JP2007125716A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a printing apparatus that can be operated without causing a problem that an administrator must perform settings that may be performed by a general user.
If the administrator (who knows the password) changes the authentication level by operating the operation panel, the password is required to be entered when the change is made (" It is configured as a device that can change the type (combination) of “normal setting” and “I / F setting”.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

  As is well known, printing apparatuses (apparatuses that perform printing such as printers and multifunction peripherals) that are commercially available in recent years are apparatuses that can perform various settings relating to the operating conditions of the apparatus.

  In addition, some settings related to the operating conditions of the printing apparatus may cause problems if incorrect settings are made (for example, network-related settings). For this reason, a printing apparatus having a function of locking the change of setting items so that various settings cannot be changed has been developed.

  However, the existing function for locking the setting change is a device in which the setting type of the item to be locked is fixed. For this reason, when an existing printing apparatus is operated, there has been a problem that an administrator has to perform settings that may be performed by a general user.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can be operated without causing a problem that an administrator must perform settings that may be performed by a general user.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, according to the present invention, a printing apparatus having an operation panel is a plurality of operation condition element information, a password, and information that can take several values. Non-volatile storage means for storing authentication level information, which is information in which some of the operating condition element information required is used, and the operation panel is used as an interface means between the operator Operating condition element information changing means and authentication level changing means for operating the operating condition element information specified by the operator stored in the non-volatile storage means. A function of executing an operation condition element information change process to be changed in accordance with an instruction of the operator, and the operation condition element information designated by the operator is stored in the nonvolatile storage means If the authentication level information is information that requires authentication, the operator inputs a password, and the password input by the operator is stored in the nonvolatile storage means. Only when the password matches, the operation condition element information change process is started, and the operation condition element information designated by the operator is authenticated by the authentication level information stored in the nonvolatile storage means. Is a means for starting the operation condition element information changing process without allowing the operator to input a password, and the authentication level changing means If the password entered by the operator matches the password stored in the non-volatile storage means. As far as the value of the authentication level information stored in the nonvolatile storage means in advance to constitute a device is a means for initiating an authentication level changing process of changing to those instruction of the operator.

  That is, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, if the administrator (who knows the password) changes the value of the authentication level information by operating the operation panel, the password is required to be set (changed). It has a configuration that can change the type (combination) of operating condition element information to be changed. Therefore, this printing device is operated in such a way that there is no problem that the administrator has to perform settings that can be made by general users (operations for changing operating condition element information that can be changed by general users). It becomes a device that can.

  In realizing the printing apparatus of the present invention, the authentication level information stored in the non-volatile storage means is set as information defining several processes that require authentication at the time of execution for each value, and the operation described above. Process execution means that uses the panel as an interface means with the operator, and has a function of executing a process instructed by the operator, and the process instructed by the operator is stored in the nonvolatile memory If the authentication level information stored in the means is a process that requires authentication, the operator inputs a password, and the password input by the operator is stored in the nonvolatile storage means. The process is started only when it matches the stored password, and the process designated by the operator is stored in the non-volatile storage means If authentication is a process that is not a necessary by witness level information without inputting the password to the operator, the processing executing means for starting the processing, it is possible to keep added.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus (so-called multi-function machine) including a scanner unit 20 having an operation panel 22 and a printer unit 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation panel 22 provided in the printing apparatus 10 includes a USB host circuit (interface circuit for accessing a USB memory; “USB host” in FIG. 1), an LCD 31, and a copy. The unit includes a button 33, a scan button 34, various setting buttons 35, a left button 36L, a right button 36R, an upper button 36U, a lower button 36D, and the like. Further, the operation panel 22 (scanner unit 20) is a unit in which a USB memory insertion slot 21 (a part of the USB host circuit) is provided at the position shown in FIG.

  The printer unit 40 (FIG. 1) is a unit that includes a controller 41 and a print engine 42.

  The print engine 42 provided in the printer unit 40 is a unit for printing on paper.

  The controller 41 is a unit that controls each unit in the printing apparatus 10 in an integrated manner. As shown, the controller 41 includes an engine interface circuit (“engine I / F”), a scanner interface circuit (“scanner I / F”), a CPU, a ROM that stores firmware, a RAM, a panel interface circuit ( "Panel I / F"), parallel interface circuit ("Parallel I / F"), USB interface circuit ("USB I / F"), network interface circuit ("NW I / F"), operating condition information For example, an EEPROM, an image processing circuit (“image processing”), and the like.

