JP2007079693A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To identify a service personnel without using an ID code unique to him/her when he/she executes maintenance to an image processing device by using a USB memory. <P>SOLUTION: A data file 20, which is generated according to prescribed conditions, and an execution file 21 for maintenance are stored in a USB memory 6 which the service personnel carries with him/her. When the USB memory 6 is connected to the communication interface of an image processing device, the data in the USB memory 6 are scanned. When it is confirmed that a file, which includes a prescribed file name and character string, exists in the USB memory 6, the service personnel is identified to be a regular service person. The service personnel executes the transmission and reception of data between the image processing device and the USB memory 6 to perform maintenance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that performs processing on image data such as printing, image communication, and facsimile communication and requires maintenance by a service person.

  In an image processing apparatus for business use, a service person performs maintenance. The service person acquires operation data such as usage records and trouble information from the image processing apparatus, or conversely inputs setting data to the image processing apparatus to upgrade the function and add a new function. At this time, in order to exchange data with the image processing apparatus, an external storage device capable of reading and writing data is used.

In Patent Document 1, an IC card is used, data stored in the IC card is read, and the data is used for maintenance. Also in Patent Document 2, an external storage device such as an IC card or a portable information terminal is used for maintenance by a service person.
JP-A 64-31170 JP 2004-17361 A

  A unique ID code is stored in the external storage device, and when the external storage device is connected to the image processing device, the image processing device confirms the ID code of the external storage device. If the ID code can be authenticated, the image processing apparatus allows transmission / reception of data to / from the external storage device. Here, the ID code of the external storage device is set in the image processing device in advance.

  A service person performs maintenance of a plurality of image processing apparatuses. Each service person owns an external storage device. Therefore, a plurality of ID codes are set in one image processing apparatus. When there are a large number of image processing apparatuses, this setting operation becomes very complicated.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can authenticate a connected external storage device without using an ID code unique to the external storage device.

  The present invention provides a connection means for connecting an external storage device capable of reading and writing data, a confirmation means for confirming whether data stored in the connected external storage device satisfies a predetermined rule, and the external When it is confirmed that the data in the storage device satisfies a predetermined rule, the storage device includes control means for permitting transmission / reception of data to / from the external storage device.

  The confirmation unit scans data in the connected external storage device and searches for data satisfying a predetermined rule. If this data exists, the control means authenticates that the external storage device is authentic. If there is no data, the control means determines that the data is not legitimate, and prohibits data transmission / reception to / from the external storage device. Therefore, since the authorized service person carries the external storage device to be authenticated, data can be transmitted / received by the external storage device. Thus, the service person can perform maintenance of the image processing apparatus using the external storage device.

  A file created according to a predetermined rule is stored in the external storage device. The confirmation unit scans a plurality of files and confirms whether there is a file satisfying a predetermined rule. Specifically, the confirmation unit checks whether the name of the file matches a predetermined name or whether the data in the file matches the predetermined data. As a result, the predetermined file is used as a keyword for authentication. If the data related to this file is shared by each image processing apparatus, it is not necessary to set a plurality of ID codes in each image processing apparatus, and the setting operation is facilitated.

  When the external storage device connected to the image processing apparatus is authenticated, the service person performs maintenance on the image processing apparatus. A file having data relating to the administrator and a plurality of files corresponding to different image processing apparatuses are stored in the external storage device, and the control means captures a file corresponding to the own apparatus from the files. That is, the control means takes in a file necessary for maintenance. At this time, the control means searches for a file in the external storage device, selects a file corresponding to the own device, and automatically takes it in. Alternatively, when a file corresponding to the device is selected by the service person, the file is fetched.

  The file to be fetched is an execution file, and the control means executes the execution file. As a result, it is possible to upgrade the functions of the image processing apparatus and add new functions using the external storage device.

  In addition, since a management unit that manages the status information of the image processing apparatus itself is provided, the control unit writes the status information in the external storage device as one of the maintenance. The status information includes data such as the number of counts for image processing, the usage amount of consumables such as recording sheets and toner, and abnormal information related to errors that have occurred. The service person can grasp the use state of the image processing apparatus based on the collected state information, and can use it for maintenance.

