JP2005305662A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of managing confidential documents easily and conveniently. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises an authentication means (1j) for authenticating a user, and a control means (1j) for permitting printing on a sheet with a writing RFID chip only for specific users authenticated by the authenticating means (1j). The image forming apparatus further comprises a RFID reading means (1b) for reading information from the RFID chip of a sheet with a RFID chip. When the sheet with a RFID chip is read out as a document, the RFID reading means (1b) reads out extra information recorded in the RFID chip of the sheet, and the control means (1j) performs control for copying the document only when the extra information read out by the RFID reading means (1b) satisfies conditions for permitting copy. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, a copier, and an image forming apparatus such as a multi-function machine having these functions using a sheet with a writable RFID chip.

In recent years, various security technologies for protecting confidentiality of confidential documents have been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a scanner technology that transmits changed electronic data without directly transmitting electronic data scanned from the reading object according to the information in the IC chip of the reading object including the IC chip. Is described. In this technology, when the IC chip information indicates that copying is prohibited, the electronic data is changed by changing the image information transfer algorithm so that part or all of the data is lost or noise is added to the data. To send.
In addition, there is a technique for printing a mark or bar code indicating copy prohibition or the like and performing output control when copying based on the mark or bar code (Patent Document 2, etc.).
JP 2001-24845 A JP 2001-189855 A

  In general, it is desirable that a confidential document be managed by a specific administrator. However, when a copy of the confidential document is taken, it is difficult to prevent leakage. Although the above prior art can prevent unauthorized copying by providing information to prohibit copying on the original document, confidential documents are not uniform in required degree of confidentiality, and are simply copied. If you ban it, it will be bad to use.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can be used easily and can easily manage confidential documents.

An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an authentication unit for authenticating a user in the image forming apparatus, and a writable RFID chip only for a specific user authenticated by the authentication unit. A control means for permitting printing using attached sheets is provided.
The RFID chip-attached paper is a paper in which the RFID chip is embedded in the paper or fixed to the paper surface by sticking or the like.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the paper with the write-type RFID chip is stored in a specific paper feed stage with a lock.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an RFID reading unit that reads information from an RFID chip of a sheet with an RFID chip. When reading the sheet with the RFID chip as a document, the RFID reading unit includes: The additional information recorded on the RFID chip of the paper is read, and the control unit performs control to copy the document only when the additional information read by the RFID reading unit satisfies a condition for permitting copying. It is a feature.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising RFID recording means for recording information on the writable RFID chip of the paper, the writable RFID chip attached. When printing on paper and outputting, the RFID recording means records additional information on a writable RFID chip on the paper.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, the additional information includes at least information that prohibits copying, an expiration date that allows copying, and information about generations of copying. In addition, any one of the copyable numbers is included.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, when the additional information read by the RFID reading unit includes information prohibiting duplication, the control unit performs duplication. The prohibition process is characterized by not outputting at all or outputting to the user indicating that copying is impossible.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, when the control unit includes an expiration date that allows the additional information read by the RFID reading unit to be copied, If the expiration date is not valid, the duplication prohibition process is performed.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the control unit includes duplicate generation information in the additional information read by the RFID reading unit. In this case, if the generation information does not correspond to a generation permitted to be copied, the copy prohibiting process is performed.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the control means includes the copyable number in the additional information read by the RFID reading means. If the copyable number is valid, printing is possible up to the possible number of copies, and when the copyable number is exceeded, the copy prohibition process is performed.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourth to ninth aspects, the control unit is configured such that the RFID reading stage reads information on the RFID chip from a sheet read as a document. In the situation where the document cannot be read, when the original is copied, the image data of the original is stored in the storage means.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourth to ninth aspects, the control unit is configured such that the RFID reading stage has information on RFID chips from a sheet read as a document. In a situation where the document cannot be read, the copy prohibiting process is performed when the document is copied.