  Based on the above, the configuration and operation of the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described more specifically below.

  The printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that normally operates as a printer, and starts an operation as a copier when the copy button 33 (see FIG. 2) is pressed. The printing apparatus 10 starts operating as a push scan apparatus when the scan button 34 is pressed, and is stored in the USB memory inserted into the insertion slot 21 when the various setting buttons 35 are pressed. This is a device that starts operations in a state where various printing operations and the like can be performed on a file (details will be described later). The push scan device has a function of generating an image data file of a document set in the scanner unit 20 and storing it in a PC designated by the user or on a USB memory inserted in the insertion slot 21. It is a device that has.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus 10 is an apparatus (an apparatus having a function for managing the number of copies of each user) that can be operated in a state that requires input of a user password when the copy button 33 / scan button 34 is pressed. In addition, there is a function for internally storing job information including the computer name and user name of the transmission source PC of the print job data that has been printed, the number of prints, etc., and the internal storage in the PC that has transmitted the predetermined command. The apparatus has a job information management function including a function for transmitting certain job information.

  The operating condition information stored in the EEPROM in the controller 41 (see FIG. 1) is information for designating various operating conditions of the printing apparatus 10.

  This operating condition information includes USB host use / nonuse designation information indicating whether or not the USB host circuit is used, parallel interface use / nonuse designation information indicating whether or not the parallel interface circuit is used, and the USB interface circuit. USB interface use / nonuse specification information indicating whether or not to use, network interface use / nonuse specification information indicating whether or not to use a network interface circuit, and various information for specifying the operating conditions of each interface circuit ( IP address, etc.), authentication level ("all items", "only setting items", "only I / F setting items", "no authentication" information; details will be described later), administrator password (hereinafter, It is simply composed of information such as a password.

  The firmware stored in the ROM in the controller 41 is a program including a main program, a program for controlling each interface circuit (so-called driver), and the like. Also, the main program included in this firmware checks the value of use / non-use designation information related to each interface circuit in the above-mentioned operation condition information to the controller 41 (CPU) that has started the operation based on the power-on. In addition, the program for executing a process of loading a program related to each interface circuit specified to be used on the RAM.

  Further, the firmware causes the controller 41 that has detected pressing of the various setting buttons 35 to perform the processing of the procedure shown in FIG. Although notation in the flowchart is omitted, the processing in FIG. 4 is completed when the various setting buttons 35 are pressed again.

  That is, when the various setting buttons 35 are pressed, the controller 41 first performs a menu screen display process (step S101) that is a process for displaying the menu screen on the LCD 31 based on the menu screen information.

  Here, the menu screen information includes a plurality of menu names (“printer information”, “index printing”, etc.) and type information (details will be described later), as schematically shown in FIG. ) (Information set in the firmware). In addition, the menu screen has a configuration as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B), and the menu name displayed in reverse and the four menu names shown in the screen are the up button 36U / down button. This is a screen (screen for presenting the menu name in the menu screen information to the operator) that changes when 36D is pressed.

  When the controller 41 detects that the right button 36R has been pressed, the controller 41 ends the menu screen display process (FIG. 4: step S101).

  Then, the controller 41 that has finished the menu screen display processing uses the menu name selected by the operator (the menu name that was highlighted when the right button 36R was pressed; hereinafter referred to as the selected menu name) for direct printing. It is determined whether or not the menu name is one of “index print”, “document file print”, and “image file print” (step S102).

  If the selected menu name is not a direct printing menu name (step S102; NO), the controller 41 performs a processing item screen display process (step S103).

  In the process item screen display process executed by the controller 41 in step S103, the process item screen of the type corresponding to the selected menu name is displayed on the LCD 31, and then the contents of the displayed process item screen are displayed by the operator's instruction ( This is a process of changing according to the pressing of the upper button 36U / lower button 36D by the operator.