  Monitoring means for monitoring connection means to which the external storage device is connected, and when the monitoring means detects that the external storage device remains connected, the control means Make it unusable. That is, the control unit makes the stored data unusable or overwritten with random data for the external storage device connected for a predetermined time or longer. As a result, when the external storage device is connected and forgotten to be removed, the data in the external storage device is invalidated. Even if the external storage device is reconnected, the data cannot be confirmed, and the external storage device cannot be used for maintenance.

  According to the present invention, an external storage device can be authenticated using data stored in the external storage device without using an ID code in each external storage device. Therefore, if common data is used, it is not necessary to set individual ID codes in a large number of image processing apparatuses, and the setting operation is facilitated.

  An image processing apparatus of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus is a digital multi-function peripheral having a copy mode, a printer mode, a scanner mode, and a facsimile mode, and includes an image reading unit 1 that reads a document and inputs image data, an operation unit 2 that receives user input, To communicate by connecting an image forming unit 3 that prints image data, a hard disk device 4 that stores image data, a communication unit 5 that communicates with an external device, and a USB memory 6 that is an external storage device. Communication interface 7, a management unit 8 that stores control information and setting information for the entire apparatus, and a device control unit 9 that controls the entire apparatus. Although not shown, a FAX modem for communicating with the facsimile machine is also provided.

  The image reading unit 1 functions as an input unit for inputting image data, and includes an image sensor such as a CCD 1a, and a document detection sensor 1b that detects a document set on a document table or an automatic document feeder (ADF). Image data read by the CCD 1 a is output to the image forming unit 3.

  The operation unit 2 includes an input unit 2a composed of various input keys and a display unit 2b such as a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 2 operates the entire apparatus and inputs various settings, and displays the input contents and the operation status of the entire apparatus. Is done.

  The image forming unit 3 includes a local memory 10 that is a storage unit that stores image data, a printing unit 3a including a laser scanning unit, and a security unit 3b that encrypts and decrypts the image data. As the local memory 10, a readable / writable semiconductor memory such as an SDRAM or a flash memory is used. The local memory 10 stores image data by overwriting old image data with new image data. The printing unit 3 a prints an image on a recording sheet supplied from a paper feeding unit (not shown) based on the image data stored in the local memory 10.

  In the image forming unit 3, the input image data is stored in the local memory 10, and image processing such as compression, expansion, and processing of the image data is performed on the local memory 10, and the image data subjected to the image processing is printed in the printing unit 3a. The data is output to the hard disk device 4 or the device control unit 9.

  The hard disk device 4 temporarily stores image data for processing. When image data is stored in the hard disk device 4, the image data is encrypted as necessary.

  The communication unit 5 is connected to a router, a switching hub, and the like via a LAN cable, and is connected to a network formed by the information processing apparatus 11 such as a personal computer or a server. The network is connected to the Internet via a communication line such as a telephone line network or an optical fiber. The communication unit 5 transmits / receives data to / from the information processing apparatus 11 in the network, and transmits / receives data to / from the external information processing apparatus 12 and the facsimile apparatus 13 through the Internet.

  When there is an input from the operation unit 2 or a data input from an external device, the device control unit 9 controls each unit based on information stored in the management unit 8 and processes the input image data. That is, any one of a copy mode, a printer mode, a scanner mode, and a facsimile mode is executed on the input image data.

  The image processing apparatus includes invalidating means 14 for invalidating image data in the local memory 10 and the hard disk device 4. The device control unit 9 controls the operation of the invalidating unit 14 according to the operation status of the entire apparatus. Image data invalidation means overwriting or erasing random or meaningless data, making the stored image data unreadable and preventing the original image from being reproduced. That is. Accordingly, the invalidating means 14 invalidates the image data by overwriting the local memory 10 and invalidates the image data by overwriting or erasing the hard disk device 4.

  Next, the operation when each mode is executed will be described. First, in the copy mode, image data of a document read by the image reading unit 1 is output as a copy from the image forming unit 3. Specifically, the image of the original set at the reading position is read by the CCD 1a. The image data output from the CCD 1a is completed as an output image on the local memory 10, and is once transferred to the hard disk device 4 and stored. When there are a plurality of documents, the reading and storing operations are repeated.

  Thereafter, based on the processing contents instructed from the operation unit 2, the image data stored in the hard disk device 4 is sequentially read out at an appropriate timing and sent to the local memory 10. Then, the image data is transferred from the local memory 10 to the printing unit 3a at the timing of writing to the printing unit 3a, and the image is printed on the recording sheet.