  In this specification, “duplicate” in the image forming apparatus refers to printing on paper by the copying function of the image forming apparatus.

According to the present invention, it is possible to limit printing using a writable RFID chip-attached paper different from a general paper to only a specific authenticated user.
In addition, when reading a sheet with an RFID chip as a document, the document is copied only when the additional information read from the RFID chip satisfies the conditions permitting copying, and other conditions (when the additional information is prohibited from copying) If it is out of the validity period, if it is a generation for which copying is prohibited, or if the number of copies exceeds the number of copies that can be copied), the copy prohibition process is automatically performed. Document management becomes easy.
Further, when copying in a situation where the information of the RFID chip cannot be read from the document, the image data of the document is stored in the storage means, so that the administrator can monitor what document is copied.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an RFID recording unit 1a, an RFID reading unit 1b, a scanner unit 1c, a FAX communication unit 1d, a printing unit 1e, a storage unit 1f, an operation unit 1g, and a network. It includes an I / F 1h, a display unit 1i, and a control unit 1j.

  The RFID recording unit 1a is provided in the following printing unit 1e, and records additional information on an RFID chip embedded in a paper with a write-type RFID (Radio Frequency-Identification) chip. As shown in FIG. 2, the RFID recording unit 1a is installed on the paper feed path of the printing unit 1e so as to oppose the sheet with RFID chip 3 and records additional information.

  The RFID reading unit 1b is provided in the following scanner unit 1c, and reads the recorded additional information from the RFID chip of the paper with the RFID chip. As shown in FIG. 2, the RFID reading unit 1b is also installed and recorded on the paper feed path (or the paper mounting table) of the scanner unit 1c so as to oppose the paper with the RFID chip indicated by reference numeral 3. Read additional information.

  In this embodiment mode, an RFID chip that can be embedded in thin paper such as printing paper is used. At present, a small-capacity RFID chip capable of writing information has been put into practical use. In this embodiment, such a writable RFID chip is used. As shown in FIG. 3, the RFID chip-attached paper is a paper in which the RFID chip of reference numeral 2 is embedded inside a blank portion of the paper indicated by reference numeral 3, or is fixed to the paper surface by sticking or the like.

The scanner section 1c takes in original paper (hereinafter referred to as an original) and reads the image (image).
The FAX communication unit 1d transmits the image data of the document captured by the scanner unit 1c to the destination FAX machine based on the communication setting information. Also, it receives image data of a document transmitted from another FAX machine.

  The printing unit 1e executes a printing process according to the printing command. For example, when the printer function of the image forming apparatus 1 is used, printing is executed according to a print command given from a host computer such as a PC. Further, when the copy function of the image forming apparatus 1 is used, the image is printed (duplicated) from the image data of the document captured by the scanner unit 1c.

  The storage unit 1 f stores a control program and various data for controlling the image forming apparatus 1. When storing document preview data, which will be described later, it is stored in the storage unit 1f. In addition, authentication information (for example, a user ID and a password) for authenticating a person who is permitted to print on a sheet with an RFID chip is stored. The storage unit 1f can be configured using a nonvolatile recording device such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a hard disk.

The operation unit 1g includes various input / setting keys for a user to perform input operations on the image forming apparatus 1. The data input by the user is notified to the control unit 1j, and the content is displayed on the display unit 1i described below.
The network I / F 1h is an interface for connecting to a host computer (not shown) via a network (LAN or the like) such as Ethernet (registered trademark).
The display unit 1i includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel and a display control circuit. Under the control of the control unit 1j, setting contents input from the operation unit 1g and various types of information are displayed.

  The control unit 1j controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 1. That is, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is performed under the control of the control unit 1j. In addition, the control unit 1j has a built-in timer, measures the time, and provides a clock function (system clock). In addition, when the user instructs printing on the RFID chip-attached paper on the host computer side, the driver software installed in the host computer receives the user ID and password as user authentication information. The authentication information is sent to the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 1j authenticates the user who is permitted to print on the RFID chip-attached paper from the authentication information sent from the host computer and the user authentication information stored in the storage unit 1f. Only successful users are allowed to print on paper with RFID chips.