  The processing item screens displayed by this processing item screen display processing include the types shown in FIGS. 7A1 and 7A2 and the types shown in FIG. 7B. There are those of the type shown in FIG. 7 (C) and those of the type shown in FIG. 7 (D). In other words, the process item screen includes a process item name for starting various setting processes related to a certain interface circuit (processes for changing use / non-use information related to a certain interface circuit in the operation condition information). (“Network I / F = Use”, “IP Address Setting”, “USB Host = Use”, etc.) (FIG. 7 (A1), FIG. 7 (A2)) and the setting process related to the interface circuit A process item name for starting various setting processes (FIG. 7B) and a process item for starting various execution-type processes (such as reset processes, which are not setting processes). There are a name shown (FIG. 7C) and a name (FIG. 7D) showing processing item names for starting various setting processes related to a password (administrator password). The type information (see FIG. 5) in the menu screen information is information indicating which type of processing item screen is the processing item screen displayed when the corresponding menu name is selected.

  When the controller 41 detects that the right button 36R has been pressed, it ends the process item screen display process (FIG. 4: step S103).

  Then, the controller 41 that has completed the process item screen display process performs an authentication necessity determination process (step S104). This authentication necessity determination process is a process for determining whether or not it is necessary to perform authentication using the algorithm shown in FIG. 8 from the type information regarding the selected menu name and the authentication level.

  After completing the authentication necessity determination process, the controller 41 determines whether or not the processing result of the authentication necessity determination process is “authentication required” (step S105), and the processing result of the authentication necessity determination process is “authentication required”. If “” (step S105; YES), a password acquisition process (step S106) is performed in order to acquire a password from the operator (in order for the operator to input a password). More specifically, the controller 41 prompts the input of a password by displaying a window as shown in FIG. 9 on the processing item screen, and as a result, the password entered by the operator using the numeric keypad (in this embodiment, , A maximum of 20 characters) is acquired, and a password acquisition process (a process that ends when the right button 36R is pressed) is performed.

  After completing the password acquisition process, the controller 41 stores the password (administrator password; hereinafter referred to as the current password) stored in the EEPROM as an element of the operating condition information. It is determined whether or not it matches (denoted as a password) (step S107).

  If the password entered by the operator is different from the current password (step S107; NO), the controller 41 displays an error message for displaying a window as shown in FIG. 10 on the processing item screen for a certain period of time. After performing the display process (step S108), the process of step S103 is executed (waiting for an operation on the process item screen).

  On the other hand, if the password entered by the operator matches the current password (step S107; YES), the controller 41 is highlighted in step S109 when the selection process item name (right button 36R is pressed). After executing the processing corresponding to (processing item name), for example, the USB host setting processing, authentication level setting processing, password setting processing, reset processing, etc., the processing in step S103 is executed. . In addition, when the processing result of the authentication necessity determination process is not authentication necessary (step S105; NO), the controller 41 performs the processes after step S109 without performing the password acquisition process or the like.

  The setting process related to the USB host circuit (USB host circuit use / non-use information setting process) executed by the controller 41 in step S109 is a process of displaying the screen shown in FIG. The authentication level setting process is a process of displaying the screen shown in FIG. In addition, as schematically shown in FIG. 13, the password setting process is a process of allowing the operator to input a new password twice (the password input first time and the password input second time). Only when the two match, the password in the operating condition information is rewritten).

  Furthermore, the setting process of use / non-use information regarding various interface circuits executed by the controller 41 in step S109 is a process of changing the use / non-use information in the operation condition information on the EEPROM to “use”. In such a case, the program for controlling the corresponding interface circuit is also loaded on the RAM, and when the use / non-use information is changed to “not used”, the corresponding interface circuit is changed. Processing for unloading the control program from the RAM is also performed.

  If the selected menu name is the menu name for direct printing (step S102; YES), the controller 41 determines whether the USB host circuit is active (a program for controlling the USB host circuit is loaded onto the RAM). (Step S111).

  If the USB host circuit is active (step S111; YES), the controller 41 performs index printing processing, document file printing processing, or image file printing processing (processing according to the selected menu name) in step S113. , The process of step S101 is executed (waiting for an operation on the menu screen). The index printing process is a process for generating a printed matter on which an image (so-called thumbnail image) representing an outline of each file stored in the USB memory inserted in the insertion slot 21 is printed. The document file printing process is a process for printing the file selected by the operator by presenting the file name of each file stored in the USB memory and having an extension of PDF or the like to the operator. The image file printing process is to print the file selected by the operator by presenting the file name of each file stored in the USB memory and having an extension of BMP or the like to the operator. It is a process to perform.