  Similarly, when printing a plurality of read image data, the image data is stored in the hard disk device 4 in units of pages as output images, and sent from the hard disk device 4 to the local memory 10 in accordance with the output mode. The image data in the local memory 10 is repeated for the number of output sheets, and transferred to the printing unit 3a in accordance with the writing timing to the printing unit 3a.

  In the printer mode, the image data output from the information processing apparatuses 11 and 12 is output from the image forming unit 3. That is, the image data from the information processing apparatuses 11 and 12 is received by the communication unit 5. The device control unit 9 sends the input image data to the local memory 10, develops it as image data to be output for each page, and temporarily stores it in the hard disk device 4. Then, the image data is sent from the hard disk device 4 to the local memory 10 and transferred to the printing unit 3a in the same manner as in the copy mode, and an image is printed.

  In the scanner mode, the image data of the document read by the image reading unit 1 is communicated to any information processing apparatuses 11 and 12 through a network. In other words, the image data output from the CCD 1 a is completed as an output image on the local memory 10 and temporarily stored in the hard disk device 4. Then, the image data is sent from the hard disk device 4 to the local memory 10, and the device control unit 9 establishes communication with the transmission destination in the network instructed via the operation unit 2, and the target transmission from the communication unit 5. Send the image data first. Further, the image data is transmitted to the external information processing apparatus 12 and the facsimile apparatus 13 from the network via the network by the communication unit 5. The device control unit 9 transmits image data from the FAX modem to the facsimile apparatus through the telephone line by the same operation in the facsimile mode.

  Here, when maintenance of the image processing apparatus is performed or when an abnormality occurs, a USB memory 6 capable of reading and writing data is connected to the communication interface 7 by a service person. The communication interface 7 is a USB connector. Each service person carries the USB memory 6.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the USB memory 6 stores a plurality of files. The file includes a data file 20 and an execution file 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the data file 20 includes a file in which information on a serviceman is stored. This information includes a serviceman level, and can identify what type of image processing apparatus can be maintained. For example, the level is a qualification that the image adjustment of the model for black and white images can be performed but the image adjustment of the model for color images cannot be performed.

  The execution file 21 includes a file for upgrading the function of the image processing apparatus or a file for installing a new function. These execution files 21 are stored for each model. These files are written in the USB memory 6 of each service person by the computer of the service center.

  The data file 20 includes a file created according to a predetermined rule. That is, the file name of the data file 20 is set to a predetermined name. Alternatively, the data in the data file 20 includes predetermined predetermined data. The predetermined data is, for example, a specific character string. Or it is good also as the level of the service person shown in FIG. The USB memory 6 of each service person shares a file created according to a predetermined rule.

  Authentication information relating to a predetermined file name or predetermined data is previously input to the image processing apparatus and stored in the management unit 8. When the USB memory 6 is connected to the communication interface 7, the device control unit 9 confirms whether the USB memory 6 is owned by the service person. The confirmation is performed by checking whether or not the data stored in the USB memory 6 satisfies a predetermined rule based on the authentication information. That is, if a file created according to a predetermined rule exists, the device control unit 9 determines that the connected USB memory 6 is the USB memory 6 of the service person.

  When the device control unit 9 confirms that the USB memory 6 is a serviceman, the device control unit 9 allows data transmission / reception with the USB memory 6 and executes the adjustment mode. If it is not the USB memory 6 of the service person, data transmission / reception is prohibited.

  Therefore, each image processing apparatus only needs to have common authentication information by causing each USB memory 6 to share a predetermined file. When there are a large number of image processing apparatuses, setting work can be performed efficiently.

  The operation when the USB memory 6 is connected will be described with reference to FIG. When the USB memory 6 is connected to the communication interface 7, the communication interface 7 automatically detects that the USB memory 6 is connected from the voltage change. When the detection signal is output to the device control unit 9, the device control unit 9 scans data in the USB memory 6. If a file created according to a predetermined rule does not exist, the device control unit 9 determines that the USB memory 6 is a general user and executes a normal mode.

  If a file created according to a predetermined rule exists in the USB memory 6, the device control unit 9 authenticates that it is a regular service person and executes the adjustment mode. First, the guidance that has shifted to the adjustment mode is displayed on the display unit 2b to notify the serviceman.

  If an administrator code is required, a code input request is displayed on the display unit 2b. When the code is input from the input unit 2a, the device control unit 9 permits the operation by the service person when authenticating that the code is correct.

  The device control unit 9 displays a list of data stored in the USB memory 6. The service person searches for and selects a file necessary for maintenance. The device control unit 9 takes in the identified file, executes it if it is the execution file 21, and stores it in the management unit 8 if it is the data file 20. The device control unit 9 may automatically search for and specify a file corresponding to the device itself. This search is performed by searching for a file containing the model name of the device itself.

  By executing each mode, the recording sheet, toner, and the like are consumed, the usage amount is counted, and the remaining amount is detected. These data are stored. Further, when an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs, the abnormality information at that time is stored as data. In this way, operation data is created with the operation of the image processing apparatus. The device control unit 9 stores various operation data in the management unit 8 as state information.

  The service person collects status information from the image processing apparatus for maintenance. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the USB memory 6 is connected to the communication interface 7, as described above, when the device control unit 9 authenticates that it is a regular serviceman, the operation input of the serviceman is input. wait.

  The service person operates the input unit 2a to select status information to be acquired. The device control unit 9 reads the operation data of the specified state information from the management unit 8 and writes it in the USB memory 6.

  As described above, when maintenance is completed by reading data from the USB memory 6 or writing data from the image processing apparatus to the USB memory 6, the service person extracts the USB memory 6 from the communication interface 7.

  However, when the USB memory 6 is left connected, it may be misused by a third party. Therefore, the device control unit 9 monitors whether the USB memory 6 is connected, and disables the USB memory 6 when it detects that the USB memory 6 remains connected.

  That is, the communication interface 7 detects whether or not the USB memory 6 is connected. Based on this detection, when the device control unit 9 detects that the USB memory 6 is connected for a predetermined time or longer, the USB memory 6 The data stored in 6 is erased.

  When the USB memory 6 from which data has been erased in this way is connected to the connection interface 7, the device control unit 9 scans the inside of the USB memory 6, but since there is no data in the USB memory 6, there is no regular Judge that it is not that of a service person. Therefore, since the USB memory 6 cannot be used for maintenance, data cannot be extracted from the image processing apparatus even if a third party uses the USB memory 6.

  On the other hand, by writing data to the unusable USB memory 6 by the computer of the service center, the USB memory 6 can be used again.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. The external storage device may be a memory card or a disk driver connectable to a communication interface, and a recording medium such as a DVD or CD can be used.

  Also, if the file in the USB memory is confirmed and there is a file created according to a predetermined rule, it is authenticated as a legitimate one, but access to the image processing apparatus is further restricted based on the data in the file. You may make it do. That is, even an authenticated serviceman decides whether to permit access according to the level of the serviceman. For example, in the case of a low-level serviceman, only data transmission / reception is permitted. In the case of a high-level service person, change of setting data such as image adjustment is also permitted.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral that is an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. The figure which shows the list of the file which is remembered in USB memory Figure showing information about service personnel stored in a data file Flow chart when loading data from USB memory Flow chart when writing data to USB memory

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reading part 2 Operation part 3 Image formation part 4 Hard disk apparatus 5 Communication part 6 USB memory 7 Communication interface 8 Management part 9 Device control part

Claims (8)

Connection means for connecting an external storage device capable of reading and writing data, confirmation means for confirming whether data stored in the connected external storage device satisfies a predetermined rule, and data of the external storage device An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that permits transmission / reception of data to / from the external storage device when it is confirmed that the data satisfies a predetermined rule. 2. The file created according to a predetermined rule is stored in an external storage device, and the confirmation unit scans the file and confirms whether there is a file satisfying the predetermined rule. Image processing device. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the confirmation unit checks whether the name of the file or data in the file matches a predetermined name or predetermined data. A file having data relating to an administrator and a plurality of files corresponding to different image processing devices are stored in an external storage device, and the control means takes in a file corresponding to the own device from the files. Item 4. The image processing device according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the file to be captured is an execution file, and the control unit executes the execution file. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a management unit that manages state information of the image processing apparatus itself, wherein the control unit writes the state information in an external storage device. Monitoring means for monitoring connection means to which the external storage device is connected, and when the monitoring means detects that the external storage device remains connected, the control means The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is made unusable. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control means deletes the stored data from the external storage device connected for a predetermined time or longer so that the data cannot be used.

Images