The control unit 1j is composed of a memory, a CPU (central processing unit), and the like, and the function is realized by loading the control program (not shown) into the memory and executing it.
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a dedicated paper feed stage (not shown) for storing the paper with the RFID chip, and this paper feed stage is locked. Only a specific administrator can take out or replenish the RFID chip-attached paper from the paper feed tray.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operation flow described below is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this processing flow.

[When printing on paper with RFID chip in response to a print command from the host computer]
It is assumed that driver software (printer driver) for causing the image forming apparatus 1 to function as a printer is installed on the host computer side.
First, when the user designates a sheet with an RFID chip as a printing sheet to be used for the image forming apparatus 1, the printer driver displays a screen (authentication screen) that prompts the user to input a user ID and a password as authentication information. The information is displayed on the display screen of the host computer, and the user is prompted to input the authentication information (step S101).

  The input user authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1, and the control unit 1j of the image forming apparatus 1 authenticates the user from the sent authentication information and pre-registered authentication information. In the storage unit 1f of the image forming apparatus 1, authentication information (user ID and password) of a user who is permitted to print using paper with an RFID chip (herein referred to as an administrator) is registered. 1j determines whether the authentication information sent from the host computer matches the registered administrator's authentication information, and if they match, it is assumed that the authentication is successful (determination in step S102). Will be YES). If this authentication fails, the process ends. As a result, printing using a sheet with an RFID chip by a user who is not an administrator is not permitted.

  If the determination in step S102 is YES, that is, if the authentication is successful, this is notified to the printer driver of the host computer, and this printer driver at least reproduces additional information to be recorded on the RFID chip. Setting input for information including any of prohibited information, expiration date for enabling copying, generation information for copying, and number of copies that can be copied, and setting input for notifying that when copying is not possible (this is the image forming apparatus 1) A setting screen prompting the user to input the setting is displayed on the display screen of the host computer, and the setting input is accepted (step S103). Then, each information set and input by the user and the print command are sent to the image forming apparatus 1.

  Receiving the print command, the image forming apparatus 1 starts printing using the RFID chip-attached paper (step S104). The RFID chip-equipped paper is stored in a specific paper feed stage with a lock, and the control unit 1j gives an instruction to the printing unit 1e to print using the RFID chip-equipped paper stored in the paper feed stage. .

Further, the additional information set in step S103 is recorded / stored in the RFID chip of the sheet with the RFID chip (step S105).
As described above, printing is performed on a sheet with an RFID chip, and additional information is written on the RFID chip of the sheet.

[When copying]
When the user performs a copy start operation using the operation unit 1g, the scanner unit 1c takes in the original and reads an image of the original, and the RFID reading unit 1b adds from the original (the RFID chip). Information is read (step S201).
In step S202, it is determined whether additional information exists in the document. That is, it is determined whether the original is a sheet with an RFID chip and additional information is stored in the RFID chip (step S202).

If the document is a sheet with an RFID chip and no additional information is stored in the RFID chip, or if the document does not have an RFID chip (for example, the RFID chip portion is not cut) The determination in S202 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S301 (FIG. 6).
On the other hand, if the additional information can be read from the document, the additional information exists, so that the determination in step S202 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S203.

In step S203, it is determined whether or not the content of the additional information read by the RFID reading unit 1b in step S201 includes information prohibiting copying (copying is impossible).
At this time, if the additional information includes information prohibiting duplication, the determination in step S203 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S401 (FIG. 7). On the other hand, if the information prohibiting duplication is not included, NO is determined in the determination in step S203, and the process proceeds to step S204.

In step S204, it is further determined whether or not the content of the additional information read by the RFID reading unit 1b in step S201 includes an expiration date that allows duplication.
At this time, if the additional information includes the expiration date, the determination in step S204 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S501 (FIG. 8). If the additional information does not include the expiration date, the process proceeds to step S204. The determination is NO and the process moves to step S205.