  On the other hand, if the USB host circuit is not active (step S111; NO), the controller 41 is in a state where the direct printing function (function to execute index printing processing, document file printing processing, or image file printing processing) cannot be used. After the process of displaying the message to the effect on the LCD 31 for a certain time (step S112), the process of step S101 is executed.

  As is apparent from the above description, if the administrator (who knows the password) changes the authentication level, the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is information that requires input of a password at the time of setting ( Element information of the operating condition information; the apparatus is capable of changing the group that arrived at the operating condition element information of the present invention. Therefore, this printing device is operated in such a way that there is no problem that the administrator has to perform settings that can be made by general users (operations for changing operating condition element information that can be changed by general users). It can be said that it is a device that can.

<Deformation>
The above-described printing apparatus 10 can perform various modifications. For example, although the printing apparatus 10 is an apparatus that can operate as a copier, the printing apparatus 10 can be transformed into an apparatus having only a function as a printer. In addition, the printing apparatus 10 may be transformed into an apparatus that employs information indicating the necessity of authentication of each processing item name as an authentication level (an apparatus that can specify the necessity of authentication for each processing item name). I can do it.

  In addition, it is natural that the printing apparatus 10 may be transformed into a device that displays a screen having a configuration different from that described above, or a device that has a specific hardware configuration different from that described above. It is.

1 is a configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the operation panel with which the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment is provided. 1 is an external view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of processing executed when various setting buttons are pressed in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the information for menu screens used at the time of the process of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the menu screen displayed on LCD in an operation panel. Explanatory drawing of the process item screen displayed on LCD in an operation panel. Explanatory drawing of the determination algorithm in an authentication necessity determination process. Explanatory drawing of the state of LCD at the time of a password acquisition process. Explanatory drawing of the state of LCD at the time of an error message display process. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed on LCD at the time of the setting of USB host use / nonuse specification information. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed on LCD at the time of the setting of an authentication level. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed on LCD at the time of a password setting.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing device, 20 Scanner unit, 21 Insertion port 22 Operation panel, 31 LCD, 33 Copy button 34 Scan button, 35 Various setting buttons, 36L Left button 36U Up button, 36D Down button, 36R Right button 40 Printer unit, 41 Controller 42 print engine

Claims (2)

A printing apparatus having an operation panel,
Authentication that is a plurality of operation condition element information, a password, and information that can take several values, and information that specifies some of the operation condition element information that requires authentication when changing each value. Non-volatile storage means for storing level information;
An operating condition element information changing unit and an authentication level changing unit that use the operation panel as an interface unit with an operator,
The operating condition element information changing means is
A function for executing an operation condition element information change process for changing the operation condition element information specified by the operator stored in the non-volatile storage means in accordance with an instruction of the operator, and specified by the operator; If the operation condition element information is information that requires authentication based on the authentication level information stored in the nonvolatile storage means, the operator is required to input a password, and the operator Only when the input password matches the password stored in the nonvolatile storage means, the operation condition element information change process is started, and the operation condition element information designated by the operator is If the authentication level information stored in the nonvolatile storage means is information that does not require authentication, enter the password to the operator Without a means for initiating the operation condition element information change process,
The authentication level changing means is
Authentication level information stored in the non-volatile storage means only when the operator inputs a password and the password input by the operator matches the password stored in the non-volatile storage means A printing apparatus, characterized in that it is means for starting an authentication level change process for changing the value of the value to that specified by the operator. The authentication level information stored in the non-volatile storage means is information that defines several processes that require authentication at the time of execution for each value,
A process execution unit that uses the operation panel as an interface unit with an operator, and has a function of executing a process instructed to be executed by the operator. If the process requires authentication based on the authentication level information stored in the storage device, the password is input by the operator, and the password input by the operator is stored in the nonvolatile storage. The process is started only when it matches the password stored in the means, and the process designated by the operator requires authentication based on the authentication level information stored in the nonvolatile storage means In the case where the process is not assumed to be a process, the apparatus further includes a process execution means for starting the process without allowing the operator to input a password. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein