature and digest sent from the image forming apparatus 110 can be verified, and the access restriction information of the user who signed the signature can be returned to the image forming apparatus 110.
The above is the second embodiment. According to the present embodiment, even when the function restriction for the image forming apparatus is performed, it is possible to flexibly give the user the authority to execute the flow for the execution of the specific flow. Specifically, even in a management system environment that restricts the functions of the image forming apparatus 110, a user can cause a user other than himself to execute the flow with his own authority. . Thus, by registering operations that are convenient in a series of orders and setting contents as a flow with a signature, it is possible to use a flow that is convenient for other users. In addition, it is not necessary for the system administrator to exceptionally approve each job individually for a flow that is convenient in a series of orders and setting contents.
In the third embodiment, an embodiment in which authority for executing a flow is included in access restriction information will be described.
The system configuration and software configuration of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.
<Structure of flow setting file in the third embodiment>
The configuration of the flow setting file is different from that of the first embodiment.
FIG. 15 schematically illustrates an example of a flow setting file according to the third embodiment. The difference from FIG. 5 is that there is a flow ID attribute as information for identifying the flow with respect to the flow as indicated by 1501. The ID is information for identifying a flow, and is different information for each flow. The server 130 and the image forming apparatus 110 distinguish flows by this ID.
<Structure of access restriction information in the third embodiment>
The structure of access restriction information in the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 16 schematically shows an example of access restriction information in the third embodiment.
Unlike FIG. 6, the flow ID is managed in addition to the restriction setting of the function of each image forming process. In FIG. 16, a list of flow IDs permitted for each user is set as indicated by 1601.
The system administrator sets a flow ID for a flow that is permitted to be executed by each user.
When the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 110 in the system of the third embodiment, the same processing as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is performed, and the access restriction information including the permitted flow ID is included. Is transferred from the server 130 to the image forming apparatus 110.
<Flow execution processing in the third embodiment>
A flow execution process in the third embodiment will be described.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart based on a flow execution processing program executed by the CPU in the third embodiment.
In step S1701, the flow to be executed is analyzed by the flow execution unit 406 and divided into job units. The flow execution unit 406 sets jobs defined in the flow setting file in the job list management unit 410 in the order of processing. Further, when setting a job in the job list management unit 410, it is set in association with which flow it was included. Then, the flow execution unit 406 instructs the job execution unit 407 to execute the job included in the flow based on the processing order.
In S1702, the execution authority of the execution target flow is checked. The flow ID of the flow to be executed is read from the flow definition file, and it is checked whether or not the flow ID is included in the access restriction information of the login user. When the flow ID read from the flow definition file is included in the access restriction information, the other access restriction information is ignored and the logged-in user is regarded as having the authority to execute the flow, and the process proceeds to S1704. If the flow ID read from the flow definition file is not included in the access restriction information, the process proceeds to S1703.
In step S1703, the job execution unit 407 checks whether or not there is an execution right for the job to be executed. Compare the settings included in the job to be executed with the access restriction information of the logged-in user in the authorization list. As a result of the comparison, if the job setting cannot be executed based on the access restriction information, the process proceeds to S1706. If it can be executed based on the access restriction information, the process proceeds to S1704.
S1706 is a case where it is determined that the job cannot be executed as set as a result of the comparison between the job setting and the access restriction information, and the error processing is performed. In this case, the setting of the job to be executed is changed to an executable setting based on the access restriction information, and the process proceeds to S1704.
Note that the user may select whether to change the job setting and execute the job via the operation unit 111 or the like. If the user selects not to execute the job, the job execution is stopped. When the job execution is stopped, the subsequent flow cannot be executed, and the job related to the execution target flow is deleted from the job list management unit 410.
In step S1704, the target job is executed.
In step S1705, it is determined whether all jobs included in the flow have been executed. If all the jobs related to the execution target flow managed by the job list management unit 410 have been completed, the series of flow execution processing ends. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S1702 to execute the next job included in the flow.
As described above, according to the third embodiment, even in a management system environment that restricts the functions of the image forming apparatus 110, the user can flexibly execute the flow for the execution of a specific flow. It becomes possible to give to. Specifically, the system administrator can grant the flow execution authority to the user with the flow ID of the access restriction information. Thereby, the user can execute the flow in the execution authority setting by the flow ID.
In this embodiment, an identifier such as a flow ID is used as the flow identification information. However, a hash value of a processing portion of the processing flow may be used instead of the ID. In this case, the access restriction information lists the hash values of permitted flows, and the flow execution is performed by comparing the hash value of the flow to be executed in S1702 of FIG. 17 with the hash value permitted for the login user. It may be determined whether the user has authority. In this case, there is an advantage that falsification of the flow setting file becomes difficult.
The present invention can be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices (for example, a computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), or can be applied to a device (multifunction device, printer, facsimile machine, etc.) comprising a single device. Is also possible.
Another object of the present invention is that a computer (or CPU or MPU) of a system or apparatus reads and executes the program code from a storage medium that stores the program code that realizes the procedure of the flowchart shown in the above-described embodiment. Is also achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the program code and a storage medium storing the program code also constitute one of the present invention.
The functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer. This includes a case where an OS (operating system) running on a computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
Further, the following cases are also included. The program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instruction of the program code, a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system in the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of client PC in this invention. 2 is a software block diagram of the image forming apparatus in the present invention. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the flow setting file in 1st, 2nd embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of access restriction information in 1st, 2nd embodiment. It is a software block diagram of a server in the present invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of a login process in this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of an authentication process in this invention. It is a figure of a flow execution screen. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the flow execution process in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the flow verification process in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the flow execution process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of a flow verification process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the flow setting file in 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of access restriction information in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the flow execution process in 3rd Embodiment.
110 Image forming apparatus 120 Client computer 130 Server computer 150 LAN
111 Operation Unit 112 Scanner Unit 113 Printer Unit 201 CPU
402 UI part 403 Flow signature check part 404 Authority acquisition part 405 Communication part 406 Flow execution part 407 Job execution part 501 Flow setting file 502 Processing order 507 Flow name 508 Signature 702 Flow verification part 703 Authorization list generation part 704 Authorization list management part
In an image forming apparatus having at least one configuration of a network connection unit, a printer unit, and a scanner unit and a storage unit, access restriction information indicates functions provided by the image forming device according to the configuration of the image forming apparatus. run or limited based on, an image forming apparatus capable of executing flow based on flow setting information designating an order of performance of a plurality of functions provided by the image forming apparatus,
When the flow setting information stored in the storage unit includes a signature, an acquisition unit that acquires access restriction information corresponding to a signing user who has signed the flow setting information ;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a flow execution unit that executes the flow based on access restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit.
Furthermore, when the user instructs to execute the flow, input means for inputting the user information of the user,
And a determination means for determining whether include signing the flow setting information,
When the determination unit determines that the flow setting information includes a signature , the acquisition unit acquires access restriction information corresponding to a signing user who has signed the flow setting information, and the determination unit The access restriction information of a user who instructed execution of a flow specified by the user information input by the input means is acquired when it is determined that the flow setting information does not include a signature. The image forming apparatus according to 1.
When the validity of the flow is not verified based on a signature included in the flow setting information, the acquisition unit acquires access restriction information of a user who has instructed execution of the flow, and the flow is based on the access restriction information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
A display means for displaying a UI screen for instructing execution of the flow is further provided, and a flow based on flow setting information including a signature and a flow based on flow setting information not including a signature are displayed in an identifiable manner. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .
Obtaining means for obtaining the access restriction information including designation information for designating flow identification information for identifying the flow;
Determining means for determining whether or not the flow setting information stored in the storage unit for executing the flow to be executed includes flow identification information specified by the specification information included in the access restriction information;
A flow execution unit configured to execute the flow based on the access restriction information when the determination unit determines that the flow setting information includes the flow identification information designated by the designation information included in the access restriction information. An image forming apparatus.
In an image forming apparatus having at least one configuration of a network connection unit, a printer unit, and a scanner unit and a storage unit, access restriction information indicates functions provided by the image forming device according to the configuration of the image forming apparatus. run or restricted on the basis of an information processing method for executing an image forming apparatus a flow based on the flow setting information designating an order of performance of a plurality of functions provided by the image forming apparatus,
When the flow setting information stored in the storage unit includes a signature, an acquisition step of acquiring access restriction information corresponding to a signing user who has signed the flow setting information ;
And a flow execution step of executing the flow based on the acquired access restriction information.
Furthermore, an input step for inputting user information of the user when the user instructs to execute the flow;
And a determining step of determining whether or not included signature in said flow setting information,
If it is determined in the determination step that the flow setting information includes a signature, access restriction information corresponding to a signing user who has signed the flow setting information is acquired, and the flow setting information is signed in the determination step. 7. The information processing according to claim 6, further comprising: obtaining access restriction information of a user who has instructed execution of a flow specified by the user information input by the input means when it is determined that the information is not included. Method.
When the validity of the flow is not verified based on a signature included in the flow setting information, the acquisition unit acquires access restriction information of a user who has instructed execution of the flow, and the flow is based on the access restriction information. The information processing method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein:
A display means for displaying a UI screen for instructing execution of the flow is further provided, and a flow based on flow setting information including a signature and a flow based on flow setting information not including a signature are displayed in an identifiable manner. The information processing method according to any one of claims 6 to 8 .
In an image forming apparatus having at least one configuration of a network connection unit, a printer unit, and a scanner unit and a storage unit, access restriction information indicates functions provided by the image forming device according to the configuration of the image forming apparatus. run or restricted on the basis of an information processing method for executing an image forming apparatus a flow based on the flow setting information designating an order of performance of a plurality of functionality provided by the image forming apparatus,
Obtaining the access restriction information including designation information for designating flow identification information for identifying the flow;
A determination step of determining whether or not the flow setting information stored in the storage unit for executing the flow to be executed includes flow identification information specified by the specification information included in the access restriction information;
A flow execution step of executing the flow based on the access restriction information when it is determined in the determination step that the flow setting information includes flow identification information designated by the designation information included in the access restriction information. An information processing method characterized by the above.
A program for causing a CPU included in an image forming apparatus to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 6 to 9 .
A program for causing a CPU included in an image forming apparatus to execute the information processing method according to claim 10 .
In an image forming apparatus having a network connection unit and having at least one of a configuration of a printer unit and a scanner unit, functions provided by the image forming device are executed or limited by the configuration of the image forming device An authority control server for generating access restriction information for
Generating means for generating access restriction information corresponding to a signing user who has signed a flow setting information for specifying an execution order for executing a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus;
An authority control server comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the access restriction information generated by the generation unit to the image forming apparatus via the network connection unit .
Verification means for verifying the validity of the flow based on a signature included in the flow setting information,
Said generating means, when the validity of the flow is verified by the verification means, according to claim 1 3, wherein the generating the access control information corresponding to a signature the user subjected to signing the flow setting information Authority control server.
In an image forming apparatus having a network connection unit and having at least one of a configuration of a printer unit and a scanner unit, functions provided by the image forming device are executed or limited by the configuration of the image forming device An information processing method in an authority control server that generates access restriction information for
A generation step of generating access restriction information corresponding to a signing user who has signed a flow setting information for specifying an execution order for executing a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus;
An information processing method comprising: a transmitting step of transmitting the access restriction information generated in the generating step to the image forming apparatus via the network connection unit .
An image forming apparatus having at least one of a network connection unit, a printer unit, and a scanner unit, and a function provided by the image forming apparatus for executing or restricting a function provided by the image forming apparatus an image forming system comprising a permission control server for generating access restriction information,
The authority control server is
Obtaining means for obtaining access restriction information generated by the generating means from the authority control server;
An image forming system comprising: a flow execution unit that executes the flow based on access restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit when the flow is executed.
JP2006227987A 2006-08-24 2006-08-24 Image forming apparatus, authority control server, and image forming system Active JP4267011B2 (en)
JP2006227987A JP4267011B2 (en) 2006-08-24 2006-08-24 Image forming apparatus, authority control server, and image forming system
US11/844,165 US7730490B2 (en) 2006-08-24 2007-08-23 System with user access-control information having signature and flow setting information for controlling order of performance of functions
KR20070085193A KR100893996B1 (en) 2006-08-24 2007-08-23 Image-forming apparatus, control server, and image-forming system
EP20070114987 EP1892948B1 (en) 2006-08-24 2007-08-24 Access control in an image-forming apparatus, control server, and image-forming system
CN2007101404750A CN101132463B (en) 2006-08-24 2007-08-24 Image-forming apparatus, controling server and method thereof, and image-forming system
AT07114987T AT511732T (en) 2006-08-24 2007-08-24 Access control in a picture generator, controller, and picture generation system
JP2008052503A JP2008052503A (en) 2008-03-06
JP4267011B2 true JP4267011B2 (en) 2009-05-27
ID=38669573
JP2006227987A Active JP4267011B2 (en) 2006-08-24 2006-08-24 Image forming apparatus, authority control server, and image forming system
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EP (1) EP1892948B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4267011B2 (en)
KR (1) KR100893996B1 (en)
CN (1) CN101132463B (en)
AT (1) AT511732T (en)
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