In step S205, it is further determined whether or not generation information is included in the content of the additional information read by the RFID reader 1b in step S201.
If the generation information is included in the additional information at this time, the determination in step S205 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S601 (FIG. 9). On the other hand, if the generation information is not included, NO is determined in step S205 and the process proceeds to step S206.

In step S206, it is further determined whether or not the number of copyable sheets is included in the content of the additional information read by the RFID reading unit 1b in step S201.
At this time, if the additional information includes the copyable number, YES is determined in the determination in step S206, and the process proceeds to step S701 (FIG. 10). On the other hand, if the number of duplicatable sheets is not included, NO is determined in step S206, and the process proceeds to step S207.
In step S207, the image read from the document is transferred to the printing paper according to the setting by the user, and the copying is completed. When this paper is a paper with an RFID chip, generation information is recorded on the RFID chip.

  Here, when it is determined NO in step S202, that is, when a normal sheet without an RFID chip is used as a document, or when an RFID chip portion of a sheet with an RFID chip is cut off. A process when it is determined that no additional information exists will be described (see FIG. 6).

First, based on the image data of the original read in step S201, preview image data subjected to data compression is created (step S301).
Next, the created preview image data is stored in the storage unit 1f (step S302). Then, normal copy processing is performed (step S303).

  The preview image data is stored for security so that the administrator can confirm the contents later, and by compressing the data, the storage capacity of the storage unit 1f is saved. Here, the preview image data is stored in this way. However, if NO is determined in step S202, the administrator may be notified by e-mail or an alarm sound may be generated. Good.

Next, a description will be given of a process (duplication prohibition process) in the case where YES is determined in step S203, that is, when the additional information cannot be copied (see FIG. 7).
First, it is determined whether or not a setting for performing printing for notifying the user that copying is not possible is made (step S401).

If the above setting has not been made, NO is determined in the determination in step S401, and the process is ended as it is. In this case, the process ends without printing.
On the other hand, if the above setting has been made, printing is performed to notify the user that copying is not possible (step S402). For example, the entire surface is black (see FIG. 3), and a character string indicating that copying cannot be performed with white characters is printed, or a character string indicating that copying cannot be performed is watermark-printed.

  Next, a process when it is determined YES in step S204, that is, when expiration date information is included in the additional information will be described (see FIG. 8).

  Here, it is determined whether an expiration date as additional information is satisfied (step S501). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the date and time indicated by the system clock has passed the date and time designated by the expiration date. If it is determined in this determination that the expiration date is satisfied, the determination is YES, and the process proceeds to step S205 (FIG. 5). On the other hand, if the expiration date is not satisfied, it is determined NO in this determination, and the process proceeds to the above-described step S401 (FIG. 7) to perform the copy prohibition process.

  Next, a process when it is determined YES in step S205, that is, when generation information is included in the additional information will be described (see FIG. 9).

Here, based on this generation information, it is determined whether or not the RFID chip-attached paper is a generation permitted to be copied (step S601).
If it is determined in the above determination that the RFID chip-attached paper is a generation permitted to copy, the determination is YES, and the process proceeds to step S206 (FIG. 5). On the other hand, if it is determined that the generation is not permitted to be copied, it is determined NO in this determination, and the process proceeds to step S401 (FIG. 7) to perform the copy prohibition process.

  In the generation information, the RFID chip paper printed by the processing shown in FIG. 1 (described above) is the first generation, and the RFID chip paper copied using the first generation paper as the original is the second generation. Information for identifying such generations. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 can copy a copy of the first generation as a manuscript without limitation or with a predetermined restriction. However, when the second generation is a manuscript, the copying is prohibited (copying is not allowed). Control.

  Next, a description will be given of processing in a case where YES is determined in step S206, that is, processing in the case where the additional information includes printable sheet number information (see FIG. 10).

Here, first, it is determined whether or not the number of printable sheets is 0 (step S701).
Since copying is possible at the beginning of the loop processing consisting of steps S701 to S704, the number of printable sheets set in the additional information is normally set to 1 or more. Accordingly, in the very first determination in step S701, it is determined as NO and the process proceeds to step S702.

Next, the number of printable sheets is reduced by 1 (step S702), and a copy process for one sheet (this corresponds to the process of step S207 shown in FIG. 5) is performed (step S703).
Next, it is determined whether or not the copying process for the number of copies has been completed (step S704). If it is determined that the copying process for the number of copies has not been completed, the process returns to step S701. Eventually, the copying process for the printable number of sheets is performed (in this case, it is determined YES in step S701) Step S401 (FIG. 7) is performed, and the copy inhibition process is performed), and the loop process from step S701 to S704 is repeated until the copy process for the number of copies is completed.

The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 (including the operation on the printer driver side in the host computer) has been described above.
The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is the same as that of the prior art except for the operation when printing on the RFID chip-attached paper by the printer function and the operation by the copying function.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the concrete composition is not restricted to this embodiment, and the composition of the range which does not deviate from the gist of this invention is included. Needless to say.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the table which matched ID and communication setting information stored in a memory | storage part (or server). 2 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between an RFID recording unit / RFID reading unit and an RFID chip in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation when printing on a sheet with an RFID chip according to a print command from a host computer in the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of copying by the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of copying by the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of copying by the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of copying by the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of copying by the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of copying by the image forming apparatus of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 1a ... RFID recording part (RFID recording means)
1b... RFID reader (RFID reader)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1c ... Scanner part 1d ... FAX communication part 1e ... Printing part 1f ... Memory | storage part (memory | storage means)
1g ... operation unit 1h ... network I / F
1i ... display unit 1j ... control unit (control means, authentication means)
2 ... RFID chip 3 ... Paper with RFID chip

Claims (11)

In the image forming apparatus,
An authentication means for authenticating the user,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that permits printing using a writable RFID chip-attached sheet only to a specific user authenticated by the authentication unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the writable RFID chip-attached paper is stored in a specific paper feed stage with a lock. In the image forming apparatus,
RFID reading means for reading information from the RFID chip of the paper with the RFID chip,
When reading the paper with RFID chip as a document, the RFID reading means reads additional information recorded on the RFID chip of the paper,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control to copy the document only when the additional information read by the RFID reading unit satisfies a condition for permitting copying. RFID recording means for recording information on the writable RFID chip of the paper,
The said RFID recording means records additional information on the write-in type RFID chip of the said paper, when printing on the paper with the said write-in type RFID chip, and outputting. Image forming apparatus. 5. The image formation according to claim 3, wherein the additional information includes at least one of information that prohibits copying, an expiration date that allows copying, generation information of copying, and the number of copies that can be copied. apparatus. When the additional information read by the RFID reading unit includes information prohibiting copying, the control unit does not output the copy prohibiting process at all or outputs an output indicating that copying cannot be performed to the user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. The said control means performs the said duplication prohibition process, when the expiration date which can be replicated is contained in the additional information which the said RFID reading means read, if this expiration date is not effective, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. The image forming apparatus according to 6. When the additional information read by the RFID reading means includes the generation information of the copy, the control means performs the copy prohibition process if the generation information does not correspond to the generation permitted to be copied. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. When the additional information read by the RFID reading unit includes the copyable number, the control unit allows printing up to the possible number if the copyable number is valid. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein prohibition processing is performed. The control means stores the image data of the original in the storage means when the original is copied in a situation where the RFID reading stage cannot read the information of the RFID chip from the paper read as the original. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4. The said control means performs the said duplication prohibition process, when replicating this original in the condition where the said RFID reading stage cannot read the information of RFID chip from the paper read as an original. Item 12. The image forming apparatus according to Item 9.

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